Burnt Orange Report

Allow Me To Introduce Myself

By Drew Clinton

The belated nature of my first post owes much to the frenetic pace of the Special Session. So, I'll take this time to offer my most cordial greetings to you all. It is truly an honor and privilege to write for this most prestigious blog. I hail from the edges of Dallas County on the far fringes of suburbia. Somewhere past the familiar string of Mesquite, Plano, Richardson, and Garland lies a smaller town, Rowlett, that I am proud to call home. My adolescence was shaped by my family, faith, and convictions, which along with my last name (Clinton) led me to an early involvement with the Democratic Party.

I have continued to involve myself in Austin through an ongoing internship with Representative Richard Raymond (Webb County-District 42). Through this opportunity, I have been able to immerse myself in South Texas politics, border issues, and the legislative process. I remain active in the United Methodist Church in Austin and tend to view social and economic issues as part of my larger faith based philosophical framework. The basic preservation of human dignity should be a motivating force in the political arena.

I think that we must continue to be mindful of how policy translates into progress for American families. I remain a firm critic of the "waste of time" politics that have dominated the Texas and National Republican Party's agendas in recent years.

I am currently researching the effects of CAFTA on human rights in Central America and employment opportunities in the United States. I find that economic populism and protectionism offers the Party a chance to reclaim a large sector of the working class that has been alienated by the unholy alliance of the Republican Party with Big Business conglomerates.

I will gladly offer my prognostications and opinions on current Texas politics over the upcoming months. I welcome suggestions and questions as they arise. Hopefully, we can grow together as a community and individuals. Feel free to drop me a line, should that you need anything.