January 31, 2015

Bill O'Reilly Confronts Donald Trump: You're Not Running For President

Fox News host Bill O'Reilly called BS on Donald Trump during "The O'Reilly Factor" on Thursday night, saying he doesn't believe the real estate tycoon and reality TV show star will actually run for President.

The two spoke by phone during the show after Trump had taken to Twitter Wednesday accusing O'Reilly of "bad and very deceptive journalism" for his coverage of the potential presidential field earlier in the week. Trump was mad that the Fox host hadn't taken him and former GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin more seriously.

"I don't think you're going to run for president," O'Reilly said during the show. "But if you decide to run, you've got to know that building the organization that you'd have to build is very difficult for someone who's never done it before."

Trump responded with some frustration.

"But how do you know I'm not building it now, Bill?" Trump said.

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/bill-oreilly-donald-trump-president

January 31, 2015

Gun Group Plans To 'Hunt Down The Republicans' Who Opposed Texas Open Carry Bill

After Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) announced on Tuesday that there were not enough votes in the state senate to pass a bill allowing residents to open carry handguns, a state gun group responded with threats.

Tarrant County Open Carry said it will not accept the lawmakers' decision to drop the bill for now and plans to identify Republican lawmakers who do not support the legislation.

"Well, it's time to hunt down the Republicans who don't support the Constitution and the Republican Platform," the group wrote on Facebook. "Then, we will expose them and help them find a new job by making sure they won't have a chance to ever get elected in Texas again. Time to start sending these people to California."

The group encouraged supporters to call their state senators and find those "who are not listening to the #WeThePeople."

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/open-carry-group-hunt-down-republicans

January 31, 2015

After Muslims’ treatment at Capitol, Abbott calls for ‘civil discourse’

AUSTIN — More state officials spoke out Friday against the reception given to Muslims who gathered at the Texas Capitol, including Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who said the state must have “civil discourse.”

On Thursday, when hundreds of Texas Muslims visited the Capitol to meet lawmakers and learn about political engagement, a freshman Texas lawmaker instructed her staff to ask Muslims who came to her office to declare their allegiance to America. Outside, a small group of protesters urged Muslims to “go home,” and one grabbed a microphone from a speaker to condemn Islam’s prophet, Muhammad.

Abbott did not specifically mention either incident. After delivering a speech to a convention of the Texas Veterans of Foreign Wars, he told reporters that he wanted to see more decorum.

“We must have civil, open debate of hotly contested issues in this state,” Abbott said. “Texas values are strong enough that we can have a civil discourse about issues like this.”

Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20150130-after-muslims-treatment-at-capitol-abbott-calls-for-civil-discourse.ece

January 31, 2015

OMG, Mika just said "you don't go to the bathroom with the balls".

That's what I get for listening to Morning Joke at night.

January 31, 2015

Question to the Sports Group

If the Cleveland Browns had made it to the Super Bowl and if Josh Gordon was eligible to play the game, would Johnny Manziel be going drinking tonight?

January 30, 2015

Equality Texas Delivers Gay Pride Flag To Hateful Anti-Muslim Lawmaker’s Office

In case you missed it, state Rep. Molly White posted a hateful, Islamophobic rant on her Facebook page this morning to mark Muslim lobbying day at the Capitol. Here’s what the Republican from Belton wrote:

“Today is Texas Muslim Capital day (sic) in Austin. The House is in recess until Monday. Most Members including myself are back in District. I did leave an Israeli flag on the reception desk in my office with instructions to staff to ask representatives from the Muslim community to renounce Islamic terrorist groups and publicly announce allegiance to America and our laws. We will see how long they stay in my office.”

In a show of solidarity with religious minorities, Equality Texas responded to White’s rant by delivering a gay Pride flag to her office:

Equality Texas @EqualityTexas
There are many flags that celebrate the diversity and unity of TX. We decided to help build Rep White's collection.

I wonder if White will fly the flag when LGBT advocates visit her office during the group’s Faith Advocacy Day in February. Maybe she’ll put up a straight pride flag instead and demand that visitors pledge allegiance to the Texas GOP plank endorsing “reparative therapy.”

Source: http://www.lonestarq.com/equality-texas-delivers-gay-pride-flag-to-hateful-anti-muslim-lawmakers-office/

January 30, 2015

Third time the charm? Perry files another motion to have indictments quashed

Attorneys for former Gov. Rick Perry filed a third motion before the judge in his coercion case seeking to get the indictment tossed.

Thus far, Judge Bert Richardson has denied the attempts, but in his most recent ruling, he found the indictment was flawed because it lacked sufficient details about the charges against Perry. The special prosecutor can amend the indictment and shore it up by adding more specifics.

Relying on the judge’s concerns, Perry filed his latest motion raising similar claims. The motion to quash the indictment states that the governor is being prosecuted for exercising his constitutional authority and that the indictments don’t lay out sufficient detail to allow Perry to prepare a defense to the charge.

The defects deny Perry of “adequate notice and certainty of the offense,” the motion states, saying they are “vague, uncertain and indefinite.”

Read more: http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2015/01/third-time-the-charm-perry-files-another-motion-to-have-indictments-quashed.html/

January 30, 2015

New bill in Texas legislature would allow teachers to shoot students

A bill introduced in the new Texas legislature would protect teachers who shoot and kill their students.

Teachers in Texas are already allowed to carry guns in classrooms. The intent of that law was to stop a deadly massacre like the one in Newtown, Conn.

Now, Rep. Dan Flynn, R-Van, filed H.B. 868 —dubbed the Teacher’s Protection Act — that would allow teachers to turn their guns on their students and not face prosecution. Not only would teachers be able to shoot a student to protect themselves or others, but also to protect school property.

The Association of Texas Professional Educators said it believes this should be determined at a local level. In other words, it’s OK to kill students, but local school boards should give the green light, not the Legislature.

Read more: http://www.dallasvoice.com/bill-tx-legislature-teachers-shoot-students-10188889.html

January 30, 2015

Calvert eatery Cocoamoda begins two-day 'Restaurant: Impossible' renovations

Mention Cocoamoda around Calvert and the first thing locals will tell you about is the chocolate.

Unfortunately for Chef-owner Ken Wilkinson, artisan truffles aren't paying the bills at his French-cuisine restaurant and chocolate boutique.

Enter Chef Robert Irvine and Restaurant: Impossible.

"I tried the chocolate and I think they're really good, actually," the celebrity chef said hours after arriving in the Brazos Valley. "Can they be done better? Absolutely."

Read more: http://www.theeagle.com/news/local/calvert-eatery-cocoamoda-begins-two-day-restaurant-impossible-renovations/article_b9cc36a5-f6ca-5727-8e91-73f4c936aec3.html

[font color=green]If you are driving on Texas Highway 6 near Calvert (pop. 1,200) be certain to slow down because the DPS has a speed trap set up within a mile on either side of the town.[/font]

January 30, 2015

Austinite Plans City's First 'Cat Cafe'

Cat lovers may soon have a new Austin hangout: Plans are underway for the city's first cat café.

The idea for what Rebecca Gray is calling the Blue Cat Café is still in the early planning stages. She hasn't secured a location yet, but Gray envisions a space where people can play with adoptable cats while grabbing coffee or a bite to eat. She hopes to open sometime this year.

The concept of the cat café is hugely popular in Japan: The country has around 150. The establishments have experienced a surge in popularity in the U.S. over the past year as well, with cat cafés opening for business in New York, Portland, Denver and Los Angeles.

“I knew about them from surfing the net and seeing blogs and seeing them happening in other countries and I thought ‘Man, that would be so awesome, especially here in Austin,’” says Gray, a self-proclaimed “cat lady.”

Read more: http://kut.org/post/austinite-plans-citys-first-cat-cafe