In case you were wondering if Texas Democrats are making too big a deal out of Ted Nugent, the man who admits to several sexual exploits with underage girls, has been sued for child support, wants Hillary Clinton to “suck” on his gun, has proudly made racist statements, and promotes violence against women, campaigning with Texas politicians … there’s this.

Despite calling the president a “sub-human mongrel” last month, rocker Ted Nugent hasn’t lost support among Republican allies in Texas.

Sid Miller, a candidate for Agriculture Commissioner, stands behind Nugent, who serves as the campaign’s treasurer and co-chairman.

“We are not going to do anything to distance ourselves from Ted Nugent,” said Todd Smith, a Miller spokesman and strategist. “If we had concerns about some of the things that Mr. Nugent has said or done, we wouldn’t have reached out to him and asked him to become involved in our campaign on such a high level.”

Republicans in Texas think they are bulletproof.  They win and they’ll legalize everything Ted Nugent has done and memorialize everything he’s said.

They double down and so do I.

Ill be home next week meaner than ever.

Orange County, Texas is as far east Texas as you can get.  If you trip over a log, you’re in Louisiana.

They take their Republicanism very seriously.

Seventy year old Jerry Wilson is running for GOP County Chairman in Orange County.  Some other Republican folks don’t cotton to him.

According to KFDM, Jerry Wilson, 70, attacked another man who was removing Wilson’s signs replacing them with other signs calling Wilson a ‘RINO’ and  urging voters to  not vote for him. RINO, short for Republican in Name Only, is a term used to describe someone believed to be not conservative enough for the party.

The victim of the assault was described as a poll worker.

Jerry claims he got in some good punches.  I somehow don’t doubt that.  I regret deeply that I missed seeing it.

Jerry Wilson

Is Jerry bothered by his violent behavior?  Not so much.

Whatever my punishment is, I’ll take it. If I had to do it over again I don’t think I’d change one thing. He deserved what he got.”

Misdemeanor assault, $1,000 bond.

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Thanks to Brian for the heads up.

By:  Amber Paaso, Democratic nominee for Texas Representative, District 26

Courage: mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. –  Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2014.

I know the Nugent/Abbott alliance has been all over the media and perhaps you are ready to move on to the next controversy. Well, I am not and I hope that you aren’t either. This is an opportunity to discuss the qualities of a leader and how his or her choices reveal to us their true selves. Earlier this week Ted Nugent heralded Abbott for his courage for inviting him into his campaign despite the backlash. When word got out of Nugent’s campaign participation for Abbott, the number of attendees skyrocketed. We must then ask what this tells us about society as a whole and more importantly how we view courage.

Ted Nugent

The sexist and racist comments by Nugent are repugnant to most yet so many stay silent. Others go so far to call him a true patriot and great defender of our Constitution. People look to leaders for guidance and integrity. They are role-models for our children, our future leaders. Abbott, Romney and other GOP candidates who have aligned themselves with Ted Nugent are condoning his hatred and utter disrespect. When one stands by while another disparages women by calling them pigs and depicting them as such on his album cover or makes repugnant accusations toward our President, that person condones such behavior through inaction. Good people who stand by while others do or say horrific and disparaging things perpetuate and endorse such behavior through that silence. Leaders must lead by example. Will we make mistakes? Sure, but then own those mistakes and show some accountability. Abbott’s offhand remarks that he couldn’t read everything Nugent has said steeps in ignorance and lack of true leadership. Above all, it is a sign of cowardice.

Throughout the State, domestic violence and rape crisis centers provide leadership and equality training to youth. The PEACE (Peer Educators Acting for Change and Equality) Project, a program led by the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault, engages, educates and supports youth activists to create social change and equality across Texas. This program and many others encourage students to help victims of bullying by not tolerating hateful behavior (See the links below for more details on the OAG’s youth programs). So, how does this tie into to Abbott, Nugent and the question of courage? These educational programs are funded by grants from the Office of the Attorney General. Yes, while supporting anti-bullying and primary prevention of dating violence and sexual assault, Abbott stands proud next to a man who spews hatred and discrimination which are often the core to bullying, harassment and assault. Abbott needs to put his mouth where the money is!

Abbott’s acceptance of Nugent’s support was anything but courageous. More than that, it was a perfect example of hypocrisy. Courage means to stand strong in the face of fear, danger or loss of disreputable friends. If only Abbott had the courage to stand up to the racist and sexist beliefs that Nugent spreads, he could have shown he is a true leader. People look to leaders for guidance and integrity. We expect them to be an example and surround themselves with those who share their values and goals. We must hold our leaders to a higher standards. Abbott has failed on all these fronts. He never had my vote, but now he no longer has my respect. The question is …. does he have yours?

https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/victims/grants.shtml

https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/teens/leaders/

https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/teens/resources/dating.shtml

https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/teens/resources/bullying.shtml

By:  Fenway Fran

Just last week, my friend Kelly, expat extraordinaire who divides her time among homes in Istanbul, Atyrau and the most exotic Montgomery, Texas, complained about ATMA, the Kazak equivalent of TSA. Kelly raged on her facebook page, warning all travelers out of Atyrau to beware. They had apparently decided to “inspect” one of her suitcases, by breaking off the TSA approved locks and zipper pulls. So, I guess they didn’t have a key. But then it gets interesting. Bag destroyed, they went through her cosmetics and left them loose in the suitcase, fully inspected the bathroom bag, with both toothbrushes out of the bag, and her panties that were in a see through mesh pouch were gone through and balled up in the suitcase. Not even a card saying ‘ATMA Was Here’. All very confusing and quite the violation of privacy.

Today’s AP article in the paper gives possible perspective. Apparently, they were just trying to see if her unmentionables were contraband.

A trade ban on lacy lingerie has Russian consumers and their neighbors with their knickers in a twist.

The ban will outlaw any underwear containing less than 6 percent cotton from being imported, made, or sold in Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. And it has struck a chord in societies where La Perla and Victoria’s Secret are panty paradises compared to Soviet-era cotton underwear, which was often about as flattering and shapely as drapery.

On Sunday, 30 women protesters in Kazakhstan were arrested and thrown into police vans while wearing lace underwear on their heads and shouting “Freedom to panties!”

Back in 1991, my young daughters and their crazy Auntie Mary developed their idea of a really good time. Step 1, put a pair of (preferably) clean panties on your head. Step 2, dance like there’s no tomorrow. The undie dance was usually done in the house, but it did escape into the public arena on occasion. One memorable undie dance happened on a shuttle to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, because undies were in the beach bag for use after swimsuit removal, and hey, they are so much more fun on your head than in the bag. Who knew it would take so long for this dance craze to make it to Russia?

Generally when I travel you don’t even know it because the internet is magic.  I usually have time to write a few posts in the evening or in the morning while Bubba reads his newspaper and eats the free buffet breakfast.

Well, I’m fixing to go on a trip where I won’t have much free time.  So, I’ve asked a few of our old timers around here to fill in for me.  You’ll be hearing from Don A., Da Chipster, Fenway Fran, Texas Ellen, Hal, and probably a few others who haven’t made a commitment yet but are pondering on it.

If things get boring, I might just throw a topic out there and let you guys entertain each other.  Meanwhile, hold off on sending me tips because I ain’t reading them.

I need to let crooks know a few things.  Marsha will be staying at our house once again.  Marsha is a retired parole officer and she clips coupons for ammo, which she really doesn’t need because she knows one hundred ways to kill you with a spatula.  I only issue this warning because having to clean your entrails off my patio deck is not something I want to do.

I’ll be back in a week.  Enjoy yourselves.

I’m sure most of y’all enjoyed Joe the Plumber’s fifteen minutes of fame.  Hey that’s 14 minutes more than a man not named Joe is who is not a plumber deserves.

Well, Ole Joe has himself a brand spanking new job.  It’s a good one, too, because it’s a union job down at the Chrysler plant.  He claims he only joined the union because he has to if he wants to work there.  And, you know, there’s no other place to work in all of America.

A man of conviction would have taken a minimum wage job at a Koch Brothers operation than belittle himself by joining a union.

But, this job ain’t perfect, you know.  For one thing, it hurt his little feelings that some of his union brothers and sisters referred to him as “a teabagger” while he was on break smoking a cigarette.  Joe whines that liberals “who are supposed to so tolerant and enlightened regarding homosexuals” call him a word that is a “gay slur.”  No, it’s not.

Dude, you started it.  That’s what y’all named yourself until we told you what it meant.

If Joe is the man he claims to be, he’ll return his benefits, his salary above minimum wage, his weekends off, his 40 hour week, and  safe working conditions.  Because, by gawd, that’s dirty union crap.

Welcome to the liberal teat, Joe.  We work hard to bring good jobs to America so you don’t have to.

Thanks to everybody for the heads up.