Daily Archives: 09/23/2009

(Community Matters) Railroad Commissioner & US Senate Candidate Michael William’s column in today’s AAS – while I agree the political rhetoric is too high on all sides and throwing down charges of racism too loose & free, the credibility of his sentiments wouldn’t be hurt if he’d acknowledge the indisputable racist rhetoric (Rush Limbuagh calling for segregated school buses and images of Obama as an African witch doctor just two examples)? Might also help to note the equally unhelpful rhetoric of “anti-patriotic” during the Bush years.

I don’t know Commissioner Williams but have heard good things about him. Hope it’s not a sign of a disappointing launch to what could otherwise be productive dialogue during a US Senate campaign.

(Community Matters) the young college student ahead of me saw no irony in the fact that his debit card and two credit cards were declined to pay for a $4.27 Starbucks coffee. of course I bought it for him, imagining his long eight days until the first of the month, and resisting the urge for parental guidance.

(Community Matters) It’s gonna be a long governors race

caught on video: Perry in response to a question in Houston about Texas and the economic recession: ‘We’re in one?’

“Anyone who has listened to my remarks who’s not just a rank political hack knows that in almost every one of my remarks, I have talked about the seriousness of this recession, how it’s impacting people,” Perry said at the Capitol after a brief speech

“It’s rare to see a politician so out-of-touch and arrogant,” Hutchison spokeswoman Jennifer Baker said. “Rick Perry will have plenty of time to work on his comedy routine after the election.”

Let’s hope we Democrats get our act together so we can whop the wounded, emerging candidate and win this one. I don’t know Hank Gilbert and have already written on this blog that I like Tom Schieffer.

(Community Matters) . . . .offering bowling, dance, a bar, restaurant and karaoke. You gotta love Tim & Karrie League who also brought the world Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas

(Community Matters) ok, I’m about to go into a home stretch on fundraising for several initiatives, start my French lessons next week, have a huge EF fundraiser in early Nov, am writing a novel during the month of November (I need to quit forgetting this one), hosting my parents’ 50th in Austin in early Dec, have agreed to join a regional think tank this quarter, have planned a wee bit of fun & political travel including 3 weeks & our annual new years bash in Marfa, am chairing a gala we hope will raise $400k+ in Jan, and helping Steven & Ron with FuseBox Festival fundraising. I gotta remind friends & colleagues, all plans subject to postponement if a friend needs help during his cancer treatment.

Launching new fundraising calls for two events and one political race from the road and the beach later this week (thank gosh I’d blocked out Friday & Sat for a potential conference & Sat nite for something else that ain’t happening). In advance, apologies to many colleagues and friends for postponing my participation in all additional initiatives until after Jan. And, I might even beg for addt’l time off after.

(Community Matters) Tim Krieder for the New York Times

The Referendum is a phenomenon typical of (but not limited to) midlife, whereby people, increasingly aware of the finiteness of their time in the world, the limitations placed on them by their choices so far, and the narrowing options remaining to them, start judging their peers’ differing choices with reactions ranging from envy to contempt. . . .

I have never even idly thought for a single passing second that it might make my life nicer to have a small, rude, incontinent person follow me around screaming and making me buy them stuff for the rest of my life. [Note to friends with children: I am referring to other people’s children, not to yours.]

cont’d