We have decided that we will leave the plantation, no longer be your servants, and fully intend to cast our votes for the Former H-Town Mayor.
Yours Truly,
Kunta Kinte, Toby, Chicken George, Fiddler, and Kizzy
Yesterday, the H-Town City Council delayed making a decision on the Term Limits Review Commission recommendation. I wonder if something is up. I wonder if some backroom horse trading is going on. I hope it is not a horse of a different color.
I wonder if the fella that said I didn’t have any credibility catch my quote in today’s Chron editorial. The editorial is about how to go about filling the HISD Trustee vacancy. Check it out.
Here are bits from the editorial:
Veteran Houston political consultant Marc Campos, a longtime observer of HISD politics, says an election campaign, even on such short notice, would allow voters the opportunity to judge who really wants the position and have a full discussion of issues. "I’m uncomfortable with eight people making a decision when none of them live in the district," says Campos.
In the Chronicle’s School Zone blog, education reporter Ericka Mellon reported that trustee Larry Marshall favored calling an election, but trustee Manuel Rodriguez Jr. wanted more discussion in closed session, outside the view of the public. Board president Greg Meyers told Mellon he could support appointing a stellar candidate, but "there’s something about letting the people decide."
That something is called democracy.
The curious tale of the disappearing Dávilas continues to play itself out. Diana’s husband Abel Dávila was expected to file for re-election last year to his Houston Community College board seat. He was a no-show on filing day, but an unusual stand-in, Arturo Aguilar, Diana’s brother, did show up and file for the seat, only to mysteriously withdraw days later. Then Diana unexpectedly resigned her HISD post in late July, saying she wanted to devote herself to family life. She and Abel recently signed a $417,000 mortgage on a home in the Woodlands.
Given the unanswered questions surrounding the multiple resignations, it would be best to put HISD’s District VIII seat on the November ballot.
The Chronicle editorialized in 1993 that "a vote of the people is almost always preferable to an appointment. An election is a great leveler in that it avoids a situation of a few people anointing one unelected candidate with the advantages of incumbency when the four-year term ends."
That sentiment remains equally valid today.
Commentary has been talking about how to reach the Latino vote.
Check out what is in the Star Telegram.
Here is from the piece.
The nationwide poll, also sponsored by The Nielsen Company and Stanford University, found U.S. Latinos spent at least some time each day – in many cases, several hours – consuming Spanish-language media. They included almost 90 percent of Hispanics who mostly speak Spanish who watched TV and roughly 75 percent who listened to Spanish radio.
Among Latinos who spoke mostly English, about 4 in 10 said they turned to either Spanish TV or Spanish radio for news, entertainment or sports, which recently included the World Cup soccer championships – won this year by Spain.
"In the political world, there is this angst," said Jose Cancela, author of "The Power of Business en Espanol" and a 30-year veteran of Spanish-language radio and television. "But the business and multinational world understand: To be engaged with the consumer you want to use every opportunity to create a touch point."
OK now! The proof is in the poll. A lot of Latinos are tuned in to Spanish language TV and radio. I wonder if the Dem decision makers – heck any political campaign decision makers – are tuned into Commentary or this poll. Stay tuned!
Former ‘Stro and ATL closer Billy Wagner pitched his last game at The Yard yesterday afternoon. Wagner was drafted by the ‘Stros in the first round of thee 1993 MLB Amateur Player Draft. Name five other players drafted in the first round of the 1993 draft that are still playing today and have also played in All Star Games?
The Former H-Town Mayor rolled out his ethics plans yesterday which included calling out Guv Dude on paying off contributors by handing out appointments. When I first read this I kind of wondered how many of the Former Mayor’s appointees had given him campaign dough. I guess my pal Matt Stiles of the Texas Tribune was waiting for the Former Mayor on this one and already had the answer. His donors coughed up a measly $2 mil – yikes! Check it out.
Here is from the piece:
"Always, always, there’s influence peddling, and there are highly sought-after positions," says Houston attorney David Berg, a White donor who served on the Houston Area Water Corp. "I know Bill White very well. And you could not show me a stack of evidence high enough to prove to me that he’d ever do anything dishonest or that he would somehow profit from office."
"However, that is not to say that you don’t reward your friends in politics," Berg says. "You reward your friends and punish your enemies. That’s the oldest rule in the book."
Berg believes many appointees seek appointments purely out of a sense of civic responsibility. “Does it make you want to contribute to the guy who appointed you? Probably, yes. Such is life."
I don’t think Berg got yesterday’s campaign talking points.
Speaking of, Guv Dude is skipping E-Board interviews across the state this fall. He’s shooting the bird at the newspaper elites I guess.
A-Roid, Derrick Lee, Torii Hunter, Jason Varitek, and Chris Carpenter of course were drafted in the first round of the 1993 MLB draft.
As far as I’m concerned, I’m OK with having that Riddle lady as the face of the anti paperless folks crowd here in the Lone Star State. “Sleeper babies” my arse! Riddle my this!
In the last week, we’ve lost three games because our bullpen collapsed. Yesterday’s loss was fueled by Pedro Feliz’s failure to catch a pick-off throw in the 10th inning. Oh well! We have today off then maybe we can get back on track against the Pirates this weekend.
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