The Right State

The Texas Gubernatorial election has all the makings of a three ring circus, make that a five ring circus.  In November, Texans will have a choice between the current governor Republican Rick Perry, a Democrat Chris Bell and Libertarian James Werner.  Enter into that mix two more candidates, Republican state Comptroller Carol Keeton Strayhorn running as an independent and Richard Friedman making the race for governor a five way race.

What makes the race a five ring circus is the fact that Strayhorn wants her name on the ballot listed as Grandma Strayhorn and Friedman wants to run as Kinky Friedman.  The only problem is the Texas election code may not allow these names on the ballot.

Texas Secretary of State Roger Williams asked both candidates Friday to supply additional information to help him make his decision. It’s sounding like he’ll let Kinky be Kinky, but won’t let Carole be Grandma. (snip)

“It appears that your use of the term ‘Grandma’ within your name constitutes a slogan,” Williams said in a letter to Strayhorn, explaining that the Texas Election Code bans the use of a slogan as a nickname.

He asked Strayhorn to provide any information to verify that “Grandma” doesn’t constitute a political slogan. Secretary of State’s Office spokesman Scott Haywood noted that “Grandma” even appeared on the campaign letterhead Strayhorn used in asking that her name be listed as “Carole Keeton ‘Grandma’ Strayhorn” on the ballot.

Strayhorn calls herself “one tough grandma” and says she’s been known by the nickname since being elected Texas comptroller in 1998. Strayhorn ran as a Republican for that office, but opted out of the GOP primary this year against Perry to run for governor as an independent. (snip)

Meanwhile, Williams told Friedman that the name “Kinky” appears to be an acceptable nickname under the election code. Williams said it appears that Friedman’s given first name “Richard” would also have to appear, given the specifics of the law. He asked Friedman for any additional information to show why it shouldn’t be listed that way.

Friedman applied to be listed simply as Kinky Friedman.

Only in Texas could someone run under the name of ‘Kinky’ or ‘Grandma’ and get away with it.  My problem is with someone changing Their name on the ballot in order to win more votes.  I certainly never knew Strayhorn  as ‘Grandma’ when she was the comptroller.  It is nothing more than pandering for a few more votes from people who feel like they can not vote against someone named ‘Grandma.’

As for ‘Grandma,’ she has burned way too many political bridges to govern effectively even if she did win, which she won’t.   Strayhorn was not a very good comptroller, so why would Texas want to make her a governor?

Tags: Texas, Politics by Chuck
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Osama bin Laden’s top lieutenant, Ayman al-Zawahiri broadcast another message in which he mourns the death of Abu al-Zarqawi.  Hold on a second while I wipe away this false tear I have in my eye.  It is obvious Zarwahiri is trying to rally the troops by making al-Queda’s fallen leader in Iraq into a martyr by calling him a scholar, a hero, as well as a martyr.  I have an idea for you Mr. Zarwahiri.  Why don’t you ask for condolence messages from your friends so our military can make sure they can meet up with wherever Zarqawi is right now.

I like what Pajama Media has to say about Zarwahiri’s mourning:

But why? Isn’t Zarqawi enjoying his virgins?

Now that’s funny.

I have a little problem with this speech given by bin Ladden’s right hand man.  When I read the text of the speech I had to look twice to make sure it wasn’t written by John Murtha or John Kerry.  Its almost like Zarwahiri reads our newspapers to see what kind of nonsense they say so he can use iit n his next message.  (CNN)

“Tell me how your drunkard and runaway soldiers get killed; tell me how many of you were killed in reality and how much did your economy really lose and how the morale of your soldiers is down. And not only that, but tell me why Muslims hate you so much, and also why you are hated so much by your innocent victims all over the world,” he says.

“Bush is lying to you when he tells you that you will win when you kill Osama bin Laden and Mullah Omar and the members of al Qaeda and Taliban. He is hiding a lot behind his lies. He is hiding the true catastrophe that you are facing,” al-Zawahiri says. “You are not facing individuals or organizations. But in reality you are facing the Islamic nation, whose soul is now inhabited by the spirit of jihad.”

If only al-Zawahiri would come up with his own talking points instead of quoting the Democratic Party leadership.  It is one vicious circle.  First the fringe left of the Democratic Party speak out against the war and our soldiers.  The Democrats in turn are quoted by the terrorists whose words are re-quoted by the Democrats.  Take the ‘we can’t win’ quote as an example.  The Democrats said it first and are quoted by al-Zarwahiri.  On Monday, his words will be quoted in Congress.  If we lose this fight, it will happen because of the lack of backbone in the Democratic Party and the MSM.  As Debbie notes in Right Truth:

He’s right about one thing. America can’t dream about security so long as the media is working against us, publishing national security secrets for the world to read. And Zaw old boy, if you really want security in “Palestine and all Muslim lands”, then tell your fellow Muslims to quit killing each other. Oh yes, ‘death to terrorists’.

The Democratic Party needs to decide once and for all whose side they are on.  If they support the US, then start acting like it.  As far as the MSM is concerned, they merely quote the talking points of the left.  Is it little wonder viewership in the big three networks is decreasing while the internet and Fox News is increasing.  Hmmm.

Meanwhile I have a note for Zawahiri: Come on dude, we hear this kind of crap all the time from the minority leadership in Congress.  You have to come up with something better than this to get our attention.  I know, run for Congress as a Democrat.  Then someone might listen to you.

Tags: Democrats, Heroes, Moonbats, Iraq, Politics, War by Chuck
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