Tag Archives: Defense Department

Fort Cavazos

Posted on May 12, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

For a number of reasons, Tuesday was a good day. One of the U.S. military’s largest bases has been renamed after the Army’s first Hispanic four-star general. Fort Hood, located about 70 miles north of Austin, Texas, was redesignated on … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Three comments about three vaccine mandate news stories

Posted on January 6, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Item one: A U.S. district judge in North Texas has blocked a mask mandate and vaccine requirement for staff and students in the Head Start program that was issued by President Joe Biden. Head Start is a federal school readiness … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Why is Greg Abbott doing so little to help Texas recover from the freeze?

Posted on March 1, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

If this Politico story doesn’t make you mad, then either you’re a Greg Abbott shill or you really need to check your priors. Assessing the effectiveness of disaster response is a famously fraught political game. What looks like a master … Continue reading →

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

Here comes President Biden

Posted on February 21, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Visiting next week for disaster-related matters, itinerary TBD. President Joe Biden said Friday that he’ll sign a major disaster declaration for Texas after millions in the state suffered power outages and water disruptions during prolonged freezing temperatures. He’s also expected … Continue reading →

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

Working on Ebola in Galveston

Posted on August 9, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Given what’s been going on lately I thought this would be of interest. As the worst recorded Ebola outbreak in history sweeps across West Africa, hope for a cure is centering on scientists thousands of miles away at the Galveston … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Working on Ebola in Galveston

Same sex couples win the right to register for benefits in the Texas National Guard

Posted on November 28, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Happy Thanksgiving, y’all. The Texas National Guard said late Tuesday it will immediately let same-sex couples register for benefits, ending a highly publicized standoff with the Pentagon. Five Texas Guard facilities, including one in Houston, that had been off limits … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Same sex couples win the right to register for benefits in the Texas National Guard

Wendy Davis needs to push back on Texas’ refusal to comply with the law on military same-sex benefits

Posted on November 18, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The sooner the better. This is a no-brainer, and a win all around. Texas Gov. Rick Perry stood his ground [last] Friday in a showdown with the Pentagon over processing benefits for same-sex couples at National Guard offices, possibly setting … Continue reading →

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

The states that are making life harder for their National Guard members

Posted on November 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It’s not just Texas. While a majority of states ban same-sex marriages, most are not fighting the new policy. But Pentagon officials say that in addition to Texas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and West Virginia have balked. Each has cited … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The states that are making life harder for their National Guard members

Hagel tells Texas National Guard to obey the law

Posted on November 3, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel late Thursday rebuked Texas and eight other states whose National Guard organizations have refused to process federal benefits given to same-sex couples. In a speech before the Anti-Defamation League in New York, Hagel revealed that … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Lambda Legal challenges Texas Military Forces on benefits

Posted on September 16, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Good. An LGBT legal group has given the Texas National Guard 10 days to respond to its request that it begin enrolling same-sex spouses of service members into the federal Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) at its facilities. DEERS … Continue reading →

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

Texas Military Forces asks for Abbott’s opinion on same-sex benefits

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Like we don’t know what he’s going to say. Here’s the dilemma: The Department of Defense, based on a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, has ordered certain benefits be extended to same-sex, legally married couples in the military. But the … Continue reading →

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

Military spending is government spending

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

President Obama recently announced a change in direction for US military strategy in the wake of exiting Iraq, one that will involve some reductions in spending. Much pearl clutching and chin stroking followed. But ongoing tinkering with the nation’s defense … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Military spending is government spending