Monthly Archives: October 2008

Sign stealing

Sign stealing is lame, no matter who does it. And here’s what I have to say about it: Don’t mess with my signs. Continue reading

Posted in Election 2008 | 4 Comments

Chron overview of SD17

Just a couple of thoughts regarding this Chron overview of the SD17 special election. First, not to sound like a one-note Johnny or something here, but it would be nice to see some updated poll numbers for this race. Have … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2008 | 2 Comments

Weekend link dump for October 26

Have you voted yet? Early voting ends on Friday. Thus endeth the message, now here come the links. Stayin’ alive, literally. New frontiers in physics, McCain-style. Vito Fossella, the soon-to-be-former Congressman from my hometown, was convicted of drunk driving in … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on Weekend link dump for October 26

Endorsement watch: The line in the sand

I am exceedingly pleased to note that the Chronicle has endorsed Diane Trautman for Harris County Tax Assessor. The duties of the Harris County tax/assessor collector are straightforward: collecting and disbursing property taxes, registering and titling motor vehicles, and registering … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

More Chron polling: Most Dems lead in the county races

Continuing from yesterday, the Chron gives us more catnip. Democrats have reclaimed the voting advantage they lost 14 years ago in elections for Harris County offices, according to a poll conducted for the Houston Chronicle. But Republican County Judge Ed … Continue reading Continue reading

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Rick Noriega on Texas Monthly Talks

Check out the video at Evan Smith’s place. And drop him a few bucks at Kos’ if you feel so inclined. Continue reading

Posted in The great state of Texas | Comments Off on Rick Noriega on Texas Monthly Talks

Early voting: Making history

You know the story by now. Here’s some detail to add a little pep to it. Leaning against a weathered brick wall outside the Palm Center early voting station, Dexter Willis crossed his arms, took a deep breath and soaked … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

The Chron does some polling

My plaintive cries have finally been heard. Harris County voters are on the verge of favoring a Democratic presidential candidate for the first time in 44 years — putting the area out of step with the rest of Texas, according … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

Chron overview of Skelly v. Culberson

As they did with CDs 22 and 10, the Chron has an overview of the race for CD07, and it’s a good one. The 50 Republicans gathered in Pat Wood’s spacious living room in Houston’s Memorial area heard their congressional … Continue reading Continue reading

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Polaroid

You can add this to the List Of Ways I Can Tell I’m Old: I had no idea the kids were hot for Polaroid cameras these days. Polaroid’s teenage acolytes so love the clunky cameras, which went out of production … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Society and cultcha | Comments Off on Polaroid

Friday random ten: Putting it all together

In my previous writings about Genius-generated iPod playlists, I have suggested that perhaps it’s greatest strength would be shown when you put together those smaller lists into one big one. Well, I’ve done that for the first four Genius lists, … Continue reading Continue reading

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Early voting Day Four: Same as it ever was

Here are your Early Voting numbers for Harris County through Day Four. The totals have crept up a bit each day, which differs from 2004 where the highs were on Tuesday and Thursday, and the lows were Monday and Wednesday. … Continue reading Continue reading

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“Banned from the ballot box”

Want to know why Harris County has barely more registered voters this year than it did four years ago despite having hundreds of thousands more people now? Watch this KHOU Defenders story, then read Part Two, and find out. It’s … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

Endorsement watch: County Judge

The Chron goes for Ed Emmett. While building an effective working relationship with the evenly divided partisan commissioners, he tackled the politically touchy question of ethics reform. Serving on a court often accused of maintaining a pay-to-play culture in which … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: County Judge

Chron overview of the District Clerk race

I don’t recall seeing a Chron story based on what happened during the editorial board interview before, but here’s one now, about the District Clerk’s race. The county district clerk’s race centers on improving the office’s ability to accept electronic … Continue reading Continue reading

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One last Texas poll

I may not get my wish for a poll of Harris County before Election Day, but we have at least gotten one last set of Texas results from Rasmussen. It’s a somewhat mixed bag. First, the Presidential matchup: John McCain … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

Chron overview of CD22

The Chron has a pretty good overview of the CD22 race, one of three high-profile Harris County-area Congressional races; they had an overview of the CD10 race yesterday, and proimise a CD07 overview tomorrow. I just want to highlight one … Continue reading Continue reading

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Early voting Day Three: Strong and consistent

Yet another strong day of early voting, with 43,782 ballots cast in Harris County. That’s up slightly from yesterday, and as before, more than double the total from same day in 2004. As you can see in the spreadsheet, it’s … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

If you’re going to say it, stand behind it

Here’s the Chron story about that ugly attack mailer in HD144. What stands out to me is the reaction by all those who are in one way or another responsible for it: The mailing is criticial of Democratic House candidate … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

Candidate Q&A: Mike Engelhart

Note: This entry is part of a series of written Q&As with judicial candidates who will be on the ballot in Harris County. I am also doing recorded interviews with non-judicial candidates. 1. Who are you, and what are you … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

Endorsement watch: Appeals courts

The Chron, perhaps recognizing that it needs to pick up the pace a bit, made endorsements in the six races for the First and Fourteenth District Courts of Appeals. They went with four incumbent Republicans, and two Democrats: Mary M. … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

Making financial disclosures public

Nice. For years the Texas Legislature has resisted calls to publish politicians’ personal financial information on the Internet. But the modern world caught up with state lawmakers today, when a fledgling watchdog group posted the disclosures online. Texas Watchdog, a … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Comments Off on Making financial disclosures public

The state of beer in Texas

Nice story in the Press about the sad state of craft beer brewing in Texas. I have been drinking craft beers and visiting breweries and brewpubs all summer in an attempt to gauge the zeitgeist of Texas beer culture. When … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Food, glorious food | 1 Comment

TAKS changes coming

Stepping out of campaign coverage for a second, here’s a look ahead to some TAKS tinkering the Lege will take up next year. Texas public school students could face less pressure on the TAKS test under a proposal that key … Continue reading Continue reading

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Curbside recycling to start again

Yes! Curbside recycling in Houston — suspended since Hurricane Ike made landfall more than one month ago — will resume next week, Houston’s Solid Waste Department announced Monday. Meanwhile, about 200 debris contractor teams will begin removing hazardous trees or … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston, Hurricane Katrina | Comments Off on Curbside recycling to start again

Early voting, Day Two: Still going strong

Day One was not a fluke. The first day of early voting in the state’s most populous counties drew 156,417 more voters than on the kickoff day of voting four years ago. The Secretary of State’s Office has kept day-by-day … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2008 | 3 Comments

Interview with Richard Morrison

It gave me great pleasure to sit down with Richard Morrison, who is running for Fort Bend County Commissioner in Precinct 1, for an interview. Morrison was the first candidate I ever interviewed, back in 2003 as he was beginning … Continue reading Continue reading

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Endorsement watch: Garcia and Noriega

The Chron may have taken yesterday off, but they make up for it today with two good endorsements. First, in what I had termed their easiest call of the bunch, they tap Adrian Garcia for Harris County Sheriff: In the … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2008 | 2 Comments

TAB cops a plea

Well, this puts an end to one aspect of the whole Tom DeLay saga. The state’s largest business organization pleaded guilty today to violating campaign finance law six years after helping elect a slate of Republican lawmakers. The Texas Association … Continue reading Continue reading

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The ethics plan finally gets introduced

So Judge Ed Emmett’s task force plan for improving ethics in county government was introduced to Commissioner’s Court today. It didn’t get very far, but that was pretty much expected at this point. I do want to highlight something that … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on The ethics plan finally gets introduced

Endorsement watch: Three for Larry Joe

While we wait for the Chron to get back in the game, here’s three Austin endorsements for Larry Joe Doherty in CD10. First, the Statesman: [Incumbent Rep. Mike] McCaul is an engaging, interesting former prosecutor with the U.S. Department of … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

Two weeks out, time for the sleazy attack mailers

Ah, there’s nothing like the last two weeks of a campaign to bring out the truly special campaign tactics. Here’s Harvey Kronberg catching one such example near here. In a year potentially sitting on the powder keg of racial politics, … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2008 | 3 Comments

More on Day One of early voting

Here’s the Chron story about Day One of early voting in Harris County. A total of 39,201 votes were cast Monday in Harris County, a record turnout almost double that of 2004’s first day and one that was mirrored across … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2008 | 3 Comments

Endorsement watch: Um, nobody?

Really, Houston Chronicle? No endorsements today? Let’s review the bidding so far, and see which offices have and have not had a recommendation from the Chron: 1. President and Vice President – Done 2. US Senate – No endorsement yet. … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2008 | 2 Comments