Category Archives: TPA Stuff

The Texas Progressive Alliance is slow jamming this week’s roundup.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme sees Republicans holding on to private power at the expense of children.

More Congressional candidate interviews from Off the Kuff, who has conversations with Marc Veasey, Ramiro Garza, and Anthony Troiani.

BossKitty at TruthHugger takes a vacation from the sanitized, filtered, hollywood marketing of political candidates and looks at the world. The dramatic trial in Norway, for a mass murderer, has unified civilized Europeans who sang … To Annoy The Monster.

The myth of the disgruntled Texas Republican. WCNews at Eye On Williamson says they’re like a GOP Chupacabra, we always hear about one, but never actually see one. Deeply unhappy Republicans? Don’t be so sure.

Greg Abbott and Susan Combs have both, in the past year, made the serious mistake of exposing millions of Texans to identity fraud by failing to safeguard their social security numbers. Both seek a promotion to higher office in 2014. Is there ANY amount of incompetence and malfeasance a Texas Republican can be guilty of and NOT get elected? PDiddie at Brains and Eggs doesn’t have confidence that the answer is ‘yes’.

BlueBloggin wants Americans to understand there is always more to sensational stories in the headlines. UpDated: What is Adrenarche and Why Are America’s Services Sexually Immature.

Libby Shaw nails it again over at TexasKaos. She explains why she is hoping 2012 is a “buyer’s revenge” election, a judgement on the kiss-ups, brain dead zombies and other assorted creatures that got elected in 2010. See it here: Gov. Oops Grovels for Norquist While Houston Business Leader Kowtows to Perry

Neil at Texas Liberal wrote about Dick Clark and Johnny Rotten.

The Texas Progressive Alliance honors the life of Dick Clark by bringing you a weekly roundup with a good beat that you can dance to.

Off the Kuff began a series of interviews with Congressional candidates in contested primary races, publishing conversations with Rep. Silvestre Reyes, State Rep. Pete Gallego, and former Rep. Ciro Rodriguez.

Republicans are talking like they want a race war. Either that, or they want to just kill all the liberals. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs documents last week’s conservative verbal atrocities.

BossKitty at TruthHugger has had enough of 2012 Zombie Voters.

BlueBloggin wants American voters to understand that until they force honesty and accountability from the leaders they elect, they will become subjects to the Koch Brothers Machine vs American Destiny.

We do, in fact, have a revenue problem in Texas. But there are few, of either party, willing to admit it. WCNews at Eye On Williamson points that out in this post, Little human interest side notes.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme sees the republicans escalating its war on women.

At TexasKaos, Libby Shaw brings us up to date on what Governor Oops is up to, and it isn’t pretty. Read Rick Perry Grovels for Norquist While His War On Women, Children and the Poor Continues.

Neil at Texas Liberal posted the newsletter of Occupy Wall Street: Houston. A strong effort to reboot the Occupy effort in Houston, OWSH is meeting on a regular basis, and has a Facebook page where you can join in and take part.

Stace at Dos Centavos tells us about a study which basically slams Higher Education in Texas. The post is basically an “I told you so!” about Texas’ screwed up priorities in pushing “Tier 1″ funding, while leaving retention and graduation rates to suffer. Basically…

The Texas Progressive Alliance is still waiting for Greg Abbott to ask for its opinion about interim maps as it brings you this week’s roundup.

Off the Kuff ran the numbers for the interim maps that were proposed by AG Greg Abbott.

While we may have plenty of jobs in Texas, but many don’t pay very well. That’s lead to income inequality in Texas. WCNews at Eye On Williamson make clear that Economic inequality in Texas needs to be addressed.

Sex Ed 101 by Louie Gohmert featured lectures on both caribou and human sexuality last week. Read on, if you dare, at Brains and Eggs, but have some anti-nausea medication close by just in case.

At TexasKaos, Libby Shaw reports that the mountain of vitrol known as Andrew Breitbart lost it at CPAC this weekend . Quelle shock! Read about it here: Esteemed Conservative Leader Loses It at CPAC.

Neil at Texas Liberal used a well-done Coca-Cola display at local store to ask folks to show some Valentine’s Day love for our fellow working people.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme wonders why Republicans hate women so very, very much.

The Texas Progressive Alliance would like to wish everyone a happy and healthy Thanksgiving as it brings you this week’s roundup.

Off the Kuff takes a look at the electoral opportunities of the new court-drawn legislative map.

WCNews at Eye On Williamson links to the results of a Texas AFT survey that the Texas GOP’s plan to defund public education is working as designed, Survey says….Texas public schools are in trouble.

Bay Area Houston shows that while Rick Perry incorrectly claims Obama calls Americans lazy, his major donors are writing OP-EDs calling Americans lazy.

BossKitty at TruthHugger - Political marketers target the uninformed and dis-interested voter with spicy one lined reasons to vote for their candidate. The season of disinformation is upon us again. National Treasures and American History on eBay - And because the campaign Gun Debate is so twisted that the issue is totally missed. Lock and Load, Twist and Shoot.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme wants you to know that Rick Perry’s success story means food insecurity for you.

The Texas Republican overreach in both redistricting and photo ID got slapped down hard by the feds. And the corresponding whining was louder than any two alleycats fighting over a female. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs celebrated Good Friday twice this year.

nytexan at BlueBloggin is disgusted with the police brutality and right wing lies of the Occupy Wall Street movement. Everyday that Occupy Wall Street continues more and more lobbyist, corporate giants and wrong headed politicians reveal just how in bed they are with each other. It also reveals how para military the police have become. Police Brutality And Corporate Lies Will Not Stop Occupy Wall Street.

Libby Shaw gets us up to date with the onging diaster that is Rick Perry’s presidental aspirations this week. Check it out at TexasKaos
Rick Perry’s Multiple Train Wrecks.

Neil at Texas Liberal ran his yearly how to thaw a turkey post. The post also offers links to cooking up a veggie Thanksgiving as suggested by PETA. Neil hopes everybody has a nice and safe Thanksgiving.

McBlogger takes a look at some ‘conservatives’ whose relationship with the truth could best be described as ‘flexible’.

The Texas Progrogressive Alliance is beginning to think fond thoughts of cranberry dressing, pumpkin pie, and, um, something else it can’t quite recall – oops! – as it brings you this week’s blog roundup.

Off the Kuff took a tour of Houston elections from the 1990s to see how they compared to more modern matchups.

Following Rick Perry’s latest gaffes, Letters From Texas explains why Perry has become such a hopeless band nerd that the crazy girl who can’t get a prom date pities him.

Darth Politico commemorates Veterans Day with a discussion about the history of Red Tape and veterans benefits. Emphasis on Red.

WCNews at Eye On Williamson points out that Republicans in Texas are boxed-in. They know know taxes must be raised to run our state’s government, but can’t bring themselves to say it, Texas GOP’s cowardice.

On the same night Houston Mayor Annise Parker celebrated barely being re-elected, a few blocks away the HPD arrested seven Occupy Houstonians for refusing to move a tarp which the police called a tent. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs doesn’t think that’s a great way to start a second term … unless she plans on again representing the 1%, that is.

BossKitty at TruthHugger sees another disappointing campaign season. Inundated with Republican this and Tea Party that, BossKitty is embarrassed by what we are hearing.Republican Whack A Mole Misses the Point. Some economic guru is writing the script for each candidate to spout as the Only way to get back on track, because it is always Obama’s fault. We all know it was Obama’s fault even before he was born. But some of the solutions totally miss the big picture.

Bay Area Houston is remembering on Veterans Day on how we have continue to screw our Veterans.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme notes that BP wants the government to hide data while celebrating the end of its cleanup responsibility. This week: crony capitalists 2; regular citizens 0.

Lightseeker at TexasKaos gives a brief summary of the GOP voter suppression campaign gearing up for 2012. Check it out: Voter Suppression Update 2011.

Neil at Texas Liberal attended an Occupy Houston press conference about OH participants arrested by Houston police for covering up electrical equipment with a tarp during a rainstorm. If only Occupy efforts across the nation had the same First Amendment protections as large anonymous corporate political donations enjoy under the Citizens United case.

The Texas Progressive Alliance is occupying your browser as it brings you this week’s roundup.  (DC Note:  Occupying…get it? get it?)

Off the Kuff took a look at demographic change in one of Houston’s historic neighborhoods.

Harold Cook at Letters From Texas takes a look back at old friend Molly Ivins, when he reviews a new book just released about her. His conclusion: “if you ever spent evenings with Molly, reading the book will give you the gift of spending one more. Even better, if you never got to spend that evening with Molly, you’re in luck – after reading the book, you’ll feel just like you did.”

Bay Area Houston has an interesting audio clip of Teabag darling Galveston County Tax Assessor, Cheryl Johnson.

Justice finally starts to come for man falsely convicted 25 yreas ago in Williamson County. WCNews at Eye On Williamson has the story, Michael Morton walks free after 25 years behind bars.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme says Texas Republicans hate the elderly, workers, children and women.

Occupy Houston, the solidarity march and protest which grew out of the continuing Occupy Wall Street action, was covered by PDiddie at Brains and Eggs.

Neil at Texas Liberal reported on the first day of Occupy Houston. It is great that something hopeful is finally taking place in our politics. The Occupy Wall Street movement gets the idea that the work of freedom and democracy is up to each of us.

At TexasKaos, Libby Shaw tells us “Poor Rick Perry thought he could easily preen, charm and tall tale his way through the 2012 Republican Presidential primary cycle. Unfortunately for the Governor he has not been outside of his impenetrable Texas Republican bubble much. Rick Perry spends so much time with his crony donors that he obviously has no clue what the other 99% of the population believes.” She explains why that didn’t happen. Read more: Rick Perry: Razzle, Dazzle, Snap, Crackle and Flop.

The Texas Progressive Alliance hopes that the nation remembers Molly Ivins’ words about Texas governors as it brings you this week’s roundup.

Off the Kuff notes that the Voting Rights Act is squarely in the sight of Texas Republicans as they try to get their gerrymandered maps approved.

As Texas Governor Rick Perry (R – idiculous) officially enters the race for President, Letters From Texas presents Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Perry, But Were Afraid To Ask.

WCNews at Eye On Williamson warns that a Rick Perry presidential run should not be taken lightly, because if elected he would be Bush on Steroids.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme thinks that Rick Perry, (r-Dominionist), is just a puppet for the true leaders of the slow moving mob of republican fanatics.

Over at TexasKaos , Libby Shaw gives us a quick summary of Good Hair’s presidential creds in The Success of Rick Perry.

Do the King Street Patriots — via the Texas Secretary of State — intend to turn away veterans at the polls? It looks as if they do, and Open Source Dem at Brains and Eggs has the details.

Neil at Texas Liberal posted on Rick Perry’s conflicted views about gay marriage. If you read pages 26 and 27 of the hardcover edition Rick Perry’s book Fed Up!, you will see that his social conservatism and his extreme states’ rights views are not compatible. Both Rick Perry’s far-right backers and his centrist and liberal opponents should note this dramatic inconsistency.

McBlogger takes a look at S&P and finds them wanting.

Having been raptured in May, the Texas Progressive Alliance was ready for The Response as it brings you this week’s roundup.

There’s still redistricting going on, as Harris County tries to redraw its County Commissioners precincts. So far, the main thing they’ve done is attract a lawsuit from Latinos who say they have retrogressed the one Latino opportunity district. Off the Kuff has the scoop.

The Response had better than expected attendance, a very diverse crowd, and the event’s sponsors made a sincere effort to have the event be all about one man (not the governor of Texas). Having praised it, PDiddie at Brains and Eggs then proceeded to rip it. Wide open.

Our economy is in bad shape and is unlikely to get better any time soon. WCNews at Eye On Williamson tells us the reason why, The politics of the economy are upside down.

Prior to The Response, Letters From Texas predicted the response to the response to The Response.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme is disgusted with the republican campaign to destroy the middle class, kick the poor to kingdom come and abandon the elderly.

This week Left of College Station began Rick Perry’s Texas project – telling the truth about Rick Perry’s record in Texas. From Perry’s record on climate change to the truth that the Texas economic miracle was really a stimulus miracle.

Lightseeker offers his take on Why Democrats Lose Texas Elections. Hint, Its NOT because we are too Liberal! See the whole analysis at TexasKaos.

This week at McBlogger, Harry offers forth from the Book of Balczak his take on Prayerapalooza.

The Texas Progressive Alliance would like you to know that it has never held the full faith and credit of the United States hostage as it brings you this week’s roundup.

Off the Kuff says that Texas Democrats need to think about future races when contemplating retirements and open seat opportunities in 2012.

As President Obama asked the nation to call their representatives in Congress to air their views on the so-called debt ceiling crisis, so phoned the nation. And John Culberson finally heard from those in his district whose views have gone unrepresented during his tenure. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs contributed to the conversation. Whether Culberson actually listened is an open question.

While blasting Obama’s plan for NASA, Gov Perry silent about tea party’s $1.6B cut to NASA funding.

WCNews at Eye On Williamson on how the GOP’s budget tricks and cuts will hurt our economy, Diversions & Austerity – the Texas GOP two-step.

At TexasKaos, Libby Shaw asks So, who is Rick Perry? and answers – he is a chameleon with an unlimited appetite for the limelight and power. Check out the details.

Neil at Texas Liberal marked five years of writing the blog. Thanks to everybody who has read Texas Liberal over the years.

Dos Centavos is back with a guest post by Dr. Rey Guerra regarding Harris County redistricting and the Latino Commissioner’s seat. There’s one more public hearing on Monday, so, make your voices heard!

The Texas Progressive Alliance salutes the US Women’s National Team in their quest for the World Cup as it brings you this week’s roundup.

Refinish69 has a Texas Update! We Are In A Severe Drought Situation! ACT LIKE IT STUPID!!!!!>. He also has a message for the young people out there. It Does Get Better.

Lightseeker takes us on a quick tour of the Perry prayer tactic over the last 10 years to make a point: when you discuss his upcoming Prayer Summit, don’t fall into the trap of yelling “church and state”, at least not only and not first. Check it out: Talking Back to Perry’s Prayer Summit.

Bay Area Houston has the scoop on The Groundrules for Rick Perry’s “The Response”.

The Three Stooges — Susan Combs, Todd Staples, and Jerry Patterson — staged an eye-poking, face-slapping, hair-pulling pie fight as the Battle for Texas Lieutenant Governor in 2014 broke out early. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs reports from the front lines.

WCNews at Eye On Williamson tells us that as long as the same people keep showing up to vote nothing is going to change, The electorate must change, before change can come to Texas.

Off the Kuff looks at the opening arguments of the lawsuit over the sonogram bill, which didn’t go in the direction people expected it to go.

This week on Left of College Station, Teddy returns after taking a hiatus from blogging to take a look at Governor Rick Perry’s far right radical social conservative appointment to the Texas State Board of Education.

Neil at Texas Liberal wrote about two books of New Deal Era Texas art that show Texans working together and respecting the land. This stands in sharp contrast to the current reality of Texas where greed, anger at people who are different, and exploiting public resources with no concern for the future are the order of the day. There are resources out there—in addition to your imagination and hard work—that offer Texans a path to a more hopeful way of everyday living.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme wants to know why Bexar County DA Susan Reed didn’t get any grief over denying a Mexican national consulate support in a death penalty case.