This week, bloggers are captivated by the landfall of Hurricane Ike. They're also talking about persons of interest, reporting on state representative races and paying attention to U.S. congressional happenings, too. There's also a pair of posts on presidential events and a jumble of unrelated writings.
* * * * *
Eyes on the Storm
Lone Star Times readers submit photos of damage caused by Hurricane Ike, while Gregs Opinion reports from downtown Houston on Sunday, saying that broken glass, humidity, homeless people and cleaning crews abound.
RightWingSparkle says that her area north of Houston got some wind but not much else on Friday night. Plowing, Sowing and an Occasional Harvest "hunkered down" in the Bryan-College Station area and found time to blog twice (one and two). And UrbanGrounds liked the cut of U.S. Rep. John Culberson's jib after the Houston congressman advised residents to "stock up on food, water, and ammo."
Heres word on Ike from U.S. Senate candidate Rick Noriega, via Texas Politics, the Houston Chronicles blog. Also from Texas Politics, the view from U.S. Sen. John Cornyn. And Off the Kuff has messages from Houston city councilwomanMelissa Noriega and Galveston resident and Senate candidateJoe Jaworski.
Texas on the Potomac, the Houston Chronicle's D.C. blog, lists facts and figures about the damage caused by the hurricane. Also from Potomac, video of U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison saying to expect gas shortages for the next week or so because of the storm; a press release from the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign (which still exists); and, a statement on Ike from Pres. George W. Bush.
And Grits for Breakfast wants to know what happened to the 1,000-some-odd inmates and jailers stranded at the Galveston County Jail, while Capitol Annex alleges that Gov. Rick Perry used a Hurricane Ike news conference to showcase GOP incumbent Sen. Mike Jackson of La Porte, who's facing Jaworski.
* * * * *
Human Resources
A Penn law professor guest blogs on Grits about the case involving convicted killer Charles Dean Hood and the romance between the attorney who prosecuted him and the judge who presided over his trial. Meanwhile, Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins is one of Governing magazines "Public Officials of the Year," reportsTex Parte Blog.
KVUE's Political Junkie invites readers to say goodbye to John Moritz, the last reporter to vacate the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Austin bureau. Then, Junkiesays hello to Dave Montgomery, who's returning to the Star-Telegram's Austin bureau after doing time in Russia and Washington, D.C.
On an unrelated note, JunkieIDed Karl Roveby the back of his head in the Dallas-Fort Worth airport. One reader responds, "Well, in all fairness, the horns help make him recognizable from behind, even if the forked tail can be hidden in the trousers."
Burnt Orange Reportmakes a case that poster "D. Davenport" is actually former Assistant House Parliamentarian and former Rep. Ron Wilson. That spurs a reader discussion on Texas Politics about anonymous posters, with most of the conversation coming from people hiding behind screen names instead of revealing their real monikers.
* * * * *
State House Stuff
Via Burnt Orange, HD-64 Democrat John McLellandsends out an APB for "any candidate survey actually filled out by Representative Myra Crownover," his opponent.
Kuff's latest installment of candidate interviews is with HD-144 Democratic candidateJoel Redmond, who's aiming to succeed retiring Rep. Robert Talton, R-Pasadena.
And Mean rachel has set up a web page to convince Rep. Elliott Naishtat, D-Austin, that people think he needs a website. (The goal is for 100 people to donate money to Naishtat. After 4.5 days, three people had given $35.)
* * * * *
CD Cases
Lone Star Times got in on a conference call with Pete Olson, the Republican running against incumbent U.S. Rep. Nick Lampson, D-Stafford, in CD-22. The highlight: "Pete — likes the FairTax to replace all taxation, including personal and corporate taxation. Thinks its [achievable] in the future. Would support repeal of 16th amendment to insure that income taxation wouldnt return." (If elected, looks like Olson would have something in common with a certain neighboring congressman.)
Speaking of whom, here's a post from The Ellis County Observer: "Penny Langford Freeman, who served as Ron Pauls congressional district office director, announced she was running for governor in 2010 as an independent."
Half Empty has video of U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Houston, saying nice things about Chris Bell, who's running a Senate race (Green, you'll remember, is the guy who displaced Bell from Congress). And Potomac has a podcast of U.S. Reps. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, and Michael McCaul, R-Austin, talking about energy.
* * * * *
Prez Two
The Dallas Morning News's Trail Blazers continues to fact check statements made by and about presidential candidates.
After a few glasses of wine, an In the Pink Texas blogger thought it would be a good idea to grab a pair of glasses and a gun and prance around in front of the camera like GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin. [eds. note: We report, you decide.]
* * * * *
Hodgepodge
Grits looks at projected prisoner numbers in a report by the Legislative Budget Board, while Half Empty helps Fort Bend County Democrats put out campaign signs. And Blue Dot Blues says that Railroad Commissioner Michael Williamswill debate Democratic opponent Mark Thompson someday sometime.
Pondering Penguin relates a harrowing tale starring two interns for the Cornyn campaign who were tossed from a Noriega event and had their camera confiscated by security.
And Texas Observer Blog wins Headline of the Week award for a border fence article headlined "Border Wall Out of Time, Out of Money."
This edition of Out There was compiled and written by Patrick Brendel, who hails from Victoria but is semi-settled in Austin. 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.