2 attack ads have been released this week targeting each presidential candidate’s moral foundation..or at least the foundation upon which their homes were built.

The Texas Republican Partyb drew their pistols today and quickly responded to Obama’s ad criticizing the number of homes McCain has. The party came up with their own ad–this one brings us all the way to Obama’s brother’s house in Indonesia.

The TX Republican Party’s Response:

While some political insiders are speculating on the possibility of a meltdown spurred on by the Clintons during the DNC, Green Party contender Ralph Nader predicts just the opposite.  Apparently, Nader called ‘Politico’ and announced his prediction of Obama’s running mate: none other than Mrs. Clinton herself. Nader says the union is the only way for Obama to get everyone in the party on board to take on the Republicans in November.

Well, you’re in luck. Obama’s campaign manager, David Plouffe, sent out an e-mail tonight telling supporters that Obama could be close to announcing a running mate.  You can apparently be the ‘first’ to know by filling out this form.

Another politician, another extramarital affair. I can’t say I’m surprised as 3/4ths of the population apparently engages in this kind of activity. I am surprised it came out now and not while he was running for prez. According to Edward’s statement today, he admits to having an affair in 2006 with Rielle Hunter but he denies fathering her baby. However, apparently while he was running for the nomination, his campaign took care of all of her medical needs, etc.

Here is part of his statement that came out today: “In 2006, I made a serious error in judgment and conducted myself in a way that was disloyal to my family and to my core beliefs. I recognized my mistake and I told my wife that I had a liaison with another woman, and I asked for her forgiveness. Although I was honest in every painful detail with my family, I did not tell the public. When a supermarket tabloid told a version of the story, I used the fact that the story contained many falsities to deny it. But being 99% honest is no longer enough.” He continues. “But that misconduct took place for a short period in 2006. It ended then. I am and have been willing to take any test necessary to establish the fact that I am not the father of any baby, and I am truly hopeful that a test will be done so this fact can be definitively established. I only know that the apparent father has said publicly that he is the father of the baby. I also have not been engaged in any activity of any description that requested, agreed to or supported payments of any kind to the woman or to the apparent father of the baby.”

Meanwhile, if you are interested, check out the top ten political sex scandals… this is certainly not a new headline we’re seeing.

For those of you who want to check out another presidential candidate…one we have seen before, you can see Nader tonight!

He’ll be at the Trinity United Methodist Church, 600 East 50th Street. There is a $5-10 suggested donation.

Charlie here, totally hijacking the blog to point you to another blog!

The National Conference for State Legislators (NCSL) is in New Orleans this week and we’ve got an embedded blogger. Check it out to find out what Texas legislators are there and what they are learning and will probably bring back for the next legislative session.

What to think about today’s cover of The New Yorker magazine? Everyone is talking about how Obama is offended, but I wonder how Muslims in the area feel.

Obama’s campaign response according to the Associated Press: “The New Yorker may think, as one of their staff explained to us, that their cover is a satirical lampoon of the caricature Senator Obama’s right-wing critics have tried to create,” said Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton. “But most readers will see it as tasteless and offensive. And we agree.”

Karen Hughes, who served as counselor to President Bush is now back working in Austin for a PR/Communications firm. Here’s an excerpt from the press release:

Burson-Marsteller, a leading global public relations and communications firm, today announced that Karen Hughes will be joining the firm as Global Vice Chair. The former U.S. Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs will join Burson-Marsteller immediately. Hughes will be based in Austin and report to Worldwide President and CEO Mark J. Penn. She will focus on providing clients with senior level communications strategy and counsel. 

We broke a story on our 10pm newscast last night that an interoffice DPS memo written 10 days before the mansion fire reveals security problems not at the mansion….but the Capitol.

Apparently, the lone trooper at the mansion the night of the fire wouldn’t have even been there if the Highway Patrol division of DPS hadn’t been forced to pull him off Capitol duty. In addition, the sergeant who wrote the memo said because of Operation Border Star, security at the Capitol has been weakened…and troopers from the Capitol sent to the border are putting themselves at risk as well as the public because of their lack of training. “We should reconsider our district’s support of Operation border Star. Not only do we not have the manpower to spare, many of the troopers we are sending to the border lack current training and recent experience in patrol procedures which is unsafe fore them and the public. By sending troopers to Operation Border Star, security is weakened at the Capitol.”

Governor Perry’s spokesman, Robert Black, told us “I think that is simply one junior officer complaining to a superior and we believe that the Capitol is absolutely safe right now.”

Apparently, there have been more than 100 vacancies within the DPS since 2002 that the agency hasn’t been able to fill. Troopers say bad pay and benefits would definitely contribute to that problem.

We’ve been hearing a lot about the vendor who sold controversial buttons at the Republican State Convention…buttons that asked if the White House would still be called the White House if Obama becomes president. So, I gave the button maker, Jonathan Alcox, a call. It turns out he makes buttons, stickers, etc for both parties and in his estimation, with equally messages. Alcox says he meant nothing racist with his button and had gotten the idea from a cartoon in a newspaper.

“I only made 12 buttons to test them out,” he said. “And, I only sold four. Two were sold to journalists who were looking for a controversial story to bring out of the convention.”

Alcox says he’s sure paying the price for the 8 bucks he made on the buttons. The Texas Republican Party has banned him from all future conventions and they have banned him from the national convention.

“Those conventions are essentially my livelihood,” said Alcox. “I don’t understand why they are making such a big fuss over these buttons when I sold equally offensive buttons at the Democratic convention and nobody said a word. In fact, they sold out almost immediately.”