Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts

Runaway Bay always has a big fire from time to time. 

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• Story. (Surprise: We don't know much.) 
  
  
  
• But that wasn't the only big news coming out of Van Zandt County last night: "The children who died were ages 3, 5, and 8." Good lord. 
  
  
  
• What a mess. They allegedly took the cell phone of their deceased father from their stepmother's home. And for some reason bond was set at $100,000 -- a comically high amount. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
• So what's the purpose of taking state tax dollars intended for a public school and forfeiting them to the federal government?
  
  
  
• "Investigators allege Willie Herndon stopped along Interstate 170, got out of his vehicle, and fired into Wilson's passing car. She was traveling to a Halloween event at the zoo." It sounds like it was a road rage incident. People are nuts. 
  
  
  
• Let me tell you, that is one fantastic mask.
  
  
   
  
  
  
• I keep saying to keep an eye on this guy: 
  
  
  
• Early voting comparisons for Dallas, Tarrant, and Denton counties. 
  
  
  
• Just when you think the grift can't be any more brazen. "Julio Herrera Velutini, a Venezuelan billionaire, really wanted a pardon. He got it not long after his daughter hired Alina Habba, a lawyer close to Trump, in a deal worth more than $50 million. Habba was also working at DOJ at the time." And the "deal" is to be general counsel for four years for a company that appears to exist in name only. New York Times gift link. 
  

  

  
  

  

  
  
  
  
• War criminals. From the Wall Street Journal:
  
  
  
• He's told us that we can't let the communists and the socialists take over the country. 
  
  
  
  
• I gave you a heads up yesterday: 
  
  
  
• Special envoy Steve Witkoff just told Putin to his face and in front of the cameras: "[Y]ou are a humanitarian also, sir, and I salute that.”

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

It has been 10 years since the very funny "No puppet!" exchange during their last debate.  However, this is what Hillary was in the midst of saying at the time:  "Putin would rather have a puppet as president. You won't admit the Russians engaged in cyberattacks against the US, that you encouraged espionage against our people, that you spout the Putin line, sign up for his wish list, break up NATO, do whatever he wants you to do."

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• Woah. Early voting from four years ago for the first day totaled 1,645. Yesterday dwarfed that. And this will be an 80%+ Republican turnout:
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Wise County: A road rage incident on 287 yesterday afternoon ended up with gunfire and a three vehicle wreck on FM 407 after the feud moved there.  One person was careflighted. 
• This story, based upon the mother's statement to police, is bad. 
  
  
  
• I bet a grand jury won't even indict this guy. It will save the time and expense of a "not guilty" verdict later on. 
  
  
  
• Ok, that would scare me. Although the banana is a nice soothing touch.
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
• After a slow start, the Tarrant County Sheriff is proving once again that he can't manage a jail. 
  
  
  
• See "10 years ago", above: 
  
  
  
• Point: 
  
  
  
• Counter-point from the Trump-friendly paper of record: 
  
  
  
• Lighten up, Francis. 
  
  
  
• Trouble in Argyle. They are currently ranked #3 ranked in the state with an offense that averages 53.4 points and 540.6 yards of total offense per game. And they might lose their quarterback to day.
  
  
  
• Can you imagine the good that could be done with the amount of money spent on ads for the senate race in Texas?

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

He told us his intentions in 2016.

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• Messenger story.
  
• It was randomly found by search volunteers? In Decatur?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• A van sustained "major damage" yesterday evening when it was struck by a train in Alvord. Somehow, there were no injuries. 
• On Friday, we got the first look at the gunman in the Oregon school shooting. Here he is with his mother. 
  
  
  
• This happened at the Alamodome on Saturday night. This was pre-game and, yes, they played the game anyway.  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Paris, and other towns, burned over the weekend. "A historic town hall in the French city of Limoges has been ravaged by fire after a day of violent protests across the country saw widespread arson, pillaging, and more than 1,200 arrests. The clock tower of the 143-year-old Hôtel de Ville building collapsed on Saturday night after rioters set it ablaze. In videos posted online, protesters were heard cheering as it fell."
  
  
  
• She had two children in the truck as well.  There's still no definitive report as to why this happened. No arrest was made. 
  
  
  
• Just a Dallas police PR person using her own personal police lights and sirens. She had to have used them just to get through traffic in her daily commute, right?
  
  
  
• Crazy Trump stuff on Friday night: 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  
  
• Trump is now a full Russian asset.  I don't know what they have on him, but Russia must be threatening to use it. 
  
  

  

  
  
  
  
  

  

  
  
• And this news last night from the Wall Street Journal: "Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed that he, President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping meet next month to talk about Ukraine in an attempt to negotiate an end to the four-year conflict that would favor Moscow, said people familiar with the discussions." No Zelensky. No EU rep.  Just these three dictators. 
  

  

  
  
• Good. The United States won't help you, so bombs away. 
  

  

  
  
• Kristi Noem, who famously wrote in her book about shooting her dog, thought it was a good idea to post this photo this weekend. The comments were high comedy.
  
  
  
  
• Four years?
  

  

  
  
• Early voting starts today. That means this lady will soon be off my screen. 
  
  
  
• It already seems like old news, but the new press secretary, Katie Zacharia, was fired on Friday. It was the shortest time for anyone in that position ever. 
  
  
  
  
  
• The Traces of Texas twitter account had this pic from Decatur over the weekend. 
  
• The Wise County Sheriff's office jail and court information website is down.