I have often been called a “tool”, but Mary Hammer Menzel, who regularly volunteers to lead the prayer prior to Montgomery County Commissioner Court meetings, took it to another level by declaring that anyone opposed to the proposed transportation bond is “a tool of Satan” during her prayer.

Most of the attendees quickly distanced themselves from those comments, but Precinct 1 Commissioner Mike Meador said Menzel should not be criticized.

“She does a great job when she is called on,” said Meador. “To criticize a personal prayer is wrong; it’s offensive.”

And we certainly don’t want to offend anyone do we?

That’s their problem, not mine,” Menzel said of those offended. “I like to exercise my rights as a Christian.”

County Judge Craig Doyal said he was surprised by Menzel’s prayer. He added that the county may look at a different system to find volunteers for future meetings.

Ya think?

It’s been an interesting week in Austin. The locals like to quip that the circus is in town when the Texas Legislature is in session.

In todays’ uber-modern world, all the committee meetings and sessions are a mouse click away, allowing ordinary citizens to “watch the sausage being made” and much like the cliché, there some real funk in the air.

I have been watching/listening to the Senate Education Committee discuss school vouchers. Both sides have good points to debate, but many of the testimony in favor of vouchers talk about how dangerous public schools are, or poorly they perform. Proponents want to have a choice for their children, and it’s hard to argue with that.

What I find interesting is that no one is asking the question why public education is such a mess. Isn’t the legislature responsible for doing all it can to create a public education that provides a safe learning environment? If so, they appear to admit they are not doing a very good job and so we’re going to let families have the choice to get vouchers for private, for-profit institutes.

It was also interesting to hear two pastors who have private schools at their churches against vouchers because they don’t believe any religion, or faith-based organization receive money from the government even though they would stand to profit from the decision. Now that is standing on your conviction.

Here is something for America to ponder. There has been great debate which has been on-going about the crisis on the border and what needs to be done. Buzz words like “Boots on the Ground” and “Humanitarian Crisis” are dominating headlines. Fingers are being pointed at Washington for failing to secure the border while Governor Perry is posing for photo ops with a flax jacket and rifle in hand.

Half a world away, another humanitarian crisis is taking place. Thousands of Iraqi’s are being threatened by ISIS, a very radical branch of Muslim extremists who vow to murder anyone that does not convert to their way of thinking.

Many of these Iraqi’s are fleeing, lining up at neighboring countries borders seeking refuge. Two of the countries who have opened up refugee camps inside their country to help assist these innocent victims are Jordon and Syria (yes, that Syria who has been mired in a horrific civil war for control of the country).

So how do these countries, which certainly don’t have the resources to match the US, have the ability to lend aid? It’s hard to imagine a country with as many issues as Syria being able to help anyone, yet someone how they manage it.

Now I’m not suggesting we open our borders and build camps, but it does make one pause to think…

Cliven Bundy shares his thoughts on “the negro”

First it was republicans distancing themselves from Ted Nugent after being made aware of his sexual relationships with under-age girls (did they never bother to listen to “Wang Dang Sweet Poontang”?) and comparing President Obama to a mongrel.

Now another hero of the right is making conservatives squirm. Cliven Bundy, the Nevada rancher who, depending on what side of the fence you sit on, is either a patriot defending his right to have his cattle feed on public land, or a thief who is violating the law.

Putting all that to the side, Bundy, in a recent interview with The New York Times, made some eye-opening comments regarding “the negro.” In part, Bundy wondered if “are they better off as slaves, picking cotton and having a family life and doing things, or are they better off under government subsidy? They didn’t get no more freedom. They got less freedom.”

As you might imagine, his supporters are distancing themselves faster that Usain Bolt running the 400 meters. So what’s a conservative to do?  Perhaps spend a little time doing more homework and not simply reading the headlines, or watching Faux News for their information.