Diane Trautman For Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector

In the upcoming Texas Democratic Primary, Harris County voters should support Diane Trautman for Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector.

(Above you see Ms. Trautman holding a baby.)

Texas primary day is March 2. Early voting begins on February 16. Here are facts about early voting.

Here are duties involved with this important position. The Tax Assessor deals with property valuations, vehicle registration and voter registration.

While Ms. Trautman is running unopposed on the March ballot, a strong primary showing will send a clear message that Ms. Trautman is headed to victory in November.

Here is the Trautman campaign web home.

When elected, Ms. Trautman will work hard to make sure that tax assessments will be conducted fairly, and that Harris County voters are registered in an open and legal manner.

What a switch doing the job of Tax Assessor-Collector in a fair and competent fashion will represent  from business as usual in the Tax Assessor’s office.

It is wrong for subordinates in the Tax Assessor’s office to sell voter registration data to a political party. It is wrong even if appointed incumbent Leo Vasquez does not feel it is wrong.

Ms. Trautman has experience in both banking and education. She will bring a renewed sense of ethics and public service to the office.

Ms. Trautman will serve her full term when elected and not pass on the office to someone else just weeks after the election. This cynical move is how Republicans kept control of the office in 2008 as Democrats made Election Day gains in Harris County.

Please consider supporting Diane Trautman for Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector in 2010.

Two Thoughts On Texas Democratic Candidates For Governor Primary Debate

As part of my ongoing efforts to kill my blog traffic, here is a quick post on the Democratic debate for Governor of Texas that took place this evening. This is the kind of post you write about a fleeting event, and it stops drawing traffic not long after it is posted.

Still—We must take part in the political process!

The candidates in the debate tonight were Farouk Shami and Bill White.

I’ll offer two thoughts—

1.  The person you see in the picture above is quite rude and condescending. Her name is Shelley Kofler and she was one of the panelists this evening for the debate.

She was abrasive and condescending to candidate Farouk Shami many times during the debate. Ms. Kofler appears to have an extensive resume in television reporting and I’m sure she is quite well-informed about Texas politics. Yet at the same time, she is abrasive for no clear reason.

2. The debate tonight was the second time I’ve heard Mr. Shami speak and I find him more coherent than I think he comes off to many voters. There is an underlying theme of decency and fair-play in his campaign message. Maybe it is all an act, but I’d be open to the guy if he’d not go on about stuff like jobs for all and free electricity.  That kind of talk is simply not credible.

My friends at Burnt Orange Report live-blogged the debate this evening.  Fellow Houston blogger Martha Griffin did the same at Musings.

Hank Gilbert For Texas Commissioner Of Agriculture—Why You Should Support Hank Gilbert

I support Hank Gilbert in the Democratic primary for Texas Commissioner of Agriculture.

(Above—A Texas Longhorn. The leading agricultural exports of Texas are live animals and red meat. Here are facts about Texas Longhorns.)

Here is the web home for Mr. Gilbert’s campaign.

The primary is March 2.  Early voting begins February 16. Here are facts about early voting in Texas.

Why do I support Mr. Gilbert?

Here is why—

1. Mr. Gilbert has extensive education and experience in agriculture. Here are some facts about Mr. Gilbert

“Hank earned his bachelors degree in Agricultural Education from Texas A&M, where he was the Student Council representative for the Future Farmers of America (FFA) and was also a recruiter for the Agricultural Education Department. Upon graduation, Hank was hired to teach high school agriculture in East Texas where he worked for 13 years. Since leaving the teaching profession, Hank has continued to work with agricultural youth, both as a volunteer 4-H leader in his community and with the local FFA chapter. In 2005, Hank created the East Texas Jr. Invitational Livestock Expo in Smith County, Texas. To date, this show has awarded over $75,000 in scholarships to its participants to support their educational pursuits.2. Mr. Gilbert is committed to making the Texas Department of Agriculture a friend of the small Texas farmer. He will be aggressive in promoting Texas  agriculture to ever wider markets and he will advocate for organic and sustainable farming methods in our state.”

(Below–Watermelon is an important Texas crop. Here are facts about watermelon production in Texas from Texas A & M. A & M has an entire program about the growing and the study of watermelons.)

2. Mr. Gilbert will advocate for small Texas farmers. Mr. Gilbert will work hard to promote Texas agriculture to ever wider markets and he will support organic and sustainable farming methods in Texas.

Here is the link to Mr. Gilbert’s plan for Texas agriculture.

3. Mr. Gilbert is an energetic campaigner who will work to help elect Democrats throughout Texas.

Please consider voting for Mr. Gilbert in the 2010 Texas Democratic primary.

Here is a brief description of all the candidates running for Agriculture Commissioner from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Here is the Texas Farm Bureau.

Here are facts about Texas agriculture from the Texas Department of Agriculture.

( Aquaculture is a part of Texas Agriculture. Below you see the Channel Catfish. This fish is farmed in Texas. Here is the Texas Aquaculture Association. )

Is The Iphone Application For The Blog Working?

The last two times I’ve tried to use the WordPress application on my iPhone, it has not worked.

I’ve got a trip coming up to Cincinnati—because everybody goes to Ohio in Feburary—and I am writing this post on my phone to see if this is working for my trip.

The photo I’ve added is of the statue of William Henry Harrison that you can find in Downtown Cincinnati. I took this picture last summer.

Bill Harrison was our ninth President. He was the one who lasted for just a month back in 1841.

I am done with this post. Let us see if the application is working.

Government Bailout Funds Pay For Sexist Ads To Appeal To Insecure Losers Who Need A Dodge Charger Because They Hate Women So Much

The commercial for the Dodge Charger during the Super Bowl said that a man should buy a Dodge Charger to make up for all the nagging he gets from women at home.

This is because government bailouts funds are for subsidizing sexist ads to appeal to the kind of loser who needs to buy this car.

Above you see a Dodge Charger in all its potency.

(Picture taken by Infrogmation.)

If you don’t like having a woman in your life, then go live on your own.

I Saw Lake Placid In The Summer—You’d Be Crazy To Ski Down That Ski Jump

I’ve been to the town of Lake Placid, New York, but it was during the summer and not during winter.

We associate Lake Placid with winter. The fact is though that the town is there 365 days a year.

I was in Lake Placid for a few hours almost 20 years ago.

I’ve been thinking of my brief time in Lake Placid because I’ve been reading some references in recent days to Winter Olympics held in Lake Placid. The Winter Olympics were held in Lake Placid in 1932 and 1980.

What I recall most distinctly from my visit are the ski jumps you see above in a picture taken by a Dan Carmichael.

I recall wondering what they would look like with snow.

The picture below, taken by a photographer going by the name of “Sweeneytoad”, shows the ski jumps in snow.

You’d be crazy to jump off those things.

You can take a tour of the ski jump and see the view the jumpers see.

Ski jumping is the only Winter Olympic sport in which women are not allowed to compete.

This is not fair. Women are just as stupid as men and should be allowed to jump. Here is the web home of Let Women Ski Jump in 2010.

Here is the web home of ski jumping at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Here is a history of ski jumping.

Below is a picture I found of a Sumo wrestler ski jumping.

Here are facts about the 1932 Lake Placid Olympics.

Here are facts about the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics.

Here is information about visiting Lake Placid at any time of the year.

I have family in Upstate New York and I can tell you that it is nice year-round in all parts of Upstate New York

Bright Cargo On Dark Day

Above is a picture of a bright yellow mineral or cargo of some sort that I took on a very grey day in Galveston, Texas.

Even on a dark day, there is some bight thing you can find to lighten matters up.

Please leave a comment if you have any notion what the yellow stuff is.

Ancient Poem For Valentine’s Day—Helpful If You Are In A Love Triangle

Here is a 2000 year old poem, by an unknown author from India, called “You Love Her.“

It is a Valentine’s Day poem for those of you in a love triangle of some sort.

You love her, while I love you,

and she hates you, and says so.

Love ties us in knots,

keeps us in hell.

Scott Brown Takes Oath—Many Fights Ahead

Republican Scott Brown of Massachusetts took the oath of office today to become a U.S. Senator.

Above you see the swearing-in being conducted by Vice President Joe Biden.

You win and you lose some. There are many fights ahead.

President Obama and the Democratic leadership of Congress say they are going ahead with the Health Reform Bill that will extend care to most Americans and prohibit denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions.  I believe that they will move ahead and that they will be successful.

I’m glad for the democracy we have in this country that elected Senator Brown. I also hope he will be defeated the next time he is on the ballot.

I’m glad for the fights ahead and I’m glad that progress can be made even after setbacks.

Houston Janitors Set-Up Facebook Page As Contract Expires In 2010

Houston’s commercial office janitors must negotiate a new contract for 2010. As part of the effort to gain public support for what will be a tough fight in a difficult economy, the janitors have set up a Facebook page.

Here is the link to that page.

Above is a picture from the Facebook page showing part of previous successful efforts for janitors to gain a contract in Houston.

Here is what the janitors say—-

“In the fall of 2006, low-wage janitors stood up for good jobs during an historic four-week strike for a better future for Houston’s families. Prior to the strike, most of Houston’s 5,300 commercial office janitors in Houston were paid just $20.00 per day and had no health insurance or any other benefits….By taking to the streets, these workers won a union contract that doubled their pay, gave them access to affordable health care, and created a path to prosperity, not only for their families, but for thousands of service workers. This contract expires in the spring of 2010…Today, the janitors are seeking a new agreement that will help Houston’s economy recover, building it stronger and fairer. The fight that Houston’s janitors are taking on is a campaign to preserve good jobs and health care for workers everywhere.”

Before she was Mayor of Houston, Annise Parker was a supporter of this cause. There is no reason to think she won’t be on-board with the janitors this time as well.

All work has merit and people deserve good pay and benefits for the work they do. We must work so that we can make money and live. Work is the hours of our lives.

We need to support the janitors and support all people fighting for the respect that hard work deserves.

No Moon Germs On Apollo Crew—Space Germs

Above you see the front page of the Houston Chronicle from July 25, 1969.

The Apollo 11 astronauts had returned from the moon and had been found to have no “moon germs.”

That must have come as very good news.

This story says that salmonella germs launched into space came back more potent.

This article suggest that sunspots may cause flu germs from the stratosphere to infect people on the surface of the Earth.

Here is an article about the possibility that a meteor brought a rain filled with space germs to India.

This story expresses that we are sending Earth germs to Mars.

The world and the heavens are filled with germs. Bring your hand sanitizer whether on Earth or in space.

Life Is Like A Harbor Where Ships Come And Go

(Blogger’s Note—This is a rerun of a post I like to run from time-to-time. Thanks for reading Texas Liberal.)

Life is like a harbor where ships come and go.

Some ships come early in the day.

Others arrive late.

Some ships stay just a brief time.

A few are looking for a port to call home.

Some come and go many times.

Some harbors are serene.

Others are more busy.

As the day progresses, traffic may diminish.

Though a sense that a harbor is safe, or in some other sense good and useful, may mean traffic and activity never fully ceases until the day is over at last.

If what is left for the most part are good memories, then the voyage has reached a successful end.

In these regards, I would say life is like a harbor where ships come and go.

Fundraiser For Houston Councilmember Melissa Noriega—A Temporary Reply To The Brevity Of Life

Houston City Councilmember Melissa Noriega is having a fundraiser on Thursday, February 18.

This event will be held between 5:30 PM and 7:00 PM on that day in the Cambridge Room of the House of Blues at 1204 Caroline.

Here is the Facebook page for this event.

I’ll not be able to attend this event because  I will be in Ohio that day. I will though send a donation.

Above you see a picture I took of Councilmember Noriega at a recent Martin Luther King parade in Houston.

There she is greeting the people.

I’m often reluctant to be friends in any meaningful way with politicians or with people connected to politics.

As a political blogger with some audience in a city where few take part in politics, there is a path a person could take to knowing people in local politics.

I did that once in life in another city, and I’m not sure I want to do it again. Relationships founded in politics are somewhat transactional in my view.

Life is brief and I want longstanding friendships that place loyalty at the top of the virtues that the friends involved value in one another.

Longtime friendships in a world where life is brief and brutal offer at least a temporary reply to the brevity of life.

Despite these things, I have struck up a measure of friendship with politician Melissa Noriega. I feel she is someone you can support with the confidence that the people of Houston are being well-served with thoughtful and compassionate leadership.

Here is Ms. Noriega’s City of Houston web home.