Monthly Archives: August 2005

Thumbs down for Perry’s decree

Posted on August 25, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Govenor Perry may have talk radio hosts eating out of his hand, but the newspaper editorial boards continue to be unimpressed. I think we can add this Express News piece to the collection of Items To Save For Next Endorsement … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 2 Comments

Is there an effect in these poll numbers?

Posted on August 25, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

A few days ago Daily KOS pointed to the monthly SurveyUSA Senate approval numbers, which among other things showed a slight downward trend for Kay Bailey Hutchison. The campaign for Barbara Radnofsky jumped on those numbers, pointing out that Hutchison … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 5 Comments

Defendants added to lawsuit against TAB

Posted on August 25, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Missed this last week, but fortunately the Clean Up Texas Politics blog caught it. A lawsuit against the Texas Association of Business has been expanded to include several corporate donors, most of them insurance companies, that financed the association’s 2002 … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 1 Comment

Berke Breathed interview

Posted on August 25, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Wonder what Berkeley Breathed had on his mind while doing those Opus-in-jail-for-protecting-his-source comics? Find out in this brief interview. Via The Stakeholder. Continue reading →

Posted in Other punditry | Comments Off on Berke Breathed interview

Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack

Posted on August 24, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Olivia’s been the little social butterfly lately – last week she attended a blogger gathering, and the next evening she went to her very first baseball game. We were in a suite thanks to some corporate largesse, which meant she … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | 10 Comments

Downtown development: The park and mall

Posted on August 24, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

As a season-ticket holder for the Comets, I spend a fair amount of time in the vicinity of the Toyota Center, and I can attest that the area could use some upgrading. I’m therefore glad to hear that there’s plans … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Downtown development: The park and mall

“Lost” lawsuit

Posted on August 24, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Can you picture the TV show “Lost” as a Sid and Marty Krofft production? That’s what this lawsuit says. A Los Angeles writer has sued ABC and producer Touchstone Television for allegedly appropriating his 1977 television concept “Lost” for the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | 3 Comments

The sixty-five percent solution

Posted on August 24, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Governor Perry can’t fix how schools are financed, but he can tell them how to spend the money they have. Gov. Rick Perry issued an executive order Monday requiring schools to spend at least 65 percent of their tax money … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 2 Comments

Congrats to the Morrisons

Posted on August 24, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Got a phone message from Richard Morrison this morning. He called to give me the good news that his daughter Lauren Catherine made her appearance in the world yesterday, tipping the scales at eight pounds, one ounce. He reports that … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | Comments Off on Congrats to the Morrisons

It’s the judges

Posted on August 24, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Meant to post on this earlier but didn’t get to it: Scott catches us up on the latest installment in the overcrowded Harris County jails story, which points a finger at the local judiciary for its role in the problem. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 2 Comments

No Nonsense blockwalking in Houston on Saturday

Posted on August 24, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

From the comments on this post. The Houston Equal Rights Alliance (currently the Houston arm of the No Nonsense in November grassroots campaign) is having a blockwalk this Saturday morning to recruit volunteers and talk to people about why they … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | 4 Comments

Meet Henry Cisneros at Peter Brown’s campaign headquarters tonight

Posted on August 23, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Dos Centavos brings the word that Peter Brown will have a grand opening celebration at his campaign headquarters tonight, with special guest Henry Cisneros. It’s at 3907 Main, right at the Ensemble/HCC light rail stop and it runs from 6:30 … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | 5 Comments

Rick versus Carole: Let’s get it started

Posted on August 23, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The radio wars continue: The dust had hardly settled on Gov. Rick Perry’s unsuccessful special legislative sessions to cut property taxes Monday when re-election challenger Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn launched radio commercials attacking him — for wanting to raise taxes. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments

No Nonsense update – Going local

Posted on August 23, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Some updates on No Nonsense In November, the effort to beat back the Double Secret Illegal Anti-Gay Marriage amendment. First, they’ve having a kickoff fundraiser in Austin on Thursday. Karl-T has the details. Second, I can stop typing the long … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | 3 Comments

HISD1 interview: Richard Cantu

Posted on August 23, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

It’s easy to overlook downballot elections, especially in an odd-numbered year when the Mayor’s race is likely to be uncontested. But every election matters, and oftentimes the ones near the bottom of the ticket are the ones with the most … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | Comments Off on HISD1 interview: Richard Cantu

Once again with the Astrodome Convention Center

Posted on August 22, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I’m still trying to understand the arguments in favor of building a hotel/convention center complex out of the shell of the Astrodome. The decline of the natural gas trading business, brought on by Enron’s bankruptcy, also hurt hotels, said Joan … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 5 Comments

More publicity for the Camacho Tunnel

Posted on August 22, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

For something that may never make it past the Powerpoint presentation stage, the proposal by Gonzalo Camacho to build a tunnel to replace the existing I-45 roadway from Beltway 8 to downtown sure is getting a lot of attention. Which … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

Still not quite done with school finance stuff

Posted on August 22, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Some more linkage from the weekend that I missed the first time around… First up, from Eye on Williamson, is a memo to RNC Chair Ken Mehlman from the Dallas Morning News. Your party’s leaders are brawling like gunslingers. If … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on Still not quite done with school finance stuff

Gallego endorses Bell

Posted on August 22, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Some good news for Chris Bell: he’s picked up the endorsement of Pete Gallego, who is also now serving as the chairman of his campaign. Getting early support from party leaders like Gallego, before any other theoretical opponents make an … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments

David Harris in CD06

Posted on August 21, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

It’s been a good weekend for Congressional candidate announcements. First Mary Beth Harrell in CD31, and now David Harris in CD06. Damon was first to press on this. Harris doesn’t have a website up yet – his decision to run … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 5 Comments

Some special session wrapups

Posted on August 21, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

A little Sunday reading for those who aren’t quite ready to let Special SessionPalooza fade into history just yet. ‘Robin Hood’ Ratliff says money’s the answer Q: The governor and many Republican legislators say more money for the schools isn’t … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 6 Comments

Mary Beth Harrell in CD31

Posted on August 20, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been hearing the name Mary Beth Harrell as a candidate for CD31 for some time now, and I’m pleased to report now that she’s officially in and has a nice campaign website up and running. I think she’s staked … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

Managing the Enron media

Posted on August 20, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I’m still puzzling through this story from yesterday. It’s not the Super Bowl or the All-Star Game. But the big Enron trial coming up in January featuring former head honchos Ken Lay, Jeff Skilling and Rick Causey as defendants will … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | 1 Comment

The special sessions were a success for someone

Posted on August 20, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

We have a new definition of “chutzpah”: Rick Perry blaming lobbyists for anything. Gov. Rick Perry on Friday said the Legislature failed to pass school finance reform and property tax cuts in two special sessions because it was too influenced … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 2 Comments

A victory for Star Bock

Posted on August 19, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Good news in the Star Bock copyrighttrademark case. A Galveston bar owner whose house-brand Star Bock beer prompted a copyright battle with the worldwide Starbucks coffee chain can continue to sell the private brew in his bar but can’t sell … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | 9 Comments

It’s a secret

Posted on August 19, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

What do you give the man who has everything? A contribution to his top secret legal defense trust fund, of course. Since last year’s indictments, [Jim Ellis, who runs DeLay’s Americans for a Republican Majority, and John Colyandro, the executive … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 1 Comment

Debate in CD28

Posted on August 19, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Drew at BOR attended a debate in Floresville on Wednesday between former US Rep. Ciro Rodriguez and State Rep. Richard Raymond, both of whom are vying to oust US Rep. Henry Cuellar in next March’s primary. Looks like Cuellar is … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

When the party’s over

Posted on August 19, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I’m so glad that Governor Perry has given us these two Very Special Sessions on school finance reform. Aren’t you? Of course you are. And just think, in a few months when the Texas Supremes have ruled, we get to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 3 Comments

Lone Star Democracy Blog Directory

Posted on August 19, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

You’ve seen my Texas Political Bloggers page, which I try but often fail to keep updated. One thing I haven’t done with that page is distinguish between left-leaning and right-leaning blogs. Well, the folks at Lone Star Democracy Builders Association … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | 2 Comments

From the “Run Everywhere” files

Posted on August 19, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Now this is how a blog conversation is supposed to go: From Greg to Stace, back to Greg and once more to Stace, on the subject of immigration and running everywhere, and how they pertain to SD7. Check it out. Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on From the “Run Everywhere” files

Where’s Kay?

Posted on August 18, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

You may recall that the VA hospital in Waco, despite an excellent reputation, is threatened with closure, something which has locals and area veterans very concerned. They’re now also frustrated, because they’ve got a review of the facility coming up … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

Targeting Cuellar

Posted on August 18, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Via TAPPED comes this piece in The Hill about the upcoming primary battle in CD28, which will make two straight cycles of contentious primaries there. I’ve got no great love for Rep. Henry Cuellar (though I admit that I’d feel … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Targeting Cuellar

When icons collide

Posted on August 18, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Yesterday I saw a sticker of Stewie from The Family Guy on the back of a truck. Given that it was a poor likeness, and the fact that neither the name of the character or the show was a part … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | 2 Comments

The life and times of Eric Scheffey

Posted on August 18, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve blogged about Dr. Eric Scheffey before, when he finally got his license to practice medicine revoked after a 20-year career of botched surgery and almost 100 lawsuits. This month’s Texas Monthly has a feature article on Scheffey, available for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | 2 Comments