Category Archives: Uncategorized

(Community Matters) No real news there, though disappointing nonetheless. Hate seeing the polarization by race. Obama’s about bringing people together; evidently Hillary is about tearing people apart.

Bill Clinton thought she’d win by as much as 60% – 70%, so I guess they didn’t meet their own expectations. She netted 10 delegates; thank gosh for the 27 superdelegates Obama netted just this week. In neighboring Virginia, he netted 25 delegates. Not true he can’t win swing states, his wins have included Virginia, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Missouri.

Nationally, Obama continues to win big among independent voters over McCain (Hillary loses among the same group). And, the May 8 LA Times poll shows him winning 41% of white voters, McCain winning 45% – about what’s expected for any national Democratic candidate.

Obama’s campaign is strong – historically unprecedented fundraising – not just dollars but also number of donors – no debt, grassroots operations, relations within staff & stakeholders and results measured by delegates and popular vote. Lots of momentum among superdelegates, influencers and even former Hillary supporters.

(Community Matters) Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL, has announced her organization’s endorsement of Senator Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination. She also cites Senator Clinton’s longtime support for a woman’s right to choose. here

(Community Matters) I’ve studied up just a bit on those listed as potential Obama VP picks here , so no way could I not accept Tommie & Lynn Meredith’s invitation for dinner with Montana’s Governor Brian Schweitzer. Steven was bummed he couldn’t go – left for an east coast tour yesterday morning. The Meredith’s have gotten to know Gov. Schweitzer during summers at their extraordinary ranch on the Blackfoot River near Ovando.

Gov. Brian Schweitzer, Justin Smith & Will Meredith

Gov. Schweitzer is mentioned in many lists as a potential running mate with Senator Obama. Easy to see why since he’s an everyman kinda guy, completely comfortable shooting the s#%t or discussing economic policy. As governor, he’s cut taxes, created more jobs at better wages than any other governor, invested heavily in alternative energy, invested heavily in K – 12th grade and higher education, improved Montana’s bond rating and achieved the lowest unemployment rate in a very long time.

Justin Smith’s a good friend of Will’s. Believe we’d met when Will was honored for his community contributions at PeopleFund’s recent event. Nevertheless, we bonded last night and he’s going to get involved in helping with the June 19 (oops) 9th Obama event in Austin (David Axelrod speaking).

Blaine & Alexa Wesner & Lynn Meredith

Tom Meredith & Ben Barnes

Franklin & Marc

Alex & Marc Winkelman

(Community Matters) Joined Bettye Nowlin and friends at yesterday’s There’s No Such Thing as a Free Lunch luncheon benefitting People’s Community Clinic. Recently wrote about their very good work here.

The luncheon raised over $300,000 – amazing. Though, not really such a big surprise since two of my favorite women/major philanthropic powerhouses, Bettye Nowlin and Nona Niland, helped organize the event. Enjoyed being seated next to both.

Council member Sheryl Cole & Bettye Nowlin

Lee Walker & Dr. Eduardo Sanchez (yesterday’s keynote)

Clay Cary & city council candidate Laura Morrison –
who’d never met before so no endorsement implied. Well, yeah my endorsement. I think the office is hers.

Winstead partners: Alex Gonzales, Martha Smiley & Mike Cook

(Community Matters) Most mornings (like 5 out of 7), I’m at Starbucks when they open at 5:30am. I have so many at-home options for making good coffee; however, I just love the kids who work there. How cool to be greeted & engaged by, usually, bright cheery faces so early every morning. There’s a new guy (James) who noticed my Running of the Bulls t-shirt this morning. He couldn’t believe someone would have actually done so. Well, the t-shirt is really from a 2003 Austin ARC fundraiser. But, I was able to regale him and the rest of the crew with real, Pamplona running with the bulls stories. Hmm, still not sure what the heck got into me to do that but glad as heck I did when I could still run!

(Community Matters) Reading Mr. Patterson’s quote yesterday in the Austin American Statesman, “The Mellon Foundation … went on this jihad, if you will, and things went south from there,” made me sad.

The citation went on to note, “Texas land commissioner, accusing the Richard King Mellon Foundation, which donated the Christmas Mountains in West Texas to the state for conservation purposes, of being excessively critical of his plan to sell the land to private interests.”

During the controversy, I’ve assumed Land Commissioner Patterson was just being overzealous in his promotion of gun and hunting rights. Imagined some friends would gently correct his tact. Though, his comment that our promise to conserve Christmas Mountains as public property was “just one line in a contract” didn’t bode well for his stewardship.

Jerry Patterson turns out to be one more elected official who’s gotten too big for his britches – now assumes the law doesn’t apply to him and shouldn’t get in the way of his plans, flaunts promises made to others and tosses out incendiary comments (read: whining) when being opposed.

I’d always heard Jerry was a smart, respectable man – perhaps, but he’s coming across as a whining, self-important bully.

(Community Matters) Saturday Night Live’s Hillary Clinton skit

(Community Matters)

11:08pm Well, we seem stuck on 92% precincts reporting. Incumbent Lee Leffingwell has handily defeated his opponents taking 68% of the votes (Meeker 23%, Demling 9%). Randi Shade trounced incumbent Jennifer Kim 64% to 27%. Laura Morrison (39%) and Cid Galindo (29%) will face each other in a runoff (Robin Cravey won 20%). I’d imagine Cid (who I also like though I supported Laura) and his supporters will think hard about funding a runoff given the likely switch of Cravey votes to Laura. It’ll all be about GOTV. Steven and I are in for fundraising. Thank gosh the three AISD school bond propositions have passed too.

9:10pm 85% of precincts reporting: Randi with 64%; Lee with 68%

9:15pm Now with 46% of precincts reporting: Randi and Lee have held their percentages. Laura up to 38% with Cid at 29% (Robin Cravey with 20%).

8:45pm Randi Shade & Lee Leffingwell have won (re)election to Austin City Council. No way for their opponents to overcome the early voting & 12 percent precinct reporting lead. Shade: 62%/Kim 27%. Leffingwell: 67%/Meeker 22%.

Probably a runoff for Laura Morrison (37%) and Cid Galindo (30%) in Place 4.

Mark Nathan, consultant to both campaigns

Randi’s parents, Dr. & Mrs. Shade (in from Dallas)

Politico dynamos Ian Davis, Marti Bier (Shade campaign manager) & Amy Everhart

Patti Summerville & Joene Grissiom

Barbara Miller, Margaret Keys & James Michael Elrod

Debbie & Estella Ramirez (Estella, Debbie’s mom, in from El Paso)

Kevin Tuerff – with Lisa said stickers

Kevin Jung, the creator of the Lisa said stickers

Tim McCabe & Kevin Tuerff

I was drafted

My bad, can’t believe I didn’t get a picture of Randi’s partner/Ethan’s other mom, Kayla Shell. She was busy taking care of everyone.
.

(Community Matters) The NYTimes editorial “Racial Inequity and Drug Arrests” sounds like old news but is perhaps news to others here. In fact, I don’t at all doubt the statistics or disparities in treatment. My personal experience is more along socio-economic lines. I recall being stopped in Houston during the Christmas break of freshman year in college. When I rolled down my window, marijuana smoke rolled out of the car like in a Cheech and Chong movie. Sure we were going to jail, the officer ordered me out of my car (a brand new sports car which didn’t go unnoticed) and asked my personal circumstances. When he learned I was a freshman at Texas A&M, he ordered me back into the car and to drive to my parents home immediately. Had I not been in college (a conservative one at that) and driving an expensive new car, I’m not sure I would have been given the same break. [good gosh, after 29 years & miles of lessons there’s surely statute of limitation right?]

Disparity of treatment certainly isn’t unnoticed among most blacks and Hispanics. Look at disparities in mandatory sentences for crack vs powder cocaine.

(Community Matters) Since Blackwater is back in the news, thought I’d remount my posting from Jan 3:

I’m now reading Jeremy Scahill’s Blackwater, about Erik Prince and his conglomerate of mercenary fighters.

Jeremy Scahill is an award-winning investigative journalist who has reported extensively from Iraq.

Scary what DOD and DOS have outsourced. Even scarier when I realize the firepower that’s been built up in private hands. The largest private army in the world with access to Prince’s hundreds of millions, now probably billions.

Prince is a disciple of Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council (James Dobson & Gary Bauer) and probably a member of the secretive Council for National Policy. During Bill Clinton’s presidency, James Dobson started referring to the president’s administration as a regime, even going so far as stating that, “. . . . the regime [is] now passing itself off as a democracy . . . ” and stating out loud that Christians may have to choose between supporting our government and standing with God.

The commander of a well-equiped, private army of 20,000 who follows this man wondering whether Christians will have to defy and rise up against our president?

Steven and I both finished the book that week. We were slack-jawed imagining the power Erik Prince has acquired. Today, they’re back in the news here

(Community Matters) I’ve just read that Bobbie Barker has joined St. David’s Community Health Foundation as VP Grants & Community Programs. What a coup for CEO Earl Maxwell and his entire board.

Bobbie is one of our hardest working, strategic and operationally sound community leaders in Central Texas. I’ve long urged her to run for mayor and hope she will one day. In the interim, tickled pink that she’ll join Earl at the helm of one of our community’s most important foundations.

(Community Matters) Steven and I enjoyed seeing Salvage Vanguard Theater’s The Intergalactic Nemesis last night at the Paramount. Seated with playwright Allison Gregory and her friends Susan & Roger, we enjoyed – sometimes laughing with a roar – Jason Neulander’s and Chad Nichols’ adaptation of Ray Colgan’s original work.

Graham Reynolds on stage at the piano, and Lee Eddy provided a rock star performance as Molly Sloan. Visited with Jason during intermission. He’s got galactic plans and is raising money to self-produce the show in NYC, where it’s already been presented.