Blue Dot Blues

• So, what did I miss?

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  The trouble with a political blog hiatus during the run up to one of the most hectic primary seasons in a long while is missing out on all the good juicy bits of news. In an effort to catch up, here are some links to the big stories of the [...]
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  Posted: November 30, 2009, 10:03pm EST
  by MJSamuelson

• Inching out from under my rock.....

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  LOTS going on!! So much to write about!
  
  But. Before I start.
  
  To the anti-incumbent movement: I believe in challenging incumbents - as in, the ELECTED DEMOCRAT INCUMBENTS that run Travis County from the schoolhouse to the state house! Your local taxing entities have more power than freshmen [...]
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  Posted: November 30, 2009, 5:56pm EST
  by MJSamuelson

• Temporary Hiatus

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  This blog is on hiatus until December 1.
  My mother Lillian, who is suffering from ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), is currently hospitalized after a second battle with pneumonia. Things are not going terribly well.
  I am on hiatus from blogging and politics while all of this is going on. I' [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 3:37pm EST
  by MJSamuelson

• There were 14 murdered at Ft. Hood

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  Twelve military victims, one civilian. And one unborn child.
  I agree with Sen. Hutchison, who told National Review Online the following: "Private Velez's family lost two family members at the hands of Nidal Hasan. As a supporter of Laci and Conner's Law, the Unborn Victims of Violence" [...]
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  Posted: November 13, 2009, 11:37pm EST
  by MJSamuelson

• Daily Texan denied access to UT-Austin tuition meeting

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  It is mostly inevitable that the University of Texas will raise tuition at some point in the near future. So when the UT-Austin Tuition Policy Advisory Committee decides to hold a hearing, one would think that what is discussed in that meeting would be important enough for the Daily Texan [...]
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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 8:55pm EST
  by MJSamuelson

• Why do Communist crimes go unpunished?

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  A really great post up at Volokh Conspiracy by Ilya Somin answers the question of why the neglect of Communist crimes matters. Since this week we are remembering not just the 90th anniversary of Armistice but also the 20th anniversary of the Berlin Wall falling, I thought this would [...]
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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 3:38pm EST
  by MJSamuelson

• Nov. 11, 2009 - 90th anniversary of the end of the Great War

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  I suppose most people, despite [maybe] being taught this in their history classes in school, don't really remember that Veterans Day in the United States was born of Armistice Day, or Remembrance Day as it is known in many places.
  
  The eleventh day, at the eleventh hour....
  [...]
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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 2:58pm EST
  by MJSamuelson

• Thank you, veterans

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  This day is for my Dad, the Cold War veteran who tells stories about Russian submarines in the Mediterranean. For my Mom, the Vietnam and Cold War veteran, who got to work in the Pentagon, and who is now a disabled veteran suffering from ALS. For my father-in-law Warren, a [...]
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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 2:03pm EST
  by MJSamuelson

• Chuck Hopson - New Republican

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  I know it's been quiet here lately, but only because things offline have been very busy. There has been plenty going on in the state political realm.
  
  So. Big news last Friday. In the biggest party-switching news of the week, State Rep. Chuck Hopson declared his allegiance' [...]
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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 12:42pm EST
  by MJSamuelson

• Via BOR: Where you can give blood to help Ft. Hood victims

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  Breaking a blogger rule to get the word out to more people. Blood donors are needed to help Ft. Hood shooting victims, and you can go to the following places in the Austin area if you want to help.
  Thanks to Phillip at Burnt Orange Report for posting this [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 5:40pm EST
  by MJSamuelson

• UPDATED: Shooting at Fort Hood leaves 12 dead, 31 injured

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  UPDATE 3:00pm: The Statesman has a Twitter account open for breaking updates. Follow @FtHoodShootings or check the hashtag #FtHood
  
  UPDATE 3:37pm: Live video news updates from Fort Hood
  
  UPDATE 3:47pm: Reports coming in: 9 dead and 27 injured. People can check Red Cross website [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 2:50pm EST
  by MJSamuelson

• OT: The Yankees win #27!!

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  I haven't been this happy about a baseball game in a very, very long time.
  
  Thanks, boys. I know my mom appreciates it.' [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 11:50pm EST
  by MJSamuelson

• Levity from the Cap Metro sunset report

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  I count myself lucky that I don't have to read through sunset reports as part of my daily job, but I know people who do. I got clearance to share this tidbit y'all might find interesting:
  Capital Metro is explaining, in the report, which policies give them concern and will [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 6:54pm EST
  by MJSamuelson

• Majority of ISD tax increases passed Tuesday

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  Oh, now, come on, people! At least Lake Travis ISD voters rejected their tax increase. 26 districts passed tax increases yesterday - roughly 63% of school district tax increases that were on Tuesday's ballot. Which, admittedly, is down from a high of 93% in 2006. But with voter turnout' [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 6:22pm EST
  by MJSamuelson

• NY-23: Why Hoffman's loss was not a win for moderates

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  I started seeing this meme hit Twitter and Facebook last night: NY-23 was a referendum on conservatism, and maybe now the Republican Party will learn to run moderates in northern races because we can't win otherwise.
  
  All due respect to the gentlemen who believe that, honestly. But I must' [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 2:03pm EST
  by MJSamuelson

• Aggies, rural counties against Prop 4

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  Despite the fact that Prop 4 will ultimately pass statewide, it is going down in Brazos County - the only county with a Tier One university to oppose Prop 4.
  Gig 'em. :-D
  The Houston Chronicle's Texas Politics blog is also reporting that Prop 4 is suffering in [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 9:31pm EST
  by MJSamuelson

• Beer/wine sales APPROVED in Hewitt, TX; liquor sales approved in Temple

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  Yeah, yeah, there are much bigger things going on. I know, but this is really interesting!!
  Hewitt, Texas residents are so far rejecting propositions approving propositions that would allow beer and wine sales in stores and restaurants. Hewitt is near Waco, for the geographically-disinclined among you.
  Meanwhile, in Temple, TX, [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 9:09pm EST
  by MJSamuelson

• Election results coming in; post updated

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  I'll try and keep updating this post as election results trickle in. Polls officially closed in Texas about two minutes ago. I'll also update with some of the results from across the nation, as they are relevant to the conservative movement.
  The first thing I want to link y'all to' [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 8:37pm EST
  by MJSamuelson

• Travis County early voting results are in

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  Travis County early voting results, on the 11 state constitutional propositions and local elections:
  
  Prop 1: 49.42% for, 50.58% against, 13,179 votes cast
  Prop 2: 60.65% for, 39.35% against, 13,185 votes cast
  Prop 3: 65.26% for, 34.74% against, 13,159 votes cast
  Prop 4: 55.66% for, 44.34% against, 13,179 votes [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 7:40pm EST
  by MJSamuelson

• Confirmed: Republicans pick up seats in Palo Pinto, Hardin, McCulloch Counties

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  Confirmed! Here's the press release from the Texas GOP.
  
  The national Democratic Party has left the locals, and they're flocking to the GOP. We are more than happy to welcome them with open arms.
  
  ETA: Beaumont Enterprise has more on the Hardin County swaps.[...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 3:19pm EST
  by MJSamuelson

• House Ways & Means Chmn. against spending and revenue caps

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  "It is the ultimate act of arrogance to tell you how to spend your money."
  
  No, that's not a quote from Ron Paul, or even John McCain. It's from Democrat State Rep. Rene Oliveira, chairman of the House Ways and Means committee, the committee that handles all taxation in [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 2:22pm EST
  by MJSamuelson

• Party switching in Hardin and Palo Pinto Counties

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  This news is so huge, I'm almost afraid to post it.
  
  This morning, various sources indicated that as many as 73 Democrat elected officials across the state are going to announce today that they are switching parties. 73 new Republicans, all over Texas, at the local level.
  
  Confirmed' [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 1:18pm EST
  by MJSamuelson

• The World Series and the Economy

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  Conor Dougherty from WSJ on the World Series and the economy:
  "If the Yankees win the World Series the economy will have a nice bounce back in 2010 but if the Phillies prevail it will be a long slog to recovery, according to a Real Time Economics analysis of" [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 9:45pm EST
  by MJSamuelson

• Dems celebrate anniversary of election - Republicans turn out to vote

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  Organizing for America is "celebrating" the anniversary of the 2008 election by hosting Election Day Reunions across the state. Meanwhile, Republicans in Travis County are turning out in force to actually, you know, vote in the current election. Travis 211 is reporting that 3"R" voters (three or more [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 9:06pm EST
  by MJSamuelson

• Dem primary field for governor narrows

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  Mark Thompson, a Democrat who had been seeking the party's gubernatorial nomination, has dropped out of the race and endorsed Hank Gilbert.
  This leaves Gilbert, Tom Schieffer, and Kinky Friedman (and possibly others) in the mix on the Democratic side.
  H/T Burnt Orange Report (say what you' [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 9:01pm EST
  by MJSamuelson

• More recommendations on constitutional amendments

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  Kathy Haigler, SREC secretary, has compiled a list of conservative and Republican recommendations and endorsements on the Texas constitutional amendment proposals.
  
  Jason Moore, also on the SREC and head of Citizen Watchdogs out in Odessa, posted the .pdf file here.
  
  Of course, I'm most interested in Prop' [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 3:28pm EST
  by MJSamuelson

• Election Day is TOMORROW

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  Election Day in Texas is tomorrow, and just because we're not in the middle of incredibly high-profile and important congressional races and other things does not mean it doesn't matter if you turn up to the polls or not.
  
  Houstonians are ruling this election, folks, because of the expected [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 2:53pm EST
  by MJSamuelson