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And now a discussion that really matters (Fri Nov 20 at 5:02 PM)
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Talking Tamales (Thu Nov 12 at 11:12 AM)
Alan says: I am in favor of limiting the governor to two consecutive terms. But blacklisting someone after eight years altogether, regardless of how good or bad they did their job, can needlessly force an effective public official out of public service. Many state governors throughout history have served well over eight years without their constituents regretting it. I would point out that such a system is wholly unworkable in twenty-first century America: we live in the era of the permanent campaign and the 24-hour news cycle. A governor facing re-election every other year would essentially do nothing but fundraise (which is close to what most do anyway even with four-year terms). (November 19th, 2009 at 11:09pm)
Eileen Smith
Eileen Smith is the editor of texasmonthly.com. She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from Northwestern University and a Bachelor’s degree in English from Wake Forest University. She has spent more than a decade in the field of media communications as a writer, reporter, and blogger.
Eileen is the editor of the satirical blog In the Pink Texas, which won the Austin Chronicle’s best political blog awards in 2007 and 2008. Since joining Texas Monthly, she has blogged at Poll Dancing on the presidential election and national politics. Her writing has appeared in a number of publications, both print and online. She has spoken on several panels about politics, new media, and social networking, and has appeared on NPR, KLRU, the BBC, and various local news outlets. In 2007, texasmonthly.com received the gold medal for Excellence Online from the City and Regional Magazine Association.
A Virginia native, Eileen lives in Austin.
Features
The 40 Best Small-Town Cafes
Our exhaustive, exhausting, strictly scientific (and lamentably fattening) survey of the finest home cooking around, from Maxine’s on Main, in Bastrop, to El Paraiso, in Zapata. (December 2008)
Columns | Miscellany
MEET the DePRESSed
The digital natives are restless, and traditional journalism just won’t cut it. (February 2008)
Web Exclusives
Brain Storm
The role of the cerebellum and underlying brain abnormalities in autism. (November 2009)
The Time of His Life
The original dirty dancer, Patrick Swayze, died Monday at the age of 57. (September 2009)
Sweater Weather
Yes, it’s summer in Texas. It’s the summer to end all summers (please, God), with record-breaking heat, triple-digit temperatures, and the uncontrollable urge to sit in your freezer, atop the Häagen-Dazs bars. (July 2009)
Art in a Bottle
Yes, Virginia, there is some art in Austin. (March 2009)
Dreams from My Father
How my dad learned to stop worrying and love a Democrat. (February 2009)
‘Twas the List Before Christmas
And my favorite Christmas present of all time is... (January 2009)
Governor Perry Chooses License Plates
Proving his conservative credentials, Gov. Perry held a press conference with the Texas Alliance for Life to express his support for specialized “Choose Life” license plates. (January 2009)
Thy Rod and Thy Staff
How the Illinois governor got caught with his pants down. (December 2008)
What’s in Your Wallet?
If you decided that 2008 was the year for you to cut yourself off from society, shed all material belongings, live off the land, and grow your own food, then you’ve got a pretty good head start. (December 2008)
She Gets It
The past two administrations have appointed women to the most prestigious position in the cabinet, no longer relegating those of the female persuasion to the thankless roles of First Lady. (December 2008)
Madame Secretary, I Presume?
Hillary Clinton has served on the Senate Armed Services Committee, visited troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, and successfully dodged hostile (as opposed to agreeable) gunfire in Bosnia. (November 2008)
Speaker Up
Candidates for Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives tell us why they think they should hold the highly coveted gavel. (November 2008)
The Day After
Journalists and other notables to give us their reactions to the long campaign and the election of Barack Obama. (November 2008)
The Chattering Class
Reader comments in the final days of the election. (November 2008)
W. of Mass Destruction
I attended the premiere of Oliver Stone’s "W." at the Austin Film Festival. Hopefully I can spare you the same fate. (October 2008)
Internet Sleuth
A Waco housewife tracks the Matt Baker case. (March 2008)
The Gritty Truth
A criminal justice reform activist in Texas on overcrowded prisons, Tulia, the Texas Youth Commission, and the criminalization of mental illness. (February 2008)
