I'm taking the weekend off, unplugging (so to speak) and spending time with family. Until then here are some things to keep your mind occupied over the weekend.
With Gregg at Commerce, Democrats could have 60th seat. [US News & World Report] - This bears watching closely.
Obama slams Wall Street for rich executive bonuses. [AP via Yahoo! News] - Chooses to stay mum on Democratic-sponsored Congressional pay raise.
Exxon Mobil announces 45.2 Billion dollar profit. [Kristen Hays, Chron.com] - As is the custom now in America, calls for the punishment of their success will be legion.
Fake money showing up in Katy school lunch lines. [Helen Erickson, Chron.com] - Kids these days and their free nachos.
A phone call alters the Mayor's race [Alan Bernsetin, Chron.com] - So, is Locke this election's "Houston Way" candidate now?
Counting heads [tAFKAMW, Chron.com] - Mayor White continues his administrations' track record of pushing the tough decisions onto future administrations while tAFKAMW carries on her tradition of almost criticizing the Mayor but not quite having the guts to do so. The more things change etc. etc.
Time to put the middle-class front and center. [Joe Biden, USA Today] - Nothing more than pandering for votes until they take the important step of quantifying the "middle class".
Obama's mandate could end the GOP [Eugene Robinson, RCP] - Probably not. It might alter the GOP but it won't end it. Talks of a perpetual Democratic majority are just as silly today as GOP talk of a permanent majority were eight years ago.
On ending the culture wars [Ed Kilgore, RCP] - Talk of ending massive rifts in culture are insane. Still, the Democrats could expand their advantages if they'd drop the 'abortion on demand' and 'last trimester' arguments that some, furious, pro-abortion proponents are pushing. The rhetoric of the Democrats to Americans is that "no one is really for abortion, they are for choice". The reality is that many of the policies pushed by some groups are more pro-abortion than they are pro-choice. Contrary to what most on the fringes of this argument think, the prevailing American temperature on the issue is in the middle, especially on abortion.
Health Care Now [Paul Krugman, Chron.com] - My guess is it won't be long. The trick for Democrats will be two-fold: 1. Pass universal health care without reducing the quality of care received by those already insured. 2. Pass universal health care without massive tax increases. What Krugman fails to understand is that satisfying both requirements is going to be near impossible.
Old ways cloud dawning of new bi-partisan era [USA Today] - People calling for bi-partisanship are really calling for the GOP to disband, shut up shop and go home. I may not agree with most of what the current GOP is doing, but asking them to stop playing the opposistion role and 'bow down to King Obama' isn't consistent with the ideological bent of America. That being said, allowing minority input on major legislation is the providence of the majority party. In that matter Nancy Pelosi is proving to be a monunmental failure and a partisan of the highest order. If she ever were to allow the Republicans input then the onus would be on them to present viable alternatives and not torpedo legislation designed to do nothing more than sink legislation. Don't hold your breath, consider who we've allowed to Govern us.
A Sprawling, Undisciplined Smorgasboard. [David Brooks, NYT] - The 'stimulus' package could go down in American history as the public policy blunder of our time.
Everyone enjoy your weekend. I'm going to enjoy mine.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Red-light camera study rhetoric heats up.
Data-manipulation by the HPD?
[Bradley Olson, Chron.com]
Given the questions raised by this, flawed, final draft the City would be prudent to release the draft to the public and let them evaluate the changes for themselves. By continuing to suppress the draft survey they're opening themselves up to a host of charges including data-fixing, biased sampling and out-right mis-representation of the results.
Out of all of this one thing is clear: There are many better ways to decrease intersection collisions than red light cameras. A municipality has the options of extending yellow light times or, as in Europe, changing out traffic lights for roundabouts. Both of these methods are more effective at reducing accidents than red-light cameras yet both have one fatal flaw...
They don't create a revenue stream for the City.
[Bradley Olson, Chron.com]
The Houston Police Department tried to influence the outcome of a controversial city-commissioned study by changing how crashes at intersections with red-light cameras were counted, according to documents included in a lawsuit.If a "normal back-and-forth" in a study involves e-mailing the study author and telling them how to interpret the data? Granted, given the tortured mess that the survey turned out to be, I can understand some level of attempted data-massaging by City Hall. After all, if no one understand the survey then who's to know what effect any changes might have had on it? Of course, there's the little matter of the draft survey that the city is trying its darndest to suppress from the public. If that survey were released perhaps some further facts would be known:
HPD’s request was refused by the study’s authors, however, who concluded the number of accidents at 50 intersections with the cameras had increased, not decreased as city officials expected, documents say.
Attorneys fighting to end Houston’s 2-year-old red-light camera program seized on the documents — released after an open records lawsuit they filed against the city — as evidence the study was tainted by a purposefully skewed methodology.
“As in other cities, the red-light camera system in Houston is increasing accidents,” said Randall Kallinen, a lawyer who represents ticketed drivers in court. “This is very dangerous for the public, and we must end the red-light camera experiment.”
City officials and Rice University political science Professor Robert Stein, one of the study’s main authors, contend the Houston Police Department’s requests were part of an ordinary back-and-forth about how best to examine the efficacy of red-light cameras and were not a conspiracy to deliver false data.
Another aspect of the report also has come under fire. Although the study found that crashes went up at red-light camera intersections, the authors speculated that was only because accidents are going up all over Houston. Collisions at the intersections they studied would have been higher, they reasoned, without the cameras, too.
They did not make that conclusion, however, in a draft report sent to the city in February. They made it only in the final version, released to the public last month, and produced no definitive data proving the underlying theory that crashes are going up in Houston. In fact, according to HPD data cited in the lawsuit documents, accidents have declined every year since 2004.
Given the questions raised by this, flawed, final draft the City would be prudent to release the draft to the public and let them evaluate the changes for themselves. By continuing to suppress the draft survey they're opening themselves up to a host of charges including data-fixing, biased sampling and out-right mis-representation of the results.
Out of all of this one thing is clear: There are many better ways to decrease intersection collisions than red light cameras. A municipality has the options of extending yellow light times or, as in Europe, changing out traffic lights for roundabouts. Both of these methods are more effective at reducing accidents than red-light cameras yet both have one fatal flaw...
They don't create a revenue stream for the City.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Finding Climate Religion
Waco Republican Kip Averitt finds the Green.
[Matthew Tresaugue, Chron.com]
Republicans had a chance in recent years to jump on the conservation bandwagon in response to the Democratic monopoly of the environmentalist cause. They didn't, and now they're out of power Federally and looking down the gun at some fairly punitive measures coming from the Fed. That they've been silent on the matter doesn't bode well for some moderating influence in the environmental wave that's coming.
Fair warning to Texas Republicans that you probably have one last chance, while still clinging to a majority in Texas to pass a conservation agenda, one that works to keep the business environment in Texas running while working to address the pollution, natural lands and clean water issues that are in dire need.
[Matthew Tresaugue, Chron.com]
Texas, once cool to global warming, should be part of any federal effort to tackle the issue, the likely chairman of the state Senate’s powerful natural resources committee said Thursday.
Sen. Kip Averitt, a Waco Republican, called for state regulators to be involved as President Barack Obama and the Democratic Congress shape legislation to curb emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases that contribute to climate change.
“We have more to lose than anybody,” he said at a news conference in Austin. “If and when the federal government does something, Texas needs to be at the table.”
Averitt made the request as part of a sweeping energy bill that also calls for incentives for new emissions-reducing technology, rebates for the purchase of plug-in hybrid vehicles and more stringent building codes to promote energy efficiency.
Environmentalists and business leaders said they support Averitt’s bill, which is based on market-oriented approaches rather than more regulation.
Republicans had a chance in recent years to jump on the conservation bandwagon in response to the Democratic monopoly of the environmentalist cause. They didn't, and now they're out of power Federally and looking down the gun at some fairly punitive measures coming from the Fed. That they've been silent on the matter doesn't bode well for some moderating influence in the environmental wave that's coming.
Fair warning to Texas Republicans that you probably have one last chance, while still clinging to a majority in Texas to pass a conservation agenda, one that works to keep the business environment in Texas running while working to address the pollution, natural lands and clean water issues that are in dire need.
Correct but wrong.
Let no one ever say that I'm constantly negative about tAFKAMW. I would like to start out this post by illustrating what they got correct:
Then: Aug 7, 2007 - Keep Bolsover: It's bad policy to sell public land without a compelling need
Now: Jan 29, 2009: Bolsover Blues - City's lack of planning loses a street, gains an eyesore.
And things started off so well.
Where tAFKAMW gets it wrong today is that the Bolsover Street purchase wasn't a case where planning was lacking, it was yet another case where developer's interests were considered before the the public interest. It's not about lack of planning as much as having elected officials acting (legally, if not ethically) in a manner that doesn't place the public's best interest first. A City can have all the planning in the world, and its worthless when the supposed watchdogs turn apologists for all but the worst of grievences.
As much as Mrs. White got it correct on the first go-around, tAFKAMW got it dead wrong on the second spin. That being said, expect this comedy of errors to appear on the campaign website of a certain Mayoral Candidate (who's platform includes planning to plan to plan out what will eventually be a plan to start planning Houston's master plan) very soon.
Which still leaves open to question whether no plan at all is better than a bad plan? We already know the answer. There's just no desire in Houston media to have a frank, open discussion about it.
Then: Aug 7, 2007 - Keep Bolsover: It's bad policy to sell public land without a compelling need
ON Wednesday City Council will consider Mayor Bill White's proposal to sell a block of Bolsover Street in the Rice Village. District C Councilwoman Anne Clutterbuck said she will tag the agenda item to allow another week for citizen input.- Back then Mrs. White (pre-buyouts) was dead-on in her assessment that the Bolsover land sale was a deal designed in total accordance with The Houston Way which values patronage and, probably more importantly, developer well-being over the well being of the general public.
The councilwoman, who favors the sale, is right to seek more time for public comment and council reflection. In the coming days City Council members should consider the following arguments, many voiced by nearby residents, against the sale:
It is bad policy to sell useful public land without a compelling reason. While the sale of Bolsover between Morningside and Kelvin might be convenient and profitable for the developer, Lamesa Properties, the development and swelling of the tax base will take place with or without the sale of the city right of way.
The adage is, "Buy land. They're not making any more of it." No one said anything about hastening to sell it. The city would get $1.5 million for the right of way, at $60 per square foot at the upper end of similar sales. But the loss of public use and mobility would be for eternity, while the proceeds would be spent on temporal improvements to District C mobility. These days, $1.5 million buys little enough of those. The few sidewalk and street lane improvements necessitated by the Bolsover sale would consume much of the proceeds.
Now: Jan 29, 2009: Bolsover Blues - City's lack of planning loses a street, gains an eyesore.
Houston is by most reckonings weathering the current recession better than many other parts of the country. Even so, casualties are apparent, especially in the luxury condo market, where several high-dollar local projects have hit the skids recently.
One such development whose demise is particularly vexing to its neighbors is the Sonoma residential and retail project in Rice Village, envisioned less than two years ago as an upscale, Mediterranean-style complex and now an empty lot.
What infuriates and puzzles many locals is that a perfectly good, well-traveled street — a valuable commodity in the congested Village — is now lying idle, and could stay that way for the foreseeable future. That’s not a good deal for the public, and points to a serious lack of foresight and prudence on the part of the city.
(snip)
As for the city, while not responsible for the wretched economic climate, it should be held accountable for its handling of this particular transaction. Stephen Fox, a Houston architectural historian, told the Chronicle, “It’s the next stanza of the same old song. It’s not just lack of planning, it’s a lack of planning knowledge and experience.”
He has a good point. Houston has long prided itself on its can-do, improvisational spirit, but has, throughout its history, neglected to create viable city planning laws, treating each instance separately by creating individual ordinances rather than a larger, consistent policy. (Founded in 1836, its first land-use ordinance was in 1982, its first preservation ordinance in 1995.)
And things started off so well.
Where tAFKAMW gets it wrong today is that the Bolsover Street purchase wasn't a case where planning was lacking, it was yet another case where developer's interests were considered before the the public interest. It's not about lack of planning as much as having elected officials acting (legally, if not ethically) in a manner that doesn't place the public's best interest first. A City can have all the planning in the world, and its worthless when the supposed watchdogs turn apologists for all but the worst of grievences.
As much as Mrs. White got it correct on the first go-around, tAFKAMW got it dead wrong on the second spin. That being said, expect this comedy of errors to appear on the campaign website of a certain Mayoral Candidate (who's platform includes planning to plan to plan out what will eventually be a plan to start planning Houston's master plan) very soon.
Which still leaves open to question whether no plan at all is better than a bad plan? We already know the answer. There's just no desire in Houston media to have a frank, open discussion about it.
Houston Asides (01/29/09)
The 'emotionally unhealthy obsession' edition....
Stimulus leaves NASA with less than requested. [Stewart M. Powell, Chron.com] - I guess Obama didn't buy the 'job stimulus on Mars' argument either. And this despite the recent 'life on Mars' stories....
Number of Americans getting jobless benefits hits record. [AP via Chron.com]
Obama signs bill supporting equal pay for equal work. [Phillip Elliott, AP via Chron.com] - What a terrible headline. The bill does not do that at all. What it does is make it easier for alleged victims to bring unequal pay lawsuits for items that could have happened years in the past, sometimes even before equal pay was an issue. I believe in equal pay, but its a mistake to try and view the past through today's moral and political compass.
Letter by White, and ad, raising political eyebrows. [Bradley Olson & Alan Bernstein, Chron.com] - I've resisted mentioning "the ad" up until now because other bloggers have done it more justice than I ever could. I have mentioned the ethical questions surrounding the development letter however, even going so far as to pedict certain individuals would attempt to brush aside the ethical questions and I was dead, solid right on that one. Taken together both of these issues pose serious questions about the whether or not Bill White has grown politically tone-deaf during his time as Mayor when he received almost no political opposition from City Council and no watchdog oversight from a complicit media.
Rep. Culberson says Liberals are turning America into France, I hope he's right. [Neil Aquino, Texas Liberal] - So the Liberal vision for the New America is a Country with an average unemployment rate of 10%, with severe economic woes that are causing strikes and riots and where non-French immigrants are treated as second class citizens with little prospect for gainful employment or upward social mobility? That's good to know.
New House Rules make it easier to remove Speaker. [Gary Scharrar, Chron.com] - And there was much rejoicing in all the land.
Stimulus leaves NASA with less than requested. [Stewart M. Powell, Chron.com] - I guess Obama didn't buy the 'job stimulus on Mars' argument either. And this despite the recent 'life on Mars' stories....
Number of Americans getting jobless benefits hits record. [AP via Chron.com]
Obama signs bill supporting equal pay for equal work. [Phillip Elliott, AP via Chron.com] - What a terrible headline. The bill does not do that at all. What it does is make it easier for alleged victims to bring unequal pay lawsuits for items that could have happened years in the past, sometimes even before equal pay was an issue. I believe in equal pay, but its a mistake to try and view the past through today's moral and political compass.
Letter by White, and ad, raising political eyebrows. [Bradley Olson & Alan Bernstein, Chron.com] - I've resisted mentioning "the ad" up until now because other bloggers have done it more justice than I ever could. I have mentioned the ethical questions surrounding the development letter however, even going so far as to pedict certain individuals would attempt to brush aside the ethical questions and I was dead, solid right on that one. Taken together both of these issues pose serious questions about the whether or not Bill White has grown politically tone-deaf during his time as Mayor when he received almost no political opposition from City Council and no watchdog oversight from a complicit media.
Rep. Culberson says Liberals are turning America into France, I hope he's right. [Neil Aquino, Texas Liberal] - So the Liberal vision for the New America is a Country with an average unemployment rate of 10%, with severe economic woes that are causing strikes and riots and where non-French immigrants are treated as second class citizens with little prospect for gainful employment or upward social mobility? That's good to know.
New House Rules make it easier to remove Speaker. [Gary Scharrar, Chron.com] - And there was much rejoicing in all the land.
Take the fast train...
(Image courtesy of Rampant Scotland)Texas High-speed rail group has high hopes [Peggy Fikac, Chron.com]
Already the Chron.comments are all atwitter regarding folk's grandois plans to travel Texas often and, supposedly much cheaper than they could using SouthWest Airlines.
How does hopping on a high-speed train in San Antonio and traveling to Houston in 90 minutes sound? Or Houston to Dallas?
The idea of high-speed rail is being pushed again in a big way in Texas, and backers hope to have $12 billion to $18 billion high-speed trains running by 2020. This time, they say they have taken care to ensure the idea won’t fall flat the way a bullet-train push did some 15 years ago.
“In the past, high-speed rail was not completed in Texas primarily because it was a top-down model driven by lobbyists out of Austin,” former Harris County Judge Robert Eckels, chairman of the nonprofit Texas High Speed Rail and Transportation Corp., told lawmakers at a Wednesday transportation briefing.
This time, he said backers from the consortium — which includes elected leaders, cities, counties and two airlines among others — reached out to past opponents to try to solve their concerns. Among them: Southwest Airlines, which fought the last high-speed rail project as a potential competitor. Southwest spokesman Chris Mainz said the airline is neutral on this proposal.
The high-speed trains — with an average speed of 200 mph — would run to airports, allowing rail to work in conjunction with airlines by ferrying in passengers catching longer flights.
If only that were the case.
I give you The Eurostar, probably the most efficient, well-ran International train system in the World. Fun to ride, easy to use and containing three fully stocked bar cars (complete with pretty, friendly barmaids) in each train.
A trip from London to Paris for two people leaving on a Wednesday and returning on a Sunday would be priced as follows:
Conversely, the same trip for two people travelling on Flybe (A British Based Discount Airline) would be priced as follows:
All in all its about a wash, which was our experience last November when we took the train from London to Paris. What the Eurostar offered that airplanes did not was a comfortable cabin with opposing seats, a central table and (as previously mentioned) three fully stocked bar cars with friendly, attractive bar maids. There is something to be said about having the ability to share a bottle of 2008 Beaujolais Nouveau, that you purchased for 9€ at the duty free store in the Inernatioanal terminal, with your friends while traveling at 220 mph.
The point I'm making here isn't against a high-speed rail system linking Texas' "big four" municipalities. In fact, I think such a train would be a good thing for Texas, provided its marketed to the correct group of people.
1. Business travelers. - There are a LOT of trips via the airlines from Dallas to Houston to Austin to San Antonio etc. A Texas High-speed train could handle some of this load, but I would still hazard a guess that most business travelers would still opt for a 45 min flight over a 90 min train ride. I'm going to also guess that security time would be just about equal for the train station as it would for the airport. The Eurostar security/passport procedures were equivilent to those at Gatwick/Heathrow.
2. Weekend travelers. - This is a much smaller group that would use the Texas Rail newtwork to travel to events such as the SXSW music festival etc. As a matter of fact, I'm willing to bet that Texas families, and groups traveling for leisure would be the largest percentage of travelers the train carries.
3. Out of State Tourists. - I realize this is what the State is hoping to draw, but I believe this will actually carry very few travelers of this type. Even as tourists riding on the Eurostar, it was obvious that most of the riders on the train at that time were either business people or residents of Paris/London travelling for some other reason. I can't imagine Texas' train would pull a higher tourist load than would Europe.
Another thing this train wouldn't be designed to do is decrease congestion on Houston/Dallas/Austin/San Antonio roads. For this to work properly it has to be operated on a point to point basis with no interim stops in between. The problem Houston is going to have immediately following the initial disembarkment is that Metro has very few resources available for moving train passengers around sans automobile. Oddly enough, the people who should benefit from this train the most are auto rental companies.
Could Texas run something as efficient and enjoyable as the EuroStar? I doubt it. Partially because of the Puritanical attitude Texans have toward alcohol and partially due to the incredible ability of our State Gov't to take almost any good idea and make a flaming mess out of it. That being said, if they find the political will to keep it point to point (not stopping at say, Fairfield to let commuters whiz Downtown) and if the system was properly integrated into the local mass transit mixes you might have something that's worthwhile and grows into a useful tool for intra-state travel.
I guess all that's left now is for local transit experts to design pretty maps on their Macs complete with suggestions for improvements and Texas High Speed Rail will officially be on its way...
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Houston Asides (01/28/09)
The "training the new guy all day" edition....
Worry about plans for Gulf Fish Farms [Matthew Tresaugue, Chron.com]
Libyan Ambassador calls $100/bbl a 'fair price' for oil. [Lynn Cook, Chron.com] - It's probably just a coincidence that's the price many analysts believe Libya needs to fund its economy. $60-$80/bbl is 'fair' and would mean gas prices around $2-$2.25/gal. That's livable for most.
Texas Republicans assail Obama's stimulus plan. [Richard S. Dunham & Hailey R. Branson, Chron.com] - It's the almost complete lack of accountability that worries me, same as with the Bush bailout. If only a majority of Republicans would have shared those concerns back then.
TSU continues professor plagiarism investigation. [Jeannie Kever, Chron.com]
Mayor's pitch a case of marketing malpractice. [Rick Casey, Chron.com] - Casey chooses to ignore the ethics question with the excuse: "everybody does it". Nice.
Davos gathering muted by economic reality. [Bloomberg via Chron.com] - Why? It's not like they're going to suffer any.
Houston sludge processor Synargo tied to Detroit bribery scandal. [Jennifer Peebles, Texas Watchdog] - Watchdog wonders aloud whether this is a pattern? More here.
Sen John Cornyn continues remake of NRSC [Staunch Conservative BigJolly, LST] - It's no secret I've never been a fan of Sen. Cornyn. To me he seems more sizzle than steak. At least one faction of the Republican right is smelling what Cornyn's got on the grill however.
Don't fear a fight with KBH [Charles Kuffner, Off The Kuff] - While I don't agree with this analysis (KBH would destroy any Democratic nominee) I do think its very questionable whether or not KBH survives the far-right guantlet that has become the Republican primary. I do think Democrats can beat Rick Perry.
Memorandum to the RNC: Beware of Benkiser. [Edward William Sydney, The County Seat] - One man's noble war continues.
How to pack for travel (and not break the bank in doing so) [Kevin Whited, Chron.com] - Most important takeaway: always avoid checking your bags (if possible). I never check for domestic trips, but will check one bag on long International hauls. Good travel tips in this post.
Synergistic Vibrancy: Meet the new Michael Pollack! [Slampo, Slampo's place] - Ain't no take like a Slampo take.
Worry about plans for Gulf Fish Farms [Matthew Tresaugue, Chron.com]
Libyan Ambassador calls $100/bbl a 'fair price' for oil. [Lynn Cook, Chron.com] - It's probably just a coincidence that's the price many analysts believe Libya needs to fund its economy. $60-$80/bbl is 'fair' and would mean gas prices around $2-$2.25/gal. That's livable for most.
Texas Republicans assail Obama's stimulus plan. [Richard S. Dunham & Hailey R. Branson, Chron.com] - It's the almost complete lack of accountability that worries me, same as with the Bush bailout. If only a majority of Republicans would have shared those concerns back then.
TSU continues professor plagiarism investigation. [Jeannie Kever, Chron.com]
Mayor's pitch a case of marketing malpractice. [Rick Casey, Chron.com] - Casey chooses to ignore the ethics question with the excuse: "everybody does it". Nice.
Davos gathering muted by economic reality. [Bloomberg via Chron.com] - Why? It's not like they're going to suffer any.
Houston sludge processor Synargo tied to Detroit bribery scandal. [Jennifer Peebles, Texas Watchdog] - Watchdog wonders aloud whether this is a pattern? More here.
Sen John Cornyn continues remake of NRSC [Staunch Conservative BigJolly, LST] - It's no secret I've never been a fan of Sen. Cornyn. To me he seems more sizzle than steak. At least one faction of the Republican right is smelling what Cornyn's got on the grill however.
Don't fear a fight with KBH [Charles Kuffner, Off The Kuff] - While I don't agree with this analysis (KBH would destroy any Democratic nominee) I do think its very questionable whether or not KBH survives the far-right guantlet that has become the Republican primary. I do think Democrats can beat Rick Perry.
Memorandum to the RNC: Beware of Benkiser. [Edward William Sydney, The County Seat] - One man's noble war continues.
How to pack for travel (and not break the bank in doing so) [Kevin Whited, Chron.com] - Most important takeaway: always avoid checking your bags (if possible). I never check for domestic trips, but will check one bag on long International hauls. Good travel tips in this post.
Synergistic Vibrancy: Meet the new Michael Pollack! [Slampo, Slampo's place] - Ain't no take like a Slampo take.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
I couldn't have said it better myself
So I'll link to Unca Darrell whose been providing a nice, logic-based, running rebuttal to the absolutely terrible work tAFKAMW has been passing off as 'editorial content' of late:
Well Played Sir.
"Quote of the Day"With the bipartisan example of Obama and Schwarzenegger as inspiration, this session Texas legislators should vote to give Texans the same right to cleaner, more fuel-efficient vehicles.(Editorial, "Green states' rights: Policy reversal will free states to tighten vehicle mileage and emissions standards," Houston Chronicle, January 27, 2009)
News flash to the Chronicle: Texans already have an absolute "right to cleaner, more fuel-efficient vehicles." To exercise it, walk to your local dealer, checkbook in hand, and buy one, as Unca D's brother did.
Were I to learn that each and every member of the editorial board had not already exercised her right to acquire a clean, fuel-efficient vehicle to drive to work, I would be shocked, shocked.
What the Chronicle characterizes as the granting of a right to the good people of Texas is, in fact, a call for the legislature to take away rights from bad people to buy big, old SUVs, Hummers, and monster trucks.
This is Orwell's Newspeak in the lexical flesh: "give a right" as code for taking away rights.
Well Played Sir.
State o' the State (aught-nine version)
Full Text (and nifty word cloud) courtesy of the Chron Austin Bureau.
Early thoughts:
At least the choice for Texans is clear: On the Republican side you have lower taxes (some would say for corporations or the wealthy only) but fewer Government entitlements. On the Democratic side you will pay higher taxes (Again, some would define 'you' as the middle class) but entitlements will be increased. Any partisan claiming something different is selling snake oil.
There's a lot more in his speech to mull over, these are just some of the first things that struck me upon first reading. I'm sure I (and others) will have more later and will refer back to this often as Lege v.81 continues to sputter on.
Early thoughts:
It was only six years ago when the 78th Legislature kicked off with a $10 billion budget shortfall.If anything highlights the difference between the two parties it's this statement right here. Most, honest, Democrats offer up no illusions that they want to raise taxes (They admit to just the 'wealthy' and large corporations however) in order to increase funding for State programs. As the problems get larger the definition of wealthy (remember those are the groups that are going to pay for the programs) moves further and further down the economic ladder. Despite protestations to the contrary Democrats are finding it increasingly more difficult to run away from this reality. Remember, then Democratic candidate for Governor Chris Bell didn't oppose the Business Margins Tax because he felt it too punitive toward small-business, he opposed it because it didn't raise taxes enough to cover programs he thought were important.
To our shared credit, we didn't raise taxes like so many other states did then...and are again contemplating today.
Instead, we tightened our belt, made spending cuts where we could and focused on key priorities, never forgetting that it's not OUR money we spend here; it's the taxpayers'.
At least the choice for Texans is clear: On the Republican side you have lower taxes (some would say for corporations or the wealthy only) but fewer Government entitlements. On the Democratic side you will pay higher taxes (Again, some would define 'you' as the middle class) but entitlements will be increased. Any partisan claiming something different is selling snake oil.
We also invest in proven economic development efforts like our Enterprise Fund, our Emerging Technology Fund, and Film Incentives which target an industry that has brought more than $1.2 billion to our economy over the past ten years.I'd love to see hard economic analysis on the 'Enterprise Fund'. Remember in 2003 Texas raided the 'rainy day fund' to create that. So far there's precious little evidence that foray into what amounts as the State disaster slush-fund was worth it.
As it stands, our state now leads the nation in exports, Fortune 500 companies, and job creation.This is something that the Republicans don't get enough credit for. An honest analysis of recent Texas policies reveals a Government that's been very business friendly and which has done a good job attracting white collar jobs to the State. This is a big policy plus for Texas Republicans. If it existed in a vacuum Republicans could probably expect a relatively easy re-election every year. Unfortunately there are other areas where they were either politically tone-deaf, or dropped the ball entirely.
In tough times, others see threats; Texans see opportunity.I couldn't disagree more with this proposal. Not only does it place too many scarce resources almost entirely at the discretion of the Governor, but it also siphons needed dollars away from public spending priorities. Of the three "emerging technologies" would be the most preferable option, but even then it pales to other spending priorities such as education.
For example, the nationwide struggles are creating a buyer's market for economic development, so let's be bold and win even more jobs for Texans.
When other states are raising taxes, their businesses will be looking elsewhere for tax relief. Let's make sure they find it in Texas.
When other states are driving companies away with suffocating layers of regulation, let's welcome them with fewer obstacles.
When other states are bonding additional debt for daily operations, let's invest wisely to create even more jobs and opportunity.
We should start by replenishing the Emerging Technology Fund, our Film Incentives and the Enterprise Fund, to keep drawing ideas, investment and jobs to Texas.
As we work to enhance our economy, we also need to take a close look at the reformed business tax we implemented a few years ago.The big problem with this idea is that the margins tax is already failing to live up to estimates so its unclear where the 'make-up' funding will come from.
With one collection cycle under our belts and plenty of feedback from both the Comptroller and business owners, we know enough now to improve it. The question is how.
I would support raising the small business exemption to $1 million, and I'm looking forward to hearing from folks like the House's Jim Keffer and John Otto as well as Chairman Ogden about the best way to protect small businesses.
Our guiding priority must be shrinking, not expanding, the burden on the small businesses that are the backbone of our economy.
Will they find their property taxes spiraling continually upwards because of a broken appraisal system? I say we give that system a dose of accountability, transparency and restraint.I've long been a fan of appraisal tax reform.
Will they find themselves stuck in traffic and paying too much for dwindling supplies of power and water? Not if we act to upgrade our state's overburdened infrastructure.It's unclear how Perry wants to pay for this and enact tax cuts. Sure wish he'd let us all in on the trick.
I also propose freezing a student's college tuition rates for four years at the level they pay as an entering freshman. This will help Texas families plan while giving students another incentive to finish on time.Here's hoping that Texas voters don't remember that it was Texas Republicans who pushed through tuition de-regulation right?
I agree with Comptroller Combs that we should significantly increase our investment in community colleges.If the focus is on developing skilled labor then I agree, if the focus is to try and push students, who have no business being there, to traditional 4 year universities then I strongly disagree. His rhetoric leans toward the former.
Besides being anchors to their local communities, these schools are ideally positioned to educate a growing population of workers that have either been displaced by the current economic turmoil, or have job skills that have been outpaced by rapidly-evolving technology.
I suggest we tackle this challenge with an expansion of the Workforce Commission's Skills Development Fund and its training partnerships.
Since its creation in 1996, the Skills Development Fund has helped 3,000-plus employers train more than 200,000 workers in essential workplace skills.
Given the rapidly growing need for this type of retraining, I strongly urge you to increase the Skills Development Fund, and invest in the Texas worker of tomorrow.
As we turn our eyes toward that shared future, we must continue focusing on the things that government is supposed to do, provide for the additional transportation, electricity and water infrastructure and resources our state needs to grow and prosper.Credit where credit is due: This is the policy position that I've long suggested Republicans should take. This is "conservative" spending on infrastructure and tangible items that will help people not just offer vague promises of help or forward "inclusion" or some other nonsense. I'm not convinced Republicans are really committed to this type of infrastructure spending. Their inability to make infrastructure, education, conversation and multi-modal (not just highway and toll-road construction) key planks of their platform (backed up by action, not just rhetoric) is one of the main reasons I no longer self-identify as a member of The Grand Old Party (Not that they're crying in their milk over that, as a matter of fact, some are probably happy). Give me more Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt and less modeling of Regan's underwear any day.
There's a lot more in his speech to mull over, these are just some of the first things that struck me upon first reading. I'm sure I (and others) will have more later and will refer back to this often as Lege v.81 continues to sputter on.
Texas economy running out of evasions
For a few months now we've heard the same mantra repeated in the media (primarily by 'economists' and public officials) that Houston and, by extensiion, Texas, should avoid the worst effects of the economic recession. The reason given for this was, primarily due to the fact that Houston's economy was still relatively 'oil based' and demand for crude was overstated by business 'experts' as outlooks were marred by the gas price bubble.
What a difference six months make....
[Catherine Rampell, New York Times via Chron.com]
$30-$45/bbl oil has changed the economy equation and Houston is now staring down the reality of a prolonged recession that illustrates just how much our fair city is still reliant on the oil industry to drive the wheels of economy and growth.
Like many, LaE is not immune to the downturn. My wife has been without a job since before the Holidays as her company (a homebuilder) cut-back staff just prior to Thanksgiving. She's been working in retail as a stop-gap and filling out applications every day. I've got friends who have felt the pinch and acquaintences as well, I'm sure we all know someone who's lost their job by now, or at least someone who's worried the axe will fall in the near future. I imagine this to be true for your irregardles of your political affiliation. As much as we don't want to admit it, recessions are blind when it comes to party identification. Which is how we need to be as we work through this, because there's little to be gained by kicking sand in the other guys face when he's down.
This doesn't mean that there won't be political disagreements, it won't mean that there won't be heated political disagreements. What it does mean is that when you're drowning, it doesn't really matter who throws you the rope. If President Obama has the 'rope' that's going to save me in other words, I'm grabbing as tight as I can. I may not agree with everything he offers politically, but there's not much rigid, inflexible political ideology is going to get me if I'm underwater.
Does this mean that I sacrifice my principles? (and..yes, to my friends on the Right, I do have political principles, they're just different ones than yours.)
Of course not. I still want to see economic freedom have a future in the United States. I want the right to make choices that might be detrimental to my well being. I want to keep the right to be totally, 100%, incredibly wrong. To fail, to go bankrupt, to make my own financial decisions both good and bad. I want that because I also want to keep the ability to improve my station in life and not have my financial status dictated to me by an elite in Washington.
Right now a lot of Americans are paying stiff penalties for decisions that they made in the past. Rampant consumerism was an unsustainable dream that's led us down a hard road lined with negative savings rates and untenable debt loads. Digging out of this mess is not going to be easy, not even for Houston, especially if oil stays at its current depressed level. Texas is already looking at tightening the budget, but where Republicans decide to 'cut back' will tell us volumes about wether or not they have a viable plan for holding on to power in Texas, or whether we really are seeing the last stand of a primarily aging, caucasian, male-dominated GOP.
In the interim some of you will be searching for jobs. I wish you God-speed and success in that endeavor. Here's hoping we get some sanity in oil prices and the market moderates to a point that Houston can keep chugging along. It may not exactly be the 'boom days' again, but I'd settle for just average at this point.
Currently its hard to forecast what effect, if any, the Obama stimulus will have on the United States economy. I've always been a fan of funding public works to move the energy of commerce rather than relying on entitlements and the expansion of Government. The problem with Obama's plan is that it relies too little on private industry, and might even get in the way of a private sector slow-down much in the same way as FDR's New Deal. Obama's insistence on forcing through a transition to a New Energy economy that's not yet ready for prime time is troubling, as it Congress infuriating tendency to confuse political agendas with economic agendas and use the economy to push through expensive, meaningless pork. (That's right, I'm looking at you Nancy Pelosi)
My hope would be that the private sector would act independently and set things right. Of course, this would mean that credit-issuers be willing to absorb reduced profits for a bit and other companies would understand the need to dial-down expectations, given the 'maximization of profit' nature of our economy of late, I don't see this happening as many companies have forgotten the moral contract that they implicitly enter into with the communities in which they operate. In other words, it's a long, hard slough that we've got ahead of us, and its going to take Government and industry working together to make it to the other side.
The question that's still creeping around the fringes of my mind is what kind of mess will we be left with at the end of all this? Will we look back and say "well done"? Or will we look back and wonder if all of this mess was worth it?
Too early to tell.
What a difference six months make....
[Catherine Rampell, New York Times via Chron.com]
Furloughs, wage reductions, hiring freezes and shorter hours simply did not do enough. A year into this recession, companies across the board are resorting to mass job cuts.
Home Depot, Caterpillar, Sprint Nextel and several other companies announced on Monday they would cut more than 75,000 jobs in the United States and around the world — a gloomy start to the workweek for employees anxious about holding their own as the economy sinks.
Caterpillar, the Peoria, Ill.-based maker of the heavy equipment, is slashing its payrolls by 16 percent. Dallas-based Texas Instruments said late in the day Monday that it would eliminate 3,400 jobs, 12 percent of its work force.
Also on Monday, Houston-based Baker Hughes, an oil field services company, began cutting nearly 4 percent of its global work force.
And Houston-based Camden Property Trust said it had laid off 54 em- ployees — or 3 percent of its work force.
The cuts were made to the company’s construction and development staff, and all but a few were outside Houston, said Richard Campo, chairman and CEO of Camden, an apartment developer. Campo said the markets most affected were in California, Washington, D.C., and Florida.
Another Houston-based company, Calpine Corp., the biggest U.S. producer of natural-gas-fueled power, laid off 50 employees, or about 2.4 percent of its staff last week after a cost-cutting review. No further job cuts are planned, said Norma Dunn, a spokeswoman for Calpine, which is also based in San Jose, Calif.
$30-$45/bbl oil has changed the economy equation and Houston is now staring down the reality of a prolonged recession that illustrates just how much our fair city is still reliant on the oil industry to drive the wheels of economy and growth.
Like many, LaE is not immune to the downturn. My wife has been without a job since before the Holidays as her company (a homebuilder) cut-back staff just prior to Thanksgiving. She's been working in retail as a stop-gap and filling out applications every day. I've got friends who have felt the pinch and acquaintences as well, I'm sure we all know someone who's lost their job by now, or at least someone who's worried the axe will fall in the near future. I imagine this to be true for your irregardles of your political affiliation. As much as we don't want to admit it, recessions are blind when it comes to party identification. Which is how we need to be as we work through this, because there's little to be gained by kicking sand in the other guys face when he's down.
This doesn't mean that there won't be political disagreements, it won't mean that there won't be heated political disagreements. What it does mean is that when you're drowning, it doesn't really matter who throws you the rope. If President Obama has the 'rope' that's going to save me in other words, I'm grabbing as tight as I can. I may not agree with everything he offers politically, but there's not much rigid, inflexible political ideology is going to get me if I'm underwater.
Does this mean that I sacrifice my principles? (and..yes, to my friends on the Right, I do have political principles, they're just different ones than yours.)
Of course not. I still want to see economic freedom have a future in the United States. I want the right to make choices that might be detrimental to my well being. I want to keep the right to be totally, 100%, incredibly wrong. To fail, to go bankrupt, to make my own financial decisions both good and bad. I want that because I also want to keep the ability to improve my station in life and not have my financial status dictated to me by an elite in Washington.
Right now a lot of Americans are paying stiff penalties for decisions that they made in the past. Rampant consumerism was an unsustainable dream that's led us down a hard road lined with negative savings rates and untenable debt loads. Digging out of this mess is not going to be easy, not even for Houston, especially if oil stays at its current depressed level. Texas is already looking at tightening the budget, but where Republicans decide to 'cut back' will tell us volumes about wether or not they have a viable plan for holding on to power in Texas, or whether we really are seeing the last stand of a primarily aging, caucasian, male-dominated GOP.
In the interim some of you will be searching for jobs. I wish you God-speed and success in that endeavor. Here's hoping we get some sanity in oil prices and the market moderates to a point that Houston can keep chugging along. It may not exactly be the 'boom days' again, but I'd settle for just average at this point.
Currently its hard to forecast what effect, if any, the Obama stimulus will have on the United States economy. I've always been a fan of funding public works to move the energy of commerce rather than relying on entitlements and the expansion of Government. The problem with Obama's plan is that it relies too little on private industry, and might even get in the way of a private sector slow-down much in the same way as FDR's New Deal. Obama's insistence on forcing through a transition to a New Energy economy that's not yet ready for prime time is troubling, as it Congress infuriating tendency to confuse political agendas with economic agendas and use the economy to push through expensive, meaningless pork. (That's right, I'm looking at you Nancy Pelosi)
My hope would be that the private sector would act independently and set things right. Of course, this would mean that credit-issuers be willing to absorb reduced profits for a bit and other companies would understand the need to dial-down expectations, given the 'maximization of profit' nature of our economy of late, I don't see this happening as many companies have forgotten the moral contract that they implicitly enter into with the communities in which they operate. In other words, it's a long, hard slough that we've got ahead of us, and its going to take Government and industry working together to make it to the other side.
The question that's still creeping around the fringes of my mind is what kind of mess will we be left with at the end of all this? Will we look back and say "well done"? Or will we look back and wonder if all of this mess was worth it?
Too early to tell.
Monday, January 26, 2009
The next time the right harps on 'fiscal conservatism'
Please remind them of this.
[AP via Chron.com]
A little bit high?
If they had been any more high on their estimation we'd see results in the negatives. This is a failure along the lines of the steroid testing program famously backed by then Sen. Kyle Janek and other members of the Right wing, many of whom rattle the 'fiscally responsible' saber quite frequently.
This program was somewhat of a cause célèbre of the tax cuts crowd.
I can hear the defenses now: "At least our taxpayer-funded boondoggles run in the Millions instead of the Billions that our opponents are offering up!
[AP via Chron.com]
Texas officials are criticizing a $2 million security program aiming surveillance cameras at the Mexico-U.S. border as “a waste of time and money” after a six-month progress report recorded just three arrests — or nearly 1,200 fewer than supporters had predicted.
A newspaper investigation published in Monday editions of the El Paso Times showed the program has fallen far short of the objectives set by the Texas Border Sheriffs Coalition, which received $2 million in federal grant money from Gov. Rick Perry last year.
According to the investigation:
— The coalition hoped to make 1,200 arrests the first year from tips called in by citizens watching the camera feeds on the Internet. In the first six months, there were three arrests.
— The coalition expected to report 4,500 suspected immigration violations to the U.S. Border Patrol in the first year. There were six suspected violations reported.
— The coalition planned to install 200 cameras, or about one every six miles. So far, 13 have been installed and there probably will be just 15 total. That’s one camera for every 80 miles of border.
Don Reay, executive director of the sheriffs coalition, said he and Perry agree they set their goals too high.
“We think they might have been a little bit high as we’re evaluating,” Reay said.
A little bit high?
If they had been any more high on their estimation we'd see results in the negatives. This is a failure along the lines of the steroid testing program famously backed by then Sen. Kyle Janek and other members of the Right wing, many of whom rattle the 'fiscally responsible' saber quite frequently.
This program was somewhat of a cause célèbre of the tax cuts crowd.
I can hear the defenses now: "At least our taxpayer-funded boondoggles run in the Millions instead of the Billions that our opponents are offering up!
Bill White Mayor/Realtor?
This is unique...
[Bradley Olson & Nancy Sarnoff, Chron.com]
My guess is Mayor White hasn't purchased a unit there, but the article didn't say. It did say that Mayor White promised to 'do whatever he could' to promote the unit, but refused to authorize, or champion, a tax-abatement for the property, which makes sense considering the City's revenue needs.
I guess the real question lies in how one interprets this portion of the City of Houston Ethics Code as found here:
The question is whether or not this letter rises to the level of use of City supplies for the gain of others. White's political opposites are sure to say yes, his supporters are sure to say no. For his part, Finger (the developer) and White feel that there is nothing untoward about this agreement, and other developers in the area, who will surely use White's letter to tout their downtown developments, seem to be pleased with the arrangement.
I wonder how the Ashby High Rise developers feel about it?
They shouldn't be too upset. After all, it's The Houston Way.
[Bradley Olson & Nancy Sarnoff, Chron.com]
The mailing reads like a finely produced marketing brochure, touting the opening of a new downtown apartment tower and urging Houstonians to consider moving there: “One Park Place will be the residence of choice downtown because its 346 residences offer 14 floor plans with finishes typical of high-end condominiums, spectacular views, a nearly one-acre resort-style pool area, a grand terrace overlooking the park and retail spaces.”
Except it is not a marketing brochure. It is a Jan. 16 letter, penned by Mayor Bill White on city letterhead and sent by the developer of One Park Place to hundreds of people and human resources representatives at businesses and organizations across Houston.
Land-use experts and officials in other Texas cities said the letter is highly unusual. Most office holders involved in development and revitalization projects tout improvements in generalities, but rarely, if ever, participate in a marketing effort for a specific business interest.
(snip)
City officials in Austin, Dallas and San Antonio were reluctant to weigh in on White’s letter, except to say that they were not aware of their mayors ever taking such a step. Mayors there have spoken publicly about some developments and attended ribbon-cuttings, but none of their staffs were aware of an endorsement on city stationary.
Government watchdogs said such a written endorsement is an inappropriate use of the mayor’s office, most notably because the owner of the development company, Marvy Finger, is a campaign contributor. Finger’s daughter, Jill Jewett, is a former senior staffer of the mayor and left City Hall to work for the Finger Companies.
“It is appropriate for mayors to help promote downtown living, but where you cross the line is where you’re promoting one project and endorsing it and asking people to consider a particular residential tower,” said Tom “Smitty” Smith, director of the Texas office of Public Citizen. “Using city stationary and other trappings of your office to promote a particular building goes beyond the line.”
According to city records, Finger gave $1,000 to White’s campaigns in 2005 and 2007, well below the $5,000 limit for individual contributors per campaign cycle.
White said the letter was part of a longstanding agreement he made with Finger to promote the 37-story tower, which is scheduled to open in March.
My guess is Mayor White hasn't purchased a unit there, but the article didn't say. It did say that Mayor White promised to 'do whatever he could' to promote the unit, but refused to authorize, or champion, a tax-abatement for the property, which makes sense considering the City's revenue needs.
I guess the real question lies in how one interprets this portion of the City of Houston Ethics Code as found here:
[CoH Code of Ethics, Prohibited Conduct Sec 18-3]: (No City Official {including a salaried official} shall...) Use one’s official position or the city’s facilities, equipment or supplies for the private gain or advantage of the official or others, or use or attempt to use one’s official position to secure special advantage for the official or others.
The question is whether or not this letter rises to the level of use of City supplies for the gain of others. White's political opposites are sure to say yes, his supporters are sure to say no. For his part, Finger (the developer) and White feel that there is nothing untoward about this agreement, and other developers in the area, who will surely use White's letter to tout their downtown developments, seem to be pleased with the arrangement.
I wonder how the Ashby High Rise developers feel about it?
They shouldn't be too upset. After all, it's The Houston Way.
What are the odds?
Last night's KHOU story on the unlikeliness of speed cameras seemed harmless enough. But it was the "man on the street" interviews that caught my eye:
[Lee McGuire, KHOU.com]
What are the odds of a reporter 'stumbling' across David Nuno and Raheel Ramzanali (both on-air employees of KGOW) and they just happen to have views on speed cameras that are diametrically opposed to one another?
These odd little coincidences that tend to happen in local news coverage (Like Bob Stein Sightings! or a press conference by Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee or Quannell X) are really amazing. The luck that these reports must have to be able to find these nexus of divergent opinion in Houston is amazing. Journalism school must teach a class on that or something.
[Lee McGuire, KHOU.com]
The next time you’re out and about, take a longer look and count the cameras.
You might be surprised to learn just how often you’re caught on tape.
But, thanks to a county commissioners’ vote in Arizona, there’s one kind of camera you won’t be seeing around town: a speed camera.
(snip)
Still, some folks would like to see the cameras here in Houston.
“I’m a father, and I get really upset when I see people speeding,” David Nuno said.
Nuno said he’d welcome speed cameras, but a TxDOT spokesman said it just isn’t going to happen.
(snip)
“At some point you have to speed, right? And if you have to speed because you have an emergency, and you get an angry letter for that, that’s just not right. That gets in your civil rights,” speed camera opponent Raheel Ramzanali said.
What are the odds of a reporter 'stumbling' across David Nuno and Raheel Ramzanali (both on-air employees of KGOW) and they just happen to have views on speed cameras that are diametrically opposed to one another?
These odd little coincidences that tend to happen in local news coverage (Like Bob Stein Sightings! or a press conference by Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee or Quannell X) are really amazing. The luck that these reports must have to be able to find these nexus of divergent opinion in Houston is amazing. Journalism school must teach a class on that or something.
Chron columnist doesn't remember also can't seem to spend 5 minutes researching.
Things have gotten pretty bad at 700 801 Texas Ave. (ooops!*) when items such as this are allowed to see print: [Clay Robison, Chron.com]
I don't remember?
Wouldn't it seem prudent to do a little research if you "don't remember"? Especially if you were the lead State politics columnist for the news daily in Houston Texas?
Fortunately, I did five minutes research during my lunch break and was able to find the following information:
This is reprinted from the "Houston Asides" post below, I felt it needed its own topic.
I also sent the following e-mail to the Chron "Reader's Representative" in an effort to try and understand how such sloppy research could ever find print:
There are portions of the Chronicle right now that are doing a real good job pushing out quality news reporting to the customer. The Metro bureau has been much improved and the Chron D.C. bureau (which I've often criticized here) has been doing a much better job of late. The Chron Austin bureau however has been showing real signs of stress around the corners as they struggle to remain relevent in the face of competition that's doing a far better job reporting on news items that matter to Texas and Texans. Columns such as this don't help a bit.
I'll update here if (and, based on past history, that's a BIG if) I get an answer from the Chron.
*Of course, the main difference being the Chron writers get paid for this, while I'm writing something, in a hurry, on my lunch break without the benefit of an editor. Still, when I make a typo I make a typo, fair is fair. (I'll not make an issue out of the funny bit that this isn't something that would have to be 'researched' but is a typo etc. etc. Nor will I speak of the irony of not realizing when one is being ironic...) That being said, free editing is always appreciated. If I make an error, call me out on it. With an editing budget of zero and a full time job, a wife, three dogs and a house to care for these things happen. I welcome corrections and correct my errors openly.
Let’s see, now. Most of the Republican judges in Harris County who were on the ballot in November were ousted in heavy, straight-ticket Democratic voting. A few years ago, Dallas voters booted a bunch of Republican judges in similar fashion.
So, Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, files a bill to prohibit — guess what — straight ticket voting in judicial races.
It won’t pass.
But it reminds me that Republicans took over the courts in Harris County in 1994 in a similar straight ticket sweep that unseated many Democratic judges.
I don’t remember if any Democrat filed a similar bill then. If so, it obviously didn’t pass either.
“Both parties want qualified, experienced people on the bench,” Patrick said. “I think judges should be removed from the political tsunamis that come every few years.”
I don't remember?
Wouldn't it seem prudent to do a little research if you "don't remember"? Especially if you were the lead State politics columnist for the news daily in Houston Texas?
Fortunately, I did five minutes research during my lunch break and was able to find the following information:
Turns out there WAS a bill filed in 1995 (just after the Democrats lost Harris County) HB 729. It was filed by (now retired) Rep. Anna Mowery a Republican from Fort Worth. She attempted to get the same bill passed in 1997, 1999, 2001, and then sat back in 2003 As Democratic Representative Pete Gallego filed a bill addressing the same. In 2005 and 2007, no bill with that specific heading was filed, but there were several filed whose intention was the creation of non-partisan elections in certain judicial races...
This is reprinted from the "Houston Asides" post below, I felt it needed its own topic.
I also sent the following e-mail to the Chron "Reader's Representative" in an effort to try and understand how such sloppy research could ever find print:
Mr. Newkirk,
Could you please be so kind as to inform readers what standard of research (if any) is required before an editor will allow a column to be put into publication?
I reference today's State Politics column, specifically the last item where Clay Robsion wrote the following:
"Let's see, now. Most of the Republican judges in Harris County who were on the ballot in November were ousted in heavy, straight-ticket Democratic voting. A few years ago, Dallas voters booted a bunch of Republican judges in similar fashion.
So, Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, files a bill to prohibit — guess what — straight ticket voting in judicial races.
It won't pass.
But it reminds me that Republicans took over the courts in Harris County in 1994 in a similar straight ticket sweep that unseated many Democratic judges.
I don't remember if any Democrat filed a similar bill then. If so, it obviously didn't pass either."
That's as fine a lede as any I guess, but a basic perusal of the Texas State Legislature website revealed the following bills submitted regarding non-partisan judicial elections since 1994 (the year Republicans swept Harris County.)
1995: Anna Mowery R-Ft Worth HB 729
1997: Anna Mowery R-Ft Worth HB 391
1999: Anna Mowery R-Ft Worth HB 666
2001: Anna Mowery R-Ft Worth HB 555
2003: Pete Gallego D- Alpine HB 1582
In 2005 and 2007 there were no bills filed with this specific heading, but there were several bills filed relating to 'non-partisan' elections for certain judicial races. 2007 bills filed under "Elections-judicial" category
There are a lot of questions that the timing of the bills, and their authors, raise, none of which were addressed in Mr. Robison's column unfortunately. However, his unchallenged contention that Republicans are suddenly "finding religion" on the issue of non-partisan judicial elections can be proven wrong with a simple review of the Texas Legislative website. This is something I did during my lunch break at work, and something that should have been done by a columnist writing the State Politics column for the newspaper of record in the 4th largest city in America.
It may be that Sen. Patrick is championing this bill to try and stave-off Republican judicial losses in the future. In order to get to that conclusion however readers deserve more information than "I can't remember" and Chron.columnists should be held to a higher standard of evidence-gathering than are anonymous commenters that you find in the chron.comments to the column in question.
There are portions of the Chronicle right now that are doing a real good job pushing out quality news reporting to the customer. The Metro bureau has been much improved and the Chron D.C. bureau (which I've often criticized here) has been doing a much better job of late. The Chron Austin bureau however has been showing real signs of stress around the corners as they struggle to remain relevent in the face of competition that's doing a far better job reporting on news items that matter to Texas and Texans. Columns such as this don't help a bit.
I'll update here if (and, based on past history, that's a BIG if) I get an answer from the Chron.
*Of course, the main difference being the Chron writers get paid for this, while I'm writing something, in a hurry, on my lunch break without the benefit of an editor. Still, when I make a typo I make a typo, fair is fair. (I'll not make an issue out of the funny bit that this isn't something that would have to be 'researched' but is a typo etc. etc. Nor will I speak of the irony of not realizing when one is being ironic...) That being said, free editing is always appreciated. If I make an error, call me out on it. With an editing budget of zero and a full time job, a wife, three dogs and a house to care for these things happen. I welcome corrections and correct my errors openly.
That ever elusive "new energy" economy.
They're at it again.
What's not immediately clear is what the next step should be?
Because, there will have to be a next step in the development of this new energy Nirvana, some type of sustainale, regenerative economic driver that's going to push forward energy development and consumption. There has to be something in the way of a commodity that people are going to want to buy and sell, something that is unique, replicable, and easily transferable. For all of the feel-good drivel about 'renewable resources' and 'sustainable growth' there's been very little chatter about what these terms mean and, more importantly, how people can make a living from them.
Earlier today President Obama had this to say:
OK, but where from there? What's the product that Obama's pushing? Wind Power? Geothermal? Solar? None of these, either alone or combined, has the ability to power homes in sufficient numbers to make a dent in oil demand. There's also the issue of storage. In short: we can't. At least not efficiently
Unless someone his hiding something that will generate sufficient reserves of power, and store it efficiently, then America is basically retooling our entire energy network on a technology and industry that is nothing more than a promise. A promise sold to America by individuals with large financial bets placed on America making it so. That there's little evidence the 'new energy economy' is currently viable, one has to question the wisdom of gutting the 'old energy' economy before a workable solution is in place.
One thing to remember: If all of this doesn't work out and 'new energy' turns out to be a flop....It won't be the rich or the politicians who are sitting in the dark without power. The poor will be the first to go, followed by what's left of the middle class. In other words: None of the people making these decisions will have any part of the consequences should they fail.
"building a new energy economy that will create millions of jobs." [Barack Obama via the AP via Chron.com]This time the 'new energy economy' revolves around allowing individual states to set their own emissions standards for gasoline-powered vehicles. As with 'windfall-profits' taxes on domestic oil companies and 'carbon-exchange' markets (mainly targeted at domestic energy companies) the financial underpinnings of the 'new' energy economy seems to be based on tax revenues from the 'old' (and out of political favor) energy economy.
What's not immediately clear is what the next step should be?
Because, there will have to be a next step in the development of this new energy Nirvana, some type of sustainale, regenerative economic driver that's going to push forward energy development and consumption. There has to be something in the way of a commodity that people are going to want to buy and sell, something that is unique, replicable, and easily transferable. For all of the feel-good drivel about 'renewable resources' and 'sustainable growth' there's been very little chatter about what these terms mean and, more importantly, how people can make a living from them.
Earlier today President Obama had this to say:
First we must take bold action to create a new American energy economy that creates millions of jobs for our people. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan before Congress places a downpayment on this economy.
It will put 460,000 Americans to work with clean energy investments and double the capacity to generate alternative energy over the next three years. It will lay down 3,000 miles of transmission lines to deliver this energy to every corner of our country. It will save taxpayers $2 billion a year by making 75 percent of federal buildings more efficient. And it’ll save working families hundreds of dollars on their energy bills by weatherizing 2 million homes.
This is the boost that our economy needs and the new beginning that our future demands.
OK, but where from there? What's the product that Obama's pushing? Wind Power? Geothermal? Solar? None of these, either alone or combined, has the ability to power homes in sufficient numbers to make a dent in oil demand. There's also the issue of storage. In short: we can't. At least not efficiently
Unless someone his hiding something that will generate sufficient reserves of power, and store it efficiently, then America is basically retooling our entire energy network on a technology and industry that is nothing more than a promise. A promise sold to America by individuals with large financial bets placed on America making it so. That there's little evidence the 'new energy economy' is currently viable, one has to question the wisdom of gutting the 'old energy' economy before a workable solution is in place.
One thing to remember: If all of this doesn't work out and 'new energy' turns out to be a flop....It won't be the rich or the politicians who are sitting in the dark without power. The poor will be the first to go, followed by what's left of the middle class. In other words: None of the people making these decisions will have any part of the consequences should they fail.
Houston Asides (01/26/09) *updated*
The "give it away now" edition...
Cosmetics lawsuit puts focus on class action litigation. [Mary Flood, Houston Chronicle] - It's 'feel good' jurisprudence for morons who think receiving a freebie means they are 'getting over' on the 'man'.
Harris County taking steps to ease jail overcrowding. [Liz Austin Peterson, Chron.com] - It should concern Americans that we incarcerate a larger percentage of our population than in other country in the world.
Houston's nanotech researchers ride wave of funding. [Eric Berger, Chron.com] - nano-industry is exciting, but it's going to have to start delivering on its promise eventually.
Just a few lawmakers make switch to lobbying. [Clay Robison, Chron.com] Interesting quote:
It wouldn't have been too hard for Robison to have an assistant check to see whether or not said bill had been filed back in '96. Were that he interested in the actual question that is.
UPDATE: Turns out there WAS a bill filed in 1995 (just after the Democrats lost Harris County) HB 729. It was filed by (now retired) Rep. Anna Mowery a Republican from Fort Worth. She attempted to get the same bill passed in 1997, 1999, 2001, and then sat back in 2003 As Democratic Representative Pete Gallego filed a bill addressing the same. In 2005 and 2007, no bill with that specific heading was filed, but there were several filed whose intention was the creation of non-partisan elections in certain judicial races...
Stay the execution of Larry Ray Swearingin. [Kevin Whited, BlogHouston] - It's too bad the Chron has frittered away all of its credibility on the death penalty.
The heat is on. [tAFKAMW, Chron.com] - It's too bad that the Chron has frittered away all of their credibility on Global Warming.
Cosmetics lawsuit puts focus on class action litigation. [Mary Flood, Houston Chronicle] - It's 'feel good' jurisprudence for morons who think receiving a freebie means they are 'getting over' on the 'man'.
Harris County taking steps to ease jail overcrowding. [Liz Austin Peterson, Chron.com] - It should concern Americans that we incarcerate a larger percentage of our population than in other country in the world.
Houston's nanotech researchers ride wave of funding. [Eric Berger, Chron.com] - nano-industry is exciting, but it's going to have to start delivering on its promise eventually.
Just a few lawmakers make switch to lobbying. [Clay Robison, Chron.com] Interesting quote:
Let’s see, now. Most of the Republican judges in Harris County who were on the ballot in November were ousted in heavy, straight-ticket Democratic voting. A few years ago, Dallas voters booted a bunch of Republican judges in similar fashion.
So, Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, files a bill to prohibit — guess what — straight ticket voting in judicial races.
It won’t pass.
But it reminds me that Republicans took over the courts in Harris County in 1994 in a similar straight ticket sweep that unseated many Democratic judges.
I don’t remember if any Democrat filed a similar bill then. If so, it obviously didn’t pass either.
It wouldn't have been too hard for Robison to have an assistant check to see whether or not said bill had been filed back in '96. Were that he interested in the actual question that is.
UPDATE: Turns out there WAS a bill filed in 1995 (just after the Democrats lost Harris County) HB 729. It was filed by (now retired) Rep. Anna Mowery a Republican from Fort Worth. She attempted to get the same bill passed in 1997, 1999, 2001, and then sat back in 2003 As Democratic Representative Pete Gallego filed a bill addressing the same. In 2005 and 2007, no bill with that specific heading was filed, but there were several filed whose intention was the creation of non-partisan elections in certain judicial races...
Stay the execution of Larry Ray Swearingin. [Kevin Whited, BlogHouston] - It's too bad the Chron has frittered away all of its credibility on the death penalty.
The heat is on. [tAFKAMW, Chron.com] - It's too bad that the Chron has frittered away all of their credibility on Global Warming.
House moving to put Tom Craddick behind them.
In the form of new rules which strip the speaker of 'absolute authority'.
[Laylan Copelin, Austin American-Statesman]
There are other provisions in the draft rules such as the return of seniority picks to appropriations and elections for the position of House Parliamentarian that are direct repudiations of Tom Craddick's speakership. More important however could be the rules that limit killing a bill on a 'point of order' unless the legislative analysis of the bill shows the error to be of a material nature. What this means is that savvy politicians looking to kill a bill will have to do so for reasons more in depth than grammatical errors.
Hopefully these changes will spur healthy debate on some of the key issues this legislative session. It's a welcome change for a body politic whose tenor has been poisoned the last couple of sessions. No walk-outs this time OK?
[Laylan Copelin, Austin American-Statesman]
The kind of stand-off that occurred between then-Speaker Tom Craddick and the Texas House is unlikely to happen again under a draft of new House rules.
The rules are expected to be discussed by House members behind closed doors on Tuesday afternoon and debated publicly on Wednesday.
One provision addresses the so-called ‘absolute authority’ issue.
In 2007, Craddick refused to allow a vote on a motion to remove him. Under this draft, it makes it clear that such a motion is privileged and should be considered. If a speaker still refuses, the member can appeal to the full House by gathering 76 signatures.
There are other provisions in the draft rules such as the return of seniority picks to appropriations and elections for the position of House Parliamentarian that are direct repudiations of Tom Craddick's speakership. More important however could be the rules that limit killing a bill on a 'point of order' unless the legislative analysis of the bill shows the error to be of a material nature. What this means is that savvy politicians looking to kill a bill will have to do so for reasons more in depth than grammatical errors.
Hopefully these changes will spur healthy debate on some of the key issues this legislative session. It's a welcome change for a body politic whose tenor has been poisoned the last couple of sessions. No walk-outs this time OK?
Ficksing Skools (Part IV)
At the end of last year I penned a three part series on Texas Schools where one of my postulations was that Texas education needs to renew focus on trades and skills for students who might not fit into traditional liberal arts College tracks. Because of this, and my belief that lack of trade and skills education is a prevailing fault in our system, I viewed with great interest today's Chron.com story highlighting the uptick in enrollment in trade schools and community colleges in light of the recession.
[Jeannie Kever, Chron.com]
Technical and skills jobs are sometimes viewed as more 'recession proof' than other sectors of the economy. People still have to have auto-work done after all (and even moreso, theoretically, in recessions due to the fact that they're driving older cars having pushed off new purchases), they often opt to have electronics and appliances repaired, rather than buying new. It's these types of occupations that community colleges and trade schools can help fill. Instead of looking to fund this type of education the siren-scream coming from the Lege, Governor Perry and other education groups are to increase community college funding for traditional liberal arts students. Not only is that a mistake, but it saps resources from the areas where community colleges excel.
Currently, an education hot-button in Texas is whether or not to bypass the traditional UT-Austin/aTm parochialism and bring Texas into the 21st century, from an education perspective, by establishing and funding additional tier-one research institutions. Texas' only having two such entities is an embarrassment to the State, politicians insistance that community colleges can provide liberal arts education, for the first two years of instruction, on the same level as a traditional four-year school is pie-in-the-sky nonsense.
Community Colleges can, and do, serve an important role. They provide work skills and certifications for jobs that don't require a 4-year degree (but are very important to society) and they also serve as a place for students to attend College who might otherwise not be able to. But by trying to restructure them into 'feeder' campuses for 4-year Universities the State Gov't has obscured their primary mission. Namely: the training and certification of a quality, skilled labor force.
That's a labor force Texas is going to need as economic times continue to make a turn for the worse.
[Jeannie Kever, Chron.com]
Tomika Cowart had a good job as an elementary school teacher, but the uncertain economy and her hourlong commute prompted her to try something else.
Last week, she entered a nursing program at Houston Community College.
“I want to make myself more marketable in terms of two occupations you’re always going to have a job in,” she said.
She isn’t alone. Community colleges report record enrollments as people upgrade their skills in preparation for rocky economic times.
Married and pregnant with her third child, the 33-year-old Cowart said it was “a major sacrifice” to quit her teaching job. “But in the long run, I think I’ll be better off,” she said.
Four-year colleges have seen enrollment growth, too, but it has been greatest at community colleges and technical schools, where tuition is generally cheaper and many programs relate directly to finding a job.
“When the economy does not do well, our enrollments tend to spike,” said Norma Kent, a vice president at the American Association of Community Colleges.
Houston Community College reported a 10.5 percent enrollment increase last fall in students enrolled for semester credit hours.
Preliminary spring figures show a 16.9 percent increase over spring 2008, said school spokesman Curtis Doolan.
Lone Star College’s fall enrollment was up about 4.5 percent. For the spring, it’s up about 5 percent, to more than 50,000 students.
Technical schools are booming, too. Enrollment at Texas State Technical College campuses — a four-college public system that provides training in fields ranging from nursing to welding and wind energy technology — was up 20 percent last fall.
Technical and skills jobs are sometimes viewed as more 'recession proof' than other sectors of the economy. People still have to have auto-work done after all (and even moreso, theoretically, in recessions due to the fact that they're driving older cars having pushed off new purchases), they often opt to have electronics and appliances repaired, rather than buying new. It's these types of occupations that community colleges and trade schools can help fill. Instead of looking to fund this type of education the siren-scream coming from the Lege, Governor Perry and other education groups are to increase community college funding for traditional liberal arts students. Not only is that a mistake, but it saps resources from the areas where community colleges excel.
Currently, an education hot-button in Texas is whether or not to bypass the traditional UT-Austin/aTm parochialism and bring Texas into the 21st century, from an education perspective, by establishing and funding additional tier-one research institutions. Texas' only having two such entities is an embarrassment to the State, politicians insistance that community colleges can provide liberal arts education, for the first two years of instruction, on the same level as a traditional four-year school is pie-in-the-sky nonsense.
Community Colleges can, and do, serve an important role. They provide work skills and certifications for jobs that don't require a 4-year degree (but are very important to society) and they also serve as a place for students to attend College who might otherwise not be able to. But by trying to restructure them into 'feeder' campuses for 4-year Universities the State Gov't has obscured their primary mission. Namely: the training and certification of a quality, skilled labor force.
That's a labor force Texas is going to need as economic times continue to make a turn for the worse.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Underground poker
It's no secret that I'm a vocal proponent of legalizing poker, and other forms of gambling, in Texas. Today's article by Emily Ramshaw of the Dallas Morning News illustrates one reason why...
Legalizing poker and other forms of gambling just makes sense on many levels. Not only would revenue generation by increased (during a time of decreased revenues) but there's also the matter of putting the breaks on the over-criminalization of society.
That there's a bill in place this session to address the problem is good news. If you're a supporter of legalized poker now is a good time to call your State Representative and Senator and encourage them to pass the legislation.
The bill in question is House Bill 222 and currently there is no companion bill in the Senate. Still, calling your State Senator now would be a good idea.
Behind a mirrored plate-glass window, a metal security barricade and several surveillance cameras, an illegal Thursday night Texas Hold 'em group huddles around a felt table in a Northeast Dallas storefront, cradling cards and tossing chips under blinding fluorescent lights.
Young men who learned poker watching ESPN tournaments swill Mountain Dew to stay alert, their business clothes sweaty and wrinkled. Retirees with dip-packed gums and dark sunglasses talk trash from under low-slung ball caps, reveling in the freedom of a night out.
The players have little in common but their love of poker – and the risk they'll take to play it. Seven days a week, 12 hours a night, they and hundreds of other Dallas card players converge in sketchy strip malls and upscale private homes, venturing into the city's illicit late-night poker games for a chance at a winning hand.
Increasingly, the odds are against them. Stepped-up police raids of poker rooms have threatened Dallas' claim to the biggest, highest-stakes underground poker scene in the state. And the hundreds of illegal poker rooms across the city – which can rake in $3,000 on an average night – have become robbers' easy targets.
But these players aren't folding yet. Advocates for legalizing poker in Texas are endorsing legislation this session to regulate the game, which they say would bring revenue to the state and allow them to play in safety.
The bill's supporters say Texas is missing a financial boon. Every week, hundreds of thousands of dollars are changing hands tax-free in Dallas and other Texas cities, a lucrative underground economy. With legalized poker comes heightened safety, they say. Today, robbers know their victims won't call the police.
Legalizing poker and other forms of gambling just makes sense on many levels. Not only would revenue generation by increased (during a time of decreased revenues) but there's also the matter of putting the breaks on the over-criminalization of society.
That there's a bill in place this session to address the problem is good news. If you're a supporter of legalized poker now is a good time to call your State Representative and Senator and encourage them to pass the legislation.
The bill in question is House Bill 222 and currently there is no companion bill in the Senate. Still, calling your State Senator now would be a good idea.
The best money can buy.
Interesting report in the Chronicle today addressing the large amounts of money lobby groups spend courting the Texas State Legislature every month....
[Matt Stiles, Chron.com]
This is the first report that I've seen from former City Hall reporter Matt Stiles. It's full of the financial details that are the hallmark of his writing.
One of the more interesting facts detailed in the sidebar of the story is the high amount of money spent to sway candidates votes by The Beer Alliance of Texas, a company whose mission includes continuing the Texas Distributor's hammerlock on beer sales in Texas. It's something that I've personally been against for some time, and it highlights the difficulties that citizens have forwarding consumer-friendly legislation in the face of a moneyed lobby with enhances access to elected officials.
Unfortunately, in Texas, Lobby expenditures and gifts like this are commonplace. They're warping the spirit of a Democratic Government and highlight the inherent weakness of a system where the fox's are asked to police the hen-house.
[Matt Stiles, Chron.com]
Lobbyists have spent at least $12.8 million in the last four years wining and dining Texas lawmakers and other state workers — including thousands of dollars for trips to a Ritz-Carlton lodge in Georgia, a resort in British Columbia and the Hyatt Regency in Lake Tahoe, according to a Houston Chronicle review.
Since 2005, they have doled out more than $3.5 million directly on state senators and representatives — and another $3.8 million on lawmakers’ staffs for everything from meals and entertainment to golf excursions and other outings, Texas Ethics Commission records show.
The lavish gifts and entertainment reflect how much lobbyists acting for companies and special interest groups are willing to spend to influence the lawmakers and officials who decide public policy in Texas.
Even seasoned Austin watchdogs said the $12.8 million is staggering.
This is the first report that I've seen from former City Hall reporter Matt Stiles. It's full of the financial details that are the hallmark of his writing.
One of the more interesting facts detailed in the sidebar of the story is the high amount of money spent to sway candidates votes by The Beer Alliance of Texas, a company whose mission includes continuing the Texas Distributor's hammerlock on beer sales in Texas. It's something that I've personally been against for some time, and it highlights the difficulties that citizens have forwarding consumer-friendly legislation in the face of a moneyed lobby with enhances access to elected officials.
Unfortunately, in Texas, Lobby expenditures and gifts like this are commonplace. They're warping the spirit of a Democratic Government and highlight the inherent weakness of a system where the fox's are asked to police the hen-house.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Hard times in the oil patch.
Lean times for Big Oil. [Kristen Hays, Chron.com]
Unlike the auto industry, the financial industry or the housing industry there's no bailout coming for energy companies to 'save jobs' or 'keep the country running' this despite the fact that without energy jobs the economy grinds to a dead halt. Not that energy should receive a bailout, it shouldn't. Neither should have any of the other industries mentioned. What you see now is just how politically motivated the original bailouts were. Behind talk of 'punishing the oil companies' and 'getting big oil' there was an undercurrent of resentment not toward oil (and, by extension heating oil and gasoline) but by the fact that people were making money doing something other people can't.
I remember the oil bust of the 80's when a lot of good oil engineers and geologists could be found working at Wal-Mart trying to make ends meet during the lean times. I don't think we're headed down that road, but I also don't foresee much, if any, help coming their way. If anything its not hard to imagine a scenario where the Federal government, now ran by a group who wishes to punish big oil, move toward policies that will exacerbate the problem and will cause more harm than good.
Houston will suffer mightily during this. Hold on to your butts.
Condolences to those who are going to lose, or already have lost, your jobs from this. So many other people are going to get Billions of public dollars thrown at them while you are going to be the subject of continued ire and spiteful comments of those who won't be happy until the 'carbon-based' economy is totally undone. Well, the 'carbon-based' economy that doesn't enrich Al Gore that is....
Hang in there all.
The party’s over for Big Oil.
That may not be immediately evident as the world’s largest publicly traded oil majors reveal their annual 2008 profits in the coming days. Crude’s wild ascent into triple digits for most of last year paves the way for yet another string of record annual earnings.
But oil’s swift fall in late 2008 paints a starkly different picture for those last three months and possibly well into 2010, depending on when economic recovery begins eclipsing the worst recession in decades.
“The air has gone out of the tires, the wind’s gone out of the sails,” said John Olson, an analyst with Sanders Morris Harris in Houston.
ConocoPhillips will lead off earnings announcements on Wednesday, followed by Royal Dutch Shell, Exxon Mobil Corp. and Chevron Corp. BP, Marathon Oil Corp. and the largest independents will report in early February.
Unlike its peers, ConocoPhillips already alerted investors to its plan to slim down in response to lower oil and natural gas prices, including impending layoffs, asset value write-downs, shrunken capital spending and a significant hit on reserves.
Unlike the auto industry, the financial industry or the housing industry there's no bailout coming for energy companies to 'save jobs' or 'keep the country running' this despite the fact that without energy jobs the economy grinds to a dead halt. Not that energy should receive a bailout, it shouldn't. Neither should have any of the other industries mentioned. What you see now is just how politically motivated the original bailouts were. Behind talk of 'punishing the oil companies' and 'getting big oil' there was an undercurrent of resentment not toward oil (and, by extension heating oil and gasoline) but by the fact that people were making money doing something other people can't.
I remember the oil bust of the 80's when a lot of good oil engineers and geologists could be found working at Wal-Mart trying to make ends meet during the lean times. I don't think we're headed down that road, but I also don't foresee much, if any, help coming their way. If anything its not hard to imagine a scenario where the Federal government, now ran by a group who wishes to punish big oil, move toward policies that will exacerbate the problem and will cause more harm than good.
Houston will suffer mightily during this. Hold on to your butts.
Condolences to those who are going to lose, or already have lost, your jobs from this. So many other people are going to get Billions of public dollars thrown at them while you are going to be the subject of continued ire and spiteful comments of those who won't be happy until the 'carbon-based' economy is totally undone. Well, the 'carbon-based' economy that doesn't enrich Al Gore that is....
Hang in there all.
With the Lege in Session....
It's KBH vs. Perry all the time for the Chron Austin Bureau....[R.G. Ratcliffe, Chron.com]
If that story isn't enough for you, there's post after post after post after post after post after post on the issue over the last three days.
One would almost think this race, taking place one year from now, is the biggest story in Austin right now.
Meanwhile, the Dallas Morning News has decided to direct their focus on that piddly origin of the species argument while the Austin American-Statesman is posting on a host of issues including (it should be noted) the Governor's race.
Other publications also have speculation on House committee assignments and budget analysis especially analysis of issues important to local readers.
Fortunately for Houstonians, we don't have to worry about insignificant issues such as what the State Government's budget priorities will be this year. Far much better to spend our time on Obama's Ms. Cover (complete with loaded, sexist prose) and struggling through John McCain's daughters' interviews.
With more than a year to go before the Republican gubernatorial primary, the campaign was under way on Saturday as U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison plotted strategy with more than 300 of her supporters and Gov. Rick Perry fired up social conservatives at an anti-abortion rally on the Capitol steps.
Hutchison told reporters that her meeting was the first major organizational step for her challenge to Perry. She said a formal announcement will not occur until this summer, but she said she can be considered a candidate and the race is on.
"This is the preparatory time," Hutchison said.
And Hutchison's preparations clearly showed she plans to undermine Perry's support through a broad portion of the Republican establishment.
If that story isn't enough for you, there's post after post after post after post after post after post on the issue over the last three days.
One would almost think this race, taking place one year from now, is the biggest story in Austin right now.
Meanwhile, the Dallas Morning News has decided to direct their focus on that piddly origin of the species argument while the Austin American-Statesman is posting on a host of issues including (it should be noted) the Governor's race.
Other publications also have speculation on House committee assignments and budget analysis especially analysis of issues important to local readers.
Fortunately for Houstonians, we don't have to worry about insignificant issues such as what the State Government's budget priorities will be this year. Far much better to spend our time on Obama's Ms. Cover (complete with loaded, sexist prose) and struggling through John McCain's daughters' interviews.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
English ignorance runs rampant.
And they said Irony was dead in America....
It seems that many of the same people who were fighting to save evolution have a small blind spot when it comes to English
Officials say that 'Tolerance Bridge' needs a new name
[Carolyn Feibel, Chron.com]
I agree that the bridge needs a new name, but not for the same reasons. I've said it before and it bears repeating: "Tolerance" is not equal to "tolerate".
Tolerance:
Tolerate:
Today's partisans have cast aside tolerance, as its on the cusp of attaining mainstream acceptance, and are now trumpeting "acceptance" or "unity" as the new standard that has to be attained.
Accept:
Unity:
"Acceptance" and "unity" are concepts that entail giving up one's personal beliefs and adopting the doctrine of others as true. Once you cross that barrier then ideas that don't adhere to the doctrine du jour are considered "radical" and can be used to marginalize large groups of people who happen to hold deep beliefs that are in conflict with the modern orthodoxy. From there its just a small step to outlawing belief systems that are unpopular with the ruling party and rounding up dissidents etc. etc. Yes, its apocalyptic novel stuff and yes, we are a long way from that point but its worth mentioning if only because the very groups that are leading the charge are doing so because of a basic lack of knowledge when it comes to the English language.
That no one has publicly questioned this shows the importance of skepticism and open debate. Something 'free education' groups are working hard to eliminate.
I will always have tolerance for those who believe differently than I, but I will not accept their beliefs to be true absent a compelling, factual argument that I'm wrong. For some, the bar may be lower. I'm tolerant of that as well...
I just don't buy into it.
It seems that many of the same people who were fighting to save evolution have a small blind spot when it comes to English
Officials say that 'Tolerance Bridge' needs a new name
[Carolyn Feibel, Chron.com]
The $7 million civic art project, with its “twisting arc” design, is intended to celebrate Houston’s cultural diversity and the cosmopolitan sensibility and mutual respect shared by its residents.
But for some, “tolerance” just didn’t do the job.
“It has too many hints of negativity,” said Councilman Jarvis Johnson. “It’s like my grandmother saying ‘I will not tolerate somebody yelling.’ I don’t want to just ‘tolerate’ any other culture, I want to embrace it, if you’re really talking about unity.”
I agree that the bridge needs a new name, but not for the same reasons. I've said it before and it bears repeating: "Tolerance" is not equal to "tolerate".
Tolerance:
1. a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc., differ from one's own; freedom from bigotry.
Tolerate:
2 a: to allow to be or to be done without prohibition, hindrance, or contradiction b: to put up with (learn to tolerate one another)
Today's partisans have cast aside tolerance, as its on the cusp of attaining mainstream acceptance, and are now trumpeting "acceptance" or "unity" as the new standard that has to be attained.
Accept:
1 a: to receive willinglyb: to be able or designed to take or hold (something applied or added) (a surface that will not accept ink) 2: to give admittance or approval to (accept her as one of the group) 3 a: to endure without protest or reaction b: to regard as proper, normal, or inevitable (the idea is widely accepted) c: to recognize as true : believe
Unity:
1 a: the quality or state of not being multiple : oneness b (1): a definite amount taken as one or for which 1 is made to stand in calculation (in a table of natural sines the radius of the circle is regarded as unity) (2): identity element2 a: a condition of harmony : accord b: continuity without deviation or change (as in purpose or action)3 a: the quality or state of being made one
"Acceptance" and "unity" are concepts that entail giving up one's personal beliefs and adopting the doctrine of others as true. Once you cross that barrier then ideas that don't adhere to the doctrine du jour are considered "radical" and can be used to marginalize large groups of people who happen to hold deep beliefs that are in conflict with the modern orthodoxy. From there its just a small step to outlawing belief systems that are unpopular with the ruling party and rounding up dissidents etc. etc. Yes, its apocalyptic novel stuff and yes, we are a long way from that point but its worth mentioning if only because the very groups that are leading the charge are doing so because of a basic lack of knowledge when it comes to the English language.
That no one has publicly questioned this shows the importance of skepticism and open debate. Something 'free education' groups are working hard to eliminate.
I will always have tolerance for those who believe differently than I, but I will not accept their beliefs to be true absent a compelling, factual argument that I'm wrong. For some, the bar may be lower. I'm tolerant of that as well...
I just don't buy into it.
Remember: Scientists are supposed to be the level-headed ones. (UPDATED)
Good Lord...[Steve Schafersman, evo.sphere @ chron.com]
That's some of the most personal, ugliest rhetoric I've seen in a while. If Science and, more importantly, the apologetics of Science, has devolved into nothing more substantive than "disagree = anti-science", as is presented above, then what we've really done is replace the Catholic Church of Galileo's time with a non-religious censor of any and all ideas that fly in the face of current scientific dogma.
Debating and proving concepts by the learned has been replaced with the verbal equivalent of this:
It's possible that this argument alone is proof that humans are evolving, only backwards.
UPDATE: 2:16 PM. - Evo.sphere is now reporting on their live blog that the amendment has, thankfully, failed. Despite my disagreements with the opponents of the amendment, (specifically, their reducing science to psuedo-religious status to counter a psuedo-religious argument0 I still do not want to see a public school science textbook with YEC mentioned as a viable scientific theory alongside evolution as cause of abiogenesis. I still am unhappy with the current trend in science of using partisan activists to demonize skeptics. Scientific skepticism has a long, healthy history in this world, almost as long and storied a history as does mis-interpretations or quoting Biblical passages out of context.
It appears the vote will be a 7-7 tie which means failure for the amendment.
(UPDATE 2): It now appears that some changes will be made to the standards for the ESS course. If you're reading the Chron evo.sphere blog live-blogger Steve Schafersman is really angry over these changes. His argument is that they are "an affront to real science".
Perhaps more telling is the fact that he had a hand in writing the ESS standards himself, something that he's not disclosed during his blogging and something that goes a long way toward explaining his anger toward the changes.
Instead of being 'all about science', changes to the ESS are a repudiation of the course suggestions he himself suggested, penned, and argued for.
I will keep you up to date about what is happening at your State Board of Education: all the nonsense, anti-science, and anti-education actiivity of the Creationist members.
(snip)
SBOE Chair Don McLeroy and six of his radical religious right colleagues wish to do. All seven are Creationists who would rather waste the Board's time debating this absurd issue rather than just adopt the science standards written by the science panel experts.
(snip)
Mark Ramsey, the anti-scientific engineer who is head of the Greater Houston Creation Association and Texans for Better Science Education.
(snip)
That's true: his actions are legal, but not ethical. I don't edge up to Steve Meyer or Casey Luskin when they are discussing events or strategy, because I have a moral sense.
That's some of the most personal, ugliest rhetoric I've seen in a while. If Science and, more importantly, the apologetics of Science, has devolved into nothing more substantive than "disagree = anti-science", as is presented above, then what we've really done is replace the Catholic Church of Galileo's time with a non-religious censor of any and all ideas that fly in the face of current scientific dogma.
Debating and proving concepts by the learned has been replaced with the verbal equivalent of this:
It's possible that this argument alone is proof that humans are evolving, only backwards.UPDATE: 2:16 PM. - Evo.sphere is now reporting on their live blog that the amendment has, thankfully, failed. Despite my disagreements with the opponents of the amendment, (specifically, their reducing science to psuedo-religious status to counter a psuedo-religious argument0 I still do not want to see a public school science textbook with YEC mentioned as a viable scientific theory alongside evolution as cause of abiogenesis. I still am unhappy with the current trend in science of using partisan activists to demonize skeptics. Scientific skepticism has a long, healthy history in this world, almost as long and storied a history as does mis-interpretations or quoting Biblical passages out of context.
It appears the vote will be a 7-7 tie which means failure for the amendment.
(UPDATE 2): It now appears that some changes will be made to the standards for the ESS course. If you're reading the Chron evo.sphere blog live-blogger Steve Schafersman is really angry over these changes. His argument is that they are "an affront to real science".
Perhaps more telling is the fact that he had a hand in writing the ESS standards himself, something that he's not disclosed during his blogging and something that goes a long way toward explaining his anger toward the changes.
Instead of being 'all about science', changes to the ESS are a repudiation of the course suggestions he himself suggested, penned, and argued for.
Houston Asides (01/22/09)
The "oh my goodness" edition...
Insurer drops pollution argument in fire deaths. [Mary Flood, Chron.com] - Common sense wins out.
10 Houston Gang suspects nabbed in Federal Drug case. [Mary Flood, Chron.com] - Houstone has moved into my neck of the woods judging by recent tagging. Joy.
Comcast to offer lower priced bundle. [Brad Hem, Chron.com] - A case of too little too late?
Symphony doling out batons to music lovers. [Tara Dooley, Chron.com] - C'mon admit it, you've played conducter while listening to classical music before.
Texas jobless fund likely to have $447 Million shortfall. [Peggy Fikac, Chron.com] - I'll have more to say about this later, but for now....
Southwest posts net profit loss, will cut flights. [Blomberg via Chron.com] - Now we're seeing just how nice those fuel hedges really were.
Dallas Love Renovation would nearly double traffic. [AP via Chron.com] - Odd timing, considering the above, dontcha think?
Climate Change should be high on agenda. [Greg Barr, Houston Business Journal] - How high, and in what manner, will be key.
HPOU lawsuit appears to be moving forward. [Jason, BlogHouston] - Quannel X minus the hate, plus the slander lawsuit.
Rick Noriega's new job - in Houston [Alan Bernstein, Chron.com] - Until he getsanother job on the public dime "Called to serve" again that is. *snicker*
You won't see this at the Metro Light Rail Station. [Tom Kirkendall, Houston's Clear Thinkers] - Ha!
No more Jim Walter Homes. [Swamplot]
Mani Pedi's on the TLR Dime. [Elise Hu, KVUE Political Junkie] - Doesn't beat the annual liquor distributor lobbypayoff party but its close.
Insurer drops pollution argument in fire deaths. [Mary Flood, Chron.com] - Common sense wins out.
10 Houston Gang suspects nabbed in Federal Drug case. [Mary Flood, Chron.com] - Houstone has moved into my neck of the woods judging by recent tagging. Joy.
Comcast to offer lower priced bundle. [Brad Hem, Chron.com] - A case of too little too late?
Symphony doling out batons to music lovers. [Tara Dooley, Chron.com] - C'mon admit it, you've played conducter while listening to classical music before.
Texas jobless fund likely to have $447 Million shortfall. [Peggy Fikac, Chron.com] - I'll have more to say about this later, but for now....
Southwest posts net profit loss, will cut flights. [Blomberg via Chron.com] - Now we're seeing just how nice those fuel hedges really were.
Dallas Love Renovation would nearly double traffic. [AP via Chron.com] - Odd timing, considering the above, dontcha think?
Climate Change should be high on agenda. [Greg Barr, Houston Business Journal] - How high, and in what manner, will be key.
HPOU lawsuit appears to be moving forward. [Jason, BlogHouston] - Quannel X minus the hate, plus the slander lawsuit.
Rick Noriega's new job - in Houston [Alan Bernstein, Chron.com] - Until he gets
You won't see this at the Metro Light Rail Station. [Tom Kirkendall, Houston's Clear Thinkers] - Ha!
No more Jim Walter Homes. [Swamplot]
Mani Pedi's on the TLR Dime. [Elise Hu, KVUE Political Junkie] - Doesn't beat the annual liquor distributor lobby
Unofficial Transportation Discussions
Flying under the radar of the media of late has been an interesting discussion regarding local public transportation that, I believe, deserves wider desimination.
Christof of the Citizen's Transportation Coalition started it off with a three part series on an old idea that could have a new use in Houston: The Streetcar.
Part 1: A New Streetcar Era
Part II: Rapid Streetcar
Part III: Streetcars for Houston
This was followed with further ruminations by Charles Kuffner, who suggested a line down Kirby Ave:
Streetcars and the next step for Houston
Finally, the discussion has been carried on further by Andrew Burleson of NeoHouston who authored two posts on the subject of transit in Houston.
West Gray Streetcar.
Will and Won't
The former post piggybacks on Christof and Kuffner's suggestions for possible new streetcar lines in Houston, and the latter post is an interesting discussion of why Houstonians are not willing to walk more than a few blocks to get to a destination. (even, it should be noted, on days when the weather doesn't resemble a Swedish sauna)
In each of these posts its important to not ignore the comments. While transportation discussion in Houston can sometimes be a touchy thing (many proponents of the same having skin that's way too thin) there are good thoughts in the comments that extend the discussion even further.
Another transportation clarion call that's gone unheeded by Metro but which makes a lot of sense is the Energy Corridor circulator route proposed by local bicycle activist Peter Wang.
While its beyond the scope of this blog to design proposed transit routes for Metro's consideration (me being an accountant, urban engineering is not my strongsuit) I do have some experience with mass transit that works in other cities and wanted to expound on this with some additional thoughts. (Some of which you may have seen in this blog before)
1. Circulator bus routes. - Any streetcar/light rail/mass public transit system that functions successfully is supported by a web of circulator bus routes that get people to that magic area where walking the remainder of the distance is an acceptable option. The glaring exception to this rule is New York City, but the Subway system there is so pervasive thoughout the five boroughs that long distance walking is not really an issue. New York addresses this issue with a highly competative taxi system, something Houston is lacking. In cities such as London, Paris, and Chicago however (three cities in which I have public transit experience and will rely on heavily to support my theses) taking a bus to complete a trip on one of the mass-transit options really nothing more than a way of life. The main difference between Houston and London is that London's busses are designed to move people around the different districts, Houston's busses are designed to move everyone downtown.
2. The "walking issue". - The Houstonian aversion to walking is the elephant in the living room when discussing mass-transit issues in America's fourth largest City. A large portion of the root-cause of walk aversion can be directly attributed to Houston's terrible walking infrastructure which actually serves as a deterrent to people considering the World's oldest form of travel. Good sidewalks, with ample shade, and sufficient cover from the elements are a key component to a walkable neighborhood. While I disagree with the notion you need a sufficient "buffer" from traffic (having seen the pedestrians at Picadilly Circus) what you do need are wide, well-maintained walking paths which allow for comfortable movement of large numbers of people. In high foot-traffic areas the standard-width sidewalk is not enough. Unfortunately, Houston's civic leadership seems more intent on building hotels, stadiums and refurbishing parks then they do building and maintaining the infrastructure that will allow people to take advantage of those amenities.
3. It's all about options. - On top of it all, the key element in any successful transit system is that you have a variety of options available when things go blotto. In London their are busses, trains and the tube. In NY you have the subway, cabs, and (believe it or not) busses. In Chicago there's the Elevated Line (the El) and a healthy bus system, In Paris you have the Metro, busses, and cabs. When I was in London last year their were many times where portions of the London Underground that we needed to access was closed. Fortunately there were other options available (bus mainly, or another line that terminated near where we were going) that could get us to our destination. Houston's transportation plan currently is severely lacking in the options department.
To sum all of this up let me walk you through what was a normal day for us in London:
After waking etc. we'd begin the day with a ten-minute walk to the Train Station at Blackheath. On weekdays the trains were fairly constant, on week-ends we'd wait for 10-15 minutes with the rest of the residents. After boarding a train we'd ride in to London Bridge Station, from there we'd hustle over to another platform and take another train to either Waterloo Station, King's Cross Station (a la Harry Potter) or some other station where we would then usually walk anywhere from 10 blocks to a mile or so to an Underground station where we'd take the Tube to our final destination. Once we arrived at the disctrict near where we wanted to see, we either walked or rode a bus (depending on the weather) to our final destination. It's important to realize that we were on vactation, so our average distance travelled on foot equalled roughly 20 miles per day, if not more. As it is, an average Londoner can expect to walk 5-10 miles every day, rain, snow(not common), shine, or gloom(most common).
This type of lifestyle is certainly not for everyone. There are certain people who are not willing to give up the freedom of their car to even walk 5 blocks to a destination. The question that needs to be asked in regards to quality, effective mass transit is whether or not there are enough people who are willing to make the sacrifices that are necessary to live a transit-dependent life-style? If there are, then you build-out for those people, while retaining the integrity of the car-based infrastructure for those who either can not, or will not, ride mass transit. The biggest problem with Houston's Tram system is that it's overly punitive to the car driver. Even with their impressive transportation systems London and Paris are two of the most congested cities in the world. The thought that 'building a train' is going to cut down on congestion is erroneous thinking. It might help but its not going to eliminate. The way Houston's going about it currently raises the possibility that it might hurt.
The key point in all of this is that there's a lot more that goes into transportation planning than just building a seven-mile tram line and then singing its praises because you've routed a bunch of bus traffic to it in an effort to increase ridership. The 'plan' has to serve a purpose, it has to resolve a problem. A big problem that it should solve is how to get people into a variety of work centers from the suburbs and then around the City as they work and play. That's the central idea behind the successful systems in Europe and other cities in America, but its a message that Metro either has not received, or is ignoring in their rush to "develop" a new-urban inner core.
Interesting debate all around, and one that should be getting much more play in local media.
Christof of the Citizen's Transportation Coalition started it off with a three part series on an old idea that could have a new use in Houston: The Streetcar.
Part 1: A New Streetcar Era
Part II: Rapid Streetcar
Part III: Streetcars for Houston
This was followed with further ruminations by Charles Kuffner, who suggested a line down Kirby Ave:
Streetcars and the next step for Houston
Finally, the discussion has been carried on further by Andrew Burleson of NeoHouston who authored two posts on the subject of transit in Houston.
West Gray Streetcar.
Will and Won't
The former post piggybacks on Christof and Kuffner's suggestions for possible new streetcar lines in Houston, and the latter post is an interesting discussion of why Houstonians are not willing to walk more than a few blocks to get to a destination. (even, it should be noted, on days when the weather doesn't resemble a Swedish sauna)
In each of these posts its important to not ignore the comments. While transportation discussion in Houston can sometimes be a touchy thing (many proponents of the same having skin that's way too thin) there are good thoughts in the comments that extend the discussion even further.
Another transportation clarion call that's gone unheeded by Metro but which makes a lot of sense is the Energy Corridor circulator route proposed by local bicycle activist Peter Wang.
While its beyond the scope of this blog to design proposed transit routes for Metro's consideration (me being an accountant, urban engineering is not my strongsuit) I do have some experience with mass transit that works in other cities and wanted to expound on this with some additional thoughts. (Some of which you may have seen in this blog before)
1. Circulator bus routes. - Any streetcar/light rail/mass public transit system that functions successfully is supported by a web of circulator bus routes that get people to that magic area where walking the remainder of the distance is an acceptable option. The glaring exception to this rule is New York City, but the Subway system there is so pervasive thoughout the five boroughs that long distance walking is not really an issue. New York addresses this issue with a highly competative taxi system, something Houston is lacking. In cities such as London, Paris, and Chicago however (three cities in which I have public transit experience and will rely on heavily to support my theses) taking a bus to complete a trip on one of the mass-transit options really nothing more than a way of life. The main difference between Houston and London is that London's busses are designed to move people around the different districts, Houston's busses are designed to move everyone downtown.
2. The "walking issue". - The Houstonian aversion to walking is the elephant in the living room when discussing mass-transit issues in America's fourth largest City. A large portion of the root-cause of walk aversion can be directly attributed to Houston's terrible walking infrastructure which actually serves as a deterrent to people considering the World's oldest form of travel. Good sidewalks, with ample shade, and sufficient cover from the elements are a key component to a walkable neighborhood. While I disagree with the notion you need a sufficient "buffer" from traffic (having seen the pedestrians at Picadilly Circus) what you do need are wide, well-maintained walking paths which allow for comfortable movement of large numbers of people. In high foot-traffic areas the standard-width sidewalk is not enough. Unfortunately, Houston's civic leadership seems more intent on building hotels, stadiums and refurbishing parks then they do building and maintaining the infrastructure that will allow people to take advantage of those amenities.
3. It's all about options. - On top of it all, the key element in any successful transit system is that you have a variety of options available when things go blotto. In London their are busses, trains and the tube. In NY you have the subway, cabs, and (believe it or not) busses. In Chicago there's the Elevated Line (the El) and a healthy bus system, In Paris you have the Metro, busses, and cabs. When I was in London last year their were many times where portions of the London Underground that we needed to access was closed. Fortunately there were other options available (bus mainly, or another line that terminated near where we were going) that could get us to our destination. Houston's transportation plan currently is severely lacking in the options department.
To sum all of this up let me walk you through what was a normal day for us in London:
After waking etc. we'd begin the day with a ten-minute walk to the Train Station at Blackheath. On weekdays the trains were fairly constant, on week-ends we'd wait for 10-15 minutes with the rest of the residents. After boarding a train we'd ride in to London Bridge Station, from there we'd hustle over to another platform and take another train to either Waterloo Station, King's Cross Station (a la Harry Potter) or some other station where we would then usually walk anywhere from 10 blocks to a mile or so to an Underground station where we'd take the Tube to our final destination. Once we arrived at the disctrict near where we wanted to see, we either walked or rode a bus (depending on the weather) to our final destination. It's important to realize that we were on vactation, so our average distance travelled on foot equalled roughly 20 miles per day, if not more. As it is, an average Londoner can expect to walk 5-10 miles every day, rain, snow(not common), shine, or gloom(most common).
This type of lifestyle is certainly not for everyone. There are certain people who are not willing to give up the freedom of their car to even walk 5 blocks to a destination. The question that needs to be asked in regards to quality, effective mass transit is whether or not there are enough people who are willing to make the sacrifices that are necessary to live a transit-dependent life-style? If there are, then you build-out for those people, while retaining the integrity of the car-based infrastructure for those who either can not, or will not, ride mass transit. The biggest problem with Houston's Tram system is that it's overly punitive to the car driver. Even with their impressive transportation systems London and Paris are two of the most congested cities in the world. The thought that 'building a train' is going to cut down on congestion is erroneous thinking. It might help but its not going to eliminate. The way Houston's going about it currently raises the possibility that it might hurt.
The key point in all of this is that there's a lot more that goes into transportation planning than just building a seven-mile tram line and then singing its praises because you've routed a bunch of bus traffic to it in an effort to increase ridership. The 'plan' has to serve a purpose, it has to resolve a problem. A big problem that it should solve is how to get people into a variety of work centers from the suburbs and then around the City as they work and play. That's the central idea behind the successful systems in Europe and other cities in America, but its a message that Metro either has not received, or is ignoring in their rush to "develop" a new-urban inner core.
Interesting debate all around, and one that should be getting much more play in local media.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
More on the Texas SBOE "evolution" meeting.
The Houston Press has been 'semi'(their word) live-blogging the event as has Elise Hu of KVUE and (on a from a much more partisan perspective) Vince from Capitol Annex.
I've already outlined my objections to the debate in a post yesterday. I should note that my objections are from my personal perspective, and not from the perspective of others. To whit:
OK, some people have a problem with macroevolution. I still don't but that's just me. I do, however, take issue with arguments such as this from the "pro-only-evolution/abiogenesis" crowd...
As a Christian, I agree that Young Earth Creationism has no business in science class. I also feel that spontaneous generation or primordial soup or any other Sci-fi story regarding the origin of life on Earth should not be taught in school. The basic, uncontested scientific "fact" is that we just don't know how life started. We have been, so far, unable to replicate the circumstances surrounding the event, and its quite possible we're not all that accurate about them in the first place.
What you have here is a case where one fictional fantasy with no 'proof' is being sold as preferable to a statement of Religious faith when it comes to what to put in textbooks. We don't know the answer, so we're going to make one up, set it in stone, and then criticize everyone who refuses to comply with our 'fantasy' as a kook or (even better) a "Right-wing nut job". What we forget, in the interim, is that none of this would be necessary if we just admitted what we all know to be true.
Namely, we don't really know how life began on Earth.
Of course, that would involve both the 'Stand up for science' crowd and the 'Six literal days' crowd to admit to a lack of facts. Yeah, not going to happen.
What we're left with is one group resorting to 'code' to push their Religious world-view into science text and the opposing group, ironically made up of scientists, casting aside the traditional scientific model (you know, test, observe, test again, observe again, skepticism, all that stuff) in favor of a psuedo-religious doctrine. All of this is primarily done because one group supports a different political party than the other group. In short: It's all politics.
It's also a big, steaming pile of psuedo-scientific crap, from both sides. The only losers here are Texas children, who should be learning the basics of real science in biology, chemistry and physics in order to stimulate them to go on to careers in research where they can continue the work to find and answer to questions such as; "Where did life come from?", "What's going to replace oil as a fuel?", "How can we cure cancer?", "What is the appeal of Beyonce?" (I mean, really. Considering her singing and dancing talent I mean)
Inserting language to "teach the strength and weaknesses" of evolution for the sole purpose of discrediting it is weak scientific sauce, even weaker is pushing against any skepticism and criticism at all. One is the start of a slippery-slope toward theocracy and the second is the foundation for the headquarters of the thought police. Sure you laugh now, but how much different is there from disallowing "questioning" of a theory because you don't like the questioners to disallowing the same because you don't like the questions. Or worse yet, because those in power stand to lose if the questions are answered?
Think about that before you take sides. I would hope the Texas SBOE would think long and hard about it before they issue a final decision tomorrow. This is a case where both sides losing would be good for the future of Texas.
I've already outlined my objections to the debate in a post yesterday. I should note that my objections are from my personal perspective, and not from the perspective of others. To whit:
Board member Ken Mercer of San Antonio, who has a really hard time following the "board members may not comment, only ask questions" rule, is obsessed with the difference between micro and macroevolution. He has pretty much asked every person who's testified whether they understand the difference.
Mercer is completely cool with microevolution, which he defines as small changes within a species over time.
"These 15 board members are good evidence of microevolution within one species," he said with a guffaw before Chair Don McLeroy had to remind him to ask questions, not make comments.
But what about macroevolution, the idea that one species can eventually evolve into another?
Dr. Royal Smith, a tall, white-haired soap-boxer, says there is "absolutely no foundation to support macroevolution."
OK, some people have a problem with macroevolution. I still don't but that's just me. I do, however, take issue with arguments such as this from the "pro-only-evolution/abiogenesis" crowd...
But creationists who control the state board are insisting that the standards require students to learn phony “weaknesses” of evolution. They want to force publishers to include those bogus arguments in new biology textbooks.
As a Christian, I agree that Young Earth Creationism has no business in science class. I also feel that spontaneous generation or primordial soup or any other Sci-fi story regarding the origin of life on Earth should not be taught in school. The basic, uncontested scientific "fact" is that we just don't know how life started. We have been, so far, unable to replicate the circumstances surrounding the event, and its quite possible we're not all that accurate about them in the first place.
What you have here is a case where one fictional fantasy with no 'proof' is being sold as preferable to a statement of Religious faith when it comes to what to put in textbooks. We don't know the answer, so we're going to make one up, set it in stone, and then criticize everyone who refuses to comply with our 'fantasy' as a kook or (even better) a "Right-wing nut job". What we forget, in the interim, is that none of this would be necessary if we just admitted what we all know to be true.
Namely, we don't really know how life began on Earth.
Of course, that would involve both the 'Stand up for science' crowd and the 'Six literal days' crowd to admit to a lack of facts. Yeah, not going to happen.
What we're left with is one group resorting to 'code' to push their Religious world-view into science text and the opposing group, ironically made up of scientists, casting aside the traditional scientific model (you know, test, observe, test again, observe again, skepticism, all that stuff) in favor of a psuedo-religious doctrine. All of this is primarily done because one group supports a different political party than the other group. In short: It's all politics.
It's also a big, steaming pile of psuedo-scientific crap, from both sides. The only losers here are Texas children, who should be learning the basics of real science in biology, chemistry and physics in order to stimulate them to go on to careers in research where they can continue the work to find and answer to questions such as; "Where did life come from?", "What's going to replace oil as a fuel?", "How can we cure cancer?", "What is the appeal of Beyonce?" (I mean, really. Considering her singing and dancing talent I mean)
Inserting language to "teach the strength and weaknesses" of evolution for the sole purpose of discrediting it is weak scientific sauce, even weaker is pushing against any skepticism and criticism at all. One is the start of a slippery-slope toward theocracy and the second is the foundation for the headquarters of the thought police. Sure you laugh now, but how much different is there from disallowing "questioning" of a theory because you don't like the questioners to disallowing the same because you don't like the questions. Or worse yet, because those in power stand to lose if the questions are answered?
Think about that before you take sides. I would hope the Texas SBOE would think long and hard about it before they issue a final decision tomorrow. This is a case where both sides losing would be good for the future of Texas.
Houston Asides (01/21/09)
The 'that's about enough National stuff' edition...
Dryer's dishes out plan to close local ice cream plant. [Allison Wollam, Houston Business Journal] - Houston is a Blue Bell town, California-based Dryer's never seemed to catch on here. This despite the fact they made a better ice cream. (sorry Blue Bell fans, its true)
Privacy issues keep Landry's public [Greg Barr, Houston Business Journal] - Well covered in the blogoshpere here.
Filing Report: Noel Freeman [Charles Kuffner, Off the Kuff] - Does a better job tracking the candidates that are 'unofficially' Democrats which, given the recent Republican attention paid to Houston municipal elections, is pretty much all of them.
KTRK: Artsy lights over Southwest Freeway bridges already in disrepair [Kevin Whited, BlogHouston] - Whirled Class Ugly!
Big Bad John Cornyn Stands up to Hillary Clinton. [Richard Connelly, Hair Balls @ Houston Press] -Stealing the "box turtle" reference from Eileen Smith without attribution was a nice touch. UPDATED: Connelly wrote about the "box turtle" reference almost 4 years ago and tells me he was unaware of Ms. Smith's use of the same. Fair enough. Error noted and my apologies to Mr.Connelly.
Why this reporter got emotional. [Rick Casey, Chron.com] - So...a columnist is now a "reporter"? Forgive me if I fail to see the connection between someone like the accused plagiarist and a hard working, reporter such as Matt Stiles or Carolyn Feibel.
Contractor makes 'unreal' find at Texas park [AP via Chron.com] - Treasure hunters everywhere are checking the 9-volts on their metal detectors as we speak.
UH-Downtown moves ahead with renaming [Jeannie Kever, Chron.com] - Over protests of students, alumni, educators. All of this comes as no surprise to those of us who attended there. Student and alumni feedback was never really valued. (unless we're speaking of donations that is. THAT they valued)
Vandal's paint defaces monument to elder Bush. [Jennifer Leahy, Chron.com] - You stay classy Democrats.
Dryer's dishes out plan to close local ice cream plant. [Allison Wollam, Houston Business Journal] - Houston is a Blue Bell town, California-based Dryer's never seemed to catch on here. This despite the fact they made a better ice cream. (sorry Blue Bell fans, its true)
Privacy issues keep Landry's public [Greg Barr, Houston Business Journal] - Well covered in the blogoshpere here.
Filing Report: Noel Freeman [Charles Kuffner, Off the Kuff] - Does a better job tracking the candidates that are 'unofficially' Democrats which, given the recent Republican attention paid to Houston municipal elections, is pretty much all of them.
KTRK: Artsy lights over Southwest Freeway bridges already in disrepair [Kevin Whited, BlogHouston] - Whirled Class Ugly!
Big Bad John Cornyn Stands up to Hillary Clinton. [Richard Connelly, Hair Balls @ Houston Press] -
Why this reporter got emotional. [Rick Casey, Chron.com] - So...a columnist is now a "reporter"? Forgive me if I fail to see the connection between someone like the accused plagiarist and a hard working, reporter such as Matt Stiles or Carolyn Feibel.
Contractor makes 'unreal' find at Texas park [AP via Chron.com] - Treasure hunters everywhere are checking the 9-volts on their metal detectors as we speak.
UH-Downtown moves ahead with renaming [Jeannie Kever, Chron.com] - Over protests of students, alumni, educators. All of this comes as no surprise to those of us who attended there. Student and alumni feedback was never really valued. (unless we're speaking of donations that is. THAT they valued)
Vandal's paint defaces monument to elder Bush. [Jennifer Leahy, Chron.com] - You stay classy Democrats.
Is the Houston Mayoral race set?
Just under 11 months away from Houston's Mayoral Elections, and it appears that the major players are already known...
(In alphabetical order by last name...)
Peter Brown
Benjamin Hall III
Gene Locke
Annise Parker
Amazingly, as pointed out by Alan Bernstein @ Chron: Local Politics there's no major Hispanic Candidate expected to contend. Less amazing, but still worth noting, is that there is no "Republican" candidate attempting to win the office.
Early buzz is surrounding Gene Locke. Not only does he have the connections and insider knowledge needed to govern The Houston Way but, supposedly, former Mayor (and Houston Way King-maker) Bob Lanier is apparently in his corner. Add to that the fact that Locke represented powerful City organizations such as Metro, the Houston Sports Authority and the Port of Houston during his time working as a private attorney and you have a political insider who's resume is impeccable.
(In alphabetical order by last name...)
Peter Brown
Benjamin Hall III
Gene Locke
Annise Parker
Amazingly, as pointed out by Alan Bernstein @ Chron: Local Politics there's no major Hispanic Candidate expected to contend. Less amazing, but still worth noting, is that there is no "Republican" candidate attempting to win the office.
Early buzz is surrounding Gene Locke. Not only does he have the connections and insider knowledge needed to govern The Houston Way but, supposedly, former Mayor (and Houston Way King-maker) Bob Lanier is apparently in his corner. Add to that the fact that Locke represented powerful City organizations such as Metro, the Houston Sports Authority and the Port of Houston during his time working as a private attorney and you have a political insider who's resume is impeccable.
Another hole in Galveston Health Care
Shriner's Children's Hospital is "suspending operations" with the possibility of closing for good likely.
[Harvey Rice, Chron.com]
In a world where the Federal Government provides $20 Billion dollars in bailouts to Bank of America one would think $3 Million could be found to care for sick children. Of course, the conservative thought would be to let them slug it out. If they're not profitable then let them succomb to a free market solution that is. Our progressive friends would use this opportunity to point out that the health care system is failing, and that only a Government operated solution is the way forward. Meanwhile, alongside all of the partisan bickering there are sick children who are, in many cases, losing their last option for health care.
Couple this loss with the closing of UTMB and the health care situation on the island, as well as the trauma care situation in the Houston region, is continuing to suffer.
[Harvey Rice, Chron.com]
Shriners Hospital for Children-Galveston will suspend operations to cope with a $3 million shortfall in the Shriners International endowment fund, the organization’s president said Tuesday.
Shriners is also suspending reconstruction of hospitals in Los Angeles and St. Louis, Mo., said Ralph Semb, president and chief executive officer of Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Semb said the 30-bed hospital in Galveston would not be closed permanently, but that operations would be suspended and an undetermined number of its about 200 employees laid off until financial conditions improved.
“You get to a point where you just can’t afford to bleed anymore,” Semb said. “We don’t want to close anything, but we have to be fiduciarily responsible for the future of this organization.”
The economic downturn and plunge in the stock market dramatically slashed the interest payments from the endowment that supports the 22 Shriners hospitals, he said.
In a world where the Federal Government provides $20 Billion dollars in bailouts to Bank of America one would think $3 Million could be found to care for sick children. Of course, the conservative thought would be to let them slug it out. If they're not profitable then let them succomb to a free market solution that is. Our progressive friends would use this opportunity to point out that the health care system is failing, and that only a Government operated solution is the way forward. Meanwhile, alongside all of the partisan bickering there are sick children who are, in many cases, losing their last option for health care.
Couple this loss with the closing of UTMB and the health care situation on the island, as well as the trauma care situation in the Houston region, is continuing to suffer.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
"Doubt" in Science
Debate over evolution(*LaE) in Texas Schools heats up. [Eric Berger, Chron.com]
Not necessarily appropriate to this issue (but in a way it is) I would suggest that one of the problem's science is currently facing is that there's not near enough doubt and skepticism regarding certain theories, especially when the fossil record is incomplete, the data isn't supporting the claims, or some other outlier is present from the accepted dogma.
Thoughts?
*Note: It's not really accurate to describe the contention here as a doubting of "evolution". There's little argument, even from Young Earth Creationists, that all species evolve over time. Evolution then, as a theory, is fairly widely accepted. What is under debate then is not "the Theory of evolution" as the purveyors of 'good science' are claiming, but the theory that the theory of evolution is a plausible explanation for the origin of the species. While I'm inclined to lean toward the Intelligent Design theory of the origin of life, I do this with the understanding that the 'scientific' community doesn't consider my belief 'science'. However, I've yet to hear any 'scientist' explain to me in a satisfactary manner how they are currently 'testing' the theory that life was created by a random spark due to happenstance. I'm still waiting for that answer. Therefore, what is at question here is in all actuality Abiogenesis and not "evolution"
The next three days will help determine whether Texas children will be taught evolution in public schools, or taught that they ought to doubt evolution.
The setting will be a three-day meeting of the State Board of Education. Steve Schafersman has the full details of the meeting, and will be liveblogging the proceedings beginning tomorrow morning at Evo.Sphere.
So what's at issue? The education board's science committees have returned a set of science Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), which provide the basic standards a science textbook must meet for it to be sold in Texas. The TEKS were last revised in 1998, and science educators and scientists have been concerned ever since because those standards included the following passage:C. (3) Scientific processes. The student uses critical thinking and scientific problem solving to make informed decisions. The student is expected to: (A) analyze, review, and critique scientific explanations, including hypotheses and theories, as to their strengths and weaknesses using scientific evidence and information;
So what's the problem with this statement? Well, it's part of a national strategy by opponents of evolution, primarily creationists, to inject doubt into the minds of students about the theory of evolution. Anyway, the Texas science committees have unanimously proposed a rewriting of this clause that is more favorable and appropriate to how science works.
Their proposed revision states:C. (3) Scientific processes. The student uses critical thinking, scientific reasoning and problem solving to make informed decisions within and outside the classroom. The student is expected to: (A) analyze and evaluate scientific explanations using empirical evidence, logical reasoning, and experimental and observational testing;
Not necessarily appropriate to this issue (but in a way it is) I would suggest that one of the problem's science is currently facing is that there's not near enough doubt and skepticism regarding certain theories, especially when the fossil record is incomplete, the data isn't supporting the claims, or some other outlier is present from the accepted dogma.
Thoughts?
*Note: It's not really accurate to describe the contention here as a doubting of "evolution". There's little argument, even from Young Earth Creationists, that all species evolve over time. Evolution then, as a theory, is fairly widely accepted. What is under debate then is not "the Theory of evolution" as the purveyors of 'good science' are claiming, but the theory that the theory of evolution is a plausible explanation for the origin of the species. While I'm inclined to lean toward the Intelligent Design theory of the origin of life, I do this with the understanding that the 'scientific' community doesn't consider my belief 'science'. However, I've yet to hear any 'scientist' explain to me in a satisfactary manner how they are currently 'testing' the theory that life was created by a random spark due to happenstance. I'm still waiting for that answer. Therefore, what is at question here is in all actuality Abiogenesis and not "evolution"
Rapid Eye Movement (01/20/09)
The "Hello/Goodbye" edition....
The Opacity of Hope. [WSJ] - A second coming of JFK minus, of course, the tragic ending would be a wonderful thing.
Holder for Wiretaps [WSJ]
His journey, and ours, begins. [Roger Simon, Politico]
Summoning up the U.S. from childishness [George Will, RCP]
Mr. Bush's Gentlemanly Goodbye. [Norman Ornstein, NYT] - There's a chron.commons reader-blogger whose been banging the drum that Bush has been "obstructing" Obama throughout the transition, classifying that as "petty". As we can see (from a liberal writer no-less) the "truth" in this case is hardly what's being presented by the partisans.
Battered Liberal Syndrome. [Robert Shrum, The Week] - Obama has started off well, for almost everyone except the 'against it' right and the Socialist Left. Neither of those sides will be happy until their political opposites are publically and personally humiliated.
The Politics of Cohesion [David Brooks, NYT] - See above. Obama's smart by tacking to the middle. Smarter than the chattering class anyway.
Bush and the Bush Haters. [J.R. Dunn, RCP] - I think we could all use a break from the politics of personality. Sadly, those who do it are too self-unaware to understand when they are doing it and to whom.
The Opacity of Hope. [WSJ] - A second coming of JFK minus, of course, the tragic ending would be a wonderful thing.
Holder for Wiretaps [WSJ]
His journey, and ours, begins. [Roger Simon, Politico]
Summoning up the U.S. from childishness [George Will, RCP]
Mr. Bush's Gentlemanly Goodbye. [Norman Ornstein, NYT] - There's a chron.commons reader-blogger whose been banging the drum that Bush has been "obstructing" Obama throughout the transition, classifying that as "petty". As we can see (from a liberal writer no-less) the "truth" in this case is hardly what's being presented by the partisans.
Battered Liberal Syndrome. [Robert Shrum, The Week] - Obama has started off well, for almost everyone except the 'against it' right and the Socialist Left. Neither of those sides will be happy until their political opposites are publically and personally humiliated.
The Politics of Cohesion [David Brooks, NYT] - See above. Obama's smart by tacking to the middle. Smarter than the chattering class anyway.
Bush and the Bush Haters. [J.R. Dunn, RCP] - I think we could all use a break from the politics of personality. Sadly, those who do it are too self-unaware to understand when they are doing it and to whom.
Highlights, Lowlights and the Obama Inauguration
Some immediate thoughts.
- Good speech...[Barack Obama w/text courtesy of MSNBC]
- Absolutely hideous poem.
She failed that challenge. I'm sorry folks, it just wasn't good.
- Did you think Chief Justice Roberts went through the oath a little too fast?
- Morning parlour game: Watching Republicans Twitter in anger.
- Booing the outgoing President? You stay classy Democrats.
- Can someone please tell me why the InterLeft is so angry today? "Psst. hey, you guys....you won the election. Lighten up for a day. (or three)
- Yo Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman playing "Ode to Joy"....Amazing. One Repub commenter said it was "sad and conflicted"...Whua? Ode to frickin' Joy? Sad? This is going to be a long four to eight years.
- I really like Aretha Franklin, but her voice is starting to show its age.
- Best part of the show was "Hail to the Chief" and the 21 gun salute.
- It's saddening to know that, through it all, the partisans felt the need to keep taking shots at one another. Angry, bitter people.
Now....GET BACK TO WORK Yeah, that's right...you. You know you haven't been working this morning.
- Good speech...[Barack Obama w/text courtesy of MSNBC]
stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.
Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.
- Absolutely hideous poem.
She failed that challenge. I'm sorry folks, it just wasn't good.
- Did you think Chief Justice Roberts went through the oath a little too fast?
- Morning parlour game: Watching Republicans Twitter in anger.
- Booing the outgoing President? You stay classy Democrats.
- Can someone please tell me why the InterLeft is so angry today? "Psst. hey, you guys....you won the election. Lighten up for a day. (or three)
- Yo Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman playing "Ode to Joy"....Amazing. One Repub commenter said it was "sad and conflicted"...Whua? Ode to frickin' Joy? Sad? This is going to be a long four to eight years.
- I really like Aretha Franklin, but her voice is starting to show its age.
- Best part of the show was "Hail to the Chief" and the 21 gun salute.
- It's saddening to know that, through it all, the partisans felt the need to keep taking shots at one another. Angry, bitter people.
Now....GET BACK TO WORK Yeah, that's right...you. You know you haven't been working this morning.
American Power
Today, January 20, 2009 at somewhere around 11 A.M. Houston time, Barack Obama will officially take the Oath of Office and be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America. He will also have the distinction of being the first American President of African-American descent. An estimated 2 Million citizens will pack into the National Mall to witness History. All of this will be done, not trough the pain and bloodshed of rebellion, but as the result of an orderly,(for elections) peaceful election process.
As an American, that alone should be enough to put a smile on your face for at least one day. For some, this is a political win to be savored. The ejection of the prior President is an object over which to gloat. For others, this is a political loss, the inauguration serving as just another stone to throw at the incoming administration. For stll others, this is hopefully the beginning of the remaking of America, an alteration of economics that have been (erroneously, in their minds) in place since the founding. The end of the free-market economy. And finally, we have the group who believes (at least, in public) that this is the beginning of the end. The idea that Obama will somehow, in his re-tooling of America, actually succeed in making things worse then they are now is a popular one amongst the 21% who dissaprove of the man currently.
Will these numbers change? Certainly. Not everything that Obama does is certain to make things better. If he does act on the hopes of the socialist left and move America away from Capitalism then there will be winners and losers in that transition. I don't forsee a 79% approval rating surviving that transition. Removing America from its financial morass is also going to involve making unpopular choices, choices of the type Bill Clinton was unable to make in his last term, choices that might affect the short-term popularity ratings for the long-term good. Will Obama be able to make those decisions in the face of public criticism? His reaction to the current economic session will speak volumes about the success/failure of his administration. These economic issues are known variables, the causes of the current recession becoming all to evident in recent months.
What should concern Obama is the unknown, the International variable. As much as America would like to try, we have little say over the inner-workings of the Governments outside of our own. Yes, America has influence in some spheres (although many wrongly believe we've lost that totally under Bush) but all too often our expectation is that foreign governments will make actions that suit America's best interests rather than ours. The unknown variable is how some of the more unstable Nations in the World are going to react to a Global recession. With that in mind it will be key for Obama to find a way to meaningfully engage Mexico, to encourage them to eliminate the corrupt system in place and enact reforms that allow the wealth in that Country to 'trickle down' to the common citizen. It will also be important that America come to an agreement with Mexico regarding America's Southern border. It has to be a system that meets the economic needs of both countries, while recognizing the security initiatives and soverignty of the United States over her territory. In other parts of the World there is an increasing need to attempt to re-approach Iran in a way that excludes the radical Mullah's yet respects the people. On top of all that, there's Venenzuela, Israel/Palistine, Africa, and a host of other hot-spots in the world that will always be a second away from flare up.
It's not a peaceful world that President Obama will inherit from President Bush. Yes, some of this is Bush's making, but most of it is out of his control (partisan ramblings to the contrary). In the coming days there will be important decisions and policy that must be made. Policy whose ripples will affect the economies and security of almost every nation-state in the world. Such is the global reach of America, even during times when pundits claim our influence is fading. Our economy is still the 800lb Gorilla in the room whether anti-Americans like it or not. As we go, so goes the world.
And the World will go on, as will America. America will go on whether Obama's decision-making is wise or foolish, it will persevere whether his economic stimulus is successful or not. It will continue because Americans, no matter our political diferences, won't give up on our dreams, our families, and (predictions of doom to the contrary) our Country. If nothing else, today's peaceful transfer of power from one ruling party to another is evidence of this.
Which is why today is a day of celebration, whether you support President Obama or no. Today we celebrate the continuation of the Great Experiment, a historical oddity and a mechanism for regime change that's unique in and of itself. Today President Bush will become a "former" President and will take his final helicopter ride to a plane which will spirit him away to Dallas. Obama will move into Bush's former home and office with a note of good luck and God speed waiting on the desk. While some would have you think today is the beginning of a National tragedy, or that a great National tragedy is coming to an end, what's really happening is that America is continuing to deliver on the promise offered for over 200 years. Still a relative youth, America acts more mature in this matter than countries with more history and age.
This is what I'm proud of today: The first President of African-American descent will swear to fulfill the responsibilities of the President of the United States of America, to uphold the Constitution, and will become my President. The American President. He will hold that role despite the fact that there will be times in which I will strongly disagree with his policy decisions, with choices he makes. None of that matters because, at the end of the day, it was the process that put Barack Obama in that office, and its my job as an American to respect that process despite any political disagreements. Something that some Americans have lost sight of over the past 16 years as cries of "Not my President" shook the rafters of selfish, partisan politics.
Barack Obama will become the 44th American President today. As a result of that he deserves our prayers and our good wishes. I for one hope that his is a very successful Presidency, for the good of the Country. Today I'll celebrate his taking office and stand in awe of the foresight of those who designed the process that put him there. Tomorrow I'll probably find issues on which we disagree, but not today.
Today, all I have to say is God bless President Obama. Thank you President Bush, and God Bless America during these days ahead. All of America.
As an American, that alone should be enough to put a smile on your face for at least one day. For some, this is a political win to be savored. The ejection of the prior President is an object over which to gloat. For others, this is a political loss, the inauguration serving as just another stone to throw at the incoming administration. For stll others, this is hopefully the beginning of the remaking of America, an alteration of economics that have been (erroneously, in their minds) in place since the founding. The end of the free-market economy. And finally, we have the group who believes (at least, in public) that this is the beginning of the end. The idea that Obama will somehow, in his re-tooling of America, actually succeed in making things worse then they are now is a popular one amongst the 21% who dissaprove of the man currently.
Will these numbers change? Certainly. Not everything that Obama does is certain to make things better. If he does act on the hopes of the socialist left and move America away from Capitalism then there will be winners and losers in that transition. I don't forsee a 79% approval rating surviving that transition. Removing America from its financial morass is also going to involve making unpopular choices, choices of the type Bill Clinton was unable to make in his last term, choices that might affect the short-term popularity ratings for the long-term good. Will Obama be able to make those decisions in the face of public criticism? His reaction to the current economic session will speak volumes about the success/failure of his administration. These economic issues are known variables, the causes of the current recession becoming all to evident in recent months.
What should concern Obama is the unknown, the International variable. As much as America would like to try, we have little say over the inner-workings of the Governments outside of our own. Yes, America has influence in some spheres (although many wrongly believe we've lost that totally under Bush) but all too often our expectation is that foreign governments will make actions that suit America's best interests rather than ours. The unknown variable is how some of the more unstable Nations in the World are going to react to a Global recession. With that in mind it will be key for Obama to find a way to meaningfully engage Mexico, to encourage them to eliminate the corrupt system in place and enact reforms that allow the wealth in that Country to 'trickle down' to the common citizen. It will also be important that America come to an agreement with Mexico regarding America's Southern border. It has to be a system that meets the economic needs of both countries, while recognizing the security initiatives and soverignty of the United States over her territory. In other parts of the World there is an increasing need to attempt to re-approach Iran in a way that excludes the radical Mullah's yet respects the people. On top of all that, there's Venenzuela, Israel/Palistine, Africa, and a host of other hot-spots in the world that will always be a second away from flare up.
It's not a peaceful world that President Obama will inherit from President Bush. Yes, some of this is Bush's making, but most of it is out of his control (partisan ramblings to the contrary). In the coming days there will be important decisions and policy that must be made. Policy whose ripples will affect the economies and security of almost every nation-state in the world. Such is the global reach of America, even during times when pundits claim our influence is fading. Our economy is still the 800lb Gorilla in the room whether anti-Americans like it or not. As we go, so goes the world.
And the World will go on, as will America. America will go on whether Obama's decision-making is wise or foolish, it will persevere whether his economic stimulus is successful or not. It will continue because Americans, no matter our political diferences, won't give up on our dreams, our families, and (predictions of doom to the contrary) our Country. If nothing else, today's peaceful transfer of power from one ruling party to another is evidence of this.
Which is why today is a day of celebration, whether you support President Obama or no. Today we celebrate the continuation of the Great Experiment, a historical oddity and a mechanism for regime change that's unique in and of itself. Today President Bush will become a "former" President and will take his final helicopter ride to a plane which will spirit him away to Dallas. Obama will move into Bush's former home and office with a note of good luck and God speed waiting on the desk. While some would have you think today is the beginning of a National tragedy, or that a great National tragedy is coming to an end, what's really happening is that America is continuing to deliver on the promise offered for over 200 years. Still a relative youth, America acts more mature in this matter than countries with more history and age.
This is what I'm proud of today: The first President of African-American descent will swear to fulfill the responsibilities of the President of the United States of America, to uphold the Constitution, and will become my President. The American President. He will hold that role despite the fact that there will be times in which I will strongly disagree with his policy decisions, with choices he makes. None of that matters because, at the end of the day, it was the process that put Barack Obama in that office, and its my job as an American to respect that process despite any political disagreements. Something that some Americans have lost sight of over the past 16 years as cries of "Not my President" shook the rafters of selfish, partisan politics.
Barack Obama will become the 44th American President today. As a result of that he deserves our prayers and our good wishes. I for one hope that his is a very successful Presidency, for the good of the Country. Today I'll celebrate his taking office and stand in awe of the foresight of those who designed the process that put him there. Tomorrow I'll probably find issues on which we disagree, but not today.
Today, all I have to say is God bless President Obama. Thank you President Bush, and God Bless America during these days ahead. All of America.
Houston Asides (01/20/09)
The "under the radar" edition...
Four out of five Earth scientists agree human-induced Global Warming is real. [Eric Berger, Chron.com] - In light of recent evidence that AGW is on increasingly unsure footing, is it any wonder that "97% of climate scientists" (whose AGW project funding is reliant on their being well...AGW) believe in AGW? Curiously, Berger didn't cover the stories stories that didn't support AGW.
Congress moves towars SCHIP expansion, despite Texas GOP opposition. [tAFKAMW, Chron.com] - Yet another editorial written a week after the actual event took place. Still echoes the scolding themes that I predicted Republicans would face here. This was a flawed bit of legislation, addressing an issue that (sadly) needs to be addressed. Too bad the media isn't focusing on the crux of some (honest) Republican angst about the bill.
Bush commutes sentances of 2 Border Patrol agents. [James Pinkerton & Susan Carroll, Chron.com] - And there was much rejoicing.
Free cosmetics available at many stores. [Mary Flood, Chron.com] -Mad houses Stores to avoid include Macy’s, Dillard’s, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue. Yikes! I predict people who haven't EVER purchased make-up from anywhere other than Wal-Mart their entire lives will be lining up at the trough.
City Hall = Architectual Star [Carolyn Feibel, Chron.com] - Goes on to mention "Market Square" which, despite being renovated 16 years prior, is currently the subject of additional expenditures.
Short list today....the Inauguration is (rightly) sucking up all of the oxygen.
Four out of five Earth scientists agree human-induced Global Warming is real. [Eric Berger, Chron.com] - In light of recent evidence that AGW is on increasingly unsure footing, is it any wonder that "97% of climate scientists" (whose AGW project funding is reliant on their being well...AGW) believe in AGW? Curiously, Berger didn't cover the stories stories that didn't support AGW.
Congress moves towars SCHIP expansion, despite Texas GOP opposition. [tAFKAMW, Chron.com] - Yet another editorial written a week after the actual event took place. Still echoes the scolding themes that I predicted Republicans would face here. This was a flawed bit of legislation, addressing an issue that (sadly) needs to be addressed. Too bad the media isn't focusing on the crux of some (honest) Republican angst about the bill.
Bush commutes sentances of 2 Border Patrol agents. [James Pinkerton & Susan Carroll, Chron.com] - And there was much rejoicing.
Free cosmetics available at many stores. [Mary Flood, Chron.com] -
City Hall = Architectual Star [Carolyn Feibel, Chron.com] - Goes on to mention "Market Square" which, despite being renovated 16 years prior, is currently the subject of additional expenditures.
Short list today....the Inauguration is (rightly) sucking up all of the oxygen.
Monday, January 19, 2009
What environmentalists 'really' mean by 'use less'
Your new "state-provided" housing
Public TransportationOr... Public Transportation 2
The automobile you'll be allowed to ownbetter get on an activity plan to lose weight.
Don't let this happen, Support a Conservation group now.
'Hope and Change' Republican style
"We have to do it in the Facebook" - Republican National Committee Chair Mike Duncan courtesy of ARS Technica...
At least we know where Harris County Republican Party Chairman Jared Woodfill got his inspiration for his plan to "train supporters 50 and older how to use the Internet".
Hopefully "doing it in the Facebook" is a private class.
H/T: Kuff.
Social media: You know, for kids! This comes from yesterday's debate between candidates for Duncan's job, which you can watch in full via C-SPAN. Call it confirmation bias, but I think the discussion of tech at the event supports what I wrote last week: They've got a lot of ground to make up here, but there's a strain of technofetishism afflicting some conservative activists that can only lead to heartbreak.
(snip)
There were plenty of younger Republicans who took time away from their hippety-hop and their Facebooks to Twitter-cover the debate, several of whom seemed to have the same reaction. Blogger and former McCain campaign aide Soren Dayton urged them to "stop with the trivial technology fetishizing," while Katie Harbath, deputy eCampaign director for Rudy Giuliani, snarked that it sounded like they'd entered the "buzzword round." And from Republican tech consultant Chad Miles: "Duncan doesn't need Twitter because he has GOP.com. Gag. FAIL."
That seemed to be the general consensus about Duncan—FAIL—though I saw less agreement about who to support FTW. If there's silver lining here for the GOP, it was that there were plenty of folks in the audience who realized that even the more wired guys on stage don't quite get it yet.
At least we know where Harris County Republican Party Chairman Jared Woodfill got his inspiration for his plan to "train supporters 50 and older how to use the Internet".
Hopefully "doing it in the Facebook" is a private class.
H/T: Kuff.
Houston Asides (01/19/09)
The "Hope and Change" edition....
Damage from Ike threatens Galveston Seawall [Matthew Tresaugue, Chron.com] - If Texas is going for Federal bailout money, this should be priority one.
United in Pride, Houston MLK events to march seperately. [Jennifer Radcliffe, Chron.com] - Silly headline notwithstanding, the inability of the two groups to work together for a common cause reveals something about Houston.
Workers will dredge new mouth for San Bernard River. [Richard Stewart, Chron.com]
Dem Victory could end Straus Fest. [Clay Robison, Chron.com] - Of course Democrats will Dump Straus should they win the majority. Bipartisanship is only a priority to the minority after all.
A Tribute to President George W. Bush. [Desperado, Something different] - Looks like the same pettiness and appeals to society's least common denominator to me.
Katy toll details are still up in air. [Rosanna Ruiz, Chron.com] - What a mess.
HISD educator a finalist for Presidential Award. [Jennifer Radcliffe, Chron.com] - Congrats!
HIWI: Ike the book. [Kevin Whited, BlogHouston.net] - HIWI was the marketing strategy Houston should have adopted in place of the silly "my Houston" campaign utilizing 'stars' (some of whom no longer live in Houston).
From the 'It's not what you say it's how you say it' department. [Charles Kuffner, Off the Kuff] - I'm still amazed by the Republican insistance that teaching old guys how to Twitter is the key to reviving the brand.
Damage from Ike threatens Galveston Seawall [Matthew Tresaugue, Chron.com] - If Texas is going for Federal bailout money, this should be priority one.
United in Pride, Houston MLK events to march seperately. [Jennifer Radcliffe, Chron.com] - Silly headline notwithstanding, the inability of the two groups to work together for a common cause reveals something about Houston.
Workers will dredge new mouth for San Bernard River. [Richard Stewart, Chron.com]
Dem Victory could end Straus Fest. [Clay Robison, Chron.com] - Of course Democrats will Dump Straus should they win the majority. Bipartisanship is only a priority to the minority after all.
A Tribute to President George W. Bush. [Desperado, Something different] - Looks like the same pettiness and appeals to society's least common denominator to me.
Katy toll details are still up in air. [Rosanna Ruiz, Chron.com] - What a mess.
HISD educator a finalist for Presidential Award. [Jennifer Radcliffe, Chron.com] - Congrats!
HIWI: Ike the book. [Kevin Whited, BlogHouston.net] - HIWI was the marketing strategy Houston should have adopted in place of the silly "my Houston" campaign utilizing 'stars' (some of whom no longer live in Houston).
From the 'It's not what you say it's how you say it' department. [Charles Kuffner, Off the Kuff] - I'm still amazed by the Republican insistance that teaching old guys how to Twitter is the key to reviving the brand.
tAFKAMW: You take the high road....
...I'll take the low road.
My curiosity is this: Will the same people who are (correctly) criticizing Republicans for being petty and partisan during the Inauguration of President Obama cast the same dispersions on people who (incorrectly) choose today and tomorrow for the airing of grievances toward (soon to be former) President Bush?
You can become an old, bitter person looking for some consistency amongst partisans so I won't hold my breath.
Ironically, they run this counter to an editorial piece celebrating both the late Dr. Martin Luther King and the ascension of Obama to the highest office in the land. I can assure you that both political figures, while not agreeing with President Bush, would at least possess the Statesmanship to allow him to bow out with all the dignity entitled to the office.
Equally puzzling to many has been Bush’s reluctance to admit where he has been wrong over the eight years of his presidency. The legendary Bush stubbornness will be a rich topic for presidential scholars for many years to come. And while the scholars are at it: Was this president really the Sarah Palin figure described by some disaffected former staffers? Did the man who so benefited from the skilled tutelage of the late Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock while governor of Texas fall under the dark spell of Vice President Dick Cheney and allow himself to be led away from his instinctive inclination toward bipartisanship and his appealing hail fellow, well met style? We will read the scholars’ conclusions with interest.
(snip)
We cannot help but wonder if a little more of this newfound willingness to reflect and accept well-meaning criticism might have made Bush’s presidency run smoother and more effectively. We believe it would have. But for today, welcome home, President and Mrs. Bush.
My curiosity is this: Will the same people who are (correctly) criticizing Republicans for being petty and partisan during the Inauguration of President Obama cast the same dispersions on people who (incorrectly) choose today and tomorrow for the airing of grievances toward (soon to be former) President Bush?
You can become an old, bitter person looking for some consistency amongst partisans so I won't hold my breath.
Ironically, they run this counter to an editorial piece celebrating both the late Dr. Martin Luther King and the ascension of Obama to the highest office in the land. I can assure you that both political figures, while not agreeing with President Bush, would at least possess the Statesmanship to allow him to bow out with all the dignity entitled to the office.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Houston Asides (01/18/09)
The "missed opportunities" edition
The Obama Parallel's in Mayor's Race. [Rick Casey, Chron.com] - Wasn't this guy hired to "dig up the dirt?
Cheap Shot [tAFKAMW, Chron.com] - Tut-tutting after the fact is not as effective as pointing out the error before it happens. Of course, the DMN has an effective editorial board and the Chron does not.
Good Judgement [tAFKAMW, Chron.com] - When an editorial starts "This month..." you know you're in trouble. The story in question broke TEN days ago and is so far outside of the public news radar as to render this editorial meaningless. A vote of confidence before the vote would have been more effective.
Investing in Principles [tAFKAMW, Chron.com] - Oddly enough, the one editorials that's not ran after the fact didn't even make the Sunday Outlook section in the print edition. I'd love to see this story get the full feature treatment instead of being tucked away in the editorial section. Perhaps this is something one of the Chron's "columnists" could champion?
Hinojosa: Republicans will 'rue the day' they changed 2/3's rule. [Steve Taylor, Rio Grande Guardian] - "rue the day"? Does anyone really talk like that any more?
Hip-hop artists join in Houston to stop the violence. [Jennifer Leahy, Chron.com] - Possibly step one would be to stop penning lyrics that glamorize the 'thug life'? Nahhh....
Hayes Carl on the Battle of Crystal Beach [Tom Kirkendall, Houston's Clear Thinkers]
West Gray Streetcar [NeoHouston] - Unfortunately for Houston, walking is an integral part of most any "world class" transit system.
Quannel X [Chris Vogel, Houston Press] - Moneyshot quote of the story:
The Obama Parallel's in Mayor's Race. [Rick Casey, Chron.com] - Wasn't this guy hired to "dig up the dirt?
According to Lanier, who is now backing him for mayor, Locke served with distinction. He has since become a highly regarded attorney at Andrews Kurth. With clients that include Metro, the Port Authority and the Harris County — Houston Sports Authority, he is very familiar with the workings of local politics.Having a chance to 'dig deep' into the relationships that drive City Hall, Rick Casey punts.
Cheap Shot [tAFKAMW, Chron.com] - Tut-tutting after the fact is not as effective as pointing out the error before it happens. Of course, the DMN has an effective editorial board and the Chron does not.
Good Judgement [tAFKAMW, Chron.com] - When an editorial starts "This month..." you know you're in trouble. The story in question broke TEN days ago and is so far outside of the public news radar as to render this editorial meaningless. A vote of confidence before the vote would have been more effective.
Investing in Principles [tAFKAMW, Chron.com] - Oddly enough, the one editorials that's not ran after the fact didn't even make the Sunday Outlook section in the print edition. I'd love to see this story get the full feature treatment instead of being tucked away in the editorial section. Perhaps this is something one of the Chron's "columnists" could champion?
Hinojosa: Republicans will 'rue the day' they changed 2/3's rule. [Steve Taylor, Rio Grande Guardian] - "rue the day"? Does anyone really talk like that any more?
Hip-hop artists join in Houston to stop the violence. [Jennifer Leahy, Chron.com] - Possibly step one would be to stop penning lyrics that glamorize the 'thug life'? Nahhh....
Hayes Carl on the Battle of Crystal Beach [Tom Kirkendall, Houston's Clear Thinkers]
West Gray Streetcar [NeoHouston] - Unfortunately for Houston, walking is an integral part of most any "world class" transit system.
Quannel X [Chris Vogel, Houston Press] - Moneyshot quote of the story:
"White folks," he says, "you are now on the back burner."Denouncing hate through use of a racist statement. Brilliant!
Takeaways from Texas Watchdog Meet-up
Yesterday I attended the Texas Watchdog Blogger Meet-up at The Stag's Head. No pictures (I left my camera phone on the counter at home) but here are some initial thoughts regarding the meeting...
1. The Chron is embracing the whole "citizen journalist" idea. There were four employees of the Chron in attendance. Dwight Silverman (Tech editor), Carolyn Feibel (Chron Metro Reporter), Dean Betz (Content Director), and Ronne Crocker (Assistant Features Editor). Having the Chron on board is a great thing. Not only do they have superior resources than do bloggers, but they also have a much wider audience. As much as they hate to admit it, most bloggers rely heavily on the Chron and other MSM news outlets for their content. LaE is, admittedly, hard on certain parts of the Chron (namely, the sub-par editorial board and columnists) but I rely on their reporting for the bulk of my material.
2. Blogger turn out was low. Overall it was a good turnout for the Freshman event of a new group in town, around 20 people, but it could have been so much more. Given the "focus" some local blogs claim to have on Government accountability, their attendance would have been nice to see. Still, it was just one event and one event does not a trend make so we'll just say that blogger turn out could have been better.
3. The Stag's Head makes a mean Bloody Mary. One was plenty. 'nuff said.
It was an informative and interesting meeting. It was nice to put names to faces with the Texas Watchdog staff and also to discuss some of their upcoming stories and swap story ideas. Their decision to focus on State and Local issues ties well with this blog. Since the level of research that is necessary to pull off meaningful original content is above the time commitment I have available, its nice to see that Texas Watchdog will be a supplemental tool that's available to drive content.
I've got them linked under my sidebar, I suggest you check their site often.
1. The Chron is embracing the whole "citizen journalist" idea. There were four employees of the Chron in attendance. Dwight Silverman (Tech editor), Carolyn Feibel (Chron Metro Reporter), Dean Betz (Content Director), and Ronne Crocker (Assistant Features Editor). Having the Chron on board is a great thing. Not only do they have superior resources than do bloggers, but they also have a much wider audience. As much as they hate to admit it, most bloggers rely heavily on the Chron and other MSM news outlets for their content. LaE is, admittedly, hard on certain parts of the Chron (namely, the sub-par editorial board and columnists) but I rely on their reporting for the bulk of my material.
2. Blogger turn out was low. Overall it was a good turnout for the Freshman event of a new group in town, around 20 people, but it could have been so much more. Given the "focus" some local blogs claim to have on Government accountability, their attendance would have been nice to see. Still, it was just one event and one event does not a trend make so we'll just say that blogger turn out could have been better.
3. The Stag's Head makes a mean Bloody Mary. One was plenty. 'nuff said.
It was an informative and interesting meeting. It was nice to put names to faces with the Texas Watchdog staff and also to discuss some of their upcoming stories and swap story ideas. Their decision to focus on State and Local issues ties well with this blog. Since the level of research that is necessary to pull off meaningful original content is above the time commitment I have available, its nice to see that Texas Watchdog will be a supplemental tool that's available to drive content.
I've got them linked under my sidebar, I suggest you check their site often.
A Public Service Message
For all of my Republican Friends seeking distraction from The coronation inauguration of King President Obama this weekend....
Some things to ponder...
1. Will Kay Bailey run?
It's a question I first posed here is now being asked by more "mainstream" outlets. If KBH doesn't run the pachyderm candidate for Governor is going to be the oft-maligned Gov. Goodhair.
2. Will a Republican make a run for Houston Mayor?
Now that Bill King's out, the Mayoral list of prominent candidates is minus a Republican. Gene Locke, Annise Parker and Peter Brown are all prominent Democrats in 'officially' non-partisan elections.
3. The 2010 Texas Elections.
This is assuming that Harris County Republicans will be sitting 2009 out. Sure, the City's elections are 'non-partisan' so there's nothing that can 'officially' be done. Nothing better to do but sit back, teach the old guys how to Twitter and hope and pray you're right about "Obamamania" just being a 'fad' and not some sustained demographic movement.
Meanwhile the rest of us will be celebrating the fact that America is experiencing yet another peaceful transition of power. Something most countries throughout history have been unable to brag about. That Obama is also the first African-American president is something to celebrate as well, whether you voted for him, or not.
Some things to ponder...
1. Will Kay Bailey run?
It's a question I first posed here is now being asked by more "mainstream" outlets. If KBH doesn't run the pachyderm candidate for Governor is going to be the oft-maligned Gov. Goodhair.
2. Will a Republican make a run for Houston Mayor?
Now that Bill King's out, the Mayoral list of prominent candidates is minus a Republican. Gene Locke, Annise Parker and Peter Brown are all prominent Democrats in 'officially' non-partisan elections.
3. The 2010 Texas Elections.
This is assuming that Harris County Republicans will be sitting 2009 out. Sure, the City's elections are 'non-partisan' so there's nothing that can 'officially' be done. Nothing better to do but sit back, teach the old guys how to Twitter and hope and pray you're right about "Obamamania" just being a 'fad' and not some sustained demographic movement.
Meanwhile the rest of us will be celebrating the fact that America is experiencing yet another peaceful transition of power. Something most countries throughout history have been unable to brag about. That Obama is also the first African-American president is something to celebrate as well, whether you voted for him, or not.
Friday, January 16, 2009
A pretty decent Friday
For new Sheriff Adrian Garcia...
[Peggy O'Hare, Chron.com]
Some Republicans might not like this, but you'd have to work pretty hard to convince me that Garcia doesn't have the right, as Sheriff, to make personnel decisions, especially among his command staff.
For Former Texas State Representative Borris Miles...
[Brian Rogers, Chron.com]
Conspiracy theories abound. The knee-jerk reaction would be to prescribe this theory to a bun of "desperate Republicans". Of course, that would fail to take into account who really benefited from this whole situation. This being politics, Miles first inclination was to discuss his potential for a future run for office.
Obama's stimulus plan...
[Liz Sidoti AP via Chron.com]
Today's rash of Reduction in Force announcements will weaken opposition to his plan for a total economic re-boot.
It, of course, was a very bad Friday for the American worker, one of many coming in the near future I would imagine. If oil companies, who have been making money but are assuredly not on the 'to be bailed out' list, are already talking RIF then its only going to get worse from here.
[Peggy O'Hare, Chron.com]
Two fired Harris County sheriff’s majors lost a round in court today when a judge ruled that new Sheriff Adrian Garcia does not have to hold two lower positions open for them.
Former Majors Jule Brownfield and Kim Stelter had sought an injunction to hold two captains’ positions open while they fight to be reinstated. They claimed civil service rules and the Texas local government code entitled them to the lower positions.
But state District Judge Jaclanel Moore McFarland ruled that Garcia does not have to hold any positions open and is free to continue building the command staff of his choosing.
Some Republicans might not like this, but you'd have to work pretty hard to convince me that Garcia doesn't have the right, as Sheriff, to make personnel decisions, especially among his command staff.
For Former Texas State Representative Borris Miles...
[Brian Rogers, Chron.com]
Defense exhibit No. 135 was one of hundreds of candid photos of Borris Miles at a 2007 holiday party. A tiny detail in it convinced a Harris County jury on Thursday to acquit the former state representative of two counts of deadly conduct.
Jurors, who deliberated for only 45 minutes, said they already were suspicious of testimony in the trial, which had accused Miles of pointing a gun during two holiday parties that year. The photo, they said, just reinforced their doubt.
Conspiracy theories abound. The knee-jerk reaction would be to prescribe this theory to a bun of "desperate Republicans". Of course, that would fail to take into account who really benefited from this whole situation. This being politics, Miles first inclination was to discuss his potential for a future run for office.
Obama's stimulus plan...
[Liz Sidoti AP via Chron.com]
President-elect Barack Obama made a pitch today for his massive economic stimulus plan at a Midwestern factory that makes wind turbine parts, saying his plan would make smart investments in the country’s future and create solid jobs in up-and-coming industries.
“Renewable energy isn’t something pie in the sky. It’s not part of a far-off future. It’s happening all across America right now,” Obama told workers at the Cardinal Fastener & Specialty Co. in this Cleveland suburb. “It can create millions of additional jobs and entire new industries if we act right now.”
Today's rash of Reduction in Force announcements will weaken opposition to his plan for a total economic re-boot.
It, of course, was a very bad Friday for the American worker, one of many coming in the near future I would imagine. If oil companies, who have been making money but are assuredly not on the 'to be bailed out' list, are already talking RIF then its only going to get worse from here.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
All Right...Who didn't get the memo?
The peculiarities of the Texas political blogosphere never cease to amaze me....
The story: Texas Republicans move to suspend the rules for Voter ID.
The Democratic Response?
Off the Kuff.
Houtopia.
Bay Area Houston.
Muse Musings.
Uhhh...
Dos Centavos.
The story: Texas Republicans move to suspend the rules for Voter ID.
The Democratic Response?
Off the Kuff.
"The budget, rebuilding Galveston, CHIP, windstorm insurance, roads, property taxes, college tuition, utility rates, you name it - they all take a back seat to voter ID. "
Houtopia.
"With all the critical challenges facing the state -- a tough budget, public schools, utility rates, college tuition, insurance reform, children's health insurance, to name a few -- a voter ID bill is what Senate Republicans think should be their highest priority."
Bay Area Houston.
"The single most important issue facing Texas families today, besides paying outrageous rates for insurance, electricity, college, finding a job in this lousy economy, adequately funding our schools, and looking for a safe place to raise a family, is keeping illegal Mexicans from voting with a voter-ID bill."
Muse Musings.
"the real issues that are important to Texas families are public educaiton, college tuition, health care, electricty rates, insurance rates and the economy."
Uhhh...
Dos Centavos.
Of course, there are no proven cases of voter fraud. But we do know where the Republicans are coming from. I've heard the little comments in our Republican precincts whenever a heavily accented voter asks a question.
Not so fast.
In the aftermath to the House passage of the SCHIP "Reauthorization" bill there's going to be much wailing and gnashing of teeth by Democratic partisans over the supposed callousness of the Republican Right.
[From muse, Muse Musings]
Not so fast.
[Robert Pear, Washington Post]
Here's a clip from John Linder (R-GA) a member of the Ways and Means committee:
Here's a clip from Eric Cantor (R-VA) Minority whip on his objections:
Let's be honest: House Resolution Two is a flawed bill. It's a spending bill with the same lack of safeguards that are commonly the pitfalls of major spending legislation. In that respect, the Republican concerns are correct. And, ignoring shouts from partisans, they clearly expressed their concerns on the floor of Congress.
Whether or not the Republicans would support a bill with the safeguards in place that they were calling for is up for debate. It's possible that, given those concessions, they would have continued to push for more and more restrictions on the bill in order to make its passage unteneble to Democrats. Unfortunately, we will never know if that's true.
By by-passing normal debate and discussion and pushing through a bill in a heavy-handed, ham-fisted manner Nancy Pelosi has proven herself to be an autocratic overseer of the United States Congress. Republicans grouse about her leadership and Democrats bend-over backward defending the same. Which, if you think about it, is odd (especially in Texas) because the roles are reversed here with Democrats breaking out in hives over what one would think is the dismantling of Texas Democracy.
For this one, I leave it up to the readers because I can't figure it out....
What's the difference between Nancy Pelosi's recent handling of key legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives vs. the David Dewhurst handling of the Texas Senate?
Because I can't see any, other than parenthetical letters that is.
Related: BigJolly at LST wants to know why voter ID is considered a frivolous issue but Gay's in the military is not?
[From muse, Muse Musings]
Shame on Olson for not wanting to put women, children and healthcare first.
Not so fast.
[Robert Pear, Washington Post]
House Republicans raised several objections to the bill. While the cost of the child health program will increase, they said, tobacco revenues will not, so the government will face a widening gap that will probably be filled with additional tax increases in the future.
Moreover, Republicans said, under the bill, some of the money will be spent to provide public coverage for children who already have private health insurance through their parents’ employers.
Republicans also complained that the bill did not require states to cover the poorest children first, before covering children from middle-income families.
Here's a clip from John Linder (R-GA) a member of the Ways and Means committee:
Here's a clip from Eric Cantor (R-VA) Minority whip on his objections:
Let's be honest: House Resolution Two is a flawed bill. It's a spending bill with the same lack of safeguards that are commonly the pitfalls of major spending legislation. In that respect, the Republican concerns are correct. And, ignoring shouts from partisans, they clearly expressed their concerns on the floor of Congress.
Whether or not the Republicans would support a bill with the safeguards in place that they were calling for is up for debate. It's possible that, given those concessions, they would have continued to push for more and more restrictions on the bill in order to make its passage unteneble to Democrats. Unfortunately, we will never know if that's true.
By by-passing normal debate and discussion and pushing through a bill in a heavy-handed, ham-fisted manner Nancy Pelosi has proven herself to be an autocratic overseer of the United States Congress. Republicans grouse about her leadership and Democrats bend-over backward defending the same. Which, if you think about it, is odd (especially in Texas) because the roles are reversed here with Democrats breaking out in hives over what one would think is the dismantling of Texas Democracy.
For this one, I leave it up to the readers because I can't figure it out....
What's the difference between Nancy Pelosi's recent handling of key legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives vs. the David Dewhurst handling of the Texas Senate?
Because I can't see any, other than parenthetical letters that is.
Related: BigJolly at LST wants to know why voter ID is considered a frivolous issue but Gay's in the military is not?
Outdoors with the Lege
Increased outdoor recreation space, road kill and white-tails...
I'm going to break from blogging form and quote some from Mr. Tompkins. He's dead right on these outdoor issues. Go read the entire article for more.
[Shannon Tompkins, Chron.com]
For all of Houston's dreamy-eyed gandering at municipal parks, there's nothing that compares to being out in nature. "Real" nature, not the kind bisected by the Andrea and Bill White Promenade. When funds are tight it's hard to imagine a case where the Lege would get an old-fashioned 'outdoors' agenda up and running, but it'd sure be nice if they'd, at least, consider it.
I'm going to break from blogging form and quote some from Mr. Tompkins. He's dead right on these outdoor issues. Go read the entire article for more.
[Shannon Tompkins, Chron.com]
State park funding, the white-tailed deer “industry” and the paucity of public lands open to recreation promise to be among the highest-profile and likely most contentious of what will be several outdoors-related issues arising in the just-opened 81st regular session of the Texas Legislature.
And look for at least a couple of out-of-left-field topics — something such as proposed new rules governing road-killed game animals — to generate a lot of heat, if not much light, over the biennial, 140-day frenzy of lawmaking.
(snip)
State park funding
Long horribly underfunded and suffering greatly for it, Texas state parks saw a considerable boost in appropriations from the 80th Legislature after legions of park supporters mounted an intense and effective lobbying effort.
But the budget boost was just for the two years covered by the 2007 appropriations bill. There is no guarantee the Legislature will continue to fund state parks at anything approaching the level of the past two years.
Park advocates will continue pushing for parks to get the full amount of state sales tax generated through the sale of sporting goods.
Already, two bills by Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, have been filed to that effect. One of Ellis’ bills would, for the next two budget years, appropriate 94 percent of state sales tax revenue generated through the sale of sporting goods to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s state parks account. (The other 6 percent would go to the Texas Historical Commission.)
(snip)
The deer industry
Arguments over the ethics or societal and ecological impacts of farming deer to produce bucks with large antlers have made the industry a lightning rod.
Deer farmers are looking to change regulations they see as limiting their ability to make money or protect their often considerable investments and to bolster their industry’s reputation.
A handful of recent high-profile criminal cases involving live whitetail deer being transported by people involved in deer farming, or “drop-and-pop” fenced shooting operations, have given the industry a black eye.
As part of the effort to show it’s serious about cleaning up the bad apples in the deer business, the industry is pushing for stiffer penalties for those violating rules.
(snip)
A lack of public lands
There should also be legislative efforts to fund acquisition of more land for parks, particularly within easy range of urban centers, to make it easier for Texans to enjoy the outdoors.
For all of Houston's dreamy-eyed gandering at municipal parks, there's nothing that compares to being out in nature. "Real" nature, not the kind bisected by the Andrea and Bill White Promenade. When funds are tight it's hard to imagine a case where the Lege would get an old-fashioned 'outdoors' agenda up and running, but it'd sure be nice if they'd, at least, consider it.
County's left hand ignores right hand, for now.
File this one under "coincidental yet (by all appearances) totally unrelated."
Left hand: Toll increases needed to fund County road projects.
[Liz Austin Peterson, Chron.com]
Right Hand: Dynamo, City & County inch closer to stadium deal.
[Liz Austin Peterson, Chron.com]
There's really nothing here, it just looks bad. And I'm not being facetious when I write that. Part of the reason is that the $10 Million dollars the County is contributing is technically going to come from revenues forfeited to the East Downtwon (EaDo? *snicker*) Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone. There's also the small fact that, as odd as this might sound, $10 Million dollars is nothing compared to the scope of what the County terms to be "massive building projects"
The problem with this is the timing. When the citizenry reacts to 'fee increases' or 'tax cuts' they typically do so without regard for scale. Dynamo Stadium opponents will view the expenditures as being wasted money that could go to mitigate the amount of the Toll increase. In reality, even if the $10 Million in Dynamo Stadium funds were reallocated to the HCTRA building fund, the effect on the toll increase would be somewhere around 1/100th of 1 cent. In short, nada, nothing, zilch, bupkus.
None of this means that public expenditure on private stadiums is suddenly a good deal. Construction of Reliant Center, Toyota Center andEnron, Astros Minute Maid Park have not spurred a revival of downtown as proponents claimed. The Main Street corridor that was hopping during the Stupid Bowl is now, mostly, a graveyard of shuttered clubs and closed businesses. The much vaunted "revival" of Downtown has not happened. The only meaningful Downtown improvements occured not because of something related to the stadiums, but due to Government spending to build Discovery Green. Even the pie-in-the-sky Houston Pavillions project is based on the park, and not the stadiums. Building a stadium in the name of "economic revival" is a shell game that team owners play with the public.
A better use of resources would have been to find cheaper land, possibly outside the Loop, surrounded by a swath of green space. That are could have been turned into a youth soccer complex/Dynamo center where youth teams could play during the day, and then attend the Dynamo game afterwards, during special promotions. Having access to professional quality resources would have served to eleveate youth soccer in Houston. Instead, Houston's being sold a bill of goods based largely on the desire of team management to have an office address in a Downtown zip code.
Now, if you want to take the Hardy Toll Road to the game, it's just going to cost more. Which, ironically, is the indirect connection that these two stories have with one another.
Left hand, meet Right hand.
Left hand: Toll increases needed to fund County road projects.
[Liz Austin Peterson, Chron.com]
Drivers soon may have to pay more to hop on a Harris County toll road as officials consider a rate hike to raise revenue for massive building projects. How much more motorists will pay is still up for debate.
When the Harris County Commissioners Court gave the Toll Road Authority permission to raise rates by 25 cents in 2007, it also authorized annual smaller increases to keep up with the rising cost of building and maintaining the toll road network. To make future increases transparent and objective, the court set the annual increase at the rate of inflation or 2 percent, whichever is greater.
But Peter Key, HCTRA’s deputy director, said he and his staff still are trying to determine how much of an increase to seek this year as they weigh varying inflation estimates and evaluate a rate hike’s potential impact on the system.
Right Hand: Dynamo, City & County inch closer to stadium deal.
[Liz Austin Peterson, Chron.com]
Harris County and the city of Houston are inching closer to a deal on the Dynamo stadium project this week, as officials from the city and the soccer team say they have no serious problems with the conditions the county has set for its participation.
Houston Mayor Bill White asked the county in July to contribute $10 million to the project by joining the city’s East Downtown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, which includes the stadium’s proposed site.
Harris County Commissioners El Franco Lee and Sylvia Garcia tentatively agreed late last month to join the project as long as the city agreed to conditions including restricting the use of county money to building the public amenities and infrastructure serving the stadium, rather than the physical structure itself.
There's really nothing here, it just looks bad. And I'm not being facetious when I write that. Part of the reason is that the $10 Million dollars the County is contributing is technically going to come from revenues forfeited to the East Downtwon (EaDo? *snicker*) Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone. There's also the small fact that, as odd as this might sound, $10 Million dollars is nothing compared to the scope of what the County terms to be "massive building projects"
HCTRA has committed to building five projects at a cost of $5 billion to $6 billion in the next few years, including extending the Hardy Toll Road to downtown and the Sam Houston Tollway into northeast Harris County.When dealing with 'Billions', 'Millions' is not material.
The agency also needs to renovate existing roadways to accommodate growing traffic volume. Among projects on tap for 2009 is widening the Sam Houston Tollway from U.S. 59 South to Texas 288, with construction costs estimated at $150 million.
The problem with this is the timing. When the citizenry reacts to 'fee increases' or 'tax cuts' they typically do so without regard for scale. Dynamo Stadium opponents will view the expenditures as being wasted money that could go to mitigate the amount of the Toll increase. In reality, even if the $10 Million in Dynamo Stadium funds were reallocated to the HCTRA building fund, the effect on the toll increase would be somewhere around 1/100th of 1 cent. In short, nada, nothing, zilch, bupkus.
None of this means that public expenditure on private stadiums is suddenly a good deal. Construction of Reliant Center, Toyota Center and
A better use of resources would have been to find cheaper land, possibly outside the Loop, surrounded by a swath of green space. That are could have been turned into a youth soccer complex/Dynamo center where youth teams could play during the day, and then attend the Dynamo game afterwards, during special promotions. Having access to professional quality resources would have served to eleveate youth soccer in Houston. Instead, Houston's being sold a bill of goods based largely on the desire of team management to have an office address in a Downtown zip code.
Now, if you want to take the Hardy Toll Road to the game, it's just going to cost more. Which, ironically, is the indirect connection that these two stories have with one another.
Left hand, meet Right hand.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
What a difference two years make.
Remember Lege v.80?
[Mike Ward, Austin American-Statesman]
Here comes Lege v.81
[Patricia Kilday-Hart, Texas Monthly]
From 1 to 18 is the final tally
[Janet Elliot, Chron.com]
Carona jumping ship was no surprise. He's not Dan Patrick's biggest fan if you remember. One has to wonder if his days of caucusing with the Republicans are coming to an end...
[From Kilday-Hart, TM]
Which brings us back to Dan Patrick and the blocker bill. If you would have told me three months ago that the bill would have been set-aside (even for one issue such as voter ID) I'd have said you were crazy. That, of course, was before the Harris County GOP decided Patrick's star was the one they wanted to see rise. After that I started to think there might be a chance. Still a small chance, but a flicker of hope nevertheless. What I couldn't believe (nor could Kevin in the Comments of a previous post) was that Republicans would make their stand over Voter ID. I assumed they would finally want to deliver on appraisal caps and issue with far more widespread support that even some Democrats would be willing to support. Instead, they went for this.
[Tom, from the comments @ Burka Blog]
So, after all of this we're left with the following Republican Battle Cry for week one of the eighty-first: "Texas, we're just like MEXICO!"
Who says Republicans aren't reaching out to minorities this session?
OTHER EYES:
Off the Kuff - You knew what the Democratic response would be to this right?
Houtopia echoes Kuff.
Lone Star Times provides a report from the Republican base. (complete with interesting debate in the comments)
[Mike Ward, Austin American-Statesman]
By a 30-1 vote, the Texas Senate just moments ago retained the so-called two-thirds rule in its rules, rejecting a move by freshman Sen. Dan Patrick to junk it.
The debate was lively, but short.
The rule requires a two-thirds vote of the 31-senator chamber to debate a bill. Critics have said it impedes the will of majority rule.
The lone dissenter: Patrick, R-Houston.
Here comes Lege v.81
[Patricia Kilday-Hart, Texas Monthly]
Zaffirini gave Republican senators pause when she noted that a big winner in the debate was their ambitious colleague Patrick, whom Republicans view with distrust. “Senator Patrick,” Zaffirini said, “You are a winner today and I congratulate you. ”
From 1 to 18 is the final tally
[Janet Elliot, Chron.com]
After six hours of contentious debate, the Senate changed its longstanding tradition governing how many senators are needed to consider legislation for one issue -- voter identification.
Republican John Carona of Dallas broke ranks to join 12 Democrats in opposing the change to the two-thirds rule. The other 18 Republicans voted to carve out an exception for a bill that would require voters to show a government-issued photo ID at the polls.
Carona jumping ship was no surprise. He's not Dan Patrick's biggest fan if you remember. One has to wonder if his days of caucusing with the Republicans are coming to an end...
[From Kilday-Hart, TM]
Not only are Democrats angry, but Republican John Carona (we may start calling him “Frank” for his honesty) announced publicly that when he expressed his opposition to the changing the two-thirds rule, “I was told it would effect my legislative package” and that he likely would be guaranteed a primary opponent.With the recent electoral shift away from Republicans and toward Democrats, would their be a mutual interest in having him switch sides? Granted, there's no love lost there but hey, as an owner of "collapsing condos" he'd have some company right?
Which brings us back to Dan Patrick and the blocker bill. If you would have told me three months ago that the bill would have been set-aside (even for one issue such as voter ID) I'd have said you were crazy. That, of course, was before the Harris County GOP decided Patrick's star was the one they wanted to see rise. After that I started to think there might be a chance. Still a small chance, but a flicker of hope nevertheless. What I couldn't believe (nor could Kevin in the Comments of a previous post) was that Republicans would make their stand over Voter ID. I assumed they would finally want to deliver on appraisal caps and issue with far more widespread support that even some Democrats would be willing to support. Instead, they went for this.
[Tom, from the comments @ Burka Blog]
Many 3rd world countries require picture identification to ensure the integreity(sic) of their electoral system. Mexico is a case in point. It requires every voter to show a picture i.d. which then has to be verified by the poll worker to the voter’s photo on the voter list. That’s right…Mexico puts a photo of the voter next to the person’s name on the voter registration list!
If Mexico can do this then I do not see why we cannot in Texas.
So, after all of this we're left with the following Republican Battle Cry for week one of the eighty-first: "Texas, we're just like MEXICO!"
Who says Republicans aren't reaching out to minorities this session?
OTHER EYES:
Off the Kuff - You knew what the Democratic response would be to this right?
Houtopia echoes Kuff.
Lone Star Times provides a report from the Republican base. (complete with interesting debate in the comments)
The collegiality of the Texas State Senate
Is under a slight bit of duress today as the Republicans try to wrangle with Democrats to suspend the 2/3 approval rule in order to ease passage for the voter ID bill.
Burkablog over at Texas Monthly (Paul Burka and Patricia Kilday-Hart) have provided good coverage of the entire mess as the Senate settles in for a long day. All this fun and the House hasn't even seated committee's as of yet.
It's too bad most of the Texas Mainstream Media bet on Tuesday as the 'day of excitement' from the Lege, because today's fireworks have outstripped anything from yesterday.
So far today we've had:
1. David Dewhurst channelling Colin Power in an effort to distance himself (and his leadership) from this mess.
2. Leticia Van de Putte waxing poetic over the coming loss of the 'clubby' nature of the Senate. (spurring one wise commenter on Burnt Orange Report to not that arguments happen in the Senate as much as the House, but they happen behind closed doors. The House is obviously more of a fan of open Gov't than is the upper chamber....clever)
3. Kirk Watson deconstructing Tommy Williams argument with two simple questions.
Fun, fun, fun in the Upper House of the Texas Lege.
Burkablog over at Texas Monthly (Paul Burka and Patricia Kilday-Hart) have provided good coverage of the entire mess as the Senate settles in for a long day. All this fun and the House hasn't even seated committee's as of yet.
It's too bad most of the Texas Mainstream Media bet on Tuesday as the 'day of excitement' from the Lege, because today's fireworks have outstripped anything from yesterday.
So far today we've had:
1. David Dewhurst channelling Colin Power in an effort to distance himself (and his leadership) from this mess.
2. Leticia Van de Putte waxing poetic over the coming loss of the 'clubby' nature of the Senate. (spurring one wise commenter on Burnt Orange Report to not that arguments happen in the Senate as much as the House, but they happen behind closed doors. The House is obviously more of a fan of open Gov't than is the upper chamber....clever)
3. Kirk Watson deconstructing Tommy Williams argument with two simple questions.
Fun, fun, fun in the Upper House of the Texas Lege.
Who's Vetting the Chron Ed Board's Material these days?
Back in October it was reported (mostly by the local blogosphere) that James Howard Gibbons had accepted the Chron buyout and changes were a'coming for Mrs. White. And there was much rejoicing. Apparently, John Wilburn is now has the murky title of "Opinion Director" far removed from "Opinion Page Editor" or some other, traditional Newspapering title.
As much as we tweaked Mr. Gibbons, as wrong-headed, and silly, as some of his ideas were (especially regarding "new" media), we're actually finding ourselves missing Mrs. White, her catapult and her eccentricies in regard to the facts.
Editorials like this are a reason why....
[The artist formerly known as Mrs. White, Chron.com]
This might have been a timely, insightful editorial FOURTEEN days ago!. As it stands now it just feels like a throw-away item tossed in to replace something that wasn't quite ready by deadline.
The sad thing is, most of the Chron's editorials are feeling like that of late. Even the ones that are timely, fail to do anything more than just offer up a re-hash of previously printed news stories.
At a time when Houston is under going massive change both politically and financially, when the State Lege is in session and a new President is preparing to take the reins of a Nation stuck in the ruts of a recession, you'd think the newspaper of record for the 4th largest City in America could offer up something more substantive than two-week old commentary and a re-hash of recent news. The Texas House swore in a new Speaker yesterday, you think that might generate an editorial flicker?
Maybe they'll get to that in a couple of weeks?
With newspaper revenues and circulation decreasing and resources growing ever tighter you'd think that the Chron Editorial Board would be doing everything they possibly can to remain relevent and connected to the readers?
I guess not.
As much as we tweaked Mr. Gibbons, as wrong-headed, and silly, as some of his ideas were (especially regarding "new" media), we're actually finding ourselves missing Mrs. White, her catapult and her eccentricies in regard to the facts.
Editorials like this are a reason why....
[The artist formerly known as Mrs. White, Chron.com]
Change is sweeping the land, and it seems no one, not even the mighty pharmaceutical industry, is immune. Big pharma last week declared it will forthwith ban the long-entrenched practice of deluging physicians with office supplies, coffee mugs, golf balls, clothing and other treats bearing logos and brand names.
This might have been a timely, insightful editorial FOURTEEN days ago!. As it stands now it just feels like a throw-away item tossed in to replace something that wasn't quite ready by deadline.
The sad thing is, most of the Chron's editorials are feeling like that of late. Even the ones that are timely, fail to do anything more than just offer up a re-hash of previously printed news stories.
At a time when Houston is under going massive change both politically and financially, when the State Lege is in session and a new President is preparing to take the reins of a Nation stuck in the ruts of a recession, you'd think the newspaper of record for the 4th largest City in America could offer up something more substantive than two-week old commentary and a re-hash of recent news. The Texas House swore in a new Speaker yesterday, you think that might generate an editorial flicker?
Maybe they'll get to that in a couple of weeks?
With newspaper revenues and circulation decreasing and resources growing ever tighter you'd think that the Chron Editorial Board would be doing everything they possibly can to remain relevent and connected to the readers?
I guess not.
Love thy Neighbor?
How long before this plan devolves into something nasty?
[Carolyn Feibel, Chron.com]
The problem here is that this ordinance will place the onus for implementation and enforcement primarily on Civic Associations. In other words, you're going to have it be neighbor vs. neighbor in a shouting match over whose rights supercede whose. Possibly this is a debate the City needs to have, certainly junker cars parked on lawns drives down the property values, but is the place to have it in Civic club meetings where Rogurt's rules don't apply?
Then there's this problem:
Just another example of Ready! Fire! Aim! governance where the City of Houston is attempting to tackle a problem before they have a working grasp of its complexity.
[Carolyn Feibel, Chron.com]
Nettled by neighbors who clutter up their front yards with parked vehicles? You could work to outlaw this practice in your Houston neighborhood if the City Council approves a yard-parking ordinance on Wednesday's agenda.
The proposed law would allow civic associations to apply for the prohibition, or for 60 percent of residents to apply by petition. City officials developed this “opt-in” process after efforts to enact a citywide ban failed in 2007.
“I’m really excited that it’s finally come to council,” said Councilman James Rodriguez of District I, on the East Side. Rodriguez said that after crime, the problem of people parking on lawns in residential communities is what he hears about the most from civic leaders.
“They feel it devalues the property values and is kind of an eyesore,” Rodriguez said.
The problem here is that this ordinance will place the onus for implementation and enforcement primarily on Civic Associations. In other words, you're going to have it be neighbor vs. neighbor in a shouting match over whose rights supercede whose. Possibly this is a debate the City needs to have, certainly junker cars parked on lawns drives down the property values, but is the place to have it in Civic club meetings where Rogurt's rules don't apply?
Then there's this problem:
...a citywide ban was difficult because neighborhoods were built in different eras, with different configurations. Some houses have only a one-car garage. Some have driveways too short for today’s bigger vehicles. In addition, lifestyles have changed, Frye added. More family members own cars, and often people work from home.
Just another example of Ready! Fire! Aim! governance where the City of Houston is attempting to tackle a problem before they have a working grasp of its complexity.
Perry proposes using rainy day fund...
for more property tax cuts?
Whua?
[Clay Robison and Peggy Fikac of the Chron]
I mean, OK, I get it. At the end of the day this is the first shot in the battle for the hearts and minds of the Conservative wing of the Republican Party. Perry (rightly) assumes that moderates are going to side with Kay Bailey no matter what he does, so he's pinning his re-election hopes firmly on the bulletin board of the Right. Got it.
And yes, if you polled Texans and asked them what to do with their money, all things being equal they'd want it back. This supposes that piddly things such as infrastructure, education and child services are paid for an running properly. Poll after poll has shown that education funding and infrastructure repair rank further up the priority poll than school tax rebates for 'most' Texans. It's just not an issue that's going to have legs this time around, especially after Perry's (now infamous) "The Average Tax Payer will get a $2,000 tax cut" statement in 2006.
Surely he's not going to campaign on that again?
Oh, and then there's the ongoing matter of the Frew decision. Kuffner provides some links to 3rd party news coverage suggesting that might not be a settled issue....
[Corrie McLaggin, Austin American-Statesman]
In the Chron article Perry is quoted as saying "I'll let other's make the case" [why spending the revenue is important.]
Well....there's one reason.
I'll go ahead and forward Hurricane Ike relief and infrastructure work as two more.
Thoughts?
RELATED: Ike damaged almost 1/2 the homes in Harris County
Whua?
[Clay Robison and Peggy Fikac of the Chron]
Despite a tightening budgetary outlook, Gov. Rick Perry said Tuesday that he wants to find a way to return some of the state's savings to taxpayers, perhaps in the form of additional school property tax cuts.
He said that could be done by tapping into the rainy day savings account, which is expected to have $6.7 billion by this summer, and collect another $2.4 billion over the next two fiscal years.
“Go talk to the people of the state of Texas and say, ‘Would you like to have some of your money back or would you rather have it spent?' I know what their answer is,” Perry said in an interview with the San Antonio Express-News.
They would think “it's a good idea you give it to us and let us decide how it's going to be redistributed rather than government,” he added.
Although general state revenue is expected to decline significantly during the next two-year budget period, thanks to the worsening economy, the rainy day fund is at an all-time high because of sharp increases in oil prices last year. The fund is financed with a share of oil and gas tax revenue.
I mean, OK, I get it. At the end of the day this is the first shot in the battle for the hearts and minds of the Conservative wing of the Republican Party. Perry (rightly) assumes that moderates are going to side with Kay Bailey no matter what he does, so he's pinning his re-election hopes firmly on the bulletin board of the Right. Got it.
And yes, if you polled Texans and asked them what to do with their money, all things being equal they'd want it back. This supposes that piddly things such as infrastructure, education and child services are paid for an running properly. Poll after poll has shown that education funding and infrastructure repair rank further up the priority poll than school tax rebates for 'most' Texans. It's just not an issue that's going to have legs this time around, especially after Perry's (now infamous) "The Average Tax Payer will get a $2,000 tax cut" statement in 2006.
Surely he's not going to campaign on that again?
Oh, and then there's the ongoing matter of the Frew decision. Kuffner provides some links to 3rd party news coverage suggesting that might not be a settled issue....
[Corrie McLaggin, Austin American-Statesman]
The lead lawyer representing Texas children in a lawsuit about health care access under Medicaid said the state is violating the terms of a 2007 court order.
State officials said they're complying with the order in the case of Frew v. Hawkins, which, among other things, requires Texas to spend $150 million in state funds "toward strategic initiatives to improve ... access to services."
Susan Zinn, who represents Texas children on Medicaid, said the court requires that the money be spent in the 2008 and 2009 budget years, but the state plans to spend less than a third of that during that period.
In the Chron article Perry is quoted as saying "I'll let other's make the case" [why spending the revenue is important.]
Well....there's one reason.
I'll go ahead and forward Hurricane Ike relief and infrastructure work as two more.
Thoughts?
RELATED: Ike damaged almost 1/2 the homes in Harris County
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Straus is Speaker and pretty much everyone can't stand Sen. Dan Patrick...
Welcome to the opening of the 81st Texas State Legislature where lobbyists are king, citizens are paid lip service and Dan Patrick season is officially open.
[Patricia Kilday-Hart*, Texas Monthly]
For the record, this is the same Carona who loudly clashed with Sen. Patrick in what was described (at the time) as a batch of "finger wagging, curse words flying" that mirrored Carona's other tirades against other Senators. You stay Classy Sen. Carona and if you need any pointers about blowing your stack, I hear Resigned Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Paul Bettencourt has some time on his hands these days.
Speaking of the State Sen. for TX-SD 7 (Not-so-affectionately known around the Crow household as "our State Senator" {I was a part of the 30% minority that didn't vote for him}) a review of his bills reveals a suprisingly weak line-up for a man who spends time pontificating about the need for 'change' on his radio talk show. Word is Sen. Patrick didn't make any friends in the Senate showing up to provide his input on committee meetings of which he wasn't a member. He's not winning friends and influencing people. Time will tell how that affects the bills that he has authored.
* I originally attributed this post (in error) to Paul Burka since I found it on "BurkaBlog". Oooops.
[Patricia Kilday-Hart*, Texas Monthly]
Then there’s the passion-stirring proposal by Sen. Dan Patrick, set out in a letter to his Republican colleagues, transforming two-thirds into a three-fifths rule. Patrick would require 19 votes to overcome a blocker bill, would mirror the U.S. Senate’s 60 vote threshold for passing legislation without a filibuster. “I like and respect our colleagues across the aisle. I’m also proud we can work with them, however, when it comes to key legislation that matters most to our constituents the minority has a different view. Texans did not elect us to the majority so that we would succumb to the minority in the Texas Senate,” Patrick wrote.
At least one senator was entirely dismissive of Patrick’s suggestion…and of Patrick. “It’s dead on arrival,” said Sen. John Carona. “In large part because of the author.” (A little stunned at his frankness, I asked, “Is that on the record?” ”Sure,” Carona shrugged.)
For the record, this is the same Carona who loudly clashed with Sen. Patrick in what was described (at the time) as a batch of "finger wagging, curse words flying" that mirrored Carona's other tirades against other Senators. You stay Classy Sen. Carona and if you need any pointers about blowing your stack, I hear Resigned Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Paul Bettencourt has some time on his hands these days.
Speaking of the State Sen. for TX-SD 7 (Not-so-affectionately known around the Crow household as "our State Senator" {I was a part of the 30% minority that didn't vote for him}) a review of his bills reveals a suprisingly weak line-up for a man who spends time pontificating about the need for 'change' on his radio talk show. Word is Sen. Patrick didn't make any friends in the Senate showing up to provide his input on committee meetings of which he wasn't a member. He's not winning friends and influencing people. Time will tell how that affects the bills that he has authored.
* I originally attributed this post (in error) to Paul Burka since I found it on "BurkaBlog". Oooops.
Rapid Eye Movement (01/13/09)
The 'here we go' edition...
U.S. Trade deficit plunges at U.S. cuts oil demand. [Martin Crutsinger, AP via Chron.com]
Houston housing starts on-pace to shrink again this year. [Nancy Sarnoff, Chron.com] - local media badly wants to be able to report on the recession.
Obama vows action on flow of guns to Mexico. [Stewart M. Powell and Dudley Althus, Chron.com] - Danger Will Robinson, Danger!!
GM Exec complains "nobody wants" small cars now. [Bloomberg News via Chron.com] - Not true, its just that nobody wants the swill that you're pumping into the current American car market in the form of small cars.
The Clinton Business [WSJ] - I'm betting it won't be the last 'win' from the Clintons.
Estates of Pain. [WSJ] - Not fair to catagorize it as a 'tax increase' but certainly of dodgy benefit to a stumbling economy.
Let's spend on Broadband and the power grid. [Samuel J. Palmisano, WSJ] - Power grid yes. Broadband OK, provided we're not talking about "municipal WiFi".
The Republican Revival will start in the States. [Steve Moore, WSJ] - Judging from early returns, one of those States won't be Texas. The GOP is terrible here.
The Chance for a 'New World Order'. [Henry Kissenger, RCP] - Danger Will Robinson, Danger!!!
The GOP picks a new leader. [Brian Doherty, Reason] - Yes, it does. Reducing the influence of the Right Wing would be a welcome start.
Illinois voters will remember Burris fiasco. [Chicago Tribune] - Bet they won't.
On You Tube, Lawmakers have sites to behold. [Kim Hart, Washington Post] - About time.
U.S. Trade deficit plunges at U.S. cuts oil demand. [Martin Crutsinger, AP via Chron.com]
Houston housing starts on-pace to shrink again this year. [Nancy Sarnoff, Chron.com] - local media badly wants to be able to report on the recession.
Obama vows action on flow of guns to Mexico. [Stewart M. Powell and Dudley Althus, Chron.com] - Danger Will Robinson, Danger!!
GM Exec complains "nobody wants" small cars now. [Bloomberg News via Chron.com] - Not true, its just that nobody wants the swill that you're pumping into the current American car market in the form of small cars.
The Clinton Business [WSJ] - I'm betting it won't be the last 'win' from the Clintons.
Estates of Pain. [WSJ] - Not fair to catagorize it as a 'tax increase' but certainly of dodgy benefit to a stumbling economy.
Let's spend on Broadband and the power grid. [Samuel J. Palmisano, WSJ] - Power grid yes. Broadband OK, provided we're not talking about "municipal WiFi".
The Republican Revival will start in the States. [Steve Moore, WSJ] - Judging from early returns, one of those States won't be Texas. The GOP is terrible here.
The Chance for a 'New World Order'. [Henry Kissenger, RCP] - Danger Will Robinson, Danger!!!
The GOP picks a new leader. [Brian Doherty, Reason] - Yes, it does. Reducing the influence of the Right Wing would be a welcome start.
Illinois voters will remember Burris fiasco. [Chicago Tribune] - Bet they won't.
On You Tube, Lawmakers have sites to behold. [Kim Hart, Washington Post] - About time.
What is this 'bipartisanship' of which you speak?
The Artist Formerly Known as Mrs. White fires their shot at the 81st Texas State Legislature today sounding a clarion call for "bipartisanship", something that people talk a lot about, but which they don't really want to see much of.
Uh-huh, sure. Let's take a look at the political fortunes of some recent Lege members that acted in a "bi-partisan" manner...
The Craddick D's - Reviled and chastised in their own party. There is perhaps no brand of politician with more tenuous political support than the Democrats who supported the Speakership of Tom Craddick. complaints of threats from members of their own party, personal attacks by fringe party loyalists, competency questions, primary challenges, and (in one case) primary defeat.
Texas RINO's - On the Republican side of the aisle, perhaps no politician is as disliked as are the Texas RINO's. PR for the RINO's is so poor, they're being held up as what's killing the GOP. The face of the RINO's was Carter Casteel, widely viewed as an outstanding representative by Democrats, Casteel made the fatal error of standing against the Republican majority on education matters, which led to a dedicated, grassroots movement to defeat her in the primary. The movement was a success.
So, if both parties are working to purge their ranks of moderates who possess the ability to 'reach across the aisle' and get things done, why this sudden yearning for bi-partisanship?
Perhaps the disconnect lies in our definition of 'bi-partisanship' and its duality. Bi-partisan activity and legislation from the other side that reaffirms our core beliefs as being mainstream is a vitue that is worthy of praise and meaningless award. In contrast, bi-partisan activity that flows counter to our belief exposes us as on the fringes of certain political issues. As Americans we always want to be seen as calm, rational beings with no propensity toward illogical, emotions based, action. Having members of our ideological base side with the "other side" exposes our views on some issues to be wrong-headed and reactionary. When Carter Casteel sided with the Democrats some Republican activists couldn't come to terms with the mere idea that they were wrong on education, therefore Ms. Casteel's removal was seen as an ideological 'purification' of the GOP. For the Democrats there has to be an underlying reason for someone straying from the Party line. Attacks on Norma Chavez' hairstyle and Ryan Guillien's competency were back-door accusations of mental instability. Surely no-one of sound mind could stand against the Party doctrine? Right?
Gone are the days of political consensus builders. Texas politics is now embroiled in a battle of two political Longhorn's locking horns and duking it out over issues key to every citizen voter or no. Look not for phony acts of 'bi-partisanship' and cries of 'working together' from(rather useless to be quite honest) talking head observers, but instead look to see which candidates have the force of will and political savvy to push their pet projects through to law. That's where the real skill in politics today.
Commence la Festival.
The Texas Legislature opens its 140-day run against a backdrop of national pessimism and foreboding not seen since the 1930s. Texas being Texas, things look a bit sunnier in Austin, but only by a matter of degree. Hoped-for budget surpluses have dwindled, anticipated revenues for the coming two years are in question and problems remain formidable — from roads and infrastructure to health care, public school funding and college tuition rates. This session figures to be mostly about sleeves-rolled-up work.
The Austin scene mirrors its Washington counterpart in at least one helpful way. Bipartisanship appears to be in the ascendancy after a too-long absence. The arm-twisting, ultrapartisan shenanigans of former U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay, which poisoned the Austin climate for a forgettable season, seem distant and almost beyond comprehension in today’s revitalizing political climate. As in Washington, the attitude in the Texas capital appears to be serious and sober-minded in keeping with the tenor of the times.
The expected selection of Rep. Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, to replace Rep. Tom Craddick, R-Midland, in the House speaker’s chair is one most Texans will greet with relief. Craddick’s take-no-prisoners attitude on votes and appointments will not be missed. Anyway, the close numbers in the House — 76 Republicans and 74 Democrats — do not support Craddick’s divisive and dictatorial style of leadership. The hope is that Straus, whose nomination has the support of large numbers of Democrats, will operate in a more open and consensual manner. We share that hope.
Uh-huh, sure. Let's take a look at the political fortunes of some recent Lege members that acted in a "bi-partisan" manner...
The Craddick D's - Reviled and chastised in their own party. There is perhaps no brand of politician with more tenuous political support than the Democrats who supported the Speakership of Tom Craddick. complaints of threats from members of their own party, personal attacks by fringe party loyalists, competency questions, primary challenges, and (in one case) primary defeat.
Texas RINO's - On the Republican side of the aisle, perhaps no politician is as disliked as are the Texas RINO's. PR for the RINO's is so poor, they're being held up as what's killing the GOP. The face of the RINO's was Carter Casteel, widely viewed as an outstanding representative by Democrats, Casteel made the fatal error of standing against the Republican majority on education matters, which led to a dedicated, grassroots movement to defeat her in the primary. The movement was a success.
So, if both parties are working to purge their ranks of moderates who possess the ability to 'reach across the aisle' and get things done, why this sudden yearning for bi-partisanship?
Perhaps the disconnect lies in our definition of 'bi-partisanship' and its duality. Bi-partisan activity and legislation from the other side that reaffirms our core beliefs as being mainstream is a vitue that is worthy of praise and meaningless award. In contrast, bi-partisan activity that flows counter to our belief exposes us as on the fringes of certain political issues. As Americans we always want to be seen as calm, rational beings with no propensity toward illogical, emotions based, action. Having members of our ideological base side with the "other side" exposes our views on some issues to be wrong-headed and reactionary. When Carter Casteel sided with the Democrats some Republican activists couldn't come to terms with the mere idea that they were wrong on education, therefore Ms. Casteel's removal was seen as an ideological 'purification' of the GOP. For the Democrats there has to be an underlying reason for someone straying from the Party line. Attacks on Norma Chavez' hairstyle and Ryan Guillien's competency were back-door accusations of mental instability. Surely no-one of sound mind could stand against the Party doctrine? Right?
Gone are the days of political consensus builders. Texas politics is now embroiled in a battle of two political Longhorn's locking horns and duking it out over issues key to every citizen voter or no. Look not for phony acts of 'bi-partisanship' and cries of 'working together' from(rather useless to be quite honest) talking head observers, but instead look to see which candidates have the force of will and political savvy to push their pet projects through to law. That's where the real skill in politics today.
Commence la Festival.
Resumes The Houston Way
Pesky issues from the past need not be mentioned...
[Bill Murphy, Chron.com]
In defense of Dr. Ohashiegbula-Iwunze, she's just repeating an activity with a distinguished history. After all, it's the The Houston Way.
[Bill Murphy, Chron.com]
The chief veterinarian at the Houston animal pound had her license suspended in New Jersey and was placed on probation for three years after a veterinary board in 2004 found that she had provided substandard care to three dogs.
Eunice Ohashiegbula-Iwunze didn’t note the New Jersey suspension on her application for the Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care job in 2007 and omitted it from her application for the top post at BARC several months ago — though the applications may not have required such information.
Animal welfare advocates, who uncovered the information about the veterinarian, called on the city to fire her.
“The city should not have hired Doctor O, and she should not remain on staff at BARC,” said Kelly Cripe, an activist who served on an animal task force created by Mayor Bill White in 2005. “Animal owners in Houston need to understand that if their animal goes missing, it is one truck ride from BARC. You wouldn’t take your animal to a vet in private practice with this track record, and you shouldn’t have to at BARC.”
In defense of Dr. Ohashiegbula-Iwunze, she's just repeating an activity with a distinguished history. After all, it's the The Houston Way.
The scramble for additional revenue...
will not be televised it will be broadcast on You Tube...
[Rachel Metz of the AP via Chron.com]
I'm guessing that the irony of eliminating individual State-tax rate differences in the name of 'uniformity' is lost on groups that are campaigning for Internet services in the name of "State's rights". That's not very surprising considering irony as a viable form of social commentary has been dead since the Clinton administration.
The reality is, most(not all) Internet sales are already taxed. With the exception of Amazon.com and a few other large online only retailers, a large percentage of on-line sales are conducted through the websites of traditional brick n' mortar retail giants. The two biggest mixed retailer, Target and Wal-Mart, are already collecting (and paying) State taxes.
There's also the reality that sales taxes would materially decrease the demand for online retailing. If that's the case then the rosy revenue projections would be nothing more than pie-in-the-sky political promises that have no bearing on reality. Anyone remember the Texas Margins Tax revenue projection?
Critics of the "Internet Tax" offer two solutions: Either leaving the system as-is or a value added tax (VAT) in place of current plans. Proponents of the value added tax are prescribing it as a wide-ranging 'fix' for what ails America. Neither solution has a base that extends beyond ideological (or Party) lines.
With Government budgets increasingly moving toward the red and the search for revenue becoming more heated, its unlikely that a duty-free Internet shopping zone will continue (even in limited form) for too much longer. The question that politicians are going to ask themselves is this: Are we ready to 86 e-commerce in our quest for revenue? Because that appears to be the effective result of removing the greatest driver of Internet sales.
[Rachel Metz of the AP via Chron.com]
Shopping online can be a way to find bargains while steering clear of crowds and sales taxes.
But those tax breaks are starting to erode. With the recession pummeling states' budgets, their governments increasingly want to fill the gaps by collecting taxes on Internet sales, which are growing even as the economy shudders.
And that is sparking conflict with companies that do business online only and have enjoyed being able to offer sales-tax-free shopping.
One of the most aggressive states, New York, is being sued by Amazon.com over a new requirement that online companies must collect taxes on shipments to New York residents, even if the companies are located elsewhere.
The amount of money at stake nationwide is unclear; online sales were expected to make up about 8 percent of all retail sales in 2008 and total $204 billion, according to Forrester Research. This is up from $175 billion in 2007.
(snip)
Collecting online sales taxes is not as simple as it might sound. A nationwide Internet business faces thousands of tax-collecting jurisdictions states, counties and cities and tangled rules about how various products are taxed.
And a 1992 U.S. Supreme Court ruling said that states can't force businesses to collect sales taxes unless the businesses have operations in that state. The court also said Congress could lift the ban.
Generally only businesses with a ``physical presence'' in a state such as a store or office building collect sales tax on products sent to buyers in the same state.
(snip)
Twenty-two states and many brick-and-mortar retailers support the efforts of a group called the Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board. The group is getting states to simplify and make uniform their numerous tax rates and rules, in exchange for a crack at taxing online sales.
The streamlining board is lobbying Congress to let the participating states do what the Supreme Court ruling banned: They could force businesses to collect taxes on sales made to in-state customers, regardless of physical presence.
New Jersey, Michigan and North Carolina are among the largest of the 19 states that have adjusted their tax laws to fully comply with the group's streamlined setup. Three more states are close to becoming full members of the group, and Scott Peterson, the group's executive director, expects another seven states to introduce legislation in January that would make them eligible to join.
I'm guessing that the irony of eliminating individual State-tax rate differences in the name of 'uniformity' is lost on groups that are campaigning for Internet services in the name of "State's rights". That's not very surprising considering irony as a viable form of social commentary has been dead since the Clinton administration.
The reality is, most(not all) Internet sales are already taxed. With the exception of Amazon.com and a few other large online only retailers, a large percentage of on-line sales are conducted through the websites of traditional brick n' mortar retail giants. The two biggest mixed retailer, Target and Wal-Mart, are already collecting (and paying) State taxes.
There's also the reality that sales taxes would materially decrease the demand for online retailing. If that's the case then the rosy revenue projections would be nothing more than pie-in-the-sky political promises that have no bearing on reality. Anyone remember the Texas Margins Tax revenue projection?
Critics of the "Internet Tax" offer two solutions: Either leaving the system as-is or a value added tax (VAT) in place of current plans. Proponents of the value added tax are prescribing it as a wide-ranging 'fix' for what ails America. Neither solution has a base that extends beyond ideological (or Party) lines.
With Government budgets increasingly moving toward the red and the search for revenue becoming more heated, its unlikely that a duty-free Internet shopping zone will continue (even in limited form) for too much longer. The question that politicians are going to ask themselves is this: Are we ready to 86 e-commerce in our quest for revenue? Because that appears to be the effective result of removing the greatest driver of Internet sales.
Monday, January 12, 2009
A $9 Billion problem
That's how much less money the Lege will have to spend compared to two years prior.
[Peggy Fikac, Chron.com]
There's going to be extreme pressure placed on representatives to release the $3 Billion dollars that's dedicated to property tax relief. The would be OK if the general fund money was replaced with a total re-write of the tax code that removed the onus of funding the State programs from the backs of Texas homeowners. Attempts to 'broaden' taxes have failed, attempts to shift the taxation to small business has failed. Now the call will be to enact what basically amounts to a sizable tax increase on homeowners during a time when their home values are threatening to hit a trough.
Having the $3 Billion dollars to spend on education, CHIP, etc. would be nice, but Texas needs to ensure that they're not handicapping the purchasing power of the Texas homeowner in the process.
The lesson that lawmakers should learn from this is that the Texas tax code needs severe overhaul instead of 'tweaks' designed to garner votes. Unfortunately I don't think this lesson is being learned.
[Peggy Fikac, Chron.com]
State Comptroller Susan Combs delivered the bad news today that Texas lawmakers will have about $9.1 billion less in state general revenue available than was available two years ago as they look to pay for everything from education to health care to prisons.
The figure includes a $2.2 billion expected drop in expected general revenue in the two-year budget cycle that begins Sept. 1, plus a beginning balance that’s $6.9 billion smaller than the one lawmakers had the last time they met.
The budget picture is brightened a bit, however, by $6.7 billion saved in a state rainy-day fund — but that money can be spent only if two-thirds of lawmakers agree.
In addition, the figure doesn’t take into account $3 billion that is dedicated to help the state meet a continuing obligation to help fund local school property tax relief.
There's going to be extreme pressure placed on representatives to release the $3 Billion dollars that's dedicated to property tax relief. The would be OK if the general fund money was replaced with a total re-write of the tax code that removed the onus of funding the State programs from the backs of Texas homeowners. Attempts to 'broaden' taxes have failed, attempts to shift the taxation to small business has failed. Now the call will be to enact what basically amounts to a sizable tax increase on homeowners during a time when their home values are threatening to hit a trough.
Having the $3 Billion dollars to spend on education, CHIP, etc. would be nice, but Texas needs to ensure that they're not handicapping the purchasing power of the Texas homeowner in the process.
The lesson that lawmakers should learn from this is that the Texas tax code needs severe overhaul instead of 'tweaks' designed to garner votes. Unfortunately I don't think this lesson is being learned.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
She should hire Chris Bell as her campaign manager
One tough Grandma, one perennial candidate?...
[AP via Chron.com]
I'm guessing 'she wants the office again' to keep herself employed. I wonder if she's running as an Independent, a Republican or if she'll go full circle and run as a Democrat this time?
[AP via Chron.com]
Former gubernatorial candidate Carole Keeton Strayhorn is running for mayor of Austin — again.
Strayhorn's campaign said on Sunday the 69-year-old plans to officially announce her candidacy on Monday, three decades after first winning the job before her rise in state politics.
Campaign coordinator Kevin Brown wouldn't elaborate on the announcement, only saying that Strayhorn "will make perfectly clear" on Monday why she wants the office again.
I'm guessing 'she wants the office again' to keep herself employed. I wonder if she's running as an Independent, a Republican or if she'll go full circle and run as a Democrat this time?
Houston Asides (01/11/09)
The "I'm too lazy to put together a full post on an issue" edition....
Lege to consider financing of empty disaster fund. [Kelly Shannon, AP via Chron.com] - Nice of them.
White's speech style can enthrall or bore. [Bradley Olson, Chron.com] - Usually bore.
Nuclear Power's core of support gains strength. [Eric Berger, Chron.com] - Except by those who don't have serious solutions for energy...the power generation equivalent of the 'I'm agin' it' crowd.
Applause over pull-out from coal venture is misguided. [Loren Steffy, Chron.com] - Asks the question: what's going to happen when the lights go out? It's valid question.
No King Coal. [tAFKAMW, Chron.com] - Ignores the "what happens when the lights go out question". Typical short-sighted feel-good editorial drivel from a Chron ed-board that's becoming increasingly irrelevant.
Texas Watchdog to host meetup, Jan. 17 [Kevin Whited, BlogHouston.net] - If you're serious about sharpening your 'citizen journalist' skills then you should attend. Regardless of your party affiliation.
Lege to consider financing of empty disaster fund. [Kelly Shannon, AP via Chron.com] - Nice of them.
White's speech style can enthrall or bore. [Bradley Olson, Chron.com] - Usually bore.
Nuclear Power's core of support gains strength. [Eric Berger, Chron.com] - Except by those who don't have serious solutions for energy...the power generation equivalent of the 'I'm agin' it' crowd.
Applause over pull-out from coal venture is misguided. [Loren Steffy, Chron.com] - Asks the question: what's going to happen when the lights go out? It's valid question.
No King Coal. [tAFKAMW, Chron.com] - Ignores the "what happens when the lights go out question". Typical short-sighted feel-good editorial drivel from a Chron ed-board that's becoming increasingly irrelevant.
Texas Watchdog to host meetup, Jan. 17 [Kevin Whited, BlogHouston.net] - If you're serious about sharpening your 'citizen journalist' skills then you should attend. Regardless of your party affiliation.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Speedbumps on the road to the 'New Urban' Houston
Mosaic developer files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy...
[Nancy Sarnoff, Chron.com]
The big problem here has been rental income. Specifically, there just isn't much. For all of the boosterism regarding development down the Main Street line, reality has seen very little in the way of actual, sustained projects. Yes, there's a lot of chatter about this project or that, but there's nothing out there that says, definitively, that the demand exists to fill all of the 'new urban' projects that developers envision. It's also debateable whether the MetroRail sparked new development, or existing market conditions.
The core problem for 'new urbanists' is that there's little desire by many to live in a 'mixed-use' environment. Projects that are getting off the ground are running into stiff, neighborhood resistance as residents discover the downside to living next to restaurants and bars....noise.
People's homes are their last refuge from a noisy world. With the exception of single 20/30-somethings or other D.I.N.K.'s a 'mixed-use' model (in a business district where schools are some distance away) is not the ideal housing solution. Given that local demograpics show a majority of families with children (still) the folly of pushing for development geared toward a minority population becomes obvious.
If anything, young singles and couples purchasing condos, flats and apartments in high-rises are buying the equivilent of 'starter homes'. Residences that they hope to move out of once they begin to grow their families. The question still remains: Are there enough of them to fuel the building boom along current trend-lines?
Based on what we're seeing in the market the answer to that very well could be a resounding "NO". Sales were sluggish before the economic downturn after all, and after 5 years of light rail 'success' Downtown remains a bustling business district during the work week, with very little activity during the weekend.
During the run-up to MetroRail construction the tram was sold as a 'congestion-buster' that would modernize Houston transit and, perhaps finally, make us "world class". After it became apparent that the train would have little (if any) impact on congestion (other to increase it on the streets where the train took away traffic lanes) the tram was sold as a 'development booster' that was going to drive the change in Houston to a 'new-urban' model. We were told that these projects would be in place 'later' being defined as 'five to seven years' after the tram was functional.
Five years into Houston's new world transit era Metro has yet to expand the network for a variety of reasons. There's been opposition to routes, examination of different technology and snafu's with reporting and compliance. Meanwhile the promised development and switch in lifestyle is bogged down due to lack of demand and funding issues.
Given this information why is it considered beyond the pale to ask whether or not the Metro Solutions plan has delivered as promised?
Disputes of Metro's data aside, supporters of the tram point out that ridership is high. Detractors of the tram point out that the high numbers are the result of Metro pushing pre-existing bus traffic to the tram. Supporters are about to get a massive expansion of at-grade rail throughout certain areas of Inner-Loop Houston. There's still a transportation gap that will exist for residents outside the Loop, but inside Beltway 8, many of whom supported mass transit in the election. The arguement against transit for people living outside Beltway 8 is that they didn't support Metro Solutions during the referendum so they get no candy. Never mentioned is the fact that the plan did little to provide service to their neighborhoods. Commuter rail is one thing, but if its not supported by circulator bus routes it might as well be a 'drive & ride' system that provides no help with day-to-day commutes that don't involve going to downtown.
Should there be a discussion of alternate plans?
Metro boosters would answer no. They contend that the Metro Solutions plan is already terribly delayed and must be allowed to move forward. Any attempt to suggest an alternate (even more robust) plan is viewed as transportation ludditism by those who want transit inside the loop. A robust transit system would (ideally) provide increased transit to a wide variety of residential and business centers.
Metro Solutions does not do that, choosing instead to run on the hub and spoke model of transportation that assumes all travellers eventually want to end up downtown.
Should this change?
That's the discussion some are suggesting take place. (Full disclosure: self included)
[Nancy Sarnoff, Chron.com]
The developer of the Mosaic condominium tower on the edge of Hermann Park has filed for bankruptcy protection, averting foreclosure of the 29-story building.
The partnership that developed the project — 5925 Almeda North Tower LP — made the Chapter 11 filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas on Monday. Assets were listed at $85 million and debts at almost $52 million.
The developer went into default on a $76 million construction loan with Corus Bankshares, and the property was scheduled to go into foreclosure Tuesday.
The bankruptcy allows the parties to renegotiate the terms of the loan, which has been paid down to $51 million, said Katherine Christy, with Orlando-based Florida Capital Real Estate Partners, which developed the property with Raleigh, N.C.-based Phillips Development & Realty though 5925 Almeda North Tower LP.
“There’s a tremendous amount of value and equity here,” she said.
The Mosaic was announced in 2005 and twin towers were built at the 5925 Almeda site.
The big problem here has been rental income. Specifically, there just isn't much. For all of the boosterism regarding development down the Main Street line, reality has seen very little in the way of actual, sustained projects. Yes, there's a lot of chatter about this project or that, but there's nothing out there that says, definitively, that the demand exists to fill all of the 'new urban' projects that developers envision. It's also debateable whether the MetroRail sparked new development, or existing market conditions.
The core problem for 'new urbanists' is that there's little desire by many to live in a 'mixed-use' environment. Projects that are getting off the ground are running into stiff, neighborhood resistance as residents discover the downside to living next to restaurants and bars....noise.
People's homes are their last refuge from a noisy world. With the exception of single 20/30-somethings or other D.I.N.K.'s a 'mixed-use' model (in a business district where schools are some distance away) is not the ideal housing solution. Given that local demograpics show a majority of families with children (still) the folly of pushing for development geared toward a minority population becomes obvious.
If anything, young singles and couples purchasing condos, flats and apartments in high-rises are buying the equivilent of 'starter homes'. Residences that they hope to move out of once they begin to grow their families. The question still remains: Are there enough of them to fuel the building boom along current trend-lines?
Based on what we're seeing in the market the answer to that very well could be a resounding "NO". Sales were sluggish before the economic downturn after all, and after 5 years of light rail 'success' Downtown remains a bustling business district during the work week, with very little activity during the weekend.
During the run-up to MetroRail construction the tram was sold as a 'congestion-buster' that would modernize Houston transit and, perhaps finally, make us "world class". After it became apparent that the train would have little (if any) impact on congestion (other to increase it on the streets where the train took away traffic lanes) the tram was sold as a 'development booster' that was going to drive the change in Houston to a 'new-urban' model. We were told that these projects would be in place 'later' being defined as 'five to seven years' after the tram was functional.
Five years into Houston's new world transit era Metro has yet to expand the network for a variety of reasons. There's been opposition to routes, examination of different technology and snafu's with reporting and compliance. Meanwhile the promised development and switch in lifestyle is bogged down due to lack of demand and funding issues.
Given this information why is it considered beyond the pale to ask whether or not the Metro Solutions plan has delivered as promised?
Disputes of Metro's data aside, supporters of the tram point out that ridership is high. Detractors of the tram point out that the high numbers are the result of Metro pushing pre-existing bus traffic to the tram. Supporters are about to get a massive expansion of at-grade rail throughout certain areas of Inner-Loop Houston. There's still a transportation gap that will exist for residents outside the Loop, but inside Beltway 8, many of whom supported mass transit in the election. The arguement against transit for people living outside Beltway 8 is that they didn't support Metro Solutions during the referendum so they get no candy. Never mentioned is the fact that the plan did little to provide service to their neighborhoods. Commuter rail is one thing, but if its not supported by circulator bus routes it might as well be a 'drive & ride' system that provides no help with day-to-day commutes that don't involve going to downtown.
Should there be a discussion of alternate plans?
Metro boosters would answer no. They contend that the Metro Solutions plan is already terribly delayed and must be allowed to move forward. Any attempt to suggest an alternate (even more robust) plan is viewed as transportation ludditism by those who want transit inside the loop. A robust transit system would (ideally) provide increased transit to a wide variety of residential and business centers.
Metro Solutions does not do that, choosing instead to run on the hub and spoke model of transportation that assumes all travellers eventually want to end up downtown.
Should this change?
That's the discussion some are suggesting take place. (Full disclosure: self included)
Friday, January 9, 2009
The greatest chron.comment EVER!
I love reading the Chron.comments section at the bottom of stories. I especially love it when Chron.commentors try to be "edgy" and say something clever....
The Story: House OK's legislation to fight age descrimination...
The Commentor: Dark Side of the Moon....
The Comment:
Enjoy your Friday evening and laugh a little. There are far more ignorant people running around Houston than you.
The Story: House OK's legislation to fight age descrimination...
The Commentor: Dark Side of the Moon....
The Comment:
I'll be glad when all these greedy treasonous companies pack it up and move overseass so that America can get back to business. All of these outsourcing idiots will find out they are outsourcing themselves out of business.....another smaller AMERICAN company will step in and take their business away from them.
If these businesses cannot or refuse to obey and follow the laws of this country.....then get the heck out of my beloved USA so we can get on with our lives.
When you get to where you're going......please send your passport back..we don't want you back here.
Enjoy your Friday evening and laugh a little. There are far more ignorant people running around Houston than you.
Crap(s)!
Gambling is on the table again.
[Lisa Sandberg and Matt Stiles, Chron.com]
I make no secret that I'm a gambling advocate. Yes, there are going to be sad stories about people getting addicted and losing it all. Yes, gambling opponents are going to throw out anecdotal evidence that gambling ruins lives. I have no doubt that everything they say is true. For some people gambling is an addiction. Just as for some people food is an addiction as well, yet the Government doesn't take steps to keep them from it. Besides, I would argue that a vast majority of people whose lives are going to be ruined by gambling are already ruining them, either through other addictive activities or by driving to other States and getting their fix. Part of the benefit of gambling taxes is the funding of gambling addiction servics. Any plan involving Texas gambling should also involve Casino and track owners sending a portion of profits (above and beyond any taxes) to help establish a gambling crisis center. Often this type of arrangement is done in exchange for lawsuit protection from some idiot who bets his life savings on black, and then attempts to turn around and sue the casino because they didn't "outline the risks properly". Casino's running a "clean game" shouldn't have to worry about lawsuits. Another key to a successful gambling program is a strong gaming commission. Those are issues to be addressed, in full, later.
Currently there are over 300 illegal poker shops set up in Houston. That's the last number that I've heard and I'm sure its low. I play poker (for free) online and at various "hold 'em" nights at local clubs. Every time I play I'm invited to (at least) one illicit game. Being a chicken, and fairly sure of my inborn ability to get caught automatically were I ever to break the law, I politely decline each time before I hear more than I want to. I don't want to know about the underground poker world in Houston. I currently drive to Lake Charles, LA, Durant, OK, or Shreveport, LA, if I want to play "live" poker. Because I can't play "live" in Texas I'm forced to make this drive quite frequently. In 2007 I had a good year, declaring gambling profits on my tax return. 2008 was a mixed bag, I didn't get to play as often as I like due to rising fuel and other distractions, so I pretty much broke even for 2008. Were I able to play on a consistent basis, I'd do a lot better. I say this not to highlight my poker acumen, but as a means of full disclosure. If gambling (especially poker) were legalized in Texas I stand to make a profit from it.
That being said, there's a hypocrisy inherent in a system where the Government runs the only legalized game in town, and its a game where the odds are tremendously against any one single player winning. Texas wants to have its cake and eat it too.
Of course, poker is no different than horse racing. The betting is pari-mutual with the house taking a rake. At the very least it'd be a positive step-forward to see Texas legalize poker (both on-line and in person) and allow racing tracks to offer a limited seleciton of slot machines. After all, if people go to a race track they're at said track to gamble. Saying that one type of gambling is acceptable while outlawing another flies in the face of common sense. Gambling is gambling, some forms are more popular (and profitable) than others.
Still not convinced? Imagine the Astrodome as a casino. Let's get grown-up about gambling in Texas.
[Lisa Sandberg and Matt Stiles, Chron.com]
Texas gambling interests have grandiose visions for turning the Lone Star State into a gamer's paradise — and when the pitch for slot machines, casinos and more racetrack betting makes its way to the Legislature, the man likely to hold the power in the House will have more than a passing interest.
Joe Straus, the San Antonio Republican who's likely to become the next House speaker, comes from a family intimately entwined in Texas horse racing — a family that would stand to gain from legislation easing the restrictions on racetrack betting.
Since emerging over the weekend as the sole candidate to replace House Speaker Tom Craddick, Straus has promised a hands-off approach to gambling of any sort: "As speaker, I'll stay away from it ... and not allow it to be a distraction or an issue," he said this week.
Gambling supporters say they welcome Straus, but they're not yet counting their fortunes.
"I don't think we win or lose anything" with Straus at the helm, said Rep. Ismael "Kino" Flores, D-Palmview, a fierce gambling advocate who chairs the House committee that oversees gambling.
The hope of gambling and casino business interests is to give Texas what states like Mississippi and Louisiana have: gambling profits.
I make no secret that I'm a gambling advocate. Yes, there are going to be sad stories about people getting addicted and losing it all. Yes, gambling opponents are going to throw out anecdotal evidence that gambling ruins lives. I have no doubt that everything they say is true. For some people gambling is an addiction. Just as for some people food is an addiction as well, yet the Government doesn't take steps to keep them from it. Besides, I would argue that a vast majority of people whose lives are going to be ruined by gambling are already ruining them, either through other addictive activities or by driving to other States and getting their fix. Part of the benefit of gambling taxes is the funding of gambling addiction servics. Any plan involving Texas gambling should also involve Casino and track owners sending a portion of profits (above and beyond any taxes) to help establish a gambling crisis center. Often this type of arrangement is done in exchange for lawsuit protection from some idiot who bets his life savings on black, and then attempts to turn around and sue the casino because they didn't "outline the risks properly". Casino's running a "clean game" shouldn't have to worry about lawsuits. Another key to a successful gambling program is a strong gaming commission. Those are issues to be addressed, in full, later.
Currently there are over 300 illegal poker shops set up in Houston. That's the last number that I've heard and I'm sure its low. I play poker (for free) online and at various "hold 'em" nights at local clubs. Every time I play I'm invited to (at least) one illicit game. Being a chicken, and fairly sure of my inborn ability to get caught automatically were I ever to break the law, I politely decline each time before I hear more than I want to. I don't want to know about the underground poker world in Houston. I currently drive to Lake Charles, LA, Durant, OK, or Shreveport, LA, if I want to play "live" poker. Because I can't play "live" in Texas I'm forced to make this drive quite frequently. In 2007 I had a good year, declaring gambling profits on my tax return. 2008 was a mixed bag, I didn't get to play as often as I like due to rising fuel and other distractions, so I pretty much broke even for 2008. Were I able to play on a consistent basis, I'd do a lot better. I say this not to highlight my poker acumen, but as a means of full disclosure. If gambling (especially poker) were legalized in Texas I stand to make a profit from it.
That being said, there's a hypocrisy inherent in a system where the Government runs the only legalized game in town, and its a game where the odds are tremendously against any one single player winning. Texas wants to have its cake and eat it too.
Of course, poker is no different than horse racing. The betting is pari-mutual with the house taking a rake. At the very least it'd be a positive step-forward to see Texas legalize poker (both on-line and in person) and allow racing tracks to offer a limited seleciton of slot machines. After all, if people go to a race track they're at said track to gamble. Saying that one type of gambling is acceptable while outlawing another flies in the face of common sense. Gambling is gambling, some forms are more popular (and profitable) than others.
Still not convinced? Imagine the Astrodome as a casino. Let's get grown-up about gambling in Texas.
Putting a band-aid on the cancer
Galveston wants its Aid from Ike, advocates want housing...
[Mike Snyder, Chron.com]
Put me squarely in the "Public works" camp when talking about storm relief fund spending. In my view monies for disasters should be directed toward rebuilding damaged infrastructure first. Once the infrastructure is in place, if there's any money left-over, then you look at providing low-cost loans to the poor to put them in housing.
The problem with the 'housing first' crowd is that they oft-times want to place people in government subsidized homes who weren't there in the first place. It's the myth of the right of homeownership on steroids, with a healthy dabble of naïveté thrown in for good measure. A house benefits one family, a revamped sewer system could benefit thousands.
There's also the lingering question of whether its wise to continue placing the poor in a City like Galveston with a low taxable base. For some reason we've decided that the ideal solution after a natural disaster is that all of the affected by made whole. Some of them, the poorer the better, are determined to be worthy of remedies that make them more than whole, sometimes even to the point of raising their social situation. This idea of proportional restitution flies against the historical model of rebuilding after crises.
New Orleans was a classical case-study for disaster recovery in a City. Those who have something worth staying for stay, those who have nothing leave, and those seeking to profit on the new economy move in. When New Orleans' rebuilding struggled is when its know-nothing Government attempted to ensure that everyone could come back "home". This pandering ignored the reality that some people had no intention of returning. Mayor Ray Nagin wasted Millions of dollars of rebuilding funds on what amounted to a glorified re-election campaign.
Is Galveston headed down the same path? Before Ike, as in New Orleans before Katrina, there were already financial warning alarms clanging on the Island. Businesses failing, a Government tax crunch and a host of other problems were leading some to question the long-term viability of the current municipal model. At least, after Ike, Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas isn't openly shilling for her job as Nagin did. That doesn't mean she's doing all she can however. To date there's been no call in Galveston to consider changing the status quo. What better time for a re-boot then after a disaster?
Rebuild the infrastructure, let those with something to stay for stay, those who need to move on, move on, and let those who see an opportunity move in and fashion a new Galveston. Only then will rebuilding be complete.
[Mike Snyder, Chron.com]
The Houston-Galveston region would receive more than three-quarters of $1 billion in federal funds under a preliminary plan to help Texas recover from Hurricanes Ike and Dolly.
The plan by the state's Office of Rural Community Affairs leaves most decisions about how to spend the money to local councils of government, including the Houston-Galveston Area Council.
Advocates for poor and working-class families said this structure creates a risk that too little of the money will be spent on housing and too much on public works projects favored by local politicians.
A final version of the plan must be approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development before the state can begin using the money. The state hopes to start accepting applications by May, said Julie Kelly, a spokeswoman for the rural affairs office.
HUD is likely to reject the plan because it doesn't establish priorities for using the funds, said John Henneberger, co-director of the Texas Low-Income Housing Information Service, an Austin-based research and advocacy group.
Put me squarely in the "Public works" camp when talking about storm relief fund spending. In my view monies for disasters should be directed toward rebuilding damaged infrastructure first. Once the infrastructure is in place, if there's any money left-over, then you look at providing low-cost loans to the poor to put them in housing.
The problem with the 'housing first' crowd is that they oft-times want to place people in government subsidized homes who weren't there in the first place. It's the myth of the right of homeownership on steroids, with a healthy dabble of naïveté thrown in for good measure. A house benefits one family, a revamped sewer system could benefit thousands.
There's also the lingering question of whether its wise to continue placing the poor in a City like Galveston with a low taxable base. For some reason we've decided that the ideal solution after a natural disaster is that all of the affected by made whole. Some of them, the poorer the better, are determined to be worthy of remedies that make them more than whole, sometimes even to the point of raising their social situation. This idea of proportional restitution flies against the historical model of rebuilding after crises.
New Orleans was a classical case-study for disaster recovery in a City. Those who have something worth staying for stay, those who have nothing leave, and those seeking to profit on the new economy move in. When New Orleans' rebuilding struggled is when its know-nothing Government attempted to ensure that everyone could come back "home". This pandering ignored the reality that some people had no intention of returning. Mayor Ray Nagin wasted Millions of dollars of rebuilding funds on what amounted to a glorified re-election campaign.
Is Galveston headed down the same path? Before Ike, as in New Orleans before Katrina, there were already financial warning alarms clanging on the Island. Businesses failing, a Government tax crunch and a host of other problems were leading some to question the long-term viability of the current municipal model. At least, after Ike, Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas isn't openly shilling for her job as Nagin did. That doesn't mean she's doing all she can however. To date there's been no call in Galveston to consider changing the status quo. What better time for a re-boot then after a disaster?
Rebuild the infrastructure, let those with something to stay for stay, those who need to move on, move on, and let those who see an opportunity move in and fashion a new Galveston. Only then will rebuilding be complete.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Whose expertise again?
I think being out of the political game has skewed Benjamin Hall III's perspective...
[Alan Bernstein, Chron.localpolitics.com]
I'm sorry, whose energy know-how? Let's be clear here: The City of Houston Government doesn't have any energy know-how. There are companies in Houston that have a lot of energy know-how however, and letting them innovate and develop more efficient forms of energy is a worthy goal. The problem is, an agenda that's centered around that idea wouldn't provide ribbon-cutting opportunities or legacy building projects that local politicians desperately desire. Private industry isn't going to name their new cleaner burning engine the "Andrea and Bill White 4-cylinder." Come to think of it, that probably goes a long way towards explaining why public works often falls by the wayside when City leaders start trying to figure out how to spend taxpayer dollars.
After all, the "Benjamin Hall III Energy Development Initiative" sure sounds better than the "Lee P. Brown Flood Abatement Sewage Improvement" doesn't it? Unfortunately, the Flood Abatement would probably more to help Houston in the long-term than would some politically motivated expenditure of taxpayer dollars paid out to a company with a dream and a non-working model of the "100 mph carberatuer".
I'm still waiting for the Mayoral candidate with a public works vision to declare.
[Alan Bernstein, Chron.localpolitics.com]
After Benjamin Hall III left as city attorney under Houston Mayor Bob Lanier, he was replaced by Gene Locke.
Locke is expected to run in the November election for Houston mayor. And now Hall says he is strongly considering becoming a candidate for mayor, too.
In fact, Hall said he has met with Locke about the race and hashed over the idea that two succeeding city attorneys would be among the contenders to succeed Bill White.
"Pretty ironic," Hall said.
Hall said he has not seen any other potential candidate championing the issues that he would want to pursue, such as using the city's energy production know-how to develop new energy sources.
I'm sorry, whose energy know-how? Let's be clear here: The City of Houston Government doesn't have any energy know-how. There are companies in Houston that have a lot of energy know-how however, and letting them innovate and develop more efficient forms of energy is a worthy goal. The problem is, an agenda that's centered around that idea wouldn't provide ribbon-cutting opportunities or legacy building projects that local politicians desperately desire. Private industry isn't going to name their new cleaner burning engine the "Andrea and Bill White 4-cylinder." Come to think of it, that probably goes a long way towards explaining why public works often falls by the wayside when City leaders start trying to figure out how to spend taxpayer dollars.
After all, the "Benjamin Hall III Energy Development Initiative" sure sounds better than the "Lee P. Brown Flood Abatement Sewage Improvement" doesn't it? Unfortunately, the Flood Abatement would probably more to help Houston in the long-term than would some politically motivated expenditure of taxpayer dollars paid out to a company with a dream and a non-working model of the "100 mph carberatuer".
I'm still waiting for the Mayoral candidate with a public works vision to declare.
Goodwille Pierre Disputes Ballot Count, Files Suit.
Says voting machine flaws make final count "cloudy".
[Alan Bernstein, Chron.com]
One of the disadvantages of the e-slate voting machines is no paper receipt when a vote is cast. Of all the complaints by the nay-sayers, the one that I agree with is that some sort of hard copy record should be generated by the machines. This is process that's a recommended "best practice" for most companies today, even in the age of SAP, Oracle and other computer-based accounting systems. At the end of it all, voting machines are nothing more than stand-alone accounting systems keeping track of debits and credits in the accounts of both candidates.
Republican opposition to paper back-up is puzzling to me, less puzzling is the Democratic rush to attack the system. If you lose an election, the easiest way to cast doubt on a system is to raise the question of outcome manipulation by the victors. When Republicans start losing elections on a widespread basis you'll start to see more lawsuits of this type coming from their side. What they're deriding now as "an attack on Democracy" is really just a continuation of the process that Republicans put into motion when they made forensic accounting difficult.
As American citizens we should all be very concerned that both parties are continuing the movement to lessen our faith in the American experiment. Hopefully the most recent round of election messes will convince our elected officials to finally move on election reforms designed to maximize valid votes and minimize invalid votes.
Isn't that the point?
[Alan Bernstein, Chron.com]
Shilonda R. Williams of northwest Houston cast a ballot in the November election. But it was unclear Thursday whether her votes counted or even whether they should have been included in the final tally.
Williams' ballot is among hundreds, if not thousands, of ballots that Democratic judicial candidate Goodwille Pierre is eyeing as he pursues a court challenge to his loss — by 230 votes out of 1.1 million cast — to Republican incumbent Joseph "Tad" Halbach.
Pierre's lawyer, Nile Copeland, said newly discovered glitches in the voting system mean the true outcome of the state district judge race is so cloudy that it merits a review — and that not all legitimate votes in the county were counted.
(snip)
Because there was no way to retrieve a record of her votes, it was uncertain Thursday whether her votes were rejected prematurely — or counted when they should not have been.
The ballot board, chaired by Republican retired business executive Jim Harding, rejected more than 5,000 ballots cast by people who were allowed to vote on the condition that questions about their registration status would have to be resolved weeks later. Each of those voters had to fill out a "provisional ballot affidavit," swearing he or she was qualified to vote, before getting to touch a voting machine.
But more than 200 affidavits never made it through the system because there was no record of cast votes to go with them.
(snip)
Harding, chairman of the bipartisan board, said County Clerk Beverly Kaufman's office should have forwarded every affidavit anyway so the citizen members could record the fact that some votes apparently were lost.
"If there's one system in this democracy that you want to work, it's the voting system," he said.
But Kaufman's spokesman, Hector de Leon, said the agency was supposed to forward ballots — and that it made no sense to send along affidavits from voters without ballots.
One of the disadvantages of the e-slate voting machines is no paper receipt when a vote is cast. Of all the complaints by the nay-sayers, the one that I agree with is that some sort of hard copy record should be generated by the machines. This is process that's a recommended "best practice" for most companies today, even in the age of SAP, Oracle and other computer-based accounting systems. At the end of it all, voting machines are nothing more than stand-alone accounting systems keeping track of debits and credits in the accounts of both candidates.
Republican opposition to paper back-up is puzzling to me, less puzzling is the Democratic rush to attack the system. If you lose an election, the easiest way to cast doubt on a system is to raise the question of outcome manipulation by the victors. When Republicans start losing elections on a widespread basis you'll start to see more lawsuits of this type coming from their side. What they're deriding now as "an attack on Democracy" is really just a continuation of the process that Republicans put into motion when they made forensic accounting difficult.
As American citizens we should all be very concerned that both parties are continuing the movement to lessen our faith in the American experiment. Hopefully the most recent round of election messes will convince our elected officials to finally move on election reforms designed to maximize valid votes and minimize invalid votes.
Isn't that the point?
Houston Asides (01/08/09)
The "$1,200,000,000,000" jackpot edition....
Island sends an SOS to the State. [Mike Snyder, Chron.com] - A dialogue about whether or not the Island is worth saving should be taken seriously. Here's one take.
UT pushing lawmakers to "modify" top 10% rule. [Jay Root, AP via Chron.com] - The trust-fund babies are ticked, and Jay Root of the AP again provides coverage the Austin Bureau should handle.
Texas programs for limited-English children get mixed grades. [Ericka Mellon, Chron.com] - Until "immersion" learning stops being catagorized as "xenophobia" by some I don't expect those numbers to improve.
New Road Plan Rises From the Ashes. [Lisa Falkenberg, Chron.com] - "It's yet to be seen whether it turns out to be worse than the other one was." Or better, there is the possibility that the new plan could be better. Unless you're opposed to any and all road construction that is. Again, improved roads and quality mass transit options don't have to be mutually exclusive.
Continental Pilots say Jet was Unsteady on Runway. [Terri Langford, Chron.com]
Everyone's a Media Critic (including the fifth circuit) [Kevin Whited, BlogHouston.net] - Heh.
The Fifth Circuit rules in the Skilling appeal. [Tom Kirkendall, Houston's Clear Thinkers] - Add business reporting as another area where the content in the local blogosphere (especially the blawgosphere) out paces what you can find in the Chron.
Are you going to miss Whitney Casey when she's gone? [Kevin Whited, BlogHouston.net] - About as much as Jason Seahorn misses her.
Near fatal typo? [Slampo, Slampo's Place] - The Bellaire Police' explenation defies logic.
Island sends an SOS to the State. [Mike Snyder, Chron.com] - A dialogue about whether or not the Island is worth saving should be taken seriously. Here's one take.
UT pushing lawmakers to "modify" top 10% rule. [Jay Root, AP via Chron.com] - The trust-fund babies are ticked, and Jay Root of the AP again provides coverage the Austin Bureau should handle.
Texas programs for limited-English children get mixed grades. [Ericka Mellon, Chron.com] - Until "immersion" learning stops being catagorized as "xenophobia" by some I don't expect those numbers to improve.
New Road Plan Rises From the Ashes. [Lisa Falkenberg, Chron.com] - "It's yet to be seen whether it turns out to be worse than the other one was." Or better, there is the possibility that the new plan could be better. Unless you're opposed to any and all road construction that is. Again, improved roads and quality mass transit options don't have to be mutually exclusive.
Continental Pilots say Jet was Unsteady on Runway. [Terri Langford, Chron.com]
Everyone's a Media Critic (including the fifth circuit) [Kevin Whited, BlogHouston.net] - Heh.
The Fifth Circuit rules in the Skilling appeal. [Tom Kirkendall, Houston's Clear Thinkers] - Add business reporting as another area where the content in the local blogosphere (especially the blawgosphere) out paces what you can find in the Chron.
Are you going to miss Whitney Casey when she's gone? [Kevin Whited, BlogHouston.net] - About as much as Jason Seahorn misses her.
Near fatal typo? [Slampo, Slampo's Place] - The Bellaire Police' explenation defies logic.
Flash: Business Tax Did What it Was Designed to Do!
I'm not really surprised by this...
[Peggy Fikac & Janet Elliot, Chron.com]
Considering the goal of the margins tax rate was to "expand the tax base and redistribute the tax burden" it shouldn't come as any surprise that companies previously paying high amounts under the old "Franchise Tax" saw reductions in their overall amount. It also shouldn't surprise anyone that service companies, such as telecommunications, paid more.
This is what the tax was designed to do.
The article is framed in such a manner that "Big Oil" is singled outand made to look like the main beneficiaries of the tax re-write. If oil & gas companies had a lower tax burden in 2008 then you might have a case. If you factor in huge severance tax increases and other taxes that energy companies pay I'm sure the final tally will be much higher.
The nice thing about critics is that they don't let the facts get in the way of a good sound bite:
Unsaid is that manufacturers also got a "sweet deal", as did farmers, and wholesalers. You know, "jobs we're going after" in America right?
This is no surprise, its just being framed as such by people who want to see the oil and gas industry go away. What they fail to realize is that if you kill the goose that lays the golden egg, Texas loses its place as "the engine that drives America" and becomes nothing more than that annoyingly large State down South where everyone says "howdy".
Other Eyes:
Off the Kuff
[Peggy Fikac & Janet Elliot, Chron.com]
At a time when the oil and gas industry was reaping record profits, producers got a break under Texas' new business tax, according to a draft report from a state advisory committee.
Oil and gas producers paid nearly $411 million last year under the new business tax, down from nearly $489 million in 2007. The industry also separately pays state levies including severance taxes, which skyrocketed with 2008's higher oil prices.
Most other industries ended up paying more last year than in 2007 under the business-tax expansion, according to a draft of the Business Tax Advisory Committee's report to the Legislature due to be released within days.
The business-tax expansion was approved by the Legislature in 2006 to help subsidize lower state property taxes for schools and to eliminate loopholes that allowed some businesses to avoid the tax by the way they were organized.
(snip)
The receipts studied for the report, which were not complete, yielded $1.36 billion more to the state than the $2.97 billion collected under the old tax in 2007. But last year's collections were more than $1 billion smaller than projected.
Of 27 business categories listed in the report, the only sectors that paid a smaller dollar amount under the new tax were oil and gas, agriculture, wholesale trade and rail transportation.
The remainder paid more. Among the largest percentage increases were those in the telecommunications industry, whose tab rose 298.3 percent from $24.5 million to $97.6 million.
Considering the goal of the margins tax rate was to "expand the tax base and redistribute the tax burden" it shouldn't come as any surprise that companies previously paying high amounts under the old "Franchise Tax" saw reductions in their overall amount. It also shouldn't surprise anyone that service companies, such as telecommunications, paid more.
This is what the tax was designed to do.
The article is framed in such a manner that "Big Oil" is singled outand made to look like the main beneficiaries of the tax re-write. If oil & gas companies had a lower tax burden in 2008 then you might have a case. If you factor in huge severance tax increases and other taxes that energy companies pay I'm sure the final tally will be much higher.
The nice thing about critics is that they don't let the facts get in the way of a good sound bite:
"All of that is consistent with the stated goal of trying to move the tax base away from goods-producing industries and more toward services," said Dale Craymer, chief economist of the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association, who has worked for a comptroller, two governors and the Texas House.
"The purpose of the reform overall wasn't to help the oil and gas industry as much as it was to try to make the tax more reflect a modern economy."
Because the new tax doesn't take into account profit, Craymer noted that the flip side for oil and gas producers is that they will likely end up paying more in unprofitable years than under the old tax.
Sen. Leticia Van de Putte who opposed the way the business tax was expanded said the figures highlight the new levy's problems.
"It's not a surprise. I think every member of the Legislature knew that oil and gas got a sweet deal," said Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, who hadn't reviewed the report. "It hurts the very jobs we're going after. I would say the public should be outraged that we got it backwards."
Unsaid is that manufacturers also got a "sweet deal", as did farmers, and wholesalers. You know, "jobs we're going after" in America right?
This is no surprise, its just being framed as such by people who want to see the oil and gas industry go away. What they fail to realize is that if you kill the goose that lays the golden egg, Texas loses its place as "the engine that drives America" and becomes nothing more than that annoyingly large State down South where everyone says "howdy".
Other Eyes:
Off the Kuff
Times Up!
Please don't feed the meters...
[Bradley Olson, Chron.com]
The people who are likely to benefit from this change the most are the parking lot owners (through increased demand) and the City (through an increase in fines). There might be a small benefit for the public, but who really can get anything done at the courthouse in 2 hours?
What may come as a surprise to many people is that the two-hour "limit" on the parking meters was actually a space limitation. Since I don't use the meters frequently I'm, admittedly, unsure of the signage outlining this.
Are there clearly marked signs saying metered parking is restricted to 2 hours?
If there are, that's a radical departure from the historic use of the parking meter. "Feeding the meter" is a parlor game in some cities. It's not unusual for Good Samaritans to plunk a few coins into an meter that's close to expiring. Heck, I've done that before just because I didn't want to see someone get a ticket.
As I stated earlier, the people that are most likely to be enjoying this rule change are the owners of the downtown parking lots. Now that extended parking at the meters has been outlawed they're daily fee lots have become the number one option for downtown visitors. As I said, there's very little that you can get done downtown in 2 hours.
The last time I was downtown, the cheapest "daily fee" parking lot that I could find charged $10/car. I'm curious to see whether or not the rates will raise now that competition has been effectively eliminated?
Other Eyes:
Blog Houston
[Bradley Olson, Chron.com]
Watch out downtown drivers, because "feeding the meter" now is officially illegal.
Bolstered by an update to Houston parking laws that sailed through City Council on Wednesday without discussion, the city is set to enforce the time limits posted at parking meters. That means that if it says two hours, you really can stay only two hours.
Drivers who stay beyond the posted limit will get a ticket, even if they have paid for additional time or have bought the all-day "Downtown Hopper" pass. The stricter ordinance also includes a provision making it clear that no one else can feed the meter for you.
"We don't want people to abuse the meters," said City Councilman James Rodriguez, whose district includes much of downtown. "We want people to do their business and move on. Citizens need an equal opportunity to park downtown and this is a way to better manage that curb space."
Liliana Rambo, the city's director of parking management, said updating the law was necessary to keep spaces available in many well-worn spots such as the courthouse or around sports stadiums.
(snip)
Tickets for exceeding the time limit, like those for when a meter has expired, are $25.
The people who are likely to benefit from this change the most are the parking lot owners (through increased demand) and the City (through an increase in fines). There might be a small benefit for the public, but who really can get anything done at the courthouse in 2 hours?
What may come as a surprise to many people is that the two-hour "limit" on the parking meters was actually a space limitation. Since I don't use the meters frequently I'm, admittedly, unsure of the signage outlining this.
Are there clearly marked signs saying metered parking is restricted to 2 hours?
If there are, that's a radical departure from the historic use of the parking meter. "Feeding the meter" is a parlor game in some cities. It's not unusual for Good Samaritans to plunk a few coins into an meter that's close to expiring. Heck, I've done that before just because I didn't want to see someone get a ticket.
As I stated earlier, the people that are most likely to be enjoying this rule change are the owners of the downtown parking lots. Now that extended parking at the meters has been outlawed they're daily fee lots have become the number one option for downtown visitors. As I said, there's very little that you can get done downtown in 2 hours.
The last time I was downtown, the cheapest "daily fee" parking lot that I could find charged $10/car. I'm curious to see whether or not the rates will raise now that competition has been effectively eliminated?
Other Eyes:
Blog Houston
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
3CB (again)
Meet my longest running blog: 3CB.
Originally titled "Third Coast Bodybuilding" it was the first blog I created after I nuked IsoDes due to lack of interest. When it was created I was providing IronMan magazine with a LOT of online content. This blog was intended to be a news outlet for the Bodybuilding industry in Texas in addition to the National news I was reporting on for the magazine.
Needless to say, it didn't work out. The primary reason for this is the restrictive on-line media policy of the NPC, the governing body of amateur bodybuilding. They're Internet Media Policy was designed to push away all on-line media, except that which was affiliated with the major trade publications in the industry, of which the NPC pays advertising fees and employs several of the editorial staff. In short, its an incestuous, crooked industry full of drug use, sex for placement scandals, corruption and conflicts of interest. It took my wife about one year of serious competing to figure out she wanted nothing to do with it.
By this time I had graduated to 'on-call free-lance' writer for IronMan, was getting paid for my writing, and didn't really have anywhere to go with 3rd coast, so I rechristened it "3CB" (I don't know what that stands for now) and had intended on creating a news outlet for the Texas Fitness industry.
All of this was fine and good until I figured out, Texas doesn't really have an active fitness industry that generates a lot of news. Sure, there are 5k's and marathons and bike rides, but those are fairly well covered by the MSM to the point that a blog wasn't needed. In Houston, the picture was even bleaker. Most biking groups had strong political motivations, there's not much of a fitness culture and there was no MSM coverage, to speak of, worth commenting on.
I've always had a desire, on this blog, to write more about sports. Sportswriting and commentary are two of my favorite things. The problem is, at its heart, LaE is a politics blog. Just as with my dabbles in food writing (which led to the creation of I've got the Munchies) sports posts didn't feel like they belonged on here.
So I've decided to 'revive' 3CB and, after some cleanup of the bodybuilding related posts, relaunch it as a regional sports blog. Eventually my goal is to have something set up similar to The Blogs @ Houston Press with several blogs linked to a home page. I'm not promising anything near that level of output, but I do believe that I can provide enough commentary on local politics, food, and sports to keep 3CB, IGM and LaE fairly active. Heck, I might even consider adding podcasts to 3CB so that several issues can be covered in one post. You never know.
Originally titled "Third Coast Bodybuilding" it was the first blog I created after I nuked IsoDes due to lack of interest. When it was created I was providing IronMan magazine with a LOT of online content. This blog was intended to be a news outlet for the Bodybuilding industry in Texas in addition to the National news I was reporting on for the magazine.
Needless to say, it didn't work out. The primary reason for this is the restrictive on-line media policy of the NPC, the governing body of amateur bodybuilding. They're Internet Media Policy was designed to push away all on-line media, except that which was affiliated with the major trade publications in the industry, of which the NPC pays advertising fees and employs several of the editorial staff. In short, its an incestuous, crooked industry full of drug use, sex for placement scandals, corruption and conflicts of interest. It took my wife about one year of serious competing to figure out she wanted nothing to do with it.
By this time I had graduated to 'on-call free-lance' writer for IronMan, was getting paid for my writing, and didn't really have anywhere to go with 3rd coast, so I rechristened it "3CB" (I don't know what that stands for now) and had intended on creating a news outlet for the Texas Fitness industry.
All of this was fine and good until I figured out, Texas doesn't really have an active fitness industry that generates a lot of news. Sure, there are 5k's and marathons and bike rides, but those are fairly well covered by the MSM to the point that a blog wasn't needed. In Houston, the picture was even bleaker. Most biking groups had strong political motivations, there's not much of a fitness culture and there was no MSM coverage, to speak of, worth commenting on.
I've always had a desire, on this blog, to write more about sports. Sportswriting and commentary are two of my favorite things. The problem is, at its heart, LaE is a politics blog. Just as with my dabbles in food writing (which led to the creation of I've got the Munchies) sports posts didn't feel like they belonged on here.
So I've decided to 'revive' 3CB and, after some cleanup of the bodybuilding related posts, relaunch it as a regional sports blog. Eventually my goal is to have something set up similar to The Blogs @ Houston Press with several blogs linked to a home page. I'm not promising anything near that level of output, but I do believe that I can provide enough commentary on local politics, food, and sports to keep 3CB, IGM and LaE fairly active. Heck, I might even consider adding podcasts to 3CB so that several issues can be covered in one post. You never know.
Rapid Eye Movement (01/07/09)
The "you'll get gruel and like it mister" recession edition...
Obama: Social Security, Medicare may face cuts. [Jenifer Loven, AP via Chron.com] - Don't worry! The Chief Performance Officer is on the job!
Report raises questions about Burris' relationship with Blagojevich. [FoxNews.com] - This is Illinois, they're part of the same Party. OF COURSE they had "dealings"....
Panetta hints he's willing to head CIA. [Kurtis Alexander, Mercury News] - Is it just me or is the CIA heading toward a "You're doing a heckuva job Brownie" moment?
Sarkozy sparks confusion on Gaza Peace Plan. [Reuters] - Yeah, but his girlfriend is hawt. Anything for an excuse to link to pictures of Carla Bruni.
Mississippi has highest teen birth rate [Mike Stobbe, AP via Yahoo! News] - Take THAT! Texas Naysayers! Apparantly "we're number two!" is the new State motto (at least in Austin)...
Reid says Burris may ultimately get Senate Seat. [Ann Saner, AP vis Yahoo!] - Nothing like a little voting majority to place piddling issues like ethics to the back burner eh?
French racer found dead along route of Dakar Rally [AP via Chron.com] - And they try to tell us NASCAR is tough. Pshaw!
Heavy Freezing, sub-zero temps slow travel in Europe. [Colleen Barry, AP via Chron.com] - Note to self: No European travel in January.
Whitney Casey's new book is perfect Man Plan [Tara Dooley, Chron.com] - Rumor has it that Whit cheated on Jason Seahorn which led to the demise of their relationship, his happy marriage to Angie Harmon, and her banishment to the underworld of "Great Day! Houston". I wonder if that will be in the book?
Obama: Social Security, Medicare may face cuts. [Jenifer Loven, AP via Chron.com] - Don't worry! The Chief Performance Officer is on the job!
Report raises questions about Burris' relationship with Blagojevich. [FoxNews.com] - This is Illinois, they're part of the same Party. OF COURSE they had "dealings"....
Panetta hints he's willing to head CIA. [Kurtis Alexander, Mercury News] - Is it just me or is the CIA heading toward a "You're doing a heckuva job Brownie" moment?
Sarkozy sparks confusion on Gaza Peace Plan. [Reuters] - Yeah, but his girlfriend is hawt. Anything for an excuse to link to pictures of Carla Bruni.
Mississippi has highest teen birth rate [Mike Stobbe, AP via Yahoo! News] - Take THAT! Texas Naysayers! Apparantly "we're number two!" is the new State motto (at least in Austin)...
Reid says Burris may ultimately get Senate Seat. [Ann Saner, AP vis Yahoo!] - Nothing like a little voting majority to place piddling issues like ethics to the back burner eh?
French racer found dead along route of Dakar Rally [AP via Chron.com] - And they try to tell us NASCAR is tough. Pshaw!
Heavy Freezing, sub-zero temps slow travel in Europe. [Colleen Barry, AP via Chron.com] - Note to self: No European travel in January.
Whitney Casey's new book is perfect Man Plan [Tara Dooley, Chron.com] - Rumor has it that Whit cheated on Jason Seahorn which led to the demise of their relationship, his happy marriage to Angie Harmon, and her banishment to the underworld of "Great Day! Houston". I wonder if that will be in the book?
Good News for Sam Houston Race Park
Race Park concert deal proves to be a winner...
[Greg Barr, Houston Business Journal]
There are still problems however:
Losing the Winter Thoroughbred season was huge. As a devotee to "the sport of Kings" I'll say that there's really no comparing a Quarter Horse meet to Thoroughbreds. The latter race longer distances, are more predictable, and are easier to bet. (Not easy to be, easier) They're also more fun to watch run. Unfortunately, because of the immense influence of the Texas Quarter Horse Association over the Texas Lege, Texas tracks are automatically placed at a disadvantage to other National tracks because of a 'quota' system that requires a certain percentage of meets to feature Quarter Horses. Not only are Quarter Horses less popular than Thoroughbred's but the races have lower prize purses and receive less betting interest. It also retards Sam Houston's ability to bring in big names, and big meets.
The result of this is that most Houstonians don't understand just how nice of a racing Venue Sam Houston Race Park really is. Compared to most tracks Sam Houston is a palace. It's easily on par with Del Mar, nicer than Aquaduct, and certainly nicer than Delta Downs or the track in Grapevine. It should be an annual contender for the Breeder's Cup, but frequently gets overlooked because its just not a huge player in the Thoroughbred game.
I'm glad to hear that the concert series is working out well for Sam Houston Race Park, but Texas needs to get serious about racing (and gaming) in general if it has a chance to succeed.
Texas also has one of the nicer Dog-racing facilities in the Country in Gulf Greyhound Park but over-burdening race restrictions prevent them from turning the profit they should.
[Greg Barr, Houston Business Journal]
The race park galloped full speed into the music business in 2008.
Andrea Young, the facility’s chief operating officer, says the Showgrounds’ first year of operation showed its future potential by not only increasing the number of music event attendees but exposing them to the facility’s core business of horse racing.
The 32 concerts and festivals in 2008 attracted 216,919 attendees — more than double the 104,123 who attended 25 concerts in 2007. Live Nation promoters had hoped to stage as many as 40 events.
Two large music festivals that spilled over into other areas of the 300-acre race park site made up a large chunk of the increase. Willie Nelson’s Family Picnic festival on July 5 attracted 17,033 attendees, while the Ziegenbock Festival in October brought a record 19,867.
“Operationally we were pretty satisfied. You’re always looking for areas to improve and you’ll see some things in the program changes we make for next year,” says Young, the former CEO of the Houston Comets who moved to Sam Houston in 2007. “The broad-based country shows that we have a history of doing at the park will remain, but we really intend to further diversify into other (music) genres.”
There are still problems however:
Operating losses at Sam Houston were $6.6 million for the latest period compared with $4.2 million in the first nine months of 2007.
The biggest revenue issue faced by the park in 2008 — and into early 2009 — had nothing to do with the state of the economy or changes in operating strategy, however.
When it stormed in from the Gulf in mid-September, Hurricane Ike not only punched holes in the roof of the race park grandstand, it also knocked out the race park’s entire winter thoroughbred racing season — typically its strongest financial quarter.
As a result, from November 2008 to April 2009 only indoor simulcast racing will be available, meaning revenue will be down sharply.
Young estimates the facility will spend about $11 million to replace the roof and the electronic infield scoreboard also destroyed by Ike. The roof failure caused interior water damage. Some barn-area structures will also be replaced.
The loss of the winter thoroughbred racing events puts more pressure on the park to stage more profitable non-racing music events to offset some of those losses. Young is confident the facility will bounce back.
Losing the Winter Thoroughbred season was huge. As a devotee to "the sport of Kings" I'll say that there's really no comparing a Quarter Horse meet to Thoroughbreds. The latter race longer distances, are more predictable, and are easier to bet. (Not easy to be, easier) They're also more fun to watch run. Unfortunately, because of the immense influence of the Texas Quarter Horse Association over the Texas Lege, Texas tracks are automatically placed at a disadvantage to other National tracks because of a 'quota' system that requires a certain percentage of meets to feature Quarter Horses. Not only are Quarter Horses less popular than Thoroughbred's but the races have lower prize purses and receive less betting interest. It also retards Sam Houston's ability to bring in big names, and big meets.
The result of this is that most Houstonians don't understand just how nice of a racing Venue Sam Houston Race Park really is. Compared to most tracks Sam Houston is a palace. It's easily on par with Del Mar, nicer than Aquaduct, and certainly nicer than Delta Downs or the track in Grapevine. It should be an annual contender for the Breeder's Cup, but frequently gets overlooked because its just not a huge player in the Thoroughbred game.
I'm glad to hear that the concert series is working out well for Sam Houston Race Park, but Texas needs to get serious about racing (and gaming) in general if it has a chance to succeed.
Texas also has one of the nicer Dog-racing facilities in the Country in Gulf Greyhound Park but over-burdening race restrictions prevent them from turning the profit they should.
From "the sky is blue" files
Advocacy group for children finds that Texas is underinvesting.....in children.
You don't say?
[Nancy Martinez, Chron.com]
It'd be interesting to see "relative expenditure" numbers instead of just per capita numbers, and "consensus of more than 120 child experts". It would also be nice to take a look and see if there are systemic issues that are failing the children that can be addressed without dragging Mrs. White's catapult out of moth-balls and hurling vast amounts of money at the problem.
There's no doubt that Children's services in Texas needs to be addressed, and addressed in a meaningful way. There are real discussions that need to occur about what is the best way to accomplish this. You might as well flush the money down the toilet if you don't also hold the organizations receiving the money accountable.
Republicans want accountability but are losing support due to their desire to cut funding for children's services in the name of "tax cuts". Democrats want more funding but are not accountability watchdogs, unless we're talking about a Republican plan to 'privitize', then they throw on their 'for the children' jackets and wail about waste and fraud. The groups in line to receive the money don't want to have to work for it. It's "free" after all, especially if you can tax someone else in order to fund the program. (preferably someone one pay grade above yourself. That's ideal)
What I'd like to see is the Texas Lege spend real time on both the mechanics and financials of the State's entire children's services infrastructure. From indigent health care to public education and all points in between. Lowering the infant mortality rates and raising graduation rates are going to take more than a few advocacy groups issuing reports calling for more funds. It's going to take a concerted effort by our elected representatives to put smart, qualified people in place with new ideas and strong, efficient management styles.
After all of this is accomplished (or, if ever this was accomplished) I wonder if Texans for Children would issue a report saying "All's Well"?
We all know the answer to that. If there's not a problem where they can call for additional funding (as well as call for legislation to direct that funding to their members) then they really don't have a reason for being. The sky is blue this morning, and another advocacy group wants additional money to "solve the problems" that face Texas. We've heard this song before.
I'd like to make a request for a different tune this year.
You don't say?
[Nancy Martinez, Chron.com]
Texas ranks behind most other states in infant survival rates, school graduation rates and access to health insurance, according to a report released Tuesday by an advocacy group that called on lawmakers to do something about it when they convene in Austin next week.
"The lesson here is that under-investing in our children has real consequences," said Eileen Garcia-Matthews, executive director of Austin-based Texans Care for Children.
Among other findings, the report highlighted that Texas:
•Has one of the highest rates of child deaths from abuse and neglect in the nation.
•Ranks last among states for health insurance coverage for children.
•Has one of the highest teen birth rates in the nation.
The campaign report is based on existing data and consensus of more than 120 child experts across the state and includes recommendations for legislative action.
It'd be interesting to see "relative expenditure" numbers instead of just per capita numbers, and "consensus of more than 120 child experts". It would also be nice to take a look and see if there are systemic issues that are failing the children that can be addressed without dragging Mrs. White's catapult out of moth-balls and hurling vast amounts of money at the problem.
There's no doubt that Children's services in Texas needs to be addressed, and addressed in a meaningful way. There are real discussions that need to occur about what is the best way to accomplish this. You might as well flush the money down the toilet if you don't also hold the organizations receiving the money accountable.
Republicans want accountability but are losing support due to their desire to cut funding for children's services in the name of "tax cuts". Democrats want more funding but are not accountability watchdogs, unless we're talking about a Republican plan to 'privitize', then they throw on their 'for the children' jackets and wail about waste and fraud. The groups in line to receive the money don't want to have to work for it. It's "free" after all, especially if you can tax someone else in order to fund the program. (preferably someone one pay grade above yourself. That's ideal)
What I'd like to see is the Texas Lege spend real time on both the mechanics and financials of the State's entire children's services infrastructure. From indigent health care to public education and all points in between. Lowering the infant mortality rates and raising graduation rates are going to take more than a few advocacy groups issuing reports calling for more funds. It's going to take a concerted effort by our elected representatives to put smart, qualified people in place with new ideas and strong, efficient management styles.
After all of this is accomplished (or, if ever this was accomplished) I wonder if Texans for Children would issue a report saying "All's Well"?
We all know the answer to that. If there's not a problem where they can call for additional funding (as well as call for legislation to direct that funding to their members) then they really don't have a reason for being. The sky is blue this morning, and another advocacy group wants additional money to "solve the problems" that face Texas. We've heard this song before.
I'd like to make a request for a different tune this year.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Coincidence?
Today marks the start of Carnival.
Today TXDOT dropped plans for the Trans-Texas Corridor..
These things are not for me to decide. I do know this however...
[Rosanna Ruiz, Janet Elliot and R.G. Ratcliffe, Chron.com]
Perry, who is visiting troops in Iraq, said today that the name Trans-Texas Corridor is dead, but that the state will still look at public/private partnerships to build roads, including toll roads.
"The name Trans Texas Corridor is over with. We're going to continue to build roads in the state of Texas," Perry said.
"Our options are relatively limited due to Washington's ineffectiveness from the standpoint of being able to deliver dollars or the Legislature to raise the gas tax," he said. "So we have to look at some other options."
Additional roads (and existing road repair and capacity expansion) will continue to be important, as will quality, effective mass transit solutions such as "grade-separated" rail, streetcars and better bus service.
The two concepts don't HAVE to be mutually exclusive....
"Just Like New York City" Watch: 2009 Version.
An occasional look at some humorous moments in the continual quest of Houston's leadership to obtain "world class" status....
First: an overview
Parks
New York: Bryant Park (Named after Poet William Cullen Bryant) - Distinguishing Feature: The Pond @ Byrant Park. (open for Ice Skating during the Winter!)
Houston: Discovery Green (Named via public contest) - Distinguishing Feature: Andrea and Bill White Promenade.
Winner: Discovery Green is People Man! (but Bryant Park is cool)
Transportation
New York: MTA New York City Subway.
Houston: MetroRAIL!
Winner: Houston has the most successful light rail EVER!. Yeah, but you don't have to drive downtown, dodge the red light cameras, figure out the parking meters, or pay the attendant (who may or may not be legit) to park, before you ride the MTA.
Signature Public Celebrations
New York: Time's Square New Year's Eve ball drop.
Houston: Lone Star Rising. (cancelled for 2007 @ 2008)
Winner: I guess Houston was just too evented out?
And now....for the new entry into the City v. City sweepstakes.
Famous Neighborhoods:
New York: SoHo - or "South of Houston (pronounced How-ston)" Home of shopping, night-life, one of the most famous neighborhoods in the world.
Houston: EaDo - Or "East Downtown". Home of "Louis Macy Investments"
Winner: "EaDo"??? Seriously? Are you freakin' kidding me? Even the good people at 002 Magazine had the good sense to abandon "NoDo".
Besides, this has already been done (with laughable results).
EaDo.....*snicker*
First: an overview
Parks
New York: Bryant Park (Named after Poet William Cullen Bryant) - Distinguishing Feature: The Pond @ Byrant Park. (open for Ice Skating during the Winter!)
Houston: Discovery Green (Named via public contest) - Distinguishing Feature: Andrea and Bill White Promenade.
Winner: Discovery Green is People Man! (but Bryant Park is cool)
Transportation
New York: MTA New York City Subway.
Houston: MetroRAIL!
Winner: Houston has the most successful light rail EVER!. Yeah, but you don't have to drive downtown, dodge the red light cameras, figure out the parking meters, or pay the attendant (who may or may not be legit) to park, before you ride the MTA.
Signature Public Celebrations
New York: Time's Square New Year's Eve ball drop.
Houston: Lone Star Rising. (cancelled for 2007 @ 2008)
Winner: I guess Houston was just too evented out?
And now....for the new entry into the City v. City sweepstakes.
Famous Neighborhoods:
New York: SoHo - or "South of Houston (pronounced How-ston)" Home of shopping, night-life, one of the most famous neighborhoods in the world.
Houston: EaDo - Or "East Downtown". Home of "Louis Macy Investments"
Winner: "EaDo"??? Seriously? Are you freakin' kidding me? Even the good people at 002 Magazine had the good sense to abandon "NoDo".
Besides, this has already been done (with laughable results).
EaDo.....*snicker*
2009: The year of "tech"
Dwight has an interesting column today outlining what he forsees will be the big "tech" movements of 2009. You know the drill by now, Apple will rule the world and Microsoft is doomed to die. (kidding)
Actually I think he has a fairly good chance of being spot-on with his Apple v. Microsoft predictions. Throughout the rather brief history of the two companies' competition(from a PC perspective), the pattern has pretty much been as follows: "Apple innovates, Microsoft reacts and uses its dominating market position to force the software writers to play ball." Granted, this has been changing in recent years, especially as Microsoft went from 'plucky Tech company" to "Big, monolithic, evil corporation." In short, in the tech world, Microsoft was a victim of their own success. Still, they do some things right, and the sheer economy of scale that they enjoy has allowed the price points for home computers to drop significantly. That's something in and of itself.
Smart Phones - I agree that we'll see a huge surge in smart phone technology this year. As well as the beginnings of a new Windows Mobile Platform. For now I'm, barely, hanging on to my light-years out of date Samsung BlackJack but if the Google Android phones continue to develop as advertised I might be persuaded to make a switch in '09
LapTops - I've got no plans to change laptops in the upcoming year, despite the fact that my 3-year old Dell XPS M1710 is getting a little long in the tooth. I prefer Windows XP to Vista and am planning on waiting until 2010 (after Windows 7 goes through a release and SP1) before I make a switch.
NetBooks - One purchase I do intend to make this year is a Netbook and here's where I disagree with Dwight regarding the future of these machines.
From Dwight:
Also: Kevin Whited (from the comments)
I'm siding with Kevin on this prediction. Partially because I'm intriqued by the travel possibilities of the Netbook in contrast to the web phone. Right now I'm torn between either an Eee PC from ASUS, or a Aspire One from ACER. Both are low-price, ultra-portable, devices that allow for increased online access when travelling. Throw one of those, an extra change of clothes and an FDA approved clear bag of toiletries in one of these, have Passport, will spend a week in Europe.
OK, I'll admit, that's probably a late 2010 thing at best.
Actually I think he has a fairly good chance of being spot-on with his Apple v. Microsoft predictions. Throughout the rather brief history of the two companies' competition(from a PC perspective), the pattern has pretty much been as follows: "Apple innovates, Microsoft reacts and uses its dominating market position to force the software writers to play ball." Granted, this has been changing in recent years, especially as Microsoft went from 'plucky Tech company" to "Big, monolithic, evil corporation." In short, in the tech world, Microsoft was a victim of their own success. Still, they do some things right, and the sheer economy of scale that they enjoy has allowed the price points for home computers to drop significantly. That's something in and of itself.
Smart Phones - I agree that we'll see a huge surge in smart phone technology this year. As well as the beginnings of a new Windows Mobile Platform. For now I'm, barely, hanging on to my light-years out of date Samsung BlackJack but if the Google Android phones continue to develop as advertised I might be persuaded to make a switch in '09
LapTops - I've got no plans to change laptops in the upcoming year, despite the fact that my 3-year old Dell XPS M1710 is getting a little long in the tooth. I prefer Windows XP to Vista and am planning on waiting until 2010 (after Windows 7 goes through a release and SP1) before I make a switch.
NetBooks - One purchase I do intend to make this year is a Netbook and here's where I disagree with Dwight regarding the future of these machines.
From Dwight:
Also look for the netbook trend to peak at CES, with every computer maker and his mom releasing some small, inexpensive portable device. But don’t look for Apple to release one, at least not yet — it already has one, and it’s called the iPhone.
I actually think netbooks are a fad, and that the phone-as-computer is the dominant direction going forward. But it may take another CES before I know if I’m right.
Also: Kevin Whited (from the comments)
Phones aren't a good substitute for netbooks because the screens are too small and the input devices (either physical or touch keyboards) are too clunky. And if you change either of those things, you sacrifice the utility of the phone as phone.
Netbooks will continue to be popular because many of us want a decent keyboard, a basic text processor, a browser, and a net connection when we are traveling or working remotely. Smartphones will continue to be popular because many of us also want basic net access on our phones. It's not an either-or proposition.
I'm siding with Kevin on this prediction. Partially because I'm intriqued by the travel possibilities of the Netbook in contrast to the web phone. Right now I'm torn between either an Eee PC from ASUS, or a Aspire One from ACER. Both are low-price, ultra-portable, devices that allow for increased online access when travelling. Throw one of those, an extra change of clothes and an FDA approved clear bag of toiletries in one of these, have Passport, will spend a week in Europe.
OK, I'll admit, that's probably a late 2010 thing at best.
Houston Asides (01/06/09)
The "snowed under with work for New Year's" edition....
LyondellBasell to file for bankruptcy [Brett Clanton, Chron.com] - What, no clamor for bailing out this 'critical' industry?
HISD calls off plan to limit busing to magnet schools. [Ericka Mellon, Chron.com] - They almost had to given public outcry.
HPD Chief seeks help as more black men kill each other. [Allan Turner, Chron.com] - Although I'm frequently critical of Chief Hurtt, I don't envy him this task and wish him luck in reversing this terrible trend.
Straus Victory appears certain as House Speaker Foe withdraws [Gary Scharrar, Chron.com] - Be interesting to see what his committee appointments are.
Converter Box may not be enough for switch. [Brad Hem, Chron.com] - I'm still not sure why this change needed to happen.
Rescue Groups: BARC rule will increase pet deaths. [Bill Murphy, Chron.com] - BARC should welcome rescue groups, not make it harder for them to do their job.
City's 'Green Chief' no environmentalist. [Carolyn Feibel, Chron.com] - These types of "press release" journalism profile pieces do little for me. They do, however, raise the profile of low-key executive officials who are considering a run for public office at a later date....just sayin'.
Houston's interest lies with Straus [Lisa Falkenberg, Chron.com] - Huh? I can see Craddick being out as a plus, but there's nothing about Straus that signals he'll be in any way pro-Houston.
KGOW scores ratings victory [Kevin Whited, BlogHouston.net] - Most times (except when Charlie Palillo is on AM 790) sports talk radio in Houston is unlistenable. For the most part (morning and afternoon drive time) KGOW is an exception to that.
Houston murder rate declines in 2008 [Kevin Whited, BlogHouston.net] - But...have they really? ;)
Republicans reading this are not the problem. [Alan Bernstein, Houston Politics, Chron.com] - *snicker*
As the Rockets world turns [Tom Kirkendall, Houston's Clear Thinkers] - Better analysis (and an easier read) of the Rockets current woes than this clunker from Houston's Newspaper of record. You'd think Houston would rate better sports coverage (see sports talk radio). You'd be wrong.
LyondellBasell to file for bankruptcy [Brett Clanton, Chron.com] - What, no clamor for bailing out this 'critical' industry?
HISD calls off plan to limit busing to magnet schools. [Ericka Mellon, Chron.com] - They almost had to given public outcry.
HPD Chief seeks help as more black men kill each other. [Allan Turner, Chron.com] - Although I'm frequently critical of Chief Hurtt, I don't envy him this task and wish him luck in reversing this terrible trend.
Straus Victory appears certain as House Speaker Foe withdraws [Gary Scharrar, Chron.com] - Be interesting to see what his committee appointments are.
Converter Box may not be enough for switch. [Brad Hem, Chron.com] - I'm still not sure why this change needed to happen.
Rescue Groups: BARC rule will increase pet deaths. [Bill Murphy, Chron.com] - BARC should welcome rescue groups, not make it harder for them to do their job.
City's 'Green Chief' no environmentalist. [Carolyn Feibel, Chron.com] - These types of "press release" journalism profile pieces do little for me. They do, however, raise the profile of low-key executive officials who are considering a run for public office at a later date....just sayin'.
Houston's interest lies with Straus [Lisa Falkenberg, Chron.com] - Huh? I can see Craddick being out as a plus, but there's nothing about Straus that signals he'll be in any way pro-Houston.
KGOW scores ratings victory [Kevin Whited, BlogHouston.net] - Most times (except when Charlie Palillo is on AM 790) sports talk radio in Houston is unlistenable. For the most part (morning and afternoon drive time) KGOW is an exception to that.
Houston murder rate declines in 2008 [Kevin Whited, BlogHouston.net] - But...have they really? ;)
Republicans reading this are not the problem. [Alan Bernstein, Houston Politics, Chron.com] - *snicker*
As the Rockets world turns [Tom Kirkendall, Houston's Clear Thinkers] - Better analysis (and an easier read) of the Rockets current woes than this clunker from Houston's Newspaper of record. You'd think Houston would rate better sports coverage (see sports talk radio). You'd be wrong.
Monday, January 5, 2009
59*
Given the virtual certainty that Al Franken will become the 59th Democrat in the Senate over the next few days...How much more (or less) likely is it that Kay Bailey Hutchison resigns her seat before 2010 leading to the posibility that either Bill White or John Sharp becomes "(D) - Filibuster Buster" thus rendering Washington D.C. Repub's totally impotent?
Conversely, how much pressure is the National GOP likely to place on her to NOT challenge Perry?
Discuss...
Conversely, how much pressure is the National GOP likely to place on her to NOT challenge Perry?
Discuss...
What's in a column....
An occasional series reviewing the work of the Houston Chronicle columnists...
Rick Casey: Happy 2009: At least we'll be amused - A guy that was hired for his ability to "dig up the dirt" in local politics has pretty much been content to pick the low-hanging fruit in Houston. What we have here is a shallow, year-end review that's already been done (better) on local "hobby" blogs.
Lisa Falkenberg: Bad Press Took Glitter off Mayor's Year - Promoted from "Teen" columnist the Chron's Jr. Metro scribe often appears out of her league when diving into the deep end of the pool. This column displays selective memory and sub-par research ability.
Clay Robison: Big Guns of comedy love "open carry" - Is he a (left-leaning) columnist? Or a 'non-partisan' Austin Bureau chief? One things for sure: It's probably bad political analysis to critique an idea solely on the premise that it might be the punchline of a joke. (For example, if 44 States had outlawed smoking, would Texas' desire to do so be 'snickered at'?)
Move It! (Rosanna Ruiz): Transportation Forum Looks at Road Ahead - Under Rad Sallee, the Move It! column went off the rails when he started taking cheap, unsubstantiated, shots at rail nay-sayers. Under Ruiz things are looking up. Hopefully that trend will be continued.
Shannon Buggs: Cash in on the clutter that clogs your life - While suggesting readers hold a garage sale or sell items on eBay is hardly cutting-edge financial advice, at least Buggs has stopped (for now) predicting the complete and utter destruction of the American Financial System. (she's leaving that to tAFKAMW)
Mary Flood Purva Patel: Home insurer of last resort fine, for now - Give this one an 'incomplete'. This is Patel's first shot at taking up Mary Flood's old "business law" column. Previous columns were almost too mundane. Almost as if Flood was trying to be "non-controversial" in order to avoid scrutiny. This is a tough subject in which to hold the reading public's interest.
Nancy Sarnoff: Economy and Ike were painful 1-2 punch - Sarnoff's column is usually one of the bright spots in the Chron. She's timely, relevent, and frequently dishes out scoops. That's more than can be said for most of the Chron.columnists these days.
Loren Steffy: Pipelines to prosperity are elusive - Steffy is a business columnist who's not real enamored with business. Right now his over-criminalization of corporate America is causing him fits. Something that local business lawyer Tom Kirkendall has taken him to task for. Saturday's column is harmless enough, but harmless also means not very appealing to readers, as demonstrated by the fact that the story has received zero public comments.
Dwight Silverman: Mac users need malware protection - Mr. Silverman is an Apple junkie and, often, his columns are typically not useful to me. However, his reviews of Vista were spot on and, while he's not very 'techie-geek-customization-friendly' for a tech-writer (preferring more polished systems such as MAC OS in leiu of Linux, etc.), his product-reviews are typically fair-minded and thorough. One of my favorite Chron.blogs on a daily basis.
Richard Justice: Brown motivates UT as Fiesta Bowl nears. - Ah Richard Justice, the man most sports fans have grown to hate (and he likes it that way). To be honest, I rarely read anything the guy writes any more. There's better sports coverage in Houston elsewhere where I don't have to play witness to a non-sensical meltdown. I'm totally ambivilent about Mr. Justice these days.
John McClain: Phillips Job not Secure in Dallas - At one time McClain was the ultimate football insider. Now he just seems to be mailing it in. Like Justice I rarely read what he has to say because I've already seen it (more in-depth) somewhere else. He does seem like a nice guy however, that should be mentioned.
Ken Hoffman: A swift kick for missing Swift question - Hoffy makes me laugh, on paper. His radio show has devolved into something borderlining on unlistenable, which is too bad because, at the beginning, it had promise. His "drive thru gourmet" columns are his best work.
Lisa Gray: No column this week. - Her arts column is typically harmless fun, and a well-written tour of what's going on in Houston. Good read.
Staff columnists I never read:
Whitney Casey - Why would I want to listen to her on relationships? I've been happily married for over ten years.
Leon Hale - To be fair: He has a specific demographic that loves him. I am not that.
Shelby Hodge - I view society 'reporters' as something akin to appendices, get rid of them and no one notices.
Kathy Huber - More my fault than hers. I have a black thumb.
Doug Pike & Shannon Tompkins - I like to hunt & fish, but outdoor columns bore the heck out of me.
Jay Lee - Love his blog and (especially) his photography, but reading about other people's tech problems is not my cup of tea. Of course, if I had a tech question he answered that would be a horse of a different color now wouldn't it?
Ronald Lipman - See "Jay Lee", substitute "legal" for "tech".
L.M. Sixel - I view 'job advice' columns the same way I do University Professors offering 'job tips'. If I want to know how to get a six-figure job, I'll ask someone who has one.
So, there you have it. It will be interesting to track how the Chron.columnists do in 2009. Given the lack-luster performance in 2008, one hopes they can do better. Substantial upgrades are needed in both the Metropolitan and Sports sections. It's shameful that America's 4th largest City is saddled with sub-par commentary on local & State matters.
Thoughts? Disagreements? Put 'em in the comments..
Rick Casey: Happy 2009: At least we'll be amused - A guy that was hired for his ability to "dig up the dirt" in local politics has pretty much been content to pick the low-hanging fruit in Houston. What we have here is a shallow, year-end review that's already been done (better) on local "hobby" blogs.
Lisa Falkenberg: Bad Press Took Glitter off Mayor's Year - Promoted from "Teen" columnist the Chron's Jr. Metro scribe often appears out of her league when diving into the deep end of the pool. This column displays selective memory and sub-par research ability.
Clay Robison: Big Guns of comedy love "open carry" - Is he a (left-leaning) columnist? Or a 'non-partisan' Austin Bureau chief? One things for sure: It's probably bad political analysis to critique an idea solely on the premise that it might be the punchline of a joke. (For example, if 44 States had outlawed smoking, would Texas' desire to do so be 'snickered at'?)
Move It! (Rosanna Ruiz): Transportation Forum Looks at Road Ahead - Under Rad Sallee, the Move It! column went off the rails when he started taking cheap, unsubstantiated, shots at rail nay-sayers. Under Ruiz things are looking up. Hopefully that trend will be continued.
Shannon Buggs: Cash in on the clutter that clogs your life - While suggesting readers hold a garage sale or sell items on eBay is hardly cutting-edge financial advice, at least Buggs has stopped (for now) predicting the complete and utter destruction of the American Financial System. (she's leaving that to tAFKAMW)
Nancy Sarnoff: Economy and Ike were painful 1-2 punch - Sarnoff's column is usually one of the bright spots in the Chron. She's timely, relevent, and frequently dishes out scoops. That's more than can be said for most of the Chron.columnists these days.
Loren Steffy: Pipelines to prosperity are elusive - Steffy is a business columnist who's not real enamored with business. Right now his over-criminalization of corporate America is causing him fits. Something that local business lawyer Tom Kirkendall has taken him to task for. Saturday's column is harmless enough, but harmless also means not very appealing to readers, as demonstrated by the fact that the story has received zero public comments.
Dwight Silverman: Mac users need malware protection - Mr. Silverman is an Apple junkie and, often, his columns are typically not useful to me. However, his reviews of Vista were spot on and, while he's not very 'techie-geek-customization-friendly' for a tech-writer (preferring more polished systems such as MAC OS in leiu of Linux, etc.), his product-reviews are typically fair-minded and thorough. One of my favorite Chron.blogs on a daily basis.
Richard Justice: Brown motivates UT as Fiesta Bowl nears. - Ah Richard Justice, the man most sports fans have grown to hate (and he likes it that way). To be honest, I rarely read anything the guy writes any more. There's better sports coverage in Houston elsewhere where I don't have to play witness to a non-sensical meltdown. I'm totally ambivilent about Mr. Justice these days.
John McClain: Phillips Job not Secure in Dallas - At one time McClain was the ultimate football insider. Now he just seems to be mailing it in. Like Justice I rarely read what he has to say because I've already seen it (more in-depth) somewhere else. He does seem like a nice guy however, that should be mentioned.
Ken Hoffman: A swift kick for missing Swift question - Hoffy makes me laugh, on paper. His radio show has devolved into something borderlining on unlistenable, which is too bad because, at the beginning, it had promise. His "drive thru gourmet" columns are his best work.
Lisa Gray: No column this week. - Her arts column is typically harmless fun, and a well-written tour of what's going on in Houston. Good read.
Staff columnists I never read:
Whitney Casey - Why would I want to listen to her on relationships? I've been happily married for over ten years.
Leon Hale - To be fair: He has a specific demographic that loves him. I am not that.
Shelby Hodge - I view society 'reporters' as something akin to appendices, get rid of them and no one notices.
Kathy Huber - More my fault than hers. I have a black thumb.
Doug Pike & Shannon Tompkins - I like to hunt & fish, but outdoor columns bore the heck out of me.
Jay Lee - Love his blog and (especially) his photography, but reading about other people's tech problems is not my cup of tea. Of course, if I had a tech question he answered that would be a horse of a different color now wouldn't it?
Ronald Lipman - See "Jay Lee", substitute "legal" for "tech".
L.M. Sixel - I view 'job advice' columns the same way I do University Professors offering 'job tips'. If I want to know how to get a six-figure job, I'll ask someone who has one.
So, there you have it. It will be interesting to track how the Chron.columnists do in 2009. Given the lack-luster performance in 2008, one hopes they can do better. Substantial upgrades are needed in both the Metropolitan and Sports sections. It's shameful that America's 4th largest City is saddled with sub-par commentary on local & State matters.
Thoughts? Disagreements? Put 'em in the comments..
Dream, the equality dream.
It's stated in the Declaration of Independance that "all men are created equal". So central is this truth to "the American Way" (whatever that is) that the quote has almost taken on Divine authority and is often spoken of in Biblical terms despite the fact that the Bible says no such thing. Why let a little thing like the facts get in the way of a good bullet point right?
Still, "all men created equal" is treated with Holy reverence as one of the founding principles of American society. Never mind the fact that "men", during the time of the Founding Fathers, was understood to mean:"White wealthy male landowners" and equal meant "we don't like the King". It's America dangit! We're equal! So let's get with it! (read: gimmee mine!) Of course, the stunning realization that all mean aren't created equal in respects to this life* causes several of the easily dissapointed to look around and cast blame on the American way of life. "All men are created equal" morphes into "All men are equal" no ifs, ands or buts about it.
When reality intervenes and reminds us that "all men aren't really equal" then, in keeping with the modern humor, its decided that reality has somehow taken leave of its senses and the "American way" (and not ourselves) is to blame.
Viewed at through that spectrum, today's editorial on the 'new' American "dream" by the Artist Formerly Known as Mrs. White doesn't seem out of place at all. As a matter of fact, the idea that the American Dream of success is old and out of date isn't really new at all. It's just a re-boot of the post Great-Depression orthodoxy that America had outlived her usefulness as an economic power. "Unsustainable" is the watch word for those who, not content to simply dislike what America has become, wish to radically alter the fundamental principles that run the engine of the Nation. Unmentioned is the Communist ideal that is being touted to replace the Capitalist reality of American society.
Not that there's anything morally wrong with Communism mind you. If you believe that "all men are equal" then communism is the only morally acceptable form of economic engine. Of course, logic dictates that you ignore the ruling elite, the fundamental unfairness of relying on a few to care for many, etc. etc. that occur in practice, communism is equality and equality is good, akin to the American way which (as we've established) many feel to be of divine origin. (even athiests, go figure)
The watchwords used to describe American communism by supporters are "little 's' Socialism" or "Progressivism" both of which sound much less frightening than the economic system that fueled (and ultimately ruined) America's greatest modern-era enemy. (albeit, the one with the coolest sounding National Anthem) "From each according to their ability" is to be replaced with "For everyone the same", much more tidy and necessary to prevent us from remembering that our life's short-comings are largely due to mistakes and choices that we have made.
And yes, you read that last part correctly. While not all of us have the ability to make the choices that will guide our lives into the strata of the ridiculously wealthy, most of us have the ability to live our lives in a manner that provides satisfaction on all levels. If we choose not to do that, then we our short-changing no-one but ourselves.
Unlike most fiscal conservatives, I don't hold Corporate America blameless in this entire financial meltdown, but neither do I believe that they are 100% at fault. I also don't believe that the solution to the problem lies in fundamentally altering our system of commerce. That being said I also don't view communism as the "great evil of our time" as do many. I would prefer to not live in a communist (or socialist) system but, at the end of the day, communism is nothing more than an economic framework and is amoral by nature. As we've seen, Capitalism taken to extremes can be just as immoral as applied (not theoretical) communism. Ironically, probably the entity that came closest to 'theoretical' communism in actual practice was the early Christian Church as described in the Acts of the Apostles.
Fixing the economic mess in America is going to involve long, reflective looks into the financial mirror. It's going to mean coming to terms with the fact that you might not be able to afford that flat screen TV despite what you're being told by Madison Ave. It's going to mean foregoing the purches of the 'new & improved' iPod and making due with the off-brand MP3 player until you can save up the cash. It's going to mean rethinking how we fuel our cars and our homes, and looking at new, creative ways to facilitate our transportation needs. Pulling ourselves out of this mess is going to involve doing more with less, working hard, giving to charity and reaching out to help the less fortunate among us. What it shouldn't involve is voting for candidates who promise to tax everyone making slightly more than you do, and vilifying the lifestyle of those with which we don't agree. It also shouldn't involve pumping Trillions of dollars into a shell-game invented by a former VP who is blessed with good selling skills.
America needs change, there's no denying that fact. What concerns me is the sudden desire by many to throw out the baby with the bath-water in order to make up for their financial failings. I want there to be a wealthy elite in America. Because as long as they're in place then I have something to keep shooting for.
*Regarding the afterlife: I leave this up to the reader to determine.
Still, "all men created equal" is treated with Holy reverence as one of the founding principles of American society. Never mind the fact that "men", during the time of the Founding Fathers, was understood to mean:"White wealthy male landowners" and equal meant "we don't like the King". It's America dangit! We're equal! So let's get with it! (read: gimmee mine!) Of course, the stunning realization that all mean aren't created equal in respects to this life* causes several of the easily dissapointed to look around and cast blame on the American way of life. "All men are created equal" morphes into "All men are equal" no ifs, ands or buts about it.
When reality intervenes and reminds us that "all men aren't really equal" then, in keeping with the modern humor, its decided that reality has somehow taken leave of its senses and the "American way" (and not ourselves) is to blame.
Viewed at through that spectrum, today's editorial on the 'new' American "dream" by the Artist Formerly Known as Mrs. White doesn't seem out of place at all. As a matter of fact, the idea that the American Dream of success is old and out of date isn't really new at all. It's just a re-boot of the post Great-Depression orthodoxy that America had outlived her usefulness as an economic power. "Unsustainable" is the watch word for those who, not content to simply dislike what America has become, wish to radically alter the fundamental principles that run the engine of the Nation. Unmentioned is the Communist ideal that is being touted to replace the Capitalist reality of American society.
Not that there's anything morally wrong with Communism mind you. If you believe that "all men are equal" then communism is the only morally acceptable form of economic engine. Of course, logic dictates that you ignore the ruling elite, the fundamental unfairness of relying on a few to care for many, etc. etc. that occur in practice, communism is equality and equality is good, akin to the American way which (as we've established) many feel to be of divine origin. (even athiests, go figure)
The watchwords used to describe American communism by supporters are "little 's' Socialism" or "Progressivism" both of which sound much less frightening than the economic system that fueled (and ultimately ruined) America's greatest modern-era enemy. (albeit, the one with the coolest sounding National Anthem) "From each according to their ability" is to be replaced with "For everyone the same", much more tidy and necessary to prevent us from remembering that our life's short-comings are largely due to mistakes and choices that we have made.
And yes, you read that last part correctly. While not all of us have the ability to make the choices that will guide our lives into the strata of the ridiculously wealthy, most of us have the ability to live our lives in a manner that provides satisfaction on all levels. If we choose not to do that, then we our short-changing no-one but ourselves.
Unlike most fiscal conservatives, I don't hold Corporate America blameless in this entire financial meltdown, but neither do I believe that they are 100% at fault. I also don't believe that the solution to the problem lies in fundamentally altering our system of commerce. That being said I also don't view communism as the "great evil of our time" as do many. I would prefer to not live in a communist (or socialist) system but, at the end of the day, communism is nothing more than an economic framework and is amoral by nature. As we've seen, Capitalism taken to extremes can be just as immoral as applied (not theoretical) communism. Ironically, probably the entity that came closest to 'theoretical' communism in actual practice was the early Christian Church as described in the Acts of the Apostles.
Fixing the economic mess in America is going to involve long, reflective looks into the financial mirror. It's going to mean coming to terms with the fact that you might not be able to afford that flat screen TV despite what you're being told by Madison Ave. It's going to mean foregoing the purches of the 'new & improved' iPod and making due with the off-brand MP3 player until you can save up the cash. It's going to mean rethinking how we fuel our cars and our homes, and looking at new, creative ways to facilitate our transportation needs. Pulling ourselves out of this mess is going to involve doing more with less, working hard, giving to charity and reaching out to help the less fortunate among us. What it shouldn't involve is voting for candidates who promise to tax everyone making slightly more than you do, and vilifying the lifestyle of those with which we don't agree. It also shouldn't involve pumping Trillions of dollars into a shell-game invented by a former VP who is blessed with good selling skills.
America needs change, there's no denying that fact. What concerns me is the sudden desire by many to throw out the baby with the bath-water in order to make up for their financial failings. I want there to be a wealthy elite in America. Because as long as they're in place then I have something to keep shooting for.
*Regarding the afterlife: I leave this up to the reader to determine.
Without providing a worakble alternative...
..Gayle Fallon and the Teacher's Union are going to just keep screaming about what they've got.
[Ericka Mellon, Chron.com]
Lest you think I'm being overly harsh on Ms. Fallon, while I'm not a fan of hers it should be noted that the same thing frequently happens in politics. It's not unusual for partisans on both sides of the aisle to pay much attention to the smallest clerical error made by the other side, but then feel indifferent regarding the 'oops' moments on their side. It's human nature to provide greater scrutiny to those views that are opposite of ours. Given that fact, at least we know Ms. Fallon is a human being.
What I do take issue with is the lack of an alternative plan being offered up by the critics of the current plan. They old saying that "those who can't, criticize" seems to be in play. In lieu of an alternative bonus proposal that's more in depth than just 'more money', the chattering from the teacher's union is just devolving into white noise. When your arugments boil down to "I'm agin' it" with no additional substance there's a good chance that you've outlived your usefulness as principled opposition. Perhaps the teacher's union needs to look within its ranks and select new leadership?
Considering the 'wave of bipartisanship' that's supposedly sweeping government perhaps a teacher's union leader who's willing to work with, instead of shout at, HISD administrators would be a refressing change.
Oh, and we could do more to raise teacher base pay, that'd be nice as well. (unrelated aside)
[Ericka Mellon, Chron.com]
Teachers might smile or even splurge when they receive bonuses from the Houston school district later this month, but that doesn't mean they like, or even understand, the performance pay plan.There's an awful lot of reading between the lines in Ms. Fallon's claim that "around half" are 'accepting' of the bonus plan. Granted, only around 45% are supportive of the plan, but another 25% are neutral which, if you've worked in corporate America for any amount of time, means that this bonus plan is just about on par with most other bonus programs in the Country. The reason Ms. Fallon has chosen to accentuate the negative is because her job relevence relies on friction between the teachers and the administration. Because of this she's choosing to listen more strongly to the 30% of teachers who are opposed to the plan instead of the 70% of teachers who are "eh" or better. That's 7 out of 10 teachers that she's choosing to not represent.
A new Houston ISD survey confirms what teacher leaders have asserted over the last two years: The multimillion-dollar bonus system has not garnered overwhelming support, though opposition appears to have lessened since the district revised the program last year.
"If you want an effective pay plan, it has to have overwhelming acceptance," said Gayle Fallon, who runs the Houston Federation of Teachers. "Nothing's going to have universal acceptance, but when you're barely hovering at the 50 percent mark, that's not good enough."
Specifically, the Houston Independent School District survey found that 45 percent of teachers and other school employees are "in favor" or "somewhat in favor" of the bonus system, which is based on student test scores.
Thirty percent are "opposed" or "somewhat opposed" to the bonus program; about one-quarter are "neutral."
About 80 percent of the survey respondents were bonus recipients. The average payout for teachers last year was about $2,100, with the maximum award topping $7,800.
Lest you think I'm being overly harsh on Ms. Fallon, while I'm not a fan of hers it should be noted that the same thing frequently happens in politics. It's not unusual for partisans on both sides of the aisle to pay much attention to the smallest clerical error made by the other side, but then feel indifferent regarding the 'oops' moments on their side. It's human nature to provide greater scrutiny to those views that are opposite of ours. Given that fact, at least we know Ms. Fallon is a human being.
What I do take issue with is the lack of an alternative plan being offered up by the critics of the current plan. They old saying that "those who can't, criticize" seems to be in play. In lieu of an alternative bonus proposal that's more in depth than just 'more money', the chattering from the teacher's union is just devolving into white noise. When your arugments boil down to "I'm agin' it" with no additional substance there's a good chance that you've outlived your usefulness as principled opposition. Perhaps the teacher's union needs to look within its ranks and select new leadership?
Considering the 'wave of bipartisanship' that's supposedly sweeping government perhaps a teacher's union leader who's willing to work with, instead of shout at, HISD administrators would be a refressing change.
Oh, and we could do more to raise teacher base pay, that'd be nice as well. (unrelated aside)
Sunday, January 4, 2009
My Kingdom for a list...(UPDATED)
Straus claims to have his in order, Tom Craddick is confident in his. According to a recent Twitter from Democratic Representative Aaron Pena, Straus is going to release his tonight.
Reaction, across the Texas Blogosphere is decidedly mixed over the prospects of whether or not Tom Craddick can survive this challenge to his gavel. Remember, back in the 2007 race things looked dim for team Craddick just before victory presented itself in the form House Parliamentarian Terry Keel pulled Craddick's proverbial fat out of the fire. Thus ended the insurgency of Jim Pitts and paved the way for one of the most controversial House sessions in recent history.
What will happen this time is up for debate. If both parties release their lists of "iron-clad" supporters, will there be duplications? And what of the so-called "Craddick D's"? Do they continue in their support of Team Craddick (despite the fact that, in doing so, they are guaranteeing a strong primary challenge in 2010) or do they break ranks with the Right-half of the Republican Party and support a candidate that's more palatable to their Party? One thing to consider, this could be the last race of its kind. The idea that major political parties would require 'loyalty' pledges only makes sense. The question is: Would this lead to better or worse candidates coming out of the Party selection process in the long run?
UPDATE: Texas Weekly is reporting Craddick is out. If that's the case then it's Straus, Gattis and Smithee for the championship of the World. (in a manner of speaking.) Or, more accurately, Smithee and Craddick's former supporters vs. Straus.
Reaction, across the Texas Blogosphere is decidedly mixed over the prospects of whether or not Tom Craddick can survive this challenge to his gavel. Remember, back in the 2007 race things looked dim for team Craddick just before victory presented itself in the form House Parliamentarian Terry Keel pulled Craddick's proverbial fat out of the fire. Thus ended the insurgency of Jim Pitts and paved the way for one of the most controversial House sessions in recent history.
What will happen this time is up for debate. If both parties release their lists of "iron-clad" supporters, will there be duplications? And what of the so-called "Craddick D's"? Do they continue in their support of Team Craddick (despite the fact that, in doing so, they are guaranteeing a strong primary challenge in 2010) or do they break ranks with the Right-half of the Republican Party and support a candidate that's more palatable to their Party? One thing to consider, this could be the last race of its kind. The idea that major political parties would require 'loyalty' pledges only makes sense. The question is: Would this lead to better or worse candidates coming out of the Party selection process in the long run?
UPDATE: Texas Weekly is reporting Craddick is out. If that's the case then it's Straus, Gattis and Smithee for the championship of the World. (in a manner of speaking.) Or, more accurately, Smithee and Craddick's former supporters vs. Straus.
So now voter education is important?
Republican Jeff Wentworth of San Antonio seems to think so.
[AP via Chron.com]
Elimination of straight-ticket voting in Texas has been somewhat of a resurgent political cause célèbre since what's affectionately known, in GOP circles, as "The Harris County bloodletting of 2008". While I have no reason to question that Wentworth has been championing this issue "since running for Bexar County Commissioner's Court" three decades ago, it's fair to ask if any of his Republican colleagues would have been so anxious to see this bill pass absent current Texas voting trends?
Personally, I'm opposed to straight-ticket voting and can safely say that I have never cast a straight-ticket ballot. That being said, I'm sure that political bloggers, even bad political bloggers such as I, spend more time surveying down ballot races than do average Texas citizens with more important matters, such as children, charity, etc., to tend to in their down time. For those people the parties are supposed to screen candidates and nominate competent individuals to stand for election into positions of power. If there is a failing in the straight-ticket system, then that failure lies with the power-brokers within the Texas Democratic and Texas Republican Party, as well as power structures behind the scenes that promote candidates for electoral nomination.
[AP via Chron.com]
A San Antonio state senator wants to revive efforts to eliminate the straight-ticket voting option, even after Texans hit a 10-year high in the percentage of ballots sticking entirely with one party.
Republican Sen. Jeff Wentworth plans a second run at deleting the straight-ticket option during the legislative session that starts Jan. 13. His repeal proposal didn’t advance in 2007.
“Both political parties need to stop being quite so partisan,” Wentworth said in Sunday’s editions of the Austin American-Statesman.
Texas Democratic Party spokesman Hector Nieto said straight-ticket voting was “a good thing for both parties” and accused Republicans of trying to disrupt the inroads Democrats have made in urban counties, notably Harris and Dallas counties.
“It’s clear Republicans have seen Democrats organizing in a better manner and using straight-ticket voting to our advantage,” Nieto said. “Instead of competing, they just want to do away with it.”
Wentworth said his proposal had nothing to do with giving either party an advantage. Rather, he said, Texas needs to join the majority of U.S. states in not allowing straight-ticket voting. Nationally, 16 states offer the option. Five states have repealed it since 1994.
The straight-ticket option has been mentioned in Texas law since 1911.
If a voter wants to favor every Republican or Democrat on a ballot, “that’s fine with me,” Wentworth said.
“I’m not trying to tell them how to vote,” he said. “I’m just saying they ought to be more informed by seeing the name.”
Elimination of straight-ticket voting in Texas has been somewhat of a resurgent political cause célèbre since what's affectionately known, in GOP circles, as "The Harris County bloodletting of 2008". While I have no reason to question that Wentworth has been championing this issue "since running for Bexar County Commissioner's Court" three decades ago, it's fair to ask if any of his Republican colleagues would have been so anxious to see this bill pass absent current Texas voting trends?
Personally, I'm opposed to straight-ticket voting and can safely say that I have never cast a straight-ticket ballot. That being said, I'm sure that political bloggers, even bad political bloggers such as I, spend more time surveying down ballot races than do average Texas citizens with more important matters, such as children, charity, etc., to tend to in their down time. For those people the parties are supposed to screen candidates and nominate competent individuals to stand for election into positions of power. If there is a failing in the straight-ticket system, then that failure lies with the power-brokers within the Texas Democratic and Texas Republican Party, as well as power structures behind the scenes that promote candidates for electoral nomination.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
The best thing about Straus...
..is that he's not Tom Craddick it seems. Democrats don't seem to care who it is as long as its not him.
[Jay Root of the AP via Chron.com]
Democrats seem happy with Straus, Republican reaction (what there is of it) seems to be tracking toward the 'Democrat lite' area of outrage, with some Conservatives musing that backing Tom Craddick is their best chance to continue their protracted battle to reduce the scope of Texas Government throughout the State.
The Chron Austin Bureau has an exclusive interview with Straus and I'm sure they're be a lot more to come.
Craddick and his crew meet tomorrow. Should be fun.
[Jay Root of the AP via Chron.com]
Everybody expects the next Texas House leader to be a Republican, but Democrats who gathered in Austin Saturday could play a pivotal role in choosing between GOP House Speaker Tom Craddick and his new rival.
Rep. Joe Straus of San Antonio, a relative newcomer to the Texas Legislature, emerged as the unanimous choice of the so-called ABC coalition — Anybody But Craddick — after a closed-door meeting Friday night. But the wealthy businessman only had 11 publicly declared Republican votes as of Saturday afternoon, so a few dozen Democrats could make or break his nascent candidacy.
Meanwhile, Craddick spokeswoman Alexis DeLee said the Midland Republican was gaining support — not losing it.
"We have grown stronger in the last 24 hours," DeLee said. "The size of the field has narrowed, and the speaker has picked up momentum and is in a great position."
Democrats seem happy with Straus, Republican reaction (what there is of it) seems to be tracking toward the 'Democrat lite' area of outrage, with some Conservatives musing that backing Tom Craddick is their best chance to continue their protracted battle to reduce the scope of Texas Government throughout the State.
The Chron Austin Bureau has an exclusive interview with Straus and I'm sure they're be a lot more to come.
Craddick and his crew meet tomorrow. Should be fun.
Of timeliness, typos and oops moments....
I can't believe I'm saying this, but recent Chron editorials have almost made one long for the halcyon days of Mrs. White and her adventrues in International Politics. These days the Chronicle editorial board is just having trouble living up to their motto: "Not Liberal or Conservative".
Today's head-scratcher occurs near the end of an otherwise harmless editorial (albeit, one with tortured prose, rife with subject/verb tense issues) in the form of an unusual legislative call to arms:
Progressivism being the nom de plume for little s Socialism, not to be confused with Liberalism in its purest form. Following that etymology, making the case for an editorial board that is neither "liberal or conservative" involves a suspension of logic only seen in some of the most partisan circles where self-awareness is in short supply.
The more concerning aspect of this editorial is as follows: When she managed to bang out an editorial in a timely manner, tAFKAMW was incapable of producing elegant, correct prose, an advanced level of wit, nor a level of insight that's the hallmark of a successful editorial page. For my money I'll take the first three and a healthy dose of little "s" Socialism any day. It sure beats the dreck we're being spoon-fed now.
Today's head-scratcher occurs near the end of an otherwise harmless editorial (albeit, one with tortured prose, rife with subject/verb tense issues) in the form of an unusual legislative call to arms:
Interjecting a more progressive agenda may well hinge on representatives electing a speaker who is open to dialogue, to considering more than one vision and who isn't tied to an ideology at the expense of a wide spectrum of issues.
Progressivism being the nom de plume for little s Socialism, not to be confused with Liberalism in its purest form. Following that etymology, making the case for an editorial board that is neither "liberal or conservative" involves a suspension of logic only seen in some of the most partisan circles where self-awareness is in short supply.
The more concerning aspect of this editorial is as follows: When she managed to bang out an editorial in a timely manner, tAFKAMW was incapable of producing elegant, correct prose, an advanced level of wit, nor a level of insight that's the hallmark of a successful editorial page. For my money I'll take the first three and a healthy dose of little "s" Socialism any day. It sure beats the dreck we're being spoon-fed now.
The More Things Change....
...the more they stay the same as far as County Government is concerned.
Just one day into their tenures and there are already scandals surrounding the two highest-profile elected officials in Harris County. While I don't blame either Garcia or Lykos for wanting to have their 'people' surrounding them in leadership positions, the tone and manner that the firings were handled are raising questions about political paybacks, bad blood, and political vendettas. On the surface, Garcia's purge would seem to be less vengeful than Lykos' purge. It was initially handled in a more professional manner until this:
Banning people from Sheriff offices? While its true that Garcia had the flyers removed, the article doesn't make it clear if they were removed before or after the questions were raised. If they were taken down before, then there's nothing to see here, move on but, if he had them removed after complaints were lodged, then this scandal could have some legs. Granted, the legs will probably be divided directly along party lines, but they'll be valid questions despite what you hear.
The Lykos situation appears to be nothing more than purging the office of political rivals. There's nothing illegal about this, but it does raise serious questions about her ability to work with those who don't agree with her.
The important thing to remember in all of this is that a certain amount of turnover was expected. Both of these offices had serious questions about them under the prior administrations. Hopefully these purges are being made with improving the office in mind and not as political payback for those close to their opponents.
Just one day into their tenures and there are already scandals surrounding the two highest-profile elected officials in Harris County. While I don't blame either Garcia or Lykos for wanting to have their 'people' surrounding them in leadership positions, the tone and manner that the firings were handled are raising questions about political paybacks, bad blood, and political vendettas. On the surface, Garcia's purge would seem to be less vengeful than Lykos' purge. It was initially handled in a more professional manner until this:
[Peggy O'Hare and Mary Flood, Chron.com]
Just a day after taking office, Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia found himself having to explain an office-wide memo that barred nine former top commanders from all Sheriff's Office facilities. Two of those Garcia ousted, both high-ranking deputies, went to court Friday to challenge their firings.
Banning people from Sheriff offices? While its true that Garcia had the flyers removed, the article doesn't make it clear if they were removed before or after the questions were raised. If they were taken down before, then there's nothing to see here, move on but, if he had them removed after complaints were lodged, then this scandal could have some legs. Granted, the legs will probably be divided directly along party lines, but they'll be valid questions despite what you hear.
The Lykos situation appears to be nothing more than purging the office of political rivals. There's nothing illegal about this, but it does raise serious questions about her ability to work with those who don't agree with her.
The important thing to remember in all of this is that a certain amount of turnover was expected. Both of these offices had serious questions about them under the prior administrations. Hopefully these purges are being made with improving the office in mind and not as political payback for those close to their opponents.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Vote for me, and you can be in charge of....(UPDATED)
Friday afternoon is typically prime time for the release of those annoying little news tidbits that politicians would like to sweep under the rug. Paul Bettencourt resigning? Friday. Rick Perry's controversial "Gardasil" announcement...Friday afternoon. Today's news that the Republican ABC's (anybody but Craddick) are meeting in secret could be one of those occasions where real news is made, but the public doesn't pay much mind.
Fortunately, the media is on the job on this one, and we could have a pretty good idea of whether or not Tom Craddick will survive with his Speaker's gavel in place by the end of this afternoon. So far, Paul Burka's been silent regarding this meeting, but I'm willing to bet he's either hanging around the meeting or on the phone with one of his insiders getting the dirt.
All of this brings us to that oldest of political past-times: tit-for-tat. In other words: What will it take for you to vote for me? After all, you really didn't think all of those Representatives who announced for Speaker didn't think they were going to win did you?
Nope. Think about Republican Edmund Kempuel. Under Craddick's leadership he was relegated to the committee equivalent of the boondocks. Vice chair of Culture, Recreation & Tourism and a member of Environmental Regulation. Given the environmental attitude of an Obama Presidency, it'd be a shrewd move on Rep. Kempuel's part to ask for the chairmanship of Environmental Regulation in return for a lock-solid vote. I've got no information saying he'll do that, but wouldn't you?
The same logic applies to Democratic candidates that announced for Speaker. With a 76-74 Republican split in the House, the Democratic hammer is unusually large this year for a minority Party. Savvy Democrats, (Hochberg, Thompson, etc.) understand the size of the cudgel that the 64 Anyone But Craddick Democrats really is. Even former Craddick Democrats like Sylvester Turner (who parlayed his Craddick support into a chairmanship of the Sub-committee of Budget and Oversight) are seeing the writing on the wall and are trying to position themselves to not lose it all as the good ship Craddick goes down.
If the ABC Republicans are able to unite behind a single candidate, and if they can persuade the ABC Democrats to back that Candidate, Craddick is all but done. After that the only questions remaining to be answered is who has the biggest stick to swing around during negotiations. We shall see. Previously I pegged Craddick's chances of keeping the Speakership at "35%". Given the events that have transpired since then, and the fact that the ABC Republicans seem determined to find a single opposition candidate, I'd say that percentage has greatly decreased. Maybe 10% for Craddick right now.
From Elise Hu:
Sounds like a group that's intent on uniting behind one candidate to me.
UPDATE: Elise Hu is reporting that Rep. Brian McCall of Plano just filed and he could be the chosen one.
UPDATE 2: The Chron Austin Bureau is reporting that Joe Straus of San Antonio is the chosen one. Curiouser and curiouser.
Kuff has more.
Fortunately, the media is on the job on this one, and we could have a pretty good idea of whether or not Tom Craddick will survive with his Speaker's gavel in place by the end of this afternoon. So far, Paul Burka's been silent regarding this meeting, but I'm willing to bet he's either hanging around the meeting or on the phone with one of his insiders getting the dirt.
All of this brings us to that oldest of political past-times: tit-for-tat. In other words: What will it take for you to vote for me? After all, you really didn't think all of those Representatives who announced for Speaker didn't think they were going to win did you?
Nope. Think about Republican Edmund Kempuel. Under Craddick's leadership he was relegated to the committee equivalent of the boondocks. Vice chair of Culture, Recreation & Tourism and a member of Environmental Regulation. Given the environmental attitude of an Obama Presidency, it'd be a shrewd move on Rep. Kempuel's part to ask for the chairmanship of Environmental Regulation in return for a lock-solid vote. I've got no information saying he'll do that, but wouldn't you?
The same logic applies to Democratic candidates that announced for Speaker. With a 76-74 Republican split in the House, the Democratic hammer is unusually large this year for a minority Party. Savvy Democrats, (Hochberg, Thompson, etc.) understand the size of the cudgel that the 64 Anyone But Craddick Democrats really is. Even former Craddick Democrats like Sylvester Turner (who parlayed his Craddick support into a chairmanship of the Sub-committee of Budget and Oversight) are seeing the writing on the wall and are trying to position themselves to not lose it all as the good ship Craddick goes down.
If the ABC Republicans are able to unite behind a single candidate, and if they can persuade the ABC Democrats to back that Candidate, Craddick is all but done. After that the only questions remaining to be answered is who has the biggest stick to swing around during negotiations. We shall see. Previously I pegged Craddick's chances of keeping the Speakership at "35%". Given the events that have transpired since then, and the fact that the ABC Republicans seem determined to find a single opposition candidate, I'd say that percentage has greatly decreased. Maybe 10% for Craddick right now.
From Elise Hu:
"Are you the next speaker?" I asked (Burt) Solomons.
"I don't know, I have no idea. But I think it's real smart of you to be hanging around though," Solomons said.
Sounds like a group that's intent on uniting behind one candidate to me.
UPDATE: Elise Hu is reporting that Rep. Brian McCall of Plano just filed and he could be the chosen one.
UPDATE 2: The Chron Austin Bureau is reporting that Joe Straus of San Antonio is the chosen one. Curiouser and curiouser.
Kuff has more.
You can swim in Buffalo Bayou, but you might have green skin afterwards.
The plain fact is that most Houstonians don't think much about Houston's Buffalo Bayou. In San Antonio you have the River Walk, developed and redirected into a top tourist spot, in Austin you have The Colorado River, dammed into three lakes and recreation areas. in Dallas you have the Trinity River, whose future is being dominated by grand plans and urban development until its ultimately dammed for recreation at Lake Worth. All of these signature waterways provide the community with a source of civic pride. They're landmarks for tourists, industry, recreation and history. In Houston's Buffalo bayou? Not so much. As Carolyn Feibel of the Chron tells us today, Matthew Coolidge is trying to rekindle the fire that Houstonians feel for their Bayou, in its current state, without cosmetic surgery.
Coolidge' exhibit is designed to take a non-critical look at the human flotsam and industrial jetsam that flourishes on the banks of the Bayou, as well as document the Bayou's role as a lifeblood of Houston industry. It promises to be an interesting look at both the good, the bad and structures that Houston illuminati consider to be the ugly. Oddly enough, for some Houstonians this might be their first glance at a petrochemical plant, structures that Coolidge contend have an inherent beauty within them due, in large part, to their complexity. While your idea of beauty may not be a scrap yard, there's a duality in the fabricated, sanitized spaces of Discovery Green and the rough and tumble pock-marked landscapes where waste from those products is disposed. You can't have one (as desirous as it is) without the other (as much as people would have the latter go away).
The exhibit begins its run at the Blaffer Gallery @ UH Central Campus on January 17th, scheduled for an extended run through March 29th. If you're in the area, take a visit begin to form your own firsthand opinions about the cost/benefits of industry in Houston, instead of relying on those provided to you by politicians and special interest groups. Seeing is believing after all, and after seeing these pictures you might walk away with a different outlook on industry in Houston, for better or for worse.
One interesting tid-bit in the article was an aside by Coolidge regarding plans to "reclaim" the banks of the bayou:
Zoning and 'planning' are two memes that are expected to be pushed in municipal politics during 2009. There's a sizable group of Houston's elite that view zoning as the last chance to push Houston safely into the 21st Century. It can either be argued that these leaders are visionaries with an eye on Houston's future, or that they are timid people who lack the administrative creativity to govern a Houston that operates under a different rule book. Regardless of your position on zoning, starting off the year getting a little more familiar with the sprawling City in which you live is always a good thing. It might even help you become a more educated municipal voter at the same time.
Houstonians have little love for the Buffalo Bayou. To most, it's a buggy, sluggish storm drain. Even for those who try to embrace it — the environmentalists, the historians, the urban planners — the love involves caveats: What it once was, historically. What it could be, as a tourist destination or "green corridor." If only, if only ...
Matthew Coolidge, 42, loves the bayou for what it is — a forgotten space rich with traces of human activity.
"This can be a wonder park of Houston, and you don't have to do a thing," he said, piloting a boat past a clanging, rust-dusty scrap yard. "You just have to change your perception."
That's what Coolidge wants to do for Houstonians. He has spent a year visiting this sprawling, unzoned metropolis and has mapped out the bayou and the refineries for a series of lectures, tours and an exhibit to open Jan. 17 at University of Houston's Blaffer Gallery.
Coolidge' exhibit is designed to take a non-critical look at the human flotsam and industrial jetsam that flourishes on the banks of the Bayou, as well as document the Bayou's role as a lifeblood of Houston industry. It promises to be an interesting look at both the good, the bad and structures that Houston illuminati consider to be the ugly. Oddly enough, for some Houstonians this might be their first glance at a petrochemical plant, structures that Coolidge contend have an inherent beauty within them due, in large part, to their complexity. While your idea of beauty may not be a scrap yard, there's a duality in the fabricated, sanitized spaces of Discovery Green and the rough and tumble pock-marked landscapes where waste from those products is disposed. You can't have one (as desirous as it is) without the other (as much as people would have the latter go away).
The exhibit begins its run at the Blaffer Gallery @ UH Central Campus on January 17th, scheduled for an extended run through March 29th. If you're in the area, take a visit begin to form your own firsthand opinions about the cost/benefits of industry in Houston, instead of relying on those provided to you by politicians and special interest groups. Seeing is believing after all, and after seeing these pictures you might walk away with a different outlook on industry in Houston, for better or for worse.
One interesting tid-bit in the article was an aside by Coolidge regarding plans to "reclaim" the banks of the bayou:
He seems ambivalent about residents "rediscovering" Buffalo Bayou. Often, redevelopment of a waterfront involves building a "hardscape" of walkways and overlooks.
"You lose the chaos a bit. You don't want to lose that too much," he said; Houston has character, in part, because it's unzoned and a bit "wild."
Zoning and 'planning' are two memes that are expected to be pushed in municipal politics during 2009. There's a sizable group of Houston's elite that view zoning as the last chance to push Houston safely into the 21st Century. It can either be argued that these leaders are visionaries with an eye on Houston's future, or that they are timid people who lack the administrative creativity to govern a Houston that operates under a different rule book. Regardless of your position on zoning, starting off the year getting a little more familiar with the sprawling City in which you live is always a good thing. It might even help you become a more educated municipal voter at the same time.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
2009 Battle of the babies.
Dallas-Ft Worth...
[Michael A. Lindenberger, DMN]
Houston
[Dale Lezon, Chron.com]
In the battle of "world class" baby gifts I think Dallas-Ft. Worth win going away.
On another front: A sign of the times (from the DMN story)
On a quasi-political note: It's no coincidence that three of the four babies in these stories were the proud owners of Hispanic surnames. Projections that Hispanics will soon be a majority in Texas are being confirmed through anecdotal means every day. Texas political parties ignore them at their peril.
[Michael A. Lindenberger, DMN]
Some babies are born with a silver spoon in their mouth, but Ana Juarez’ daughter has a pair of diamond earrings waiting for her.
Baby April, born half a minute past midnight Thursday morning in Fort Worth, won what amounts to the North Texas baby derby of 2009, kicking her way into the world just minutes ahead of her fellow New Year’s Day babies across the region.
To help celebrate, Zales Corp. donated the earrings as a promotional gift for a new line of diamonds - the Irving-based company’s most brilliant diamonds ever, according to spokeswoman.
Houston
[Dale Lezon, Chron.com]
Houston's first baby of 2009 made his debut at 12:15 a.m. at Ben Taub Hospital. Alejandro Ruiz Salado arrived weighing 7 pounds, 1.9 ounces and spanning 20 inches.
He and his mother, Macrina Melendes, are doing well, hospital officials said.
Named after his father, Alejandro surprised his parents by arriving a week early.
Among the perks that come with being Houston's first baby of the new year: A few years of free baby food from the Beech-Nut Nutrition Corp. The company is offering the food to the first-borns in 17 major U.S. cities, including Houston.
In the battle of "world class" baby gifts I think Dallas-Ft. Worth win going away.
On another front: A sign of the times (from the DMN story)
The first baby at Dallas’ Parkland Memorial Hospital was a slow-poke by comparison, arriving at 12:16 a.m. Justin Daniel Ramirez was born to Dallas eighth-grader Fernanda Rios, 15, who couldn’t stop smiling as she cradled her new son in her arms Thursday morning.
“I was nervous at first about what my mom would say, but I told her I would try my best and she said okay,” Fernanda said.
Fernanda will take six weeks off from school, and be home schooled while she gets to know Justin. She said her mother and cousin will help raise him, along with the boy’s father who also lives with her mother.
On a quasi-political note: It's no coincidence that three of the four babies in these stories were the proud owners of Hispanic surnames. Projections that Hispanics will soon be a majority in Texas are being confirmed through anecdotal means every day. Texas political parties ignore them at their peril.
City receives New Year Present from the courts.
The City of Houston received some good news yesterday regarding their ability to police Sexually Oriented Businesses courtesy of a favorable ruling from a District Court.
[Bradley Olson, Chron.com]
An earlier version of this story (now lost to cyberspace) hinted that management and employees of The Penthouse Club relocated to a "sister club" across the street known as All Stars. It's not clear if the new new, wide-ranging lawsuit, will target that establishment or not. One would assume that it would, unless The Penthouse Club was located immediately on the edge of the 1500 foot radius. If the latter scenario is true, then this lengthy legal battle was successful in moving a business approximately 150 feet.
Disturbing to some civil rights advocates, is that the City openly took the side of one set of moral interests at the expense of something agreeable to the mainstream. The question that this raises is simple: What if what other, less onerous, businesses suddenly are deemed 'immoral'? Will fast food restaurants suddenly become a public nuisance due to their contributions to child obesity?
Fast food, sporting goods stores that sell hunting equipment, convenience stores that sell cigarettes, liquor stores, the list goes on and on.
[Bradley Olson, Chron.com]
The city of Houston claimed a significant victory Wednesday in its effort to stamp out strip clubs and pornographic boutiques that have set up shop too close to neighborhoods.
A state district judge ruled in favor of the city's attempt to permanently shut down The Penthouse Club, 2618 Winrock, and ordered an owner of the establishment to pay $42,000 in legal fees.
"This is a good day for Houstonians that want to protect the decency of our neighborhoods for families, and also want to say no to those businesses that degrade and exploit women for profit," said Mayor Bill White.
An earlier version of this story (now lost to cyberspace) hinted that management and employees of The Penthouse Club relocated to a "sister club" across the street known as All Stars. It's not clear if the new new, wide-ranging lawsuit, will target that establishment or not. One would assume that it would, unless The Penthouse Club was located immediately on the edge of the 1500 foot radius. If the latter scenario is true, then this lengthy legal battle was successful in moving a business approximately 150 feet.
Disturbing to some civil rights advocates, is that the City openly took the side of one set of moral interests at the expense of something agreeable to the mainstream. The question that this raises is simple: What if what other, less onerous, businesses suddenly are deemed 'immoral'? Will fast food restaurants suddenly become a public nuisance due to their contributions to child obesity?
Fast food, sporting goods stores that sell hunting equipment, convenience stores that sell cigarettes, liquor stores, the list goes on and on.
Scandal and Intrique being defined as that which the Chroncile wishes to reprort.
The New Year, being a time for new directions, finds the Chron's junior columnist trying her hand at watchdog commentary perhaps in an attempt to establish a new tone for a new year whose watchword is change. It was a harmless first attempt, kind of an overview of the end of 2008 troubles that have darkened the visage of Houston's Mayor since his announcement that he intends to try for Kay Bailey's Senate seat, should she ever decide to resign.
To be sure, there's nothing fancy or groundbreaking in this column, nothing that rises to the level of Pulitzer Prize journalism. It's a start however, albeit an uninspiring one that doesn't shed any new light into developing situations that are already receiving a fairly robust public vetting. At least Ms. Falkenberg decided to make mention of the connections between Bob Stein's wife and the Mayor's office something tAFKAMW chose to ignore in their vetting of the situation.
Perhaps due to the pedestrian nature of the recap, my attention was not peaked by anything involving the current PR snafu's with which the mayor is dealing, but with Ms. Falkenberg's earnest assurances that White's office has been "bereft of scandal and intrigue" until recent times. In fact, if your sole news source regarding all things Houston is the Chronicle, you might not find this statement to be all that controversial. If you choose to "take the Mayor at his word", then you might believe that there has been nothing that transpired during the previous years of his administration that deserved a closer look at all.
Mayor White's use of the Hilton Americas Hotel to offset the pension debt? Not a pushing back of debt to later administrations but, instead, a savvy business move by a Mayor with a business background. One should also discount the questions surrounding the extension of the IAH Terminal C concessions contract, the Yellow Cab "shared ride" program, the land deal with the Center Serving Persons for Mental Retardation, the numerous controversies surrounding SafeClear and the Ashby High Rise situation.
Perhaps the only difference between the current "intrigue" and the harmless stories of past years is the Chron's sudden willingness to discuss the possibility that there could be flaws in the way the administration is handling business. Some of this reluctance can be attributed to a lack of quality in the Chronicle's staff of Metropolitan columnists, an additional reason is probably directly related to Mayor White's soaring popularity. It's no joke when a Mayor garners 86% of the popular vote in any election, but when its done in an off-year election with a relatively small undervote (which, it should be noted some idiot observers {including this idiot} predicted could occur) it makes people, even reporters, stand up and take notice. Mayor White has enjoyed the most wide-spread popularity in Houston since Bob Lanier. It's partially due to this fact, and a healthy personal respect for him by the Chron editorial staff, that Houston's newspaper of record wasn't all that keen on tracking down the hints of 'intrigue' that surround any public office where decisions are made that impact the lives over 1 Million people.
Houston has been poorer for this lack of journalistic watch-dogging during both the Lee P. Brown and Bill White administrations. That the #2 City columnist for the City's newspaper of record has such poor institutional memory highlights just how under-reported these issues have been. After Mayor Brown left the office the scandals brewing in his administration started receiving National attention. I've no doubt that the 'intrigue' in the White administration lies somewhere way down the corruption scale from the Brown administration, but there's an un-reported pattern of decisions made with undoubted influence from outside sources. Only recently has that influence risen to levels that are receiving wide-spread public scrutiny.
What does this all mean? Probably nothing. Mayor White is widely viewed as having done a good job for Houston during his tenure as Mayor. I imagine that there will be very little public enthusiasm for investigating too deeply any of the 'intrigue' either past or present. Oh sure, there will be some outrage from the usual White opponents coupled with return broadsides of a personal nature from White supporters, but nothing of any lasting substance will be done. After all, making Government policy under the cloud of influence is The Houston Way.
A more interesting case study would be to monitor the tenor of the upcoming (maybe) race for TX. Senate. Former Comptroller John Sharp has filed the necessary paperwork to run for the office, he's well funded and (by all accounts) still has good oppo research. Sometimes accusations within the Party carry more weight than do those of an inter-party nature.
To be sure, there's nothing fancy or groundbreaking in this column, nothing that rises to the level of Pulitzer Prize journalism. It's a start however, albeit an uninspiring one that doesn't shed any new light into developing situations that are already receiving a fairly robust public vetting. At least Ms. Falkenberg decided to make mention of the connections between Bob Stein's wife and the Mayor's office something tAFKAMW chose to ignore in their vetting of the situation.
Perhaps due to the pedestrian nature of the recap, my attention was not peaked by anything involving the current PR snafu's with which the mayor is dealing, but with Ms. Falkenberg's earnest assurances that White's office has been "bereft of scandal and intrigue" until recent times. In fact, if your sole news source regarding all things Houston is the Chronicle, you might not find this statement to be all that controversial. If you choose to "take the Mayor at his word", then you might believe that there has been nothing that transpired during the previous years of his administration that deserved a closer look at all.
Mayor White's use of the Hilton Americas Hotel to offset the pension debt? Not a pushing back of debt to later administrations but, instead, a savvy business move by a Mayor with a business background. One should also discount the questions surrounding the extension of the IAH Terminal C concessions contract, the Yellow Cab "shared ride" program, the land deal with the Center Serving Persons for Mental Retardation, the numerous controversies surrounding SafeClear and the Ashby High Rise situation.
Perhaps the only difference between the current "intrigue" and the harmless stories of past years is the Chron's sudden willingness to discuss the possibility that there could be flaws in the way the administration is handling business. Some of this reluctance can be attributed to a lack of quality in the Chronicle's staff of Metropolitan columnists, an additional reason is probably directly related to Mayor White's soaring popularity. It's no joke when a Mayor garners 86% of the popular vote in any election, but when its done in an off-year election with a relatively small undervote (which, it should be noted some idiot observers {including this idiot} predicted could occur) it makes people, even reporters, stand up and take notice. Mayor White has enjoyed the most wide-spread popularity in Houston since Bob Lanier. It's partially due to this fact, and a healthy personal respect for him by the Chron editorial staff, that Houston's newspaper of record wasn't all that keen on tracking down the hints of 'intrigue' that surround any public office where decisions are made that impact the lives over 1 Million people.
Houston has been poorer for this lack of journalistic watch-dogging during both the Lee P. Brown and Bill White administrations. That the #2 City columnist for the City's newspaper of record has such poor institutional memory highlights just how under-reported these issues have been. After Mayor Brown left the office the scandals brewing in his administration started receiving National attention. I've no doubt that the 'intrigue' in the White administration lies somewhere way down the corruption scale from the Brown administration, but there's an un-reported pattern of decisions made with undoubted influence from outside sources. Only recently has that influence risen to levels that are receiving wide-spread public scrutiny.
What does this all mean? Probably nothing. Mayor White is widely viewed as having done a good job for Houston during his tenure as Mayor. I imagine that there will be very little public enthusiasm for investigating too deeply any of the 'intrigue' either past or present. Oh sure, there will be some outrage from the usual White opponents coupled with return broadsides of a personal nature from White supporters, but nothing of any lasting substance will be done. After all, making Government policy under the cloud of influence is The Houston Way.
A more interesting case study would be to monitor the tenor of the upcoming (maybe) race for TX. Senate. Former Comptroller John Sharp has filed the necessary paperwork to run for the office, he's well funded and (by all accounts) still has good oppo research. Sometimes accusations within the Party carry more weight than do those of an inter-party nature.
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