The Gossips hear that Bert Keller got caught again in saying one thing to the folks inside the Loop and another on the West side. This time he took credit for killing the 1 cent tax roll back, even saying he did it for his good friend, Mayor Lee Brown. Then of course he told the folks on the West side that he had made a mistake but voted against the reduction to protect a fire station in his district. Seems like old Bert had a similar problem back in the general election when he said on the East side that he had the support of Mayor Brown and then later on said on the West side said he had never said that. Hey, that is a time honored tradition, just tell the voters what they want to hear regardless of the facts.

But this little flap got Dan Patrick on KSEV all hot and bothered and he made a big deal of Keller's flip flop on his radio show. That got Keller's political consultant mad and he called in and had a very loud and messy fight on the radio with Patrick. Now that is becoming the issue and Keller is getting more not so nice publicity. The Gossips always say don't pick a fight with a reporter who will always have the last word.

The Gossips did read some interesting political mail on return from Thanksgiving vacation: One from the Harris County Republican Party that Bill White will be a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2006. They are saying that if White gets elected he will be a star in the State Democratic Party and will run for a state-wide office in 3 years from now. The last Mayor of Houston that ran for a statewide office was when? Never that is when. It is almost impossible to make that jump in a state as big as Texas.

Then there is some mail from Houston's Planned Parenthood's PAC that recommends White, Parker, Brown and Green for Houston City office. Seems like Council member Gibbs must have changed her position on choice. .Another mail piece from the Gay and Lesbian PAC also recommends almost the same group. It includes Adrian Garcia for District H and Michael Gomez for HISD but does not include Ronald Green. Green of course ran against Sue Lovell a past President of the GLBT caucus, in the general election and she is now supporting Green. Confused? The Gossips are.

And Bob Bullock may be dead, but the Gossips got a nice memo from him asking that we contribute to the Bullock Archives at Baylor. The best line was his last sentence. "I know times are hard, but if you think you have a tough time raising money, try doing it from the state cemetery". It should be noted that a long time Bullock fund raiser, Susan Longley is involved with this effort.

And you can go meet one of the Gossip"s favorite U.S. Senator, Senator Barbara Boxer from CA She is in town today to raise money for her re-election at Nancy McGregor and Neal Manne's home and it is co-sponsored by the Houston Planned Parenthood PAC. To RSVP call 202-543-1057