Round Rock ISD Elections and Other Down Ballot Races

October 23rd, 2018

It’s time, once again, for me to play the one-eyed man in the land of the blind, and offer some guidance on Round Rock ISD elections, as well as other down-ballot races, based on a modicum of quick-and-dirty research, second-hand inferences, and signs and portents. I offer this as an aide to the busy voter, and I promise that it’s an improvement over using The Magic Eight-Ball.

Round Rock ISD Bonds

Vote no. This bond package is a very-slightly scaled down version of the same one taxpayers defeated last year, with almost all of the pork (including that damn “aquatic facility”) still in there. It deserves to go down in flames, just like the last one.

Moreover, RRISD is spending $500,000 to try to sell the bond package, and a lot of that is coming from construction interests:

Local parents and taxpayers have raised concerns over the new bond, pointing to $100 million in inflated costs and questionable spending priorities, such as a $16 million indoor practice pool. A group of citizens, Residents for Accountability & Transparency, even created a website detailing the financial mishandling of the bond proposal and the true cost it would pose to taxpayers.

On the other side, special interests are spending big to sway voters. They’ve formed a pro-bond political action committee, the Round Rock Forward PAC, and raised almost $48,000 to use promoting the bond.

A look into the PAC’s donations reveals why they’re working so hard to push the half-billion-dollar package.

More than 91 percent of the PAC’s money comes from local construction, architectural, and engineering businesses. One of the PAC’s supporters, Clint Harris, even wrote an open letter on LinkedIn asking local vendors to donate to the PAC because the bond will benefit them financially.

“During the past year we had a $578M bond package fail and we cannot afford another failure,” began Harris. “As one of the supporters I have been tasked with getting the message out to our engineering community in hopes of garnering supporting this bond package. Some of you are vendors of RRISD and would benefit directly from it.” (emphasis added)

Round Rock ISD School Board

Place 3

Danielle Weston gets the nod based on her ex-military background. Her opponent Amber Feller didn’t even bother to vote in the last bond election.

Place 4

David G. Schmidt gets the endorsement for being “a vocal opponent of the May 2017 bond election.” Can’t vote for Stuart Litwin because the Williamson County Democratic Party endorsed him. Can’t vote for Cory Renee Vessa because she’s in favor of the bond.

Place 5

Amy Weir wins by default. Not only is her opponent Suzi David the incumbent, but she failed to show up for two PTA candidate events in a row.

Place 6

Can’t vote for incumbent Steve Math because he supports the bond. Ditto Jarrad Brenek. That leaves Ching Choy as the default, and I’m not wild about him either…

Austin Community College

Place 7

Mitch Fuller: Because the Austin Chronicle endorsed his opponent Barbara Mink, and voting against the Chronicle is always an acceptable choice.

Place 8

Douglas Gibbins because he actually mentions taxpayers and maintaining the existing tax rate rather than raising it. Plus the Austin Chronicle endorsed opponent Stephanie Gharakanian.

Place 9

Lora H. Weber: Because both Williamson County Democrats and the Austin Chronicle endorsed her opponent, Julie Ann Nitsch.

North Austin Municipal Utility District #1

Donald Ayers: He sent me a flyer outlining his approach as representing the “homeowner/resident” and “keep the utility and tax rates as low as possible.” He lives two streets over and his dogs seem nice. Plus I see signs for his opponent, Diana Christiano, frequently appear next to “Beto” signs…

(“His dogs seem nice.” There’s the hard-hitting, in-depth political expertise people come to my blog for…)

Texas Early Voting Starts Today

October 22nd, 2018

Early voting in Texas for the November 6 midterm elections begins today, October 22, and ends November 2.

A list of Williamson County early voting locations can be found here.

A list of Travis County early voting locations is here, and a list of early voting mobile locations is here.

Whether you’re early voting or not, now would be a good time to locate your voter registration card.

Allah Ack-FAIL

October 21st, 2018

It’s been an exhausting week for me. So enjoy this video of members of the Islamic State display their lack of martial prowess with their motley assortment of ill-maintained weapons.

Caveat: There are a few repeated bits of footage.

How Many Illegal Aliens Can Fit In A Car?

October 20th, 2018

You might be surprised:

The soldiers are wearing the flag of the Dominican Republican, so presumably those are Haitans in the clown car.

LinkSwarm for October 20, 2018

October 19th, 2018

Welcome to Friday’s LinkSwarm! I hope all my readers are dry and warm and well-away from any flooded riverbanks.

Lots of Bobby Francis O’Rourke news this week. Pretty soon we won’t have him to kick around any longer…

  • A critic rethinks Trump:

    Like most Democrats, I reacted to the stunning 2016 election of Donald Trump with a combination of confusion and dread. After all, Hillary Clinton was the favorite and, to Democrats like me, a Trump victory seemed to portend certain economic disaster, nuclear war, and pretty much the end of America as we knew it.

    But now nearly two years into his administration, Trump has presided over a “winning streak” that includes a booming economy and stock market, an unemployment level at a nearly 50-year low, two Supreme Court appointments, no new foreign wars or domestic terrorist attacks emanating from abroad, a significant degree of progress on trade relations with Canada and Mexico, a “needed reset” on the China relationship, and the prospect of peace on the Korean Peninsula.

    Perhaps it is time that even his opponents reconsider Trump. Does Trump have a strategy that we can describe? Is Trump a return of Richard Nixon, of Ronald Reagan, or of something else entirely? After several months of watching the news without gaining any answers, I finally canceled my cable subscription and sought out other sources. I found some insights in unexpected places.

    Trump’s presidency marks a return to realpolitik and great power politics.

    Snip.

    A third insight was from the unlikeliest place: the critically acclaimed animated show, “Rick and Morty.” During Trump’s campaign, his supporters frequently talked about how funny the candidate was. This humor was lost on most of my left-leaning peers. But “Rick and Morty” showed me what I have may been missing. Here is a popular TV show about a mad scientist Rick, an amoral, sociopathic man who considers himself the smartest man in the universe and tells dirty jokes in front of his grandson Morty. The slapstick, low-brow, and nihilistic insults and dirty humor of “Rick and Morty” — much like Trump — resemble some of the comedic greats from the decades prior to the 1990s: “The Honeymooners,” “Benny Hill,” “Abbott and Costello,” “The Three Stooges,” and “I Love Lucy.” These comedic devices can be traced back hundreds of years to Asian and European theater, which used slapstick, puns, insults, and innuendo.

    Compare that oeuvre to the 1990s-2000s, during which comedy was more satirical, knowing, self-referential, meta, and smug. This idea is far from perfect, but examples of satire that use slapstick as well include “The Daily Show,” “The Colbert Report,” “South Park,” “Team America: World Police”, and Sacha Baron Cohen’s parodies. American society today seems to be witnessing a return of what columnist Noah Smith calls “goofy” humor and a decline of “knowingly sarcastic” humor. Even The New Yorker complained that the 2018 Emmys were too smug and later described Trump’s rallies unfavorably as a “vaudeville routine.” Perhaps our shift toward a reversion in history also means we are seeing a cultural reversion as well. Smugness has become politically tone deaf.

    Snip.

    The Trump Doctrine takes previous policy assumptions and turns them on their head. Trump’s “America First” approach is a reversion to the idea of realpolitik and great power competition. It is better suited to a moment in which American power is much less dominant. The president takes each state-to-state relationship on its own terms. That’s why he’s often antagonistic with allies and friendly with threatening dictators. The consequences of insulting friendly countries, such as Canada, might be hurt feelings in exchange for better trade terms, while souring relations with an antagonistic one, such as North Korea, could result in serious security threats. He pursues the optimal outcome in a utilitarian sense rather than follow previous rules about diplomatic etiquette. Trump keeps his enemies even closer than his friends, while previous presidents did the opposite. Niccolo Machiavelli might have been familiar with these tactics.

    Trump’s diplomatic method can be reduced to the four “B’s”: bullying, bargaining, burden-sharing, and bragging. He starts an interaction by bullying the subject — usually on Twitter, seeks a chance to sit down with the target to bargain as hard as possible toward what Trump may see as a more reciprocal relationship of burden-sharing, and then finally brags about whatever the results are. Trump treats all relationships as transactional, deploying tit-for-tat tactics toward achieving his goal of “reciprocity.” His message is that he wants to make America great again but does not spend much time lecturing or moralizing to foreigners. Finally, his use of insults, jokes, and slapstick, physical humor creates an image of honesty and authenticity with his supporters. Overall, these techniques and worldviews are becoming increasingly common around the world, including with the leaders of countries as diverse as Turkey, the Philippines, Russia, Israel, Mexico — and potentially Brazil.

    Trump described his realpolitik-with-no-sacred-cows approach during the United Nations General Assembly meeting in September: “America’s policy of principled realism means we will not be held hostage to old dogmas, discredited ideologies, and so-called experts who have been proven wrong over the years, time and time again. This is true not only in matters of peace, but in matters of prosperity.”

    Overall, Trump’s approach represents a reversion to a style of statecraft that flips previous approaches. Technocracy, meritocracy, and bureaucratic approaches are giving way to establishing top-level personal rapport, trust, and loyalty. Free trade ideology is giving way to trade as a means to enrichment. Building institutions gives way to questioning the utility of each institution. Moral diplomacy gives way to talking to anyone who will bargain. Careful speeches give way to saying anything that gets results. Saving sacred cows gives way to killing them or threatening to do so. Open markets give way to using U.S. markets, military, and migration as bargaining chips. Every relationship is subject to maximum leverage of what is possible.

  • Why are Democrats so afraid of Kanye West?

    West is nothing if not independent. He doesn’t need the approval of the Democratic establishment or the usual suspects among the liberal Hollywood elite. He is untethered from the traditional liberal gatekeepers in the same way Trump was untethered from the Republican establishment as a presidential candidate. There is a reason that the Democrats and their allies in the media insult, marginalize, ridicule and try to “Uncle Tom” West. It is obvious they are afraid of him and the discussion he might start.

    (Hat tip: Ann Althouse.)

  • Remember the Democrats IT scandal? It was still never adequately explained.
  • “Beto O’Rourke Raised Record Breaking $38 Million in 3Q.” And he’s still losing. Just imagine if Democrats had used that money to protect endangered incumbent senators instead…
  • Nice takedown of Beto O’Rourke’s media-boosted campaign:

    O’Rourke’s “extraordinary political success” is illusionary. His national popularity is contingent on aesthetics and mass of coverage. It is merely that Beto looks and acts like the type of guy producers at most cable news networks and talk shows think—or more precisely, wish—a senator would look and act like. Unlike, say, Cruz (nearly two years older than Beto), who is always blathering about the Constitution or whatnot.

    It’s not as if O’Rourke is a special talent by any measure. His speeches and talking points are just as vacuous and predictable as those of any other middling politician. His positions on guns and abortion—and a multitude of other issues—are in lockstep with his party, not the state. O’Rourke has never offered any substantively impressive policy ideas. He’s not led on any notable issues in the House. He’s remarkably unremarkable.

    (Hat tip: Nick Short on Twitter.)

  • “Despite everyman image, O’Rourke is even wealthier than Cruz“:

    The son of a onetime Republican county judge and a longtime furniture store owner, the Democratic congressman from El Paso married into the family of one of his hometown’s most prominent developers and has assembled real estate investments worth millions.

    Congress is rife with rich people, but O’Rourke had a 2015 net worth of about $9 million, ranking 51st out of 435 House members, according to the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics. That’s more than double the $3.8 million worth of his Republican opponent, Sen. Ted Cruz, who ranked 41st of 100 senators.

  • Think Progress alum thinly disguised as a journalist does 50 Shades of Beto. Ick.
  • The hits keep coming:

  • Claire McCaskill gets money laundered through Planned Parenthood, in violation of several federal laws.

  • “County Dem Leader Forced To Resign For Posts Defending Cop And US Flag.” (Hat tip: Ace of Spades HQ.)
  • “US Justice Department designates Hezbollah ‘transnational crime organisation.'” (Hat tip: Nick Short on Twitter.)
  • Brexit talks extended. (Hat tip: Stephen Green at Instapundit.)
  • The Jamal Khashoggi killing and media hypocrisy:

    The Russian government kills journalists, among others. I do not recall the Washington Post protesting on this basis the Obama administration’s “reset” of relations with Putin’s government or Obama’s promise to be more “flexible” with Russia after his reelection. Nor, as far as I remember, did the Post cite Russia’s murderous ways as a reason not to farm out to Putin enforcement of the “red line” against the use of chemical weapons in Syria.

    Cuba’s treatment of journalists and others has been atrocious. Yet, the mainstream media supported the Obama administration when it radically reset U.S. relations with Cuba without insisting on any change in the regime’s treatment of dissidents.

    What are the differences between Russia/Cuba and Saudi Arabia? I see two. First, Russia and Cuba are adversaries of America. Saudi Arabia is an ally.

    For the sane, this difference would, if anything, cut in favor of the Saudis. For the left, it cuts against them.

    Second, the Trump administration has very visibly allied itself with Saudi Arabia as a means of countering Iran and achieving other American objectives in the Middle East. Thus, the Khashoggi slaying provides the mainstream media with the opportunity to do what it does best — hammer President Trump.

    In my view, the Khashoggi slaying should not cause America substantially to alter its foreign policy. Our relatively close relationship with Saudi Arabia is predicated, as it should be, on mutual interests and mutual adversaries. Either the geo-political predicate justifies the relationship or it doesn’t.​

  • Support for gun control drops even further. (Hat tip: Director Blue.)
  • President Trump ends small packet shipping from China resulting from a 144 year old treaty.
  • How liberals argue:

  • For some reason, liberal media mouthpieces decide to freak out about a 4Chan NPC meme from 2016.
  • What it was like to work on Google+.
  • Dead pimp expected to win election.
  • Even Elizabeth Warren’s “Indian” recipes are plagiarized.
  • Heh:

  • Heh II: Austin Commie Edition:

  • Florida man does it again. Not only is he a registered sex offender who hired a federal informant for a mad-bombing spree aimed at target stores, he did it all for…making money off shorting the stock?
  • Via Dwight comes this interesting look behind the making of the classic World War II bomber film Twelve O’Clock High.
  • Heh III: Heh Harder With a Vengence.

  • Central Texas Flooding: Worst May Be To Come

    October 18th, 2018

    The worst flooding in the Austin area may still be to come:

    The LCRA is now projecting that Lake Travis may rise to between 705-710 ft. elevation by Friday, approaching the all-time record crest of 710.4 ft. from Christmas, 1991.

    Four flood gates are now open, and the LCRA says they may open four more Thursday, which would exceed the previous record of six open floodgates during a 1957 flood.

    Additional rainfall is forecast through Thursday, with 1-2 inches possible, along with some isolated 4 inch totals. A Flash Flood Watch has been expanded from the Hill Country to the Austin metro area.

    The LCRA is warning of serious flooding, and encouraging people to take precautions to protect life and property.

    Eight open floodgates on Mansfield dam means eight open gates on Tom Miller damn just north of downtown Austin. Dont be surprised if you see a repeat of that “Steve Ray Vaughn Statue Flooded” pictures we saw during the 2013 flash floods.

    Keep an eye on road closures, pay attention to the evacuation notices, and pack your bugout bag and be ready to go if you’re in low-lying areas or anywhere near the river.

    Here’s late blues guitar legend John Campbell with “When the Levee Breaks”:

    Update: LCRA says no additional floodgates need to be opened today: “LCRA will NOT need to open additional floodgates at Mansfield Dam today. It is still possible we will need to open up to four additional floodgates over the next few days.”

    More information here.

    The Onion On Bobby Francis

    October 17th, 2018

    All I can say is: Nice one, Onion.

    Even funnier if you live in the Austin area…

    (And more from the same source.)

    (Hat tip: Will Franklin on Twitter.)

    Dangerous Flooding Along the Llano River

    October 16th, 2018

    If you hadn’t heard, heavy rains have caused serious flooding along the Llano river and the Texas hill country.

    The Farm to Market 2900 bridge in Kingsland over Lake LBJ (just before the Llano and Colorado rivers meet) has collapsed:

    Authorities have evacuated anyone within a quarter-mile of the river, including large portions of Marble Falls. The Lower Colorado River Authority opened the Mansfield and Tom Miller dams at noon.

    Nor is the hazard limited to the river:

    Williamson County conducted two water rescues because of flooding Tuesday morning. One was a vehicle in high water off CR 251 in Andice, and both people were transported to a local hospital.

    The second was a school bus off CR 177 in Leander. The driver and one student on broad were rescued without injuries.

    I would tell you to check the low water crossing map for the Austin area, but there’s no need: Every low water crossing in Austin is closed, flooded or on caution right now:

    The cliched phrase of choice is there for a reason:

    Pay attention to the evacuation notices, and pack your bugout bag and be ready to go if you’re in low-lying areas or anywhere near the river.

    As for myself, I’m fine. The last time I looked at a topology map I was some 85′ higher than the Mansfield Dam spillway, so I’m safe unless we get a flood of Biblical proportion.

    Google Introduces New Room 101 App In China

    October 16th, 2018

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    (Beijing, China) Today Google announced they were releasing a new application developed for China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS). Dubbed “Room 101,” the new software not only tracks the “social credit rating” of all citizens, but also records all attempts to break government laws, as well as all relevant information for enhancing state security interrogations of subversives.

    “While completing Project Dragonfly, we became aware that there were other Chinese state security needs we could be filing,” said Google CEO Sundar Pichai. “That’s when we started work on Room 101.”

    “Before, MSS officers had to rely on cumbersome file folders for surveillance of Chinese subjects scattered throughout regional offices. We’re bringing all that information to their fingertips!”

    Among the information Room 101 tracks for every subject:

  • Their day-to-day commuting travels schedule, and where police might most easily pick them up
  • Attempts to evade the Great Firewall of China
  • Any subversive information found on their PCs or phones
  • Membership in Falun Gong or human rights organizations
  • Homosexual tendencies or activities
  • Forbidden religious affiliations (especially Christian, Muslim, or “unapproved” Buddhist sects)
  • Their greatest fears and phobias
  • Which subjects might be most susceptible to public shaming campaigns
  • Which of their relatives might be most effectively interrogated to elicit information from, or to force the subject’s compliance
  • Which body parts they are most in fear of losing.
  • There are also modules for leading modules for self-criticism sessions, pain tracking, and a variety of prefilled forms for subjects to confess their sins against the Communist Party.

    Pichai indicated that an initial trial on Google’s own personnel showed great promise at tracking and eliminating wrongthink.

    Pichai said he looked forward to rolling out modified versions of Room 101 to other countries.

    “If you want to know the future, imagine Google tracking every thought of every person on earth, forever.”

    The Islamic State Counterattacks

    October 15th, 2018

    The outcome of the investment of the Hajin pocket seemed perfectly clear: As in Raqqa and Mosul, U.S. backed forced would slowly but surely reduce the pocket in grinding urban warfare until all of its Islamic State defenders were dead or captured.

    War has a way of throwing wrenches into the gears of things that seem perfectly clear.

    A few days ago, the Islamic State remnants in the Hajin pocket launched a series of counterattacks that were at least moderately successful, even allowing them to overrun a local refugee camp and took as many as 130 families hostage before the SDF forced them back. In other places the Islamic State appears to have overrun and taken SDF positions. Some even got far enough to attack a post on the Iraqi border. There was even a reappearance of some of the improvised armor vehicles the Islamic State used in earlier stages of the war, despite unquestioned allied in-theater airspace control.

    Every black rifle below represents an Islamic State counterattack:

    At least some of those positions the Islamic State took seem to have been retaken, but the situation right now is unclear and fluid.

    Jerry Pournelle used to say “In war, everything is very simple, but simple things are very difficult.” The Islamic State may be all-but-dead as a territory-holding entity, but it’s not dead dead yet..