brimer calls texas blogger "lunatic"

Fellow Texas blogger Bay Area Houston had a little run-in with State Sen. Kim Brimer, the SD-10 Republican whose seat may get taken in a few days by Fort Worth Democrat Wendy Davis.

Here's the description of John's encounter with Brimer in his own words:

Background:
I attended the Sunset Commission hearing on abolishing the Texas Residential Construction Commission. Prior to the meeting I had sent a letter to Brimer (see attached) asking him to recuse himself from the decision to abolish this commission because unlike the homeowners who will testify, Brimer can always just ask Bob Perry for more donations to buy another condo if the condo is defective. I was obviously referring to his rent to own scam.

The confrontation
While “teaching” a new homeowner the ropes in the capitol, I saw Brimer in the hall, so I asked him about the letter and if he would recuse himself from the decision. He immediately turned red and started yelling at me “You are a lunatic” “You are crazy” and then walked away.

Three times I asked Brimer to “Don’t turn away from me, let’s talk about this”. Each time he would turn around getting more red. He claimed I didn’t know what I was talking about, and got mad when I told him I had a copy of the Ethics complaint. He demanded a copy of it. (see attached. Notice this complaint was filed in late 2007 and is NOT the one filed by the Values PAC in Dallas)

Brimer again turned away until I said “Well, then we will discuss this at the hearing, with the media”. He turned around one last time and said “I’ll make sure you are not there!” (What that meant is beyond me!)

The conclusion
Anyway, he was there for the two day hearings, but he was noticably missing from the part on the homebuilders commission recommendation. Mission accomplished?

If you want to bring real change to Austin, make a last-minute contribution to the Wendy Davis campaign today, and if you live in Senate District 10, make sure you vote for her!

Bob Perry Linked to California Electoral Scam

The San Jose Mercury News is reporting that the law firm behind the proposed California ballot initiative that would eliminate the state's "winner take all" scheme for awarding electoral votes has ties to Texan Bob Perry.

Charles H. Bell and Thomas Hiltachk's law firm banked nearly $65,000 in fees from a California-based political committee funded almost solely by Bob J. Perry that targeted Democrats in 2006. Perry, a major Republican donor, contributed nearly $4.5 million to the group Swift Boat Veterans for Truth that made unsubstantiated but damaging attacks on Kerry three years ago.

The Perry-financed committee in California, the Economic Freedom Fund, continued to spend money this year, mostly on legal expenses tied to an ongoing legal dispute in Indiana over phone calls made to voters in 2006. It lists the Sacramento law office's address as its home and its Web site directs contributions to the firm, Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk. In addition, Bell serves as the committee's treasurer.

Through a political action committee, Californians for Equal Representation, the firm is trying to collect 400,000 petition signatures to place the measure on the ballot.

And while Perry has not donated to their cause, his wealth and connections make him a potential financier for a drive that could cost more than $1 million. Running a statewide campaign would cost millions more..

The impact of splitting the electoral votes of this heavily Democratic and populous state would favor the Republicans.

[The initiative] would award two of them to the statewide winner and the rest, one by one, to the winner in each congressional district. Nineteen of the fifty-three districts are represented by Republicans, but Bush carried twenty-two districts in 2004. The bottom line is that the initiative, if passed, would spot the Republican ticket something in the neighborhood of twenty electoral votes-votes that it wouldn't get under the rules prevailing in every other sizable state in the Union.

That the Republicans are looking to manipulate elections that they can't win outright is hardly news. Neither is the revelation that a Texas sugardaddy may once again be handing out the goodies when the GOP opens its bag of dirty tricks. The good news is the grassroots is organizing to oppose this power grab.

DeLay Wannabes Work the Crowd at GOP Convention

Tom DeLay did not attend the Republican Convention in San Antonio last week, and no one knows whether the soon to be ex-Congressman has put in a plug for one of the eight candidates seeking to replace him. But the contenders were all out in full force, working the precinct chairs who will choose four representatives ultimately responsible for selecting DeLay's successor.

The candidates at this point are:

State Reps. Charlie Howard of Sugar Land and Robert Talton of Pasadena, state Sen. Mike Jackson of La Porte, Houston City Councilwoman Shelley Sekula-Gibbs, Sugar Land Mayor David Wallace, lawyer Tom Campbell, former state executive committee member Tim Turner and retired Air Force major Don Richardson.

The Houston Chronicle has some select quotes from the contenders.

In printed campaign materials he handed out, Talton, a former precinct chairman and convention delegate, touted his A+ rating from the National Rifle Association and his standing as one of the most conservative members of the House. ''This is about relationships built up over many years," Talton said.

''I know the precinct chairs and delegates because I've been among them. Some people change their position on issues for political opportunity."

Shocking, I know. My faith in politicians has just taken a huge hit.

But Talton has some competition for the conservatives from Councilwoman Shelley Sekula-Gibbs.

Sekula-Gibbs gave the Republicans red meat to chew on — telling them she is anti-abortion, pro-business, for limited government, immigration reform without amnesty and lowering crime, ''since Katrina evacuees came into our life [emphasis mine]."

While we're at it, why don't we just build a wall between Texas and Louisiana?

Ms. Sekula-Gibbs seemingly has come from left field to become a major contender in this race. Apparently, her campaign mailings claim support from money-bags Bob Perry, which makes her definitely one to watch.