Friday, 2:05pm - More Energy Policy
Next up on the interview couch is Chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission Michael Williams. For those outside Texas, the Railroad Commission handles a lot of things having to do with energy policy with oversight over all sorts of other agencies and with a major role in determining where and how oil can be drilled for in the state. Ironically it no longer has any authority over railroads. I'm going to ask him about something I haven't had time to write on yet, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's decision to ban biodiesel fuel mixes inside Texas on the basis of a report which erroneously suggested that it caused Nitrous Oxide pollution, despite a federal report from last year which shows the emissions to be negligible.
Chairman Williams didn't really have much to say about the TCEQ decision, but he did agree with me in his answer on the basic principle of establishing a unified energy policy. I may have played into his desire to expand the authority of his energy, but I think he was dead on (as I would since he agreed with me) in saying that it would benefit the state greatly to have biofuel regulation put under the Railroad Commission as was done a few years ago with electricity and natural gas. Having a coherent energy policy run by one specific agency seems like a no brainer to me.
Williams was very articulate and seemed to have a good grasp on his field. He handled the questions from other bloggers pretty well, plus he was wearing cowboy boots with a pinstriped suit and has less hair than I do.
Friday, 3:15pm - What's Wrong with the GOP
Some of my readers will appreciate this. I'm not going to bash on Ron Paul supporters (at least for now). They're having a hard enough time with his announcement last night. With the cheers of the convention floor in the background as Mike Huckabee tells folksy jokes and stories, I have been going around the exhibit hall and taking a tour of everything that's wrong with the GOP.
The image to the right is a pretty good symbol of one of the problems, the bizarre and gratuitous obsession with religion as a driving force in politics. I've got no problem with people praying. If you're serious about it you can pray pretty much anywhere anytime. But what does it say when you have a special 'Prayer Room' set aside, kind of like a smoking room or a baby changing station. It seems bizarre. It's like the convention is trying to impress someone with how righteous and holy it is. But it's a political convention. Most of these people don't have souls. And the room is empty and entirely symbolic.
Article comments
1 - Baritone
I don't want to usurp Dave's article here, but I just thought I'd note the passing of Tim Russert of NBC News.
This came out of left field.
I know there is little love here for the mass media, but I do believe that Russert was one of the best at what he did. He was clearly a tireless and endlessly enthusiastic news man who was never caught unprepared. The reaction of his compatriots in the business is testament to his having been a good man, a good husband, a good son, and a good father.
I will definitely miss the astute energy that he brought to everything he did both on and off camera. His Sunday morning "Meet the Press" program will definitely not be the same without him, and it will be strange indeed not having his voice chiming in with excitement come the night of the November election.
B-tone
2 - Dave Nalle
I heard about Russert on the escalator here in the convention center and I can confirm that Republicans had a great deal of respect for him as a journalist and interviewer. Everyone I've talked to was surprised and saddened. Seems like he deserved to have more time.
Dave
3 - Dave Nalle
I've done another update to the blog. Half a day of the convention to go tomorrow, but I might cut out a bit early.
BTW, if you searched "texas republican convention" on google news Thursday or Friday the first listing out of about 4000 was for my original liveblog which held the number one spot for 23 hours. It was then supplanted by this second liveblog segment which held the number one spot for about 6 hours, after which it got bumped and the original article came back and is currently still number 1.
Either being really, really long and wordy earns you points with google or something makes articles at BC extra popular.
Dave
4 - Tami
I am wondering after reading your blog why you are in the republican party. It seems obvious that you do not believe the way the majority of Republicans believe. Why would you want to associate with them, when it is so obvious from your believes, values, writings, that you are a democrat.
Leaves me wondering?
5 - Dave Nalle
Tami, almost everything I believe in is a belief I share with a majority or a very large minority of the GOP. My beliefs are also those on which the party was founded and which it continued to follow until relatively recently.
In addition, my beliefs have very little in common with those of democrats in the most important areas.
I would suggest that if you call yourself a Republican and find yourself disagreeing with me on fundamental issues like limiting government and protecting individual liberty, then YOU are in the wrong party and ought to consider becoming a democrat.
Dave
6 - lyle
Where is Saturday? I must say I was a (Ron Paul) delegate at the convention and my will was completely broken by the end of it all.
7 - Dave Nalle
Saturday is actually in a separate article at The Righteous Fist Rides Into the Sunset.
Dave