Sometimes you don't have to write much about an item of interest in order for it to turn into a great update. Sometimes these things write themselves. Sometimes in the same week Senator John Cornyn votes against health insurance for poor little kids, he sends an update to his constituent newsletter list about an issue of critical importance: bats, and where they go in winter, and what they mean to Texas.

We have heard a great many things about polls lately — that Clinton broke 50% nationally, that Huckabee is in third in Iowa, and so on — but the New York Times has an interesting perspective on how Iowans feel about who they aren't voting for.

Fred Thompson is riding the Low Expectations Express to pre-emptive debate victory. At this point he'll be way ahead if he shows up.

Maybe a slow news weekend contributed to this, but the SCHIP veto story is not going away. Cornyn's support for Bush is once again going to be problematic for him.

As promised, Bush vetoed health care for children yesterday. Then he told Congress he's willing to negotiate, which means he is now living in fear of the veto override.

Some notable West Texas mayors in El Paso, Del Rio, and Brownsville are showing their displeasure with Homeland Security plans for building the border fence. They are doing so with what the Dallas Morning News calls "a quiet protest."

Sure, the Republican Party is having problems with many voter blocs — they have consistently angered minorities, the middle class, and even conservative Christians. The Wall Street Journal informs us this morning of what could be the most problematic loss of them all: the business community.

Via Quorum Report: Rick Noriega's campaign advised the media today that fundraising efforts brought in $570,000 this quarter. The press release is here, in Word format.

Call me cynical, but I can't help but wonder if all of this business about TxDOT being out of money has something to do with campaigning for Proposition 12.

The Lubbock press is proclaiming that this week will see the restoration of all that community college money cut by Perry's veto. The Legislative Budget Board will make the call and it is seemingly a foregone conclusion.