Thursday, August 26, 2010

Are You Ready For Some Football?

From 2009 Football

The triple digit temperatures have given way to the 90 degree chill of Autumn breezes. That must mean it's time for high school football. From the game to the cheerleaders to the drill team to the marching band, high school football is the best entertainment value around, bar none. Take in a game this season, or five or ten.

For a look back at photos from the 2009 season, click here.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

My Apology For Thinking Bad Of Joe Driver

State Representative Joe Driver (R-Garland) caught hell a week or so ago when he was accused of double-dipping from the state -- seeking reimbursement for his expenses as a state legislator from both the state and his own campaign. Now, as other legislators' practices are examined, we learn that most state legislators are "guilty" of the same "offense." I put quotes around those words because it's not as black-and-white that anything unethical or illegal is going on as the original story would lead us to believe.

After the jump, the not so black-and-white details.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

They Are Smoking Something At City Hall

Monday evening, The Richardson City Council voted to ban the possession and use of synthetic cannabinoids such as K-2 and products containing the substance salvia divinorum. The vote came after a long (for Richardson) deliberation by council members that went round in circles on some basics of the new ordinance without ever getting to the bottom of the issue. I'm as much in favor of open and transparent government as the next person, but last night's experience makes me wonder which causes more loss of confidence in government, the suspicion of corruption surrounding secret meetings or incompetence on display at public meetings.

After the jump, the debate over K-2.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Disorderly Conduct In Richardson

The City Council of Richardson is considering adoption of a Code of Conduct. (A draft ordinance can be read here. My earlier blog on the topic can be read here.) Initial public response to the proposed ordinance has been muted. A public hearing is scheduled for September 13. Before then, the public can bring their concerns to the attention of the council during visitors section of regular city council meetings.

After the jump, some disorderly areas of the Code of Conduct that I think the council should rethink and clean up.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Why Libertarians Never Win

In a word, principle. In two words, simplistic principle. In a phrase, simplistic principle to the point of parody.

Q. How many Libertarians does it take to change a light bulb?
A. None. If the government would just leave the damn light bulb alone, it would change itself.

A simplistic principle applied reflexively to every problem is like a broken clock that's correct twice a day. When it's correct, you nod your head in admiration. More often you shake your head in utter disbelief. Libertarians are nothing if not consistent, even when it doesn't serve their electoral chances. That's why they don't win elections.

John Jay Myers, the Libertarian running for Congress in the 32nd District against long-time incumbent Pete Sessions, who is anything but principled, is no exception. After the jump, the Libertarian admirably gets it right on this summer's ginned up political wedge issue, the so-called Ground Zero Mosque (which is neither on Ground Zero, nor properly speaking, a mosque). Too bad it won't win him many votes.