Daily Archives: 10/14/2008

(Community Matters) Scary stuff still going on out there. Directly from JMG:

“Terrorists are Committed to Kill Anyone Not Like Them. America Must be Committed to Defeating Evil. As AL-Qaeda continues to attack innocent victims around the world, only one party has pledged to pursue terrorists until Islamic radicalism is defeated. Republicans have proven they will never retreat under pressure from terrorists or the nations who harbor them. While Democrats have called for surrender in the fight against Al-Qaeda in Iraq, they have also pledged to meet unconditionally with dictators and tyrants. Keep America safe. Vote Republican.” – From a Florida voter mailer endorsed by Gov. Charlie “Closet Case” Crist.

And then we’ve got this even more chilling image from pro-McCain blogger. The image has been removed but Washington Scandal did a screencap and asks, ‘Where is the FBI and the Secret Service?” I’d say this blogger is for a world of trouble.

(Community Matters) I’m not sure I understand the $3,000 credit per job created. I’m sure there’s literature on efficacy of this, just need to find it.

(Community Matters) Incredible really. Our dearest friend Charles sent this note from his friend in Dallas:

This email is to let you know that I was interviewed for tonight’s 10 o’clock news on CBS (Channel 11). Unfortunately, it is not for a real happy reason.

As a lifelong Catholic it hurt to do this, but I think that people should know that the bishops of Dallas and Ft Worth (and probably across the country) are having Catholic priests read an incendiary statement to their congregations. They are telling people that, if they vote for a Barack Obama, they will go to hell. Read it yourself! The full text of their statement is on line at: http://www.cathdal.org/img/Flash/EngFarrellVann.pdf

Mark and I could not believe our ears. We got up in the middle of the sermon and walked out in protest on Sunday morning. Tens of visibly shaken people followed us. Regardless of how anyone feels about the issues raised in the letter, a religious organization that enjoys tax exempt status should not get involved in political campaigning as they are doing here.

(Community Matters) Nate Silver on the Bradley Effect here

(Community Matters) Andrew Sullivan posted a link to the LA Times article citing a study in which swing voters swayed a presidential election only once out of the last nine.

(Community Matters) I received an email reply from Mike today in response to my original blog posting against his rumored run for Austin’s mayor. Snippets include (I’m further posting given that Mike publicly posted the response on this blog rather than a letter or email he’d expect remain private):

Dear Eugene,I read your blog on me (below, following your e-mail to me).

As a reminder, I have reached out to you several times over the last few years to set up a breakfast, lunch or dinner. You just don’t know who I really am and even though, based on what I do know about you, we most likely have far more in common than not.

The only thing I care about is not what anybody thinks about me, but rather that I can get up in the morning, look in the mirror, and know that I have been true to myself. The one thing that I do want to put on the record is my fiduciary role with the foundation my late uncle created. We have sponsored: SafePlace, HeartGift, The McDonald Observatory, People’s Community Clinic , Planet Cancer, the Miracle Foundation, the Dell Children’s Medical Center, the Center for Child Protection, HAAM/SIMS, Badgerdog, Challenge Air. The list is longer.

Regardless of what you say about me, I respect you for your passion and concerns about the true needs of our community. We do not need to agree as long as we both care.

I did sit down for a meal with Mike once. He offered a charitable contribution for a nonprofit if we would depose a board member he did not like. I always regretted not immediately leaving the table, though, as you would expect, I did explicitly express my objection. Despite many emails and a few phone calls since that time, I have no stomach for again breaking bread with a man who is such a bully to others.