New Rasmussen Poll: The New Golden Boy

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_presidential_election/gop_primary_perry_29_romney_18_bachmann_13

I Don't Know If "Heated" Is The Right Word

But the President was probably right when he told the guy that he didn't seem to be interested in listening. Link.

Edit: Sheesh, that guy has already been on Rush Limbaugh's radio show today and didn't go a minute before he fired off "Bill Aires" and hanging out with "terrorists".  He also said he used to "work for a car dealership before Obama shut down those."

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

• A career as a lawyer is constantly (and understandably) being discouraged due to the glut of lawyers going into the system over the last 10 years. But if you're an "elite" graduate (or come from the right bloodline), your starting salary next year at a high-tone law firm will be $160,000.
• One high-tone lawyer is in the D Magazine "The Most Beautiful Women In Dallas" contest, and the blurb about her says she can sometimes be found working at her desk at 2:00 a.m. on a Saturday night. That's probably true. And it's probably grunt work. 
• Someone asked me about this: On Sunday night Fox 4 had a story about a guy who was killed while with a woman in a car crash. They interviewed his "estranged wife", who we only heard from for just a quick sound bite, but she said something along the lines of, "At least he's done a good thing."  Huh? That video is not on the station's web site. 
• From the You've-Got-To-Be-Kidding Department: The guy who fell out the stands at the Rangers' ballpark and killed himself is getting a statue near the front gate. I'm speechless. We've got big problems when even Nolan Ryan, who has to be behind the decision, has lost his mind. 
• From the Did-You-Know Department: There is a monument on the Wise County Courthouse lawn which says our county voted against seceding from the Union during the Civil War. 
• I've heard almost universal good things about "The Help."
• Mrs. LL is in love with "Black Swan." We rented it again this weekend (for some reason it wasn't available of off Netflix downloads.) 
• Final movie point: The latest "Transformers" movie comes in at  #2 this year with $347 million in receipts. Really? I, mean, really? (And if you look at the Top 20, which that link will take you to, you'll note there's not a legitimate movie in the bunch.)
• I don't think this is the way it supposed to work: The minister of an 8,000 member congregation in Florida is found dead in the W hotel in Manhattan with a "white powdery substance" located in his room. (And he kind of looks like Will Smith.)
• A great line I heard yesterday as to why the Aggies should join the SEC: If you had a co-worker you hated (which Texas is supposed to be) or a boss you hated (which Texas actually is), wouldn't you do exact same job for someone else especially if they agreed to pay you more money? (By the way, the Messenger puts the blame at the foot of UT as well.) 
• Reese Witherspoon has a belly tattoo?
• News that a constable in Jack County had found a chupacabra made me roll my eyes. The report that the  game warden over there confirmed it to be a chupacabra is down right strange. (The confirmation is strange, not the animal.)
• I remember Rick Perry speaking in Decatur in 1992 in a school cafeteria. The Chamber of Commerce banquet perhaps? Anyone?

Story.

Wow: He Was From Boyd

And the Star-Telegram reports it ended in a fatality.

Rick Perry Is Going To Have To Learn There Are LOTS Of Cameras On Him

Today (or yesterday):

 2010:

Speaking Of Burn Bans

Did you see the Wise County Commissioners enacted one last Tuesday, repealed it on Friday, and re-enacted it today?

Not The Family Cat. Promise.

But the blog post is interesting as to whether it's mutilation or just the result of other animals (as in real animals.)

Congressional Redistricting For Dummies Like Me

I think the Bridgeport Index got it a little wrong because the west of Wise County will be included in the newly realigned 13th congressional district. (Assuming no legal challenges.)  And take a look at that map below. We'll be lucky to ever see the congressman for that district.

(Be careful of that guy in the tie. He looks a little shady.)

Wise County is in the blue outlined box. The proposed new 13th district goes all the way to the panhandle.  Man, that's a lot of land.

The brand new 33rd district takes Decatur and loops through Parker County and into Arlington in Southern Tarrant County. I don't think we'll have much clout there, either.

Cops Chase Guy Drinking Beer And Driving Forklift (?) In Fort Worth Yesterday

I'm not saying its the most exciting video in the world, but you'll probably see it on the local news today and it does qualify as unusual.  The youtube video is in two parts, here and here. (Warning, the guys filming it cuss like sailors. I'm not exactly sure when that became a requirement of any youtube video.)

(Thanks, Lari.)

Wise County Might Want To Consider Killing Cellphones Like San Francisco . . .

. . . once the locals find out that this sign on the courthouse door proves that we don't honor a "If you come to America, learn how to speak English" policy.  There will be rioting in the streets!! Rioting, I tell ya!!!

President Obama's Approval Rating Drops Below 40%

He's in good company.

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

• Well, now I'm no so bummed about the 100 degree record falling on Thursday when that fluke thunderstorm came through. Saturday would have killed it any way. 
• I don't know if much will be made of it, but the government in San Francisco shutting down some cellphone towers to prevent the organization of protests should bother you greatly. Cue the "What is this? Communist Russia?" theme. 
• ESPN had a lot of little league games on this weekend. I think the kids are getting cockier with each passing year. 
• Michelle Bachman wins the Iowa Straw Poll, Sarah Palin shows up in Iowa just to sign autographs and say "Aw, shucks", and Rick Perry joins the race. I bet the President Obama haters couldn't turn off CSPAN this weekend.  
• An age that surprised me: Michelle Bachman is 55. That's a hot 55.
• An age that surprised me #2: Al Sharpton is 56. I would have thought he was in his 70s.
• Did you know that a Third Grader is capable of telling a very long story and then, without missing a beat, tell the same very long story over again when her momma enters the room? 
• Idiocracy: There's a kids' game named "Doggie Doo". (Thanks, Thomas.)
• Still no results in the search for the owner of the Stray Dog. We've put up posters as well as a listing on Craig's List without luck.  Did I mention that he'd been neutered? 
• And I gave him a bath this weekend. I think Mrs. LL is distancing from the doggie. 
• Hey, I'm no PR expert, but if I'm a Dallas cop who gets arrested outside of a strip club, I don't think I'd have a strip club picture as my facebook profile pic. 
• You always see a pretty big turnout whenever a firefighter is killed regardless of the cause of death. (i.e. the guy that fell out of the stands at the Rangers game.) It'll be interesting to see the response to the funeral of the Dallas firefighter this weekend who actually died while fighting a fire. 
• The Dallas Cowboys defense from last Thursday night: A pic showing 14 men on the field.
• Not much in the Update today but I still get to be bothered by the death of a 32 year old from Chico and a 43 year old from Bridgeport.
• Edit: Motorcycle death.

Stage Collapse In Indiana Leaves Five Dead

Sugarland was set to perform.

Grainy, but pretty dramatic.

Story.

Edit:

Weekend Messenger Above The Fold

Taking You Into The Weekend

Don't Leave Aggie!!!!

Story.

Edit on Saturday: Wow. ESPN says it is a done deal with the Aggies beginning play in the SEC next year. Just wow. And there's also a chance Missouri could be asked to go with them. Goodbye Big 12. We hardly knew ye.

I bet there's a real possibility that Texas goes independent.

Edit on Sunday: Wow. The SEC say "no thanks" today and ESPN (who has a major conflict of interest) says the deal is dead. Now there's report of "Not so fast, my friend.'

What I Read When I See This

She was having her probation revoked on three cases -- they are all State Jail Felonies carrying with them a range of punishment of 180 days to 2 years. But on State Jails, you serve "day for day" with no parole. So she'll serve a real 9 months.

The new case, the bomb threat, is just generic TDC time. So a 5 year sentence, in my estimation, is probably about 8 to 11 months of real time (but with complete discretion to the Parole Board.)  In that case, she becomes "eligible" for parole when her "real time" plus her "good conduct time", as calculated by the current going rate by TDC, equals 1/4th of her sentence. She'll definitely be eligible for parole before her State Jail time is up, but it's just up to the Parole Board as to how long they'll keep her.

The resolution seems not overly harsh nor overly lenient. That means it's probably fair.

LeeAnn Rimes Is Still Killing It

More.