The Texas Blue: News
Sarkozy Goes To Work
Thu, 03/27/2008 - 10:00am
French President Nicolas Sarkozy isn't incredibly popular at home, and he has had his share of scandalous reveals since taking office. A recent state visit to the United Kingdom, however, shows that he can nevertheless turn it on when the occasion calls for it. I will admit that this is sort of silly, but reading this story made me long to have a head of state that can occasionally show up to work and do things right on the diplomacy / international relations front. Can you imagine President Bush speaking to a joint sitting of the Houses of Parliament and evoking statesmanship?
Texas Growth Exploding
Thu, 03/27/2008 - 9:30am
If you've looked around while trying to drive somewhere in Dallas or Austin lately and wondered, "Where did all these people come from?!" I don't have an answer for you. But it isn't just your imagination - there are actually tens of thousands of additional people living and working in those places, as well as Houston and San Antonio, according to new census figures. DFW was the fastest growing area, adding over 150,000 new residents between July of 2006 and July of 2007.
News Roundup, 3/27/08: The Nomination Station
Thu, 03/27/2008 - 8:29am
On Wednesday: Mike Gravel became a Libertarian candidate for president, Puerto Rico got in on setting their primary earlier, and several Democrats talked about their (very different) ideas for deciding the Democratic nomination.
Fear and Loathing in March
Wed, 03/26/2008 - 4:00pm
Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen is starting to feel like the longest and most protracted path to the nomination — the one that ends in a floor fight in Denver — will end in disaster for the Democratic Party. He is pitching an idea for a final deciding contest in June: a superdelegate primary.
...in which the 795 party bigwigs would gather to hear one last time from Clinton and Obama before casting a final vote.
Rather than allow the horse-trading and bloodletting go on all summer, he’d get it over with during a two-day business meeting in a neutral, easily reached city like Dallas.
If you have any interest in who wins the nomination — and just by being here, you qualify — you owe it to yourself to read the article.
The Less You Know
Wed, 03/26/2008 - 3:00pm
TPM Muckraker's Paul Kiel reports that, in the wake of an NIE that largely went against Bush administration message, the new National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq is likely to remain secret and unavailable for public scrutiny. Or debate.
Enough's Enough
Wed, 03/26/2008 - 2:47pm
According to this Gallup poll released today, some Democrats don't hold very Democratic views about this election:
GOP Worries About McCain
Wed, 03/26/2008 - 2:15pm
As the GOP continues to cast about, John McCain's lack of Patented Campaign Message & Money Power™ is becoming a source of concern on their side of the aisle. So far, McCain has failed to make the most of the gap between when the GOP and Democratic nominations are decided and has yet to raise impressive money.
Senate Majority Leader Hints at End to the Race Before August
Wed, 03/26/2008 - 2:00pm
Suspense is building over the race to take on McCain, but unlike most Democrats, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid doesn't seem too concerned. "Things are being done" within the Democratic party to end the drawn-out primary contest, according to Reid.
Puerto Rico Primary Approved
Wed, 03/26/2008 - 1:00pm
The Democratic Party will let Puerto Rico move its primary election up to June 1, and switch from a caucus to a primary. With 55 pledged delegates at stake, Puerto Rico could be a significant prize for the candidates. Bill Clinton will campaign for his wife there in early April. Obama has not announced specific plans for Puerto Rico, but the governor is an Obama supporter.
Al Gore, Compromise Candidate?
Wed, 03/26/2008 - 12:00pm
Who will get the nomination, Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama? Congressman Tim Mahoney (D-Fla.) says the answer could be "neither."