In an attempt to avoid being the last political writer in America to declare that Obama will win the presidency, I’m going to call the race for the Democratic nominee. In a nutshell, here’s why: His double-digit lead in nineteen of the twenty blue states John Kerry carried in 2004
Editor & Publisher, a trade publication, is keeping up with the endorsements. McCain endorsements: Amarillo Globe-News: 44,764 Beaumont Enterprise: 45,684 Corpus Christi Caller-Times: 53,368 Dallas Morning News: 368,313 The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: 49,094 San Antonio Express-News: 225,447 Times Record News (Wichita Falls) : 28,888 Wharton Journal-Spectator: 5,000 Obama endorsements:
Obama 47% McCain 42% According to politicalwire.com, this is the closest the race has been in two weeks. This had to happen. The race has been portrayed in the media as so one-sided that the voters were bound to take another look at Obama — and McCain, of course, but
The editorial criticizes Wendy Davis for her “thin” answer to question concerning education and gives Brimer the nod on the basis of his clout in Austin: The stage upon which Brimer’s public service has been performed makes the difference in this race. Davis’ accomplishments have been achieved in the local
And the sun rose in the east. Describing the race between Tom Craddick and Bill Dingus as one between “two good Midlanders,” the paper urged a vote for Craddick because of all he had done for Midland, and because of his support for tort reform and other conservative issues
We should have a reading by the end of the day whether turnout will be normal or exceptional. Some things to look for: 1. Hispanic turnout: Check the big South Texas counties of El Paso, Webb, Hidalgo, and Cameron. Low turnouts will indicate that Obama has not broken through with
There are three plausible reasons for the reduction: 1. Olson is winning and doesn’t need the money. 2. Olson is losing and the money can’t save him. 3. Some other race is more important to the Republican party. Here’s how RedState sees it: The NRCC [National Republican Congressional
Obama’s performance in Wednesday’s presidential debate wasn’t up to his usual standard, but the discussion on abortion near the end of the time period provided an example of the difference in the way he and McCain answer questions–and why Obama keeps winning these debates by wide margins. Here’s what McCain
Normally I stay away from chains, but this location made it into Texas Monthly’s Top 50, so I thought I’d give it a try. There are four stand-alone locations as well as two more in the DFW Airport, but a friend and I chose to try the original, which opened
I just drove in from Dallas after serving on the media panel for the debate. I thought that both Cornyn and Noriega did well. The questions seemed to favor Cornyn; for example, one panelist asked Noriega about his role in the walkout by the “Killer D’s” during the redistricting fight
The matchup between the two candidates for U.S. Senate will be aired by KERA, the PBS station in Dallas. I’m on the panel, and I have been trying to come up with good questions. All I can think of are the questions I’d really like to ask. How about, for
This was a debate out of the past, one that centered on familiar issues–taxes, spending, health care, education, abortion, litmus tests for judges. It was about ideology, left versus right. The 800 pound gorilla in the room is the economic crisis, but only the first two questions dealt with it.
It’s a twofer–you ordinary foodies can take professional-quality cooking lessons AND you can see the teaching kitchens at the Culinary Institute of America’s campus in San Antonio. Two very cool classes are being offered to the general public for the first time. I’ve got to warn you,
I learned today about a method of analyzing House races that may be able to predict winners (no warranties, expressed or implied) in close races for the Texas House of Representatives. The idea is to determine whether Democrats have a chance to win certain races, based on primary turnout of
The RealClearPolitics web site does the best job of culling the most important articles about politics on a daily basis. This piece by Lance Tarrance, a highly regarded national pollster who operated out of Texas in the eighties, questions the validity of the so-called “Bradley Effect,” which holds that voters
Photo credit: Norman Glickman I’m in McAllen doing research for a future column, and Sunday I found myself in a car with two visiting scholars who were here, as I was, to attend the 25th anniversary convention of Valley Interfaith, the local community organizing group. They had decided to try
The quote is from Jim Dow of Texas 20/20 PAC. He issued a statement today claiming victory in Garcia’s race against Todd Hunter. One would think that this is something Hunter could use against Garcia — seems to me that it would make a pretty good TV spot. I would
The incumbent in the District 11 Senate race addresses Jaworski’s claim that the state windstorm pool did not have enough money to pay claims. I posted Jaworski’s press release yesterday. See “Senate District 11: Jaworski slams Jackson for missing key meeting.” What concerned me yesterday in Jaworski’s release, and what
This is going to surprise you. It surprises me. In the most hotly contested races in the state, many Democratic candidates hold substantial leads over their Republican opponents in fundraising. Of course, Craddick has $3 million ($2,998,784.92, to be exact) to distribute, and his modus operandi has been to spend
The graph of Bush’s approval rating in the Gallup poll, that is. Now at 25%, jut three points above the all-time low for any president, it looked just like CNN’s graph of the stock market over the last year that Anderson Cooper displayed last night: after the spike of 9/11,
Mike Jackson is the Republican incumbent in the district that was ravaged by Hurricane Ike. Not the most dynamic of senators, Jackson was AWOL at an important meeting in Galveston at which University of Texas officials revealed plans that would effectively decimate the storm-damaged University of Texas Medical Branch and
Speculation is rampant that the Dew has set his sights on the U.S. Senate rather than run for reelection. Since Kay Bailey Hutchison’s seat will not be vacant until she resigns, probably in June, Dewhurst must hope that Perry appoints him to fill the vacancy. As everybody knows, they haven’t
An Obama commercial. I couldn’t believe it. In Texas. The subject was health care. This has to be the first TV spot for a Democratic presidential candidate to air in Texas since 1988, when Lloyd Bentsen was on the ticket. Hedge: It’s possible that Clinton did some TV here in
Two Texas restaurants are in the limelight. Voice (pictured, at the Hotel Icon in Houston, under chef Michael Kramer) and Dallas’s Mansion on Turtle Creek (under relatively new chef John Tesar) have both made Esquire magazine’s list of the best new restaurants in the
I didn’t see it that way, but that is certainly what the networks are saying. CNN’s poll of debate viewers called it 54-30 for Obama. I thought the debate was pretty even and generally devoid of fireworks. The only way I can account for such a margin is it reflects
Fellow Republicans and patriots, I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Democrats under Wendy Davis–I have sustained a continual bombardment and cannonade by their lawyers for 24 weeks and have not won a case–The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion; otherwise, my political career is to
This is from my favorite web site, politicalwire.com. It represents outtakes from a longer piece by Lynn Sweet of the Chicago-Sun Times about the negotiations between the two camps for the debate. I recommend Sweet’s article. Readers will find it informative. Sweet points out that the
President Bush chose to depart from his daily routine of generally being AWOL to speak out on an issue of importance. The economy, which is tanking? No. The war in Afghanistan, which the senior British commander says cannot be won? No. Bush called upon the Senate to confirm the nominations
It’s a mistake. He shouldn’t do it. Dredging up the Keating Five scandal all these many years later, with the purpose of tying McCain to the GOP philosophy of deregulation, to an audience that has never heard of Keating, is foolish–and extremely risky. It is an indication that Obama has
The vote was 263-171. Here is how the 32-member Texas delegation voted. Note that Lampson, McCaul, and Rodriguez, all of whom have tough races, voted against it. Democrats FOR (9) Edwards Cuellar Gonzalez Green Hinojosa Jackson-Lee Johnson (E.B.) Ortiz Reyes Republicans FOR (6) Brady Conaway Granger Sessions Smith Thornberry Democrats
I was looking at fivethirtyeight.com, which has polling data for every state, and I noticed the last two polls for Texas: ARG 9/15 McCain 57 Obama 36 Rasmussen 9/29 McCain 52 Obama 43 That is a net swing of 12 point to Obama in two weeks in the reddest of
Joe Biden won the debate. Sarah Palin won her battle for political survival by exceeding the lowest expectations ever for a national debate. She didn’t commit any gaffes, and she didn’t wander into any traps, the way Dan Quayle did in his debate against Lloyd Bentsen, when he attempted to
A tribute to the celebrated author and crime novelist James Crumley, who died at the age of 68 on September 17, 2008. Crumley was a native of Three Rivers, Texas.
Beets4 medium size beets 3 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepperVinaigrette1 medium red onion 1/4 cup red wine vinegar 1 cup EVOO 1/4 cup goat cheese, preferably local (we use Pure Luck) 6 to 12 tarragon leaves 2 cups local salad greensPreheat the oven to
Find out by taking our quiz.
I’ve always had a connection to bees: I bought my first hive in 1971, and I raised them for honey all through high school. That’s why the disappearance of colonies across the U.S. has hit me so hard.
An extended interview with Darlene Unrue.
Mullins, an actor by trade, grew up in Fort Worth and lives in Addison. As the State Fair of Texas’s joker-in-residence, he’s been hurling family-friendly barbs at unsuspecting visitors since 2004.I grew up going to the state fair, but I’d never seen the midway barker before. They only started
Can I buy my dateless daughter a homecoming mum?
Hilmar G. Moore on being mayor.
Rooting for Goliath.
Chapter Ten of “Twin Wells,” by Diana López.
A not-so-sleepy suburban haven.
“The Killing Field” is the most sickening, repulsive story I have heard in a long time [August 2008]. These young men are “good kids”? I do not think so. I promise you, we will hear of these boys again, and it will not be about their good works.Mary Louise
Austin
The 32-year-old singer-songwriter grew up in the Woodlands. His third album, Trouble in Mind (Lost Highway), was released to rave reviews in April, and he has been working nonstop ever since. He just filmed a video of his hit “She Left Me for Jesus.”You started out playing covers in
Tut’s treasures; aural art; the poetry of Laurie Anderson.
A plug for new appliances.
Tre Trattoria, San Antonio and Américas, The Woodlands
After Randy Reynolds sat on his hands as the Texas Youth Commission scandal exploded, everyone wanted the district attorney of Ward, Reeves, and Loving counties bounced from his job. Everyone, that is, except the people of Ward, Reeves, and Loving counties.
