Monthly Archives: February 2014

Dan Patrick strongly denies having once been a decent human being

Posted on February 21, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I’m late to the party on this, but I think my post title about sums it up. State Sen. Dan Patrick, who says Texas leaders must “stop the invasion” from Mexico, went along with a decision to hire at least … Continue reading →

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Yes, they fear what BGT is doing

Posted on February 21, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the proof. While saying it had received no complaint against the Democratic group Battleground Texas, the office of Texas Secretary of State Nandita Berry suggested Wednesday that the group’s voter registration practices might rise to a “potential level of … Continue reading →

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Lyft gets set to lift off in Houston

Posted on February 21, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Another option for getting a ride. Prepare to see see pink-mustachioed cars roaming around the city as San Francisco-based car sharing company Lyft launches in Houston on Friday. Lyft is an app-based service that allows anyone to register as a … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: The remaining judicial races

Posted on February 21, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron finishes off the contested judicial primaries. 246th Family District Court: Julia Maldonado In a race between two qualified candidates, we encourage voters to go with Julia Maldonado. Her goals of a quicker docket and a more welcoming staff … Continue reading →

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On Abbott and empathy

Posted on February 20, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

On Sunday, the DMN had this long piece about Greg Abbott’s longstanding hostility to claims made under the Americans with Disabilities Act, even though he himself had benefited from it. Attorney General Greg Abbott, who has said he supports the … Continue reading →

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All about Lloyd

Posted on February 20, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Emily dePrang talks to Lloyd Oliver about his candidacy for District Attorney and confirms what we already knew about him. Oliver admits he runs for office to drum up business for his law practice. He credits his 2012 win to … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Belatedly for Whitmire

Posted on February 20, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Chronicle makes its recommendations for the State Senate. Senate District 15 (D) In 1973, a 23-year-old college dropout named John Whitmire hopped aboard a wave of voter disgust with ethically challenged incumbents and won a seat in the Texas … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of February 17

Posted on February 20, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance is always ready for voting to begin as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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First day of early voting

Posted on February 19, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Here are the Day One primary early voting totals, which was reasonably heavy and which went according to prediction, with most of the votes on the Republican side. The Chron preview story lays it out. Early voting for the March … Continue reading →

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Let’s say what “inappropriate” means

Posted on February 19, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Morning News has a more complete story about Greg Abbott’s pal Ted Nugent, who is in for a campaign appearance with Abbott. Democrats and women’s groups assailed Republican Greg Abbott’s choice of Ted Nugent to appear with him Tuesday, … Continue reading →

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Voter ID trial still on track for September

Posted on February 19, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

It could have been delayed till after the November election. A federal judge in Corpus Christi ruled on Wednesday that a federal lawsuit challenging the legality of the state’s controversial Voter ID law is expected to begin in September as … Continue reading →

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Cookiecott 2014

Posted on February 19, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Hissyfit 2014 might be a more accurate description. A coalition of anti-abortion groups is trying to crumble Girl Scout cookie sales because of a Twitter post of an online news article that recognized several accomplished women, including gubernatorial hopeful Wendy … Continue reading →

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A closer look at the turnout issue in 2014

Posted on February 18, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I wrote yesterday about turnout for this year’s election. The main problem that Democrats face this year is that turnout has basically been flat for them since 2002 in the off year elections. I began to write a post to … Continue reading →

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Chron overview of Harris County GOP Chair race

Posted on February 18, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

This race has provided quite a bit of entertainment for us armchair types. The race to head the Harris County Republican Party is about as far down the ballot as you can get. As such, it typically generates neither news … Continue reading →

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Tracking diplomas

Posted on February 18, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

From the Texas Tribune: Among young Texans who started eighth grade in 2001, less than one-fifth went on to earn a higher education credential within six years of their high school graduation. And rates were even lower among African-American and … Continue reading →

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More details on the rape kit backlog results

Posted on February 18, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

HPD reports to Council about the progress of testing done on the backlogged rape kits. No false arrests by Houston police have been uncovered during an ongoing $4.4 million testing of thousands of old rape kits, but new suspects have … Continue reading →

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Early voting begins tomorrow for the March 4 primary

Posted on February 17, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

It’s that time again. Here’s a message from County Clerk Stan Stanart, via the inbox: As early voting gets underway for the March 4, 2014 Democratic and Republican Party Primary Elections, Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart reminds voters that photo … Continue reading →

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The turnout issue in 2014

Posted on February 17, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Two recent articles of interest, both about the nature of the electorate in non-Presidential years. First, via Ed Kilgore, who has been beating the drum about the volatility of the Democratic base, comes this NYT story about what the Democratic … Continue reading →

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Metro reports good first month North Line numbers

Posted on February 17, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Off to a fine start. In its first month of operation, the Red/North Line extension exceeded ridership projections by 62 percent. METRO launched its 5.3-mile extension of the Red/North Line last Dec. 21 – extending the line from HCC-Downtown Station … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Wendy Time

Posted on February 17, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron makes the obvious call in the Democratic primary for Governor. The Democratic candidate for governor is, in essence, an accidental candidate. Disconsolate Texas Democrats, wandering on the wrong side of the River Jordan for more than half of … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for February 16

Posted on February 16, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

So how do ants drink water, anyway? Among other things, gentrification is anti-gang. Law and Order and computers, documenting history by the screenshot. Ever wonder what judges wear underneath their robes? Don’t smoke, y’all. Mr. Spock says so. Forget Wal-Mart, … Continue reading →

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Nikki Araguz case reinstated

Posted on February 16, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Good. A transgender woman who was denied benefits after her firefighter husband died in the line of duty will get another chance to litigate the case in a state district courtroom, the 13th Court of Appeals ruled Thursday. […] Nikki … Continue reading →

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HISD gets more diverse

Posted on February 16, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Which in this case means it’s getting a little whiter. After decades of free fall, Houston ISD’s white enrollment is inching upward, suggesting that more families with the resources to choose are selecting Houston public schools. Enrollment of non-Hispanic white … Continue reading →

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Complaint #3 against Judge Pratt

Posted on February 16, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Greg Enos does not give up, y’all. With just days before early voting begins in the GOP primary, Webster family lawyer Greg Enos has filed a third criminal complaint against embattled family court Judge Denise Pratt with the Harris County … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Chron for Alameel

Posted on February 16, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Houston Chronicle makes a nice endorsement of David Alameel for the Democratic nomination for Senate. David Alameel isn’t your usual political candidate. Most big money political donors don’t start like Alameel: a gas station attendant and farm laborer. But … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: After The Fire

Posted on February 15, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I didn’t mean to start this series out with two Pete Townshend songs in a row, but I’m going alphabetically and this is what came next. It’s also one of my favorite songs, from one of my desert island CDs: … Continue reading →

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Add Virginia to the list

Posted on February 15, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The list of states whose law banning same sex marriage has been struck down. A federal judge ruled Thursday that Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, making it the first state in the South to have its voter-approved prohibition … Continue reading →

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Lots of pushback on HISD’s school closure proposal

Posted on February 15, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

People don’t like it when schools get closed. With the temperature near freezing, Maria Salazar bundled her three young children in jackets on Tuesday and walked them eight blocks to Port Houston Elementary School. She dropped off Joaquin, 7, and … Continue reading →

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Tracking city performance

Posted on February 15, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Cool. The City of Houston launched a website Monday pulling from a massive database of 311 service requests that allows visitors to create custom graphs counting everything from bad tasting water and missed yard waste pickups to storm sewer odors and traffic signal timing. The site also includes links to the … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Kim Ogg for DA

Posted on February 15, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Chronicle gives a ringing endorsement to Kim Ogg in the Democratic primary for District Attorney. Ogg has experience as a board-certified felony prosecutor, but she also has the broad view that comes from serving as director of Houston’s first … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Heartbreak Hotel

Posted on February 14, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Captain and Tennille. Ron and Hermione. It’s been a heartbreaking couple of weeks, hasn’t it? And today is Valentine’s Day, too. Here’s an appropriate soundtrack for some love gone wrong. 1. Break My Heart – La Sera 2. Break … Continue reading →

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ACA enrollments top 200K in Texas

Posted on February 14, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Despite continued fierce resistance from state leadership, people keep signing up for health insurance in Texas via the Healthcare.Gov exchange. Enrollment in the federal health insurance marketplace continued to steadily climb in January, according to data the U.S. Department of … Continue reading →

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Davis officially supports same sex marriage

Posted on February 14, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Right on. Sen. Wendy Davis said Thursday that she supports same-sex marriage and that Attorney General Greg Abbott, her presumed general-election opponent in the race for governor, should stop defending the state’s ban. “It’s my strong belief that when people … Continue reading →

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Montgomery County voting shenanigans

Posted on February 14, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Fascinating story out of Montgomery County in which a handful of self-styled activists in Montgomery County attempt to register to vote in a Road Utility District (RUD), a taxing entity that has literally almost no voters, and wind up getting … Continue reading →

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