Random Monday Morning Thoughts

• Nine people were found dead and at least 39 were found packed into a trailer in San Antonio in a "human trafficking" incident. Here's something I've heard no one mention: In 1987, eighteen undocumented aliens were found in a boxcar in Sierra Blanca, Texas. Dallas based KLIF conservative talk show host David Gold said at the time, which caused a firestorm, “I don’t know if your mind works like mine, but those people got what they deserved.”
• Mrs. LL went to Roswell, NM with a friend. She was giddy. She sent this. 

• 
• One of our two U.S. senators, who I thought was the non-crazy one, thought this would be a good idea over the weekend: 
  
• I had to have help identifying this bird at Lake Bridgeport. It's a Turkey Vulture. And, trust me, it was as big as a turkey. (And those white feathers are very close to a map of the U.S.)
  
• The Cowboys' opening press conference was a train wreck. Jason way lying as usual, Jerry talked even crazier than usual, Stephen tried to keep it on track, and PR man Rich was tense. 
  
• He's hard to keep up with. He was in full panic mode yesterday: 
  
• And remember on Friday when I said the Times and the Post will bring him down?: 
  
• And this morning he sent a message that Jeff Sessions days are numbered (they are) and that he continues to practice "whataboutism". This is not normal.:
  
• Someone suggested this Cowboy's Lucky Whitehead "abducted dog" story was nothing but a publicity stunt for the Fort Worth rapper "Boogotti Kasino".  Love that name.  And The Ticket had him on for a segment on Friday and didn't lay a glove on him as they allowed him to promote his new "album". It was weird.
• I had a Ticket personality, who I've done nothing but promote and speak fondly of over the years, go off on me online for my "that was a commercial disguised as a segment" position. (And then on his Sunday show, after years of trying to distance from saying, "I think space is super gay" said, regarding the current space program, "There's something selfish about space.")
• It's going to be in the 100s this week. And that soaking rain last night, on and already saturated ground, in going to make is miserable. 
• We built a $13 billion war ship? Yep. The USS Ford.
  
• Jordan Speith: Good guy or spoiled brat?
• I bet Yu Darvish ends up with the Dodgers.
• If you are an employer and one of your employees is a member of "Proud Boys", you might want to re-think it. (I had no idea they existed.)

And I Would Like To Announce I Love The New Spokesman

Guys? Guys. This clip was made for #picsoritdidnthappen. pic.twitter.com/lQuRaiUEzL

— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) July 21, 2017

. @Scaramucci OUT. pic.twitter.com/DI7bux3l2a

— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) July 21, 2017

He's right out of The Godfather or Sopranos or Goodfellas.

(And that "three foot putt" doesn't belong in that list.)

And let's check out his Twitter past.

He makes up quotes:

He is pro-gun control:

Above The Fold

It's Friday. Let's Get Out Of Here.

That back end got just a little loose. 

After going to Top Golf, Mrs. LL wants to golf at Runaway Bay.

When a man can't even take a magic carpet ride. 

The guy in the blue almost makes me want to support violence.  

100% (Get it?)

Someone Quits The Worst Job In The World? No Way!

#BREAKING: Spicer resigns in protest after Trump hires new communications head: report https://t.co/59C3DcZpMC pic.twitter.com/wDAWic6o7b

— The Hill (@thehill) July 21, 2017

The wheels are coming off the White House like nobody's business.

Then again, maybe he should be gone:

This video of Sean Spicer speaking English to the best of his ability still destroys me pic.twitter.com/k0r3nqemJy

— Caity Weaver (@caityweaver) July 21, 2017

Random Friday Morning PostsThoughts*

• The Wichita County District Clerk fought with County Commissioners over the court wanting her to cut two positions due to budget concerns and the modernization of e-filing. (You could tell that meeting was tense. One commissioner asking why her employees were on social media all the time. Her responding that the budget crisis was a lie.)
• The O.J. parole hearing being televised has to be a first. Side note: I heard his NFL pension and actor's pension from SGA are protected from creditors. Is that true? 
• O.J's lawyer reminded me of Todd Bridges. (And that guy was awful in the hearing):

  

  Those are two different sized heads.

• One of these days, when we become more evolved, the concept of "parole boards" will be the subject of Supreme Court scrutiny. Think about it. Appointed individuals, not jurors, arbitrarily determine a person's most fundamental right: Freedom. (One of the parole board members was wearing a Kansas City Chiefs tie.)
• A hot topic yesterday was "What was the first major media story you remember?" Mine corresponds with what prompted the question: The moon landing. I was at Vacation Bible School graduation in Bridgeport, and I think it was a Friday or Saturday evening. My parents told me we were going home to watch it. And I felt like there was almost an order of, "You will watch this."
• The White House's press conference, which now does not allow video, are getting tricked up nevertheless. Look at this from yesterday. The signs. The columns. The purple lighting. That is Idiocracy.
  
  
• And from that assistant press secretary gal just last Fall: She provided us with this golden nugget.
  
• Trump News: The Washington Post is reporting he has inquired to his lawyers about who he has the power to pardon (including himself). As my dad told me back in my younger political days: "Never pick a fight with people who buy ink by the barrel and paper by the ton." Prediction: The Post and the Times will eventually bring him down with truth. 
  
• The first Cowboy's pre-season game is less than two weeks away.
• A jaw dropping college football development happened yesterday: It was revealed that the Ole Miss football coach had made at least one call (the school said it was a "pattern") to an escort service. He quit on the spot with football season a few weeks away.
  
   
•  Freeze was still owed over $12 million on his contract, and he walked away from it. And then he issued the following very bizarre statement. You knew things were off when it began with "one of the better football schools in Mississippi". And "Peter Senior" was talking about what? And he channeled "a vast right wing conspiracy": 
  
• And the coach was caught, it seems, because of an open records request for his phone records of his government issued phone. Yep, that's what he used to make the calls. How every government employee doesn't understand their records of communications through government issued phones and computers are public record is mystifying. 
• If you have dogs in the house then I know you despise anytime the radio or TV fires off a doorbell ring. 
• I know many old-timers in Bridgeport who would never dream they would see this: The Chamber of Commerce promoting a liquor store in the city with a Decatur themed name. EDIT: Wow! This is a business in Decatur!
  
• 
  
• I hate "weather talk", but this heat is bizarre. It seems different -- probably due to the humidity and a very windless summer. For those who have to work outside for a living, you are a better person than I am. I couldn't do it. 

_____________
*The Liberally Lean editorial staff regrets this error.

Paging All Texas Counties

BREAKING: .@TxDPS to start charging counties for crime lab testing. Will shift burden to counties for MILLIONS of #publicsafety $$$. #txlege

— TDCAA (@TDCAA) July 20, 2017

This includes routine drug testing (a ton of cases) and DWI blood testing (a ton of cases).

Texas DPS has a "biennial budget of just under $2.5 billion."

EDIT: WHOA! It sounds like the arresting agency will be billed. County would be responsible for Sheriff's Office cases. Cities would be responsible for their local PD cases.

Missed This: State Senator Who Represents Wise County To Probably Be Challenged

Fallon has loaned his campaign $1.8 million and raised another $200,000.

Random Thursday Morning Thoughts

• Kids, no way. Firefighters? That bugs me, too. But I can't come up with a reason to ban them from public medians. (Assuming they aren't in the actual "middle" of an intersection.)
• 
• Wise County felony court numbers (the red dots) over last 18 months. (Those are official State stats, but I have my doubts. For example, that fourth "0" in the last column belongs to Williamson County with a population of a half a million. Nevertheless, those Wise County numbers seem about right.): 
  
• The report also lists Wise County's 2015 population as 62,953 which also seems correct.
• Flashback: MTV News reports on the Texxas Jam at the Cotton Bowl.  
• Did you see the fight in New York City where one guy pulls out a machete? How about the guy shooting out the tires of an ATT truck for parking in front of his house? How about the plane landing on a Long Island highway before he got to a bridge?
• The goofiest Texas politician managed to pose for a goofy photo last night: 
  
• The City of Dallas now has a female and African American police chief, and Dallas County has a female and African American D.A. as well as a Hispanic, female, and openly gay Sheriff. 
• And another (Georgia)
  
• Trump news: (1) Everyone will be reminded today what he said about war hero John McCain (2) For some reason Trump gave a rambling, and at times incomprehensible , interview to the New York Times, (3) He remarkably said that he wouldn't have hired AG Sessions if he knew he would recuse himself and hire a special counsel for the Russia Investigation, (3A) He thinks a 21 year old can get health insurance for $12 a year, (4) The Senate Judiciary Committee wants Donald Trump Jr. and Paul Manafort to testify before them next week, and (5) They want Jr. to bring a ton of documents and items including those related to the Ritz Carlton Moscow Hotel. Oh, my.
• Prosper ISD is going to build a $48 million football stadium? Prosper!?
• Jason Garrett is tone deaf.
  
  
• So the Dallas police have suspended the investigation into Zeke. Serious question: When is the last time you ever heard of a police agency suspending an investigation? I've heard of suspending a search but never an investigation.  It's normally, "We will continue to pursue every lead."
• You boys have a right to be angry:
  
  
• Why do cops steal so many traffic signs?
  
• There's a lot of freaking out about HBO announcing a series where slavery still exists in the South and America is headed to a civil war. Heck, has no one has seen Man In The High Castle? It's about America losing World War II -- Germany controls the east coast and Japan controls the west coast. 
• It's "Dollar Day" at the Dallas Zoo. Who knew a heat stroke could be so cheap?

Oh, My!

#BREAKING: Several boats are on fire after a reported explosion on Lake Texoma https://t.co/4pQYl285lj pic.twitter.com/n1L0mOnMsv

— NBC DFW (@NBCDFW) July 19, 2017

The Party Of Small Government

JUST IN: DOJ new asset forfeiture policy - police can seize property from people not charged w/crime even in states where it's been banned. pic.twitter.com/P8K0g80m4E

— Paula Reid (@PaulaReidCBS) July 19, 2017

(h/t)

Texas State Senator, an extreme conservative, is not pleased:

.@KonniBurton says she's "extremely disappointed" in Jeff Sessions' expanded civil asset forfeiture policy. #txlege pic.twitter.com/jSm6O8hBWH

— Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) July 19, 2017

Check Out The Song In The Background -- Subtle Humor

Link

I didn't know Channel 33 had such a tricked up newscast.

(Credit: A friend who wouldn't want me to name him/her.)

Above The Fold

Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts

• "Meet a new breed of prosecutor." "From Texas to Florida to Illinois, many of these young prosecutors are eschewing the death penalty, talking rehabilitation as much as punishment, and often refusing to charge people for minor offenses. While their numbers are small, they are taking over DA offices at a crucial moment." (In other news, a Harris County prosecutor was disciplined for "inappropriate comments" to female prosecutors.)
• 
• Lockheed Martin had a job fair yesterday in Fort Worth and made 600 job offers "on the spot." That vetting process seems a little thin. 
• Let me limit my daily Trump rant to three things. Yesterday, (1) We learned that the eighth person in the room for the Trump Jr. meeting, which Jr. didn't mention in his effort at complete transparency, was a Russian real estate company employee, (2) The White House named an ambassador to Russia and misspelled his name in a press release, and (3) Trump had a second undisclosed meeting with Putin at the G-20. He went into damage control last night although it sounds like he is admitting to the meeting. 
  
• But I will point out that Sean Hannity was all over Trump last night as he was covering all of the day's developments:
  
• Baylor and Texas have lost an unusual amount of football players to "retirement" due to "medical issues" during the off season.  That's an ominous sign for the future of college football. Too big. Too fast.
• I'm still trying to figure out how a former Australian was killed by police when she is the one who called them.
  
• A nightclub fight, a kidnapped dog, and a shirtless race at a strip club was enough to get Jerry Jones in front of the cameras yesterday. And, man, the cameras showed up. (Oh, and don't worry about Zeke. Jerry says he's "evolving.")

  

  "Oh, and Decatur High won't pay me $12,500 so
  I'm kicking them out of The Star for their September game."

• I don't know why I laugh every time I think about a nightclub named "Clutch." 
• The church that burned in Chico has given rise to a gofundme page where they are asking for $50,000.
• This is a lawyer speaking at a luncheon/seminar in Fort Worth about what can be learned from Tiger Woods' DWI arrest. I'm fascinated by no one paying attention. I'm fascinated by the sunglasses.
  
• 30 for 30 will release its doc on the 1988 Dallas Carter High Cowboys on August 24th. I'm beyond excited about that one. 
• The failed Obamacare repeal and replace had some Congressmen skittish yesterday:
  
• I'm insane now: 
  
• Odd story: A Dallas doctor gets charged for allegedly over-prescribing opiates and running a "pill mill" leading to the death of seven people. Now his 17 year old stepdaughter has been found dead and dismembered in a pond.

Gender Reveal Gone Wrong

I think the concept is that you've got a ball with either pink or blue "dust" and the guy smashes it causing the big reveal.

He smashed it alright.

And anyone else think there might be a future problem with that relationship?