Da Chipster

On the subject of Eric Holder, yesterday, thus spake Aggieland Liz: “…he’s a politician! The only one I’ve ever known to be trustworthy is Ronnie Earle! Jimmy Carter tried hard though. I’ll take nominations from the floor if anyone has any suggestions for me…”

I have a couple of nominees; in fact, I have a plethora, but most of them exist at the local level, and there’s a reason for this. I once aspired to be an elected politician, but I lived in the Most Republican District in America. Henry Hyde was my Congressvarmint. My State Senator was the Republican President of the Senate. My State Rep was the Republican Leader (and sometime Speaker) of the Illinois House. So, as a young man in a hurry, I joined the GOP.

And therein lies my point: politics is a dirty business. It always has been. You can rise, but I found that with every step you take up the ladder, you leave a little bit of yourself behind. I started as a RINO, Republican in Name Only, and ended up a few years later in a 3-way primary for county board pledging not to raise taxes. One butt-whipping and actual nervous breakdown later, I got out of the candidate biz and pledged to work to elect good people. None of them ever prosecuted himself but they were good people, most of them laboring in relative obscurity. Let’s lift them from that!

So for the coveted Aggieland Liz Award (the A-Lizzie) I nominate two guys I’ve worked for. One was a local blogger (and DeadHead) who provided a community forum for folks to talk about their town, then ran for his village board in a Very Red Town by knocking on over 4000 doors with a pony tail and a tie-dye t-shirt…and won! Dave Hegland, this bud’s for you.

The second is much more well-known, world-famous, in fact, but still one of the most genuine, graceful, generous guys I’ve ever had the pleasure to have met, with a wonderful wife: Al Franken. Someone brought a puppy to HQ during the recount. This guy got down on the ground and rolled around with it.

Not from personal knowledge, but more from second-hand, I’d also nominate Keith Ellison.

The floor is open: whom would you nominate for an A-Lizzie?

I swear that I heard John Kasach, the Governor of Ohio, say in his speech last night that Mitt Romney will make America “shinier .”  Cool.  My favorite color.

And what did y’all think about Ann Romney’s speech? I liked the part where they struggled in college — living off stock options.

And I thought the whole thing would have been taken much more seriously if Chris Christie hadn’t spent his speech rolling out Christie’16!

The Archbishop from San Francisco who fought so hard for Prop 8 in California?  Driving while drunk.

Another Prop 8 supporter?

A Yucca Valley, California man associated with the anti-LGBT ballot initiative Proposition 8 has confessed to the molestation of multiple young boys over the course of decades.  According to the Wisconsin Gazette, Caleb Edward Hesse, 52, a first grade teacher and youth volunteer, has been arraigned on 4 felony counts of lewd conduct upon a child.  The San Bernadino District Attorney’s office has said that more charges are pending as the case develops and more victims come forward.

Look, I’m not saying that all Prop 8 supporters are perverts and drunks.  I’m just saying that all perverts and drunks supported Prop 8.

Thanks to Brian for the heads up.

Brian E.

I know we have Freedom of the Press, but I think every newspaper in this country should be REQUIRED to print a quote or article from some of the leaders in the Republican Party EVERY DAY.  I want to have everyone hear words of ‘wisdom’ from the like of Gov. Brewer and others every day.  Like this.

A new law was signed by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer and went into effect on Thursday that has abortion advocates up in arms. The new law, titled Women’s Health and Safety Act deems a woman pregnant 2 weeks before conception.

Steinberg explained the law by saying, “The law defines pregnancy in a way that bans abortion two weeks before the other seven states who have similar laws. It calculates gestational age starting with the first day of the last menstrual period rather than the date of conception.”

Keep talking Jan.  Just keep talking, Honey.

…. because that man just made a damfool out of Rick Perry and Greg Abbott.

BREAKING:  FEDERAL COURT DENIES TEXAS PRECLEARANCE IN REDISTRICTING MAPS

Thank you!

You can see the whole thing right here.  I especially liked that the three-judge panel pointed out that Black and Hispanic districts were redrawn to exclude the district offices of Black and Hispanic Members, but Anglo districts were redrawn to include specific country clubs (see page 40).

The opinion is a hot little mess all over the top of Rick Perry’s head and I love it!

This is going to come as a great relief to Texans.  The rest of the world?  Not so much.

Y’all remember County Judge Tom Head out in Lubbock?  Well, the UN made an announcement today just for him.

The United Nations scoffed on Friday at claims by a judge in Lubbock County, Texas, that U.N. troops could invade the southern U.S. state to settle a possible civil war, which the judge warned could be sparked if Obama is re-elected in November.

“It’s absolutely ridiculous,” said U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s spokesman, Martin Nesirky, when asked if the United Nations had any plans to invade Texas.

But then again, they would lie about it, wouldn’t they?

Somebody get Judge Head a stiff drink or a new scapegoat.  It appears either one would do.

Thanks to Steve for the heads up.