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Posts tagged News
It’s official and it’s Joe Biden
Aug 23rd
Barack made what has to be one of his smartest moves so far; he has officially announced that Joe Biden is his VP choice like I mentioned in my previous post.
Officially news broke about 10 minutes ago. Un-officially news somewhat got broken when ABC found out that the secret service had been dispatched to Biden’s home at bit before midnight eastern time.
I cant help but feel that letting the cat out of the bag at 2:30AM wasn’t the plan and someone just said “screw it, lets do it!” and the site and text went out considering the media had already broke the news and so that the Obama supporters can still feel a little more important. In any case its official, it’s exciting and I knew it’d come earlier than expected.
Obama’s campaign is going to make an official statement shortly which I’m looking forward to receiving.
Joe Biden, Obama’s VP He was my choice, now I’m worried.
Aug 22nd
According to ABC News US Secret Service is on Way to Joe Biden’s House. Kaine and Bayh are officially out and I’m just left wondering; what now? Among those who get to listen to my rants on politics, there is no secret that I’ve been talking about Biden as a great choice as Obama’s VP, now it seems like Joe’s been picked and while it’s great for Obama to have someone on his ticket who actually knows a damn thing about foreign policy –unlike himself, it’s going to be up to the Republican VP choice to knock Joe Biden on his ass while campaigning and debating.
Joe Biden isn’t a sissy and he sure as hell knows what he’s talking about when he opens his mouth. He’s the type of guy that Republicans don’t want to come up against due to their popularity and strengths, the old-school Democrats. If chosen, he’s bringing a lot of credibility to the Obama ticket and the Republican VP choice needs to know his stuff, Mitt Romney seems logical and while not my favorite choice, he could surely out-debate Biden.
Joe Biden has a long history and there’s a lot to like about the guy and a long story, with some sadness added due to his wife and infant dying in a car accident when he was first elected to the senate.
Assuming Biden is the choice (because nothing is official) I’m not done with the VP topic. And finally; one line, voters vote for the top of the ticket so Biden will help but can’t solve everything if he’s really the pick.
MORE THOUGHTS COMING IN A FUTURE POST. 
*UPDATE 1*
11:40 PM CNN Confirms from Democrat sources that Obama chooses Biden for VP
*UPDATE 2* 12:00
Fox News is on it LIVE… FINALLY. ARG.
*UPDATE 3* 12:21
Bob Beckel is on… He sounds sleepy. I like Bob -thats is. 
*UPDATE 4* 2:32 AMIt’s official, Joe Biden is Obama’s VP. Fox News and CNN are reporting Obama’s camp has sent out the text saying so and it’s up on his official site.
As Things Clear Up
Jul 26th
As things clear up in South Texas the destruction that was left behind by Hurricane Dolly is more and more apparent. There are still many people without power, and some running low on food and essentials. The local media is doing a pretty good job reporting everything going on.
Meanwhile, local, state, and federal help is flowing in and besides minor problems and a lot of complaining –and rightly so in some cases while maybe not all. A lot are being helped and there’s a lot more help on the way.
The thing that gets to me is the fact that no one died is being downplayed. Property can be replaced, and the poorest will most defiantly get help along with the others in need. Things could have been worse and there is a lot to be grateful for –life, for instance.
Hurricane Dolly: An Update From the Heart of The Valley — Sorta
Jul 23rd
Alrighty here I go again. Dolly is inching her way close to the Rio Grande Valley and I have a few thoughts and a photo of what’s going as I type this.
Yes, thats KRGV on with Tim Smith and Alan Shoemaker.
Now, first of all… I can’t stand people freaking out over a cat 1! I also can’t stand those who make comments saying they wish Dolly was headed straight for Mexico instead of our way to save ourselves the trouble. For gods sake come hell or high water –which both seem likely in some areas, in the end everyone will be fine. We’ve got cash; we’ve got a great system to help out those who are in need if anything gets really screwed up, those South of the border do not.
Second, I miss Larry James. I’m watching KRGV as we speak; Tim and Alan are doing a GREAT job, but they should have snatched Larry for tonight. Having someone like Larry on hand for events like this would be nice. Crossing the KGBT – KRGV line would also be a friendly twist. Maybe I just need to get over him being off screen. Although, maybe I cant –http://luisrocks.com/blog/2008/05/05/did-kgbt-4’s-larry-james-get-sacked/
Finally, I love the way the national media can’t seem to get a good grasp of things down here. There’s always a weird shot of nothing but waves and seagulls at the island and a bunch of dirty men filling sandbags. Not exactly what I see when driving around but I’ll shut up before I dig in too deep. I wish they’d bring in some of the local folks, Will Ripley, Oscar Adame, Letty Garza. You know –the ones the Valley can be proud of. Then again, what the hell do I know? 
That reminds me; CNN clicked onto KRGV.com on air and had about 3 seconds of Will before cutting it off… I’m not sure what happened there.
That’s it for now!
*Update*
Yes, I admitted to watching CNN. There was a commercial on FOX News! Kidding aside, I do find my way around cable news channels and I’m still a total news junky.
Locally, I cant watch anything but News Channel 5 (KRGV)
*Update 2*
I also just realized the title was a bit misleasing considering I didn’t include a weather pic. Oh well, bite me.
Dolly’s Coming My Way – The Calm before the Storm.
Jul 22nd
Hurricane Dolly is on its way to the Rio Grande Valley and I really want to have some fun with this storm. Besides the usual staying up late looking out the biggest window I can find (no safe, I know!) I‘ve also decided to post pictures that I’ll be taking over the next day or two from my nice comfy safe spot, AKA my house.
The best reason to do this is simply. My college decided to cancel classes so I’m free –finally some time to play around. 
So here’s the first shot which is facing south east.
More about where I live: I live in La Joya, Texas which is a few minutes from McAllen, in fact I live in a really strong home on a hill so there’s no way in hell I’ll be flooded or standing on a pile of rubble tomorrow, which is great. Here’s a map!
Did KGBT 4’s Larry James get sacked?
May 5th
If you’ve ever lived in the Rio Grande Valley or, like yours truly, was born and raised down here you absolutely know who Larry James is. He’s been doing the weather on KGBT 4 since November 1964.
On Tuesday, after 43 years with the station Larry left with a simple, “I decided to retire. Effective today.”
Like allot of people on the comment section on The Monitors page about this, I too think something isn’t quite right. If he was ill I’m sure there’d be a proper goodbye, if he was retiring willingly I’m sure there’d also be a proper goodbye.
Why do I give a damn? Well honestly, for as long as I can remember I thought Larry was great as what he did, in fact my first career choice, at the whopping age of 5, was meteorologist… because it not only seemed cool but Larry seemed to have fun doing it.
I could go on and on but I won’t. If Larry left willingly I hope he had a great time, if he was tossed out I hope he kicks some ass and gets a nice retirement package if anything… I’d raise hell.
FROM Larry’s Bio on KGBT’s Site -Which probably wont be online much longer- http://www.kgbt4.com/about/bio.aspx?id=434
I was born and raised in Louisiana, but I’ve called Harlingen home for nearly 40 years.
Now nearly all that time I’ve been with KGBT.
While I do the weather at Noon and on weekends, I also get to spend a lot of time out in the community with different organizations and Winter Texans. It’s a great way to put my experience in the valley to good use.
Aside from my wife, daughters and grandchildren, probably one of the closest things to my heart is the Muscular Dystrophy Association. I’ve taken part in the annual MDA telethon for decades and enjoy being able to help valley children who need that medical care.
If I’m not at work, there’s a good chance you’re going to find me in the yard working on the garden, or on my boat fishing somewhere near South Padre Island.
I may have been doing the weather for many years, but I still get excited about giving the forecast to folks across the Valley.
I work with some great people at KGBT and I’ve watched some great young people grow their careers here. My job is very rewarding.
Oh, The Valley Morning Star also had some great comments.
Poet Laureate says: Larry James is no more, Channel 4 is a bore, For news to the core, Channel 5 has more.
HA.
Even Wikipedia got in on it.
On April 29, 2008, KGBT-TV’s 43-year veteran weatherman, Larry James, announced a sudden retirement. He refused to comment on the reasons, referring all questions to station management. Those in charge of the station have refused to comment. James was the last of the on-air personnel from what many Valley residents consider the station’s “glory days” during the late 1960s and 1970s when it had studios in central Harlingen and the top-rated newscast in the Rio Grande Valley.
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