Real Street?????

James says he lives on "real street" but we think the guy above might disagree.

Craig James told Fox News that he lives on "Real Street."  Huh?  James lives in Celina, Texas in the property wealthy county of Collin - corporate home to JC Penney, EDS, etc.

Collin County property records show that James owns a home located on 14.5 acres with a total living area of 5,488 square feet that is valued at $897,630.

That's $897,630.00.

James' property appraisal is down from close to a million bucks (more on that in the near future).  Does that sound like living on "real street" to you?

We don't think so either.

James also says we have to change the way wealthy people are buying a seat in the U.S. Senate because that just doesn't work.  Hmmmm...

I guess that means that Craig James is going to be the "People's candidate" and will only fund his campaign with ten of thousands of donations from hourly wage Texans and won't put ANY of his own money into his campaign?

More like we should start the hypocrite clock and see how many millions of his own cash he puts into his campaign.

Or maybe working girls from all one Texas will be putting their knee and back money into the James campaign.  At least that would be "real street" money.

This guy doesn't have a clue.

Craig James Campaign Strategy: Being Mr. Wussy

The article below appeared in today's Lubbock paper.  Here's the real skinny on this:  by engaging his Lawyers this way, Craig James will now say out on the campaign trail, "That's a pending legal matter and I cannot comment" or "On the advice of Counsel I cannot comment on this matter until all legal issue can be resolved."

This dumbass himbo doesn't understand that this will only raise the profile of the issue.  So James doesn't talk about Mike Leach?  Well there'a always pay to play at SMU, his lousy record at ESPN and his 'Road Warrior' status with the Patriots.  So here's today's article about Mr. Wussy:

Craig James' attorney seeks depositions from book publishers

James announced Monday he is running for the U.S. Senate as a Republican from Texas, and Mike Leach attorney Ted Liggett believes he is pulling a campaign stunt.

Posted: December 21, 2011 - 2:57pm | Updated: December 22, 2011 - 12:37am

By BRITTANY HOOVERlubbockonline.com Copyright 2011 Lubbock Online. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

December 21, 2011 - 03:57pm

Craig James' attorney seeks depositions from book publishers

AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

An attorney for former ESPN college football analyst Craig James has filed legal documents in Collin County District Court, asking a judge to allow him to take depositions from representatives of the publishers of former Tech football coach Mike Leach’s book “Swing Your Sword” and Michael Lee Lanning’s book “Double T — Double Cross.”

Mike O’Brien, a Washington, Texas-based attorney, wants the depositions from Scottsdale Book Publishing LLC, which published Lanning’s book, and Diversion Publishing Corp. LLC, the eBook publishing company of Leach’s book to investigate a potential claim against them. The petition was filed Dec. 12 in the 199th District Court of Collin County.

“The best way for me to explain why this is filed, is to tell you it’s the first step in being able to get the truth out about what happened,” O’Brien said. “Craig (James) has been silent waiting for (his son Adam James) to finish his senior year, and Leach has been on a media blitz with two books. For us, it’s time for the truth to come out.”

Ted Liggett, Leach’s attorney, said he isn’t surprised — this is typical of James, he said.
James announced Monday he is running for the U.S. Senate as a Republican from Texas, and Liggett believes he is pulling a campaign stunt.

“While currently this complaint doesn’t involve Mike (Leach), I can only surmise that Mr. James is attempting to save face from his previous actions that may affect his upcoming senatorial campaign,” Liggett said. “I believe that citizens of Texas know the real Craig James, and the truth will put this matter to rest. ”

O’Brien said the petition has been in the works since he was hired in April or May, before James officially made the decision to run for Senate. In Texas, a deposition may be taken before a complaint leading to a lawsuit is filed in court.

The legal document filed earlier this month lists 27 grounds James believes the authors used to mislead the general public and make defamatory statements against him.

The document states, “It is believed the publishers ... would have conducted a fact-check investigation into the veracity of the allegations concerning Craig James prior to publishing the books. It is also believed that the publishers may have interviewed various witnesses concerning the author’s allegations and statements.”

There are only about two chapters in “Swing Your Sword” addressing James, Liggett said, and the claims are based on deposition testimony and public records.

“Everything in ‘Swing Your Sword’ is true,” he said.

Lanning isn’t surprised either.

All the claims made against James are statements he gave in depositions and sworn testimony, Lanning explained.

Although the author conducted dozens of interviews, he said, James and several others declined to be interviewed.

Lanning said he did receive statements from lawyers, which are included in the book, he said.
He attempted to be as fair and balanced as possible, Lanning added.

“I think anyone that has any questions should read the book,” Lanning said. “It’s very self-explanatory. Everything in the book is not based on fact — it is fact.”

The hearing is set for Jan. 31, O’Brien said.

It is not yet decided what the next step is, he added, including whether or not Leach or Lanning will be sued.

Wednesday afternoon, Brian Mays with Scottsdale Book Publishing was attempting to get in touch with “Double T — Double Cross” Publisher Dean Wegner.

New York City-based Diversion Publishing Corp. did not return messages left Wednesday afternoon.

Craig James idea of "A Better America" ???

We hear down from Austin that Craig James has hired an east coast consultant named Arthur Finkelstein for his campaign.  We googled this guy and found a picture with this curious caption:

Gay partner?  Oh this gets interesting. 

So we googled around and found this from the New York Times:

April 9, 2005

G.O.P. Consultant Weds His Male Partner
By ADAM NAGOURNEY

ASHINGTON, April 8 - Arthur J. Finkelstein, a prominent Republican consultant who has directed a series of hard-edged political campaigns to elect conservatives in the United States and Israel over the last 25 years, said Friday that he had married his male partner in a civil ceremony at his home in Massachusetts.

Mr. Finkelstein, 59, who has made a practice of defeating Democrats by trying to demonize them as liberal, said in a brief interview that he had married his partner of 40 years to ensure that the couple had the same benefits available to married heterosexual couples.

"I believe that visitation rights, health care benefits and other human relationship contracts that are taken for granted by all married people should be available to partners," he said.

He declined further comment on the wedding, which was in December.

Some of Mr. Finkelstein's associates said they were startled to learn that this prominent American conservative had married a man, given his history with the party, especially at a time when many Republican leaders, including President Bush, have campaigned against same-sex marriage and proposed amending the Constitution to ban it. Mr. Finkelstein has been allied over the years with Republicans who have fiercely opposed gay rights measures, including former Senator Jesse Helms of North Carolina, and has been the subject of attacks by gay rights activists who have accused him of hypocrisy. He was identified as gay in a Boston Magazine article in 1996.

WOW!

So what's the name of that bogus front group James formed to promote himself?  Texans for a Better America?  I guess this is Craig James' idea of a better America.

Not sure how well this will go over with sports fans and Republican voters...

...but it does fit in quite nice nicely with his other examples of lapsed ethics and allegedly amoral behavior.

"Slimy" James gets a new nickname

Craig James got an early christmas present from his staff for the campaign trail.

Ther Fort Worth Star Telegam had a column today about Craig James' candidacy.  It suits him to a tee.  Way to go Mac:


Slimy James has proved he's ready to be a senator

Posted Monday, Dec. 19, 2011

By Mac Engel

tengel@star-telegram.com

Craig James is a Texan who believes America can be great again.

I agree.

He sees things happening around our country that I don't want happening in the state of Texas.
I also agree, starting with Senator Craig James.

On Monday the former partner in crime that comprised one half of The Pony Express made it official that he will run for a U.S. Senate seat in the great state of Texas. Because what Washington D.C. lacks right now is a good ol' boy who knows how to work a system for his own personal benefit.

Two quick pieces of advice for the Republican hopeful who wants Kay Bailey Hutchinson's post:
1. Memorize everything Ronald Reagan ever said and quote him whenever possible.
2. Avoid Lubbock on the whistle-stop tour.

Laugh off Mr. James' political ambitions if you must, but he has all the makings of becoming a top political candidate, which says everything you need to know about our current political state.

Craig James is qualified to be a United States senator because:
Craig James is a celebrity.

In 2011, fame is a virtue and Craig James knows how to be famous. He was a football player, which makes him famous, which makes him qualified to do everything up to and including brain surgery
.
Craig James has no political experience. As GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney likes to say, "I've worked in the private sector" before he was governor of Massachusetts, where he created approximately 9.4 billion jobs.

James has also worked in the private sector. Between his semi-professional career as a running back at SMU, and full-professional career as an NFL running back for the New England Patriots, James knows what it is like to work for a living just like the rest of us.

Craig James knows how to take money, not get busted, and deflect any and all culpability.

Of the many talents James will bring to Washington, this makes him the most qualified. This is a talent that reaches across party lines.

James was a member of the well-paid Pony Express football team during the '80s that helped earn the SMU football program the death penalty. What happened to Craig James? Nothing, which is exactly what makes him qualified to become a senator.

Technically, SMU student athletes were not allowed by the NCAA to receive extra benefits (i.e. cash payments) in return for a few touchdowns against Texas.

Technically, U.S. senators should not be receiving extra benefits (i.e. campaign "support") in return for favorable legislation.

James smiles and laughs off the whole SMU thing because, hey, everybody was doing it.
Kinda like elected officials leveraging their office for personal gain. Hey, everybody does it.

Craig James is pretty.

We worship the attractive, and the 50-year-old James has still got it.
Boyish dimples. Bone-white teeth smile. Sky-blue eyes. As he liked to show us during ESPN Thursday night college football telecasts when he wore T-shirts tucked into to his short shorts during a workout, he is still in very good shape.

Craig James has fantastic hair.
Between James, Romney, Rick Perry and Michele Bachman, the GOP battle for the Hair Care lobby will be vicious.

Craig James knows how to take his opponents on head on -- with a PR firm.
When James' son, Adam, was involved in the high-profile dismissal of Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach in 2009, Craig reportedly hired a PR firm to flood the media with negative reports about Leach.

Craig James knows the media.
A critical talent in today's 24-hour news cycle, one could easily envision CSPAN televising James standing on the Senate floor filibustering against Boise State getting into another BCS game.
After his playing career ended, James started his own media company to help educate and train former athletes for a life in front of the camera. The man knows not only what looks good on camera, but what sounds good.

James offered up this winner on ESPN in 2009 when Tech suspended Leach: "We have the utmost confidence that Ruffin McNeill this week down at the Alamo Bowl will do a great job with this team. Everybody's excited about that."

James said this with a straight face.

Craig James knows how to remain employed despite a clear conflict of interest.
Even though James was personally pursuing and financing a beef against Leach, he convinced his employers at ESPN to keep his job as a college football analyst. That speaks to James' ability to persuade.

This is a small sampling of the many talents James will bring to Washington.

America can be great again, I just don't know how it's going to be much different with Craig James as a senator.

Mac Engel, 817-380-7760
Twitter @MacEngelProf

James Files for Senate - Who Will Come Forward First....



Well he did it.  Craig James filed for the United States Senate - some 106 days before the primary election.  Unreal.  Some massive egos just have to get butt whupped in order to be brought down from their own bed, I mean, goal post..

Now another clock starts ticking:  who will be the first to come forward with stories of 'off the field' practice with Craig James - especially when the Pats played out of town.  Hmmmm... We hear they are already asking for book and movie deals.  So who will be the first?  And who will break it?  The Enquirer?  The Star? We'll see, we'll see. 

This is gonna be good. 

Review of the Morning Headlines & Postings Today

Craig James during his playing days on the practice field..

If you're Craig James it ain't good.  A survey of the writeups and followup comments surrounding the launching of Jame's candidacy is spotty at best.  One writeup talks about how James admitted under oath "that he hired a PR firm to smear the name of a football coach (Texas Tech Coach Mike Leach)."

It goes downhill from there.

The PR firm in question is run none other than former child actress Merrie Spaeth, who also did work one time for, that's right, Barney the purple dinosaur.

James last week outside a Dallas Luby's off Harry Hiney Blvd.

So we'll see if he files later today.  A senate campaign sure would put this guy's brain into overtime.
Ummm, umm, umm. Texas Tech fans and ESPN faithfull viewers sharpen your knives, you rarely get chances in life like this to get even.

USFL/NFL Daze

The 1980's in the NFL were foot loose and fancy free.  That may have been the case in the brief life of the USFL as well.  So it bares the question: did Craig James use illegal performance enhancing drugs when he was playing pro ball?  Ther's no evidence to date that he did, but given what everybody else was doing back then, the question is bound to come up on the campaign trail.

Would we have found one of these in a certain Patriot gym bag in the mid-1980's?

So we thought we'd raise the issue first.  It's a question that bares asking and it will be very interesting how Craig James answers this question.  And who know who will come forward to shed light on this subject.  Will there be a "Meg Whitman moment" with a former assistant or housekeeper?

Stay tuned.  Inquiring minds will be watching and listening...

Craig James is running for what???

Well, ESPN analyst and sports personality Craig James has decided  to run for the United States Senate and reportedly will file his paperwork on Thursday, December 15th, just 82 days prior to the scheduled Republican Primary.

This is the same Craig James that was allegedly paid to play college ball at SMU (which is unproven, so far) and whose off the field antics with his teammates helped lead to a poisonous college locker room environment and macho mentality that ultimately destroyed the SMU fooball program.

James, of late, was involved in the Texas Tech football program where he turned into a whiny, titty baby Daddy and got a football coach fired and drove another successful football program to mediocrity. Note to James Campaign:  It would be unwise to campaign on the South Plains.

Why would this Sports TV himbo decide to jump into a major statewide political campaign on such short notice?  Word has it that North Texas Political Consultant Kevin Brannon has gotten his hooks into James' mushy brain and lack of judgment.  Texas Politicos may remember Brannon of TRM-PAC fame when his computer got seized and a bunch of people later got indicted, including former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

Brannon was also the guy you "had to hire" to "lobby" State Representative Phil King when King served as Chairman of the House Regulated Industries Committee in Austin.  Seems King was a Brannon client.  How cozy.  See Play to Play and Chrony Capitalism.

Let's not forget that Brannon turned State Representative Ken Paxton's suicide race for Speaker into a living hell for Members of the Texas House.  I doubt that very few Republican House Members beyond the "Mentallly Challenged" Caucus will be signing up to help the Craig James Campaign.

Craig James was reportedly a legend on the road when he was in the NFL.  I'm referring to his off the field skills -  which got their masters degree at SMU.  James may well have gotten his PhD in that department playing pro ball.  In fact, it's that legendary reputation we decided to name this blog after.

It will be fun to see if James goes after new "road stories" in politics to put more knotches in his bed...er, I mean add to his scrapbook.  But for now we'll be here to watch from the cheap seats and see how Craig James can convince Texans that having worn a a jock strap qualifies you to solve the national debt.