Touchdown! Barack Obama Named Democratic Nominee

Jeeeeeeez. Sigh. Phew.

I think the gloriousness in my emotion is more directed at the fact that Hillary lost than that Barack won, in all truth. Most of my blogs on this issue have focused on her lacking rather than his qualities. I’m sure she won’t go quietly into the night but at least I’m not having heart palpitations with the intruding thought that the presidential contest will be between Hillary and McFlipflop. It’s a good night with a sentiment that will pass quickly as the real mudwrestling begins.

That being said, Obama still has not earned my vote. Now that he has clenched the nomination, it’s time to read up on his books - my mom said she received a right-wing email today that included shockingly racist quotations from his books. I told her to forward it to me so I can check it out, but I’m not holding my breath.

Another consideration upon which I now must focus is how strident Republican support and participation is this election and if it’s cemented that Texas will go red in November. Everyone I know says something different and I don’t even want to hope that TX can change gears. Remember, high gas prices are a GOOD thing here.

So, my preliminary thoughts are: if it’s close here in TX, I’ll vote Obama. If it’s not, I’ll vote Nader - which will really be a vote in support of the multi-party system. Only time will tell and with a primary season so cattywampus, who the hell knows what’s going to happen in the general?!

Used paperback copies of The Audacity of Hope are only $7.89 on Amazon right now. Score.

Let’s Talk Scott McClellan

I waited to comment on the whole Benedict McClellan issue until I seen a few of his interviews and how the media reacted and, I have to say, I’m disappointed in our journalistic brethren - but when am I not, really? He’ll be on Hardball later today and I’ll watch that without expectation that Chris Matthews will somehow cunningly extract new revelations from our little Texas pudge muffin.

One of the most important, yet eentzy facts when addressing What Happened? has only reached my ears once amid the media and political brouhaha the book has stirred. He repeatedly says he’s from a political family and, as a Texas resident, allow me to offer you a little history. His mother is Carol Keeton Strayhorn, a well-known politician in our state having served as first female mayor of state capital Austin, state comptroller of public accounts, as well as the first woman on the Texas Railroad Commission (which largely regulates the oil and gas industry) and, lastly, having run for governor in our last election. She started out as a Democrat (most rural Oklahomans and Texans are old-school Democrats from the times before the parties swapped demographics decades ago), but caught up with the times and became Republican in the 80’s. Recently, she opted to break from the state Republican party, who currently suckles at the teat of Gov. Rick Perry (Bush’s Lt. Governor and arguably one of the worst governors in TX history) and register her gubernatorial campaign under the Independent banner. She claimed she wanted to set partisan politics aside. Now we’ve been hearing that theme from her son as one of the main reasons he served Bush and continued to serve Bush while disagreeing with him on weighted issues such as the war of choice that has developed into the quagmire of Iraq.

I’m not questioning the sincerity of their claims of detestation of the partisan politics - in fact, I’m glad to see long-established Republicans breaking from the good ‘ol boy system we have in Texas. However, those in search of an understanding of the motivations behind What Happened? as well as McClellan’s seemingly openness to an Obama vote must look to his status as mamma’s boy, rather than as former press secretary for Bush.

(that’s scott on the left - found the photo in The Austin Chronicle)

One of the assertions I have found helpful in my few efforts to understand Scott McClellan is that he was misused as press secretary and simply wasn’t a good candidate for the position. I concur. Having watched many of his press conferences, his inability to communicate effectively with the press corps and adversarial relationship with it made it painful to watch as he inartfully dodged question after question. Robert Draper, author of Dead Certain (I’ll submit a review of this book soon), characterized Scott McClellan as, “looking like nothing so much as a terrified if well-fed koala bear as he peered out from behind the press room podium and recited his message lines as if at gunpoint.”

While it is true the administration simply used the position of press secretary as merely a buffer from the intrusion of the media and not as a way to effectively reach the American people, Scott still clearly misunderstood the priority of the podium. He repeatedly, almost certainly, used plausible deniability as a justification not to push for information from the administration and clearly underestimated his responsibility as message-deliverer. While he states in his book that Bush convinces himself of whatever he needs to in order to stick to his guns, Scott obviously did so as well.

The mere fact that there is so much “pot calling the kettle black” in this book is quite unsettling. Also, upon hearing the style of speech and grammatical mistakes in McClellan’s interviews, I am almost positive he used a ghostwriter as the quotations I’ve read from the book are incredibly poignant and well-written. Many people write much better than they speak (especially with the help of an editor) and it is not a huge deal to use a ghostwriter, but it is an issue I think he should address in his media campaign. While many of these memoirs use ghostwriters, I doubt Dee Dee Myers, George Stephanopolous, Doug Feith or Ari Fleischer relied so heavily on someone else’s pen. As a writer, I feel this makes a difference in the sincerity of the book.

I do agree that Scott McClellan should have had the fortitude of character to leave the administration, or raise his voice, if he felt so out-of-step with the direction toward warfare Bush and Cheney so vehemently veered. Having not done so, the publishing of his critical memoir before the exit of Bush (and I’m no fan of the guy) is questionable. Obviously, he’s angry about the whole Plame debacle, as well he should be. But his memoir delivers no new evidence of the wrong-doings by the snakes in the White House. It’s simply a case of too little, too late, bubba. Anti-climactic and irrelevant.

The reaction out of the administration and its former members is so paltry and fake, however, it only lends credence to the memoir itself. Even those no longer in the employ of the administration stuck to the set talking points so deliberately, they should have just put Perino’s comments on replay. The reaction, no doubt planned during the month the White House had access to the memoir before its existence was leaked, only issued meager character assassinations of Scott rather than refuted a single fact in the book. Gag.

The subject is a tired one and won’t remain in the top news categories much longer, if it still is. I have no idea where Scott goes from here besides aiding his mother’s possible run for Austin mayor next year. It’s still undecided if he’d be an asset to anybody at this point.

I suppose I’m glad Scott decided to write openly about his misgivings during his tenure in the Bush administration. Better late than never. This however, shouldn’t be a celebration for us lefties, but more a sad realization that the plague of acquiescence in the government during run up to the Iraq War has cost hundreds of thousands of lives, untold collateral damages as illustrated in the rise of commodity prices, and should never, ever be duplicated by anybody in the government or military claiming to have a spine and the ability to reason.

Jury Duty Sucks!

Maybe if I’d gotten picked to actually sit on a jury, I’d have had a good time proportioning justice as my civil duty requires. We have crime here in Tarrant County! Hell, every time Cops is on, it always says Fort Worth Police Department. You’d think we were in Compton with the amount of episodes Cops devotes to this town. One time, when I lived in Austin and was at a dance club, a man approached my girlfriends and me, asking if we had any ecstasy. One of my girlfriends read him the riot act and shooed him away. She was a goody-two shoes. One time, she accidentally ate a pot-brownie and thought she was going to die. Apparently, this dance club was the ecstasy hot-spot in Austin, but we were unawares never having delved greatly into the rave scene. Later, we saw the man exiting the club followed by some po-po and a camera crew. Cops. I could have been famous, daddy! If only I’d had some ecstasy…. I stayed away from it after one of my girlfriends had sex with this guy on a pool table in the middle of a party after taking some when were in high school. When we were in college, she used to snort cocaine on the end of a key and shout, “I’m king of the world!” Titanic had just come out. Strangely, I felt the need to stay away from cocaine because of her, too. She was a good friend.

Anyway, back to jury duty - it was lame. This crazy man was running the metal detector and x-ray machine by himself and kept yelling at people to walk through the machine normally, not too fast or too slow. This was interesting because when I lived in Oklahoma City (as punishment for a crime in a past life, no doubt), I went to the court house there and nary was a metal detector present. I didn’t think anyone was going to pop a cap in my ass, but still…I saw some angry people. This morning, I forgot I had my little Swiss Army key chain knife, but the mean metal detector dude said it was small enough and I get to keep it. It’s only $12, but I would have been pissed to have it taken away.

Once I checked in, we waited for a couple of hours in this big room. I brought The Prometheus Deception by Robert Ludlum to read. It’s pretty good, so far. Then we’re told all the cases were dismissed and this judge - who does not look like a judge - comes in and tells us the cases were settled because the parties involved knew we jurors were ready with our impartial verdict! What a crock.

Then we collected our 10 bucks cash and were free to go with certificate in hand that says we don’t have to attend jury duty for two more years. I still might go if I get a summons by mistake - but don’t tell anyone.

And, btw, all you people who believe illegal immigrants will be the downfall of this country, no one checked my I.D. Not once. I could have been this undocumented, illegal Irish immigrant with an uncanny American accent and served on a jury! The horror!!

817 Represent!

The Star-Telegram is reporting that Democrats voted almost 2 to 1 over Republicans in my county, Tarrant County, which is FORT WORTH, TX!! That’s cattle town, people! Old school, oil town, echoes of the bible belt country.

Total Tarrant County turnout = 301,957 (33.59% of the 898,855 registered voters)

Democratic Party turnout = 200,240

Republican Party turnout = 101,717

Change - it’s ahappenin!!

(plus, it’s totally sleeting and snowing here, today - which is pure craziness)

Castle Law Questions

Yes, it is legal in many states to shoot to death someone who threatens not just your life, but your property as well. It’s called the Castle Law. Seems easy enough, right? Criminals’ rights have far exceeded those of victims for years. If it were up to me, we’d have some crazy medieval punishments that would no doubt deter illegal activity. I’m serious! Bring back the rack and lets strip some bamboo for whippin’ - no law is too unusual and too cruel if it’s effective. After all, we’re guaranteed the right to pursue happiness and if some impedes that right, they forfeit their right to participate in society. Duh!

And the Castle Law seems perfectly credible when taken into the context of assigning rights to potential victims over potential criminals. Sure, it goes without saying you should be able to defend yourself if someone threatens your personal wellbeing or that of someone else. What about the wellbeing of your property? Your Cadillac Escalade and great-grandma’s pearls or the HD Big Screen that convinces you of the presence of angels?

I don’t know. I’m having a hard time figuring out where I stand on the issue and here’s why:

On Saturday, two teenage boys wanted to get a closer look at party down the street. When they entered a neighbor’s yard to get closer look, the old man shot one of them. When they got back to their house, one of the boy’s mothers drove them to the hospital, but on their way there, a drunk driver hit them head on and killed the mother!!! Now, that is messed up!

In November of last year, authorities decided not to file charges against a man who shot and killed two men in Pasadena, TX who were robbing is neighbor’s house. He was on the phone with 911 and kept telling the dispatcher he would not let the men get away with it. Why didn’t he just shoot them in the legs? The authorities were on their way.

And us cowboys in Texas aren’t the only ones with this law. A lot of other states have these laws too and many people think if we all used deadly force, there would be less crime. I’m all for harsher punishments that are physical in nature and beating the crap out of criminals - I even want to commit vigilante justice on quite a common basis, but something is weird about deadly force being meted out by anyone for property crimes - why can’t people keep paint ball guns on hand instead of shot guns. Doesn’t pass the smell test… I’m going to have to think about this one some more…

TX PrimaCaucus B.S. And Exit Polls

I thought I’d mention that I’m not participating in tomorrow night’s caucus - which you can only attend if you vote in the primary earlier in the day. I’m only voting once because that’s what makes sense. Retarded, strategically twisted ways to get people elected need to go the way of good anchors on CNN (Paula Zahn, Aaron Brown). Now, the fact that the UT Men’s BB team plays Nebraska tomorrow at 6:30 has NOTHING to do with the fact that I’ll be home instead of standing in a corner looking pretty and representing Obama - I swear. Maybe I should write a letter to the Secretary of the State of Texas. His people usually get back to me pretty quickly.

If I were in charge of primary elections, which I should be, I’d make it easy and sensible:

• Every state has a primary. Not a caucus. And certainly not both.
• Primaries start in March and go through May. Conventions are in late July or early August.
• The Primary calender rotates among the states, with different states voting first each year there is a presidential election.
• All primaries are open to all voters, though voters can only vote once. Independents can vote in Republican or Democratic primaries. Republicans can vote in Democratic primaries and vice versa.
• You have to know a code phrase to vote in the primary. Like “pant suit” or “lima bean”.
• David Gergen gets rid of his abominable comb-over. Love his analysis. Hate his hair (can someone give him a mirror so he can see the BACK of his head?)

That makes sense, right? Also, I don’t know anyone who will vote in a caucus tomorrow night. I don’t know anyone who ever has. If they had kegs on ice and you had to do a keg stand in order vote, than hellsyeah I would go - fair political process or not! I bet I’d beat all those old asses! (Despite not having done a keg stand in more years than fingers on one hand..but I’d get it back, I just know it)

Can I also say I have never, never been asked to participate in an exit poll and have never even seen an exit poller? I’ve seen firemen, candidates, old people, smokers, all kinds outside my polling stations, but never have I seen an exit poller. What’s up with that? That’s all I hear about on election night - exit poll this, exit poll that. Yet, nary an exit poller has been in my sights and I’ve looked for them! I love participating in surveys and say yes every time Gallup calls. I think this whole exit poll thing is a sham and a conspiracy and, frankly, I’m not going to take it anymore!

God, I just saw that 3 a.m. phone call ad of Hillary’s again. Has anyone noticed that the mom on that add totally has mom jeans on up to her belly-button and is wearing a braided belt? How old is that ad footage? The kids asleep in their beds are probably going through puberty in real life. And can someone, anyone tell Mark Penn to quit writing ads - he stinks. Fear-mongering is so yesterday (like the braided belt). Does that red phone with nothing but a blinking light really exist or do we just believe it does because Batman had one? I’d like to know!

Update: I voted today and did I see an exit poller or answer any exit poll questions? NO!! And I looked for them, but all I saw were some Republicans.

In Texas News - Hutchison Doesn’t Want To Be VP, She Wants To Be Governor

Kay Bailey Hutchison said this weekend she is not interested in the position of Vice President under John McCain. I doubt she would have been chosen anyway and this probably doesn’t mean much to yous guys outside TX, but - to the rest of you - it pretty much means she’ll throw her pearl necklace into the race for the TX governorship when the waste of Rick Perry is gone in 2010. I wouldn’t call her the Republican’s best friend, but I doubt I’d vote for her either. And, let me just say one thing - we need legalized gambling in this state already!! Many don’t think it’ll happen until we get a Democratic governor. Well, I’m damn good and ready for some blackjack tables in Galveston! Vegas gets expensive real fast and Shreveport and Lake Charles are so over.

THOROUGH Assessment of Ron Paul

This is quite a long blog because it’s one I take very seriously. I’ve bolded each issue though, in the case you don’t want to read every word (most of you, i’m sure!)

I’ve been avoiding writing this, hoping Ron Paul and his followers would see the writing on the wall at some point and exit stage left. But noooooo, they’re on some strange campaignphetamine and have forsaken all hold on reality in hopes their insanity will somehow be affirmed by a miraculous success that “the media can’t ignore!”

The followers want the Republican nomination to remain unsettled until the convention have launched a movement calling on all followers to try and become delegates at the National Convention. I won’t go so far as to say they want to steal the nomination, but they are trying to round up enough delegates who will vote Ron Paul either after their first choices have dropped out or even abdicate the position of the voters in their state or district, which they represent. You can read the views of these “enthusiasts” on the “Become a Delegate or Ron Paul will NOT be President” site and this Ron Paul Forum entry from Feb. 5 which the author titles “Things going according to plan. Don’t lose hope.” The rules for Republican delegate obligations are varied and described a bit on The Republican Source.

In light of the intent by Ron Paul supporters’ to attempt (no matter how serious) to hijack the Republican Convention, it’s time for me to pitch in chronicle my assessment of this cracker jack.

The Bush Effect

In the early stages of the campaign, I knew Ron Paul didn’t have a chance in hell of garnering the Repub nomination. Paul’s following is a result of what I call “The Bush Effect.” If it were not for the turmoil perpetrated by Bush and Cheney over the last seven years, much of what we’re seeing on the political landscape today wouldn’t have been possible. I never would have considered Hillary for president, a fairly green senator from Illinois would have to put in a few more years on the national level before being taken seriously, and the immense increase of democrat voter turnout over Republican voter turnout would have been a dream.

Ron Paul’s candidacy falls into this category. Never would such a rabid following of enthusiasts who have very little understanding of the development of civilization, the dynamics of a successful government and electoral science have been able to coalesce around a fringe, Libertarian candidate so well that he garners more votes than Mayor 9/11 himself, Giuliani, and participates in all meaningful Republican debates.

The unendingly wretched decisions of Goober Bush and Diablo Cheney have made the impossible possible.

Initial Interest and Approval

Ron Paul at a glance seems like a great candidate for change. He labels himself a Libertarian and a smaller, limited governmental beast always seems a good idea. He thinks we never should have gone to Iraq and should get out immediately. I agree the U.S. cannot act as the world’s police (a line Bush used in running for the 2000 nomination). While not for legalized abortion and gay marriage, he believes these decisions should be left to the states - a much better stance than the typical conservative Republican. He signed the American Freedom Agenda Pledge, which I wholeheartedly support and he’s against eminent domain. If nothing else, I appreciated the conversation Ron Paul brought to the Republican Party. From the outset of the campaign, I intended on voting Democrat in order to balance the Supreme Court, but I try to give every candidate across all party lines their due consideration. Ron Paul wudn’t bad, as we say in Texas. The “wudn’t” part, that is.

In the efforts of full disclosure, my boyfriend and partner, Brendan is from Lake Jackson. Ron Paul was the obstetrician who delivered some his friends. So, we heard about him early on and, I must confess, I believe his geographical origins are the main reason for his support among some people we know. You always want to root for the home team. But not mindlessly, as I see many doing today.

Investigation, Research and Disappointment

As I took the mandatory squiz into Ron Paul’s stance on the issues, voting record, and basic history, it became clear this was a candidate I could never support.

Immediately, the support home schooling garners on his site struck me as a red flag. I’m not a huge proponent of home schooling, not necessarily in principle, but because the majority of home schooling is a result of parents who are closemindedly christian and do not want their children exposed to certain tenants in public education - evolution, abstinence, STDs, much of the literature. I’ve belonged to a number of churches in my past in which a number of the congregates home schooled and saw first hand how unexposed and brainwashed their children were. Brendan and I have experienced working and interacting with adults who were home schooled as children and to say they were socially inept is an understatement. We witnessed their failure to effectively interact with coworkers and socially and the subsequent shunning they experienced. While there are certain circumstances under which I would support home schooling - sometimes it’s a requirement for education because of geographical factors - but the widespread encouragement of home schooling (as you sometimes see here in Texas) is never a movement I could endorse because of the negative effects it has on the children.

Secondly, Ron Paul’s letter to gun owners on his website was a huge obstacle for me as a voter. Yes, here in Texas the Right to Keep and Bear Arms is significant. Ron Paul says the “high-and-mighty politicians” want to “Force law-abiding American citizens who want to protect themselves through more bureaucratic rigmarole and throw up more ‘gun free zone’ signs.” Well, the language of the letter is incendiary (who says high-and-mighty anymore?). I don’t believe there’s a gun owner around every corner threatening me and I certainly do not support ever law-abiding citizen’s right to own an uzi and any semi-automatic weapon. The tremendous amount of gun crimes is due largely to the availability of firearms which is due largely to the objection to gun control. (what i find really ironic is that most right to bear arms proponents are christian. so you ask them, what about the bible and an eye for an eye or women submitting completely to their husbands and sitting on their own side in church, shushed into silence. i always here, well that’s a reference to the situation of the times and doesn’t apply today) Bearing arms was a necessity when the Constitution was written. I’m not sure we should suspend the Right to Bear Arms, but let’s have a bit more historical context in our need to protect ourselves against a tyrannical government.

Then we have Ron Paul’s very unlibertarian stance on illegal immigration. I do not believe illegal immigration is a huge threat to the United States. Ron Paul’s very political existence, in his words, is to protect the foundations of this country - meaning the Constitution. Yet illegal immigration is a foundation of this country as well. The U.S. has experienced wave after wave of various illegal immigration groups and responded in fear and intolerance. Yet, each time, the economy and culture absorbed these immigrants well until the fear had passed and the group was accepted. What our economy cannot tolerate is the deportation of over 12 million workers who are here illegally. Farmers, restaurateurs, construction and other industries would be threatened at every level. It is fear-mongering that has the country lashing out at undocumented workers needlessly. Ron Paul contributes to perpetration of such lies - while his supporters accuse everyone else of lying about him.

Having studied intently on the subject of economics, Ron Paul’s approach is strictly in support of free-market Capitalism, as well as the elimination of the Federal Reserve, income tax, the IRS and many departments of the U.S. government. I do not support any pure economic theory, whether its Capitalism or Communism, as it fails to truly interpret and react to the human pysche. These theories assume far too much about human behavior to be effectively applied without hindrance. Economic activity must be a balance of many elements, including capitalism and socialism, to truly benefit the society to which they are applied.

Hypocrisy

Ron Paul has claimed repeatedly to believe that abortion is a legal question best left to the states. Yet, he is the sponsor of unsuccessful The Sanctity of Life Act which would define life at conception and protects life from conception to birth. A federal law defining life at conception would basically handicap any state law legalizing abortion because it would amount to murder. Paul’s repeated statements that he believes abortion should be a states’ right is a lie - evidenced by his intent to change federal law to prevent the surgical act and private right. Also, Ron Paul asserts a “partial birth abortion is never a necessary procedure.” He goes on to say, “The lack of respect for life that permits abortion significantly contributes to our violent culture…” If anyone of you has read Freakonomics, you would know that abortion actually contributes to a decrease in violent crime. Just FYI. He is even a member of the Association of American Physicians - a right-wing group of doctors that are opposed to abortion and believe in the free market so they may choose whatever price they want to provide medical services.

Now I will address the controversial newsletters published between 1988 and 1996 under Ron Paul’s name that have questionable messages and innuendos. The newsletters were at various times survivalist or pro-militia, anti-semitic, racist, homophobic, conspiracy theorist and isolationist. Ron Paul says he didn’t write the newsletters and doesn’t know who did (which I believe to be a patent lie) and believes that should be the end of the story. “A Libertarian can’t be racist.” And his supporters think so too. That the American voter should not be concerned with the fact that such ugly, hateful, putrid language was published under a presidential candidate’s name is sheer ridiculousness. Paul has also said he would make all the newsletters available and has not made one effort towards fulfilling his word - leaving it up to The New Republic to dig them up. First of all, his explanation is NOT enough. Second of all, the fact that he’s still a minor player in the race without much attention from the other candidates and media shows how little he is being taken seriously in this race. If he were a real factor, everyone would be going to town on this guy’s past and he would have been forced out long ago. The newsletters are so offensive, I am amazed people would sully their name by endorsing this fellow!

Voting Record

Then I decided to visit Club For Growth and view his voting record, where I discovered many votes on which I personally would have differed. Though I did approve of many of his votes, these are the ones that irked me a bit:

• Voted for an amendment to prohibit the use of appropriated funds for the development of national reading and math tests
• Votes against all free trade agreements because he thinks trade is inherently free and we don’t need all these silly stipulation. An isolationist view with clear miscalculating of our increasingly globalized world
• Voted against a minimum wage increase
• Voted against an amendment that imposed costly arsenic standards on small water systems
• Voted against an amendment imposing new mileage standards on automobiles
• Voted against a bill to criminalize so-called price gouging among oil companies
• Voted for a bill to prohibit federal officials from nominating U.S. lands for protection without prior congressional approval
• Paul opposes tort reform

Ron Paul Supporters - Hate Groups

Overwhelmingly, white supremacists, pro-militia groups, conspiracy theorists, 9/11 thruthers, and Neo-Nazis support Ron Paul. I would list all the white supremacist groups who support him here if it wouldn’t make me throw up. Should he have to pay for the sins of his followers? Should he have to return their contributions or publicly denounce them? Denounce them, yes.

It is a real and significant question to ask if a person who garners the favor of hate group after hate group would be the best representative for the people of the U.S. and even the free world. This alone, in my opinion, negates him as a viable candidate for president. He never discusses this branch of his support and this, coupled with his past newsletters, indicates to me he speaks Libertarian like the CATO Institute, yet lives and thinks the Libertarian of the Ted Kaczynski/Timothy McVeigh style. “R”evol“ution”? My ass.

And as we see more credible Libertarians abandon his campaign, it is more easily understood that Paul is not for limited government, but for no government. We all have our compounds and apply our own laws. Does he think the South should have had the right to secede? I question how badly he wants to protect the Constitution and his flavor of Libertarianism in general.

Misc. Points

• Ron Paul doesn’t believe in evolution.
• His supporters refer to him as Dr. Paul - not a big deal, but you never hear people calling Bill Frist “Dr. Frist.”
• Read this “handwritten” campaign letter sent out by Ron Paul. It’s good for a laugh.

Stealing the Republican Nomination
Ron Paul has many intriguing positions and declarations that allow me to understand his appeal and his cultish following - especially in today’s corporatocracy. Taking into consideration ALL that I have found - and there is a wealth on his positions because he writes so often (a practice to encourage among politicians - he is not a candidate I could support now or ever. Having seen the results of his campaign, it would seem a point moot at this time.

Think again.

In what seems good enough fodder for a conspiracy theory, many his followers want to amass enough delegates at the Republican Convention to give him the nomination anyway! Some think he is the only Republican candidate who could beat the Democratic Nominee. Talk about drinking the Kool-Aid.

I realize many Ron Paul supporters are normal, rational people. I don’t know many of them, but I’m sure they exist. It is with the crazies who want to amass delegates at the Convention that I have a quarrel.

In the Republican primaries so far, give or take a few minor errors, I have calculated 618,094 voters have cast their ballot for Ron Paul. 7,434,090 have voted for McCain and 2,874,007 have voted for Huckabee. Ron Paul has earned less than 4.5 percent of the overall nearly-14 million votes in the Republican primary. And yet his followers still want him to be the Republican nominee. As a Government major in college, you can understand how blasphemous I feel such strategy is!

The U.S. is a representative democracy. For the most part, we choose our elections through a majority or plurality votes. For Ron Paul supporters to think it’s right that they get together to usurp the nomination in direct contravention with the overall will of Republican voters, is shameful. Paul says he will remain in the race as long as his supporters want him to and will use his newfound influence and money to affect other political races. Such is his right.

But end this hope for the Republican nomination. It is wrong at its very base regardless of delegate equations. Only if Ron Paul were to gather a majority of the votes, even if he wasn’t allotted a majority of the delegates, would it be understandable to make a grab for the nomination. This cannot and will not happen.

Ron Paul has been good for discussion and a benefit to the process. But that’s it.

More On The Evolution Teachings In Schools - This Time In Texas

The March 4 primary isn’t just a big deal in Texas because for one of the first times, the Lone Star State will have a hand in deciding a presidential nominee, an election for a members of the State Board of Education is also a hot topic. The decisions Texans in District 2 and District 11 will set the scientific agenda for the state’s schools, including whether to scale back teachings of evolution and increasing the notion of “intelligent design” and abstinence vs. contraception, etc. Echoes of the Wild, Wild West still linger in this diverse state and the School Board is no exception.

If you’ve read my blog, you already know how I stand on this issue. The teaching of evolution is merely a factual presenation of the evidence we have found as to the Earth’s origins and its development. “Intelligent Design” - or the notion that there is a specific designer of the universe and we humans are merely too “unintelligent” to explain it. Well, I’m not.

First of all, the idea that science will never discover how or why the Earth came into existence is insanity defined. Science grows by leaps and bounds all the time. Look at how much we can explain scientifically of the Earth’s history, molecular structures, the biological mechanics of the human body and the “why”s that accompany these discoveries. Humans have discovered an exponential amount in the areas of technology, physics, chemistry, etc. than even 100 years ago. That science is somehow handicapped and limited is freaking ridiculous and a myth Christians hold on to because to disprove the bible would undo all that they’ve based their souls on. They are biased. Science is not biased. Science wants to discover, not destroy. Christians want to destroy all that is separate and disagrees with them. Their behavior is shameful and embarrassing.

I’m not worried about the development of the School Board. You cannot stop progress. To teach intelligent design in schools will simply prove the “conservatives” imbeciles and the children whose education they choose to forsake will understand this in time. Information is everywhere and boundless and unstoppable.

And, FYI - if all you intelligent designers want to know how the Earth came into existence, watch Naked Science “Birth of the Solar System” on National Geographic. That should clear up a lot of questions you might have.

And if you live in District 2 or District 11 - please research the candidates and vote INTELLIGENTLY. There is no Democrat Running for School Board in District 11, so I cannot vote as I will be voting in the Democratic Primary. You Republicans out there will have 2 choices and I suggest PAT HARDY- who is Christian, but does not endorse the teaching of Intelligent Design.

Wretched, Awful Interview by Matthews of Obama Surrogate Kirk Watson

Last night, in what was one of the most gut-twisting moments for me as an Obama-leaner, Chris Matthews demanded TX State Senator Kirk Watson name some legislative achievements of Obama. He could not.

You can watch the clip here. I recommend it.

It was awful. I was watching it in real time. It was like watching that guy on Silence of the Lambs tell that crying girl to put lotion on her skin. Yeesh.

Perhaps I was a bit more sensitive because I voted for Watson in elections past and for him to only be prepared to talk about inspiration and hope without knowledge of Obama’s resume was just paaiiinfuulllll to observe. You could see the moment Matthews smelled blood and tore into Watson like a lioness grasping the neck of a water buffalo who doesn’t know it’s over. Hillary’s surrogate Ohio Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones tried to get in on the action as well and was loving every humiliating second like the hyena waiting in the wings for scraps.

I turned the TV off immediately. Maybe I’ll watch some snuff videos to toughen myself up.

Update: Kirk Watson posted a response to the incident on his website yesterday. Among other things, including a list of Obama’s accomplishments, the state senator had this to say, “And my mind went blank. I expected to be asked about the primary that night, or the big one coming up in Texas on March 4, or just about anything else in the news. When the subject changed so emphatically, I reached for information that millions of my fellow Obama supporters could recite by heart, and I couldn’t summon it.”

Maybe he couldn’t summon it because it wasn’t there? Poor guy. Better luck next time.

My Moment in the Sun has Arrived

I’ve been selected for jury duty!! At the ripe old age of 30, I have finally received the summons for which I’ve waited ever since turning 18. To see the legal process up close could very well result in my disappointment - but I pay no mind! My time has come at last. Fort Worth, I embrace this civic duty with all the gusto of a former Court TV addict!

Qualifications:

1. Citizen of the U.S. and FTW, with voting qualification? Check.
2. Of sound mind and good moral character? Questionable.
3. Able to read and write? Marginally.
4. Have not served as a juror for six days during the preceding six months? Check.
5. Have not been convicted of misdemeanor theft or felony? Last I knew…
6. Are not under indictment or other legal accusations of theft or felony? Jeez, I hope not! Remind myself to Google my name later.

Dress Code: NO HATS, SHIRTS MUST BE TUCKED IN, NO SHORTS & NO FLIP-FLOPS. What is this? North Korea?? They’re damned lucky it’s February because if this were this were a more pleasant weather season, I would be pissed about the flip-flops thing. And what? Just cause we prefer not to tuck our shirts, we’re hooligans and improper administers of justice?! Abominable policy, I say!

Nevertheless, I shall go. Disagreement with the dress code isn’t listed under exemptions. Hopefully, I’ll be picked as head juror for some dramatic case where they sequester you and later write a movie about the whole thing. My mom says I need to play it low-key if I want to be picked. Maybe I’ll wear beige, that’s a low-key color. Damn, I don’t think I own any beige clothes… but there’s time to go to the mall! Calm down! I gotta play it cool… A Time to Kill, here we come!

Rick Perry - Sayonara, Jackass!

My favorite moment watching the Florida primary unfold was a short media clip showing TX Gov. Rick Perry give Guiliani and introduction on the day he was so lose his biggest political bet. Perry endorsed Giuliani back in October when Giuliani was still the inevitable Republican nominee. The early endorsement was an unabashed attempt by arguably Texas’ worst governor to throw his name into the hat of Vice President candidates.

Oh what a difference a day and disastrous political strategy makes!

As politically cartoonish and empty as Romney, Perry has committed enough blunders that would seemingly eliminate him from such national political echelons.

A smidgen of the blunders Mr. Veto himself has committed: issuing a governor’s mandate requiring girls to receive the HPV vaccination while former members of his staff worked for the vaccination’s producer, Merck, and the company had donated money to Perry AND trying [and failing] to fast track the permitting process for the building of coal plants before the application of stricter environmental restrictions, receiving donations from “interests associated with the projects“.

Well, now Perry’s horse is out of the race and, hopefully, any avenues for his political advancement die their rightful death. Of course he’ll be looking for that next opportunity to enhance his power portfolio and the next donation dollar for which he will undoubtedly perform “services.”

Personally, I wish Romney and Perry would simply be banished to Old Spice or Just For Men commercials where they belong.