Gov. Haley Barbour Want Perry & Hutchison To Stay Where They Are

A big arguement I have heard against Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison is this:

Why? Everything seems like it’s fine… why is she running?

That arguement has a lot of merit and today CNN is reporting that Mississippi Governor and head of the Republican Governors Association (RGA), spoke with Hutchison and hope that KBH will stay in the senate. Here is the story from CNN: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/11/19/barbour-hopes-hutchison-stays-in-senate/

Cedar Creek, Texas (CNN)– Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said Thursday that he hopes Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison remains in the Senate and acknowledged that he has spoken with her about challenging Gov. Rick Perry in the GOP primary.

Barbour, head of the Republican Governors Association (RGA), would not elaborate on his conversation with Hutchison, but did say he personally hopes Perry wins another term.

“I would just hate to lose Kay Bailey in the Senate,” Barbour said at a news conference during the RGA’s annual meeting. “She has been a great senator. I would just hate to lose a great senator like that when we have a fine governor.”

Barbour did note that the RGA, which is the campaign arm for GOP governors, would not be taking a side in the primary. Still, this week’s conference is being held in Perry’s home state and he has played a prominent role as host of the event.

So what do you think?

The AJ Thinks You’re Stupid, Wants Your Money

Over the weekend the Lubbock AJ had an editorial that dealt with the previous elections and quality of life in Lubbock.

In a nutshell, if you didn’t support David Miller, Soccer fields, the $300 million dollar bond package for arts & entertainment, etc. then it’s not that you made a fiscally responsible vote, but instead you just weren’t educated enough.

The AJ makes it sound as though low taxes are bad and shouldn’t be factored into the quality of life. What’s amazing is that just a few weeks back Terry Greenberg, editor, wrote a column trying to prove that his paper was indeed conservative. Most conservatives love low taxes but the AJ seems to think it’s no big deal. The AJ thinks we need a lot of new stuff so people will move here.

I’ve been in Lubbock for over 8 years now, and in my opinion it’s never been better. There is a great night life, wonderful parks, and it’s safe. I enjoy the art trail and the art galleries we have. Lubbock isn’t Dallas and it shouldn’t try to be. Do your own thing and it will work.

The AJ has been on the wrong side for many elections and now they are blaming you, the people of Lubbock. They along with the big spenders think you don’t understand. They don’t think you are doing what’s right for the future of Lubbock. They think you are un-educated and that you just don’t get it. Well, Terry Greenberg and those big spenders and tax hikers are the ones that don’t get it. They want you to buy into the idea that everthing proposed will bring in tons and tons of people. They want you to raise your taxes so the city can make the illusion that they are making life better. Terry Greenberg wants you to buy his paper, but he doesn’t get you.

The AJ wants you to invest in their paper every week so they can report the news to you. Unless of course it’s not covered by the AP, then they won’t cover it. The AJ wants you to believe they are a conservative paper, but they always want you to raise your taxes. Terry Greenberg wants to act like a big time Editor, yet he won’t write an editorial unless it’s defending the AJ’s stance on an issue or trying to convince you how conservative they are. Have you noticed Greenberg hasn’t said a word yet on LP&L? Maybe next week? Oh wait, next week he will probably write about Thanksgiving. Is there any wonder why more and more people are dropping the AJ? You see Mr. Greenberg, people like it when you take a stance on real issues. Have you noticed that KFYO and in particular Lubbock’s First News and Pratt on Texas are successful? Have you noticed that you’ve endorsed every big spending project, while we have not? Have you noticed that your circulation is falling while our audience numbers keep rising? Hmmm…

Sounds like to me one organization is out of touch. Maybe Terry Greenberg and those at the AJ should get educated on how this city works.

More on this later.

FULL TEXT: Obama’s Ft. Hood Speech

Remarks of President Barack Obama – As Prepared for Delivery
Memorial Service at Fort Hood
November 10, 2009

We come together filled with sorrow for the thirteen Americans that we have lost; with gratitude for the lives that they led; and with a determination to honor them through the work we carry on.

This is a time of war. And yet these Americans did not die on a foreign field of battle. They were killed here, on American soil, in the heart of this great American community. It is this fact that makes the tragedy even more painful and even more incomprehensible.

For those families who have lost a loved one, no words can fill the void that has been left. We knew these men and women as soldiers and caregivers. You knew them as mothers and fathers; sons and daughters; sisters and brothers.

But here is what you must also know: your loved ones endure through the life of our nation. Their memory will be honored in the places they lived and by the people they touched. Their life’s work is our security, and the freedom that we too often take for granted. Every evening that the sun sets on a tranquil town; every dawn that a flag is unfurled; every moment that an American enjoys life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – that is their legacy.

Neither this country – nor the values that we were founded upon – could exist without men and women like these thirteen Americans. And that is why we must pay tribute to their stories.

Chief Warrant Officer Michael Cahill had served in the National Guard and worked as a physician’s assistant for decades. A husband and father of three, he was so committed to his patients that on the day he died, he was back at work just weeks after having a heart attack.

Major Libardo Eduardo Caraveo spoke little English when he came to America as a teenager. But he put himself through college, earned a PhD, and was helping combat units cope with the stress of deployment. He is survived by his wife, sons and step-daughters.

Staff Sergeant Justin DeCrow joined the Army right after high school, married his high school sweetheart, and had served as a light wheeled mechanic and Satellite Communications Operator. He was known as an optimist, a mentor, and a loving husband and father.

After retiring from the Army as a Major, John Gaffaney cared for society’s most vulnerable during two decades as a psychiatric nurse. He spent three years trying to return to active duty in this time of war, and he was preparing to deploy to Iraq as a Captain. He leaves behind a wife and son.

Specialist Frederick Greene was a Tennessean who wanted to join the Army for a long time, and did so in 2008 with the support of his family. As a combat engineer he was a natural leader, and he is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Specialist Jason Hunt was also recently married, with three children to care for. He joined the Army after high school. He did a tour in Iraq, and it was there that he re-enlisted for six more years on his 21st birthday so that he could continue to serve.

Staff Sergeant Amy Krueger was an athlete in high school, joined the Army shortly after 9/11, and had since returned home to speak to students about her experience. When her mother told her she couldn’t take on Osama bin Laden by herself, Amy replied: “Watch me.”

Private First Class Aaron Nemelka was an Eagle Scout who just recently signed up to do one of the most dangerous jobs in the service – diffuse bombs – so that he could help save lives. He was proudly carrying on a tradition of military service that runs deep within his family.

Private First Class Michael Pearson loved his family and loved his music, and his goal was to be a music teacher. He excelled at playing the guitar, and could create songs on the spot and show others how to play. He joined the military a year ago, and was preparing for his first deployment.

Captain Russell Seager worked as a nurse for the VA, helping veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress. He had great respect for the military, and signed up to serve so that he could help soldiers cope with the stress of combat and return to civilian life. He leaves behind a wife and son.

Private Francheska Velez, the daughter of a father from Colombia and a Puerto Rican mother, had recently served in Korea and in Iraq, and was pursuing a career in the Army. When she was killed, she was pregnant with her first child, and was excited about becoming a mother.

Lieutenant Colonel Juanita Warman was the daughter and granddaughter of Army veterans. She was a single mother who put herself through college and graduate school, and served as a nurse practitioner while raising her two daughters. She also left behind a loving husband.

Private First Class Kham Xiong came to America from Thailand as a small child. He was a husband and father who followed his brother into the military because his family had a strong history of service. He was preparing for his first deployment to Afghanistan.

These men and women came from all parts of the country. Some had long careers in the military. Some had signed up to serve in the shadow of 9/11. Some had known intense combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, and some cared for those did. Their lives speak to the strength, the dignity and the decency of those who serve, and that is how they will be remembered.

That same spirit is embodied in the community here at Fort Hood, and in the many wounded who are still recovering. In those terrible minutes during the attack, soldiers made makeshift tourniquets out of their clothes. They braved gunfire to reach the wounded, and ferried them to safety in the backs of cars and a pick-up truck.

One young soldier, Amber Bahr, was so intent on helping others that she did not realize for some time that she, herself, had been shot in the back. Two police officers – Mark Todd and Kim Munley – saved countless lives by risking their own. One medic – Francisco de la Serna – treated both Officer Munley and the gunman who shot her.

It may be hard to comprehend the twisted logic that led to this tragedy. But this much we do know – no faith justifies these murderous and craven acts; no just and loving God looks upon them with favor. And for what he has done, we know that the killer will be met with justice – in this world, and the next.

These are trying times for our country. In Afghanistan and Pakistan, the same extremists who killed nearly 3,000 Americans continue to endanger America, our allies, and innocent Afghans and Pakistanis. In Iraq, we are working to bring a war to a successful end, as there are still those who would deny the Iraqi people the future that Americans and Iraqis have sacrificed so much for.

As we face these challenges, the stories of those at Fort Hood reaffirm the core values that we are fighting for, and the strength that we must draw upon. Theirs are tales of American men and women answering an extraordinary call – the call to serve their comrades, their communities, and their country. In an age of selfishness, they embody responsibility. In an era of division, they call upon us to come together. In a time of cynicism, they remind us of who we are as Americans.

We are a nation that endures because of the courage of those who defend it. We saw that valor in those who braved bullets here at Fort Hood, just as surely as we see it in those who signed up knowing that they would serve in harm’s way.

We are a nation of laws whose commitment to justice is so enduring that we would treat a gunman and give him due process, just as surely as we will see that he pays for his crimes.

We are a nation that guarantees the freedom to worship as one chooses. And instead of claiming God for our side, we remember Lincoln’s words, and always pray to be on the side of God.

We are a nation that is dedicated to the proposition that all men and women are created equal. We live that truth within our military, and see it in the varied backgrounds of those we lay to rest today. We defend that truth at home and abroad, and we know that Americans will always be found on the side of liberty and equality. That is who we are as a people.

Tomorrow is Veterans Day. It is a chance to pause, and to pay tribute – for students to learn of the struggles that preceded them; for families to honor the service of parents and grandparents; for citizens to reflect upon the sacrifices that have been made in pursuit of a more perfect union.

For history is filled with heroes. You may remember the stories of a grandfather who marched across Europe; an uncle who fought in Vietnam; a sister who served in the Gulf. But as we honor the many generations who have served, I think all of us – every single American – must acknowledge that this generation has more than proved itself the equal of those who have come before.

We need not look to the past for greatness, because it is before our very eyes.

This generation of soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen have volunteered in a time of certain danger. They are part of the finest fighting force that the world has ever known. They have served tour after tour of duty in distant, different and difficult places. They have stood watch in blinding deserts and on snowy mountains. They have extended the opportunity of self-government to peoples that have suffered tyranny and war. They are man and woman; white, black, and brown; of all faiths and stations – all Americans, serving together to protect our people, while giving others half a world away the chance to lead a better life.

In today’s wars, there is not always a simple ceremony that signals our troops’ success – no surrender papers to be signed, or capital to be claimed. But the measure of their impact is no less great – in a world of threats that no know borders, it will be marked in the safety of our cities and towns, and the security and opportunity that is extended abroad. And it will serve as testimony to the character of those who serve, and the example that you set for America and for the world.

Here, at Fort Hood, we pay tribute to thirteen men and women who were not able to escape the horror of war, even in the comfort of home. Later today, at Fort Lewis, one community will gather to remember so many in one Stryker Brigade who have fallen in Afghanistan.

Long after they are laid to rest – when the fighting has finished, and our nation has endured; when today’s servicemen and women are veterans, and their children have grown – it will be said of this generation that they believed under the most trying of tests; that they persevered not just when it was easy, but when it was hard; and that they paid the price and bore the burden to secure this nation, and stood up for the values that live in the hearts of all free peoples.

So we say goodbye to those who now belong to eternity. We press ahead in pursuit of the peace that guided their service. May God bless the memory of those we lost. And may God bless the United States of America.

Lubbock Buys Xcel Energy in Lubbock

Good bye Xcel Energy (at least in Lubbock) and good bye competition! Today Lubbock announced it was spending $87 million dollars to buy out the Lubbock customer base of Xcel Energy. According to the city, this is great for downtown redevelopment. OK, great.

Mayor Tom Martin was quick to say at the presser that your rates won’t change because of this. Really? Does anyone buy this? LP&L has no competition in Lubbock (for the most part) and we shouldn’t expect rates to change? We shouldn’t expect customer service to change?

I’m sorry but the only people who will benefit from this buy out are the people in charge at City Hall. And how about the timing? The city keeps this whole thing quiet until after the bond election.

So, what do you think?

More on Thursday’s LFN.

ANDY WILSON TO RUN FOR CONGRESS

We now have a Democratic challenger to U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer. Andy Wilson, from Lubbock will announce to today that he is running for Congress. Wilson is a Democrat, who according to an article in the reporternews.com, is a “moderate Democrat that truly believes in fiscal responsibility.” If you are a Democrat running for election in west Texas, you better be at least be fiscally responsible. Otherwise, you are just blowing money.

Mr. Wilson will join us in studio Tuesday morning at 8:05am on Lubbock’s First News to discuss the issues and his candidacy.

Below is a copy of his press release. Find out more info on his website: www.istandwithandy.com

Andy Wilson will be announcing his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for the US House of Representatives in the 19th district of Texas on Monday November 2, 2009 at the Mahon Library in the community room in Lubbock, TX at 3:00pm.

A little about Andy, from Andy, follows:

I was born in the great state of Texas and raised in the small Texas town of Bellville by two phenomenal parents. Most of my memories from my youth revolve around fishing and hunting with my Dad, Miles Wilson. He was, and remains to this day, an avid sportsman. My mother, Carolyn Wilson, is a life long educator and both she and my father remain involved in mentoring young people even as they enter their retirement years.

My first trip to West Texas was to register for classes at Texas Tech University and I graduated in 1990 from with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. In ’91 a beautiful young woman named Heidi started to attend the same church where I was a member. A year later we were married and remain committed members of this same body of believers.

Together Heidi and I have raised our 2 sons, Davis, 15, and Keller, 13. For the past 2 years we have also had the wonderful opportunity of helping raise another fine young man, Gene Williams,14. While our life has been good, we have certainly faced some challenges. Primary among these challenges is the fact that our youngest son, Keller, is severely autistic. But together we have faced these challenges with the resolve and optimism that I feel typifies West Texas.

Since graduating Texas Tech, I have spent my entire career in the private sector. For the past 9 years I have been employed by X-FAB Texas, an international semiconductor manufacturer. Heidi, also a graduate of Texas Tech, is a teacher and choir director in the Slaton Independent School District.

Together we call West Texas home and cherish the qualities of the good people of this part of the country — qualities like independence, integrity, hard work and a desire to leave a legacy for the next generations. I believe that our country can benefit from these qualities that are still alive in West Texas. I believe that we need a Representative from this area that can represent and promote the values that have served us so well.

On Monday, Andy will announce his candidacy and outline the platform on which he is running.  The campaign website, www.istandwithandy.com, will also launch Monday with the announcement.

 

LUBBOCK’S DEBT RISING

Lubbock’s debt is on the rise and the SPARTAN (South Plains Area Taxpayer Network) watchdog group is concerned. According to Mikel Ward, the city’s debt has nearly doubled in 3 years.

Lubbock’s current bond indebtedness in principle is $697,635,000. The interest that we owe on that is $310,567,870. Put that together and it adds up to over 1 BILLION DOLLARS. The City is also looking at adding $178,368,437 in new debt after the bond election for water. Oh and that doesn’t have to be voted on. Here is a breakdown from prattontexas.com:

Funding Source                                  Principal              Interest
Property Tax                                  $ 106,303,936         39,168,727
Hotel Tax                                                 1,144,548               606,656
LP&L Revenues                                   81,588,473          33,015,027
TIF Property Tax                                35,092,784         18,435,227
Franchise Fees                                     89,243,719         49,459,810
Enterprise Fund Revenues              384,261,540       169,882,423
TOTAL                                              $ 697,635,000       310,567,870

Mikel Ward also says that, “If Council approves this $178,368,437 & voters pass the $61 million Tuesday, our principal debt alone will be $937 million.  We’re estimating that would increase our annual debt service to around $95 million or about $450 per person every year. I’m concerned we can’t sustain this load.”

So how does Lubbock compare to other cities? I recieved this email from the people at SPARTAN this morning:

I compiled a spreadsheet that shows the bonded debt of all the cities in the South Plains, Panhandle, and Permian Basin.   There were a total of 57 cities that had total bonded debt of $1,914,381,388.00.  Lubbock had $992,316,719.00 of this debt which is $69,933,331.00 more debt than the other 56 cities combined.  The average debt per person of Lubbock residents is $4,566.35 while the average debt for the other 56 cities was $1,235.79 which means Lubbock has almost four times as much debt as the other 56 cities.

Amarillo has $588.95 of debt per person, Odessa has $1,997.90 per person, Abilene has $1,555.61 per person, and Midland has $2020.24 of debt person all of which are less than half of the Lubbock debt load per person.

I was told by a city official that the debt service for Lubbock was approximately $73,600,000.00 per year which amounts to about $339.00 for every man, woman, and child that lives in Lubbock.  This would amount to $1356.00 for a family of four.  This seems like a lot of money to pay for simply paying debt and interest each year.  If debt is so great how come all the other cities have about one-fourth the debt load per person that Lubbock has?

Should we be concerned? Should these figures play a part in your decision making at the polls? I think they should. I think we should be concerned. This is why I’ve been telling you that this isn’t the time to vote for luxury items like soccer fields and splash pads. At some point we will have to pay for all of us this.

More on this on Thursdays LFN.

MORE ON THE BOND ELECTION

Early voting continues in Lubbock for the local bond election(and TX Constitutional admendments) and I hope you are all getting out there to vote. I’m pretty sure that it be a smaller turn out than the alcohol vote, and that speaks volumes about our society.

Over the past couple of days we’ve had the backers of all 4 bond issues on LFN and I’m glad we did. I’m glad they didn’t shy away from the show. I still don’t think the time is right to vote for tax increases for luxury items. I know quality of life issues are important, but so is timing. I think youth sports are important and I wish more kids got involved. I wonder though, is there another way? Right now hotel/motel tax money can’t be used for soccer fields. However, why not try to lobby the legislature to change the rule to say that tax money can be used for anything that could generate revenue and put “heads in beds”? It doesn’t cost us anything and the kids get new soccer fields.

They say the splash pads would benefit the less fortunate in Lubbock. Maybe. I wonder though, would a tax increase hurt them more though?

Just a few thoughts.

VOTE YES THEN NO

This morning on LFN Mayor Tom Martin made the statement that, “everything we do is a necessity”. The Mayor was talking about the City of Lubbock at that point and also said that splash pads and soccer fields are necessities.

Sorry, but he is wrong and so are the people telling you to vote for all 4 bond issues. A short list of necessities that local government should take care of (but often isn’t good at taking care of them): Roads, Police, Fire, Water. The basics is what government should spend money on, especially during times of recession. Soccer fields and splash pads are luxury items.

Everyone is telling you to tighten your belts and spend your money wisely. This is good advice and advice that you the voter should also listen to. If Lubbock votes for these luxury items your taxes will go up. Do you really want that to happen right now?

Think about it. Your Federal taxes will probably be going up soon. Your State taxes could go up soon too. Lubbock has already upped your taxes… ahem “fees” for the stormwater fee. Props 1&2 will pass easy(as they should) so your taxes are going up there too. Oh not to mention that people are still losing their jobs here in Lubbock, and if your not losing your job then your paycheck might be a little lighter.

Take all that in for a second and think. Do we really need these luxury items right now? We have 4 city pools for the “disadvantaged”. Why do we need splash pads now? I had a slip-n-slide and a water hose and I turned out just fine. If 3500 kids already play soccer why do we need extra ones right now? If more soccer fields means more tournaments and lots of money, why hasn’t a private company come in and built them?

Let’s not even get into the discussion on how well the city takes care of existing buildings and fields they own. You know how well they are being taken care of and you really want to trust them with more? Let the city prove they can take care of what they have first. What about water usage for the soccer fields? Aren’t we supposed to be conserving water?

Right now is just not the time to spend money on luxury items. So with all that said…

Vote YES on Props 1 & 2. Vote NO on 3 & 4.

More on Tuesday’s edition of LFN.

RUSH LIMBAUGH TAKES ON THE NFL AND THE RACE CARD

A great piece by Rush Limbaugh was put online last night by the Wall Street Journal. I encourage you to read it. On today’s Chad Hasty Show we will discuss this topic. Read the story and let me know what you think.

Rush Limbaugh: The Race Card, Football, and Me

Part of the article:

The NFL players union boss, DeMaurice Smith, jumped in. A Washington criminal defense lawyer, Democratic Party supporter and Barack Obama donor, he sent a much publicized email to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell saying that it was important for the league to reject discrimination and hatred.

When Mr. Goodell was asked about me, he suggested that my 2003 comment criticizing the media’s coverage of Donovan McNabb—in which I said the media was cheerleading Mr. McNabb because they wanted a successful black quarterback—fell short of the NFL’s “high standard.” High standard? Half a decade later, the media would behave the same way about the presidential candidacy of Mr. Obama.

BACK IN LUBBOCK AND AN UPDATE

Well it’s good to be back in the Hub City. I spent the weekend celebrating my birthday and my Mom’s birthday in Dallas and of course good times were had by all, but after a few days it’s nice to get back home and yell at people on the radio.

By the way, the next time you are in Dallas and want to try a nice place for dinner, check out Nick and Sam’s in Dallas. It’s a bit pricey, but you are getting some good food and you will be taken care of. If you enjoy wine they have over 500 selections for you to choose from. The website is www.nick-sams.com.

Many of you have noticed that those of us in radio do much more than just radio these days. People want info all day long and well, we like to comment on stuff throughout the day as well. That’s why I’m happy to announce that chadhasty.com isn’t the only place where you can read my thoughts on things. So where else can you find me?

KFYO.COM

That’s right our radio home on the dial now features my blog on kfyo.com. On KFYO.com I will be writing about local issues and posting interesting links and videos that won’t be found on chadhasty.com. It’s another way to connect to the listeners who visit kfyo.com. You can also check out my mailbag there as well.

THEWILLIAMSANDHYATTSHOW.COM

The show that gave my start in radio (don’t send them any hate mail) has given me a corner on their brand new website. This will be exclusive stuff that I write for thewilliamsandhyattshow.com. The cool thing about this is that Ryan Hyatt is letting me write food reviews, drinks reviews, local stuff, and more. Yes, you do have to pay to access the site, but that just means the really crazy stuff will be going over there. Plus you will get access to the Williams and Hyatt Show podcasts, Tech news/articles that aren’t written by the Texas Tech Athletic Department, and more. It’s real opinions, reviews, and more. For pennies a day you can help starving children in some remote village of the world. Then after you do that, for pennies a day you can access great sports and life commentary.

So join me today as the Chad Hasty media empire grows. OK that sounded a bit douchey, but whatever.