Monthly Archives: August 2004

Real ladies vote Republican

Posted on August 31, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

I was trying to come up with a clever way to describe this USA Today poll which shows that single women are more likely to vote Democratic while married women trend Republican, and the reaction to it by Focus on … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | 4 Comments

Rack up another Enron plea

Posted on August 31, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

The count is now 14. Former Enron Broadband Services executive Kevin Hannon pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit securities and wire fraud, becoming the 14th former executive to strike a plea bargain with prosecutors. Originally indicted on charges of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | 1 Comment

There’s multitasking and then there’s multitasking

Posted on August 31, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

There must be a mighty big hat rack in State Rep. Ray Allen’s office, because his staffers sure do wear a lot of hats. When state Rep. Ray Allen was passing bills in the Legislature last year, he relied on … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 3 Comments

Mister Sinus lawsuit

Posted on August 31, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Like Seth, I can’t say I’m surprised by this. Mr. Sinus, an Austin sketch-comedy group that skewers movies at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, is under attack. Best Brains Inc., the company that owns the TV show “Mystery Science Theater 3000,” … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | 1 Comment

You can take the girl out of Texas…

Posted on August 31, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Listen to Ginger. Hot dogs and chianti? These things simply are not done. Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Comments Off on You can take the girl out of Texas…

Oaks at Rio Bend redux

Posted on August 31, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Remember Oaks at Rio Bend and Celebrations for Children? The Chron gives us an update now that the GOP convention is here. Would-be donors to a charity benefiting the subdivision, Oaks at Rio Bend, originally were invited to a New … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 1 Comment

Texas Tuesdays: Stephen Frost

Posted on August 31, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

We wind up our tour through the State House today with a look at Stephen Frost, running to replace the retiring Killer D Barry Telford in HD1. This is a seat that the Democrats should hold, but just as we … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Texas Tuesdays | 2 Comments

He never gives up

Posted on August 30, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

There’s a fine line between “persistent” and “delusional”. You tell me which side of that line Governor Perry is on. Gov. Rick Perry said Sunday that he would not rule out a special, lame-duck legislative session – perhaps after the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on He never gives up

Ralph Reed’s gambling riches

Posted on August 30, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

TAPPED brings us this Roll Call article on Ralph Reed and the millions he’s been given to pimp casino gambling by a disgraced lobbyist. Reed was paid more than $3.8 million during a yearlong period in 2001 and 2002 by … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 4 Comments

Chocolate is good for you

Posted on August 30, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Tiffany is a big fan of dark chocolate. News like this makes her happy. Eating dark chocolate can improve healthy blood flow and prevent clots forming in the veins, an international heart congress has heard. But the same benefits might … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | 2 Comments

The Internet at 35

Posted on August 30, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Later this week, the Internet moves to a higher age bracket. Stephen Crocker and Vinton Cerf were among the graduate students who joined UCLA professor Len Kleinrock in an engineering lab on Sept. 2, 1969, as bits of meaningless test … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | 1 Comment

Sheri Dew

Posted on August 30, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

The GOP may be putting on its best moderate face at the convention, but apparently someone forgot to tell that to Sheri Dew, the woman who will be giving the opening invocation and who apparently believes that people who don’t … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 12 Comments

Dems protest Perry

Posted on August 30, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Bob Perry, that is. Byron has the scoop. Check out the pictures. Continue reading →

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Smoky Joe vs. Kid Meyer

Posted on August 30, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a nice little plug for Morris Meyer, spotted in the Dallas Morning News editorial blog: The editorial board interviewed Morris Meyer, the Democratic candidate for Congressional District 6, this afternoon. The incumbent, Republican Joe Barton, declined our invitation to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2004 | Comments Off on Smoky Joe vs. Kid Meyer

Lampson v. Poe

Posted on August 29, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

More like this, please. U.S. Rep. Nick Lampson, D-Beaumont, one of the Democratic incumbents targeted in the Republican redistricting effort, faces a tough challenge from Republican Ted Poe, who became nationally known for creative sentencing during two decades as a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2004 | Comments Off on Lampson v. Poe

Defending Heflin, discussing Vo

Posted on August 29, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Rick Casey keeps on the Talmadge Heflin beat by taking a look at Heflin’s opponent, Hubert Vo. Candidate Hubert Vo, who has been active in the community and is on the Super Neighborhood Council, is smarter than the state party … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2004 | 1 Comment

Metroblogging

Posted on August 29, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

H-Town Blogs points to Metroblogging, which appears to be a group blog about events and happenings in different cities by the people in those cities. As yet, Houston is not represented, but that will be rectified when enough people have … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Metroblogging

Do you want to rephrase that?

Posted on August 28, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Tim Dunlop catches an unfortunate turn of phrase during one of the womens’ diving events. His commenters supply a bunch more, all of which are amusing. I’m reminded of a story from the late 1960s, when the New York Yankees’ … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 2 Comments

Kitzman to resign

Posted on August 28, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Oliver Kitzman, the Waller County DA who tried to keep Prairie View A&M students from voting in that county, will resign his post in September. Oliver Kitzman announced his plans to resign during a monthly Republican party meeting Thursday night, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Kitzman to resign

Ben Barnes

Posted on August 28, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

By now, you’ve probably heard of the Ben Barnes story. Former Democratic Lt. Gov. Ben Barnes, in a video posted on the Internet, says he is ashamed that he got President Bush and other young men from important families into … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | 6 Comments

Free Kenny Boy!

Posted on August 28, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

This was bound to happen sooner or later – KenLayInfo.com is online. The only info there so far is a picture of Kenny Boy and a personal note in which he states his innocence “of all charges that Andrew Weissmann … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | 1 Comment

The unpublished opinion

Posted on August 27, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting – an unpublished opinion by the Texas Ethics Commission in 1998 suggests that yes, corporate donations to PACs for political purposes are banned by state law. Fred Lewis, executive director of Campaigns for People, said the unpublished opinion shows … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on The unpublished opinion

Houston Press on Fort Bend Follies

Posted on August 27, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

The Houston Press (scroll down to “Benchwarmer”) takes note of the judicial bait and switch in Fort Bend. Nothing new there – “Hairballs” is not and was never intended to be a replacement for Tim Fleck – but at least … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2004 | 3 Comments

Welcome to the minority

Posted on August 27, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

According to the state demographer, “non-Hispanic whites” are now officially a minority in the state of Texas. Buried within a new Census Bureau report, “Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States,” was an estimate that 49.5 percent … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 2 Comments

RIP, MNF?

Posted on August 27, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Could Monday Night Football be in danger? It’s apparently a big money-loser for ABC, but their affiliates love it, and there are plenty of suitors out there if Big Mouse asks for a divorce. Read this LA Times article for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 3 Comments

Milestones

Posted on August 26, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Today Tiffany put away all of Olivia’s 0-3 month clothing, as she’s now officially too big for all of them. She’s somewhere north of 12 pounds as she nears turning 12 weeks old on Sunday, and she’s almost too long … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | 2 Comments

Tomstown update

Posted on August 26, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

The AusChron brings us some news in the TAB/TRM investigation/lawsuit front (which The Stakeholder has already commented on). The bottom line here is that all of these cases are stuck in molasses – the original lawsuit against TAB was filed … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on Tomstown update

99 aluminum bottles of beer on the wall

Posted on August 26, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Beer technology marches ever forward. PITTSBURGH – How much would you pay for a bottle of beer that stays cold nearly an hour longer? Pittsburgh Brewing, maker of Iron City Beer, is asking an additional $1 per case. The brewery … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | 5 Comments

Soechting wants Heflin investigated

Posted on August 26, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

State Democratic Party Chair Charles Soechting has requested an investigation of State Rep. Talmadge Heflin, whom Soechting said may have perjured himself during the recent custody fight. In a letter to Harris County District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal on Wednesday, Charles … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Imagery

Posted on August 26, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

There were many reasons why Clayton Williams lost the 1990 Texas Governor’s race to Ann Richards despite the large lead he held in the polls through most of the campaign. The turning point for him was probably when he refused … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | 4 Comments

City propositions on the ballot for November

Posted on August 26, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

There will be three city propositions on the ballot this November, two of which are intended to restrict how much the city can spend in a given year. [Mayor Bill] White’s proposed charter amendment, Proposition 1, would limit annual increases … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 2 Comments

Toomey reportedly leaving Guv’s office

Posted on August 26, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Mike Toomey, Rick Perry’s chief of staff, is set to leave soon, according to Dave McNeely. Rumors continue to fly around the Capitol that are not about whether Mike Toomey will be leaving as Gov. Rick Perry’s chief of staff, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Another Enron plea

Posted on August 25, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Anyone keeping count here? I’ve lost track. Mark Koenig, the former head of Enron’s investor relations section, pleaded guilty this afternoon to a charge of aiding and abetting securities fraud and agreed to cooperate with the government. U.S. Judge Ewing … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Took her long enough

Posted on August 25, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

And Comptroller Strayhorn piles on Governor Perry regarding the continued underfunding of CHIP. In a letter addressed to the governor and in a speech at the Austin Hilton, Strayhorn accused him of shifting the cost of, rather than cutting altogether, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment