Ok, I first came across this story at a Houston-based wing-nut site Lone Star Times: This is what they do to 8-year-olds who steal bread in Iran.

They link to the pictures here -- there are warnings of "disturbing" photos, and I guess if you think his hand gets crushed or cut off or something, yeah... that would be disturbing.  But they only show the car on top of the arm, and nothing after.  Also, if they're punishing the poor boy, why put a towel under his arm?  It got me thinking.

I leave Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers' beliefs on abortion, choice, homosexuality, etc to others.  As an ex-Dallas resident, I remember the year she ran for council.  It was very apparent at the time that her "base" was from the North Dallas and downtown businesses -- rich, white, conservative.

My random thought of the day:  Who's going to be the first country star to release a song about Katrina?   I figure Alan Jackson is out of the picture, simply because he jumped on 9/11.  Toby Keith has the Iraq war under his belt.  Considering his proximity to the President in the days following Katrina's landfall,  I'm hoping it'll be Mark Wills...

The current media "meme" is that the Feds have failed us, and the people of New Orleans... but the people of the US have stepped-up and have given so much for the Katrina victims.  I can't imagine I'm the first to theorize this, but I wonder if there's any sort of evil plan behind this.  

We all know Grover Norquist wants to cut the Federal government in half to the point that he can "drown it in the bathtub".   His reasoning is that the people should be the ones responsible for donating money, and that taxes to the Feds are just wasted.  In a way, his point is being proven right now.

Don't take this the wrong way -- I'm no conspirist, and even I can't believe Bush is that intentionally evil.  This is just merely a thought that went through my head...

I know "National Politics" is really what interests most people... since it gets all the national press coverage.  But there's been an issue brewing here in League City, TX (the biggest city in Galveston County) for quite a while, and I think it's relevant to the idea that "local politics" can have an immediate effect on people's lives.

At issue, is the school district for our area, CCISD, wants to build a new high school. Pretty much all of the schools are at or above capacity now, and the city is growing at a rapid pace.  In 2000, voters passed a bond issue -- CCISD bought 60 acres of land at that time, with the thought that it could be a high school.  In 2004, voters overwhelmingly passed another bond issue, with the specific purpose of building the high school on that property.  Now in the past few months,  things have gone sour for school, and the League City city council is to blame... (more after the fold)

from The Houston Chronicle:

The Galveston Daily News has more.  There's an interesting quote from Shults:

League City's Code of Ordinance specifically states that the ballots be nonpartisan. And eventhough we all knew their party affiliation,  neither Dill or Hallisey had brought it up.  Also, while Bush did get more votes in the 2004 election, across the other races Democrats were fairly strong... therefore, League City being "clearly" Republican is about as specious as Bush man-date.

League City, TX is a rapidly growing town at the northwest corner of Galveston County.  And the town's politics are salacious enough to spawn it's own TV show of "Desperate Housewives" proportions.  Case-in-point : Councilman Keith Dill

Councilman Dill is the owner of a pest control business.  Yes, another conservative Texas exterminator in politics.  On May 7th, he'll be on the ballot for mayor of League City,  and I fear that my fair city will fall even further into the corruptive atmosphere that has become prevalent in national and state government.   Dill is a father, a Republican, and a Christian... and apparently, that means he hates kids and loves big business... but that's just conjecture.  Let's just take some of his words and let you make your own decision:

Texas House Rep. Frank Corte wants doctor's to lie to women.  At least, that's the conclusion I've drawn after reading Texas House Bill 1469:

Of course, this has been debunked for a while now.   Though, it doesn't seem like all this "science" stuff and "facts" really matter,  since it's out of committee now.

Rep. Corte is the same guy pushing through a "pharmacist's right to refuse service" bill.  And there's no clause that requires the refusing pharmacist to refer the patient to someone else.

And just to add another jab, you'll notice in his bio that he received the Texas Christian Coalition "Friend of the Family Award".  A group with extremely strong ties to Tom DeLay.  I wonder if Corte has made any trips recently....

One day after the election, they're at it again.   This is the exact type of thing that "they" were waiting for, and now they're hoping that Dems will be so downhearted that we won't do anything.

Contact your Congress-people, and let them know that we still have the passion.

Ron Paul represents the 14th District in Texas, and unfortunately he's uncontested in this race.  I looked over the sample ballot, and there doesn't even seem to be an area where you can write-in a candidate.  I used to be in the 9th District with Rep. Nick Lampson, but with DeLay's redistricting, I'm forced into Ron Paul.
Here are just a few of his illustrious accomplishments...

I made the silly little Kittens parody ad... And fortunately Bush just has a WEALTH of great video and audio clips that someone could work with, so after seeing the great video of Bush flipping the "bird", I decided to put together another 30 second clip. So here's Bush's F*** You!

There's been a lot of talk about the missing 380 tons of explosives.  It's kind of like when people talk about $200 billion going to Iraq... it's such a huge number, that it's near impossible to comprehend.  So I decided to find out just how much is 380 tons:

We all remember Bush's highly effective "Wolves" ad (aka Puppies).  Well, it was SO effective that the Bush campaign has released a follow-up ad: Kittens!

I'm really not sure if the Kerry camp will be able to survive this one.

</sarcasm>

CROSSBLOGGER!

So says John Lehman, a member of the 9/11 Commission.  This article is amazing. Some quick quotes to read over:

I thought we were going to attack the countries that supported terrorism.  This is un-f'ing-believable.

CROSSBLOGGER!

This is sickening.  Are these people really that afraid of Kerry having an effect in Texas?  Maybe this is a turning point, because as a Texan I would love nothing more than seeing this state go "blue".  And political/sports metaphors aside, GO 'STROS.

CROSSBLOGGER!

With the Ukraine and Poland leaving Iraq, it sheds new light on Bush's latest stump. Specifically:

from their press release:

I just checked out their San Antonio stations' programming schedules...

Obviously, the headline has its tongue placed firmly in cheek.   Here's the story from the New York Daily News, and Martin Lewis' follow-up article follows...
Update [2004-10-18 12:21:10 by MaxKelly]: from AZcentral.com: