Monthly Archives: May 2003

Thank you for calling tech support

Posted on May 20, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Mac Diva has a question I can answer: I am pretty satisfied with this blog’s standing in the ecosystem. In its second month, it climbed into the 100s at The Truth Laid Bear and ranked 160 today. I don’t understand … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | 3 Comments

Back to the usual disorder

Posted on May 20, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

I’m not sure whether to laugh or cry when I read stories like this about the latest debacle in the continuing saga of How To Balance A Budget When There’s No Money. The latest propsal to be floated only to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 5 Comments

The wheels of punditry grind slowly

Posted on May 19, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Nearly two months ago, I wrote about receiving email at my only-published-on-the-old-Blogspot-site address about the Heritage Foundation’s Big Ol’ Blog Initiative, which is to send email to a bunch of bloggers and beg them to link to stuff they’ve written. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other punditry | 4 Comments

The last word on the Dixie Chicks

Posted on May 19, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Ahem. I just found Kinky Friedman’s tribute to the Dixie Chicks. I may never see again. Tread carefully. You have been warned. Continue reading →

Posted in Websurfing | 6 Comments

Turner’s troubles

Posted on May 19, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

John Williams spells out Sylvester Turner’s problems going into the Mayor’s race. I’ve made the same observations (here and here), but Williams adds an interesting Killer D twist that I’d forgotten: Turner said he understood why the Killer D’s acted … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2003 | Comments Off on Turner’s troubles

Rollin’ on a river

Posted on May 16, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

What a wild week it’s been. Can’t speak for anyone else, but I sure never saw the Killer D’s walkout coming. I’d like to thank everyone for stopping by and for the notes of support I got during the week. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | Comments Off on Rollin’ on a river

Killer D’s: The Movie

Posted on May 16, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

This is just too weird. Three years ago, an Austin writer named Lawrence Wright penned a screenplay called Sonny’s Last Stand about a group of Democratic state representatives who hole up in the Alamo for a few hours to break … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 1 Comment

Dems return, life is back to what passes for normal

Posted on May 16, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

All of the missing Democratic legislators have returned from Ardmore and elsewhere, having accomplished their mission of preventing a Tom DeLay-orchestrated Congressional redistricting bill from reaching the House floor. The legislators and their supporters are happy with what they have … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 2 Comments

Meanwhile, back in Houston

Posted on May 15, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

As I mentioned late last night, I attended a fundraiser/rally for Houston mayoral candidate Bill White. I chatted with a couple of people, including the chairman of the Harris County Democrats, an old friend from my Planned Parenthood volunteer days, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2003 | 3 Comments

RIP, Dave DeBusschere

Posted on May 15, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

The news that former New York Knicks star Dave DeBusschere died of a heart attack at the age of 62 makes me really sad. I grew up a Knicks fan, and got to see him play a couple of times … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 7 Comments

Near the end

Posted on May 15, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Well, the walkout is about over, as tonight is the deadline for new bills to be filed, and the Dems won’t be back until tomorrow. I’ve just posted another roundup of news and views on the Political State Report. I’m … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 9 Comments

All Stars

Posted on May 14, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Been awhile since I’ve added a Just Call Me Coach post. We’re still looking for that first win – with three games to go, we stand 0-10. I keep seeing signs of improvement – in our most recent game, we … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Just call me Coach | 3 Comments

There’s missing and then there’s missing

Posted on May 14, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

I see that Binkley has a picture of the Killer D’s playing cards, which he found here. All I can say is that someone didn’t do his homework – Rep. Irma Rangel died of cancer in March. Her replacement is … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 2 Comments

Buffy studies

Posted on May 14, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

NPR had a longish story on All Things Considered yesterday about the coming end (sniff) of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The story was about how academics have gotten into the act: Buffy enjoys a special following among academics, some of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | Comments Off on Buffy studies

Governor discovers Tulia

Posted on May 14, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Last week, after Sen. John Whitmire (D, Houston) filed a bill to allow the 13 Tulia defendants who remain incarcerated to be freed on bond, Governor Perry’s spokeswoman announced that the Guv had no comment until he could study all … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 1 Comment

Conservatives still love me

Posted on May 14, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Awhile back, I mentioned that I’d received an unsolicited offering from the Heritage Foundation to periodically receive “short notices about significant Heritage studies, publications and events”. As it happens, I never did receive any such email from them, so unless … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on Conservatives still love me

Clarification

Posted on May 14, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

When the walkout of the Killer D’s was first reported on, I said the following: Travis County Democrats are sponsoring a rally in favor of the 52 strikers (typically, the Harris County Democrats have zip on this). Michael has since … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 5 Comments

Bipartisanship and history

Posted on May 14, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

One of the Republican responses to the Democratic walkout of the state House has been to point out that the GOP was the minority party for most of Texas’ history. As Speaker Craddick put it, “How do you think the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 5 Comments

Report from the scene

Posted on May 13, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Byron of the Burnt Orange Report and a friend travelled to Ardmore to hear the Dems’ press conference. They got to mingle a bit with the Killer Ds, and he has a nice report posted. Check it out. Oh, and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | Comments Off on Report from the scene

Dems still hiding and enjoying life in Oklahoma

Posted on May 13, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Although three Democrats returned to Austin today, at least one of whom was brought in by DPS, 51 of them remain in Oklahoma, where the locals and some visiting constituents are treating them well. “You guys are my heroes,” Sharon … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 5 Comments

Can we vote on this? Please?

Posted on May 13, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

The Katy Corridor Coalition mailing list alerts me to this West University Place Examiner article about a rather fascinating mobility solution being proposed to the Commissioner’s Court: The [Harris County Toll Road Authority] last week approved a $1.7 million study … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 7 Comments

So how does this thing get resolved?

Posted on May 13, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Now that we’re hip-deep in this little legislative comedy, how exactly do we get ourselves out of it? The lines in the sand are pretty clear. Democrats want the Republicans to take the DeLay redistricting plan off the table. Republicans … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 6 Comments

Rockets blink

Posted on May 13, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

The Houston Rockets have reportedly entered “good faith negotiations” with local minority groups over the issue of splitting the new arena’s construction and operations boodle. Both sides were ordered into mediation for the second time after state District Judge John … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Rockets blink

Buffy break

Posted on May 13, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Amazingly enough, the Killer D’s walkout hasn’t stopped other things from happening around the world. Chron TV writer Mike McDaniel, who’s been a big booster of Buffy the Vampire Slayer for years now, has a nice farewell article in today’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | Comments Off on Buffy break

Editorial roundup

Posted on May 13, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

You’ve probably heard by now that some of the missing Democratic State House members have turned up in Ardmore, Oklahoma, where they partied down on Denny’s pot roast and continued to thumb their noses at Speaker Craddick and Governor Perry. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 20 Comments

A few questions and answers about the walkout

Posted on May 12, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

I just posted this over at the Political State Report and wanted a copy here as well. Question: How can the Dems do this? Answer: The State Constitution gives them the right: Two-thirds of each House shall constitute a quorum … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 7 Comments

State House Dems go for a walk

Posted on May 12, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Holy parliamentary procedures, Batman! At least 52 Democratic members of the Texas House have walked out of the legislative session in protest of redistricting and other legislation. This means there are fewer than 100 members present, which is not enough … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 39 Comments

How conservative is Joe Lieberman?

Posted on May 12, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

I’m not a supporter of Joe Lieberman, but something always feels a little off to me when people refer to him as being a near-Republican. Yes, he’s been a hawk on Iraq, which is something the Democratic base may never … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | 3 Comments

Run for the Rose

Posted on May 12, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Over the past few months, an awful lot of people have found this post by Googling for “Marnie Rose”, the young Houston doctor who was featured on Houston Medical. Dr. Marnie Rose lost her battle to brain cancer on August … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 3 Comments

No Guardrails

Posted on May 11, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Have you ever heard of the “No Guardrails” theory of public morality? I hadn’t, but Radley Balko has a nice piece about it. “No Guardrails” basically blamed society’s elite — and the leftist elite in particular — for adopting the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other punditry | 1 Comment

And then there were three

Posted on May 11, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Orlando Sanchez has finally made it official by announcing his entry into the 2003 Houston Mayoral race. The former City Council member has been courted by the White House to run for Congress. State officials have talked with him about … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2003 | 1 Comment

Advertising

Posted on May 10, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Population: One suggests a political ad I’d like to see. And yes, though you may have heard it was an urban legend, something like this did actually happen. Continue reading →

Posted in Other punditry | 2 Comments

Traffic report for April

Posted on May 10, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

April started out like gangbusters and may have been my busiest month ever had I not taken a week off to visit California. Not that I’m complaining, mind you – we had a fantastic time out west. I still wound … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Traffic Reports | Comments Off on Traffic report for April

Another lawsuit against Tom DeLay

Posted on May 9, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Two more losing candidates from last year’s election have filed suit, alleging that campaign money was used illegally by a Republican special interest group. Paul Clayton of Orange and Mike Head of Athens claim Texans for a Republican Majority violated … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on Another lawsuit against Tom DeLay