Monthly Archives: September 2006

Maverick County says “No fence here!”

Posted on September 26, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

The people of Laredo don’t want a fence through their community. Neither do the people of Maverick County. This isn’t as polarizing an issue as it is in other parts of the country because, I think, this district has been … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Comments Off on Maverick County says “No fence here!”

Those meddling kids!

Posted on September 26, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I kind of like the way the Friedman campaign is responding to all of the negative publicity they’ve gotten lately. There’s just nothing more attractive than whiny victimhood, is there? So far, though, none of Friedman’s opponents have taken credit … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

Jail or probation?

Posted on September 26, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

If you were arrested for drunk driving and given a choice between probation and jail time, which would you choose? As Grits notes from a story over the weekend, the rational option in Harris County is probably jail. No, on … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 1 Comment

Doing Jack Abramoff’s bidding the Ralph Hall way

Posted on September 25, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Of all the things I’ve heard about the Jack Abramoff scandal, I think this may well be the sleaziest. In November of 1997, Rep. Ralph Hall (R-TX) publicly questioned the credibility of a teenage girl’s claims that she’d been the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 5 Comments

Cornyn gets slapped over detainee treatment

Posted on September 25, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t know who Tom Sullivan is, but based on what he said to our undistinguished junior Senator, I wish we had a hundred more like him. Go read. Link via Atrios. UPDATE: North Texas Liberal has more. Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Comments Off on Cornyn gets slapped over detainee treatment

Do you feel lucky, Houston?

Posted on September 25, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

SciGuy breaks out the red cape, waves it wildly towards the Gulf Coast, and yells loudly “Hey, Fate! You’re a big wussy!” It may seem imprudent to tempt fate, but it’s impossible to escape a singular fact: Historically, after this … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Comments Off on Do you feel lucky, Houston?

The Roger Clemens story comes to an end…again

Posted on September 25, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

With all due respect to a truly great baseball player, are we sure that this was Roger Clemens’ last game? The man has had more farewell tours than Cher. I don’t blame him for coming back – Lord knows he’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 1 Comment

Interview with Janette Sexton

Posted on September 25, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I’m almost all the way through the Harris County State Rep candidates. Today’s interview is with Janette Sexton, who is running for State Rep in HD144 against Crazy Bob Talton. HD144 was one of too many Republican-held seats that went … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Interview with Janette Sexton

ParentPAC endorses Juan Garcia

Posted on September 25, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

And we’re back in the saddle again with Texas Parent PAC, which has tapped Juan Garcia of Corpus Christi as its latest endorsee. From the press release (PDF): “Juan Garcia is a proven leader who will represent the Coastal Bend … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on ParentPAC endorses Juan Garcia

The best not to

Posted on September 25, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I caught a little bit of an Astros game over the weekend, and while I was watching they flashed a graphic that showed Craig Biggio was currently #9 all time in career doubles, and in fact is only three two-baggers … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 1 Comment

Phonic wars

Posted on September 25, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I learned to read by phonics. I think it’s a perfectly fine pedagogical approach, though it has its limitiations. Some words just don’t yield to “sounding it out” – I can still remember getting laughed at the first time I … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | 6 Comments

Facts are for politicians

Posted on September 25, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I know a lot of the discussion about Kinky Friedman lately has been about his questionable attitudes on race, and how that bears on a campaign that’s based largely on a persona, but it’s important to remember that in ways … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Facts are for politicians

Get well soon, Molly!

Posted on September 24, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Molly Ivins, still kicking ass and having fun. Sitting at the dining room table in her ranch-style home, still wearing the black velvet hat and matching black pants she wore to Richards’ service, Ivins is reminded that cancer is not … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Comments Off on Get well soon, Molly!

No action on cash gifts

Posted on September 24, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

From Friday, the toothless Texas Ethics Commission took a pass on ruling whether or not bags of cash given as gifts to state officials need to be fully disclosed. Seven of the eight commissioners present at their regular meeting agreed … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 1 Comment

The persona problem

Posted on September 24, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Neil makes an observation about Sen. George Allen and the recent news of his real heritage, and draws more of a parallel than he thinks to the Texas gubernatorial race. Ever since Mark Schmitt first told me about him, George … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 3 Comments

A year since we bugged out for Rita

Posted on September 23, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

One year ago today, at about four o’clock in the morning, Tiffany, Olivia, Harry and I pulled into the driveway of Tiffany’s cousin Emilie’s house in Murphy, Texas, after an eighteen hour odyssey on I-45. I’d forgotten about the anniversary … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Comments Off on A year since we bugged out for Rita

KPRC on the Treasurer’s race

Posted on September 23, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Now this is a nicely done story on the County Treasurer’s race. Kudos to KPRC for not skimping on the details or cramming it all in to a 15-second sound byte. One point that needs to be made about the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 7 Comments

Blog diversity

Posted on September 23, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Simon Owens did an interesting survey (to which I contributed responses) on the state of blog diversity. It’s a good read, including his discussion of the flaws in his approach and the questions raised by commenters. Check it out. Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on Blog diversity

Question of the day

Posted on September 23, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

So am I a big ol’ sap for admitting that reading this choked me up, or do I get a pass for being the father of a little girl? Help me out here. Continue reading →

Posted in Around the world | 2 Comments

Another bad news cycle for Kinky

Posted on September 22, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Another find by BOR, another day Kinky Friedman has to spend saying he’s not a racist. All in all, a pretty bad news cycle for Friedman. Even Chron cartoonist Nick Anderson has piled on. Couple points to make here. One, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 4 Comments

ParentPAC endorses Joe Farias

Posted on September 22, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Yes indeed, it’s another Texas Parent PAC endorsement. Today’s winner is Joe Farias, who’s running for HD118 in San Antonion, which was left open by Rep. Carlos Uresti’s victory in the Democratic primary for SD19 this March. This is one … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on ParentPAC endorses Joe Farias

Capitol Annex interviews Karen Felthauser

Posted on September 22, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

In my link dump post from yesterday, I mentioned that Vince at Capitol Annex had begun a series of email interviews with legislative candidates, beginning with Sherrie Matula (HD129) and Kathi Thomas (SD25). He’s got a third one up now, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments

Matula accepts debate invitation

Posted on September 22, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Via Bay Area Houston, the kids at Clear Lake High School have invited all the candidates in HD129 to a debate. Sherrie Matula will be there. Will her opponent, State Rep. John Davis? Or will he wussy out like his … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Matula accepts debate invitation

The Geek Phonetic Alphabet

Posted on September 22, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the Geek Phonetic Alphabet. I heartily approve, and plan on adopting its use in everyday life. Link via Fighting Jay Lee (none more surly than he), who inspired its creation. Continue reading →

Posted in General snarkiness | Comments Off on The Geek Phonetic Alphabet

Culberson ducks debates

Posted on September 22, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

The following is a press release from Jim Henley: Rep. John Culberson has refused to debate challenger Jim Henley, a middle school debate teacher at Sidney Lanier middle school. Two weeks Henley invited Culberson to participate in a series six … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments

Details of lawsuit against AG Greg Abbott

Posted on September 21, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

The Lone Star Project has the details of the lawsuit filed against Attorney General Greg Abbott over his office’s investigations into allegations of voter fraud (see here for background). You can read the full complaint here (PDF). Here’s the executive … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | 1 Comment

Fired City Hall employees testifying today

Posted on September 21, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Grand jury testimony for the former city employees who were fired for receiving improper bonuses begins today. As two of the city employees fired for taking unauthorized bonuses appeared before a Harris County grand jury Wednesday, prosecutors said the panel … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 1 Comment

Full stop!

Posted on September 21, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Previously, it was reported that while the red light cameras do take pictures of cars that fail to come to a complete stop before making a right on red (or left, for intersections where that’s allowed), the drivers are not … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 2 Comments

Laredo says “No fence here!”

Posted on September 21, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Today the Senate will debate a bill that would authorize building a 700-mile fence along the US-Mexican border. Will they take into account what the people of Laredo want, which is to not build it there? “I oppose the wall,” … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Comments Off on Laredo says “No fence here!”

These are not the budget cuts you’re looking for

Posted on September 21, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Oh, Martha, Martha, Martha! State Rep. Martha Wong says in her first TV ad of the season that she helped expand health care to the poor, but the two-term lawmaker has cast several votes to cut such programs. As the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 3 Comments

Where’s Waldo? Right there!

Posted on September 21, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

And now for something a little different. Have you seen Waldo around lately? He’s been popping up around town in Houston and Austin. Here he is on the abandoned bank building at Shepherd and Alabama: Waldo on the bank Closer … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 5 Comments

An old fashioned link dump

Posted on September 21, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Lots of stuff I’ve been meaning to link to lately. Indulge me here for a minute while I link around. Vince gets in the candidate interview game with Q&As featuring Sherrie Matula and Kathi Thomas. Speaking of Matula, her opponent … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other punditry | 1 Comment

ParentPAC endorses Valinda Bolton

Posted on September 21, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Parent PAC keeps chugging along. The latest endorsed candidate is Austin’s Valinda Bolton, running for the open HD47. A win there would give Travis County an all-Democratic delegation, and would represent a swing of three seats since 2002. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

More foot-in-mouth problems for Kinky

Posted on September 21, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

The story of the current kerfuffle over yet another racially ignorant remark by Kinky Friedman is, among other things, an interesting peek into how something becomes a story. See, as the article says and as Phillip and Ryan document, this … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on More foot-in-mouth problems for Kinky