Thanks for the support

As long as you're fighting for Texas (5.00 / 2)

I'll be fighting alongside you.

Thanks for all of your efforts.

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

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by: boadicea @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 04:13:17 AM UTC

Hank Gilbert (4.00 / 4)

It was a pleasure to chat with you in Marble Falls and I'm thrilled to see you and David and everyone else who has taken the time to say hello and hopefully we'll be able to hear more and carry on the discussion and fight through Election Day!

Please read the Community Guidelines and How to Rate Comments.

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 05:26:26 AM UTC

What is wrong with your website? (3.00 / 1)

I've been trying for a couple of days to get a picture of you for the Wise County Democrats website

Someone told me that the picture I have up is not you but it's what comes up on a google search.

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by: TXsharon @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 12:53:49 PM UTC

LOL ... that's Charlie Stenholm, Sharon (3.00 / 3)

Here's Hank.

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by: PDiddie @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 13:21:19 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

That's what I thought (0.00 / 0)

but google Hank Gilbert, Photo then click images and sure nuf...

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by: TXsharon @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 19:12:30 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I've got him now! : ) (5.00 / 3)

Thanks Faith

Heeeerrrreeeee's Hank:

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by: TXsharon @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 19:25:03 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thank You! (3.00 / 2)

This. Picture. Is. AWESOME!!!

Please read the Community Guidelines and How to Rate Comments.

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 20:24:23 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I have a good one to send you (3.00 / 2)

Sharon, I have a good picture of Hank taken at the Southlake David Van Os event I can send you. Also have a great one of Fred Head. Will gladly share them with you.

Faith Chatham

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by: faithm @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 15:55:19 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

A picture of Hank Gilbert & David Van Os (5.00 / 4)

I took this snapshot of Hank Gilbert and David Van Os at the Tarrant County event.

Click here:

http://www.n5gar.info/05-20-06Gilbert-Van-Os-by-Tom-Blackwell.jpg

Regards,

Tom Blackwell
http://pages.sbcglobal.net/tom.blackwell/

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by: Tom Blackwell @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 21:21:13 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Tom, That's fantastic (1.00 / 1)

Can we use it for a convention poster?

Faith Chatham

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by: faithm @ Sun Jun 04, 2006 at 06:11:06 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hank, a question -- (5.00 / 2)

Tell the good readers of Burnt Orange Report about the Trans Texas Corridor.

Your compadre,

David Van Os

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by: David Van Os @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 16:01:38 PM UTC

Hank, I really appreciated your comments on the Trans Texas Corridor (3.00 / 2)

That is something that I haven't been keeping up with as I should. I am really thankful that you are sharper on issues than I am. This impacts all of us. Please help me it better.

Faith Chatham

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by: faithm @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 16:15:08 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yeah, I need some info on this (5.00 / 1)

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by: TXsharon @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 19:13:20 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

And another question -- (5.00 / 2)

And then tell the folks about the chief gangster's threat to veto disaster relief for the devastation to West Texas agriculture from grass fires.

DVO

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by: David Van Os @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 16:05:11 PM UTC

I hadn't heard about that! (3.00 / 2)

I know that the current Agriculture Commissioner (who has been a dismal failure at running her department in my opinion) thinks that the people of Texas should trust her to become Comptroller of Public Accounts! 

Didn't she fail to estimate how much money she needed to run the office, shriek about being underfunded, and then end up having a large surplus left over at the end of the fiscal year!

I hope folks realize that Fred Head is the best choice for Comptroller of Public Accounts. It's really scary to see how incompetent people get rewarded by being elected to other offices after they screw up the ones they currently have. This is one reason Hank's race is so important. Voters need to understand what a dismal mess this woman is and how she's failed to do her job as Agriculture Commmissioner so that they won't give her the keys to the bank as Comptroller of Public Accounts.

They also must be made to understand the importance of the Agriculture Commissioner to urban voters as well as the rural/agriculture folks. It is important that we get Hank in office instead of Todd Staples. Folks need to see a REAL FARMER/ AG TEACHER/ SMART SMALL BUSINESSMAN IN OFFICE. That is Hank Gilber!

Faith Chatham

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by: faithm @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 16:26:22 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

To answer your questions, David (5.00 / 8)

The trans-Texas corridor is a super-highway that our Republican leadership thinks we need to attract industry into Texas.  It amounts to the largest land-grab in the history of our great state.  It will travel some 578 miles across the most productive agricultural part of our state and consume 146 acres of farmland per mile.  This highway will be 1/4 mile wide, and destroy family farms all along its' path.  The part being kept real quiet is the huge water transmission lines between the 2 highways that will be used to pull water from underground and East Texas lakes to send to industry in the metroplex areas of Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston, and San Antonio.  This entire project is being "farmed out" to a company in Spain, who in turn will build the structure and charge tolls on the highway for the next 50 years!  If they had truly talked with industry, they would know that transportation is not the limiting factor for not coming to Texas.  The limiting factor is an illeterate work force, due to the 40%+ high school drop-out rate...another Republican-caused problem!!!

The grass fires that ran rampant a month ago in the Texas panhandle was Texas agriculture's Katrina.  Homes, barns, equipment, fences, human lives and over 25,000 head of livestock perished in these wildfires.  Our fair-haired governor(who himself served as Texas Agriculture Commissioner) allowed these fires to burn for almost 4 days before he mobilized any help to the region.  The current commissioner, Susan Combs, to this date has still done nothing to help these people...not even a visit to the region.  Pery did visit, via helicopter, with Rep. David Swinford -R from Dumas.  In a communication sent through the Texas Farm Bureau (the Republican party's chief agriculture sponsor....just a huge insurance company the uses the word "Farm" as a tax break), Perry promised the farmer and ranchers Federal assistance.  Now, our current sitting President, Fidel Bush, threatens to veto the current appropriations bill before him if the committee doesn't remove the disaster relief from the bill!!!  It's good to know that our "Texans" in power really care for Texans.  Just the more reason that not another of them stupid, pugnant son-of-a bitches will ever be elected to a major public office again...at least, not as long as farmers and ranchers like myself have anything to do with it!

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by: hank @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 16:31:24 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Wow! Hank it is really important that folks know that (3.00 / 3)

The media needs to be kicked in the butt for not covering this. How can we help you get the word out?

Faith Chatham

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by: faithm @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 18:26:52 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I have in mind a series of interviews with our candidates (5.00 / 3)

on Texas Kos.  I know we have one with David Van Os in the works by DKSBook, though I don't know exactly when it's going to be posted.

I want to start with our coordinating slate stars, because they're working their tails off to get out and talk to ordinary Texans face to face.  I think that's a valuable and, sadly, and unusual angle that should be played up.

It's nothing like traditional media exposure, of course, but it's what I've got.

I'm looking for contact info and trying to formulate  interview questions now.  I don't know if I'll be able to get anything done before the convention, but I will definitely be starting it after that.

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

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by: boadicea @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 18:50:33 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hank's easy to reach (5.00 / 2)

He travels the state and keeps in touch by his cell phone.  Fred is another one who needs to be interviewd. He will be at State Convention. I have his bio information but he towers far above the mere word on the paper.

Faith Chatham

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by: faithm @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 19:01:36 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Could you email me his bio info? (0.00 / 0)

Since the website's down I can't pull it from there.

Mainly I'm just trying to put together questions that won't make me sound like a city bound doofus. I've got the contact info already, I think. I just need to prep a little more.

My email is my screen name at gmail.

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

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by: boadicea @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 20:00:46 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

send me your e-mail (0.00 / 0)

E-mail me at faithchatham@yahoo.com so that I can send it to you.

Faith Chatham

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by: faithm @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 21:23:39 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

TTC and Stupidity (4.33 / 3)

THANK YOU, HANK!

I'm a big proponent of infrastructure projects because we do need better transportation in the metros, we do need to improve some freeways and expand roads in rural areas. However, your take on the TTC is DEAD ON. For one thing, it's in the middle of nowhere (no offense intended to rural Texans, it's just not reasonable to have someone drive an hour or more out of a city, then get on a tollway and then drive an hour or more into another city to deliver goods).

At present there is only one major highway in Texas that needs significant improvement, the 35 Freeway. Perry wants to spend billions on his 'roads to nowhere' when all we really need to do is actually FUND TXDOT to build out their project backlog.

Thank you for talking about this for what it is, a useless landgrab for Perry and his cronies!

THANK YOU FOR RUNNING!

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by: The Trey @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 19:48:22 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

TTC vs. I-35 & US 59 (5.00 / 5)

In history, every country that has become strong economically did so after they developed a north-south transportation route.  In Texas, we already have 2 n-s routes, I-35 and US Hwy.59.  Both are major truck route from the north to our ports along the Texas coast.  Both have plenty of easement space that they could be widened to facilitate more truck traffic.  Both could be done with the majority being paid through federal monies, with little to no burden to Texas taxpayers.  The TTC is just a way for Perry and my opponent(a land appraiser and real estate agent) to make millions! 

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by: hank @ Sun Jun 04, 2006 at 16:37:15 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hank, How are the gas pump inspection results currently (0.00 / 0)

Hank, In March you shared the results of a survey of inspection stickers on the gasoline pumps. I know that the Agriculture Commissioner is responsible for weights and measures inspection in Texas. That includes inspection of calibration of gas pumps to insure that folks are actually getting the gallon of gasoline they are paying their hard-earned money for.  In March you told us that a significant number of pumps had out-of-date inspection stickers. Is that still the situation currently?

Faith Chatham

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by: faithm @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 16:12:56 PM UTC

About the gasoline pumps/grocery-market scales (5.00 / 2)

As of March '06, we had several volunteers from across the state doing spot surveys of the gas pumps in their areas, checking stickers to see when the last time the pumps had been inspected.  Then, there were almost 40% that were out of date.  Since campaigning arounf the state on this issue, that has changed.  There are still a lot out of date, though.  I found one the other day that hadn't been checked in over 9 years!!  Currently, they are suppossed to be checked and calibrated every 4 years(too long a period...it shouldn't exceed 2 years).  If you find any in your travels that are over 4 years, take a picture and email it to me or Fred Head. 

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by: hank @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 16:40:35 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

THAT BORDERS ON CRIMINAL (0.00 / 0)

At the very time the oil tycoons are gouging us with inflated oil and gas prices, the Agriculture Commissioner has failed to inspect the pumps to insure that we are actually getting the gallon of gas we are paying for. They only require an inspection every four year! That's horrid. That in itself shows that the Texas Legislature didn't care much about looking out for consumers. Most scales have to be calibrated every few months to a year. Maybe gas pump scales are more reliable. However, I doubt that they are very different from other scales.

Do they check the weights in the grocery stores?

Faith Chatham

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by: faithm @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 19:31:29 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Tell us about your vision for the cattle industry (0.00 / 0)

At the catfish dinner you told us why folks are put at risk by the way cattle are slaughtered. You told us that Texas cattle are shipped out of state for processing and that the processing plants refuse to slaughter the cattle in the manner which you believe would protect consumers and the Texas cattle industry. Please help us understand what you know about this situation.

Faith Chatham

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by: faithm @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 16:18:12 PM UTC

Cattle slaughter techniques (5.00 / 2)

Today's cattle slaughter facilities could permanently eliminate the threat of spreading BSE(mad cow disease) by simply sawing out the backbone of the animal at slaughter, rather than carving it out.  The down-side to this technique is that you would permanently lose the T-bone cut of steak.  That, however, is okay.  It is the cheapest retail steak cut on the carcass, and the hardest to sell.  Currently, we export over 85% of all T-bone steaks due to decreased demand for that steak in the U.S.

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by: hank @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 16:44:49 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

That's the answer that impressed me (5.00 / 3)

I asked that question at the TDW convention in Austin, and you had the answer right off the top of your head.  You're prepared, you have the experience for this job, and more importantly you're the right person for this job. 

If we could get you and that weenie Staples in a debate, Staples would end up as ground chuck.  You tower over him mentally as well as physically.

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by: sonia @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 16:59:26 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Why isn't it being done that way? (0.00 / 0)

Who is stopping it? What do we need to implement that?

Faith Chatham

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by: faithm @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 18:38:05 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

A Very Noteworthy Candidate (5.00 / 2)

I had the pleasure of hearing Hank speak at my Senate District convention in Houston. He's a trip! He has the facts and positively oozes charisma. If this doesn't turn out to be his year, I hope he considers another run. He would be an asset in any office. I feel like he is highly electable.

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by: Marianna @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 18:15:26 PM UTC

I agree with you 100% (5.00 / 1)

I spoke with Hank during the primary and invited him to send us some campaign literature. We volunteered to put out his yard signs along with Ben Z. Grant's, a candidate who is a long-time friend of mine. Ben had recommended Hank to me. When Hank arrived, he exceeded our wildest expectations. He addressed a diverse group of people from different cultures. There was one GreenPeace activists who is into sustainable native plant agriculture. He shot questions to Hank that left and right and Hank answered all of them. The guy was so impressed that he came to my place after the dinner and put the wires on 200 of Hanks yard signs so that Harriet and I could distribute them assembled the next day.

Hank Gilbert knows his stuff. He knows agriculture. He knows the cattle industry. He understands the political landscape and what is right and what is wrong with it. MOST IMPORTANT IN MY BOOK, with Hank Gilbert what you see and what you hear come out of his mouth is the REAL STUFF. He's running as himself based on his incredible knowledge and experience in Texas Ag/cattle industry.

One of the best things that has happened to me in many years is getting to know Hank Gilbert and David Van Os. I am so thankful that they are willing to fight for us. Fred Head is authentic and qualified too. We are really blessed this year to have them on the ticket. We'll be even more blessed once they WIN and are IN OFFICE.

Faith Chatham

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by: faithm @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 18:44:46 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I live in rural wise county (5.00 / 1)

Who is the idiot who thought up putting the id chips in all our animals? 

I'm not going to do it and neither are my neighbors but I have to tell you honestly that the picture of a bunch of yahoos trying to catch 25 guinea hens to put chips in 'em is hilarious.

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by: TXsharon @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 19:17:17 PM UTC

After the chip is in the information will have to be updated (0.00 / 0)

They'll have to update the information when they sell a chicken or cow or lamb. It will become another "paperless" time consuming nightmare. Farmers and ranchers who are struggling as it is to find enough time to get the work done, will have to adopt an entirely different culture in order to run their farms. Instead of merely needing a computer to take care of financial things, they may have to put computers in the barns so that they can log every animal in and out -- much like occured on manufacturing plant floors a few years ago. The cost of groceries will go up to cover the cost of the computer chips and time to maintain the records. The only people benefiting will be the folks who sell the chips.

Faith Chatham

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by: faithm @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 21:21:45 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yeah but (5.00 / 1)

I've got news for you: Ain't gonna happen. Mass revolt.

Have you ever tried to catch a guinea? I'll buy the beer to watch that one.

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by: TXsharon @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 22:15:01 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

And I'd be right beside you (3.00 / 1)

pointing and laughing at the fools who were trying.

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

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by: boadicea @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 22:25:23 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

What about all those other things they've thrown into the Agricult.ure Commissioner Job (0.00 / 0)

Seems to me that over the years a lot of non-agriculture types of things have been put into the Agriculture Commissioner's oversight. I suspect it's occurred because we have elected so many folks who don't know a steer from a bull and who needed something they might be able to to to try to justify holding the office.

But Main Street Small town development is an area that is under the Agriculture Commissioner's Job. Do you have plans for that area of the job? How do you plan to help these small towns?


Faith Chatham

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by: faithm @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 19:23:17 PM UTC

What is the competitive position of Texas Products? (0.00 / 0)

Marketing Texas Products is another area which requires the Agriculture Commissioner to wear a Marketing Hat. What must be done to keep Texas Products being made in Texas and sold in markets around the globe?

Hank, I was impressed with your understanding of the global marketplace and its impact on Texas manufacturers and agriculture/livestock producers. Do you think that anyone is looking out for our folks on that front right now?

Faith Chatham

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by: faithm @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 19:25:50 PM UTC

Love this picture (5.00 / 4)

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by: TXsharon @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 19:31:19 PM UTC

That is the Texas Team with Speaker Jim Wright (5.00 / 2)

Robert Russell did a great job on photogrpahy at David Van Os' Southlake Event May 20th. From L-R that is Maria Luisa Alvarado, Democratic Nominee for Lt. Gov., Speaker Jim Wright, David Van Os, Democratic Nominee for Attorney General of Texas, Fred Head, Democratic Nominee for Comptroller of Public Accounts, and the one and only Genuine Rancher/Ag man himself, "tell it like it is" Hank Gilbert, who got the highest percentage of votes in the Democratic Primary of any candidate in a contested race!

Faith Chatham

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by: faithm @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 19:36:10 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

where are (0.00 / 0)

bell and radnofsky?

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by: David Mauro @ Sun Jun 04, 2006 at 01:04:14 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Ah, they don't hang out (0.00 / 0)

with "these" candidates. 

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by: TXsharon @ Sun Jun 04, 2006 at 02:49:51 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

well screw them (0.00 / 0)

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by: David Mauro @ Sun Jun 04, 2006 at 05:59:06 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Elsewhere (0.00 / 0)

These were the candidates at David's Southlake Fund Raiser.  Dale Henry was at his HS class reunion that night.

Faith Chatham

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by: faithm @ Sun Jun 04, 2006 at 06:13:52 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I am supporting the ticket and will do all I can (5.00 / 2)

to get good Democrats elected. I look forwarded to meeting teh candidates at teh convention and seing more of them later as we get closer to election time.

Doing My Part For The Left,Left Of The Rainbow

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by: refinish69 @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 23:09:00 PM UTC

That's what will make the difference (5.00 / 2)

We're gonna have a big celebration come November!

Faith Chatham

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by: faithm @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 23:32:22 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

yes we are!!! (5.00 / 2)

not only in Texas but across the nation.

Doing My Part For The Left,Left Of The Rainbow

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by: refinish69 @ Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 23:41:56 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

south lake revolution (5.00 / 1)

Or maybe the Southlake fundraiser at the Rucker Farm was a flat out miracle for Tarrant county.
Democrats turned that place blue . We had fun and that spirited ticket of populists spoke from a very real stump.
Not boring,self-seeking, " message " laden sound bites : but the beginning of the movement of real people : rich and poor, black , hispanic and white ,seeking real justice and real economic solutions.
Local candidates spoke too.Tarrant's own brought their hopes dreams and passions that night to the Rucker Farm. Terri Moore is a blockbuster MC,Chris Youngblood is a bright young idealist, David Pillow is a compassionate businessman who longs for a caring society, Bryon Siebert is an established " North Tarrant" education expert.
We rocked that night! Harriet

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by: harriet @ Mon Jun 05, 2006 at 02:39:57 AM UTC

It was great to see and hear Hank along side these other dedicated Democrats (0.00 / 0)

Hank Gilbert, David Van Os, Maria Luisa Alvarado, Fred Head standing beside Terri Moore, Byron Sibbet, David Pillow and Christopher Youngblood !! Wow! What an evening all in one night. But that was only the beginning. The key note speaker was Speaker Jim Wright. His words always hit home. But then, I was able to sit and watch his face as the other speakers followed him on the stump!  Christopher Youngblood summed it up when he said: "When you look at us, you're not seeing candidates. You're really seeing a movement."  I think the Speaker was watching folks who are part of his legacy.

A lot of folks retire from office and demand large honorariums and occasionally go out and support a candidate every now or then. Speaker Jim Wright gives go generously of his time helping to nurture younger folks. His main criteria is that a candidate be a Democrat!  He got to sit and listen to David and Hank and Fred and others give incredibly good stump speeches. This was an evening of Populists and it was fun!

Faith Chatham

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by: faithm @ Mon Jun 05, 2006 at 04:13:48 AM UTC

[ Parent ]