Monthly Archives: June 2006

eBay stumps for Net Neutrality

Posted on June 4, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

This ought to make a few waverers on Net Neutrality sit up and pay attention. eBay this week unleashed a political machine that should make politicians envious: a national e-mail blast over Net neutrality. Meg Whitman, chief executive of the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 2 Comments

GOP Hispanic outreach is so 2004

Posted on June 3, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

From the Dallas Morning News: By midday Friday, the booth operated by the Republican National Hispanic Assembly of Texas had few visitors, despite the bustling activity all around it. Perhaps a man carrying a sign that called for building a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 1 Comment

Radack-Sanchez smackdown

Posted on June 3, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I do so love the sound of infighting among Republicans, especially over relatively unimportant matters like the office of Harris County Treasurer, which is currently open due to the untimely death of incumbent Jack Cato. In a letter to Republican … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

Still pursuing a hotel tax lawsuit

Posted on June 3, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I mentioned before that the city of San Antonio is suing discount online hotel brokers over lost tax revenues. The city of Houston has looked into filing a similar suit, and has now taken further action on this front. After … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Comments Off on Still pursuing a hotel tax lawsuit

Dan Patrick buys Dallas radio station

Posted on June 3, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Look out, Dallas, here he comes. Dan Patrick, whose years as a conservative radio pundit helped him win a Republican state Senate nomination, is expanding the reach of his voice with the purchase of a Dallas-area radio station. By Labor … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 4 Comments

We’re on a fax to nowhere

Posted on June 2, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

It’s time for another stupid and inexcusable screwup by everyone’s favorite privatization project. Three months ago, dozens of documents from Texas containing highly confidential financial and health information began arriving over a fax machine at a Seattle warehouse. Shaun Peck, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 6 Comments

It’s a go for red light cameras

Posted on June 2, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

From yesterday, the Houston City Council has voted to approve the use of red light cameras at certain intersections. The red-light vote ended more than a year of debate about whether the city should monitor Houston motorists and, if so, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

No wedges

Posted on June 2, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

From The Red State: Democratic State Representatives Joaquin Castro (HD-125), Trey Martinez Fischer (HD-116), and Jose Menendez (HD-124) of San Antonio will hold a press conference Friday, June 2nd at 10:00 am to call on Governor Rick Perry and the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Comments Off on No wedges

Hey, Kay Bailey, how about a debate?

Posted on June 2, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t actually ever expect Kay Bailey Hutchison to deign to agree to a debate with Barbara Radnofsky. She just doesn’t do that sort of thing. That doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy a public call from a voter to engage … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

What about Bob (Talton)?

Posted on June 2, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

The Muse has a host of interesting tidbits concerning the state of the selection process in CD22. The latest buzz: deal has been reached between three of the four counties involved in selecting Tom DeLay’s replacement on the ballot in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

The race for TDP chair enters the home stretch

Posted on June 2, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I confess, I haven’t been following the race for Texas Democratic Party chair very closely. I don’t really have a strong preference among the three leading contenders. All I really want is for us to emerge from this contest with … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 1 Comment

Old neighborhood, new retail

Posted on June 1, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I just spotted this story about some new retail development in Montrose. It’s exactly two blocks away from where I lived for nearly four years back in the 90s, so I’m interested in it. To take advantage of the growth … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Old neighborhood, new retail

Sklar gets kudos for renewable energy pledges

Posted on June 1, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Now this is the kind of thing I like to see. Not only does it show Shane Sklar in a positive light, it portrays Ron Paul’s strength as a liability: Democratic congressional candidate Shane Sklar’s call for diversifying the nation’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 3 Comments

Falling clout and the Bush effect

Posted on June 1, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

As long as the newspapers keep serving up stories about Republican discontent – about HB3, immigration, budget deficits, whatever – I’ll keep writing posts trying to understand what (if anything) it all means for November. I’ve got two more of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Falling clout and the Bush effect

Zone Nguyen

Posted on June 1, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Via Greg comes this nice article about 2004 Harris County judicial candidate Zone Nguyen, who has since relocated to Laredo. Nguyen, who is a reservist in the Army with the JAG corps, spent several months in 2004 at Guantanamo with … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Comments Off on Zone Nguyen

The Intermodal Transit Center plan

Posted on June 1, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Metro has taken the next step in its proposal to build an Intermodal Transit Center north of I-10 near UH-Downtown. The Metropolitan Transit Authority board Tuesday voted to have staff negotiate the purchase of nine acres of the railroad’s Hardy … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on The Intermodal Transit Center plan

Dallas: Maybe not so full after all

Posted on June 1, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I figured there’d be a followup to yesterday’s story about the city of Dallas balking at the proposal that they house up to 40,000 special needs evacuees from Houston in the event of a coastal hurricane. Today, at least one … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Comments Off on Dallas: Maybe not so full after all

Once again, Hispanic support for Bush in Texas

Posted on June 1, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Sometimes being first is better than being correct. I point you to a tidbit in this story about Republican agida over immigration for an example. President Bush has been courting Latino voters for years, as both a gubernatorial candidate and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2004 | 3 Comments

Lamar Smith was against judges before he was for them

Posted on June 1, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Lamar Smith, then: Congressman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and Congressman Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) today announced the formation of the “House Working Group On Judicial Accountability.” Rep. Smith and Rep. Chabot serve as co-chairmen of the Group. “This Working Group seeks to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Lamar Smith was against judges before he was for them