Primary debate in Texas District 112
Richardson City News published a report on a recent Republican candidates' forum for Texas House District 112. First, my thanks to the uncredited reporter. Internet news can cover events that mainstream media can't or won't.
One issue has been at the forefront of several legislative sessions: school finance. As reported by Richardson City News, Randy Dunning is focused on reducing overhead costs in public schools and diverting public school money to private schools through some kind of voucher program. Jim Shepherd noted that Richardson gives up $4M/year in recapture while Garland gains $4M. Given that District 112 spans these two school districts, I can understand why Shepherd might try straddling the fence on the so-called Robin Hood finance system. Shepherd also gave support to vouchers, provided vouchers don't reduce money spend on public schools. He's straddling the fence again. If Angie Chen Button is represented accurately, she's not just avoiding taking a position, she doesn't have a clue. She "pledged support for the children and education system, promising to address the concerns when she is elected." None of these candidates appears to have a solution for school finance and shouldn't be counted on to be a leader in Austin. If there's a Democrat running, maybe that's where to look for an alternative to Austin's abysmal performance on this issue.
I said above "if Angie Chen Button is represented accurately." That's a big if. The report is heavily slanted by editorial bias. For example, here's how Jim Shephard's position on the Trans Texas Corridor is presented:
"Shepherd commented about the TTC in a manner that suggested capitulation and acceptance that nothing could be done about the give away of agricultural land and family homsteads to be transformed into commercially developed right of ways, including shops, warehouses, stores and other tax-free enterprises lining the path of the roadway sold to foreign interests by the Perry administration in the name of transportation."Somehow, I doubt Jim Shepherd said anything like that. Citizen journalism gives citizens information that mainstream media can't or won't, but that doesn't mean that all of it is good. Reader, beware.
Texas Republicans for Obama
Except for a few days after winning the Iowa primary, Barack Obama has been a clear underdog in the race for the Democratic nomination for President. That may be changing. He's taken a commanding 69% to 29% lead over Hillary Clinton in Intrade's political futures market. The pundits tell us the race is too close to call, but the bettors think they know the ending already.
Likewise the Republicans at the rightwing Dallas Blog are beginning to count Clinton out. Carolyn Barta has been covering the campaigns for Dallas Blog and headlines her latest story, "Is Hillary Toast?" Sam Merten, formerly of Dallas Blog, chimes in with his answer, predicting that Clinton will "get crushed" by Obama in the March 4 Democratic primary in Texas. Tom Pauken makes no predictions, but says Obama was "very impressive" in his 60 Minutes interview. Perhaps all this nice talk about Obama is simply Republican distaste for Hillary Clinton and wishful thinking that someone will derail her ride to the Presidency. On the other hand, perhaps Obama's recent momentum really will carry him to the nomination. Just because Dallas Blog can't stand Clinton, doesn't mean they're always wrong.
May I Have a Word? Democrat (adj.)
Dallas Blog posted a story today titled, "Dallas County Democrat Officials Endorse Obama." It was credited to "Dallas County Democrat Officials." If so, this would be the first time I've seen Democratic officials themselves misspell their party name. Normally, it's the Republicans who use the word Democrat as an adjective, instead of the proper Democratic. Search back through this blog for earlier discussions of the origin of this schoolyard insult. The point here is that if you want to pass something off as being written by Democratic officials, then use the word Democratic, not Democrat, as an adjective. Misuse of the word Democrat is a dead giveaway when Republicans try to pass themselves off as Democrats. Dallas Blog is clueless.
P.S. Elsewhere on Dallas Blog, Bob Reagan wrote a long essay on why Republicans should support John McCain. In his first sentence, he quoted "Democrat strategist James Carville." I never made it to the second sentence. If Bob Reagan can't even get the easy, trivial things right, like the name of the Democratic Party, why should we believe he has anything of value to say about the important issues?
P.P.S. Tom Pauken, in a separate post today, got it right, using Democratic as an adjective. Good for him. He's worth reading, if only for the entertainment value when he tosses out more Republicans from the party for not being real conservatives.
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