SD-17: One More Race to Win in 2008

That 13.8 % (0.00 / 0)

That 13.8 % may not go back to the polls and if they do some may vote for Joan Huffman. You keep implying Ron Wilson and Al Edwards are Republicans so their supporters may vote for the Republican just out of anger.  One thing is clear. Very few in the African-American community supported Chris Bell. And the Republicans certainly won't.

The election will be determined by one thing. Who turns out. How many Republicans and how many Democrats. And of course how many Ron Wilson and Al Edwards supporters who probably will vote for Joan Huffman. Just out of anger.

Al Edwards may not be a Democrat to you but he is to the Democrats who put him back in the legislature. Who may at some point put Ron Wilson back in the legislature. Just out of anger.

Good luck to Chris Bell convincing the African-American community that he is finally the right color.  

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by: Baby Snooks @ Fri Nov 14, 2008 at 01:14:39 AM UTC

and you wonder why harris county didn't go blue! (0.00 / 0)

as long people keep supporting clowns like ron wilson and al edwards, republicans will keep on winningin harris county. very self-defeating!

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by: platners @ Fri Nov 14, 2008 at 02:25:20 AM UTC

Well the point is they do... (3.00 / 1)

The African-American community has the right to support who it wants. Something other Democrats, and most African-Americans are Democrats, don't seem to like for some reason. They look at what someone has done for them. Which is why they keep returning that other Republican, Sylvester Turner, to office.  And some are tired of the Sheila Jackson Lees and the Garnet Colemans. And the pandering and the political maneuvering of late that seems to only benefit the Sheila Jackson Lees and the Garnet Colemans.

As for Harris County it did turn blue on the judicial benches. Except for four benches. Apparently some Democrats voted for the Republican because they didn't like the names of four of the Democratic candidates. Of course one of those candidates turned out not to be a minority. Her parents just liked the name Mekisha. And didn't think about it. Neither did she. Until she lost the race.

And some wonder if perhaps that is why David Mincberg lost. And why Barbara Radnofsky lost. Seems there is not always unity in diversity. And in Harris County in particular there is a lot of prejudice and outright racism in the Democratic Party.

The Jews don't like the African-Americans, the African-Americans don't like the Jews or the Hispanics, the Hispancs don't like the African-Americans, and the list of "who doesn't like who" is endless.

In the end, Chris Bell was right. He is the wrong color. But there is more to it than just that. The African-Americans are tired of getting the short end of the political stick. Particularly from their own who they have been told they have to vote for. They have found they don't have to vote for anyone if they don't want to. That is the reality behind the votes for Stephanie Simmmons - not some Republican conspiracy.  But like every other reality, the Harris County Democratic Party ignores the reality. Believing there is unity and Democrats should just vote for who the party has selected. Particularly th minority Democrats. Hispanics feel left out.  African-Americans are just fed up.  

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by: Baby Snooks @ Fri Nov 14, 2008 at 09:37:48 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

excellent post! (0.00 / 0)

thank you for the clarification. what you say here is the absolute truth, however hard it is to swallow...

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by: platners @ Sat Nov 15, 2008 at 06:16:56 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

We have to get (1.00 / 1)

away from identity politics. I am Jewish and I like AA's and hispanics. Identity politics just about destroyed the Democratic Party in the 80's & 90's. Have we learned nothing from Barack?!! Chris Bell would certainly do better for AA's in his district than Huffman, anyone who disagrees with that is simply a fool. It is also a fact that Edwards & Turner DID vote for Craddick only for their own political careers, and that both supported Simmons. If they don't support Bell in the runoff then they are being traitorous to the party that elected them in the first place. A person's skin color has nothing to do with that person's ability to lead. Once again, have we learned nothing from Barack?!! So, vote for Chris Bell because you agree with him on the issues, not because of his skin color, and get over the childish identity politics.  

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by: gregturet @ Fri Nov 14, 2008 at 13:34:04 PM UTC

Not a fact (0.00 / 0)

Sylvester Turner DID NOT support Stephanie Simmons.

Before joining in this ridiculous harangue, take a look at facts and statistics instead of the rantings of those who have personal vendettas.

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by: cewdem @ Fri Nov 14, 2008 at 16:41:36 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Oh my god... (0.00 / 0)

You of all people should not be talking about personal vendettas with those "emails" of yours filled with gossip and innuendo.  

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by: Baby Snooks @ Fri Nov 14, 2008 at 19:36:35 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

But some can't... (0.00 / 0)

There is a deep resentment between communities and that is not going to change overnight simply "for the good of the party" despite everyone assuming it can and will.

The party itself might do more. Gerald Birnberg admitted that the Harris County Democratic Party could have done better. It certainly could have. Hispanics need the support of their party as well as their own community. And sorry but the support of their party just wasn't there. And hasn't been there for some time. And who's to say the turnout by African-Americans would have been what it was had Barack Obama not been on the ticket?

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by: Baby Snooks @ Fri Nov 14, 2008 at 19:44:30 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

i probably could do without the inflammatory language. (0.00 / 0)

Identity politics is not childish, it is a reality. Like President Barack has taught us, being comfortable in who you are is what makes you, regardless if anyone wants to take it away from you.

If you want more examples, I don't think Rep. Emmanuel would ever think his Jewish identity is childish, nor would Senator Clinton think her feminism is childish, nor would Gov. Richardson think his Hispano-ism is childish, etc.  

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by: platners @ Sat Nov 15, 2008 at 06:22:14 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

And by the way... (0.00 / 0)

Some might go back to my previous posts about Stephanie Simmons. Despite the representation by some that my "criticisms" are part of a "personal vendetta" the reality is that I have urged quite a few to support Chris Bell simply because I think it is important to gain another Democratic seat in Austin and I was in a state of shock when the results came in. Stephanie Simmons obviously drew the majority of the African-American votes. There is a major problem in the African-American community that endorsements by other African-Americans may not be able to overcome. But there are other problems as well. Many of his "non-African-American" constituents in the congressional district were insulted as well from time to time by Chris Bell's positions and some of his votes as well as the demeanor of his staff here and in Washington.

Maybe he has learned from it all. Only way to find out is to elect him and see how he does. Personally I tend to live by Mae West's maxim that "Everyone deserves a second chance. With someone else." But politically, well, Al Edwards is being given a second chance. So Chris Bell should be given a second chance as well. And that is what I have told quite a few in the African-American community.  

That said, it is going to possibly be a really steep uphill battle.  Joan Huffman ran a basically polite campaign given the usual campaigns conducted by Republicans. She may not be so polite in round two. Not only does she want to win, the Republicans want to win. And the party at this point is solidly behind her.

He is not only going to have to try to build another bridge with the African-American community he is also going to have to garner some Republican votes as well. And "works well with Republicans" isn't going to garner those votes simply because some of those Republicans are tired of the Republicans in Austin as well as Washington. They don't necessarily want someone who "works well" with Republicans. Not the ones in Austin and Washington anyway.  

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by: Baby Snooks @ Sat Nov 15, 2008 at 12:45:03 PM UTC