Monthly Archives: July 2009

(Community Matters) David Brooks yesterday lamenting the decline of dignity.

When George Washington was a young man, he copied out a list of 110 “Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation.” Some of the rules in his list dealt with the niceties of going to a dinner party or meeting somebody on the street.

. . . . But the dignity code itself has been completely obliterated. The rules that guided Washington and generations of people after him are simply gone.

. . . . But it’s not right to end on a note of cultural pessimism because there is the fact of President Obama. Whatever policy differences people may have with him, we can all agree that he exemplifies reticence, dispassion and the other traits associated with dignity. The cultural effects of his presidency are not yet clear, but they may surpass his policy impact. He may revitalize the concept of dignity for a new generation and embody a new set of rules for self-mastery.

(Community Matters) Jack’s campaign is reporting breaking another record in his race for LBJ’s old seat

AUSTIN, Texas (July 7, 2009)—Momentum continues to build for Jack McDonald’s anticipated run for US Congress from the 10^th District of Texas, as the McDonald for Congress Exploratory Committee announced today that it has raised a record-setting $634,000 in the four months since the Committee was formed. McDonald, a successful self-made businessman, has yet to announce his candidacy officially or hold a single formal fundraiser.

McDonald has been setting fundraising records that are garnering national attention since he formed his Exploratory Committee in February 2009. McDonald raised $312,000 in the first quarter of 2009, more than any other Democratic Congressional challenger in the country. The campaign will report on July 15 that it has raised over $322,000 in the second quarter, which will likely keep McDonald at the top of the national fundraising list for the second consecutive quarter. McDonald will report over $550,000 in cash on hand as of June 30.In addition, in a June 5 article in the National Journal, the executive director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee referred to the 10^th District of Texas as a top 10 race in the nation for 2010.

“We’ve been listening, and Texans are telling us in no uncertain terms that they want leaders with real-world experience who will put aside partisan politics to focus on creating jobs, improving education and healthcare and keeping Texas competitive in the global economy,” said McDonald. “I am truly honored to have the support of Republicans, Independents and Democrats in the District who want independent, fiscally-responsible leaders who will do what’s right for the District, Texas and our country.”

“Jack’s momentum and strong fundraising success make this District a key pick-up opportunity for Democrats,” said DCCC Chairman, U.S. Congressman Chris Van Hollen. “Texans are looking for a leader with real-world experience who will work with both Democrats and Republicans to solve our country’s challenges.”

McDonald rose from humble roots to become a successful businessman, building and leading Perficient, a Texas-based, publicly-traded, global high-tech company with more than 1,200 employees. McDonald also serves as Vice Chairman of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the State of Texas Emerging Technology Fund for the 15-county Central Texas region and Chairman of the Board of PeopleFund.

### Incumbent Michael McCaul has responded clumsily to McDonald’s challenge, making several notable missteps. Most recently, McCaul alienated many centrist Republicans and Independents by featuring divisive radio host, Rush Limbaugh, at an elite fundraising event. Limbaugh works for McCaul’s father-in-law, Clear Channel Communications owner, Lowry Mays. The Limbaugh controversy came after McCaul was forced to repudiate press reports disclosing that he was trying to gather support for a Texas State Attorney General campaign. A May 28 story in the Austin American-Statesman reported that “Republicans monitoring his (McCaul’s) political health may feel antsy about McCaul’s chances of re-election.”

(Community Matters) Venture Capitalists Look for a Return to the ABC’s in the NYTimes.

(Community Matters) I’m not really keeping up with the Michael Jackson activities, but news of the new Harry Potter premiere in London is extraordinarily exciting!

(Community Matters) NYTimes article reports the Commodities Futures Trading Commission may limit energy futures contracts for financial (aka not commercial users) investors. Added context to Rolling Stone’s article on Goldman Sachs – though if I remember correctly, they have an operating entity which may allow commercial trading privileges.

(Community Matters) Mashable has posted demographic stats on Facebook users

the overall number of users between 18 and 24 years of age has grown only 4.8% between the fourth of January and the fourth of July of 2009. In comparison, the number of users aged 25 – 34 has grown 60.8%; the number of users aged 35 to 54 has grown 190.2%, while the number of users older than 55 years has grown a tremendous 513.7%.

(Community Matters) Dinner last night with the Rudys and their dear friend Mindy Fauntleroy (plus two of her also gorgeous daughters) at Michillinda Lodge, overlooking Lake Michigan.

Love hearing folks’ history with White Lake/Lake Michigan. Mindy’s husband, Bill, has been summering here since a kid – as have been so many I’ve met.

Mindy & Bill lived in Sydney for a couple of years and are planning an extended stay there again soon – AW, I’ll be connecting you guys; you’ll love ’em.

(Community Matters) Finally had a chance to read the article referred to in my earlier post, Rolling Stone’s How Goldman Sachs Runs Washington.

I’m biased in favor of Goldman Sachs. Some of my favorite former students are employed there. The firm has helped me immensely in my role as an investment committee chair/board member of more than one foundation. And, Taibbi’s writing is unprofessionally inciderary, selectively cites information, and states opinions/conjecture as facts. And, the story is still thought-provoking, more so on the chumminess of Wall Street, the Capitol, the White House & the Treasury – the appropriateness thereof – and deregulation.

(Community Matters) Fast Magazine’s article on

Why small-scale, local power – the microgrid – could be the answer to our engergy crisis. And why the big utilities are fighting it with all they’ve got.

In June 2007, Governor Rick Perry signed into law House Bill 3693, a big efficiency and conservation bill. Though the new law called for net metering to be deployed “as rapidly as possible,” the report explained, utilities took a “hard line” against it at the regulatory level, and ultimately state regulations allow no such thing. “There was the feeling that some of the people who were interested in not having net metering had a lot of say in how net metering was defined,” says Rose, choosing his words quite carefully.

Makes me wonder – shouldn’t environmentalists organize to elect our railroad commissioners. The Texas Railroad Commission regulates these important issues. Currently, their donors are from the industries they regulate.

(Community Matters) Signs the GOP is losing control of teabaggers.

(Community Matters) Speaking of Ford Motor Company, its former President and the former Defense Secretary during the Vietnam War just died at 93yo – an extraordinarily brilliant & complicated man.

(Community Matters) Ross Douthat in the NYTimes – Palin & Her Enemies