Monthly Archives: September 2012

(Community Matters) Though it’ll undoubtedly break many boys’ hearts . . . Everett McKinney posted this pic from Venice, announcing his and Tracy Butchee’s engagement

(Community Matters) March 2003 Atlantic Monthly

Hat Tip: Andrew Sullivan

(Community Matters) As of today, 80.8% probability Obama wins race; 19.2% for Romney – this according to the analyst who predicted all but one state in 2008, Nate Silver. Romney’s chances were 32% a week ago. It’s sorta in free fall, though we still have 8 weeks

(Community Matters) An important piece in Andrew Sullivan’s Daily Dish

Fox’s latest poll shows Obama at 50 percent approval – which makes him very hard to beat if he’s an incumbent. Nate Cohn examines the Fox poll internals, and it looks worse:

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(Community Matters) my new favorite line: “How does gay marriage, in any way shape or form, affect your life? If gay marriage becomes legal, are you worried that all of a sudden you’ll start thinking about penis?” – Minnesota Viking Chris Kluwe to Maryland Assembly Delegate Emmett C. Burns Jr

(Community Matters) According to Nate Silver

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(Community Matters) Romney’s statement feels like politics above national security – but it’s politics – scorpion and the frog – and it’s desperate times for their side so a Hail Mary. An inside peek:

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(Community Matters) love it!

(Community Matters) beyond floored to read reports of Pres. Obama refusing to meet Netanyahu were fabricated by Israelis

Analysis: Netanyahu risks overplaying hand in Iran dispute:

“Who are you trying to replace? The administration in Washington or that in Tehran?” said Shaul Mofaz, head of the largest opposition party, Kadima, which was briefly part of Netanyahu’s coalition over the summer.

“The world is not sick of Israel, the world is sick of Netanyahu and does not believe him.”

I don’t believe Netanyahu’s cries of wolf. I believe President Obama has access to at least as good intelligence on the situation and if he felt an attack or breakthrough was imminent, we wouldn’t see any delay.

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(Community Matters) While the Tea Party shrinks, waterboards & drowns the baby,  more public costs must be covered locally. This summer I started to oppose city, county & school district budget increases (the hospital district tax increase to fund a medical school always being a huge exception – I’m wildly supportive) before I remembered we’re making up for more & more costs previously covered by federal & state dollars.

I’m still disappointed with AISD trustees for across-the-board teacher raises and w/ the three county commissioners who approved 10% raises for county peace officers. While not begrudging fair pay, these raises are budget busters &/or bad timing for the politics of sustainable, long term funding. Nevertheless, I don’t support the Nordquist/GWBush/Perry strategy of revenue starving to justify cutting essential public services, so of course we’re having to raise downstream taxes. Simultaneously, we have to innovate, streamline & sunset the expenditure of every dollar. Governments rarely innovate without serious financial pressures. Maybe we should have to find ways to save $1 for every $2 or some multiple of increased taxes.

Mayor Leffingwell’s proposal to cut across the board may be a provocative way to question every dollar being spent – that’s not a bad strategy before expecting taxpayers to support increased rates

(Community Matters) Nate Silver says it’s not whether Pres Obama got a bounce out of the convention but how big a bounce.  He also notes he considers Pres Clinton’s speech a pivotal moment. Former Romney and Pres. GW Bush advisor says Clinton’s speech “will be the moment that probably reelected Barack Obama.”

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(Community Matters) Visiting friends at their home in Southampton. Yesterday, lunch on Shelter Island at the Ram’s Head Inn. I wouldn’t mind staying at the inn, beyond charming w/ excellent food, staff and location on the water.  Mitch Drazin and Philippe Brugere-Trelat (Fritz) are friends from the last two years. Mitch and I worked together on the Obama campaign; Steven got to know Fritz & Mitch at a Point Foundation dinner in 2010, then at their wedding last year, and at a couple of NY social events. They’ve been together 36 years and are lovely, funny and hyper-community engaged men. They’re sort like us in that they enjoy mentoring lots of young people, travel and entertaining – and Fritz the latter probably less than Mitch (hmm, another parallel).