The Two Dicks

Today, Penguin Press will publish Pulitzer Prize-winner Barton Gellman’s Angler: The Cheney Vice Presidency, which, according to the Washington Post writer’s Web site, “describes a man of deep conviction and remorseless will who reshaped his office and his times.” Last night, Gellman was on The Daily Show, and he recounted…

Political Football

Not to get too politicky on you today, but a couple people have breathlessly asked me, “Didja see Palin’s speech?!” In a word, notevenonesecond. But I did watch Venus vs. Serena and Rafael Nadal outlast Mardy Fish at the U.S. Open. Why? Because I’m more than a tad skeptical that…

Alex Jones Sics His Followers on The News, Demands Retraction

Alex Jones Dallas-born, Austin-based Alex Jones — the gravely voiced conspiracy theorist behind Infowars and this interview with Mark Stepnoski — has turned his attention toward Dallas’ Only Daily, which, he insists, libeled him yesterday in a posting by WBAP-AM (820)’s Mark Davis. Davis, who contributes to the paper’s op-ed…

Obama’s Attorney Clearly Does Not Like, Um, Howard Simmons?

Harold Simmons Harold Simmons spent about $3 million on that Barack Obama attack ad, and Politico.com’s making sure he’s getting his money’s worth. Because moments ago, Ben Smith posted the second missive Obama’s counsel, Robert Bauer, sent to the Department of Justice in which Bauer demands an investigation into the…

What Texas Delegation?

Two notes this a.m. concerning the Texas delegation’s afterthought treatment at the Democratic National Convention. First, from KERA-FM (90.1) via Capital News Connection, this report in which Dallas City Plan Commissioner and Cesar Chavez Tollway fan Neil Emmons explains why the Texans are stuck 45 minutes away from the convention…

You’re a Mean One, Kay Bailey

Caption-writing contest time, if you don’t mind. Lance doesn’t. He’s tough. Every year, The Washingtonian surveys some 1,700 top aides on Capitol Hill — “the administrative assistants, press secretaries, legislative directors, and chiefs of committee staffs” — for its Best & Worst of Congress issue. And, turns out, U.S. Senator…

Obama’s Counsel Wants DOJ to See if Harold Simmons Broke Election Law

On the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Barack Obama’s campaign is busying itself with the handiwork of Dallas billionaire Harold Simmons, who, as we noted yesterday, financed an ad linking the Democratic presidential candidate with former Weather Underground-er William Ayers. As Time noted late this afternoon,…

Chet: Just the Name Alone Sounds Very, Um, Vice-Presidential?

Central Texas’s own Chet Edwards So, yeah, everyone’s suddenly thinking that maybe, just maybe, Barack Obama’s going to announce Congressman Chet Edwards as his running mate, maybe as early as this afternoon — and if it’s on Fox, it must be true! To which Gawker notes this very funny hypothetical…

Cornyn’s Using Fred Baron to Raise Dough, And Not in a Good Way

U.S. Senator John Cornyn The New Republic’s Eve Fairbanks this morning posted a fund-raising e-mail she received last night from the campaign of U.S. Senator John Cornyn, who links Fred Baron’s, um, generosity to Rick Noriega, Cornyn’s Democratic challenger and the recipient of several thousands dollars in Baron campaign contributions:…

Heard About Harriet Miers’ Latest Job?

It’s been a little more than a year since ex-White House Counsel and so-close Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers returned to work at her old law firm, Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell on Ross Avenue. Haven’t much heard from the former Dallas City Council member in a while; last we…

ABC News Wants You to Know Who Betty Culbreath is Voting For

Betty Culbreath Dallas Housing Authority chair Betty Culbreath, who is known to enjoy hot ham sandwiches on occasion, is in the national news this a.m. — because she’s a Republican voting for Barack Obama, oh my! Notes ABCNews.com’s Marcus Baram, she goes way, way back with the Bush family, but…

Fred Baron Knows Nothing, Does Plenty

Mark Graham Fred Baron, the Sgt. Schultz of Dallas attorneys Hey, look, there’s Dallas attorney Fred Baron on the front page of The New York Times this morning — where it’s revealed, likely to no one’s surprise, that he played a significantly larger role in the John Edwards-Rielle Hunter affair…

Harris County GOP Boss Says Fred Baron’s Money is “Tainted”

Mark Graham Fred Baron Moments ago, the Houston Chronicle reported that John Edwards has decided to, like, pass on delivering his speech to the Harris County Democratic Party during its September 20 fund-raising gala. Cannot imagine why. Also noted in the story: Harris County Republican Chairman Jared Woodfill’s demand that…

Fred Baron: I Gave John Edwards’ Mistress the Money, Sure Did

Dallas trial attorney Fred Baron, who’s a very, very good friend So, yes, Fred Baron, former finance chair for John Edwards presidential bids, is indeed the “super-rich pal” and “rich retiree in Dallas, Texas” who’s been giving money to Rielle Hunter, with whom John Edwards today admitted having an affair,…