Monthly Archives: September 2009

(Community Matters) AAS reports of Gov Perry’s accumulation of wealth while he’s been a public official. As a former banker, I saw men of means including elected officials in deals as a way to help them afford to stay in office. In fact, there is something to be said for helping the men & women who answer the call for public service. And, people sometimes don’t give away profit potential without a strategic objective – be it gaining influence or acquiring a strategic partner. Gary Bradley passing on a land tip to the Governor in 1996 while he was fighting zoning threats through the legislature? And, if there’s visibility to Rick Perry’s wealth in another 3 to 5 years, will we see additional choice investments? The article didn’t say who runs his blind trust. We hope it’s someone outside political influence peddling.

(Community Matters) wow, missed a day. don’t think I’ve done that for a while.

In Port Aransas, arrived Thursday evening. Dinner with Tim McCabe Thursday night – who happened to be here chilling at the Tarpon Inn.

On the way up, an email from a friend (my yoga instructor) who read on FB I was heading here. Andrew and his boyfriend, Arno, have taken a condo here just for the weekend, so we had dinner at the Venetian Hot Plate last night – wow, fantastic northern Italian. yeah, I’ll forgive Arno for, over dinner, noting that the condo belongs to a “old guy,” someone “probably 48 or so.” 🙂

Super day of work yesterday. Needed uniterrupted time for calls, emails and “paperwork”. A few more hours of the same today. Never hurts to work from a balcony overlooking the bay, hearing and watching the dolphins who feed not 100 yards away.

(Community Matters) John Phillip Santos’ latest book, “The Farthest Home Is in an Empire of Fire,” an interview in the San Antonio Express News

(Community Matters) Arrived here this afternoon after a morning of meetings, including an ADL executive committee meeting.

Nice drive out. Plenty of work accomplished on the telephone during the 3.5 hour drive, and some realizations including, I really like backing charismatic leaders in accomplishing worthy objectives. Of course, numero uno, Steven Tomlinson and everything he does, artistically, academically, in the community, for the church. And . . . increasingly Kirk Rudy (politically), Jack McDonald (also politically), John Thornton (journalistically) and Steve Adler (for ADL). Indirectly, but I have to be able to include him, Pres. Barack Obama (national finance committee). Hey, and not just for men, Adrienne Donato is our leader in DNC fundraising. Janet Harman at the KDK-Harman Foundation. My most memorable bosses are women – Liz Coker @ Minco, Michelle De Angelis early in banking. yeah, yeah, I’m no pansy, I get a lot done on my own as well. And, my ego has matured in a way that allows me to be a great number 2, or at least I feel like a good one.

(Community Matters) Department of Education grants – Race to the Top funding from the stimulus act. Tom Luce editorial in today’s AAS.

In a conversation earlier this week, I cited these funds as $300mm or so. Sooo wrong, Luce saying they are potentially $100mm to $500mm per state, a $4B total. Let’s hope our governor’s politics don’t prevent Texas from aggressively applying for these monies.

(Community Matters) Let’s hope this isn’t violence against federal workers.

(Community Matters)Celebrating Michael Mitchell’s birthday. Launched at Julio’s, wrapped up at the G-spot. Well, I wrapped up. They are no doubt still (& will be) going strong.

Janet Maykus & Melissa Henderson

Janet (rev.), principal, college of Pastroal Leaders and Director of Christian Leadership Education. Mother of 3 of our god children & close to me like a sister.Melissa, legistative director for Rep Patrick Rose. MM’s step-daughter; she grew up calling MM her step-thing; the daughter of our late best friend, Tom Henderson. My adopted god daughter

 

back row: Greg Barbutti, Mike McElhaney, middle row: Mark Smith & Michael Mitchell, front row: Milinda Mitchell & Annie Taylor

Mark, UT professor of art & art history; founder of flatbed press. Greg Barbutti, rancher, explorer, commissioner, Tx Ins. Risk Pool. Mike, artist & architect. Annie Taylor, artist & entrepreneur, mother of oliver, wife of Jason MinshewMM

Michael – what’s to say – one of my two best friends, the healthy third wheel in our marriage, a close confidant to me & Steven. An emerging playwright who’s written 12,000 words of a novel in just a few weeks. Battling lymphoma.

Martin Zimmerman

Martin, as in not really even seven degrees. A UT grad student in play wrighting. One of Manny Azenberg’s favored students from Duke. Coincidental classmate of Michael’s.

Nico Selby

My favorite 10-yo god son

 

Greg & Hector Eichelmann

Greg as in who really runs Travis County, manages Karen Sonleitner. Overseer of an independent real estate empire. Hector a financial master of the universe – delivering 22% average last 5 years.

Milinda Mitchell & Greg

Michael Sullivan

Melissa Henderson & Kelly Howe

(Community Matters) how wonderfully times have changed

“He has his close girl friends, but he doesn’t have any gay friends,” his mother told me. To meet other gay people, he has gone with his father to nearby meetings of Pflag (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), where gay kids often accompany their parents. And in June, she agreed to let him attend the gay-pride parade two hours away in Chicago.

“I told Austin he could go if either me or his dad went with him,” she recalled. “So he chose his dad, probably because he knew it would be the thing his dad would want to do least in the world. But off they went, and I give my husband credit, because he will do anything for his son. He doesn’t totally understand why Austin is gay, or how he can know for sure at his age, but he’s trying to be there for him. And he’s rarely seen Austin happier than at the parade. Austin warned his dad, ‘You can’t get mad at me when I scream at cute guys in Speedos!’ And boy, did Austin scream. He was in gay teenage heaven.”

NYT Magazine

(Community Matters)

(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.