Monthly Archives: July 2006

Is there a third act for Tom DeLay?

Will Tom DeLay saddle up for one more electoral ride if the courts don’t give him a way off the ballot? I take a look at the options at Kuff’s World. Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | 5 Comments

One litigious Grandma

The Great Ballot Name Battle is not yet over, as Carole Keeton Strayhorn threatens to sue to overturn SOS Roger Williams’ decision to disallow calling her “Grandma”. At a news conference on the front lawn of a campaign headquarters she … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | 4 Comments

Events and happenings this week

For whatever the reason, today my mailbox is overflowing with stuff that’s going on this week. Most of this is related to various campaigns, so it’s primarily of local interest. Click the More link to see what’s taking place around … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Events and happenings this week

The Caucus Blog

New blog alert: The Caucus Blog, written by members of the Houston GLBT Political Caucus. The first entry, posted by HGLBTPC President Jenifer Pool, gives some background on the organization and its recent electoral successes. Should be a good resource, … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on The Caucus Blog

Roberto Clemente

I saw this story in the Chron awhile back and meant to write about it but never got to it. As today is the day of the MLB All Star Game in Pittsburgh, in which I have no interest beyond … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Baseball | 5 Comments

The East End BRT and the LRT through TSU

Here’s an update on Metro’s planning for the Bus Rapid Tranit (BRT) line through the East End. This meeting, which was a scoping meeting, was apparently fairly free of rancor. That’s a good thing, because like all rail lines, someone … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 3 Comments

Are two reps better than one?

With the prospect of Webb County being reunited in a single Congressional district, the citizens of Laredo are pondering whether they’re better off bifurcated, where at least there’d two Congressfolk nominally representing their interests. Laredo Mayor Raul Salinas believes it … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Killer D's | 2 Comments

Yes to Kinky, no to Grandma

It’s official: You will see “Kinky” on the ballot, but not “Grandma”. Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn won’t be allowed to use “Grandma” on the November ballot because it is more of a political slogan than a nickname, Secretary of State … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments

A different Bell

Via Greg, a fellow named Rob Bell will be in town on Wednesday night for an interesting performance. Mr. Bell, 35, is the pastor and founder of Mars Hill Bible Church, an independent evangelical congregation in Grandville, Mich., outside Grand … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

Chris Bell meetup

It’s always entertaining when a candidate gets together with a bunch of bloggers someplace where caffeine and WiFi are served. Chris Bell did so last night at the Daily Grind in the Heights, and we proceeded to have a good … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments

Interview with Ted Ankrum

I had a chance to sit down with Ted Ankrum over the weekend and talk to him about his campaign for Congress in CD10. Here it is, for your listening pleasure. MP3 for download Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Interview with Ted Ankrum

Last chance to vote for Mapchangers

Today’s the last day of voting for the winner of the Forward Together PAC Mapchangers. As of this writing, John Courage holds the lead, but that could change as other candidates will surely make a last minute push. As we’ve … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Last chance to vote for Mapchangers

Those who forget the past are doomed to sound like Ron Paul

Ron Paul got a lengthy mash note in the WaPo over the weekend. Usually, there’s no such thing as bad publicity, but every once in awhile one realizes that with some politicians, less is more. For instance: As for Social … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | 8 Comments

Matula, Trautman, Cohen, and Khan

Among the many people who showed up to the Fort Bend get together on Friday night was Sherrie Matula, who’s running for HD129 over in the Clear Lake area. Last Thursday, she organized a conference call for us bloggers, on … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Matula, Trautman, Cohen, and Khan

Putting contribution info online for city elections

Pardon me for saying so, but this is a complete no-brainer. Houston’s candidates and political action committees aren’t required to file campaign-finance disclosures electronically, making the information more difficult to access and analyze, open-government advocates say. […] In Houston, paper … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on Putting contribution info online for city elections

Bye-bye, OSFR?

Vince was the first to pick up on the story that the the state’s Sunset Advisory Committee had recommended that the Office of State and Federal Relations be shut down. It’s since been picked up by the newspapers. The state … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Bye-bye, OSFR?

Where’s the cross?

As I read through the recent coverage of the Andrea Yates trial, I have to ask something: Is the prosecution not bothering to cross-examine any of these defense witnesses, or has there just been nothing to come out of the … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 3 Comments

The best possible reason to support Nick Lampson

Nick Lampson has Olivia’s official endorsement. What more could you possibly need to know? Oh, and don’t forget to check out Lampson’s ads, now visible on YouTube. Greg has the embedded links. Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments

Have we seen the last of DeLay or not?

Olivia and I drove down to Fort Bend last night where we hung out with some fellow Democrats and enjoyed a nice not-too-hot summer evening. That particular Beck’s Prime is right on a waterfront, and there were ducks and turtles … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | 9 Comments

Don’t depend on DPS for your background checks

Nice article in the Press on the crappy database that DPS provides to the public for criminal background checks. Executive summary: Since counties are responsible for providing their data to the DPS and most of them are extremely laggard about … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 1 Comment

Still more cases dismissed in Round Rock

Kiss more of those curfew violations goodbye. A Municipal Court judge has dismissed 47 curfew violation cases against students who walked out of class in March to protest federal immigration legislation. Twenty-six of the cases were dismissed Wednesday and three … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in National news | 1 Comment

If you must blame someone, blame DeLay

I can’t blame Republican officials for being upset with the ruling from Judge Sparks yesterday, but some of them are in need of a serious reality check. Look at what is being said by some of them: Republican lawyer James … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | 5 Comments

More on the DeLay ballot ruling

I don’t know what will happen in CD22 now, but I will say this: Tom DeLay sure doesn’t sound like he wants to run again. If the Republicans lose on appeal, DeLay will have to decide whether to campaign for … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | 7 Comments

Courage and Radnofsky

Looks like John Courage is doing pretty well in the Mapchangers voting – in fact, he’s leading the field. Voting runs through July 10, so if you haven’t cast your vote for Courage, there’s still time. Remember, voting for Courage … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

Houston who?

Interesting article on what does and does not attract people to move to Houston. As college graduates young enough to be open to new experiences in new places, they are part of a group that’s being aggressively courted by employers … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

Still looking at CD23

It almost seems anti-climactic with all the bigger news going on this week, but I’ve got part two of my tour of CD23 up at Kuff’s World (part one is here). I’ve still got some more material to work through, … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Still looking at CD23

Ken Lay’s money

The subject of what happens to the allegedly ill-gotten gains Ken Lay owned now that he’s dead was raised yesterday as the news of his death came out. Today, the Chron takes a closer look. When the criminal case is … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Enronarama | 4 Comments

Judge rules for Democrats in DeLay replacement lawsuit

Hold onto your hats, it’s gonna get even crazier from here. U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks, a Republican appointee, ruled that DeLay must appear on the Nov. 7 ballot as the GOP nominee for the congressional seat that DeLay abandoned … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | 15 Comments

A candidate by any other name

Secretary of State Roger Williams is still mulling over the issue of how candidates should be listed on the gubernatorial ballot, and Kinky Friedman is requesting that he be listed by nickname only. Friedman’s campaign general counsel, Blake Rocap, wrote … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments

Last word (I hope) on the UIW library

Now that sanity has been restored (for now, at least) to the library at the University of the Incarnate Word (see here and here for the background), we can step back and take a look at just what the heck … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in The great state of Texas | 1 Comment

Filings in the DeLay replacement suit

Thanks once again to reader Jeff N., who forwarded me the Friday filings by both sides in the DeLay replacement lawsuit. You can see the GOP filing here and the Democratic filing here. Neither one looks like they’re breaking new … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | 4 Comments

More on Luna

First, as Phillip has documented, Vilma Luna’s resignation turns this from an uncontested incumbent race to a two-party open seat contest. Good for democracy, not so good for the Democrats, though despite my concern I’d still mark whoever their chosen … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | 6 Comments

Vilma Luna to resign

Today’s turning out to be a busier news day than I expected, and we don’t even have a ruling from Judge Sparks in the DeLay ballot replacement lawsuit yet. State Rep. Vilma Luna, one of the top Democratic lieutenants of … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

RIP, Ken Lay

Former Enron CEO Ken Lay, who was just convicted on multiple felony counts relating to the fall of his company, died suddenly yesterday at the age of 64. Convicted Enron Corp. founder Ken Lay suffered a massive coronary Tuesday and … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Enronarama | 11 Comments