The Overlooked Candidates

Thanks for your support Karl... (4.40 / 10)

After "asking permission" from party officials to run for Agriculture Commissioner, I was told not once, but twice, by a long-time party consultant that I didn't have a chance in hell of winning this race.  This person has been a driving force for me to win in November.  It is evident, however, that the TDP could care less also.  All of their efforts seem to be directed at the very top positions on the ballot.  I am comfortable with that now.  It seems like I have spent most of my life proving people wrong, and I look forward to doing it again in November!

I crashed a fund-raising reception for another Governor candidate tonight in a nearby town.  I was approached by one of the hosts who was quick to tell me that I didn't have a chance in hell of beating Todd Staples in November.  He agreed that I was more qualified, but I didn't have a chance because my opponent knew how to "play the game" and had more available money than I and the entire TDP could ever raise by November.  Boy, he had the last comment right!  He also just climbed to 2nd on my list as motivations to win in November!

He said that he is supporting 9 judicial candidates, my opponent, Susan Combs, and this Governor candidate.  I made him a bet that I would win.  If I win, he buys my dinner, and vice versa.  He said that he has "swung the sword" for many years supporting Republicans, and has been rarely cut.  I told him that I would call him on November 8th and volunteer to pull the bloody sword out of his ass, then buy his dinner!  He was speechless!

These stories lead to one main point...we cannot give up hope just because others think that the odds are stacked against us.  No "true" American, much less Texans, have ever folded under pressure.  It's time for us to stiffen our necks and release the "bulldog" mentality that we all possess.  Believe me Texans, after November 7th, we'll get to hike our legs and piss all over the people that doubted us and tried to stand in our way.  We, the people, will then run the TDP!

Thanks again for your continued support, Karl.

Hank

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by: hank @ Wed Jun 14, 2006 at 05:28:03 AM UTC

This is why you will win Hank (4.60 / 5)

Because you are honest, true spoken, and 100% real. You get it and aren't afraid to say when you don't, and when you don't you try to find out (like this whole blogging thing).

I'm not sure what role I can play yet, but I know that when you receive the most votes of any Democrat running in this state in November, win or lose (and hopefully win) you can cash that bet.

The real work is out there in the offline world, but right now you and David and others are making the imprint in our online world. It's my feeling that it's probably a greater imprint of respect and willingness to help your campaign than others in the past. That's where the difference is made. Among my community of friends in Austin (which doesn't always think alike, but often is pretty key in recognizing where to place our collective efforts), your campaign has been quite the talk for the last 3 weeks. I think Glen's comment to one of your other posts is quite indicative of that.

Thanks to you and to David for doing what you keep doing. I don't want to see a division among the statewide candidates, I just want to keep those that seem to have been overlooked from being dismissed.

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Wed Jun 14, 2006 at 05:43:32 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

The obvious (4.50 / 4)

I hope I don't get tarred and feathered and run out of town but I will state the obvious.

We had a candidate for governor who cared about all the "down ballot" candidates running for office in Texas and he lost the primary.

We had a candidate for party chair who cared about all the party, not just a few who fit into a "Republicanized" view of the party, and he lost as well.

I am still horrified by the intimation, although some have said it was more than intimation, that the Democrats of Texas would leave the party if a gay man were elected chair.  That should have all the more reason to have elected him. To keep the party faithful to its platform. It has failed in that respect.  Glen can be heroic. The rest of us can be horrified. And should be.

The new party chair was endorsed by the candidate for governor. I suspect the only effort you will see on the part of the party chair is on behalf of the candidate for governor. And vice versa.

As for the rest of the candidates, well, they have us.  So maybe we can prove what the party is all about by getting them elected despite the party itself. The party left us behind an long time ago as far as I'm concerned - time for us to leave the party behind and take back what was stolen from us. By Republicans and by some Democrats who felt the way to victory for Democrats, pardon the expression, was by kissing some Republican's ass.

Time to kick them in the ass.  And the best way to do it is to elect all these candidates they believe can't get elected. 

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by: Baby Snooks @ Wed Jun 14, 2006 at 06:38:26 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

not quite tarring and feathering, but... (0.00 / 0)

It would be nice if you would stop talking about times in the past that you felt went wrong.  It won't help anything.

Let us work on the present.  If we can't stay in the present, we won't be able to get to the future we want to get to, and thats a Democratic Victory.  Instead, we will be stuck in the past, which is full, if I remember correctly, of Democratic defeat.

FORWARD!  ALL OF US!  FORWARD!

"Let us tenderly and kindly cherish therefore, the means of knowledge. Let us dare to read, think, speak, and write."  -  John Adams

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by: Michael Hurta @ Wed Jun 14, 2006 at 06:56:06 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

That strategist must have been an idiot... (5.00 / 2)

doesn't he realize Todd can't win against you? It's the mouth and the ability to think on your feet. Staples can't do that and it's worth millions.

THANK YOU FOR RUNNING, HANK!

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by: McBlogger @ Wed Jun 14, 2006 at 06:33:58 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

impressed (5.00 / 1)

Hank,

Discouraging story, but its great to hear that the negative comments make you that much more determined to win!

I heard your speech last weekend (at the DFT group) and was very impressed. Back in Austin, I mpecifically mentioned your name to friends/colleagues when talking about the convention.

Go get 'em, the TDP needs more candidates like you, even  if they themselves dont recognize that fact.

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by: xerixes @ Thu Jun 15, 2006 at 00:25:26 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thank you Karl-Thomas! (4.33 / 3)

Excellent Diary!

Faith Chatham

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by: faithm @ Wed Jun 14, 2006 at 05:50:35 AM UTC

I'm not re-writing... (3.00 / 1)

All the comments I've made on the dozen-plus journals that have already covered this exact same subject. Instead, I only link to Ken Molberg's comment here, and here, as well as the other comment I just made here.

A highlight from one of Ken's comments:

It was only a couple of conventions ago that hordes of delegates were complaining of the opposite, namely, that our convention was about to go the way of the National Convention and turn into a media event exclusively, in total disregard of the interests of the business the delegates had been elected to perform under our rules:  elect Party Officers, adopt a platform, pass resolutions.

I heard somewhere that everyone wanted to move forward together. I hope the people working at the TDP hold up to that end, for sure -- but I hope everyone that doesn't work at the TDP (myself included) does that as well.

Now, a very great man once said that some people rob you with a fountain pen.

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by: Phillip Martin, Progress Texas @ Wed Jun 14, 2006 at 06:36:26 AM UTC

I don't think you read (4.25 / 4)

This isn't the exact same subject. All of those discussion about what should or shouldn't have happened at the convention are one thing. What my post is about is taking all those case examples as giving theme to a larger problem which is that it is quite evident (and by the party's OWN admission) that the TDP is not really concerned with any statewide candidate not named Chris Bell, if even that.

I'm sorry that all of us are such a burden on yet another round of targeting only 10 house races.

There are some great House candidates, some of the best in years. I plan to have them covered and talked about here. But to just disregard the statewide candidates, we are ignorant to believe that what will happen in New York this fall (Spitzer and Clinton *crushing* everyone allowing for Democratic House/Senate pickups) will somehow not happen in reverse in Texas.

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Wed Jun 14, 2006 at 17:32:54 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

You don't think I read? (0.00 / 0)

See, you make a cheap shot, and I have to do all of this:

"Photo Essay": "The Party's job should be the election of our entire slate of candidates but there was way to much money and energy invested in an inner party battle that should have been used to promote the Party, our ideals, and especially our candidates."

"SD 24 Convention Report":"I truly believe that Boyd Richie heard Death knocking on his door, and hope he pays heed and works with us."

"An Election Year Mess": "The State Party more closely resembles high school kids running for student government than adults putting realistic goals and objectives in motion and working to build a better world." Ed.note - this is from one of dozens of comments in this thread that says the same thing repeatedly.

"State Chair Race and the Future":"We are becoming purple, but it is in spite of the TDP, not because of it."--Again, something repeated in the comments.

"How Does the Democratic Party's Do It in Other States?":"I've been rather rude and coined the phrase "Bozo Mentality..."

"Empty your cups":"What I did find is that reporters are parroting the TDP’s defeatist attitude!  Our own party has branded us as losers.  They have offered up our OUTSTANDING candidates as sacrificial lambs to pave the way for future elections."

"TDP = FUBAR": Really, just the whole post...

All of those posts (and then some) discuss, as you put it, "that the TDP is not really concerned with any statewide candidate not named Chris Bell, if even that." The fact of the matter is that's plain not true. The TDP folks did what they could, and beyond that, folks need to be willing to stay around the convention for a while.

Why don't we talk about the Dallas plan already in place for our statewides, our the Houston, Bexar County, Valley, and Travis county plans already in motion? I know you've got to know about those...

And for the hundredth time, to you, to TxSharon, to Faith, to everyone else: I WANT TO SUPPORT OUR STATEWIDES AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE A DEFEATIST ABOUT ANYTHING. I think you all know that...I'm just tired of this same conversation.

Are we moving forward together or what?

Now, a very great man once said that some people rob you with a fountain pen.

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by: Phillip Martin, Progress Texas @ Wed Jun 14, 2006 at 19:16:18 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

thank you for proving my point (4.33 / 3)

Last I checked, I didn't write a single one of those journals (nor did I comment on most), they are all from users/Democrats concerned about what they have to do to fight for candidates of a party that won't fight for them.  Point me to a couple journals written by anyone (hell, I'll even allow ya to look for any written by party consultants) that says anything about how the party has offered lots of services or coordination for the majority of our statewide candidates.

Phillip, let me quote again...

The dream of an instant revival has been deferred, with top party strategists focusing on local and statehouse races instead of the more costly and daunting statewide contests.

That doesn't sound like a party that really gives a shit quite honestly, and it's a slap in the face to people like Hank or Barbara or David, people who have truly energized base voters.  Granted, this year's slate has a few holes in it. Quite honestly, it's almost sad to compare to 2002. But I've held off from making any posts like that because it is a disservice to the ones that are great and are trying their best without an infrastructure to work on or close aid from 707 Rio Grande on what all to do.

Yup, there are plans in those urban metropoli and the Valley. But that's the point- they are all regional. The Travis plan isn't being developed around statewide candidates, nor will it be funded by them, even though they will benefit from it. It's the same plan that happened in 2004 or 2002. Urban+Valley.

I look forward to the day when there is a Menard plan, a Titus plan, a Tom Green plan, a Taylor plan.

My concern is not what happened with the order of events at the convention (the least of my concerns actually). It is only part of the larger puzzle, one which seems to be missing a lot of pieces.

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Wed Jun 14, 2006 at 19:46:09 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I know... (0.00 / 0)

...you didn't write them. Not saying you did. My point was that a lot of the themes seem to be overlapping.

Everyone there knows the TDP is going to be scrutinized, which can be good to an extent -- so long as we follow and comment on the good as well as the bad.

I'd also like to comment on the article that keeps being quoted: don't you see that as a good article? I do! Screw what "top political strategists" think -- which is poor writing, as it could mean 1 or 4 but hardly reflect anything of substance, even among the actual circle of so-called "top political strategists." The article points out all the energy in the base, and how that's going to lead to the revolution EVERYONE wants to see. That's something to get excited about.

Maybe it's just me, but I thought it was a really good piece.

Now, a very great man once said that some people rob you with a fountain pen.

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by: Phillip Martin, Progress Texas @ Wed Jun 14, 2006 at 19:55:07 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

quote (0.00 / 0)

"A single fact can spoil a good argument." -a

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Wed Jun 14, 2006 at 20:03:39 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

quote (0.00 / 0)

"I love the fishes 'cause they're so delicious!"

(sorry. i didn't eat anything today.)

Now, a very great man once said that some people rob you with a fountain pen.

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by: Phillip Martin, Progress Texas @ Wed Jun 14, 2006 at 20:19:29 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

quote (2.00 / 1)

"Fish is the only food that is considered spoiled once it smells like what it is."

-P. J. O'Rourke

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Wed Jun 14, 2006 at 21:29:45 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

From my phone conversation with Hank (0.00 / 0)

One of them was a TDP party strategist and the other was a physician who funds campaigns and hosted the fund raiser where Hank encountered him last night. 


Faith Chatham

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by: faithm @ Wed Jun 14, 2006 at 22:50:26 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Then OPEN YOUR MIND and TRY TO PROBLEM SOLVE WITH US (3.00 / 1)

INSTEAD OF THUMPING THAT SAME OLD LINE IN THE PARTY RULES.  You don't get it and don't seem to try to get it.

You aren't going to shut us up. WE KNOW THE PARTY IS BROKE and we are determined to work within it when we can and work around it when it is necessary in order to get DEMOCRATS ELECTED.

The bottom line, Phillip, can you open your mind enough to entertain the thought that THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING WHICH CAN BE REARRANGED enough to give the candidates 1 1/2 hour while the delegates are in the house during the two days of the Democratic Convention. That is not all that much to ask. After all, we are requiring that they place their personal lives on the line, their personal savings, forgo earning money in their professions while they campaign in order for the DEMOCRATIC PARTY to have candidates in the race.

Somehow I think that we should meet them part way. Right now the party isn't doing that. Every time you thump that same ole line from the party rules you are saying that this is perfectly ok with you. Well it's not ok with us and we're not going to shut up about it.  IT's defeatist and its' wrong and its unnecessary. WE CAN DO ALL THAT IS NECESSARY if we'll put our priorities in order and do some creative thinking. But it won't happen as long as you spend all your energy trying to convince us that what happened this past weekend was NECESSARY, RIGHT, APPROPRIATE and should be put behind us.  We will not put it behind us because if we do right now, it will continue happening year after year after year. And someday we'll have your son writing about how it has to be this way because that's how it happened back in the day's when his pappy was a delegate at the Democratic Convention.

Phillip, I don't know how old you are? But here's a question for you? During the past decade, have you participated in a Democratic Convention in Texas during an election year when most of the candidates of our party won the general election?

If not, that should tell you that we aren't doing everything right to get candidates elected.

Faith Chatham

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by: faithm @ Wed Jun 14, 2006 at 21:50:31 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Wow (0.00 / 0)

I don't know how many times I've agreed that things should be rearranged for the future. Seriously -- are you just completely ignoring every single time I've agreed with you that we need to feature candidates? I'll say it again -- we need to feature candidates at our convention, but we also (and we can do it together, at the same time, I promise) need to do other things at the convention.

The fact is, we can't do the schedule for the convention in two years. We've got to wait, you know, 20 months at least. So, in the mean time, how about we move forward and just keep trying our damndest to win in November. That's what I'm trying to do -- both by featuring all of our statewides on the 40/40 project and in promoting our candidates when I'm talking w/ everyone else I know.

That's me moving forward -- not telling anyone to shut up or be quiet -- but moving forward, so we can problem solve with this in the future but still look towards what we can do, together, for our candidates today in November and for years to come.

P.S. This was my first convention. But my Dad was ED of the TDP for ten years, and I've heard some stories about doing conventions and putting them together. It's logistical hell. Pure and simple. You can never do everything right. They used to feature candidates -- the folks that do platforms, resolutions, and other party business were upset. They feature the party business -- the folks that only want to feature candidates get upset. They try to do a balance, like this year, and everyone get's upset. Until we have delegates willing to stay longer, there's only so much time to do things. That's a pure and simple fact, because just since something isn't important to you doesn't mean it's not important to someone else. We're the umbrella party -- we've got to make room for everyone. You fix the worst mistakes, and try and do better next time. I'm going to work to do that, and I hope you will, too.

Now, a very great man once said that some people rob you with a fountain pen.

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by: Phillip Martin, Progress Texas @ Wed Jun 14, 2006 at 22:36:41 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

That is the point -- there needs to be balance (3.00 / 1)

A party without priorities gets stuck in the muck. I used to own a business which had a division which specialized in planning large events such as conventions. If you do it without having things ranked by PRIORITY according to the mission and goal of the organization, you end up with a mess. This party has lost sight of its overall mission. That is what I think Karl-Thomas is referring to when he says this particular journal isn't exactly about the same thing. This past convention is merely a symptom of the problem. It isn't about who won the Party Chair office either. It's about the delimma all of us face and we face it together no matter who we supported for Chair or why. It's about our inability to get our acts together collectively to make substantial changes in this wrecked governmental system in Texas. We have people in Austin who do not do their jobs. We have people in Austin who do not believe in the same values that most of the people of this state believe in. We fail to connect with those Texans who share our beliefs and values and get them to the polls.

We must ABSOLUTELY MUST put our minds and hearts together and examine EVERYTHING WE DO, everything we've done, and decide what works and what doesn't and find ways to make those hard decisions and necessary changes.

Change is difficult. Even when its for the better, it's difficult. Yet when we face having our rights stripped from us and this nation debased, we have to do the hard work and move beyond this muck we are all sunk up to the neck in.

Phillip, I think you have the ability to problem solve with us. I don't want you to shut up. I want you to think. Think inside the box and think outside the box and evaluate everthing you hear, see, think and hear. Ask Questions and continue pitching in here until we come up with SOLUTIONS.
They won't be easy. If it were easy, they'd have already been made. But it's important. In fact, our very survival as a nation depends upon it.

Phillip, when I graduated from high school, I had many more opportunities to get a good job and earn a good living than do the men and women graduating from High School and College this year. We were saddled with the Viet Nam war. That was the burden that faced my generation. Howevever, yours faces the Iraqi war plus has fewer job opportunities than we did. In addition, it is much more likely that you'll have less job security despite excellent job performance than my generation faced. There are fewer countries that will admit you without a passport than in my early post college days. (Most europeans can travel more freely without visa's than can US citizens.)  I remember when we could go work in Canada or Mexico without work permits for the summeer.  That is a concept that is hard for most younger Americans to comprhened. The borders of the US were not closed to protect Americans from people coming in-- but our government asked our neighbors to close their borders to American Citizens when young men started fleeing a war that they did not support.
Whatever you think about this war or that war, the point I'm making is that they are about to build a Berlin or Soviet style fence across the US border at the time when walls are coming down in Europe. It won't keep people out.

In fact, more illegal aliens are captured LEAVING the US than are caught ENTERING the US. Fences, wiretapping without court orders, detaining people for years without due process ... these are things that continue to happen. We are becoming accustomed to them . We cannot afford to become accustomed to them. We must get our act together as DEMOCRATS and get decent men and women elected locally and that will help us get out the vote to elect decent people on the state and national levels.

It isn't merely about who got to speak and in what order. It's about HOW WE DO THINGS TOGETHER. If we don't examine that and IMPROVE we won't have to worry about it for long because they may well outlaw political party conventions altogther.  Freedom exists only as long as we claim it and demand it and refuse to have it infringed upon. 

We cannot disrespect candidates and allow our party leaders to say one thing and do another and get away with it and expect our national government to be pure and just. We have to start where we are. Right now we are all planted within the Democratic Party as Delegates to the Texas Convention. Delegates on the floor did not know what was occuring back stage Saturday. We learned about it after the fact. So we need to deal with it now, and be sure that EVERYONE in TDP and SDEC understands that we demand SOLUTIONS which meet all our goals and priorities. That means we get our party business done and we equip our candidates to win -- because that is the party business. We can elect officers and approve a platfrom but if we fail with the other leg of the stool, we fail. We must do it all.

If we start with that assumption and decide HOW WE'LL GET IT ALL DONE, we'll find a way to do it. It will be hard, but we'll do it. If we say it's too hard, so we won't try, we fail. That failure translates in costs that move into the real world where men and women and children live. It literally translates into life and death -- freedom and oppression -- government by the people and for the people or tyrrany. 

You really have a greater interest in this than I do because you are younger than I am and have longer to live under the circumstances which will continue deteriorating or which will get better because of our actions.

Faith Chatham

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by: faithm @ Wed Jun 14, 2006 at 23:18:11 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Phillip please don't include me (0.00 / 0)

My "Empty your cup" post was about moving on and getting past the negativity.  I'm sorry your couldn't see that.

I don't have time for this conversation any more.  I want to get candidates elected.  How about reading the journal I just put up about what Daivd did today.  I think he did something wonderful for us all. 

How about showing him some support.  It would be nice to recommend the diary I put up on [http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/6/14/19119/4009] Daily Kos and focus some energy on winning.

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by: TXsharon @ Thu Jun 15, 2006 at 00:32:16 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I strongly support David... (0.00 / 0)

Saw him several times at the convention, and I'm going to do what I can to help him here on BOR and anywhere else I can.

Now, a very great man once said that some people rob you with a fountain pen.

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by: Phillip Martin, Progress Texas @ Thu Jun 15, 2006 at 06:09:01 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Excellent diary (3.67 / 3)

People have wasted a lot of words lately trying to defend something that is not defendable.

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by: TXsharon @ Wed Jun 14, 2006 at 12:16:46 PM UTC

people have written a lot of words... (4.00 / 3)

...looking backward at an unfortunate convention circumstance. The frustration is understandable, and I hope the following observation doesn't boil you up again. The truth is, that even though a convention speech can fire up the troops (as the ones that were given to a relatively full house Saturday did - even after BAR went long and squeezed the time frame), they actually have little to do with winning the election. And in addition to the candidate speeches, I wish everyone had been able to see our Killer D's stand and give Pete Laney a tribute, too, because more folks might have understood just what a unique human being Pete is.

To the extent the speeches do help, it's fortunate that they are all recorded and TDP is actually responsible for making them available to put up on the net so they can be seen (did you think they arose from the ether?). I'm sure those speeches and more can be edited and used creatively and constructively in the campaign. Isn't it time to start thinking that way?

As others have written, all in all, this was a better convention than some in the recent past, and it was done on relatively short notice by volunteers and a mostly new staff who worked their butts off. Hell,in 1998, we had candidates who wouldn't even appear on stage together, a real low point that showed how the old officeholder personality cults (and some of their consultants) were what really drove us toward "irrelevancy," not people like Bob Slagle and Ken Molberg who always fight and work for our party and our candidates. I agree with those who point to a restricted covention schedule and the need to make some changes to rules as one tangible thing that could be done to address this in the future.

There is always plenty of "could have" and "should have" borne of real frustration and legitimate criticism, and that is understandable for a few days. By now though, the frustration about the convention has been fully vetted, and there is a point where criticism should be channeled to constructive ends as we move on. Aren't we to the point that we should be looking forward to an inclusive campaign? And see who can and who will do what...to get folks involved and have a plan about actually turning out votes as well as some folks turn out these words?

Yes, screw the folks who say "you can't win" to our candidates and let's get on with business. Some reporters and some self important "analyst" types will always offer cynical scoreboard-watching assessments, but I haven't heard any of that from any of the folks who ran for party Chair, including Boyd Richie as well as Glen and Charlie.

So to cop a phrase, "ya basta!" None of this backbiting elects anyone. Frankly, I think TDP and all concerned can and will get it together to do everything possible with the resources at hand. I think that's what Hank wants, and I think that's also what TDP wants, but I have to wonder if that's what some people want. It's time we got back to "moving Texas (and our party) forward."

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by: getreal @ Wed Jun 14, 2006 at 15:09:32 PM UTC

coordinated campaigns & turning out voters (5.00 / 1)

And this thread harkens back to exactly what Maxey talked about. Having a coordinated campaign that the Party supports. But because the TDP is still not where it needs to be, the candidates are out there on their own, including Chris Bell.

Instead, good candidates like Hank and Valinda are stuck coordinating themselves and trying to raise money to do it at the same time. And all the while they do this, they also have to indentify their own voter and donation bases.

The reason these naysayers claim "you can't win" simply comes down to face time and advertising. The average voter does not pay attention to who is running for the commission offices unless it is thrown in their face repeatedly. They vote along party lines. Which means if more GOP voters turn out in November, the GOP candidates win.

This is where we need to help these Democratic candidates. Turning out the Democratic vote. And secondary to that we need to help with donations. That will be the only way they win in November.

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by: John McClelland @ Wed Jun 14, 2006 at 15:27:19 PM UTC

I guess some people can prejudge... (0.00 / 0)

...that TDP is "not where it needs to be." I prefer to think that a better course of action is becoming part of the solution, because if we are democrats and delegates and damned good concerned Texans, we are all part of TDP...

but now enough of this thread. have to get back to work, and the proof is in the doing, not the posting.

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by: getreal @ Wed Jun 14, 2006 at 15:49:15 PM UTC

well it's not where it needs to be (5.00 / 3)

And believe me, I spent the last month taking action to be part of the solution. Forgive me if I don't have a nice gig working for the party to go back to the day after the election.

Your insinuation that I'm not 'doing anything' is quite condescending. Yesterday I traveled with Glen and Nick to San Antonio on an errend and discussed on the way what each of us is already doing in terms of area coordinated campaigns for November. 2 days later and we are allready being put into place the roles we will fulfill to win here in November.

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Wed Jun 14, 2006 at 17:28:40 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

But are you a part of the solution? (0.00 / 0)

KT:

You say "2 days later and we are allready being put into place the roles we will fulfill to win here in November."

Fine.  But the problem you and others are lamenting over is that in your mind the TDP does not care about any statewide other than Bell.

Have you called the TDP and volunteered to be a part of bringing Hathcox, Gilbert, Henry, etc into the TDP's coordinated effort?  Have you "reported for duty?"

I think before you complain about the party, you've got an obligation step up and help -- even if your Chair candidate wasn't succesful.

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by: CMistress @ Wed Jun 14, 2006 at 18:43:19 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I am absolutely a part of the solution (5.00 / 1)

Which currently seems to be going around the TDP and promoting the statewide candidated DESPITE the organization.

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by: TXsharon @ Wed Jun 14, 2006 at 19:10:36 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

huh? (4.33 / 3)

I'm not even a precinct chair right now, and it's my responsibility to plan a statewide coordinated campaign? Excuse me if I thought that was something that naturally was just part of the job description of a that thing called the State Democratic Party.

Um, my bad.

I have stepped up and helped. It looks like I may be part of the staff for the Travis Coordinated. Please, spare me.

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Wed Jun 14, 2006 at 19:33:50 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hey! That's unfair! (5.00 / 1)

I have seen Karl Thomas volunteer for Hank Gilbert. He's making Burnt Orange a forum for all the candidates. In fact, I think at times, that Burnt Orand and Texas Kos are the two most available forums for these candidates.

It is important that we keep the things that REALLY NEED TO BE FIXED on the front burner long enough for the SDEC to get the message that it is VERY IMPORTANT and MUST NOT BE SWEPT under the carpet.


Faith Chatham

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by: faithm @ Wed Jun 14, 2006 at 21:57:21 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Folks walked out continuing to work (4.33 / 3)

My phone hasn't stopped ringing since the weekend. Yes, we've blogged about what we think is wrong, but other calls have been from Hank and David regarding campaign events.

Watch the paper. David has been busy for all of us. Sharon will be posting a diary later today regarding a breaking news story that impacts EVERY VOTER in TEXAS. 

Fred and Hank have been on the road. Hank has a campaign headquarters opening in Austin staffed by a dynamite lady from the Bob Gammage Campaign. Folks who heard him at State Convention are contacting us to volunteer.

I think it's very dangerous to make assumptions about any of the folks on this blog assuming that just because we are critical of the way some things were handled that we are laying down and dying and not moving forward with campaign work. I've been on the phone today with local media and AP. The Democratic Candidates who are near and dear to my heart are fighters and they attact folks who are willing to fight hard, work hard, and not stop until November.

On the other hand, there are some folks who persist in defending the undefendable.. even inserting the same ole line from the party rules into a photo journal! 

Faith Chatham

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by: faithm @ Wed Jun 14, 2006 at 22:04:30 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hank, David, Maybe you should answer this one (0.00 / 0)

What reception have you two gotten at TDP regarding any "coordinated effort?"

Do you think we'd be utilized in your behalf if we reported to duty there?

Is there a TDP coordinated effort???\

I'm really in the dark about that one.

Faith Chatham

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by: faithm @ Wed Jun 14, 2006 at 22:41:36 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Faith (0.00 / 0)

Send me an e-mail, please. phillip.bor@gmail.com

Now, a very great man once said that some people rob you with a fountain pen.

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by: Phillip Martin, Progress Texas @ Wed Jun 14, 2006 at 22:42:56 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

We are Democrats. We are Activists. We are Delegates. (0.00 / 0)

That's why we're yelling.

We were told on Friday how things would be and they knew that they didn't have 80 minutes available between noon and 1 p.m. So if we don't yell now, are we being part of the solution or part of the problem?

This is how people work things out. If we slink off with our tails between our legs and say "O.K. Keep on doing what you're doing and we'll be all sweet and pleasant, we'll all continue getting the same results we've been getting." 

Personally, we have a damned good shot of winning with the slate we have this year if we get behind them. I'll do everything in my power to make that happen. Will you? Or do you just want all of us to get along to get along?

Faith Chatham

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by: faithm @ Wed Jun 14, 2006 at 22:37:35 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

David Van Os Files Suit against Texas AG regarding Electronic Voting Machines (5.00 / 2)

Here's Sharon's journal on the lawsuit filed by David Van Os and others today.

David's fighting to insure that we have a fair, verifiable election in November.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/6/14/19119/4009

One of the things broken in Texas is our entire election process. This is one thing that definitely eneds to be fixed!

Faith Chatham

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by: faithm @ Wed Jun 14, 2006 at 23:29:20 PM UTC

This Burnt Orange is an interesting place (0.00 / 0)

People have been screaming about voting machines for years now but, when someone steps up and takes strong action, they just yawn and look the other way.

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by: TXsharon @ Thu Jun 15, 2006 at 02:23:56 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

been out today (0.00 / 0)

Sharon, I'm not around 24/7. I've got a lot backlogged and I'm not the only writer on here. If you want to get it up faster, write a journal and if it's good, someone will more than likely promote it. I'm taking a full load of classes this summer unlike some writers...

Please read the Community Guidelines and How to Rate Comments.

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Thu Jun 15, 2006 at 05:32:50 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Time for me to weigh in (4.00 / 4)

I've read all the comments and debate here and it is time for me to weigh in.

At the top, our state party apparatus is immersed in defeatism, elitism, and favoritism, all combined and interlocking. It's been this way for years. I've run for statewide office on the Democratic ticket 3 times since 1998, and I've lived it up close and through and through. J.R. Molina is the only other Democrat in Texas who has stuck himself out there as many times as I have during the last 8 years, and I know that J.R. sees it and feels it the same way I do. You can't help not seeing it and feeling it when you live through it and experience it over and over.

The environment is full of favoritism in favor of those whom the insider consultant crowd "tag" as running races that fit the profiles derived from their majestic number-crunchings and poll readings; it is full of elitism against anyone who isn't so favored; and it is full of defeatism toward the whole world in general, but with especial virulence toward those who are not favored by the consultant crowd's number-crunchings and poll readings.

Honest to god, those number-crunchings and poll readings are no more accurate than the readings of entrails by ancient Mycenean shamans. The entrail readings may have in fact been more accurate because at least they were undertaken in an atmosphere of reverence and respect - rather than cynicism and conceit.

This year, it's worse, not better. The prevailing wisdom now in the TDP ivory tower world of consultants, officials, and other pundits is that the governor candidate can win with 38-40% of the vote in the split field, and that is therefore the winnable race so forget the others because they sure can't win. Excuse me, but bullshit! The report that planted this idea was the worst thing that could have happened. It has got people thinking we can win the governorship by default, that we don't have to struggle and fight for it as hard as we thought we would have to. Folks, that is not an attitude that is going to carry our party to victory, neither for the governorship nor anything else. And the attitude that other Democratic candidates who are putting it all on the line to make a better world can't win is the attitude of a party that deserves to keep losing. Unfortunately, that attitude is pervasive among the gaggle of present and wannabe professional operatives and politicians who swarm around the party offices in Austin.

You dispute me?

Figure this - General Clark told me with a look of genuine surprise, when I introduced myself to him backstage after his speech, "Gosh, I wish I had known there were other important statewide races. I would have liked to say something about it in my speech. But Chris Bell and Barbara Radnofsky were the only 2 statewide races that your party ever mentioned to me."

Figure this - a prominent political reporter told me in conversation yesterday that it is obvious to the press that the very top of the ticket is the only part the Party leadership and staff are serious about.

Figure this - since the primary, my magnificent spouse Rachel and I have repeatedly told party staff about putting together barnstorming trips of statewide candidates traveling and stumping together. As a result of mine and Rachel's efforts, Hank and I, and Maria Luisa and Valinda, have stumped together and gotten tremendously favorable responses and attention in rural counties. Hank and I are barnstorming together again next week through 15 counties in Southeast Texas, county to county and courthouse to courthouse, taking the process to the people. You would think the party office would be interested in this - you would think they might have offered to help with press or outreach or coordination - but no, not an iota.

There is more, so much more, and I just don't care to take the time to write a book about it here on the Burnt Orange Report blog. I'll mention two more.

In 1998, when I was carrying the torch for the Democratic Party as a candidate for the Texas Supreme Court, I went through the whole campaign year with NOBODY ever informing me that there was a "battleground plan" in East Texas with lots of effort and resources put into certain districts. I don't know if you can imagine how I felt when the first I heard about it was Ed Martin describing it from the podium at the POST-election SDEC meeting.

In 2004, it was not until MID-OCTOBER, October 15, 2004, to be exact, that I learned from my dear friend Jackie Soliz-Chapa, during the Tejano Democrats convention in Corpus Christi that all possible efforts and resources of the TDP were going into only 10 selected state legislative races. "Take Back Texas" was really "nibble at the edges of Texas like cautious little mice and concede everything else." The telephone conversation that I had with Charles Soechting upon calling him after hearing such news from Jackie - i.e. learning that my own party didn't think the race I was running for a seat on the very Court where the Rove Takeover Plan started was worth any effort - was one of the most angry  conversations I have ever had with any person friend or foe. In that conversation, I learned that the party was on a "six-year plan" in which no races for statewide offices would be taken seriously for 4 more years at least. Chairman Soechting could not explain to me how this defeatist plan was hatched, but I know that it was not adopted by the SDEC, and I know that at least two of the consultants and quasi-consultant staffers who hatched it are probably reading this post.

My friends, this is the culture of defeatism, elitism and favoritism -- only support a few selected races because we can't win anything else and that way we can keep good control and reserve things for people we favor and who are the "right" kind. It is the culture that has betrayed the people of Texas by defaulting it to the economic, political, and anti-constitutional terrorism of the Bushite gang. I don't know about the rest of you, but I do not and will not cater to it any more. And I hate to tell you, but NO candidate for state party office spoke to it. I'm with Hank, and he's with me, and vice versa. We intend to win these elections and wrest this state away from the robber barons and gangsters and return it to the people. We believe in and love the great heritage and values of our Democratic Party, but we have no use for a bunch of defeatists, elitists, and apologists that just want to play games. These elections this year are not a game. This is not a matter of who can put more points on a political scoreboard. It is not a matter of letting a pendulum swing back. These elections this year are a matter of survival for democracy, liberty, and Constitutionalism. Unlike the elists, apologists, and defeatists who can only think in terms of "targeting," I believe in democracy and I trust the people of Texas, ALL of them. I don't care how they voted in the last election or where they fit in some damn consultant's number-crunching, I trust their ability to understand my soul as I go out there and share it with them. I trust their desire to connect and their hunger to fight back. I see it and hear it every day. I am determined to the depth of my being to fight back with them and for them and be part of taking this state back and returning it to them. I am not going to beg the officialdom of my party any more to wake up and get out of their games and ivory towers. I am going to do what I am going to do as a Democrat proud of the heritage of my party regardless of whether the officialdom of my party understands that heritage or not. Since they clearly do not understand it, all I can say to them at this point is just don't get in the way.

David Van Os
The Next Attorney General of Texas

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by: David Van Os @ Thu Jun 15, 2006 at 01:02:38 AM UTC

Says a lot... (0.00 / 0)

"Figure this - General Clark told me with a look of genuine surprise, when I introduced myself to him backstage after his speech, "Gosh, I wish I had known there were other important statewide races. I would have liked to say something about it in my speech. But Chris Bell and Barbara Radnofsky were the only 2 statewide races that your party ever mentioned to me.""

Says a lot about your party, doesn't it. And who was chair at the time? Let's see. Boyd Richie?  Says a lot about Boyd Richie as well.

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by: Baby Snooks @ Thu Jun 15, 2006 at 08:35:15 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

David moves on ;wheres the TDP? (5.00 / 1)

Thank you David for continuing the fight for free and fair elections in Texas. You are truly a man of action.
Speaking of action, I have been following this chat about the usual convention train wreck, (2006 was my 16th )and I have noticed that no identified official of the TDP except Ken participates.
I can not locate any SDEC except him on the KOs or Orange.
TDP out of touch, perhaps?
SDEC activists let me know if any of you are " action" people and actually interested in what the "electronic" street is saying. Happy to apologise if some of you are truly change agents.

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by: harriet @ Thu Jun 15, 2006 at 01:35:44 AM UTC

The word TEAM... (0.00 / 0)

...is usually is applied to people who are on the same side, not to a circular firing squad.

In the days post-convention, I was glad to read and learn that that there is a Dallas Co. coordinated plan in place and that others are in the works, that Glen is going to do the Travis Co. coordinated, and noted that KT said right here that a crew was on the road to SA. All that will require teamwork, and yes, even some "non-elitist" number crunching and targeting to make sure we're getting our message to voters...and turning out ours.

Maybe the TDP folks are spending their time shooting at Republicans instead of each other. When and if it suits you, please disband the circular firing squad and play like a team.

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by: getreal @ Thu Jun 15, 2006 at 12:55:14 PM UTC

The county parties rock and roll (0.00 / 0)

My comments were about the top. The county parties are a completely different story. Our great County Parties like Dallas, Travis, El Paso and Harris rock and roll with winning attitudes. Gerry Birnberg and Melissa Taylor in Harris, Chris Elliot and Glen Maxey in Travis, Danny Anchiando and his team in El Paso, and Darlene Ewing and her team in Dallas provide magnificent leadership. Only the demands of space and time have prevented me from listing many others who belong in the same winners' circle category. Thanks for prompting me on this.

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by: David Van Os @ Thu Jun 15, 2006 at 15:00:35 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I think TDP and the county parties... (0.00 / 0)

...will be working as a team together on these campaign efforts, not against each other. Let's help make that happen. It's time to fight the real elitists, the Republicans who are stealing our country, our state, and our future. I don't know any Democrats who are about that business, and appreciate the value and commitment of every volunteer and yes, every professional, who puts their heart and soul into the fight. We either win as a team, or...not.

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by: getreal @ Thu Jun 15, 2006 at 15:51:08 PM UTC