It's Monday, and that means it's time for another Texas Progressive Alliance Blog Round-Up. This week's round up is compiled by Vince from Capitol Annex. As the TPA welcomed aboard a few new members this week, you may notice some new names and blogs.

Muse at Musings liveblogs Lap Dog Cornyn’s portion of Petraeus’ appearance before the Senate Armed Services Committee this past week and notes that he slobbers all over himself praising the surge.

McBlogger at McBlogger goes to the CAMPO meeting on the Phase 2 toll roads and finds lies, damn lies and statistics as well as an Austin City Council Member who seems hell bent on ending his political career. Is resurrection possible? Sure... if you believe McCracken is the second coming. Spoiler alert: McBlogger doesn't.

While on vacation, PDiddie at Brains and Eggs discovered quite a few similarities between the Texas Legislature and the Nevada State Assembly.

Good news brought by TXsharon at Bluedaze: Bush Economy Solves Obesity Problem!

Could Be True at South Texas Chisme notes that the Republican tactics of purging voter rolls, creating barriers to voting, and discouraging new voter registration are moving right along and could get serious in Bexar County.

After the demolition of yet another historic structure in Houston, Charles at Off the Kuff looks at what can be done to abet preservation efforts going forward.

Adam Silva of Three Wise Men, blogging for the UNT Democrats, provides a detailed analysis of competitive U.S. Senate races for 2008.

City life can be complicated-but it includes an awfully lot of conveniences that we take utterly for granted-as long as they work. In Houston, We Have a Problem, on Texas Kaos, The Houston Organization of Public Employees (HOPE) invites all of us to get a little taste, so to speak, of what it takes to keep the fourth largest city in the nation running.

WhosPlayin notes that some Republican Members of Congress just don't know when to stop digging a hole in continuing to support a failed president.

Since 9/11, an increasingly strident message of xenophobia has seeped into both fringe and mainstream political movements. A new climate of exclusion has formed as a result of this country's heightened anxiety against racial, ethnic, and religious minorities. Whether or not intended as such, new Texas Progressive Alliance member Xicno Pwr at ¡Para Justicia y Libertad! tells us we are in the midst of a growing culture of hate as the number of hate crimes in this country are on the rise.

WCNews at Eye On Williamson posts on the unintended consequences of the 2003 GOP redistricting scheme in Are Democrats Statewide Prospects Improving Because Of GOP Gerrymandering?

Refinish69, another recent addition to the TPA, at Doing My Part for the Left examines sex scandals and hypocrites in the Repugnant Party and Texas Stonewall Caucus.

Have Republicans moved in a "ringer" to challenge Chet Edwards in TX-CD 17? Vince addresses that in a post at Capitol Annex.

The Texas Clover Leaf (a new member of the Alliance) notes that Alan Keyes has entered the GOP race for President, but asks if he is actually the Republican's version of Obama.

Texas Toad at North Texas Liberal tells us about the controversy surrounding the preservation of trees at the Trinity Trail in Ft. Worth.

John at Bay Area Houston tells us that Jared Woodfill, Chairman of he Harris County Republican Party, must think Hispanics are stupid with his recent op-ed in the Houston Chronicle "Hispanics can feel right at home in the Texas GOP".

Jack Cluth at The People's Republic of Seabrook notes that it would seem that we've learned nothing from the 60s. Today, in allegedly-enlightened 21st century America, a man or woman can be fired from their job in 31 states for the simple fact of being a homosexual. Regardless of how you feel about the "lifestyle", how can anyone who values liberty and freedom be OK with this...especially with Americans dying in Iraq to "protect and defend out freedom"?

Jaye at Winding Road in Urban Area addresses several things, including machine-gun-toting cops in a 'brain dump,' post, The Stream of Consciousness Just Overflowed the Toilet. (Please flush!)

Todd Hill (another new addition to the Texas Progressive Alliance) blogging at Burnt Orange Report tells us all about a North Texas Tribute to Speaker Jim Wright.

Matt at Stop Cornyn tells us how John Cornyn worked to disenfranchise minority voters while he was Attorney General.

Evan Leslie at Caucus Blog reviews the href="http://thecaucusblog.blogspot.com/2007/09/discussing-hisd-
bond.html">Houston GLBT Political Caucus's deliberations over its
potential endorsement of the Houston Independent School District bond
proposal.

Don't forget to check out other Texas Progressive Alliance blogs, too: BlueBloggin (new member!), The Agonist, Blue 19th (new member!), In The Pink Texas, Grassroots News U Can Use (new member!), The Caucus Blog (new member!), The Texas Blue (new member!), Casual Soap Box, Common Sense, Dos Centavos, Easter Lemming Liberal News, Feet To Fire, Marc’s Miscellany, Rhetoric & Rhythm, Three Wise Men, Truth Serum Blog, and Wyld Card

Why is Michael Burgess so vulnerable this election cycle? For one thing, he doesn't know he's in a hole, and he keeps digging. Case in point: This recent email from Burgess to a constituent where he continues to back the obvious failures of our President: (I've made a few corrections here...)

Dear Mr. Xxxxxxxx:

Thank you for contacting me about President George W. (shrub) Bush and Vice-President Dick (Dick) Cheney. I appreciate hearing from being able to bullshit you on this important matter.

I believe that President George W. Bush and Vice-President Dick Cheney have provided decisive a glaring lack of leadership for our country. I have been supportive of a willing accomplice of the Administration throughout my congressional career and will continue to offer my support, no matter how wrong he is, and at all costs to myself and my own intellect.

Under President Bush, the United States continues to hunt down and destroy foment terrorist networks, ignore Osama bin Laden, start ill-conceived wars on a fraudulent basis, the economy has thrived for the wealthy, steps are being made to de-stabilize Iraq and establish self-governance, and two great Supreme Court justices have been nominated to our nation's highest court, among other things (like ignoring pre-9/11 intelligence, or causing the largest federal debt and deficits EVER!!!).

Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me. I appreciate having the opportunity to represent you in the U.S. House of Representatives. Please feel free to visit my website (www.house.gov/burgess) or contact me with any future concerns.

Sincerely,


Michael C. Burgess, M.D.
Member of Congress

You know, if the shoe were on the other foot, and I were in Congress receiving letters from constituents who obviously disagreed with me, I would do my absolute best to write a persuasive and sufficiently detailed letter outlining WHY I disagreed. A one-size-fits-all letter fired off whenever a constituent mentions a particular topic is not only insulting, but is detrimental to the process of a representative democracy.

And another damn thing: This horse shit about defending someone else's illegal activities on the basis of party affiliation is just plain wrong. I don't give a damn which party the President wants to soil with his affiliation, or which party gains the presidency in 2008. The role of a Congressman, first and foremost, is to serve in the role of oversight as a check against the powers of the Executive. If I were a Congressman and President Hillary Clinton started an illegal war and lied to the American people about it, I would file impeachment charges in a New York minute.

I want to take a moment to say a few things. First, I know I give you crap about it, but... I want to thank you, Steve, as well as the other Guardian Journalists (bloggers included) out there that post commentary for us to read. I consider myself fairly common with the exception of not watching reality TV: I don't spend hours a day reading blogs, political books/news or watching political TV and I sure as hell stay away from Air America. *shudder* Ugh! The negativity rots my soul. BUT, for those of you that do, your reports of the REAL goings-on inform me. Thank you for the honesty and integrity. - the idiotic flame wars, I could do without, though it has been entertaining at times, kinda like sensational "journalism" rags at the check out counter of your local grocery store.
But for all of you, thank you for what you do.

I think that sometimes we get so upset about what's going on around us that we want to take action.

For some of us that means we seek to hold an office. If we hold the office, then we know we will vote correctly - like no more Iraq War funding, etc. That's great! We need you! Bring it on. But I wonder if that's the best way to lead a nation of non-voters.

For some of us, we feel the need to get out and hold demonstrations. We want everyone to see what we think, feel how we feel, do what needs to be done to remedy the situation. You all rock my world. I admire you so much. Even if the nervous butterflies are there, you prevail. YOU are courageous. I feel very honored to call some of you 'friend.'

And then there are those of us that are the informers and catalysts. For those of you that are our Truth Guardians, thank you. For those of you that report on what's REALLY going on in our government, Thank you. For those of you that stick your necks out and expose yourself, thank you. Keep on, keeping on... the rest of us need you. No, we NEED you. Please understand that.

I watched the latest video of Mr. Olbermann. As always with him, I was moved by his passion and mastery of imagery, "sweating figuratively in the valley of the shaddow of death" <--that's DAMN GOOD. Anyway, I felt moved. I felt angered. I felt... led.

But what are we supposed to do after we get our dander up? What are we supposed to do? What's the next step? WHO IS GOING TO LEAD US TO THE NEXT STEP??! How do we get such a LIAR! out of our beloved Office of the President? What are we supposed to do when our US Sentators and US Rep are Bush-clone douchebags? What am I, a working mother who votes my conscience whenever I have the opportunity, WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO? What is it going to take to have the entire nation walk on the mall? What is going to have to happen to have the entire nation storm the White House or the Capitol? Why are most Americans still complacent?

Seriously, how is it possible that there are still Bush supporters? If you are one, please respond. I would love to hear your views. I would love to understand. Thank you in advance.

Why does the general media not cover this? Why is it so swept under the rug?

I don't understand, and I don't know what to do. I need someone to tell me what to do. How I can take action, if there's any action to be taken? I don't want to have to wait to dethrone King George in November 2008, I want it done now! I am ANGRY and FRUSTRATED and I feel weak.

I need a hero.

-jennifer

P.S. Do you think Mr. Olbermann has bodyguards?

Why is it that just about every time I accidentally land on CSPAN, I eventually see Republican Rep. Michael Burgess show up and say something utterly stupid? Tonight, used car salesman Rep John Carter of Roundrock, TX had several Republican members of the house, including Michael Burgess stand up and report on their "weekend trip" to Iraq in late July. Before I launch into Burgess for his insulting speech, I'd like to take a moment to clear something up that one of his colleagues insinuated: Democrats do NOT WANT FAILURE IN IRAQ. I hope you can pardon us for being just a little bit cynical about trusting the President and his cherry-picked leadership about what is really going on over there. I want peace there - we all do. We want our troops home sooner rather than later. We want our generals to do everything they can to help the Iraqi government to stand up and control their destiny. To say that Democrats want failure for political reasons is utterly insulting, and the American people deserve representation that can recognize and respect a difference of opinion.


At any rate, here's today's rant about Michael Burgess. You might think this petty, but when Michael Burgess was talking about his recent trip to Iraq, he mentioned that he had talked with the "soldiers of" such and such Marine detachment. Oooh, that just set me off. I'm used to the blather about Iraq. But a U.S. Congressman ought to know better than to call a Marine a soldier. Soldiers all serve in the Army. I don't say this out of any disrespect for Army soldiers. Rather I ask that people take just a minute to support the troops just a little bit by learning something about them.

Members of the Marine Corps are Marines. When they are discharged or retire, they are Former Marines, or just Marines - not ex-Marines. A true former Marine will never call himself an "ex". Marines have gone through 13 weeks of recruit training or "boot camp" to earn that title in addition to many months of advanced M.O.S. training.

There are no soldiers in the Marine Corps. The Marine Corps does not have medics, they have Navy Corpsmen. When you encounter a Marine with three stripes, and he's got any rockers under those stripes, don't call him a Sergeant unless you want to get decked. Don't call any Marine "Sarge" unless you want to get pummeled.

Three stripes: call him Sergeant.
Three stripes and a rocker: call him Staff Sergeant.
Three stripes and two rockers: call him Gunnery Sergeant or "Gunny".
Three stripes, crossed rifles, and three rockers: call him Master Sergeant or "Top"
Three stripes, a diamond, and three rockers: call him First Sergeant.
Three stripes, crossed rifles, and four rockers: call him Master Gunnery Sergeant or "Master Guns"
Three stripes, a star, and four rockers: call him Sergeant Major.

And by the way, if you want to know what in the hell is going on with things, you might consider talking to a sergeant major or two. They're often a lot closer to the morale of their troops than the generals.

More tips for when you're hanging out with Marines:
- Don't ask for a latrine, unless you want to dig. Ask for "the head".
- Ships and tanks have "guns". Marines carry rifles and side-arms.
- Food is chow, the floor is a deck, the wall is a bulkhead, the door is a hatch, and the window is a port hole.
- Don't try to salute. If you haven't served, you don't rate it. If a Marine salutes you, just say "Good afternoon" or whatever appropriate greeting, and nod. If they should give you the respect of standing at attention when you walk into the room, say "as you were".

And that's all I have to say about that.

Readers, I feel a compelling need to testify tonight. I have had a peaceful easy feeling all day today. This week, I'm in Ohio visiting a client in a town so small that they don't even rate a full-sized Dairy Queen. This morning, I drove to work under the bright sunshine past bountiful farms of head-high corn and knee-high beans. I drove through several Rockwell-esque small towns, arrived at my client's plant just a block from the remnants of the old Erie Canal. I saw my old friends, for whom I have not worked in at least five years. I jumped in today and worked on remnants of old website code that I first wrote back in 2002.

The client was our client because in early 2002, our economy was in the toilet and I found myself "on the bench" between clients. I pulled out my stash of business cards collected when I had given training courses in Detroit and Atlanta, and began calling my former students. Long story short, I was only benched for about a week, because I was able to book myself a gig with this client.

I remember how proud I had been calling my boss and telling him that I had arranged the deal, only to get a sinking feeling when I found out that this particular client had owed the company money from a previous engagement with another consultant that didn't go well. My boss was not happy, but he figured it was a sunk cost and sent me anyway. I replaced an old dial-up system with a web-based extranet, and I pulled it off in just two weeks. The client was very happy and paid their bill. In fact, the client decided to engage my firm, several consultants for several years rewriting their entire ERP system from scratch. This week, as I arrived, one of my coworkers had just departed after 4 1/2 years working for this company and successfully deploying his work. So, it comes full circle today as I find my old code from 2002 and update it to add new features and modernize it. (It's like 50 years old in web years!)

But that's not the miracle I speak of. Nope, that's just a pleasant story that frames my current happiness.

Tonight, I ate dinner in the attached Dairy Queen in a gas station next to my tiny hotel. I came back and propped up on the bed and flipped on the television for some channel surfing.

I stopped on CSPAN for some reason. I think they were in the middle of taking a vote, and the sound was silenced. I don't know why I stayed on the channel - honestly. But while I was on the channel, I saw something that just - took my breath away - and choked me up a little. I'm not going to tell you what it was. But as I said, I believe in miracles, and I also believe in signs.

...

When I was in college, I first started learning how to ask for and receive miracles and signs. There were times when MamaSk8z and I were such broke college students that we literally did not know where the money for the bills would come from, much less our meals. There were times when like my meal tonight, we would go to the gas station for supper - not because we wanted to, but because we had a gas card and no cash and bare cupboards.

At the time, we kept our personal cashflow in a spreadsheet that had daily projections of our bottom line, based on what our bills were, and when our paychecks came in. Sometimes the balance would show that on a certain day, it was going to be negative - meaning that it simply wouldn't work. Because I am anal-retentive, I couldn't let it stand. On a lark one day, fed up with worry, I entered in a deposit for the future that I knew I had no chance of making and labeled it "Miracle" and put in just enough money to keep us in the black.

As you know, saying that you are going to have extra money on a certain date several weeks in the future doesn't make it so.

But in our case, it did. I don't remember what the first occurrence was, but we did indeed receive an unsolicited, unexpected check. We probably did this at least 3 times before understanding our blessing. And we did it again and again, barely suspending disbelief to allow it to happen

On other occasions we have asked for signs. I suppose it will probably sound weird to those who are not spiritual or religious, but you can ask your higher power for a sign. If you listen and pay attention, you will be astounded.

Here's how it works best: Go in prayer or meditation or whatever state you feel most spiritual in. Ask you higher power for an answer to your question. Frame your answer in as few choices as possible, and ask for specific signs that represent each of these choices. Don't be squishy on this. Ask for something very specific - not just a casual sign. Don't ask for something that you think you'll see in the normal course of your day. Put a time-table on it.

The Texas Progressive Alliance is proud to present the TPA Blog Round-Up for September 3, 2007. This Labor Day edition was compiled by Vince from Capitol Annex.

In the opening part of his in-depth series on the policies of the Democratic presidential candidates, Phillip Martin at Burnt Orange Report examines where the candidates fall on issues concerning energy and the environment. From their stance on CAFE standards to new coal plants, to renewable energy and greenhouse emissions, the post provides a well-sourced comparison of all 8 of the candidates' platforms.

Texas Toad at North Texas Liberal lets us know that, even after embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' resignation, Texas' unpopular Sen. John Cornyn is still defending Bush's crony.

As Bush prepares to ask Congress for $200 billion in supplemental spending TXsharon at Bluedaze tells us just who The Iraq War Profiteers are.

Muse at Musings live blogs NASA Administrator Michael Griffin's press conference about astronauts and alcohol use and finds his "sensationalism" and "urban legend" accusations of the independent commission¹s report a little tiresome. Not to mention defensive.

Over at Texas Kaos, in "Clinton Did Nothing to Stop Bin Laden" Is a GOP Lie, Krazypuppy takes on the Republican lie that Democrats are soft on terror with some of them facts we in the Reality Based Community are always on about. As one commenter notes, Dems aren't weak on terror, they're weak on Republicans. Time for that to change, for America's sake, Iran's sake, and the entire world's sake.

Someone shoved a press release under Hal at Half Empty's nose: Ron E. Reynolds will challenge Dora Olivo for state Representative in HD 27.

WCNews at Eye On Williamson posts on TxDOT's plan to buy back interstate highways from the federal government and put tolls on them and asks Will TxDOT' Plan To Toll Interstates Be Tipping Point?

The last public hearing prior to METRO choosing a route for its Universities light rail line was this past Tuesday. Alexandria Ragsdale attended the hearing, made her statement in favor of a Richmond Avenue alignment, and blogged all about it at Off The Kuff

Whosplayin.com shares correspondence with his Congressman urging the avoidance of pre-emptive war against Iran and shares a study regarding the administrations probable plans on the matter.

John at Bay Area Houston claims the recent changes to the Texas Residential Construction Commission makes it the most expensively worthless Commission in Texas.

Vince at Capitol Annex examines some interesting questions raised by the lawsuit against the changes to the pledge to the Texas flag made by the 80th Legislature.

Unchecked development in Texas now threatens the continued long-term existence of an iconic bird species, the Whooping Crane, notes Peter at B & B.

CouldBeTrue at South Texas Chisme shows how El Paso Women are taking a stand against NAFTA. These courageous women staged a hunger strike for the Labor Day weekend to bring attention to the loss of American jobs due to NAFTA.

And, McBlogger will be celebrating a birthday soon and has some convenient gift ideas for everyone.

Be sure to check out these other great Texas Progressive Alliance blogs, too: Brains & Eggs, Casual Soap Box, Common Sense, Dos Centavos, Easter Lemming Liberal News, Feet To Fire, In The Pink Texas, Marc's Miscellany, People's Republic of Seabrook, Rhetoric & Rhythm, Three Wise Men, Truth Serum Blog, Winding Road In Urban Area,
and Wyld Card.

In the past, I've written a little bit about our Denton County Commissioner from Precinct 1, Cynthia White. I'm sorry to say that due to all of the crazy stories I've heard from various of her acquaintances, I've probably not been too kind but I have pulled some punches too.

At any rate, this past week, it was brought to my attention that Cynthia White (aka. "Schyler") fancies herself a rock star.

Texas Cloverleaf took some time to give her a bit of a ribbing about it.

This past Thursday night, I actually downloaded some of her MP3s and took a listen. I must say that I like this role for her. She seems happy at it, and I think she could do better at this than with being a County Commissioner. At first I thought it was funny, and I must admit that I had a good laugh, but I had to ask myself why.

I think what struck me as funny is that she would feel the need to "hide her light" - so to speak. The use of a pseudonym, coupled with the use of the same series of Glamour shots as used in her now-defunct campaign website, and her County website I suppose struck me as attention-seeking, but in a passive-agressive way.

What I also thought was ironic was the list of other musicians in her MySpace friends list - many of whom are decidedly non-Republican. I don't think John Lennon would have supported toll roads or been proud to be the largest county in Texas without a public hospital.

At any rate, I'm not trying to be political right now - it's my day off, and I was just sitting here playing my guitar and singing to an empty room thinking that I needed to write some words of encouragement to Mrs. White.

Music unites, and I understand. I really do. If I was as talented as Mrs. White and could make any money at it, I'd blow off this whole "consultant" thing and be a Bluegrass musician. Cynthia, you've got some talent. I especially like your cover songs. Your voice IS dynamic, and your band is pretty good. I think that you've found your calling and you should go for it. (And I don't just say that because I'd like a new County Commissioner)

OK, I've got more playing to do - take care and keep rockin'! BTW, my front porch is always open if you want to jam... (I've got some gospel songs you might appreciate)

Unlike the Republican straw poll, limited to insiders and those who want to throw some money at the party, Texas Democrats have made an all-inclusive straw poll:
Click here to vote now for your favorite Presidential candidate

Although I have my favorites and un-favorites, I'll keep that confidential for now.

What I'd like to know is what our readers' thoughts are.

For myself, since this vote doesn't really "count", I think I'm going to vote for who I consider to be the ideal candidate - not the one I think has the best shot at beating a Republican. I'll be very interested to go have a look on Tuesday and see what the totals look like.