Tag Archives: Bill White

Turns out we’re not actually destroying the world one textbook at a time

Posted on March 29, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Good to know. Though Texas has been painted in scores of media reports as the big dog that wags the textbook industry tail, that’s simply no longer true — and will become even less true in the future, as technological … Continue reading →

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

Where the votes are going

Posted on March 26, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Matt Stiles looks at Census data and notes a political point. Seven Texas counties — Rockwall, Williamson, Collin, Hays, Fort Bend, Montgomery and Denton — are listed among the nation’s 30 fastest-growing areas, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates released … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

A fine whine from the SBOE

Posted on March 25, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Apparently, some of the wingnut members of our State Board of Education got their widdle feelings hurt by some of the coverage of their most recent hijinks, in particular about their amendment to remove Thomas Jefferson from the world history … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

It’s the “I am rubber, you are glue” election

Posted on March 24, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron notes that some of the charges that the two gubernatorial campaigns will lob at each other could easily be lobbed right back at themselves. Perry slammed White for not ruling out new taxes, pointing to 2003, when state … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on It’s the “I am rubber, you are glue” election

The tax question

Posted on March 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

So Bill White gave a straightforward answer to a question about taxes, and everybody goes nuts. Well, Rick Perry and his minions went nuts, and everybody else followed. The former Houston mayor, asked by the Tribune’s Evan Smith whether he … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The tax question

Cathie Adams is a big ol’ liar

Posted on March 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t know why anyone would ever believe anything that the former head of the Texas Eagle Forum and current Chair of the Republican Party of Texas says. But in the event that you needed a reason to doubt her … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

White: No expansion of gambling

Posted on March 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’m okay with this. Democratic gubernatorial nominee Bill White said today he does not support the legalization of slot machines and does not think Texas should legalize casinos across the state. “I don’t think the State of Texas should be … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Where KBH and Medina did best, where White did worst

Posted on March 10, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been poking around the county by county results in the Democratic and Republican gubernatorial primaries to see what might be of interest. Here’s what I’ve found. – Debra Medina carried three counties: Zavala, Crane, and Carson. There only 16 … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

First post-primary poll of TX-GOV

Posted on March 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Give Rasmussen credit, they don’t waste any time. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely voters in Texas finds Perry leading White, the popular former mayor of Houston, by just six points, 49% to 43%. Three percent (3%) opt … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on First post-primary poll of TX-GOV

“Don’t ask, don’t smell”

Posted on March 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron takes the TCEQ to task for it’s screw-the-public decision regarding the Lyondell permit. “They’re proposing to put thousands of tons of a cancer-causing chemical into our air,” says former Mayor Bill White. “They say they’ll reduce the amount … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on “Don’t ask, don’t smell”

Election results: White wins without breaking a sweat

Posted on March 2, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

This one was over before it started. I think the AP called the race for Bill White based on the early voting alone. I expected a big win for Bill White, but 75%+ surprised me, and from talking to folks … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Election results: White wins without breaking a sweat

The post-primary reconciliation

Posted on March 2, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Republican primary for Governor has been long and nasty. It will likely go to a runoff, where we’ll get five more weeks of concentrated nastiness and attack ads. Any time this kind of high-level primary occurs, people wonder if … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Why TCEQ is broken

Posted on February 26, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Back in 2008, Mayor White and the city of Houston made a request of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to hold a hearing before a judge on the latest permit application for Lyondell Chemical Co.’s refinery along the … Continue reading →

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

Endorsement watch: Star-Telegram for White

Posted on February 23, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The last of the major dailies to endorse in the Governor’s primaries goes with the crowd. The best choice for Democrats in the gubernatorial primary becomes more obvious by the day. Former Houston Mayor Bill White has been the front-runner … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Star-Telegram for White

Endorsement watch: Land Commish and Ag Commish

Posted on February 22, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Two more endorsements from the Chron, both for the Democratic primary. First, for Ag Commish: In the Democratic primary contest to select an opponent to face Republican incumbent Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples in November, the Chronicle recommends native Houstonian and … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Land Commish and Ag Commish

Endorsement watch: Chron for White

Posted on February 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

No surprise here. Fresh from completing three successful terms as Houston’s mayor, Bill White is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor. The Chronicle believes this accomplished attorney, businessman and public administrator is far and away the most qualified candidate to … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Chron for White

Yet another poll

Posted on February 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

And the newspapers get into the polling game. The poll found Perry leading with 45 percent support among likely Republican voters, with Hutchison at 29 percent and Medina at 17 percent; 8 percent said they were undecided. The Feb. 2-10 … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Yet another poll

Endorsement watch: Two more for White

Posted on February 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The San Antonio Express News comes down firmly in Bill White‘s corner. White is not flashy, but he is extraordinarily solid. He brings a strong resumé and a quiet confidence to the table. White served three productive terms as mayor … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Two more for White

Two more polls

Posted on February 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We are suddenly awash in hot polling goodness. First up, a new result from the University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll: Gov. Rick Perry is well ahead of U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and former Wharton County GOP chair Debra Medina, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Still more polling

Posted on February 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Via the Trib, there’s another gubernatorial primary poll out there. The Texas Credit Union League Poll of Texas Primary Voters, released today, shows incumbent Rick Perry close to a majority, holding a 22 point lead over Kay Bailey Hutchison in … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Still more polling

White holds big lead in Dem primary poll

Posted on February 9, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The headline and content of this Trib story is about another strong showing by GOP gubernatorial candidate Debra Medina in a poll, this one by Public Policy Polling, but that’s not what interests me. I’ll get to that in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Endorsement watch: Statesman for Bill White

Posted on February 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Following their unsurprising recommendation of KBH in the GOP Governor’s primary, the Statesman makes the clear and obvious choice in the Democratic race as well. As Texas moves through precarious times, it needs leaders from that moderate middle. We believe … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Statesman for Bill White

The Observer interviews White and Shami

Posted on February 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

If you’re looking for some more prep material in advance of tonight’s debate, the Texas Observer has a nice cover story on Bill White and Farouk Shami, with an interview with each candidate. For those of you who tune in … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Observer interviews White and Shami

Term limits review commission public meeting

Posted on February 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, outgoing Mayor Bill White appointed a commission in December to study the possibility of making changes to Houston’s term limits ordinance. Via Mary Benton, the commission will have an open session for public input on this next … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Term limits review commission public meeting

Another Rasmussen poll in TX-GOV

Posted on February 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Following their GOP primary poll, Rasmussen has released another general election matchup; the previous one, from only two weeks ago, is here. For the most part, it’s not any different: A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely Texas voters … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Water rate hike on the table

Posted on February 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’m sure there will be a massive freakout over the possibility that water rates could be increased, but that won’t stop me from expressing the naive hope that we can have a rational discussion about it anyway. The increase could … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Bill White on the air

Posted on February 1, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’d been wondering when Bill White would start spending some of the dough he’s raised on TV ads. Now I know: Here’s his first ad: And here’s one in Spanish: Those of you who remember his 2003 Mayoral campaign will … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Bill White on the air

Democratic gubernatorial candidates to debate

Posted on January 28, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, I’m not much of the debate-watching type. But this is one I may tune in to. Houston Mayor Bill White and millionaire businessman Farouk Shami have accepted an invitation from KERA and its media partners to debate … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Democratic gubernatorial candidates to debate

January City of Houston campaign finance reports

Posted on January 24, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

In addition to state and federal officeholders/candidates, January 15 was also the deadline for City of Houston folks to file their campaign finance reports as well. As there are no elections coming up any time soon, I will not be … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on January City of Houston campaign finance reports

And the rest

Posted on January 21, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I suppose it’s not fair to talk about the possibility of a runoff in the Republican gubernatorial primary without discussing the prospects for same in the Democratic primary. We don’t have any polling in this race as yet, and frankly … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on And the rest

First poll of TX-GOV

Posted on January 19, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

And we have our first general election gubernatorial poll of Texas that has Bill White in it, courtesy of Rasmussen. Incumbent GOP Governor Rick Perry leads White 50% to 40% among likely Texas voters. Four percent (4%) prefer some other … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Interview with Bill White

Posted on January 18, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Today we begin my interview series for the 2010 Democratic primary, and we begin it with the man who has helped get so many of us excited about the 2010 elections in Texas, former Houston Mayor Bill White, who is … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

White reports $2.5 million raised

Posted on January 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Not too shabby. [Democrat Bill White] reported raising $2.5 million from Dec. 4, when he got into the [Governor’s] race, and the end of 2009: about $90,000 a day, according to his campaign. Counting “transfers and in-kind donations” his campaign … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Republican State Rep says Perry can’t beat Bill White

Posted on January 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I wonder how many people will be thinking along the same lines as State Rep. Rick Hardcastle. When the Legislature does reconvene in 2011, one big question will be who is governor? “Whether or not we’ll have a new governor, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments