Panel hears LULAC case over ‘Texas Two-Step'

A federal three-judge panel heard an appeal by a Latino civil rights group Thursday against the Texas Democratic Party, charging that its delegate selection process dilutes the Latino vote and should be subject to the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

For me the events in Texas were the most shocking part of the whole ugly primary. lambert wrote a great post on this and Wampum posted the incident report.

Is Texas looking out for you? Health-care outsourcing is rolling on, but many patients suffer from silent treatment

Evercare of Texas was supposed to coordinate medical and long-term care for more than 80,000 elderly, blind or disabled North Texans. "We help make it easier to get the care you deserve," the company promises on its Web site.

For many Texans, it hasn't worked out that way.

RALLY for Health Care Reform, Saturday October 4, 2008 at Houston City Hall 4-6pm

Sometimes we win one:

AUSTIN, Texas - Affirming that “every person deserves access to affordable, quality health care” and noting that area residents are not getting it, the Austin City Council called today for the enactment of a nonprofit, single-payer national health insurance program.

At its regular Thursday meeting, the Council voted to endorse the U.S. National Health Insurance Act, H.R. 676, sponsored by Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., and 91 other members of Congress. The vote was six in favor and one abstention.

The Austin City Council today will consider a resolution in support of the United States National Health Insurance Act (H.R. 676).

That bill in the U.S. House of Representatives, sponsored by John Conyers (D-Michigan), would create a nation-wide single-payer health care system.

June 19 (that's this Thursday) there will be a demonstration at the offices of the Humana Insurance Company in San Antonio, TX at 6 PM.

Contact: Jane Lee Cantu (janelee [@] satx.rr [.] com)

Health Care for all Texas

We are a grassroots coalition that believes health care is a human right. Every person in the state of Texas deserves access to high quality health care at an affordable cost.

The Dallas Morning News says

When Mr. Perry learned the fire was arson, he said, his emotions "went from heartache to pretty damn mad." This was his family's home, he said, and a place where children have "slid down banisters and chased pets in the yard" for more than a century.
Mr. Perry didn't say whether he was disappointed with the Department of Public Safety, whose troopers are responsible for safeguarding the mansion.

The mansion wasn't just home to Perry, or W before him.

Challenger Dr. Ludwig Otto endorses universal healthcare, but does not specifically endorse HR 676 or single payer. If you live in Texas’ sixth CD, you might ask him.

Al Green is committed to fighting for affordable, comprehensive coverage for all Americans.

Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee regards health care as one of the most pressing issues facing this country and the world.

From the Fort-Worth Star Telegram:

The Texas Democratic Party is warning that its March 4 caucuses could be delayed or disrupted after aides to White House hopeful Hillary Clinton raised the specter of an "imminent" lawsuit over its complicated delegate selection process, officials said Thursday night.

...
Democratic sources said representatives from each campaign had made it clear they are keeping all their options open but that the Clinton campaign in particular had warned of an impending lawsuit.

Perhaps we can call in the 2000 Supreme Court and Catherine Harris to sort this one out...

Silver Falls, near Crosbyton, Texas
(Picture from TexDOT Expressway web site):

The Talk Left Story by TChris comes hard on the heels of the scandal in the Texas Juvenile Corrections System.

You can’t make up shit like this.

Well here I am amongst by way-betters, but I felt compelled to write in based on the terrific environmental writing I’ve been reading over here.

Maybe you’ve heard of the TXU deal. TXU is a big-ass Texas Utility company which was recently bought up by a group of private-equity firms. This has been a big deal in Texas, where population is skyrocketing and power-needs exploding. The answer for TXU, like a lot of other companies, has been coal, and plenty of it. The new buyers were poised to build eleven coal-fired power plants in Texas. Not exactly what environmentalists and other oxygen-loving Austin-based life forms like to hear.

The Environmental Defense Fund, and a few thousand Texans, were ready to fight them to the end of their own pocketbooks.

What happened next is, at least on the surface, quite the good news.

Digby has a great post on a guy who staged pig races on his property during prayer at the new mosque next door. The guy thought the Muslims wanted his land, but they don't:

Earlier this month, Baker conceded that the Muslims probably aren't after his land, but he said he had to go through with the pig races because "I would be like a total idiot if I didn't. I'd be the laughingstock now because I've gone too far."

"I'd be the laughingstock now because I've gone too far." Remind you of anything? Maybe of our "Texas-stupid" Leader?