Category Archives: Show Business for Ugly People

Bill Hobby bashes the SBOE

Posted on April 10, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Boy, I don’t know who put the hot sauce in former Lite Guv Bill Hobby’s Cheerios, but keep it up, I say. Go read it for yourself and you’ll see what I mean. When you’re done with that, you can … Continue reading →

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The enduring question of Latino voting

Posted on April 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

You can count on there being some number of articles about Latino voting every year. The Chron took its turn on Sunday. The numbers are formidable. Hispanics made up 31 percent of the Texas population in the 2000 census and … Continue reading →

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Just a minute, SBOE

Posted on April 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I almost missed this op-ed by State Rep. Carol Alvarado about everyone’s favorite clown show, the State Board of Education. In it, she hits on a theme we’re seeing more and more of. How can board members claim that our … Continue reading →

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A redistricting compromise?

Posted on April 2, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t know how realistic this is, but if an agreement on how to divvy up the new Congressional districts can be worked out before the start of the legislative session, it would at least allow for more attention to … Continue reading →

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More legislative pushback against the SBOE

Posted on April 2, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Texas risks becoming a national laughingstock by diminishing Thomas Jefferson, banning the word “capitalism,” and otherwise distorting history for its public schools, the chairman of the Legislature’s largest caucus said Tuesday, announcing a hearing on the state’s proposed social … Continue reading →

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Turns out we’re not actually destroying the world one textbook at a time

Posted on March 29, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Good to know. Though Texas has been painted in scores of media reports as the big dog that wags the textbook industry tail, that’s simply no longer true — and will become even less true in the future, as technological … Continue reading →

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Where the votes are going

Posted on March 26, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Matt Stiles looks at Census data and notes a political point. Seven Texas counties — Rockwall, Williamson, Collin, Hays, Fort Bend, Montgomery and Denton — are listed among the nation’s 30 fastest-growing areas, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates released … Continue reading →

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A fine whine from the SBOE

Posted on March 25, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Apparently, some of the wingnut members of our State Board of Education got their widdle feelings hurt by some of the coverage of their most recent hijinks, in particular about their amendment to remove Thomas Jefferson from the world history … Continue reading →

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“The list of shame”

Posted on March 18, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Here are three last reminders of that gang of idiots known as the State Board of Education before they return in May to finalize the vandalism they committed last week. First up, from the Texas Freedom Network: So what happened? … Continue reading →

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Effective Grassroots Outreach

Posted on March 15, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I meant to post this over the weekend, but didn’t manage to get to it. From the Inbox: Please join a diverse panel that will discuss Effective Grassroots Advocacy from Multiple Perspectives Hon. Debra Danburg, Former Texas State Representative for … Continue reading →

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The SBOE has low self-esteem

Posted on March 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I think I finally figured out why they do stuff like this. The State Board of Education tentatively approved new standards for social studies Friday with members divided along party lines — some blasting them as a fraud and conservative … Continue reading →

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The SBOE continues on its rampage

Posted on March 11, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Sadly, despite the encouraging election results in the SBOE races last week, there’s still plenty of opportunity for the Board’s troglodyte caucus to wreak havoc on the schoolchildren of Texas. The State Board of Education’s Hispanic and African American members … Continue reading →

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Liveblogging the SBOE social studies hearings

Posted on March 10, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

No, not me. I’m not there, and besides, I’m no good at liveblogging. Here’s all the coverage you could need, from people who actually are good at this. First and foremost, the indispensable Texas Freedom Network. Stephen Schafersman, blogging for … Continue reading →

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Time to send in the clowns

Posted on March 10, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

You know that old expression about how no one’s life, liberty, or property are safe when the Legislature is in session? That’s how I feel these days about the State Board of Education. And that means it’s loin-girding time, because … Continue reading →

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The Census and redisticting

Posted on March 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Mustafa Tameez has an op-ed in today’s Chron about the importance of the Census from a political perspective. Remember redistricting? Redistricting is the process by which the boundaries of elective districts are periodically redrawn to maintain equal representation on the … Continue reading →

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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 →

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No RNC convention here

Posted on February 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Thank God for small favors. Washington-based Hotline reported Wednesday that the Republican National Committee, holding its winter meeting in Honolulu last week, had narrowed its search for a 2012 convention site to four cities — Houston, Tampa, Fla., Phoenix and … Continue reading →

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In case you needed further proof that the SBOE is a clown show

Posted on January 29, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

These guys just defy parody. In its haste to sort out the state’s social studies curriculum standards this month, the State Board of Education tossed children’s author [Bill] Martin, who died in 2004, from a proposal for the third-grade section. … 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 →

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Wrapping up the SBOE social studies debate

Posted on January 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Apparently, the debate over the new social studies standards went on so long that the SBOE decided to put the rest of it off till March, meaning the final adoption will be in May. If only they could push it … Continue reading →

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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 →

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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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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.

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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 →

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RIP, Kelly Fero

Posted on January 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Sad news. Democratic political consultant Kelly Fero died this afternoon at his home in Austin. Details weren’t immediately available. Fero was best known as an Austin-based consultant to John Sharp, Tony Sanchez, the late Jim Mattox and many, many others. … Continue reading →

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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 →

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HCDE moves to eject Wolfe

Posted on December 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The strange saga of Harris County Department of Education Trustee Michael Wolfe takes another weird turn. The Harris County Board of Education has voted to begin legal proceedings to kick Trustee Michael Wolfe off the board. Fellow trustee Jim Henley … Continue reading →

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Federal court rules for TDP in voting machine case

Posted on December 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’m a little surprised by this. A three-judge panel has ruled that Dallas County election officials violated federal law when they did not inform the Department of Justice about changes in the way straight-party votes are counted on electronic voting … Continue reading →

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Another food stamp lawsuit

Posted on December 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Back in August, a federal lawsuit was filed over the interminable delays that food stamp applicants face in Texas getting their forms processed. That suit was dismissed in October by Judge Sam Sparks on the grounds that the federal law … Continue reading →

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Improving campaign finance disclosure

Posted on December 17, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This is a step in the right direction. The [Texas Ethics Commission] adopted new rules last week that, beginning this summer, will require anyone running for office to use 19 defined subject categories to describe any goods, services or other … Continue reading →

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More polls coming

Posted on December 15, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Bring it on, I say. Blum and Weprin Associates in New York, a veteran survey firm specializing in political polling, will conduct the polls on candidate matchups, public policy and other political issues. Blum and Weprin Associates have polled Texas … Continue reading →

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The real reason Governor Perry keeps his travels secret

Posted on December 1, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I think this sums it all up right here. The governor’s Oct. 24 political trip to Las Vegas to meet with Brian Sandoval, a Republican candidate for Nevada governor, included a bachelor party for Perry’s son, Griffin, spokesman Mark Miner … Continue reading →

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Has the TEC grown some teeth?

Posted on November 21, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Well, no. But they do seem to be levying bigger fines, so maybe their gums are a little harder. By every measure, the agency is issuing more — and larger — fines, the records show. “There’s been a shift to … Continue reading →

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You sure you’re married?

Posted on November 20, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe you are, and maybe you’re not. Barbara Ann Radnofsky, a Houston lawyer and Democratic candidate for attorney general, says that a 22-word clause in a 2005 constitutional amendment designed to ban gay marriages erroneously endangers the legal status of … Continue reading →

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