Happy Saturday!

It's been quite a week. Thanks to a few phone calls to AT&T, my internet is back up and functioning. It's about time! I must say that AT&T customer service is better than Comcast. I'm never doing cable again if I can help it.

After his inauguration, President Barack Obama wasted no time in reversing the ills of the Bush Administration. For more information on the President's executive orders, here is a link to the The Briefing Room with details about the orders closing Guantanamo Bay prison camp and lifting the Mexico City gag order.

This week, President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009. Newsweek has the details of Ms. Ledbetter's fight to be recognized as an equal to her male coworkers and entitled to equal pay for equal work. President Obama made it clear that this is a union White House and appointed Vice President Joe Biden to chair a task force on the middle class.

The president has his "BIG GAME" plate full with the stimulus package and getting those pissy Republicans in line. I don't get it. They were in power for 12 years in Congress. They pretty much had their way with Bill Clinton and a Republican president, their beloved W. Republicans have presided over two failed wars, record unemployment and a financial market on the brink of collapse.

Why the hell do we care what they say? Republicans have run this country into the ground. There is no good reason why anyone should take them seriously. Suck it, R's. Just admit that you are the reason this country is in bad shape and get out of the way.

At last.... It's Inauguration Day!

Today was a beautiful day.

Barack H. Obama is the 44th President of the United States. President Obama. President Barack Obama. Can't just call him Barack anymore. It's Mr. President!

The nice picture above was taken by State Representative Solomon Ortiz, Jr., from his vantage point at the Capitol. Lots of friends are in Washington, D.C. for the festivities and are reporting back on the Chron Inauguration blog, Witnessing Obama. Thanks to Isaac, Gloria, Annelise & Kara for sharing your experiences on such a special day.

On a sad note, Senator Edward Kennedy took ill today, and was hopitalized after suffering a seizure. Hope you're feeling better, Senator. It was awesome to see you smiling at the Inaugural ceremony.

Well, I'm going to watch some more coverage. Good night, y'all.

It's been awhile...

An interruption is service is the reason for my latest prolonged absence from the blogging. I've missed y'all!

Since we've last "spoken," there have been a few developments in the political world.

The biggest story, by far, has been that of the election of Texas House Speaker Joe Straus III of Bexar County. A moderate Republican, Speaker Straus was elected unanimously on Tuesday, January 13, 2009. (Check out the Tweets for more)
You can find the link to the video of the first day of Session at the House website.

The second biggest story is the big 2010 Republican Gubernatorial primary, already underway with Senator Kay Bee H. and the Guv, Rick Perry. KBH just moved $8 million from her federal campaign account to her state account where the senator won't be bothered by pesky ethics laws limiting contributions.

The third story dominating news is that of the Texas Senate's rules debate to allow voter suppression. The vote was almost directly down party lines, Democrats voting no and Republicans voting yes to exempt voter I.D. legislation from the 2/3's rule. Senator John Carona of Dallas was the only Republican to oppose the rule. I thank the Senator for doing the right thing even though it's unpopular in his party.

The fourth story involves that of guy whose acquaintenance I've never made, Vidal Martinez, and his disrupture of my life. He went to city hall and started the Crazy Talk, and then the special election was tagged. For Two. More. Weeks.
Oh. My. God.
Like Lee Harvey Oswald, I think this guy acted alone. It's too bad that he listened to the voices in his head and spoke out at council yesterday.

More later...

Joe Straus, III - The next Speaker of the Texas House

Harvey K. has a statement from Rep. Joe Straus of San Antonio on his list of supporters of his bid for Speaker:

“Since entering the House I have been guided by the very straightforward principle of representing my District first, while continually evaluating what is best for Texas – the way in which a democratic body should function.

“The needs of special interests and partisanship will take a back seat to doing what is right for our State at this critical time.

“It is time for a new tone and an atmosphere of trust in the Texas House of Representatives.

“Having received the commitment of a strong majority of my colleagues, it is my goal to restore civility, fairness and transparency to the House of Representatives and its public-policy making process.

“Speaker Tom Craddick has served with distinction in the Texas House for four decades. I have great respect for him personally, and honor his service to the State."

“In the coming days, I look forward to meeting with each Representative and discussing their district's priorities."

Here's the list (thanks to Elise Hu for posting on Google Docs):

Last, First
Allen, Alma
Alonzo, Roberto
Alvarado, Carol
Anchia, Rafael
Bolton, Valinda
Branch, Dan
Burnam, Lon
Castro, Joaquin
Chavez, Norma
Cohen, Ellen
Coleman, Garnet
Cook, Byron
Davis, Yvonne
Deshotel, Joe
Dukes, Dawnna
Dunnam, Jim
Eiland, Craig
Eissler, Rob
Elkins, Gary
England, Kirk
Farias, Joe
Farabee, David
Farrar, Jessica
Flores, Kino
Frost, Stephen
Gallego, Pete
Geren, Charlie
Giddings, Helen
Gonzalez, Veronica
Gonzalez -Toureilles, Yvonne
Gutierrez, Roland
Heflin, Joe
Hernandez, Ana
Herrero, Abel
Hochberg, Scott
Hodge, Terri
Homer, Mark
Hopson, Chuck
Howard, Donna
Jones, Delwin
Keffer, Jim
Kent, Carol
King, Tracy
Kuempel, Edmund
Leibowitz, David
Lucio, Eddie
Maldonado, Diana
Mallory Caraway, Barbara
Marquez, Marisa
Martinez, Armando
Martinez Fischer, Trey
McCall, Brian
Jones McClendon, Ruth
McReynolds, Jim
Menendez, Jose
Merritt, Tommy
Miklos, Robert
Miller, Doug
Moody, Joe
Naishtat, Elliott
Oliveira, Rene
Olivo, Dora
Ortiz, Solomon
Pena, Aaron
Pickett, Joe
Pierson, Paula
Pitts, Jim
Quintanilla, Chente
Raymond, Richard
Rios Ybarra, Tara
Ritter, Allan
Rodriguez, Eddie
Rose, Patrick
Smith, Todd
Solomons, Burt
Strama, Mark
Straus, Joe
Thibaut, Kristi
Thompson, Senfronia
Turner, Chris
Vaught, Allen
Veasey, Marc
Villarreal, Mike
Vo, Hubert
Walle, Armando

Me, again. The prospects of having a PRO-CHOICE Speaker from a major Texas city is a big, big thing for Texas.

If this development holds, which I believe it will, it is absolutely a new day in the Lone Star State.