Tag Archives: John Cornyn

First pass at analyzing the 2012 results

Posted on November 8, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

This is kind of a brain dump, based on the information available now. I’ll have plenty more to say once precinct data has been released. – The current tally in the Presidential race on the Secretary of State webpage, with … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Fifth Circuit strikes again

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Dammit. A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that Texas did not act unconstitutionally when it moved to expel Planned Parenthood from a health and contraceptive care program for low-income women. The ruling overturned a preliminary injunction, issued in April by … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Waiting for Rick (and Greg, and David)

Posted on July 22, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Ross Ramsey breaks out his crystal ball and looks ahead to the 2014 election. Remember this: In his long history in state politics — closing in on three decades — [Rick] Perry has run for everything he said he was … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

New clean air rule from EPA

Posted on July 9, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

A new rule from the EPA that seeks to limit pollution that originates in one state but affects others as well should have a big effect on Texas. The rule, which covers 27 states and the District of Columbia, will … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on New clean air rule from EPA

Three things about Sanchez

Posted on April 25, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

If you judge the announcement of a possible candidacy by the amount of attention it receives, then the story of the recruitment of Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez has been a smash success. Here are a few things being written that … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Yet another threat to light rail expansion

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Great. The House could vote as soon as mid-February on a plan by the conservative House Republican Study Committee to end the 35-year-old Federal Transit Administration’s “New Starts” program,” which pours $2 billion-a-year into urban transit projects such as Houston … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Yeah, it is too early to be polling for 2012

Posted on January 24, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

But that won’t stop anyone from doing them. 2012 could be the year Democrats are finally competitive for President in Texas…but only if the Republicans nominate Sarah Palin. There are vast differences in how the various different potential GOP contenders … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

DADT repeal passes, DREAM Act fails

Posted on December 19, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Some history was made yesterday. The Senate took a big step toward ending the military’s ban on openly gay servicemembers today. By a vote of 63 to 33, the Senate voted to end debate on a bill repealing the military’s … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on DADT repeal passes, DREAM Act fails

Some Garcia 2002 numbers

Posted on December 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

When I did an analysis of County Commissioner Precinct 2 for this year’s election, I said that I couldn’t include a comparison from 2002 because I didn’t have precinct-level data for that year. I got an email the other day … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2002 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Can we finally get some US Attorneys?

Posted on October 26, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

A “Republican and former federal prosecutor” named Bill Mateja wrote an op-ed over the weekend that simultaneously cheered and criticized the Republican obstruction of getting US Attorneys nominated for Texas. Why should Republicans, who have played their hand so well, … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Can we finally get some US Attorneys?

Look in the mirror, John

Posted on October 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

It is of course a terrible thing that the actions of a single Republican will keep the Houston/Galveston area from keeping $40 million in federal disaster funds, but the reaction to it from certain quarters is more than a little … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Look in the mirror, John

Nominations, please

Posted on August 11, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I sure hope that while President Obama was in town, someone asked him if he ever intends to nominate a US Attorney for Texas? Justice goes on, but Obama could have used those prosecutor jobs to build a farm team … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Nominations, please

There goes the bag drag

Posted on August 10, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

That sound you heard was many thousands of dollars being taken in by the President and the DNC. For the past 22 years, some state Democrats complain, the national party has used Texas like an ATM. The national party’s constant … Continue reading →

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

No, they won’t “cross swords” over this

Posted on August 10, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

A few days back, I blogged about how immigration reform is supposedly going to be a wedge issue for the GOP because evangelicals and business types support it. I took issue with a statement by Bill Hammond, the president of … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

John Cornyn sounds like a Democrat

Posted on August 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

To be more precise, he’s saying something many Democrats around here have been saying for a long time. Days before the president visits Austin and Dallas for Democratic fundraisers, Cornyn lashed out at Obama for focusing his Texas visit on … Continue reading →

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

We have a new illustration of “chutzpah”

Posted on July 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

From Sen. John Cornyn, who knows a thing or two about shamelessness. Sen. John Cornyn pinned Democrats with the failure of a plan to extend jobless aid for millions of unemployed workers, only a day after Democrats fell a vote … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on We have a new illustration of “chutzpah”

Federal funds for transit shortfalls proposed

Posted on May 30, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

This is a good idea. Transit agencies forced to raise fares or cut service to close budget gaps would be eligible for $2 billion in emergency operating funds under legislation unveiled today by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-CT) … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The effect of the “Citizens United” decision on judicial elections

Posted on February 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Republican attorney David Schenck makes the case in the Trib that the recent Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC, which basically said that corporations could spend money as they saw fit in political campaigns, signals the imminent death … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 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 →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Some day our US Attorney will come

You have a funny definition of “fiscal conservative”, Senator

Posted on December 27, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.” Our junior Senator calls himself something that doesn’t describe him accurately at all. … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on You have a funny definition of “fiscal conservative”, Senator

More on BAE Systems

Posted on December 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Just a followup on the BAE Systems situation, which I didn’t get around to blogging about last week. I see that in addition to everything else he’s got going on, Mayor White will be trying to save BAE’s contract, along … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on More on BAE Systems

BAE Systems

Posted on November 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I have four things to say about this story, concerning Sealy-based SAE Systems and the $2.6 billion contract with the Defense Department to build Army trucks that it’s on the verge of losing after 17 years. We first heard about … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Texas Trib and its polls

Posted on November 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been so immersed in the Houston elections that I forgot to give a warm welcome to the Texas Tribune, which made its debut on Tuesday. I really like the look of the site, I like their lineup of writers, … Continue reading →

Posted in Other punditry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Texas Trib and its polls

From the “I hate you! Now give me some money!” files

Posted on October 7, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Republicans think the stimulus package was bad public policy and an ineffective waste of money, except for the money that comes to their districts, in which case it’s all good. Texas’ top lawmakers in Congress want President Barack Obama to … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on From the “I hate you! Now give me some money!” files

John Cornyn: For deficits before he was against them

Posted on September 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

There are many ridiculous things about our political discourse these days. Among them is the discussion of long-term federal budget deficit projections, in which the vast majority of Republicans, especially those who have been in office for more than a … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Let’s seat those judges

Posted on August 7, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Traditionally, a President seeks input from a state’s Senators when filling federal court, US Attorney, and US Marshall openings. Also traditionally, when the President and both Senators from a given state are from opposite parties, the state’s Congressional delegation assumes … Continue reading →

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

KBH to vote against Sotomayor

Posted on July 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Nobody is surprised by this, right? Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison says she will vote against confirming Sonia Sotomayor to be a Supreme Court justice. She said Tuesday she is concerned about Sotomayor’s views on the Second Amendment on the … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Education stimulus money for Texas approved

Posted on July 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Good news. The U.S. Department of Education has approved Texas’ application for using $3.2 billion in federal stimulus money, Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, said. That money will be used to pay for textbooks and a $1.9 billion increase in school … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Education stimulus money for Texas approved

Cornyn to vote No on Sotomayor

Posted on July 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Nobody should be surprised by this. The senator who runs the GOP’s Senate campaign arm says he’ll vote against Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. Texas Republican John Cornyn is siding with his party’s leaders and conservatives against President Barack Obama’s … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

US Attorney update

Posted on July 21, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Mary Flood notes that while we still don’t have a nominee for US Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, we at least now have a list of finalists. The committee met with the four folks whose names were sent … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on US Attorney update

Can we call this a bipartisan agreement?

Posted on July 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

From last week. As Democrats in Congress push harder for a government-run health insurance plan that would compete with private insurers in some reform bills, Sen. John Cornyn said it remains a “deal-breaker” with Republicans. From this week, via Kos. … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Can we call this a bipartisan agreement?

Who are these people?

Posted on June 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, there are vacancies in the US Attorney’s offices in the Southern and Western district offices in Texas, which will be filled by Presidential appointment. Normally, when the President is of one party and both of a given … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Cornyn reverts to form

Posted on June 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Hey, remember when Big John Cornyn was rebuking the crazy wing of the Republican Party for making race-based attacks on Sonya Sotomayor? Apparently, he’s figured out that this put him in the minority of the GOP, because he’s now joined … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Big John versus El Rushbo and The Newt

Posted on May 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

There’s just not enough popcorn in the world. As if to magnify what are already major differences between elected Republicans and conservative activists on the question of Sonia Sotomayor, check out what conservative senator (and chairman of the National Republican … Continue reading →

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