Bill Brannon to Become Next Texas Democratic Party Executive Director

I've known Bill for many years ... (3.00 / 1)

He's a great Democrat. I hope everyone will welcome him and Vali to Austin and offer to help him in his new job.

"The eyes of the people are fast opening! Fight on!"--Andrew Jackson

---

by: Al Stanley @ Tue Jun 14, 2011 at 07:43:45 AM UTC

I'm sure he is a fine fellow (3.00 / 1)

and a devoted Democrat. But is an old white guy from East Texas really what the TDP needs at this critical juncture? (I say this as an old white guy from East Texas myself.)

I just don't find the slogan 'Treading water for the next five months while waiting for new leadership' very inspirational.  

---

by: PDiddie @ Tue Jun 14, 2011 at 12:44:43 PM UTC

Old White Guys (3.00 / 1)

Democrats absolutely need a lot more old white guys and young white guys to come back into the Democratic fold. I fought both with and against Bill and his North Texas gang when we were college students. He is a good choice for this position.

---

by: ssuits @ Tue Jun 14, 2011 at 14:19:57 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I wrote that as an old white (0.00 / 0)

guy from East Texas myself (for those who don't know me).

I have no argument with your premise, it's just that I don't think Brannon is the right man for the job. He's a caretaker and a proxy for Boyd. And look where Boyd's "leadership" has taken us.

What does Mr. Brannon know about new media and how to leverage its power for Democrats on the ballot in '12, for example? Does he read this blog and is he capable of commenting on it? Or is social media going to continue to be the bailiwick of the paid consultants?

---

by: PDiddie @ Wed Jun 15, 2011 at 11:28:42 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yeah, he reads this blog ... (0.00 / 0)

I got a thank you email for my comment yesterday morning.

"The eyes of the people are fast opening! Fight on!"--Andrew Jackson

---

by: Al Stanley @ Wed Jun 15, 2011 at 14:15:50 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

If it wins elections (4.00 / 2)

I don't care his age or race.

---

by: trowaman @ Wed Jun 15, 2011 at 01:50:08 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yes. (0.00 / 0)

It would be nice if we could win. One or two above the level of state representative, for starters.

There are two new Congressional districts and a US Senate race on the 2012 ballot, with Barack Obama at the top of it. With the mass destruction wreaked by the GOP and the Teas, should Dems be lacking motivation? Having said that, what's Mr. Brannon's plan for capturing ... oh ... any one of those?

Let me be direct: thirty years of experience in Texas Democratic politics goes back to the beginning of the Reagan era, and that's when we started this losing streak.

You keep doing what you've been doing, you're going to keep getting what you've been getting.

---

by: PDiddie @ Wed Jun 15, 2011 at 11:39:08 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Keeping Up Appearances (4.00 / 2)

Bill Brannon is keeping up appearances and trying hard to mitigate the financial problem that both state and county parties are facing. I suspect that Boyd Richie and Rick Cofer will attempt to fill a big hole where Dennis Speight, the AFL-CIO office in Austin, and the TTL used to be.

I guess there will be a state convention in Houston next year, but I wonder if the TDP will not have to borrow money to stage it.

I am afraid that the old hands and, for that matter, the young fogies, do not recognize and will ignore fundamental problems that the state party has.

That is why innovation at the regional level is critical.

Both the "Speaker's Claque" and the "Local Chapter of the DCCC" financial models are still twitching but essentially dead. This will doom whatever desperate measures can be improvised in the absence of real strategy, including a viable new business model, scalable technology, robust infrastructure, or just a secure forum for serious party-building.

 

---

by: JRBehrman @ Thu Jun 16, 2011 at 20:17:32 PM UTC

John (0.00 / 0)

As a member of the State Democratic Executive Committee (SDEC), what have you done to make changes in the TDP, and what have you done to create buy-in among your fellow SDEC members for that change?

You are part of the TDP, not an outsider of it. That you're so negative on it -- and appear so unwilling to do anything to fix it -- suggests you are exactly the problem with the TDP right now.

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

---

by: Phillip Martin, Progress Texas @ Mon Jun 20, 2011 at 17:52:39 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

well, then (5.00 / 2)

unfortunately boyd continues to uninspire, unimpress and do the bare minimum. i'm working on a diary on this topic, so i'll be as brief as possible.

state convention can't get here soon enough...although it will be way to late.

if boyd actually cares about the TDP even a little bit, he should resign no later than 9/15 so that the new chair has the opportunity to staff up with professionals, recruit candidates, raise money and chart a new course.

waiting until state convention would be the ultimate act of selfishness, shortsightedness and malpractice.

when Molly Beth decided to leave, she left early so that the incoming chair (i don't remember his name) could get the new administration up and running.

it was a class move on her part and sets an important benchmark for responsible behavior for an outgoing state party chair.

Please refer to KT's signature.

---

by: colin @ Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 15:53:50 PM UTC

I believe that was Charles Soechting (0.00 / 0)

I also believe that the Malcolm scenario, as you posit, is what Boyd plans to do, which is why he named Brannon as his proxy. Further, I expect we will see a Boyd Richie for Congress campaign launched in short order, in the 19th against Noogie Boogie (or wherever Graham, TX may be redistricted to).

---

by: PDiddie @ Thu Jun 23, 2011 at 10:44:01 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

you are right about soechting (0.00 / 0)

i was drawing a total blank yesterday! and i know him personally.

thanks.

Please refer to KT's signature.

---

by: colin @ Thu Jun 23, 2011 at 16:17:05 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Bill will do fine (3.00 / 2)

Ok, it's been a long time since I posted and PDiddie, thanks for remembering my name.  Colin, I hope you are well.  It's been a while since I ran into you.  Regarding Bill,  the E.D. position can be as much or as little as it needs to be. There is too much to be done for it to be a "caretaker" position.  I was blessed to be Chair at a time when Tom Delay, Tom Craddick, GWB, RP, Dick Cheney and the rest of the characters had done so much evil.  The names and faces have changed but there are still a lot of bad people in government whose only concern is moving up and not doing the people's business.  Back on point,  I had the good fortune to have Kelly Fero and Mike Lavigne helping me (some say) make mischief but I prefer to call it, keeping the other side accountable.  Ultimately, the job of Chair can be fun and exciting and as much as you want it to be.  I would hope that the next chair has the energy and independence (financial and political ) to do the job as it needs to be done.  The job can be most rewarding and the people on the SDEC and in the counties are, for the most part, a delight to be around.  Today, more than 5 years later, I still visit nearly daily with one of the former committee members and on a regular basis with others. I enjoyed it and then one day I ran out of gas and it was time for someone else.  I have enjoyed my life and family since then with a new found appreciation. You are correct, Molly Beth left things so that the convention was a smooth transition.  My election however was anything but a given.  I campaigned statewide and the next set of candidates better be prepared to go out and meet the people and not count on some insiders to get the job done.  BTW, money for conventions is always hard to come by.  Back to the topic, Boyd will make a call on this on his own terms. It is his call to make.   What I encourage people to do is get involved in the process because this Chair's race is wide open and Democrats in Texas are starved for the chance to engage the Republican agenda.  I don't have a clue if Bill is in it for the long run but I suspect if you call him he will tell you.  Hope all is well otherwise.  CES

---

by: csoechting @ Sun Jun 26, 2011 at 00:19:07 AM UTC