Chad’s Morning Brief: People Embarrassed About Being From Lubbock, Back From Dallas & More

Here is your Morning Brief for the morning of August 27, 2012. Give us your feedback below and tune in to Lubbock’s First News with Chad Hasty for these and many more topics from 6-9 am.

1. Embarrassed to be From Lubbock?

Last week I was only able to give my thoughts on what Lubbock County Judge Tom Head said about the U.N., President Obama, and taxes. To get it out of the way, I thought his comments were pretty stupid and in no way were his comments a good excuse to support raising taxes. While I was gone, the local Democrats piled on along with national media, and even media here in Lubbock. I have no problem with people going after Judge Head and making fun of his comments or even condemning them. I did so on Wednesday's show and still stick by what I said.

However, something was said by many people that bothered me. Many of you and others around Lubbock said that Head's comments made you embarrassed to be from Lubbock.

Why?

Remember, I don't like what Judge Head said but it doesn't make me embarrassed to live in Lubbock. In fact, I enjoy living here in Lubbock. There are a lot of people who say stupid things in this town and it has never made me feel bad about living here. Sure, they don't all receive national attention but who cares? When I was in Dallas this weekend I met several people and not one said, "oh you are from Lubbock? Home of that crazy County Judge?". No one said anything like that. In fact when I do meet people throughout the country they normally think of Texas Tech or Buddy Holly before they remember anything bad about the city.

The point is, no town or city is perfect. You don't hear people in Dallas apologize for their city or say their embarrassed of Dallas because of the actions of their elected officials do you? Of course not, and trust me if you've been keeping up with Dallas County Commissioner, John Wiley Price, than you'd know there would be plenty to be embarrassed about. You don't even hear people in New York City say their embarrassed over their Mayor.

If we really want to be honest, the crowd that is embarrassed to be from Lubbock right now is the same crowd that is always and will always be embarrassed to be from Lubbock. This is the crowd that wants to be like Dallas and wants to apologize for having dirt, cotton, and conservative politics. This is the crowd that is embarrassed to be from Lubbock because of what one elected official says, but says nothing when the current Democratic Chairman says that a "disease of the mind has taken control of the Republican Party". This is the crowd that even apologizes for the weather, because they have to have something to complain about.

The group that is embarrassed to be from Lubbock is its-self, embarrassing. Lubbock is a great city that keeps getting better. Sure, we don't have mountains and we don't have an ocean, but that doesn't mean we aren't a great city to live in. Look around at all the construction and the new businesses that are moving here. Is that embarrassing? Look at the great medical community that Lubbock has. How is that embarrassing? We have a major university in Texas Tech that is doing great things and bringing in more and more students. Can't find anything embarrassing about having Texas Tech here.

I will never be embarrassed to be from Lubbock just because one elected official made national news for saying something stupid. Lubbock is a great place to live and it does keep getting better. Do we have our flaws? Sure, but tell me a city that doesn't. When someone tells you that they are embarrassed to live here, just look at them for the fools they are. In all the traveling I've done, I've never had to apologize for Lubbock and I don't plan on starting now. In fact, most people forget about the national headlines or just don't care. The only people I've met that remember all the bad press are the ones who want to remember it in the first place. They are the ones who hate living here.

2. Back from Dallas

Glad to be back from Dallas after a weekend with family and being able to relax and take it easy. If traveling to the Metroplex any time soon, be sure to stop by the Paragon Outlets in Grand Prairie. My wife and I did a little shopping there and I think many of you would enjoy it. We also ate at some really great places and if you follow me on Twitter or Facebook then you probably know all about it.

Now that I'm back, I'm ready for the 2012 conventions to start, Texas Tech Football, and for the NFL to get going. I've tried to pay attention to the pre-season and I just can't do it.

A couple of things about the drive this weekend. First, kudos to those driving around me leaving Arlington on I-20 Sunday around 12:30pm. We had to drive through some heavy rain and I'm glad to say that no one slammed on their brakes or did anything stupid. Traffic kept moving and everything was fine.

Second, why hasn't the speed limit on Highway 84 been raised to 75mph yet? You leave I-20 going 75... or a bit more and have to reduce speed for no reason at all. Highway 84 needs to have a speed limit of 75mph. It's just silly not to.

3. GOP Convention Speakers (link)

Thanks to Isaac, the GOP Convention won't start until Tuesday. That means the GOP had to reschedule some speakers and cut others. According to the Daily Caller:

Among those scheduled to speak Tuesday: Priebus, House Speaker John Boehner, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, former Democratic Alabama Rep. Artur Davis, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Romney’s wife, Ann, is also scheduled to speak.

On Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, 2008 presidential nominee John McCain, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, South Dakota Sen. John Thune, Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez are all scheduled to speak. Vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan will also address the convention.

On Thursday, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and his wife Callista are scheduled to address the convention, as is Romney’s son Craig. Those scheduled to speak also include former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio. Romney himself will address the convention Thursday night as well.

According to one report, Ted Cruz will speak Tuesday at the Republican Convention.

4. Isaac and the Gulf of Mexico (link)

Those of you near the Gulf, you have been warned.

By late Monday afternoon or early evening, Isaac's eye is forecast to be well west of Tampa. It is expected to make landfall on Wednesday -- Katrina's anniversary. By then it could be a Category 2 hurricane with winds of at least 96 mph.

"We are just on high alert. I know the anxiety level is high," New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said. "The storm is somewhat uncertain. Out of an abundance of caution we will begin to take these precautions as quickly as we can."

He said neither the airport, convention center nor Superdome would be shelters of last resort as they were in 2005.

"We are much, much better prepared structurally than before," he said, adding, "If you are called upon, you should leave."

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal called for voluntary evacuations in 15 parishes.

Officials in Plaquemines Parish declared a state of emergency and began preparing for the storm by bolstering levees and adding additional flood protection devices to low-lying highway areas.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott said some areas in his state had no power.

"We are experiencing some minor outages in the southern part of the state," he said at a news conference in Tampa. He said his main concern for Tampa was no longer a direct hit from Isaac but tropical storm force winds.

Even with the change in the storm's predicted track, GOP officials decided to push back Monday's scheduled start of the Republican National Convention in Tampa by one day, hoping the move will make it safer and easier for delegates to attend.

Other Top Stories:

Concealed Handguns Pop Up as Issue at GOP Convention

FCC Wants to Tax Internet Service

Airlines Can Tell Passengers What They Can't Wear

These and many more topics coming up on today’s edition of Lubbock’s First News with Chad Hasty. Tune in mornings 6-9am on News/Talk 790 KFYO, streaming online at kfyo.com, and now on your iPhone and Android device with the radioPup App. All guest interviews can be heard online in our podcast section after the show at kfyo.com.