Tag Archives: Tom Schieffer

The Observer on the high-speed rail line

Posted on May 23, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Some contemplation about the prospects for success of this unique project. Ross Capon, president of the National Association for Railroad Passengers, a national Washington D.C.-based non-profit promoting the development of rail, supports Texas Central Railways’ proposal but says it could … Continue reading →

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Roundup and reaction to White’s announcement

Posted on November 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Bill White isn’t officially a candidate for Governor yet, but he’s already picked up endorsements from State Sens. Kirk Watson and Eliot Shapleigh. I feel confident that many more such endorsements will follow, perhaps even before he commits to the … Continue reading →

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Schieffer drops out, White (may be but probably is) in for Governor

Posted on November 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

By now, I’m sure you’ve heard the news that Tom Schieffer has dropped out of the Governor’s race, and that Bill White is considering switching over to it. I’ll add in a bunch of links later, but for now let … Continue reading →

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Shami and Shapleigh

Posted on November 18, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Farouk Shami will make his entry into the Democratic primary for Governor official tomorrow afternoon at his business’ headquarters in Houston; details are on his website. The Trib gives us a peek behind the curtain. Shami, running as a Democrat, … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: A late roundup

Posted on October 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Some recent endorsements in City elections over the past few days. Going back to last week, here are the endorsements from the Houston Black American Democrats (HBAD): Mayor – Gene Locke Controller – Ronald Green At Large #1 – Karen … Continue reading →

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It’s not too early to reschedule that meeting

Posted on October 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Rick Casey talks to State Sen. John Whitmire about Rick Perry’s choice of Williamson County DA John Bradley as the replacement chair of the Texas Forensic Sciences Commission, and how we can tell if the intent was as sinister as … Continue reading →

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Perry attempts to gut Forensic Science Commission

Posted on September 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This is an outrage. Gov. Rick Perry today replaced the chairman of the Texas Forensic Science Commission, which is conducting a politically sensitive investigation into whether the state executed a man based on a fatally flawed arson investigation. The commission’s … Continue reading →

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One step closer to expanded gambling in Texas?

Posted on September 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe, though I’m not sure how much closer this really gets us. [The] Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma is poised to take possession of an existing horse racing track in Grand Prairie. The tribe runs one of the biggest Indian casinos … Continue reading →

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Election tidbits for 9/23

Posted on September 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

– KTRK has another round of candidate videos, this time answering the question “How can you help Houstonians get to work?” – Peter Brown sends out another mailer, this one all about his blueprint for an “Even Better Houston”. You … Continue reading →

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Gilbert makes his official entrance

Posted on September 22, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Democrat Hank Gilbert has officially entered the Governor’s race. Hank Gilbert – East Texas rancher, former schoolteacher and newly announced Democratic candidate for governor – said today that improving public education is critical in revitalizing the state’s economy and putting … Continue reading →

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Up, up, up…

Posted on September 17, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

That’s the direction your health insurance premiums have been going, at an ever-increasing rate. A national report that was released today says family health insurance premiums in Texas increased 91.6 percent since 2000 — 4.6 times faster than earnings. The … Continue reading →

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Earle still pondering a run for Governor

Posted on September 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Ronnie Earle reminds us that he’s still out there, and still thinking about mounting a campaign for Governor. Former Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle, who most recently got national attention for his prosecution of former House Majority Leader Tom … Continue reading →

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Another Democratic gubernatorial hopeful

Posted on September 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Well, you can’t say that the Democratic cast of characters for Governor lacks characters. Rick Perry might not be the only candidate in the 2010 race for Texas governor who is known for great hair. As the Republican governor with … Continue reading →

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Questions for the next Governor

Posted on September 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Gary Denton asks a bunch of questions for our next Governor about a variety of issues as well as the general approach of being Governor in a state where the Governor’s powers are limited. It’s really aimed at Tom Schieffer, … Continue reading →

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Kinky announces (yawn)

Posted on September 1, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Here comes Kinky, in case anyone still cares. Humorist Richard “Kinky” Friedman, loved by some and loathed by others, is running for governor again – this time as a Democrat. Unlike the launch of his 2006 campaign as an independent, … Continue reading →

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The state of the Governor’s race

Posted on August 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

So we know that Tom Schieffer is in. So are Mark Thompson and Felix Alvarado. Ronnie Earle may or may not be in. Hank Gilbert now says that he’s in. Kinky (sigh) is fixing to be in. Some people think … Continue reading →

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Gilbert for Governor?

Posted on August 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Hank Gilbert, the 2006 Democratic candidate for Ag Commissioner who had been up till recently running for that office again, is now thinking about running for Governor. [A]ccording to multiple sources that have confirmed this to Burnt Orange Report, Hank Gilbert, … Continue reading →

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Meeting Tom Schieffer

Posted on August 20, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I had the opportunity to have lunch with Democatic gubernatorial candidate Tom Schieffer on Wednesday, along with several of my blogging colleagues (*). This was at his initiative, and I appreciated the opportunity to get to hear him speak. I’ll … Continue reading →

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It’s hard to be unemployed in Texas

Posted on August 18, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’m sure this comes as no surprise. If you lose your job in Texas, you may be out of luck in more ways than one. The Texas Workforce Commission rejected about a third of jobless claims last year and 27 … Continue reading →

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Kirk Watson not running for Governor

Posted on August 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Phooey. There’s been a lot of speculation about my plans for the next election. Well, I’ve decided what I’m going to do, and I want to announce it to you all first. I will run for re-election to the Texas … Continue reading →

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Hutchison announces her intent to announce

Posted on July 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Actually, what Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison wanted to tell us was that she had a lot of money available to her for her yet-to-be-announced gubernatorial bid (which, for what it’s worth, some people outside of Texas think she may yet … Continue reading →

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Earle is running for something

Posted on July 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Well, he’s taken the first step towards running for something, anyway. Democrat Ronnie Earle today filed paperwork with the Texas Ethics Commission to run for office in 2010 but did not specify which office he will seek. The former Travis … Continue reading →

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Schieffer on the trail

Posted on July 1, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The main advantage Tom Schieffer has over his actual and potential rivals for the Democratic nomination for Governor is that he’s actually out there on the trail right now, and stuff he’s saying is in the news. Schieffer is traveling … Continue reading →

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Jeff Weems

Posted on June 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We’ve been hearing plenty about the top of the ticket for Democrats in 2010, but there are still several slots to fill. One of them is the Railroad Commissioner seat held by Victor Carrillo. Via email to Carl Whitmarsh, here’s … Continue reading →

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The latest Lyceum poll

Posted on June 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Lyceum just released a poll on various campaigns and politicians, and well, I’m not sure that it says much of anything. I’ve got the PDF here, and the problems begin right away: We interviewed Texas adults during the … Continue reading →

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Schieffer announces

Posted on June 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte is out. State Sen. Kirk Watson may or may not jump in. Tom Schieffer is in. After a rally in front of the Fort Worth elementary school he attended, Schieffer plans stops in Houston … Continue reading →

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Van de Putte says she’s not running for Governor

Posted on June 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, who has been contemplating a run for Governor next year, has sent out a press release saying that she will not do so. Here it is: Statement of Senator Leticia Van de Putte regarding … Continue reading →

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Schieffer and centrism

Posted on June 21, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Tom Schieffer continues his task of making the case for himself as the Democratic nominee for Governor. Fort Worth lawyer Tom Schieffer helped make George W. Bush a wealthy man. And as President Bush’s ambassador to Australia, Schieffer sold the … Continue reading →

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Hardberger for Governor?

Posted on June 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We’re not even a week out from sine die, and the 2010 campaign rumor ‘n speculation mill is in full gear. The most interesting bit in this story is right here: Democratic consultant Christian Archer suggested that candidates would shortly … Continue reading →

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Van de Putte gearing up

Posted on May 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

With sine die just around the corner (and God willing, no special session), we may start to get some answers to the questions about which legislators might be running for higher offices. One of them is State Sen. Letitia Van … Continue reading →

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Statewide race for Earle?

Posted on April 27, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Well, this is interesting news. Retired for all of four months, former Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle is considering running for a new job, possibly as the state’s top lawyer. “There have been people who have talked to me … Continue reading →

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Everyone has an opinion on Kay and Rick

Posted on April 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Former Congressman Martin Frost thinks Rick Perry has a good shot at winning his primary against Sen. Hutchison. Perry, who won with less than 40 percent in a four-way general election field in 2006, is not popular with the general … Continue reading →

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Keep your eye on the ball, Tom

Posted on April 21, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this: So how does a former ambassador gird for a possible battle with the ever-black-hatted, cigar-chomping Kinky Friedman for the Democratic nod for governor? Campaign honchos who faced the finger-in-the-eye-of-the political-establishment candidate in … Continue reading →

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Perry walks back secession talk

Posted on April 16, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

As the sun rises in the east, so do politicians who say stupid things revise and extend those remarks afterward when people start asking them questions about what they really meant. And so it was the case with Rick Perry, … Continue reading →

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