Monthly Archives: August 2011

(Community Matters) Doggett dogged by perceived snub of gay judge (if you can’t link, copied at bottom)

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(Community Matters) My long time friend Rev Jim Rigby hits a homerun with this editorial in the AAS.

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(Community Matters) Pivots notwithstanding, Pres O and Paul Krugman agree it is way past time to prioritize creating jobs. Voters will decide if this has  been appropriately prioritized by elected officials. Certainly the 82% disapproval rating for Congress signals that we’re all (my friend Prof Michael Brandl says the other 18% are all bankers & mnc execs) disgusted by their partisan antics. I believe Pres O’s administration has attempted to prioritize job creation and economic solvency but has been thwarted at nearly every turn by politicians playing to their radical base. And, voters expect results.

Krugman: The point is that it’s now time — long past time — to get serious about the real crisis the economy faces. The Fed needs to stop making excuses, while the president needs to come up with real job-creation proposals. And if Republicans block those proposals, he needs to make a Harry Truman-style campaign against the do-nothing G.O.P.

(Community Matters) Rudolf Brazda, the last known survivor of the ‘Pink Triangles’, deported by the Nazis for homosexuality, has died at the age of 98, AFP Reports. (hat tip: Towleroad)

(Community Matters) in the Huffington Post. Glad to see folks are starting to poke around. In Texas . . . where good paying jobs have been replaced by minimum wage, most new jobs are low-paying service sector (oil & gas industry notwithstanding), our high school drop out rate is the highest in the country, we have the highest uninsured rate among states, and Tx state & municipal debt is growing faster than national debt – doesn’t signal a miracle as much as a sell out.

Add reports businessmen have to make contributions to Perry’s campaign, the state party, the Governors Association or even buy copies of his book to win appointments or do business with the state . . .  I’m looking forward to the deep dive examination of our governance.

(Community Matters) Ezra Klein in the Washington Post

I’m liking Ezra and Christopher Hayes more and more. btw, Christopher (Luke Hayes brother) just announced an MSNBC Saturday and Sunday news show.

(Community Matters) Still, despite any sympathy, he was furious with the negotiations’ outcome, as well as the greater thrust of American economic policy.

(Community Matters) Gotta read the details before coming to conclusions – assumptions are critical. Are they reasonable?

It sucks that the GOP again hijacked what’s previously been an administrative matter (debt ceiling legislation) and forced ideologically rigid, uncompromising terms in order to preserve the good faith and credit of the United States of America. I suppose it sucks to traditional Republicans that their party has been hijacked by the Tea Party and Grover Norquist.

While, it’s true that spending cuts must be a part of any fiscal solution, jobs aren’t prioritized as part of this agreement, unemployment benefits aren’t extended, but tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans & tax loopholes including subsidies for oil companies are maintained. The next election must convincingly convey to Americans the differences in priorities of our two parties and our ability to deliver.

Light at end of the tunnel? Per the terms of the agreement expected to be approved today by both chambers, we’ll see $1 trillion in upfront cuts over the next 10 years plus an additional $1.5 trillion in deficit reduction, the details of which are to be promoted by a super congressional committee by Thanksgiving 2012. Devil in the details -if Congress doesn’t pass a bill detailing the next $1.5 trillion in deficit reduction, cuts will be spread 50/50 between domestic programs and defense. Our optimism that we’ll extract concessions for slightly higher taxes on the wealthy and the ability to close some corporate tax loopholes rests on the assumption (correct under 41) that Rs won’t allow such cuts to defense.

The only true silver lining (aside from avoiding default – admittedly a really critical one) may be unraveling of the Tea Party – for this too we’ll have to wait and see. (Not to mention Reid & Boehner must still pass this compromise)

update: I’ve learned that the President insisted that the largest cuts to discretionary take place in 2013 and beyond to protect a fragile economy.

(Community Matters) Literally. Forecasts predict 107F in Austin the rest of this week while we’re having highs in the 90s (no humidity) and lows in the 60s in Marfa. If I wasn’t co-hosting the Pres’ Austin satellite birthday celebration, I might not return until Friday morning, just in time to jump on the plane for Montana (expecting mid to low 80s and 50s). hmm, then again there is my 85F pool and a quiet home . . . what to do, what to do . . .

Steven returned with Joe Christie yesterday but is off to NY this morning.  Why am I not going to NY???

Steven, Joe & I had dinner at Julie Speed’s Saturday night. Mark Holzbach and Doug Fitch unexpectedly (& quite pleasantly so) joined us for dessert. Gotta see Doug’s Peter & the Wolf in NY later this year. Last night, dinner at Bridget Weiss’ Marfa Table with Emily Keeton, Tim Crowley, Matt Crowley, Caitlin Murray & Tim Johnson.