farewell, pinkdome

A longtime favorite among Texas bloggers, PinkDome's Charlie Ray, is retiring from the blogosphere.

Thanks for what you've done for all of us... you'll be missed.

blogosphere roundup

I figured it was due time for another roundup of the extensive political blogosphere. Here are some excellent and recent blogs from both a local, state, and national level:

1. Burnt Orange Report tells us that the Texas Federation of Teachers has endorsed Carole Keeton Strayhorn for Texas Governor.
2. Capitol Annex offers an extensive post on the redistricting situation, with some corrections and clarifications here.
3. DallasBlog considers Darrell Jordan as a Dallas mayoral candidate in 2007.
4. Gonzo Muckraker reports that someone sent fake anthrax to the New York Times.
5. At the Huffington Post, Arianna comments on the week's events at her famous blog.
6. In the Pink Texas speculates about the midterm elections.
7. PinkDome reports on the evolution of MySpace and how it can help candidates. Amy Manuel's MySpace account is profiled.
8. Right of Texas points out that Democrat Chris Bell is the only gubernatorial candidate without a nickname.
9. Stop Kinky! predicts that Kinky Friedman will end up in the single digits come November.
10. WhosPlayin' outlines a (short) list of Texas candidates that support Network Neutrality.
    

blogosphere roundup

I figured it was due time for another roundup of the extensive political blogosphere. Here are some excellent and recent blogs from both a local, state, and national level:

1. In the Pink Texas reports on the widespread hysteria surrounding yesterday's date: June 6, 2006, otherwise known as 06/06/06 (or 666, "the devil's number").
2. Capitol Annex blogged an endorsement of Glen Maxey for Texas Democratic Party State Chairman.
3. At Burnt Orange Report, a blogger links to radio interviews with TDP Chair candidates Boyd Richie and Glen Maxey.
4. Right of Texas disagrees with Kinky Friedman's newest outlined goals.
5. The Stop Kinky! blog contends that Kinky Friedman is no Jesse Ventura.
6. Pink Dome reports that White House Press Secretary Tony Snow thinks anti-gay marriage legislation is tantamount to civil rights legislation (but he can't defend that view when pressed).
7. The Gonzo Muckraker gives the scoop on Robert Kennedy, Jr.'s assessment of 2004's stolen presidential election.
8. At The Huffington Post, Arianna Huffington accuses the right of sweeping Katrina under the rug for political reasons.
9. At Dallas Blog, Scott Bennett editorializes on Dallas Mayor Laura Miller and what he considers her somewhat flawed view of the city.
10. Grits for Breakfast reports on the abject conditions of some Houston area prisons largely due to overcrowding.
    

blogosphere roundup

Because rounding up the best blogs in the span of a week is just impossible with so much material, and because I simply do not have the time or energy to devote to a daily "blogosphere roundup," this feature has become a periodic thing. I'll post a roundup whenever I've recently seen quite a few good blogs. That way, I'll only be passing on the best of the best.

Here are some excellent and recent blogs from both a local, state, and national level:

1. Arianna Huffington of The Huffington Post offers advice to "poll-drunk Democrats" about the upcoming congressional midterms.
2. Stop Kinky! asks if Kinky Friedman is simply a trojan horse for the Perry campaign and gives several more reasons not to vote for the comedic independent challenger.
3. In the Pink Texas reports on the U.S. Senate vote to build a 370 mile fence along the U.S.-Mexico border.
4. Vince at Capitol Annex makes some great points in an interview with State Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Laredo).
5. South Texas Chisme tells us that Speaker of the House Denny Hastert seems to think that those earning $40,000 per year or less do not pay taxes.
6. The informative Grits for Breakfast fills us in on a rejected jail bond measure in Tyler.
7. Stephen Webster, aka the Gonzo Muckraker, reports on a controversial meeting of the Denton County Republican Women's Club.
8. Right of Texas reports that Governor Perry has signed a law that would make funeral protests illegal (which is only relevant to nutcases like Fred Phelps).
9. PinkDome says goodbye to State Rep. Mary Denny (R-Flower Mound).
10. Burnt Orange Report discusses a new poll that finds Bush at a low 42% approval rating in Texas, with only three states showing a positive rating: Wyoming, Idaho, and Utah.
    

the texas blogosphere defined

Vince Leibowitz, contributor to Burnt Orange Report and founder of Capitol Annex, contributed a guest blog at DallasBlog.com called A Guide to Texas Blogs Left and Right. It defines the Texas blogosphere and presents links to what Mr. Leibowitz calls some of the best political blogs in Texas. Of course, the obvious "A-listers" were mentioned, but Mr. Leibowitz also talked about some newer blogs all across the state, including NTL.

In North Texas, Three Wise Men, a group Blog, College Democrats of North Texas, and North Texas Liberal, are three Blogs that address issues of national and state significance.

Thanks, Vince! We appreciate the publicity and we're glad that someone has finally taken a real and comprehensive look at the Texas blogosphere.

blogosphere roundup - april 29 - may 5

Let's take a look at some of the best blogs of the week, both on a local and national level.

1. Burnt Orange Report shares a comprehensive economic profile of the city of Dallas.
2. Capitol Annex features a fantastic guest blog from Barbara Ann Radnofsky, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate.
3. The Huffington Post blogger (and former Dittohead) Jim Derych says that the Republicans are officially out of ideas.
4. Pink Dome reports on former porn star Anna Nicole Smith's victory, booting her case to the California courts, in the U.S. Supreme Court. The justices voted 9-0 in Smith's favor.
5. Chris Bowers at MyDD debunks common myths about the bloggers in his post about "the emerging anti-netroots narrative."
6. Bay Area Houston Blog reports that the Texas Senate has failed Texas teachers yet again, denying a proposed raise and stipend.
7. Rechan at LiveJournal Democrats shows that Bush's criticism of "The Star-Spangled Banner" being sung in Spanish is hypocritical. Read more about flip-flops from Lamar Alexander and Laura Bush.
   
8. Dallas Blog tells us that Texas Democrats are winning the blog war.
9. At the Huffington Post, Arianna Huffington speaks out about Net Neutrality filling us in on why it's important and why it should be renamed.
10. In the Pink Texas explores a possible change in the high school curriculum that's being spearheaded by Sen. Florence Shapiro (R-Plano).
    

blogosphere roundup - april 23-28

Let's take a look at some of the best blogs of the week, both on a local and national level.

1. Capitol Annex reports that Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee was arrested while protesting the genocide in Darfur at the Sudanese Embassy in Washington, D.C. Rep. Jackson Lee is a Democrat representing the Houston area in the U.S. House of Representatives.
2. The College Democrats of North Texas detail the 2006 Texas Young Democrats Convention, during which members met statewide candidates such as Radnofsky and Bell.
3. Burnt Orange Report tells us everything we need to know about the new $1 cigarette tax, including Rep. Chisum's failed amendment that would lower said tax to a mere 65 cents. In the Pink Texas also has a great post on this subject.
   
4. Over at The Huffington Post, Arianna Huffington blogs about "fearlessness, courage," and the controversial new 9/11 movie, United 93.
5. Also reported by The Huffington Post, right-wing ideologue Rush Limbaugh has been arrested on drug charges and released on bail. Pink Dome goes in depth on the story.
   
6. In the Pink Texas comments on Fox News commentator Tony Snow succeeding Scott McClellan as White House Press Secretary.
7. Pink Dome has an open thread soliciting freshman legislators that could be candidates for the far-away 2010 gubernatorial showdown.
8. TexasKos, a local spinoff of the ever-popular DailyKos, made its big launch on Monday. Be sure to register for a free membership over there to stay up to date on progressive politics in Texas.
9. MyDD reminds us that the historic fifty-state canvass, initiated by Howard Dean and the DNC, takes place tomorrow. There are several local events coinciding with this initiative, including canvasses in Dallas, Denton, Frisco, Irving, and the Flower Mound/Lewisville area. For a full list of Dallas area block-walks, visit the DNC listing.
10. South Texas Chisme reports on the gasoline shortage in the Dallas and Houston metropolitan areas.