Howard FinemanHoward Fineman, senior political analyst for Newsweek and MSNBC, said in Dallas this past Friday that special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald is still likely to indict Karl Rove, although readily acknowledging “I can’t prove it.” Speaking to the annual meeting of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association at the Intercontinental Hotel in Addison , Fineman stated that it was very unusual for a witness, like Rove, to appear four separate times before a federal grand jury. Also, if Fitzgerald was completely through with the investigation there is no need to impanel a second grand jury. Although admitting that all of these theories amounted to speculation, Fineman observed that based on his experience in Washington the Valerie Plame “leak” investigation is far from over. When it will end, no one can say for sure at this time.

On other subjects, Fineman told the lawyers that Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito would be in for a long hard nomination battle, but that such a battle would ultimately work to the administration’s benefit and likely harm the Democrats in the long run. He stated that Rove could well be laying a trap for the Democrats which would harm them in the upcoming mid-term congressional elections. However, Fineman said, that ultimately the 2006 elections would depend on how the war is going in Iraq . If the war is going poorly, then Democrats will pick up congressional seats. However, if it appears that progress is being made, then the Republicans will not be damaged all that much.

Fineman explained that right now, the Republicans’ primary political problem can be summarized in two words “George Bush.” This fact is reflected, for example, in the Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race. Last week President Bush campaigned in Pennsylvania , but the Republican incumbent Senator Rick Santorum was nowhere to be found. Fineman pointed out that other Republicans in tight races around the country are trying to distance themselves from the President and his policies. Today, the President’s coattails appear to be almost non-existent.

Commenting on Pennsylvania Congressman John Murtha’s call for troops to be brought home from Iraq , Fineman said that he believed that the administration is now working on a plan to begin a drawdown of American troops, substantially reducing the numbers. Thus despite the ferocious attacks on Murtha, Bush is definitely moving toward Murtha’s position, although in a most covert fashion.

Sen. Lindsay GrahamAnother speaker at the lawyer’s meeting was South Carolina ’s Republican U.S. Senator, Lindsey Graham, who told the attendees that although he was a proud Republican, he thought his party’s attack on the jury system was terribly misguided. Further, he stated that his party had lost its way by focusing on trial lawyers as a political enemy. Graham noted the unusual irony that a number of Republican office-holders in Washington today are discovering the benefits of the 7^th Amendment’s guarantee of a right to trial by jury. He stated that some, hounded by scandal and grand jury investigations, were falling all over themselves trying to hire the finest Democratic trial lawyers they could find. Seasoned political observers listened carefully to the Senator’s speech and noted that Graham may well be positioning himself to run as a Vice-Presidential candidate with Arizona Senator John McCain. Senator Graham certainly did nothing at this gathering to discourage such speculation.

This report was filed by Dallas Blogger John Collins a former Chairman of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and Democratic Party leader.

UNT Provost Howard JohnsonThe University of North Texas voted “no confidence” yesterday in UNT Provost Howard Johnson. The “no confidence” vote by tenured and tenure track faculty was 356 to 135 (63% to 28%) with 63% of eligible voters participating.

Provost Johnson responded with an email sent late Tuesday. In that email the Provost said he had been listening to the debate leading up to the vote. He said he had heard “a need for greater campus-wide understanding about the goals for academic affairs outlined in the Academic Plan, and more discussion about what it will take for us to realize them.” He continued that he had heard a need for “more information, greater transparency and more faculty engagement In the decisions about the university’s future.

Johnson clearly has no intention of resigning his position and the faculty vote had no binding effect on the UNT administration. Johnson came under fire earlier this year when he was accused of having plagiarized parts of the University Mission Statement. His decision as Provost in 2004 to deny tenure to a group of 12 faculty members created a firestorm as many accused the Provost of changing the rules of the game after it had already been played.

After the news of the possible plagiarism broke the university’s leadership was criticized for failing to back Johnson who is black. Later Governor Perry and Chancellor Lee Jackson and other UNT regents and leader announced their support.

Like most universities UNT is undergoing significant changes as it tackles reduced overall funding, and the reallocation of budget to different disciplines. The administration is also moving to instill a more businesslike manner exemplified by a recent memo extolling teachers to look on their students as “customers.” The general reaction among the faculty has been less than enthusiastic and some feel the Provost may be bearing the brunt of a general dissatisfaction with the administration and the state’s political leadership.

How many people ever really go to www.dallascityhall.com and search for the Dallas Food Inspection scores for their favorite restaurant?  The folks at City Hall say they have no idea.  It is probably just as well.  It will take a bit of time to located and all you will get is a database of monthly reports listing restaurants in alphabetical order and showing their number grade. 

But now some enterprising entrepreneurs have created a Web site with the catchy name of Dallas Food Inspection Scores Database that actually makes finding out what you probably really didn't want to know fun to find.  First this site lets you see an average grade of all recent grades and tells you an establishment's highest and lowest grades over the period.  It also converts the number grade into a letter grade we can all relate to (although I bet a lot of restaurants are going to argue about this).  You can also do all manner of groupings:  by area, by grade and by type of restaurant.  Of course this isn't just about restaurants but about any place that serves food. 

The results can be surprising.  In most cases the fast food chain places get uniformly high marks.  McDonald's gets mostly high grades as does Arbys, Burger King and other similar venues.  Top line eateries like the Mansion and French Room are grade A across the board.  Alas, most of the burger and Mexican joints I favor are still open from force of habit I guess.  But frankly I don't care.  If you do, or if you just want something to do during an ice storm give this site a try. 

This isn’t one more disquisition on the emergence of “Happy Holidays” as a politically correct substitute for a quasi-theological salute like “Merry Christmas.”    This is a puzzled look at the puzzled state of the American mind and conscience in the Year of Our Lord -- excuse me, excuse me -- 2005.

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Lamar SmithGary Martin of the Washington Bureau of the San Antonio Express-News has an excellent article in that publication today about the divisions within Republican ranks over immigration policy. As Martin notes, President Bush’s proposed plan includes "a controversial guest-worker program" which many Republicans in Congress oppose. Even Congressman Lamar Smith who represents San Antonio and is a close ally of the President’s, is quoted as saying: "I have a hard time believing we will have a debate on a very controversial subject like a foreign-worker program during an election. It could well divide the country, as well as split the Republican base."

A number of Republicans in Congress led by Tom Tancredo of Colorado, favor a series of measures which would beef up border security without including "a temporary-worker program, which Bush says is essential to take pressure off the border and provide willing workers with employers."

Tancredo has been talked about as a possible Republican candidate for President in 2008. If he runs, he has vowed to make immigration reform and increased border security the central issues in his campaign. To read Martin’s entire article, click here…

Gov. Perry’s response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have created a surge in his job-approval rating, according to the latest Texas Poll. “The hurricanes have absolutely done the governor a lot of good,” said poll director Ty Meighan.

The poll showed Perry well positioned for next year’s election, with 49 percent of respondents saying they approve of the way Perry is doing his job, and 37 percent say they disapprove. That's an improvement of 10 percent since September. The poll director said respondents thought Perry was compassionate without leaving Texas stuck with the cost of absorbing those displaced by Katrina (even though we don't yet know what those costs will be).

Those figures weren’t in the DMN this morning, though The News reported Perry’s big lead over Carole Keeton Strayhorn among Republican primary voters – 55 to 24 percent. But the Star Telegram put the figures in perspective by pointing out the governor’s current hurricane halo.

Perry was put into the spotlight when Texas became a haven for hundreds of thousands of Katrina evacuees and then again when thousands of Texans evacuated the Gulf Coast in advance of Rita. Perry, according to the StartleGram, was credited with leading an orderly although sometimes frustrating exodus. I guess compared to Louisiana pols, anybody looks good.

More poll news: Charges against Rep. Tom DeLay may be taking a toll. A CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll has found that 55 percent of registered voters in his district (the 22^nd congressional district) believe that charges against DeLay are definitely or probably true. DeLay faces money-laundering charges in Texas, although a conspiracy charge has been dropped.

Close to half of the registered voters in the poll say they would be likely to vote for an unnamed Democrat against DeLay. However, when presented with the most prominent potential Democratic opponent – former Rep. Nick Lampson – they draw a blank. Sixty-one percent they were unfamiliar with Lampson. Voters are always more willing to vote for an unnamed opponent in a hypothetical case than for somebody they don’t know in a real race.

An attendee at yesterday’s Dallas Citizens Council meeting reports that the crowd applauded DCC President Agather’s remark that voters have spoken and Dallas has a council-manager form of government. Not clapping was Mayor Miller, according to our correspondent. While the business powers endorsed a change to strong mayor -- the less strong plan -- this reaction confirms our suspicion that they didn't really have their heart in it. 

Along those lines...former councilman and potential mayoral candidate Max Wells was a credible opponent to the Blackwood strong mayor plan last spring. A blog reader recalls hearing Wells debate Laura Miller at the Greater Dallas Planning Council meeting and says he more than held his own. "Max has a broad command of the issues and, most importantly, he knows how to build council coalitions. He knows how to compromise. He doesn't hold a grudge." 

 Wells has served as mayor protem and chairman of the DFW Airport Board, but maybe he could draw support for a mayoral run. 

The Mayor and some of the City Council are hyping a $50 million renovation of the Cotton Bowl.  Norm thinks $50 mill for the bowl would be the equivalent of buying a facial for a pig.  Are we being asked to buy a pig in a poke?

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