Monday, April 12, 2010

The Noise Machine (04/12/10)

run-off eve....


Big Jolly Politics reports that rumors of the demise of the Jared Woodfill campaign are much exaggerated. Recent reports had Bob Perry supporting Ed Hubbard, now that appears to not be the case. With former anti-establishment "champion" Dan Patrick on-board with Woodfill Hubbard supporters have their work cut out for them.


Peace officer overtime is a big deal with the MSM, but is it a resonating issue with a general public that consistently lists "public safety" as their #1 issue? (Not that ChronBlog would have priorities that are different than their customer base.)


I still think that this is the wrong place for Republicans to draw a line in the sand. Your view may vary.


Heck, even Irving knows what to do with dilapidated old stadiums with no current practical use.


Apparently, you're not enthused about the run-off election. Which means that those who do vote will have votes that count all the more.


When discussing the economics of parking, I wonder why it's OK to say that too much parking is undesirable for a vibrant city center but to say that too little parking is also bad is taboo?


Charles Kuffner's last piece on voting trends, looking at straight party tickets today.


One more from Mr. Kuffner on the cutting back of library hours. Notable for the fact that it raises questions as to whether or not some in Houston understand the budgetary implications of Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones.


Think about this: (American Style Socialism, Sherman Frederick, Las Vegas Review-Journal)
About 47 percent will pay no federal income taxes at all for 2009.
If you don't understand why that's a scary number you probably failed civics class. (If you ever took civics class, as a friend and I discussed this weekend)


These Perry for President stories just won't stop. (Maybe it's because shoddy reporting is only being outed by bloggers? Where's Politifarce on this one?)


Texas Watchdog weighs in with a quality duo: One, that Metro execs don't like using the same public transportation choices they provide for you, and two, print and video coverage of the HISD meetings over charter schools.


Imagine that: The regulation of the health insurance industry may require a big new bureaucracy. Can't say I didn't see that one coming. (And I'll bet the funding of said agencies wasn't in the CBO "scoring" of the bill either.)


Race-track slots in the news again. Will they get approved? (My money is against.)


And finally.....


Is the Texas Democratic weakness one of strategy? That's one theory.

3 comments:

Ed T. said...

"...even Irving knows what to do with dilapidated old stadiums with no current practical use."

One would presume that the city of Irving didn't still owe almost $100 million on their dilapidated old stadium (though I would hope that Harris Co. has managed to pay that amount down somewhat in the days since the Dome was last used.)

~EdT.

Ed T. said...

"I still think that this is the wrong place for Republicans to draw a line in the sand. Your view may vary."

They do, in fact. I think that it is imperative, if the GOP ever hopes to rehab its image as the party of controlled government spending, that they hammer home - again and again AND AGAIN! - that this is in response to demand from We The People that the feds get their spending under control, and also in response to a law (PAYGO) passed by a Democratic-controlled Congress at the behest of a Democratic President. But, they shouldn't simply block the bills: they should offer up the offsetting spending cuts themselves (as it appears the Dems are unwilling to do so.)

~EdT.

Cory said...

"But, they shouldn't simply block the bills: they should offer up the offsetting spending cuts themselves" Alas (for them) that's not what they're doing. And the line they're drawing is campaign fodder.....against the jobless and all of that.


A smart party would offer up sending cuts out of the Congressional area of the budget. Make the other party look bad.

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