RGV Politics Re-Visited

Run-Off Election in San Juan

2008-05-15T12:56:00.000-05:00

Okay, folks, here we go again......

The Return of Enrico Sebastian....His Notes on the Iowa Caucus...

2008-01-21T08:41:00.000-06:00

Editor's Note: It had come to the attention of the RGV Politics Re-Visited Desk that Enrico Sebastian, long time guest blogger, had begun moonlighting for another Valley blog--The Metropolitan http://www.bordermetro.blogspot.com.
Red flags were raised, especially when it came time to sign up for life insurance:
"You either work for us, or you work for them," commanded Hector Gomez, RGV Politics Re-Visited creator and editor.
"Screw that, Gomez," Sebastian yelled, "I'm a freelancer, tried and true, nothing can hold me back. Not you, not this blog, nothing and nobody!"
"Fine, good riddance," Gomez said, "but Sophie remains an RGV Politics Re-Visited writer. And she is not to be used as a personal assistant under any circumstances."
"She told you about that, huh?" Sebastian asked.
After much haggling and bickering which sent the office into an all out war zone, Gomez and Sebastian arrived to the only logical solution. RGV Politics Re-Visited would be Sebastian's prime blog site. Posts appearing elsewhere must be approved and posted on this blog site first.
When asked about the agreement, Sebastian would only say, "It's none of your damned business what goes on between Gomez and I. Get back to your jelly donuts, and barbacoa tacos, you punk, before I......."
Suffice it to say, Enrico Sebastian has returned to RGV Politics Re-Visited.
What follows is the post he wrote for The Metropolitan. We at the Editor's Desk believe the post speaks for itself. The Lord have mercy on us all.

The First Annual Caucus Rally--All IowansWelcome...BYOB...She's Not Middle Eastern,Hoss....She's Portugese....Notes on the Iowa Caucus Part One....--By Enrico Sebastian, National Affairs Desk of The Metropolitan

"We'd like to welcome everybody, fellow Iowans, to the First Annual Caucus Rally here at the club house inside The Love Trail Winter Texan RV Park"---Margaret Schulz, Host and Emcee of the First Annual CaucusRally.

La Villa, Texas--"Come on, Marge, show us a littleskin!" came a cry from somewhere in the middle of the room. The hysterical laughter that followed was deafening. I noticed Sophie, my beautiful assistant,tremble a little as I led her through the standing room only crowd inside the club house of The LoveTrail Winter Texan RV Park just outside the outskirtsof La Villa, Texas. "Don't worry," I told her, "keep your head down, or at the very least don't stare directly in their eyes."
"Why not?," she asked, "we're here to cover a story. Besides, we have an invitation just like everybody else. We deserve to be here."Not exactly, I told her.
She almost froze in fear as she heard me explain that I got advanced notice of this little schin-dig that local Iowan visitors were putting on. So I called some contacts in the invitation printing business and had them FedEx to the office official looking invitations. One for me, and one for my assistant."So, you see, I wouldn't necessarily considerourselves 'welcome'," I told her.
"Since when did I go from being a fellow writer to an assistant?," she demanded.
"Never mind!," I yelled through the whoops and hollers as the 72" HD television was finally set up by someone Margaret described as a local boy named Ruben who,according to Margaret is a very talented 'la-teen-oh'. He blushed as he raced off the main stage.
"Listen, Sophie, what matters is that we're here," I said.
"I'm not comfortable with this. You tricked me," she cried, "Does Hector know about this."
"Of course not, he's too busy with the graphic novel," I tried to console her. But she was having nothing of it. She stormed off inthe general direction of what seemed to be a bar."Bring me the usual," I yelled, "Post haste!"I thought she heard me, but one can never be too sure. Especially with all the loud talking and laughing,and beer guzzling going on. Jesus, this is worse than the afternoon buffet at Mr. Gatti's. Dozens, maybe a good sixty temporary aliens around these parts. Iowans...Red-faced...giddy...and demanding more pretzels.
"You looking for a place to sit?" I felt a tap on my shoulder.
"Yeah, sure, um...just another local friendly wanting to see what all the huh-bub is about," I smiled.
He smiled back, but there was a definite twist to his smile. "Sit right here next to me, big boy," he said.
Definite twist, an almost perverted sense that something was not right. But it wasn't the first time a Winter Texan invaded what professional psychologists refer to as my 'personal space'. There was that'Welcome Winter Texans' Rally in Nuevo Progreso back in October, and things were definitely touchy-feely that night. "Come here, amigo, ARGHHH" they'd say as they fondled and grabbed every dark skinned man,woman, and child walking the streets of Nuevo Progreso trying desperately to get Dad's tequila, Mom's dietpills, and the kid's churros back across to the otherside.
"Where'd you say you were from?" he asked."I'm a local. Born and raised," I answered.
"Naw, can't be," he was surprised, "a guy your size,what you got to be at least 6'2"?"
"6'4"," I answered, "but I stopped measuring back when I was ten.
"Hah!", he let out a cackle and slapped my shoulder. "I like you, son. And I don't mean nothing by it, you know against your kind and all," he continued, "it's just that I thought all 'law-teen-ohs' was small fellers. I ain't never seen a Mexican as big as you."
"Oh yeah," I told him, "we're farm raised, you know. Like catfish. A sort of Aztec rebirth. Hell, we had to do something against the New World Order; otherwise, you all might have us lynched."
He eyed me for a moment, unsure of what I had just said through the loud hollers surrounding us. He did the polite thing and just nodded his head. Hoss, as it turned out he wanted to be called whether that was his real name or not, ordered another pitcherof Old Milwaukee. Not the best tasting beer, but'when in Rome' you know.The rest of the night was a blur. Confusion sets in just after the tenth pitcher when laughing spells are followed by long moments of awkward silence, then a loud noise to bring you back to your senses. A good slap on the shoulder to the person next to you to make everything right again. Laughter continues.It was like that for a while, as best as I can remember. Nothing but dirty jokes, and innuendos.
I had to find Sophie, but Hoss was being uncomfortably'clingy'.
"No, no, I'm going to the bar, man!" I yelled, "get us another pitcher!"
"Hey, hey!" he cried, "you think you can bring backthat pretty little middle eastern girl you came in here with?"
'Middle Eastern Girl?' What the fuck? Jesus, I thought I was the one on acid."Who?!" I said."
"That little middle eastern girl you come in here with," he replied, "ay, hey, uh...hey, yeah, can,could you innerduce me to her, eh? eh?" He laughed ashe raised his eyebrows.
"Sure, I'll see if I can lasso her in," I said.
"Lasso! Ha, ha, hah!," he broke out.
I walked off, laughing sarcastically. A nervous twitch slowly shooting up my arm. I staggered to and fro. Beer's not my drink of choice. I haven't the right genes for it. Normally, I can down a bottle of straight Seagram's 7 and still be up in the morning eating three bowls of cereal with milk. But beer? Oh god, don't even mention milk. Not at this moment. Not when I need to find Sophie, and call it quits. Wait a minute....SHIT! Sophie! They think she's middle eastern!
It's a trap of some sort, drummed up during a late night orgy when the whips and the buttermilk could no longer cut it. Here I was thinking I could just saddle into an otherwise festive, and safe communityparty with a bunch of retired beer addicts with deteriorating tastebuds, and a growing lust for all things 'kinky'. But it's the other way around.
How else could a 6'4" guerrilla journalist make hisway past Roy, the sixty year old front gate security guard who got burned out of a bogus 401K plan in order to pay off his children's college loans. With a car full of booze, and peanut butter sandwiches, and a brand spanking new, official invitation.....Of course!
Damn you Sergio Serna! I should've never trusted your ass. So I owe you twenty bucks, so what?! You castrated chivo, you'll burn in hell for this. Kiss your printing press gig goodbye, Sergio, it was a cheap shot at a quick buck, like bogus raffle tickets around Christmas time. And not many people will mourn it's passing, not after hearing what you did to a well loved guerrilla journalist with an eye for the truth, and a lovely office assistant around his arm.
Wait, no, this can't be happening. I need to find Sophie. Snap out of it, Sebastian!Remember, SUDDENLY SOBER! Right.Forget these loudmouth, sexist, bigots getting their kicks out of watching a caucus that has no real bearing on the overall scope of a full fledged, blitzkrieg of a Presidential campaign.
"Bring on your black dude!!" cried a woman in a flowered mu-mu.
Laughter all around....Hysterical...Ominous...Frightening.
If they got their hands on my Sophie, she's a gonner for sure. I can just read the headlines now:
Local Adminstrative Assistant found wandering naked down FM 1015...Gives new meaning to the term--SweetOnion...Cries "Bloody Murder!!!"....Peaceful Community shocked at her allegations of wrongdoings and cheap parlor tricks..."We're just normal, peaceful folk,"snarls one, "Hell, we don't even OWN a goat.".....Details at 10.
Terrible, nasty pictures in my head. I feel light headed. The room is definitely spinning now. Did that overweight, tatooed gorilla with a pinkrose tucked behind his ear spike my drink? Some special concoction known only to Iowans? A mixture of corn oil, roach spray, and horse manure?? Doesn't matter now. I'm drifting....all that matters is....Sophie....I must find Sophie...

Washington Post article...The Valley...Democratic faithful??...Or do our dogs roam free??

2007-11-27T09:51:00.000-06:00

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/24/AR2007112401359.html?referrer=emailarticle

That's a link to a Washington Post article written by Matthew Mosk over the weekend. In it he reports on Alonso Cantu's political contributions to the Clinton campaigns, Bill's in the '90's, and Hillary's current bid for President.

Let me know what you think, and I'll post your responses on this page. What does the article tell us? About ourselves, and our region as a whole?

Men's Resource Center of South Texas

2007-06-18T09:27:00.000-05:00

I received this email from Cesar Alvarado over the weekend. Please take the time to read it, visit the web site (it's on my links list) and perhaps, enlist someone you might know.

Hector.

Dear Friends,
Greetings from the Men's Resource Center of South Texas! I hope this email finds you well! I wanted to take this opportunity to inform you of a summer program that we are offering for 10 incoming high school juniors and seniors from the RGV. This program is intended to help young men improve their relationships with their dating partners, classmates, male peers and foster leadership in violence prevention. We are hoping that you can share the attached letter of interest, and application with any eligible young men or parents that you believe would benefit from this program. Each young man will receive a $150 stipend and will help to develop two violence prevention projects. If you have any questions or need additional information I can be reached at the email address or the phone number below. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,Emiliano Diaz de Leon

Executive DirectorMen's Resource Center of South Texas

PO Box 526Harlingen, Texas 78551-0526956-425-6110

email: mrcofsouthtexas@ yahoo.com

PSJA Fiasco...RGV Politics Re-Visited Preliminary Thoughts

2007-06-06T13:58:00.000-05:00

I received an email this morning asking what my thoughts were on the whole PSJA School Board fiasco that broke the doors and windows wide open earlier this week. To wit, Superintendent Arturo Guajardo, School Board members Vangie Garcia De Leon, and Roy Navarro had been arrested on extortion and consipiracy charges.

I told the person that sent me the email that like most people, I believe everyone is entitled to their day in court. My mind just isn't into this at the moment, so I'll leave you with what I responded in the email. Keep in mind, since it was a personal email, certain aspects have been edited, but not so much about what was implied in the first place:

They have their faults, but like most human beings,they're not BAD people, they just (may have) made BAD decisions that affected not only themselves, but an entire community in the process, and that's the part for which they (may be) guilty of the most. Elected officials are elected on trust. Can you trust this person with the next two, four, six years of your life as far as policies and laws are concerned?

We'd be stupid if we believed in this shit wholeheartedly. Nobody gets into the business of elected office for the one and only, sole and ultimate purpose of the betterment of a community. History has proven that, and we don't have to look farther than our own (community) to serve as a prime example (that) the road to hell (is) paved with good intentions. That should be in quotes. Along with 'innocent until proven guilty' or 'best burger in town--honest,'

Selah,

Hector

Comment section is open (NOTE: comments need to be approved by RGV Politics Re-Visited, but rest assured this is for the purpose of preventing spam. Your comment will be posted ASAP)

PSJA School Board Meeting Monday April 2, 2007

2007-04-02T09:36:00.000-05:00

"Only the mediocrities of life hide behind the alibi 'in conference.' The great of this earth are not only simple but accessible."--Isaac Frederick Marcosson

The regularly scheduled PSJA School Board meeting for Monday March 26, 2007 has been re-scheduled for today, April 2, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. The meeting will take place at PSJA High School's Lecture Hall.

Press Release Regarding PSJA School Board Member Roy Rodriguez and Co-Defendants

2007-03-21T20:29:00.000-05:00

Okay, it's a couple of hours later, and the sun has finally set upon us this first official day of Spring, 2007. The official press release from the United States Department of Justice Southern District of Texas has the following on PSJA School Board Member Roy Rodriguez:

"Rodriguez is accused of receiving cash payments totalling $65,000 from his co-defendants (architect Jose 'Joe' Lopez, and McAllen masonry contractor Armando Gutierrez) between 1997 and 2004 in exchange for the use of the official power of his elected office to arrange and assist Lopez and Gutierrez with bids the(y) submitted for PSJA-ISD design and construction contracts."--Official Press Release from the U.S. Department of Justice Southern District of Texas. March 21, 2007.

For the full press release you can go to
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txs/releases/March2007/070321-Rodriguez.htm

As always, and as the press release states, an indictment is a formal accusation. The defendants are innocent until proven guilty.

Comment section is open.

Pharr San Juan Alamo School Board Member Roy Rodriguez in Federal Custody

2007-03-21T14:47:00.000-05:00

Thanks to a lead from an anonymous comment in the previous post, it has been confirmed by KRGV TV that Pharr San Juan Alamo School Board Member Roy Rodriguez is in Federal Custody. For more on the preliminary reports go to www.newschannel5.tv
I'll have more in the days to come.

The PAPER of South Texas Article...Some Prelim. News from PSJA ISD

2007-03-06T19:49:00.000-06:00

"Writing about the state of filmmaking in the Valley should've been a lot like covering a Bigfoot sighting, or Chupacabra attack on a snowy July evening in Palmview.

One thousand five hundred ninety seven. That's how many miles seperate Hollywood from the Rio Grande Valley. A long stretch of road to be sure, and no doubt once that represents a vast chasm of broken dreams for any RGV filmmaker who dared to take that giant leap of faith. Then failed miserably."--Hector Gomez in an article titled "Somewhere on The Road to Nowhere Express" for The PAPER of South Texas.

Read the entire article at http://www.thepaperofsouthtexas.com/

In preliminary news out of PSJA ISD today, the school board unanimously voted to put a 35 million dollar bond proposal on this year's May 12 election. This on top of the 70 million dollar bond proposal that passed in May of 2006.

Comments section is open.

The San Juan EDC and TGTG Films, LLC....An Important Message From Creative Director Mando Alvarado...

2007-02-22T11:36:00.000-06:00

On February 27th, an important step will be taken in our fledgling film company, Those Guys and That Girl Films, LLC. We have the opportunity, by the generosity of the EDC of San Juan, of securing a tax and business incentive package for our new film, 7 Tales of Desperation to be shot in the city of San Juan, TX. We will meet with San Juan City Commission to discuss and promote the passing of support for this incentives package. First off, I am extremely excited about this opportunity. The idea of coming to the Valley to film a movie in my hometown area, it's a blessing and deep rooted dream that is becoming a reality.Why film in the Valley, in San Juan? It's what I know. Living in NYC, I've met thousands of people. And yet, none of them can hold a candle to the honesty, sincerity, support, love and down right Mexican food that the Valley can offer. But that's not the only reason. How I grew up, how I live my life is rooted in Valley ethics, Valley morality, and Valley integrity. I have a civic pride that continues to support who I am who I want the world to see. My art reflects that. I have, we have, TGTG Films, have a stake in the growth of San Juan, and the entire Rio Grande Valley. What I've come to realize and what is constantly said in NYC, in order for a city to be recognized as an up and coming metropolitan, three things need to be in place: 1) Art/ Entertainment 2) Quality of Life 3)Scholarship. A city must have arts/ entertainment outlet, a great place to live with sound neighborhoods and the means to educate its citizens. I'm not a builder nor am I a professor, I'm an writer/actor. And the way that I can contribute to the growth of the region is by the art I create and the exposure that comes from that art. I want to let the world know about the people, the life of San Juan, Pharr, McAllen, Alamo - my stomping grounds. Now you're probably wondering who I am and who we are. Here is a little bio on us:
THOSE GUYS AND THAT GIRL FILMS aims to expose a greater audience to positive Latino role models and help to influence the field of Latino film making.
Mission Statement
To develop and produce groundbreaking films that investigate and portray the Latino experience as influenced by American culture.
THE COMPANY
THOSE GUYS AND THAT GIRL FILMS, LLC is a newly formed, minority owned, Texas corporation established in June 2005.
Our principal purpose is the development and production of Latino-themed films as well as the showcasing of Latino actors in primary roles. Over the next six years, THOSE GUYS AND THAT GIRL FILMS, LLC plans to produce three independently-financed feature films. During recent years, the film market has become increasingly open to more stories that deal with ethnic themes. Latino themed films have led the way and proved that there is a profitable and committed market. We feel that the time is right and that the window of opportunity is open for low- to medium budget motion pictures.
The core values of Those Guys and That Girl Films are as follows: 1. To create complex, non-stereo-typical characters through innovative story telling
2. To maintain artistic integrity while remaining fiscally responsible
3. To cultivate a target audience that will also prove to be profitable for the Company as well as for our financial partners.

MANAGEMENT TEAM
THOSE GUYS AND THAT GIRL FILMS, LLC is managed by Mando Alvarado, Michael Ray Escamilla, René Garza and Abby Paige Fenton, who together bring over 25 years of entertainment expertise. The team is complemented by a support group of key consultants and advisors who are available on an as-needed basis. The expertise provided by the company and its advisors contributes to every aspect of the motion picture business – development, marketing, pre-production, production, post-production, legal, sound, directing and editing.Again, we would love the support. Please spread the word about our company. And our hopes and desires to film in San Juan.You can help by joining us at the official meeting of the San Juan City Commission on TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27th. The meeting will be held at the Fire Station #2 on 2301 North Raul Longoria Road . This is North of the Expressway and North of Sioux Road. The meeting will begin promptly at 6:00 PM.or visit our website at www.tgtgfilms.comThank You
Mando AlvaradoCreative Director

The Iraq Study Group Report...An Interview/Conversation with Ruben Navarrette...Part One

2006-12-22T07:47:00.000-06:00

After a couple of emails, I got the chance to speak by phone with Ruben Navarrette last Friday. At first, I asked him what his basic reaction was to the Iraq Study Group Report, but realized that I needed to get more specific. So I asked him how this report affects the way we, and by we I mean the average citizen in America, receive our information from the mainstream media? He responded by saying that at first glance people looked at the report in two ways. He explained that, "A lot of people divided this up, in the commentators, and the media, in terms of 'okay, one this is the assessment, you know the situation is grave and deteriorating'. Or, they go into phase two and say, 'well, no its which is the recommendation?" From there he went on to explain the following:

"I think the bigger way to look at this is sort of a big picture of the group and the recommendations versus sort of a small picture, specific as in "okay, let's really look at that they've proposed." I think that most people looked to what they proposed and as soon as they got to the clause about Iran and Syria, made it all about Iran and Syria. I say to myself, well jesus, there's no way I'd go along with bringing Iran and Syria to the table. They have no reason to come to the table, anyway. They benefit from chaos and they get with that and their 'interests' work against ours. What we want is diametrically opposed to what they want so they'll say, "well, gee," which is that's enough of that. They take a look at one recommendation and they throw out the rest of it.

I think what I prefer to do is take a look at the principal behind it. A big picture, and there's lots of reasons for me to feel good about this report, and for Americans to feel good about the report. There's the bi-partisan nature of the report. There's the fact that it didn't just do what I think a lot of government reports do, which is tell people what they want to hear, as opposed to what they need to hear, and clearly not what the President wanted to hear. They had a lot of guts in putting it out there.

Again, I think it was great that it was bi-partisan, that it was straight-talk, and as I mentioned in my column that I really liked the fact that they finally got off this notion of 'winning'. Because for the last three to four weeks or so, I would continue to hear commentators in the media talk about, "Well, this is what we need to do to win in Iraq." And I thought, my goodness, haven't we moved on, even if speaking as someone who supports the President and supported the War, I gave up the notion of winning in Iraq some time ago. I think my definition of winning in Iraq is no more 'dead kids'. You already have what will reach three thousand dead in a couple of weeks. If you can pull out before you get to four thousand, than that's victory. I commend the commission for deliberately not talking about victory, didn't say winning. They didn't talk about terms like that. In that respect, the committee was made up of those who were serious people, and took their job seriously.

We also talked yesterday with Alan Simpson, who is one of the ten on the committee. He was here in town. We talked for about an hour discussing the report in person. You know, it's clear that they had a lot of information at their fingertips, that they asked hard questions. A lot of them are big supporters of the President, you know, people like Ed Meese, Sandra Day O'Connor, and Al Simpson, all were Republicans. It had Jim Baker. People who hold the Bush family, not just the President-but the entire family, in really close regard. For them to have the guts to come forward and just tell W., clearly something he didn't want to hear, is amazing. And I think that he was clear about the fact that he wasn't happy with the recommendations he didn't favor. He never said it publicly, but I think in meetings with them, we were told, he said, "I thank you for your work, I thank you for your time, I know you did what you thought was the right thing..." etc. I think he was disappointed that they came back and told him what he didn't want to hear. So more power to them. That's how I'd break down the study group."-Ruben Navarrette from a phone interview/conversation conducted December 15, 2006.

This concludes Part One of my interview/conversation with Ruben Navarrette. Next Tuesday, I'll conclude with his thoughts of where the country finds itself after the recommendations, and the debate of whether or not to send more troops to Iraq.

Ruben Navarrette is an award winning, nationally syndicated columnist based in San Diego, and serves on the editorial board at the San Diego Union Tribune. He is the author of the book, "A Darker Shade of Crimson: Odyssey of a Harvard Chicano".

Friday's Post...An Interview with Nationally Syndicated Columnist Ruben Navarrette...Part One

2006-12-20T10:38:00.000-06:00

Coming up on Friday, my interview with nationally syndicated columnist, Ruben Navarrette. It will be a two part post. The first one (Friday's) Ruben Navarrette discusses his thoughts about the Iraq Study Group. The second half should be up the day after Christmas. The second half of the conversation will revolve on the situation we find ourselves (U.S.) at this moment. Should we send more troops to Iraq? What has become of Iraq since the war began? Who's fault is it?

Couple of questions that Ruben Navarrette addresses.

Iraq Study Group Report...Reaction from Dr. Samuel Freeman

2006-12-19T20:13:00.000-06:00

I just received a response from Dr. Samuel Freeman. Here's what he had to say about the Iraq Study Group:

"Basically, the Iraq Study Group tried to "square the circle". That is, they tried to present a clear picture of how bad the situation is, that we are losing, and that we cannot win. At the same time, they tried not to say these things, and tried to hold out a chance we at least might find a graceful way out of Iraq.

They made some intelligent recommendations that should be obvious to anyone with any brains. We gain absolutely nothing by refusing to reestablish relations with Iran and Syria. In the short run, doing so probably will accomplish nothing. Iranian and Syrian interests are being well served by the continuing debacle in Iraq. It is in their interest, as it is in the interests of most of the Arab nations, to see the U.S. suffer the most humiliating defeat possible in Iraq; and we are headed precisely in that direction. In addition, even if we did reestablish relations and could persuade Iran and Syria to use their influence with Iraqi resistance leaders to lower the level of violence, such negotiations would take more time then we are likely to have. In a very real sense, Iraq is imploding; nothing is likely to stop that implosion.

If the Study Group truly had been honest, rather than striving mightily to indicate the truth while simultaneously save face for President Bush, they would have said the war is lost, that there is nothing we can do to win it. In truth, the war was lost the day we invaded Iraq, as many people realized at the time. Unfortunately, the in-bed press was far too busy spreading Bush's lies and choking off all voices of dissent to allow the truth to be presented to the American people. So we now are left with a disaster of our own making. The Iraqis obviously are paying a heavy price, but the U.S. ultimately will pay a far greater price in terms of hudreds of billions--over $110 billion this year alone, plus another $100 billion next year, on top of over $100 billion prior to 2006. But we also will pay a heavy price in the hatred we have engendered not only in the Arab world, but throughout the world. We are being seen as the empire we are, and are losing all legitimacy as a world leader.

Consequently, our economy is going to be severely negatively impacted, and our ability to influence, much less lead the world is going to be greatly reduced. The damage we have caused ourselves by this war will take decades to be repaired. If the Iraq Study Group truly had been honest, they would have said these things and said the very best thing the U.S. could do, both for itself and for Iraq, is to withdraw as quickly as possible--meaning over the next 6 to 9 months. Without question, that will result in full fledged civil war in Iraq; but that is coming anyway. The longer we stay there, the more severe and the longer the conflict will be. As ironic as it sounds, leaving as quickly as possible actually will save lives."--Dr. Samuel Freeman

Dr. Samuel Freeman is a professor of political science at the University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg, Texas.

More reactions for the Iraq Study Group Report...

2006-12-19T10:43:00.000-06:00

Continuing reactions of the Iraq Study Group Report, Ignacio Almaguer shares his views:

"As far as the Iraq Study Group Report is concerned, we should not hold our breath if we think that the president will make any concrete decisions in reference to the findings presented to him. The president has shown that he is stubborn and has said that he has made only one mistake in his presidency.

The Iraq War, in the current president's eyes, can be won, but everything he has done in his administration has led this war to a complete failure. In the report, there is a section that states,

'Our embassy of 1000 has 33 Arabic speakers, just six of whom are at the level of fluency. In a conflict that demands effective and efficient communication with Iraqis, we are often at a disadvantage.'

This is how America treats Iraq--forget your culture and language since the only thing you will need nowadays is the English language and an American Ideaology. As long as the Administration keeps lying to themselves saying that they are freeing the citizens of Iraq from a savage like Saddam Hussein, they will never get the point. Don't get me wrong, I think Saddam Hussein was an evil bastard, but people were not dying by the thousands every month. That would have been called genocide, or even civil war, but the US doesn't dare call it what it is. Let's face it, Iraq is a mess and we have a president who will not listen to reason. Let's all hope that this shift in power somehow sobers these bureaucratic fat cats in Washington from their drunken stupor."--Ignacio Almaguer

Ignacio Almaguer is a community activist based in San Juan, Texas. He is president of the local school board watchdog group Grupo PODER, and a member of the community watchdog group The SanJuanistas. He currently serves on the San Juan Housing Authority Board, and the San Juan Economic Development Corporation (EDC).

The Iraq Study Group Report...Further Reactions

2006-12-19T06:05:00.000-06:00

As promised, some reactions from across the country regarding the Iraq Study Group Report. Here's what Stephen Pizzo had to say:

"Well of course the ISG's report is a political document, not a plan of any sort whatsoever. It offers both parties what they need right now. For the GOP, it's cover for supporting a withdrawal, even if Bush refuses. For the Dems, it represents a way for them not to have to take a position of their own. All they have to do now is criticize the administration for not embracing all the ISG's suggestions. The real answer is a rapid disengagement...unconditional and on a timeline that allows the military to get our troops out of harms way with the minimum of casualties. After that, the Iraqis, Iranians, Syrians, Kurds, and Turks will sort things out as they must. Will it be messy? You bet. But staying there with US troops will only kick that ugly ball down the road, not eliminate it. As for the administration, they got what they wanted out of the ISG's report as well...a way to stall until they can get out of office and then blame the inevitable collapse in Iraq on their successors who, they hope, will be Democrats."-Stephen Pizzo

Stephen Pizzo is an award winning journalist and author of The New York Times bestseller,"Inside-Job: The Looting of America's Savings and Loans". His web site, "News for Real" can be found at www.newsforreal.com

Continuing posts on the Iraq Study Group Report...Different Ideas, Different Perspectives all next week...

2006-12-15T14:18:00.000-06:00

Just a quick note this Friday afternoon to let you all know what's coming up next week.

I've been busy since Wednesday contacting different people from across our great State of Texas and the rest of the nation asking for their reactions to the Iraq Study Group Report. I've gotten a handful of responses that I will be posting all of next week.

In addition to Cesar J. Alvarado, I'll have a few natives from the Valley who have gone on with different careers in different directions and have set up life in different parts of the country. I'll have a nationally syndicated columnist who is based at the San Diego Union Tribune offer his insights. We spoke by phone earlier today--thanks to Ruben for his insights and his patience with this 'bloguero'. I'll also have feedback from Dr. Samuel Freeman from the Political Science Dept. at the University of Texas-Pan American.

So, it should shape up to be an interesting week, and I hope you'll find it as interesting as I have.

Have a good weekend, everybody.

The Sad and Terrible Saga of Omar Guerrero...and OUR District Clerk's Office...

2006-12-13T08:44:00.000-06:00

There are some things the residents of Hidalgo County have grown accustomed to. Ninety-nine cent breakfast tacos. High School playoff schedules ending abrubptly in mid to late November. Barbacoa on Sunday mornings. The Dallas Cowboys on Sunday afternoon. Sadly, though, the residents of Hidalgo County have grown accustomed to one more thing as well. Corrupt Elected Officials.

The sad and terrible saga of Omar Guerrero has left this county of roughly 250,000 eligible voters at a loss for words. Not even the who-are-you-to-cast-the-first-stone crowd have anything to say about the latest dilemma the District Clerk has found himself in. If it's possible to even find him. Omar Guerrero has been classified a fugitive of the law. Missing in action. On the lamb. A thousand ways to find himself, except where we elected him to serve in the first place-the District Clerk's Office.

At a salary, according to an article this morning in The Monitor, of $68,132 a year you would think that a one-time political novice with no formal education would take the opportunity of being elected to countywide office, a little more seriously. Since his swearing in four years ago, Guerrero has been reported by various media outlets as never showing up to do his job. Granted, the law that rules the jungle says he didn't have to be there, an old Mexican saying dictates, "Oyeme, no se tenia que pasarse del turno, eh?" But, okay, fine, he didn't have to be there, regardless of how much of a schmuck he turned out to be. Those are the rules-lesson learned.

But last December, our District Clerk with an annual salary of $68,132 without having to show up to work, decides to do his friend a favor and stop to talk to police officers that pulled his friend over. Cops find his actions suspicious (jesus, messed up or not, this was a bad judgment call on Guerrero's part no matter how you slice it) and arrest our District Clerk with an annual salary of $68,132 a year on allegedly being drunk. Denies a blood test on the basis of his religiouos beliefs, said religion smites him faster than God did to Soddom and Gammora, Guerrero finds himself a born-again Christian come the pre-trial hearing. Our District Clerk with an annual salary of $68,132 remains in office to run for re-election.

He loses.

No shockwaves of awe shake the atmosphere above the Rio Grande Valley over that one.

Has until the end of the year, really, to clear out his desk. Given that he allegedly hasn't spent much time there, Guerrero should have everything packed away in a nice little gallon sized plastic freezer bag. Maybe, a liter instead. Of course, if someone walked in to grab a pencil from his desk, I'm not really sure what our District Clerk with an annual salary of $68,132 has left-except maybe dust bunnies.

Summer rolls around, Guerrero finds himself in trouble again for alleged domestic abuse. Word around town, the blogosphere, and the media fall short of a virtual political lynching of the District Clerk. Especially, because he is getting paid $68,132 a year for never having to be at the office, throwing his political might around-then gets in trouble while doing so, and now is slapped like a mangy dog on the last of his wobbly legs with a domestic abuse allegation. Nothing comes of it, to my knowledge, and Guerrero remains our District Clerk with an annual salary of $68,132.

Most recently, oh-I'm sorry have you had enough? Well, hold on it's almost over, I promise-Guerrero is alleged to have sexually assaulted an underage girl....

(sarcastic pause)....

(overly sarcastic pause on the part of the author who wonders if anybody else is getting this)....

Mission, Texas Police issue an arrest warrant. Can't find him. His lawyer claims Guerrero is out of town, he will turn himself in on Monday. No show. Lawyer states Guerrero will turn himself in on Tuesday. No show. Police Department does not know where he is. Guerrero's lawyer does not know where he is. Nobody has a clue except the voters of a county who, according to District Attorney Rene Guerra in today's The Monitor article suggests they can do nothing more but grit their teeth 'til the end of the year.

To sum things up, 'cause cases like this can cause ulcers, Guerrero who's still cashing in on his $68,132 a year salary has all at once disgraced himself, disgraced his office, and disgraced this county. As sad a fact as this may be, the residents of Hidalgo County, and the rest of the Rio Grande Valley for that matter, have little to do but hope the next one at the turn doesn't screw it up as much as Omar Guerrero did. But given our track record with these types of people in elected office, there's little more to do than try and put a big smile on your face as the year finally runs down. Always remembering that smiling- keeps us from crying.

The Iraq Study Group Report...Cesar J. Alvarado Responds

2006-12-12T13:36:00.000-06:00

In an effort to collect a broad range of responses from different members of this community we call The United States of America, I asked Cesar Alvarado of Austin, Tejas, to throw his two cents into the mix regarding The Iraq Study Group Report. Here's what the good man had to say:

"I do not have time in my busy days and nights to read a "Report" that amongst many other things wasted taxpayers money and offers another smoke screen distraction. Can you imagine how much time and money it took to get all those humans (I question this word) in one room? Several Personal Schedulars, who are more than likely getting little pay, were involved as were several private planes owned by Exxon, McDonald Douglas, and maybe even Phillip Morris.

I could have invited my friends to la casa for fajitas, tortillas, beer, and non-alcoholic drinks and we would have come up with this report for about $30.15. I even think the fajitas are on sale at La Michoacana right now! Sincerely, how much did this "Report" tell us. We know the Iraq War is stupid. We should know there are People of Color who were promised a "career" dying and being messed with mentally, the Iraq War and the Military Industrial Complex are HUGE money makers and Anglo Americans rule the world, today.

I am tired. I am tired of focusing on the wars backed by the nation. Backed by M-16 guns, F-16 jets, Dell computers and the "Almighty Dollar". "God Bless America, and No One Else" has been said aloud and silently too many times.

I am willing to do the work on myself, my home, my neighborhood, my community, my town-city, my state...and eventually the nation. Are you? Please raise your hand if you know the Iraq War, War on Terrorism, War on Drugs...are smoke screen distractions. Distractions to what is happeing in our kitchens, bedrooms, cantinas, schools, streets, workplace, amongst many other places. Domestic Terrorism. Domestic Violence. Rape. Sexual Assault. These silent killers, silent emotional terrors are not being stopped and are being spread around the globe in the form of war like plagues.

We NEED to take care of self first. Then, work on your home, your neighborhood, your community, your town-city, your state...and eventually your nation. This is why I have not read the "Report". I am extremely busy working on myself, my home, my neighborhood...trying hard to stop and prevent violence from happening here and spreading all over the globe.

Con Amor y Paz,

Cesar J. Alvarado"

Cesar J. Alvarado is a community activist based in Austin, Tejas. He serves as a Community Organizer for the Texas Council on Family Violence.

PSJA School Board to Address De-Annexation..The Inside Truth

2006-12-11T20:16:00.000-06:00

For the most part, public board meetings in the Rio Grande Valley are on par with watching a chess tournament, or golf for that matter, on television. Neither are spectator sports. You either have something to personally win or lose-say one of the participants is a relative you've come to root for, or you're a player yourself and somehow have found a deep appreciation for something that makes most of the modern world keel over with boredom. Either way, it's no fun for outsiders. And trust me, if you are neither of the above, you are for most practical purposes considered an outsider. There would be no other reason why public board meetings are held at the most inconvenient hours of the day, and most hellish days of the week. And always, always announced to the public in the vaguest of ways.

"Next board meeting will fall on the third Monday of next month, unless the second day of said month falls on a Tuesday. In which case, Wednesday would be the alternate date for the meeting at 9 o'clock in the a.m. Except during a leap year, or any month containing less than thirty-one days. In which case, the second Thursday would suffice between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. with a one hour lunch break consideration between the hours of 11:30 a.m. an 3:30 p.m. Or at the earliest convenience following the fetching and subsequent destruction of the broomstick of the Wicked Witch of the West. Whichever comes first."

So to be quite honest with you, it came as no real shock value to those of us with a life that the Pharr San Juan Alamo School Board meeting would be held at 5:30 this Monday afternoon at the PSJA High School Lecture Hall. Open, with all consideration, to anybody who conveniently works in the vecinity of South San Juan or within the half mile radius that does not contain a myriad of street lights and railroad crossings during rush hour. Otherwise, to quote the French, you're fucked.

South Texas politics is an insider's game, and unless you've got something to bring to the table, you'd be better off getting the watered down version from the evening news or the local paper. If you're lucky. Which I was not this afternoon. After a series of "unfortunate events" to quote Mr. Snickets, I was unable to attend tonight's meeting. And what a meeting it must have been. A preview of which was provided by the local newspaper reporter James Osborne who covers PSJA politics for The Monitor.

His article titled "Why would PSJA give away ritzy subdivision?-Possible conflict of interest taints deal between school board, developer" reads like something out of a Lorenzo Carcattera novel. Kids strenghten bonds in high school sports, become above average citizens of a small South Texas town, working their way up through the ranks of the political and social hierarchy of the district, and let the alleged political favors roll.

You see, according to the report, developer Cruz Cantu owns some subdivisions on the western fringes of the PSJA school district. Problem is these boundaries are within McAllen's city limits. McAllen citizens paying McAllen bills want to send their kids to McAllen schools. Only way to do that is for PSJA to de-annex in order for McAllen to get it's share of the school taxes. And here's what's bothering a lot of people in the Tri-City area. Those taxes would generate more than a quarter million dollars in revenue, along with more than three-quarters of a million dollars in State funding they may be entitled to. Bottom line:Whichever school district stakes it's claim to this properties tax money, is going to be a hell of a lot richer for it.

So, Cantu goes to the PSJA school board requesting this property to be de-annexed to McAllen for the sake of the residents in the subdivision. Problem here lays on the fact that he knows people on the PSJA school board, and has known them for years, or by his own admission as he was quoted in the paper-"decades."

Beyond that, well, so what? I've been hard pressed to agree with the majority of people who share the underlying sentiment that besides this whole fiasco wreaking of personal political favors, it also reflects badly on a community whose heads are still reeling from all the corruption and dirty politics within a school board system they could handle just over a year ago. There's a feel, a sense that letting go of a subdivision within PSJA school district boundaries would, in essence, contribute to the ongoing scrutiny that the PSJA school system is sub-par to the system found in McAllen.

Well, isn't it?

After all, for all the crap the McAllen ISD Administration dishes out to it's employees, it never has failed to call a spade a spade when it comes to the children. A stabbing is a stabbing. Not a scuffle. And no, it does not happen everywhere. A special needs pre-schooler is a special needs pre-schooler. Not a menace to society. And although it is indeed a team effort between the school districts and parents, the fact that the school district does not have enough funds to create jobs for additional, highly qualified professionals to help with the normal curriculum, I would say the school district is having a hard time keeping up with it's share of the bargain when it comes to a child's constitutional right to an education.

A land developer, regardless of social and political affiliations is not at fault for the shortcomings a school district is failing to address. And for all the complaints surrounding the loss of tax revenue if this thing goes through, it is the school board who's fault lies in never taking the time to pull their heads out of the sand long enough to realize how bad the direction we've been heading in for the past two decades is starting to show it's serious repercussions. And all they want to do is hold bond elections every season to build new schools. Awaiting that next construction project like vultures circling the smell of death. Projects of which have historically been marred with either strong allegations, or subsequent convictions of their own personnel on corruption charges.

Inevitably, we've reached a point where we are losing important tax revenue, not because of some well-connected land developer, but because we have a school board which continues in it's failures to recognize, accept, and acknowledge it's innate faults. As long as that happens, the school district will lose more money, and businessmen like Cruz Cantu will be served up as prime fodder for the media circus that's sure to follow.

That's bad business for everyone. Insiders or not.

The Iraq Study Group Report...Matt Taibbi's Reaction

2006-12-10T11:04:00.000-06:00

As part of a continuing study of the Iraq Study Group Report here at RGV Politics, I asked Matt Taibbi of Rolling Stone magazine, whom I've come to respect for his no-nonsense reporting of various issues most namely National Politics, what he thought about the report, and here is what he had to say:

"My basic reaction to the Iraq Study Group is that it's clear that its aim was for use in the domestic political arena rather for any practical application in Iraq. It provides political cover for all parties not connected to the Bush White House who want to assault the president's policies without having to take a politically risky position, i.e. cutting off funding for the war, announcing a timetable for withdrawal, or increasing troop levels. Basically the Democrats and the Republican moderates are launching a circling movement around the president; ISG is designed to suffocate and isolate Bush politically while leaving the future inevitable rift between the end-the-war-now crowd and the extremely-gradual-withdrawal crowd shelved for the post-Bush landscape in '08. As an actual diagnosis or road map for resolving the Iraq mess it's basically useless."-Matt Taibbi

Matt Taibbi is a contributing editor for Rolling Stone Magazine. He is the author of the book, "Spanking the Donkey: Dispatches from the Dumb Season," which chronicles his 2004 Presidential Election coverage. His weekly online column, "The Low Post" can be found

here

The Iraq Study Group Report...or How I Spent My Summer Vacation

2006-12-08T10:30:00.000-06:00

If you've been living under a rock the past couple of years, I have just the book to bring you up to speed with what the rest of us have been dealing with. The Iraq Study Group Report was published Wednesday with about as much political fanfare and hoopla as a mob of crazed teenagers outside Lindsay Lohan's AA sanctuary. It reads like a junior high history textbook, but less entertaining, and far less informative. With passages like the following filling it's pages:

"Because events in Iraq have been set in motion by American decisions and actions, the United States has both a national and a moral interest in doing what it can to give Iraqis an opportunity to avert anarchy."-The Iraq Study Group Report

It's no wonder reporters such as Matt Taibbi from Rolling Stone who's covered D.C. and Congress for a while (check out The Low Post at www.rollingstone.com) have criticized this report for not addressing the ways and means by which our soldiers will get out of Iraq, and the realistic stabilization of the Middle East, but rather have regurgitated the same points of opposition the majority of this country has reflected since the war began.

Only Uncle James is handing out the hard medicine this time that the President will finally take words like 'mistake', 'urgency', 'morality', 'see Dick run', 'see Jane hide', seriously.

Well, if that's the case, I hope the President decides to take the following passage seriously as well:

"The Iraqi people could be subjected to another strongman who flexes the political and military muscle required to impose order amid anarchy. Freedom could be lost."

That's straight from the Iraq Study Group Report. Hell, I couldn't have put it better myself.

The Iraq Study Group Report

2006-12-06T10:48:00.000-06:00

Just a quick post to let everyone know that courtesy of the United States Institute of Peace, you can download the Iraq Study Group Report which was released today. You can go to www.usip.org for a pdf formatted copy.

More later.

The Day After...Dem's Whoops Heard Around the Nation...But Fall Deaf at the State Lines...Spiritual Healing for Political Bloggers...

2006-11-08T08:58:00.000-06:00

I can't believe I'm sitting here depressed typing this thing. On the one hand, Dem's across the Nation are whooping and hollering this morning because a) They've regained control of the House, and b) just might gain control of the Senate. Which is good news in the sense that if the Dem's will do as promised in their campaign platforms they will bring our troops home soon, end our part in this ridiculous War for Spreading the Fruits of Democracy in a region that probably wouldn't know what to do with it once they got it anyway (if they ever wanted it in the first place, it always struck me that the Iraqi's main concern was getting rid of Saddam Hussein, and not so much a need to change a whole thought process, and/or idealism.) That's the good news.

The bad news is that for most of us who wanted a change in the Texas political landscape, Rick Perry was re-elected Governor of Texas, yesterday. A shining example to what big business, special interests, and a handful of prize-eyeing Mayors from a predominantly Democratic region of the State will get you. There was a certain bitterness in his acceptance speech last night as he addressed the voters who did not vote for him. Somewhat an "okay, you sonsofbitches" attitude deep inside his gut, twisting with hate, and disdain for any human being who felt he was not up to par enough to be our Governor. This is my opinion, mind you, but after thirty-three years on God's green Earth, I've learned to spot the bullshit from the truth, regardless of my immediate reactions, or any particular explanations. And a good percentage of the time, I've always been right, in spite of the outcome.

There was little I could do yesterday, except hope against hope Rick Perry would not be re-elected. I joked with a close friend of mine over emails that lighting candles, and taking spiritual barridas were not beneath me at this point, and that a lot of what makes this practice so popular makes it all the more feasible. This morning, I responded to another of his emails with the following:

(name withheld by author),

so much for candles, and spiritual baths...what a crock, eh? About the only good news shining brightly this morning is the fact that the Dem's have taken back the House, and we're still waiting to see if they took control of the Senate. As far as Texas is concerned, well, it must be true that 'the people get the government they deserve', which doesn't give people like us much to look forward to. I'm dealing with it, I guess, but as always it never ceases to amaze me what and who the people will vote for...Jesus, it's a never ending circle, isn't it? One step forward, two steps...yeah....

yours crossing black cats, and walking under ladders from now on,

Hector

(email response to friend regarding the outcome of yesterday's elections. Parts of which have been deleted for personal reasons)

(sigh)

That's where I'm at, at the moment, and I don't see my mood changing anytime soon. Political grieving comes no where near other losses, but there is a certain numbing pain that fixes itself to your brain like a leech. And as far as I know, there are no magic potions, candles, or baths to cure it....

GET OUT AND VOTE!

2006-11-07T08:35:00.000-06:00

A little comic relief as you head to the polls today courtesy of Rico Politico at Rio Grande Valley Politics. They posted a HILARIOUS take on the Bud Light commercials with Rick Perry as the subject. Check it out here at http://valleypolitics.blogspot.com/

Other than that, PLEASE I URGE EVERYBODY TO GO OUT AND VOTE TODAY IF YOU HAVE NOT YET DONE SO. THE FINAL CHOICE IS UP TO EACH OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY, BUT REMEMBER IT IS JUST THAT--YOUR CHOICE. DON'T COMPLAIN A YEAR FROM NOW IF YOU VOTED FOR SOMEONE WHO UP UNTIL NOW HAS DONE VERY LITTLE FOR THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, NO MATTER WHAT THE RADIO ADS TELL US. DID YOU TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL THIS SUMMER? EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT THE STATE WAS LEGALLY OBLIGATED TO CHANGE THE SCHOOL FINANCE SYSTEM, DO YOU REALLY THINK ANYTHING WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE, OTHERWISE? TEACHER PAY RAISES? TAX DEDUCTIONS? HOW ABOUT LIMITED FUNDS FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT DON'T COME ANYWHERE NEAR THOSE IN SAN ANTONIO, OR CORPUS CHRISTI, SO THAT SMALLER SCHOOL DISTRICTS NEED TO SEND THEIR KIDS FORTY MINUTES AWAY EVERY SINGLE MORNING TO A BIGGER SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT CAN HANDLE THE NEEDS OF OUR KIDS? OR THE UNNECESSARY TIME IT TAKES TO DRIVE ACROSS CITY LIMITS TO A SCHOOL WITHIN THE SAME DISTRICT BECAUSE THE SCHOOL YOUR CHILD SHOULD BE ATTENDING JUST ACROSS THE STREET DOESN'T HAVE THE FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS OR PERSONNEL? HOW ABOUT ALL THESE JOBS THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED BY THE GOVERNOR BRINGING IN BUSINESSES FROM ACROSS THE NATION? TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR MINIMUM WAGE PAYCHECKS, EVERYBODY. DO YOU SEE ANY MONEY BEING TAKEN OUT FOR GRADE A HEALTH INSURANCE? LIFE INSURANCE? RETIREMENT? HOW ABOUT THE FACT THAT IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY THE SAME PEOPLE DOING THE SAME JOB ARE GETTING AT LEAST TWO TO THREE DOLLARS MORE THAN YOU ARE. FOR THE SAME AMOUNT OF WORK, AND THE SAME AMOUNT OF RESPONSIBILITY. MEANWHILE YOU'RE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET BECAUSE THESE POLITICIANS ARE HOLDING ON TO THE "OH IT'S THE COST OF LIVING" ROUTINE. INDEED, BUT IF WE'RE THE FASTEST GROWING REGION IN THE STATE, WHEN ARE OUR WAGES AND BENEFITS PACKAGES GOING TO REFLECT THAT? WELCOME TO THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY...MORE WORK, LESS PAY...NO COMPLAINTS. SO, YOUR CLAIMS OF THE GOVERNOR HAVING DONE A LOT FOR THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, MAYORS, FALL FLAT ON THE EARS OF ANYBODY OUT THERE WITH HALF A BRAIN TO REALIZE THAT JUST ISN'T SO.

VOTE YOUR CONSCIENCE, PEOPLE. GET OUT AND VOTE...OR BETTER YET, START YOUR OWN BLOG, THE VALLEY NEEDS MORE VOICES.

Brad McClellan's Reply to email...

2006-11-03T11:33:00.000-06:00

"Nothing is more important than our children's education--a top quality education. Thank you again for all you do for Texas, and you are right to speak up and speak out and fight for what is right--something learned at an early age in my family--and blogging is certainly the latest equalizer in getting out information.

Carole Keeton Strayhorn announced as an independent Texan, not a new party. She will be a Governor for all the people of Texas just as she has been all her life since her days as a school teacher. I personally apologize to any affront caused by our Secure-Texas plan--which does call for the Texas Rangers to oversee and coordinate security in our whole state--they would not actually be deployed to the border--there are not very many. The complete plan is on our web site for any to review, and you will note that this is about all of Texas not just pandering to fears about our Southern border. She will also make sure the Texas Rangers and others reflect how Texas looks with all segments represented including females and that border communities are represented and heard.

A large part of our proposal was directed towards her Texas NextStep proposal and to increase funding for local officials, and one on the largest parts of the proposal was to dedicate $84 million to the border counties not for a wall but for economic infrastructure and development of roads, utilites, and improvements for the community.

She has always fought discrimination in her political career, and she will always fight discrimination of any kind. Everyone will have a voice and a seat at the table, and she will not govern with threats, intimidation, and mean spirited divisiveness. We welcome the support of any and all hardworking Texans, and to lift Texas, we must lift all Texans. My mother has fought discrimination all her life and even today gets hate mail solely because she is a female. She was the first woman school board president in Austin, and then the first woman Mayor of Austin in 1977, when two days before the election two local businessmen said a woman could not handle the job and basically implied she should be home taking care of her four boys--one of which I am. I was never as mad and frustrated after that comment that a woman could not handle being Mayor of Austin, but two days later I was extremely happy that she was elected and reelected two more times to the non-partisan position. She believes every person should be treated equally. My mom and I welcome your advice.

Thanks,

Brad

(excerpt from an email sent by Brad McClellan to Hector Gomez Nov. 2, 2006 in response to original email sent by the author of RGV Politics Re-Visited. See previous post)

I sent the original email not really expecting a reply, or at least not one as eloquent as Brad's. I have sent my share of emails to candidates running this election season, and was met with either a non-reply, or a sort of brush off with a link to the candidates web site where they address the issues. So, my thanks to Brad McClellan for permission to post an excerpt from his email to me, and also for the clarifications on any confusions I may have had before.

Letter to Brad McClellan...Strayhorn's Campaign Director...A bad case of hives

2006-11-02T14:26:00.000-06:00

"Mr. McClellan,

my name is Hector Gomez, author of the South Texas political blog site 'RGV Politics Re-Visited'. I have been very critical of Mrs. Strayhorn's election run for Governor of this Great State, mainly because of her indecisive pledge to any particular party. But basing a voting decision on one issue alone is like judging a fajita taco by the guacamole without ever getting to the fajita.

I will concede, though, that as we head into the final days of this election season, there's no doubt in my mind that she is indeed a more viable candidate than Chris Bell ever was this entire season. For different reasons, you know, but too lengthy to get into here.

Mrs. Strayhorn has taken a good stance on the issue of education which is important to me because I'm a father of a kindergarten student. I don't believe Perry will ever do anything worthwhile for the children and teachers of Texas, and Chris Bell is offering nothing more than "whatever Perry did, I'll undo." But no mention as to how he wants to go about getting it done.

For me this election has become about getting rid of Rick Perry, kicking him out of office that fine Tuesday in November. I think a lot of us feel that way down here, but we're stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to going against a party we've been taught to believe in, and voting for someone who has the courage, and perhaps a much needed audacity to change things.

But at this point, I'm only so close to doing that, and the only reason why has to do with one issue she's intending to put into practice if she's elected Governor. That is sending the Texas Rangers to the border to aid with Homeland Security.

As a human being of Hispanic descent, there is a history to the effect that doesn't paint the Texas Rangers along the border in a very positive light. For everything the law enforcement agency rightfully stands for in this day and age, it's history is not something a good amount of people in our region take lightly. I wish she would reconsider sending the National Guard to the border, or increase funding for local law enforcement officials to be better prepared to handle security along the Rio Grande River. This would put my mind to rest as I head into the election booth next Tuesday, but until then, I don't think I have it in me to overlook her insensitivity to a region she's been politically wooing for a long time now. You can stand only so much expired guacamole before you break out in hives...

Thank you for your time,

sincerely,

Hector Gomez

RGV Politics Re-Visited

That's an email I sent to Carole Keeton Strayhorn's Campaign Director Brad McClellan. It's pretty self explanatory, and pretty much sums up where I'm at in this confused state of electing a Governor that will do what's right for ALL of us. Especially for us in the Rio Grande Valley, where most would agree that we've been getting the shit end of the stick for a long time now.

Wednesday's Hump Day Links...Doing Yourself a Favor...C'mon, you know you want to...

2006-11-01T14:26:00.000-06:00

Less than one week away from the Nov. 7 election, and I thought I'd pass along some very interesting links to take note of.

Matt Taibbi's report in Rolling Stone magazine this week profiles the 109th Congress. You can read it at:

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/12055360/cover_story_time_to_go_inside_the_worst_congress_ever

You can also read Rolling Stone's pick of the top ten worst Congressman, while you're there.

Also, a little closer to home, check out The Austin Chronicle where Amy Smith has a couple of interesting articles regarding Chris Bell and next week's general election. You can read them at:

http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A414000

The Wandering Eye...John Kerry Fumbles...All is Lost(?)

2006-11-01T09:24:00.000-06:00

There's something about being 'Independent' that gnaws at my brain night and day like a bloodthirsty tick on a blood hound some random hot August afternoon. I'm not there yet, but with things getting botched time and time again by Democratic leaders, what else is a person who wants what's best for his family, and his children to do? And, christ, turning Republican is like shaving off my head and donning a white hood and cloak. That's not a pretty sight for a six foot four Mexican, and it doesn't look right (turning Republican, that is) for a group of Valley mayors to do it. They'd still have my support if they'd at least have tossed their political muscle with 'Independent' candidate Strayhorn. Hell, I've got friends who are voting for her, and regardless of this, they still and always will remain at the top of the masthead in my book. I laugh at them to myself, of course, but that's besides the point. At this point in the game, it's all about believing in something bigger than yourself. The idea that our country can be great again if we can just concentrate on getting our kids home, and start worrying about all the injustices that are going on in this country, at this moment, instead of trying to fix any country with a hint of political and financial interest and their 'sudden' need for a Democratic society. Christ, we can hardly keep ours intact half the time, what makes us think that we can go around the world encouraging others to do the same?

For all this ranting, all I wanted to pass along to some of you who may be in the same boat at the moment trying desperately to figure out how to make heads and tails of things this election season, is a link to John Kerry's web site at www.johnkerry.com

The Senator, who in my book, did nothing more than fumble the ball on the tie-breaking winning touchdown run at the two yard line in the Super Bowl, by making the following comment: "They got stuck in Iraq."

Now, I say and agree with the Senator that his words were nothing more than a botched joke directed at our Commander-In-Chief. Most people, especially with the mass media's support, got spoonfed the version which takes aim at our troops in Iraq. Their anger is understandable, and believe me when I say I'm one of those people who would jump on this like a rabid dog out to take my dying frustrations out on somebody-anybody if there was an ounce of truth to Kerry's comment being aimed at our troops. Considering that most people don't pay close attention to politics and probably don't even know who John Kerry is, or what state he's a Senator for, chances are they have much less any idea in what context his comments should be taken in. I'm not trying to get anybody riled up over this, I'm just asking for some of you to take a look at what he has to say and pay closer attention to our political environment before jumping the gun. Especially at a time when a Republican majority in a heated election season has just scooped up the ball and ran ninety eight yards in the opposite direction to score the winning touchdown. If I'm angry at John Kerry, it's because he should've known what the majority of the people, who are seldom interested in the political environment unless it makes headlines, are apt to take out of context regarding a comment, botched joke, or whatever he wants to call it when it makes the top story in the evening news just before Entertainment Tonight, or La Fella Mas Bella. His stupidity will be the final straw that broke the camel's back, and those sleazy little Republicans with less than a week left in the election's are going to exploit, and juice it for all it's bitterly worth. Their dreams are intact once more, and with millions of people who don't give a damn about their futures by not doing anything about it either way, it's nice to know at least some greedheads will be sleeping soundly the rest of the ride into next Tuesday. Are those cookies I smell?-Grandma Strayhorn, is that you?

(To read John Kerry's answer to this whole fiasco follow this link: http://www.johnkerry.com/news/articles/newsarticle.html?id=75)

Non-Political Links..."Signs, signs, Everywhere There's Signs"

2006-10-25T13:48:00.000-05:00

Just a quick post to let everybody know what's going on with the sidebar here at RGV Politics Re-Visited. I have divided the political web sites from the non-political web sites. The non-political links are just that-web sites that have no political affiliation or content whatsoever. And here comes the big DISCLAIMER: THE PEOPLE WHO RUN THESE SITES DO NOT NECESSARILY CONDONE OR ENDORSE THE CONTENT OF RGV POLITICS OR RGV POLITICS RE-VISITED, THEY ARE UP THERE BECAUSE I EITHER KNOW THEM PERSONALLY AND DIG WHAT THEY'RE UP TO, OR I FIND THE CONTENT ON THEIR WEB PAGE INTERESTING (YOU MIGHT TOO, SO DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND CHECK THEM OUT). Okay, that's it for now-Watch your backs, and beware of the air you breathe, for San Juan is becoming Strayhorn Country. Good luck to us all...

Poetry Writing..."KUM-BA-YA, My Lord"...Strayhorn's Insensitive Side

2006-10-24T09:11:00.000-05:00

"'Tis all the grieving man has left in his life-laughter"

There's a poem in that somewhere, and I was working on doing just that this morning when I got what we the internet saavy refer to as "IM'D" by Shaine Mata from RGV Life. It was a quick chat as he was off to Edinburg to visit Rep. Aaron Pena's office, but we touched upon this coming election and the fact that I am at a stalemate when it comes to who I think I should vote for Governor of our Great State of Texas. He mentioned that he would vote for the person who would best serve the needs of the people, and not anyone from any particular party. Which is the smart thing to do, I know, and agreed telling him that pledging an allegiance to any party in this day and age is about as smart as eating rusted nails.

Which crossed my mind this past weekend when I read the news out of Austin that Chris Bell and a handful of supporters took to the streets surrounding the Capital, chanting about Dem.'s taking back the State. Which strikes me to be about effective as if they'd taken to the streets singing 'Kum-Ba-Ya' and roasting marshmallows while telling ghost stories. There is a campaign to run. I don't know if Chris Bell realizes this, but he'd better start spending his time getting the word out to people across the state, or the next thing he'll be chanting is "Nobody knows the trouble I've seen."

He's gaining at the polls, hovering somewhere around 15% behind Strayhorn's 18, and Perry's 38, courtesy of the Dallas Morning News poll. Which doesn't say much for his snails pace style of dealing with things. At this rate, Perry should have the governorship wrapped up by the end of the week, two weeks or so ahead of schedule. What happened? And is it realistic to blame the low numbers on the Independents hanging in the mix like vultures on a final feeding frenzy waiting to snip, and tear at our dreams while Perry stands victoriously roaring on the steps of the Capital like a mad scientist out of a B-movie production like "It Came, It Saw, It Dug It's Claws on the Fringes of Our Dreams" or "Geek From Hell Says He'll Stay A While Longer."?

Christ, the only viable candidate that looks like she would be giving Perry a run for his money is Carole Keeton Strayhorn. Yeah, that's right-Grandma. That pseudo-Republican with a confused political soul which causes her distress every time she feels thinking against the grain might gain her some votes. Which is why she ran as an Independent in the first place. The idea had more to do with her not even coming close to winning a primary against an incumbent backed by big business and special interest groups. She knew she pissed a lot of people off with her criticism of her former boss, and how he ran things, despite being the one that first introduced some of his agendas in the first place-**COUGH**TOLL ROADS**COUGH** My goodness, winter has arrived, huh? Excuse me, ugh, let me...okay.

And the thing that really bothers me is her intentions of sending the Texas Rangers to the border to provide extra manpower to Border Security. Perry has webcams, Kinky wants the National Guard, and Bell...um, we'll come back to that. But none of these candidates come close to the insensitivities with which Strayhorn apparently possesses. Sending the Texas Rangers to the border region to enforce the law is about as stupid as sending The Son's of the Confederacy to aid in rebuilding New Orleans poverty stricken ghettos after Hurricane Katrina. Thanks, but no thanks. History is a hard thing to forget, especially when it involves blood, and unnecessary violence against the "Messcan's" or "Greasers" who may or may not have broken the white man's laws at the time, some century and a half ago. I still shudder to think that there are those in South Texas willing to follow her to the polls on Election Day without thinking things through.

About the only things working for Strayhorn is an inept Democratic candidate with no real sense on how to run a statewide campaign, and a political veteran's no-nonsense approach to talking brass tax with the Austin elite. Which there is something to be said for that, I'll concede, but not to the point of buying into her "I'm Grandma, and I want to shake things up". Whoa, keep your hips to yourself, Grandma, there are still some of us "Messcan's" on the border who prefer the cumbia.

The Chris Bell/Kinky Friedman Problem...Lost Logic in the Democratic Party, and the People...

2006-10-17T08:54:00.000-05:00

(A caveat: I have always been a liberal, voted Democratic since I turned legal voting age. But lately, it seems there's been a certain amount of apprehension once I get to the polls. This same apprehension is what I credit the thousands of Independent supporters are feeling as well. People, the smart ones anyway, are tired of sub-par candidates and politicians who are out there keeping the Democratic Party from taking control again. The people want a candidate who once in office will be a no-nonsense maverick ensuring that the people's best interests are taken care of. Save for Robert Kennedy, Jr., or Al Gore, I don't see much of that in today's Democrat. What I see are a bunch of tired buffoons whose only weapons of attacking and denouncing the ruling GOP and their ideals boil down to name calling, and a I-wouldn't-do-that-if-I-were-in-office rhetoric. It's tiring to see them answer questions about say-illegal immigration. What would you do, candidate? "Well, I..um, well, we must first take a strong stance against it...and..um..yes, let the people decide...as always, of course...because um...my constituents...you see..." Come on. How about someone who is going to take a strong stance against an important issue and dig his or her heels in when faced with party opposition. What's your stance on illegal immigration, candidate? "We're going to give the nearly twelve million illegal immigrants in this country temporary residency based on their record here in the States. We will impose strict tax hikes on businesses who continue to hire illegal workers. And will implement a guest worker program, in conjunction with the country of Mexico as long as they're willing to do their part in improving their own economy." But, candidate, doesn't that boil down to amnesty? "You're damned right it does. So What! It's the only plan that can realistically work. Any other plan requires too much dilly-dallying around the subject. A responsible government takes immediate, responsible action now. If Congress isn't with me on this, screw them, I'll veto everything they pass along my way until this gets resolved." Jesus, I've gone off on a tangent. Let me just conclude this caveat by saying that we need a stronger pool of Democratic candidates if we're going to be able to fend off stubborn Independents, and take control of this State, and Country again.)

My original intent was to write a long, drawn out post as to the dozen reasons why I feel Kinky Friedman should drop out of the race for Texas Governor. After about five re-writes, I realized I couldn't keep a straight face about it. At least not for the reasons Chris Bell is asking Kinky to step down, and not for the reasons Kinky thinks he's being asked to step down. It goes much deeper for me. There is a larger picture that needs to be addressed here.

According to a poll by the Dallas Morning News, Chris Bell is at a dismal 39% in the polls. At this point it makes Bell look like a talentless football team that got lucky for the majority of four quarters but have awakened a sleeping giant, and are now trying desperately to keep the ship from sinking. Running every 'hail, mary' play in the books. He is as ineffective as the Houston Texans on a Sunday afternoon, and just as likely to screw up any chance of winning before they even take the field. If the poor man hasn't blown it already.

Bell represents what is wrong with the Democratic Party as a whole in this country. They talk a big game against the ruling Party, but seldom offer any true solutions for our State. Problems that lay far beneath the political surface of many a campaign platform. His solutions read like an excerpt from An Idiot's Guide to Running a Mediocre Campaign, or Why the Weasels Will Keep On Winning-A Loser's Story.

Beyond that, what will inevitably haunt this John-Boy from The Waltons turned political heel for the Democratic Party is a cigar chomping, black clad, self proclaimed 'Jewish Cowboy' with all the stubborness and egotistical drive of Ross Perot and Ralph Nader combined. And though Kinky Friedman balks at the term, he is by all accounts and will have the Texas History books remember him as a spoiler. Nothing more, and nothing less. Despite the political platform against corrupt politics that he preaches with a fire and brimstone sermon, or the thousands of overzealous supporters that are buying into it. If Kinky does not cash in his chips and call it a night, he will take down every hope and flicker of light down this dark tunnel of a Republican run Texas with him in November, spelling certain doom for anyone with half a brain who realized how close we had come to making damned sure that wart of a Texas Governor would not slither his sneaky little head into elected office again.

The big picture is this: These two candidates have screwed up any chance of taking control and giving back to the people for at the very least another four years. Four more years! Four more years!

Chris Bell must have known this all too well when he was one of us, once upon a time. But that time has long since passed. He will stand on that cold November day, a monument to the complacency that has become the Democratic Party ethic, and M.O. A legion of dunces with no clue as to what the people really want, and need out of a viable candidate. And no real candidate with the cojones to take things back for us.

Must Read Article at Common Dreams.Org

2006-10-13T10:30:00.000-05:00

A good friend of mine from Austin emailed an article to me yesterday. The article is titled "Coverage of 'School Shootings' Avoid the Central Issue" by Jackson Katz. To read it follow this link to http://www.commondreams.org/ I'm currently working on a post that deals with Chris Bell's calling for Kinky Friedman to drop out from the Governor's Race. Should be up by tomorrow morning, until then take the time to read this important article regarding a serious issue. Thanks to Cesar Alvarado for the email...

Matt Taibbi...An Outsider's View that got it right...

2006-10-10T16:41:00.000-05:00

"This is the way government runs in George W. Bush's America: You borrow as much money as you can, skillfully privatizing the proceeds, only making sure it's the public's signature on the loan application. It's Enron-think, where the deal itself, not it's long-term implications, is what's important"-Matt Taibbi in his article for Rolling Stone Magazine (RS 1007) titled "Jailhouse Nation" which profiles Willacy County's $60 million Detention Center in Raymondville, Texas.

Damn, if that wasn't one of the best articles about Valley politics I've read in a long time-if ever. It's an excerpt from an article from a journalist by the name of Matt Taibbi. Dubbed the successor to Hunter S. Thompon's style of Gonzo Journalism, Taibbi had done in his article what many local journalists don't have in their hearts, or minds to do. Cover the story, hit 'em hard, and don't take any crap from any elected official who tries to spin his or her policies in such a way as to have the citizen's believe what they do is in the best interests of everybody.

That's reporting. That's telling it like it is.

Matt Taibbi has a blog over at a website titled "The Smirking Chimp." If as a reader, you enjoy material presented in a way that's a little offbeat to the status quo of most major media outlets, do yourself a favor and read Matt Taibbi's work. I've become an avid reader of his articles in Rolling Stone magazine since his coverage of the 2004 Presidential Campaign. The subsequent book titled, "Spanking the Donkey" was a purchase I put off for too long. Now, the only place I can find it is the internet, and I'm not too big on making purchases over this type of medium. So if anybody sees it at Barnes & Noble or Hasting's, drop me a line via the comments section. I'd appreciate it.

A Return to the Blogosphere

2006-10-10T14:19:00.000-05:00

Testing first post....More to come...