Category Archives: Uncategorized

(Community Matters) Andrew Sullivan posted a link to the LA Times article citing a study in which swing voters swayed a presidential election only once out of the last nine.

(Community Matters) I received an email reply from Mike today in response to my original blog posting against his rumored run for Austin’s mayor. Snippets include (I’m further posting given that Mike publicly posted the response on this blog rather than a letter or email he’d expect remain private):

Dear Eugene,I read your blog on me (below, following your e-mail to me).

As a reminder, I have reached out to you several times over the last few years to set up a breakfast, lunch or dinner. You just don’t know who I really am and even though, based on what I do know about you, we most likely have far more in common than not.

The only thing I care about is not what anybody thinks about me, but rather that I can get up in the morning, look in the mirror, and know that I have been true to myself. The one thing that I do want to put on the record is my fiduciary role with the foundation my late uncle created. We have sponsored: SafePlace, HeartGift, The McDonald Observatory, People’s Community Clinic , Planet Cancer, the Miracle Foundation, the Dell Children’s Medical Center, the Center for Child Protection, HAAM/SIMS, Badgerdog, Challenge Air. The list is longer.

Regardless of what you say about me, I respect you for your passion and concerns about the true needs of our community. We do not need to agree as long as we both care.

I did sit down for a meal with Mike once. He offered a charitable contribution for a nonprofit if we would depose a board member he did not like. I always regretted not immediately leaving the table, though, as you would expect, I did explicitly express my objection. Despite many emails and a few phone calls since that time, I have no stomach for again breaking bread with a man who is such a bully to others.

(Community Matters) Of course I think Lloyd Doggett should be reelected. And, I’m not voting for him this time.

If he had a credible opponent or the race was otherwise tight, I would vote for him. However, this may be the only way to express our displeasure with his failure to show courage in the House bailout vote two weeks ago.

He’s right, I and many others did originally write to him and ask for Congress’ leadership in improving the dismal legislation originally offered up by Bush and Paulson. And, Congress did. They added oversight, equity participation, increased FDIC limits and latitude for the courts to allow modification of mortgages for borrowers who had not lied but had been defrauded by unregulated mortgage lenders.

Yet, unable to show leadership against understandable populist angst, Lloyd refused to support perhaps the most important financial legislation of our time. I’m optimistic that this legislation will inject the liquidity and confidence into our economy that will save tens of millions of jobs and trillions of dollars in men & women’s savings. Lloyd Doggett is an important member of Congress. Most of the time, he’s been a courageous representative. Unfortunately, when leadership demands taking an unpopular stand even against record voter telephone calls, Lloyd fails to rise to the occassion as we came to expect under Congressman Pickle’s leadership (aka voting for civil rights legislation while risking his own popularity).

This is why I plan to skip Lloyd’s race on the ballot. Send Lloyd this message that we do love him and expect more courage from our representative.

(Community Matters) I’ve believed we needed to inject capital and take equity stakes since debating began on the bailout. Pleased to see we’re headed there and the market appears to be responding. I don’t see this as nationalizing the banks because I don’t believe we should save any financial institution that would require enough capital to give us majority control. Though, I do want us to dilute enough to capture our fair share of the upside.

(Community Matters) “The operatives who would have Palin quote Pegler have been at it ever since. . . . The McCain campaign has crossed the line between tough negative campaigning and inciting vigilantism, and each day the mob howls louder.” Frank Rich photo: thx Andrew Sullivan

(Community Matters) I cringe everytime I hear about a violent crime against a random person in Austin. I know, I should similarly cringe if it’s just a violent crime, but random violence. This worries me the most. This sheds our innocence and signals we’re on the path to anywhere USA.

I wish we’d treat all random violent crimes like a police assault – the full force and furry of APD sweeping in to solve the crime and signal that our community will not stand for this. If it’s gangs, round ’em up. We need a zero tolerance policy on random violence in any part of town.

(Community Matters) John Thornton on Insomniative on Rep Lewis’ comments. I disagree with John on this. I think the subtext of McCain’s and Palin’s “paling with terrorists” remarks have incited a hatred that we should all fear. These are extraordinary times and some people are feeling threatened on many fronts. Especially in these times our leaders – and those campaigning to be – have a responsibility to call forth our best, not our reptilian worst.

(Community Matters) Recent UT Michener graduate, David Modigliani has released his movie, Crawford, on Hulu here

Could have sworn I’d earlier posted pics of David paling around Jo’s with prep school buddies including Jake Ghyllenhall. hmm, only find this one

(Community Matters) It’s been a gorgeous day in San Francisco. Steven and I have taken it way easy. Our accomodations include a gorgeous, luscious court yard with plenty of sun and a parlour where we can spread out. We were up early, a brisk walk around a quiet city, a favorite breakfast, then mostly him grading, me reading. A couple of separate walks, and we’re headed back to Chez Panisse for dinner upstairs with Anton Nel (dined downstairs Thursday night). Last night nibbles and wine in the parlour, then dinner at the Urban Tavern with our friend, Dan Adams, youngest son of our dearest friend Rev. Bill Adams. Tomorrow, services at St. Gregory’s, then back in time for Steven to upack/repack for travel to Arizona, then Toronto. I’ll be catching up at EF and helping host a few fundraisers for Obama, including the Wed night debate watch party at our house.

Three Obama fundraisers on Tuesday:

• 4pm campaign briefing at the Headliners with Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett and DNC General Election Director, Paul Tewes info here
• Dinner and campaign briefing with Jarrett & Tewes contact me for info
• Generation Obama & Texans for Obama Happy Hour 5:30 to 7:00 Sky Lounge, 416 Congress Ave
  

Wednesday evening debate watch party at our house info here

(Community Matters) Colin Powell may have once been among the most trusted and honored men in our country. Difficult to watch him today.

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell on Friday praised Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens’ sense of honor at his trial on corruption charges, calling his reputation for honesty and integrity “sterling” in the quarter-century they’ve known each other. “As we say in the infantry, this is a guy you take on a long patrol,” said the retired four-star Army general and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

I sometimes wonder how they convinced General Powell to so dishonor his reputation with his misleading testimony to the UN on WMD. No idea if there is a real connection but twice when trying to understand the General’s public positions – which seemed inconsistent with his history of courage, truthfulness and principle – thoughts of protecting his family have come to mind. During the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell chaos of Clinton’s first 100 days, I felt he might be protecting the privacy of his lesbian daughter. During his tenure as Bush’s Secretary of State, whenever he didn’t speak out and against the administration, I wondered if he was protecting his son, then Bush appointee and Chair of the FCC.