State Chair Race and the Future

Thank you, Glen! <EOM> (3.75 / 4)

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by: McBlogger @ Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 03:37:15 AM UTC

The Maxey Campaign (3.75 / 4)

Thank you, Glen.

Thank you, Rick.

You have given us Democrats a voice and platform. 

No longer will be be told to run along and play while the grown ups take care of things. We are now a recognized full fledged force to that is not going away.

The mouse has roared, and now echos in the halls of the Texas Democratic Party.

Thank you, Glen. A roaring mouse makes such a beautiful sound.

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by: Ken22640 @ Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 03:44:48 AM UTC

Thank YOU! (3.75 / 4)

Thank you for running, Glen, and for inspiring so many people, including me, to hope that the old party can be newly responsive to the needs of the people, and that the people can step up to make a difference themselves. 

Sometimes people just need to be helped into making that first step themselves, and for an awful lot of us, you did just that.

And now I will support Chairman Richie and TDP in any way I can. 

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by: rocketito @ Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 03:45:28 AM UTC

Even on video (4.00 / 3)

that speech got my heart racing again. The crowd in that arena was so with you, Glen. It's easy to hear in the crowd response that you won the raw vote (of delegates who were present). The people spoke, and I believe the Party heard it loud and clear.

Thank you for everything you've done for Democrats, and the graceful way you've done it. In both your speeches yesterday, you reminded us that "we're all in this together."

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by: 53rd Street Democrat @ Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 04:07:54 AM UTC

Ya Basta is What I Want to Know... (4.40 / 5)

For those that were in the convention hall, you know it is true to say that of the 4 speeches given by the candidates, Glen Maxey's received the most ovation, beginning with minute long chant as he walked on stage, through the speech.

While the election is over, I had a number of people (mostly the Maxey folk who came into the party because of Dean 3 years ago) comment about how his speech, the "Ya Basta!" speech, reminded them of Dean's "What I Want to Know" speech giving in February of 2003 to the California Winter DNC convention that was the signal of his campaign for change.

While this election is over, and I am just as ready as the next person to move forward, I think it can be noted that the reform movement begun two years ago by the ousting of dead weight in numerous SDEC seats (which continued this year as well) is not yet over. In the end, 47% of those most committed to the party, it's insider core, voted for reform of some type. It cannot be dismissed nor do I think it will, for otherwise in 2008, the reform movement will be back. It is the future, and I hope that we get there sooner than later, all things considered.

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 04:22:11 AM UTC

I agree... (4.00 / 3)

that if Chairman Richie doesn't live up to his promises, the reform movement must continue.

We cannot continue to reward those who promise the moon, and deliver dirt (be they Republicans or Democrats).

While Richie cannot be blamed entirely for any losses (nor take all the credit for any wins) this November, I hope he and the party can set the stage for successes up and down the ballot.

Now is the time to work within the system (as bad as it may be) to help the SDEC and Richie succeed -- whether or not you supported them. I think all the candidates for party chair were class acts, and I hope they stay actively involved with helping rebuild our Party's structure.

The time is now.

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by: Matthew D. @ Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 15:00:49 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

As a Richie supporter let me say... (3.75 / 4)

...your speech was the best convention speech of the four. Thank you for your magnanimous concession. May all Democrats follow your example.

"Secrecy and a free, democratic government don't mix."--Harry Truman

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by: SacreBleu @ Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 05:08:19 AM UTC

Agreed. (5.00 / 2)

nt

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by: R. Kirk McPike @ Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 05:13:06 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

thanks! (4.00 / 3)

you really moved my little blue heart this weekend, glen, with the joy/energy of your troops and two perfect speeches. one of which made me cry and one that inspired me to scream with unity. it took 24 hours but have decided not to pout; that that energy is best used to see what i can do about the mess in SD19. i think your grace in concession is my inspiration.
thank you! ¡YA BASTA!
jamie

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by: ag8grl @ Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 05:27:24 AM UTC

Well, sorry y'all. (3.30 / 10)

But I am not going to kiss and make up.  I am going to hold the feet of those silverback gorillas to the fire.  I'm pissed. 

Glen, I feel we let you down.  Not your energetic and brilliant workers, but the rest of us who just sort of sent a few emails to some big wigs or forwarded yours on to our friends, but basically just waited to vote for you.

No mas.  The next brave soul who takes them on is going to really have all of us at his or her back, ready for real hardball.  I know what it looks like now, and I have so little to lose, I am just going to practice batting for a couple of years; and I plan to really play some ball next time.  And to that consultant who I love dearly who just didn't want his name on a petition for a resolution to impeach the president - grow up.  This is not a gentlemen's game anymore.  This really is about who lives and who dies. When you are asked to make a choice that threatens your viability as a consultant, do America a favor.  Think about those kids, younger than you, in desert cammies who can't smoke a cigarette outside at night because they might get shot, who can't make love in their own safe bed with whoever they love, who can't chose where to go for dinner tomorrow night, let alone have a career planning political campaigns.  Think about the kids I see at BAMC with no fucking faces left.

I'm an old lady.  My knees are starting to give out, my hearing is so bad my iPod is on the loudest setting most of the time, and I am always losing my cell phone, my keys and my glasses.  My kid has to program the TIVO for a mother most people think is his grandmother.  But after repeatedly being put in jail for protesting the war in Vietnam, having my family shun me for 5 years because of it, and losing friends and a husband because of it, I think I have an inkling of what it means to sacrifice for my country. Most people would say I deserve to retire from this shit and just watch Larry fall asleep while he watches the college world series.  But we're doing neither.  We are slogging away, doing all this campaigning in the dark and pretty much alone.

So I'm not going to kiss and make up, I am not treating this as a gentlemen's game.  I am going to play some hardball.  Even with people I love.

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by: dksbook @ Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 07:19:02 AM UTC

I'm pissed too, but not ready for divorce (3.56 / 9)

I worked like a dog for Glen for weeks, and this broke my heart.  But I'm starting to realize that a very strong message was sent to the "silverbacks". 

We had more people on the floor supporting our candidate. We had the majority of delegates on the Nominations Committee. We prevented an outright majority win on the first ballot.  We got 47% of the delegates' votes, for heaven's sake, in the first challenge race in 26 years.  The day after the "incumbent" chair got a TRO against the Republicans in the DeLay race.  When the face of the "incumbent" was on big screens everywhere. 

It wasn't just SD14 going for Maxey, either, it was out of the way nonurban districts like 5 and 18 and 28 that sent this message too.  My own district, 18, is generally very conservative, and sent 75% of its votes to Maxey.  If this is not a message, nothing is. 

I'm willing to work together and forget about factions for a while. I'll trust that Chairman Richie will hear and heed this message.  If he does not, we will be back, and more people than ever will be with us.  We're not in the dark or alone; we're 47% strong and getting stronger every day.

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by: rocketito @ Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 14:39:32 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Why the low ratings? (0.00 / 0)

Rocket is well-written and honest, and did not criticize me, just has a differnt POV.  Since Rocket was a Maxey worker, my assumption is s/he is younger, and has the luxury of time to keep fighting.  My fighting days are limited, and I am, perhaps, more desperate.

Please, the rest of you, rate this comment up.  I appreciate Rocket's hopefulness, you should, too.

And BTW, I'm not ready for a divorce, but I'm certainly not jumping into bed with the silverbacks.  I'm waiting for them to actually bring a little food to the table.  Can't make love on an empty stomach.

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by: dksbook @ Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 16:22:38 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Rating (3.00 / 2)

My 3 is as high as I can go. I am not a TU.

I marvel that we can have so many opinions and I agree with Glen, this debate has only made the party stronger.

We will chip away at the majority in the House, we will hold in the senate, and we will win key congressional races like Courage and Lampson.

All of this because of the leadership of people like Maxey and the impressive youth he has trained like Nick, Cofer, KT, etc.

We might not be blue yet, but we are quickly becoming purple.

Read Just Another Blog

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by: Matt @ Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 16:55:17 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

You are right. (4.50 / 4)

We are becoming purple, but it is in spite of the TDP, not because of it.  And I also agree with Glen that we have moved forward.  But you see, I am really deathly afraid that we may be too late.  It takes just a short encounter with a 20 year old with no face and only 1 leg who wonders what happened to his country while he was being blown apart, to be afraid that there may be only a shell of a democracy left after '08.  So let an old lady be the prophet, take heed, then go out there and kick Republican ass.  And I wish you were a TU, but this TU can give you a 5, and did.

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by: dksbook @ Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 19:21:29 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

What's with the low-rating of dksbook? (0.00 / 0)

I'm not figuring out a pattern here with why you're getting dinked and I am too.  Methinks a cranky rater or two just rolling through?

Anyway, thanks for your kind post.  Glen's volunteers ranged from 17 to about 85 this time around.  I'm middling--40--and not feeling like I have all the time in the world to fight.  Just working hard to be cheerful so I don't start bawling again like I did Saturday night.  Ugly-cry face, copious facial fluids, the whole nine yards. 

They do need to bring some food to the table.  I so agree.

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by: rocketito @ Tue Jun 13, 2006 at 00:51:06 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

wow (0.00 / 0)

right on.

i cannot understand how someone could rate that a 1!?!

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by: David Mauro @ Tue Jun 13, 2006 at 05:57:55 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

What goes around comes around (0.00 / 0)

Interesting that Glen's speech was compared to Dean's "What I Want to Know" speech.  Especially interesting since Glen's riffed off a comment by strategist Kelly Fero about the party's relevancy and Dean's speech was wrriten by... Kelly Fero!

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by: BenBentzin'sBrain @ Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 12:48:17 PM UTC

quick question (0.00 / 0)

Where did you hear that from? I've never heard of Fero having any relation to the Dean campaign...

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 17:16:46 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

yeah (0.00 / 0)

me neither. i would have never thought that nor have i heard that anywhere

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by: David Mauro @ Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 17:35:35 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

THANK YOU!!!!!! (3.50 / 2)

and I am reporting for duty also.  Time to work on the 2006 elections and get start getting ready for 2008!!!!!

Doing My Part For The Left,Left Of The Rainbow

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by: refinish69 @ Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 13:12:35 PM UTC

Thank you Glen (5.00 / 1)

Thank you Glen for working to reinvigorate the Democratic Party in Texas.  Your speeches were some of the best of the convention.

I am looking forward to continue working with you this fall and in the future.

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by: Jeb @ Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 16:08:29 PM UTC

Not leaving yet (5.00 / 2)

I've already said elsewhere I do not plan on taking the ball and going home until we see how Boyd does. I've also said a 6% margin is not a mandate.

Glen, I am very proud of your speech and the hard work in the campaign.

I already know some people who are giving up on the Texas Democratic Party because of this weekend's results, but so be it. The way I see it, we have nowhere else to go. Kinky and Grandma are flashes in the pan, and the 3rd parties in this state are nonexistant. So working for change from within is our only option if we wish to remain in politics.

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by: John McClelland @ Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 16:15:19 PM UTC

Thank you Glen (4.00 / 2)

And thank you Rick and Nick and everyone else on Team Maxey. You are AMAAAAZING!

Hope is not a plan.

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by: Dave In A Cave @ Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 16:41:57 PM UTC

Thank you Glen for stepping up (3.67 / 3)

I know it was a tough decision to make.  It was a tough race.  I think you saw that the reform activists that first came in to work the party from within in 2000, are not going away.  We may have lost this battle but the war is far from over.  Your legacy is your class act.  You ran a positive campaign, you energized thousands of more activists and you gave us hope.  And that hope does not die unless we let it.  I want to thank Charlie Urbina-Jones too because Charlie is one of us. We need to change this party.  We need to continue to work from the inside. We're going to work for the party because it's still our party too, but we're also going to make sure we hold the leadership accountable. 

To the new TDP leadership, I'm looking forward to your fighting for the statewide ticket as hard as you fought for this chair.

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by: sonia @ Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 16:49:56 PM UTC

Boyd and Campaigns (4.00 / 2)

Mr. Ritchie spent good money to a firm to help win his campaign while Glen relied on great volunteers working for a man they strongly believed in leading the party.

So, now I hope Boyd can raise the funds for our candidates and turn to amazing campaign coordinators like Glen to get this state blue.

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by: jwwalthall @ Tue Jun 13, 2006 at 00:14:36 AM UTC

Dean in Texas (0.00 / 0)

Fero is a long time ally of Dean and his top staff (Joe Trippi et al) and was the chief person for the Dean campaign in Texas early on.  In fact, he is the one who recommended Maxey to them.  As I understand it, he even went to bat for Maxey when the Dean folks wanted to make a change.  The rest, as they say, is history....

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by: BenBentzin'sBrain @ Tue Jun 13, 2006 at 13:03:05 PM UTC

mmm? (0.00 / 0)

First time I've ever heard that story in all my time with Dean and Maxey. I can't verify that one right now.

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Wed Jun 14, 2006 at 00:49:15 AM UTC

[ Parent ]