Politics
From Last Frontier to center stage, pressure on Palin
By RICHARD S. DUNHAM, Houston Chronicle, 3 September 2008
ST. PAUL, MINN. — Less than a week ago, Sarah Palin was an obscure governor in America's last frontier, popular at home but largely unknown in the Lower 48.
Palin skips anti-abortion event, but the crowd is with her anyway
By Wayne Slater, Dallas Morning News, 2 September 2008
ST. PAUL, Minn. — These were Sarah Palin’s people, all except the woman who jumped onto the stage waving the sign “Pro-Life = Universal Health Care.”
Palin's female backers offer steadfast support
By CHRISTY HOPPE, Dallas Morning News, 3 September 2008
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The moment John McCain selected Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, she ignited a fervent base of supporters – socially conservative women – who see her as the embodiment of their ideals and finally, a reason to embrace the ticket.
Religious conservatives keep the faith in Palin
By PEGGY FIKAC, Houston Chronicle, 2 September 2008
ST. PAUL, MINN. — Religious conservatives kept their faith in anti-abortion vice-presidential pick Sarah Palin on Tuesday, and some turned their fire on the news media they blamed for airing her teenage daughter's pregnancy.
John McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin wasn’t such a surprise to Christian conservatives
By BUD KENNEDY, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 September 2008
ST. PAUL, Minn. — When Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin gave birth to a 6-pound, 2-ounce son in April, she also persuaded Republican religious conservatives to send them both to Washington.
Palin vetted late in process
By DAN BALZ, Washington Post, 2 September 2008
ST. PAUL, MINN. — Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was not subjected to a lengthy in-person background interview with the head of Sen. John McCain's vice-presidential vetting team until last Wednesday in Arizona, the day before McCain asked her to be his running mate, two knowledgeable McCain officials acknowledged Tuesday.
San Angeloan's Republican convention notes–Tuesday
By YANTIS GREEN, San Angelo Standard-Times, 2 September 2008
ST. PAUL, Minn. - This morning, we were thrilled at the Texas Delegation Breakfast at the Crowne Plaza Riverfront Hotel by a brief greeting and appearance from U.S. Sen. John McCain's 96-year-old mother.
Republicans fired up about VP choice
BY APRILL BRANDON, Victoria Advocate, 2 September 2008
VICTORIA – After concern over Hurricane Gustav led the Republican National Convention to scale back its program, they are now back on track and firing up delegates, local delegate George “Bill” Robinson said.
El Pasoans expect to get fired up
By Brandi Grissom, El Paso Times, 3 September 2008
AUSTIN – El Paso Republicans in St. Paul, Minn., were gearing up for more lively festivities at the GOP convention Tuesday after the gathering got off to a rather muted start this week because of Hurricane Gustav.
President Bush gives little more than a cameo at Republican convention
By TODD J. GILLMAN, Dallas Morning News, 2 September 2008
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Natural disaster and political expedience conspired to give President Bush little more than a cameo appearance Tuesday night at the Republican convention.
Ron Paul pulls no punches at counter-rally Minneapolis gathering draws thousands
By ALAN BERNSTEIN, Houston Chronicle, 2 September 2008
MINNEAPOLIS — Republican U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of the Houston area and a 10-hour stream of supportive speakers rejected the GOP presidential ticket and its nearby national convention Tuesday with anti-war, anti-regulation, libertarian rhetoric.
Ron Paul rally gathers supporters advertising
BY APRILL BRANDON, Victoria Advocate, 2 September 2008
VICTORIA – Listening to Congressman Ron Paul speak is not like listening to just another politician.
Ron Paul Nation: the other convention in town
By Ariel Sabar, Christian Science Monitor, 2 September 2008
Blaine, Minn. – If some John McCain supporters suffer from what pollsters have called an “enthusiasm gap,” those of GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul might be accused of an enthusiasm surplus.
Ron Paul plays devil to GOP convention in St. Paul
By James Hohmann, Chicago Tribune, 2 September 2008
MINNEAPOLIS— Ron Paul has no plan to set foot in the Republican convention next door in St. Paul.
Paul, thousands hold counter rally
By Brian C. Mooney, Boston Globe, 3 September 2008
MINNEAPOLIS – Ron Paul's insurgent campaign for the Republican presidential nomination ended months ago, but his self-styled revolution continued yesterday, as thousands of his devotees gathered at a counter rally in Minneapolis - a libertarian-leaning counterpoint to the Republican National Convention unfolding across the Mississippi River in St. Paul.
Ron Paul throws Republican rally of his own
By Andy Sullivan, Reuters, 2 September 2008
MINNEAPOLIS – Thousands of Ron Paul supporters gathered on Tuesday in a show of support for the former Republican presidential candidate, who has been marginalized at his own party's convention.
Thousands gather for Ron Paul rally in Minneapolis
Waco Tribune-Herald, 3 September 2008
MINNEAPOLIS — Libertarian-leaning Ron Paul told thousands of supporters at a protest convention Tuesday that true patriots support "liberty and the people," not what the government wants.
Texas elections shaping up as high-stakes battle
Weatherford Democrat, 2 September 2008
AUSTIN (AP) — The career of the first Texas Republican speaker in modern times is on the line.
Text of President Bush's remarks to GOP convention
Houston Chronicle, 3 September 2008
Text of President Bush's remarks, delivered by satellite TV hookup from the White House to the Republican National Convention on Tuesday, as transcribed by the White House.
Text of prepared remarks by Sen. Lieberman
Houston Chronicle, 3 September 2008
Remarks as prepared for delivery to the Republican National Convention on Tuesday by Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn.:
Text of prepared remarks by Sen. Fred Thompson
Houston Chronicle, 3 September 2008
Remarks as prepared for delivery to the Republican National Convention on Tuesday by former Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn.:
The Political Spirit Week 2: Representative candidates air views on illegal immigration
By Kelly Young, Jacksonville Daily Progress, 2 September 2008
JACKSONVILLE – Editor’s note: Each Monday, the Daily Progress will publish a question-and-answer story featuring District 11 state representative hopefuls Chuck Hopson (Democrat incumbent) and Brian Walker (Republican challenger).
Unplanned
Houston Chronicle, 2 September 2008
HOUSTON – Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and liberals, all agree on one point: The pregnancy of 17-year-old Bristol Palin does not reflect upon the ability of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to serve as vice president.
ER as health insurance?
Waco Tribune-Herald, 3 September 2008
WACO – The man from the free-market think tank sought to explain why the issue of uninsured Americans is overstated.
Government
More than 100 Texas school districts to ask voters to increase taxes
By Kate Alexander, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 3 September 2008
AUSTIN – Austin is not alone in asking voters for a tax rate increase this fall.
'No refusal' weekend nets 13 DWI arrests
By Jared Fields, Abilene Reporte-News, 3 September 2008
ABILENE – Abilene police officers labored this holiday weekend enforcing the first "no refusal" program for those suspected of driving while intoxicated.
Majority Thinks Dollars Fail Education Process
Tyler Morning Telegraph, 2 September 2008
TYLER – The education lobby is already hard at work, although the 2009 legislative session is still five months away.
North Texas officials hope to move money around to meet transportation needs
Dallas Morning News, 3 September 2008
DALLAS – An innovative $80 million financing arrangement will finally allow relocation of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad west of Fort Worth Alliance Airport, clearing the way for runway expansions.
News
Insurers estimate Gustav claims as high as $10B
Waco Tribune-Herald, 3 September 2008
BEAUMONT, Texas — Residential and commercial insurance claims could total $4 billion to $10 billion.
Economy doesn't seem so gloomy in Minnesota's Mall of America
By EMILY RAMSHAW, Dallas Morning News, 3 September 2008
MALL OF AMERICA – For a break from the country's gloom-and-doom economic forecast, look no farther than this 100-acre shrine to American consumerism – where every man, woman and back-to-school teenager has an open wallet and arms strapped with shopping bags.
U.S. drops some charges over Muslim charity trial
Houston Chronicle, 2 September 2008
DALLAS — Prosecutors have dropped most charges against two defendants accused of helping a Muslim charity finance terrorism, an apparent sign that the government will focus its case on two other men who were leaders of the group.
Group asks residents to document border wall 'abuse'
By Steve Taylor, Rio Grande Guardian, 2 September 2008
GRANJENO – Border residents are being asked to act as witnesses to any “abuses” perpetrated by the Department of Homeland Security or its agents during construction of the border wall.
People
Texan is one of few federal judges to be indicted while on bench
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 September 2008
HOUSTON — U.S. District Judge Samuel Kent, charged last week with committing sex crimes, is now part of an exclusive but notorious club: federal judges who have been indicted while on the bench.
Court won't reconsider decision against DeLay's former associates
By JANET ELLIOTT, Houston Chronicle, 2 September 2008
AUSTIN — An Austin-based appeals court split along party lines in rejecting a call from one of its members for a full-court rehearing of a case involving Tom DeLay's onetime political associates.
Flores broke the law, but punishment is unlikely
By Sara Perkins, McAllen Monitor, 3 September 2008
MISSION – State Rep. Kino Flores, D-Palmview, will likely not be sanctioned for hiring an undocumented immigrant.
