Monthly Archives: December 2010

Time’s nice guy of the year

Posted on 2010/12/25 by Ham Richards

Today’s Austin American-Statesman carries a column by regular contributor John Young inspired by the designation of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg as Time’s “Person of the Year.” What’s so odd about the choice is that he seems like a genuinely nice guy. … Continue reading →

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NY Times: “Keep Arizona Elections Clean”

Posted on 2010/12/21 by Ham Richards

In an editorial published yesterday, the New York Times scolds the Supreme Court—”which seems at times to be on a crusade to remake the American electoral landscape”—for suspending the “triggered matching funds” provision of Arizona’s system of public campaign financing. … Continue reading →

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Pecuniary contributions now accepted

Posted on 2010/12/21 by Ham Richards

At the bottom of the right sidebar you’ll notice a new Donate button. Feel free to try it out!

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Texas Railroad Commission in Sights of Need to Know

Posted on 2010/12/21 by Ham Richards

The PBS program Need to Know broadcast on December 17 included a segment on the gaping loopholes in the regulation of natural-gas pipelines. These loopholes have led to spectacular fires and explosions, some of them fatal.  Prominently featured are the … Continue reading →

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Lawrence Lessig to Speak in Austin on Money in Politics

Posted on 2010/12/19 by Ham Richards

Lawrence Lessig, Professor at Harvard Law School, will present a talk on the corrosive effects of money in politics, and will recommend remedies. The event will take place at the Thompson Conference Center on the UT campus at 6:00pm on … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Money in Politics | 2 Comments

David Brooks on clusters and networks

Posted on 2010/12/13 by Ham Richards

One of the speakers at the No Labels kickoff was David Brooks, who is well known as a center-right New York Times columnist. His December 9 column (reprinted in today’s Austin American-Statesman) reinforces his centrist credentials. In explaining why the Bush tax cut compromise … Continue reading →

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NoLabels.org takes off

Posted on 2010/12/13 by Ham Richards

NoLabels.org was launched today, with speeches by politicos and pundits ranging from the near left to the near right. A column by Matt de Long in the Washington Post offers a splash of cold water: No Labels is the latest … Continue reading →

Posted in Civility in Politics | 1 Comment

McKinnon a founder of No Labels

Posted on 2010/12/05 by Ham Richards

From an Orlando Sentinel column by Kathleen Parker: Next month, a new political group, No Labels (www.nolabels.org), will launch in New York City. Led by Republican strategist Mark McKinnon and Democratic fundraiser Nancy Jacobson, the organization has raised more than … Continue reading →

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Super PACs spent hedge-fund dollars on midterm elections

Posted on 2010/12/05 by Ham Richards

The Washington Post reminds us that The Supreme Court’s ruling this year in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission found that corporations, unions and nonprofit groups could spend unlimited money on advertising directly attacking or supporting candidates. In a separate decision, … Continue reading →

Posted in Clean Elections, Corporate influence, Money in Politics | Leave a comment