Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays to all...

Today, I am wishing those who read this blog a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! It may seem brief, but that's all I can write for now!

My official endorsement for District 22...

In 2006, Tom DeLay left behind a strongly conservative congressional district that was viewed as "trending Democratic" due to DeLay's gerrymandering that made other Greater Houston districts more Republican (e.g. putting Galveston and Cinco Ranch in Ron Paul's District 14, putting River Oaks in John Culberson's District 7, etc.) while adding a heavily pro-union portion of Galveston County that is chock full of unionized refinery workers. In November of that year, I hoped that Shelley Sekula-Gibbs would help keep our district beaming red, as opposed to the Democrats' perceived confidence that a "real change" meant their so-called New Direction (and in other words, a Nick Lampson victory). I got 50% of what I wanted, with Shelley getting the rest of DeLay's term and Lampson the full new term with a Nancy Pelosi-led Congress. And I then again, I wanted David Wallace to be the GOP candidate instead of Sekula-Gibbs.

Both Shelley and Nick have fallen short. Shelley Sekula-Gibbs has been an embarrassment to the district, because when you begin your stay on Capitol Hill, you expect to serve your constituents (and your staff) with honor, not with a temper tantrum as evidenced by "The Walkout". And Nick Lampson, despite being touted among the least partisan Democrats, has even himself voted in lockstep with Nancy Pelosi's failed agenda (even the conservative Gene Taylor of Mississippi (from a district hit by Katrina) voted for Pelosi), which ranges from locking Republicans out of certain perks despite promises of an open and honest Congress to voting to expand the qualification pool for SCHIP, which is supposed to only go to those who truly need it (the ones who can't afford private plans but are too rich for Medicaid). Special services like SCHIP are meant to be for those who definitely need it, NOT those who choose to bilk the government for money, which in turn bloats our budget and causes deficits. Not to mention Lampson taking money from MoveOn.org, which took out a full page of the New York Times to condemn General Petraeus.

With David Wallace out of the race for Congress (and not running for re-election as mayor), GOP operatives in CD22 had to find a way to court (and energize) the "Anybody But Shelley" movement, because even some of her votes on Houston City Council (e.g. chasing out fellow City Councilmembers because of a debate against immigrant sanctuary on the day of a funeral for a Houston police officer killed by a Mexican national, supporting a national sales tax on many things (even cars), etc.) have been of a flip-flop nature. And the GOP has one candidate (of many) that will stand out amongst the crowd and possesses the best chance to send Nick Lampson back to Beaumont.

The candidate I am endorsing in CD22 is the former Mayor of Sugar Land: Dean Hrbacek. When Dean Hrbacek was mayor, our taxes went down 33%, our economic development rose from the ground, improved our mobility with the US 59 expansion (it may still be clogged now, but don't blame us, Fort Bend is growing fast). He has also enjoyed life in every part of the district, graduating in Pearland, going to college over in Clear Lake, going to the UH Law School, becoming a CPA, and running a tax law firm right here in Sugar Land. I would have still voted for Dean in 2002, only problem was I could not vote because I too young; my first election came in 2004 when I of course voted for DeLay and Dubya. Finally, I should mention that just because Dean Hrbacek supports traditional values (he is a lifetime member of the NRA and supports traditional marriage) doesn't mean there's no room for social moderates and social liberals. Regardless of whether you are pro-life or pro-choice, whether you support the war or don't, or whether you are pro-business or pro-labor, there is room for you in the Republican Party. Below I will explain to you why...

While Democrats choose to pride themselves on heavy cash coffers from corporate donors that tend to support a party that is in the majority more just to be on the "winning" team, and also depend on the support of celebrities and left-wing groups such as MoveOn.org, Republicans aim to attract the average American, and those who believe that good policy, not money is the key to victory. You may find it hard to see it now, and even I myself find it difficult to see positivity in the GOP, but when you look at legends like Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan, as well as current leaders of recent such as Rudy Giuliani (who ran a proven conservative government in one of the most liberal locales, New York City) and Arnold Schwarzenegger (who has come from behind to find new solutions to our global warming problems), you will find that Republicans are proven when it comes to empowering the individual to chart their own course in life, because it's your money and it's your life that matter more, not Washington's. I should also mention that Republicans have America's most popular governor, Charlie Crist of Florida.

In 2008, the GOP is energized and poised to prove the media (even Fox) and celebrities wrong: We are going to make it back to the plateau, and if any race should be a priority for the elephants, it should be getting Dean Hrbacek to Washington and restoring our district's conservative roots. And no, the district is NOT trending Democratic, it only has become fed up with partisan leadership (both of past Republican Congresses and the current Democrat one).

To find out more about Dean Hrbacek, go here: deanforcongress.com

DYNAMO DO IT AGAIN!! And a few more nibblets

Just now, the Houston Dynamo won the MLS Cup for the second straight year in a row! It was just last year when they came, and now we have a dynasty. They beat the same gang they beat last time...the New England Revolution, 2-1. GO DYNAMO!!

Believe it...good things come when you are a fan of The Men in Orange. Those who belong to the Texian Army and El Batallon ought to consider themselves status symbols in Greater Houston.

BTW, as of press time, the Texans are up as the third begins, 17-10...against our rivals to the east...the Saints. And Mario Williams has a sack and a forced fumble to boot, need I say more. As for the Rockets, don't even get me started...dropping four straight is no fun. Especially with T-Mac out of commission because of a foul elbow.

Oh, and congrats to my old rivals on the west side of the 6...Clements just got 10-0 with a stellar quarterback in Derek Carr. We always used to bash the Rangers all the time as high schoolers, but BASH no more...they've come a long way. Oh, and they advanced this weekend, too.

That's what weekends are meant for...and it's not over yet, because we have the NASCAR Chase for the Cup concluding today (and no it is NOT white trash like some hypocrites will say). Will it be Jimmie Johnson or Jeff Gordon? Stay tuned!

Fort Bend ISD has a new HS...thanks to you, the taxpayer...

On Election Night, Fort Bend ISD taxpayers approved a $428 million bond package that includes a new high school. The new school, currently called HS #11, is going to be built in the Sienna Plantation area.

Now that the new school has been approved, the naming debate will begin. So let's take a look at the process if I were the head honcho. We're going to play a game called Name That School.

First, the following letters will be eliminated: A, B, C, D, E, H, K, M, T and W, because there are already high schools that start with those letters, one apiece: Austin, Bush, Clements, Dulles, Elkins, Hightower, Kempner, Marshall, Travis and Willowridge. Progressive High School doesn't count since it is an alternative school.

Based on that fact, the following names float up:

Presidents (a very obvious choice since Presidents have at least one high school in their name, FBISD's George Bush for instance) with preferred names in bold:

• Thomas Jefferson
• Andrew Jackson
• Martin Van Buren
• James Polk
• Millard Fillmore
• Franklin Pierce
• Abraham Lincoln
• Andrew Johnson
• Ulysses Grant
• James Garfield
• Theodore Roosevelt
• Franklin D. Roosevelt
• Lyndon B. Johnson
• Richard Nixon
• Gerald Ford
• Ronald Reagan
  

Another potential choice would be to name the new HS after a former Texas governor. Two of them, Mark White and Ann Richards, would be obvious choices, but Richards especially has weight with Texans due to her popularity as Governor, even as she was defeated by George W. Bush. White, however may face questions due to his support of No Pass/No Play. If the school does not open until 2011, Rick Perry might come up if he loses or does not run in 2010. There are qualms with Perry, though, over his failed leadership as our guv.

Being a Texas pioneer also counts. That's why we have Stephen F. Austin and William B. Travis, for instance. They were both members of the Texas Revolution, so I am now going to focus on some of my potential picks below:

• James Fannin
• Anson Jones (the "Architect of Annexation")
• Thomas Rusk
• Juan Seguin

Finally, there are many others that may be considered, such as U.S. Cabinet alums (which explains the naming of Dulles HS), former FBISD officials (Elkins, Hightower were named after such officials), local pioneers (explains the name of I.H. Kempner) and highly regarded members of the Supreme Court (which gave us Thurgood Marshall). After all, some other names may turn up such as:

• Colin Powell
• Jane Long
• Congressman Ron Paul

Of course, as time will tell, there will be updates on what happens. Stay tuned.

More from Election Night

Well, tonight is all but over, but now here are some of the final results, including a special election in the Fort Worth side of DFW:

In HD97, the race to succeed Anna Mowery in Fort Worth:
Democrat Dan Barrett and Republican Mark Shelton will battle for this seat, where Shelton took down five other Republicans compared to Barrett being the lone donkey in the race. Shelton should be assured of Mowery's seat.

Over in Kentucky, the Democrats have picked up the Governor's Mansion. Steve Beshear has defeated incumbent Republican Ernie Fletcher by an 18-point margin, not surprising given Fletcher's controversy, despite Beshear's support of gambling which Fletcher tried to play his cards on. Mississippi's Republican governor, Haley Barbour was also up for re-election, and won his attempt over John Arthur Eaves, a Democrat who used scripture in an attempt to sway voters from Barbour, the only lucky one out of a bunch of rotten apples following Katrina.

At last check, Virginia's state Senate has gone blue, to my understanding. Northern Virginia's growth and a standstill assembly back in the Commonwealth drove the voters towards the Dems. This is only a harbinger of what is to come in 2008, with Mark Warner on the Senate ticket. I am personally going to give Warner my all just like I did for Republican incumbent (and retiring Senator) John Warner, because this is one Democrat that can make a difference across party lines, something we lack for the moment nationally. Too bad I'm not in Virginia, though.

Ohio's 5th congressional district is another battle to watch. The GOP is favored to hold this heavily rock-ribbed district that Paul Gillmor left behind in a fall to his death, but the Republicans are in a fight between the penny-pinching Steve Buehrer and the less fiery, more sentimental Bob Latta, whose father held this seat before Gillmor did. And Latta has a slight lead, for now.

Back to Houston, and reality...

All the school bonds I mentioned in the previous post are passed, meaning new schools and improvements in HISD, Spring Branch, Cy-Fair and of course, Fort Bend. (You can now go to sleep little Sienna Plantation darlings, your high school is coming soon.)

Jolanda Jones and Joe Trevino will now battle in a run-off for Houston City Council At-Large Position 5, Michael Berry's soon-to-be vacated seat. There will also be runoffs in District D (between Wanda Adams and Lawrence Allen) and District E (between Mike Sullivan and Annette Dwyer).

Brazoria County is now a wet county...you can now buy beer and wine in Pearland, Lake Jackson or Alvin without feeling guilty thanks to a nearly 3-to-1 margin. Angleton ISD is upgrading its facilities and so is Friendswood ISD.

Finally, in District I back in Houston, James Rodriguez holds on to win Carol Alvarado's seat.

That should do for now. Good night!

Election Night...2007

Tonight is Election Night, and it's an off-year, odd-year one. On this day, all over Greater Houston, bond proposals are up for debate, council seats are for the taking, and a harbinger of what is to come in 2008 may emerge.

Outside of town, voters in Kentucky and Mississippi went to the polls, as did those in New Jersey and Virginia (for their legislative bodies). Louisiana, of course had its cake already, and the victor (Bobby Jindal) ate it too in celebration of what will hopefully be a new day for our statewide neighbors to the East.

In Houston, Bill White is re-elected in a landslide, and there is going to be a run-off in the race below it appears:

AT-LARGE POS. 5
Jolanda Jones 23.3%
Joe Trevino 18.1%
Jack Christie 15.8%
Tom Nixon 15.4%
Zaf Tahir 11.2%
John Gibbs 7.3%
Marlon Barabin 4.9%
Ray Ramirez 4.0%

HISD's bonds are neck-to-neck. Half are favoring it and half are against it, and right now it's barely passing. The bonds in Cy-Fair are passing right now with 56.9% of the vote and 9% of votes in, though. Bonds are also passing to build 12 new elementary schools in Spring Branch (with 59.3% For and 20% votes in).

Finally, Fort Bend's bond issue is not only passing, but is passing with 64.4 percent of the vote. This is surprising since I expected it to be closer given qualms some of the voters in the East End of the district had. I support the bond, though, because there is a need for new schools and improvements plus the need for a new high school. I expect the new HS #11 to be in Sienna Plantation because that area is not only booming, it was divided in two by the last realignment. Four-fifths of the vote is in, by the way.

HCCS BOARD:
District 1 - Yolanda Navarro Flores (51.1) is slightly ahead of Kevin Hoffman 48.9%
District 7 - Neeta Sane, who made a spirited bid for County Treasurer in FBC last year, is slightly ahead right now with over 40%

Finally, over in The Woodlands, all three propositions there are passing overwhelmingly, putting together the building blocks of self-government there.

I will have another update...soon.

The results east of the Sabine River shall be...FINAL!

In Louisiana, the final boxes are in:

For Governor
Bobby Jindal (R) 54% - Avoids runoff, meaning he will be the new Governor of Louisiana
Walter Boasso (D) 17%
John Georges (Indie) 14%
Foster Campbell (D) 12%

Elsewhere on the ballot,
Mitch Landrieu (D) wins easily with 57%, Sammy Kershaw (R) is second with 30%

Jay Dardenne (R) re-elected Secretary of State easily with 63%

State Attorney General Charles Foti (D) defeated. No surprise given that Katrina got to him.

Finally, change is coming to Louisiana.

This now adds a Republican pickup amongst governors, but that will be short-lived given the events fixing to take place in Kentucky, where Ernie Fletcher (R) is slated for defeat. Also, on Election Day, we will be seeing the outcome in that state and also in New Jersey and Virginia, which could have some ratifications on the state of America next year.

That's all for now. See you soon!

Update in Louisiana Governor's Race...

Okay, it's been ten minutes, but I am posting this simply because these results are as of 9:45 sharp...that's 21:45:00 in military hours.

Bobby Jindal (R) 53%
Walter Boasso (D) 18%
Foster Campbell and John Georges (N) 13% apiece
(I'm not to worry about that hairdresser with a pardon plan for disgraced officials anymore, she's a goner anyway)

Precincts checked: 2,372 of 3,967

A Shift in the Swamp...need I say more?

Tonight, the state of Louisiana is conducting the primary phase of its jungle primary in which all candidates run on the same ballot with the top two regardless of party affiliation. This won't be the case next year with Congress, but statewide races (the Governor's Mansion included) should remain in the jungle.

The Democrats are divided because of the unpopularity of Gov. Kathleen Blanco. The hurricanes that hammered Louisiana in 2005 (Katrina and Rita) put a strain on Louisiana, especially along the stretch from the Sabine River past Acadiana all the way to New Orleans, and the latter as we all know had it especially hard. In fact, the Democrats had such a weak field when Blanco dropped the ball and decided to leave office at the end of this year that they had to get a Republican to run: State Senator Walter Boasso. Boasso is a conservative and pro-business, so if he chooses to stay with the Democrats, this might be a boost to Howard Dean's 50 State Strategy, at least when it comes to pro-business candidates and especially in recruiting Republicans.

On the GOP side, my side of the aisle, the party is united behind Congressman Bobby Jindal, who represents the bulk of the Jeff and the suburban parishes on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. This is the area where my paternal grandmother resides, the district that once belonged to Bob Livingston until he abruptly stepped down and David Vitter until he won John Breaux's Senate seat, and it seems rather odd that most anywhere my paternal, more intelligent, academic and Northern side of the family resides, there is something interesting about their districts. Of course, with mine, we once had Tom DeLay and Ron Paul, but now have a vulnerable Democrat in Nick Lampson. My aunt in PA, if it's Williamsport, has another vulnerable Dem in Chris Carney (who won only because his GOP rival had a run-in with a mistress), and my great-aunt in Atlanta is in Tom Price's district; it used to be Sen. Johnny Isakson in that seat and before that, Newt Gingrich.

Anyway, my hopes are clearly on Jindal, who if he gets 50% tonight is going to be the first House/Senate/Governor post to flip from Democrat to Republican since the thumping of 2006. Louisiana turned him down in 2003, but now they are appearing to finally be waking up.

In another race, the Lieutenant Governor, Mitch Landrieu (Sen. Mary Landrieu's brother who once took a stab at Ray Nagin until his "Chocolate City" army bused in from Houston and shot him down), is himself facing a fight against country singer Sammy Kershaw...But the question is, will that race last into another month? Apparently not, Landrieu's ahead with 52%, two above the boiling point.

But in the real race...the Governor's race to my East:

As of 9:34 PM

Bobby Jindal (R) 51%
Walter Boasso (D) 19%
Foster Campbell (D) 14% (Louisiana's Public Service Commissioner)
John Georges (Indie) 13% (New Orleans gaming and grocery magnate)
Mary Volentine Smith (D) 1% (retired hairdresser whose only purpose for running supposedly is to release a disgraced former governor)

There will be more updates when the time rolls around. At least one, maybe a deuce.

The PTC and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Primetime Lineup

NOTE: It has been well over a year now, but I am finally about to take charge of my blog once again...what a relief! :D

Ok, let's face it. We all know what the PTC stands for. It's an organization of religious-righties who want the federal government to expand its broadcasting powers so that they won't have an extreme burden put on them when it comes to raising their children. So now, curious as I am, I have decided to break down the PTC traffic lights and see what turns up. This is all my personal opinion, by the way.

GREEN LIGHT: Shows the PTC claims support responsibility and tradition.
AMERICAN IDOL - Once considered a noble idea (it gave us Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood), it has now become a nightmare to watch. Think Sanjaya. If it weren't for teenyboppers who watch our good stuff and ruin it all for the rest of us, this would have been more appealing.
AMERICAN INVENTOR - Didn't watch much of it, but some of it was pretty interesting.
EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION - Very much worth watching, one show that does cross across age groups.
POWER OF 10 - Drew Carey is a rising star. Wait, he may have been one already.
SUPER NANNY - Do we Americans expect to rely on Britain all the time to solve our problems? Not when it comes to bratty kids.

YELLOW LIGHT: Keep the little ones out the room (I'm talking elementary schoolers)
AMERICA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS - All because of uncensored home videos with a baby wearing (edited for content) or a man getting hit in the groin by a football? That's what makes AFV...AFV.
AMERICA'S GOT TALENT - Does the PTC have beef against Jerry Springer because of his TV raunch? It's a talent show! What do you expect?
DANCING WITH THE STARS - That's what competitive dancing is...competitiveness and style, even if the language isn't right and the attire is provocative.
KING OF THE HILL - This may seem pretty dangerous to an impressionable youngster who may start acting racist or judgmental (especially based on characters like the mentally deranged Cotton and Hank's elitist neighbor, Kahn). But otherwise, nothing is wrong with a satire of Texas culture.
SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE - Does not seem very interesting to me.
THE SIMPSONS - They do not want anyone under 14 watching the grandaddy of the American animated comedy? I was only six when I first watched it, and yes I did have some effects but NO, it didn't leave me wounded and scarred.

RED LIGHT: Inappropriate for their definition of "children"
AMERICA'S MOST WANTED - I admit. It is a very scary show for children to watch. That's why I never regularly watched it until I turned 12.
BOSTON LEGAL - This show is brilliant. But then again, would I want my son or daughter learning about the secret files of a law firm in Beantown?
BROTHERS AND SISTERS - This show is a definite choice to watch on a Sunday night when sports and studies don't get in the way. But what is the PTC's problem with a seemingly original show?
CSI - This show is as close to the forensic science profession as TV will get. A terrific show. Unless my kids want to go into forensic science, I'd probably be better off watching it on my own terms.
COPS - This show is appropriate for even teenagers, but young children will get nightmares from watching the most realistic show on TV, because unlike CSI, L&O and vice versa, the stars are 100% REAL police officers, whether they are in Texas or not.
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES - The big problem with the show to them is sex. But does that mean even high-schoolers who supposedly make up a significant chunk of its viewing audience can't watch it? It's natural for a teenage girl to watch television that is uniquely her own.
ER - There was nothing scary about bodies being surgically examined on TV, even when I was only eight (when it first launched). And I can say it prepared me for my frog dissection in HS.
FAMILY GUY - It's a satire! What do you expect? (A satire without questionable content is not a satire at all)
GREY'S ANATOMY - There are medical procedures that could be useful if my son or daughter wants to be a doctor! It's not just about romance!
HEROES - This was the surprise smash hit of the previous TV season...because the storylines are as interesting as you can get. So what to them is wrong with the show?
LAS VEGAS - I would wholeheartedly agree on this one. It is a very realistic, but very mature show to watch, because Vegas is only appropriate for myself and anyone on my level of fun in Vegas (poker, sun, hunting for luxury goods, and I don't do outlets, fellas.)
LAW & ORDER - This is based on the news (e.g. one recent episode based on Diapergate), so this is one show that would require some supervision.
LOST - Quite an interesting show, but at what cost to innocent children?
NIP/TUCK - Easily one of the better scripted shows on cable. The name should send a message to the little ones.
ONE TREE HILL - One of the last remnants of the WB is a teen drama that the PTC doesn't want teens to watch. What a bunch of ridiculous idiots these people are. As if life with even one romantic scene on TV is a nightmare.
RESCUE ME - This is an authentic replica (and I am going to shorten it to a portmanteau called" autheplica") of a firefighter in NYC. What do you expect with this show? I would have my kids wait until high school for something like this, and I do not want to say this until I am through with the blog, but the PTC wants to ruin it all for the rest of us by forcing advertisers to drop the ball and kill it, all because even ONE child watches it? What if that child is fascinated by firefighters and wants to be one himself?
THE BIGGEST LOSER - It does not recommend even teenagers (whom for some reason they describe as 'children') to watch this show. What if that kid wants inspiration to make him or herself feel proud? (and that's from the title song)
THE SHIELD - This show is pretty graphic, but hey, I was 15 and I could even hold my own breath through a homosexual scene.
TWENTY-FOUR - This can scare a kid, especially when the subject matter is terrorism.
WITHOUT A TRACE - This show is not appropriate for youngsters, but what angers me is the fact that CBS affiliates were fined all because of thousands of fake complaints they wrote that were nothing but the same generic computer-generated letter with next to nil personal input. Give me some real, actual, PERSONALIZED letters, geniuses!

And to top it off, they even complain about Don Imus (whose gaffe was caught live and without a rating) and an NFL playoff game (all because of a shirt with the F-bomb worn by a Saints fan against the Eagles that was also live as well).

So in other words, the PTC itself wants to control what everyone, even RESPONSIBLE EDUCATED MENSA MEMBERS who know what good TV is, watches on TV, so that their "precious little angels" will grow up 'perfectly'. And the possibility of that happening is next to nil, because only Jesus is perfect. And a lot of these whiners are going to eventually find out that even though they claim the Apocalypse is coming because of our sins, it is their sins that are to blame, not everyone else's. And I do answer to a more awesome God than theirs, which is seeming more like the God the neocons listen to, which makes me yearn for the days of Ronald Reagan and his classic form of government, which preached conservatism on ALL fronts, not just one or the other.

At least I agree with the PTC on MTV (which is nothing but Trash TV instead of music which its initials stand for) and cable choice (so I can get ESPN without the sappy, nausea-inducing Disney Channel, catch The Sopranos and Intervention on A&E without having to pay for Lifetime, and also not have to rummage past the three shopping channels after the city TV channel (Channel 16) to get to USA while still paying less money for a great American service). That in addition to some of my descriptions above.

So in other words, the PTC is basically a product of a brand of conservatism that is faltering and is not really conservative in any way. Why? Because its goals represent expanding our already bloated government, not helping America's Future.