postgresql pgadmin3 queryconnect attribute does not work
I found the answer to my problem.  The pgadmin3 tool won't let you specify both a server and a database.  The server itself HAS a default database and when you select it with the --server option, it won't let you pick a database.  An error message would have been nice!

The 'defiant' server I made has in itself a default connection to a database, you have to set that default database, and you can't use commandline options to change it.

First, you must be disconnected from the default connection to the server you want to edit.  Either make a new connection to a server or edit your existing one by right clicking your server, mine is: defiant(localhost:5432).  

Then right click it, go to properties, you'll see a field called `maintenance DB', make that the connection to the database you want to be the default for this server connection.  I set mine to kurz_prod.  Click OK and restart.  

Then the following command works.  It opens pgadmin3, it gets a connection to the server and database that I specify, it opens a query window, it loads a previous file I specify into it.  And immediately I can run statements against it.

This command is correct in opening an sql file with a connection to a server and database:

pgadmin3 --file=/home/el/Desktop/sqlfile_for_postgresql.sql --query --server=defiant