Friday Roundup: Here Comes The Judge

If you've ever argued that the Patriot Act is unconstitutional, congratulations. A US District Court Judge at least partially agrees with you.

At issue are "national security letters," a favorite device of federal investigators who use them as a tool for demanding and collecting internet and phone records from telecoms without really needing judicial oversight of their activities. I'm sure the government will appeal, but until then the ACLU can claim a pretty substantial victory.

A couple of challengers to notable incumbent Democrats have arisen in the last few weeks. Representative Hubert Vo will be challenged by Houston ISD school board member Greg Meyers. Vo beat the incumbent he unseated in 2004, Talmadge Heflin, again in 2006. I wonder if they'll have a GOP primary.

The other Democrat to draw challenges is Houston Mayor Bill White. The Chron doesn't think either one of the two are any kind of threat, but they do have the information that one of the challengers is "perennial candidate Outlaw Josey Wales IV." I would really love to know if that's a name changed later in life or if it is some bizarre family tradition and there's an Outlaw Josey Wales III, keeping a Clint Eastwood character's lineage going.

Both before Labor Day and after, media outlets in Texas were checking out their crystal balls and asking questions about the coming election cycle. W. Gardner Selby reflected on the post-Rove era and some possibilities for the near future before the Labor Day activities. The Dallas Morning News looks at how some races are shaping up and how the parties are preparing in the aftermath.

The Travis County Democratic Party will have new leadership after the primary next year, as current chair Chris Elliott has decided against running for a third term. That leadership shift will be notable because Austin is, of course, a power center for Democrats in Texas and Democrats there have picked up several offices in the last few years.

In international news, Russia is getting testy. Imagine my surprise when I open my news reader and see "RAF jets intercept eight Russian bombers." They never actually entered British airspace, but they were thinking about it. Putin is flexing the Russian muscle and inviting Europe to the gun show.

Lastly, a story about Rudy Giuliani. Documentarian Robert Greenwald, who brought you Outfoxed and Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price is bringing you some information about America's Mayor. I imagine the picture Greenwald draws might not be all that favorable.