Monthly Archives: October 2003

Bonjour!

Posted on October 15, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Bonjour from France! I’ve got a few minutes and have dropped in at an Internet access shop to get a fix on news and blog stuff. We had a great time in the champagne country, visiting the Mercier, Moet, and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | 2 Comments

We’ll always have Paris

Posted on October 9, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

I’m about to take off for a week in France, in the champagne country outside of Paris over the weekend, and in Paris from Tuesday till Friday when we return. It’s possible I’ll have some brief Net access while in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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

Senators press Van de Putte

Posted on October 9, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

I have to say, it’s not been looking good for Sen. Leticia Van de Putte. Her Democratic colleagues don’t recall the “if you act like Mexicans, you will be treated like Mexicans” slur that she says she heard, she’s been … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 1 Comment

More on Bill White and military voting

Posted on October 9, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Man, considering that the original article which has spawned however many posts across at least four blogs was, like, eight sentences long, this topic sure is getting a beating. Anyway, here’s the latest from Kevin and Rob (here and here). … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2003 | 4 Comments

The Talking Dog talks to Dick Morris

Posted on October 9, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Lest I forget before I toddle off to Europe, check out this interview that The Talking Dog did with Dick Morris. Interesting stuff. Continue reading →

Posted in Other punditry | Comments Off on The Talking Dog talks to Dick Morris

Agreement is now official

Posted on October 9, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Looks like Speaker Craddick got the check from the mail and is happy to cash it: The “agreement in principle” is now official. House and Senate negotiators reached a final agreement early this morning on new congressional districts, said Sen. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | Comments Off on Agreement is now official

Agreement in principle, but…

Posted on October 9, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

(UPDATE: You can see the new map here. Thanks to Tom for sending me the link.) For all the statements about an agreement in principle on a new Congressional map, there sure seems to be a lot of caveats and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 4 Comments

City Council quandary

Posted on October 8, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

I suppose you could file this under Good Problems To Have, but I’m trying to figure out which of the myriad of candidates for the District H City Council seat to vote for. I’m hoping that one of Hector Longoria’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2003 | 2 Comments

A tale of two Bills, continued

Posted on October 8, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Tim Fleck has his take on the Dueling Bill Whites story, though there’s not much new ground covered. This is interesting, though: Media coverage of the Bogus Bill scheme was almost as convoluted as the plan itself. Political consultant George … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2003 | 1 Comment

Dewhurst gives Van de Putte a way out

Posted on October 8, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst says he hopes Sen. Leticia Van de Putte simply misheard another Senator make a racial slur. Dewhurst also backed off the previous stance of his office calling for an investigation into whether an unnamed senator told … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 5 Comments

Did you study for that urine test?

Posted on October 8, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Oh. My. God. LUBBOCK — Some West Texas men on probation are in trouble again, this time for allegedly using the Whizzinator to help them pass court-ordered urinalysis tests. In the past six months, five men on probation were caught … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 3 Comments

Deal reportedly reached

Posted on October 8, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

At 12:13 PM, the Quorum Report says: HOUSE AND SENATE REDISTRICTING NEGOTIATORS REACH DEAL Official announcement to be made early this afternoon Time to get the lawyers warmed up. UPDATE: Oopsie! QR has a later entry that says: WE JUMPED … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 2 Comments

When you have The Hammer, every problem looks like a nail

Posted on October 8, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

On Day Two of Hammer Time, the newspapers are all reporting that this time, the Republicans really truly are thisclose to finalizing a map. No compromise maps were released, but both sides agreed that Rep. Tom Craddick, R-Midland, the speaker … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 1 Comment

Van de Putte followup

Posted on October 8, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Yesterday I pointed to a column by Jan Jarboe Russell in the Express News in which Sen. Leticia Van de Putte said that a Republican Senator, in response to a query about punitiveness, told her that “If you act like … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | Comments Off on Van de Putte followup

The Top Ten Silver Linings from the California Recall Election

Posted on October 8, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

10. At least there won’t be a recount. 9. After last week, Arnold now has a much better idea of which women won’t mind being groped. 8. Maybe this idea of tossing out people who turn surpluses into deficits will … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in General snarkiness | 7 Comments

“If you’re going to act like Mexicans, you will be treated like Mexicans”

Posted on October 7, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

If this story is really true, it’s pretty shocking, even after all that’s occurred so far. San Antonio Sen. Leticia Van de Putte says that on Sept. 18, shortly after the Democrats returned from their 45-day exile in New Mexico, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 6 Comments

Debate and attack

Posted on October 7, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

I did not catch last night’s mayoral debate, but like Beldar I’m a bit disappointed that neither Sylvester Turner nor Bill White gave definitive answers to the questions about their role in the Brenda Flores contretemps. I tend to agree … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2003 | 5 Comments

And they’re off

Posted on October 7, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Can I just say now how glad I will be to never hear the words California recall election again? I have no guess who will win, and frankly I’m finding it hard to care. Unfortunately, I suspect the only outcome … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 3 Comments

Look, honey! It’s the Hammer!

Posted on October 7, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

You know that redistricting negotiations have really fallen down when Tom DeLay swoops in to try and get a deal brokered. “I’m a Texan trying to get things done,” said DeLay, R-Sugar Land, as he spent hours engaged in cross-rotunda … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 4 Comments

What he said

Posted on October 6, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

This NRO piece by Jennifer Graham is stupid, condescending, and racist. Jesse has a great and appropriate response. Check it out. Continue reading →

Posted in Other punditry | 1 Comment

Rail, rail, rail, rail…

Posted on October 6, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Some positive news and an head-slap moment for rail this week. First, a Page One story about commuter rail from Fort Bend County. While the battle over the referendum for Metro’s 22-mile Houston rail expansion heats up, leaders in Fort … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

Voting trends in Texas

Posted on October 6, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Bruce Davidson cites a report by former political director of the Texas Republican Party and current analyst for the Quorum Report Royal Masset on current demographic trends and its likely effect on Texas’ voting patterns. “Republicans will start losing judicial … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 2 Comments

Ripple effects

Posted on October 6, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Mark Evanier mentions an aspect of the Roy Horn tiger-mauling story that I hadn’t considered. Beyond the obvious tragedy here, it’s sad to think about how many lives this accident has impacted. Most of the 150-180 people who worked on … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Comments Off on Ripple effects

I cried hot tubs of tears over you

Posted on October 6, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Life sure is tough at the University of Houston these days. In the abstract, Kathy Anzivino believes there must be some pinnacle of amenities that universities simply cannot surpass, some outer limit so far beyond the hot tubs, waterfalls and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 3 Comments

Guess what? Still no map!

Posted on October 6, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

And so the Sunday drop-dead deadline has whooshed past with map in sight and the Lege adjourned until Wednesday. What a glorious mess this is. Hardly any ink was expended on the reason for the Republicans’ failure, since the reason … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 3 Comments

Diebold timeline

Posted on October 6, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

The crew at The Agonist have put together a timeline of events in the ongoing Diebold electronic voting machine scandal. Check it out, and check out their initial report on why there’s such a fuss to begin with. It’s a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 1 Comment

Turner overview

Posted on October 5, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Today the Chron has the second of its overviews of the three major Mayoral candidates with a profile of Sylvester Turner. It’s more straightforward than last week’s Sanchez piece, most likely because there were no swooning women to quote about … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2003 | Comments Off on Turner overview

Happy birthday, King Ranch

Posted on October 5, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

The legendary King Ranch is holding its first cattle and horse sale since 1988 to help celebrate its sesquicentennial. A unique bull fetched $45,000, and a 15-year-old mare that had never been bred sold for $41,000, bringing the auction’s grand … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Comments Off on Happy birthday, King Ranch

Still no map

Posted on October 5, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

There’s still no deal on a new Congressional map as the joint committee keeps lobbing maps back and forth with no progress being made. Despite working around the clock the past couple of days, House and Senate Republicans late Saturday … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 1 Comment

More comment spam banning

Posted on October 5, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

More comment spams, from a different jerk. The IPs to ban are: 64.191.20.166 216.228.168.110 206.163.168.8 I’m going to keep track of these in the original post for eacy reference. Look for a link on the sidebar. Continue reading →

Posted in Administrivia | Comments Off on More comment spam banning

Busy weekend

Posted on October 4, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

So I met a number of Houston’s finest lefty bloggers at Two Rows brewpub last night, during which time we talked about music, hoisted a few beers, and finalized our plans to take over the world. In attendance were Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | Comments Off on Busy weekend

This is the strangest story I’ve seen all year

Posted on October 4, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

As if redistricting weren’t enough to fry my brain, there’s this strange story of an attempt to run a fake mayoral candidate with the same name as a real one in order to confuse voters. It is a bizarre tale … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2003 | 8 Comments

I’m all confused

Posted on October 4, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Well, after reading the usual five sources for redistricting news, I officially have no idea if a deal is imminent, on the horizon, or nowhere in sight. There’s compromises, cut-n-paste jobs, still no agreement on West Texas, and a renewed … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | Comments Off on I’m all confused

TiVo and Angel

Posted on October 3, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

We finally broke down and got TiVo recently. Actually, more accurately, I finally convinced Tiffany that we needed TiVo. Our VCR had coughed up a hairball, and rather than replace it, since we mostly used it to tape stuff that … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | 11 Comments