Monthly Archives: November 2013

Abortion providers petition SCOTUS for injunction review

Posted on November 5, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see what happens. Abortion providers on Monday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reinstate a lower federal court’s injunction that blocked Texas from implementing strict new abortion rules. “Right now, women in vast swaths of Texas are being turned … Continue reading →

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

It’s about the people who don’t have ID

Posted on November 5, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

We’ve had plenty of blue-sky stories telling us that the voter ID law has been no big deal. A few provisional ballots and some number of affidavits, sure, but everyone who’s wanted to vote has been able to vote, right? … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Election Day today

Posted on November 5, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

For the however many of you that haven’t voted yet, here’s a message from County Clerk Stan Stanart: 4,500 Election Judges and Clerks are prepared to receive voters on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5, at the 775 locations throughout Harris … Continue reading →

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

Early voting wrapup: Did we run out of early voters?

Posted on November 4, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Early voting is officially over, though a few more mail ballots will trickle in by tomorrow. Here are the final numbers, with the chart from Thursday being updated: 2013 2011 2009 2007 Here again is that look at turnout over … Continue reading →

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The HISD elections and Terry Grier

Posted on November 4, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron writes about the possible effect of the HISD Trustee elections on Superintendent Terry Grier and his agenda items like Apollo and revamped teacher evaluations. Of the three contested elections, the one that has the greatest potential to swing … Continue reading →

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

Barton versus Cornyn?

Posted on November 4, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

From Warren Throckmorton: There is a lot of chatter these days among tea partiers in Texas about who should run against John Cornyn in the 2014 Senate primary. Despite a conservative voting record, Cornyn is being targeted by the tea party … Continue reading →

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Second lawsuit filed against Texas Double Secret Illegal Anti-Gay Marriage amendment

Posted on November 4, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

From San Antonio. A federal lawsuit filed Monday on behalf of gay couples challenges the state’s constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage and seeks to bar Texas officials from enforcing it. “In Texas, Plaintiffs cannot legally marry their partner before family, … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for November 3

Posted on November 3, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

“YouTube is preparing a premium on-demand music service — akin to a Spotify, but with video — to launch later this year”. We need a space tax. Though we should probably call it a “fee”. From the “When I was … Continue reading →

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Hagel tells Texas National Guard to obey the law

Posted on November 3, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel late Thursday rebuked Texas and eight other states whose National Guard organizations have refused to process federal benefits given to same-sex couples. In a speech before the Anti-Defamation League in New York, Hagel revealed that … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

On the uses of the New Dome

Posted on November 3, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

So it’s looking pretty good for the Astrodome renovation referendum. But what exactly will we get if it does pass? In particular, will the New Dome be economically sustainable in a way that the current one is not? To date, … Continue reading →

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We shouldn’t have any teams called the “Redskins”

Posted on November 3, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

What Steve Harvey says. It is time for the Lamar High School Redskins to change their nickname. It actually is past time. A good time would have been 15 years ago. According to a 1999 article in the Houston Press, … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Endorsement watch: Sometimes the answer is No

Posted on November 3, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron recommend a No vote on the Pasadena redistricting referendum. There is no need for mid-decade redistricting in Pasadena, least of all with a plan that has been dug out of the trash. The once lily-white town of Pasadena … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: All we want to do is eat your brains

Posted on November 2, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Popdose put out a Top 20 Halloween Songs playlist, and there are some fine and seasonal tunes on it, but for me the song that best captures the spirit of the day is Jonathan Coulton’s “re: Your Brains”. It’s like … Continue reading →

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Chron overview of the Pasadena redistricting referendum

Posted on November 2, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron covers the most important ballot item in Harris County that isn’t the two countywide propositions, the charter amendment in Pasadena. The charter change would replace two of Pasadena’s eight single-member City Council districts with seats elected citywide. But … Continue reading →

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

Who judges the judges?

Posted on November 2, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Meet the guy that’s been going after judges with behavioral issues. The photograph at the top of Greg Enos’ monthly email newsletter is always the same: A pack of mongooses confronting a reared-up cobra. The Webster family lawyer says the … Continue reading →

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Response from Carroll Robinson

Posted on November 2, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

A few days ago, I noted that notorious gay-hater Dave Wilson was up to his usual tricks in the HCC 1 race, even though he himself was running in HCC 2. Wilson sent out an attack mailer against Zeph Capo … Continue reading →

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

Friday random ten: Dia de los Muertos

Posted on November 1, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It’s All Saints Day/Dia de los Muertos, so let’s have ten songs about the dead. 1. Dead – They Might Be Giants 2. Dead Man’s Shoes – The Virginmarys 3. I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead – Jackson Browne & Warren … Continue reading →

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There are no new ideas, but there are plenty of bad ideas

Posted on November 1, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

There’s so much wrong with what Greg Abbott wants for Texas that it’s hard to know where to begin. In his first major policy address as a gubernatorial candidate, Attorney General Greg Abbott proposed tighter constitutional limits on state spending … Continue reading →

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Have I mentioned lately that the Fifth Circuit sucks?

Posted on November 1, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The only mystery is that it took them this long. Texas abortion providers’ Monday victory was short-lived. The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday reversed a federal district court ruling that found part of the state’s new abortion … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Affidavits everywhere

Posted on November 1, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Dallas County. At least one out of every seven early voters in Dallas County has had to sign an affidavit verifying his or her identity as part of Texas’ new voter ID law. Though no one in Dallas County has … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Want to buy a piece of the Dome?

Posted on November 1, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Now’s your chance, but act fast. Five hundred pairs of upper-deck “rainbow gut” seats and old Astrodome space helmets worn by the grounds crew nearly 50 years ago are among the items up for grabs Saturday during a sale and … Continue reading →

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