Monthly Archives: July 2008

(Community Matters) ST on the streets

(Community Matters) Well framed article in the Economist here on Senator Obama’s upcoming overseas tour and the opportunities to frame his foreign policy vision to the American public.

photo: Economist

(Community Matters) I nearly always enjoy her column and always read it. I have to say, today Maureen Dowd here touches on an issue that’s been worrying me too – an increasing, public loftiness to the campaign. Hey, Senator Obama and his Davids have the track record on this, so I’m certainly not going to offer my two cents on this issue in the conference calls I’m allowed to dial in on (our National Leadership Council had a call with David Plouffe on Thursday) unless we’re asked.

Nevertheless, the Senator needs to be touchable, real, have some flaws and quirks. Everyone knows he does. Anyone who’s been in a room with him knows he’s charismatic and engaging, not aloof, quite present. He’s real. That’s been his magic. Hope the campaign prioritizes demonstrating his realness to the rest of America. If they do so, it’ll be a landslide.

(Community Matters) Should prostitution be legalized in South African during the 2010 World Cup? Wow, interesting question.

Of course, epidemic of AIDS comes to mind.

Expected criticism from religious groups.

Exploitation of women, children and men.

Reality. Prostitution will be rampant during this event, legalized or not. I remember hearing about Houston during the 2004 Super Bowl. Evidently prostitutes from all over the country, if not the world, set up shop during the festivities.

So, why not regulate what’s inevitable? Can public health authorities help minimize exposure and transmission of communicable diseases? Can’t there be better visibility, opportunity & cooperation to prevent human trafficking and exploitation of children? Might it deny the underworld a virtual monopoly?

(Community Matters) He’s off to Wall Street for a gig. Still twittering questions that come to mind. http://twitter.com/speelunk

(Community Matters) Dr. James Means is 98yo today.

Dr. & Mrs. Means 12/07

Dr. Means moved to Austin to teach at one of the two schools now known as Huston Tillotson University. According to his wonderful wife, Dr. Bertha Means, he was the first African American precinct chair in Travis County during the 1950s. He’s the elder member of the St. James Episcopal congregation. We’re quite proud to claim him. Happy Birthday, Dr. Means.

(Community Matters) He too boosts of being a C student

(Community Matters) $488 million is a lot of money. And, given the recent Supreme Court ordered $2 billion cut in punitive damages, I wonder if Exxon isn’t just being PR silly and publicly greedy – unless it has a Grishamesq appeal up it’s sleeves. story here

(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.

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

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

(Community Matters) John Thornton’s smart blog.

(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?