Rep. Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, is the topic of discussion in the blogosphere this week. Bloggers are also talking about state legislation, things that could only happen on the Internet and things that haven't happened yet at all. And we've got a rather long section devoted to miscellaneous things.
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Joe, Blogged
Straus showcases the political savvy that garnered him the House Speakership: Asked to choose between the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Texans, he picks the Houston Oilers. KVUE's Political Junkie has video of that here [1].
Texas Politics, the Houston Chronicle's blog links [2] to Straus interviews in various media. Here [3]'s the Texas Observer Blog's take on the "new boss."
Two signs of a possibly healthy relationship between the Speaker and the media: Straus isn't against bringing wireless Internet into the House Chamber [4], reports Vaqueros and Wonkeros, the El Paso Times' blog. (Huzzah!) And Straus made an appearance [5] at a party celebrating the transition of Trail Blazers blogger Karen Brooks to Austin's KXAN-TV.
Suggesting that Democrats might have been better off, politically, with Rep. Tom Craddick, R-Midland [6] still wielding the Speaker's gavel, BurkaBlog steps into an anthill. Burnt Orange Report comes out stinging [7], claiming that the GOP "is simply on the wrong side of history." Capitol Annex disagrees [8] with Burka, too, saying that House members can now form "a possibly bullet-proof veto-overriding new majority."
Likely effects of a Straus speakership [9], according to Off the Kuff: "Less turmoil," "Fewer egregious bills on the floor" and "A chance to actually address some of Texas' real problems." Meanwhile, Libertarian Republican is convinced [10] Straus is a libertarian Republican.
Junkie spotted [11] a no-commenting, former Parliamentarian Denise Davis at the State Capitol. Vaqueros did, too, and wonders [12] what's up. Postcards from the Lege, the Austin American-Statesman's blog, heard from "an authoritative source" that she'll be back [13] as Parliamentarian (for Straus this time; she had that job, famously, under Craddick).
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On the Agenda
Tex Parte looks at House Bill 485 [14] by Rep. Veronica Gonzales, D-McAllen, which would mandate ethics training for legislators and certain high-ranking state employees. Falick writes about Senate Bill 440 [15] by Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, that would "eliminate all functions of the State Board [of Education] except oversight of the Permanent School Fund."
Meanwhile, Annex posts about HB 519 [16] by Rep. Helen Giddings, D-DeSoto,to create a University of North Texas pharmacy school; HB 508 [17] by Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, to study replacing property taxes to fund schools; HB 489 [18] by Rep. Joe Pickett, D-El Paso, to require property owners to clean up graffiti; HB 492 [19] by Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond, to create liaisons between state agencies and faith- and community-based organizations; and, HB 509 [20] by Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball, to allow emergency medical technicians to draw blood from suspected drunk drivers.
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Marfa to Marshall
The vast left-wing conspiracy known as the Netroots nearly collapsed [21] this week, as hackers hacked backend provider SoapBlox [22], according to Burnt Orange Report. Several sites outside the state went down. But everything worked out [23] in the end, and now Burnt Orange and others are asking for donations [24] to ensure SoapBlox's future existence.
A print story on gambling money and state legislators got plenty of attention online [25] from the subjects of the story, according to Texas Politics. Statesman reporter Jason Embry started a new blog [26] called First Reading. Each morning he writes about what's going on in the news and state politics. And Annex is selling Che Guevara-inspired shirts featuring Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, among other things [27] in their online store. (Annex assures [28] readers that the shirt is an Annex original.)
The tandem of Letters from Texas and mean rachel discovers the origin of Marfa's Mystery Lights [29]. Meanwhile, American Bar Association Journal readers voted Houston lawyer Mark Bennett's Defending People [30] as the best crime blog in the country, reports [31] Tex Parte Blog, which also was recognized by the Journal. And A Capitol Blog posts photo evidence [32] that someone was lying on him to a Rio Grande Guardian reporter.
Headline of the Week Award goes to an admonitory Eileen Smith for her Burka post titled, "We Are Not Marshall [33]," capping a week full of rather bizarre references by Burka readers to a lobbyist named Marshall Kenderdine. (Check out the comments sections of recent Burka posts [34] for said references, and here [35]'s a dedicated post by In the Pink Texas.)
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Future Tense
Rep. Aaron Peña, D-Edinburg, will have tamales and pan dulce [36] at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 13 in his office, E1.512, according to his A Capitol Blog. Meanwhile, Texas Watchdog is hosting a Houston-area blogger get together [37] 2 p.m. Jan. 17 at, of course, a bar. And Walker Report has a schedule of January events [38] in the San Antonio area.
Houston conservative has video of a roundtable discussion [39] among Texas Public Policy Foundation folks reviewing 2008 and previewing the 2009 session. And Eye on Williamson predicts [40] that the Craddick-Straus showdown portends the 2010 GOP primary between incumbent Gov. Rick Perry and U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.
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Potpourri
A scrum of Texas reporters got a faces-to-face sit-down with outgoing President George W. Bush, and Potomac is leaking portions of the interview bit by bit. Here [41]'s something on the commissioning of the U.S.S. George H.W. Bush (plus photos [42]), and here [43]'s something on his place in history.
Conservative blogger Blue Dot Blues writes a paragraph on each freshman Republican state legislator [44]. Here's a summary: Rep. Angie Chen Button, R-Garland, "is a mostly unknown quantity." Rep. Allen Fletcher, R-Tomball, should "be a key House ally to conservative State Senator Dan Patrick," R-Houston. Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, might still act like a Democrat. Rep. Tim Kleinschmidt, R-Lexington, "looks to be more consistently and fiscally conservative." Rep. Ken Legler, R-Pasadena, is "promising." Rep. Tryon Lewis, R-Odessa, "has an awkward place in history," being promoted by Craddick to defeat former Rep. Buddy West, R-Odessa, in the GOP primary, shortly after which West died. Rep. Doug Miller, R-New Braunfels, has is conservative credentials questioned. Rep. Ralph Sheffield, R-Temple, looks to be "solid." Rep. Mark Shelton, R-Fort Worth, favors aggressively reforming the insurance industry. Rep. Randy Weber, R-Pearland, is "Likely to be good on fiscal issues and definitely good on social ones." And Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, is "set to be a better conservative than her predecessor" Kyle Janek, R-Houston.
Here's video [45] of former contender Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo, after withdrawing from the Speaker race, from Junkie. Meanwhile, Falick answers the question, "Why? [46]" And Musings has a list of the top 50 PACs [47] in Texas for contributions received in 2008.
Blogger refinish69 posts Part Five of his "Homeless in Austin [48]" series on Kaos. The bad news: A strange neurological disorder and rampant bigotry. The good news: Going back to church.
Christine DeLay, wife of former U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, didn't show up for a deposition, despite a subpoena [49], reports Anti Corruption Republican. Here [50]'s something else from ACR on the same case. And Blog maverick posts on the surprising difficulties [51] that go along with trying to spend a billion dollars on a sports team, at least, when it's the Chicago Cubs.
Someone clued Burka in on Craddick's governing strategy [52] — "allowing the Calendars committee to load up the agenda with ideological issues that were certain to intensify animosity among the parties." For example, he says that Craddick instructed Rep. Sid Miller, R-Stephenville, to continue a heated, and racially tinged, argument with Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, and Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, over a historical monument bill.
Letters from Texas obtained video footage of Craddick's press secretary Alexis DeLee grabbing a TV reporter's microphone cord [53] to prevent her boss from being fielding a question outside Sullivan's steakhouse the night he gave up his post. In related news, the chairmanship of House Corrections looks to be safe [54] for Rep. Jerry Madden, R-Richardson, Postcards says.
This edition of Out There was compiled and written by Patrick Brendel, who hails from Victoria but is semi-settled in Austin. We cherry-pick the state's political blogs each week, looking for news, info, gossip, and new jokes. The opinions here belong (mostly) to the bloggers, and we're including their links so you can hunt them down if you wish. Our blogroll — the list of Texas blogs we watch — is on our links [55] page, and if you know of a Texas political blog that ought to be on it, just shoot us a note. Please send comments, suggestions, gripes or retorts to Texas Weekly editor Ross Ramsey [56].