Politex

McCain grabs spotlight with Britney and Paris in anti-Obama ad

The chatter on John McCain's latest political ad is ranging from "childish" to gosh darn effective.

But what may be more important is that people are actually talking about it.

After several sputtering attempts at going after Barack Obama, McCain has figured out what everyone from Access Hollywood to The New York Times has known forever: there's no quicker way way to get people's attention than to somehow bring it all back to this country's beloved blond tabloid staples.

We're curious what you think of it all. Is McCain's line of attack irrelevant? Does he have a point? As Texans, should we be offended that Jessica Simpson didn't make the cut? Check out the ad and the video response from Obama's camp below and let us know what you think in the comments.

Armstrong's reflections

Texas stalwart Anne Armstrong -- a Republican powerhouse and former U.S. ambassador -- died Wednesday, losing a battle against cancer.

Amstrong, appointed ambassador during Gerald Ford's administration, shared some of her thoughts about the former president with the Star-Telegram when he died, in December 2006.

She said she was honored to have a front-row seat to watch Ford in action, especially because he was such a steady force for the country after Watergate. He worked to promote women, as she learned first-hand when Ford made her the first woman named ambassador to Britain.

And while she said he may not have known how to eat a tamale, he had a lot in common with Texans.

"He had a lot of characteristics that we Texans admire," said Armstrong, of the legendary Armstrong Ranch in Kenedy County. "He had the same kind of straightforwardness, straight talk. He was low-key; nothing put-on about that man.

"And he was loyal," she said. "We Texans are like that, too. Our word is our bond, and his was too."

-- Anna M. Tinsley

East Texas congressman wants Gitmo moved to Supreme Court grounds

You can practically see the sarcasm dripping off the wording in this bill US Rep. Louis Gohmert of Tyler filed last week proposing a new location for Guantanamo Bay.

In light of the US Supreme Court's recent ruling that Gitmo detainees are protected by the U.S. Constitution’s habeas corpus protections, Gohmert wants to move the controversial jail to the Supreme Court grounds, "confined by adequate fencing."

"There can be no better way for the United States Supreme Court to exercise its new self-appointed war powers than to house the prisoners whom it has taken a greater role in overseeing," Gohmert writes.

It's impossible to miss Gohmert's feelings toward the justices when he offers, "Should the detainees need the use of restroom facilities, they shall use the facilities inside the United States Supreme Court building."

The bill also allows the justices to take over guard duty whenever they want and threatens to cut the court's budget in half if they don't follow the bill's guidelines.

[Hat tip to Fark for the link]

-Aman Batheja

Cornyn Shares the Wealth - $250 grand

Sen. John Cornyn announced at a lunch today that he was forking over $250,000 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Senate Republicans held their weekly policy luncheon at the NRSC today instead of in the Capitol, giving Cornyn a chance to shine. Cornyn is apparently flush with cash - his campaign reported $9.4 million cash on hand as of June 30 while Democratic opponent Rick Noriega reported $916,000.

As a member of leadership, he feels an obligation to pitch in and help the team," said  Cornyn campaign spokesman Kevin McLaughlin. Cornyn, vice-chair of the Senate Republican Conference is reportedly interested in being the NRSC chairman next election cycle. But, said McLaughlin, "He is concerned about his re-election right now."

-- Maria Recio

The wit and wisdom of indicted Alaska Senator Ted Stevens

Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, was indicted today on seven counts of false statements regarding possible kickbacks.

But Stevens has a couple of false statements of the less illegal variety from his past that are also worth remembering.

Of course, there's his famous comment regarding the Internet: "The Internet is not something that you just dump something on. It's not a big truck. It's a series of tubes."

The scary part was that Stevens said that in June 2006, while he was head of the senate committee in charge of regulating the Internet.

But just two weeks before the "tubes" gaffe, Stevens made another comment that got belly laughs in this corner of Texas.

Stevens was at a senate committee hearing where he predicted that  his proposed telecommunications bill would encourage companies like Verizon and AT&T to bring their new video offerings to rural areas. Stevens pointed out how his bill was very similar to the one passed here in Texas.

"We almost copied the law of Texas, and the first place that was served after that new law went into effect, I’m told, was Keller, Texas, which you and I know is pretty rural," Stevens said.

The remark had some Keller residents wondering if Stevens was confusing his tractors with his golf carts.

(For the census geeks out there, the U.S. Census Bureau classifies an area as urban if it has a population density of at least 1,000 persons per square mile. Keller easily beats that, with 1,483 residents per square mile as of 2000.)

-Aman Batheja

Obama's new Texas leader

Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama has a new man in town.

Well, in Texas, anyway.

San Antonio attorney Juan Sepúlveda has been named Texas' state director for Obama's campaign.

"Our priority is expanding our strong grassroots movement for change across the state so we can help Democrats up and down the ticket and win the White House in November," a statement from the campaign read Tuesday. "Texans stood for change in record numbers and they know that John McCain, a candidate who is offering more of the same failed Bush economic policies that benefit the wealthiest Americans, isn't the change we need."

Sepúlveda created and heads The Common Enterprise, which works with nonprofit groups and other organizations to build stronger communities.

"We are excited about Juan's selection as state director and think it sends a powerful message to Texas Latinos about how serious we are about reaching out to them statewide," said Mark Greene, a Tarrant County organizer for Obama.

-- Anna M. Tinsley

Just call him "Write-in Ralph"

Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader made a short stop in Austin on Monday at least in part to demonstrate that he plans to campaign in all 50 states before the November election.

The challenge is, the longtime consumber activist won't be on the ballot in all 50 states. And Texas is among those with ballots that will make no mention of Nader. So Nader, who appeared at Austin City Hall with running mate Matt Gonzalez (in the photo with Nader) of San Fransico, is urging his Texas supporters to write his name in, even though he tacitly admits he's got no shot at winning.

"It's basically in the role of a dissenter," Nader said of his latest presidential campaign. "Then he quickly added, "Dissent is the mother of ascent."

Among his talking points were that Texas needs to lift the restriction to ballot access that makes anyone who voted in a partisan primary ineligible to sign an independent candidate's petition. He called for overhauling laws that place limits on people's ability to sue corporations for product liability and doctors for malpractice.

-- John Moritz

Judge rules for Davis, appeal possible

Democrat Wendy Davis is eligible to run against state Sen. Kim Brimer, R-Fort Worth, in November, according to a civil court ruling.

When asked if Brimer planned to appeal the ruling, his lawyer, Nick Acuff, said “I think so.”

Outside the courtroom, Davis said she was confident the ruling will stand through appeals. She also plans to send Brimer a letter suggesting they participate in a series of debates. [A copy of the letter is below]

“I’m very very confident in the law and I’m very confident, that regardless of the appellate level that hears this case, we are legally on the ballot,” she said.

She also said she looked forward to continuing with her campaign.

“I hope (the ruling) sends a message to my opponent,” Davis said. “That message being that it’s time to start debating the issues that are important to the voters of Senate District 10 and put aside these petty legal obstacles."

What happened at the Brimer/Davis hearing

The sense of deja vu was palpable at Judge Tom Lowe's courtroom Tuesday morning in downtown Fort Worth.

Wendy Davis was there defending her eligibility to run for the Texas Senate for a second time. A similar cast of characters were present in the courtroom.

Davis sat behind several lawyers, patient and poised.State Sen. Kim Brimer, R-Fort Worth, who is actually the plaintiff in this suit unlike in the last round, was not.

“I guess he had other things to do,” Brimer’s lawyer, Nick Acuff, said after the hearing.

Judge Tom Lowe said he would deliver his ruling at 3 p.m.

The arguments made this morning were almost identical to those made in February before the court of appeals.

Both sides had an hour each to make their case but the hearing was over in 70 minutes.

According to spokesmen, both Davis and Brimer are likely to appeal if the ruling doesn’t go their way, making it likely this case will quickly be before the Texas Supreme Court.

In the meantime, here’s a look at what happened...

Davis/Brimer hearing this morning

Three and a half months before they are scheduled to face off at the ballot box, Wendy Davis and Kim Brimer will face off in a court room.

Judge Tom Lowe will hear arguments from both sides on whether the timing of Davis' official declaration to run for Brimer's Texas senate seat have inadvertently scuttled her campaign.

In fact, timing will likely be a recurring theme of the hearing, with questions revolving around the timing of Joel Burns' swearing in to the Fort Worth City Council as Davis' replacement and the timing of Brimer's lawsuit, filed six months after a nearly identical suit was dismissed.

We'll be there for the 9 a.m. hearing and post updates throughout the day.

-Aman Batheja