World Politics

AG Greg Abbott Bans Same-Sex Benefits In Cities, Counties & School Districts, Sorta

Attorney General Greg Abbott, in an ironic twist of timing, has struck down the ability of cities, counties and school districts to offer domestic partner benefits. By almost any measure, today was a landmark day for the GLBT community, with all eyes focused on basketball player Jason Collins, the ... More >>

Texas Might Finally See the "Crack Cocaine" Gambling Its Citizens Seem to Love

Cathie Adams knows where she stands on slots. She's done the research. She's conducted the interviews. She's seen what can happen when someone finds their way to the bright, baubly machines from which casinos get a heft of their income. "They're called the crack cocaine of gambling," Adams, preside ... More >>

Islam, Communism, And Black Panthers Are Indoctrinating Texas Children -- Fingers Crossed!

One of the best courses I took in high school was an elective entitled "Islam and the West." Examining the cultural, political, and literary borderlands between the two spheres, the course provided some of the most educational and edifying lessons as anything I'd found at my school. Those lessons, n ... More >>

Ethiopian Political Head-Butting in Southwest Houston Spawns Lawsuit, Criminal Charge

An Ethiopian-American man handing out flyers for a memorial service for Ethiopia's recently deceased prime minister, Meles Zenawi, claims he was assaulted by a countryman who reviled the repressive leader, according to criminal and civil court documents. The victim and plaintiff, Tesfai Tsadik, is ... More >>

T for Textbooks

A new doc explores the Texas Board of Education's fight against science, history.

Why Mitt Romney Won't Win The Debate Tonight: He Won't Shut Up About The Economy. Mitt, We Get It Already.

Once, while reflecting on his tumultuous tenure as Secretary of Defense during the Vietnam War, Robert McNamara said: "Don't answer the question you were asked. Answer the question you wish you were asked." This may have allowed the folly of the Vietnam War to continue for nearly a decade, but it wa ... More >>

OMG Helena Brown Was Right! We Are Drowning in Debt (Or Are We? Susan Combs Decides)

Quick, someone find a fiscal cliff to jump from. Susan Combs, the Texas comptroller of public accounts, released a report Wednesday saying we're all screwed. Public debt at the local level -- including community colleges, municipalities, school districts, etc. -- has more than doubled in the last d ... More >>

Comment of the Day: Romney's 47-Percent Gaffe

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 or afternoon from the previous day's work. Maybe two comments, even. This will all be determined by a highly rigorous scientific formula i ... More >>

Texas GOP Slapped Again: Now Judges Toss Voter ID Law

For the second time this week, federal judges have dealt setbacks to grand plans by Texas Republicans to suppress the minority vote protect the sanctity of the ballot. Tuesday a federal panel found the state's new redistricting maps to be biased; today another panel has ruled that the new voter ID ... More >>

RNC Hoopla: Ted Cruz Saying Stupid Things, Fitting in Just Fine

Ah, the Republican National Convention. Glitz. Glamour. Ted Cruz -- our newly-anointed Texan conservative savior -- saying really dumb things. And Christianity. Lots and lots of Christianity. But first, back to Cruz, who's scheduled to address the convention tonight. So here's the deal: This is his ... More >>

Silversun Pickups, thelastplaceyoulook, Toadies Top BuzzFest 29 Lineup

Today the lineup for the fall 2012 edition of 94.5 The Buzz's BuzzFest 29 leaked onto Pollstar and the rock station's Web site. The fall fest is headed up by Silversun Pickups, Lit, Eve 6, Toadies, Three Days Grace, 10 Years and thelastplaceyoulook, who will be coming home from a month-long jaunt wi ... More >>

Music World Stands Up for Embattled Russian Punks Pussy Riot

Above: A burka-clad Madonna talks about Pussy Riot to her Moscow audience Rewind: Vladimir Putin: No Pussy Riot on His Watch Free speech is a valued thing in this country. It's why journalists, writers, musicians and artists exist and are able to do what they do. However, in Russia, it seems to be ... More >>

Ted Cruz Is Here to Protect Texas from the UN

Texas Republican voters finally jumped to their senses Tuesday and followed the clarion call of Sarah Palin by electing Ted Cruz to the U.S. Senate over pallid insider David Dewhurst. The upset was the latest bit of rebellion from the Tea Party, adding to the footnotes that will be written in poli ... More >>

Perry Demands Obama Apologize for Holder's "Incendiary" Remarks

Governor Rick Perry took time out of his busy schedule of telling the federal government to kiss his ass and whopping up on socialists to demand an apology from the President for remarks made by the U.S. Attorney General at the NAACP convention held in Houston last week. Apparently, Perry thought Ho ... More >>

10 of the Most Painful Joe Biden Gaffes

Yesterday at Houston's NAACP rally, Vice President Joe Biden gave a well-received speech arguing that a Mitt Romney presidency would hurt the black community. As expected, the audience liked him a lot more than Romney, who got booed during his appearance last week for his opposition to Obamacare. Pe ... More >>

NAACP Pledges "Strong Support" For Controversial AG Eric Holder

It was on and then off. When it was back on, it was on. Kind of. Mid-morning Tuesday, United States Attorney General Eric Holder, who had canceled his Monday appearance on account of an airplane delay, addressed the delegates of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People meeting ... More >>

Hispanics Saving Texas Democrats: A Perpetual Mirage?

The quixotically optimistic Texas Democrats -- who haven't won a statewide election since 1994 -- bellowed a lot of things at the Texas Democratic Convention last weekend, but, really, most of it seemed to translate to one refrain. All together now: The Hispanics are going to save us! The Hispan ... More >>

Montrose, Meet Your New Congressman: Ted Poe, Homophobe

It looks like Texas just might finally have a redistricting map, after several tries. If this one goes through, Montrose will be represented by...Ted Poe. Now, it's not like the neighborhood has been represented by a GLBT-friendly rep prior to redistricting; John Culberson is a hardcore rightwinge ... More >>

Bill O'Reilly Has A Hard-On For Willie Nelson

Wilco, "Pot Kettle Black" Despite his appearance on SNL's "What's Up With That?" skit this weekend, Bill O'Reilly has managed to squander what little credibility he has among liberals, moderates and (we're guessing) anyone under age 60 by calling Willie Nelson a "creep." The conservative Fox News ... More >>

Hispanic Savior and a Donkey Devotee

Incendiary: The Willingham Case

Southern Discomfort: Kinky On the Road

The one-liners come out of Kinky Friedman's mouth so fast you need a protective shield. "The only thing Rick Perry managed to do with his Presidential campaign was to make George W. look like Thomas 'Fucking' Jefferson." "Real people don't get into politics. The only people who get into politics ... More >>

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 >>

SPECIAL MORMON EDICION

Fly To The Angels: A Hair Metal Tribute To Kim Jong-il

Metal Bad Boy Kim Jong-il ​Kim Jong-il and '80s hair metal were almost synonymous, and last night when the world found out that the North Korean leader passed on to the big rock show in the sky, all I could listen to was hair ballads, driving through the city in tears. Looking at things he wou ... More >>

Rick Perry's "Politically Incorrect" Ad: Other Things You're Not Allowed to Say

Rick Perry has a new TV ad up in Iowa titled "Politically Incorrect." "Washington is the capital of political correctness, where doublespeak reigns and the truth is frowned upon," he says in it. "You can't say that Congressmen becoming lobbyists is a form of legal corruption. Or that we give aid mo ... More >>

"Homescholers For Perry": NOT Photoshopped, In Case You Were Wondering

Every week or so, since Rick Perry entered the GOP presidential primary, we've gotten an e-mail from someone wanting to know whether our semi-famous "Homescholers for Perry" picture was photoshopped. Usually, it's because they are trying to refudiate a claim from some Perry supporter that the image ... More >>

Groping-Obsessed Rick Perry Isn't Satisfied With Your Policy Changes, TSA

There shall be no groping in the Republic of Texas​The federal Transportation Securty Administration has announced policy changes that mean children under 12 will no longer undergo pat-down searches. In case you were thinking that might be enough for Governor Rick Perry to end his bizarre ant ... More >>

Rick Perry V. Florida Governor Rick Scott: Who Makes The More Pathetic NBA Finals Joke?

Meeting of the titans​The NBA Finals start tonight (the Rockets are not involved, if you haven't been keeping up). It's the Dallas Mavericks against the Miami Heat, and that means a silly little bet between Governor Rick Perry and Florida Governor Rick Scott, two of the more Tea Party-esque go ... More >>

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 >>

Comment of the Day: Back to the `50s, But All The Way

​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 >>

Local State Senator Pushing for Sunday Liquor Sales in Texas

pamlaneSunday Funday indeed.​Such times as these - the economy in recession, federal and state governments mired in debt, and more than 8 percent unemployment - are leading state lawmakers around the country to question the financial logistics of blue laws restricting any business from operati ... More >>

Rick Perry's Cuts: Good for Polluters, Electricity Companies; Bad for Commissions Who Opposed His Wife's Renovation Plans

Rick Perry, stomping on the Historical Commission​Rick Perry's State of the State speech today made clear that the lamestream media has it all wrong when it comes to the financial health of Texas. "Have the doomsayers forgotten that Texas added more jobs in 2010 than any other state?" he aske ... More >>

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 >>

Just What America Needs: Four More Texas Votes In The U.S. House Of Representatives

Texas is a big winner​Republicans in the Texas Legislature have already been salivating over the opportunity to redraw Congressional districts with little to no interference from those annoying Democrats. The U.S. Census just handed them another gift: Four more seats to mess with. A 20 perce ... More >>

Alberto Gonzalez: Former Houstonian, Former Attorney General, Needs Your Cash

Alberto Gonzalez: Give `til it hurts​Alberto Gonzalez, the pride of Houston's Vinson & Elkins, memorably served as Attorney General under George W. Bush. Sure, there were a few bumps along the way, what with the torture and helping Karl Rove purge the roster of U.S. Attorneys in a way that an ... More >>

Jurors in DeLay Case Ask for Documents During Deliberation

Caption to come...​The jury in the money laundering trial of former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay requested documents including phone, e-mail and financial records as they continued their deliberations today, one day after requesting clarification on the criminal charges against DeLay. ... More >>

Sarah Palin's New Show: Houston Blessed Enough To Get Sneak Preview

Saah Palin having some "flippin' fun"​If you've been moping around saying you have nothing to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, relax. You now officially have a reason to offer gratitude. There are a whole bunch of cities in the United States, right? (Yes, right.) Well, there are only eight ... More >>

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 >>

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 >>

Tea Party: At The Race Track With George Washington

Photos by Craig HlavatyNo treading allowed​On Saturday afternoon I visited the North Houston Tea Party's "I Will Vote" rally, held at the Sam Houston Race Park. This was my second Tea Party rally in six months, following on the heels of the one in April at Discovery Green where my photographer was ... More >>

Machete's Potential Tax Incentives Rile Conservatives

Texas tax breaks for THIS? Tea Party unite!​Machete, the bloody, gory, spoofy film by Robert Rodriguez, has become the latest mini-scandal de jour for conservatives.Why? Because it might get tax breaks from Texas, and it portrays a race war that favors immigrants over right-wing politicians like t ... More >>

When Do We Go After the Crooks Behind Our Financial Collapse?

​President Obama and his new administration were going to be so tough on the corporate villains who had such a large role in fostering the recession that has upended the finances of so many. But as author James Lieber points out in this week's cover story "No Justice," that just hasn't happen ... More >>

Stages Repertory Theatre: Southern Rapture

Stages presents the funny side of the culture war in Southern Rapture

Mexico Protests Tex-Mex Commercial

The Mexican ambassador to Spain has written a letter to Burger King objecting to a new ad campaign for the "Texican Whopper." The print ads and commercials, which appear only in Europe, feature an unlikely pair of roommates--a tall cowboy who travels by horse and short Mexican who answers the fro ... More >>

"American Civil War Field Notes: Sketches from Cairo to Columbia"

Embedded Illustrators on display at O'Kane Gallery

“The Assassination of Benazir Bhutto and the Future of Pakistan”

What does the Pakistani leader’s death mean for the United States?

Free Kicks

Once in a Lifetime remembers when soccer players lived like rock stars

Thai Raid

In America, Thai dishes are being toned down. The Thai government wants to step in to stop it.

A Few Problems of His Own