Texas

Tulchin Research has long been best known as the Blue Dog polling firm. There aren't that many Blue Dogs left-- despite strenuous efforts by the DCCC-- and they've had to branch out and find clients among (slightly) less odious corporate Dems, like Gavin Newsom and Julia Brownley. Earlier in the week, the firm's two principals, Bens Tulchin and Krompak, penned an OpEd for the Sacramento Bee, Universal health care is the new litmus test for Democrats.

Ed and HillLast year the DCCC didn't bother recruiting a candidate in TX-32, Pete Sessions district in the suburbs north of Dallas, including Highland Park, University Park, Richardson, Garland and east to Lake Ray Hubbard and Lavon Lake. The DCCC hasn't paid any attention to Sessions and his district since he beat powerful Democratic incumbent Martin Frost there in 2004.

A Texas deputy and her husband were indicted on murder charges earlier today in the strangling death of a drunk man who had been urinating outside a Denny’s restaurant last month.
And only because a witness happened to capture the chilling killing on video – despite several people trying to block the videographer from recording the incident, claiming it was “illegal.”
It is not illegal to record in public, but it certainly is illegal to strangle a man to death for simply urinating in public.

A sign for a polling station written in both English and Spanish. (Photo: Erik Hersman)
Amid last-minute efforts to overhaul the state’s voter identification law in light of an ongoing legal fight, the Texas Legislature gaveled out without addressing another embattled election law that’s now moving forward in federal court.

What started off with the victim John Hernandez being confronted by Terry Thompson who is the husband of a Harris County, Texas Deputy’s for urinating in public, turned in a murder by strangulation.

He thought he was filming the police, but they turned out to be bounty hunters.
Two bounty hunters lay in wait at a Greenville, Texas car dealership for hours, before drawing weapons to apprehend their quarry, which led to a shootout that left both men, and their suspect dead from gunshot wounds.

If only this happened every time a law enforcement officer was caught doing something questionable, we would live in a very different time, but sadly that is not the case.
What started off as a Facebook live stream with an Uncle and his Nephew, hanging out listening to some jams and acting the fool, resulted in a paid suspension and eventually the officer resigning. A 20-year career ended by a video.

Bush & Bono, "Liar Liar" and the last band standing + this day in history w/McVeigh convicted and our song of the day by Arcade Fire on your Morning Monarchy for June 2, 2017.

Peak Portland, king kill and robot preachers + this day in history w/AirFrance Flight 447 and our song of the day by Jens Lekman on your Morning Monarchy for June 1, 2017.

A prison guard on horseback watches inmates return from a farm work detail at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, La.
Legislation that would make it easier for poor people to satisfy traffic tickets with alternatives to payment cleared the Texas House on Tuesday on a vote of 75-70. The bill needs to be approved by the Senate again before moving to Gov. Greg Abbott‘s desk.