NOTHING good can come from this, NOTHING:
This is absurd; Marc Ott claims he wants 'objective eyes' evaluate police conduct, then he turns to ... Eric Holder?!?
Showing posts with label Austin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Austin. Show all posts
Monday, 5 August 2013
Tuesday, 30 July 2013
Blue Dot Blues has a great piece on the symbiotic cultural relationship between Austin and the rest of Texas:
Conservative Texans outside Austin have this reaction to Austin conservatives – “Really? You must have your work cut out for you.” And when they see an Austinite with tattoos and piercings and dyed hair, outsiders shake their heads and lament about Austin’s weirdness. It’s more or less the opposite reaction that liberals outside Texas have. And you know what, both sides are wrong about Austin, because both sides assume that Austin is politically and culturally radical and “different” from the rest of Texas. After seven years here, and nearly twenty as a Texan, I think the reality is that Austin couldn’t exist anywhere but Texas. It is left-leaning and it is less a melting pot than a chunky stew, but it’s essentially Texan, a place where cowboy boots coexist with flip-flops, where country music is as hardcore as rock (and Austin is more of a country music city than Dallas or Houston these days). It is really hard to quantify, what “Texan” is, when trying to explain it to people who haven’t experienced it.Cahnman's Musings has always found tales of Austin's liberalism, much like Mark Twain's death, to be greatly exaggerated. Having grown up in New York City, and having lived in and around Los Angeles for five years, we know the left. The Austin crowd has never cut it.
Austin has a reputation, prides itself on, being “weird,” and it’s a reputation earned long before hippies took up residence south of the river. Consider that the original name was “Waterloo,” a name famous even then for what happened to Napoleon when he reached the original. Not exactly a warm, welcoming name! This entire area, stretching into the Hill Country, has attracted people who didn’t “fit in” wherever they came from for nearly two centuries. And Austin has always been a collegiate town, at least since Reconstruction. Texas itself is a state for misfits, and Austin as the capital city exemplifies that. It started out that way and remains so today. It isn’t any wonder Texas attracts people at the rate of 1000 a day, largely other Americans who are finding they can’t keep swimming in the current elsewhere.
Why is Austin more palatable – “totally different” – to liberals? I submit that it isn’t so much the politics as the culture, which is something Heather Wilhelm talks about in her article. Culturally, Austin is quite different than most of the state – more casual, more diverse. But it’s still Texan in flavor, which is probably why some liberals are completely turned off after they experience it for longer than SXSW.
Having lived in Austin for almost six years, we've always found the culture to be
The government of Austin and Travis County has never reflected the truth of its inhabitants. City council elections haven't hit 10% turnout in two decades. There is a good chance that will change next year.
Besides, bastions of progressivism don't defeat school bonds....
Thursday, 18 July 2013
Cahnman's Musings attended Greg Abbott's Austin campaign kickoff event earlier tonight in Austin. We didn't take notes or pictures. We thus write from memory.
We were impressed.
Between Rick Perry's various campaigns and Ted Cruz's race last year, we've attended A LOT of campaign events in Austin. Tonight was unique. We've never seen this many people at an event for a Republican candidate.
There were easily 500 to 750 people present. This wasn't just tea party folks. Everyone was there.
General Abbott stated his opposition to having government pick winners and losers in the economy. The implicit rebuke was obvious if subtle. He made his opposition to crony capitalism in Austin clear. Although he "didn't want to look backwards" regarding the current budget, General Abbott stated his opposition to future spending. Cahnman's Musings looks forward to hearing General Abbott address these questions in detail.
The most impressive aspect of the event, however, was the size and energy of the crowd. It packed out the side room at Scholz Garten. Heading into Election 2014, Cahnman's Musings is VERY happy with the enthusiasm we will likely see at the top of the Republican ticket.
Time will tell, tonight's Abbott campaign event in Austin deserves an A+.
Monday, 15 July 2013
"Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted."
Eighth Amendment, United States Constitution
Cahnman's Musings spent the morning at the 353rd District Court of Travis County, Judge Tim Sulak presiding. We were there to observe the Travis County Taxpayers Union's (TCTU) lawsuit against Austin Independent School district (AISD) we've discussed previously. To quote Wendy Davis, we witnessed a raw abuse of power.
Judge Sulak ruled in favor of the district. That wasn't surprising. The outrageous part was the shackles Judge Sulak put on a potential appeal.
Judge Sulak ruled TCTU must post a $15 million bond ($15,000,000) to protect the district before an appeal could proceed. Obviously, TCTU doesn't have that kind of money. In other words, a Democrat judge made it prohibitively expensive for a citizens group to petition their government for redress of grievances.
On one level, this isn't surprising. Judge Sulak and AISD are part of the Travis County's progressive mafia (Sidenote: This is the same progressive mafia that is protecting Rosemary Lehmberg). On the other hand, demanding a fifteen million dollar ransom to allow a citizens lawsuit against a governmental entity to continue is (to our knowledge) unprecedented.
In announcing his ruling, Judge Sulak admitted that, even if he disagreed with it, TCTU made a reasonable case against the district. Judge Sulak's ruling was designed to protect AISD from having the case heard in front of judges who aren't in the pocket of big education. This isn't over....
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Readers can contact Judge Sulak via his campaign Facebook page.
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Update: More from Fox 7 Austin:
Friday, 21 June 2013
Weston Hicks has a phenomenal piece (
Notice that when moral/cultural issues are passing, fiscal discipline is always at its highest ebb. Case in point: the 82nd Legislature.It's human nature; creating "a sinful, self-serving environment" leads people to spend money. Keeping people focused on service, by contrast, begets far better financial stewardship. This is true in Austin, and it's even truer in Washington.
Why? Because fiscal restraint is moral restraint. Moral thinking puts people in the proper head space to make good, long term fiscal decisions.
Conversely, selfish thinking makes it easy to spend taxpayer money on fattening government fiefdoms.
This is why the best pro-life session ever in Texas went with one of the best fiscally disciplined sessions ever.
Rice University’s Mark Jones wrote an article about how the 83rd legislature was a “purple session in a red state”. With a bonanza of funds, the Rainy Day Fund was raided even more heavily than in the 82nd Legislature, when funds were scarce, giving big spenders much better leverage to go after the RDF.
In fact, the lobby actively tries to create a sinful, self-serving environment in capitol towns because they know this is the most fertile atmosphere for getting crony legislation passed.
This is also why some of the best, most praiseworthy, and most subversive things conservative legislators can do in capitol towns is bible studies, charity activities, and making their families visible often to remind other legislators of their own familial vows.
In truth, there is a battle for atmosphere in capitol towns that the lobby knows about and fights, and that conservatives need to understand and engage with more.
On that note, we'd like to invite readers to this prayer event at the Texas State Capitol tomorrow.
Cahnman's Musings strongly recommends you read the whole piece here.
Wednesday, 12 June 2013
SoLongRose.com has done fantastic investigative work. They're asking if Travis County DA hit and ran another motorist shortly before her arrest. So far, they've come up with five clues.
Clue #1: During her arrest, Lehmberg is on tape claiming "I didn't have a collision; they told me I had a collision, but I didn't." (2:23)
Clue #2: The impound report for Lehmberg's Car notes damage consistent with a front-end collision.
Clue #3: At 10:35 pm, a driver heading in the other direction reported being clipped by a Silver Lexus; btw, the license plate on that Lexus is registered to Lehmberg.
Clue #4: Police dashcam video recorded during Lehmberg's traffic stop shows officers discussing a nearby hit and run that was called in moments before they pulled Lehmberg over. [Note: The full video is an hour long, but the relevant portion begins at 13:35].
Clue #5: The police report from the nearby hit-and-run corresponds with the location and time of Lehmberg's traffic stop.
Without pre-judging anything, something smells rotten....
Tuesday, 11 June 2013
It's good enough:
Highlights:
- 2 lawsuits got the go ahead today
- 1 on grounds of intoxication
- 1 on her behavior afterwards
- Lehmberg's attorney is full of crap; the issue isn't that she did something stupid, it's that she had an open bottle of vodka on her passenger seat THEN attempted to abuse the power of her office to get out of the charge.
A predictable, yet hilarious, example of the law of unintended consequences:
Highlights:
The Austin bag ban was implemented March 1st. FOX 7 asked Austin Police to compare citywide shoplifting incidents for the months of March, April and May and then compare them to the same time last year. March is the only month where there was no increase. In April there were 44 more incidents and 57 in May
Thursday, 6 June 2013
This incredible story from KVUE needs a little outside help to turn tragedy into triumph:
Cahnman's Musings wants to help spread the word about this effort; in addition, we're willing to help with the physical move if someone has the proper equipment.
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If you would like to help or donate your time/equipment, please contact Javier Arredondo at Theonebigface@gmail.com or call (512) 983-0139.
Tuesday, 28 May 2013
Dear Mr. Beck,
In case you missed it, last night Governor Perry called a special session of the Texas Legislature. This could be really good, but it could also be a disaster. We could use your help.
The reason Texas Legislators ignore the will of voters is because they assume voters won't find out. The Capital press corps LOVES big government, because it increases their own power. That's where you come in.
If you were to PUBLICLY let the Legislature know that you're watching them, it could stop a lot of mischief before it gets started. The facts are damning, they just need wider exposure. Plus, it will drive the Austin insider crowd nuts, and that alone is worth it!
In addition, you ought to consider seriously taking a day trip to Austin to personally lobby your legislator. If you lead by example, then thousands (if not tens) of Texans will follow. Logistically, you could do radio from the South Steps of the Capitol and television from the Capitol Auditorium.
This special session will have a major impact on the long-term economic future of this state. It can go either way. We could sure use your help.
Sincerely,
Adam Cahn
Austin, TX
May 28, 2013
.....
Readers can contact Glenn Beck via Twitter:
@GlennBeck
Monday, 27 May 2013
The 83rd Texas Legislature is (mercifully) over. Legislators have done their part. All eyes now turn to Governor Rick Perry.
There is a lot of bad legislation floating around. Cahnman's Musings will detail some of it in the coming days. For today, however, we want to remind readers about a recent piece of Texas' political history.
In June 2001, following his first legislative session as George W. Bush's successor, Governor Rick Perry vetoed 79 bills in one day. At the time, it was dubbed the "Father's Day Massacre." This so-called "Father's Day Massacre" established Rick Perry as the dominant player at the Capitol.
The best part of the Father's Day Massacre is that it gave the usual suspects around Austin a conniption fit; as Lou DuBose reported a decade later:
Perry's vetoes came from out of nowhere. The governor's legislative staff didn't attempt to get in the way of the bills. Legislators didn't get courtesy calls.(Author's Note: Did you notice that the lobbyist and the state employee didn't allow themselves to be quoted by name?!?)
"This was mean-spirited," a lobbyist told me. "This was the governor getting even."
"There was no playbook that he was working from," said a state employee who had been chief of staff for a legislator at the time.
During Rick Perry's Presidential campaign, NRO's Katrina Trinko observed:
The dramatic gesture paid off.The 83rd Texas Legislature was EXTREMELY disappointing, but Rick Perry remains Governor. That office has a lot of power, including sole discretion over vetoes. Cahnman's Musings encourages Governor Perry to use it extensively.
The Austin American-Statesman analyzed over 500 e-mails and letters that were sent to Perry’s office in the aftermath of the vetoes, and found the response overwhelmingly positive. Perry, the American-Statesman reported, “appears to have energized people who support the death penalty, oppose abortion, are wary of more government — and whose turnout at the polls is necessary for him to win a full term in the 2002 election.” Winning the trust of conservatives was important for Perry. Before the vetoes, he had signed a hate-crimes bill that was opposed by many conservatives — his office was inundated with calls the days before the bill hit his desk — and was the Democrats’ “top priority” that session, according to Texas political analyst William Lutz.
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Contact the Governor:
Phone: (512) 463-2000
Twitter: @GovernorPerry
Wednesday, 24 April 2013
On thing that's struck me as I've gotten deeper into studying AISD is the physical resemblance between AISD President Vincent Torres and a certain disgraced former Governor of Illinois.
Rod Blagojevich or Vincent Torres?!?
You be the Judge:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Answer:
Rod Blagojevich: 1, 3, 6, 7
Vincent Torres: 2, 4, 5
Update: Dammit, picture #2 has his name at the bottom; didn't see that when I originally posted.
Rod Blagojevich or Vincent Torres?!?
You be the Judge:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Answer:
Rod Blagojevich: 1, 3, 6, 7
Vincent Torres: 2, 4, 5
Update: Dammit, picture #2 has his name at the bottom; didn't see that when I originally posted.
The string of good local reporting on next month's bond election continues:
Highlights:
- AISD is using deceptive language to sell their tax increase.
- The potential tax hike could be twice what AISD claims.
- Stop buying toys when you can't pay your mortgage!!!
Tuesday, 23 April 2013
Local media in Austin has done a surprisingly good job covering the upcoming bond election:
On the shady nature of holding an election in May:
Highlights:
- The required approval of the voter is being circumvented.
- 6% turnout in 2006; 2.5% in 2010
- Less than 10,000 total votes.
- That many people work for the district.
- This is as close as you can get to rigging an election without having handcuffs put on your wrists.
Highlights:
- This bond issue is the equivalent of taking out a second mortgage to fund maintainence.
- Property taxes WILL go up.
- This type of financial shenanigans would be illegal in Houston or Round Rock
- Author's Note: That's EXACTLY what New York City did in the 1970's.
Highlights:
- The potential tax hike in this proposal could be twice what AISD says it could be, and that's on top of the tax hike last year.
Early voting is next week; please take five minutes and vote no on this boondoggle.
Well, that didn't take long:
Sign the petition here.To:
The Governor of TX
The TX State Senate
The TX State House
Rosemary Lehmberg, Travis County District AttorneyForce Rosemary Lehmberg to resign as Travis County District Attorney!
Not only has her obvious lack of judgement been displayed here, but this could easily affect cases going forward. Not to mention, it reflects poorly on the entire DA's office, and the county in general.
This is not a person that is qualified to lead this county in delivering justice.Sincerely,
[Your name]
Monday, 22 April 2013
This video speaks for itself:
She's done; the only question is how much pain she wants to put herself through.
The Austin American Statesman has a lot more here.
Two weekends ago, Travis County (Democrat) District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg was arrested for Driving while Intoxicated. Given that we were arrested for DWI in 2008, Cahnman's Musings held off on commenting. Two new details have emerged about the arrest, however, that point to a serious breach of the public trust:
- Lehmberg had AN OPEN BOTTLE OF VODKA on her passenger seat; yes, you read that right.
- Lehmberg blew a .239, nearly three times the legal limit. As a point of comparison, when I was arrested, I blew a .12. When you reach .25 (slightly above where Lehmberg was), you're at the point where: "All mental, physical and sensory functions are severely impaired."
As for the open bottle of Vodka in the passenger seat, that one speaks for itself.
Tuesday, 2 April 2013
Forbes has a great article on how the Tenth Amendment might still save the United States; after illustrating how Washington has usurped the functions of local and state jurisdictions over the past century, the author asks:
Can American cities ever hope to be the platform where the future plays out again? This will never be our fate as long as all eyes turn to Washington. America is not one big city. Local initiative by people who own the local economy is the only solution. Individuals are much better at detecting market opportunity than government. In fact, America’s greatest strength has been its capacity to reinvent our economy by allowing entrepreneurs to disturb incumbent industries and in the course of this process make cities themselves more competitive.Living in Austin, I'll offer a few thoughts:
Happily, because America still has states that are ready to turn a blind eye towards Washington there is hope that some American cities will be global players in the future. In the face of the chronic slow growth/near recession conditions that Washington appears powerless to solve, Texas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Florida and Tennessee have encouraged local economies by making policy much more conducive to business. The cities in these states, with their concentration of talent and workers, are certain to benefit. When states eliminate income taxes, lower regulatory burdens, and municipalities manage themselves along fiscally conservative principals, businesses intent on growing will come and, importantly, so will the innovators and entrepreneurs who will make the next generation of businesses.
If any American cities are likely to be included on a list of world beating places in fifty years it is likely that Austin will be first among them. Perhaps because they are Texans, its elite has never seen Washington as the place where the future can be seen or certainly not made. Austin is a hotbed of innovation and business creation. Fueled by a great university and benefiting from a culture that is happy to show anyone how to get things done, its growth over the last two decades has been remarkable. Its governor taunts California on the radio! But, beware, Austin, until Washington sees that our economy is composed by people working in it, close to it, and owning it, all of which happens in cities just like yours, don’t expect anyone will mistake you for Dubai in fifty years.
- The University of Texas' reputation is greatly exaggerated.
- Many local elites in Austin LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE what Washington is selling.
- At the end of the day, localities and states that reduce their exposure to Washington will emerge from the coming global economic cluster[REDACTED] stronger relative to those who refuse to see the obvious. Thus, any city in Texas qualifies. Any effort to protect Austin from Washington will come from average citizens, NOT the local elite.
Tuesday, 26 March 2013
Two weeks ago, we put out a call to find the most innovative firearms manufacturer in Texas; this certainly qualifies:
HIGHLIGHTS:
- 3-D printed firearm anyone can download and produce.
- Preserving the Second Amendment over the internet.
- In the next decade, the majority of Americans will have 3-D printers in their home.
- This guy has five employees.
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