Monthly Archives: August 2008

Lineup set for SD17

Posted on August 31, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

There had been talk for a long time that the Republicans had been looking for another candidate to run as a Democrat in the SD17 special election, in hopes of peeling off just enough support from Chris Bell to force … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 3 Comments

Some hope for New Orleans

Posted on August 31, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

One of the nasty things about living near the Gulf of Mexico is the conundrum one faces when a hurricane comes this way. While fervently hoping that said storm will not hit your hometown and maybe force you and your … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Comments Off on Some hope for New Orleans

Vote again for LJD

Posted on August 31, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s another opportunity to show some support for Larry Joe Doherty in CD10 and bring a little money back into Texas. Today’s the first day of a week-long Blue America contest, I’d like to invite you to participate in. Some … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Final judgment against Farmers Branch

Posted on August 31, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

That headline sounds more apocalyptic than I intend for it to be, but it’s just a reference to the fact that U.S. District Court Judge Sam Lindsay entered a final judgment striking down Ordinance 2903, the law in Farmers Branch … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Good news and bad news for bike riders

Posted on August 31, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

The good news: After nearly a decade of delays, construction on a bike-and-hike trail from the Heights to downtown Houston is to begin in September, expanding area residents’ recreational opportunities and providing them an alternative mode of transportation. The MKT/SP … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 2 Comments

One banana, two banana, three banana, four

Posted on August 31, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Via Sandra, I see that one of my childhood TV staples, the Banana Splits, are on their way back to the small screen. Those of you who are children of the 70s will cheer or shudder as the case may … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | 1 Comment

Weekend link dump for August 30

Posted on August 30, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

These blogs were made for linking, that’s what they’re gonna do… Obama-McGarry ’08. It’s more real than you might think. Texas Criminal Justice By The Numbers. Obama and economic clarity. Put simply, don’t confuse selling with installing. The worst owners … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on Weekend link dump for August 30

Too close for comfort

Posted on August 30, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Don’t know what I’d do without SciGuy during hurricane season. So what’s Gustav up to, anyway? For starters, it’s now an 80 mph hurricane with a distinct eye and showing signs of further strengthening, as expected. The official forecast track … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 2 Comments

What we’ve got here is failure to communicate

Posted on August 30, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I’m just speechless. Poor internal communication and complicated procedures caused a $1.1 billion blunder that forced Texas transportation officials to pull back on construction projects earlier this year, according to an audit released Thursday. Texas Department of Transportation officials actually … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on What we’ve got here is failure to communicate

From the “Some people just shouldn’t get married” files

Posted on August 30, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Your pop culture train wreck of the day. It probably wasn’t his most important decision ever, but a Harris County judge on Wednesday weighed in on a case that will set celebrity bloggers buzzing: the fate of pop star Hilary … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in General snarkiness | Comments Off on From the “Some people just shouldn’t get married” files

More thoughts on Palin

Posted on August 29, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t spend a whole lot of time writing about national elections, as there are so many other fine sources for that analysis, and I don’t intend to spend too much time on today’s Presidential race news. But I do … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | 5 Comments

Palin?

Posted on August 29, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

So John McCain has made his choice for Vice President: first-term Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. John McCain tapped little-known Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his vice presidential running mate today in a startling selection on the eve of the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Go away, Gustav

Posted on August 29, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Ugh. Gov. Rick Perry issued a disaster declaration Thursday as Tropical Storm Gustav — which is already blamed for as many as 67 deaths in Hispaniola — appeared likely to strengthen into a major hurricane and threaten the Texas Gulf … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Comments Off on Go away, Gustav

Interview with Cris Feldman

Posted on August 29, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

With the recent ruling by the Third Court of Appeals that seemed to give validation to the “checks aren’t cash” defense, I wanted to see if my impression of the ruling was shared by anyone else. Towards that end, I … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on Interview with Cris Feldman

Why solve a problem when you can define it away?

Posted on August 29, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

*slaps forehead* Who knew that the whole people-without-health-insurance thing could be solved so easily? Texas once again led the nation with the highest percentage of residents without health insurance, a U.S. Census Bureau report showed Tuesday, although the same study … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | 4 Comments

In the box provided, he listed “Wealth”

Posted on August 29, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

The rich are different than the rest of us. He is said to be the richest man in Texas politics. But voters might have a hard time figuring that out from the information that Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has disclosed … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Comments Off on In the box provided, he listed “Wealth”

There’s a reason some people can’t make up their minds

Posted on August 29, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Yglesias: Joe Klein visited a focus group: “Change” as a theme is over. Too vague. And Obama’s rhetoric has begun to seriously cut against him. “No more oratory,” one woman said. “Give us details.” I always wonder about this stuff. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | 1 Comment

Zipcars

Posted on August 28, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I wish them luck with this. Car sharing. Two words that still sound a little foreign when used together in Texas. Yet on Tuesday, a Massachusetts firm called Zipcar made its debut in the state with a car-sharing service at … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 2 Comments

Candidate Q&A: Judge Jim Jordan

Posted on August 28, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Note: This entry is part of a series of written Q&As with judicial candidates who will be on the ballot in Harris County. I am also doing recorded interviews with non-judicial candidates. 1. Who are you, and what are you … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 2 Comments

Let’s go to the videotape

Posted on August 28, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Ready or not, here comes instant replay for Major League Baseball. Umpires will be allowed to check video on home run calls starting Thursday after Major League Baseball, guardian of America’s most traditional sport, reversed its decades-long opposition to instant … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Comments Off on Let’s go to the videotape

No write-in opponent for Sheila Jackson Lee

Posted on August 28, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Okay. After dangling the idea of running as a write-in candidate against U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who supported Hillary Rodham Clinton for president, Houston restaurateur and prominent Barack Obama supporter Marcus Davis said today that such a candidacy would … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 2 Comments

“But the pension fund was just sitting there!”

Posted on August 28, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Are we really sure this is a good idea? With highway construction slowing because of red tape and budget woes, Texas’ top three leaders — Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Tom Craddick — on Thursday … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

VP KBH?

Posted on August 27, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I feel pretty confident that John McCain will announce his pick for Vice President shortly – maybe tomorrow, maybe not – timed to distract as much attention from Barack Obama’s speech at the Democratic Convention as possible. But whether he … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Candidates speak on mental health and criminal justice issues

Posted on August 27, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Wish I’d known about this, I’d have loved to have been there. Candidates for three of Harris County’s top elected offices promised Tuesday to reduce the number of mentally ill or drug addicted jail inmates by providing more community services … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Election 2008 | Comments Off on Candidates speak on mental health and criminal justice issues

Gustav

Posted on August 27, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Yikes. Gustav swirled toward Cuba today after triggering flooding and landslides that killed at least 22 people in the Caribbean. Its track pointed toward the U.S. Gulf Coast, including Louisiana where Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc three years ago. Oil prices … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Comments Off on Gustav

Interview with Diane Trautman

Posted on August 27, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been a fan of Diane Trautman since she ran for State Rep. in HD127 last time, where she significantly outperformed the rest of the Democratic slate in that red district. I’m thrilled that since she’s running countywide for the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Interview with Diane Trautman

Speaker’s statute tossed

Posted on August 27, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Texas Politics brings the news. A 1973 state law banning organizations or “groups of persons” from contributing “anything of value” to influence the election of Texas House speaker is unconstitutional, a federal judge said today. Read the ruling from U.S. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

The homework blues

Posted on August 27, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

There are many experiences I look forward to sharing with my girls as they grow up. Homework is not one of them. I’m kind of hoping for this attitude to catch on. The Spring Branch school board has ordered a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | 5 Comments

Not one and done

Posted on August 27, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Awhile back, some McCain surrogates were floating the idea that the Republican Presidential nominee would make a pledge to serve only one term in the White House. Whatever the merits of that idea, it appears to now be inoperative. John … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | Comments Off on Not one and done

Kim’s last dance

Posted on August 26, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

One last day in court for State Sen. Kim Brimer. The 2nd Court of Appeals in Fort Worth is scheduled to hear oral arguments in the lawsuit filed by Texas Sen. Kim Brimer, R-Fort Worth, to keep Democratic challenger Wendy … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Here comes Hillary

Posted on August 26, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been hoping for this for a long time, so I’m really glad to see that Hillary Clinton will come to Texas to campaign for Barack Obama. New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will return to Texas Sept. 21 to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Here comes Hillary

Another favorable poll for Bell in SD17

Posted on August 26, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

BOR has the news. According to a new poll done by Cooper & Secrest, SD-17 looks great for Congressman Chris Bell. A poll done August 14 and between 16-18 of 404 likely general election voters in Texas’ 17th Senate District … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Another favorable poll for Bell in SD17

Pistol-packing DAs

Posted on August 26, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Here‘s a nice little can of worms. Harris County District Attorney Ken Magidson has asked the state’s top lawyer if he can legally stop his assistants from taking handguns into courtrooms despite a new law removing most restrictions on where … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on Pistol-packing DAs

Candidate Q&A: Al Bennett

Posted on August 26, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Note: This entry is part of a series of written Q&As with judicial candidates who will be on the ballot in Harris County. I am also doing recorded interviews with non-judicial candidates. 1. Who are you, and what are you … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Candidate Q&A: Al Bennett