Burnt Orange Report

BOR isn't that UT centric. Just how many threads involve UT? I never would have posted anything here if I thought it were that narrowly based.
Why dilute your efforts when Democrats need to be strong and united?

BTW:
a UT-based blog by Jim and I.
should be
a UT-based blog by Jim and me. ;)

Well Tim... as I've said before... I could use an editor =)

I think you probably know where I stand on this Byron, but I think I'll take the oppurtunity to further plead my case.

The blogosphere itself is boundless. I imagine that many of the readers here are just like me in that they aren't in Austin attending UT right now. It just seems silly to me to choose to limit yourself in that way.

I've said it before, the Internet is all about adapting and changing. I think it is fairly obvious that most of us demand more news about Texas in general than just about the goings on at UT. It then makes sense to have people all over Texas writing here.

I think I would be a good writer because I'm not from Austin. I live in TX-17 represented by Chet Edwards. I live 7 miles from the Crawford ranch surrounded by Republicans. An island unto myself it sometimes seems. That gives me a more unique perspective to blog from.

I'm sure others have similar or totally opposite perspectives from which they can write. Diversity within a coherent ideology will make a great product. As long as we carry a similar ideology or at least party loyalty, I don't see how expanding staff could be bad.

Byron, Andrew, Jim, and Karl-T,

I'm an old Aggie fart, living 2+ hours from Austin. I read a number of blogs semi-regularly, but BOR is the only one I read daily.

There are several reasons for this: it covers my own philosophical ground well, the writers themselves are so well-read of other important blogs and pass along the best of info that's posted elsewhere, there is a fair share of disagreement among the four of you which sheds additional light on various topics, indeed just the idea that there are FOUR main contributors (with help from a couple more) is one of BOR's strongest points.

But the biggest reason for me to read BOR, and the reason I come back daily, sometimes multiple times in a hectic day, is the sheer enthusiasm/obsession displayed by the four of you. Something in the way you all write that intimates a spark of real caring, not just the "look at me I'm a blogger!" so common among run of the mill blogs.

You guys form a unique assemblage of voices that I would not like to see disappear.

So, I guess there are several options for doing things in the future. As a "visitor" I will be going most to the blog that features the most of you guys. My preference would be that you guys stick together, regardless of the blogs -centricity or the name. If you pass on BOR to other UTers fine. But I'm following you.

If I had to give reasons why the BOR should remain essentially the same, they would be:
a) it's hardly UT-centric now, except for the occasional sports commentary;
b) BOR has built up a loyal following and widespread name based on your work;
c) you have a personal investment in it, and the blogosphere associates your names with it;
d) and probably a few more things.

I'll think of some more stuff later.

tony gallucci
hunt, tx

OH OH OH!! Put a segment for those in West Texas, you know that other part 500 miles away from everything in Texas, so we wont feel so...so... lonely out here :::twiddles thumbs::

FYI (in re Heflin/Vo Election Contest),

I have heard conflicting reports on whether the House can declare Heflin the winner or just order a new election, so I decided to go to the source (i.e. the Texas Election Code). Here is the relevant section:

§ 221.012. TRIBUNAL'S ACTION ON CONTEST. (a) If the tribunal hearing an election contest can ascertain the true outcome of the election, the tribunal shall declare the outcome.
(b) The tribunal shall declare the election void if it cannot ascertain the true outcome of the election.

It appears that subsection(a) gives the House the authority to seat Heflin. Get ready for a kangaroo court, folks.

Maybe you should think about picking up where (the recently retired) Free State Standard left off? With a few changes to your layout, you could keep the main blog and add a few topical blogs (Regional news? UT news?) as well. Kinda like what Gadflyer (http://gadflyer.com/) does.

I sometimes enjoy hearing about UT goings-on as an alum but, honestly, for me it's the lowest-ranked reason to visit BOR. Your Texas political news coverage is much more interesting.

Keep up the good work.

I agree with Sarah. I happen to be a Texas Ex, and I live in Austin, and I read BOR daily not for UT news, but for the excellent coverage and commentary you give to Texas politics. I wouldn't change the name or the authorship because of the reputation BOR has gained over time. You don't want to lose that capital. But having a guest contributor periodically wouldn't hurt so long as the quality is maintained. Maybe allow guest contributors on an ongoing basis depending on article topic suggested by guest writers. That way, you can review for quality standards and perhaps relieve yourself of some articles you've been meaning to write about.

Keep up the excellent work! (And good luck with your finals!)

I second Mike's idea. A West Texas/Panhandle voice would be a welcome perspective. I live in Scott "Drunk enough by noon to call the sheriff on myself" Campbell's district. As yall probably know, he found himself in a spot of trouble about two weeks before the election. I only saw brief discussion of it on Off the Kuff. There's some stories out here in the sticks.

I agree, it's not THAT UT Centric. I like it.

Hell no we won't go!

Byron, I am graduating tomorrow and moving out of state in about 2 months, and I would still like to contribute--I think this is a good way for our old UT gang, as well as the new friends we've made here, to stay in touch. Sure, it is good to pass the torch, because in our post-college lives we will not always have time to blog, but being a current UT student does not have to be a prerequisite. Guest blogging by us old-timers, perhaps? :)

I'd love to see more about West Texas, too, but what that really means is that we need more people who actually live in West Texas to do some blogging. As far as I can tell, there's never been an El Paso-based political blog. How about it, Mike? And Brooks - when will Backroads of San Angelo get updated?

I'm not trying to be a smartass here. I primarily cover the Houston area and the goings-on in Austin because that's what directly interests and affects me. I think someone (several someones, really) with a similar interest in West Texas would be best for that kind of blogging. Whether those someones do it here or elsewhere isn't that important.

As for my own feedback, keep doing what you're doing, and keep doing what you enjoy doing. No need to change your mission because of graduation, unless of course you want to. I'll keep reading either way.

Burnt Orange Report is, in my mind, the premier Texas blog. As a fellow Texas Blogger, BOR is always the first place I check when I go online. I've heard BOR mentioned in dozens of political circles. In fact, a few months ago, I was in the Wood County Democratic Party HQ, and the county chair there had compiled a list of Websites of interest to political junkies. BOR was at the TOP of his list.

With FSStandard.com, I tried a solely "Texas centric" blog. I feel it worked well, but I think the audience was lacking primarily because I posted **only** on Texas politics. Plus, most of my posts were news-oriented, and I didn't usually add the kind of color you guys add.

I'd say keep things going here, UT info and all. When all of you guys leave UT, I'd still keep it up if you can, under the same name and title. You guys have become, in a fairly short time, a Texas institution (and I mean that as the highest of compliments). If, as a political operative and former journalist, I was to pick one blog to leak a story to or give a scoop to, it would without question be BOR.

And, now that I'm not blogging over at FSStandard.com any more, if you ever need some guest posting, feel free to call on me. I'd be honored to contribute.

Vince

I'll join the echo here ...

I suspect you'll find it easier going to maintain the blog as the group presently exists, more or less. You can always add, subtract, trade for a second baseman to be named later, etc ... but to the degree that UT itself will offer future blog-type endeavors, they will find it just as easy as the rest of us. So graduate as proudly as one can from a cow college and be done with it. Then keep up the blog for as long as possible. Best of luck on finals.

I agree with most of the above posters here. I like the fact that there are 4 unique individuals here that give their opinions. I value your blog for its news on Texas politics. I read you guys virtually everyday, along with Slate just to find out what is going on politically. And being gay, I appreciate Byron's take on GLBT issues. That said, having a poster from West Texas, and possibly North Texas would add additional insight. Keep someone at UT to report on things going on on your campus and community. But keep the spirit of coverage of the whole state intact!

Brian here, UT class of '87. The student perspective in BOR is nice & keeps me in touch with the campus. But it's hard to maintain a student endeavor unless it's institutionalized and has a support structure like the Texan or the SG. Y'all were motivated enough to start & maintain this blog. There may or may not be students coming down the pike who feel the same way. A group blog like this keeps going as long as there are folks willing to put the time into it. So as long as y'all feel like doing the work, I think you should keep it up. The idea of guest writers makes a lot of sense to me. You might consider actively looking for new students to contribute. That would be a way of refreshing the student perspective.

A group blog like BOR is unusual (but more interesting for the diversity of voices). You might want to think of it as less like a blog and more like a magazine. The four of y'all would become the editorial staff, and you'd be featuring guest contributors and "hiring" the occasional new staff writer.

Finally, what I personally like about BOR and would like to continue to see: thorough, current news about Texas politics from a Democratic perspective.