On Tuesday, a three judge panel of the Federal Court in Washington ruled that Texas Republican lawmakers used an "improper standard" in determining how the electoral map in Texas will be drawn for the 2012 election cycle. more ›

• Military intervention looms in Egypt
• Peace talks to resume for India and Pakistan
• 2012 GOP contenders gather

Tom DeLay was sentenced to three years in prison this afternoon by Texas state court judge Pat Priest. The three years were for the charge of conspiring to launder money; for the money laundering itself DeLay received ten years' probation. DeLay was taken into custody immediately after the sentencing. He is expected to post bond of $10,000 and appeal the conviction. His attorney, Dick DeGuerin, has said that he may argue that the Texas law under which DeLay was convicted is unconstitutional because of the Supreme Court's decision of 2010. [New York Times] more ›

Late yesterday afternoon (and after much deliberation), the jury for the trial of former US House Majority Leader Tom DeLay delivered their verdict: guilty. DeLay was convicted on charges of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The former Republican congressman from Sugar Land could be sentenced to five years -- up to possibly even life! -- in prison. [Texas Tribune] more ›

• Are you okay with people touching your junk?
• This junk is upsetting the Irish.
• Can anyone guess what America's favorite junk food is?

Overshadowed by the state-wide (and nation-wide) sweeping GOP victories earlier this week, the trial of Tom "The Hammer" DeLay began Monday in Austin. more ›

• White House to Yemen: More drones to come, maybe
• Trapped miners face year-end rescue
• Park51 Community Center expands "Ground Zero" boundaries

• 60 dead after suicide bomb attacks people waiting in line at Iraqi military recruiting office.
• CA gay marriage on hold after decision by 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Justice department gives up federal investigation into DeLay's shady dealings.

• Acevedo acknowledges bias in police investigation into Sanders shooting
• Obama tells congressional leaders he has no plans to lower troop levels in Afghanistan
• Health secretary declares H1N1 vaccine safe; urges parents to take precautions

Former President Jimmy Carter calls outburst during Obama's speech an act "based on racism" more ›

"Look at this shoe," DeLay marvels, his head wagging sassily as he holds the footwear up to the camera. "A Texan doesn't wear a shoe like this ... it's a little pahhhump with high heels!" Matthews responds with an all-too-predictable gay joke about DeLay maybe being too light in the shoes, prompting the disgraced former House Majority Leader to cackle. more ›

• White House considering compromise on health care reform
• Senate Dems propose nonprofit health care co-ops
• American Public: Whazzat?

Despite being removed from office, Tom DeLay is up to his old tricks: comparing Democrats to Nazis; comparing himself to the Duke students falsely accused of rape; proclaiming that if the liberals can take down Don Imus, the conservatives can get Rosie O’Donnell off the air; and now this, the most egregious of his statements. In what is one of the most disturbing things we have heard in the wake of the shootings at Virginia... more ›

Movie critics, quilters, environmentalists, these types. The blog landscape is packed with these niche bloggers. Well, you can add former exterminators cum failed politicians with dubious pasts to the long list of those on the internets. Former US Representative Tom DeLay has started a blog. Glory be! Finally the voice of reason comes to Al Gore’s invention. [excerpted TomDelay.com]Over the course of my political life I have learned many things, one of which is that... more ›

If you're hiking, consider charging up your iPod, as Seattlest finds out that a man lost during a hike was found by the glow of his iPod. That cleverness seems to be devoid in cops who were using police cruiser instant messaging clients - although we imagine IMs "so are you nakie" to be included in cop shows, just for realism. If only the cops were busting the Hummer-driving jerk who made a poor... more ›

Remember Puppet Government, last year's Frontera Fest success that went on to wow audiences at this past summer's New York International Fringe Festival? The gang's gettin' together one last time at Ventanna Del Sol's upstairs auditorium to raise money for John Courage, a former teacher, vet, and Democractic congressional candidate for Texas' 21st district. From the Puppet Gov folk: John is a honorable, genuine guy, and also very, very smart. And he's not a... more ›

Even though we are way way past school age, we still get a little melancholy at the close of summer. Fortunately, our friends across the -ist network know that the shenanigans don't need to end just because the big yellow buses are back on the roads. So, grab your sunscreen and your favorite hangover cure, as we take a tour of end of summer fun from -ist cities all over the damn place. SFist Tourist... more ›

Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay just won't go away. The former bug exterminator fired his latest salvo in the "culture war" recently, and this one's a doozy. Apparently the loathsome deposed Congressman has begun what we assume will be his natural next career move: consulting. In an email to his conservative constituency, DeLay urged his supporters to vote for Sara Evans. Congressional candidate? No. School board candidate? Nope. Sugarland city council? Guess again. Sara... more ›

We are saddened by the report that goober candidate Carole Cougar Keeton Strayhorn has decided to relinquish her fight to get her nickname on the Nov. ballot. Mrs. Cougar will always be a "grandma" in our eyes and probably in the eyes of her grandchildren. In other goober news: Democratic candidate Chris Bell is calling UberGoober Rick Perry out on his lack of efforts to fund our state parks. Texas ranks near the bottom... more ›

Independent goober candidate Carole Keeton Strayhorn Rylander Cougar Mellencamp is suing the Texas secretary of state over his refusal to let her use "Grandma" on the Nov. 7 ballot. We're pretty sure the filing of a frivolous lawsuit will do very little to help Carole Cougar gain new supporters. It seems Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle is reluctant to release information about his investigation of Tom DeLay. In fact, he is suing the... more ›

LOCAL: The NAACP of Austin and the Texas Civil Rights project have sued the state and Travis County over electronic voting machines. They claim that E-Slate voting machines violate the state election code because they don't provide a paper record of the vote transaction. STATE: A federal judge has ruled that former U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay must remain on the ballot for the 22nd Congressional District race. It seems DeLay's little scheme to temporarily... more ›

There's a whole wide world out there, and here's the proof: DCist revels in The University of Maryland's basketball triumphs, marvels at Metro's security strategy, and applauds DC local Katie Couric's new gig. Bostonist has the best local papers! While The Globe reports on a baby shower gone bad, the 'Herald coins a gruesome new term. They put down the paper long enough to comment on an election that has gone to the dogs, and,... more ›

Rep. Tom DeLay is apparently pulling out of the race for re-election to his House seat. CNN has reported that, just minutes ago, DeLay completed a conference call with the Texas delegation to the House, announcing his plans. In order to field a Republican candidate for the general election, there will be a special election for DeLay's place on the ballot. The Mayor of Sugarland is expected to be one of the candidates running.... more ›

Continuing her rampage against government-affiliated organizations deemed corrupt, State Comptroller and indepedent gubernatorial candidate Carole Keeton Strayhorn directed her latest assault against Texas lobbying firm Cassidy & Associates. The private firm, which deals with members of Congress, the White House, and a smattering of other higher-ups in Washington, previously held a lucrative $15,000/mo agreement with Texas, in exchange for which it was expected to obtain a maximum of federal funding for various state-funded programs.... more ›

We went to Carnaval. And loved it. SXSW full list of bands and movies updated. Cat Power backs out of SXSW and cancels tour. Ausitn art goes green. Tired of run-of-the-mill valentine's day activities? We got you covered. We reviewed the new documentary The Outdoorsmen: Blood, Sweat and Beers. And laughed our asses off. For about $600 in fees, your band can play a showcase at Waterloo Records during SXSW. The week in interviews:... more ›

Despite his ongoing legal quagmire, it seems that Tom DeLay has been surprisingly active in some very important committees in these past few months. Delay has been given a seat on the Appropriations Committee, as well as on the subcommittee overseeing the Justice Department. We'd like to point out that this same subcommittee is investigating the Jack Abramoff scandal. In other words, you can bet that the investigation is going to grind to a halt in the near future. more ›

Austinist presents our "Peg Your Clique Quiz" ... and we're still embarrassed by our score Additional SXSW bands were announced (Platinum Pass for auction!), and we finally saw the first week of great music releases for 2006 Reviews: Waterloo and Veronica (books); Danceworks Laboratory's latest works-in-progress showing (dance) Here's to getting past the most depressing day of the year. Thankfully, Carnivale's just a few days away! Is our fair city getting its own Central... more ›

E-mail messages (dated 7/17/02) from lobbyist Jack Abramoff, obtained by the Justice Department and Senate investigators, show that he told an Indian tribe client that he was being pressured by U.S. Rep. Tom Delay for a $25,000 political donation. more ›

Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle wants a halt in the trial of U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay as he intends to appeal the dismissal of conspiracy charges that accuse DeLay of conspiring to violate a law barring the use of corporate money in a political campaign. Any postponement would prevent DeLay from regaining his position as U.S. House Majority Lleader, which he can’t resume while under indictment. DeLay Lawyer Dick DeGuerin has said that Earle’s move to appeal is merely designed to postpone the proceedings. more ›

Things have not been going too well for Tom DeLay lately. And Monday, things took another potentially disastrous turn for DeLay politically, as the US Supreme Court agreed to examine the constitutionality of congressional redistricting in Texas. more ›