Monthly Archives: August 2003

Important reminder

Posted on August 31, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

As we reach the end of August, be sure to mark your calendar for that all-important September holiday, National Talk Like A Pirate Day, coming at you in less than three weeks, on the nineteenth. Dave Barry plugs it in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | 1 Comment

They dumped Thom Marshall for this?

Posted on August 31, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

I’m not feeling very pundit-like (punditesque?) today, so I’ll go for the easy and cheap shot by pigpiling on the Chron’s hotshot new columnist Rick Casey, who comes to the amazing conclusion that maybe, just maybe, competitive districts for elected … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 6 Comments

Two Rosenthal profiles

Posted on August 31, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

About a month ago, the Houston Press ran a reasonably fair and balanced profile of Harris County DA Chuck Rosenthal, who has had a difficult first term in office as the replacement for his retired mentor, the well-respected Johnny Holmes. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on Two Rosenthal profiles

Registering Latino voters

Posted on August 30, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

On Thursday, the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project kicked off a big voter registration drive. The voter project, founded in San Antonio in 1974, bills itself as a national nonpartisan, nonprofit group that mobilizes Latinos to vote. “We have invited … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2004 | Comments Off on Registering Latino voters

Turner criticizes rail plan

Posted on August 30, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

No surprise here: Mayoral candidate Sylvester Turner is critical of the stripped-down Metro proposal to add 22 miles of light rail over the next nine years, and calls out Bill White for supporting it. Standing adjacent to a rail station … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

The lesson of Groucho

Posted on August 30, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron editorial page recalls a bit of history that would have served the pinheads at Faux News well had they too remembered it: The Warner Brothers movie studio threatened to sue Groucho Marx when it learned that the Marx … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in General snarkiness | Comments Off on The lesson of Groucho

You read it where first?

Posted on August 29, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Notice anything similar about this Houston Press article from last week and this column in today’s Chron by their new hotshot Rick Casey? Me too. I can think of three possible explanations: Casey didn’t read Tim Fleck’s story and found … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 4 Comments

Three Day Weekend Roundup

Posted on August 29, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

The 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals has named the three-judge panel to hear arguments in the Texas 11 Democrats’ lawsuit which contends that dropping the 2/3 rule is a violation of the Voting Rights Act. The panel includes George … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 4 Comments

Schlitterbahn in Galveston

Posted on August 29, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s some more good news. Schlitterbahn announced plans Thursday to build a $28 million water-park resort in Galveston. The family-owned, New Braunfels-based company plans to build the state-of-the-art park on 25 acres adjacent to Moody Gardens and the Lone Star … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 12 Comments

Plea bargain coming for Enron treasurer?

Posted on August 29, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Hmm, this could get interesting. Indicted ex-Enron Treasurer Ben Glisan Jr. is negotiating a plea bargain and cooperation agreement with federal prosecutors. Glisan, one of the highest ranking Enron officials before he was fired for his involvement in a side-deal, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | Comments Off on Plea bargain coming for Enron treasurer?

Time for a little laugh

Posted on August 29, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Well, hey, if certain other bloggers can post interesting photos of themselves from olden times, I figure I can too. This picture was just sent to the MOB mailing list. (I’m the guy on the left, in case there’s any … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | 9 Comments

Flood the Zone Friday: Unstable Stewardship

Posted on August 29, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

It’s Friday again, meaning it’s time for the second Flood the Zone Friday. This week the boys at Not Geniuses are focusing on the environment. They’ve got some better guidelines for writing and sending your letter, based in part on … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Comments Off on Flood the Zone Friday: Unstable Stewardship

Kudlow on Dean

Posted on August 28, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Really, I’m not a Deanblogger…I can stop any time… Mark Yzaguirre sent me this article by Larry Kudlow on Howard Dean, and I have to say it’s one of the funnier things I’ve read in awhile. Take a look at … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | 13 Comments

Will Kay Bailey come home?

Posted on August 28, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

The Quorum Report points to a pretty fascinating editorial on Rick Perry, Kay Bailey Hutchison, and redistricting in the Park City Peoples Newspaper. This looks to me like a little suburban Dallas rag, and I daresay they’re more R than … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 5 Comments

RIP, Jim Wacker

Posted on August 28, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

In all the excitement yesterday, I failed to post about the death of former TCU football coach Jim Wacker, who succumbed to cancer at the age of 66. He was a breath of fresh air in the old Southwest Conference … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 3 Comments

Looking at libertarians again

Posted on August 28, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Awhile back I wrote about how there would be opportunities available for Democrats to make a pitch to Libertarian voters in the next election (here and here). Today Jim Henley points me to this article by W. James Antle III … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2004 | 3 Comments

Early voting begins today

Posted on August 28, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Early voting for the September 13 Constitutional Referendumpalooza begins today and runs through Tuesday, September 9. Proposition 12, the freedom-limiting and patient-endangering tool of Republican special interests, is the reason why this election is being held on a Saturday in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 2 Comments

Rick v. Carole

Posted on August 27, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Regarding my earlier post about Gov. Perry’s mediocre poll numbers, Kevin made a reasonable comment: I suspect when Perry reminds voters he held the line on taxes when most states raised them, his numbers will rebound. With all of the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on Rick v. Carole

Federal judge punts lawsuit to three-judge panel

Posted on August 27, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Good news and bad news for the Senate Democrats, I guess. A federal judge in Laredo has called their lawsuit against redistricting “all but totally frivolous” but agreed to let the three-judge panel review it anyway. U.S. District Judge George … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 5 Comments

Proposition 12

Posted on August 27, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron finishes off a four-part look at Proposition 12, which would encode a cap on non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases in the state Constitution. Part one looks at the players involved, part two examines the case against Prop … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | 6 Comments

Senators cancel trip to Laredo

Posted on August 27, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

As of yesterday, several of the Texas 11 were planning to make a quick trip to Laredo to attend a hearing on their federal lawsuit today. There were concerns that such a trip carried risks. [Governor] Perry has said he … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 5 Comments

Warren Zevon

Posted on August 26, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

I just wanted to say that I’m glad I took Brian’s advice and made sure that I caught the rebroadcast of the VH1 special on Warren Zevon tonight. I confess, I’m not very familiar with Zevon’s body of work, but … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Comments Off on Warren Zevon

No pre-clearance needed

Posted on August 26, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

The Justice Department has issued a ruling saying that the Senate did not need pre-clearance from them in order to do away with the 2/3 rule in a special session on redistricting. “Our analysis indicates that the practice in question … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 2 Comments

Our own Roy Moore

Posted on August 26, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

It seems we’ve got our own little battle brewing over religious displays in public places. Citing concern over what she perceives as growing religious fundamentalism, a Houston woman filed suit Monday in federal court against Harris County, demanding it remove … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 8 Comments

Two down, who knows how many more to go

Posted on August 26, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Today is the last day of the second special session, the fourth such session ever to end without a bill being passed. It’s unclear as yet when the next session will be called, as Gov. Perry has made no announcement … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 6 Comments

Back to normal

Posted on August 26, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Now that Faux News has dropped its lawsuit against Al Franken after a judge declared it wholly without merit, I’ve decided to reset my banner back to its original state. I’ll second Joe Conanson’s suggestion for a new slogan at … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in General snarkiness | 3 Comments

J.R. Richard

Posted on August 26, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Chron columnist Ken Hoffman provides a nice update on former Astro star J.R. Richard, who is now helping teach kids how to pitch at the Sports House athletic facility in southewest Houston. Richard began coaching kids last year. He happened … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 16 Comments

Suing over Star Trek

Posted on August 25, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

This isn’t exactly fresh news, but what the heck, it was news to me. Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI), a leading developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment software products, today announced that it has filed a breach of contract suit … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | 6 Comments

Dean in Texas

Posted on August 25, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

I really don’t intend to become a Deanblogger – there are plenty of more qualified folks for that job – but I do want to comment about something in this article about Dean’s swing through Austin and San Antonio today. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | Comments Off on Dean in Texas

Joe Nixon, man of the insurance companies

Posted on August 25, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Tim Fleck does a great job showcasing Rep. Joe Nixon’s utter hypocrisy about his mold claim. Not only has he received preferential treatment, he’s actually helping to represent Farmers Insurance in a lawsuit filed by a church that didn’t get … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on Joe Nixon, man of the insurance companies

Electronic voting in San Antonio

Posted on August 25, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

San Antonio is the latest city to adopt electronic voting, and the latest city to feel a bit queasy about doing so. With Bexar County’s first fully electronic election less than three weeks away, some are raising red flags about … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | 1 Comment

Weekend update

Posted on August 24, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Just a quick look at the not-much-to-say-but-we’ve-gotta-write-something stories about the Texas 11. Next week, as this session ends and the federal courts make some rulings in the various suits and countersuits, there’ll be some real news. Anyway. The Senators miss … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 1 Comment

RIP, Bobby Bonds

Posted on August 24, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

I wish I had a clear memory of Bobby Bonds, who succumbed to cancer at the age of 57 yesterday, but I don’t. I remember the Yankees traded fan favorite Bobby Murcer straight up for him, he had one of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 4 Comments

Bill White update

Posted on August 24, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Two recent items of interest concerning Bill White‘s mayoral campaign. First is this report, via Greg Wythe, which says that the Harris County GOP is already running ads accusing White of being a liberal. [Harris County Republican Party Chairman Jared] … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2003 | Comments Off on Bill White update