Monthly Archives: October 2005

Judge to judge judge selected

Posted on October 25, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Judge B.B. Schraub has named retired Judge C.W. Duncan to determine if Judge Bob Perkins is fit to judge Tom DeLay. Got all that? Duncan, a senior district judge from Bell County who sometimes continues to serve as a visiting … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on Judge to judge judge selected

Texas Monthly preview: Why tort “reform” stinks

Posted on October 25, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

It’s preview time at Texas Monthly again, and for your reading pleasure for the usual limited time only is this fine piece by Patricia Kilday Hart on the history and effects of the tort “reform” movement in Texas. If you … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | 1 Comment

RIP, Rosa Parks

Posted on October 24, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Rosa Parks, American hero, died today at the age of 92. Parks inspired the civil rights movement when she refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama, in December 1955. Her arrest … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 1 Comment

On saving marriage in Texas

Posted on October 24, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

There’s a new website up called Save Texas Marriage, which makes the claim that Proposition 2 is so poorly worded that it would actually outlaw all marriages in the state of Texas. I can’t say I think much of this … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | 9 Comments

Endorsement watch: Prop 5

Posted on October 24, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Well, we may or may not ever get back to the contested races in City Council districts A, H, and I, but it does at least appear that we’ll get a recommendation on all the constitutional amendments on the ballot. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | 4 Comments

Only lies told by my opponents are bad

Posted on October 24, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Via Political Wire, here’s the brilliant legal mind of Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison in action: “I certainly hope that if there is going to be an indictment that says something happened, that it is an indictment on a crime and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 1 Comment

The eleven-year streak

Posted on October 24, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The most remarkable streak in sports came to an end this weekend: Mount Union College lost a football game. Its end came exactly 11 years after it began. The Purple Raiders survived a couple of close calls along the way, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 2 Comments

Game Two notes

Posted on October 23, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Ah, screw it. When Scott Podsednik goes yard against you, there’s not much to say. Well, okay, one thing: According to Joe Buck, Podsednik is the second player in history to have a postseason home run in a year where … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Comments Off on Game Two notes

Endorsement watch: Mayor

Posted on October 23, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

On the day before the start of early voting, the Chron gives a ringing endorsement to Mayor Bill White, which he fully deserves. I agree with Greg that it would have been nice to get this much ink in some … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | 1 Comment

A matter of degree

Posted on October 23, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

City Council member Carol Alvarado is now an official college graduate some 13 years after finishing her coursework at the University of Houston. The councilwoman said she believed she had a degree until her November election opponent released University of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | 1 Comment

Senate votes to finally end Cisneros probe

Posted on October 23, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The eleven-year odyssey of Independent Counsel David Barrett and his dogged pursuit of Henry Cisneros (see here for more) may finally be wrapping up. The Senate decided today that it was time to close to a decade-old, $20 million investigation … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Prop 9

Posted on October 23, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

And back to propositions, as the Chron endorsed Prop 9 on Saturday. I’m leaning towards a No on this one, though I don’t feel as strongly about it as I do Prop 1. Still to be reviewed: City Council Districts … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Prop 9

Game One notes

Posted on October 22, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Well, they can still get a split on the road, right? I can’t be the only person who was amused at the sight of a very wholesome-looking Liz Phair singing God Bless America during the seventh-inning stretch, can I? Whoever … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 3 Comments

On the recusal motion

Posted on October 22, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The way I look at it, Team DeLay’s motion to force Judge Bob Perkins to recuse himself is just another attempt by them to control what’s happening. The motion itself is a longshot at best, and given the way DeLay … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 4 Comments

RIP, Kaplan’s-Ben Hur

Posted on October 22, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Sigh. Another piece of Houston’s history is going away. After 92 years of selling Tiffany lamps, men’s suits, coffee beans and other merchandise, Kaplan’s-Ben Hur is closing its doors in December. Martin Kaplan, the owner of the historical Heights department … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 5 Comments

The fever builds

Posted on October 22, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

One of the things that I remember well from the Rockets’ 1994 march to the NBA title was how for about a six-week period, everyone was wearing Rockets garb, and every other car you passed on the street had some … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 2 Comments

Arraignment postponed

Posted on October 21, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Tom DeLay’s day in court has been pushed back while the presiding judge waits on a ruling to determine if he should be recused. State District Judge Bob Perkins put all other motions in DeLay’s case aside, saying he will … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 6 Comments

Endorsement watch: HD143

Posted on October 21, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

And another jump, this time from ballot propositions to the special election in HD143, where the Chron endorses Ana Hernandez. I don’t have a dog in that fight; Hernandez is the only one of the HD143 candidates I’ve met (very … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | 1 Comment

HD48: Baxter to resign

Posted on October 21, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The race for HD48, which was decided by 147 votes in 2004, just got more interesting as incumbent Todd Baxter has announced his resignation as of this November. “I am stepping aside because my family and my professional career come … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments

Procedures are for the little people

Posted on October 21, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I assume you’ve all seen the Tom DeLay mug shot by now. If not, it’s in this story, and will forever be in The Smoking Gun‘s collection. I just want to note that once again, Team DeLay is demonstrating that … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 3 Comments

A threesome of TV-related complaints

Posted on October 21, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Have the critics turned on Desperate Housewives? ABC’s hit is second only to CSI: Crime Scene Investigation as television’s most popular show this fall, although several critics have taken issue with how its second season has begun. Joanne Ostrow of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | 4 Comments

The Pink Satin Suit

Posted on October 20, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The Aurora Picture Show, located here in the Heights, has an event next week for Katrina and Rita relief that sounds interesting: October 26: The Pink Satin Suit, A KAT Fund Benefit Wednesday, October 26, 7pm The Pink Satin Suit … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 2 Comments

Endorsement watch: Prop 7

Posted on October 20, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

On we go with our randomly-winding path through races, initiatives and the editorial writers who endorse them. Today we skip to Proposition 7, to which the Chron gives its stamp of approval. I’m leaning towards a Yes on this one, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | 1 Comment

Fans In The Stands

Posted on October 20, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Another citizen journalism opportunity from the Chron: If you’re going to the World Series, we want to hear from you. Chron.com is looking for “citizen journalists” to report on the scene in the stands at Minute Maid Park and U.S. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 1 Comment

World Series matchups

Posted on October 20, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I’ll save the analysis of who is the favorite to win this World Series for later. For now, I’ve got a little inspiration from this Baseball Prospectus article on World Series matchups. There were eight original franchises in each league, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Comments Off on World Series matchups

Officer, arrest that man!

Posted on October 20, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Long as we’re celebrating, here’s four more words to make you smile: Tom DeLay’s arrest warrant. Naturally, Team DeLay is whining like a scared puppy about being treated like a regular person. The capias warrant by state District Judge Bob … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on Officer, arrest that man!

Astros win the pennant

Posted on October 19, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

How about that? I have a feeling there’ll be a higher than usual occurrance of absenteeism and tardiness in the workplace tomorrow. Somehow, I think it’ll be overlooked. Congratulations to the Astros and to all their long-suffering fans. And just … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 5 Comments

Endorsement watch: Prop 1

Posted on October 19, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Skipping over two more contested City Council races (in Districts H and I), the Chron jumps into the statewide ballot propositions with a call in favor of Prop 1. Proposition 1 seeks to amend the Constitution to authorize a Texas … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | 2 Comments

One-note Bettencourt sings again

Posted on October 19, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Does Harris County Tax Assessor Paul Bettencourt ever say anything else? The average Houston-area homeowner’s taxes rose 7.5 percent this year, a rate that could cause tax bills to double in nine years, Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Paul Bettencourt said … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 9 Comments

Wilma

Posted on October 19, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I for one am getting tired of reading words like “most intense Atlantic storm ever recorded”. Wilma’s confirmed pressure readings this morning dropped to 882 millibars — the lowest minimum pressure ever measured in a hurricane in the Atlantic basin, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 1 Comment

Evidence, schmevidence

Posted on October 19, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

It’s amazing sometimes how what’s said to reporters and what’s said to a judge are often two very different things. U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay’s chief lawyer says he has no evidence that Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle participated in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 5 Comments

Down doobie doo down down

Posted on October 19, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I know we’ve all enjoyed watching President Bush’s numbers head further and further south (even if there are potentially dire pony-related consequences), but to get the full flavor of it you really have to see the SurveyUSA 50-state poll. He’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 1 Comment

Pretty much every newspaper against Prop 2

Posted on October 18, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The LGRL has a roundup of anti-Prop 2 editorials, while BOR has some more they missed – see here and here for the editorials, and here for an impressive array of Travis County officeholders who spoke out against it. I’ll … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | 4 Comments

Endorsement watch: Districts B, C, and F

Posted on October 18, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

It must be endorsement week at the Chron, as they check in today with three more recommendations, for City Council Districts B, C, and F. No surprise in F, where incumbent MJ Khan is running against token opposition. Can’t really … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Districts B, C, and F