All Blog Posts from Political Hotsheet

Texas lawmakers wanted to make sure gay people couldn't be married. Instead, it seems, they may have made sure no one can.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram has the story. Here's what happened: In 2005, Texas voters and the state Legislature approved a Constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.

But the amendment included the following clause, which was reportedly designed to ban civil unions and domestic partnerships: "This state or a political subdivision of this state may not create or recognize any legal status identical or similar to marriage."

One thing that is "identical…to marriage," of course, is marriage. And Texas Attorney General candidate Barbara Ann Radnofsky, a Democrat, is arguing that the current Attorney General, Republican Greg Abbott, made a "massive mistake" in allowing the language.

"You do not have to have a fancy law degree to read this and understand what it plainly says," she said, according to the Star-Telegram. She called on Abbott to acknowledge the error and consider apologizing.

Read full post…

Politics Today is CBSNews.com's inside look at the key stories driving the day in politics, written by CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris:

** Will Obama be met with protests at Texas A&M today?...

** Reid tries to meet his party's needs on health reform...

** A possible compromise for Afghanistan emerges...

PRESIDENT OBAMA TODAY: President Obama makes his way back east, after a DNC fund-raiser in San Francisco last night, and will attend a presidential forum on community service at Texas A&M University, hosted by former President George H. W. Bush.

In a letter to the historically conservative A&M "family", former President Bush writes, "I am honored that The President, our President, is taking the time and making the effort to come to College Station on October 16th to talk about an issue that unites all Americans — namely, community service and its vast importance to our continued well-being as a Nation... This is not about politics. This is about the importance of service to our communities and our country."

"Organizers said it will also be a celebration of the 20th anniversary of Bush's Points of Light Initiative, which was an effort he spearheaded to promote and support volunteerism among U.S. citizens," adds the Bryan-College Station Eagle's Matthew Watkins. "Bush introduced the idea of U.S. volunteers as being 'a thousand points of light' in his acceptance speech for the Republican nomination for president in 1988."

Of course, a presidential visit is never complete without dissent.

"[T]oday's forum on community service won't be entirely the nonpartisan event that Bush and Obama had envisioned," writes the Houston Chronicle's Jeannie Kever. “'President Obama is protested everywhere he goes, so I think it would be odd if he came to one of the most conservative campuses and there wasn't a protest,' said Justin Pulliam, a sophomore at A&M and a member of Young Conservatives of Texas, one of several groups planning protests in conjunction with Obama's visit.

Read full post…

On Friday, President Obama will join former President George H.W. Bush for a presidential forum on community service at the George Bush Presidential Library Center on the campus of Texas A&M University.

In advance of the event, Mr. Bush has penned an open letter to the "Texas A&M Family" that seems to be a subtle call for the community to be on its best behavior. (He opens it with a friendly "Howdy!")

"This will be an important national moment, and a moment for Texas A&M to shine in the global spotlight as it always does," he writes. "I sincerely hope and believe it will serve as a point of Aggie pride for many years to come."

As Mr. Bush notes in his letter, which was posted by KBTX, the event is meant to be a non-partisan celebration of "the importance of service to our communities and our country."

Yet the university community is clearly conflicted about the visit. In comments on the KBTX site, one person writes that while he appreciates what Mr. Bush is saying, "at some point [our] population has got to step up and say enough is enough."

"It is my opinion that our community would be hyprocrical [sic] if we just sit back and welcome President Obama as if we do not have any concerns with his current policy," writes the commenter. "I hope to see a very large turn out of the Aggie family in respectful opposition to President Obama. Lets all remember the Aggie code of honor."

Read full post…

Former attorney general Alberto Gonzales says that there is "no question" that his reputation has taken a turn for the worse after undergoing an investigation into his role in the firings of nine federal prosecutors.

Still, he says that being the attorney general was a "remarkable privilege" and that he stands by his service.

In an interview with the New York Times, Gonzales says that it "sometimes makes him angry" that his character has been damaged by his work at the White House.

Law firms haven't been offering him jobs, Gonzales said, although there has been some interest.

"In a tough economic climate, I can understand why a company or a firm would want to make sure that the investigations are complete and there is no finding of wrongdoing before they make a hiring decision," Gonzales said.

Gonzales also says that he hasn't been in contact with former President George W. Bush since he left office.

Read full post…

Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison said Wednesday that she will resign her current job later this year to pursue the Texas governorship in 2010.

On Dallas/Fort Worth radio station WBAP-AM, Hutchison said she plans on stepping down in October or November and will officially begin her primary campaign against incumbent Republican Rick Perry in August.

"I am trying to do everything that I can while I'm in office to responsibly serve as senator. But it is hard because my heart is in Texas," she said.

Hutchison also said that she is delaying leaving the Senate because she wants to fight against the Obama administration's health care reform as well as cap-and-trade. She also says she is planning to vote against Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation to the Supreme Court.

Read full post…

Earlier this year, Texas Governor Rick Perry was one of a handful of Republican governors who refused some federal stimulus funds from President Obama's economic recovery package on the grounds that there were too many strings attached to the money.

Now that the state is dire straits, however, Perry is asking the federal government for a loan to cover the very expenses the rejected stimulus money would have paid for.

While Perry accepted most of the roughly $17 billion in stimulus funds allocated for Texas, the governor in March rejected $555 million that would have covered state unemployment benefits. Perry said he was not accepting the money because the state would have been obligated to expand its unemployment coverage, creating too much of a long term tax burden.

At the time, Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Tom Pauken reportedly said the state's unemployment compensation trust fund could be operating at a deficit by October. Now that the state's unemployment funds are depleting faster than expected, the governor is asking for a $170 million loan from the federal government, News 8 Austin reports.

Read full post…

Democratic National Convention Chairman Tim Kaine sent an e-mail last night to DNC supporters announcing that their Fall Meeting would take place in Austin, Texas this year. In the e-mail, Kaine declares optimism in turning Texas blue by focusing efforts on swinging the traditionally conservative state toward the Democratic column.

"Of course, as you know, not only is Texas a great, beautiful and diverse state, it represents a tremendous growth opportunity for the Democratic Party," writes Kaine. "Now, some might find that notion odd given Texas's traditionally conservative bent and its recent history of supporting Republican candidates for elective office. But I don't find it odd at all --and in fact, I am more convinced than ever that Texas is trending our way and will continue to do so."

Kaine went on to mention that Virginia went from having a strong Republican majority to favoring President Obama last year – the first Democratic nominee to win Virginia since 1964, as well as electing Democratic senators in Congress. Kaine himself is the second-consecutive Democratic governor of Virginia and seems confident that Texas will soon follow in Virginia's shoes.

Read full post…

Does Gov. Rick Perry want his state of Texas to secede from the union?

Perry is making headlines for suggesting yesterday that people in his state are so fed up with high taxes and President Obama's stimulus spending that breaking away from the Union might be an option.

Later, Perry backed away from his earlier comments, however. He emphasized in an interview with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he never specifically stated that Texas should think about seceding.

Still, Perry’s comments are generating plenty of attention, both in Texas and nationwide.

"There's a lot of different scenarios," Perry said in Austin, according to the Associated Press. "We've got a great union. There's absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, you know, who knows what might come out of that. But Texas is a very unique place, and we're a pretty independent lot to boot."

Speaking to an anti-tax "tea party,” the Republican governor also dismissed criticism that people protesting taxes across Texas and throughout the country were "right wing extremists," The Dallas Morning News reports. Rather, he said that only by affirming states' rights would Texans be able to stop the federal government's reckless tax and spending policies.

Read full post…

When President Bush flew home today to Midland, Texas, with him was CBS News analyst and former counselor to the president Dan Bartlett.

CBS News anchor Katie Couric asked him if it was a bittersweet voyage for the president.

"It was a lot more sweet than bitter, Katie," Bartlett said. "It was like a family reunion at 30,000 feet."

"The president was in great spirits. He walked around to every single person who was on the plane and spent individual time with each of them," he said.

Later in the flight ...

Read full post…

This afternoon, former President George Bush was greeted by about 20,000 people in Midland, Texas.

They had gathered for a homecoming celebration marking the beginning of Mr. Bush's post-presidential life.

Among those in the crowd, the Associated Press reports, was one little boy waving a multicolored sign reading, "President Bush, thank you for keeping me safe."

In his remarks, Mr. Bush discussed how happy he was to have returned to Texas and boasted of having been able to spend the night in Buckingham Palace.

"The presidency was a joyous experience, but as great as it was, nothing compares with Texas at sunset," Mr. Bush said. "Tonight I have the privilege of saying six words that I have been waiting to say for a while – it is good to be home."