Subject:

U.S. State Politics

  • Blogs

    May 16, 2012

    Louisiana Senate Votes to Beg Roger Goodell to Unsuspend Saints Players and Coaches

    Let me preface what I am about to say by noting that I love the State of Louisiana. I don't think I've ever had a bad trip to the state. It's one of my favorite places to visit, complete with otherworldly cuisine, ultra-accessible alcohol and gambling, and unintentional comedy galore. In short, I a ... More >>

  • Blogs

    May 9, 2012

    Keith Judd: Texas Prisoner/Presidential Candidate Does Shockingly Well in West Virginia Primary

    Majestically mulleted Texas prisoner-cum-presidential candidate Keith Judd has picked up 41 percent of the vote in West Virginia's Democratic primary. (We examined the Keith Judd phenomenon back before he was just a gleam in West Virginia's eye.) The Associated Press reports that Judd, serving time ... More >>

  • Calendar

    February 16, 2012

    Incendiary: The Willingham Case

    Majestically mulleted Texas prisoner-cum-presidential candidate Keith Judd has picked up 41 percent of the vote in West Virginia's Democratic primary. (We examined the Keith Judd phenomenon back before he was just a gleam in West Virginia's eye.) The Associated Press reports that Judd, serving time ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 1, 2012

    Let the Super Bowl/Human Trafficking Stories Begin Again!

    It's a staple of every Super Bowl: Politicians pumping up the idea that a tidal wave of prostitutes, many of them underage, are about to descend on the host city. News outlets lap it up, and no one pays any attention to post-mortem comments from cops who say they didn't notice any real increase in ... More >>

  • Blogs

    December 15, 2011

    Gay Rick Perry: The Rumors Resurface

    Ready for your Kindle.​Kick a man while he's down, why don't you? Rick Perry has effectively taken himself out of the GOP nomination race, it seems, and he did it by his performance on the stump, not by skeletons in the closet coming out. But now that he's seemingly buried, former state rep ... More >>

  • Culture

    November 24, 2011

    Are More Mexicans Becoming Conservative?

    And do teachers discriminate against students with Hispanic first names?

  • Music

    November 24, 2011

    The Wylie Llama for President

    The singer-songwriter on ­Michelle Bachmann, seceding from the Union, big hair and wild hogs.

  • Blogs

    November 3, 2011

    BP to Pay $50 Million in Civil Penalties for Pollution Connected to Texas City Blast, AG Says

    The Texas City blast​Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has announced that BP has agreed to pay a $50 million fine "for unlawfully emitting pollutants during and after the March 2005 explosion" at its Texas City plant. The civil penalties come two years after BP paid $50 million to resolve fe ... More >>

  • Blogs

    October 19, 2011

    Unimportant News: Rick Perry Places "Friendly World Series Wager." Important News: He Puts a Period in Dr Pepper!!!

    NO PERIOD, Governor.​If your state has a team in the World Series, chances are your governor is going to make a silly bet with a cohort from the other league. So it's no surprise Rick Perry has a bet with someone called Jay Nixon, who we are reliably informed is the governor of Missouri. And ... More >>

  • Blogs

    September 23, 2011

    Comment of the Day: The Debate Over Last Meal Requests On Death Row

    ​We have some great commenters here on Hair Balls, and it's time we paid some damn attention to them. So we'll be highlighting a Comment of the Day each morning, from the previous day's work. Maybe two comments, even. This will all be determined by a highly rigorous scientific formula involv ... More >>

  • Blogs

    September 22, 2011

    Rick Perry's Top 10 "Oh Faces": A Soundtrack

    mysanantonio.comGig 'em!​Once again, Texas is front and center on the national political stage, our spokesman an almost cartoon-like embodiment of every Lone Star stereotype: Fast-talkin', gun-lovin', bible-thumpin', boot-wearin', oil-worshipping, death penalty happy, larger-than-life right-wi ... More >>

  • Blogs

    July 20, 2011

    Rick Perry's Prayerapalooza: ACLU Of Texas Wants To Know How Much Tax Money Is Being Spent

    Give to Caesar​The ACLU of Texas has filed open-records request seeking information on how much tax money, if any, is being spent promoting Rick Perry's paryer meeting at Reliant Stadium next month. "We are concerned that Gov. Perry is using public office to endorse a sectarian religious even ... More >>

  • Blogs

    July 1, 2011

    Even While Accepting Help on Wildfires, Rick Perry Blasts Obama

    Too little and late, Perry says.​President Obama today signed an order declaring 45 Texas counties to be disaster areas because of wildfires, and even while saying the action was "good for Texas," Governor Rick Perry couldn't resist criticizing Obama. "President Obama's decision to finally ap ... More >>

  • Blogs

    June 14, 2011

    Houston Clergy Group Criticizes Rick Perry's Prayerapalooza

    Time for a "Come to Jesus" meeting​Two dozen leaders of Houston churches have signed an open letter criticizing Rick Perry's big summertime prayer meeting in Reliant Stadium. You're not going to see a lot of Southern Baptist names on the letter -- there's a lot of "universalist" and "unitaria ... More >>

  • Blogs

    June 9, 2011

    Alabama Illegal Immigration Law: Texas Tea Partiers Can Only Look On In Awe

    That truck is no doubt filled with dehydrated, oxygen-starved illegals​Sure, Rick Perry can swagger about a meaningless "sanctuary bill" to keep the brown hordes out of Texas, but if you want real action on illegal immigration, the place to go is Alabama. That state's governor, faced with the ... More >>

  • Blogs

    June 6, 2011

    Rick Perry Asking Other Governors to Pray And Fast For A Day, Including Chris Christie (Updated)

    Fast for a day, Chris Christie: the power of Perry compels you!​There are few t hings more annoying than the stranger who asks you if you've accepted Jesus, but Governor Rick Perry has became That Guy with a letter to the 49 other state leaders in the U.S. He's asking them to come to Houston ... More >>

  • Blogs

    June 1, 2011

    Foster Care in Texas: A Broken System, Without Much Hope for Improvement

    ​Thousands of Texas foster children are subject to "immeasurable and permanent harm and are deprived of the opportunity for a safe children," according to a class-action lawsuit filed by a New York-based advocacy group against Governor Rick Perry and state child welfare officials. Filed in Ma ... More >>

  • Blogs

    May 27, 2011

    Thank You, Lord: Dan Patrick May Run for Senate

    God is on line two, with a campaign contribution.​If you take as a given -- which you should -- that it's going to be awhile before a moderate ever gets elected to the U.S. Senate from Texas, then you want your troglodyte senatorial candidates to be as entertainingly fringe as possible. So lo ... More >>

  • Blogs

    May 20, 2011

    Rick Perry Wades into Foreign Policy

    But he can't see Russia from his front porch.​Governor Rick Perry has told reporters he's too busy with the legislative session to think about running for the presidency, but luckily -- news flash!! -- the legislative session is dealing with American foreign policy. Apparently. Perry's office ... More >>

  • Blogs

    May 17, 2011

    Perry For President 2012: And So It Begins?

    A nation shudders.​The conservative Web site Real Clear Politics is reporting it is detecting whiffs of Governor Rick Perry gearing up to run for president in 2012. "A Texas pol who is close to Perry has been telling a few key strategists that the nation's longest-serving governor sees a vacu ... More >>

  • Blogs

    May 16, 2011

    Comment of the Day: No Money For Schools, But Plenty For Formula 1 Racing

    ​We have some great commenters here on Hair Balls, and it's time we paid some damn attention to them. So we'll be highlighting a Comment of the Day each morning, from the previous day's work. Maybe two comments, even. This will all be determined by a highly rigorous scientific formula involv ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 29, 2011

    Yacht Owners Deserve A Huge Tax Break, Texas House Panel Decides

    Who know who's suffering in this economy? Yacht owners, that's who. Luckily Texas legislators have recognized this crisis, and momentarily put aside slashing public education to address the issue. A House panel has approved a bill that would cap state taxes on any yacht -- even the mega-million tw ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 28, 2011

    Legislative Victory for Texas Beer

    kMatherlyCheers indeed. Local breweries celebrate a win in the House of Representatives.Just as we were bemoaning the huge, wet bite the IRS took out of our savings account, along comes an example of tax dollars being put to good use. On April 21 the office of State Representative Jessica Farrar (D, ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 23, 2011

    Pro Life Group Uncovers Health Problems at Clinics

    ​Texas abortion clinics are plagued with health and administrative violations and have tons of gross medical waste, including fetal remains, in open trash bins outside their doors, according to the results of a three-month undercover study by Christian pro-life group Operation Rescue. The gro ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 7, 2011

    Joe Frank Garza: Pleads Guilty to Misusing Millions in Seized Drug Cash

    Joe Frank Garza, no relation to these guys​Joe Frank Garza, the Valley district attorney who for years has been loudly proclaiming his innocence on charges that he misused millions in seized drug money, changed his tune today. The Texas Attorney General's office, which has been prosecuting th ... More >>

  • Dining

    February 17, 2011

    Come and Bake It

    Local movement fights for cottage food bill.

  • Blogs

    February 17, 2011

    Sonogram Bill: God & Dan Patrick Get It Passed

    God speaks through Dan Patrick​Saying it was "God's time" to get the bill passed, State Senator Dan Patrick succeeded today in getting approval for Texas women to be forced to view a sonogram, and to hear whether the fetus has arms or legs, two hours before getting an abortion. During the deb ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 3, 2011

    Texas Finances in Tatters, State Tells HISD It's "The New Normal"

    Get used to it​Chief Financial Officer Melinda Garrett passed on the new buzz phrase coming out of the state capital at today's Houston ISD workshop session: "The New Normal," which is being used to explain that the current state budget crisis isn't a transitory thing but something that will b ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 1, 2011

    Texans Support Statewide Smoking Ban, Says Group Pushing for Statewide Smoking Ban

    Joe Camel is in the other 30 percent​If you want to ban smoking in all indoor work and public places in Texas, then you agree with 70 percent of residents here, according to a new poll by the Smoke-Free Texas Coalition. Such a ban is supported by 67 percent of Republicans, 69 percent of Indep ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 24, 2011

    Rick Perry's "Emergencies": An Agenda Set by Tea Party Talk Radio

    Rick Perry: A Randolph Mantooth for our time​Another day, another Rick Perry "emergency": This time it's forcing women seeking abortions to have sonograms. You are forgiven if you are a Texas resident -- wondering how the hell the state is going to fund education, critical social services, hi ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 19, 2011

    Ron Paul for Senate: New Poll Says Texans Demand It

    Ron Paul: Let the campaign begin!​As America faces the challenges of the 21st century, it is safe to say it needs as many Pauls in the Senate as possible. And we're not talking first names, either. Texas, it seems, agrees. A new poll from PPP shows Texans are demanding that Kay Bailey Hutchi ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 18, 2011

    Spark Energy: Houston Company's Plane Drowns Out Rick Perry's Inaugural Speech

    Which way to the inauguration?​How not to get on Rick Perry's good side: Drown out part of his inaugural speech by flying your advertising plane way too low over the capitol. Spark Energy of Houston is about to learn that hard fact, or, in the alternative, make a sizable donation to some Rick ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 10, 2011

    Texas Budget Gap: The Estimate Comes In, and It's Huge

    Maybe we could use less lighting on the capitol building​Let's harken back to the blissful days of autumn 2010, when Governor Rick Perry was able to deflect any talk of a looming budget gap by blithely noting no official estimate for it had been made. Democrats' talk that it might be as high ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 7, 2011

    Texas Gay Divorce: Court Rules Against Abbott, But on Technical Terms

    Greg Abbott's attempt to grandstand is rejected​Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott intervened as fast as he could in a lesbian divorce case in Austin, but it wasn't fast enough, an appeals court has ruled. Abbott wanted to intervene in the suit because God knows if he didn't it would have led ... More >>

  • Blogs

    December 30, 2010

    The Texas Lege: Five Crazy Things It Will Debate In 2010

    Come for the budget-cutting, stay for the insanity​We regret to inform you that 2011 is one of those godforsaken years when the Texas Legislature will be in session. We further regret to inform you that Republicans have a supermajority in the House, and almost half of those GOPers are proud m ... More >>

  • Blogs

    December 15, 2010

    State Rep Debbie Riddle's Magnum Opus (Of 96 Pages)

    It is its own Cliff's Notes​Debbie Riddle, the state rep from Tomball who camped out in order to pre-file an Arizona-like immigration bill, and who is one of a triumvirate of Texas politicians to look utterly foolish being interviewed on CNN, has become a published author. Taking Back Your Co ... More >>

  • Blogs

    November 22, 2010

    Runner-Up Turkey of the Year: Debbie Riddle

    Debbie Riddle -- You've been out-wingnutted!!​We're just days away from the 2010 Turkeys of the Year issue, where we honor what is best in Turkeydom for the past year. This will be our eighth edition of the awards, and as always competition is stiff. Building up to the grand announcement of th ... More >>

  • Blogs

    November 17, 2010

    Turkey Of The Year Runner-Up: Bill White

    Bill White loses another race​It's a week or so away from the 2010 Turkeys of the Year issue, where we honor what is best in Turkeydom for the past year. This will be our eighth edition of the awards, and as always competition is stiff. Building up to the grand announcement of the winners, we' ... More >>

  • Blogs

    November 9, 2010

    Jon Stewart & Rick Perry: The Gloves Stay On, Even In The Extended Clip

    The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10c

  • Blogs

    November 5, 2010

    Bobbi Mihal: Suit Says Farouk Shami's Company Fired Her For Not Being Muslim

    Woman says she was fired for not being Muslim​Does the son of former Texas gubernatorial candidate and Houston hair product mogul Farouk Shami dislike white people?According to a former employee of Shami's company, Farouk Systems, which reportedly pulled in $27.4 million in revenue in 2008, the an ... More >>

  • Blogs

    November 3, 2010

    President Rick Perry: Five Reasons It Will Happen, Five Reasons It Won't

    President Rick Perry.​Governor Rick Perry, the man who has shown the ability to ride a crest of not really being liked to three gubernatorial wins, has done it again.He beat a Democrat in Texas, in the Tea Party year of 2010. A stunning achievement. Still, from now on the press will breathlessly b ... More >>

  • Blogs

    October 29, 2010

    Five Best Sexy-Time Moments Of Campaign 2010 (And "Best" Can Just Mean "Weird")

    Nikki Haley: Hey, I did her too!!!​Dear Gawd, there are only four more days left in this hellspawn of an election year. Although we're sure the recounts and voter-fraud investigations will go on forever, most of the activity will be over.There's been a lot to hate about Campaign 2010; there's been ... More >>

  • Blogs

    October 20, 2010

    Tea Party: Coming Soon To Texas License Plates?

    Courtesy MyPlates.comJust a historical reference, nothing political​Texas -- ever eager to do its part to foment rightwing nuttism -- may be giving official state sanction to the Tea Party, via license plates.New proposed license plates from MyPlates.com are out for review, and they include the "D ... More >>

  • Blogs

    October 14, 2010

    Campaign 2010: 7 Great Moments In Political History

    The governor of Texas talks about seceding from the United States of America. Remember when we all thought that was a goofy moment?It turned out to be only a tease for the rest of the political year. When it comes to politics in 2010, things got a whole lot weirder.And we're not even talking about c ... More >>

  • Blogs

    October 12, 2010

    Bill White the Loser, HISD Declares

    Bill White's going down, HISD declares​Houston ISD's assessment of the upcoming state legislative session on Monday began with the declaration that Bill White doesn't have a chance and that Rick Perry will continue as governor. Rebecca Flores, the director of Government Relations for HISD, and bo ... More >>

  • News

    July 29, 2010

    Get Out!

    Arizona and America join Joe Arpaio in rushing to inquire: Are your papers in order?

  • Blogs

    July 26, 2010

    Greg Abbott Sues Obama Administration Over Clean-Air Rules

    Dumb bureaucrats........​The Texas regulations on clean air, such as they are, have done a marvelous job for years, and we don't need the feds messing with our pristine environment, Texas attorney general Greg Abbott said today in a suit filed against the Obama administration.Texas' (notorious) Fl ... More >>

  • Blogs

    June 25, 2010

    Craig Washington's Shooting Targets Lose Their Victims'-Rights Case, Will Fight On

    Former Congressman shot at two kids​Debbie Brooks and Marti McAnulty, whose sons had been shot at by former U.S. Congressman Craig Washington last year, finally had their day in court on Wednesday, attempting to sue a Harris County prosecutor for violating their victims rights.The two mothers clai ... More >>

  • News

    December 3, 2009

    Credit Repair

    Overwhelmed by debt? Hey, pay a company to get rid of it by saying it never really happened in the first place.

  • News

    March 9, 2006

    Letters to the Editor

    Overwhelmed by debt? Hey, pay a company to get rid of it by saying it never really happened in the first place.

  • More >>
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