Monthly Archives: December 2005

Filing news: A challenger for Grusendorf

Posted on December 14, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

According to the Quorum Report, a UT-Arlington professor named Diane Patrick will take on State Rep. Kent Grusendorf in the GOP primary for HD94. Here’s a news article about her, and here’s her official bio. One comment: That news story … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 3 Comments

It’s Always Christmastime For Visa

Posted on December 14, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Via Grits, the Austin Lounge Lizards have chipped in to another music/animation project for Consumers Union (see here and here for earlier efforts). This one is about credit cards and the many ways in which the end users get screwed. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Comments Off on It’s Always Christmastime For Visa

Will the Thrill

Posted on December 14, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Jay Jaffe uses his JAWS system to evaluate the Class of 2006 hitters in this BP Premium article, and suggests that three current players on the ballot are Hall-worthy. One is Allen Trammell, whom I’d briefly pondered previously. I’m convinced … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Comments Off on Will the Thrill

More heat on Ceverha

Posted on December 13, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Recently, State Rep. Pete Gallego sent a letter to former TRMPAC treasurer Bill Ceverha requesting that he resign from the board of the Employees Retirement System of Texas in light of his filing for personal bankruptcy after losing a TRMPAC-related … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on More heat on Ceverha

Another delay for DeLay

Posted on December 13, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Travis County DA Ronnie Earle has asked for a stay of the January trial date for Tom DeLay and the TRMPAC Triplets so he can appeal Judge Pat Priest’s dismissal of one of the indictments against DeLay. DeLay’s lawyer, Dick … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 4 Comments

What would Jesus legislate?

Posted on December 13, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Via Texas Ed Equity comes this remarkable op-ed by former State Sen. and Lt. Gov. Bill Ratliff, taken from a recent speech he gave. As opposed to the suggestion that we have too much religious influence on public policy, we … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 12 Comments

Filing news: Round ’em up

Posted on December 13, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

You want candidate filing links, I got candidate filing links… Mike Fjetland made his official filing on Friday to run against Tom DeLay in the GOP primary for CD22. From his press release: Fjetland states that his campaign will focus … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

Re-redistricting re-review reactions

Posted on December 12, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the Chron story on the re-redistricting re-review. The main difference between it and the earlier AP version is this: Democrats claimed optimism following the announcement that the justices had agreed to hear arguments. “Today’s Supreme Court action agreeing to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 4 Comments

Filing news: Who’s not filing

Posted on December 12, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

There are fourteen members of the State House that we now know of who are not going to run for reelection, and there may be more who just haven’t made the decision yet. “I’m weary, just tired. Why do you … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

SCOTUS to re-review Texas redistricting

Posted on December 12, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go again. The Supreme Court said today it would consider the constitutionality of a Texas congressional map engineered by Rep. Tom DeLay that helped Republicans gain seats in Congress. […] Justices will consider a constitutional challenge to the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 3 Comments

Earle’s task

Posted on December 12, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron reviews Judge Pat Priest’s ruling on the DeLay indictments from last week and gets an analysis of what the prosecution’s burden will be from civil attorney Cris Feldman, who was the lead counsel in the successful lawsuit against … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 1 Comment

New ways to lose

Posted on December 12, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

You have to admit, the Texans do have more entertainment value than your ordinary 1-12 team. They give you a reason to tune in every week, and that reason is to find out what new way to lose they’ll use. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 1 Comment

Runoff results

Posted on December 11, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

It was Ana Hernandez over Laura Salinas in HD143, Sue Lovell over Jay Aiyer in the only close vote in At Large #2, Anne Clutterbuck over George Hittner in District C, Jarvis Johnson (the only runoff candidate to win after … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | 9 Comments

Bell files

Posted on December 10, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Chris Bell made his filing for the Governor’s race yesterday and took a few shots at Governor Perry on school finance. Bell said Gov. Rick Perry and other Republicans have concentrated too much effort on “revenue neutral” school finance plans … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

The Frigid Fifty

Posted on December 10, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Looking for a little antidote to Hollywood hype? Try the Film Threat Frigid Fifty and enjoy a few laughs at the expense of people who are mostly richer and better looking than you and I. Via Pete, who helped make … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | Comments Off on The Frigid Fifty

Lights in the Heights 2005

Posted on December 9, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Tomorrow is Lights in the Heights, the best free holiday event in town. Organizers are expecting in excess of 10,000 people for the 18th edition of Lights in the Heights, the Woodland Heights Civic Association’s annual holiday street party. Festivities … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

Choose carefully, Talmadge

Posted on December 9, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

What’s it going to be, Talmadge Heflin? The Lottery or the Legislature? You can’t do both. Former state Rep. Talmadge Heflin, a Houston Republican who lost his bid for a 12th term by a scant 16 votes last year, was … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Choose carefully, Talmadge

Here comes Conroe!

Posted on December 9, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Is it just me, or does anyone else get a mental image of Henry the Chickenhawk trying to devour Foghorn Leghorn when they read this? CONROE – City officials took preliminary steps Thursday to extend the city’s boundaries into The … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

Tomorrow’s the day

Posted on December 9, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Regular voting for the runoff elections will be tomorrow from 7 AM to 7 PM. If you plan on doing your civic duty then, here’s one last roundup of news stories on the races for City Council, HD143, and HISD. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | Comments Off on Tomorrow’s the day

Friedman files

Posted on December 9, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Kinky Friedman has filed his declaration of intent to run as an independent candidate for governor with the secretary of state. He also provided a glimpse of his campaign strategy. Friedman told a few dozen supporters and reporters huddled for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Friedman files

Keeping it all together for Tom

Posted on December 9, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

After that ruling that threw out one of the conspiracy charges against Tom DeLay, the judicial landscape hasn’t been as friendly for him. The judge in U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay’s criminal case said today he is unlikely to allow DeLay … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 3 Comments

Filing news: More, more, more

Posted on December 8, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

It’s hard to keep up with all the candidate filing news, rumors, innuendos, and so on, but I’m doing what I can. Let’s see what’s out there. Via Karl-T, there’s a third person in the GOP gubernatorial primary, a fellow … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 7 Comments

Strayhorn the independent?

Posted on December 8, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Put me down as being highly skeptical of this. Some Texans have received calls from a polling company asking whether they would support Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn for governor if she ran as an independent rather than as a Republican. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

Radnofsky on TV

Posted on December 8, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Short notice, but Barbara Radnofsky will be interviewed on a show called The Constitution on Houston Media Source, which is Time Warner channel 17, today from 2:45 to 3:45. The call-in number is the same as for the Clutterbuck/Hittner debate, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Radnofsky on TV

Astros part ways with Clemens

Posted on December 8, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I agree with Tom: However sad it may be, the Astros’ decision to forego offering salary arbitration to Roger Clemens was the right call, and here’s the reason why: The Astros’ decision was based on the uncertainty of Clemens’ status … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 2 Comments

Statements by Clutterbuck and Hittner

Posted on December 8, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Also in the Examiner are statements by Anne Clutterbuck and George Hittner for those of you who still haven’t made up your minds in that runoff. You can also catch them tonight on Texas Politics – The Real Deal, with … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | Comments Off on Statements by Clutterbuck and Hittner

Students for Henley

Posted on December 8, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The West U Examiner has a nice little piece on CD07 candidate Jim Henley. The 18-year history and speech teacher has declared his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for the 7th Congressional District seat now held by Republican John Culberson, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

Don’t know why there’s no sun up in the sky

Posted on December 7, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The hurricane prognosticators are predicting a lot of stormy weather next year. The predictions, made annually by a research team at Colorado State University, call for 17 named storms and nine hurricanes next season. Five of those hurricanes, the forecasters … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 3 Comments

From the “Ain’t gonna happen” files

Posted on December 7, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t know how rumors like this get started, but for some reason Roll Call has seen fit to write an article speculating on who might run for Congress in CD22 if Tom DeLay were to retire. Texas Republicans say … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments

The San Antonio Marlins?

Posted on December 7, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Via The Jeffersonian, officials with the Florida Marlins met with San Antonio politicos to discuss the possibility of relocation to the Alamo City after their lease expires in 2007. Marlins president David Samson said San Antonio was the first stop … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 7 Comments

Filing news: Aaron Pena and his colleagues

Posted on December 7, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Aaron Pena drove home last night to file for his reelection in Edinburg today. He also reports that his colleagues Joe Straus, Ryan Guillen, and the trio of Kino Flores, Juan Escobar, and Abel Herrera have filed or will be … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Filing news: Aaron Pena and his colleagues

Which way will Heflin go?

Posted on December 7, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

So does Talmadge Heflin want to head up the Texas Lottery Commission? Or would he rather try to win his old seat back in the State House? Maybe he wants to do both. Heflin, a Houston Republican who served 22 … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Which way will Heflin go?

Passion at the pit stop

Posted on December 7, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t think any snarky intro I can think up could be any better than just a straight announcement that there will be a new line of NASCAR-themed Harlequin romance novels hitting a bookstore near you soon. The new project, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Books | 1 Comment

Filing news: We have a surprise

Posted on December 7, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Via the Quorum Report, we have what I’d call the first genuine surprise of the 2006 election season: A candidate switching parties to run as a Democrat. Greenville attorney Scott Cornuaud is filling out paperwork this afternoon to run for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments