Tag Archives: Rick Perry

Last minute poll numbers

Posted on February 24, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Public Policy Polling takes a last look at the gubernatorial primaries. Debra Medina is fading in the Texas Republican race for Governor, and it continues to look like the contest is headed for a runoff where Rick Perry will be … Continue reading →

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Texas takes a stand in favor of global warming

Posted on February 18, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

There was a time when stuff like this would have surprised me. But then, there was a time when being anti-science wasn’t a point of pride for the Republican Party. Texas on Tuesday became the first state to challenge the … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Yet another poll

Posted on February 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

And the newspapers get into the polling game. The poll found Perry leading with 45 percent support among likely Republican voters, with Hutchison at 29 percent and Medina at 17 percent; 8 percent said they were undecided. The Feb. 2-10 … Continue reading →

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Two more polls

Posted on February 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We are suddenly awash in hot polling goodness. First up, a new result from the University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll: Gov. Rick Perry is well ahead of U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and former Wharton County GOP chair Debra Medina, … Continue reading →

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If we must cut the budget, let’s be smart about it

Posted on February 11, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Trib remembers the last time the state of Texas had a huge budget hole, and how it made things worse in its attempt to deal with it. For some, it’s not too early to fret that lawmakers will balance … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo, Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

White holds big lead in Dem primary poll

Posted on February 9, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The headline and content of this Trib story is about another strong showing by GOP gubernatorial candidate Debra Medina in a poll, this one by Public Policy Polling, but that’s not what interests me. I’ll get to that in a … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Statesman for Bill White

Posted on February 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Following their unsurprising recommendation of KBH in the GOP Governor’s primary, the Statesman makes the clear and obvious choice in the Democratic race as well. As Texas moves through precarious times, it needs leaders from that moderate middle. We believe … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Statesman for KBH

Posted on February 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The first gubernatorial endorsement of the primary season form the major dailies comes from the Statesman, which recommends a vote for KBH over Rick Perry. Perry beats up on Washington to beat up on the senator. Washington is not an … Continue reading →

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It’s our own fault we missed out on SUPERTRAIN funds

Posted on February 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

So says Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “If Texas had had its act together, it would have gotten some high-speed rail money,” the Obama administration Cabinet official told reporters. Thirty-one states shared $8 billion in rail grants from the 2009 economic … Continue reading →

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Another Rasmussen poll in TX-GOV

Posted on February 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Following their GOP primary poll, Rasmussen has released another general election matchup; the previous one, from only two weeks ago, is here. For the most part, it’s not any different: A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely Texas voters … Continue reading →

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Bradley and the Texas Open Meetings Act

Posted on February 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Rick Casey finds another way in which John Bradley, the Chair of the Texas Forensic Science Commission, is a failure. Friday started badly for John Bradley, the Williamson County district attorney selected last fall by Gov. Rick Perry to ride … Continue reading →

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The SUPERTRAIN passes us by

Posted on February 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We knew we weren’t going to get much in the way of funding for high speed rail in Texas, but it still kinda stings to see just how little we got. The $3.75 million that the Lone Star State will … Continue reading →

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Rasmussen’s latest on the GOP primary

Posted on February 2, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this Rasmussen poll of the GOP Governor’s primary, which shows Rick Perry with 44%, KBH with 29%, and Debra Medina with 16%. 1. People are starting to talk seriously about the possibility of … Continue reading →

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No mention of Willingham

Posted on January 31, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Forensic Science Commission had its first meeting since Williamson County DA John Bradley was named Chair by Governor Perry. Bradley did the job Perry picked him for by preventing any official discussion of the Cameron Todd Willingham case … Continue reading →

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The recession and the Texas Enterprise Fund

Posted on January 30, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

A report worth reading from Texans for Public Justice: The global recession that hit Texas in 2008 is playing havoc with Governor Perry’s signature business-incentive program: the Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF). A review of 45 TEF projects that received $363 … Continue reading →

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Unemployment up in Texas

Posted on January 28, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Not the kind of story Rick Perry wants to see with an election coming up. The state’s economic recovery hit a snag in December, as employers cut 23,900 jobs after expanding payrolls in October and November. The Texas unemployment rate … Continue reading →

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Perry to thumb his nose at the newspapers

Posted on January 27, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Raise your hand if this surprises you. In a major rebuke to the state’s media establishment, Gov. Rick Perry will not meet with newspaper editorial boards to try to win their endorsement before his March 2 primary. “In the final … Continue reading →

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Perry’s paid volunteers

Posted on January 25, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

This story is just full of mockery opportunities. Gov. Rick Perry’s campaign has unknowingly paid convicted felons as part-time workers under its incentive program to turn out voters for the Republican primary. The campaign lists about 300 part-time workers on … Continue reading →

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Metal detectors at the Capitol

Posted on January 24, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

After the gunfire incident at the Capitol last week, you’d think this wouldn’t be too controversial. The day after a shooting outside the state Capitol, lawmakers on Friday suggested that metal detectors to the building entrances were imminent, a move … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Where’s Willingham?

Posted on January 23, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Forensic Science Commission will meet on January 29. You will be shocked to hear that Cameron Todd Willingham is not on their agenda. Instead, the meeting will focus on formalizing procedures explaining how the group will conduct business, … Continue reading →

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Again with KBH and term limits

Posted on January 22, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

You do have to admire her lack of self-consciousness. Contending that Gov. Rick Perry has used the state as his personal playground, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison unveiled a government reform plan Monday that includes term limits for Texas governors and … Continue reading →

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HISD may race to the top

Posted on January 21, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Despite the earlier decision by Governor Perry to not let Texas compete for “Race to the Top” stimulus funds, school districts like HISD may get the chance to apply for them on their own. President Barack Obama announced Tuesday that … Continue reading →

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Is the GOP gubernatorial primary headed for a runoff?

Posted on January 20, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Trib and Texas Politics both report on that Rasmussen poll, which in addition to giving us our first relevant general election result also shows Debra Medina climbing into double digits, with both Rick Perry and Kay Bailey Hutchison under … Continue reading →

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First poll of TX-GOV

Posted on January 19, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

And we have our first general election gubernatorial poll of Texas that has Bill White in it, courtesy of Rasmussen. Incumbent GOP Governor Rick Perry leads White 50% to 40% among likely Texas voters. Four percent (4%) prefer some other … Continue reading →

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Interview with Bill White

Posted on January 18, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Today we begin my interview series for the 2010 Democratic primary, and we begin it with the man who has helped get so many of us excited about the 2010 elections in Texas, former Houston Mayor Bill White, who is … Continue reading →

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More food stamps fail

Posted on January 18, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The dimensions of this failure are just staggering. Texas has the worst performing food stamp program in the nation, says the federal director who oversees the project designed to help desperate people get nutritious meals. Texas ranks last among the … Continue reading →

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That was the debate that was

Posted on January 15, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’m generally not the debate-watching type, so I managed to find some other way to spend my Thursday evening that did not involve the Perry/Hutchison/Median tete-a-tete-a-tete. Plenty of other people did, however, some because they were paid to do so … 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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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 →

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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 →

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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

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 →

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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 →

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Of smog and hot air

Posted on January 9, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Get ready for the upcoming fight over Texas’ – and Houston’s – air quality. The federal government proposed a tougher limit on ozone pollution Thursday that will force Houston to make deeper emissions cuts just as the former smog capital … Continue reading →

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