Monthly Archives: January 2010

Wilson appeals being booted from the ballot

Posted on January 15, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As expected, renowned homophobe and attention whore Dave Wilson has filed suit to fight being booted from the Democratic Party ballot for County Commissioner. [HCDP Chair Gerry] Birnberg declared he would not certify Wilson for the ballot because he reported … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Averitt drops re-election bid

Posted on January 15, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

State Se. Kip Averitt (R, Waco) has withdrawn from the ballot due to health concerns. State Sen. Kip Averitt, R-Waco, said Wednesday afternoon that he has ended his re-election campaign, citing health problems. The decision comes a week and a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Latino population growth in the suburbs

Posted on January 15, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We won’t know all of the specifics till after the Census is completed, but it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone to hear that the suburbs are changing in the same ways that the rest of the state and … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

What to do with all that leftover campaign cash?

Posted on January 15, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Trib explores the question of what happens to the money after a candidate drops out or an incumbent retires. Let’s say you’re a donor to a candidate or an elected official who quits a race mid-campaign or chooses … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The SBOE takes on social studies

Posted on January 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Somewhat surprisingly, nothing too horrible appears to have happened. Yet. Kindergartners would learn about a Texas revolutionary and first-graders would discuss the idea of holding public officials accountable under proposals approved Thursday by the State Board of Education, which began … Continue reading →

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To help Haiti

Posted on January 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I received the following email from the American Red Cross: I’ve got a brief update for you on Haiti. The situation is dire. Hundreds of thousands of people are feared dead. Government offices, including the Presidential Palace, have collapsed. Hospitals … Continue reading →

Posted in Around the world | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

White reports $2.5 million raised

Posted on January 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Not too shabby. [Democrat Bill White] reported raising $2.5 million from Dec. 4, when he got into the [Governor’s] race, and the end of 2009: about $90,000 a day, according to his campaign. Counting “transfers and in-kind donations” his campaign … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Judicial Q&A: Jim Sullivan

Posted on January 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. There are a lot of judicial races on the ballot in Harris County this election, and so this is intended to help introduce the candidates … Continue reading →

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Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back

Posted on January 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Well, give him points for originality. Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Farouk Shami was busy Sunday, shooting a new campaign TV commercial with a stunning campaign promise to Texas voters. The commercials air in two weeks and showcase what amounts to a … Continue reading →

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From the “Is she or isn’t she?” files

Posted on January 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

TV news station reports that Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison will not resign after the GOP primary, despite what she had said earlier. KBH spokesperson says she’ll still resign, by God. Bloggers note that we’ve heard it all before. Meanwhile, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

More on Chavez-Thompson

Posted on January 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Express News does a nice profile of Democratic Lite Guv candidate Linda Chavez-Thompson. The most important bits are right here: Party leaders gathered in Austin last month to brainstorm on promising candidates for the lieutenant governor’s race. They had … Continue reading →

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A more worldly World Series

Posted on January 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

This sounds cool. US Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig has proposed to launch a “global World Series” between US and Japanese champion clubs, press reports said Friday. Selig’s Japanese counterpart, Nippon Professional Baseball commissioner Ryozo Kato, told Japanese media … Continue reading →

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No race to the top

Posted on January 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

By now you’ve probably heard the news that Governor Perry has directed the Texas to not compete for “Race to the Top” stimulus funds. Gov. Rick Perry said today that Texas will not compete for up to $700 million in … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

No Rice-BCM merger

Posted on January 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The longstanding merger talks between Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine have been terminated. Rice President David Leebron and Baylor College of Medicine President Dr. William Butler gave no reason for the talks ending in their statement. “Since we … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Judicial Q&A: Damian LaCroix

Posted on January 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. There are a lot of judicial races on the ballot in Harris County this election, and so this is intended to help introduce the candidates … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Evaluating teachers

Posted on January 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

This is sure to be contentious, but I think it’s the right direction. Teachers in Houston ISD could lose their jobs for failing to improve student test scores under a controversial proposal slated for a school board vote Thursday. HISD … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Republican State Rep says Perry can’t beat Bill White

Posted on January 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I wonder how many people will be thinking along the same lines as State Rep. Rick Hardcastle. When the Legislature does reconvene in 2011, one big question will be who is governor? “Whether or not we’ll have a new governor, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

No more EZ Tag parking at the airport

Posted on January 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As you probably knew, if you had an EZ Tag in your car you could use it to pay for parking at IAH. But not any more, as Commissioners Court will shut it down. The program provides special lines at … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

World Cup bid update

Posted on January 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Houston will be on the short list of cities to be included in America’s bid to host the World Cup. As reported last week: The USA Bid Committee will conclude its eight-month host city selection process by unveiling the list … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

A hippie bohemian flashback

Posted on January 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Remember this? Those were the days, my friends, those were the days. These days? Not so much. Three years ago, developers got the city to shut down Bolsover Street so they could build the seven-story complex, but those plans stopped … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Coleman sets Perry straight

Posted on January 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Thank God for Garnet Coleman. Sometimes, these things just need to be said. Click here to see what Rep. Coleman was responding to.

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

SBOE prepares to screw up social studies

Posted on January 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

From a TFN press release: The state’s leading religious liberties group today joined with clergy and scholars in calling on the State Board of Education to approve new curriculum standards that don’t undermine religious freedom in Texas social studies classrooms. … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

On a side note regarding Commissioners Court

Posted on January 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Just a quick point to note regarding Commissioners Court and its various perks. In a few months, we’re going to hear from Mayor White’s term limits commission regarding suggested alterations to Houston’s term limits law. When we do, we’ll be … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Judicial Q&A: Keith Branch

Posted on January 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. There are a lot of judicial races on the ballot in Harris County this election, and so this is intended to help introduce the candidates … Continue reading →

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Perry (not) for President

Posted on January 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

By now you’re probably aware of the current Texas Monthly cover story, in which Paul Burka makes the case that Rick Perry is positioning himself for a run at the Presidency in 2012. I don’t care to get into a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

From the “It’s good to be the czar” files

Posted on January 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Every few years we get an article like this one about how the sweetest gig in the state is being a Harris County Commissioner. Commissioners may have the safest jobs in Harris County politics. No incumbent has lost an election … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Trying again with IBM

Posted on January 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe the second time will be the charm. The turnaround of the troubled $863 million data center contract between Texas and IBM Corp. has cleared its first major hurdle. On Tuesday, state officials released an “agreement in principle” for restructuring … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Texas blog roundup for the week of January 11

Posted on January 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

With blue lips and chattering teeth, the Texas Progressive Alliance brings you a hot steaming mug of blog highlights for the week. Click on for more.

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Strange parallels

Posted on January 11, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

This Chron story about the primary challenges to Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee goes out of its way to try to find parallels to Jackson Lee’s own successful primary election of 1994. A little too far, I think. The district looks … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Hector Uribe may be my favorite candidate for this cycle

Posted on January 11, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Anyone who can send out a press release like this is someone who can make the election season just a little more enjoyable. In Stunning Move, Land Commissioner Candidate Hector Uribe Already up on Statewide TV (Austin) Democratic candidate for … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Judicial Q&A: Porfirio Diaz

Posted on January 11, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. There are a lot of judicial races on the ballot in Harris County this election, and so this is intended to help introduce the candidates … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The DMN on the SBOE

Posted on January 11, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The DMN takes a look at the various State Board of Education races for 2010. Much of this we already know, but two things to note: Eight of the 15 board seats are on the ballot this year. Three of … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Some day our US Attorney will come

Posted on January 11, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As far as I can tell, if Sens. Cornyn and Hutchison have their way, the US Attorney positions in Texas will remain vacant until after the next Republican President is elected. A classic political stalemate pitting Texas’ Democratic congressional delegation … Continue reading →

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We’ll always have skeeters

Posted on January 11, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Wait, so all this arctic weather doesn’t mean a reduction in the mosquito population? So what’s the point of it, then? “The freeze is going to kill some of the population, but it’s not going to wipe out everything,” said … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , | 5 Comments