SallyMac's Blog

Are the indictments of seven Morton Ranch High School cheerleaders on hazing charges an overreaction?

I remember being "hazed" for an entire week as a freshman swimmer in college.  My least favorite episode was when the older athletes barged into our dorm rooms around 3AM, drew on us with permanent marker, then drove us five miles to a sketchy area of town, dropped us off and threw eggs at us while we ran back home.  Oh, and then we went to our three hour practice! 

What the cheerleaders are accused of doing was dangerous and foolish but should not result in any further punishment.  Dismissal from the squad, a letter of apology and the painful glare of the media spotlight, I believe, is sufficient discipline. 

Parents, teachers and coaches need to do a better job of educating students about hazing.  Recent high profile incidents, like the untimely death of  Jack Phoummarath at the University of Texas, should have been enough to deter this type of behavior on both high school and college campuses. 

Harris County Judge Ed Emmett isn't following the impending demise of other county Republicans.

With early voting totals in, Emmett is the only county Republican with a lead:  51% to Democratic challenger David Mincberg's 49%.  Republican Paul Bettencourt is in a dead heat to hold onto his job as Tax Assessor Collector. 

We still haven't seen Emmett on the 24th floor of the Westin Galleria.  His campaign manager says he's watching early returns in a private suite before joining about 300 supporters.

Once some more precincts start reporting, we expect to see Emmett get behind the podium and speak to the crowd that's gathered here. 

Early on...looks like bad night for Republicans but Emmett might be the silver lining. 

Voters in Harris County are going to the polls to choose the Harris County Judge.  Their choices are Republican incumbent Ed Emmett and Democratic challenger David Mincberg.

Polling done by the Emmett campaign suggests the judge is in good shape to win.  In fact he may be the only county Republican favored to clinch a W. 

Before Ike, political experts saw Mincberg as the front runner.  The challenger has counted on Obama straight ticket voters and those worn out by Republican scandal.   

Then the hurricane blew in to town and, by most accounts, Emmett did a good job responding to the chaos.  He became known for getting idling supply trucks to their points of distribution.  Ike may have won Emmett thousands of crossover votes.  

The candidates both have a lot of work ahead of them.  Mobility, healthcare and ethics reform are at the top of the list.   

Years from now, when you look back at this election cycle, what will stand out in your mind? 

Barack Obama's November 2007 speech on the "American Dream"

Selection of Gov. Sarah Palin as VP candidate, reigniting the Republican base

Lehman Brothers' bankruptcy filing

"Joe the Plumber"

SNL's dead on impersonations

negative campaigning

Joe Biden opens mouth, inserts foot....several times

Battleground states....Texas once again not in play!

I spent a rare night out on Saturday at the grand opening of Houston's House of Blues. 

A few observations:  

1.)  Houston has no other place quite like it...sultry, classy and oozing with appreciation for the arts.

2.) If you like to SEE and BE SEEN, the HOB and Houston Pavilions is the place to be.  (I'm a fan of the former.)  

3.)  The HOB's elaborate wall coverings in the Foundation Room remind me of Graceland.  The place was so dimly lit, though, I couldn't figure out how to take a good picture of it...

4.)  Capacity is 1500 but when the Blues Brothers are in town, the venue will pack in a few hundred more.

5.)  The BB are highly entertaining, and despite sweating profusely from start to finish, Dan Akroyd never unbuttoned his jacket.

Are you planning on taking a trip to see Houston's newest downtown attraction?  I hear cupcake and ice cream shops are coming soon...that's where I'll be! 

Over the weekend, Senator Barack Obama picked up a key endorsement from retired General Colin Powell and a not so important, but still interesting, nod from the Houston Chronicle.  Powell is a respected Republican.  Since 1960, the Chronicle has endorsed only two Democrats for president.

Powell says his endorsement is not about race.  Conservative radio talk show host, Rush Limbaugh, countered by writing in an email, "OK, fine. I am now researching his past endorsements to see if I can find all the inexperienced, very liberal, white candidates he has endorsed. I'll let you know what I come up with."

The Chronicle said it's decision would have been much more difficult had Senator John McCain selected a running mate like Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.  The endorsement used the words "inflammatory" and "inexperienced" to describe VP candidate Sarah Palin. 

So....do you think the endorsements are based more on the candidate, the party or something else? 

The reporters at Fox 26 have their assignments for election day!  It will be interesting to see how the "Obama effect"  AFFECTS local races. 

I'm covering the county judge's race.  The Republican incumbent Ed Emmett got a huge boost last month by someone named Ike.  For more than a week, his face and name were thrown in every Harris County voter's living room.  Oh, and he helped get those supply trucks to the PODs after Mayor Bill White made national news, telling a couple of workers from out of state, "Get those (expletive) trucks moving." 

Not to be outdone, Emmett's opponent David Mincberg came out with a television ad appealing to all of us struggling without power.  He promises to hold Centerpoint more accountable next time a hurricane knocks us all off the grid. 

Do any of the local races interest you...or will JUST the presidential race draw you to the polls?

Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas estimates 40% of Galveston residents stayed behind, despite a mandatory evacuation. 

But some who THOUGHT they would stay, wisely made the decision to leave this afternoon as the conditions deteriorated on the island. 

Here's my game face as IKE stared us down.

This is Seawall BLVD at 61st.  Ike tossed parts of the pier onto the road.

The waves are breathtaking, but getting more and more dangerous. 

The water is easily crashing over the 17 foot seawall.

The San Luis Hotel has transformed into the Emergency Operations Center and media central. 

In Galveston, but it's getting messy!!!!  These surfers say the conditions are changing by the minute.  They'll be getting out once the sun sets. 

We wrapped up our morning live shots from Baton Rouge and are headed southeast to Houma, near where Gustav made landfall.  

Just about 50 miles south, close to the town of Gramercy, we're really noticing a difference in the conditions.  The eye is right over us now.  The wind is howling, the rain is horizontal and sat truck operator, Mark Jenner, just lost a contact.  We stopped next to a gas station where the pumps are knocked over and parts of the metal roof have turned into very dangerous projectiles.  

Despite all this, I just met a man who's still committed to hosting his annual Labor Day barbecue. 

A dump truck with fresh sand brought a smile to the faces of nervous coastal Louisiana residents....

The French Quarter is a ghost town.  New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin tells residents to flee "the mother of all storms."

Helena Matthews and her 94 year old mother stayed behind for Hurricane Katrina.  They were two of the thousands who flooded the Louisiana Superdome in the chaotic days following the storm.