Monthly Archives: June 2008

Dan Patrick wants to raise your taxes

Posted on June 25, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

It’s true. He says so himself. A bigger and broader sales tax is being kicked around at the Texas Capitol once again by legislators wanting to scrap the new business tax and further reduce property taxes. “We need to return … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on Dan Patrick wants to raise your taxes

Supreme Court sanctions the fence

Posted on June 25, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Disappointing. Not surprising, but disappointing. The Supreme Court on Monday gave the green light to the Bush administration to press forward with plans to complete a controversial fence along the U.S.-Mexico border. The high court, without comment, declined to hear … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 1 Comment

The first step in solving a problem is admitting you have a problem

Posted on June 25, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

New item: Lawmakers debate how to help electric consumers. Sort of. Anticipating a long, hot summer with record-high electric rates, members of the House Regulated Industries Committee on Monday said Texans are right to expect some sort of relief. “Rates … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 3 Comments

Fight for Rice, Rice fight on…

Posted on June 25, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

You look like you could use a Top 20 list. So here you go, the Top 20 college football fight songs: When you play NCAA ’09 the background menu music includes most of the free world’s college fight songs. If … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 1 Comment

TexBlog PAC endorses Chris Turner

Posted on June 24, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I am happy to pass along the following announcement: TexBlog PAC Proudly Endorses Chris Turner TexBlog PAC formally endorsed Democrat Chris Turner for State Representative today. Turner is running in House District 96, in southern Tarrant County, against Republican incumbent … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on TexBlog PAC endorses Chris Turner

Still time to help Noriega in the Boxer challenge

Posted on June 24, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Last week, I said you could lend a painless hand to Rick Noriega‘s fundraising efforts by voting in Sen. Barbara Boxer’s Choose a Challenger contest. PAC for a Change is kicking off our 2008 “Choose a Challenger” contest — an … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

New frontiers in multitasking

Posted on June 24, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

As I was taking the girls to preschool this morning, we passed by a woman riding a bicycle while talking on a cellphone. Not with one of those fancy hands-free devices, either – she had one hand on the phone, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on New frontiers in multitasking

Good news comes in threes

Posted on June 24, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

When was the last time you read three simultaneously-published positive pieces about Houston in the national press? I’m thinking “never”, but maybe my memory just doesn’t stretch back far enough. Here they are: Newsweek: Houston, We Have No Problems Chicago … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

The sheriff speaks

Posted on June 24, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Sheriff Tommy Thomas comes out of his bunker long enough to answer a few questions about all that nasty news about himself and his office. Looking at what he’s got to say for himself, I’m thinking he’d have been better … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

Once again, why is Kinky Friedman still in my newspaper?

Posted on June 24, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Oh, good grief. Haven’t we read this before? Musician and author Kinky Friedman still wants to be governor of Texas and says he’ll run in 2010 as a Democrat — if he can raise enough money. Friedman, in a phone … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Once again, why is Kinky Friedman still in my newspaper?

Mayor White talks transit

Posted on June 24, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I finally had a chance to listen to this interview on NPR with Mayor White that the Houston Politics blog flagged. It’s pretty good, though very general, on the topic of density, transit, and what Houston will look like in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on Mayor White talks transit

Texas blog roundup for the week of June 23

Posted on June 24, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

It’s now officially summertime, and whether or not the living is easy or the cotton is high, you can count on the Texas Progressive Alliance to help keep things cool. Click on to read the blog highlights for the week. Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on Texas blog roundup for the week of June 23

Is there a Heights highrise in the works?

Posted on June 23, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

When Tiffany tells me to blog about something, I listen, so with that in mind let me point you to this HAIF thread, and this post in particular, about what might be the future site of a highrise on White … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 2 Comments

Culberson versus wind

Posted on June 23, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I suppose it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Rep. John Culberson is not a fan of wind energy. In a video chat with constituents from his Capitol Hill office, Culberson said on June 10: These people in the wind … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

Metro and the East End

Posted on June 23, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I really don’t know what this story is trying to say. The Metropolitan Transit Authority has loyal supporters in Houston’s East End, whose voters approved Metro’s transit plan in 2003 by a 14 percent margin. Bus ridership is also strong … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on Metro and the East End

The bounce

Posted on June 23, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Put me down as being skeptical of that much-ballyhooed Newsweek poll that showed Sen. Barack Obama now enjoying a 15-point lead over Sen. John McCain. It’s not so much that I think the result is impossible, it’s that it’s clearly … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | Comments Off on The bounce

Dallas City Council says “No loonies, please”

Posted on June 23, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Got this from a reader: Dallas City Council would like certain people to please zip their lips, and they plan to do something about it. That’s because time and again, council members (particularly Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway) have … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 1 Comment

Term limits on the ballot in San Antonio

Posted on June 23, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Earlier this year, I noted that San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger, in his second and final two-year term, announced in his State of the City address that he wanted to change San Antonio’s restrictive term limits law. He has now … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Term limits on the ballot in San Antonio

The names may change, but the stories remain the same

Posted on June 23, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Via Banjo comes this story about the oldest living Major League baseball player, and some of the many stories of the old days he has to tell. This was the one Banjo highlighted, about how Hall of Fame pitcher Lefty … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Comments Off on The names may change, but the stories remain the same

Casey on the appraisal problem

Posted on June 22, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Rick Casey devotes a column to the HISD versus HCAD situation, and points to the obvious solution. Texas is one of only five states that doesn’t require that sales prices of real estate be reported to the state. The government … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 5 Comments

A tale of two headlines: Slow/No slow

Posted on June 22, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

From Friday’s Chronicle: Housing analyst sees end to local slowdown. From Saturday’s Chronicle: Houston’s jobs pace hints at economic slowdown. So which is it, fellas? Actually, the two articles themselves don’t really conflict with one another. But it was amusing, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on A tale of two headlines: Slow/No slow

Cricket experiments with instant replay

Posted on June 22, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Football, baseball, and now cricket. Major League Baseball take note, Indian cricket will experiment with TV replay. Players will be allowed to appeal against an umpire’s decision for the first time in a challenge system on trial starting next month. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Comments Off on Cricket experiments with instant replay

It’s not bad, it’s a classic

Posted on June 22, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

John Scalzi opens a can of worms: [W]hat makes science fiction different than every other genre of film — what makes it unique, for better or worse — is that a strangely high percentage of the classics of the genre … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | 2 Comments

A tale of two headlines: Veepstakes

Posted on June 21, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Clinton plans to hit trail with Obama Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton will campaign together next Friday, the first joint public event for the former rivals, as the senator from New York returns to the political scene following … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | 2 Comments

“Grumpy Republicans” watch

Posted on June 21, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

The bad poll news for Republicans keeps on coming. Houston Republican insiders are buzzing — with worry — about an election poll conducted privately for their local party. Funded and designed by GOPers, the poll by Baselice and Associates essentially … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on “Grumpy Republicans” watch

Saint Arnold’s location update

Posted on June 21, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Last November, the Saint Arnold brewery voted to move its operations to a new, larger building just north of downtown. Now Kristin2Go has some more details on that. The brewery expects to produce more than 20,000 barrels of beer this … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Saint Arnold’s location update

HISD versus HCAD

Posted on June 21, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

One way or the other, this will lead to a bad outcome. The Houston school board voted Thursday to sue the state comptroller’s office if the school district loses its appeal over rising property values. The Houston Independent School District … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

It’s an amazing thing watching a meme being born

Posted on June 20, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I am aware of all Internet traditions. Or, putting it another way: See here, here, and here for way too much more. Be prepared to waste at least an hour when you do. Continue reading →

Posted in General snarkiness | Comments Off on It’s an amazing thing watching a meme being born

SD10 polling

Posted on June 20, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

We’ve got a couple of polls in the SD10 race between Wendy Davis and Sen. Kim Brimer. From Politex: In a poll conducted for Davis’ campaign by Washington, D.C.-based Democratic pollsters Bennett, Petts & Normington, Brimer nabs 39 percent of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on SD10 polling

Reminder: TexBlog PAC fundraiser

Posted on June 20, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Just a reminder about the TexBlog PAC fundraiser for next Thursday: Please join host Mustafa Tameez and sponsors: and sponsors: State Representatives Ellen Cohen, Jessica Farrar, Armando Walle, and Ana Hernandez Houston Controller Annise Parker Democratic Candidate for U.S. Congress … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Reminder: TexBlog PAC fundraiser

You have issues

Posted on June 20, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

It’s Friday, right? That means it’s the perfect day for stuff like this. Today, Harris County Republican Party Chairman Jared Woodfill issued a statement taunting Democrat David Mincberg for having nothing under the “Issues” section of the Web site for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 3 Comments

More red light cameras in the works

Posted on June 20, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Among other things related to the budget Wednesday, City Council approved a request to identify more intersections for red light cameras. Councilman James Rodriguez asked for the budget amendment, arguing that red-light cameras are good sources of revenue, and the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on More red light cameras in the works

New DNA tests for Darlie Routier

Posted on June 20, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Remember Darlie Routier, the housewife from Rowlett who is on death row for the stabbing deaths of her two young sons? She has maintained her innocence all along, saying that it was an intruder who killed her boys, and since … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 1 Comment

“Helicopter parents”

Posted on June 20, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

You’ve met “free-range kids”. Now meet their nemesis: “Helicopter parents”. It begins innocently enough. When our children are infants and toddlers, they need us to protect them at every turn. Babies are just walking (or crawling) catastrophes, and danger lurks … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | Comments Off on “Helicopter parents”