Texans Need to Prepare For Hurricane Gustav

As a supporter of Lt. Col. Rick Noriega for Senate, I received this email a couple of hours ago:

Dear Theresa,

As many of you know, Hurricane Gustav is gaining strength in the Caribbean Sea with maximum sustained winds over 145 mph.

This is a serious time for Texans. We must be prepared for the possibility it will make landfall anywhere along the Gulf Coast, including here in Texas.

As Incident Commander of Houston’s Katrina relief efforts at the George R. Brown Convention Center, I have seen first-hand the devastating consequences of major hurricanes, and we know we must take these threats seriously.

We have created a page on our website of links to important resources. You can find it at:

http://www.ricknoriega.com/gustav

Please keep the residents of the Gulf Coast in your prayers, and please be safe.

Sincerely,

Rick Noriega
Democrat for U.S. Senate

If you go to his website, you’ll find links to important resources in preparation for Hurricane Gustav:

Texas Department of Transportation Hurricane Information

Gustav Situation Reports

Texas Emergency Preparedness Page

National Hurricane Center

Please check out his website and vote for him this November.

Craig Ferguson Calls Sarah Palin A Naughty Librarian

This is a video from a little over a year ago. The Governor of Alaska (and now McCain’s Vice Presidential pick) sends Craig Ferguson a personal video offering honorary citizenship to the host.

Even Rush Limbaugh called Palin a “babe” in the past and again today. What a pig. Read his comments from today here.

So as she reaches the glass ceiling, she’ll still get wolf whistles, wagging tongues, and more will be looking at her instead of listening to her…this could be either a good or bad thing, regardless of which party you’re supporting.

Clinton Texas Delegates On Board With Obama – Why Wouldn’t They Be?

Obama’s acceptance speech at last night Democratic National Convention not only brought the house down, but seemed to have eased some diehard Hillary Texas delegates.

Photo from the AP

From the Dallas Morning News:

Former Texas Democratic Party chairman Bob Slagle, a leading Hillary Rodham Clinton backer, said the Obama speech will help sway conservative independents.

“It’ll sell pretty damn well,” he said. “He spoke of individual responsibility, of government helping when it should and getting out of the way when it shouldn’t.”

Obama supporters said he hit all the high points, taking on issues they cared about and moved the ball forward.

“It was awesome,” said Fernando Villarreal of Waco. “He touched the heart of every American.”

Mr. Villarreal said he appreciated Mrs. Clinton and all she achieved. “But now, I’m 100 percent Obama,” he said.

And Barbara Rosenberg of Dallas, who came here with a heavy heart because it would not be her favorite candidate crowned, left Invesco Field at Mile High a little lighter.

“I’m happily on board,” she said. “He covered all the issues important to me – the ones why I supported Hillary. Now we’re going forward on all those issues with Obama.”

Even Lulu Flores, an ardent Clinton delegate from Austin and chairwoman of the National Women’s Political Caucus, said: “I’m getting there.”

“He was really good. And he said what I needed to hear,” she said.

The speech was a good start, but it wasn’t going to be the Hail Mary pass that won her completely over in the convention’s final seconds.

“It’s still a 12-step program. But now I’m past at least the second step,” she said.

The candidate of change was changing her, too, she acknowledged. “I’m ready to work for that change for all of us.”

This is good to hear seeing that I have yet to comprehend how someone who had supported Clinton would even consider changing party sides to vote for McCain. This past Tuesday, Clinton asked the DNC crowd:

“I want you to ask yourselves: Were you in this campaign just for me?…Or were you in it for that young marine and others like him? Were you in it for that mom struggling with cancer while raising her kids? Were you in it for that boy and his mom surviving on the minimum wage?”

Those individuals who are still holding a grudge over Hillary’s defeat must come to the realization that they were only in it for themselves. Watching the convention (and yes, I watched all four nights) I saw several people who were crying and mad that Clinton was either not nominated, or the fact that Clinton herself spoke out during the Roll Call. These very same people were making statements like, “As a woman, she deserves to be president” and “She gave a presidential speech tonight; America has just shut the door on what women can accomplish.” ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Clinton DID open the door for women, inlcuding myself. I thank her for that. Look where we were 8 or even 4 years ago? She (or any other woman for that matter) would have never made it as far as she did in this election.

As Clinton herself stated:

“Although we weren’t able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it’s got about 18 million cracks in it…And the light is shining through like never before, filling us all with the hope and the sure knowledge that the path will be a little easier next time.”

If Clinton supporters are still willing to cross party lines on Election Day, then they have failed to accept what Clinton’s campaign brought to the table.

I’m all for being passionate for a candidate and taking a stand to support someone. But when one chooses to cross party lines because their candidate failed to get the party nomination, then that individual is being selfish and irrational.

If you were/are a Clinton supporter and considering trading in your vote for a McCain vote, think about who he may appoint to the Supreme Court over the next four years. Have you considered the Supreme Court? The Court affects each and every one of us. Think about civil rights and liberties, women’s (pro-choice) rights, a person’s right to marry regardless of one’s sexuality, and so on.

If you supported Clinton on these very things, then it is your duty and responsibility to vote her party ticket. If you are still so pissed off that she lost and are going to ‘get back at the democrats’ for not nominating a woman for president, then vote for McCain. Cast a vote for someone on the other party ticket that is Pro-Life (which seems to go against the whole ‘woman’ president thing) and who has the ability to pack the Supreme Court with individuals that support the same ideas as he does.

Can you see how this would be like spitting on Clinton’s campaign and not the democratic party? Can you?

Oh, and by the way…for those who have just decided to say, “Well screw it – I just won’t vote!” Oh boy…I can attack this in a whole new post. You’re not off the hook…

AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall

TGIF Humor – Cluelessness

As we head into a three day holiday weekend, I thought that we could all use a little humor. For all of you who work or go to school, you’ll appreciate this.

From despair.com:

 

 

 

Obama Meets Obama Girl: The Hope Years

Obama and his internet girlfriend, Obama Girl, finally meet. Well, sort of.

The folks at Barely Political has a new video reminiscent of the tv show “The Wonder Years” (1998-1993).

Here is “The Hope Years” starring a young Barack Obama:

Blogger Arrested Over Unreleased Guns N’ Roses Music

Another blogger getting in big trouble.

From Anthony McCartney of the AP:

A blogger suspected of streaming songs from the unreleased Guns N’ Roses album “Chinese Democracy” on his Web site was arrested Wednesday and appeared in court, where his bail was set at $10,000.

FBI agents arrested 27-year-old Kevin Cogill on Wednesday morning on suspicion of violating federal copyright laws. Cogill appeared in court in the afternoon wearing a T-shirt; his girlfriend sat in court and afterward said, “Rally the troops,” but declined further comment.

Federal authorities say Cogill posted nine unreleased Guns N’ Roses songs on his Web site in June. The songs were later removed.

In later posts, Cogill wrote that the FBI had questioned him and asked his readers if any of them knew a good attorney. He was represented Wednesday by a federal public defender.

According to an arrest affidavit, Cogill admitted to agents that he posted the songs on his Web site. Prosecutors said Wednesday the leak could result in a “significant” financial loss for the band.

Cogill will not face any special Internet restrictions, but was ordered to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Sept. 17.

No statement was issued by the band or frontman Axl Rose after the arrest.

“Chinese Democracy” is a much anticipated — and repeatedly delayed — new album by Guns N’ Roses that is more than 10 years in the making. At least one of the album’s songs could be heard legally: The band wrote on its Web site in July that its track, “Shackler’s Revenge” will be featured on the video game Rock Band 2, slated for release in September.

Now why would you go and post something like music that has not been released? The same would go for copies of books or movies that have not been released to the general public. At 27, I would expect a little more common sense from Mr. Cogill. Go figure.

John Edwards: Liar, Liar Pants on Fire

Wow. In an interview to be broadcasted on ABC’s Nightline Friday night, John Edwards admits that he lied during the Presidential Campaign about an alleged affair.

From ABC News:

Edwards told ABC News correspondent Bob Woodruff he did have an affair with 44-year old Rielle Hunter, but said that he loved only his wife, Elizabeth.

“Two years ago I made a very serious mistake,” Edwards said, blaming the prominence of being a vice presidential candidate. “All of which fed a self-focus, an egotism, a narcissism that leads you to believe that you can do whatever you want,” he said.

Edwards also denied he was the father of Hunter’s baby girl, Frances Quinn, although the one-time Democratic Presidential candidate said he has not taken a paternity test. He said he would be happy to take one.

Edwards said he told his wife, Elizabeth, and others in his family about the affair in 2006.

“She was mad, she was angry, I think furious would be a good way to describe it,” Edwards said.

Edwards made a point of telling Woodruff that his wife’s cancer was in remission when he began the affair with Hunter. Elizabeth Edwards has since been diagnosed with an incurable form of the disease.

When the National Enquirer first reported the alleged Edwards-Hunter affair last October 11, Edwards, his campaign staff and Hunter vociferously denounced the report.

“The story is false, it’s completely untrue, it’s ridiculous,” Edwards told reporters then.

He repeated his denials just two weeks ago.

Remind you of anyone??? So much for Mr. Squeaky Clean eh?

Paris Hilton Enters Election Race

Last week I did a post about John Mccain’s new campaign ad in which he used flashes of celebrities such as Paris Hilton. Now we have Paris’ take on the whole election:

I wonder how many takes she had to do while trying to deliver her energy plan.

The McCain campaign, revealing that it had received an “extraordinary number” of requests for a response to Hilton’s ad, said it was impressed by the socialite’s energy policy.

Starbucks Promoting $2 Drink in the Afternoon

Today when you get your morning Starbucks fix, save your receipt and go back this afternoon for a $2 iced grande drink! The national promotion is geared to boost sales and will run through September 2nd. The kicker – you must present a receipt from a morning purchase of the same day.

So, I’m out the door to get my grande non-fat, no whip raspberry mocha so I can go back this afternoon for an iced mocha during my commute in Edouard.

Ted Kennedy Won’t Be Going to Denver

With treatment for his brain tumor taking a toll on his immune system, Sen. Ted Kennedy will be staying behind for the Democratic National Convention. Although not physically there, Kennedy will be at the Denver convention by video. Shot at his home in Cape Cod, Kennedy has taped a five-minute video over the weekend to air during the party gathering at the end of the month.

At this stage in his illness, attending a large convention would be much too risky and the possibility of catching some illness won’t be chanced. The AP had no further details about his present condition.

Kennedy was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in May of this year. He had surgery in June and began chemotherapy shortly after.

Edouard Who?

This storm came up so quickly that when my mother-in-law phoned yesterday afternoon to ask us if we were ready, my husband and I looked at each other and said, “Who’s Edward?” A few hours later, my husband received yet another phone call from his National Guard unit, calling him once again. It hasn’t even been a week since he came home from Hurricane Dolly.

Now corrected by others in other states about the tropical storm’s name, I have realized that Edouard popped up in a matter of hours and it seems that everyone around the country seems to be more panic stricken than our very own Houstonians. Panic leads to chaos, which is exactly what I had to deal with when I stopped by the store on my way home from classes today.

The check out lines were long with people snatching up batteries and water. I only came for something for dinner and chlorine granules for our pool. I’m sure some of these shoppers had family members (like ours) calling from outside of Texas, doing the same thing which made people think that they needed to run to the store for emergency necessities.

Now why is it that those of us in hurricane areas know that hurricane season is from June to November, but yet still fail to have their hurricane stuff ready? They wait until the last minute and freak out, which only leads others like me to be completely frustrated when I just wanted to but something for dinner and the pool! People need to just chill out and calm down.

Everywhere you turn, the news is reporting the storm’s path which is making a bee-line right through Galveston. Now don’t get me wrong, those people on the coastline SHOULD be preparing. But those of us on the north end of Houston? Get a grip people. It’s too early in the hurricane season to be losing your marbles.

Along with the rest of southeast Texas, I’ll be watching the storm’s route. It is expected to make landfall by morning around 1pm, but the storm’s strength is anyone’s guess. It failed to pick up strength overnight, but that doesn’t mean much. Remember Humberto? That hurricane popped up in a matter of 18 hours and was supposed to hit land as a tropical storm, but decided to turn into a Category 2 hurricane. I won’t let my guard down, but I’ll remain rational which is what more people should be doing.

So, as I settle in for an afternoon of wind, rain, and news, I’ll continue to trudge on through a final research paper that is supposed to be due tomorrow. Come Edouard or not, I still have to have the stupid thing emailed tomorrow. Ugh.

I’m just glad that I filled up my gas tank yesterday. You should do the same before those lines get long too.

UPDATE as I’m getting ready to post this, my university has canceled classes tomorrow. I still have this paper though. sheesh.

UPDATE as of 4:00pm CST, the National Hurricane Center says that expected landfall at Galveston is 1pm, Tuesday.