2009's Best Political Moments on Video
As Rick Perry says, “Texas is a unique place.” We rounded up the year's most fantastic (and sometimes funny) video clips that prove it. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/tribunelogo_______________.jpg)
-
![Article thumbnail]()
-
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Roll your own political videos ... interactive travel maps of your federal and state legislators ... scary movies, to keep the kids out of the border's scary drug wars ... puttting dropouts back in class ... rates squeezing families out of home health care ... how many lobby and trade associations do teachers in Texas need? ... enjoying the silence before an expected two-month siege of political advertising ... the dean of Texas political writers gets shut out of the gubernatorial debates ... and we have an interactive database of the state's best and worst public schools. The best of our best for a short news week, from December 19 to 26, 2009. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/zilkerlights.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Grin and Bexar It
How are San Antonio Democrats reacting to the party's embezzlement scandal? Full Story
-
2010: Jack McDonald Drops Bid Against Michael McCaul
Jack McDonald isn't running for Congress after all. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/jackmcdonald.jpg)
![Democrat Jack McDonald]()
Credit: McDonald for Congress -
Membership has its Privileges
Since 2005, Texas lobbyists have spent more than $500,000 on transportation and lodging for state officials, including members of the Lege. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/tahoe.jpg)
![The Association of General Contractors in 2006 sent eight state lawmakers to the Hyatt Lake Tahoe resort in Nevada.]()
Credit: Hyatt -
TribBlog: Hunger Season
More than 2.5 million Texas students are enrolled in the School Lunch Program, but just a fraction of those participate in the federally funded Summer Food Program, according to a report the Center for Public Policy Priorities released toay. Full Story
-
The Polling Center: Lubbock Poll or Leave It? Leave It.
The only thing definitively in the weeds here is the reliability of this poll. Full Story
-
2010: Ronnie Earle Files for Lite Guv
The former Travis County District Attorney was expected to file for some statewide race, though precisely which one has been something of a mystery. Mystery solved. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/ronnie_earle_.jpg)
![Ronnie Earle in Austin, July 2008]()
Credit: Lindsay Beyerstein -
The Polling Center: More on that Lubbock "Poll"
Surely they don’t do it this way in Peoria? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/KBHfarmbureau.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: KERA -
The Polling Center: KBH in the (Tumble) Weeds in Lubbock County
Not many local polls have been made public, but this one confirms the rumor mill: One, Rick Perry’s lead in conservative areas of the state is a few points above what the UT/Trib poll found statewide. And, two, the impression that, as of now, the Kay Bailey Hutchison campaign is floundering if it's really trying to peel conservative voters away from Perry in significant numbers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/KBH4X.JPG)
![U.S. Sen Kay Bailey Hutchison with a supporter after filing for Texas governor on Dec. 7, 2009]()
Credit: Marjorie Cotera/Daemmrich Photography -
On the Records: Digging Through Disclosure
Writing about congressional travel required days of tedious work because the information isn't easily accessible. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/travelrecords.jpg)
![U.S. House travel disclosure Web site.]()
Credit: U.S. House -
TribBlog: CPPP on Child Abuse Deaths
The CPPP says Texas' high per capita child abuse and neglect death rate is due to the state's high child poverty and teen birth rates — but also how Texas tallies its numbers. Full Story
-
The Rich are Different
When political consultants take on wealthy candidates, does that mean they can milk them and their campaigns for all they’re worth? Are they simply trying to help good people get elected? Or both? Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich, Todd Wiseman -
Guest Column: Rational Numbers
In every major urban and suburban Texas county, where the vast majority of Texans cast their ballots, the Democratic vote share increased betweeen 2004 and 2008. Montgomery County was the single exception. In Denton, Collin, Fort Bend, and Williamson Counties — four of the five most populous traditionally Republican suburban counties — the Democratic vote rose. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/ed_martin_.jpg)
![Ed Martin]()
-
The Polling Center: Public Option, Universal Coverage Divide Texans
In the health care debate, universal coverage has significant if not overwhelming support, but is also marked by pronounced partisan differences, and Texans appeared truly split down the middle on the “public option.” Full Story
-
The Brief: December 14, 2009
Kinky Friedman’s song “Before All Hell Breaks Loose” begins, “Time to resign from the human race.” Today, we will find out if he thinks it’s time to do the same in the governor's race. Full Story
-
Mapmaker, Mapmaker
Think like the political pros and your mind will go to the long game instead of the short one. The short game is the elections of 2010. The long game is redistricting in 2011, when maps are drawn that corral the voters into the districts that will elect legislators for the next ten years. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/housemap.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
The Medina Effect
Debra Medina may yet have a role to play in the race for governor. Analysts say her potential effect ranges from negligible to potential spoiler. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/120909_medinadebra001_.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: medinafortexas.com -
The Charter School Waiting Game
Nearly 130,000 students attend Texas charter schools, but 40,000 more are waiting to get in. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/110909_charterschoolwait_jv.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Jacob Villanueva -
Audio: White Hits the Road
After Houston mayor Bill White joined the race for governor late last week, one of his first stops was Austin, a Democratic stronghold that made for a nice, safe place to start his campaign. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d2d3729548b39c5f798d2c6e2702a2b0/BD%20INC%20Sanchez%20Shami%2001%202009)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3ef792e8d2cd9c0b9990c691d2b34ad3/BD%20INC%20Bill%20White%2001%202009)