Farmers Branch, Where Even the Legals Don’t Feel So Welcome

Farmers Branch touts itself as a homey community of parkland and wide, landscaped medians — you know, a “charming” paradise. Only, as you no doubt well know, the suburb has seen some pretty charmless chapters over the past year or so. And as this Saturday’s municipal election approaches — including…

So, the Bushes Are “Househunting”?

According to the New York Daily News today, President Bush ain’t none too happy with the housing prices in his once and future hometown. Notes Tom DeFrank on the paper’s D.C. blog, George W. has … … been muttering about the spike in real estate prices in Dallas since he…

Strong Arm of the Law

Why is Greg Abbott smiling? Something to do with watching an old lady bathe, mebbe? If you’re old, a minority and a Democrat who loves your country enough to vote regularly, you should draw the blinds when you take a bath, ’cause Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott and his boys…

You Have Been Warned

Should you see a parade of limos and police officers later today, don’t worry — Dick Cheney won’t be in town loading up on more weaponry. John McCain will finish off his day in Dallas after a morning stint on The View and a “a small business roundtable in Brooklyn.”…

Mock the Vote: Or, Looking Into Voter Suppression in Dallas.

How we missed this Huffington Post piece yesterday … well, no idea. Anyway, any story that begins … … at recent hearings before a House Judiciary subcommittee, new revelations emerged about how the Justice Department failed to investigate illegal mailers sent to African-Americans in Dallas threatening criminal punishment if they…

The Big Caucus, Or: The Smell of Nachos and a Daytime Emmy-Winner

Going on a voting Spree: At bottom, Julie Doyle and Tim DeLaughter stump for Hillary Clinton before Saturday’s senatorial district convention on the SMU campus. I spent Saturday serving as a delegate at the Fightin’ 16th Senatorial District’s Democratic Convention at SMU’s Moody Coliseum, and I’m happy to report the…

That, Sir, Is Thinking Big

Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen has a super — and superdelegate — idea that includes Dallas. Awful nice of the Tennessee gov to throw some bidness Dallas’ way. But over on Politico.com today, there’s an interview with Phil Bredesen, who’s yet to cast his lot with either Hillary Clinton or Barack…

Lewisville Think Tank Unhappy Hillary Clinton Won’t RSVP, Dang It

Lewisville-based Institute for Policy Innovation — the Dick Armey-founded “non-profit, non-partisan public policy ‘think tank'” — will be in D.C. this week, hosting a chitchat at the National Press Club called “Trade and the Race for the White House: Exploring the Candidates’ Positions.” John McCain’s sending someone: a former director…

Craig Watkins Is Feeling a Little Picked On, So Just Back Off, ‘K?

In this week’s paper version of Unfair Park, Buzz talks about Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins’ defensiveness concerning criticism directed at him and his office. Watkins was asked about a few issues, most notably his decision to charge Lynn Flint Shaw with a misdemeanor instead of a felony for…

Harriet Miers, You’ve Been Served!

Why is Harriet Miers smiling? Because she knows ain’t nothing coming of this lawsuit. Harriet Miers fought the law — and the lawmakers ain’t havin’ none of it, finally. Miers, the former White House counsel and Dallas city council member now keeping a chair warm as a partner at Locke…

Playing Good “D” in Dallas County

Once more, I’d like to comment the fine folks of the Fightin’ 1117 for running such an orderly precinct convention. One of the few, turns out. Our Boy Merten spoke with Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins for a piece running in next week’s paper version of Unfair Park –…

The Daily Show, “Live” from “Plano”

Last night, Daily Show correspondent Rob Riggle was in Plano covering Indecision ’08. OK, fine, not really. Nonetheless, here’s the clip for those who spent the better part of the night watching the “real” news — during which NBC’s Brian Williams actually said Hillary Clinton’s victories in Texas and Ohio…

How She Went Grocery Shopping and Wound Up Running a Caucus

Mark Graham Lorlee Bartos Schutze’s East Dallas comrade and Friend of Unfair Park Lorlee Bartos has been sending ’round town an e-mail bearing the subject heading: “Caucus at Precinct 3345 or why you should read your mail.” I asked her if she minded whether we posted the missive; she said…

That’s What Friends Is For

From The Washington Post this morning comes this story, which tries to explain why Hillary Clinton is “the Grace Adler to [the gay community’s] Will Truman.” And it does so from the great Gun Barrel City, a short drive to the south of Dallas, where you’ll find one of the…

Caucus? They Hardly Even Knew Us.

Some housecleaning this a.m., before finding out how Jessica and Greggo voted last night. We suggested these t-shirts yesterday, but after last night’s election results — Clinton wins Texas and Ohio, though Obama still’s the frontrunner among those who like math — a Friend of Unfair Park instead suggests these…

A House Divided. Still, Better Than the Last Eight Years, Right?

Seriously, caucusing in a firehouse looks much cooler than hanging out in an elementary school. By 7:15 p.m. very long lines stretched into the darkness outside the Precinct 1224 polling place — the fire station at Belmont and Abrams in Old East Dallas. When the Democratic lines were divided into…

Oh, Yeah. Sheriff. Right. Got It.

See, if Pulle were still around, we’d be full of local results too — like, ya know, that little race for Dallas County Sheriff. Looks like it’ll be Lupe Valdez for the Dems — by a landslide. She’s got 56,112 votes so far — or damned near half of the…