Monthly Archives: November 2012

Friday random ten: For the ladies, part 7

Posted on November 30, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Getting close to the end of this series: 1. Mrs. Martha Knowles – Silly Wizard 2. Mrs. McGrath – Bruce Springsteen 3. Mrs. Robinson – Simon and Garfunkel 4. Mrs. Robinson – Pomplamoose 5. Peg – Steely Dan 6. Polly … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on Friday random ten: For the ladies, part 7

Pity the poor judges

Posted on November 30, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It’s hard out here on a judge. For longer than anyone remembers, you had to be a Democrat to be a district judge in Texas – or just about any other political office. When the Democratic Party split apart in … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Time for the biennial attempt to de-fang the Travis County DA

Posted on November 30, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Same story, next chapter. The Texas Ethics Commission, long criticized for its lax enforcement of public officials, is considering a plan to take over all ethics enforcement from the Travis County district attorney’s office, which has a long history of … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Time for the biennial attempt to de-fang the Travis County DA

Let the endorsement race begin!

Posted on November 30, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

We may not have a date for the SD06 special election, but that doesn’t mean the race hasn’t begun. In particular, the race to begin collecting endorsements has begun, and both major declared candidates have announced wins. Sylvia Garcia has … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Constable Trevino’s day in court

Posted on November 30, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It went about as you’d expect. Precinct 6 Constable Victor Trevino and his attorney said Tuesday they expect the longtime law enforcement officer to be cleared of any wrongdoing in connection with allegations he abused his official role and used … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Constable Trevino’s day in court

Precinct analysis: The range of possibility

Posted on November 29, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a look at selected districts in Harris County that shows the range of votes and vote percentages achieved by Democratic candidates. I’ve thrown in the Obama and Sam Houston results from 2008 for each to provide a comparison between … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The anti-student RFID movement has already begun

Posted on November 29, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

When I wrote about the battle over student RFID, I said it was just a matter of time before the Lege intervened. Turns out I was behind the curve on this. Since first hearing about the use of radio frequency … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The anti-student RFID movement has already begun

Biggio on the ballot

Posted on November 29, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Former Astros great Craig Biggio will make his debut on the Hall of Fame ballot this year. Ballots for the 2013 Hall of Fame class will be issued this week to media members; candidates will officially be announced Wednesday. Results … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Texas blog roundup for the week of November 26

Posted on November 29, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance is rested and ready after the holiday weekend as it brings you this week’s roundup. Off the Kuff notes that for the second election in a row, the city of Houston voted 61% for President Obama. … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Precinct analysis: City propositions

Posted on November 28, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

And we come to the city of Houston bond referenda, of which there were five on the ballot. Here’s the usual breakdown of them: Dist A Yes A No B Yes B No C Yes C No D Yes D … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Lege will take another crack at payday lending

Posted on November 28, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I’m glad to see this, because the Lege definitely left business unfinished last time. About 83 percent of customers in Beaumont and 75 percent in the Houston and San Antonio metro areas are locked in a loan renewal cycle, latest … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

We should expect boring Congressional races for the foreseeable future

Posted on November 28, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

That’s my takeaway after reading this. For Pete Sessions, election night ended with yet another resounding send-off to Washington. He won a ninth term, with 58 percent of the vote. But an analysis by The Dallas Morning News raises questions … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on We should expect boring Congressional races for the foreseeable future

RIP, Marvin Miller

Posted on November 28, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Marvin Miller, whom Red Barber said was “one of the two or three most important men in baseball history, along with Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson”, has died at the age of 95. It is impossible to overstate Miller’s impact … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Precinct analysis: HISD and HCC

Posted on November 27, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I was reasonably confident that the HISD bond referendum would be successful, mostly because there wasn’t any real opposition from officials or constituencies that would normally be expected to support it. It had a much smoother path than the 2007 … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Precinct analysis: HISD and HCC

Jail privatization update

Posted on November 27, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Grits, from about two weeks ago: In a conference call last week with investors (see the transcript), Corrections Corporation of America said it expects to find out by next spring whether they will receive a contract to operate the Harris … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Jail privatization update

When will we have that special election in SD06?

Posted on November 27, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Sylvia Garcia would like to know. Senate District 6 candidate Sylvia Garcia, today called on Governor Rick Perry to set an election date to fill the senate district seat as soon as possible. “This is a simple taxation without representation … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Demographic change in the Panhandle

Posted on November 27, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

What’s happening in other parts of Texas is happening in West Texas, too. Whites no longer are the majority group in 17 counties in the Texas Panhandle/South Plains region, including Potter County, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. And based … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Demographic change in the Panhandle

Precinct analysis: Metro

Posted on November 26, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The first rule of precinct analysis, at least as I do it, is that you really can’t learn much by doing it on lopsided elections. The Metro referendum, which passed with 78% of the vote, is Exhibit A of this … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A family planning end run?

Posted on November 26, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

This is interesting. Texas lawmakers have spent the past two years attacking family planning services in the state, cutting funds for programs that provide women with birth control and wellness exams. Now family planning advocates are fighting back. A coalition … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Student RFID

Posted on November 26, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. A Texas high school student is being suspended for refusing to wear a student ID card implanted with a radio-frequency identification chip. Northside Independent School District in San Antonio began issuing the … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Voter ID case will likely wait for SCOTUS, too

Posted on November 26, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Texas Redistricting: In a move not too surprising, the three-judge panel in the Texas voter ID case also has asked the parties to brief the question of whether the court should delay taking up questions about the constitutionality of section … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Weekend link dump for November 25

Posted on November 25, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

“But what I learned from this experience is that if you’re a Christian — left or right, it doesn’t matter — and if your religious convictions lead you into political activism, do not bring Jesus into it unless you’re prepared … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | Comments Off on Weekend link dump for November 25

It’s drug testing all the way down

Posted on November 25, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Looks like the urinalysis industry in this state is going to get a big stimulus package next year, at least if the Republicans get their way. As top state leaders push to drug-test some Texans seeking jobless benefits and financial … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

RIP, Larry Hagman

Posted on November 25, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Farewell, JR. J.R. Ewing was a business cheat, faithless husband and bottomless well of corruption. Yet with his sparkling grin, Larry Hagman masterfully created the charmingly loathsome oil baron — and coaxed forth a Texas-size gusher of ratings — on … Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on RIP, Larry Hagman

Cracker Jack’d

Posted on November 25, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Buy me some peanuts and caffeinated Cracker Jacks… Coming soon to a store near you: Cracker Jack’D, a new twist on the popcorn candy that offers Power Bites with as much caffeine in every serving as a cup of coffee. … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Saturday video break: Mr. Tambourine Man

Posted on November 24, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Song #42 on the Popdose Top 100 Covers list is “Mr. Tambourine Man”, originally by Bob Dylan and covered by The Byrds. Here’s the original: I’ve lost track of how many songs I’m familiar with that I didn’t know were … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | 3 Comments

What next for Ron Kirk?

Posted on November 24, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

He’ll be moving on after President Obama’s second inauguration. We’re hearing that U.S. Trade Representative and former two-term Dallas mayor Ron Kirk has let the White House know that he intends to leave Washington and head back to Dallas. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

More on the economic effect of casinos

Posted on November 24, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I’m just noting this for the record, since I am sure that gambling expansion will come up again in The Lege this spring. Melissa Kearney, an economist at the University of Maryland, released a literature review in 2005 summarizing work … Continue reading →

Posted in Jackpot! | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on More on the economic effect of casinos

Friday random ten: Black Friday

Posted on November 23, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Taking a short respite from the girls’ name songs to note the event of the day. 1. Black Water – Doobie Brothers 2. Reverend Mr. Black – Kingston Trio 3. Long Black Veil – Dave Matthews 4. Black Horse and … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on Friday random ten: Black Friday

The drought is back

Posted on November 23, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Bad news, y’all. The latest report from the U.S. Drought Monitor, released this morning, shows that more than three-quarters of Texas is now in at least a “moderate” drought, and nearly half the state is in a “severe” or worse … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

DRT vs OAG

Posted on November 23, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Nothing like a little holiday week controversy. A blistering report released Tuesday by the Texas attorney general’s office outlines a long list of problems and dysfunctions in the past management of the Alamo by the Daughters of the Republic of … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Is immigration reform likely to happen now?

Posted on November 23, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

With President Obama’s victory powered in part by overwhelming support from Latino voters, and a dawning if grudging recognition from the GOP that they can’t continue to alienate this growing segment of the electorate, some kind of deal on immigration … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Is immigration reform likely to happen now?

Where to eat if no one is cooking in your house

Posted on November 22, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I figure most people are eating at home, or the home of a family member or friend, but if you’re not and you’re in Houston, Eater.com has a list of restaurants that are open today. Some pretty fancy places in … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , | Comments Off on Where to eat if no one is cooking in your house

Texas blog roundup for the week of November 19

Posted on November 22, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance wishes everyone a happy and peaceful Thanksgiving as it brings you this week’s roundup.

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged , | Comments Off on Texas blog roundup for the week of November 19