- The Lion's Den: Political potpourri
- I think Alfrank Catucci is right, more of the business of government should be decided over a couple of cold ones. There's less argument that way.
- The Lion's Den: A not-so-polarized community. Go Bulldogs!
- Once again, baseball bought adversaries together, even if it was only for one night. It showed that it is possible to get our community leaders to pull or push in the same direction. Funny how kids have a way of teaching us things, isn't it?
- The Lion's Den: A polarized community and recruiting a challenger
- The debate over a new bridge is one of those times where the City Council needs to pay attention to the voice of the people.
- The Lion's Den: Sex and Politics
- The No. 1 piece of "dirt" that people like to slip to me is about sex. Who's getting it, who's not, who's a playboy, who's cheating on their spouse, and who is gay. Sometimes, they talk about what folks are wearing.
- The Lion's Den: Nice Speeches. Now get to work.
- Everyone was telling jokes at the city inauguration last night and not all of them were funny. A couple of times they really could have used that dancing clown with the hook from the Apollo to pull people off the stage.
- “Operation Chihuahua Plus”: A textbook case of Drug War failure?
- Despite the military in Juarez, killings have escalated again. Drugs continue to cross the border and feed local markets. And a day visitor to Ciudad Juarez might face as many as five inspections from Mexican and U.S. agents. Just what the hell is going on here?
Archives
The Lion's Den: Political potpourri
Posted on July 2, 2009
I think Alfrank Catucci is right, more of the business of government should be decided over a couple of cold ones. There's less argument that way.
The Lion's Den: A not-so-polarized community. Go Bulldogs!
Posted on June 30, 2009
Once again, baseball bought adversaries together, even if it was only for one night. It showed that it is possible to get our community leaders to pull or push in the same direction. Funny how kids have a way of teaching us things, isn't it?
The Lion's Den: A polarized community and recruiting a challenger
Posted on June 28, 2009
The debate over a new bridge is one of those times where the City Council needs to pay attention to the voice of the people.
The Lion's Den: Sex and Politics
Posted on June 25, 2009
The No. 1 piece of "dirt" that people like to slip to me is about sex. Who's getting it, who's not, who's a playboy, who's cheating on their spouse, and who is gay. Sometimes, they talk about what folks are wearing.
The Lion's Den: Nice Speeches. Now get to work.
Posted on June 23, 2009
Everyone was telling jokes at the city inauguration last night and not all of them were funny. A couple of times they really could have used that dancing clown with the hook from the Apollo to pull people off the stage.
“Operation Chihuahua Plus”: A textbook case of Drug War failure?
Posted on June 19, 2009
Despite the military in Juarez, killings have escalated again. Drugs continue to cross the border and feed local markets. And a day visitor to Ciudad Juarez might face as many as five inspections from Mexican and U.S. agents. Just what the hell is going on here?
Getting honest: It takes a village to clean up corruption
Posted on June 17, 2009
“Regardless of what happens with these corruption cases, the fact of the matter is it reflects that something is not right. At the end of the day, if a society, community, city or state wants to address this, it has to come through the citizens.” -- Eduardo Rodriguez
The Lion's Den: Comparing the price per voter
Posted on June 18, 2009
Some voters cost more than others. Some quick math: What do you get when you divide the number of votes cast per candidate with the amount of money spent by that candidate?
The Lion's Den: Prison gang politics and other notes
Posted on June 16, 2009
El Paso's political tribes are a lot like prison gangs. There is one person at the top and many people will feign a certain degree of loyalty until the first chance they get to make a play for themselves.
The Lion's Den: El Paso's Sarah Palin, 'swiftboating' Sotomayor, and other thoughts
Posted on June 15, 2009
If the GOP swiftboats Sotomayor, they will do so at risk of alienating the only segment of the population they have a chance of expanding into. Also, some notes on El Paso politics.
The Lion's Den: Employing the Chewbacca Defense in the Cobos ethics case
Posted on June 11, 2009
So we are supposed to believe that Acosta's complaint is frivolous and Caballero's isn't? Or is it just another roar of the Chewbacca Defense?
Lege 101: A look at the El Paso delegation's performance in the 81st Legislature
Posted on June 10, 2009
Despite the text wars and other bickering, the delegation really didn't do badly. To understand the session, you have to understand Austin.
Woody Hunt, other business leaders think corruption has crippled competition, contributed to the poverty in El Paso
Posted on June 10, 2009
“Government has to be the leader. That’s where you have to separate the political processes, that is, getting elected from governing. Once elected, you have to separate yourself from your supporters and govern. The last thing that should get decided on any contract is the service provider, but the service provider has been coming first and having too much communication with the government.” -- Woody Hunt
The Lion's Den: Cobos, Caballero, Leeds lose round 1
Posted on June 9, 2009
All is not lost for Cobos. He can fall back on another tactic to avoid discussion of the Ethics Board. He can always call another press conference about the on-going threat of Swine Flu.
The Lion's Den: Castro crushed amid a mandate for Robinson, City Council majority
Posted on June 7, 2009
Robinson's first interview, some scenes from the party -- some city reps and the mayor, the people Castro said she could use against Robinson, showed up -- and some questions: Is Castro done? Did the people tied to her show up to her party? What's next for Robinson, city Rep. Eddie Holguin and the council majority?
NE City Council Race 101
Posted on June 5, 2009
A short collection of stories and analysis on the runoff between incumbent city Rep. Melina Castro and Carl Robinson.
The Lion's Den: In the NE, will it be 'All About the Benjamins'?
Posted on June 4, 2009
Castro's best hope to win is to "buy" the election by having a constant barrage of commercials, ads, and billboards. Size matters and she has a bigger bottom line than Robinson.
“Enjoy your summer, see you in March,” say some as 81st Legislature ends where it began
Posted on June 2, 2009
Yesterday was do-or-sine-die to avoid a special session. House Speaker Straus thought he had found a way but the Senate spoiled the party, just as it did at the beginning of the session.
The Lion's Den: Say it ain’t so, Joe!
Posted on June 2, 2009
I’m hoping it was some intern who just stole Muench’s by-line Sunday. There was little new about the information, or scuttlebutt, as he puts it. He needs to scuttle his butt out of the office and learn what he's writing about.
Rep. Acosta claims she has proof to settle residency question raised by former Rep Lozano
Posted on May 2, 2009
District 3 city Rep. Emma Acosta said she now has proof to clear up questions raised recently about where she lived in the months leading up to the special election to fill the City Council seat she won in 2008.
The Lion's Den: “Yes Man” v. “Lady No”
Posted on May 30, 2009
The best part about forums in the Northeast is that there is always the feeling that an episode of Jerry Springer is going to break out at any moment, with flying chairs and insults between audience members. But in the end, like a pro wrestling match, it was lots of flash and cheering fans, with no real punches being landed.
Latest campaign reports: With big help from PACs, incumbents raise bigger bucks
Posted on May 1, 2009
Campaign finance reports filed Friday show Mayor John Cook, who started the political season with $65,000 in the bank, has raised $51,150 since Jan. 1 and spent $95,029 on his campaign and had $14,017 left. His closest rival, Gus Haddad, has raised $59,650, spent $59,239 and has $7,797 left.
Northeast runoff candidates meet Saturday at press club forum
Posted on May 29, 2009
Incumbent Melina Castro and challenger Carl Robinson have confirmed their attendance to the event, which is designed to give voters and members of the media access to the candidates
The Lion's Den: Chavez, Marquez, and a little bit of R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Posted on May 28, 2009
This bickering and infighting in Austin is as senseless as two cholo gangs pulling drive by shootings in the barrio. In the end, the wrong people get hurt.
Transportation bill on track despite House chub, say major players
Posted on May 26, 2009
Isett says chub has given House and Senate "down-time" to discuss differences. Pickett confident that conferees can reach deal on transportation funding.
