Can the Rangers do anything right? Norm is wondering if it has gotten to the point where, no matter what the Rangers do, the Dallas sports fan simply will not give them credit. A history of failed moves and bad deals has conditioned Ranger fans to expect disappointment.

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Tom PaukenFounded 50 years ago this issue, National Review was the magazine that started a "conservative" revolution that culminated in the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980.  Both those who consider this a triumph and those who consider it a catastrophe usually join in a tip of their hats to Bill Buckley, his magazine, and their achievements.  In their 50th anniversary issue, now on newsstands, National Review tipped its hat to 15 "unsung conservatives" who it believed had not received the recognition due. 

Dallas Blogger and Dallas Blog investor Tom Pauken has been named as one of National Review's Unsung 15.  I have known Tom for 30-years and can personally attest it is a well-deserved honor.  There are many very much at philosophical odds with Tom that share my belief.  If you doubt it just look at our diverse collection of Bloggers. 

It is interesting that National Review attributes Tom's efforts (as then Texas GOP Chairman) to defeat then Gov. George W. Bush's tax increase program as having done enormous favor for Bush.  The editors go on to suggest that Bush and his political major domo Karl Rove "might want to drop Pauken a belated thank you note for correcting an early misstep."  Tom, don't wait by the mailbox.

Rep. Kent GrusendorfRep. Kent Grusendorf, 65, was first elected to the Texas House in 1987 and quickly established himself as the Republican Party’s leading expert and spokesman on all issues related to education. He was the primary leader in the push for charter schools and point man in many in failed efforts to create a state voucher program. As Education Committee chairman under Speaker Tom Craddick (R-Midland) he has been the point man on education funding reform and related efforts in every one of the recent special sessions. Tomorrow he will draw a powerful primary opponent in an election many Tarrant County political observers believe will be a toss-up.

Diane PatrickTomorrow Diane Patrick, 59, a former elected member of the State Board of Education and one-time President of the Arlington ISD School Board will announce a challenge The GOP’s “Mr. Education.” When it comes to professional education credentials Patrick has more than 10-years of classroom teaching experience, a PhD in Educational Administration from the University of North Texas and is currently a an associate professor in the department of educational leadership and policy studies within the College of Education at UTA.

All agree that Grusendorf is in some trouble. Grusendorf faces some disenchantment from the failure of the legislature to enact education reforms and adopt a new funding mechanism for Texas. His long tenure in office and occasionally heavy-handed manner has resulted in a growing list of foes. But the Patrick candidacy is largely seen as springing from efforts by the Texas Association of School Administrators and Texas Association of School Boards to build a legislative delegation more favorable to substantial new funding for public education and less supportive of vouchers. One heavy Republican contributor likely to support Grusendorf notes that she is the perfect “Soccer Mom” candidate in a city with a lot of soccer moms.

Several candidates have announced, or appear ready to announce, challenges to incumbent Republican lawmakers. In some cases these pit Democrats against Republicans in marginal districts but in other cases Republicans are challenging Republicans. Many political leaders of the education lobby feel that suburban conservative Republicans are out of touch with their districts and are vulnerable to challenge. A Patrick versus Grusendorf contest in Arlington will certainly determine the truth of that belief. Patrick is expected to have no trouble raising funds, but neither should Grusendorf.

Given Grusendorf’s high profile, powerful chairmanship and seat at the Speaker’s right hand a loss to Patrick in the Republican primary would have a dramatic impact on next spring’s likely special session to address school funding. While Patrick would not hold office at the time, a lame duck Grusendorf would be unable to hold his chairmanship under House rules. And a Grusendorf defeat would certainly send a message to his remaining colleagues.

Dallas City Council voted Wednesday to apply Verified Response to businesses. The controversial measure passed over a number of objections from businesses, alarm companies and some council members. Under the new plan, designed to reduce police responses to false alarms, police will not respond to business burglar alarms until a representative of the alarm company shows up to the business in person and calls Dallas police to verify that the alarm is genuine. It is hoped that police resources wasted on false alarms can thus be freed up for genuine crimes.

Speakers lined up to object to the measure. Many, including Leslie Kayto and small business owner Doug Wright, claimed that VR would send the wrong message to criminals. Pastor L.L. Marshall of Living Waters Family Church pointed out that "thieves in this day and time have no respect for any business, and that includes the churches." He noted that there have been attempted break-ins at his church, and that other churches have been broken into several times.

One speaker claimed that under VR, businesses might have to post security guards overnight. John Barr noted that a police officer receives 800 hours of training, whereas a security guard needs only 30. He also claimed that a business could be sued by a security guard who might be hurt responding to an alarm. Most speakers said that VR would be bad for business. One suggested that businesses are being treated as “second-class citizens”.

Virtually all speakers spoke in favor of increasing the fines on false alarms, and some suggested canceling the alarm systems of multiple offenders. Responding to a question from City Council, Chris Russell of the North Texas Alarm Association said he would be willing to lobby the state government to allow Dallas to increase fines for false alarms, but only if VR is abandoned and existing laws are tried first. By law, the state must currently approve any fine increases for false alarms.

Some council members expressed strong opposition to VR. Echoing some of the speakers, Ron Natinsky said that VR will hurt business in Dallas. He asked that the city press the state legislature to allow it to raise fines for false alarms. And he also asked that the city hire more police officers. Mayor Laura Miller, a VR supporter, acknowledged that the fine increase allowed by the state legislature in its last session is not high enough. Council member Maxine Thornton-Reese objected to police not responding to each and every alarm.

Council member Bill Blaydes said that the "ordinance as written today does not require an armed patrol" to respond to an alarm. VR, he said, will result in unarmed security guards responding to dangerous situations. Leo Chaney objected to VR but also objected to raising false alarm fines, since some of his residents who depend on alarms are on fixed incomes. Mitchell Rasansky noted that 17,000 police chiefs in US cities do not support VR. Businesses, he said, are "scared to death about this" and "don't want to remain in Dallas". He also said that businesses are "not second-class citizens".

In response to VR opponents, council member Gary Griffith pointed out that businesses could, if they wish, arrange and pay for armed guards to respond to alarms. Under questioning by council member and VR supporter Steve Salazar, Dallas police chief and VR supporter David Kunkle said that when businesses sign up for a new alarm service, an "armed guard response" will "get there quicker." He claimed that the private security guards will be affordable, since the cost will be spread over all businesses with security alarms. He does not think that businesses will need to post permanent security guards at night. He also said that the police department must make choices in responding to calls, because there are not enough officers to respond to all calls. And adding 20 officers to the police force would mean a mere 1.6% increase in the size of the force. In response to the objection that criminals will get the wrong message with VR, Kunkle said that criminals already know that as things stand now, the police can't respond adequately to alarms.

Council member Elba Garcia pointed out that there were over 62,000 alarms in 2004, and that over 60,000 were false. She noted that most businesses don't have alarms. She claimed that the current system is obsolete. And she hinted that local alarm businesses are acting out of self-interest to preserve their business arrangements. She called for a new approach, saying that the Dallas police department "is totally in support of verified response" and added that "false alarms are the single largest waste of police resources." Garcia concluded by saying that other cities report that VR greatly reduces false alarms, and that VR puts burden on people in the alarm industry, who should be the people verifying that alarms are genuine.

The measure passed 8-5, with Miller, Garcia, Medrano, Oakley, Salazar, Griffith, Koop and Hunt voting for, and Thornton-Reese, Chaney, Blaydes, Natinsky and Rasansky voting against. VR for businesses will start taking effect next year, as current alarm contracts begin expiring. The measure does not apply to residential alarms.

The tallest building on the Dallas skyline is the 72-story Bank of America Plaza building in downtown Dallas. For another 13 stories a Fort Worth architect and a Dallas developer could have the tallest building in North Texas. For another 21 they could have the tallest in Texas. But even a 60-story building in downtown Fort Worth is pretty big news. It would soar 20-stories over that city’s next highest building.

Bill Cawley of Cawley Wilcox Development of Dallas and Fort Worth architect Ken Schamburg have teamed to create the mixed us development on the moribund southeast side of downtown Fort Worth. The developers agree all of their financing is not yet in place, but Wilcox will be fronting a good chunk and Cawley sees no problem in coming up with the rest.

According to the developers the building will dedicate its first 10-stories to an 1100 car parking garage, another 10 stories to 200,000 sq ft of office space and the remainder to a residential tower with 300-plus units. The building will also include some commercial space and a Class ‘A’ restaurant on the top floor.

Unlike the Dallas Central Business District which has nearly 30 million sq ft of existing space with a vacancy rate of 30%, Fort Worth has a vacancy rate of just fewer than 5% in class ‘A’ buildings. The recent conversion of the old 38-story Bank One building into a fully leased high-rise condo has spurred considerable residential development in Central Fort Worth which is noted for its vibrant nightlife.

Now maybe another 2 stories in parking and 10 for a hotel and let’s see what else …

Our guest commentator today is Wes Boyd, the chief marketing officer of Barrington. He is a graduate of Washington and Lee who received his MBA at the University of Texas. He is married and is the father of three. He and his family are members of the Providence Presbyterian Church.

DallasBlog would welcome an advocate for evolution helping to make this issue one of our Dallas debates. Just email your response to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  or simply join in the discussion by posting your comment at the end.

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Trade deficits heading towards $800 billion annually while budget deficits continue to rise as well.

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