I had the opportunity this morning to participate in a conference call with Mike Huckabee, Republican candidate for president. It was very informative, not only on the issues discussed but on Mr. Huckabee himself.

Mr. Huckabee’s passion and conviction really shined in his answers to questions on education and health care. I was impressed with his ability to communicate his ideas spontaneously - the questions were not rehearsed or pre-arranged, I’m positive of this because I asked one of them. Mitt Romney would fall apart in this type of setting.

He was so passionate about education that I thought he would never stop! In his case, that is a positive thing because his ideas cover a broad spectrum of the issue. Unlike many Republicans, he recognizes No Child Left Behind for what it was intended to be - a tool amongst other tools. He spoke at length about the need for creative types of learning, stressing the importance of balancing right and left brain reasoning skills.

On immigration, he made the point that the current “comphrehensive” proposal has it backwards in that it awards legal status first. His best line was when he said that he wanted to ask the Republicans supporting it, “What part of Kennedy do you not understand?”.

He is for health savings plans, recognizing that when people see the costs involved and have to make their own choices with their own money, it is more likely that they will avoid unnecessary procedures or doctors visits. Also, his belief is that the Fair Tax plan will bring in revenue from all economic classes, reducing the tension caused by the middle class shouldering the brunt of the costs.

With his performances in the first three debates, he has begun to put pressure on the candidates that have been christened by the traditional media. If the debates were better structured and didn’t allow the top three candidates the majority of the time alloted for questions, he would rise even faster. Granted, he is still a long shot but the race is early and he is coming on very, very strong.

Fred Thompson may be the darling of the conservatives but they should take a long, hard look at Mr. Huckabee before jumping on that bandwagon. They will find a passionate, energetic and articulate candidate that is knowledgeable and has a track record to stand on.

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Passion? Energy? Articulate? Lone Star Times has it all!

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Forget little blue pills. Just down a Boost energy drink and you’re all set for the night.

Novartis’ Boost Plus Web site describes the drink as “a great tasting, high calorie, nutritionally complete oral supplement for people who require extra energy and protein in a limited volume,” in vanilla, chocolate and strawberry.

What does this have to do with little blue pills, you ask?

Woods’ court papers say he woke up the next morning “with an erection that would not subside”

It just wouldn’t go away.

So bad was the unscheduled boner that the New Yorker later that day had to undergo “Winter shunt” surgery and days later a “penile artery embolisation”* to reduce the flow of blood to his manhood.

What is a “Winter shunt”?

A Winter shunt, as far as we can make out without coming over a bit wobbly, involves puncturing the glans into one of the penis’s rigid corpora cavernosa, releasing trapped blood from the latter back into circulation. The penile artery embolisation is, as the name suggests, a simple matter of restricting the flow of blood to the penis, often with snappily-named “Gelfoam pledgets”. We’ll leave the docs among you to fill in the gory details, while we go and have a lie down.

Weebles wobble but they don’t fall down.

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If anyone can find HPD Chief Harold Hurtt, tell him to get to work:

Houston’s homicide rate surpassed Dallas’ in 2006 for the first time in more than a decade and is now the second-highest among the nation’s largest cities, according to figures released Monday by the FBI.

Houstonians were killed at a rate of 18.2 per 100,000 residents last year, a number that had gone unmatched since 1995 when the FBI began posting crime statistics online. Dallas’ homicide rate was higher than Houston’s in all of the previous 11 years.

Only Philadelphia now has a higher homicide rate than Houston on the list of the nation’s 10 largest cities. San Antonio ranks seventh on the list, while Dallas is fifth.

That’s right, folks. You are more likely to be killed in Houston than you are in Los Angeles, Chicago or New York.

Hurry! Contribute to LST before you get murdered!

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Once again, the pack of Republicans that want to lead the free world gathered together on a stage. Sans one Fred Thompson. And perhaps Newt Gingrich. In the interest of full disclosure, I listened to this one via internet radio, thus missing body language, facial expressions and eye contact.

• Duncan Hunter - F - it is time for him to drop out of the debates. He adds little and seems to want to impress people with his fence building skills. He actually said he thought that slowing the building of the fence was a conspiracy designed to give “them” time to pass an amnesty plan. Pandered to a few folks by saying he would pardon Ramos Compean.
• Jim Gilmore - B - he would get an A if he could somehow make more of an impact. His answers are truly conservative. He was one of the few that said oil companies profits were appropriate, that the Kyota treaty was flawed and a waste of money, that conservatives can reach out to moderates without bending their core values.
• John McCain - F - His stance on immigration is puzzling, he wants to give them amnesty but said in the debate that 2 million of them have committed serious crimes. Said that the oil companies were making too much profit. Is that a conservative, free market position?
• Mike Huckabee - B - showed some passion, admonishing Mr. Blitzer for not allowing him to comment on immigration, which paid off later. Excellent answers on why the GOP has fallen from power, on gays in military, on faith. Good showing, if forced to pick a “winner”, I’d go with him.
• Mitt Romney - C - and that’s probably generous. Non-factor in this one. Had to pull out the Reagan card. Good answer on faith, pundits want him to back away from Mormonism, not going to happen. Big oil is making too much money.
• Ron Paul - C - gave some solid conservative answers. Didn’t handle the Canadian fence question well. Good answer on oil company profits and on subsidizing their R & D. Tied oil companies to foreign policy, saying it is designed to protect them. Had best answer on gays in military, group vs. individual rights. Said to just stop patrolling Iraqi streets and let them have at it.
• Rudy Giuliani - F - said that there is man-made global warming and that we should have a project like sending a man to the moon to address it. Still believes abortion should be legal and subsidized. Lightning hit the building when he addressed that issue, pretty funny. Had a strong reaction to the Libby question, saying there is no question he should be pardoned. Great response that small health care costs should not be covered under insurance.
• Sam Brownback - D - supports current amnesty bill. Nice answer on abortion but will support Rudy if nominated.
• Tom Tancredo - F - sounded like a banshee at times. Needs to go away. He actually said that we should end all LEGAL immigration. Still bitter about Rove telling him not to darken the door of the White House. Dude’s lost it.
• Tommy Thompson - D - no impact at all, even though he tried diligently on health care. Funny line saying whatever he did use GWB for, it wouldn’t be as UN ambassador.

The debate itself was the worst of the three thus far. The moderator, Wolf Blitzer, likes to hear his own voice and the questions were very lame. Is a guys belief about evolution really important in a presidential debate? I’m still puzzled by the comments relating to oil company profits. Are these guys Republicans or Democrats?

UPDATE: Huckabee’s website has listed the amount of time each candidate received.

Candidate Time (By Time Speaking)

• John McCain: 13 minutes, 5 seconds
• Rudy Giuliani: 12 minutes, 10 seconds
• Mitt Romney: 11 minutes, 21 seconds
• Duncan Hunter: 8 minutes, 10 seconds
• Sam Brownback: 7 minutes, 25 seconds
• Mike Huckabee: 6 minutes, 31 seconds
• Ron Paul: 6 minutes, 2 seconds
• Jim Gilmore: 5 minutes, 48 seconds
• Tom Tancredo: 5 minutes, 31 seconds
• Tommy Thompson: 4 minutes, 19 seconds

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Nothing to debate here - Lone Star Times Rocks!

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Headline, Houston Chronicle, 6/6/07:

“Lawn mowers are risky for children”

Who knew?

Thanks for the update.

The Wall Street Journal’s “Informed Reader” brings word of an interesting Psychology Today interview:

By placing more and more restrictions on teens, society is harmfully infantilizing a large number of people perfectly capable of behaving like adults, says psychologist Robert Epstein. In an interview with Psychology Today, Dr. Epstein says the questionnaires he gave to teens and adults—meant to measure 14 areas of competence, such as interpersonal skills, handling responsibility and leadership—showed teens were as competent or nearly as competent as adults. Adults consistently underestimated teens’ scores. He says,longstanding data show that raw intelligence peaks around the age of 15.

So where does the stereotype of the moody, sullen, sexually irresponsible and financially incompetent adolescent come from? Dr. Epstein says most adults would behave that way, too, if they had no responsibilities, no rights, and money to spend.

Heh.

“They are free to spend, to be disrespectful, to stay out all night, to have sex and take drugs,” says Dr. Epstein. “But they’re not free to join the adult world, and that’s what needs to change.”

This last passage in particular caught our eye:

[Dr. Epstein] would allow some teens to work and set up businesses while still in school. He recommends establishing tests that teens could take to prove they’re competent to assume responsibilities like owning property or running a business, the way they can now if they want a driver’s license.

Why not?

This is the part where you go to the comments section and complain about how everything was better back in the Good Old Days.

Don’t save money for your kids; they’ll just blow it!

LST is the obedient child you always wished you’d had. Reward us for our loving respect by making a contribution via credit card or PayPal (by clicking the LST badge below), or sending a check or money order via postal mail to:

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The headline from a British newspaper says it all:

US braces for flood of celebrity F-words

And a U.S. judge has added to the lexicon:

“fleeting expletives”

Isn’t it interesting that he chose to use an F word in his ruling?

And just who is to blame for this predicted flood of “fleeting expletives”?

Glad you asked.

Specifically it noted that both President Bush and Vice-President Cheney were on record as having used those words in a non-literal way, Mr Bush when he told Tony Blair that the United Nations needed to “get Syria to stop Hezbollah to stop doing this s***’ and Mr Cheney when he told a senator, on the floor of the Senate, to “f*** yourself’.

Imagine that–someone dropping an F-bomb (in public no less!) and still being allowed to serve as Vice-President of the United States.

I guess there is hope for us all.

If only GWB would say something like that about the flood of illegals like “stop doing this….”, nope, not gonna.

The FCC chairman, Kevin Martin, couldn’t resist using “fleeting expletives” in his tirade against the ruling.

That warning was taken up by Kevin Martin, the FCC chairman, in a fierce statement responding to the court’s decision - itself peppered with the F-word.

Mr Martin said he completely disagreed with the court and was disappointed for American families. “I find it hard to believe that the New York court would tell American families that “s***” and “f***” are fine to say on broadcast television during the hours when children are most likely to be in the audience.

He added: “If ever there was an appropriate time for Commission action, this was it. If we can’t restrict the use of the words “f***” and “s***” during prime time, Hollywood will be able to say anything they want, whenever they want.”

Alrighty then.

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Words can hurt–especially very sensitive souls!

Ease your cussing-conscience by donating to LST for every time you’ve ever used a fleeting expletive! Contributions can be made via credit card or PayPal by clicking the LST badge below, or sending a check or money order via postal mail to:

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In the course of planning last week for our current Begathon (and as you no doubt can tell, a lot of careful consideration goes into pulling something like this off), I came up with what I then thought was a brilliant idea–a raffle.

Specifically, my plan was to raffle off to one lucky donor a free lunch for two at the Taste of Texas WITH Edd Hendee and David Benzion! I mean, who wouldn’t give a boatload of money (or at least something) for the chance to win that, right?!?!

Sadly, only minutes after Edd gave me the green light, my plans were dashed in the face of some editorial feedback (i.e., Mrs. Benzion caught wind of our scheme).

“If you do that you’ll go to jail,” she said, seeming to hesitate as she pondered whether or not to alert me to this fact. “It’s illegal for anyone but a non-profit to hold a raffle, and even then there are special rules.”

Well, not for the first time in our marriage, it turns out Mrs. Benzion is actually right. Imagine! Turns out it really is illegal to hold a raffle without the government’s permission–proving once again that as soon as you think you’ve got Leviathan’s boot off your neck, The Man comes along and figures out another way to keep you down.

Folks, I’m too pretty to go to jail.

So I want to state absolutely and categorically–I will NOT be selecting one lucky winner and a companion of their choosing from among the pool of Begathon donors to join Edd and myself for a free lunch at the Taste of Texas.

Don’t make a donation on the assumption that I’m going to change my mind about this after the Begathon, either. That isn’t going to happen.

Some of you, no doubt, think I’m hinting through the computer screen that you should “read between the lines” and realize that I actually am planning on inviting one lucky donor and a companion of their choosing for a free lunch at the Taste of Texas with Edd Hendee and myself sometime after the Begathon.

I don’t know how to state this any plainer–I am not hinting at any such thing. I have no plans whatsoever, explicit or implied, to take such a course of action.

None. At. All.

Understand that what I wrote above
is completely and absolutely true?

If that’s the case, please feel free to show your support by making a contribution to our efforts via credit card or PayPal (by clicking the LST badge below) or sending a check or money order via postal mail to:

LoneStarTimes.com
5315 B, FM 1960 W #169
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… to the following contributors to LST’s Spring 2007 Begathon:

DAY TWO
Robert S.
Joseph B.
John F.
David M.
Edd Hendee
Noe S.
Randall N.
Peter B.
Steve D.
Scott C.
Jim L.
Angela P.
Doris T.
David D.
Leslie F.
Mike K.
Jeffrey C.
Sam O.
Drew W.
Kimmon J.
Fred R.
Clifton A.
Kerri C.
Gerald H.
Charles G.

DAY ONE
David (not Benzion) B., Eric P. Johnson, Robert L., Ken R., Todd W.,
Randy B., David R., Matt L., and Steve W.

We are grateful for your readership and appreciate your support!

Click here for highlights of LST’s coverage
over the past six months alone!

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5315 B, FM 1960 W #169
Houston, TX 77069

Lt. Governor Dewhurst, State Senator Florence Shapiro, and
Dallas-area Imam Yusuf Kavakci unveil present
a new oil-painting to hang with pride of place
over the Texas Senate chamber.
(h/t: LST reader Peter B.)

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Job Wanted–Prepress production operator seeking day shift position with opportunity to eventually advance into supervisory role. Candidate has over seventeen years experience in the printing industry working in diverse fields from newspaper to high-end clients including Pepsi, Mary Kay Cosmetics, R. J. Reynolds, Donruss Sports Trading Cards, etc.

Applicant has a B.A. in Communication Arts and has a wide range of experiences from graphic design and ad building to preflight and prepress service. Project experience is also widely diverse including packaging, multi-page layout and trading cards.

Interested parties should contact candidate with resume request via email at “cchd AT houston DOT rr DOT com”.

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Dawn Wolf Design– LST’s full-service graphic designer of choice. Talented, professional, competitively priced; a generous LST volunteer, we could not recommend her more highly. | 713-781-8900 | website

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