News, rumors and speculation on political races in the Bayou City area dominate the Texas blogosphere this week. Bloggers are also writing about contests around the rest of the state, picking up on rumors about a possible candidate for Governor in 2010 and noting the passing of a fellow blogger into the M$M (mainstream media). In honor of Banned Books Week, which takes place later this month, our final chapter comprises a tribute to some volumes on the list of "The 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000," according to the American Library Association.

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Space City

Brains and Eggs posts an invitation to a Bay Area New Democrats event in Clear Lake on Sept. 12 featuring U.S. Rep. Nick Lampson, U.S. Senate hopeful Rick Noriega, Texas Supreme Court candidate Susan Criss, state Senate contender Joe Jaworski, state Representative hopeful Sherrie Matula and Houston City Council candidates Will Williams and Manisha Mehta.

Dos Centavos reports on a Kingwood Area Democrats' event featuring some of the same people and has a profile of Williams. Meanwhile, Half Empty blogs on Noriega's Labor Day appearance before the Washington County Democrats. And Off the Kuff praises Democratic Court of Appeals Judge Linda Yañez while lamenting that she's facing Criss for the Supreme Court sport.

Houston Mayor Bill White will demolish challengers Amanda Ulman and Outlaw Josey Wales IV, says Centavos. Houston's Clear Thinkers lobbies for a candidate in a campaign of a different color.

Former Houston Police Chief C.O. Bradford will challenge Harris County District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal in a Democratic Primary race featuring "hardball politics" that "ought to be a real barnburner," says Grits for Breakfast. Half Empty reports on an awkward moment of silence that fell over a room inhabited by both state Rep. Dora Olivo, D-Rosenberg, and primary opponent Ron Reynolds. Here's a post on GOP candidate Steve Host.

Houston public schools trustee Greg Meyers, a Republican, is challenging state Rep. Hubert Vo, D-Houston, says Texas Politics, the Houston Chronicle's blog. Professors-R-Squared does a quick analysis of past election results in the district, contending that Meyers "has a good chance" of winning the seat.

Kuff points out that the Houston Chronicle misspelled the name of a candidate running for trustee of Houston Community College System, and blogHOUSTON exposes the connection of an expert source to trustee Jay Aiyer in the same article.

Kuff clarifies the process of replacing Harris County District Clerk Charles Bacarisse, who stepped down to take a shot at the GOP nomination for County Judge. And here's a list of all the candidates running for spots in Houston city government.

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Outer Space

In his A Capitol Blog, State Rep. Aaron Peña, D-Edinburg, announces his reelection campaign and reemergence of campaign blog "Quixote." Capitol Annex supports Peña, despite his status as a "Craddick Democrat."

Annex speculates that Smith County Commissioner JoAnn Fleming, a Republican, will challenge either state Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, or state Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler; and also that San Angelo Rev. Floyd Crider, a Democrat, might take on U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Midland.

State Rep. Mike Krusee, R-Round Rock, is sure to face an anti-toll opponent in the primary, and could face a "far-right" candidate backed by House Speaker Tom Craddick, according to Eye on Williamson.

In the Pink interviews Andy Brown, who is running for Travis County Democrat Party Chairman, while Texas Blue features an article by Becky Moeller, President of the Texas AFL-CIO, who says the top two items on organized labor's political agenda are universal health care and unionization. Here is an interview with Amber Moon, Communications Director for the Texas Democratic Party.

Austin lobbyist Sandy Kress is being touted for Commissioner of Education, says Texas Kaos, who isn't happy about it. Texas Politics says the Kress rumor may be a red herring "in order to make acting Education Commissioner Robert Scott that much more palatable."

State Rep. Linda Harper-Brown, R-Irving, "may or may not have recruited an opponent to [state Rep.] Kirk England [R-Grand Prairie]," relays Pink Dome.

Texas Politics links to the Houston Chronicle article outing U.S. Senate candidate Mikal Watts's letter touting heavy contributions to judges and has a copy of the letter itself.

Dee Margo is not running against state Rep. Pat Haggerty, R-El Paso, says Vaqueros & Wonkeros, the El Paso Times's blog. However, independent Troy Hicks might face off against state Rep. Joe Pickett, D-El Paso, who is quoted as saying, "I want to be around for the next (House) speaker's race."

Texas State Association of Fire Fighters is endorsing Noriega, says Walker's Report, whose editor Steve Walker is vying for Bexar County Justice of the Peace. Walker also reports that Republican Presidential candidate Fred Thompson will be in San Antonio on Sept. 20.

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Spelling G-U-B-E-R-N-A-T-O-R-I-A-L

Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings might run for Texas Governor, says Eduwonk. Washington Whispers, a U.S. News & World Report blog, picks up and relays the rumor (which Eduwonk takes as confirmation of the rumor.)

"Clearly Republicans are dissatisfied with Perry too," says Burnt Orange Report. "What a silly rumor," says Professors. Another could-be gubernatorial candidate, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, lends strength to speculations through recent pushes for a Veterans Administration hospital in the Valley, for Valley levees and against toll roads, says South Texas Chisme.

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In the Green

"I'm joining (ruining?) the ranks of the Evil MSM Empire but fear not," says In the Pink's Pink Lady (Eileen Smith) in the way of introduction of herself as the new editor of texasmonthly.com.

The Capitol Crowd is "absolutely in shock over this," while McBlogger hopes she'll host Texas Monthly Talks. Here is the official announcement from Texas Monthly editor Evan Smith.

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Fantasy Bookcart

Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley: Chronic, the Austin Chronicle's blog, summarizes constitutional amendments on the Nov. 6 ballot, while Kuff has photos of Lance Armstrong at Rice University supporting Proposition 15, which would create a $3 billion Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.

Final Exit, by Derek Humphry: Kristen Mack is leaving the Houston Chronicle for the Washington Post. BlogHOUSTON hopes the Chronicle "is able to secure quality replacement(s)" for veteran Mack. Greg's Opinion hopes the door doesn't hit her on the way out.

Guess What? by Mem Fox: The Texas Department of Criminal Justice doesn't have a master list of banned books, but soon will, thanks to a $84.40 contribution by Grits.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou: But Grits for Breakfast asks, "Why can't the caged bird sing (at Texas Youth Commission facilities)?"

Jump Ship to Freedom, by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier: Former House Parliamentarian Denise Davis has a new gig as special counsel for Baker Botts, LLP, says The Capitol Crowd.

Private Parts, by Howard Stern: Grits reviews a book by a former cop on rampant steroid use among Texas cops.

Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut: Pink Dome launches a poll of the best and worst Texas legislative Web sites, starting off with opinions on those of Linda Harper-Brown, Diane Patrick, Tom Craddick, Patrick Rose and Garnet Coleman.

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This edition of Out There was compiled and written by Patrick Brendel, who hails from Victoria and finds Austin's climate pleasantly arid. We cherry-pick the state's political blogs each week, looking for news, info, gossip, and new jokes. The opinions here belong (mostly) to the bloggers, and we're including their links so you can hunt them down if you wish. Our blogroll — the list of Texas blogs we watch — is on our links page, and if you know of a Texas political blog that ought to be on it, just shoot us a note. Please send comments, suggestions, gripes or retorts to Texas Weekly editor Ross Ramsey.

Psst. It's the money.

Former U.S. Sen. John Edwards, D-North Carolina, won the Texas Democratic Party's straw poll, bringing an end to the latest partisan forays in to the presidential race. Texas voters won't officially register their opinions on the Republican and Democratic nominees until March. By then, voting will be over in all but 18 states, six of which have their primaries on the same day as the Texas parties.

It'll be over by then, but Texas remains a key part of the finance primaries, which is why you're seeing all of these people here. Elizabeth Edwards, spouse of the straw poll winner, was in town to accept the accolades and free press on the candidate's behalf, and to do a fundraiser, too. She said her side liked a proposal that would have moved Texas to the front of the pack of primary states, on the theory that her husband would do well here. And she said he'd be better for Texas Democrats than his competition. "I don't think the Republican Party wants to see John at the top of the ticket," she said. Later, she added: "John Edwards is popular in red states. He can run in red states." That's been echoed privately by some Texas Democrats, who think other presidential contenders — U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton is usually the example given — could prove to be unpopular here, dragging on the rest of the ticket.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson was in Texas, too, raising money in Houston, San Antonio, and Austin. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney touched down in Midland to collect checks. Former President Bill Clinton planned stops in Austin, San Antonio, and Laredo raising money for the former First Lady as we went to press this week. Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani threw out the first pitch at a Texas Rangers game before pitching his campaign to some potential financiers.

Richardson, who's running behind better-known Democrats in that half of the race, said he hopes to do well in Texas, with its large population of Hispanics. He admitted that the late primary here takes some of the punch out of that, but he's hopeful: "There are going to be several candidates [still] on their feet when it comes time for the Texas primary."

You've seen this number, but it illustrates the point: Through mid-year, the last reporting point, the presidential candidates had raised $14.9 million in Texas. Republicans were at $8.2 million, Democrats at $6.8 million. And the results of the Texas presidential poll that really matters to the campaigns — for now, anyhow — was like this: Giuliani, $3.8 million; Clinton, $2.1 million; Edwards, $2.0 million; U.S. Sen. John McCain, $1.8 million; Romney, $1.8 million; Obama, $1.5 million; everybody else, below $1 million each. The numbers are from the interactive presidential map on the Federal Election Commission's website.

The Democratic poll results, for the record: Edwards, with 37.7 percent; U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, 21.4 percent; Clinton, 20.43 percent; U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, 11.9 percent; Richardson, 5.2 percent; U.S. Sen. Joe Biden, 2.4 percent. Nobody else got more than 100 votes of the 8,101 cast. The Democrats said their poll was more democratic than its Republican counterpart, since voters didn't have to travel to Fort Worth. It didn't even require voters to be Democrats, or old enough to vote, though party officials said they found a way to block out-of-state Internet users and to prevent people from voting more than once.

The federal highway bill making its way through Congress has (at least) two Texas bits in it.

One is a ban on Mexican trucks on U.S. roadways that's been getting national attention. The second is a prohibition against adding toll booths to existing interstate highways — an idea proposed by the money-hungry Texas Department of Transportation. TXDOT officials and their commissioners say the state needs roads they don't have the money to build.

One proposal — made in a report to Congress called Forward Momentum — would have raised money for Texas construction by adding tolls. Here's how TXDOT put it: "Congress has enacted specific legislation to allow states to 'buy back,' or reimburse the federal government for federal funds applied to a highway segment, thereby relieving it of the prohibition against tolls. Congressional efforts to make this option as accessible as possible will greatly assist future endeavors as we seek new ways to fund our tremendous transportation needs in Texas."

The political blowback was predictably swift, and U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison jumped in with an amendment to the federal highway bill (the other Texas senator, John Cornyn, signed on, too)prohibiting Texas or any other state from using that financing scheme. We should mention here that the TXDOT proposal called for voter and county commission approval before any such deal could have gone forward.

Maybe nobody will remember this in six months, but the people who want Texans to approve $3 billion in cancer bonds are having a hard time keeping their act together.

At the end of the legislative session, this was a unified effort involving Democrats, Republicans, legislators, private foundations, advocacy groups and a passel of medical folks. But internal squabbling over big stuff (like whose donations to take and whose are poisonous) and little stuff (the logo for the group ate up a significant amount of meeting time) has dominated the run-up to this campaign.

They all appear to be working to pass the amendment and have started — with a celebrity boost from athlete and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong — to publicize their efforts. So there's that.

But they'll do it from different perches. Cathy Bonner, an Austin businesswoman who started the ball rolling on the cancer bonds last year, remains on the board of Texans to Cure Cancer, but also has a separate organization called Cure in Your Lifetime. Consultants tied to Gov. Rick Perry have started a separate PAC called Yes on 15.

The three political committees aren't taking money from the same types of donors, and are trying to cut up their roles to minimize the opportunities for bickering while they all work on the constitutional amendment.

Texans to Cure Cancer won't take money from pharmaceutical or tobacco companies, and will concentrate on grassroots campaigning and publicity. Yes on 15 apparently plans to accept drug company contributions, and possibly money from tobacco, too. "We won't have any restriction on ours," said Chris Cronn, who's on leave from the governor's office to work on the constitutional amendment. "We welcome anyone's help."

The reason for the first PAC's tobacco ban is obvious; among other things, some members of the coalition don't accept tobacco donations and won't belong to a group that does.

The dispute over money from drug companies goes back to the legislative session and the battle over the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Perry issued an executive order to vaccinate all 12-year-old girls in the state, as HPV is a leading cause of cervical cancer. But he sparked two political grassfires with the proposal. Lawmakers balked at the idea of requiring a vaccine for sixth graders against a sexually transmitted disease. They didn't like the governor's attempt to do by executive order something they believe is a legislative prerogative. And they freaked out when they discovered that Mike Toomey, Perry's former chief of staff, represented Merck — the only provider of the vaccine. Two Republican lawmakers on the front line of that fight — Sen. Jane Nelson of Lewisville and Rep. Jim Keffer of Eastland — also happen to be sponsors of the cancer bond legislation. And they're on the board of the PAC that's promoting the constitutional amendment that'll be on the November ballot.

That committee includes the Lance Armstrong Foundation, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and doctors from several of the state's medical schools. The board members are Nelson, Keffer, Bonner, and former Comptroller John Sharp, who is the treasurer.

The Yes on 15 committee will focus on advertising on TV, cable TV and billboards, with a budget in the $1 million range. The supporters of the amendment hope to have a total budget — across all of the PACs — of up to $1.5 million.