Daily Archives: 07/15/2008

Another Gonzalo

(Community Matters) Seriously, just now another email from Gonzalo Barrientos announcing that he’s been appointed the Hispanic Caucus Chair for the Texas State Democratic Convention.

Hmm, emailing under the influence?

Speelunk

(Community Matters) Good gosh, Steven has started twittering here

He’s logging in questions that come to mind during his day.

Insomniactive

(Community Matters) John Thornton’s smart blog.

Remembering JT’s ADL speech

Bailing Out Freddie and Fannie

(Community Matters) I’d overlooked bail out terms being proposed by Paulson for Freddie and Fannie. Completely agree government must intervene, if not to maintain market for home financing, to avoid further catastrophic collapse of markets. Nevertheless, hadn’t read that proposed bailout terms include buying stock. Most unpleasant to imagine existing shareholders will reap benefits of government intervention. Though, suppose they’d see the ship sink before agreeing to a complete wipe out, and we can’t afford that. Nevertheless, shouldn’t terms of bailout provide for near wipe out dilution?

I was esctatic when 43 selected Goldman CEO as treasury chief. Increasingly concerned Paulson’s a fox dressed in hen drag.


Confidence Building – NOT

(Community Matters) Neither of the three:

“Pedernales Electric Cooperative directors Monday elected a member of the co-op’s old regime as board president.”

Phelps at end of board meeting, “I don’t do interviews.”

Cooking the Books?

(Community Matters) Willing to bet 43’s administration is cooking the books and that we’re in a genuine recession (last quarter’s numbers, sic). Failed investment banks, global credit market crisis, panicking customers in line at a southern Californian bank, likely runs on other banks, a plunging dollar, schizophrenic commodity prices, gas approaching $5/gal . . . .

too early to buy solid equities?

30 Minutes

(Community Matters) I shouldn’t complain, I know others are scheduled in 5 and 10 minute slots but a day of back to back meetings, often every 30 minutes, is just grueling. Yet, they are often the most rewarding. Launched the day with oncology surgeon Dr. Declan Fleming. Marion Cimbala and I asked Declan to breakfast for feedback on our understanding of Austin medical infrastructure for breast cancer as well as his feedback on BCS vision and strategy. Of course, Declan gave us even more. Didn’t realize he was on TCMS executive board. Great stuff.

Texans for Obama. Second breakfast with Texans for Obama founders and their closest vote getting friends: Ian Davis, David Kobierowski, J.D. Gins, Ken Flippin, Mario Champion, Crystal Viagran and Dan Grant plus Chicago insiders: Juan Sepulveda and Teresa Nino. Houston is like another state itself. More Hispanics in Houston than in the Valley. More unregistered voters in Harris County than the rest of the state combined. Approx 1.5mm unregistered African Americans & Hispanics in Texas – 450kish African Americans. Turning Texas Blue a great deal about Harris County.

Auditor meetings, staff meetings, brainstorming about Corporate Social Responsibility Opportunity: Amanda Chiampi, Chelsea McCullough, Ken Gladish, Matt Kourie, Ann Stafford and Marion. Is the Valley (the other one) ahead of Austin or better at marketing its programs? Which CEO leads the pack? Which Austin companies? Cutting edge work?

Thank gosh he went easy on me today – a workout with my compadre, Kent Mayes.

Two Fountains and ST new play meetings with Natalie George who’s going to help us produce both – how do I convey relief? MM re: Two Fountains.

A way overpriced dinner at Triangle’s The Flying Saucer, though loved sitting outside with ST and . . . what a scene.

hmm, the 5 to 10 thing didn’t work out so well yesterday.