Monthly Archives: March 2006

Will Leininger’s legacy be real campaign finance reform?

Posted on March 14, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

There was one more interesting quote from that Express News story I excerpted in the previous post, which I’m putting here because it didn’t fit that one: Leininger may not go away, but [Rep. Joe] Straus said maybe such huge … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Will Leininger’s legacy be real campaign finance reform?

The sweet sound of dissension in the ranks

Posted on March 14, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Time once again to look at reasons why the upcoming special session on school finance is going to be a barnburner. The Express News hits most of the high notes here. “Collegiality is strained,” said veteran Rep. Pat Haggerty, R-El … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on The sweet sound of dissension in the ranks

Podcast this!

Posted on March 14, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Fighting Jay Lee (none more surly than he) makes a great suggestion: I was having a brief conversation this weekend with respected man about town, Bill Shirley, and the conversation turned as it will to politics and podcasting. While we … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 4 Comments

A buyer for Christus-Saint Joe’s

Posted on March 14, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Christus-Saint Joseph’s Hospital has found a buyer. Christus Health Gulf Coast and Health Care Partners of America signed the agreement Thursday, nine months after the 119-year-old Catholic hospital was put up for sale because Christus didn’t have the money to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on A buyer for Christus-Saint Joe’s

We are all individuals, even us parents

Posted on March 14, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I found this article from Sunday on so-called PunkyMoms to be reasonably interesting, not so much because I know a few women who’d fit right in with them, but because of this little snippet: Punkymoms encourage each other to be … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | 3 Comments

Casteel officially seeks recount

Posted on March 13, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

First reported by QR, it’s now in the papers: State Rep. Carter Casteel has officially requested a recount in her close loss to Leininger-bot Nathan Macias. While she doubts the recount will find her the winner, Casteel said she decided … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

Death before broccoli!

Posted on March 13, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I’m feeling a little apolitical today, so let’s talk about food for a minute. I’m one of those people who simply will not eat certain foods. The reason for that is simple: I can’t stand the way they taste. Sometimes … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | 7 Comments

Let’s get ready to runoff

Posted on March 13, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I’m feeling a little better today about the runoff in the Senate primary than I did on Thursday. Runoffs generally come down to who can turn out their supporters better, and on that score only Barbara Radnofsky will even be … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Let’s get ready to runoff

On property taxes

Posted on March 13, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Tory has a piece by Otis White on property taxes and appraisal caps that’s quite interesting and not something I’d heard of before. Check it out. Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on On property taxes

What to do with Barry

Posted on March 13, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t say this very often, but I agree with George Will in his assessment of Barry Bonds. It is still unclear if there will be judicially imposed punishment in this matter. But condign punishment for a man as proud … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 8 Comments

The uphill battle

Posted on March 12, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

The headline on today’s Chron piece – “Beating Perry uphill battle” – elicits a certain “Tell me something I didn’t already know” feeling. It’s a decent enough overview for those who haven’t been paying much attention, but for the rest … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments

Koufax voting closes today

Posted on March 12, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

You have mere hours left to make your voices heard in the voting for the 2005 Koufax Awards. I’d like to thank everyone who cast a ballot for me in the Best Local and State Blogs category. I must say, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on Koufax voting closes today

Schlitterbahn Galveston almost ready to roll

Posted on March 12, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

One more item from the Things That Happened While I Was Out Of Town file: The Chron had a story about the new Schlitterbahn water park in Galveston, which was slated to open yesterday. Jeff Henry speaks of the $34 … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Comments Off on Schlitterbahn Galveston almost ready to roll

Jack and Tom, BFFs

Posted on March 12, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t honestly know why I hadn’t linked to the Vanity Fair article on Jack Abramoff (PDF) before now. Heck of a picture there on the first page, isn’t it? I imagine it may find its way into a campaign … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on Jack and Tom, BFFs

Sen. Gallegos enters treatment for alcoholism

Posted on March 11, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I just want to add my best wishes for a full and swift recovery to those extended by others to State Sen. Mario Gallegos as he begins treatment for alcoholism. PinkDome has his full statement. Get well soon, Senator Gallegos. Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Sen. Gallegos enters treatment for alcoholism

Alternative to Afton Oaks

Posted on March 11, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Christof Spieler continues his excellent work on considering the possibilities for the Universities light rail line by proposing a solution to the problem of Afton Oaks. It’s an idea that’s been tossed around before – basically, using the Union Pacific … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 2 Comments

Merit pay

Posted on March 11, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Merit pay for teachers is on its way. Teachers at 100 Texas schools, nine in the San Antonio area, will earn extra cash this year as part of a merit pay plan created by Gov. Rick Perry last year. Teachers … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 2 Comments

Here comes the wireless network

Posted on March 10, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s an update and overview on Houston’s project to install a citywide WiFi network. The updated technology would cost Houstonians half of what they pay today for Internet access, Richard Lewis, the city’s director of information technology, told members of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Here comes the wireless network

Snoopy’s legal guardian

Posted on March 10, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a nice article about Jeannie Schulz, widow of Peanuts creator Charles Schulz, and how she’s adapted to her role as caretaker of his legacy. She was the guiding force behind the creation of the Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | Comments Off on Snoopy’s legal guardian

Friday Olivia catblogging

Posted on March 10, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

No, I don’t normally catblog – among other things, I don’t have a cat. But we spent a couple of days with some friends in Walnut Creek who do have cats, and Olivia was utterly fascinated by them. Click the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | 4 Comments

Petition time

Posted on March 10, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

So for the next two months it’s petition-gathering time for the independent candidate campaigns. Anyone spotted a Friedman or Strayhorn table yet? I’ll be curious to see if I run into one. I’ll have my voter reg card with its … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments

Ron Paul has found his purpose in Congress

Posted on March 10, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Apparently, Rep. Ron Paul has decided he no longer needs to try to eliminate the Federal Reserve Board. He’d much rather compel them to keep spending taxpayer money printing a report that no one uses. Kash at Angry Bear has … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 2 Comments

Click fraud

Posted on March 10, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Do you know what click fraud is? It just cost Google ninety million bucks. Google has agreed to pay $90 million to settle a lawsuit alleging the online search engine leader overcharged thousands of advertisers who paid for bogus sales … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | 1 Comment

Koufax voting ends on Sunday

Posted on March 9, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Voting for the Koufax Awards ends Sunday night, March 12th, at 11:59 pm. I presume that’s Eastern time, since fine folks at Wampum are all citizens of Atlantic states, so adjust to your location as needed. I and several other … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | 1 Comment

Radnofsky’s runoff

Posted on March 9, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I think the result that surprised and disappointed me the most from Tuesday was the Senate race, where Barbara Radnofsky failed to win a majority of the vote and was forced into a runoff with perennial non-campaigning candidate Gene Kelly. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments

Colorado blogging assistance sought

Posted on March 9, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Ellen Forman, one of my guest bloggers, has let me know about a conference happening next week at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. The topic is state accountability in domestic violence; the topic is focused around a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on Colorado blogging assistance sought

Primary notes

Posted on March 9, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Just a few random observations from the Tuesday primaries… The thing that really strikes me about Tom DeLay’s win is that his poorest showing was in his home county of Fort Bend: County DeLay vote Total vote DeLay Pct =============================================== … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 5 Comments

Pro Tem staffers fired

Posted on March 9, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

One more item on my catchup list: Mayor Pro Tem Carol Alvarado has stepped down from that post (for now, anyway, or so she says), and the four staffers who got paid the illegal bonuses have been fired. Mayor Bill … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on Pro Tem staffers fired

Chron blog on Texas politics

Posted on March 9, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been whining about it for awhile now, and it seems I’ve finally gotten my wish – the Chron now has a Texas politics blog. It’s all R.G. Ratcliffe so far, and I’m not sure how interactive he’s going to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Dynamo!

Posted on March 9, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

More stuff that happened while I was out…Houston 1836 is no more, Houston Dynamo takes its place. The team officially gave its 1836 name the boot and announced it will build its brand around Dynamo during an unveiling ceremony at … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 4 Comments

2005 Koufax Award voting has begun

Posted on March 8, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Continuing with the Stuff That Happened While I Was In California theme, the voting for the 2005 Koufax Awards has begun. A full list of nomination threads, now with comments enabled for your ballots, is here. I along with a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | 1 Comment

Andy Fastow is in the house

Posted on March 8, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

My stars, are we already at the Andy Fastow testimony part of the Lay/Skilling trial? I knew this was progressing faster than I’d thought, and I admit I’ve not been paying much attention to it lately (thankfully, Houstonist, Loren Steffy, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | Comments Off on Andy Fastow is in the house

Coming to a theater (possibly) near you: “The Big Buy”

Posted on March 8, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

You may recall the movie “The Big Buy”, which I reviewed a few months ago. Here now is your chance to see it for yourself. As former House Majority Leader DeLay readied himself Tuesday to accept his party’s nomination for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on Coming to a theater (possibly) near you: “The Big Buy”

Primary results: Republican non-statewide

Posted on March 8, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

We know where to start with this one: CD22. Still facing legal battles, U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay won a pivotal political fight Tuesday by defeating three challengers in the Republican primary for his Houston-area seat. Opponent Tom Campbell, former general … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments