Monthly Archives: March 2006

Another view of the SDEC meeting

Posted on March 20, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Since John McConnell’s account of the State Democratic Executive Committee (SDEC) meeting was made public, several SDEC members have sent out critical emails about it. The most detailed one came from the wonderfully named Zada True-Courage (wife of CD21 candidate … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Yates retrial delayed

Posted on March 20, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Judge Belinda Hill has granted a defense motion to delay the start of Andrea Yates’ retrial until June 22 because two defense witnesses were not available until then. Yates attorney George Parnham argued this morning before Hill that the witnesses … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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On DeLay’s legal limbo

Posted on March 20, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

There are two things that you should take away from this story about Tom DeLay and his re-election campaign being in legal limbo as the Scandal-Go-Round turns. One: Former DeLay spokesman Michael Scanlon, who was an Abramoff business partner, has … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Party Chair update

Posted on March 20, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Two candidates for Chair of the Texas Democratic Party have responded so far to South Texas Chisme’s questionnaire. Glen Maxey was the first to answer – his responses here. Later on Sunday, Charlie Urbina-Jones sent in his answers, which you … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 3 Comments

Happy Birthday, Sammy Baugh

Posted on March 20, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Via Banjo, I too would like to extend a (belated) Happy Birthday to Slingin’ Sammy Baugh, the first truly great quarterback in the NFL and to this day, the only punter to average better than 50 yards per kick for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Another rousing round of indifference from the Chron

Posted on March 20, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, one of the runoff elections on April 11 will be in HD146 between longterm incumbent and key Craddick lieutanant Al Edwards and challenger Borris Miles. The primary was hard-fought, with Edwards winning a solid majority in the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

As the Yates retrial is set to start

Posted on March 19, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Couple of worthwhile articles on the imminent Andrea Yates retrial in the Chron today. First, on why the insanity defense is both a terribly blunt instrument as well as a crapshoot. Between 2001 and 2004, four Texas women became famous … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 6 Comments

From the “Wish I’d said that” files

Posted on March 19, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Eye on Williamson brings the best quote I’ve heard this week, from the RSS feed for the subscription-only Texas Weekly: While former Comptroller John Sharp and the rest of Gov. Rick Perry’s tax reform commission works on proposed revisions to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on From the “Wish I’d said that” files

Et tu, Bob?

Posted on March 19, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

At this point, I don’t know if the rumors about Bob Gammage throwing his support to Carole Keeton Strayhorn will turn out to be true or not. But I do know this: If that does happen, then those obituaries I … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 6 Comments

Blood drive for Debutant today

Posted on March 18, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Remember Debutant, the local blogger whose sister was a college classmate of mine and who recently had a stem cell transplant to treat Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia that is Philadelphia Chromosome positive? There’s a blood drive being held for her today: … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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The newest rapid transit corridor

Posted on March 18, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Christof points out that the impending completion of the HOV lane on the Southwest Freeway into downtown will be like a new rapid transit corridor, since it will make the Park and Ride/Express Bus system much more viable for people … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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DA seizes computers from Alvarado’s district office

Posted on March 18, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

The search for evidence in the investigation of improper bonuses to Mayor Pro Tem staff continues. The key issue of whether city employees implicated in a payroll-padding scandal had approval from Councilwoman and former Mayor Pro Tem Carol Alvarado led … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on DA seizes computers from Alvarado’s district office

Why Frank Madla lost

Posted on March 18, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Confusion over health insurance leaves children suffering Three-year-old Ryla Woodard spent a weekend in the hospital earlier this year when she broke out in a rash, her fever spiked to 103 and doctors diagnosed her with mononucleosis. Just days later … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

Irish sessions

Posted on March 18, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

In the spirit of Saint Patrick’s Day weekend, let me highlight this article on the freewheeling Irish music sessions at McGonigel’s Mucky Duck. One part jam session, one part apprenticeship opportunity, it’s a longstanding tradition that helps fuel the local … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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On the topic of the state party chair

Posted on March 17, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t know any of the three gentlemen who have announced their intentions to run for Chair of the Texas Democratic Party. There’s been a lot of emails whizzing around with this person endorsing that person and so on and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 4 Comments

Earl Abel rides again

Posted on March 17, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Best news I’ve heard this week. Earl Abel’s, the landmark coffee shop that locals have cherished since 1933, will continue operating at its current location under new ownership after today, which was slated to be the restaurant’s last day. Jerry … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 1 Comment

Another day, another memo

Posted on March 17, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Another questionable memo from the Mayor Pro Tem’s office has turned up, this time with the apparently forged initials of former Council member Gordon Quan, who was Mayor Pro Tem from 2002 to 2003. The document with Quan’s initials is … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 3 Comments

April 17 is S-Day in Austin

Posted on March 17, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

You heard it first yesterday, and now it’s official: The long-awaited, much-dreaded special session on school finance begins April 17. “This special session provides legislators of both parties a rare opportunity to significantly reduce property taxes, make substantial reforms to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 2 Comments

Smith wants more info on Tarrant voting glitch

Posted on March 17, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Former State Supreme Court Justic Steven Smith, trying to win back a seat on the bench but losing a close primary contest to inexperienced Perry appointee Don Willet, has formally requested detailed election data pertaining to the vote count problems … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments

Sklar and Harris

Posted on March 17, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Inspired by this Kos post on the effect of early money in some netroots-supported races of late, a Kos diarist named New Sweden wrote this piece about Shane Sklar in CD14. The comment thread is also worthwhile – see here … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Bennett endorses Miles in HD146 runoff

Posted on March 16, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I was pretty sure this was going to happen, but it’s nice to see anyway, especially this far out from the start of early voting: Al Bennett, former challenger in the Democratic primary in HD146, has endorsed Borris Miles in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 5 Comments

“Sour grapes” in CD22

Posted on March 16, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Nice to see everyone getting along so well in CD22. The three Republicans who unsuccessfully challenged Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas) in a recent primary either are saying they will not endorse him in the general election or are waiting to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments

Let the anti-TTRC backlash begin!

Posted on March 16, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

You knew this was going to happen, right? A number of the state’s major law firms are trying to scuttle a tax overhaul because they want property tax relief without paying their share of public school costs, former Comptroller John … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Open letter to Roger Owen

Posted on March 16, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

You may recall the adventures of Roger Owen, now the Democratic nominee for CD01 in East Texas, during the primaries – see here and here for a refresher. Now that he is the nominee, a few of us bloggers thought … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 4 Comments

David Van Os event at Drexler’s

Posted on March 16, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

You needed an excuse to visit Drexler’s BBQ, right? Well, here you go: Meet and hear David Van Os at his Houston “Whistlestop”. Enjoy Texas BBQ and listen to music by David Rovics (“The Musical Version of Democracy Now” according … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

Free WiFi to come to Austin

Posted on March 16, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

And the march to municipal WiFi takes another step forward in Austin. The city is partnering with Cisco Systems Inc., the largest maker of computer networking equipment, and the World Congress of Information Technology on the project. Cisco will donate … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Comments Off on Free WiFi to come to Austin

Sherron Watkins takes the stand

Posted on March 16, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Sherron Watkins, best known for her whistleblowing memo just before Enron imploded, testified today in the trial of Kenny Boy Lay and Jeff Skilling. A very talkative Watkins took the jurors step by step through her discovery of what she … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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No sales tax increase?

Posted on March 15, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Tax Reform Commission has held its last public meeting, and their current proposal for how to abide by the Supreme Court ruling on Robin Hood does not include increasing the sales tax as a component. [TTRC Chairman John] … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 5 Comments

Webb County officials complain about voting machine problems

Posted on March 15, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

You may recall that Primary Day results in Webb County were delayed due to voting machine problems. Yesterday, the Laredo County Commissioner’s Court held a hearing on this, and it got a bit heated. When Chris Moody, the Texas director … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 3 Comments

If not now, then when?

Posted on March 15, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I was forwarded an email about a fundraiser for Missouri Senate candidate Claire McCaskill earlier today. I could whine about Texas being everybody’s donor state, but this happens all the time around the country. Besides, McCaskill is a strong candidate … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 7 Comments

Rusty to remarry

Posted on March 15, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Hmmm…my invitation must have gotten lost in the mail. Russell “Rusty” Yates Jr. will remarry this weekend, two days before his ex-wife, Andrea Yates, is scheduled to be retried in the 2001 murders of the couple’s children. On Saturday, Yates … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 2 Comments

Pro Tem investigation update

Posted on March 14, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

More documents have been taken by investigators from the District Attorney’s office looking into the improper bonuses paid to staffers in the Mayor Pro Tem’s office. Earlier Tuesday, a source told 11 News five or six investigators took about five … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Soechting resigns

Posted on March 14, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Charles Soechting, chairman of the Texas Democratic Party, has resigned his position as of April 22. Andrew D has the letter and some thoughts as a former employee of Soechting’s. I too thought Soechting did a good job as Chair, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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DeLay get subpoenas stopped

Posted on March 14, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Score one for Team DeLay. A state appeals court Monday gave U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay a legal and public relations victory by throwing out more than 30 subpoenas issued by Travis County prosecutors investigating the Sugar Land Republican’s political finance … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 3 Comments