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The Texas Blue
Advancing Progressive Ideas

Chris Bell's blog

Let's Consider Limitations on Term Limits

Term limits must go. The experiment from the 1990s has now been around long enough to prove a failure and after last week’s city election in Houston, no further proof is necessary.

The Loyal McClellan

Those Bushites are sure big on loyalty, aren’t they? Scott McClellan, President Bush’s second press secretary, has written a scathing book about his White House years. While stunned folks still working for the president call McClellan disgruntled, the former designated liar says the book is a way for him to learn from his mistakes, be true to his Christian faith and become a better person.

Republicans Ready New Attack on Voter I.D. Non-Problem

Now is the time to submit all non-problems to the Texas State Legislature. The Republican leadership needs the next few months to figure out what to do about them.

Tale of Two Cities: Applying Sense to Guilt, Innocence

What starkly different headlines. The day after the Supreme Court ruled last week that death by lethal injection doesn’t constitute cruel and unusual punishment, two stories ran in the Houston Chronicle: “DNA frees Dallas man wrongly imprisoned for rape” and “Harris County gets ready to execute 6 killers.”

That pretty well sums up the vastly different approach taken by Texas’s two largest district attorney offices, and sadly, that won’t change any time soon.

As Election Nears, Parties Should Keep Eyes on Road

With yesterday’s runoff election complete, the Texas primaries have now ended. However, the bitter feelings have not.

Phone Ban Rings Smart In World of Bad Driving Habits

Anyone doubting the wisdom of West University Place’s cell phone ban should administer my stupid driver test.

Next time you’re waiting for a left turn signal, it comes on and the car in front of you doesn’t move, look closely at the driver. He or she is most likely talking on a cell phone or sending a text message.

Religious Guilt By Association Card Being Dealt Unfairly

Joe Reynolds is the dean at Houston’s Christ Church Cathedral, and he’s one of the most courageous individuals I’ve ever met. It would be an understatement to say the Episcopal Church has endured a bit of controversy over the past few years. Before our rather diverse congregation, many of the members quite conservative, Joe has met the controversy head-on. Without mincing words, he has shared and explained his views, and his courage in doing so is what I admire the most.

Huge Voter Turnout Creates Good News, Bad News Angles

Be careful what you wish for. That old saw is ringing in some ears as a result of this month’s Texas primary.

In Political Math, Texas Equals Iowa Plus New Hampshire

Who would have ever thought that Texas could become a combination of Iowa and New Hampshire overnight? But that’s where we find ourselves as we head toward next week’s Democratic Primary and Caucus.

Shedding Loser Mentality is Tall Order for Party

If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? Who knows? If two candidates for the U.S. Senate debate and the coverage is minimal, does it make any difference? Unfortunately, yes.

State Rep. Rick Noriega and Ray McMurrey, a Corpus Christi schoolteacher, squared off in Austin last week. Noriega is heavily favored to win the Democratic nomination, but McMurrey was vocal enough to force the showdown.

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