Save Jerry McHale: May 2012

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Brownsville Noise

EL RRUN RRUN
http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/

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WE NEVER KNEW RRUN-RRUN WAS "EASY," OR CHEEZMEH IMPARTIAL
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<div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(204, 204, 221); "></span></div><i style="font-weight: normal; ">"And we are sick and tired of hearing your song<br />Telling how you are gonna change right from wrong<br />'Cause if you really want to hear our views<br />"You haven't done nothing"!</i> <div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; ">From Stevie Wonder</div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; ">By J<b>uan Montoya</b></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; ">Every once in a while someone tells us that we have been the object of derision or scorn in some dark corner of cyberspace.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; ">The fact that it was â€" once again â€" in a Cheezmeh posting on Facebook didn't surprise us much. We've grown weary of even clicking on to that page unless we want to know where we can find a stray dog, adopt a pussycat, avoid a police checkpoint or peek in on someone sniping at local people while munching on doughnuts perched on a Lazyboy chair in Austin.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">That said, we â€" as have others active in cyberspace â€" have been witnessing the convoluted evolution of the Cheezmeh group since its inception as a so-called grassro</span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">ots organization to its current state as a...well, it's hard to tell what. What may have started as a spanking new forum for new ideas in the city has now deteriorated into a sort of </span><i style="font-size: 100%; ">segunda</i><span style="font-size: 100%; "> </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">of shopworn gimmicks ruled over by a doughnut-munching head mistress who won't stand any guff from underlings, or from her betters for that matter.</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">We speak of Erasmo Castro, of course.</span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; ">Over time, that cuddly munchkin has evolved into a ruthless Gargantua devouring his enemies with missives sent out from his cave in Austin. When he does come down to review the troops, it's always a smaller cadre that he encounters. That's why when the group decided to do away with the thin veneer of political impartiality and begin to take sides in local political races, everyone knew it would be a matter of time before it would also fall victim to the rampant polarization of the area. </div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; ">Then, when fortune smiled on them and they were at the right place at the right time when the community soundly rejected Charlie Atkinson's rerun for city commissioner and voted in Jessica Tetreau-Kalifa and then the voters chose newcomer John Villarreal over former city commissioner Tony Zavaleta, Cheezmeh felt its oats. Suddenly, a community-wide rejection of these candidates had been their doing, and only their own.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; ">This grew to be a common trait of the group. When local blogger Bobby Wight<span style="font-size: 100%; ">man led the move to deny Fly Frontera â€" represented by his nemesis Carlos Quintanilla also from Dallas â€" incentives amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars, Cheezmeh was a latecomer to the issue, but made like it was leading the parade.</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; ">Predictably, when the city denied the airline subsidies, Cheezmeh leaped at the chance to assert itself as the paladin of Browntown. It's easy to claim credit when someone else does the work.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; ">Well, this led to a falling out between Castro, former Cheezmeh adherents and Wightman. Those defections just kept on coming. The Bartons, the Groves, Helen Flores, the Brownsville Firemen Union, the Brownsville Unity Council, etc., all demurely separated themselves from the Head Cheez and his minions.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; ">Then the heroes of the black-playera-clad group â€" Tetreau and Villarreal â€" proved by their actions to be less than ideal role models of civility.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; ">Tetreau couldn't keep her domestic problems with her mate from ending in the city lockup or in the police and newspaper reports and Villarreal's rant at a public park over a voter abuse group left a bad taste in everyone's mouth.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; ">Then Castro's spat with Zeke Silva over his support of Luis Saenz for Cameron County District Attorney ostensibly over the Head Cheez's claim to veto power over the Ch<span style="font-size: 100%; ">eezmeh blog deteriorated to a point where the blog meisters pulled the plug blog on the blog saying it was constructed to be a community tool rather than a personal organ of power.</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; ">"I don't have to explain myself to anyone...I reserve the right to remove anything..." Castro asserts.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">The support of the </span>Cheezmeh<span style="font-size: 100%; "> cadre has been an incidental one to personal friendships with the likes of Elia </span>Cornejo<span style="font-size: 100%; "> Lopez, Erin Hernandez Garcia, and </span>Rebecca<span style="font-size: 100%; "> </span>RuBane<span style="font-size: 100%; "> because Erin gave them free legal advice, and Elia and </span>Rebecca<span style="font-size: 100%; "> were "friends."</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; "> "It was a given that we were going to ask our friends to support Erin," he says. "We had already declared we were not going to enter into the primaries, man."</div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; ">Castro now counters in a recent posting that Silva forced Cheezmeh's hand in the DA's race and said: "We were thrown into that race by the stupid Saenz people, especially Zeke who is s piece of shit."</div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Regardless of what Castro says, it was obvious since before early voting that he mired the group deep in the political muck with the obvious candidates, most notably in the Masso and Hernandez races.</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">But alas, Erin did not fare very well in the Justice of the Peace race, and both she and Masso are in for tight runoff races.</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">In the DA's race, </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Masso's 8,072 votes were just 306 over Saenz's 7,766. However, included in that total are an astounding 192 mail-in votes for Masso. That may prove, as a local blogger states, "problematic."</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; ">In the JP <span style="font-size: 100%; ">2-2 race, Yolanda Teran Begum's 2,960 votes beat Erin's 2,507. Not only must Erin make up the difference, she must also get at least one more vote to overcome Begum's lead.</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">The Cheezmeh association with a political pariahs like Ernie Hernandez and his family and with a candidate like Masso who has yet to<i> fully</i> answer for his role in the Port of Brownsville's $21 million Bridge to Nowhere fiasco will doubtless hasten the group's declining fortunes.</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Castro, complaining to his adoring admirers in his remaining Facebook forum, sounded like a long-suffering and toiling mother who is working her fingers to the bone for </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">ingr</span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzPSR4FzbksbQq0guasK1ITLDLcR1M4_kPcDnBLzdNyHe0ZVYuRxVwgBcmFDlAXt327vYJVN506rRQvq8CH4u9Ul12pdDJhB2QuCfgOvAydoyGdeko0BBGeGho78ltHpXjCyWwWRWVvY/s320/chain.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5748841398003128306" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 209px; " /><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">ate children who simply don't understand the toils and travails of putting out snippets of wisdom on the Internet.</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">"I do my best in attending to individual needs and requests, but if you think that running a page as big as this one is as easy as running the <i>Rrun-Rrun</i> or any other blog, you are sorely mistaken...Peace."</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Now, if Castro actually had to create posts instead of cutting and pasting from the Internet as he does, he might have a point. But he doesn't.</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">And we thought we had our work cut out for us actually writing original pieces. We're in the wrong business.</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6016803033174468094-6523639279173562906?l=rrunrrun.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
LINK: http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/2012/05/we-never-knew-rrun-rrun-was-easy-or.html

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NEW VFW ALCOHOL POLICY, QUARTERMASTER'S NO BYOB RULE SHAKES UP POST
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<div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTGj_XBSrMW7-FFekVIJ4iEX3RGKvIkl6WWZ6Vx3tA6aWceKPY5sABK8x_l0jcqyMoYZTpcLEys-VJ7i-65DdN_danvVzf1k1Pwwa9TNYlGsErArNWw-mREeR-P-Kn6mYRTmh14hboVY/s200/no-drinking-sign1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5748772415677637266" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /><div><b style="font-size: 100%; ">By Juan Montoya</b></div><div><div style="font-weight: normal; ">For man<span style="font-size: 100%; ">y years, walking </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">into the Brownsville</span><span style="font-size: 100%; "> </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">VFW Post 2035 meant running into commander Luis Lucio, a combat Marine. With his ubiqui</span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">tous plastic bottle of whiskey and mineral water, he would hold court at the bar, or, on some weekends, at a large table dominating the hall. Many other vets would also shun beer sold </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">at the post </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">and opt for a Bring Your Own Booze (BYOB) policy.</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">However, n</span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">ow when you visit the VFW, Louie or the rest vets who would bring in their booze from outside </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">and stand at the bar buying mineral water for set ups as they whiled the evenings away chatting with the patrons are now noticeable for their abscence.</span></div><div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Upon entering the portals of the hall now, a handwritten sign warns pat</span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">rons that outside alcohol will no longer be allowed in the premises.</span>nowhere in sight. The VFW, which had sold liquor by the drink when they first set up on Veterans Road behind the Hygeia plant off Price Road stopped selling liquor some time back after they couldn't sell enough to make the cost of the license worth it.</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Then, on the VFW website and on Facebook postings, the reason the VFW stopped allowing outside alcohol to be brought in is explained.</span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">"Patrons:A note on the liquor liability. Most mainstream insurers would not insure the VFW Post 2035 due to our high risk BYOB (Bring Your Own Bottle/Liquor) policy," it stated. "The risk of liability from patrons dispensing their own... liquor is simply too high to cover and the direct contribution to sales has been small, with many hard liquor drinkers buying only one setup for $2.00 to last hours or even asking for tap water or using ice for their liquor, meanwhile using our electricity, VFW Post 2035 manpower, supplies, space and miscellaneous.</span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOLQ0uYc7LMUbRk039LbPSkRKTRqyhXkicMqh0vWSW1-Blea6IImcibYbdYitQROyjQ7I1-qO_2O4rNilMpbAxK54l9i1-fIiIOmjotaV9X6l5nJF2ZUSZ2wvAVFUfaMVl6lcEHJcVlA/s320/ProhibitionLiquor.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5748774725951628722" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 316px; " /><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">"The BYOB policy has therefore been suspended so the VFW Post 2035 can at least get a basic insurance policy and satisfy bank requirements to have adequate insurance. It would cost thousands more to insure for BYOB nor is it even recommended to allow it."</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Nowadays, if you visit any establishment like the Palm Lounge or even the B</span>oss<span style="font-size: 100%; "> Club (the old VFW on Paredes and Los Ebanos), you will probably run into some of the old gang that used to frequent the VFW with their plastic liquor holders and set ups holding up the bar like they used to do at the VFW.</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">"Things were getting out of hand," said a frequent VFW patron. "Sometimes the regulars would get real loud and a few had to be helped to the bathroom because they had gone past their cups. The membership took a vote and decided to implement the new policy."</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; ">Will the new policy at the VFW affect the post's money-raising efforts to pay off the note on the sumptuous building, or will it mean decreased income for the post that would even mean closing itor even securing refinancing?</div><div style="font-weight: normal; ">The new VFW directors have been discreet on their plans and are hoping the new rules will encourage those veterans who prefer a more clubby atmosphere to bring their mates to the post's karaoke night and rental hall functions.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; ">For the liquor drinkers, have bottle will travel.</div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6016803033174468094-3793131404897277229?l=rrunrrun.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
LINK: http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/2012/05/new-vfw-alcohol-policy-quartermaster.html

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SUNDAY, A MEMORIUM TO PIONEER RADIO BROADCASTER JOSE CANTU: "ME ESTAS OYENDO, CHUCHA?"
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSEo3LNCZ2hVJjlpMHdlUifCvNTTK8ZnuZSFtJKkzMZB4zKkUEXzp4Lc15a5MKEdyaJ3LcdERAQjm7_vy1f_MqIVIo3C6UOZ0UTWJxuuiQboGFfhZo0CUgzm1fAZ4prhkN8edAgO_NBRU/s1600/cantu.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 508px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 338px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5748720700234201250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSEo3LNCZ2hVJjlpMHdlUifCvNTTK8ZnuZSFtJKkzMZB4zKkUEXzp4Lc15a5MKEdyaJ3LcdERAQjm7_vy1f_MqIVIo3C6UOZ0UTWJxuuiQboGFfhZo0CUgzm1fAZ4prhkN8edAgO_NBRU/s400/cantu.jpg" /></a><br /><em>(This Sunday the Brownsville Heritage museum and the Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame and Museum will feature a presentation on 1940s and 50s radio pioneer Jose Cantu. I learned about Cantu when I worked at the Brownsville Herald from old timers like by Oscar del Castillo who founded the Spanish-language Heraldo de Brownsville in 1934. Cantu's "Programa Popular" was featured on KBOR 1600 AM. He was an advocate for Hispanics' civil rights throughout the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Cantu's programming showcased local talent, news bulletins and provocative interviews. It lasted from 1946 to 1952. On June 7, 1952 Cantu lost his life in a car accident. We reprint our article in advance of the presentation by Conjunto Association president Lupe Saenz.)</em><br /><br />By <strong>Juan Montoya</strong><br />Longtime Valley residents who were around the late 1940s and early 1950s still talk about Jose Rangel Cantu, a broadcaster who used radio to champion the rights of Hispanics through his â€œPrograma Popularâ€ which aired in the afternoons.<br />"He was the son of the people,â€ said Roberto Anduiza, who worked with Cantu for many years. "He was a man of struggle, who knew firsthand the necessities of the people. In his own particular way, he wanted to open the eyes of the people so they could discover the possibilities and their potential.â€<br />Cantu was born Feb. 23, 1912, in Matamoros, and lived in Brownsville many years before he started working in radio. Researcher Carlos Larralde said his father abandoned the family when Cantu was very young. He was only two when his mother Refugia moved to Brownsville, desperate to earn a living.<br />He worked as a shoeshine boy and delivered groceries to help the family. Later, he became a house painter. Encouraged by his mother, he practiced articulating and speech before a mirror. He soon found he had a gift for making people laugh, and he included comedy into his sales pitches at the paint store. It was there that he met store clerk Maria de Jesus Solis, known as Jesusita, or Chucha.<br />Over time, when he had become a radio announcer, he would use his trademark phrase <em>â€œMe estas oyendo, Chucha</em>? (Are you listening, Chucha?).â€<br />After he married Chucha in 1936, she encouraged him to try speaking commercials on the radio. Hearing about a job opening, he applied with KGBS radio station north of San Benito. The station was an affiliate of the Colombia Broadcast Service and under broadcaster Primitivo Mendez, Cantu began to learn about the broadcasting business. That introduction soon enabled him to land a job in Brownsvilleâ€™s KBOR radio station.<br />His natural ability to make people laugh soon earned him a niche at the station, something not unnoticed by Minor Wilson, manager of KBOR. He decided to try him out for a Sunday afternoon variety show. The format would feature local talent and local news of interest to Hispanics. With Cantuâ€™s natural charm and wit, the show â€œ<em>Programa Popular</em>â€ soon became a favorite of listeners across the Lower Rio Grande Valley.<br />It was just after the Second World War, and the region was growing by leaps and bounds. Services like water, electricity, sanitary sewer, police protection, and street paving could not keep up with the growth.<br />invariably, the poorest barrios in the city were in the worst shape. Need was everywhere and Cantu, a man of conscience, was there to expose the neglect and abuse existing in the area. According to the late Frank Ferree, known as â€œThe Angel of the Borderâ€ for his own work among the poor on both sides of the border, Cantu was â€œa man who fought for the needs of the people and who would respond without fear for the people of the border in their hour when they most desperately needed help.â€<br />Wilson recognized<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xRS_ndwEhavIqCZUztJtKYhqyPWA-ZOhdbtePpaj6ekLjB5ueCAE1yxdwXyqLHxUVhymkgC7p_z5RF215C5XuTFZi4V1HN6H8aBAp9jNTnRFKwiDaMn1KhjynZswo7u96iLC-l77rGiG/s1600-h/cantu1.gif"></a> Cantuâ€™s radio charisma at once. â€œHe was a natural,â€ Wilson said. â€œ He just went on the air and told it like it was. There were no nerves, no profanities and no mistakes when he spoke.â€<br />His show soon attracted local performers eager for an audience to launch their careers. Singers like Lydia Mendoza, Chelo Silva, Delia Gutierrez PiÃ±eda, Eugenio Gutierrez, and the young Ruben Vela performed to appreciative radio audiences. Mendoza, from Houston, sang <em>â€œMal Hombre</em>,â€ and it became one of her biggest hits.<br />He encouraged her and her relatives to form a group, and they did. In time, he became the most famous broadcaster in the Valley, attracting fans in every barrio in the city.<br />His stand on behalf of the poor in the area made him immensely popular. Th<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPdKm4yzj7hRpu4_vc-KGWl0GGGwFx4KPW5m67ECuTl2-yJZpiB37IQj7pmu0Mo0HnCchZr3AOsKzLOt9JDpN47SJzhv-Wr581hqY-ksCLGztENHOr2Xj1yyBidNsJV-wa3onAEndxDw/s1600/cantu1.gif"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 284px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 293px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5748727905478034866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPdKm4yzj7hRpu4_vc-KGWl0GGGwFx4KPW5m67ECuTl2-yJZpiB37IQj7pmu0Mo0HnCchZr3AOsKzLOt9JDpN47SJzhv-Wr581hqY-ksCLGztENHOr2Xj1yyBidNsJV-wa3onAEndxDw/s320/cantu1.gif" /></a>e late Bernie Whitman, who had a pawn shop in Market Square, said his popularity with the lower economic classes he defended was legendary.<br />â€œHe could go in the barrios and neighborhoods, everywhere, and you could recognize his distinctive voice,â€ Whitman said. â€œThe trust people had in him was tremendous. Everyone had faith in his integrity and he didnâ€™t give them cause to lose that trust.â€<br />Cantuâ€™s militancy in defending the poor knew little bounds.<br />He unmercifully lashed merchants who charged exorbitant prices for their products, farmers who paid meager wages to local workers, city officials who did not provide the same municipal services to the poor sections of town that were available to richer areas, and the plethora of injustices that prevailed at the turn of the 1950s.<br />One of his most popular themes was pleading with border officials to open the international bridges to Mexican farmworkers so they would not drown trying to cross the river. Perhaps one of his most controversial issues was the semi-slavery conditions of women in Matamorosâ€™ red-light district.<br />No one, neither crooked businessmen, nor neglectful public officials, escaped his wrath. Still, Carnation Dairy Products, Royal Crown Hair Dressing, and other well-known companies sponsored the program, unmindful of the criticism from conservatives who considered him a radical.<br />Historian Bruce Aiken wrote that when Cantuâ€™s died on June 7, 1952, after crashing into a tree outside Brownsville and was instantly killed, the people believed he had been killed for his criticism of powerful men, notably the Del Fierros, a notorious Matamoros clan.<br />It was rumored that his brakes had been sabotaged. There were tales that a woman from Matamoros who had been in the car suffered broken legs and was removed from the scene and whisked away.<br />Some said it was his stand against prostitution in Matamoros that had gotten him killed. As the time of his show approached that day, a multitude of people gathered around the station created a traffic jam. Many did not want to believe that their champion was dead.<br />When another announcer came on the air and confirmed the news, cries of anguish erupted from the crowd and even grown men were seen dabbing the tears from their eyes. Brownsville was overwhelmed by Cantuâ€™s funeral, where honors were bestowed on â€œa friend of those in poverty.â€ It is estimated that 8,000 people tried to attend his funeral Mass at the Immaculate Conception Church.<br />â€œNo one could control him,â€ Whitman recalled. â€œHe didnâ€™t sell himself. His greatest contribution was to disseminate information that the people needed, because no one else had the courage to do it.â€<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6016803033174468094-2503527739821401667?l=rrunrrun.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
LINK: http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/2012/05/sunday-memorium-to-jose-cantu-me-estas.html

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Brownsville Noise

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Brownsville Noise

Brownsville Noise
http://brownsvillenoise.blogspot.com/

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â™¥ â™¥ BFFs â™¥ â™¥
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTW6vSITIWPsKkuoumenechNTUUwraeokw7C-5ABOqNzfhdx4yznexCezVkondI1Y33NIxoZkp7-rPSbvx12qxSj75nPV5C7w_m3nM35QWWqjDHKxZUK84IeatQYJVIOHOhAmNk200oIK/s1600/bff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTW6vSITIWPsKkuoumenechNTUUwraeokw7C-5ABOqNzfhdx4yznexCezVkondI1Y33NIxoZkp7-rPSbvx12qxSj75nPV5C7w_m3nM35QWWqjDHKxZUK84IeatQYJVIOHOhAmNk200oIK/s400/bff.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Rick congratulates his BFF Charlie on his Turd Place showing in the recent valleycentral.com poll.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7460924536583987444-8997923795881558037?l=brownsvillenoise.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
LINK: http://brownsvillenoise.blogspot.com/2011/03/bffs.html

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Charlie Supporters Sign Ballots with Blood to Show Undying Support
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAti5xntqCHQ-grM0PssNz46uEP0BmUK6xuCAVQr6zkf8ZZbFvuwAqeE1XaYuTjES_J2CSbmcr2UffTwo5gGCgfgaMT1yxfX7kCf34xpiXj4Sf21VnaAsvUAQB_mAhf_5pRYHxyimVzojp/s1600/charlesaddam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAti5xntqCHQ-grM0PssNz46uEP0BmUK6xuCAVQr6zkf8ZZbFvuwAqeE1XaYuTjES_J2CSbmcr2UffTwo5gGCgfgaMT1yxfX7kCf34xpiXj4Sf21VnaAsvUAQB_mAhf_5pRYHxyimVzojp/s400/charlesaddam.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Not Pictured: District 2 Voters<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7460924536583987444-3234340295717723801?l=brownsvillenoise.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
LINK: http://brownsvillenoise.blogspot.com/2011/03/charlie-supporters-sign-ballots-with.html

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Maclovio OMalley

The Maclovio O'Malley Show
http://www.spreaker.com/show/the_maclovio_o_malley_show

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Episode 31 Final
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LINK: http://www.spreaker.com/user/maclovioomalley/episode_31_final

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Episode 31, Election Day Show, May 29
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LINK: http://www.spreaker.com/user/maclovioomalley/episode_31_election_day_show_may_29

Copyright Maclovio O'Malley

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Brownsville Noise

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Rrun Rrun

EL RRUN RRUN
http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/

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SPACEX PROJECT HERE NOT LINKED TO NASA
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">By</span><b style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; "> Juan Montoya</b><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">It doesn't matter how many times we repeat it here, but since the Brownsville Economic Development Corporation, United Brownsville and the rest of the</span><i> lambiscones</i> associated with the Sunshine Boys at the Chamber of Commerce will not clarify the very limited parameters of SpaceX's project here, it falls to our lot and we welcome the opportunity to do it.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-style: normal; ">First of all, no matter what people like retired </span><i>Herald</i> advertising executive Hector Solis tells those who will listen at a his favorite local watering hole, the firm's contract with NASA to ferry supplies to the International Space Station is<i> not</i> related to the firms' efforts to set up a satellite launch pad at Boca Chica.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">We will not launch astronauts from Boca Chica, or for that matter, any manned space missions anywhere else.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">SpaceX's Brownsville operation will </span><em style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; ">not</em><span style="font-size: 100%; "> be related (at all) to the company's operations in Cape Canaveral or to NASA.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; ">It is <em style="font-style: normal; ">not</em> related (at all) to the December 2008 NASA announcement that SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Dragon Spacecraft were contracted to resupply the International Space Station (ISS). The $1.6 billion contract represents a minimum of 12 flights, with an option to order additional missions for a cumulative total contract value of up to $3.1 billion."<br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibuwqd_t8tbYEEwGugbpcuIadAf2NHy8Hi4Nau81Et3frguwAxf3z-aNVv2E-g11kz597fGyvGnJd3JA195doBr0WR1A41jRnXXddb06pKiqaLc7OUOvBqpI8EsD-dkejkXJs2BrbcFOk/s320/xlaunch.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5748080676967264690" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 209px; " />In fact, <em style="font-style: normal; ">NASA has nothing to do with the local project</em>. SpaceX will <em style="font-style: normal; ">not</em> fire NASA missions from Brownsville, despite the pipe dreams of BEDC gurus.<br />It also will <em style="font-style: normal; ">not</em> send manned spacecraft to the ISS, the moon, or for that matter, Mars, despite the comments of Bob Lancaster, President of the Texas Space Alliance.</div><div><span><span><span >The reason is simple. In order to reach the ISS whose orbit is inclined at 51.6 degrees, the launch azimuth from Brownsville would be approximately 42 degrees, which would take the craft over populated land masses, a no-no in FAA regulations.<br />"It is exciting to think that you will be able to see the launch of a manned space misson to Mars," Lancaster said to wild applause.<br />Not to be.<br />Instead, it is to be a minor launch site where SpaceX will program launches of limited commercial payloads (communications, weather satellites, etc.) for private customers that could include foreign states or other businesses.</span></span></span><i> </i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">SpaceX fired its two-stage, nine-engine Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Fla. earlier this month which is now docked to the space station.<br />In addition to being the first privately funded launch to the space station, it could help cement a $1.6 billion contract SpaceX has with NASA for 12 flights to the ISS as a replacement for the space shuttle program, which ended last year. </div><div style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltPzPLsFoj7M5NeY_XaXBE0M42Xtj_lB6967ZJLpf38cwFZ0wFIQjEupiP_rkp3LCM815H5xg897KrgTmS6qLXbDUQidJ96EDptFiYnV-e7h9AKAhgPa4OQazX9osx1Wx5NlAgqUENdU/s400/aspacex.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5748079585124106226" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 320px; " /></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; ">Again, none of them are from Boca Chica.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">If and when â€" and we won't know until more than a year from now â€" after the appropriate government agencies approve SpaceX's plans for Boca Chica, we still don't know whether the Brownsville site will be chosen over the other two sites in Florida and Puerto Rico by the company to begin with.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">So hold off enrolling the kids in a propulsion engineering course or getting them fitted out for a NASA jumpsuit. Let's not give away the farm (or lomas out in the wetlands and tidal flats), until we know the specific details of what we are getting in return for allowing an industrialization of the area.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">If we don't and we end up with a bare-bones concrete pad and an occasional launch (once a month) by technicians who alight on our town for the firing and then leave, then we might have second thoughts about our investment.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">And, as an economist-philosopher once said:<span><span> "A nation (in this case, community) and a woman are not forgiven the unguarded hour in which the first adventurer that came along could violate them..."</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; "> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6016803033174468094-7683719033079450974?l=rrunrrun.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
LINK: http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/2012/05/spacex-project-here-not-linked-to-nasa.html

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Brownsville Noise

Monday, May 28, 2012

Brownsville Noise

Brownsville Noise
http://brownsvillenoise.blogspot.com/

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Nobody's going to hell, it's already here.
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBqxnNZd4pgK-dtGIJs20QiDQBOF5a3BX3c44RUJilyNUAiWmM39fYDwACRgQlTVzKKiHKLkc3UYAp602rwOSCa0TDUu-34T0838dvXyBUQooaJKKpCNmHp5CwT0fWT4tv0M-qmNebYO2/s1600/wtf.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBqxnNZd4pgK-dtGIJs20QiDQBOF5a3BX3c44RUJilyNUAiWmM39fYDwACRgQlTVzKKiHKLkc3UYAp602rwOSCa0TDUu-34T0838dvXyBUQooaJKKpCNmHp5CwT0fWT4tv0M-qmNebYO2/s640/wtf.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Not Pictured: Tony Yzaguirre, Gilberto Hinojosa, The Juliet Garcia Family, Rick Zayas, Ruben Cortez, Ray Ramon, Conrado Cantu, Charlie Atkinson, Rick Longoria, Rose Timmer, Rose Gowen, Sylvia Perez, and Ruben Gallegos, Jr.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7460924536583987444-4065849396793016486?l=brownsvillenoise.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
LINK: http://brownsvillenoise.blogspot.com/2011/03/nobodys-going-to-hell-its-already-here.html

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â™¥ â™¥ BFFs â™¥ â™¥
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTW6vSITIWPsKkuoumenechNTUUwraeokw7C-5ABOqNzfhdx4yznexCezVkondI1Y33NIxoZkp7-rPSbvx12qxSj75nPV5C7w_m3nM35QWWqjDHKxZUK84IeatQYJVIOHOhAmNk200oIK/s1600/bff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTW6vSITIWPsKkuoumenechNTUUwraeokw7C-5ABOqNzfhdx4yznexCezVkondI1Y33NIxoZkp7-rPSbvx12qxSj75nPV5C7w_m3nM35QWWqjDHKxZUK84IeatQYJVIOHOhAmNk200oIK/s400/bff.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Rick congratulates his BFF Charlie on his Turd Place showing in the recent valleycentral.com poll.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7460924536583987444-8997923795881558037?l=brownsvillenoise.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
LINK: http://brownsvillenoise.blogspot.com/2011/03/bffs.html

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Rrun Rrun

EL RRUN RRUN
http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/

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THE FUTURE CHEATS YOU FROM AFAR: THE SHERGOLD-"W" BUSH PHOTO OP
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; ">By</span><b style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "> </b><b style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; ">Juan Montoya</b><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; ">Aren't politics something?</div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 381px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJg_Y7AGiyrGJ6vd9R4Wx9fyUblDqVOZI2fsS0xPaMXMRwI6K3qi4_1AsW69W0SxF-ze_TnqR687WZGadZBZp0SqT9iF1jVsm1R-evcYbIpVyO-1klfX5De7DUzmHrcBJKyKgdc04jR7A/s400/shergold1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5747691805720292290" /></span></span><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; ">When I was attending the University of Michigan, among one of my required Journalism classes was one on constitutional law.<br />Now, having been raised in South Texas, I had no idea that people like Clarence Darrow, Mike Wallace, Margaret Bourke White, Williams James Mayo, and other heavy hitters in their diverse fields had attended school there.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; ">So it was with some surprise when we walked into class one day and had to be patted down by Secret Service agents before they let us in the classroom.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; ">To our surprise, President Gerald Ford was speaking with our instructor and after a small introduction, took some of our questions. After the perfunctory questions, "How's Betty doing after her rehab?" asked a classmate, the questions got a little heavier.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; ">"Why did you pardon Nixon before he even faced a jury?" and "How could you sign off on the magic-bullet theory on the Kennedy assassination?"</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; ">Ford, if you'll remember, was on the Warren Commission that explained how a bullet could go through Kennedy's spine, exit though his throat, make a 90-degree turn toward Connally, go through his shoulder blades, make another 90 degree turn and strike his right wrist and was found up virtually unharmed on the hospital gurney the next day.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; "><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> If so, this bullet traversed 15 layers of clothing, 7 layers of skin, and approximately 15 inches of tissue, struck a necktie knot, removed 4 inches of rib, and s</span>hattered a radius bon<span style="font-size: 100%;">e</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; "><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "></span></div><span><span><span>Of course no one believed it then, and probably some of us still don't believe it now.</span></span></span><div><span>After the Q and A, some of the students had their photos taken with Ford, I not being among them. In those days, the memory of the Nixon pardon was still too fresh for the militant mindset of the time.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; ">But the reason this story comes to mind is because we at <i>Rrun-Rrun</i> received this Email showing John Shergold, a Brownsville attorney who has run for various offices in the Democratic Party, including this year's try at the chairmanship of Cameron County.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; ">This photo (judging by Shergold's ample hair) was probably taken just about the time that George W. Bush had beaten Ann Richards in a no-hold-barred election where the trademark cutthroat Bush politics would be refined on his way to his two disastrous presidential terms in office.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; ">In other words, the wound was still too fresh for most Democrats to stomach a handshake with W. </span><span style="font-family: georgia; ">This is probably the last thing that John would probably want to see as we head to tomorrow's election, but it is a keeper, isn't it? </span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6016803033174468094-7683193801770620101?l=rrunrrun.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
LINK: http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/2012/05/by-juan-montoya.html

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THE HEROES OF MEMORIAL DAY TOO MANY, TOO YOUNG
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<span style="font-weight: normal; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGjuCaUXc_2Yv9-IAAT1EVkX35Hy7n6GB286ycuaQb-p6Y_hk2IWxD3vFQtyuI4GZzM5emzNhq3xV272ySEqFNiQ8cb0ODKmYhneJkgFF19aSCvlXVicgb2BPhTkIYotwzFCyQQ4SS9o/s1600/vetsday1.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 328px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGjuCaUXc_2Yv9-IAAT1EVkX35Hy7n6GB286ycuaQb-p6Y_hk2IWxD3vFQtyuI4GZzM5emzNhq3xV272ySEqFNiQ8cb0ODKmYhneJkgFF19aSCvlXVicgb2BPhTkIYotwzFCyQQ4SS9o/s400/vetsday1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5747649812525666834" /></a>By</span><b> Juan Montoya</b><div style="font-weight: normal; ">That's my friend Felipe "Fito" CastaÃ±eda's name in the bottom of the middle road at the Veterans' Park off Central Boulevard.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; ">Like others who have gone on before us, Fito came back from the Vietnam War and enrolled at Texas Southmost College and sought a degree in education.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; ">He's been wounded in the 'Nam and to his death was convinced that the numerous dousings of Agent Orange defoliant he and his Airborne unit buddies got there contributed to his many kidney and liver ailments that weakened him over time.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; ">In a sense, a lot of our soldiers who didn't die immediately in the jungles and hospitals of that country came back to die a slow one here.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; ">But Fito wasn't one to complain. He was drafted to go serve and â€" like many other Rio Grande Valley patriot soldiers â€" he did.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; ">Throughout our history this country has seen its young go off to fight the wars of this nation on foreign soil. Sometimes it is a clearcut threat to our national security or </div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 292px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwkH95-dVUlQA_6NzE8ujl4Z3DnDvUu71PVDZwy2ym4LF4sk7CDROghbP1UzaBlYN_W7QcUQuzgbC6vzq2kCIVO9qxQi1rAdJiYJ661gXsnePykmdzOCMmH4PIXNkkNnlb_1J7qQOUpGM/s400/vetsday.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5747649695228000642" /><div style="font-weight: normal; ">our interests. Sometimes, unfortunately, it is because the politicians failed at diplomacy and a blood quotient was required of the new generation.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; ">Since the start of this country, the flower of freedom and democracy has been watered by the renewing force of its patriots' blood.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; ">The Civil War cost the young nation more than 625,000 dead. WWII took 405,399. WWI took another 116,316. Vietnam followed with 58,209. Korea took 36,516 (conflicts also kill). The American Revolutionary War took 25,000. The War of 1812 took 20,000. The Mexican-American War took 13,283 mostly to disease and unsanitary conditions. The War of Terror continues to take our young, now at 6,280 and counting. </div><div style="font-weight: normal; ">And so so go on.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; ">When old men fail at getting along, their young must often be called upon to settle their scores. </div><div style="font-weight: normal; ">Like my friend Felipe, they accepted their duty and performed their responsibilities ungrudgingly. </div><div style="font-weight: normal; ">Whether we agree with the justifications for the wars (Vietnam, Iraq, etc.) or we don't, there is no denying the courage and valor of those that served and our respect for the memory and courage of those that fell. We remember them on this Memorial Day.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6016803033174468094-5851153767574341579?l=rrunrrun.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
LINK: http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/2012/05/heroes-of-memorial-day-too-many-too.html

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DID PRO-NELSON PAC BREAK THE LAW DIVULGING CHALLENGER FARIAS' EXPUNGED RECORD?
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<span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">By </span><b style="font-style: normal; ">Juan Montoya</b><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">One of the liveliest race in Cameron County has t be the one between incumbent 138th District Judge Arturo Nelson and challenger Veronica Farias.</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">In a series of ads running the last two weeks, a Political Action Committee named Citizens for a Better Judiciary, has run a series of ads calling Farias a "troubled attorney" and listing details of previous charges against her.</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">This was preceded by an ad run by Farias taking Nelson to task questioning Nelson's judicial performance in the case of a child molester that she claimed the judge allowed to go free on probation only to have the defenda<span style="font-size: 100%; ">nt engage in sexual abusive criminal cond</span></div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3nHTUj2QeB3PT-RYf_jyzurKkpmyRHZPFwoGc2IEefwOrUATDXu8QvxUsLDgpELhsdiDVIrHHjV03gRbek2Y5J8pPcV-ee_2cIFQqQ3sBtiq-a47P0rDANZJfL26CY1_4Wi6-PYuJdqs/s320/veronica.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5747647055128460018" /><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">uct with a minor.</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">This drew the heated response of Nelson's supporters such as former district judge Robert Garza and others who defended their colleague and accused Farias of misstating the record.</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">But it was the PAC â€" Citizens for a Better Judiciary â€" that listed at least two previous charges filed against Farias in 2008 and 2011 in newspaper ads and listed the specifics of the cases.</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">There was only one problem, however.</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">According to Farias, both charges listed prominently in the PAC's ads were expunged from her record by a court order last July. The order prohibits anyone (whether a PAC, law enforcement official, or any individual) from opening the files or the expunged records of the arrests and are "not open for inspect6ion by anyone..."</div><div style="font-weight: normal; ">When Farias approached the <i>Brownsville Herald</i>, which ran the PAC's ads, the editors there went back to their files and made a notation tat the charges arising from the police reports had been expunged from the public records by a court.</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">But there is more.</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">Apparently, the principals in the PAC (and the search is on to find out who it is) may not only have viola</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjL7oZZN3-pSr8IWG9qrhMj8BSk31SdgVwUt7sFWnwcBTHkF04Gy9IOvaGIHDCNVb5X4jiI_O53-_b2M1fQModDyI2Kq8uEl9_a4qMwiVgHhv7U6BfQspxXotsNHQAR1NIhf-rU3fwW4/s200/Arturo_Cisneros_Nelson2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5747646915574579250" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 152px; height: 200px; " /><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">ted the court order, but also broken the law contained in Title I, Chapter 55 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. And what's more, not only did the PAC apparently break the law, but in not clearing its ads with Nelson may have violated yet another criminal statute. </div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">The law states that: "the release, maintenance, dissemination, or use of the expunged records and files for any purpose is prohibited..</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">"A person who acquires knowledge of an arrest while an officer or employee of the state or any agency or other entity of the state or any political subdivision of the state and who knows of an order expunging the records and files relating to that arrest commits and offense if he knowingly releases, disseminates or otherwise uses the records or files...</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">"An offense under this article is a Class B misdemeanor."</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">This comes into play, according to Farias supporters, because the PAC lists its address as 855 W. Price Rd., the same building that houses the offices of Roreig, Oliveira and Fisher, principals with State Rep. Rene Oliveira in the law firm.</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">It is also the same address listed for the Cameron County Bar Association. Should the investigation reveal that Oliveira or his law firm were involved in the preparation of the ads and the dissemination of the expunged files, it could result in sanctions applied to whoever is found to have been involved. Oliveria falls under the definition of an officer or employee of the state. </div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">So far, the Brownsville Police Dept. has looked into the complaint and has forwarded the evidence it uncovered to the Cameron County District Attorney's Office.</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">But Farias is not stopping there. She says she will to journey to Austin to speak personally to officials with the State Ethics Commission and file a complaint against the PAC, and Nelson, if necessary.</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">"I will be there eat 8 a.m.at the doors of the Ethic Commission," she said.</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">Farias said that under the Texas Election Code, all candidates must follow the Code of Fair Campaign Practices that states that: "I will not permit the use of character defamation, whispering campaigns, libel, slander, or scurrilous attacks on any candidate or the candidate's personal life....</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">"I will not use campaign material of any sort that misrepresents, distorts, or otherwise falsifies the facts, nor will I sue malicious or unfounded accusations that aim at creating or exploiting doubts without justification, as to the personal integrity or patriotism of any opponent...</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">The code that every candidate signs with the state also states that a candidate "will immediately and publicly repudiate methods and tactics that may come from others that I have pledged not to use or condone. I shall take firm actions against any subordinate who violates any provision of this code..."</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">Now the question becomes: Did Judge Nelson authorize the ads using expunged records and files? And if he did not, will he disavow the ads? Farias said that all candidates' who have signed the code have their pledges on file with the Ethics Commission.</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">"If Judge Nelson didn't sign the code of fair campaign practices, why didn't he?" she asked. "He may just try to wash his hands of responsibility by saying it was a committee that did it, but that is not very credible. The Ethics Commission requires any "committee" acting on a candidate's behalf to get the candidate's authorization for an ad."</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">With election day coming on Tuesday and word spreads of the Farias-Nelson controversy, there's no telling whether the result will be a backlash against the PAC's tactics in support of the incumbent.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6016803033174468094-7620356686926174000?l=rrunrrun.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
LINK: http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/2012/05/did-pro-nelson-pac-break-law-diviulging.html

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IF ANYTHING, CORTEZ SHOWS HE'S THE ULTIMATE POLITICIAN
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<div style="font-style: normal; "><span><span>By <b>Juan Montoya</b></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">Even as he defends himself and members of the former Brownsville Independent School District board majority for violating civil rights of former employees and conspiring to rig an insurance contract and steer it to his political supporters, former trustee Ruben Cortez continues to bamboozle voters in the northern reaches of the Texas State Board of Education's District 2.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">Cortez, who was roundly rejected by BISD voters tired that he and the majority of which he formed part, pulled down the district from an all-time pinnacle of having been awarded the prestigious Broad Award and in two short years gobbled up a $175 million reserve fund to just under $68 million.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">The district, which gained a $2 million student scholarship award as a result of the Broad, went literally as his detractors said, from "Broad to Broke."</div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">And the firing of three major administrators â€" superintendent Hector Gonzales, Chief Financial Officer Tony Juarez, and Special Needs Director Art Rendon â€" sparked lawsuits in</div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0m_2WSKmcIwqXf8C5x6mvdZ080tmSGwbvpw1sybq65IFBNWArK9i4rrpyoWiuIQUU6rzgGa2G_0VZcP5JFEobsnPF9g_DfWG3K0W6MhlAWQGYzdNTFuhZ8GmcsUmh-yCcl31nS8vwWLg/s200/celeste.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5747615817150322146" /><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "> state and federal court. A federal judge denied the four defendants â€" Cortez, Rick Zayas, Joe Colunga and Rolando Aguilar â€" qualified immunity meaning that they would have to answer the charges as elected officials and as individuals.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">A federal appeals court upheld the local decision and later refused to reconsider.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "> Yet, still after all that, Cortez has somehow managed to convince the leadership of the Texas State Teachers Association, <span style="font-size: 100%; ">part of the National Education Association, and the Victoria, Texas, b</span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">ranch of the Service Employee International Union to endorse his candidacy over his two opponents, both highly-qualified and educated. One Larry Garza, is a Kingsville pharmacist with over a decade on the local school board, and the other Celste Sanchez, is an assistant superintendent of curriculum at the San Benito ISD where she was also a board member and a sitting city commissioner.</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Cortez has only a high school diploma as his educational credentials.</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">"You have to give Cortez credits for his chutzpah," said a voter waiting outside the Central Blvd. Public Library in Brownsville during early voting. "But thinking it over carefully, the voters would be doing our schools and our children a disservice to reject these other highly qualified people and vote for a career politician."</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Yet, that is the very choice that </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">George Borrego, president elect of the Association of Brownsville Educators, is advocating.</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">"Ruben has supported educational issues and employees important to education," Borrego said."We feel we need someone with his view to represent us at the State Board of Education. We are out-numbered. We feel very secure that Ruben's going to win and represent us well."</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">To think that this professional union rep would pick Cortez, whose slogan "Keeping Politics out of the Classroom," goes contrary to what he did while on the BISD board defies belief.</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; "><div style="font-style: normal; "><span>Cortez was sued by former </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Special Needs Department Director Art Rendon, who stated in a sworn deposition </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">in his case (Southern District of Texas 1:10-cv-00198) against Cortez and the board </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">majority that:</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; "><i><span>"58. On or about June, 2008, Ruben Cortez, a sitting board member on BISD, </span><span>contacted Plaintiff directly via telephone. He instructed Plaintiff to hire his sister, </span><span>Linda Aguilar, for summer school employment as a Special Education teacher.</span></i></div><div style="font-style: normal; "><i><span>59. Plaintiff informed Mr. Cortez that BISD had hiring policies in place and instructed </span><span>him that the hiring application for the summer of 2008 had already been accepted and </span><span>processed.</span></i></div><div style="font-style: normal; "><i><span>60. Cortez sent Plaintiff his sister's application and insisted Plaintiff call her </span><span>immediately and giver her a job. Plaintiff set up a meeting between Cortez's sister </span><span>Linda, Ana Lerma, who was a Special Education supervisor, and Dr. Lee Garcia, </span><span>Assistant Director for Special Services. At the meeting, Ruben Cortez's orders were </span><span>followed, and Linda Aguilar was given a job for the summer of 2008.</span></i></div><div><span>And this is the kind of person the teachers union â€" whose members were probably elbowed out by Cortez's interference in the hiring process so the district could hire his ssiter â€" wants to represent us in Austin?</span></div></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><p style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6016803033174468094-7771692166831921051?l=rrunrrun.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
LINK: http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/2012/05/if-anything-cortez-shows-hes-ultimate.html

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