TX-21: Candidate Report

Multiple Candidates can turn out well (4.00 / 2)

As long as Gene Kelly doesn't steal second place from Mr. Courage (I doubt it, cuz Courage is a pretty kick-ass name.  He gets name recognition votes just cuz his last name is cool), then hope is certainly here.

Democratic Grassroots have been strong this election cycle, it seems.  If we can get this to a runoff, I think we can win.

"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 Aug 23, 2006 at 03:56:31 AM UTC

I Agree (4.00 / 2)

This district could be unique that it's cast of characters might actually serve to help us. Then, it had the potential of being the only runoff in the nation in December. And can you imagine if the House control was in the balance?

Hey, it could happen.

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Wed Aug 23, 2006 at 04:06:44 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Don't let Lamar Smith cripple your TV and Radio set! (4.00 / 2)

Lamar Smith is extremely anti-consumer and anti-fair use rights.

Lamar Smith has the dubious honor of being second only to GOP Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) when it comes to pushing anti-consumer bills. Smith wants to expand the infamous DMCA that shackles consumers of digital media and prevents them from exercising their fair use rights, which include recording TV shows and radio content for later viewing or listening. In other words, no more recording your favorite show so you can watch it when you get home from work -- you'll have to pay the entertainment cartel big bucks to rent "premium, on-demand, one-time-use" content.

If Smith gets his way, there'll be no more skipping commercials on DVDs (cause  how will advertiers make money if they can't force you to pay attention?) Next thing you know, he'll introduce legislation to ensure that your cable box straps you down to the couch whenever ads come on the air!

Smith is currently trying to change US patent law from first-to-invent to first-to-file so that megacorps with lawyer farms can exterminate competition from Mom and Pop inventors who aren't familiar with the convoluted "intellectual property" bureaucracy.

Is John Courage willing to differentiate himself on these technical yet important issues? Pete Ashdown, Orrin Hatch's Democratic challanger in the Utah Senate race, has taken a clear pro-consumer's rights stance. I hope that John Courage will do the same, and that he'll try to inform the gray-haired Hill Country residents of district 21 that their access to information via TV and Radio is at stake.

How about this for a campain slogan: Don't let Lamar Smith cripple your TV and Radio set!

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by: sillyc @ Wed Aug 23, 2006 at 04:16:16 AM UTC

Reality check (2.33 / 6)

We need a dose of reality here people. 

Redistricting cemented Lamar Smith into this seat.  He now has a seat that has gone from solidly Republican to overwhlemingly Republican.

All the good stuff is now over in Doggett's seat (South Travis, Hays County)

Lamar is going to win with 65-70% of the vote.

Efforts need to be shifted to work against Henry Bonilla.  He can be held to under 50% and can be beaten in a run-off.  But it will take WORK.

Yes, I know you all are John Courage fans, but it is time to wake up and take in a dose of reality.

There is too little time and too few resources to spread into kamikaze efforts.

So I'm sure people will scream bloody murder when they read this comment, but it's true and I would refer everyone back to this post the day after the Election when Lamar Smith once again rolls Courage and the rest of the gadflys running.

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by: AaronSmith @ Wed Aug 23, 2006 at 13:22:14 PM UTC

god bless (2.00 / 4)

I am so glad someone is finally saying that this district is totally not winable for us.  The math is really simple.  Put your resources behind candidates who have a chance.

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by: austinite @ Wed Aug 23, 2006 at 14:03:18 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

It certainly got tougher (4.33 / 3)

But if we don't fight, we don't win. And if we don't blast Lamar out of this seat now, it will be much harder to do so in future.

Two years ago, people also thought Tom Delay was unassailable.

Stop with the bitching and moaning about resources. This is the first time this contest has had a candidate with national outreach.

Either help or get out of the way.


Before you win, you have to fight. Come fight along with us at TexasKaos.

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by: boadicea @ Wed Aug 23, 2006 at 14:49:19 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Lamar Smith deserves to be kicked out, and John Courage is the perfect Democrat to do it (5.00 / 2)

The need to kick Lamar Smith out is in some ways more important because of the tremendous damage Smith is doing to our liberties and to the whole nation. John Courage is a true progressive who I know for sure will fight to bring our troops home. I have absolutely no reservation to devote my entire energy and resources to help John Courage win District 21.

I certainly hope one of the Democratic candidates (Ciro Rodriguez or Rick Bolanos) takes District 23 from Bush patsy Henry Bonilla, and but the real stumbling block for them is the fact that by running against each other in the general election, they're splitting the Democratic vote in that district.

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by: sillyc @ Wed Aug 23, 2006 at 15:27:48 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Following the "math" (5.00 / 1)

has led the Texas Democratic into the shitty ass state it is today. Work to change the equation and realize that not all resources are transferrable. Have you donated to the TexRoots candidates yet?

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Wed Aug 23, 2006 at 18:06:56 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

wtf are you talking about? (3.00 / 1)

There are only three basic resources available to any political campaign: time, money, and people.

Time, you're right, is not transferrable.  It's a constant for every campaign and so let's call it a break-even resource.

Money, is in fact, transferrable.  We're Democrats.  Our base if working folks.  The Republican base it also it's donor base -- that's not a luxuray we have.  It is true, whether you like it or not, that a dollar to John Courage is a dollar that could otherwise be contributed to Chet Edwards, Shane Sklar or Bonilla's eventual opponent.

People are also transferrable.  Unless you and Glen Maxey have created some kind of website to clone Democratic activists, it's fair to say that if I spend my Saturday knocking on doors for John Courage, then I'm not knocking on doors for Edwards, Sklar, etc.

That's it, KT.  Those are the resources a campaign has.  Don't tell me the internet is a resource.  The internet is a tool (actually, it's a series of tubes!).  It's a tool used to implement the resources a campaign has; but that's all.  The same is true of basically anything else you can come up with.

And those Texroots candidates you support?  They're admirable endorsements, and I believe 2 of the 3 will win (Sklar and Garcia).  But are you going to tell BOR readers that they shouldn't give a dime to another one of the many great state house candidates we have, or to Chet Edwards?  What are you saying?

Look, John Courage is no doubt a fine American and a great Democrat.  And having him on the ballot is a good thing for Democrats.  But one of the things you should learn is that LIKING a candidate isn't enough to make them win; and that sometimes a district's numbers really do predetermine an election's outcome.  But don't take my word for it; ask Martin Frost, Charlie Stenholm, Max Sandlin or Jim Turner.

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by: CMistress @ Thu Aug 24, 2006 at 03:07:23 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Lamar Smith has an extremely dangerous record, and we need to do everything possible to help the voters of CD-21 kick him out (0.00 / 0)

Lamar Smith is an invaluable tool for the corporate control freaks -- so much so that they're willing to risk some of their other pawns to keep him safe, as demonstrated by the re-re-redistricting. Educating the voters regarding his deceitful record and enabling them to kick him out will constitute am extremely important victory.

John Courage is a veteran whose name does him justice. He has an impeccable record, and his clear stance on progressive issues make him the perfect candidate to take on GOP's Smith. With his qualifications, John Courage can certainly win District 21, and he deserves our full support.

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by: sillyc @ Thu Aug 24, 2006 at 04:41:33 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

And it's just that kind of thinking... (3.00 / 2)

...that has made the Democratic Party the minority party in the state of Texas.

We run in every race. We work every race. Get on board with it or get the fuck out of the way.

And yes, there will be enough to take down Bonilla as well.

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by: McBlogger @ Wed Aug 23, 2006 at 14:51:04 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

John Courage is a true progressive andd deserves our support (0.00 / 0)

John Courage has an excellent chance of beating Lamar Smith in District 21. Smith very unpopular even among conservatives who are beginning to realize that all he does in Congress is suck up to the "intellectual property" control freaks that want to rip off middle-class America.

If John Courage attacks Smith's record of being 100% pro-megacorp lobbyists and 100% against normal people and consumers, John will have a decidedly winning formula.

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by: sillyc @ Wed Aug 23, 2006 at 15:46:33 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

name some TX23 candidates (3.00 / 1)

This was a roundup post of the candidates running in TX21. Did I say you should donate to anyone or did I point out who the various candidates are?

I live in this district. Instead of bitching, how about writing about your district or any other that you think should be covered. This is a blog, not your personal research journal.

The TexRoots candidates are an excellent set of folks where you can put your efforts, have you donated to them yet? Somehow I doubt it. Put up or shut up is my philosophy. For all the whining I see about what "should" be covered, I don't see anyone else actuall doing any of it.

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Wed Aug 23, 2006 at 18:04:44 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I forgot about Rhett. (3.00 / 1)

Another hobbyist candidate like Kelly, though at least he actually campaigned (weakly) in this district in 2004.

Bout time he did something useful for Texas.

Run, Rhett, run!!!

Before you win, you have to fight. Come fight along with us at TexasKaos.

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by: boadicea @ Wed Aug 23, 2006 at 14:51:50 PM UTC

Gov? (0.00 / 0)

Isnt Rhett Smith the one who ran in the GOP primary for governor and questioned Perry's sexuality as his main platform issue?

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by: John McClelland @ Wed Aug 23, 2006 at 15:48:48 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

That would be him...<eom> (0.00 / 0)

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by: McBlogger @ Wed Aug 23, 2006 at 16:17:36 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hey, I never claimed he wasn't a wackaloon (5.00 / 1)

It's just that this year he might be a useful wackaloon.

Before you win, you have to fight. Come fight along with us at TexasKaos.

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by: boadicea @ Wed Aug 23, 2006 at 17:09:36 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

re: (0.00 / 0)

I thought it was interesting he only attacked Perry as a "bisexual" and not completely homo :)

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by: John McClelland @ Thu Aug 24, 2006 at 20:57:12 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

In Aaron's Defense; Troll Rate Away (0.00 / 0)

AaronSmith said =
We need a dose of reality here people. 
Redistricting cemented Lamar Smith into this seat.  He now has a seat that has gone from solidly Republican to overwhlemingly Republican.

why the bad ratings for his comment? it is accurate. unfortunately, all the idealism in the world cannot elect john courage. this district is wildly republican. i get the run everywhere meme, all aaron is pointing out is reality. its fab that people like courage run in these district, and ive donated to his race and enjoyed following it over the last few months. but it isnt defeatism, its pragmatism. in fact, ted ankrum in district 10 probably has a better shot at defeating son of clearchannel mike mccaul than courage does lamar smith and ankrum has a much better resume not to mention mccaul is a one term with low name id as well. with burnt orange as the place that a lot of folks go for texas election news, i wish it would cover races like ankrum and the district 23 race more or at least equal to courage, as courage's district is haplessly unwinnable now sadly. troll rate away, but the powers that be have handed lamar smith this seat for as long as he wants it. run everywhere, but at least provide coverage to the other races in texas as much please. courages race has dropped in "winnability" about 2 dozen spots aound the state. wake up. all the cheerleading in the world wont change the facts. can we focus on winnable races now?

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by: rationalthought @ Wed Aug 23, 2006 at 16:30:56 PM UTC

Hey (4.33 / 3)

Feel free to write about anyone you'd like. The truth is, we can only report on that which we're informed about -- and we don't get any news, really, out of the Ankrum/McCaul race. We can contact them and get some info on the race -- which we're working on doing for the Burnt Orange Political Report -- but we're not a newspaper. We don't have the time or the resources to go hunt down too many stories. Remember -- we're a BLOG.

Write something up about Ankrun in the journals, and I'll promote it.

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 Aug 23, 2006 at 16:47:05 PM UTC

[ Parent ]