Politics and Dharma

Observations on Texas Politics and Grassroots Action

Archive for the 'Texas Politics' Category


Who Judges the Judges?

Friday, July 4th, 2008
Current Events, Law and Culture, Prisons, Texas Politics | No Comments »

It’s no secret that Texas criminal law has a heavy hand, and that innocent people are frequently sucked into the system by elected judges who want to appear ‘tuff on crime’. There’s been some house cleaning statewide, but especially in Dallas County since they got a new DA, Craig Watkins. I can’t find any reliable [...]

The Other Side of the Coin

Sunday, June 15th, 2008
Current Events, Democratic Party, Politics, Texas Politics | 3 Comments »

Folks will probably think I’ve been snacking on the crazy cake, but I’ve got a strong feeling that Texas goes blue this year. Here are some select quotes from delegates to this year’s Texas GOP convention:

But, Etzel said, “I don’t think anybody is all that enthusiastic” about McCain’s candidacy. “McCain is not a [...]

Foreshadowing

Saturday, June 7th, 2008
Democratic Party, Politics Action, Texas Politics | No Comments »

By way of addendum, I need to note here a contact made in the TDP booth at the vendor ghetto. I gave my card to a woman who claimed to be the volunteer organizer for the state party. I told her to call me early in the process so I could be more helpful throughout [...]

Getting Hit By a Truck

Saturday, June 7th, 2008
Convention Politics, Current Events, Democratic Party, Politics Action, Texas Politics | No Comments »

After arriving home a couple of hours earlier than expected this afternoon, I showered and relaxed into my office chair to catch up on the world. Fifteen minutes later, when I stood up again, I felt like I had been hit by a truck. Every muscle is sore from tip to tail. Even those little [...]

My Day in the Circus (pt. 1)

Friday, June 6th, 2008
Convention Politics, Current Events, Democratic Party, Politics Action, Texas Politics | No Comments »

Ugh! These dogs are tired. And my feet hurt, too.
Caucusing is a long and painful process in the best of worlds. What we’re seeing in the Democratic State Convention this weekend is the party for the first time actually having to function on the scale at which it was intended. For several decades, the party [...]

Preparations for Madness

Wednesday, June 4th, 2008
Convention Politics, Democratic Party, Politics Action, Texas Politics | No Comments »

Although I did not garner the expected state convention delegate seat this year, I am still going to be there. The party had to go to a raffle system to determine who would be guests — and who would be volunteers! They’re expecting 15,000-18,000 attendees this weekend at the convention center. I had signed up [...]

FLDS Aftermath

Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008
Current Events, FLDS, Law and Culture, Texas Politics | No Comments »

The children have finally been allowed to return home to their mothers and their fathers. The state Supreme Court determined that CPS had no basis for taking the children as they did. My current favorite CPS rumor is that everyone in-house is told to save everything for when, not if, they get sued.
This brightly shining [...]

Now the Circus Begins

Friday, December 14th, 2007
Current Events, Democratic Party, Politics, Texas Politics | No Comments »

In an announcement breathlessly awaited for well over a decade, long-time Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle announced his retirement. Now the floodgates open for what stands to be a vigerous and crowded race.
Several prominent Democratic lawyers and judges have been suggesting that they would put their names in the hat for DA, would Earle [...]

Toot-toot, Chugga-chugga

Friday, December 7th, 2007
Law and Culture, Texas Politics | 1 Comment »

Just a couple of weeks driving cross-country is all it takes to understand the inherent lunacy of “speed limits”. They’re posted everywhere, but many people disregard them. Enforcement is selective and can never be applied to all violations. The top speed for the exact same traffic geometry can vary between 55 and 90 mph, depending [...]

Are there no Democratic lawyers?

Tuesday, December 4th, 2007
Blogs, Current Events, Democratic Party, Politics Action, Texas Politics | No Comments »

Scott Henson at Grits for Breakfast has repeated his cry of woe that the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals will remain in Republican hands — simply for lack of any Democratic candidates signing up for the contest. I’m baffled whenever there is an uncontested contest during a major, presidential election year. How could such major [...]