Monthly Archives: May 2008

(Community Matters) The McClellan boys ain’t got a lick of the integrity nor the class of their granddaddy, UT Law School Dean Page Keeton. I’m not a supporter or friend of their mama, Carol Keeton McClellan Rylander Strayhorn, but at least she speaks her mind when it counts and promotes what she considers the interest of constituents. Titty babies Mark McClellan (Bush’s FDA commissioner) and Scott McClellan (Bush’s press officer) punk for their boss, then kiss & tell.

(Community Matters) The fundraiser for Senator Obama featuring campaign strategist David Axelrod has been finalized and will take place:

(Community Matters) I’m spending the week with a friend in Houston at MD Anderson. Blogging about it at SquirrelsInTheAttic.info.

(Community Matters) The article in this morning’s AAS about the Condo Deal to aid East Austin here identified me as a governor on the board of the Austin Community Foundation. This is true, though I clarified that I was speaking as one of three advisors to the ACF fund. UT’s Rudy Green, Winstead partner Mike Cook and I are jointly tasked with recommending grants from the fund created by Tom & Lynn Meredith’s generous contribution of land to ACF, as well as Terry Mitchell’s and David Mahn’s contribution of profits. Tom invited me to participate in the Featherlite project in its beginning; I continue to do so today in my role as CEO of the Entrepreneurs Foundation, which was otherwise represented at the table from the project’s earliest days. Will Meredith now leads the project.

(Community Matters) So, if we wanted special influence with a Texas House member, how many Texans think it ok to give him/her $40k – not his campaign but a contribution to his/her personal checking account? No difference from what Lubbock State Rep. Carl Isett (Republican) is doing, albeit into his wife’s business checking account. here

(Community Matters) Two important pieces on education today: Economist: “Red Ties and Boys’ Pride,” about the Urban Prep Charter Academy and Chicago’s Ren 10, $44 million raised by Chicago community leaders to welcome education entrepreneurs. here

And, Thomas Friedman’s column in today’s NYTimes about the lottery for slots in the SEED School of Maryland, where 300 students competed for 80 slots. The limited slots are considered literal life savers to parents & counselors of inner-city children here

(Community Matters) My friend & I have launched a blog with information about his cancer and The Tour (to beat the hell outta cancer). The blog is open to friends, family and other interested parties. I don’t want to publish the URL but am happy to share with anyone I know, whether you know my friend or not. Sent by the fairy gods, Flat Liberace is helping us navigate The Tour.

(Community Matters) So W-like at times:

I regret that if my referencing that moment of trauma for our entire nation, and particularly for the Kennedy family was in any way offensive.

(Community Matters) California U.S. Rep Dennis Cardoza who co-chairs Senator Clinton’s Hispanic Leadership Council has now endorsed Senator Obama. here

(Community Matters) Senator Obama spoke on Friday in Miami at the Cuban American National Foundation:

excerpts:

. . . . It’s time for more than tough talk that never yields results. It’s time for a new strategy. There are no better ambassadors for freedom than Cuban Americans. That’s why I will immediately allow unlimited family travel and remittances to the island. It’s time to let Cuban Americans see their mothers and fathers, their sisters and brothers. . . .

We cannot ignore suffering to our south, nor stand for the globalization of the empty stomach. Responsibility rests with governments in the region, but we must do our part. I will substantially increase our aid to the Americas, and embrace the Millennium Development Goals of halving global poverty by 2015. We’ll target support to bottom-up growth through micro financing, vocational training, and small enterprise development. It’s time for theUnited States to once again be a beacon of hope and a helping hand. . . .

Trade must be part of this solution. But I strongly reject the Bush-McCain view that any trade deal is a good deal. We cannot accept trade that enriches those at the top of the ladder while cutting out the rungs at the bottom. It’s time to understand that the goal of our trade policy must be trade that works for all people in all countries. Like Central America’s bishops, I opposed CAFTA because the needs of workers were not adequately addressed. I supported the Peru Free Trade Agreement because there were binding labor and environmental provisions. That’s the kind of trade we need – trade that lifts up workers, not just a corporate bottom line.

There’s nothing protectionist about demanding that trade spreads the benefits of globalization, instead of steering them to special interests while we short-change workers at home and abroad. If John McCain believes – as he said the other day – that 80 percent of Americans think we’re on the wrong track because we haven’t passed free trade with Colombia, then he’s totally out of touch with the American people. And if John McCain thinks that we can paper over our failure of leadership in the region by occasionally passing trade deals with friendly governments, then he’s out of touch with the people of the Americas. . . .

(Community Matters) Brett’s one of my undergraduates. I raced back from Llano today to attend his commissioning as a Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corp.

Lt. Brett Lester on the right

Admiral Bobby Inman

Admiral Inman has been an important mentor to Brett during the last year. He agreed to speak at the commissioning and to pin Brett with his two bars.

(Community Matters) Spent the night at the KDK Ranch with Janet, Kent & Kent’s family. They’re like my own. Good gosh, grew up with them during my 30′s.

Gilford, Janet, Kent, Jane, Talley, Deb & Jose
four of their kids joined us later last night

Kent & Janet led a fishing expedition this morning

Last night we celebrated Gilford’s 29th birthday. Tonight an even bigger bash celebrating Janet’s.

(Community Matters) This patriotic woman had staked out a spot on Hwy 71.

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(Community Matters) Tonight the Austin Lyric Opera is celebrating one of our best friends, Tana Christie.

Steven will represent us this evening at the Long Center. I’m heading to Llano to celebrate (a day early) Janet Harman’s & Gilford Mayes’ birthdays since I’m unable to make the big bash tomorrow – a important situation has come up related to my earlier post.