Dreamgirls

There are three definitive American art forms: jazz, film, and musical theater. Rare is the time any of the three come together. They did so in Chicago in 2002. Like that appropriately-Oscar-winning effort, Dreamgirls uses the same confluence of art to provide a spectacular movie-going experience.

Some preface. I've never seen the original stage version of Dreamgirls (or Chicago, for that matter). So I can't compare what I saw on the big screen to what I might have seen on the stage. And I'm glad, because what I saw on the big screen had me riveted. Right from the start, you know you're about the hear great songs sung by great voices. When the Dreamettes' first chance at something big seems near, you're crushed to see it taken away so quickly.

I won't give you a plot summary. You can find that elsewhere. But I will talk about the casting. Where did they get all these names? Beyonce Knowles, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy, Danny Glover. An outstanding cast that fit their characters perfectly; and not just the leads, but the secondary characters as well. Eddie Murphy did surprisingly well, I thought. (I hope that was his voice and not a dubbing.) And I'll talk about the set design and costuming. You knew what year it was simply by looking at the clothes or the furniture in any given scene. Outstanding.

But, by far, the best part of the film is Jennifer Hudson. Mrs. Light Bulb and I are American Idol fanatics. I say again, fanatics. We were heartbroken the week Jennifer was voted off the third season. To see this young woman in her screen debut, providing the best performace of the film was wonderfully fulfilling. The audience we saw it with cheered at the end of "And I Am Telling You." (I'm serious. I was screaming myself.) This young lady can sing AND act. And if she doesn't win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress this February, I may never watch another Academy Awards telecast again.

Dreamgirls - go see it.

It's called PERMANENT REHABILITATION

Don't the drive-bys know that the term "execution" is not politically cleansed? Hey drive-bys, get with it guys. It's called permanent rehabilitation.

First, rehabilitation. Well that's what every liberal wants for every criminal, right? "To restore formally to former capacity, standing, rank, rights, or privileges." And, the word rehabilitation connotes a sense of newness; a re-birth, if you will. Now add to it the modifier permanent. Seriously, who doesn't want something that will "exist perpetually," I ask you?

O.K. Let's use our politically cleansed term in a sentence. Today, December 30, 2006, Saddam Hussein was permanently rehabilitated. Now doesn't that make you feel good?

For everything there is a season

And I have been in a blogging dormancy season which is soon coming to an end. Five business trips, post-election funk, two holidays, a Gall-bladder-ectomy, and Mrs. Light Bulb in an auto-pedestrian dust-up have been all-consuming for the past few weeks.

However, I am switching to the new version of Blogger today and hope to begin posting by this evening. I pray you have had a safe and blessed Thanksgiving and Christmas with your families.

Happy Thanksgiving

Hypocrisy, thy name be Perot

Remember Ross Perot warning of the giant sucking sound of the NAFTA during his presidential campaigns? I guess he's changed his mind.

When billionaire H. Ross Perot ran for president in 1992, he warned that the torrent of American jobs headed south of the border as a result of the North American Free Trade Agreement would create "a giant sucking sound." On Friday, the outsourcing company founded by Perot, where he serves as chairman emeritus, disclosed that it's opening a new service center in Mexico.

Then again, it is Ross Perot. Who really cares?

Hat tip to Biz Net Daily

Let’s make sure the Defeatocrats use this guy in 2008

Couldn’t pass this up when I saw it. Terri Schaivo’s husband, who actively worked for her death, seems to be campaign poison.

After he successfully won a court order to kill Terri Schiavo via euthanasia, the disabled woman’s former husband Michael pledged to take on pro-life advocates and formed a political action committee to defeat them. However, the candidates Michael campaigned for during the 2006 mid-term elections didn’t fare very well.

In fact, every candidate Michael personally campaigned for during the election cycle went down to defeat.

But wait, there's more.

Schiavo said that, while Terri’s family works to make sure the disabled and elderly get proper medical care, he will do anything necessary to go after pro-life lawmakers who voted for the bill to support them and back candidates who think assisted suicide and euthanasia is okay.

”I will go as far as I need to go,” Schiavo said.

He indicated he will campaign for candidates in other states and likely speak out about the 2008 presidential elections.

Someone get this man next to Hillary!

Hat tip to World Net Daily

Happy Veterans Day

As the old saying goes,

If you can read this, thank a teacher.
If you can read this in english, thank a Veteran.


And take a trip over to Michelle Malkin's Hot Air and watch her interviews with some of the remaining Doolittle Raiders.

Pray for our troops

Please, please, please pray for our men and women fighting against terrorism.

They have just seen their nation elect a majority of representatives and senators who want us to cut our losses and run away from the enemy. Their morale cannot be good. Many of them might be questioning what they are doing and why they are doing it. Please pray for them, for their leaders, and for all of their spirits that they might know that what they are doing is vital and appreciated.

Discipline hurts

But when we stray off course, discipline is needed. Hopefully the Republicans will learn from this experience. Get back on course. Be conservative. Prosecute the War Against Terror properly. Seal the border. Make the tax cuts permanent.

And do not avoid the lesson of this election. When Repulicans behave like Democrats, Republicans lose. When Republicans behave like conservatives, Republicans win. See Reagan, Ronald.

The Only Issue This Election Day

A Democrat writes of what is important today.

If control of the House passes into Democratic hands, there are enough withdraw-on-a-timetable Democrats in positions of prominence that it will not only seem to be a victory for our enemies, it will be one.

Unfortunately, the opposite is not the case -- if the Republican Party remains in control of both houses of Congress there is no guarantee that the outcome of the present war will be favorable for us or anyone else.

But at least there will be a chance.

I say this as a Democrat, for whom the Republican domination of government threatens many values that I hold to be important to America's role as a light among nations.

But there are no values that matter to me that will not be gravely endangered if we lose this war. And since the Democratic Party seems hellbent on losing it -- and in the most damaging possible way -- I have no choice but to advocate that my party be kept from getting its hands on the reins of national power, until it proves itself once again to be capable of recognizing our core national interests instead of its own temporary partisan advantages.

[Bold emphasis mine]

Via The Ornery Amerian

If 11 million Iraqis can vote...

You can too.

Today is the day

We know how the terrorists would vote...

As illustrated by Glen McCoy at The Funnies on Townhall.com



And backed up by this story at NewsMax.com.

And the Defeatocrats have nothing to say about it.

Hat tip to Power Line

Saddam Hussein sentenced to death

Finally.

Now he is eligible for permanent rehabilitation.

A John F. Kerry video round-up

So many videos in different places, had to get 'em all in one post.

First, John Kerry, who served in Vietnam, belittles our soldiers on Monday.

President Bush reacts on Tuesday:

Kerry, who served in Vietnam, criticizes the troops in 2005 on Face the Nation:

Kerry, who served in Vietnam, criticizes the troops in 1971 on Meet the Press:

This is a long one (3:35), but it's a really well done summary of Kerry's pre-war statements.

And, of course, the fundamental Kerry flip flop:

Aren't you glad he's not our President?

John Kerry Swift Boats himself

Yet another post that writes itself. John Kerry, who served in Vietnam, had this to say at a campaign rally yesterday:

You know, education, if you make the most of it, if you study hard and you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, uh, you, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq.

See the video here. And now he's trying to say that he didn't say it back when he said it.

Typically pathetic.

They call it the "slapdown" at their house

Just keeps gettin' better and better. Neil Cavuto asked Vice President Cheney what he thought of his wife's performance on CNN a few days ago.

CAVUTO: Your wife, Mr. Vice President, created a little bit of a stir in an appearance on a rival news network last week, taking exception to the way that network portrayed the economy, the government, that things are going to hell in a hand basket. I’m sort of paraphrasing here. Actually, she was much more to the point that I’m being. What did you think of that?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: I thought it was great. We refer to it around the house as the “slapdown.” And she was very tough, but she was very accurate and very aggressive.

Watch for yourself at Michelle Malkin's Hot Air.

Watch Lynne Cheney neuter Wolf Blitzer

Oh, you gotta see this. Wolf Blitzer thinks he can out-wit Lynne Cheney. But, as usual, he's unarmed.

Hat tip to the Power Line

Hey, Rick. Where's my $2,000?

Remember Governor Perry's television ad promising a $2,000 property tax cut? We here in Houston knew it wasn't coming. Well, the folks up in Dallas are waking up to the truth. And Governor Perry, who has a great head of hair, starts tap dancing.

Across the state, angry and confused homeowners have been calling their local tax collectors, asking what happened to the tax cut they were supposed to get, officials say. And Perry's opponents, citing his claim in a now-controversial TV ad that taxpayers would eventually receive "a $2,000 tax cut," are piling it on.

Rick, FYI, making promises you can't deliver would not be called a good campaign tactic. Just so you know.

The best response I've seen to Michael J. Fox

Just can't beat it.

Background here and here.

Hat tip to Right Wing News.

What if we had a truly objective media?

I check Google News every day to get a survey of what the drive-bys are saying. Today I came across this headline: "Bush has decided to cut and run from 'staying the course'." Amazing. They don't even try to hide it anymore. The drive-bys just can't stand Republicans and Conservatism.

And it got me to wondering, what if we had a truly objective media in our country? Seriously. What if, when the Democrats mentioned "culture of corruption", a reporter were to ask, "you mean Senator Reid's unreported land flip?" What if, when someone mentioned "tax cuts for the rich", a reporter were to ask, "you mean because the rich pay greater than 50% of all taxes and naturally they'll benefit the most?"

Just wondering.

Byron Calame channels Emily Litella

Mr. Light Bulb, who is Byron Calame?

He's the public editor for the New York Times. He "responds to complaints and comments from the public and monitors the paper's journalistic practices."

Fine. Who is Emily Litella?

Sometimes I feel so old. Emily Litella was a character played by Gilda Radner during the beginning years of Saturday Night Live. Ms. Litella would opine about something she heard incorrectly, such as "Endangered Feces" (instead of Endangered Species). After the hosting news anchor would interrupt her and point out her error, Ms. Litella would deliver her classic line, "never mind."

And that's exactly what the New York Times has said, through Mr. Calame, about the damage it has inflicted to our national security by exposing the SWIFT terrorist money tracking program. See the in-depth analysis from Michelle Malkin and the Power Line brainiacs.

Imagine, God forbid, "Speaker Pelosi"

I posted a few days ago about the nightmarish scenario of Nancy Pelosi being seated as Speaker of the House and then, by horrifying circumstances, becoming President of the United States.

Sure, that's awful. But of more immediate awfulness is what she'd do as Speaker of the House. Via Red State, read this list of bills and commitee chairs over which she might preside.

Disgusting.

Don't you wish we had a roaring economy?

Because if we had a roaring economy,

• the stock market would be at record levels
  
• unemployment would be low
  
• housing starts would be rising
  
• inflation would be in check
  
• our nation would have a fantastic Gross Domestic Product and great productivity especially when compared to other countries

Wait a minute . . . oh, never mind.

When is $535,729,345 not enough?

Answer: When you are the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District School Board. And the governor of your state signed a special session bill earlier in the summer allowing you to raise your tax rate up to 4 cents without voter approval. And you just can't seem to find $10,000,000 worth of savings in over half a billion dollars of spending. You can watch the whole discussion here if you'd like, or (my recommendation) you can read fellow Lone Star Times contributor Ree-C Murphey's excellent summary.

In completely unrelated news that has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with runaway school district spending, the Berry Center, Cy-Fair ISD's new $80 million state-of-the-art stadium, arena, conference center, and theater facility, will present Cinderella on November 17 through December 10. Tickets are $10.50 for adults and $9.50 for children and seniors.

YOU MUST READ THIS REPORT

You must read this report. It is titled A Line in the Sand: Confronting the Threat at the Southwest Border. It is written by Rep. Michael McCaul from the 10th district of Texas. Rep. McCaul chairs the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Investigations. Rep. McCaul is a former prosecutor. As such, Rep. McCaul has not written a light-hearted tale of adventure, but a shocking and well-documented review of reality.

From the introduction:

Based on a review of the data, interviews conducted and other information collected, Subcommittee staff finds that:

1. Drug trafficking organizations and human smuggling networks are proliferating and strengthening their control of key corridors along our Nation's Southwest border.
   
   
2. The Mexican drug cartels wield substantial control over the U.S.-Mexican border. Law enforcement on the border agree that very little crosses the respective cartel territories, or "plazas," along the Southwest border without cartel knowledge, approval, and financial remuneration.
   
   
3. These criminal organizations and networks are highly sophisticated and organized, operating with military style weapons and technology, utilizing counter surveillance techniques and acting aggressively against both law enforcement and competitors.
   
   
4. Drug trafficking organizations, human smuggling networks and U.S.-based gangs are increasingly coordinating with one another to achieve their objectives.
   
   
5. Federal, State and local law enforcement report new and ever-increasing levels of ruthlessness and violence associated with these criminal organizations, which are increasingly spilling across the border into the United States and moving into local communities.
   
   
6. Each year hundreds of illegal aliens from countries known to harbor terrorists or promote terrorism are routinely encountered and apprehended attempting to enter the U.S. illegally.
   
   
7. The existing resources of the U.S. Border Patrol and local law enforcement must continue to be enhanced to counter the cartels and the criminal networks they leverage to circumvent law enforcement.

[emphasis mine]

There is a picture on page eight of the report of a train heading north through Mexico. The train is teaming with human debris hitching a ride north to the border. MAKE SURE YOU SEE THIS PICTURE.

From pages eleven and twelve:

To protect and expand their criminal operations, Mexican drug cartels maintain highly developed intelligence networks on both sides of the border and have private armies to carry out enforcement measures. For example, the Gulf Cartel leader Cardenas employs a group of former elite military soldiers know as "Los Zetas." The Zetas are unique among drug enforcer gangs in that they operate as "a private army under the orders of Cardenas' Gulf Cartel, the first time a drug lord has had his own paramilitary." The Zetas have been instrumental in the Gulf Cartel's domination of the drug trade in Nuevo Laredo, and have fought to maintain the cartel's influence in that city following the arrest of Cardenas. The Zetas' activities are not limited to defending the Gulf Cartel's terrain in northern Mexico. The paramilitary force is also believed to control trafficking routes along the eastern half of the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Zetas are believed to be a serious threat to public safety on both sides of the Southwest border. They are well-financed and well-equipped and have demonstrated a willingness to shoot, torture, and kill law enforcement officers, or rival cartel and gang members on both sides of the border. Federal law enforcement officials deem the Zetas among the most dangerous criminal enterprises in the Americas.

[...]

The cartels' method of torture and killing are particularly brutal. On September 6, 2006, masked gunmen entered a nightclub in the Michoacan, fired guns in the air and rolled five severed human heads onto the dance floor. The gunmen left a sign among the severed heads that read:

"The family doesn't kill for money. It doesn't kill women. It doesn't kill innocent people, only those who deserve to die. Know that this is divine justice."

According to Federal law enforcement officials, this hideous act was a revenge killing between warring gangs. Decapitations are becoming quite common in many areas in Mexico where cartels and gangs battle for control over lucrative smuggling corridors. Heads are publicly displayed for the purpose of intimidation.

[emphasis mine]

You must read this report. When you finish it, you must send it to your family members and tell them to read it.

Imagine, God forbid, "President Pelosi"

I've been away on business travel and vacation, so my posting has been light recently. Doing some catch-up surfing this evening, I came across this post at Wizbang Bomb Squad. It should frighten all of us to the core.

However, if the Democrats were to gain majority status as a result of the November elections, that doomsday scenario would become even more of a nightmare because the new Speaker of the U.S. House would be none other than Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Democrat from California. She would thus become the forty-fourth President of the United States and the most powerful person on the planet.

Let me repeat that very slowly: If the Democrats regain majority status in the U.S. House, Nancy Pelosi would be in line to become president of the United States should tragedy befall the president and vice president.

Can you even imagine the bug-eyed Pelosi a mere two or three heartbeats from the Oval Office?

Just the thought of a Pelosi presidency should cause all voters--regardless of party loyalty--to think twice, or more, before voting for any Democrat!

Go read the whole thing, and look at the bug-eyed photo. Frightening indeed.

American airplanes rule!

Or, more accurately, American Aerospace Engineering Rules! A great story from C-Net news about 747 construction at the largest building in the world, Boeing's assembly facility in Everett, Washington. A lot of industry watchers said Boeing was in trouble with the new Airbus A380. But that plane's troubles have yielded a wonderful opportunity for Boeing and the continued supremacy of American aerospace engineering.

Plus, I like planes.

Simple solution to the Foley issue

The messages Rep. Foley sent are disgusting and inexcusable. Period. His resignation is wholly appropriate.

Of course, the Democrats will use this for all it's worth. We'll be hearing about the Foley issue from now until Election Day, all day long. But I think there's a way for the political argument to be quickly nullified—have Rep. Foley become a Democrat. After all, when Democrats do things that are far worse—sex with a male page, sex with a campaign staffer, sex with an intern—they are re-elected, pardoned, or given a pep rally.

UPDATE - The moonbats are already at work trying to change the record.

Drive-By Reporting

John Hinderaker at Power Line shows us the epitome of "drive-by media" in an editor's note from the New York Times. I won't even quote it here. You have to go read it for yourself. It's astounding.

Slick Willie Purple Rage Round-Up

When President Bubba, our only elected President to be impeached, spewed his fatuous swill in front of Chris Wallace, you knew it was only a matter of time before the blogosphere began shining the light of truth on the subject. To wit, this post is a compilation of swill remediation. Consider it my electronic community service. (Not that I've ever been court-ordered to perform community service, mind you.)

Richard Miniter writes in the Wall Street Journal "What Clinton Didn't Do...".

In his Fox interview, Mr. Clinton said "no one knew that al Qaeda existed" in October 1993, during the tragic events in Somalia. But his national security adviser, Tony Lake, told me that he first learned of bin Laden "sometime in 1993," when he was thought of as a terror financier. U.S. Army Capt. James Francis Yacone, a black hawk squadron commander in Somalia, later testified that radio intercepts of enemy mortar crews firing at Americans were in Arabic, not Somali, suggesting the work of bin Laden's agents (who spoke Arabic), not warlord Farah Aideed's men (who did not). CIA and DIA reports also placed al Qaeda operatives in Somalia at the time.

By the end of Mr. Clinton's first year, al Qaeda had apparently attacked twice. The attacks would continue for every one of the Clinton years.

In "Condi vs. Bubba", the New York Post editorial board tells of its conversation with Secretary Rice:

"The notion somehow for eight months the Bush administration sat there . . . is just flatly false," the former national security adviser told The Post's editorial board yesterday. "What we did in eight months was at least as aggressive as what the Clinton administration did in the preceding [eight] years,"

Firing Clarke? Far from it, she noted: He "was the counter-terrorism czar when 9/11 happened, and he left [in 2003] when he did not become deputy director of homeland security," as he wanted.

At Real Clear Politics, Ronald A. Cass brings a measured, thorough look at the situation in "Bill Clinton: Play It as It Lies". The opening paragraph is a thing 'o beauty.

Former President Bill Clinton, never one to let truth stand in the way of a good line, has decided to reincarnate himself as our tough, anti-terror President. The man who ran away from military service and displayed striking contempt for our armed forces has now announced that he did more—and would do more—to combat Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda than anyone else. In his view, he should be recognized as the best man to fight that enemy.

John Hinderaker at Power Line notes "Why didn't Wallace ask the Bush Administration? He did."

Byron York writes in National Review Online on "Bill Clinton's Excuses."

“All you have to do is read Richard Clarke’s findings and you know it’s not true,” he said at yet another point. In all, Clinton mentioned Clarke’s name 11 times during the Fox interview.

But Clarke’s book does not, in fact, support Clinton’s claim.

Another Power Line blogger, Paul Mirengoff, sums up the "So What?" presidency with his post, "The Fruits of an Unserious Presidency".

Bill Clinton is desperate to be remembered by history for something other than the Lewinsky affair, perjury, and impeachment. And he will be. It's becoming clear that the Clinton legacy will also include eight years of inaction, broken by rare instances of ineffectual action, towards the mounting threat posed by Osama bin Laden and other Islamic terrorists that culminated in 9/11.

Noel Sheppard at The American Thinker - "Bill Clinton, Bin Laden, and Hysterical Revisions"

Howard Kurtz at The Washington Post - "Clinton's Finger-Wagging Moment"

And, last but not least, via the indispensible Michelle Malkin, The Washington Post reminds us that we've seen it all before.

Wanna Google your tax dollars?

Senators Tom Coburn and Barak Obama thought it was a great idea. Senators Robert "KKK Kleagle" Byrd and Ted "Bridge to Nowhere" Stevens put a "secret hold" on it. But the blogosphere smoked 'em out. And today, President Bush signed it into law: an on-line database that we citizens can use to track where our government spends our tax dollars.

The law calls for the Web site to go online by Jan. 1, 2008. It will list federal grants and contracts greater than $25,000, except for those classified for national security reasons.

"The Web site will allow our citizens to go online, type in the name of any company, association, or state or locality and find out exactly what grants and contracts they've been awarded," Bush said.

"By allowing Americans to Google their tax dollars, this new law will help taxpayers demand greater fiscal discipline," Bush said. [emphasis mine]

Ain't technology great.

Once more, with feeling...

And a pointing finger and a red face.


He doth protest too much, methinks.

Hat tip: Right Wing Sparkle

Welcome Lone Star Times readers!

Thanks for visiting my humble blog. I hope you find something you like in the archives. I have an Appraisal Cap Primer, a proposed meeting minutes for the Task Force on Appraisal Reform, observations on the Trans-Texas Corridor, what liberals REALLY think, Sunday School lessons learned, and assorted other musings.

For Light Bulb readers who don't know about Lone Star Times, I hope you'll visit there as well. I'm thrilled to say that I made my first post there as a new contributor this morning.

Reagan is a hero, even in Poland

From Al-Reuters, Warsaw to get statue of ex-president Reagan.

"Reagan was the person who defeated the communists and opened the way for freedom in Poland," Janusz Dorosiewicz said. "The statue is a way for his legacy to live on."

As Lady Thatcher said at his funeral, "With the lever of American patriotism, he lifted up the world. And so today the world - in Prague, in Budapest, in Warsaw, in Sofia, in Bucharest, in Kiev and in Moscow itself - the world mourns the passing of the Great Liberator and echoes his prayer 'God Bless America'."

Hat tip: World Net Daily

Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day

From Lone Star Times comes this jewel of erudition: today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day. And in honor of International Talk Like a Pirate Day, I will now re-post my immediately preceding post in Pirate.

Me dear matey, Playwriter Girl, asked me this question in a comment t' me latest post on th' Property Tax Appraisal Cap issue. Wonderful, an' very appropriate, question. Here's me answer:

1. Vote in th' Primary Election - If yer State Representative or State Senator be nay doin' his job well, this be th' time t' vote fer a better candidate from yer party. An', fer many districts in Texas an' on accoun' o' Texas be such a red state, th' primary election determines who will win th' general election. Votin' can be a form o' complaint, after all.
   
2. Vote in th' General Election - I know, 't goes without sayin', but I gotta say 't.
   
3. Communicate wi' yer State Representative - Become yer State Representative's best matey...or worst nightmare. Write th' lad's letters. Call th' lad's. Let th' lad's know what yer position be. Ask th' lad's what his position be. If 't differs from yours, ask th' lad's t' explain hisself. If he has nay credible explanation, ask th' lad's who he be supposed t' represent. If he has a credible explanation, ask th' lad's t' consider yer reasonin', an' again ask th' lad's who he be supposed t' represent. Look up his votin' record, or t' really get under his skin, ask th' lad's t' send ye a copy o' his votin' record. Be persistent. Ye be fundin' his (incredibly meager) salary wi' yer tax pieces o' eight. By th' way, I be absolutely 100% serious about this. If ye dasn't know who yer State Representative be, go here. This goes without sayin' also, but...be passionate about yer position, be prepared wi' articulate an' well-sourced facts t' support yer argument, an' always be respectful.
   
4. Communicate wi' yer State Senator - Yep, same song, second verse. If ye dasn't know who yer State Senator be go here.
   
5. Join squadrons o' similarly minded swabbies - Thar be power in numbers, after all. Attend a function sponsored by yer political party, or jus' go t' the'r web site an' sign up fer notifications. Make sure ye're comfortable wi' the'r message, an' add yer voice t' theirs. One squadron in particular that be focused on th' Appraisal Cap issue be CLOUT.
   
6. Complain in a public forum - Oh, they really hate this. Ye be seein', each committee in th' House (dasn't know about th' Senate) be required t' hold hearings about upcomin' legislation. An' th' public be welcome t' join th' chorus. If ye can stand 't, watch this video fer a prime example o' th' public wantin' t' speak (an' gettin' th' cold shoulder). Again, when ye complain, be passionate, be prepared (nothin' looks more lily livered than knee-jerk reactions on display), an' be respectful. This last one can be tough sometimes since so many o' these swabbies be havin' earned our unyieldin' scorn rather than our respect. Yet, fer whateretheir reasons may be (selfish or selfless), they be havin' put they's self up fer criticism in a public forum, an' fer that reason alone they deserve our respect.

Concernin' this last item, th' Task Force on Appraisal Reform be holdin' public hearings across th' state. Th' hearin' in Houston be scheduled fer November 16 (location TBD). Got 't on yer calendar?

"So, who do we complain to?"

My dear friend, Playwriter Girl, asked me this question in a comment to my latest post on the Property Tax Appraisal Cap issue. Wonderful, and very appropriate, question. Here's my answer:

1. Vote in the Primary Election- If your State Representative or State Senator is not doing his job well, this is the time to vote for a better candidate from your party. And, for many districts in Texas and because Texas is such a red state, the primary election determines who will win the general election. Voting can be a form of complaint, after all.
   
2. Vote in the General Election - I know, it goes without saying, but I gotta say it.
   
3. Communicate with your State Representative - Become your State Representative's best friend...or worst nightmare. Write him letters. Call him. Let him know what your position is. Ask him what his position is. If it differs from yours, ask him to explain himself. If he has no credible explanation, ask him who he is supposed to represent. If he has a credible explanation, ask him to consider your reasoning, and again ask him who he is supposed to represent. Look up his voting record, or to really get under his skin, ask him to send you a copy of his voting record. Be persistent. You are funding his (incredibly meager) salary with your tax dollars. By the way, I am absolutely 100% serious about this. If you don't know who your State Representative is, go here. This goes without saying also, but...be passionate about your position, be prepared with articulate and well-sourced facts to support your argument, and always be respectful.
   
4. Communicate with your State Senator - Yep, same song, second verse. If you don't know who your State Senator is go here.
   
5. Join groups of similarly minded people - There is power in numbers, after all. Attend a function sponsored by your political party, or just go to their web site and sign up for notifications. Make sure you're comfortable with their message, and add your voice to theirs. One group in particular that is focused on the Appraisal Cap issue is CLOUT.
   
6. Complain in a public forum - Oh, they really hate this. You see, each committee in the House (don't know about the Senate) is required to hold hearings about upcoming legislation. And the public is welcome to join the chorus. If you can stand it, watch this video for a prime example of the public wanting to speak (and getting the cold shoulder). Again, when you complain, be passionate, be prepared (nothing looks more foolish than knee-jerk reactions on display), and be respectful. This last one can be tough sometimes since so many of these people have earned our unyielding scorn rather than our respect. Yet, for whatever their reasons may be (selfish or selfless), they have put themselves up for criticism in a public forum, and for that reason alone they deserve our respect.

Concerning this last item, the Task Force on Appraisal Reform will be holding public hearings across the state. The hearing in Houston is scheduled for November 16 (location TBD). Got it on your calendar?

My 100th post

I really can't believe it. When I started this gig back in April, I thought maybe I'd have something to say once in a while about the world around me (that, and I didn't like the feeling of being left out at a birthday party). I never thought I'd have a hundred things to say in six months. And readers, too! Ranging from new blogosphere friends to friends who tell me in our church library that they read my blog. I count it a privilege to express my views here and even higher one that you might read them.

Now, I obviously don't do this for profit or web traffic statistics (although there may be news soon in that area), but I'd dearly love to hear from you, even if it's anonymous.

Onward to 200!

Happy Constitution Day

Two hundred and nineteen years ago today our basic form of government was codified in our nation's Constitution. Today it is the longest serving charter for self government in the world.


September 17 is the actual Constitution Day (the anniversary of its signing), but because it falls on a weekend it will be observed tomorrow, among other places, by all schools that receive federal funding. (Did you know that? I didn't.) So make sure to ask your child tomorrow afternoon what they've learned about the Constitution.

Something to ruin your weekend

Were you ready for a nice, peaceful, relaxed weekend thinking about nothing important? You won't have one if you read this article I found linked at Power Line:

The politically correct regulations are unbelievable. Detainees are entitled to a full eight hours sleep and can't be woken up for interrogations. They enjoy three meals and five prayers per day, without interruption. They are entitled to a minimum of two hours of outdoor recreation per day.

Interrogations are limited to four hours, usually running two - and (of course) are interrupted for prayers. One interrogator actually bakes cookies for detainees, while another serves them Subway or McDonald's sandwiches. Both are available on base. (Filet o' Fish is an al Qaeda favorite.)

Interrogations are not video or audio taped, perhaps to preserve detainee privacy.

Call it excessive compassion by a nation devoted to therapy, but it's dangerous. Adm. Harris admitted to me that a multi-cell al Qaeda network has developed in the camp. Military intelligence can't yet identify their leaders, but notes that they have cells for monitoring the movements and identities of guards and doctors, cells dedicated to training, others for making weapons and so on.

Oh, there's more. Lot's more. For instance, what's the ratio of prisoners to lawyers? For every one prisoner there are 2.72 lawyers. Oh yeah. Another jewel: American taxpayers have paid for 5,000 dental operations for prisoners including teeth cleanings.

For the life of me, I can't understand why these pieces of filth were not lined up in front of a firing squad and shot on the battle field.

Perry's poll numbers drop

Governor Perry's poll numbers have now sunk below 33%. In fact, less than nine points separate the top three candidates. I guarantee you that these numbers would be a whole lot different if Governor Perry had been following conservative principles instead of following the standard Democratic playbook of tax increases.

Hat tip to Off the Kuff. While you're there, check out the interactive poll results from the Wall Street Journal.

Never forget

Never forget what the enemy did to us that day and who our enemy is.

The Path to 9/11

I watched "The Path to 9/11" tonight, and I hope that makes any moonbat reading this mad as all get out. And yes, I watched the warning slate at the beginning, and the second one at the 8:35 p.m. mark, and the great Lewinsky lie at 8:51, and the third warning slate at the end at 9:40. Just in case you didn't happen to see them during tonight's broadcast (either because you missed it or because ABC edited them out), here are some important scenes from "The Path to 9/11" via RedState.

For some background material that I'm certain didn't make it into the movie, here is a story about a speech William Jefferson Blythe Clinton (our only elected president to be impeached) gave to the Long Island Association on February 15, 2002 where he admitted that he had the chance to extradite Osama Bin Laden and decided not to. Also, here's a more complete list of opportunities we had to capture Bin Laden. (And more classic Clinton quotes.)

By the way, this post is also a means of helping to diffuse the moonbats' Google Bomb that Brit Hume reported a few days ago.

Abu Ghraib prisoners like Americans after all

The saying goes something like "you never know what you have until you lose it."

The notorious Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad is at the centre of fresh abuse allegations just a week after it was handed over to Iraqi authorities, with claims that inmates are being tortured by their new captors.

[...]

Some of the small number of prisoners who remained in the jail after the Americans left said they had pleaded to go with their departing captors, rather than be left in the hands of Iraqi guards.

"The Americans were better than the Iraqis. They treated us better," said Khalid Alaani, who was held on suspicion of involvement in Sunni terrorism.

Sure, our record is not perfect on this matter, but I think Mr. Alaani's quote speaks volumes.

Let's apply a little more math to the property tax issue

A few days ago I wrote "A Texas Property Tax Appraisal Cap Primer", which tries to elucidate the whole appraisal cap issue. But, after thinking about it for a few days, I don't think I got the idea completely across the finish line. I didn't explain what it means for your wallet, which is the bottom line, after all. So let's apply a little more math (and research) to the problem.

Let's start with the basic mortgage. Still using the $100,000 property, we'll assume a $5,000 down payment and a 6.3% interest rate. Therefore, a $95,000 mortgage across 30 years yields a $588 monthly payment.

Year	Valuation	Mortgage Payment
Purchase	$100,000	$588.00

Now let's start adding the real taxes. First, there's school property taxes. For the school district where I live, the tax rate is 1.80000, or $1.80 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed value. However, I get two exemptions: a Homestead Exemption from the state and a Homestead Exemption from the school district. The state exemption lowers my valuation by $15,000. The school district exemption additionally lowers my valuation by 20%. Therefore, for school district tax purposes, my valuation is:

$100,000 - $15,000 - (20% of $100,000) = $65,000

And my school district tax is $65,000 taxed at a tax rate of 1.8000, or $1,170 yearly, or $97.50 each month.

Year	Valuation	Mortgage Payment	School Tax
Purchase	$100,000	$588.00	$97.50

Second, there's Municipal Utility District (MUD) taxes. The rate in my district is 0.57000, and I receive no homestead exemption. Therefore my MUD tax is $100,000 taxed at a rate of 0.57000, or $570 yearly, or $47.50 each month.

Year	Valuation	Mortgage Payment	School Tax	MUD Tax
Purchase	$100,000	$588.00	$97.50	$47.50

Staying with me? Lastly, we add county taxes. Now there are seven taxing authorities for which the county collects taxes. Each of them has its own exemption and tax rate. I have neither the room in this post nor the patience in my heart to share the details, so you'll have to trust me on this one. County taxes total $685.64 yearly, and $57.14 monthly.

Year	Valuation	Mortgage Payment	School Tax	MUD Tax	County Tax
Purchase	$100,000	$588.00	$97.50	$47.50	$57.14

So for the first year of home ownership, the total monthly payment is $790.14, of which 25% is taxes. Notice that I haven't included mortgage insurance or homeowners insurance in the mix; we're just talking mortgage and taxes here. Now, everyone hop into your time-traveling Delorean and go forward seven years. And what do we find?

Year	Valuation	Mortgage Payment	School Tax	MUD Tax	County Tax
7	$194,872	$588.00	$211.35	$92.56	$111.80

Yikes! Our total monthly payment is now $1,003.71, of which 42% is taxes, and still without mortgage insurance and homeowners insurance included. And please understand, I made no edits to the tax rates for each of the taxing authorities in the spreadsheet that I used to calculate this. I simply increased the appraisal valuation by 10% every year. The increased appraisal value resulted in increased taxes.



O.K. I have definitely covered this subject enough. As you can see, the 10% limit on appraisal increases is ridiculous. If taxing authorities think they're entitled to 10% growth every year, they need to come to the voters and ask us to approve 10% tax rate hikes every year. Hiding behind appraisal creep is cowardly.

By the way . . . any of you getting a guaranteed 10% increase in your paycheck each year? Yep, same here.

Do you remember what the Lefties said when CBS pulled "The Reagans"?

NewsBusters does.

Jerry Bowen: "Some analysts contend the conservative pressure is part of the nation's ongoing culture war."

Martin Kaplan, USC Annenberg School: "There's a well-organized conservative movement in this country that's in charge of its version of the truth, and they swing a big bat."

Bowen: "James Brolin, who plays Reagan, wasn't talking, but his manager was."

Jeff Wald, James Brolin's manager: "And we seem to be in a very oppressive era where they can censor something before they even see it." [emphasis mine]

– CBS Evening News, November 4.

God Bless NewsBusters. While you're there, read (by way of his attorney) the sanctimonious whining of the only elected president to be impeached. Summary: "How dare you remind people that I had eight years to do something about this!" Hey Bubba, go read John 8:32.

The First Amendment is poison...

...if you're a former President who didn't do enough to defend his country when you were in office. From the New York Post, "Bubba Goes Ballistic On ABC About Its Damning 9/11 Movie":

A furious Bill Clinton is warning ABC that its mini-series "The Path to 9/11" grossly misrepresents his pursuit of Osama bin Laden - and he is demanding the network "pull the drama" if changes aren't made.

Clinton pointedly refuted several fictionalized scenes that he claims insinuate he was too distracted by the Monica Lewinsky sex scandal to care about bin Laden and that a top adviser pulled the plug on CIA operatives who were just moments away from bagging the terror master, according to a letter to ABC boss Bob Iger obtained by The Post.

Yep, life sucks when the truth is your enemy, because sooner or later the truth will win.

Censorship is acceptable...

...if you work at ABC and the liberals ask you to edit something that might make them look bad. From calendarlive.com, "ABC alters 9/11 show under pressure".

After much discussion, ABC executives and the producers toned down, but did not eliminate entirely, a scene that involved Clinton's national security advisor, Samuel R. "Sandy" Berger, declining to give the order to kill Bin Laden, according to a person involved with the film who declined to be identified because of the sensitivities involved.

Ain't hypocrisy grand?

Plain old common sense from Uncle Newt

Newt Gingrich has written a list of eleven things the House needs to do in order to achieve victory in November. It's called "The American Eleven: A Values-Led Plan for Victory in November" and it's on Human Events online. You need to read the whole thing, but here are his points summarized:

1. Make English the Official Language of Government
2. Control the Borders
3. Keep God in the Pledge
4. Require a Voter ID Card
5. Repeal the Death Tax, for Good
6. Restore Property Rights
7. Achieve Sustainable Energy Independence
8. Control Spending and Balance the Budget
9. Tie Education Funding to Teacher Accountability
10. Defend America From the Irreconcilable Wing of Islam
11. Focus on Iran and North Korea

See what I mean by common sense? Nothing here is radical. Nothing here is revolutionary, except in the sense that Republicans can't seem to accomplish some of them. But if they did, that would be revolutionary. Still, it will take a whole lot of good words to overcome the trust deficit that Republicans in Congress seem to have with the voters. In fact, there might not be enough words.

Suppose we had a great economy and nobody noticed?

I've been long-winded lately. So I'll take a rest...and let someone else be long-winded on a great topic. With a big hat tip to the Power Line brainiacs, I must recommend you read Americans Hate their Fabulous Economy at Back Talk. The lead paragraph excites me.

Polls consistently show that Americans are rather negative about the economy, and many have wondered why that might be considering that our economy is the envy of the world (as well it should be). The source of our pessimism is a bit of a mystery, and it is one that I am going to pursue. For the moment, I'll simply note that I have identified what may be a contributing factor to our unwarranted despair: reporters rarely use charts, and that allows them to wax poetic about the "jobless recovery," "worrisome signs of inflation," "record setting deficits," and other such nonsense. Charts anchor the mind to the raw data, which makes it hard to use bumper-sticker slogans that mislead (and demoralize) more than they clarify. In any story about the economy, there is never an excuse not to use a chart, but reporters almost never do. [emphasis mine]

It really does excite me. Well worth your time.

"Secret Hold" Senators Revealed

Who had the "secret hold" on S. 2590? Robert "I was a KKK Kleagle" Byrd (D-WV) and Ted "Bridge to Nowhere" Stevens (R-AK), that's who. Read it all here at Media Lies. Huge congratulations and thanks go to Porkbusters.org for all their hard work in tracking down these two cretins!

Mama said, "Always tell the truth"

And our President listened to his Mama.

The enemies of liberty come from different parts of the world, and they take inspiration from different sources. Some are radicalized followers of the Sunni tradition, who swear allegiance to terrorist organizations like al Qaeda. Others are radicalized followers of the Shia tradition, who join groups like Hezbollah and take guidance from state sponsors like Syria and Iran. Still others are "homegrown" terrorists—fanatics who live quietly in free societies they dream to destroy. Despite their differences, these groups from—form the outlines of a single movement, a worldwide network of radicals that use terror to kill those who stand in the way of their totalitarian ideology. And the unifying feature of this movement, the link that spans sectarian divisions and local grievances, is the rigid conviction that free societies are a threat to their twisted view of Islam.

The war we fight today is more than a military conflict; it is the decisive ideological struggle of the 21st century. On one side are those who believe in the values of freedom and moderation—the right of all people to speak, and worship, and live in liberty. And on the other side are those driven by the values of tyranny and extremism—the right of a self-appointed few to impose their fanatical views on all the rest. As veterans, you have seen this kind of enemy before. They're successors to Fascists, to Nazis, to Communists, and other totalitarians of the 20th century. And history shows what the outcome will be: This war will be difficult; this war will be long; and this war will end in the defeat of the terrorists and totalitarians, and a victory for the cause of freedom and liberty.

We're now approaching the fifth anniversary of the day this war reached our shores. As the horror of that morning grows more distant, there is a tendency to believe that the threat is receding and this war is coming to a close. That feeling is natural and comforting—and wrong. As we recently saw, the enemy still wants to attack us. We're in a war we didn't ask for, but it's a war we must wage, and a war we will win.

But wait, there's more.

Americans believe that every person, of every religion, on every continent, has the right to determine his or her own destiny. We believe that freedom is a gift from an almighty God, beyond any power on Earth to take away. And we also know, by history and by logic, that promoting democracy is the surest way to build security. Democracies don't attack each other or threaten the peace. Governments accountable to the voters focus on building roads and schools—not weapons of mass destruction. Young people who have a say in their future are less likely to search for meaning in extremism. Citizens who can join a peaceful political party are less likely to join a terrorist organization. Dissidents with the freedom to protest around the clock are less likely to blow themselves up during rush hour. And nations that commit to freedom for their people will not support terrorists—they will join us in defeating them.

And still, there's more. But I'll let you go read it yourself. This is the kind of thing we need to be hearing every single day out of this administration, even if it is for no other reason than to drive the Lefties stark raving mad.

The Tax Cut that won the Cold War

Being a Cold War history freak, I couldn't possibly pass up the opportunity to share this with you. A fellow named Drew McKissick has posted "The Tax Cut that won the Cold War" on the Wizbang Bomb Squad.

A few weeks ago marked the silver anniversary of one of the most pivotal events in American economic and foreign policy history. It was twenty-five years ago on August 13th that Ronald Reagan signed into law the Kemp/Roth tax cuts, also known as the Economic Recovery Act of 1981—legislation which helped set in motion the events which shaped the world in which we live today.

The bill reduced American income tax rates by approximately one-third across the board, and unleashed the pent up power of an economy besieged by double digit inflation, double digit interest rates and double digit unemployment.

The result was an economy that grew at phenomenal rates, created tens of millions of jobs, raised personal incomes and more than doubled overall revenues to the US Treasury, (something liberals and most economists said couldn’t happen). In addition, investment and entrepreneurship blossomed, helping to foster the technology boom that has impacted just about every aspect of our lives.

It's a wonderful article. Something our kids should learn about in their history books.

"If nominated, would you run? If elected, would you serve?"

These are the questions that my fellow brother-in-arms, Alexander Hamilton (a.k.a. The Monarchist) from the American Federalist Blog, asked me in a comment to an earlier post. And in my youth, the instant response would be, "Of course!" Alas, I am a youth no longer, and I have been witness to more than two decades of politics and their affects on people. Still, these are valid questions. I take pot shots at many politicians here on The Light Bulb, so one has every reason to ask whether or not I would expose myself to a similar treatment from the Lefties.

Let's start with the second question: "If elected, would you serve?" This is the easier to answer of the two, to which my response would be an almost unqualified "Yes." I say almost because I would require two things in order to serve: a salary that allowed me to provide well for my family and a budget that provided for a capable staff. These two requirements are not always a given in public service. My own state is a case in point for the former. You might recall an earlier post where I mention the salary for a representative in the Texas legislature: $7,200. Now, mind you, I'm all for the principle of this salary. We in Texas assume that successful people will want to serve in the Legislature. We want that service to be the prize, not a large salary. However, for me personally, I could not support my family on $7,200 per year. Additionally, because I am neither a lawyer nor a public relations expert, I would require a staff consisting of lawyers and public relations experts (among others) to assist me in crafting well-reasoned, durable legislation and spreading the word about why such legislation is needed and why the liberals are wrong. But apart from those two requirements, I would gladly serve. Of course, this is all from the perspective of Mr. Light Bulb. For the fully accurate view we need to hear from . . . Mrs. Light Bulb.

And now for the first question: "If nominated, would you run?" This is a tough one. I understand that running a campaign is necessary to winning an election, unless the Governor appointed me (and, given how much I criticize him on this blog, that's very unlikely). But running a campaign, to me, is one long, debate-filled request for money—begging, if you will. I hate begging. Then there's the lies and innuendo from the liberals and their lapdogs in the drive-by media. I guess, once again, it boils down to money. I would only run for an office if the Republican Party guaranteed me enough money, staff, and support to mount a significant campaign.

Sounds like I need to become a multi-millionaire first, doesn't it?

The Reason for School, Indeed

Last night, my dear friend, PlaywriterGirl, wrote about how it seemed the only reason for school these days is to learn how to raise money. Please go check out her post. Well, I've just returned this evening from my children's school's Curriculum Night, where I presumably was supposed to be told about the content of their expected learnings this year. What's the first thing out of the Art teacher's mouth? Something about (and this was a new one to me) an Art Fundraiser.

Come on.

First, I pay school property taxes. A lot. (See my immediately preceding post for the devious way that I have to pay more and more school taxes each year.) But it seems that my school taxes and all the other school taxes paid to Cy-Fair ISD are just not enough. We have to have an Entertainment Book fundraiser for the school where many/most of the parents are shamed into buying an Entertainment coupon book on the premise that (the third pillar of liberalism) "it's for the children." Fine, I'll buy the silly book, just quit the begging. Then, next month, there's the Sally Foster Fundraiser. (No clue, don't even ask, I have no clue.) So, I pay my property taxes, I buy my Entertainment Book, I do whatever it is that Sally Foster does, and still the Art teacher needs yet more money. Somehow, taxes and two fundraisers cannot yield enough money to buy paint, paint brushes, clay, and whatever else an Art teacher needs.

Don't ask me why I distrust educrats. Don't ask me why I am suspect of my children's teachers. Don't ask me why I vote "NO" on any bond issue that is put before me. Instead, tell me exactly what the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District did with $329,892,850 of property tax revenue for the 2005-2006 school year budget. Answer that question, and perhaps my children and PlaywriterGirl's children and lots of other children won't have to become fund raisers.

A Texas Property Tax Appraisal Cap Primer

Not everyone lives in Texas. Sad, but true. And, as PlaywriterGirl pointed out to me recently, not everyone knows the complete situation of everything about which I write on my blog. Again, true. (She used different words, though.) Therefore, I, Mr. Light Bulb, being of sound mind and body (hold the crass remarks, please), will now attempt to create a primmer of sorts that will assist those outside the great state of Texas (and those within who are not completely familiar) in understanding the admittedly bone-headed property tax system we have in Texas. Are you ready? Here we go.

Every piece of property is appraised by a county appraisal district. I don't know exactly how this is done, mind you, but I'm certain that some employee of the appraisal district looks at representative homes in an area and enters a dollar amount valuation for each home. In Harris County (where I live) this is done by the Harris County Appraisal District. On this web site, you can find a home's appraised value (or valuation) if you click on "Record Search", then "Real Property", then "Address Search" and enter the address of the home in question.

A local taxing authority sets a tax rate for its services. Where I live, there are three taxing authorities: the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District, my water district, and Harris County. For instance, a school board can vote to set the tax rate at two cents of tax for every one dollar of appraised value, or a tax rate of .02 . But that's just one taxing authority; the water board and the county get to do the same thing.

Taxes are then calculated and collected by the local taxing authorities. The calculation is the appraised value times the tax rate. For example, if my home were appraised at $100,000 and the school board sets a tax rate of .02, my school tax would be $100,000 x .02 = $2,000.

So far, so good, right? Pretty straight forward. But here's the part that not a lot of people know about.

The appraised value of a home can be increased by as much as ten percent each year. If my home was appraised at $100,000 last year, this year the appraiser can set an apprised value of my home for as much as ten percent more than last year, or $110,000. We call this ten percent limit the Appraisal Cap.

Now, Mr. Light Bulb, don't you want the value of your property to go up, up, up? Isn't that a good thing?

It would be a good thing if I could sell the property for that amount. But I know of no property that generates a guaranteed ten percent increase in value each and every year. What's more, because the valuation can increase each year by ten percent, the tax on that property can increase every year by ten percent. $110,000 x .02 = $2,200. So let's take this to a logical conclusion, say seven years from now.

Year	Valuation	Tax Rate	Tax
Purchase	$100,000	.02	$2,000
1	$110,000	.02	$2,200
2	$121,000	.02	$2,420
3	$133,100	.02	$2,662
4	$146,410	.02	$2,928
5	$161,051	.02	$3,221
6	$177,156	.02	$3,543
7	$194,872	.02	$3,897

Beginning to see the light here? In seven years, your property taxes have the ability to nearly double. For those of you knowledgeable in the financial sector, you'll recognize this as the Rule of 72. According to this rule, something that grows at 10% per year will double in 7.2 years. Just for grins, let's look at year eight.

Year	Valuation	Tax Rate	Tax
8	$214,359	.02	$4,287

Sure enough, there's your greater-than-double tax a mere eight years after purchase of your home. But there's still one more piece of the puzzle to make the picture crystal clear.

As you can see there are two entities who have my property tax destiny in their hands. Well, more than two actually, but two types of entity: the taxing authority and the appraisal district.

Well, Mr. Light Bulb, this IS a democracy. Why don't you vote out the current taxing authority and vote in new ones?

Sure, I could do that. But why? They haven't done anything to raise my taxes. Look at that chart again. Exactly how many times did the taxing authority have to raise the tax rate in order to receive a greater amount of tax each year? Answer: exactly zero. Each year the tax rate remains .02 . When constituents ask them why their taxes are rising, they readily answer "well, I didn't vote to raise your taxes." And they are 100% correct. They didn't vote to raise the tax rate. Rising appraisals did that for them.

Fine then, Mr. Light Bulb. I'll be more specific: why don't you vote out the appraisal district people?

Yes, indeed, we finally get to the rub. Why don't I vote out the appraisal district people? Answer: because they are appointed, not elected. As a voter, I have no say in who gets appointed to the appraisal district. I can protest my appraisal, but I cannot make any direct change to the make up of the appraisal district. So now we have the complete picture. The elected politicians are blameless when it comes to rising taxes because they do not have to increase their tax rate in order to receive a ten percent increase in tax revenues each year. The appraisal district is not elected, so no one can stop them. Plus, their standard answers are "Don't you want a more valuable house?" and "Aren't you happy that your home is worth more this year than last year?" Sure, I'd be happy to have a more valuable house each and every year. Go ahead and fill out that check right now. Make it out to Mr. Light Bulb. Hey, where you going? I thought so.



So perhaps now those of you who might have been a little lost each time I mention "Appraisal Cap" or "Property Taxes" and the name of a certain governor derisively in the same sentence will better understand why I do so. As Governor, Rick Perry had every opportunity to lead on this issue for years. He had every opportunity to get something done about it in the latest special session. But he didn't. Instead he twisted legislative arms in order to pass the largest tax increase in Texas history. And only now, in late August, months before his possible gubernatorial re-election vote in November, does he address the appraisal cap problem—with a Task Force. An appointed, un-elected, responsibility shucking task force. Yet another reason among many that Rick Perry will absolutely not be getting my vote for governor on November 7.

Rick Perry hosts "The Incredibly Late Show"

Well, well, well. Our Governor, Rick Perry, who has a fantastic head of hair, has announced that he is forming the Texas Task Force on Appraisal Reform (TFAR). Instead of evaluating the individual members of the task force, which David Benzion at Lone Star Times has already done exceedingly well, let me tell you exactly what should be said at the one and only meeting of the TFAR.

CHAIRMAN: This one and only meeting of the TFAR is now called to order. All those in favor of a three percent limit on property appraisal increases say "aye."

ALL: Aye.

CHAIRMAN: Those opposed?

Silence.

CHAIRMAN: Three percent it is. This one and only meeting of the TFAR is now adjourned.

Anything more is a complete waste of time.

Of course, Rick Perry wouldn't think of this. He wouldn't think to simply call for a lowering of the appraisal cap. He wouldn't call for a special session of the legislature with the purpose of lowering the cap. He's not a conservative.

Trans-Texas Corridor: the more I learn, the worse it gets

First there's this - Trans-Texas Corridor paved with campaign contributions? - from WolrdNetDaily.

"The politicians in Austin are listening to the highway lobby rather that the citizens who put them in office," [Director of the San Anotonio Toll Party Terri] Hall told WND, adding, "you will not understand the politics of the TTC until you track down Zachry who has a long and distinguished money trail to offices of our state politicians."

The non-partisan Institute on Money in State Politics provides data that support Hall's contention. Analyzing 39 records of campaign contributions made by H.B. Zachry, Jr., the Institute concludes Zachry contributed $112,112 in campaign contributions – 92.2 percent to Republican candidates. The largest of these contributions went to Gov. Perry, two contributions totaling $35,000.

[snip]

Another group opposing TTC construction, Campaigns for People, a 501(c)(3) organization in Austin, argues that between Jan. 1, 2001, and Dec. 31, 2004, the Texas Department of Transportation, or TxDOT, awarded over $14.3 billion in contracts to build and maintain roads in the state. More than 40 percent of this total – over $6 billion – went to the "Top 10" TxDOT contractors, who gave $1.1 million in political contributions.

Then there's this - Trans-Texas Corridor firm hires ex-Perry aide - from the Houston Chronicle.

Republican Gov. Rick Perry's former liaison to the Legislature is working once again for the Spanish company that won the rights to develop the state's $7 billion Trans-Texas Corridor toll road project.

Lobbyist Dan Shelley worked for the firm as a consultant just before he went to the governor's office, a connection first revealed in 2004.

State officials denied any connection between that circumstance and the decision, three months later, to award Cintra-Zachry the huge highway contract. Now Shelley has left the governor's office, and he and his daughter have large contracts to lobby for the road builder, The Dallas Morning News reported today.

This week, Shelley had planned to take four state lawmakers on a four-day, all-expense-paid trip to Canada. But the trip was abruptly postponed by the state transportation department after the newspaper asked questions about it.

[snip]

Shelley resigned his state job in September and struck a lobbying deal with Cintra worth between $50,000 and $100,000 to work from March through the end of this year. His daughter and lobbying partner, Jennifer Shelley-Rodriguez, will earn between $25,000 and $50,000 from the company over the same period, state records show.

So I decided to do a Google News search on "Trans-Texas Corridor." This caught my eye - In defense of the Indefensible - from the Weatherford Democrat.

The more closely I examine what few facts are actually offered on this massive toll way, the more appalled I become. [...] I would expect a huge, new road system across Texas would be to assist in easing traffic flow within the state due to increased population. I must have fallen off a turnip truck!

Nowhere do you read about this Spanish operated consortium creating a conduit for tax free goods from China and other nations being funneled into the U.S. through Mexico as a result of NAFTA. Why can’t these foreign goods be shipped to U.S. ports instead of Mexican ports? Nowhere do you read about this opening up the border to unrestrained drug trafficking or illegal immigration. Why must all this commerce come through the center of Texas? Why not Arizona or New Mexico where there are wide open spaces?

Perhaps now we see the real reason for not sealing our borders. It isn’t just demand for cheap Mexican labor that creates a porous border. There are several much larger snakes under this rock.

Has Rick Perry EVER done anything conservative in his life? How did this guy get to be in the Republican party? And who let him in?

Sorry, just had to get that out. Here's one last gem - Campaign seizes on 'super-state' highway - again from WorldNetDaily.

Some opponents, including many Texas farmers are concerned about property rights, but many point to the project's foreign control. It's being built and operated by a U.S.-Spanish consortium, Cintra-Zachry. Opponents also point out part of the contract with the firm is secret.

A state attorney general has ruled the Cintra-Zachry contract be made public, but Perry's administration has gone to court to prevent the disclosure of what it says is proprietary information.

I have a bad feeling about this. (And no, I'm not a character in a Star Wars film.) Rest assured, I'll be doing more research in the coming weeks.

Who has the secret hold on S. 2590?

I'm a fiscal conservative, and I assume many of my readers are as well. We want to be able to send as little money as possible to the IRS, and we want that money to be spent wisely and frugally (not that that will ever happen), right? I work hard for my money, and I despise the thought of it wasted away in some useless bureaucratic program. And, if I ever tried a personal version of "deficit spending" I'd be in either irrecoverable debt or jail (probably both).

Imagine then if I were to tell you that a couple of senators have proposed a website that would provide information on nearly all recipients of federal funding. We would call this "a good thing." Well, Senators Coburn and Obama have done just such a thing - S. 2590. But it's being blocked by a SECRET HOLD. (That sounds ridiculous, right? But I'm not making it up. Read the story.) I've already asked mine, so if you're reading this outside of the state of Texas, ask your two senators point blank whether or not they are holding S. 2590.

Big hat tip to Porkbusters.org

100 AUs

A fascinating story from the world of science. The first Voyager probe sped past the 100 AU mark this past Wednesday.

What's an AU?

AU stands for Astronomical Unit, a unit of length equal to the distance between the Earth and the Sun, or about 93 million miles. Isn't that cool? Something that we mere mortals crafted is now flying past the astronomical 9.3 billion mile marker.

Good thing it's not on a toll road.

Carter appointee tries to hobble America

Judge Anna Diggs Taylor, who campaigned for and was appointed by Jimmy Carter, our nation's worst president, ruled today that the Terrorist Surveillance Program is unconstitutional. Fortunately, Judge Taylor is only one member of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Power Line brainiacs say that the ruling should be overturned on appeal to the full circuit court. There's lots that can be said about this. "Here go the Lefties again, trying to run the country via the Judicial branch." Or "what they can't get through the ballot box, they'll go shop a judge for." (Check out Red State: "Like A Parody of Bad Judging. But With Potentially Tragic Consequences.")

If Republicans have merely half a brain, they'll remind America that it was this program that helped foil the plane-bombing operation just a few days ago. Hope springs eternal.

En arche

In the third century before Christ, Emperor Ptolemy asked that the Old Testament (then known simply as the Jewish scriptures) be translated into the most accessible and wide-spread language of the day: Greek, or Koine. To accomplish this task, tradition holds that 72 Jewish scholars were appointed as translators and met in Alexandria between 300 and 200 B.C. Their product became known as the Septuagint, after the Latin septuaginta interpretum versio.

Translated into Koine, Genesis, the first book of the Law, the book of beginnings, began:

En arche epoiesen ho Theos ton ouranon kai ton gen.
In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.

En arche, "in the beginning," would have served as a title of sorts. (Books, as you may know, were not present during this time. What we would consider a book today would have been a scroll then. And the first line of the scroll would most commonly be used for its title.) The Septuagint provided a previously unavailable window into Judaism for the Koine-speaking world, which at that time was much of civilization surrounding the Mediterranean. Additionally, the Jews of the period were losing their Hebrew knowledge. The Septuagint would allow them to learn their scriptures in the language of their environment—"Hebrew as a second language" classes would no longer be needed.

Fast forward to the first century ano domini. Sometime between 65 and 90, John, the Disciple whom Jesus loved, sought to relate the story of Jesus to his culture in more than simple historical events. He would be the maverick among his fellow disciples in sharing the Gospel. John also sought to engage the philosophers of the day who themselves sought the Divine Word, ho logos, that something that was unknown and unnamed yet was behind and ordered everything. The philosophers knew there had to be something more to their existence. They believed it was ho logos.

And so, written in elegant Koine, John's gospel began:

En arche en ho logos, kai ho logos en pros ton Theon, kai Theos en ho logos.
In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and God was the word.

En arche. The first two words of the book of John, and the first two words of Genesis in the Septuagint. This is not an accident.

A first century philosopher might have thought, "En arche, I've read that, haven't I?" If they were learned in the philosophies of their age, the Greeks would have known of the Jewish book of beginnings, En arche, and of how the Jewish God had made everything. From John, they would learn that the God who made everything had come to earth as one of them. They would learn of his great love for them (3:16) and the sacrifice to which that love would lead. And they would learn that He was the Divine Word, the one behind everything, ho logos.

En arche. In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth. En arche. In the beginning was the word.... This is not an accident.



More learnings from my genius Sunday School teacher. More to come.