Texas Blood Sport

US House Majority Leader Tom Delay (R-TEX) was indicted by a Texas grand jury for campaign finance violations on Wednesday ( 9/28). The Majority Leader was charged with one count of criminal conspiracy for his alleged part in a scheme to use illegal cooperate contributions to aid in Texas Republicans capturing the state legislature in 2002.

The indictment was brought by Ronnie Earle, Travis County District Attorney, a life long Democrat. The indictment says that corporate political contributions, which are illegal under Texas law, were run through RNC banks accounts and given to state Republican candidates. In the indictment it indicates that John Colyandro, executive director of the Texans for a Republican Majority PAC, collected over a $150,000 from corporations in 2002. A check was written by the PAC for a $190,000 and was delivered to the RNC. RNC officials deposited the check with its State Elections Committee. James Ellis, an aide to Mr. Delay gave the RNC officials a list of Republican Texas House candidates to receive contribution to their campaigns.

In 2002 Texas Republicans took over the State House of Representatives and in 2003 at the urging of Tom Delay the Texas House redrew the congressional map to the advantage of the Republicans. When Texas Democrats refuse to attend the sessions Delay used his influence to try to force them back to Austin. In 2004 Texas Republicans won additional seats as a result of the redrawn districts. When the Democrats were in power they did the same thing.

The events of the last two days are just chapters in a political game of “blood sport”. I don’t know if Mr. Delay is guilty or not and only time will tell. However it does seem like Mr. Earle is trying to get a little partisan payback for the Majority Leader’s role in the Texas Republican redistricting process. Some may say that this is a stretch. Well consider this, the indictment present little evidence of the Majority Leader's part in the transfer of the money. Mr. Earle’s website http://www.ronnieearle.com/ contains a link to the Texas Democratic Party’s webpage and as of yesterday the website had the headline, “DeLay Indicted”.

A National Review Online article written on 9/29 by Bryon York reveals that Ronnie Earle has given a film crew “extraordinary access” to make a film about his work on the case (see www.nationalreview.com/york).

Mr. Earle is also the same DA that tried to prosecute Kay Bailey Hutchinson for alleged misuse of office and state employees when she was state Treasurer. This was right at the time when Ms. Hutchinson was mounting her campaign for the US Senate. Later Mr. Earle declined to bring the case to court.

According to Peter Flaherty of “CNSNews.com” on October 31, 2002, the Texas Democratic Party sent the DNC $75,000 and on the same day the money was given to Texas Democratic candidates. I believe to date we have not seen any indictment related to these transactions.

It appears that Mr. Earle may have a hidden agenda with his indictments of Mr. Delay. After the dust settles we will see if Mr. DeLay is guilty or if Mr. Earle is participating in good ole Texas “blood sport”.

A Tale of Two Games

Just like the classic story of a "Tale of Two Cities" so it was with the LSU vs Tennessee this past Monday night. The LSU Tigers gave up a 24 to 0 lead to loose to Tennessee 30 t0 27 in overtime. The post mortem revealed the following:

• In the last half of the game LSU played not to loose rather than playing to win and put the game away.
• LSU is woefully lacking in pass defense. Tennessee's Clausen totally debone the Tigers defense in the second half with his passing. Twice in crucial situations the Tigers left Rocky Top receivers totally uncovered.
• LSU commited too many penalities, especially in critical situations.

Les weclome to the SEC. If you want to win Coach you better find an answer to your pass defense.

LSU Tigers and Tennessee to Play Monday Night

Due to weather conditions as a result of hurricane Rita, LSU and Tennessee's scheduled game for Saturday (9/24) will be played this Monday night. This decision was reached after some negotiations between the two schools.

The Story

Whew Dodged That Bullett

Never thought my family and I would be refugees (oh yeah that is not politically correct we are evacuees) from a hurricane but we were from Rita. After what we saw from Katrina, we decided to leave Katy, Tx (outside of Houston) and head north to Shreveport, La. As it turned Rita went in at Sabine Pass east of Houston about 100 miles. If Rita had made a hit on Houston it would have been a disaster.

We were fortunate and we made the trip to Shreveport (280 miles) in 6 hours by staying on county and state roads. Most people that were caught out on the roads traveling 10 or 30 miles in 10 or 20 hours were using the main freeways.

Because the storm moved east of Houston much of the country's refining capacity was spared. In preparation for the storm most companies brought the refineries down. It will takes about a week to bring them back up. So expect to see gas price to move up over $3.00 for a brief period of time. Some news reports have said that gas prices may reach $5.00 but I seriously doubt that prediction will come true.

I believe Texas and Texans did themselves proud by the way they handled the evacuation and showing a great deal of patience in trying circumstances.

BBC NO FRIEND OF US

It was reported on September 17, 2005 that Tony Blair said that the BBC is "full of hatred of America and is gloating over it's plight" in wake of Katrina. The Story

GREENS AND THE REST OF THE STORY

In the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, one of the charges leveled at the Bush administration is that it under funded the rebuilding of the levee system around the New Orleans area. Upon closer look one finds that this charge is not accurate. It was reported in the Washington Post by Michael Grunwald that "over the five years of President Bush's administration, Louisiana has received far more money for corps civil works projects than any other state, about $1.9 billion. According to Michael Barone in US News and World Report not all money was spent to keep New Orleans dry and some of the money was direct to other projects by the Louisiana congressional delegation. The problem with rebuilding leeves was not just a money issue alone. As usual guardians of the enviroment weighed in.

It was reported by John Berlau in the National Review (September 8 , 2005) that the Sierra Club along with other enviromental groups sued Army Corp of Engineers to stop a 1996 plan to fortify and rebuild Mississippi River leeves.

The Corp was planning to upgrade about 300 miles of leeve sytem in Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas. In an interview with the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate a Corp spokesman said that the project was needed to avoid an "failure that could have catastrophic consequences on Louisiana and Mississippi which the states would be decades overcoming, if they overcame them at all".

The enviromental groups stated in their lawsuit filed in US District Court in New Orleans that the Corp had not looked at the impact the project would have on the wetlands (politically correct word for "swamp") and the indigenous animals species. The Court ordered the Corp to delay the project.

While a direct relationship between the enviromental groups efforts to thwart Corp projects along the Mississippi and the flooding of New Orleans after Katrina are not directly known, it is not fair for liberals and their friends in the enviromental movement to blame the Bush adminstration for the leeve breech. National Review Story

OSU's Win Over Arkansas State Was A Train Wreck

When Pistol Pete made his last shot of the night the scorebroad showed OSU 20, Arkansas State 10. There were so many penalities (28) in the game Mike Gundy, OSU head coach, should have declared Boone Pekins stadium a natural diaster area. Fortunately the OSU defense came to the rescue allowing only an ASU field goal in the second half of the game.

In order to win in the Big 12 the OSU offense will have to be more effective than they have shown in their first 3 starts. The Story

LSU Tigers Win Season Opener Over Arizona State 35-31

After LSU's season was delayed due hurricane Katrina the Tigers traveled to Tempe, Arizona to take on the Arizona State Sun Devil's. When the "Fat Lady" sang "Time Over" the Tigers found themselves on top of the Devils by 3 points (35-31). The Story

Game observation:

• JeMarcus looked solid and play for most part was consistent.
• Running game solid, the Tigers definitely have a stable.
• Run defense very good.
• Past defense terrible....better work the boys Les.

I Wish I Had Enjoyed Every Sandwich

After the singer/songwriter Warren Zevon was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer he was interview by David Letterman on the “Late Night Show”. Dave in the course of the interview asked Warren what he would do different if he could live his life all over again. Warren paused and said he would “enjoy every sandwich”. What! Is that it! A man is about to face death and that is all he has to say.

Well if you think about Warren was making a very good point. I believe he was saying I wish I had enjoyed the simply things and blessings in life that we miss everyday because we are to busy to notice. Daily we let the “tyranny of the urgent” steal the simple things that are the essence of life and give it meaning.

We rush to work in the morning but we don’t see the sunrise. The phone rings and we don’t sit down to have a heartfelt conversation with a family member or friend. We are so focused on what has to be done at work we don’t see our spouse's loving smile as we start each day. Weekends are so filled with errands that need to be done we don’t have time for a simply game of “catch” with our kids. When was the last time we just sat still and listened to the whisper of God’s voice in our ear and hear what He has in store for us that day.

When our time is done how many of us will wish we had more time to finish that project at work or run that last errand. I dare say no one. We will all wish we spent more time with our family, enjoyed the things life has to offer and to make sure we are ready meet out maker.

So I guess there is no better time than now to start "enjoying every sandwich".

You Have Been Warned

William Shakspeare was right when he wrote "let's kill all the lawyers, let's do it tonight". I know we have all felt that way. American lawyers and their clients have turned tort action into a multi-billion dollar business in the United States. Corporate America spends a great deal of money and time fending off lawsuits that are becoming more frivolous. To guard themselves against potential legal action companies are putting more labels on products to educate us about their proper use or potential hazards. Below are some of the warning labels that truly will elighten you:

• Conair Pro Style 1600 hair dryer warns - Do not use in shrower or never use while sleeping.
• Found on a hammer handle - Warning: Do not use this Hammer to strike any solid object.
• Weber Gas Grills - Caution: Surface will warm when in use.
• Windex - Do not spray in eyes.
• Hair Coloring - Warning: Do not use as ice cream topping.
• Sleeping Pills - Warning: May cause drowsiness.
• Fix a Flat - Warning: Do not weld can to rim.
• RCA Remote Control - Not Dishwasher Safe.
• Slush Puppy Cup - Warning: This ice maybe cold.
• Chainsaw - Do not attempt to stop chain with hands.
• Sainbury's peanuts - Warning: Contains Nuts.
• A toilet at public sports facility - Recycled water unsafe for drinking.
• A toilet bowl cleaning brush - Warning: Do not use orally.

I don't know about the rest of you but I believe it is time for tort reform.

Robert F Kennedy Jr. , Chicken Little and Katrina

I recently came across an interesting blog by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on the Huffington Post entitled "For They Shall Reap the Whirlwind". In his article Mr. Kennedy blames the Bush administration for increased global warming and as a result for hurricane Katrina and it's devastation. He say the science is clear based on a study published in the journal "Nature" by a renowned MIT climatologist that proves the prevalence of destructive hurricanes in recent years is due to global warming.

Well interesting! Who is this renowned climatologist from MIT? He does not tell us and expects the reader to accept it on face value. Ok small point. Mr. Kennedy should have done some of his own research....a couple of clicks and he could of found the following at NOAA's website.

1. Records show that from about 1944 to 1970 there were about 174 hurricanes.
2. Records also indicates that from 1971 to 1999 there were about 154 hurricanes.
3. Data shows that from 1944 to 1970 and 1971 to 1999 the years with major storms greater than 3 where 6 (1944-1970) and 4 (1971-1999) respectively.

Based on the above data it looks as if hurricane occurrances has remain relatively flat or slightly decreased over the past 55 years. Well so much for global warning.

Maybe Mr. Kennedy really did not want to know the facts because it did not fit into his political agenda. Watch out "Chicken Little" I believe you have someone trying to take your job.

BAGHDAD NEW ORLEANS

I grew up in south Louisiana and have been totally engrossed by the story and images that have been coming out of New Orleans in the aftermath of quatrain. The scenes of looting and violence are shocking and remind me of the images coming out of Baghdad in the immediate days after the city fell. Why has this occurred in our great country?
I believe it reflects to some degree on the attitude of entitlement found to often in our society. We have come to believe that all things in life must be fair and when they are not then we becomes victims of some unnamed oppression or injustice. This attitude leads to the sense of "hey man we are owed something from somebody to make things right". So it is with the "thugs" in New Orleans.
I am not talking about the people who went in to stores for food or medicine they needed to survive. I am talking about those individuals that looted clothes, jewelry and appliances. Why were those items necessary for survival. The fact of the matter looting of this kind was the "thug's" way of saying "I am owed and here is my chance to settle the score, to get even".
Their attitude and behavior was not something that they were born with but something that was learned. We have to many leader in our country today that have constantly told people at the lower economic levels in our society that it is not your fault you are a victim of the "oppressive American culture". They have done this solely to maintain their power bases. These leaders are simply nothing more than uncaring power brokers who care little for people and America as a whole. To them power is to be guarded and protected at all cost.
It is time for the rest of America to say enough is enough we are a land of oppurtunity, it is here for the taking. All it takes hard work and a sense of personal responsiblity.