Capitol Cocktail Hour

Texans prepare for a state without Rick Perry or abortion clinics

Big news hit this week when Rick Perry announced that he would not seek a fourth full term in office. Most likely the governor will be packing up his hair combs and his guns and heading toward the White House, although he is being pretty evasive when it comes to answering that question.

How exactly Rick Perry intends to reshape himself before throwing his hat into the 2016 presidential election ring isn’t yet clear. But some reshaping will have to be done. Although he began his 2011 bid for the White House strongly — even leading in polls at one point — all goodwill was obliterated in that fiery crash known as "The Oops Heard 'Round the World."

His upcoming trip to Israel — and his rather odd advertising campaigns in California and New York attempting to convince businesses to move to Texas — is certainly a start. I wouldn’t be surprised if he begins to pull away from the Ted Cruzes of the world and starts to buddy up to the more moderate Chris Christies on the GOP presidential candidate short list.

Who's next for governor?
Whatever happens, it will be interesting to see who nabs the master suite in the Texas governor's mansion (assuming anyone ever moves back in there again). Certainly on the GOP short list you will find attorney general Greg Abbott, the same guy who sued the federal government for not letting Texas be racist and put our racist redistricting map into effect. We expect him to officially announce this weekend.

Another contender is former Texas Workforce Commission chairman Tom Pauken. On the Democratic side, you have the handsome Castro Brothers, Julian and Joaquin, who are quickly becoming Democratic darlings. But arguments that they’re both still a bit green are probably valid.

And we can’t forget about Sen. Wendy Davis. She certainly has the name recognition and fundraising moxie right now to justify it.

Senate expected to pass abortion bill
On Wednesday, the Texas House passed HB 2, which would virtually eliminate all abortion clinics in Texas and place staunch regulations on the five that will remain open. The Senate Health and Human Services Committee approved the bill in that chamber Thursday morning, paving the way for it to move to the floor of the Senate on Friday.

The media has only speculated about the repercussions of this; we can’t even guess by looking at data from states with strict abortion legislation.

First, because this is some of the most extensive regulation in the country. Second, because Texas is big. The sheer amount of distance it will take to get from West Texas to the first available abortion clinic is staggering. Comparing the data that comes out of Iowa (a state with strict abortion regulation and only 11 clinics) to Texas (with five abortion clinics and nearly five times bigger) just seems silly.

What we do know from data is that the number of abortions don’t actually go down when tighter restrictions are in place; rather, illegal, unsafe abortions increase.

But because this all in the name of women’s health, we certainly can trust that our lawmakers must know what they’re doing. Right?

Rick Perry announced that he would not seek a fourth full term in office.

Barracuda Brigade

Rick Perry announced that he would not seek a fourth full term in office.

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Animal News

Dallas police seek help in identifying 2 jerks who dumped their dogs

DPD

Fat jerk getting back into his red Jeep after dumping his dog.

The Dallas Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying not one but two men who abandoned their dogs off Dowdy Ferry Road in southeast Dallas.

In Texas, abandoning a dog is considered animal cruelty. The penalties for abandoning a dog in Texas can include: Misdemeanor – Abandoning a dog is a Class A misdemeanor in Texas. If convicted, a person can face up to a year in jail and up to $4,000 in fines. That's something but it's not enough.

Both incidents took place in the 2400 block of Dowdy Ferry Road, an area well known amongst low-lifes for dumping animals and anything generally sketchy.

The first took place on June 3, 2024, at about 5:15 pm, when a male exited a red Jeep with a black hardtop, opened the back door to let out a black pit bull type dog, then drove off.

The dog sniffs some paint cans, also dumped on the side of the road, then notices the Jeep has driven off, and runs after him.

How do you be that guy? How do you be a jerk with a fat gut, scraggly black hair, ballcap, scraggly chin fuzz, stupid tattoos on your calves, who looks to be in your 30s yet goes around outside wearing flip-flops as regular shoes, have a sweet dog you dump on the side of the road?

Sometimes it's easier to identify someone if you see them moving. To see this guy as he waddles to the back of his Jeep, click here for the video.

If he or his Jeep looks familiar, this investigation is case number 086508-2024.

Fat dumpy male, dark car, Dowdy Ferry Road Dumpy male gets out of his dark car, while his two dogs are still inside.DPD

The second incident took place June 18, 2024, at about 12:05 pm, when a male exited his dark-colored car and opened the front passenger door to let out two Cane Corso dogs, then abandoned them at the location.

He looks to be in his 40s, with a paunchy gut, wearing a pale collared jersey, jeans, and sneakers. His car is a beat up old Scion, around a 2006, dark gray or black with a few dents in the front. Who do you know who drives a Scion?

This guy exhibits guilt. He gets out and trudges around the area with the two dogs following him. He returns to the area of the car and the dogs jump back in. He looks around, then stumbles a bit down the street before returning to shoo the dogs out.

To see him in action, click on the video here. This investigation is ongoing and is documented on case number 094077-2024.

The videos are from the Dowdy Ferry Animal Commission, a group of volunteers, some of whom live nearby, who've spent a decade documenting this behavior. Their Facebook page is here, and they accept donations for cameras and other gear.

Anyone with any information regarding these offenses is asked to contact DPD Crime Stoppers at 1 877-373–TIPS or Detective H. Tamez, #8518, with the Animal Cruelty Unit, at 214-671-0115.

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