Monthly Archives: November 2010

(Community Matters) too long and too diffused but relevant & insightful (buried in the weeds)

Hat Tip: Martin Zimmerman

(Community Matters) Busy weekend – have forgotten to post.  Glimmer of Hope’s annual event Friday night – outstanding.  They created an experiential evening and funded schools, medical clinics and wells for an Ethiopian village. Saw so many friends there including Donna & Philip Berber (natch), Sarah Aragona (in charge of the event for Glimmer), Isabel Welland, Joe & Sandra Aragona, Ross Garber, Scott Harrison, AG Tharp & Doug Ulman, Molly & Ed Sharp, Suzanne & Marc Winkelman, Lisa Kasling Andrews, Suzanne Bryant & Sarah Goodfriend, Chris Earthman & so many more

Kent Portman’s memorial service – Steve Davis and friends organized a very nice memorial service for Kent and Steve delivered a beautiful, very intimate eulogy.  It was striking to pick up an invite to a halloween party Kent had addressed and stamped.  Hearing of his unwavering faith in an afterlife was comforting.

Jazz at St. James Episcopal Church – even better this year.  Diane Land, Steve Adler & Luke Hayes joined us for the banquet and concert.  I was proud to introduce Steve and Diane to our second home – gotta be one of the most if not the most diverse places in Austin (racially, economically).  There’s a lesson about how we suspend our many differences,. come together in community & agree to love each other as members of St James. Keith Braithwaite and his committee blew the doors off with JASJ this year (again).

Sunday Jazz Service – totally rocked yesterday.  Loved that Molly & Ed Sharp joined us for the service.  Donald Harrison & Joe Morales battling saxophones (actually, more complimentary saxophones) with fierce full band accompaniment & the St. James choirs (10 & 6).  Music is part of St James’ DNA.  Gina Houston was riveting delivering her sermon about jazz, about St James, about our history – she never spoke of our future and I assume others saw it forming in their mind’s eye too.

Then, joined Rachel & Michael Feferman for Fonda San Miguel brunch.  Hard to love two young people anymore – they think about important matters, are intentional about making a difference, work hard in their careers & are just inherently lovely people.

Bill Adams & Amy Donohue-Adams going away dinner (the lasagnas – good; the beet salad – ok; butternut squash soup – nice but needed spicing up; asparagus – yuk, I cooked too early; great wines – thanks BB – Stags Leaps’s Petite Syrah & Sancerres). Hard to believe they are leaving Austin – indeed they do on Nov 17.  Rudy Green & Joyce Christian, Bill & Caren Bradshaw and Riley Carruthers joined us to laugh, a little cry, tell stories and celebrate friendships. Amy & Bill have so helped define St James for me – their departure suggests a new phase in the church’s life.  As two of mine & Steven’s closest friends since we came together, it’s hard to see them leave Austin, and I’m excited about visits to Whidbey Island

(Community Matters) Pelosi’s Triumph
Democrats didn’t lose the battle of 2010. They won it.
By William Saletan

Democrats have lost the House, and health care is getting the blame. Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana, a retiring Democrat, says his party “overreached by focusing on health care rather than job creation” and by spending $1 trillion on “a major entitlement expansion.” Sen. John McCain’s economic adviser agrees. Pundits say the health care bill killed President Obama’s approval ratings, cost congressional Democrats their jobs, and snuffed out the legacy of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. “Virtually every House Democrat from a swing district who took a gamble by voting for the health law made a bad political bet,” says the New York Times. The Los Angeles Times laments that “the measure of a leader in Washington isn’t how much gets done, it’s who holds power in the end. On that scale, Pelosi failed.”

I’m not buying the autopsy or the obituary. In the national exit poll, voters were split on health care. Unemployment is at nearly 10 percent. Democrats lost a lot of seats that were never really theirs, and those who voted against the bill lost at a higher rate than did those who voted for it. But if health care did cost the party its majority, so what? The bill was more important than the election.
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(Community Matters) Lawrence D. Bobo, the W. E. B. Du Bois Professor of the Social Sciences at Harvard

There is almost no difference between Obama’s current approval rating and that endured by Clinton in 1994, with both at roughly 45 percent approval. The bigger difference between now and then — between Obama’s standing and that of Clinton — is that 40 percent of voters thought the country was headed in “the right direction” under Clinton in 1994, but only 32 percent said so going into this year’s elections, according to an October CBS News Poll.

The difference here is the state of economy. To wit, this election is not a repudiation of a liberal agenda run amok or of an Obama administration out of touch with the American people. It is a loud declaration of deep disappointment with the weak and uneven pace of the economic recovery after a catastrophic economic downturn. . . . That Massachusetts provided only bad news for Republicans is instructive for Democrats in general, and Obama in particular. . . . So the 2010 midterms were a setback for Democrats. Let’s remember that this outcome was completely foreseeable in light of the economy.

(Community Matters) I want to learn more about this guy, especially his demonstration projects in education. Harvard Professor Roland Fryer – youngest ever tenured African American professor at Harvard (at 30 yo), grew up in Lewisville, Tx, full fledged member of a gang, athletic scholarship to UT-Arlington graduating magna cum laude after 2.5 yrs, PhD in economics from Penn State, post doctoral with Gary Becker at University of Chicago

(Community Matters) Beginning of very interesting conversations this week on what represent the best options for US economic competitiveness and opportunity for our citizens.  A friend says it’s all about the global workforce and our (USA) continued advantage in entrepreneurship, innovation and management.  He believes we can retool US manufacturing workers to virtually & physically lead teams of workers in foreign countries.

I’d love comments on this as well as links to thought leadership.

(Community Matters) Realizing this could bite us in the butt in a couple of years – it’s time to end the US Senate filibuster.  The Senate is broken.  Too many political appointees yet to be confirmed, including likely one (maybe 2) supreme court justices.  It’s time to do it; Little doubt Rs will repeal it their next time in majority.

(Community Matters) reposting since it starts tonight – The 16th annual Jazz at St. James Friday & Saturday.  Featuring the magical sax of Donald Harrison.

and the baritone saxophone of Gary Smulyan . . . along with Joseph Dyson, Max Moran and Zaccai Curtis.

Steven and I will be there on Saturday, along with Diane Land, Steve Adler & Luke Hayes

We have two tickets remaining for either the Friday or Saturday concert – first come, first served

(Community Matters) Great profile of Carla McDonald in this month’s Austin Woman Magazine.

she’s one of our favorite women. we just had a great time with her & Jack at La Sombra on Saturday night

(Community Matters) We need to separate those who want jobs and economic recovery from those wanting to lessen oversight and regulation on the fossil fuel industry, reverse financial regulatory reform and lower taxes on the richest Americans.  There are false choices driving the wedge today – see Dick Armey posting and how by helping create a party with false choices he is hoping to deliver for his corporate clients.

I’m reading this morning that the dividing line for “middle class” may move from $250k to $500k.  Interesting idea. I’m looking forward to hearing the budget implication – could be a doable compromise.

(Community Matters) They aren’t waiting even 48 hours.  Dick Armey who helped fund and found the Tea Party is now issuing demands for repealing health reform and regulation.  No surprise that his clients include pharmaceutical & insurance companies, as well the fossil fuel industry.

(Community Matters) It occurs to me: we should factor in the impact of the  anonymous direction of hundreds of millions of dollars into individual Republican races (from unidentified sources) by Karl Rove (et al) before over reacting to what we think the election results mean.  Definitely, what some of the results mean is that post Citizens United, election landscapes have changed.

Plenty happy to hear of D wins in Western states since Tuesday evening

not at all happy to hear Rs in House & Senate prioritizing Obama’s defeat over all else – this is bullshit and will be met aggressively