The Right State

At what point does free football tickets become influence?  According to the Dallas Morning News Texas State lawmakers have been receiving free football tickets for some time, but its not influence.

Tickets to University of Texas football games may be out of reach for some fans, but state and federal lawmakers have routinely taken the opportunity to attend games at no cost, according to a newspaper report.

The UT System gave the elected officials 1,962 free or discounted tickets to UT football games during the past five seasons, according to records obtained by the Austin American-Statesman under the Texas Public Information Act.

But don’t think it influences the decisions of lawmakers because it doesn’t.  Well, at least that is what one legislator said.

“That’s certainly up to the university. That’s not up to me. I’m a recipient, and I’m happy to be one,” said state Sen. Florence Shapiro, who received 51 free or discounted tickets. Shapiro, R-Plano, heads the Senate Education Committee. She said she often discusses higher education matters with fellow lawmakers and university officials while attending games.

Yeah, right!  As an avid sports fan, I can say I have not once discussed anything important at a football game.  But the important question is, will receiving free football tickets influence a lawmaker?  The easy answer is, yes, it will.  It is idiotic to think it won’t influence their decisions.  The practice of giving free football tickets to state lawmakers should be ended.  The legislators are being manipulated and they do not even know it.  They are pathic.

Tags: Texas, Sports, Politics by Chuck
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Why don’t we hear this news in the MSM?  Maybe its because this kind of news does not fit into their ‘get rid of George W. Bush at all costs’ mantra.  Whatever their story, this kind of news needs telling.

Afghans are being hurt or killed by landmines left by terrorists.  While the US Armed Forces and the Afghan military are the intended targets of the IEDs, many of those hurt or killed turn out to be civilians.  Whomever the intended target, the US is still helping those who are hurt by these tricky devices.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Three Afghan civilians were seriously injured today when their vehicle struck a landmine in Paktika Province .

The landmine was buried in the center of a main road between Orgun and Gayan districts.

The injured Afghans suffered ankle fractures and shrapnel injuries to the head.  One also suffered an eye injury.  They were evacuated to a Coalition medical facility for treatment.

“Roadside bombs cause suffering and death to innocent civilians,” said Lt. Col Paul Fitzpatrick, Combined Joint Task Force - 76 spokesman.  “These extremists show no regard for the lives of their fellow Afghans.”

Sure the US military kill people and break things, but the ones they kill are terrorists and the taliban.  The things they break are devices that help the terrorists.  But they also help people who are not supposed to be involved in this war: civilians.  In fact the US deliberately avoids targeting civilians, but unfortunately the terrorists do not.  The US also builds things like schools and hospitals which is another thing we are not hearing in the MSM.

Tags: President Bush, Bias, Iraq, Politics, War by Chuck
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There are some posts by bloggers to which nothing more can be added.  In true Memorial Day fashion, BlackFive continues a series of Someone You Should Know.  These are people you will never read about in the New York Times, or the Washington Post.  Many times the heroics of these soldiers are known only to their fellow soldiers and to God.  This is what self sacrifice is all about.  You will never hear about Marine Sergeant Rafael Peralta or what he did to save his fellow Marines.  Sergeant Peralta is a true American hero.

Tags: Bias, Iraq, Politics, War by Chuck
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Today is Memorial Day, a day to celebrate our heroes.

Several years ago, my wife and I went to the Mall in Washington D.C.  We viewed all the museums, the memorials and the Capitol building.  As we walked around people were talking and pointing at different things, that is until we walked over to the Vietnam Memorial.  There was hardly a word spoken and then only in respectful whispers.  I think the main reason for this difference is because the Wall has the names of those who died serving our country in Indochina.  With the names engraved on the black marble, the deaths become more real.

Two years ago, a replica of that wall came to the George Bush Presidential Library in College Station, Texas.  Even then, people had this respect.  I wish people respected our military all the time, not just on Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day.

Like many others today, I will observe a minute of silence at 1500.  I am proud of our American heritage and I am proud of those heroes who died to keep our heritage alive.

Today is a good day to thank our soldiers who protect our freedoms.  They don’t mind if you stop them and shake their hand, that I can promise you.  They will appreciate it.  It means a whole lot more to thank a soldier now, than wait until its too late.  They are heroes.

God Bless America.

Tags: President Bush, History, Texas, Iraq, Politics, War by Chuck
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From the title of the New York Times article called Target of F.B.I. Raid Had a Hard Path to Capitol Hill, you can tell the Old Grey Lady is trying to excuse the actions of Rep. William Jefferson-D. La. In a mix of hard luck stories and facts of the case, the Times weave a portrait of a man formed by poverty and ambition. The blog Sweetness and Light also take on the Times for this story in Times Sobs Over Jefferson’s Impoverished Background. I agree with them, so what is if he came from a poor family. Nothing excuses the taking of bribes and selling out your constituents. Interestingly Jefferson’s interest in money and politics started early in his career.

But even as Mr. Jefferson built a reputation as one of Louisiana’s brightest, most effective leaders, a less flattering view began to emerge, one signified by his nickname in political circles, “Dollar Bill.”

We have heard for weeks about how the FBI has a videotape of Jefferson taking a bride. But apparently there is more to the story than just the $100,000 bribe.

In a 95-page affidavit released after the raid, the F.B.I. accused Mr. Jefferson, an eight-term lawmaker, of demanding more than $400,000 in bribes to help iGate Inc., a technology company based in Kentucky, obtain lucrative contracts in Africa. The bureau said it had also videotaped him accepting a suitcase with $100,000 in cash and later found $90,000 of it in his freezer.

There is more to the story because an iGate official, Vernon Jackson, has pleaded guilty to bribing Jefferson with the $400,000. And that is not all.

Though the details were blacked out, the affidavit also said the F.B.I. had “evidence linking Congressman Jefferson to at least seven other schemes” in which he “sought things of value in return for his performance of official acts.”

Jefferson is as dirty as they come. The Congressman represents no one but himself when he takes bribes. And now he parades around portraying himself as a victim of over-reaching government power.

You have to give the New York Times an A on effort on this one. While they could not cover up Jefferson’s dirty laundry, they can still excuse it. They have been covering for the Democrats for years.

“There was always a feeling among those who knew him as Dollar Bill that having grown up as poor as he did, his hunger for wealth always burned,” said Allan Katz, a New Orleans political consultant.

Dollar Bill’s defense is the same one used by many defendents of crimes. Its not my fault, I just had a rough childhood, and so on. And now its Jefferson’s turn, it not his fault his hand was caught in the cookie jar, it was his childhood.

Tags: Bias, Politics by Chuck
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Somehow I missed this report earlier in the week from KTRK, but will remedy the oversight now.

Still think the border between Mexico and the US is more secure.  Customs officers seized $23.5 million worth of cocaine in two separate busts separated by only a day.  The busts occurred in the Texas border town of Laredo.

Considering the corruption in Mexico, I wonder if Mexico will ever gain control of their drug problem.  And of course their drug problem becomes our drug problem.

Tags: Culture, Politics by Chuck
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