Monthly Archives: September 2008

Voter registration deadline is Monday

Posted on September 30, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I figure everyone reading this blog is sufficiently engaged with the political process to be already registered to vote. But you never know, and I’m sure most if not all of us know people who should be registered but aren’t … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Voter registration deadline is Monday

Mayor White: Not so fast on that plant permit

Posted on September 30, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Mayor Bill White takes his fight against nearby chemical plants over the pollution they send our way to the next level. In an unusual request by the city, White asked the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, which is responsible for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on Mayor White: Not so fast on that plant permit

A more direct way to help

Posted on September 30, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Julie talks about what life is like after Ike in her hometown of Seabrook, and tells of a little way in which we can help: Kids are helping kids with Operation CRAYON. This is assistance for kids from pre-kindergarten through … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Comments Off on A more direct way to help

HISD versus Saavedra

Posted on September 30, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

There has been some tension in the relationship between HISD and its superintendent, Abe Saavedra. Yesterday, that nearly came to a head. Supporters of Houston ISD Superintendent Abelardo Saavedra rallied Monday amid fears that the school board planned to sever … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on HISD versus Saavedra

Candidate Q&A: Leslie Taylor

Posted on September 30, 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: Leslie Taylor

Is the light beginning to dawn on Farmers Branch?

Posted on September 30, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Could be. Farmers Branch officials are backing away from vows to go as far as the U.S. Supreme Court to defend a voter-approved ban on apartment rentals to illegal immigrants. The city instead is relying on a replacement ordinance designed … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Comments Off on Is the light beginning to dawn on Farmers Branch?

Clement to Dillard for the score

Posted on September 30, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Congratulations to Rice’s Chase Clement and Jarett Dillard, the most prolific scoring combination in NCAA history. Rice senior receiver Jarett Dillard nearly remained stoic until the moment of truth. From the day he began fielding questions regarding the record he … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Comments Off on Clement to Dillard for the score

Texas blog roundup for the week of September 29

Posted on September 30, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Still mulling over the Presidential debate? Let the Texas Progressive Alliance tell you about what you missed while you were wondering whether or not it was going to happen. Click on for this week’s highlights. Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on Texas blog roundup for the week of September 29

Those chickens haven’t hatched yet. You sure you want to count them?

Posted on September 29, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

The perils of premature credit-taking. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and his top aides took credit for building a winning bailout coalition – hours before the vote failed and stocks tanked. The rush to claim he had engineered a victory now … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 1 Comment

Interview with Trey Fleming

Posted on September 29, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

One of the many things I enjoy about the process of interviewing candidates is getting to meet and learn a little about some interesting people. The election season draws a lot of newcomers into the system, and it’s cool to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Interview with Trey Fleming

Chron overview of the Sheriff race

Posted on September 29, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron takes a look at the Sheriff’s race, and I think we all agree on the matter of what it’s all about. Both candidates for Harris County sheriff focus on the current sheriff’s record. A challenge for Republican incumbent … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Chron overview of the Sheriff race

CenterPoint and the trees

Posted on September 29, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Among the many questions being asked post-Ike are those about whether CenterPoint met its requirements for maintaining trees near power lines. Hugh Rice Kelly, a former chairman of Trees for Houston and former general counsel for CenterPoint’s predecessor, Houston Light … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 2 Comments

Olivia meets Leonardo

Posted on September 29, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Olivia and I had the opportunity to attend an opening night event for the Dinosaur Mummy exhibit at the Houston Musuem of Natural Science, which was rescheduled after Hurricane Ike. That’s her in the kids’ “Dig for Dinosaur Bones” area, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | 1 Comment

Weekend link dump for September 28

Posted on September 28, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

These links were not brought to you by FEMA… Lamentations of the Father. A classic from The Atlantic. I know this is a linkpost, but I’m going to quote a little anyway: For we judge between the plate that is … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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The still missing

Posted on September 28, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

We’ve heard of the possibility that thousands of people may be missing after Hurricane Ike, with some unknown number of them perhaps having been swept out to sea, never to be found. The good news is that far fewer people … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 2 Comments

Extend the voter registration deadline

Posted on September 28, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I think one of the least things we can do for folks who were displaced by Hurricane Ike is ensure that they are able to vote in this election if they are eligible to to do so. That should include … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

Brimer and the banks

Posted on September 28, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

While we wait for a resolution to the Kim Brimer/Wendy Davis ballot access lawsuit, take a look at Texas Watchdog’s report on Brimer’s interesting financial history. A struggling bank makes loans to a prominent businessman who offers flimsy excuses on … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Brimer and the banks

Rep. Green’s mess

Posted on September 28, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

This just sounds ugly. U.S. Rep. Al Green asked a federal judge Friday to find that he never discriminated against an ex-employee he claims is trying to shake him down for $1.8 million. The employee’s lawyer countered that Green forced … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 1 Comment

Power to the people – Working for the weekend

Posted on September 27, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Sunday is the new magic target date for those who still don’t have power. As long as you understand that it’s just a day, and setting it as a magic target date doesn’t actually mean anything. CenterPoint finished work Friday … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 1 Comment

RIP, Paul Newman

Posted on September 27, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Hollywood’s star is a little dimmer today. Paul Newman, the Academy-Award winning superstar who personified cool as the anti-hero of such films as Hud, Cool Hand Luke and The Color of Money — and as an activist, race car driver … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | Comments Off on RIP, Paul Newman

The DA candidates – and those other guys – debate

Posted on September 27, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

With much less drama than the Presidentials, the two candidates for Harris County District Attorney got together for a debate on Thursday. The two candidates for Harris County district attorney disagreed Thursday about recruiting grand jurors, establishing a public defender’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

Interviewing

Posted on September 27, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Greg Sargent: The lengths the McCain campaign is going to in order to shield Sarah Palin from questioning are reaching truly comic dimensions. Check out this nugget from the pool report, via Jonathan Martin, on John McCain and Palin’s meeting … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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

Benefit for Brennan’s

Posted on September 27, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

You recall that Brennan’s Restaurant burned down during Hurricane Ike. The fire severely injured Brennan’s of Houston Manager James Koonce and his young daughter Katherine, who had sheltered in the restaurant during the storm. I’m pleased to note that there … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | 1 Comment

Friday random ten: Genius!

Posted on September 26, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

So like much of the free world, I’ve now got the version of iTunes that has the new “Genius” feature that suggests a playlist based on a song you choose. Results may vary, but the concept seems simple and intriguing … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Comments Off on Friday random ten: Genius!

Power to the people: The people are still waiting

Posted on September 26, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

CenterPoint is feeling the heat from the 449,000 customers who are still without power, nearly two weeks after Ike. Tom Standish, CenterPoint Energy’s group president of regional operations, said in a conference call with Chronicle reporters that crews will be … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Comments Off on Power to the people: The people are still waiting

Congressman No

Posted on September 26, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

The man is consistent, I’ll say that much for him. Some Galveston officials aren’t too pleased with their Congressional representative, Ron Paul, R-Lake Jackson, for voting against the $22.8 billion disaster recovery aid package on Wednesday. “That’s sad. That’s bad,” … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 3 Comments

The undocumented reconstruction workers

Posted on September 26, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Time to make sure your Irony-o-Meter is fully calibrated. Hurricane Ike’s destruction is sparking one of the largest rebuilding efforts the state has seen in decades, but at the same time is highlighting a thorny facet of the region’s labor … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Comments Off on The undocumented reconstruction workers

Brazoria Dems HQ reopening

Posted on September 26, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

As things slowly get back to normal after Hurricane Ike, here’s a message from the Brazoria Democrats. OPENING RESCHEDULED AGAIN TO SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 DUE TO HURRICANE IKE North Brazoria Democrats announce the opening of Pearland Democratic campaign headquarters for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Brazoria Dems HQ reopening

And so we come to the end…

Posted on September 26, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

It all started nearly five years ago, and now it has finally come to an end: Slacktivist has reached the end of the first “Left Behind” book. How do you wrap up something like this? Here’s a taste: Left Behind, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Books | Comments Off on And so we come to the end…

Harris County sample ballot

Posted on September 25, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

For your perusal. Note, as Alan Bernstein did, that the special election for SD17 is the first thing people in that district will see, before the straight-ticket and Presidential races. If the other counties do the same thing, there should … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 3 Comments

State House race roundup

Posted on September 25, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC), which is the state legislative version of the DCCC/DSCC, has been promoting 40 essential candidates to support this year. So far, two of them are TexBlog PAC endorsees – Diana Maldonado and Chris Turner. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

Waiting for KBH: A step in the Senate

Posted on September 25, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

There are some new tea leaves to read in the continuing saga of whether or not Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison will run for Governor in 2010. Hutchison, R-Texas, said earlier this year that she did not plan to seek re-election … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged | Comments Off on Waiting for KBH: A step in the Senate

TexBlog PAC endorses Robert Miklos

Posted on September 25, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

The TexBlog PAC is pleased to announce its fifth endorsed candidate, Robert Miklos, running for HD101 in Dallas County. Here’s our press release: TexBlog PAC today announced its endorsement of Robert Miklos in Texas House District 101, a Dallas County … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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The TRCC sunset hearings

Posted on September 25, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, the Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC) is up for review by the Sunset Committee in the House, which has made an initial recommendation that it be scrapped. The agency got to defend itself at a public hearing … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 3 Comments