11.08.2022

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts




I took this photo on Main Street in Decatur.


  • Warning: Election heavy is what follows.
  • Texas election prediction: I think it's a boring night with Abbott, Patrick and even Paxton cruising to easy victories.  I bet all three of those races are all called by 8:30 p.m. 
  • Nationally, the House is guaranteed to go to the Republicans. It happens every mid-term for the party which doesn't hold the presidency.  The impact: We know for certain that the next two years there will be no major legislation passed because the Republican House won't do it. And if they do want it, President Biden would veto it (assuming they could get it pass the Senate.)
  • The Senate is where all the action is tonight and is what you should watch. Why? The Senate controls the approval of federal judges that Biden nominates. As you know, it's currently split 50/50 with the Democrats having control because the VP has the tie breaker. 
    • So how to watch? There are 34 Senate races tonight but all but five of them are foregone conclusions.  And of those five, only three seem to be still a toss up. 
    • Below are 538.com's current predictions and confidence level based upon tallying and weighing all available polling data for the five races.  I love that site, and I think it's deadly accurate. I've circled the current prediction certainty for 538.com. If the number is in red, they think it will go to the Republican (whose name is also in red.) So, for example, they have Dr. Oz predicted to win but they are only 57% sure of their prediction.  That's not very certain at all, but that's where I'd place my bet. 
      Circle on the left designates which party currently
      controls that seat.

    • That chart is very good for Republicans. If the predictions hold true, the Senate goes from 50-50 to 48-52 in favor of the GOP.  Overall, 538.com puts it at a 59% chance that Republicans walk away controlling the Senate. It's really about NV, PA and GA.
    • Republican's are even getting excited about the New Hampshire senate race all of a sudden. But 538.com thinks the Democrat will win it and they have a confidence rate of 72% which is relatively high.  But that will be the very first result we see tonight. Watch for it. If it goes red, 538 has completely blown it, and the Democrats are in even bigger trouble. But 538 never blows it. 
    • I'm surprised that Herschel Walker is predicted by them  to win Georgia although they are only 63% comfortable with that prediction. Still, that's still really good. Warning: Georgia might end up in a runoff which means we'll have to wait for another election next month if it all comes down to that state. The reason for that is that the state requires the winner to get more than 50% of the vote even in the general election. Because there is a Libertarian in the race, he might suck off 3%-4% causing the runoff between Walker and Warnock. 
  • Most consequential "local" vote tonight: Whether Tim O'Hare wins as Tarrant County Judge. He'll turn that county upside down. He's a nut and most famous for almost bankrupting Farmer's Branch for trying to ban illegal immigrants when he was mayor. Despite all this talk of Tarrant turning Blue, I think he wins tonight. 

  • Weirdest race: A race for district judge in Dallas where there is no candidate on the ballot. They only way you win is by having a voter accurately write your name in. How wild is this: "Voters will be asked to type a name instead of selecting an option in that race. While no candidates appear on the actual ballot in the race, a printed paper inside every voting booth lists declared write-in candidates without identifying their political parties." How many votes do you think it will take to win it? I have no idea. 

  • Ted Cruz was hit by a beer can while appearing in the Houston Astros victory parade. Don't do that. And I'm talking to the beer thrower, not Cruz. Video.

    • The guy was arrested for Aggravated Assault.  Why? There will be an allegation that the beer can was a "deadly weapon" which has a stupid definition under Texas law in that it is "anything that in the manner of its use or intended use is capable of causing . . . serious bodily injury." So, you know, the beer can could have put an eye out. It'll probably end up as a misdemeanor probation. 
  • Don't do this either. He makes (or made) $650,000 a year in "base salary."

  • Trump called Nancy Pelosi "an animal" last night.  He continues his brazen path towards Hitler because he knows that he is dehumanizing her. And by dehumanizing her, it only makes it easier for the ultra-MAGA to commit more violence. 

  • Amber Guyger actually appealed her case to the United States Supreme Court, but they declined to hear it yesterday. Legal nerdy stuff: Her is her cert petition. I'm not sure I understand it -- in fact, I know I don't. But I do know it stood absolutely no chance of being granted. She is eligible for parole in 2024.

  • If you want a wild ride, watch God Forbid: The Sex Scandal That Brought Down a Dynasty about Jerry Fallwell Jr., his wife, Liberty University, and the pool boy. Oh, my.
  • Rejoice. Today is the last day of political ads.

11.07.2022

Random Monday Morning Thoughts




Narrator's voice: The doors were not, in fact, kept open. 


  • Look at that rainfall on Friday, and look at which county got completely left out:

  • Final early voting numbers in Wise County came in at 16,643 which is 33% of all registered voters. 
  • This does not give us confidence regarding to the protection of our schools. The officer was shot in the face.

  • Elon Musk had quite the week on Twitter:
    • How it started:

    • Then Mr. Free Speech got mad when a bunch of accounts started making fun of him. How the week ended:

    • A multi-billion man is obsessed with trying to get $8 a month from people who will never, ever pay it, and now sits around all day with hurt feelings as he stares at his phone. 

    • He then complained about, and offended, advertisers. 

    • And he is delusional. This coming from a man who tweeted out a false story to millions of followers about Paul Pelosi and then had to retract it. 

  • Facebook isn't having the best week, either. 

  • This seems unfair.  A person running for constable will have a title in his name on the ballot. He will be listed as “Deputy Bryan D. Woodard.”

  • Oh, my.

  • Let's check in on far right politics:
    •  Kenneth Copeland and Donald Trump on stage together with the approval of his Insurrection Lawyer. 

    • Our always-embarrassing-us representative. (We are so doomed.)

    • Tinderholt has recently filed legislation, and still advocates for, the death penalty if a woman obtains an abortion. And he has been married five times. Now he wants to be Texas Speaker.


  •  I love this photo of Stemmons Freeway going into Dallas circa 1960. The Republic Bank Building (slightly left) and the Mercantile Building (center, with the clock) are still there today but are now buried in a sea of skyscrapers.

  • It's the first week of Texas high school football playoffs, which means it's time to figure out who has the worst record. I counted ten teams that are in which have 2-8 records. Ten! And one team came in with just one win:

  • TCU is far and away the best team in the Big 12, but I don't think they can get past Texas, Baylor, Iowa State and  win the Big 12 Championship game. And they'll have to go 4-0 through that stretch to get into the playoffs. It's the only way the committee will let them in, and that's an almost impossible task.

11.04.2022

It's Friday -- Let's Get Out of Here






Random Friday Morning Thoughts





Dez was ruled out because his fingertips touched out of bounds first. But, yep, both those photos are from the same play.


  • Elon Musk has locked all the doors at Twitter offices as he layoffs 3,700 people today  . . . 


    • . . . and they are learning their fate via email.


    • But he may be violating a 60 day notice law for mass layoffs. 


  • There was a car chase in Dallas yesterday where the guy ditched the car and jumped in a buddy's SUV which had pulled up to help him.  And there was a baby transfer at the same time! Video of that moment.

  • The heat continues to rise under the $300,000 Man. This opinion piece today says it's not just about Uvalde -- there are a series of incidents demonstrating how he has lied to us for years. 

  • The fire chief in this video has a weird presentation feature where he appears to be smiling when he talks even thought I really don't think he intends to be smiling. Seems like that would be problematic for him. 


  • Jeff Bezo's ex gives away a ton of money, and this gift came as a complete surprise to the school. (And did you know she is already divorcing the husband she married after the divorce from Bezos?)
     

  • That judge is a bit of a nut. There's no lawyer, criminal defense or prosecutor, who thinks this is a good idea.


     
  • Random odd story.

  • CNN is trying to have more conservatives on the network, but I was surprised last night to see Jake Tapper welcoming Tom Cotton on as a guest to hawk his new book.  And Cotton really revised history when he told Tapper that the U.S. had the Vietnam war won until Watergate came along. 

  • Jerry Jones caught a little heat from The National Federation of the Blind about this Halloween photo where he dressed up as a blind referee. But I'm more surprised ultra-MAGA hasn't stormed Jerryworld over the guy dressed in drag on the right. 

  • I know this is long, but look at the ridiculous combinations of playoff possibilities in Bridgeport's district.  It's comically complicated for every team.  (Update: Bridgeport lost last night 71-43 to Sanger after this piece went to press.)

  • Former Cowboy and Little Elm grad Cole Beasley supporting a guy who just got suspended for making anti-Jewish comments and refusing to apologize for it..

  • 50 days away from Christmas Eve. 100 days away from the Super Bowl.
  • Time which has passed since the Wise County Sheriff's Office, despite having a full male DNA profile, has failed to solve the murder of Lauren Whitener in her home at Lake Bridgeport: 3 years, 122 days.
  • Messenger - Above the Fold