"We're talking not so much about an election anymore, we're talking about an intervention. We're talking about getting these people to recognize reality." – Conservative columnist Andrew Sullivan, on PBS's NOW, about why he'll be voting Democrat on Tuesday

The federal court preliminary injunction barring Greg Abbott from prosecuting individuals found in possession of the mail-in ballot of another, but with the consent of that voter, has been lifted. The case was brought by the Democratic Party and other Texans, arguing that the law was overbroad and that Abbott was overzealously prosecuting people who were simply taking ballots to the post office for the elderly. Abbott contends he is cracking down on voter fraud by strictly enforcing the 2003 law.

In the past few days, we've received e-mails letting us know that former NATO General Wesley Clark is making a push for Texas Democrats, endorsing Mary Beth Harrell (Congressional District 31), Ted Ankrum (CD 10), John Courage (CD 21), and Chris Bell (governor). Just in case you were wanting his recommendation.

A by-no-means-comprehensive sampling of upcoming election related events (not including candidate election night parties, which we'll post on election morning).

Ted Ankrum House Party (Candidate for Congressional District 10)
TIME: Saturday, Nov. 4, 1:30pm-3:30pm
PLACE: Home of Walt & Aletha Snowden, 2705 Kerrybrook

Tejano Blues (A Democratic concert and rally)
When: Saturday, Nov. 4 at 7pm
Where: The Victory Grill, 1104 E. 11th
Who: Cyril Neville & Tribe 13, Omerta Ignored, and the Blues Specialists; Democratic candidates including gubernatorial candidate Chris Bell
How much: Free, but BYOB

(More events behind the "continue reading" link)

Things started out well enough with the Ice Bats winning their season opener against the Bossier-Shreveport Mug Bugs 3-2 in their new Bat Cave, the Chaparral Ice Center, but last weekend's home-road-home series proved to be a disaster. With two losses and an overtime loss Austin was only able to secure one of a possible six points in the three games. Not to fear Ice Bats fans, two of last week's opponents (the Laredo Bucks and the Corpus Christi Rayz) will be in town this weekend allowing for the last-place Bats to enact some much-needed revenge against two divisional foes. With six of their next nine games following this homestand being played on the road, these games are about as important as they get with it being only four games into the CHL season.

Right-winger John McNabb is the Bats current point leader with five (two goals and three assists) while center Aaron Davis leads the team with three goals. Miguel Beaudry has resided between the pipes for three of their four games this season. His record stands at 1-1-1 with a respectable 2.91 GAA and 0.901 SV% having surrendered nine goals on 91 shots. Friday's game vs. the Bucks features my favorite promotion of the year, Trading Card Night.

Vs. Laredo: Fri., Nov. 3, 7:30pm. Vs. Corpus Christi: Sat., Nov. 4, 7:30pm. Chaparral Ice Arena, 14200 N. I-35, 252-8500. $15-35. For more, see their Web site.

Crowds are decidedly mixed on this, the last day of early voting. At the Fiesta along I-35, and at the Pleasant Valley Albertsons, there's currently little or no lines. Elsewhere, at the HEB located on East Seventh Street, and Randalls on Ben White, anywhere from 25 to 70 people have been spotted in line.

As crowds will probably get worse when people get off work, you know what to do: Go vote now. Most polls close at 7pm, although Northcross and Highland Malls and Austin Public Library's Howson Branch are to be open until 8pm. For more information on early voting locations, visit the Chronicle's voting information page.

   Everyone seems scared of my Oklahoma State Cowboys. Let me tell you, I’ve seen this team, up close and in person. Make no mistake – they will beat someone this Saturday. The question is who? It could, just maybe, be the high and mighty Longhorns. State has knocked off bigger game: even Texas fans remember the Cowboys’ beatings of the very teams Mack Brown & Co. were regularly embarrassed by in Bob Stoops and those hated and feared Oklahoma Sooners.
   It could be that Oklahoma State comes waltzing across Texas and winds up beating the No. 4 team in the land. But it will more likely be themselves the Pokes lay waste to.

As we previously mentioned, the PBS newsmagazine NOW will put the microscope on Texas Congressional District 31 (which stretches from far north Austin, through Fort Hood, and up to Erath County) as a study of how the war in Iraq is affecting this year's election. Dist. 31 pits Democratic challenger Mary Beth Harrell, a military wife and mother of two active soldiers, including one in Iraq, against incumbent Republican John Carter, a staunch supporter of the war and President Bush. Here in Austin, NOW airs at 7:30pm on KLRU.

Lots of exposure for independent gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman today. At 8:30pm, he sits down for a chat with Evan Smith on KLRU's 'Texas Monthly' Talks, and at 10:35 he will appear on The Late Show With David Letterman on CBS. Kinky was already making the TV rounds in New York this morning with an interview on MSNBC.

Also on KLRU, at 8pm Austin Now will profile three local political activists an issues facing the voters, and Austin Mayor Will Wynn will be interviewed concerning the municipal bond vote that is also on the ballot. And of course, old PBS standbys The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer (6pm) and Washington Week (7pm) will be loaded with election news.

Okay, I'll get my criticisms out of the way first: Those who watched Hacking Democracy last night got equal parts journalism and activist propaganda in the HBO documentary on the dangers of electronic voting machines. Now, far be it from me to dismiss journalism with a viewpoint – obviously, that is The Austin Chronicle's bread and butter. But still, I felt manipulated. Bev Harris and her cohorts are portayed as noble knights who have never made a mistake; I would like to have seen the instances when she went to an elections administrator or corporate voting machine executive and said "Gotcha!" and then, when shown an error in her logic, she said "Oh. I see. Sorry." Having done some investigative journalism myself, I've had the occasional moment like that. And maybe it just bugs me because I'm a print media guy, but I could have done without the Da Vinci Code-esque music intended to get my pulse racing. Nevertheless …