Pete Sessions embarasses GOP (again)

Shortly after Pete Sessions became NRCC Chair, he caused a nationwide uproar by comparing the Republican Party to terrorists (See blog posts from Feburary, 2009).

Now, he's at it again, even causing ultra-conservative GOPer John Cornyn to say, "I’d like some sort of clarification about what he meant."

At issue are comments Pete Sessions made to New York Times, concocting some sort of conspiracy theory that the Obama Adminstration is trying to diminish employment and diminish stock prices as part of a divide and conquer strategy to consolidate power.

Read more about it at Lone Star Project: Pete Sessions' Credibility Stock Hits New Low: Shaky Republican Campaign Chairman now just making things up, at Dallas Morning News: Sen. John Cornyn rejects Dallas Rep. Pete Sessions' Obama accusation and at The Moderate Voice: Did You Know That Obama’s “REAL” Objective Is To Create Unemployment?

R. Allen Stanford's ties to local politicians

The latest billionaire to be charged with investment fraud is Texas billionaire R. Allen Stanford, who has given generously to both political parties over the years in the hopes of receiving political favors. From Wall St. Journal:

Texas businessman R. Allen Stanford, whose multibillion-dollar investment empire was ordered seized Monday by a federal judge, has long enjoyed big influence in Washington thanks to a steady supply of campaign contributions, Caribbean trips for lawmakers and fees to lobbying firms.

Mr. Stanford and his affiliated companies have spent more than $5 million on lobbying fees since 2000, federal records show. The businessman and his top executives have also contributed at least $2 million to candidates, including key lawmakers, and additional thousands of dollars on jets and resorts...For the past few years, Mr. Stanford...has been lobbying to preserve and expand tax rules that enable him to pay minimal federal income taxes as a resident there, according to lobbyists. While allies of Mr. Stanford in Congress have managed to fend off attacks on rules, his efforts to expand them further have thus far been unsuccessful, lobbyists said.

Among the recipients of R. Allen Stanford's donations are John Cornyn and Pete Sessions. From Dallas Morning News:

R. Allen Stanford has given generously to Texas lawmakers in both parties. And his company bankrolled a four-day visit to a Caribbean resort island for U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in 2004.

"It was strictly a fact-finding trip. They have offices in Houston, and they were doing a lot of business out of Antigua," said Cornyn spokesman Kevin McLaughlin...Cornyn received $19,700, making him the fifth-largest recipient, according to an analysis by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.

U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Dallas, was the second-biggest recipient, collecting $41,375 – nearly all of it in the final weeks of the 2004 race against then-Rep. Martin Frost.

A Sessions aide declined to comment.

Probably no repercussions against politicians who accepted donations from him, the real scandal is that this is another Madoff-style investment fraud swindle. Read more about it at Financial Times, UK, and keep up with the latest news of the ongoing manhunt at ABC News.

Pete Sessions votes to destroy embryos rather than use them for research

Once again, Pete Sessions voted against embryonic stem cell research. Pete Sessions would rather see fertility clinics destroy embryos as biological waste than use them for research to help people with Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, juvenile diabetes, and many other diseases for which embryonic stem cells potentially hold the key to a cure.

The House voted 247-146 to allow funding for embryonic stem cell research (see Roll Call 443), and it passed the Senate 63-34, with 3 not voting (see Bill S5). Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison voted yes, but John Cornyn voted with Pete Sessions and our idiot pResident, once again proving they're out of step with mainstream Americans--including the 60% of in vitro patients who would like to donate their frozen embryos to stem cell research.

Pete Sessions should just go all the way and call a press conference denouncing fertility clinics as evil, 'cause that's where it all starts, with infertile couples "playing God," creating the embryos in the first place. C'mon, Pete, show the nation what you really are, and take a stand against infertile couples who use fertility clinics (and when you do, be sure to contact SessionsWatch, so we can post your rant on YouTube).