Politex

Dallas pastor passed over for NAACP head job

Rev. Frederick Haynes of Friendship-West Baptist Church in South Dallas will not be the new head of the NAACP, according to CBS 11 news.

Haynes told a reporter with the station that he was apparently passed over for the prestigious job because he had insisted that he continue to remain leader of Friendship-West while taking over the reigns at the NAACP.

"The church was a deal breaker," Haynes said in a text message, according to CBS.

Haynes plans on holding a press conference at his church this Sunday.

UPDATE: The group picked 35-year-old former news executive Ben Jealous.

-Aman Batheja

Burnam busts Craddick, ghost scandal

Fort Worth State Rep. Lon Burnam has fired off a letter to the head of the committee investigating the creepily titled ghost workers scandal.

In the letter sent yesterday to Sherman State Rep. Larry Phillips, Burnam alleges Speaker Tom Craddick is the one who leaked the original story to the Austin American-Statesman, which highlighted a few Texas House members who have hired so-called ghost workers (employees who received state benefits but worked part-time hours...SPOOOOKY!).

"Speaker Craddick once again abused the levers of government by using non-partisan, non-political government entities to research, create and leak a politically motivated story," Burnam wrote. "The story curiously targeted only three members of the Texas House, all of whom are outspoken foes of the Speaker."

Burnam also said he and other House members were ticked off to discover they were ALL under investigation in the growing scandal by the Austin-based Quorum Report, instead of from the committee itself.

"I can assure you that many fellow members share my anger. No member of this body, regardless of political affiliation, should have to learn that he or she is under investigation by your Committee by way of the press," Burnam wrote.

To read the rest of the letter, which also brings up Craddick's House Parlimentarian Terry Keel, click here.

-Aman Batheja

Dallas pastor expected to hear today if he's new head of NAACP

Fans of Dallas pastor Rev. Frederick Haynes are anxiously waiting today to find out if he'll be the new head of the NAACP.

Haynes sat down for a three-hour interview with the NAACP board in Baltimore yesterday.

Haynes has an extensive background in civil rights work through his church, but if he's picked, expect plenty of national pundits to focus on how the storied civil rights group picked a new leader who has called Jeremiah Wright his spiritual mentor.

-Aman Batheja

Republicans to knock on area doors this weekend

The primary's over. Time for Texas Republicans to start rallying the troops for November.

They start Saturday, when Texas Victory, the state GOP's coordinated election effort, will hold "Walk to Win" events around the state.

Here's the plan: volunteers will drive to assigned neighborhoods, knock on the doors of of people who voted Republican in 2004 or 2006, wait for said door to open, and ask, "so...are you still a Republican?"

"By gathering this information now, our Party and our individual candidates will be able to run more effective and efficient [Get out the vote] efforts in the fall," according to a GOP Party press release.

Weatherford car dealer and former secretary of state Roger Williams, who now heads Victory 2008, will be joining the grassroots walkers at the Tarrant County Republican headquarters in Fort Worth, bright and early at 8 a.m.

Then on Tuesday, he'll be in Arlington for a Texas Victory 2008 organizational meeting.

For local Politex readers, here's the Tarrant County locations for Saturday's walk events:

 

-Tarrant County GOP hdqtrs. (8 am)

1415 Ballinger

Fort Worth, TX  76102

-Shaw Insurance (8 am)

3100 Southlake Blvd.

Southlake, TX  76092

-Home of Martha and Cruz Hernandez (9:30 am)

117 NE McAlister

Burleson, TX 76028

-Aman Batheja

A(nother) Texan on the ticket?

We've all heard Gov. Rick Perry say no thanks to suggestions that presumptive Republican nominee might offer him the Number 2 spot on the presidential ticket. We heard the same thing all those months ago when Perry first endorsed Rudy Giuliani for president.

Before than, we heard U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison say she wasn't much interested running for vice president either.

But now there's another Texan whose name has surfaced as Veepstakes 2008 heats up: John Cornyn, the junior U.S. senator. The Web site Media Bistro, which reports on what goes on behind the scenes in the news industry, says ABC News is assigning reporters to keep tabs on 15 potential VP picks for McCain, the Arizona senator who appears to have the presidential nomination all locked up.

Cornyn's name is included on the list of 15. So is Hutchison's. Perry didn't make the network's cut.

Sometime last year, when the veep-mentioning was gaining steam and Perry and Hutchison seemed to have the Texas market cornered, a Star-Telegram reporter teasingly asked Cornyn if he might be getting a Rodney Dangerfield complex for being overlooked.

Cornyn played along. "Yeah! What am I, chopped liver?" he harrumphed with just the hint of a smile.

In case you're wondering, Texas law would allow Cornyn to seek re-election to the Senate this year and run nationally at the same time.

-- John Moritz

Wrong choice for the father of electric choice?

National Power Co., the small Houston-based electric retailer that has run afoul of Texas regulators, has one very high-profile customer.

Steve Wolens, the former state representative who co-authored the legislation that made National Power possible, said he signed about a 16-month contract with the retail electric provider.

"That's my REP! I'm its customer," Wolens said in an email.

A spokesman for the Texas Public Utility Commission has said the agency has opened an investigation into National Power for allegedly breaking fixed-rate deals with customers. The PUC also has removed National Power from the state's Web site that lists competitive electric offers.

Wolens, as a Democrat from Dallas, sponsored Senate Bill 7 in 1999 that created the state's system of retail electric competition. He said he's about a year into his contract with National Power.

"I haven't picked up the mail this week to see if they broke the deal," he said.

The company last week sent letters advising customers that it was canceling existing fixed-rate plans and jacking up prices. That means some customers who signed annual contracts last winter could see their bills go up by as much as 50 percent, according to figures provided by the Texas Public Utility Commission.

A customer-service official for National Power on Wednesday declined to comment or to provide other contact phone numbers for the company. She also said she would pass a message from the Star-Telegram on to company officials, who had not responded by Thursday.

-- R.A. Dyer

Swirling winds over the Texas Capitol

Although the Goddess of Liberty remained standing atop the Texas Capitol, more than a half dozen ancient oaks on the Capitol grounds were not so fortunate.

High winds smashed through Downtown Austin overnight, splitting trees and causing property damage -- including some damage to the regal Capitol building itself.

Julie Fields, a spokeswoman for the State Preservation Board that oversees the Capitol grounds, said windows were blown out of the top of the dome, showering glass down on the Capitol rotunda floor, several stories below. She said there were no injuries, and that the broken glass had been picked up by about 7 a.m..

Likewise, a contractor clearing up smashed trees estimated about 8 or 9 old oaks had been destroyed. Some, he said, were over 100 years old. He also said several fruit trees were uprooted.

"We have four crews and 14 people out here," said the contractor, Brent Frazier of Certified Arbor Care. "The Capitol had the most (tree) damage (among Arbor Care clients) -- this is by far the worst damage we've been called out on."

Workmen in hardhats, gimme caps and cowboy hats spent much of the morning chainsawing the remains of the proud old trees and feeding them into a humming wood chipper. Much of the work was down as clouds continued to gather behind the Goddess of Liberty, the statue atop the Capitol (seen above in a picture from the Austin-American Statesman).

According to reports, wind gusts of up to 70 miles per hour from the overnight storms left 19,000 Austin residents without power.

 

-- R.A. Dyer

Denver-bound bloggers

One of the longest-running Austin political blogs will be credentialed like the regular press at this summer's Democratic National Convention, but with better seats.

The unabashedly Democratic Burnt Orange Report, which has been posting Web logs on politics and government since 2003, will be one of 55 blog groups from all of the states and the sundry territories selected to cover the Democrats, national party Chairman Howard Dean announced today.

Matt Glazer, Burnt Orange's editor-in-chief, said he and his crew of about two will be reporting live from the convention floor embedded with the Texas delegation in Denver. Mainstream reporters typically get less accessible work space.

"If there does turn out to be a floor fight, we'll be right there on the floor as it happens," said Glazer, whose blog was chosen over several Texas-based outlets.

-- John Moritz

Former district clerk employees file lawsuits

The feud between Tarrant County District Clerk Tom Wilder and former employee and political opponent Pete Hinojosa has now gone federal.

Hinojosa and Bobby Don Cook, a former manager of accounting in Wilder's office, each filed federal lawsuits this week against the district clerk, accusing Wilder of political payback and violating their civil rights when he eliminated their jobs.

The suits seek the reinstatement of Hinojosa and Cook to their jobs, as well as back and future pay for them, and punitive damages.

The background: Hinojosa(pictured left) ran against Wilder(pictured right) for the District Clerk post in 2006, and Cook, a colleague, supported Hinojosa. After Wilder defeated Hinojosa in the March 2006 Republican primary, Wilder submitted a budget that eliminated their jobs.

Wilder has always insisted the cuts were for cost-cutting purposes and planned well before the election.

Hinojosa says some key details regarding the layoffs have yet to be made public. “We’ll litigate it in court and there will be some interesting things that will come out,” Hinojosa said. “The public will really get to see the real Tom Wilder.”

In response to the suits, Wilder said, "Just because lawsuits are filed with allegations therein doesn’t mean that they’re true. We’ll be filing an answer in due course and we’ll take it from there.”

Click here to check out Hinojosa's suit and here for Cook's suit.

For the full story that ran in Thursday's paper, click here.

-Bryon Okada and Aman Batheja

Ron Paul supporters set sights on Barnes & Noble, then...The World!!

While local Republicans worry about whether next month's state convention will be commandeered by Ron Paul supporters, Paulites online are busy with more important stuff...

Like why Barnes & Noble opposes the Texas congressman's revolution!

Newt, Mitt to tag-team Texas GOP convention

Texas Republicans are boasting that two national figures, former U.S. Speaker New Gingrich and failed presidential candidate Mitt Romney, will address their state convention in Houston next month.

Democrats, meanwhile, are holding out hope that either or both of the two remaining presidential candidates will attend their Texas gathering in Austin.

"We've extended invitations to both Sen. (Barack) Obama and Sen. (Hillary) Clinton and we're waiting to hear back from them," said Hector Nieto, the spokesman for the Texas Democrats.

GOP spokesman Hans Klingler said that Gingrich (top photo) will address the party's general assembly on June 13, the second day of the three-day event.

Romney (bottom photo), the former Massachusetts governor who many say is angling for second place on the ticket with Arizona Sen. John McCain, will be the featured speaker at the banquet later the same day.

Obama, now considered the likely nominee for the Democrats, hasn't firmed up his schedule for early June, his camp said. The Texas Democratic convention starts June 5, just two days after the final round of primaries ends.

"Right now, it's looking unlikely that he'll attend," said Josh Earnest, a spokesman for the Illinois senator.

Clinton confidante Garry Mauro, a former Texas land commissioner, said he expects the New York senator and former first lady to at least be represented at the state convention.

"I'd be shocked if Sen. Clinton or President Clinton either one didn't come to Texas," Mauro said.

-- John Moritz

Eightball with Barack Obama

Some say he was just trying to score points with working class voters. But when Democratic hopeful Barack Obama on Monday picked up a pool cue in a West Virginia bar and started running balls, he was simply following a long, proud and very presidential tradition.

Consider this: George Washington reportedly won a game of pool in 1748; John Quincy Adams installed a table in the presidential quarters in 1828; and Abraham Lincoln extolled the virtues of pool as a "scientific game lending recreation to the otherwise fatigued mind."

Even Founding Father Thomas Jefferson was said to have a table at Monticello.

But Obama should also be careful about pocketing balls for political gain. After Adams used his own money to purchase a pool table, his political opposition in 1828 took him to task for installing "gambling furniture" in the White House.

How am I the possession of so much ridiculous trivia? Don't even ask.

-- R.A. Dyer

Perry, US Ambassador to Spain, tout trade in Dallas

Gov. Rick Perry tied Texas history with trade talk at a Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce reception today along with Eduardo Aguirre, ambassador of the United States to Spain.

"Both our friends from France and Spain and Mexico all can claim they owned us at one time so we do have a very common heritage from that standpoint," Perry said. "Although we do have a blended culture, we have a singular future."

The governor touted Spanish investment in Texas and vice versa as key to the growth of both countries, singling out banking and biotech as two key Spanish industries.

"The best government program is the one that gets out of the way and lets the private sector work," Perry said. "I'm encouraged by the increasing amount of Spanish investment in the state of Texas."

Perry name-dropped a few Spanish companies setting up offices in Texas including biotech firm Grifols.

The company that notably didn't get a mention: Cintra, the controversial highway firm that he signed a $1.3 billion deal with for the Trans-Texas Corridor.

-Aman Batheja

Belated Mothers Day present from the GOP

  Mothers Day is over, but Republicans led by Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, are gearing up to unveil a sweeping legislative package geared heavily to the nation's working moms.

   Granger, vice-chair of the House Republican Conference and the highest-ranking GOP woman in the House, has spent weeks quietly working with other Republican women House members to help craft an American Families Agenda that will be unveiled at a press conference on Wednesday.

     The package includes more than 40 bills and is being touted as a major election-year initiative by the House Republican leadership.

   Along with broad family issues such as health care and education, it is also expected to include a number of bills tailored to working women struggling to raise children and hold down careers.  Republicans thus hope to court a powerful constituency that has tended to side with Democrats.   

-- By Dave Montgomery

Making it big in the little city

One-time Austin political consultant Mark Sanders managed to do for himself what he couldn't do for at least two candidates for governor:

Get elected.

On Saturday, Sanders won a City Council seat in the tiny East Texas town of Eustace, population 848. Technically, Sanders came in second. But it was one of those elections where six candidates were vying for three seats, so the top three vote-getters win.

The difference between winning and losing for Sanders was eight votes.

For those who don't keep up with the comings and goings of Austin politicos, Sanders was an on-again, off-again spokesman for former Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn. In between, he worked for failed 2002 Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tony Sanchez. He left Austin after Strayhorn lost her independent bid for governor in 2006 and took up residence in Eustace on the horse farm he inherited from his grandparents.

-- John Moritz

Is Rick Perry blogging?

No, but he did just post a press release on his web site that's nothing but a reprint of an article from the mainstream media (very blogger-like Governor. Next you should put up a photo of yourself and ask voters to caption it. We recommend this one.)

The National Review write-up touts Texas' tort reform measures, calling them "the  cornerstone of Governor Perry’s legacy" and raving about all the new doctors that have moved into the state.

Of course, critics see things differently.

-Aman Batheja

Off to Denver?

If you're a Democrat and going to the state convention, Kathleen Thompson wants your support.

Especially if you live in Senate District 12.

Thompson, a local Democratic organizer who lives in Grapevine, wants to go to the National Democratic Party's convention in Denver this year -- where the presidential nominee may be decided, if not before -- to support Barack Obama.

She has a website (http://democrats.23hd.com) and a plan:

"As a delegate in Denver, I will work honorably to support Barack Obama; I will represent the Texas delegation well; I will reach out to Clinton supporters so they feel welcome when Obama wins the nomination," she wrote on her website.

"I want your vote."

-- Anna M. Tinsley

Carrollton mayor loses after late-breaking scandal

Becky Miller was defeated by Ron Branson.

Although he trailed in early voting, Branson ultimately got 54 percent of the vote, ot 2,764 votes.

Miller nabbed 46 percent, or 2,306 votes.

This is one of those unique situations where there's pretty much no question as to why the incumbent lost.

-Aman Batheja

Cleaning woman wins city council seat

Martha Lopez cleans homes for a living. She does it without a staff.

She also has a cosmetology license but currently mostly just does hair for members of her family.

She was on the ballot today for a seat on the Westworth Village City Council.

She said she thought it was time for a change.

Her opponent was Tony Yeager, a former city council member and  businessman, a man who Lopez said she knew little about.

With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Lopez beat Yeager with 55 percent support, 136 votes to Yeager's 111.

-Aman Batheja

Updated tallies for hot local races

--Fort Worth School Board President: Ray Dickerson and Chris Hatch appear likely headed to a runoff with neither garnering 50 percent support with 96 percent of precincts reporting. Fans of the outgoing prez have already released a tribute video.

--Fort Worth School Board,  District 1 trustee: Carlos Vasquez officially beat incumbent Camille Rodriguez with 64 percent of the vote.

--City of Fort Worth bond - 68 percent support with 93 precent of precincts reporting. It's done.

--Mansfield Mayor - Talk about a squeaker! David L. Cook just barely pulled it out with 50.86 percent of the vote against three opponents. That's the final tally.

--Arlington ISD, two open seats - Former reality star Bowie Hogg and Peter Baron (not a reality star) both appeared headed to victory with 90 percent of precincts reporting.

--Southlake proposition - Still no election day returns but early voters overwhelmingly voted against allowing state law to replace city policy for hiring, promotions, salaries, disciplinary matters and other personnel issues for police and firefighters. Stay tuned.

--Irving Mayor - With 53 of 69 precincts reporting, Mayor Harold Gears was continuing to best two challengers with an even 54 percent support.

--Carrollton Mayor - As we just noted, this race has suddenly become incredibly close. The current precentage breakdown is Miller leading with 50.57 percent support. There's still 17 precincts left to report.

Here's more from Arlington, Mansfield,and Arlington ISD.

UPDATE: Ask and you shall receive. The latest on the County Water Board race: The three incumbents appeared to be hanging on - with each getting between 25 and 28.5 percent support, and challenger John Basham attracting just 20 percent support. That's with 94 percent of precincts reporting.

-Aman Batheja

Carrollton mayor in fight for her political life

Mayor Becky Miller was coasting to victory in early voting.

No more.

The Election Day results are trickling in and it's clear the cloud over her character has taken its toll.

With 16 of 33 precincts reporting, Miller is now leading by only 30 votes. Dig deeper and things look even worse. While she led her challenger Ron Branson by over 200 votes in early voting, in Election Day returns Branson is leading 540 to Miller's 360.

It's a complete flip-flop.

-Aman Batheja

School board candidates say it's been a mean, mean race

With 40 percent of the vote in, Carlos Vasquez is still crushing Fort Worth ISD board trustee Camille Rodriguez with 62 percent of the vote.

Both candidates claim their opponent's campaign was unusually vicious. Here's an example of one of the flyers slamming Vasquez that was distributed by a group called Voters for the TRUTH.

It is, indeed, very harsh.

Click on the images for a closer look (at both the flyer and my messy desk!)

 

-Aman Batheja and Diane Smith

Who's winning in some hot local races

Some early vote trends:

--Fort Worth School Board President: Ray Dickerson is leading Chris Hatch and William Winnett with 48 percent, but Hatch leads the Election Day voting.

--Fort Worth School Board,  District 1 trustee: Carlos Vasquez is leading incumbent Camille Rodriguez with 61.56 percent.

--City of Fort Worth bond - breezing by with 67 percent support.

--Mansfield Mayor - David L. Cook is leading three opponents with 54 percent support.

--Southlake proposition - Early voters overwhelmingly voted against allowing state law to replace city policy for hiring, promotions, salaries, disciplinary matters and other personnel issues for police and firefighters. The prop is losing by 75 percent.

--Irving Mayor - Mayor Harold Gears was leading challengers with 53 percent of the early vote.

--Carrollton Mayor - Mayor Becky Miller is leading challenger Ron Branson with 55 percent of the early vote but keep in mind, the story about her fuzzy past broke toward the end of early voting. Today's vote could have trended very differently.

Check out more details on local results from Fort Worth, Arlington, Mansfield, Southlake, and Keller.

-Aman Batheja

Several local races too close to call

The following races are pure nail-biters, according to the early vote:

Board of Directors Tarrant Regional Water District (For three out of four seats)
John Austin Basham 23.73% (1,460 votes)
Jack R. Stevens 28.78% (1,771 votes)
Hal S. Sparks III 24.07% (1,481 votes)
Vic Henderson 23.42% (1,441votes)

Azle ISD, School Board Trustee, Place 1
Kinny Pack 52.63% (440 votes)
Gary Hann 47.37% (396 votes)

Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD, School Board Trustee, Place 7
Paul R. Jacobs 47.65% (345 votes)
Donna K. Webb 52.35% (379 votes)

Grapevine-Colleyville ISD, Trustee, Place 7
Mia Green 49.55% (550 votes)
Jorge Rodriguez 50.45% (560 votes)

Northwest ISD, School Trustee, Place 7
Mel Fuller 49.81% (128 votes)
Brent Stephens 50.19% (129 votes)

City of Arlington, Council Member, District #7
Jimmy Bennett  43.65% (1,993 votes)
Robert Martin 12.77% (583 votes)
Michael Glaspie 43.58% (1,990 votes)

City of Watauga, Council Member, Place 7
Jerry Adams 50.00% (44 votes)
James Kimmerle 50.00%(44 votes)

City of Westworth Village, Council, Place 4
John Hearon 48.89% (22 votes)
George Davis 51.11% (23 votes)

-Aman Batheja

Former Apprentice star may end up on local school board

Bowie Hogg, who was on the first season of The Apprentice in 2004, is leading with 39 percent of the vote in the race for the place 6 seat on the Arlington school board.

If he maintains that amount through the night, he'll likely end up in a runoff with Carla Crow, who has 31 percent of the early vote. win outright because he doesn't need 50 percent to declare victory.

-Aman Batheja

Can you stand the Election night excitement?

  Polls close in 30 minutes. We'll be live blogging throughout the night so come back for updates on the returns as they come in.

While today's local races don't exactly have the sexiness of the March primary, there's still plenty of drama, controversy and uncertainty.

The early voting results should be up by about 7:15. In the meantime, maintaining a Politex election night tradition, here's some links to keep you entertained.

--For those who think Obama supporters are a little too high on hope (refresh the page a few times to get the gist).

--For those who want to debate as to whether Mike Gravel or Obama Girl comes off as more desperate for attention.(Our verdict: it's a toss-up.)

--For those who wish Ron Paul supporters would just go off on their own.

--For those who want to relive the Florida recount.

-Aman Batheja

Wedding crashers?

CRAWFORD -- Residents and visitors alike around here say their invitation to the Jenna Bush-Henry Hager wedding must have gotten lost in the mail.

Tim Souders still wanted to come and check out the view.

"We didn't get invited to the wedding so we thought we'd crash it," joked Souders, who lives about 40 miles away from Crawford. "It's fun to be here."

-- Anna M. Tinsley

Part of Jenna Bush's wedding

CRAWFORD -- Mary Wood just had to be in Crawford today.

She wanted to be able to say she was here today, of all days, the day first daughter Jenna Bush will marry longtime boyfriend Henry Hager about seven miles away at her parents' Prairie Chapel Ranch.

"I wanted to say even though you can't see it, you can breathe the same air they are breathing," said Wood, of San Antonio.

Wood planned to take photos of the city's downtown, buy a few souveniers and eat at the nearby coffee shop.

"I'm going to stay here as late as I can," she said. "I just had to be here to say I was here for it."

-- Anna M. Tinsley

Not a typical Saturday in Crawford

CRAWFORD -- On a typical Saturday in Crawford, one car might pass through the one-stoplight intersection every few hours.

Not so today.

The city is bustling with visitors who want to be close to first daughter Jenna Bush's wedding -- and TV and print media who want to cover the event.

Several TV satellite crews are set up along Crawford streets and crews from as far away as Italy have visited. Reporters, photographers and TV crews are asking visitors why they wanted to visit Crawford today.

"It's fun to see all the different news crews," said Sherry Pennington, of nearby Woodway. "It's exciting."

-- Anna M. Tinsley

Driving to the Bush ranch?

CRAWFORD -- Even though they know they won't make it there, many visitors here want to try to drive to the Bushes' Prairie Chapel Ranch, long ago dubbed the Western White House.

An information booth set up even offers visitors a map of how to get there -- and it shows the point where a roadblock manned by law enforcers and Secret Service will turn sight-seers around.

"They'll go anyway, even though they know they can't get through," said Marilyn Judy, president of the Crawford Chamber of Commerce.

Count Sherry Pennington among the offenders.

"We'll drive to the roadblock just to say we did," said Pennington, of nearby Woodway. "It's fun to feel like you're a part of Jenna's wedding day."

-- Anna M. Tinsley

McGregor celebrating Jenna's wedding too

MCGREGOR -- A few miles down the road from Crawford, some folks in McGregor are ready to celebrate first daughter Jenna Bush's wedding today too.

Valerie Citrano, who runs the Western White House Gifts in the Coffee Shop Cafe, had to run home around noon today to make more coffee mugs commemorating the wedding.

"I'm tring to make another six dozen," she said. "Everyone is buying them."

So much so that she's lost count of how many she has sold -- saying hundreds and hundreds.

"I've gotten about two hours' sleep in the last two nights," Citrano said. "It will take another two weeks just to fill the online orders."

Meanwhile, she's getting ready for the big cake cutting tonight.

Citrano made a wedding cake -- complete with the White House and Secret Service men guarding it -- to cut around 5:30 p.m. tonight to serve to diners.

"You'll have to come back for the cake cutting tonight," she told me.

I will.

-- Anna M. Tinsley

Running out of wedding souvenirs

CRAWFORD -- Jamie Burgess thought she had stocked up on mugs, coasters and mouse pads commemorating the wedding of first daughter Jenna Bush and Henry Hager.

But the Red Bull souvenir shop on Main Street in Crawford sold out of the 300-plus mugs, 50 mouse pads and 36 leather coasters before the big day even arrived

By Friday, she was out of the items and had to start taking orders for the next shipment which soon should arrive.

Today she's serving wedding cake, punch and cookies made from first lady Laura Bush's own recipe to those who visit.

"It's great," said Burgess, manager of the shop. "It shows how much people do support Jenna and Henry."

-- Anna M. Tinsley

Wanting to see President Bush in Crawford

CRAWFORD -- Barry McDonald is on his way to visit his sick mother in Austin, but felt he had to stop in Crawford on his way.

The Frisco man said he's a Republican in the midst of Demcorats in his family, but wanted to see where first daughter Jenna Bush would be getting married tonight.

"It's not very often a presidential daughter gets married," he said. "So I decided to turn off and visit.

"I'm hoping to see the president drive through, but I don't think that's going to happen."

He said he bought several buttons commemorating Jenna Bush's wedding to Henry Hager, as well as coffee cups and coasters to hand out to family members.

"I hope mother doesn't relapse," he said.

-- Anna M. Tinsley

Passing through Crawford

CRAWFORD -- Deborah Miller just wanted to see what Crawford looks like.

The Grand Prairie woman was in Austin, so she thought she'd take a drive through the community nearest to the Western White House, where first daughter Jenna Bush will get married tonight.

"I knew the wedding is today so I wanted to come by," Miller said as she was shopping for souvenirs. "I just like President Bush. He's a good person and he loves his country.

"We don't like all his ideas, but we'd do anything for him."

So she bought two Western White House mugs and two books.

She admits she's wondering how President Bush will do tonight, escorting his daughter down the wedding aisle.

"I think he'll do well," she said with a grin. "Hopefully he won't trip."

-- Anna M. Tinsley

Crawford: Home to Jenna Bush's wedding

CRAWFORD -- The one-stoplight community of Crawford is busier today than in recent months.

Texans are coming to see the place where first daughter Jenna Bush will get married to fiance Henry Hager tonight.

That's actually a few miles away, at the Bushes' Prairie Chapel Ranch, but here in Crawford the celebration has already begun.

The Angel of Steadfast Love is decked out in a white wedding veil and carries a bouquet of white flowers. A marquee nearby offers well wishes: "Congrats Jenna and Henry."

And souvenier shops are selling out of their wedding buttons, mugs and coasters.

-- Anna M. Tinsley

Obama not ready to write off Texas

Maybe Texas hasn't seen the last of Barack Obama after all.

Smart money back in March was that once the Democratic primary ended, who ever ended up with the presidential nomination would only need Texas for its deep-pocket donors. But now that Obama appears on a cruise-control glide to the nomination, we've got some visible signs that he still plans to mine the Lone Star State for votes come November.

The Illinois senator's campaign just served notice that it plans to hold four major voter-registration efforts in the state's top media markets on Saturday. The event for the Metroplex will be in Dallas at 1409 S. Lamar St., starting at 10:30 a.m.

State Republican party spokesman Hans Klingler brushed aside any notion that any Democratic presidential nominee has any chance to take Texas this year. The state has been as red as the bottom stripe of the Lone Star flag in every presidential race since 1980.

"As (Democratic gubernatorial candidate) Tony Sanchez showed in 2002, you can spend millions of dollars on voter registration in Texas and still come up double-digits behind the Republicans in Texas," Klingler said. "Sen. McCain (the presumptive GOP nominee who's first name is John) is going to do very well here in Texas this fall."

Not so fast, countered Democratic operative Kelly Fero.

"Texas is definitely in play, more so down the ballot in state Senate and House races than in the presidential," he said. "But the presidential race will significantly shape some of the down-ballot races and create a tide that could sweep incumbents out of office and challengers into office."

-- John Moritz

(Go to http://my.barackobama.com/voteforchange to find out more about Obama's effort.)

Pizza for Jenna Bush's wedding?

Seems like everyone wants a piece of the pie at first daughter Jenna Bush's wedding tomorrow.

Pizza Hut even offered to provide a late night snack for the festivities.

Pizza Hut President Scott Bergren sent President Bush a letter May 5 offering to provide the new Pizza Mia at the end of the evening reception.

"And we'd be happy to serve it with any of Jenna's favorite toppings," according to the letter. "Of course, as our gift to the newlyweds, the pizzas are on us.

"After all, we feel a certain bond with the First Family. Like you, we call Texas home -- we're just up the road from Crawford in Dallas."

Pizza Hut spokesman Chris Fuller said Pizza Hut did not receive a response from the president.

"I guess they are going to leave their guests with something less tasty," he said.

-- Anna M. Tinsley

Will this year's Swift Boaters hail from Texas?

We wrote today about two new 527 groups from Texas hoping to sway voters in November.

A group called Save Our Republic based in Seabrook wants to influence the presidential race “so that the national security of our Republic, the United States of America, is saved, preserved, and improved,” according to the group’s filing. One of their leaders is a conservative radio personality from Ohio with some possible Swift Boat connections. You can read the full filing here.

Locally, the Greater Fort Worth Real Estate Council recently created their own 527 group with some notable bigwigs (J.D. Granger, Kenneth Barr, Mike Berry, Bill Miller) serving as directors. Check out their filing here.

-Aman Batheja

A solar power future?

Giant 30 mile by 30 mile solar plants in west Texas could power the entire state, according to a new report from the Environment Texas conservation group. According to the report, the solar power plants could generate 148,000 megawatts of electricity -- or twice the  state's current  energy use.

"Solar thermal power is ready for primetime," said Luke Metzger, director of Environment Texas. “With support from policymakers, Texas could quickly get much of its energy from this abundant and clean domestic energy source at prices competitive with new nuclear or ‘clean coal’ power plants."

However, Metzger warned that solar energy tax credits that make such projects more cost effective are set to expire at the end of the year. He said the cost of energy from solar thermal power plants could be competitive with the cost of new nuclear power plants.

Four companies have proposed building eight new nuclear reactors in Texas. Those plants can cost billions of dollars. The state is also contemplating constructing billions of dollars in transmission lines to encourage the development of additional wind power.

In a recent report, Texas Comptroller Susan Combs notes that about 2.8 cents of every dollar spent on energy in Texas finances a local, state or federal subsidy.

-- R.A. Dyer

Patterson to Star-Telegram: "I couldn't care less."

Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson has a few choice words for your hometown newspaper.

In an editorial Thursday, the Star-Telegram called the Republican land commissioner's position on the Christmas Mountains untenable, and said that "his obstinate invocation of the gun issue in the discussion borders on obsession."

In a response Thursday, Patterson cites the oath he took years ago as an officer of the United States Marine Corps. He also notes in his 400-plus word letter that  the "Fort Worth Star-Telegram may consider my position 'untenable' and my zeal for the Bill of Rights 'obstinate' and an 'obsession,'  but I couldn't care less."

Patterson has expressed an unwillingness to transfer the 14.5-square-mile tract to the National Park Service if the agency insists on enforcing its regular firearms restrictions on the land. The park service has offered to add the land to Big Bend National Park.

Patterson, who as a House lawmaker also authored the state's concealed handgun law, also has suggested he would not honor an expected U.S. Supreme Court ruling if it contradicts his views on the Second Amendment.

"I guess you can just call me an old-fashioned believer in the wisdom of those who penned the Bill of Rights and not much of a believer in the wisdom of editorial boards," Patterson wrote.

You can click on the comments section below for a full text of the letter.

--R.A. Dyer

Brimer goes green?

State Sen. Kim Brimer, who's running for re-election, has sent a letter to the senate finance committee chairman asking whether more money can be found so that the Texas Railroad Commission can inspect more gas wells in the Barnett Shale.

Read all about it on our Barnett Shale blog, including background stories about the Railroad Commission's inspection rate: http://startelegram.typepad.com/barnett_shale/

-- Mike Lee

John McCain wants answers about diorama drama

Arizona Sen. John McCain has written this letter to Gov. Rick Perry about a spot of unpleasantness at the Texas Military History Museum. The director there has been accused of wrecking a diorama that Arizona high school students spent years building. The director's actions reportedly left students in tears.

A museum spokesman said it was dismantled because of historical inaccuracies and that the tiny little horses and men will be used to build other dioramas.

And now -- apparently in response to a letter from an Arizona high school teacher -- the man who could become the next president of the United States wants answers.

-- R.A. Dyer

Superdelegates in the spotlight

It never fails.

These days, after a Democratic presidential primary, Texas' superdelegates -- and those nationwide -- are deluged with calls from reporters wanting to know if they are for Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama?

"It solidified the decision I made last week," to endorse Barack Obama, said John Patrick, a United Steelworkers official from Friendswood. "I"m absolutely convinced after (Tuesday) night that we have a nominee now."

Clinton backers suggest that Obama supporters not get the cart before the horse.

"I want a Democratic nominee that can win nationally," said U.S. Rep. Gene Green, of Houston.

An informal Star-Telegram survey shows that 13 Texas superdelegates are for Clinton, 12 are for Obama and seven are undecided.

-- Anna M. Tinsley

Military bases may ban Playboy, Penthouse

A Georgia Congressman has filed a bill that would block the sale of certain men’s magazines on U.S. military bases, including local bases like Fort  Hood in Killeen and Sheppard Air Force Base in  Wichita  Falls

U.S. Rep. Paul Broun, R-Ga. wants magazines like Playboy and Penthouse (sorry, you'll have to look up their sites yourself) to stop being sold at Army Air Force Exchange Service stores, arguing that the skin mags are partly responsible for a rise in sexual assaults in the military and other problems.

Grassroots supporters of the bill are also concerned because children visit the stores. They want the bases to only sell items that could pass muster at a Wal-Mart.

Soldiers interviewed by Stars And Stripes say the magazines are good for morale and no, it's not just because of the articles.

Says a refreshingly frank Sgt. Simon Brown of Daytona Beach, Fla., "It’s not all about the pictures, although 80 percent of it is."

Here's the text of the bill complete with an anatomic rundown of what kind of nudity Broun says is and isn't acceptable.

-Aman Batheja

One-time campaign mouthpiece is now the candidate

Sharp-eyed readers may recall the name Mark Sanders. Most recently, he was the sometimes acid-tongued spokesman for former Texas Comptoller and gubernatorial candidate Carole Keeton Strayhorn, and he provided the same service for the ill-fated 2002 Democratic candidate Tony Sanchez in 2002.

When Strayhorn left office after losing her bid to be elected governor and an independent in 2006, Sanders left Austin. He's back in his family's Henderson County hometown of Eustace, population about 750, raising quarter horses on the East Texas farm he inherited from his grandparents.

And after a career working as aide to politicians, he's trying his own hand a candidate. Sanders, 45, is one of six hopeful's vying for three places on the Eustace City Council.

His connections to Austin are also playing a role in what Sanders admits is an uphill campaign. With just a few days to go before Saturday's election, Sanders is sending out a mailer to Eustace voters containing an endorsement letter from Strayhorn.

It remains uncertain how the letter will play. In 2006 governor's race, Strayhorn netted just 22 percent of the vote in Henderson County. But when she was running for re-election as comptroller four years before, she collected a whopping 69.5 percent of the share.

-- John Moritz

Diorama Drama on MSNBC

Talk about your public relations nightmare: MSNBC's Keith Olbermann minces no words over the handling of a Civil War diorama by the director of the Texas Military Forces Museum in Austin. A high school teacher in Arizona says that some of his students were left weeping because the director wrecked the model. He said his students spent years working on the model

The museum says it was merely dismantled because it was historically inaccurate. Olbermann's view on the matter are pretty clear.

You can see the full story here.

-- R.A. Dyer

Name that tune: Enter the first ever Politex contest

It's been six months since the District 97 special election.

Six months since Election Day voters in southwest Tarrant County received an anonymous campaign robocall slamming one Republican candidate and implicating another. The call boldly violated state rules and may have changed the course of an election.

Last week, the campaign behind an anonymous robocall in an Austin city council race was identified within a few days.

Six months later, neither local nor state officials have held anyone responsible for the District 97 call.

So we here at Politex are issuing a challenge. Below is the audio from the call. Listen to it. Send it to your friends. Play it at dinner parties. Loop it over a drum beat and pass it out to local DJs.

Do whatever you think might help in determining who was behind this.

Send an email to abatheja@star-telegram.com with your tip. Help us identify the voice on the call or the organization or candidate responsible.

The winner will receive full credit or complete anonymity - their choice. And, as this was S-T biz reporter Barry Schlacter's idea, he's throwing in a free copy of his Beer Guide to the winner.

Happy hunting.

Download Dist97.mp3

(Note: Many assume that Mark Shelton ordered the call because he beat out five other Republicans that day and listed an out-of-state robocall firm in his financial report. Both Shelton and the company's president say it wasn't them. If you still think Shelton is behind it, we're going to need some new evidence.)

-Aman Batheja

The Senate race is competitive, poll shows

A new poll shows Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in an uncomfortably tight race for a second term.

Rassmussen Reports, which is monitoring most of the contested Senate races along with the presidential contest in advance of the November elections, puts the Senate race in Texas at Cornyn 47 percent and Democratic state Rick Noriega of Houston (top photo) at 43 percent.

"Any incumbent who polls below 50 percent is considered potentially vulnerable," Rasmussen says on its Web site. "That is especially true when a little known challenger is so competitive in an early general election match-up."

Cornyn (bottom photo), a former Texas attorney general and state Supreme Court Justice, had about $8.7 million in campaign cash during the most recent reporting period in April. Noriega, in his first statewide race, had but $330,000.

The poll surveyed of 500 Likely Voters on May 1. The margin of error was listed at plus or minus 4 percentage points.

The Rasmussen poll also suggests a fairly competitive presidential race in red-state Texas with Arizona Sen. John McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee leading Democratic Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois by 5 perentage points and New York Sen. Hillary Clinton by 6.

Check out Rasmussen's full post here:

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_senate_elections/texas/election_2008_texas_senate

-- John Moritz

JPS meeting with county commissioners postponed

Those hoping for a confrontation between JPS Hospital Network and Tarrant County Commissioners will h