Yeah, at this point, we've seen The Flop and The Turn, and unless Earle gets his River card, it's looking like Delay 90% Earle 10%.

A few days ago, there was a hearing on the defendants' motion to obtain a copy of the list of candidates mentioned in the indictment -- the one that allegedly proved there was an agreement to exchange corporate donations for funds to these candidates' campaigns.

At the hearing, Earle and Co. apparently had to admit in open court that they do not have such a list at all, but they only have a "similar" list. In other words, the prosecutor doesn't actually have the key piece of evidence on which his entire case is based. Only something "similar."

This case is going to go the way of the Killian/Rather memos.

Yeah, to continue the analogy, it seems that Earle tried to buy the pot(intimidating DeLay with the severity of the charges if he didn't bargain), and DeLay called his bluff by going All In (Telling Earle where he could stick his plea bargain offer) .

I'm glad Delay is not rolling over. We need more conservatives to stand up and fight. The Rodeny King approach to politics just isn't working for us when they hold us to civil standards they refuse to consider.

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison endured the same charges by Earle. She faced him down and the judge threw out the case in a nanosecond.

I am sure Delay expects the same thing to happen.

When they opened the trial against Hutchison, the judge challenged the authenticity of the evidence Earle wanted to present, and after review warned him he would not let him present it. Earle then refused to prosecute the case, so the judge threw it all out.

So just what in the hell is wrong with Austin that they keep electing this jackass?

It's just hardball politics Slub - Ronnie plays it very well. He's gone after Democrats too, intra-party power struggles. Reminds me of Lyndon Johnson.

Austin is an interesting mix of old-style Democrats, with the usual coalitions, and some old hippies. Unofficial city motto is "Keep Austin Weird".

They do.

When I lived there, my unofficial counter-motto was "Force Austin To Become Normal." Unfortunately, it never really took off.

"Keep Austin Weird".

It's all those frigging bats under the Congress Avenue Bridge that makes it easy to be batshit crazy in Austin.

Pictures and article about Austin's famous bats are available here.

Austin is the Yellow Dog Democrat part of Texas that never changed after the Republican southern strategy. Like Dave said, combine this with the old hippies and you get a very funky political scene around here.

I've met the most ignorant fucktards I've ever met in my life here in Austin. People that honestly believe in weather machines (a good friend is an old Alex Jones show producer), in "blood for Israel," etc. etc.

Yet I cannot leave because I love the town too much.

Unfortunately, it never really took off.

not by a long shot.

Course, for a state that elected treasurers named Jesse James (1941-1977) and Warren G. Harding (1977 - 80-something), it's all relatively normal.

Yet I cannot leave because I love the town too much.

I've visited Austin, and have an uncle that lives there and loves it. The city does have its charms.

I prefer San Antonio myself. Great food, the Alamo...what else do you need?

I prefer San Antonio myself.

Well, damn, Slu. I always knew you were a kindred spirit.

Well, if you live in San Antonio or Austin, occasionally you need to go to the barbecue joint at Willow City, in the Hill Country about halfway between those cities.

If you keep talking about BBQ, you're going to make me cry.

I've been in Florida for 2 years now. Decent Mexican food and BBQ are in very short supply.

Try moving to North Carolina. They have this vinegar based sauce up here and the Mexican food is not fit for animal feed. Give me some Pappasito's salsa and Otto's or Goode Company bbq anyday. Law school was fun in Austin, but there are some strange people. Just read the personal ads of the Austin Chronicle and you will understand.

I've lived in San Antonio all my life. Thanks for the nice comments. Yeah, it's a pretty nice town. The folks are down to earth, and quirky, but not weird. Nice mix of cultures that mostly get along. Too effing hot in the summer, but a good place to raise a family.
It helps if you can speak some Spanglish.

Decent Mexican food and BBQ are in very short supply.

Never eat Tex-Mex east of the Mississippi or north of the Red River.

And this is the best BBQ in 50 miles.

Yes, I used to pick up the Chronicle regularly just for the personals—a great entertainment value, and educational too.

Best Texas BBQ: Dr. Hogly Wogly's Tyler, Texas Pit Barbequeue.

Best ribs evah. And (at least when I went there) it was all-you-can-eat. Baked beans and fried okra on the side, too. Man, it gets me hungry just thinking about.

MMmmmmmm.

I've been in Florida for 2 years now. Decent Mexican food and BBQ are in very short supply.

I've been in Maine for 15 years now. The only decent Mexican food here is what I cook, and BBQ? Forget it.

The first time most of my friends had a home-made flour tortilla was when I invited them over for dinner. They were surprised that tortillas actually have taste.

*sigh*

OK BBQ (how quaint ma, is that the same as barbecue?) rednecks, time to turn off the salivary glands and get back on topic.

Anyone else notice how "Dr. Symes" is so knowledgeable about legal matters? Makes me think either he's been sued with alarming frequency or else watched every episode of Perry Mason.

Just sayin.

You know where they have (had) surprisingly good Mexican food? New Orleans.

When started school there, I resigned myself to the fact that I would be deprived of a decent refritos for 3 years. But to my surprise, there were two places, both small chains, that had fare that was as good or better than anything they serve at La Fogata or Mi Tierra. They were Cuco's and Taqueria Corona.

Cuco's was gringo food all the way. Heavy. Classic enchies, a chimichanga that would bind you up for a week. A tortilla-making machine operating right in the center of the restaurant, which churned out the tortillas that they actually served.

Taqueria Corona was more autentico. Cebollitas for appetizers, and flautas that were made by a master.

I suppose they are both gone now.

Phinn:

A Tulane alumnus among us?

Go Green Wave!

(but I'm still a Longhorn at heart)

I'm a Longhorn in my checkbook.

Slub, there are days when I would trade bbq for access to really good lobster.

One of my proudest possessions is my genuine Texas barbecue, hand made for me when I was a resident of San Anonio. The guy I bought it from is an artist with a welder. I doubt there is another like it in the State of Ohio (where most people confuse grilling with barbecuing).

Slub, there are days when I would trade bbq for access to really good lobster.

Yeah, we can get that up here. And cheap, too.

Unfortunately, I dislike lobster, unless it's in a dish. Put a big sea bug in front of me, and I get queasy.

That's the best way to eat lobster - it really grosses your kids out.

I'll take a swing by Taquiera Corona (the one on West Esplanade in the strip mall near Mulligan's.) on the way home from work in the morning. Gotta run some CD's to a friend who lost all her MP3s to Katrina, and it's on my way. The best Mexican food down here, though, has to be Casa Garcia out in Kenner. Only place in the metro area I know of that gets Chilie Rellenos right. Only other place that even came close was Pancho's, who at least understood that they're supposed to be meat & cheese inside a big pepper... Their sauce wasn't horrible, though the breading was too thick & spongy.

Ah, the Taqueria Corona on West Esplanade ... been there many times.

We lived out in the Creeks of River Ridge at the time (before they started taking Section 8 vouchers and the crime rate went through the roof, go figure), and it was easier to get to that one rather than go all the way to Uptown, the one on Magazine. Then they opened another location around the corner from our apartment, and so we went there instead. On many Friday nights, it was a toss up as to whether it would be Z or Taqueria Corona.

Trust me on the cebollitas and the flautas.

What's the real story on the state of the Greater New Orleans economy, by the way?

Well, the TC on West Esp. will be reopening this coming Monday, according to the spray-painted plywood sign out front.

As for the state of the local economy, damned if I really know. They're paying folks $10 an hour to ask if folks want fries with that. Big-time labor shortage, but that's going to be hard to fix with the even worse housing shortage. The $10/hr plus signing bonus burger-flipping jobs can't last. I'd consider it a great oppertunity to get a better paying job (NOT the burger-flipping thing, but a new computer tech job) down here, except I'm now alergic to mold. (Anyone hiring professional geeks out your way?)