Texas bloggers shot northward this week to the Yearly Kos convention in Chic-aaah-go. They're also buzzing about the continuing U.S. Senate race in Texas, the passing of Houston newsman Marvin Zindler and developments within the blogosphere itself. Plus, a grab bag of items — including a game!
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The Great State of Chicago
Burnt Orange Report says Texas bloggers are doing well, compared to those in other states. Here's a video clip of Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin welcoming bloggers to the convention.
Capitol Annex has a series of blogs on a panel discussion comparing mainstream media to blogs: one, two, three, four. Houtopia's take on the discussion is here.
Houtopia says 1,500 people attended the convention, where topics of conversation included last fall's strike by Houston janitors, modern political campaigns, "Immigration and the Hispanic Vote," and, the highlight, the Democratic presidential candidates' forum.
Musings brought a camera and took photos of Texas Senate explorer Rick Noriega, DailyKos founder Markos Moulitsas Zúniga and girl bloggers. Here's her summary of the presidential candidate forum. Off the Kuff claims to have "demystified" blogging for Noriega, who began posting over at DailyKos.
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Senate on Down the Line
Brains and Eggs has campaign videos from Democratic candidate Mikal Watts and probable candidate Noriega, who are seeking (and probably seeking) the seat held by U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.
Greg notes that Watts is the first to send e-mails out to his list and predicts Watts will have far more donors than the "people-powered" Noriega.
According to Kaos, David Van Os — the Democrats' 2006 Democratic candidate for Attorney General — is officially endorsing Noriega.
Half Empty has video of an interview Noriega did with Valley Newsline and accuses Watts of dirty pool, saying that he is trying to split Noriega's vote by recruiting another Hispanic candidate in the Democratic primary.
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Walker Report has photos of Noriega at a change of command ceremony at the Alamo, here and here. (Here are photos of an Alamo rally for Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul, U.S. Representative from Lake Jackson.) Walker also has pictures from an event hosted at the Watts home.
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Zindler's List
Rep. Aaron Peña, D-Edinburg, in A Capitol Blog, says even the celebrated Dom DeLuise couldn't do justice to Zindler. Images of Zindler throughout the years, from blogHOUSTON. Greg's Opinion has video.
Houstoned says Zindler was like a family member, odd-looking, perhaps, but one with integrity and genuine concern for the little guy.
Off the Kuff says seeing Zindler on TV constituted one of three "I'm not in New York anymore" moments in his life. The People's Republic of Seabrook says, fondly, Zindler was "to journalism what Jerry Falwell was to Christian tolerance and charity."
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Hot blog-on-blog action
Grits for Breakfast gives props to five blogs devoted to Texas justice, announces the launch of a new blog by Hunter Biederman, called Frisco DWI Lawyer & Attorney blog, while McBlogger welcomes new North Texas-based blog The Texas Cloverleaf.
PinkDome is looking for a new blogger and says Texas Observer is, too. PinkDome's also looking for a party.
Kuff brings attention to the new Web site of Judge Susan Criss, a blogger, who's running for state Supreme Court. "South Texas Republicans Newsletter is back," according to Walker Report.
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Gallimaufry
Grits gives reasons for instituting a San Antonio needle exchange program, says a plurality of Texas state felony convictions in 2004 were drug-related and that Texas is leading the nation in deaths of police officers this year.
Austinist reports on a scandal at Austin City Hall. Capitol Annex analyzes briefs filed with the Attorney General in reference to House Speaker Tom Craddick's authority.
The Capitol Crowd has a profile of Darren Whitehurst, Texas Medical Association's Director of Public Affairs. Houston's Clear Thinkers has a photo of former OU and Dallas Cowboy coach Barry Switzer in a compromising position.
Think you could fill in next season for retiring Houston Astro Craig Biggio? Find out here at Mike Falick's Blog.
Now all you need is that flux capacitor, says Houstoned, who wins Headline of the Week for a report on a racially-tinged duvet affray, titled, "White Liberal Quilt."
This edition of Out There was compiled and written by Patrick Brendel, who is momentarily situated in sunny Kermit, Texas. 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.