The 106th today

Mr. England''s record ... (5.00 / 1)

Somehow I just can't dismiss some of Mr. England's votes, just as I can not dismiss the things that took place in his last League of Women Voters' debate at the Irving City Hall.  It would be very difficult to have been there and suggest that Mr. England somehow represents the views of Democrats.

Here are pictures I took there.  Click here: 

http://www.n5gar.com...

This England sign was placed in front of some of the signs of Democratic winners at the Irving City Hall:

http://www.n5gar.com...

"George" attended the debate.  His message:  "Free us from England"

Click here: 

http://www.n5gar.com...

If there are any Democratic "leaders" from outside Dallas County who are interested in raising money for this England to try to defeat Katy Hubener in a 2008 Democratic Primary, there will be some questions.  They will have to answer about why they did that, in view of opportunities to spend that money on things that matter.  For example, there will be General Election campaigns in Harris County that might just be won the same way we won local elections in Dallas County in 2006.

And would Republicans who say they like England skip the opportunity to vote in top of the ticket races in their Republican primary, including President of the United States, just to vote for a down-ballot England in a Democratic primary?  I don't think so.

It is the people of District 106 who have made it first a swing district, and now a Democratic district. 

Democrats would not have to worry about Katy's vote on the House floor, while we would have to give time and attention to how Mr. England might vote, on our urgent issues.  It seems there are things that the people who were present for the last debate between Katy and England understand, that some "leaders" who were hundreds of miles away at their homes could not.

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by: Tom Blackwell @ Mon Sep 24, 2007 at 10:03:04 AM UTC

Talk and endorsements are cheap (5.00 / 1)

Tom Blackwell:

If there are any Democratic "leaders" from outside Dallas County who are interested in raising money for this England to try to defeat Katy Hubener in a 2008 Democratic Primary, there will be some questions.  They will have to answer about why they did that, in view of opportunities to spend that money on things that matter.  For example, there will be General Election campaigns in Harris County that might just be won the same way we won local elections in Dallas County in 2006.

It doesn't surprise me that so many of the State party leadership want to endorse Kirk at this time. The farther away from the 106th they live, the more likely they are to endorse Kirk. Many of them probably already know Kirk from his short political career in Austin, and the instinct to want to reward him for join us probably runs pretty high. If I knew nothing about the district and lived elsewhere, I'd likely feel the same way. A good word, or even an endorsement doesn't cost anything.

Giving money, however, is another thing entirely. First of all Kirk England doesn't need any money. He and his father have become wealthy insurance salesmen with their extensive political connections. As an insurance man, he is also going to get a lot of donations from conservative business interests outside the district, which would otherwise be out of reach for other Democratic candidates. Spending precious loyalist money on this race would be a redundant waste.

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by: Mo @ Mon Sep 24, 2007 at 11:33:44 AM UTC

More ... (5.00 / 1)

If those people from hundreds of miles away cared so much about District 106, why didn't they come attend the LWV debate at the Irving City Hall, like I did, and see what was taking place?

It also seems Mr. England should have been responsive to your communications about those bad old voter suppression bills.  His action on them was in line with what we saw at the debate.

The way some people from outside the district have tried to treat Katy reminds me of the treatment Harryette Ehrhardt received when she advised David Cain that she was going to run for (the old) HD 107.

The fact is - with changes in this district, England would not have had a chance to win if the word "Republican" were attached to his name.  It also seems the attention of a lot of people who say they like him will be with primary races involving names like Giuliani and McCain and Thompson.

Effective party leaders would be thinking about raising money for General Elections, not fights in a primary in a district hundreds of miles away from them - - where the winner of the General Election will now certainly be the Democratic Nominee. 

I stand by my agreement with the previous comments of the Dallas County Chair, Darlene Ewing.

Just as the people who lived in the local district decided the race between incumbent Congressman Dale Milford and challenger Martin Frost in 1978, so will Democrats in State House District 106 decide who will be the Democratic nominee in 2008.
 

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by: Tom Blackwell @ Mon Sep 24, 2007 at 16:23:22 PM UTC

Guess who called me! (5.00 / 1)

Yep, I figured he would pop up on my phone sooner or later. That's what being president does for me ;)

Yes, Kirk England gave me a call. Despite some people's suspicions that he's a coniving secret neo-con seeking to corrupt our party and hang on for his political life, I sensed nothing of the sort out of him. I was completely unsurprised by our conversation. He was as friendly a fellow as I've always suspected.

We did talk a bit about the voter suppression issues (somebody on his team is keepin up with our blogs :)), not enough yet, but we promised to sit down sooner rather than later. I'm still standing by everything I've said on BOR at this point, including my Horray's and Welcomes.

He's going to make one of our candidate meetups next month. I'm encouraging anyone with spare time to research the voter suppression votes, in addition to other votes of concern they may have had with England's first session. You may email directly about such things at hsj438@earthlink.net

Of course feel free to vent here as well, if you must, but personally I'm a bit more interested in researching to the bottom of these things before I make any further public comment on such issues.

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by: Mo @ Tue Sep 25, 2007 at 03:24:06 AM UTC

When interviewed recently ... he said (0.00 / 0)

"... I would always do that without party politics getting in the way."

If that is his view of Republicans is that his view of Democrats as well?

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by: Tom Blackwell @ Fri Sep 28, 2007 at 11:46:07 AM UTC

The 2006 Dallas Morning News endorsement (0.00 / 0)

I frequenty do not agree with Dallas Morning News endorsements.  I do remember agreeing with this one:

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We Recommend: Katy Hubener in House District 106

08:06 AM CDT on Tuesday, September 26, 2006

  The House District 106 race in Grand Prairie and Irving pits a rookie Republican incumbent against a repeat Democratic candidate who represents a strong new voice for utility reform and clean air.

  We think the incumbent-heavy Legislature can benefit from newcomer Katy Hubener's voice.

  Ms. Hubener is firmer than GOP opponent Kirk England on the need for the latest technology for new coal-burning power plants. A former activist in environmental matters, she recognizes that clean air is a critical issue for a metropolitan area struggling to meet federal standards.

  With consumers hurt by spiking utility bills, Ms. Hubener wants to probe why
electricity deregulation has cost - not saved - the public money. Consumers
should welcome an advocate on this issue.

  Like Ms. Hubener, 36, a real estate agent, Mr. England, 45, an insurance agent,
runs a small business in Grand Prairie.

  Mr. England won a special election in March to replace GOP Rep. Ray Allen and
represented the district in the LLegislature's special session on school finance.  His lack of knowledge about issues of importance to North Texas troubled us then
and, though he has begun to show improvement, continues to concern us.

  He needs to toughen on environmental issues. Mr. England favors permitting some,
but not all, of the 16 new power plants sought by electric companies, but he
would not push utilities to use the latest technology to clean emissions.

  Both candidates favor requiring record votes on all bills that clear the
Legislature and would support local-option elections for a half-cent sales tax
in areas not served by a transit authority.

,,,

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by: Tom Blackwell @ Tue Oct 02, 2007 at 17:33:08 PM UTC