See ya soon

I Know, I have been very slow with posting lately. Expect none until I get from London on the 7th.

Mayor Tom Delay?

An email sent to residents of Northern Virginia's city of Alexandria encouraged residents to write in US House Rep. Tom Delay for the City Council, today's edition of ROLL CALL reports. Delay has announced that he is relocating to the Washington, DC suburb after he leaves Congress on June 9.

Excerpts from the registration restricted artice:

#
City Councilman DeLay? Now that he has settled on Alexandria, Va., as his permanent residence — a neat way to disqualify himself from the ballot in the 22nd Congressional district of Texas — Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas) is exploring his options for the future. Some folks in Alexandria apparently hope that will include running for local office.

HOH recently discovered an e-mail that was circulating in GOP circles just prior to the Alexandria City Council election earlier this month. The subject: “Tom DeLay for Alexandria City Council.”

The e-mail, from “citizen kane” read:

“EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE on May 2nd in Alexandria’s local election.

“More importantly, send a message to the socialists on the City Council and EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO WRITE IN A CANDIDATE’S NAME.

#
“He was also able to defeat Marxism in Eastern Europe; perhaps he can help us defeat Marxism west of the Potomac in Alexandria. Let’s drop the ‘Hammer’ on Alexandria’s Politburo!

“Please, write in the name of new Alexandria, VA resident, and former House Majority Leader TOM DELAY!!! Tom DeLay for City Council!”

The sender urged recipients to forward to all Alexandria voters.

It’s unclear how many write-in votes DeLay wound up getting, since write-in votes were not officially tabulated. But DeLay, whose last day in Congress is set for June 9, was flattered by the notion that he take the K Street Project local.

“Mr. DeLay has no plans at this time to initiate his own personal King Street Project on the Alexandria City Council,” DeLay spokeswoman Shannon Flaherty told HOH. “Having ‘The Hammer’ in their neighborhood can serve a much better purpose, like keeping the poster boy of tolerance, Jim ‘The Gooch’ Moran, off the streets. Ask any of the neighborhood kids he’s beaten up and they’ll tell you he rules King Street with a white-knuckled fist. Literally.”

What does Rep. Moran (D-Va.) — a former pugilist who has indeed been involved in a couple of public scrapes with constituents — think about the prospect of DeLay getting involved in local politics in his district? Moran spokesman Austin Durrer took the high road instead of responding to Flaherty’s insults, saying, “Alexandria’s a pretty sweet place to live, but it’s no Sugar Land

cross-posted from Raw Story

Circle of criminal friends

Naughty naughty...

Federal officials say the Congressional bribery investigation now includes Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, based on information from convicted lobbyists who are now cooperating with the government.

Part of the investigation involves a letter Hastert wrote three years ago, urging the Secretary of the Interior to block a casino on an Indian reservation that would have competed with other tribes.

SNL: Funhouse with Bush

For two weeks now SNL has decided to entertain us at the expense of President Bush. Last week with Al Gore and this week with the above cartoon that is so funny that I spit out my Rolling Rock that I was so much enjoying. C&L has the video.

What a mess!

World opinion of U.S. in the gutter

Bush and the gang have ruined the image of the United States. I'm leaving for London and Scotland in about a week and leave it to Bush to screw that up too.

Almost half of those polled in Britain, France and Germany dispute the whole concept of a global war on terrorism, and a majority of Europeans believe the invasion of Iraq was a mistake. More than two-thirds of Germans, French and Turks believe American leaders lied about the reasons for war and believe the United States is less trustworthy than it once was.

"There is great resentment at American power," Kohut said.

"I just misunderestimated"

No more TV please!

When the Villarreal household watches Shrub on the tube we either scream or laugh. Lately it's been a lot of laugh. That's laugh at and not laugh with. I missed the CNN flub as they aired the boy wonder rehearsing his lines 45 seconds before he was to go live. Pink Dome has the clip. Watching that clip reminded me of the 2004 presidential debates where Bush had some of his better moments.

Nothing else needs to be said

Tom DeLay retains Majority Leader post perks at the expense of U.S. taxpayers

It's good to be the king even when you are not the king.

Driving Mr. Tom? Some folks — OK, some Democrats — have taken notice of Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas) still using Capitol Police protection and riding in a big black Suburban, just as he did during his one-time reign as the fearless, and sometimes fearsome, House Majority Leader.

Among those who noticed DeLay recently climbing out of a Suburban and walking into the House for a vote with security in tow was Bill Burton, spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Like boss, like flack, apparently: Burton is not one to shy away from an opportunity to highlight perceived misdeeds of DeLay.

“When Republicans said they were rolling out their ‘Suburban Agenda’ I don’t think this is quite what they had in mind,” the sound-bite savvy Burton said. “Between this and the massive disarray in the Republican Conference, it’s evident that Tom DeLay is out of the loop.”

The full registration restricted article may be read here.

What a special day

This picture is on page 202 in Sorry Everybody, An Apology to the World for the Re-election of George. W. Bush which was shot shortly after the 2004 election. My kids were having fun with several campaign stickers laying around the house and I decided to grab the digital camera and shoot away. One month later I stumbled across their picture as I glanced through the book on a Border's bookshelf. Take a good look at my son holding the Kerry sticker...he was pissed after learning our man lost the election and after watching his parents work many days and nights for the man who should have been our next president. My daughter was just happy to have her hands on one of those NO BUSH stickers. Go figure, anything makes her happy.

I thought to myself Bush winning the election was the biggest mistake this country could ever make. Two years later and I realize just how right I was. Thank God Americans now realize we are living in a time of possibly the worst president ever.

Now back to the kids. These kids are here today and are who they because of one person only. No, not the president or the preacher at our church. They are who are because of their wonderful mom. They are who they are because of the person who has the hardest job in the world. They are who they are because they have the best mom in the world. They are special kids who love their special mother. Anyone with kids knows what a special day this is for all mothers. So from my two wonderful kids:

Happy Mother's Day

29%

Is America finally waking up or is it just cool to hate Bush?

President Bush’s job-approval rating has fallen to its lowest mark of his presidency, according to a new Harris Interactive poll. Of 1,003 U.S. adults surveyed in a telephone poll, 29% think Mr. Bush is doing an “excellent or pretty good” job as president, down from 35% in April and significantly lower than 43% in January.

Also, I must point out that this poll was taken prior to the huge story today regarding the telephone companies releasing your telephone records to the NSA. I must say, why would have anyone voted for this miserable failure.


Mr. President, it's past your nap time.

Out with the old, in with new

Adios, adios, adios...

It has been a great privilege, a high honor, and one of my most treasured personal pleasures to have served with you and our colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives for more than twenty-one years. You have been a stellar example for our nation of personal courage and steadfast conviction, and I thank you for your leadership of this great institution as well as for your personal friendship.

As you are aware, I have recently made the decision to pursue new opportunities to engage in the important cultural and political battles of our day from an arena outside of the U.S. House of Representatives. As a result, I am informing you of my intention to formally resign as the representative of the 22nd Congressional District of Texas to be effective at the close of business on June 9, 2006.

May God continue to bless you, the President, this great institution and its Members, and our nation. - Hot Tub Tom

Hello, hello, hello...

"Tom DeLay has now said he will resign and attempt to remove his name from the ballot on June 9. DeLay should have resigned a month ago. Instead, he chose to leave this district without any voice in the House while the country is at war, debating immigration reform and heading into hurricane season," said Lampson campaign manager Mike Malaise. "And in true DeLay fashion, the closed meetings and backroom dealings over the past weekend have already begun to mar this entire process. Southeast Texans are tired of the lack of integrity with which this entire process has taken place since Tom DeLay set it in motion."

31 is not bad for a football score

but terrible for the decider of the free world

Comedy of errors in CD 22

Visit Chris Elam for the best up to date selection scoop of the new DeLay replacement. Now don't get me wrong, Chris has done a fine job of posting what he feels is the most pertinent information for his readers. But often, the selection process and the internal squabbling has been comical at best. SREC Committeewoman and CD 22 Precinct Chair Kathy Haigler sent out a recent update with a comment regarding her top secret "STRATEGY".

4) As stated before, the Harris County Precinct Chairs wanted a chance to visit one-on-one with the candidates, ask the tough questions, and get to know them. We asked things like, "What is your biggest negative" and "What makes you the best person to beat Nick Lampson in November?" The answers to those questions are what we call "STRATEGY", and should not be open to the public or the media. In the same meeting we decided to have the forum, we also decided to make it a closed, private meeting.

Shhh! Don't spread this but you can read the "not open to the public or media" strategy questions here. The funny thing is that the questions were leaked by the Harris County GOP!Additional candidate questions have now been revealed as well and posted here.

More to come...

Tom Delay LayAway Plan 2006

Bush's best moment in office: Vacation

Yep, that's our prez! When asked his best moment in office, he answered with what only he knows he can do best. Vacation!

U.S. President George W. Bush told a German newspaper his best moment in more than five years in office was catching a big perch in his own lake.

"You know, I've experienced many great moments and it's hard to name the best," Bush told weekly Bild am Sonntag when asked about his high point since becoming president in January 2001.

"I would say the best moment of all was when I caught a 7.5 pound (3.402 kilos) perch in my lake," he told the newspaper in an interview published on Sunday.

Is this my best moment, daddy?

Just for fun

This is a list of the 25 most valuable incoming links per Blogshares. Many incoming links not captured. Don't ask me why.

Texas Politics (B$3,018.62)
skippy the bush kangaroo (B$2,187.59)
Dos Centavos (B$1,916.98)
Off the Kuff (B$1,740.65)
Tom Delay vs. the World (B$917.86)
POLITICO (B$851.83)
South Texas Chisme (B$791.59)
Safety For Dummies (B$779.53)
Come and Take it! (B$717.47)
GregsOpinion (B$664.05)
A CAPITOL BLOG (B$504.38)
The Reaction -- by Michael J.W. Stickings (B$423.95)
You've Been Left (B$415.66)
StoutDemBlog (B$412.28)
Acoustic Dad's Place (B$400.91)
Tejano Insider (B$389.45)
RGV Politics (B$383.44)
Fort Bend Democrats (B$365.01)
Brains and Eggs (B$361.34)
P! (B$331.77)
The Supreme Irony of Life... (B$309.38)
Bryan's District 22 Blog (B$299.77)
Why Are We Back In Iraq? (B$293.79)
WhoHijackedOurCountry (B$290.19)
Xpatriated Texan - A Maverick Believer in the Garden State (B$280.60)

Hypocrite on the run

As Hot Tub Tom edges oh so close to an indictment over emails regarding the cover-up of his all expense paid luxury golf trips, today he opens his big mouth again. First the latest news:

Prosecutors have e-mails showing US Congressman Tom DeLay's office knew lobbyist Jack Abramoff had arranged the financing for the Republican leader's controversial European golfing trip in 2000 and was concerned "if someone starts asking questions."

This morning on with ABC's George Stephanopoulos:

In an interview Sunday morning, Congressman Tom DeLay (R-TX), who has been indicted on money-laundering charges which forced him to resign as House Majority Leader, dismissed his own 'ethics problems' but blasted Democrats as 'hypocrites' for ignoring their own, RAW STORY has found.

"Do you know there's 22 Democrats that have ethics problems right now?" DeLay asked of ABC's George Stephanopoulos. - Raw Story

Republicans are scrambling to repair the mess he left behind in his district. So District 22 to Tom, move out and move on.

The best damn guide to Texas blogs

Want to know about Texas blogs? If so... go and read "A Guide to Texas Blogs Left and Right" written by Texas blogger Vince Leibowitz. As Phillip Martin of BOR so eloquently states:

Any campaign or group that wants to learn about what all the Texas blogs are, what they do, etc., should keep the article as a reference.

Keep up the good work Texas Bloggers and thank you readers!

District 22 "Replacements"

Hat tip to Vince at Capital Annex for utilizing his photoshop skills to create the funniest shit I've seen in some time.


Visit Vince's post

David Wallace sends out mailer

Today I received a personalized letter from David Wallace asking for support and for a hefty donation ($4,200 per couple) to defeat the huge war chest of Nick Lampson. I'm curious to find out who all received this letter and how I got on his mailing list as the Villarreal family has never ever voted Republican.


Click photo to enlarge.
I wish David the best of the luck with the whole goofy selection campaign for the next Republican out of District 22. Oh and I'm not budging...Lampson's my guy.

Rumsfeld stumbles as he is called out on lies

Wow! 27-year CIA veteran Ray McGovern has just done what most in the press don't have the balls to do. When asked why he lied us into a war in Iraq, the best he could say he is once gassed his own people. Watch it.

Watch Rummy make nice with his pal.

Seen this guy

Don't leave home without it

It's just a song and it's Free Speech

Why the fuss with a spanish lyrical "star spangled banner"? No one is going to die from it nor will the country change to a nation of Islam or Communism from it. Hec, Bush even used it to win votes.

Anybody hear that Mexico just decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana?