Bexar County Democrats Announce Support for Straus

Where's Ruth? (0.00 / 0)

Matt thanks for the posting. Yes, the San Antonio Ds are fully behind Straus. Villarreal made a comment in a story today in the E-N regarding Straus' fair approach to House business.

"He's the most principled person in the House," said Rep. Mike Villarreal, a San Antonio Democrat who, despite their different party affiliations, considers Straus one of his closest political allies.

Villarreal said Straus helped Democrats like himself try to pass legislation on the House floor last session when Democrats were all but blocked from doing so.

One member of the San Antonio delegation that is interestingly missing is Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon. In a story earlier in the week in the E-N she called herself an "independent Democrat" and appears to be holding out for Craddick or possibly going with the apparent winner (I had a phrase in mind but decided against using it).

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by: RBearSAT @ Sun Jan 04, 2009 at 22:25:38 PM UTC

Choosing between Craddick and Straus (0.00 / 0)

is the same as asking a Democrat like me whether I'd be more comfortable if represented by Tom Delay or Kay Bailey Hutchison.  Kay Bailey is far more gracious and reasonable than the arrogant bully and ethically challenged Delay so of course my knee jerk reaction would be KBH.  But the hard reality is KBH is a libertarian leaning Republican who is more pro-business and less pro-people-like-me.  She has rubber stamped for W. at least 95% of the time while in the U.S. Senate.  KBH may be a gracious lady but she'd prefer to do the bidding of the big moneyed interests of energy, pharma, banking and insurance rather than that of the Joe and Jane Texans she is supposed to represent. Check out her voting record to see what I am talking about.  In her defense, Kay Bailey is no different than most other Republicans. They believe what is good for business is good for Texans.  Of course this is certainly not true, as most of us Joes and Janes have come to understand.   So, in essence, when push comes to shove, KBH and Delay are the same.  

States like Ohio and Virginia ran the Republicans out on a rail for a reason.  They were sick of being manipulated by  conservative wedge issues hot buttons that are nothing but a distraction from the serious issues that face us.  They were fed up with conservative deregulated free market ideology that left many folks out of work and put out of their homes.

Democrats in large urban areas like Houston, where I live, want change too. We want excellent public schools and affordable health care.  Because of the appalling corruption deregulation has engendered we want comprehensive   oversight and transparency whether it is on the local, state or federal levels.  Where are our tax dollars really going? Who gets the local/state contracts?  Why? Whose campaign did the contractor's owner's contribute to?  

We don't want to hear any more stupidity about gay marriage and abortion, unless the lawmakers who rail against both but who do support the death penalty would care to go into deep detail in explaining their ethical hypocrisy.  

79% of the American people are glad W. is going. More than a handful of the 79% live in Texas.  The Texas Republican Party should take that into consideration before trying to shove any more right wing lunacy down the throats of Texans, especially Democrats, Independents and moderate Republicans in the very large urban areas.

Enough is enough.  

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by: Libby Shaw @ Sun Jan 04, 2009 at 23:33:01 PM UTC

And we do any better? (2.00 / 2)

With the likes of Richardson and Blagojevitch we present a better front against corruption. While both are not convicted just the aspects of the investigations cast a pall on our ability to govern effectively without sin.

Personally I'm in the big part of the bell on issues and can't live on either edge. Yes, even some liberal ideas have problems and don't promote a realistic form of government. A balance needs to be struck and I think Straus might help Texas find that balance.

Besides we don't have the votes so I'll take Straus any day over Craddick who was on the right edge of the bell.

Regarding urban areas Straus does come from one of those - San Antonio. So maybe he has the same principles as you do on what urban areas need.  However, I will contest that Texas is a big state with a lot of rural and non-urban areas. Why can't we have a Texas for everyone? What I'm really saying there is I agree with you that we've had too much rural and non-urban ideology but I would hope we would not swing all the way to the other side. Let's settle in the middle for a change.

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by: RBearSAT @ Mon Jan 05, 2009 at 00:28:35 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Surely you are joking (3.50 / 2)

You are comparing the potential corruption of Blagojevitch and Richardson to the likes of Jack Abramoff and his convicted henchmen, Scanlon et al.; Tom Delay, Bob Ney, Duke Cunningham, David Vitter, Rick Renzi and yes, Sarah Palin to name just a handful.  And then there are liars who misled us into the worst foreign policy debacle in recent history like W., Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, Pearle and Wolfowitz.  

And then there are the heckofjobs like Brownie whose criminal incompetence allowed for the deaths of thousands of Katrina victims.  And what about Turd Blossom Rove who thumbs his nose at Congressional subpoenas, who unlawfully purged official email, who outed a covert CIA agent and who also master minded voter fraud efforts in 2000 and 2004. And what about his minion Tim Griffin who is responsible for the voter caging efforts in Florida, 2000.  And let's not forget Ken Blackwell of Ohio who in 2004 did Rove's bidding in the voter fraud department.

And Gonzales, Texas Republican and U.S. Attorney General who abdicated his duties to serve as a political henchman for the Bush Administration.  Indeed, a White House Republican insider who is a lawyer called Gonzales an "empty suit."  

I suggest you brush up on your reading, especially current events, before making statements like "we do any better?"

You betcha we do. Richardson had the decency to withdraw. Blago is an arrogant nut job who thinks he is above the law. Sound familiar? At least Illinois has an AG who will throw the book at political crooks and won't be demonized for it.

When is the last time one of the Republicans mentioned above ever showed any reverence for the law?  Hell, the Bush people and the Republican Party make a habit of thumbing their noses at it, especially the U.S. Constitution and the democratic process in general.

It is well past the time that Texas Democrats start thinking and behaving as Democrats, thank you.

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by: Libby Shaw @ Mon Jan 05, 2009 at 01:02:10 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I guess those names hurt (0.00 / 0)

I'm pointing out the fact that we need to clean our own house up as well. Wow did you go ballistic on that. I did brush up on current events. That's why I mentioned them. Regarding doing better, that would start with not having the issue to begin with. Wouldn't that make some sense?

I'm outraged that Richardson and Blago did what they did. It tainted the D label, not as badly as the R label has been tainted but it's not good. Obama seems to be doing the right thing by avoiding corrupt situations as much as possible. That's why Richardson is out. I hardly believe he just called Obama up and said I think I need to resign. NBC reported he was pretty much pushed out.

Apparently you think Ds do no wrong and Rs are the devil. Libby face it, there can be bad Ds and good Rs. Get over your bias for a change.

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by: RBearSAT @ Mon Jan 05, 2009 at 01:11:40 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I have to say (3.00 / 1)

Some of us seem to have been more engaged with and informed about the corruption of the GOP the past 8 years. I'm reading your posts and sometimes it's as if everything prior to 2007 and the 2008 presidential campaign didn't happen. (Libby summed up only about 1/8 of the corruption since 2001 quite nicely).

Actually, based on the reality scale, the Democrats have a long way to go to come close to the "corruption" of the GOP since the beginning of this century. I don't call that "bias"  like you do.

And I don't think Libby or any of us should just "get over it." To do so would mean that we are willing to let it all happen again.

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by: Elsbeth @ Mon Jan 05, 2009 at 02:14:21 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Absolutely. There is no way I'll ever get over (3.00 / 1)

it, Elsbeth and I suspect there are many like you and me who will refuse to let Republican corruption get swept under any rug. Nor will voters in the long term either. Too much pain has been inflicted on a vast number of Americans from killed and maimed soldiers, to lousy VA benefits, to lost jobs, to lost homes, to no health care insurance, to lack of access to an affordable college education and sub-standard K-12 schools. And then there are the problems at the voting polls whereby certain votes don't get counted.    

Bush and Rove can try to rewrite and re-spin history but the facts and truth are the facts and the truth.  

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by: Libby Shaw @ Mon Jan 05, 2009 at 02:39:22 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

The R label is tainted? (5.00 / 1)

Honey, their label is rotten and corrupted to its very core.  I'd say the Bush Republicans and their enablers behave more like a crime syndicate than leaders of a democratically representative government.  

I did not go ballistic. I merely pointed out a few hard facts and inconvenient truths about Republicans and any suck up Democrats who wish to worship at their alter.

Suggested reading list for democratically challenged Democrats and Republicans alike.

Armed Madhouse, Greg Palast (forensic economist on voter fraud)
Price of Loyality, Paul O'Neal (R, former Treasury Secretary under W.)
Against All Enemies, Dick Clarke (R, former counter-terrorism specialist under Clinton and W.)
The Dark Side, Jane Mayer (award winning author and journalist who actually does her job)
The Wrecking Crew, Thomas Frank (journalist, author and columnist for the Wall St. Journal, guest columnist for the New York Times)
The Audacity of Hope, Barack Obama (U.S. President 2008)

Also, to learn about the horrors of deregulation you might want to check out the NYT op ed piece today.  I have not finished it yet but it makes for a rather interesting read so far.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01...

That ought to get you off to a pretty decent reality check of where things stand today politically and economically.

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by: Libby Shaw @ Mon Jan 05, 2009 at 02:29:31 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

My point (0.00 / 0)

Here's point on this. I agree with you that there is a large group of Rs that are rotten to the core. Your list is a great example of their dealings. The Bush administration represented a bad era of government for us.

What set me off was the claim of corruption aimed at the Rs after I watched the news tonight headlined by Richardson and Blago. I want to throw stones at the Rs so badly but when we can't seem to even start off a new administration because we can't seem to get it right it's pretty disheartening.

There's a comment a friend of mine from Arkansas made that sticks solidly in my mind. When we were reminiscing about the Clinton administration and the good that was done during that era (Richardson being a part of it) it was such a shame that all the good would be overshadowed by an oversexed President's act in the private office of the White House. He was right and it is such a shame.

Look, I agree that corruption needs to be rooted out but not every R is corrupt and not every D is an angel. For those that are in the middle of the bell they remember those bad acts. We're Ds so we should work to make sure our house stays in order these next 4 to 8 years. Richardson turning down the post didn't erase the act. Blago naming Burris didn't erase the act. Those still remain regardless of what they did.

If all we do is call out their crimes without ever acknowledging our own issues we're no better than them.  Let's focus on keeping our house in order for the next 4 to 8 years so we don't look like the Rs at the end of Obama's presidency.

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by: RBearSAT @ Mon Jan 05, 2009 at 02:45:42 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Please (0.00 / 0)

Enough.  

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by: Elsbeth @ Mon Jan 05, 2009 at 03:48:57 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

What does Bill Clinton have to do with it? (0.00 / 0)

Craddick is a Republican who is an arrogant dictatorial bully. Straus is a Republican who seems nicer and more polite.

Vince and JR gave us a reality check earlier before some certain Democrats uncorked the poisoned champagne.

Vince nails it: The GOP can hold the far-right and savage Democrats in the Texas Legislature. He will use the Craddick D's as effectively as Craddick did.

With no leadership, discipline, or principles, Democrats can be herded as effectively as cattle by the GOP.

I don't know about you, but there is no way in hell I want to be represented by herded cattle.

Perhaps you and your friend in Arkansas have been too duly influenced, if not outright brain washed, by the southern Republican ideology. Demonize the likes of an "oversexed" Clinton but turn a blind eye to murder, corruption, war crimes, torture and the illegal wiretapping of American citizens.

Don't be a tool.  

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by: Libby Shaw @ Mon Jan 05, 2009 at 03:58:36 AM UTC

Huh? (0.00 / 0)

Perhaps you and your friend in Arkansas have been too duly influenced, if not outright brain washed, by the southern Republican ideology.

What the hell does that mean? Libby you're so biased against any R this conversation has no meaning to you so there's no reason to continue it. That's a sad situation in my mind in the fact that you resemble the far right which I despise, not in ideology but in name.

I never said I would turn a blind eye to some of the actions of the Rs but you seem to have missed that in my comments because you are so blind to the issue. No more reason to try to carry this forward.

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by: RBearSAT @ Mon Jan 05, 2009 at 11:11:40 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

You betcha I am biased (3.00 / 1)

against R's after eight years of a criminal fraud called W.  Add to that the fact that Texas K-12 schools rank second to last nationwide and our state also boasts the highest number of uninsured residents.  Both are shameful and a national disgrace and embarrassment.  Especially since we seem to like to fund new and bigger prisons rather than put these same resources into our schools.  I suppose it never occurred to some of our leaders in Austin that if we made quality education available to all, we'd need fewer prisons.

And then there is Tom Delay's 2001 gerrymandering scheme that thumbed its nose at the democratic process b/c it fixed the elections for the House of Representatives, in effect to take the ballot out of our hands. He and Karl Rove had intended to create a permanent Republican majority.
The two crooks dreamed of a fascistic styled dictatorship.  

Republicans are definitely anti-people.  Our renowned junior Senator John Cornyn voted against the SCHIP program and he also voted against Medicare until the Texas physician's association withdrew its support of his candidacy.  Cornyn is a typical Texas R.  Vote against the people and anything that will throw an economic life line to everyday working people and their children.  Forget about the working poor and the economically disadvantaged. They don't count, according to Republicans.  

Check with some of our state's veterans and ask them how they feel about their VA benefits.  Ask them how far they have to commute to a VA hospital or clinic.  R's who are quick to send other folk's children off to war are the most stingy when it comes to giving returning military decent health care benefits.  God help them if they return maimed.

Texas Republicans also have a problem with voting rights. Look at how hard they work to throw up obstacles, especially for minorities and the elderly. They are quite willing to purge particular names from rolls with few questions asked. And dead people vote and so do undocumented workers.  

If you had read any of the books on my suggested list, you would not be so willing to throw your hat into the ring with Republicans.  Armed Madhouse should be required reading for anyone who believes in a truly representative democratic process.

As far as I am concerned all Republicans are fundamentally flawed b/c all heavily lean anti-democratic and anti-people.

Thank you for engaging in this discussion.  You've fired me up and have motivated me to work up a blog post on a subject I enjoy most - outing and trashing evil doin' R's.  

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by: Libby Shaw @ Mon Jan 05, 2009 at 17:42:19 PM UTC

[ Parent ]