Monthly Archives: September 2005

Buzbee update

I noted before that Galveston attorney and former Galveston County Democratic Chair Tony Buzbee is reportedly mulling entering the race for Lieutenant Governor on the Democratic side. I’ve since heard from folks inside the Texas Democratic Party that he’s mulling … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

Grand Parkway project suspended

Good news for the citizens of Spring (and I see that Anne is suitably happy): According to Robin Holzer, the Harris County Toll Road Authority has (at least for now) suspended its efforts to partner with TxDOT on the proposed … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

DeLayathon Day Three

Via TalkLeft, Tom DeLay’s arraignment has been set for October 21. Here’s Jeralyn’s view as a defense attorney: A poster at Daily Kos speculates he already has a plea bargain and will plead no contest. He bases this on the … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Scandalized! | 2 Comments

David Murff in CD07

I’ve been hoping to see someone step up to run against John Culberson in CD07, and I see via PDiddie that my wish has come true. The gentleman’s name is David Murff, and he’s answered a few questions at Perry’s … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | 3 Comments

Wohlgemuth’s legacy

We’ve just barely started down the road of privatizing the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (THHSC), and already the savings we were promised for doing so are turning into an illusion. The $45 million in savings Texas’ Health and … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 3 Comments

Monetizing Harris County’s toll roads

I missed this story yesterday, but Albert Hollan was kind enough to forward me the link, so here it is. An investment bank concluded that a private firm might pay up to $7 billion for the right to operate Harris … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

Rebuilding in East Texas

The Rita Blog has some info on how the rebuilding is going in East Texas. It also has information about Red Cross and Salvation Army relief efforts. I haven’t seen a whole lot about benefits for Rita victims; if you’re … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 3 Comments

Evaluating the case against DeLay

Boy, yesterday sure was fun, wasn’t it? Breathe it in deeply, because it all gets hairier from here. The first question, of course, is how does Travis County DA Ronnie Earle go from indictment to conviction? What kind of evidence … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Scandalized! | 7 Comments

If at first you don’t succeed

You know, if shamelessness were a virtue, Smokey Joe Barton would have been assumed directly into Heaven by now. First, he is one of only eleven Congressmen to vote against the emergency relief package for Katrina victims. Next, he signs … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 6 Comments

Congrats to John Courage

I’ve been remiss in not congratulating John Courage for winning the online poll to earn the first Democracy for America endorsement of the 2006 election season. Consider that omission corrected. It’s a great accomplishment for John, and he deserves kudos … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

How about a nice big serving of schadenfreude?

Who knew that one little indictment could make so many people so very very happy? How about this? Someone actually thought to ask one of the grand jurors about the indictment. The majority leader derided Earle as an “unabashed partisan … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Scandalized! | 5 Comments

Video on demand

This Slate article on cable versus satellite is interesting, and in the wake of the passing of the telecom bill here in Texas it may help contribute to that long-promised specter of competition and lower rates. I know, I know, … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Technology, science, and math | 8 Comments

DeLay indicted

That loud thudding sound you just heard? It was a size 15EEEE hiking boot dropping. A Travis County grand jury today indicted U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay on one count of criminal conspiracy, jeopardizing the Sugar Land Republican’s leadership … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Scandalized! | 16 Comments

Nice pumping station you’ve got there…

Continuing with the theme of risk aversion and how it impacted people’s stay-or-flee decisions as Rita loomed in the Gulf, here’s another data point to consider. Water service to more than half a million Houston-area residents and several key industrial … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 1 Comment

Towing fees followup

Previously, I asked what might happen to cars which were abandoned on evacuation routes by drivers who ran out of gas; in particular, would they be stuck for sizable towing fees, as the friend of a correspondant said he was. … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 4 Comments

Speaking of rumors

Last week, just as I was getting ready to bug out of Rita’s way, reader Charles M sent me this Wonkette link, which makes what sounded to me like a bizarre claim: Wonkette readers are no Googling monkeys, but they … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

Grand jury probe wrapping up, indictment rumors buzzing

Earlier reports that Tom DeLay is off the hook for all the grand jury probes going on in Travis County may be premature. The term of the Travis County grand jury ends Wednesday. Although the investigation into felony charges of … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Scandalized! | 2 Comments

RIP, Don Adams

Don Adams, best known for his role as Agent Maxwell Smart on TV’s Get Smart, has died at the age of 82. Of all the silly 60s and 70s era sitcoms that I watched as a kid, I’d say Get … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in TV and movies | 5 Comments

Rita and Katrina

So why did people run from Hurricane Rita? Having seen the handiwork of Rita’s vicious cousin, Katrina, all of Houston’s coastal suburbs and a good percentage of everybody else in the area decided that discretion was the better part of … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 3 Comments

There are other propositions on the ballot, too

I’ve spent a lot of time talking about Proposition 2, the Double Secret Illegal Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment, and the reasons why you should vote NO on it. There are eight other amendments on the ballot this year as well, and … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2005 | 4 Comments

Beyond Brownie

Shorter Houston Chronicle front-page story: FEMA Screws Up Again. Frustration and anger mounted in Southeast Texas on Monday over the response to Hurricane Rita by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. With homes smashed, trees and power lines downed and a … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 2 Comments

Home again

We’re home. It was highway speed all the way, making for a much more pleasant journey. Thanks very much once again for all the kind words and good thoughts. I plan to return to more normal blogging in the morning. … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 3 Comments

Against Prop 2

If you haven’t read this Chron editorial arguing against Proposition 2, a/k/a the Double Secret Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment, please do so now. One point to highlight: Contrary to the giddy pictures in the press, same-sex marriage is not primarily about … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2005 | 2 Comments

What happens to the stranded cars?

The following came to me in email. I have not heard of anything similar to this, and I haven’t had a chance to do any news searching to see if there are other reports. I’m printing this to see if … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 6 Comments

Hoping to head home today

Our goal is to head back to Houston today, most likely leaving Dallas in the evening, a bit after the normal rush hour. Scanning the Road Home Blog, it seems like I-45 wasn’t too awful yesterday, but we ought to … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 2 Comments

It could happen to Dallas

Did you know that Dallas has a system of levees that help keep it dry, and that those levees could overflow and cause major flooding in the event of a big storm? Like, say, Hurricane Rita, had it not gone … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 2 Comments

Contraflow controversy

There will be many questions asked over the next few weeks in the aftermath of Hurricane Rita. One that’s being asked now is whether the inbound highway lanes could have been opened in a more timely manner that they were … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 7 Comments

The Road Home Blog

Now that Rita has proven to be a non-menace to Houston, evacuees from the area are starting to return home despite pleas to stay put a little longer. Houston-bound traffic was at a standstill by noon on I-10 just outside … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 3 Comments

Davis-Bacon update

Since we’ll be soon talking about rebuilding efforts again, I thought I’d post an update on the attempt by President Bush to allow federally-funded contractors to pay wages beneath the prevailing rate. The number of Democrats who have not signed … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 1 Comment

So far, so good

So far, all reports are that Houston has evaded major damage. I’ve spoken to my in-laws, my next-door neighbor, and my friend Andrea, who lives about a mile away from us. All are fine, all have power, and our neighbor … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 2 Comments

So did we overreact?

There’s a debate going on at SciGuy over whether or not the dangers of Hurricane Rita were overhyped (by the media and/or local politicians), and if that contributed to the extreme freeway gridlock yesterday. At least one local official is … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 18 Comments

The eighteen-hour trip

And now, the full story… Yesterday, I learned of a new way to measure gasoline consumption. We left the house at 10:30 AM with a full tank. Six hours of mostly idling while the AC ran later, we were in … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 3 Comments

Thank you to everyone

I want to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone for the kind words and offers of hospitality. I’m truly humbled by the outpouring of generosity so many of you have shown. Thank you all very, very much. I am cautiously … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 3 Comments

We made it

We have arrived in Murphy. Our earlier estimate of 1 AM was optimistic by about three hours. Olivia’s awake, Harry’s a little freaked, and we’re all a bit frazzled, but we’re here and we’re safe. Thank you all very very … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 10 Comments