Hispanics REALLY Unhappy with Cornyn

Unhappy (3.00 / 1)

If the poll is correct and Hispanics are unhappy because of the immigration stance cornyn has why would they favor Noriega with his background in inforcing immigration along the border. Hispanic voters are not stupid. They look deep into the candidate. Also many Hispanics are Catholic.In other words anti-abortion or Pro-life.

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by: nuts101 @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 14:47:45 PM UTC

nuts (5.00 / 7)

You're correct that we're not stupid. There is a big difference between enforcing border control (as long as it's not a stupid wall) and favoring immigration.  I'm Catholic and I'm pro-choice too.  And you can't categorize all Latinos as voting on a single issue either.  But with Cornyn there are so many bad things to choose from, when you vote against the Cornyn platform.

Noriega vs Cornyn = no contest to me.  Noriega wins the Latino vote.  Noriega is a man who has put his life on the line for his country. In the Latino community, where a lot of families have sons and daughters in the military right now, that means courage, conviction and leadership.  Cornyn has just been a pencil pusher hiding under his desk giving away big pork to war profiteers.

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by: sonia @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 15:06:12 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Excellent (0.00 / 0)

I thought your reply was excellent. 

We forget how many minorities, including Hispanic, and African Americans, that are fighting in our military.  Our armed forces is disproportionately made up of more poor to low middle class minority and Anglo Americans then any other socio-economic bracket.  Take into account also the number of undocumented immigrants earning citizenship by fighting too.

Courage, conviction, and leadership.  Excellent statement.

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi

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by: Todd Hill @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 15:18:03 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Good Points (0.00 / 0)

Those are good points, and because we don't know a lot about Noriega this type of information would indeed crack into any support expectations from the Hispanic community.

That said, there are some Hispanics who are most likely to vote for someone with a Hispanic last name.  It's simply a fact.  Just like there are some women who vote for a woman candidate simply because they are female.  Sometimes the issues are pushed to the side simply because voters get caught up in the representation factor. 

Think about the Dallas mayoral election.  The LGBT community felt it was important to set aside any falacies Oakley had and support him because he is gay; moreover, push for the DCDP to endorse him in a non-partisan race.  Why?  Because the theory is that it is good for the LGBT community as a whole to have a fellow LGBT member in a prominant position.  Personally, I felt it was important to look at the issues and set my sexual orientation aside and do what is best for the citizens as a whole.

I do hope that more folks look at the candidates and the issues and not vote simply because of gender or nationality.  I don't hold much hope though.

Todd 

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi

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by: Todd Hill @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 15:13:11 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

true (0.00 / 0)

i hope we look at the issues and at cornyn. Focus on the evil.

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by: nuts101 @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 15:20:22 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Count me in the Latino group.. (5.00 / 3)

That thinks he sucks. He's a bottom feeder.  Keep pushing that hysteria on immigration Cornyn, it's doing you a world of good.  Oh and he sucks at supporting civil liberties and civil rights too.

Project Vote Smart

Civil Liberties

• 2005-2006  Senator Cornyn supported the interests of the American Civil Liberties Union 8 percent in 2005-2006.

• 2003-2004  Senator Cornyn supported the interests of the American Civil Liberties Union 11 percent in 2003-2004.
  

Civil Rights

• 2005  Senator Cornyn supported the interests of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 5 percent in 2005.

• 2005  Senator Cornyn supported the interests of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights 6 percent in 2005.

• 2004  Senator Cornyn supported the interests of the Arab American Institute 0 percent in 2004.

• 2003-2004  Senator Cornyn supported the interests of the Human Rights Campaign 0 percent in 2003-2004.

• 2003-2004  Senator Cornyn supported the interests of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 12 percent in 2003-2004.

• 2003-2004  Senator Cornyn supported the interests of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights 4 percent in 2003-2004.

• 2003-2004  Senator Cornyn supported the interests of the League of United Latin American Citizens 17 percent in 2003-2004.

• 2003  Senator Cornyn supported the interests of the Arab American Institute 0 percent in 2003.

• 2003  Senator Cornyn supported the interests of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights 6 percent in 2003.

• 2003  Senator Cornyn supported the interests of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 7 percent in 2003.
  

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by: sonia @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 14:58:15 PM UTC

Cornyn sucks (0.00 / 0)

Watts has not being interviewed on his stance on immigration.
would like to hear what he has to say. 

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by: nuts101 @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 15:05:51 PM UTC

Cornyn sucks (0.00 / 0)

Watts has not being interviewed on his stance on immigration.
would like to hear what he has to say. 

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by: nuts101 @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 15:05:51 PM UTC

Hispanic voters (5.00 / 1)

let's not start pulling out race cards for the candidates. When the time comes in Nov.2008 I will be voting for the Dem no matter what color race creed he is

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by: nuts101 @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 15:23:34 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I agree with that statement (5.00 / 1)

I'll vote for the Democrat against John Cornyn every time.  This discussion however started drifting towards the advantages that a Latino candidate would have, because of the negatives Cornyn has with that population.

We'll just have to see how the primary goes.

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by: sonia @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 15:59:04 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

This polling suggests that Noriega or Watts ought to beat Cornyn among (3.00 / 1)

Hispanic voters in Texas.

If Cornyn was especially popular among Hispanic voters, which he isn't, I would conclude that a candidate like Noriega with great and well-earned respect and identification within the Hispanic community would be the antidote to Cornyn's hypothetical popularity in that community.

Since the opposite is true, and Cornyn is especially unpopular among Hispanic voters, I'd think we could win in that community with a candidate like Barbara Radnofsky or Mikal Watts -- that is to say good candidates without specific strong identification in the Hispanic voter community.

Cornyn is so divisive and so hell-bent on splitting up Hispanic families with his immigration jihad, I would think that Emil Reichstadt ought to be able to beat Cornyn in the community.

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by: SouthTexasDemocrat @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 16:11:12 PM UTC

Agreed... (0.00 / 0)

We should certainly take this poll for what it is, proof that this issue (immigration) is extremely potent and EXTREMELY dangerous and that our candidate should think long and hard and tread VERY carefully before he takes a stand... and once he does his stand had better be nuanced and smart enough that it's approved by at LEAST 51% of voters... or else he'll get crushed by it.  If anything, I think Noriega MIGHT be better situated to take a hard line stance in favor of securing the border and ensuring lawbreakers are not rewarded with amnesty without recieving a HUGE backlash from the hispanic community.  I sincerely DOUBT he would do this/take that stand, but I'm trying to look at this from a PURELY political standpoint without injecting policy into it... just seeing what the most beneficial path through this forest is!

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by: David O. @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 16:22:27 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I seem to remember that there was a very Republican border state (0.00 / 0)

who gave the nation a famously corrupt and unpopular Republican president (Nixon) and who had a famously slimy Republican governor with national ambitions which far exceeded his thimble-full of talent (Wilson).  Something turned California from a Republican state to one of the deepest Democratic states.  Something woke up the sleeping Hispanic population which was not previously voting in proportion to its numbers. 

Anyone want to guess what what issue was?

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by: SouthTexasDemocrat @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 17:38:10 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Noriega is another Cornyn Perry Weekly Hack, We deserve better. (1.33 / 3)

Listen to Noriega speak to a trade group and you will have no remaining doubt that Noriega is a corporatist who will do whatever the Perry's and Weekly's tell him to do, so long as they keep funding his neverending thirst for more POWER. And as we know, they will just keep on giving. This ain't our guy.

Noriega counts among his biggest financial backers Bob Perry, who is associated with shoddy "Perry Homes," dishonest "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth," and the virulently anti-consumer "Yes on Proposition 12" campaign. Rick Noriega also counts among his financial backers Dick Weekley, Jaime Capelo, Texas Manufactured Housing Assoc., Texas Medical Association PAC, Texas Hospital Association PAC (HOSPAC), and Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC. See

http://txprod.ethics... http://www.chron.com...

This is not a group of contributors who typically extends themselves to support candidates who are concerned about the average citizen's well being.

I have not closely followed Noriega's legislative career, but some in the blog-o-sphere have questioned Noriega's past votes (I looked up these votes and the discussion below is accurate, and I also included some discussion which may bear on the likelihood of his hypothetical senatorial candidacy):

"If Noriega isn't excited enough to run without a draft movement begging him to get into the race, what would make anyone think he's excited enough to run a winning campaign? ... I think I understand why Noriega is reluctant to run and why people are having to "draft" him. Noriega just finished getting re-elected and serving in the 80th Legislature, and then he went straight to his wife's city council election (which she won, yay!), and now he's going straight to his wife's re-election (she's up again in 5 months because she was just elected to fill a partial term), and THEN and ONLY THEN can Noriega focus full-time on any potential senate race. And if Noriega gets into the race, he'll have to campaign full time for another whole year -- essentially following up 3 campaigns over 2 and a half years with another year of hard campaigning....

What major pieces of good legislation did Noriega successfully author or sponsor this past session? I give Noriega credit for hard work on the teacher pay raise, but that's all I'm aware of. I'm not complaining because lots of good Democrats didn't get anything major done this past session, but if we're going to choose someone to draft, why Noriega?

Let's look at Noriega's votes from this session:

Why did Noreiga vote for HB 1098 which prevented girls entering the sixth grade from getting vaccinated against the human papilloma virus? Why did Noriega vote for HB 109 to make it harder for the state to provide healthcare for the children of illegal immigrants? Why did Noriega vote for HB 2683 which was Warren Chisum's stupid marriage tax? Why did Noriega vote for HB 3678 which was Charlie Howard's prayer in public school bill? Why did Noriega vote for HB 284 which makes it OK to shoot people who come onto your property? Why did Noriega vote for HB 8 which expands the death penalty (which is already too way expansive in Texas) and makes it more difficult for victims of familial sex abuse to report it?"

This discussion of Noriega's most recent voting record suggests that Noriega is not far outside the mainstream of the Democratic Party but that, perhaps, he is not especially sensitive to the legal issues surrounding criminal jurisprudence, equal protection, or church-state separation.

In conclusion, Noriega seems to be a good man worthy of admiration for his service to the country, but in light of the anti-justice PACs who have financially supported his campaigns and how he has voted on some law-related issues, Noriega may be a candidate who holds more appeal for voters who value issues other than civil or criminal justice. Also, in light of the fact that both he and his wife would have to campaign and raise funds for her re-election and his hypothetical Senate bid simultaneously, I tend to put more credence in the rumors that Noriega will run for Lieutenant Governor in 2010 rather than Senate in 2008.

 

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by: planotxdad @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 16:31:53 PM UTC

Wow and wait a minute (0.00 / 0)

Someone finally with an objective opinion.all i have read before
made the man sound like the perfect candidate.But we all know
that no candidate is perfect. thanks for the objective info.

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by: nuts101 @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 17:07:29 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Fascinating (0.00 / 0)

Excellent research.  Thanks for bringing this information to light.

I'm trying to learn as much as I can about all the potential candidates and this does help. 

todd

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi

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by: Todd Hill @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 17:22:19 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hit Piece (5.00 / 1)

planotxdad--You should be suspicious about this quote you are passing on.

Why did Noreiga vote for HB 1098 which prevented girls entering the sixth grade from getting vaccinated against the human papilloma virus? Why did Noriega vote for HB 109 to make it harder for the state to provide healthcare for the children of illegal immigrants? Why did Noriega vote for HB 2683 which was Warren Chisum's stupid marriage tax? Why did Noriega vote for HB 3678 which was Charlie Howard's prayer in public school bill? Why did Noriega vote for HB 284 which makes it OK to shoot people who come onto your property? Why did Noriega vote for HB 8 which expands the death penalty (which is already too way expansive in Texas) and makes it more difficult for victims of familial sex abuse to report it?

First of all, the RV numbers are not given.  Every bill is voted upon several times, and the votes for or against certain amendments may be methods to kill or improve the bill.  So, any quote like this that does not give the RV numbers is a big red flag. 

Second of all, the descriptions of these bills are suspicious.  I don't know all of the interworkings of HB 109, but I do know that it was Democrat Sylverster Turner's bill that restored some of the cuts made to the Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which is universally supported by Democrats and also has significant bipartisan support.  To say that it makes it harder for the state to provide healthcare for the children of illegal immigrants is very misleading.

The entire quote sounds suspiciously like a hit piece not uncommonly used by PACs or campaigns to trash an opponent. 

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by: blank @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 17:22:35 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

It is hard hitting, but is it harder than the anti-Watts tirades? (0.00 / 0)

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by: SouthTexasDemocrat @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 17:58:46 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

It's Rovian Manipulation (0.00 / 0)

The quote is not just hard hitting. It's manipulative.  HB 109 was fundamentally not about denying illegal immigrants services.  It was about making sure poor kids have health care, and every Democrat favored it.  Hitting a Democrat by claiming that it also denied service to illegal immigrants is no better than the Bush 04 campaign claiming Kerry dangerously underfunded the CIA after the first terrorist attack because he, like almost everyone in the Senate, voted to cut the CIA's budget in the late 90s by the amount of a satelite that they never launched.

The anti-Watts tirades are mostly about his pro-life quote.  I'd like to know more about the quote.  Is it recent?  Does he still hold this view?  Etc.  However, the tirades against the quote don't seem fundamentally manipulative to me.  The only manipulative anti-Watts comment that I can remember is the claim that he gives money to Republicans.  However, there aren't too many business owners, and that's what his law firm is, that don't give at least some money to the majority party.  And considering the incredibly small percentage, it is not worth mentioning.  So, yes that's bull.  But, it's not as smelly bull as the HB 109 vote.

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by: blank @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 23:52:46 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Let's not get into a candidate-bashing discussion, but Noriega's vote (0.00 / 0)

on HB 109 was a disappointment to me, too.

As is often the case, the disappointing vote was not cast on the final up-down vote of the bill.

The controversial vote was an April 3 vote on an amendment to "clarify" the bill so that before allowing a kid on CHIP, the "commission shall verify that the child shall meets ... the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements Program provided by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Bureau."

The right-wing jackasses at the Heritage Foundation described this amendment as follows: "This amendment would prevent the state providing healthcare for the children of illegal immigrants."  (source: http://www.txvoice.c...).  30 Democrats voted against this crappy amendment. Noriega was not one of them.

I disagree that the post which you challenge was manipulative; in fact, I think that post was hard hitting but accurate.  At worst, it was an over-simplification by referring to the vote on HB 109 instead of referring more specifically to a vote on a particularly controversial amendment to HB 109.

However, we will not find any acceptable candidates if we demand 100% agreement with our views on every vote.  This is a vote I disagree with but not a vote that would disqualify Noriega in any way (even though I wish he had voted with the 30 other Democrats on this issue).

I'm tired of the posts about Watts's personal views on abortion and Noriega's campaign financing from Bob Perry.  We ought to let the candidates decide if they are running and let them get their messages out before we start tearing them down.

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by: SouthTexasDemocrat @ Thu Jun 21, 2007 at 04:48:20 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Mea Culpa (0.00 / 0)

I disagree that the post which you challenge was manipulative; in fact, I think that post was hard hitting but accurate.  At worst, it was an over-simplification by referring to the vote on HB 109 instead of referring more specifically to a vote on a particularly controversial amendment to HB 109.

Okay, you're right, and I shouldn't have called the piece manipulative.  The roll call vote was RV 270, and I just missed it.  Mea culpa.  I agree with you and not Noriega on this issue, as the amendment has several things wrong with it.

In general though, discussions on voting records should include the RV numbers, so we (read I) don't get confused about the votes under discussion.

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by: blank @ Thu Jun 21, 2007 at 06:11:37 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Don't even try... (0.00 / 0)

to pretend that you are just some caring Democrat who picked today to create an account and beat up on a good Democrat.

I don't know which candidate I'll ultimately support, but it is idiotic attacks on fellow Democrats like this that are the problem with our party.

We face big enough challenges trying to patch up the party after this session's occurences to have a unified effort in the General...we don't need to pile up attitudes like this to make our job even harder.

Please refer to KT's signature.

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by: colin @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 17:45:05 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

AGREED COLIN!!! (5.00 / 1)

We're totally in agreement here.  We need to, at this point and time, allow Noriega and Watts to BOTH articulate a positive message.  The bullets have already started flying and I, for one, would like to see the guns put back in the holsters. 

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by: David O. @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 22:54:00 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

There are legitimate questions that any voter would want to ask of (3.00 / 1)

Noriega just as there are legitimate questions that any voter would want to ask of Watts.

We need to give Noriega a chance to decide if he's running or not, and if he runs, we ought to give him a chance to explain his relationship to Perry, which is troubling to those of us who believe that Perry is a force of malice in politics who is both an enemy of the Democratic Party and an enemy of all Texans who ask no more than to use the rights of justice which Texas heroes died for.

Likewise, we need to give Watts a chance to get his campaign up before attacking him over his personal views on abortion, which are troubling to those of us who believe strongly in a woman's unfettered reproductive rights.

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by: SouthTexasDemocrat @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 17:57:15 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

South Texas (0.00 / 0)

Reason!

------------------------
The Texas Blue - Advancing Progressive Ideas

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by: Josh Berthume @ Thu Jun 21, 2007 at 19:00:14 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

why do people do this (5.00 / 1)

Planotxdad--- your IP shows you are in Chicago, IL.

Please read the Community Guidelines and How to Rate Comments.

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 18:02:22 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

It's really much simpler than that (1.00 / 1)

Hispanics will vote for the Spanish surname over the Anglo surname, it's that simple.  You may think Noriega has an impressive record, but most of them won't know anything about him except his name. 

If they know anything else about him, it will be the fact that he spoke at least year's rally of illegals and children of illegals, where they waved the Mexican flag.  Noriega will have a lot of difficulty vindicating himself with the voters that care about border security, because he (and his wife) give all the signs of not really being concerned at all.

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by: Wanderer @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 17:33:46 PM UTC

Not true (0.00 / 0)

Not all Hspanics will vote for a Spanish Surname over an Anglo one. Some of us like to look at issue

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by: nuts101 @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 17:44:13 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

for example (0.00 / 0)

In Houston race: Melissa/Morales. If Melissa's Name had been Smith and even if Morales had been a Dem. I never would Have voted for that fool even If My last name had been Morales like his is.

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by: nuts101 @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 17:50:10 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Another example was the Doggett/Hinojosa race is CD25 (0.00 / 0)

I voted for Doggett.  While Leticia was a good candidate, Doggett was doing an excellent job representing me as a Latina.  No reason to dump him.  And besides that, it's exactly what Tom DeLay wanted - to pit us against each other. Doggett has some of the highest rankings for LULAC, NAACP, and NCLR.  So he is representing us well.  Now if he had Cornyn type numbers, I'd say dump him.  But we're smarter than just voting for race.  After all Bonilla is a Hispanic name, and that didn't fool very many of us, did it? 

Project Vote Smart
• 2005  Representative Doggett supported the interests of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 96 percent in 2005.

• 2004  Representative Doggett supported the interests of the National Council of La Raza 100 percent in 2004.

• 2003-2004  Representative Doggett supported the interests of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 97 percent in 2003-2004.

• 2003-2004  Representative Doggett supported the interests of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights 100 percent in 2003-2004.

• 2003-2004  Representative Doggett supported the interests of the League of United Latin American Citizens 100 percent in 2003-2004.

• 2003  Representative Doggett supported the interests of the Arab American Institute 100 percent in 2003.

• 2003  Representative Doggett supported the interests of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights 100 percent in 2003.

• 2003  Representative Doggett supported the interests of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 95 percent in 2003.

• 2001-2002  Representative Doggett supported the interests of the Human Rights Campaign 100 percent in 2001-2002.
  

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by: sonia @ Thu Jun 21, 2007 at 02:14:39 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Pro-Life v Pro-Choice (0.00 / 0)

Look at the breakdowns in the polling data. Texas is 50% pro-life, 46% pro-choice. I think that is probably surprising to many people who think the state is a bastion of pro-lifers. How does that effect the Dem primary seeing as Watts says he's taking a pro-life position in a primary has to be overwhelmingly pro-choice?

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by: Morgan Freeholder @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 17:49:10 PM UTC

yes but (0.00 / 0)

is it going to be a single issue primary. I would Hope not.

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by: nuts101 @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 17:52:10 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

51% is very low (0.00 / 0)

I would have expected the number to be much higher.  Clearly there is a lack of understanding among the Hispanic community of Cornyn's positions and votes.

51% among Hispanics is incredibly good for a right-wing repug.

Maybe the TDP or the DNC or some of our local electeds should start the outreach program to make sure Hispanic voters know just how much he dislikes them.

If the D nominee can only count on 50%-60% of the Hispanic vote going his/her way...we're in BIG trouble.

The performance of D candidates among African-American voters usually runs north of 85%.

If we can't run 70%+ among Hispanics...I don't think we can get to 50%+1.

Please refer to KT's signature.

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by: colin @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 17:50:14 PM UTC

what are you basing on (0.00 / 0)

Believe me Hispanic voters know how muck Corn and the Repubs hate us and have harmed us. We understand. we comprehend. get it?

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by: nuts101 @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 17:54:58 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

religion (0.00 / 0)

Most Hispanics in this state are Catholics.I would think the percentages of pro-lifers is going to be higher within that group of voters

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by: nuts101 @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 17:57:58 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Not even close to getting it (0.00 / 0)

You're telling me that Hispanic voters (by and large) know Cornyn's record and 49% support him anyways?????

You've lost it, man.

He gets little coverage.  Largely avoids major gaffes.  Doesn't really lead on anything, just throws in his two cents here and there.

To see the anglo disapproval at 44% and think that a +7 differential for Hispanics is good, isn't a good way to see things.

This number must be MUCH higher.  For your contention to be correct...Hispanic voters would have to either like getting screwed or don't care.  I assure you that neither is true.

Get it?

Please refer to KT's signature.

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by: colin @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 18:17:24 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Get this (0.00 / 0)

We don't like getting screwed. what Im saying is when the time comes 2008 general election. no matter who Dem is. Watts or Noriega or Bar or White or the yellow dog Hispanics are going to vote against Cornyn at least in the 90 percentile because we know how much he hates us!!!! 

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by: nuts101 @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 20:04:06 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Can I Find You (0.00 / 0)

You're telling me that Hispanic voters (by and large) know Cornyn's record and 49% support him anyways?????

You've lost it, man.

First of all it's not 49% approval.  It's only 39%.  The remaining 10% didn't know or care about Cornyn.  The 51% disapproval falls only behind: Liberals (67%), those who support gay marriage (59%), Democrats (56%), and 18-35 year olds (55%). 

Approvals/Disapprovals are not re-elect polls.  They just gauge relative satisfaction and frustration of the individual and say nothing about how he/she compares to another candidate.  In fact, I believe that George Bush's approval rating was in the mid-40's on the day he got 51% in 2004, and Lincoln Chafee had a 60+ approval rating on the day he lost to Sheldon Whitehouse. 

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by: blank @ Thu Jun 21, 2007 at 00:15:19 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Earth to Hit and PAC People (5.00 / 1)

Republicans are toast in 2008, even in Texas.  Why would anyone with a semblance of a brain vote for Cornyn who serves as a mere rubber stamp for Bush? 

You know, W., the worst president this country has known.  What has Bush and the Republican Party done for the U.S. since 2000?  Let’s see, there is the slam dunk called Iraq; our nation’s unsecured borders and ports; the relentless invasion of our personal freedoms for bogus reasons, coupled with the liberal use of lies, fear and smear to systematically shred the U.S. Constitution; the illegal and criminal interference by the White House with the DOJ and other federal agencies, including the Interior Dept. for purely partisan reasons; and then there’s the little ol’ practice of out of control Presidential signing bill statements.  Cornyn and Hutchison have supported W. on his quest to dismantle our democracy every step of the way. 

And this is only the tip of the iceberg, folks. 

Yes ma’ams and sirs, under Bush the Republican Party has become either the latest form of neo-fascism or a monarchy.  Pick your poison.  Either way, both fascists and kings are un-American.  Me thinks whoever rubberstamps either should and will be run out of office straightaway, as they well deserve to be. 

It is not necessary to tear up Democratic candidates for any reason, I don’t care who you support.  It should be quite clear that our party’s candidates offer a renewed sense of hope for we-the-average-janes-and joes, as well as the possibility for desperately needed change.  They possess a map to take us back to the America and Texas that we knew pre-W.  Any of them is a vast improvement, despite their real or perceived shortcomings, over what we’ve been stuck with for way too long.

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by: Libby Shaw @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 21:03:22 PM UTC

Thanks Lib (0.00 / 0)

You took me back to the days of Gov. Ann. Magical Blue moments in Texas.What would Gov.Ann say. Something outrageouly witty I'm sure.

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by: nuts101 @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 21:18:07 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thank you, Nuts (5.00 / 1)

Gov. Ann and Molly are my idols.

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by: Libby Shaw @ Wed Jun 20, 2007 at 21:53:00 PM UTC

Watts Will Do Fine With Hispanic Votors (0.00 / 0)

I saw Watts today at a function in Brownsville.  The crowd was at least 90% Hispanic, and he was very well received.  He is from Corpus Christi, and is well-connected and well-liked in South Texas.  I think he will do fine with Hispanic voters.  He certainly seems to have the support of many of our local community leaders.

I also think that it is a mistake to assume that Hispanic voters (or voters in any other group) base their votes primarily on race.  For example, the Valley electorate is overwhelmingly Hispanic, but well-qualified Anglo candidates have won recent elections against Hispanic candidates, and vice-versa.  At least in the Valley many of us have learned to look past the color of one's skin.

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by: BorderDemocrat @ Thu Jun 21, 2007 at 00:46:08 AM UTC

Watts and Hispanics (0.00 / 0)

I have to agree. Watts has always been part of Hispanic community
in Corpus christi. I believe he will do well in a primary even if he does not have a Hispanic last name.

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by: nuts101 @ Thu Jun 21, 2007 at 01:26:06 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

You bet they are... (0.00 / 0)

and who could disagree!

In fact there a whole lot of Texas who are mad as hell with both of our so called Senator!

I don't know about others but I for one prefer a Texas Senator who's representing my needs and not one who's representing and enabling the needs of the the nations' wonder boy G. W. Bush!

It drives me nuts when the press refers to Cornyn as the "president's senator" - dame it he's suppose to be a Texas Senator - my Senator!

This state keeps vote for the far-right republican and keeps getting nothing in return!

It's time thew people of Texas turn out the bunch of them - it long overdue

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by: thefireguy @ Thu Jun 21, 2007 at 02:17:34 AM UTC

I am with you, fireguy. (5.00 / 1)

The GOP is not genetically or psychically programmed to represent we the little people.  It has been so forever in- bed-with big-everything-with-boatloads-of-money that we the people of Texas are no longer relevant to them.

Let’s face it; everything W. decrees or touches turns into an unmitigated nightmare for our military, our middle class, and our poor.  Republican rubber stamps, including a seriously dumbed down and/or GOP purchased state media (likely both) has all too willingly hitched its pony to Bush. 

For me, GOP lawmakers and its patently pandering media fall into the same category as:

Lowlife criminals who are consumed and corrupted by anti-American greed and power. Abramoff is a good example of one who thought he could thumb his nose at the law. Ditto Scooter Libby who lied to save Cheney’s ample derriere.  Oh my!  Scooter boy has to go to jail for non-crimes such as perjury and the obstruction of justice?  Please do pardon Scooter boy, W.  Please!  For Scooter is surely not required to play by the same rules as do the rest of we Americans. 

I seem to recall, for example, how a high school student in Houston (with a Hispanic last name mind you) spent the night in jail b/c he was out driving a few mere minutes after city curfew. 

Off with his head!

Interesting how the law is enforced and how it is ignored.

Highflying Enron and corporate type sleaze boys and girls who routinely destroy the financial futures of so many hard working and loyal employees. You know, Kenny boy was a great buddy, especially to Cheney, but then suddenly, when Kenny’s criminal reality shit hit the fan, no GOP can recall who the hell Kenny boy is/was. 

Despite the grim realities, the good news is, there are more of us than the corporate sleaze kings, queens and their enablers.

Most unfortunately, however, the big sleaze is in power and it has the big bucks.  They are the ones who will also count the votes.

So, what are we going to do about this inconvenient reality?

We are going to overwhelm the suckers with an extraordinary Dem turnout.  And we are going to hold the GOP's feet to the fire for their predisposition for voting shenanigans.

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by: Libby Shaw @ Thu Jun 21, 2007 at 05:19:11 AM UTC