Kay Granger & Mark Greene Debate In Unitarian Universalist Church Tonight

The League of Women Voters convinced Congresswoman Kay Granger to come to the Westside Unitarian Universalist Church tonight for a candidate's forum with, as far as I know, one other candidate, that being Mark Greene.

The League of Women Voters is calling this a candidate forum. Others are calling it a debate.

I do not know if this event is going to be televised. I suspect not.

Mark Greene is a Democrat. Kay Granger is a Republican.

I am a big fan of  Kay Granger's son, J.D., and all the wondrous works his mother has enabled him to do for Fort Worth.

Since Kay is the reason we have J.D. I suppose she deserves some credit for the creation in Fort Worth of imaginary islands with imaginary pavilions, with bridges being built over an imaginary un-needed flood diversion channel, the first drive-in movie theater of the 21st century, ice rinks and river rockin' happy hour inner tube floats.

Even so, I still think I will likely be voting for Mark Greene.

This invite to this event has me also wondering about a couple other things. Like what is a Unitarian Universalist? Is this a Christian denomination? And why is there no League of Men Voters?

If you want to experience this likely heated debate in person, get there early as there are only 200 seats available. The debate location is about 9 miles from my abode. At my 4 mph walking pace I figure if I leave here around 3 this afternoon I should have plenty of time to get to church.

Yikes! Just looked at the time. It's about 3 now. I gotta get going......

The Star-Telegram Needs To Be Spanked For Its Unreasonable Endorsement Of Kay Granger

 I returned from a biking inspection of my neighborhood to find an email with a subject line I'd not seen before.

"Spank 'em!".

The 'em being referred to is Fort Worth's prolific propaganda purveyor, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the mouthpiece of the good ol' network which runs Fort Worth helping keeping the Fort Worth Way of operating alive and kicking, despite a lot of people alive and kicking trying to bring progressive modern American times to Fort Worth and its surrounding area.

The "Spank 'em!" email in its entirety....

Durango,

The Star-Telegram has issued its non-endorsement in our race today, and we hope that you will help barrage them with Letters-to-the Editor in protest. While these won’t change their decision, it will take them to task for their irresponsibility in filling an important advisory role to the voters, and raise our campaign’s profile in the process.  

Their tepid endorsement of Granger reads:

“Granger, a former Fort Worth mayor, was elected in 1997 to serve House District 12 (western Tarrant County, all of Parker County and the southeastern portion of Wise County). She’s vice chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. Democrat Mark Greene has raised the profile of the race, but neither he nor Libertarian Ed Colliver can overcome Granger’s name recognition and leadership.”

Again, Granger voted for the sequester, to shut down the government, twice to default on the debt, against funding CHIP, against equal pay for women, and steamrolled the Trinity River Vision project into being – a huge and irresponsible burden around the necks of her constituents.

We shared our thoughts on our Facebook page this morning:

“We are clearly disappointed that the Star-Telegram sees its role as that of handicapper, rather than as a reasoned evaluator of legislative competence and vision. It is a safe stance to take, but clearly not one helpful to voters seeking more from their elected representatives than they are currently getting...”

While the Star-Telegram’s endorsement/non-endorsement was not unexpected, the fact that they present no grounds on which to support Granger over us – with Congress’ approval ratings near single digits and her party veering badly off the rails, leaves ample room for criticism. Again, letters must be under 200 words, in your own words, accompanied by your contact information, and received timely. Mail to: letters@star-telegram.com.

Thanks for all you do,

The Not Greene Pillow Queen

This morning Elsie Hotpepper sent me a link to an amusing Letter to the Editor in yesterday's Fort Worth Star-Telegram printed under the heading Granger vs. Greene.

Til I read this letter I had never heard J.D. Granger's mama referred to a a Pillow Queen.

A Pillow Queen who works only to feather her own nest.

That is the letter screencapped above and copied in its entirety below....

In U.S. House District 12, we have a pillow queen (who works only to feather her own nest) for a congresswoman.

In 18 years in office, she has authored few bills that were enacted. Her latest attempt, a bill in support of the Republican effort to paint the surge in children at the border as a crises, failed miserably. Even some Republicans refused to support her.

Despite years of failure, Pillow Queen has voted for millions of dollars for a project headed by her son.

Her opponent is Democratic centrist Mark Greene, an independent small businessman who has striven to accumulate wealth through work, not cronyism.

A native Texan and lifelong DFW resident, Mark wants an economy that creates well-paying jobs for every able-bodied Texan.

In District 12, the choice is clear: Pillow Queen or Mark Greene.

— Laurin McLaurin,

Benbrook