The

Southeast Texas Political Review 

2012

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Last Publish : Friday, May 18, 2012 09:00:20 AM

Tidbits!

    An interesting week? Wouldn't you say?

We - Are getting a bunch of mail - how do we beat the mainstream on so many stories this week? We don't wait - we get the base information and get it to you.

Twidda - Gaston takes her tweet down. Get off her butt - she is a nice lady that simply made a bad mistake. Now everyone in the room that has not made a bad mistake in life please remain standing?

Turnout - We are watching. GOP Remains shockingly strong with the Democrats getting out. Why is this important? Mitch Woods / Alan Ritter.

Where Are Your Republicans - For those of you who want to know where the GOP is?

Who is Voting - The black community is making up 54% of the total vote.

Panic - Lynda Kay is a little nervous we hear. She is seeing the same numbers come fall that we see? Take a look at this! What happened to the Union Hall? Maybe it is busy? Maybe not?

Does The Review Communicate - A national blog wrote a bit on how this web site communicates through the outside world without you the reader knowing. Like the good old days of old Doc Pong. Hint. Yes we send messages to our sources. Only a few know - or should we say knew.

Lot's of Bond - Looks like the attorney Lamb will stay in the can. 1.2 million? And meaning he would have to come with $250,000. His attorney admits all of the money is gone. We have two attorney's telling us the time will be 10 years - must serve 4.

Umphrey Gives Cash For Bridge - We say good for him and good for Baylor. Amen!

Media Nuts - Headline Enterprise....BISD starts to hire "Executive Cabinet?" What are they like the White House now? Are you kidding us?

Hope you have a great weekend! We will post Sunday!

Media Moves

    It always comes in threes. And here we go with the other two. One ugly - one new.

So let's do the ugly first.

And we go back over to KFDM - in what some are calling a novice move. Now let us tell you - we like Ashley Gaston - we really do. But this move is something that is really bad.

Gaston, put on Twitter (Tweeted?), the following :

Uh oh.....this is not good at all according to the folks at Nielsen.

First of all, according to Nielsen, they do not give cash for voting for anyone. Second - they pay you if you send in a full book. And the books? Well there are only about 15 in the Southeast Texas area.

However, it makes KFDM look desperate. And that is simply not good for anyone. And we mean anyone. Oh - and according to sources close to Nielsen - it may be illegal - but they would not go as far as saying it other than : "We are going to look into this."

Second, welcome back Jerry Jordan?  Yes - he is back. And we have linked his new news site to our front page. The name? Southeast Texas Investigates Dot Com? Yes sir!

Now this is a pay for service and is not a blog. It is a net mag that will be about $2 per month or $240t per year. And is a bold approach selling the Jordan name and seeing if it carries weight against the two newspapers in town (okay three the Port Arthur News).

This will get interesting we are sure. Here is his new site : http://setinvestigates.com/

So one big media move and another starts new.

Our take?

We want to watch the Jordan thing. It might be a go for the boy. If he gets 10,000 subscribers he pokes in about $24,000 and adding into ad revenue he will have to hit about $10,000 a month to make a living. You do the math. Taxes etc...?

As for Gaston - we said it in the beginning - we like the reporter - but this is a bad screw up. We are wondering how long it will take to come down?

Are You Frigging Kidding Us?

    We have to admit - we got all excited and fuzzy over the announcement that KFDM news was going to do hard hitting pieces on Government Waste. It was like - WOW THEY WOKE UP!

Uh....no.

In what is being called the biggest flop in the history of local TV News in political circles - KFDM broadcasted a story on? Well they touted it as government waste - but in fact it is being called : "How to get a free and cheap ride to the free money - not."

Let us set this up for you.

Back in 2009 - someone in the US Government made the decision to go into a deal with some investors outside this area and build a new Social Security office. You know - the place where you can go file for your government money. Well, they needed a place they could grow (imagine that) and have a safe traffic flow. So they built in West Beaumont. It is a very nice facility - along with all the perks you would expect.

Well, the story that KFDM puts out is this - there are no bus routes to the Social Security administration building. You know - the city buses that run less than 10% full at any one time.

FRIGGING BREAKING NEWS? Seriously stop laughing. Less than 1% of population of Beaumont Texas has ridden the frigging buses in Beaumont Texas! And they are ALL BUT EMPTY DRIVING AROUND THE CITY - and the story is that there is no bus stop at the social security office?

This is government waste?

No it gets better!

So they drag out a Beaulieu to do an interview and say how "shocked" she was that council did not make a bus stop at the Social Security Administration? Oh...and the town liberal black man - Audwin Samuel Sr. He put in his two cents about how .... well....you know! How bad it is.....really stop laughing. We cannot.

We spoke to a long time KFDM employee who told us : "I saw it last night. I am embarrassed they tried to sell it as waste when all they are asking for is to add more spending. It was stupid. I think they see that now."

Here is the story for your enjoyment : http://www.kfdm.com/shared/news/top-stories/stories/kfdm_vid_838.shtml

Our take?

We watched it this morning - and sat in shock at first. And then the staff busted out laughing! This is government waste? This is pointing out government waste in Southeast Texas? Are you frigging kidding us? It is way too funny. It is government waste that there is no bus stop at the social security office and we had to watch Bill Leger walk to the social security office? Almost a mile of pain watching this?

Oh God we are laughing so hard it hurts.

Okay - let's help KFDM and the City of Beaumont with a simple solution to help save the city from this wasteful tragedy. Okay - ready? Let's move a route around by 1 mile and add a stop!

Wow! We did it! No meetings and no fuss and muss! And those empty buses can now drive to the Social Security Office!!!!

What did we win? An award? WOW!!!!!!

It is way too funny folks. It shows you how the liberal media mind works. How to get the cheap or free ride to get our tax dollars for free to you. If it is not easy - it is waste?

We will tell you what was a waste - that story. And we are disappointed and well not surprised. Whomever is the producer or came up with that story should be fired from KFDM. It really shows you how bad things have gotten over there. Really bad.

Really - too funny - no bus stop is government waste? Oh God help us!

It is just another day in Jefferson County - where we have lost the media! And we really need a watchdog! NOW!

Historic

    There is dancing in the halls at the Jefferson County GOP - and some real upset inside the Jefferson County Democrat Party Halls - as seemingly the cross over is huge in the GOP - and from the looks of the first two days of early voting Jefferson County will have their first major cross over and strong showing in the primary.

On day one of the total voters Jefferson County Republicans made up almost 40% of the total voters. And on the second day the final numbers are not out - but the Review has obtained copies of the voter lists and it shows again almost a 50-50 split in the primary.

The heavy turn out for the GOP continues to be (as we called it) in Mid County and the West End of Beaumont. Meaning - that the numbers for Mitch Woods and QB Stevenson are coming from the black community - which does not look good for Woods. As well, the Tea Party has organized since Ritter dropped out of the debate and Miller is getting the vote out. In fact, the Review has learned that in Orange County the total votes in the GOP primary is almost 2-1 than in the democratic primary. Meaning - out of almost 1,500 votes only 500 have come in the democratic primary. Those votes are assumed to be Miller voters.

We spoke to a few sources inside the GOP and they are shocked.

"This is historic. Really it is. Out of all of the voters it is almost 50-50 voting republican. Unheard of. Shocking. I just don't know what to say," said one source in the GOP.

We reached out to the democratic party and got an interesting reaction.

"It is early. If the numbers hold I really think some of our candidates are going to be in trouble this fall. They are going to have to run a different race than they normally would have run. It seems there is interest in the Republican party. But it is early," said the source.

Our take?

Here is the graph that we are keeping track of :

(NOTE - MAIL IN BALLOTS DO NOT APPLY - GOP HAS 2-1 MAIL INS = +157)

We tried to warn you candidates out there. The red tide lapped out this last cycle. And now it is a wave. And we agree - this is historic. Now do we believe the numbers could reach 33 - 36 k in total regarding the GOP primary? No. We believe it to be around 25 - to 27 k.

And that is huge. Really huge.

But we also agree with the democrats - it is only two days in. And the question is this - can the numbers hold up. Our guess is yes.

We also think there is some panic in some of the halls over at Lynda Kay Makin's office. They cannot control CD14 and that is the pull - along with the Texas Tea Party.

In the end - here we go kids. It is going to be a bumpy ride. And the GOP is getting the vote out.

Historic? It is headed that way fast unless the Woods camp can derail it.

More Lamb

    The Southeast Texas Political Review has learned Jefferson County attorney Kip Lamb will have further charges filed upon him on Thursday. Sources both inside the DA's office and in the Jefferson County Bar tell the Review that Lamb will be further charged and his bond will remain high at $1,000,000.

The charges will be handed down by the Jefferson County Grand Jury - who meets on Thursday.

At the center of the issue is more than one million dollars in missing insurance money from a local church - however Lamb has only been charged with one count for the missing money equaling around $250,000. This second charge will focus on more of the missing money that investigators have been able to track.

"I think the bond will remain high," said one source to the Review close to the DA's office. \

"From what I have heard there is serious worry regarding Lamb in hurting himself or trying to flee," said the source.

Our take?

One million dollars? Really? And we let child molesters get off with a $5,000 bond? Really?

Sources tell the Review the reason Lamb was in Arkansas was his attempt to try and establish funding to pay all sources back. The law simply caught up with him before he could get it done.

However, sources close to the DA's office tells the Review that he could never have gotten that much money - thus they acted after he was given every chance to put the money together.

So - Lamb in the slam. And thus he will stay. When you piss off the DA!

Ah yes ---- another week in the wonderful place we call Jefferson County!

Down! Tea Party Mad!

    Oh boy....this is not good news for the new man on the hill - being Alan Ritter. It seems that the Tea Party wanted to have a debate between Alan Ritter and Daniel Miller this Tuesday night. The place was rented. The chairs were rented - the money was flowing in - the GOP was excited and it was on!

Uh...wait.

The Southeast Texas Political Review has learned that Alan Ritter has made the decision to back out of the debate - and there will be no "Tea Party" debate - which has infuriated the base of the Tea Party and the GOP in general.

"Look - I have nothing against Ritter. He is a conservative kind of. But he has to debate. We want to hear from him other than TV. This would have been perfect for him to come meet all of us. But now we cannot speak to him? What is going on with all of that? I am very upset and I think I speak for the Tea Party when I say we are all taking another look at him," said the source.

She went on to say : "We spent some money putting this thing on. Now we wasted our money."

We contacted the Miller camp and got an interesting spin.

"It kind of says something doesn't it. Either he does not take us seriously or maybe he is not ready for what might have hit him. He would have to stand and explain a few things," she said.

And going on to say : "If we have the money we are going to make it good for the Tea Party. We don't want to see them out and money," said the source.

Our take?

Do what? Really - do what? Are you kidding us? Really - what in the hell is wrong with our GOP candidates? Debate - let the public see you outside the TV! It is that important!

Yes - it is easy for the challenger to speak to the crowd - they have nothing to lose. But now it seems that Miller got ANOTHER point on Ritter. So either Ritter is polling well and simply is coasting to a victory - or he saw some negatives.

Either way - the Tea Party is pissed and they bring people to the table. And it sounds like it is not going to be Ritter's table.

How Bad Is It?

    We caught wind of this story - but ever we didn't get how bad it is in Port Arthur, Texas.

Sources both inside the city management of Port Arthur and in two other cities in Southeast Texas confirm that the City of Port Arthur solid waste division is all but closed due to almost all of the garbage trucks being broken and no money to fix them or replace them. Therefore, the City of Port Arthur has contracted and asked for help from the City of Groves and Nederland to pick up trash that is piling up around the city.

According to those sources - "7 of 10 trucks are down right now. And of those three two are barely working and we are working over the weekend to get them fixed," said the source.

Another source inside the city of Port Arthur told us that since the termination two years ago of the maintenance supervisor over the waste department - the department has gone into shambles. Further stating that with the city financial woes : "they just say money is tight. There is no leadership at the top in city hall. We have been screaming about this for weeks. We cannot keep up with the amount of trash. We just cannot."

The Review has learned that the city of Port Arthur and it's leaders have known about the problem for many weeks.

"We told the manager of our problems 10 weeks ago. He just said that the maintenance barn would get to the trucks when they could," said the source.

This follows years of problems with police and fire department vehicles that the Review has told you about for years. It was not until the Review brought the issue to the attention of the city that purchasing and maintaining new trucks became a priority. Most of the trucks and autos have been bought off of Federal Grants - none budgeted other than the matching percentage. There simply is no money.

We contacted a few angry citizens - "We pay for a service and we don't get it. I have rats running around my house now because of the trash," said one citizen on Proctor Street to the Review yesterday afternoon.

"We can vote parks. We can vote to put signs up saying how good we are. But we cannot pick up trash? What's up with all of that?," said the source.

Our take?

We have been telling you how bad it is - but everyone wants to tell us that everything is okay? It is not. And thank goodness for the City of Nederland and Groves for offering their help in picking up Port Arthurs mess. And folks - this is a mess. It is bad and getting worse.

According to one driver that works for the city of Port Arthur : "I don't think these three trucks will make it to the end of the week. We have to do something."

And yes - it is another week in this wonderful county we call Jefferson. Now we cannot pick up trash? Really? But as the source said we can have nice signs and parks and the money flows to keep those rich? Rich? This is all too rich....

Post Mortem

    Although many may differ with us - we feel that we now have a good look at what the voters are thinking. And for those of you sitting in office - well - it is not good.

So here we go -

Bond Issues

Simply put - the message is fix it - but nothing new now.

In Nederland two of the bonds passed - which with no long term plan in place should just about put the final six nails in the coffin of mid-county. Why? It is too expensive to live in mid-county and the high number of retirees is more than the younger taxpaying group. And property valuations are down 15% (by average) in mid-county which should put enough pressure for the district to now come up with a long term plan to shut schools down and consolidate staff. It is coming - and whoever denies it is the problem - not part of the solution.

Nederland ISD has some very serious problems that they must now face.

As for the election - Galvin Bruney learned a hard lesson. Don't run for office and say that you are an advocate of the people and want to lower the size of government - then do everything you can to grow it. They will kick you out.

In Hampshire - again - fix it. Hampshire is different than Nederland however. Meaning they are growing while Nederland shrinks. They must figure out a way to keep taxes down and build a better infrastructure.

And the stupidest comment of the night was from the Nederland ISD school board member that called the vote a "mandate" from the citizens. No - it was called "fix what is broke and give us a long term plan."

Lumberton Issues

We watched two races.

First, the Julie Walker race. We have said this before and we will say it again - Julie Walker will run for a bigger office and she will win. She is a no nonsense type of woman that can handle the pressure of a political race. And she did this time from the same old group that tries every year to kick her out. Where is David Bellows when you need him? Giggle.

Second, the race for Mayor. Mayor Surratt was getting it from getting it from all sides. He is too old? That was weak. So the other side went to a whisper campaign. That worked huh? Surratt gets another two years - and those on council that tried to get him are kind of puckered up today.

Port Neches

Not much at the Reservation! Other than Ms. Tax and Spend got the boot. Walters stays in and in district 3 -  Broussard falls. Many at the Reservation tell us they did not like her attitude towards spending the money of the district. We don't know enough about it to comment.

Port Arthur

Queue the music : HAMMER TIME! Just when we thought Port Arthur could not get any more dysfunctional -welcome back the black Cotter! Yes - SAY HEY WILLIE BAE! Yes - Willie Bae is back! He is in the house! Which  will make for fireworks in Port Arthur! It was only by about 80 votes - but the boy did it! He is in! And here we go!

And Bullet Bob Williamson - dubbed the "Mayors Aid" - knocked him off a win. He did good - he shut up on facebook and then cruised to victory. The black community had a choice to make - support the white man that was for the mayor and cleans up her messes - or vote for the Mexican American that would have done the right thing. Guess what? Yep....

Jasper Mess

Things should get back to some type of normal this week. The mayor is in - overwhelming in. And the two racist trouble makers are gone for two years. That should start the mending process - and that should start the process of team work in putting race behind every decision and putting the city first. Next, the city police chief now has a choice. Drop the crybaby race crap - and get to being a cop - or leave. That simple.

In the end - here is what we know :

1) Mid County opened their check books - a little - but they were very conservative about it. It tells us what they are thinking.

2) Port Arthur is a joke - and continues to be. Just wait until you hear our story tomorrow.

3) Jasper is in healing and fixing mode - and is solid conservative.

4) Candidates that portrayed conservative values stayed in office - those that wanted big government got the boot.

Okay kids - it is show time for May 29! So sit back and let's have some political fun! Will the conservatives stay in the GOP or will they cross to the DEMOS?

This is too much fun!

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