Burnt Orange Report

Sheryl Cole for Place 6: Fundraising

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Sheryl Cole, running for the City Council seat being vacated by Mayor Pro Tem Danny Thomas (Place 6, the historically African-American seat), has filed her first financial report, showing supporter contributions of over $13,000 gathered during the first 45 days of the race. Two other candidates in the race reported contributions of $3,250 and $140 during the same period, giving Cole the early fundraising advantage.

Her campaign has also released its first list of public supporters (available here). Some notable names include 2005 Place 3 City Council candidates Gregg Knaupe, Mandy Dealey, and Margot Clarke; TARAL Executive Director Sarah Wheat; Political consultants Alfred Stanley and Mark Littlefield; Recent candidates Kelly White, Lulu Flores and Jan Soifer; and community leader Bettie Naylor. Cole’s campaign committee is being chaired by environmentalist Shudde Fath and businesswoman Bobbie Baker, with Rev. Joseph Parker, Jr., serving as the campaign’s treasurer.

Cole will have her formal campaign kick-off event on Wednesday, February 1st, at 5:30 PM at the Victory Grill, 1104 East 11th Street.

ABOUT SHERYL COLE

Attorney and account Sheryl Cole, 41, is a 23-year resident of Austin. She earned her B.B.A. in accounting from the University of Texas in 1986 and became a Certified Public Accountant in 1987. Cole subsequently returned to U.T. for law school, earning her J.D. in 1991. Cole’s legal career includes six years as staff counsel at the Texas Municipal League. Married to Austin attorney Kevin Cole for 15 years, Sheryl Cole is the mother of three boys, and currently serves as president of the Lee Elementary School PTA. The Cole family belongs to David Chapel, where Sheryl teaches 2nd grade Sunday School. Cole currently serves on the Board of Leadership Austin and the Austin Area Urban League, and is a former Board member of Communities in Schools. Cole also served as Tri-Chair of the 2004 AISD Citizen Bond Committee, and was appointed by former mayor Kirk Watson to serve on the 1998 City of Austin Citizen Bond Committee. If elected, Sheryl Cole would be the first African-American female to serve on the Austin City Council. The election is scheduled for Saturday, May 13, 2006.

Faring My Way in Austin

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

I've been playing around with a site this afternoon, documenting my travels from this week. Wayfaring.com is pretty darn cool, especially since I walk and bike everywhere. So I thought I'd make up a few maps of my activites for y'all while I work on the new BOR site so I can start getting at least those logins out to the donors. (Did I forget to mention we'll have polls?)

Anways, here's my ill fated trip around Austin last Tuesday when I went to the Bob Gammage press conference and ended up with a flat tire at Glen Maxey's. Then my two attempts at cashing Andy Brown's ad check, first on foot, then on bike.

Gay Republican Write-In Running Against Doggett

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

From the world of semi-bizarre comes word that Congressman Doggett in TX-25 running from Austin to Mexico, will have more than just a Libertarian challenger, he'll have a 24 year old gay Republican waging a write-in campaign.

Edward Mokrzy, 24, a former Dallas resident, said he had planned to file for a place on the ballot in the primary before the National Republican Congressional Committee cancelled a pledge to provide his $3,125 filing fee. The group pulled its support after he announced he would run as openly gay and on a government reform platform, he said.

"I think what happened was that the Texas Republican Party got scared because they saw me as actually having a chance of winning Austin and of winning the election," Mokrzy said.

Mokrzy said he suspects Republican Party leaders would prefer not to see an openly gay Republican elected to office. Austin is so liberal that a gay candidate with progressive ideas about government reform would stand a good chance of winning, he said.

"That's speculation, but I do truly believe that," Mokrzy said.

Well, Mokrzy can speculate all he wants, but on the ballot or not, he's not going to fracture Doggett's Austin base any time soon. And even the Log Cabin Republicans don't know who he is.

Carla Halbrook, a spokeswoman for Log Cabin Republicans who lives in Dallas, said she is unfamiliar with Mokrzy or any support for him from gay Republicans in Texas.

"I don't know anything about him, and I haven't heard anything about him," Halbrook said.

And for Gay Republicans, you really think they could come up with a site slightly more fabulous than this one.

Will Wynn Running for Re-Election

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Austin Mayor Will Wynn (who's website address is just too clever you'd never expect it) filed the first campaign finance report of his 2006 re-election campaign yesterday. Wynn raised $40,430 from 428 individual donors in the period between November 16th and December 31st.

The total of more than $40,000 is an unprecedented sum this early in the campaign season. Since Austin’s Fair Campaign Ordinance went into effect in 1997, limiting individual contributions to $100 and all but eliminating donations from outside the city, no candidate has raised $40,000 in the first reporting period.

Mayor Wynn will officially announce his re-election campaign with a kick-off event at the Broken Spoke on Friday, February 3rd, from 5 pm to 7 pm. Asleep at the Wheel will perform live to support the campaign.

Danny Thomas, outgoing City Councilmember (and supported of Proposition 2 last fall) is the only other announced candidate I am aware of (other than Jennifer Gale or Leslie whom I'm not doubting might end up filing).

Local Club Meetings

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

It's a new year, and many readers may have resolved to get more involved in local politics as the political winds have shifted in our favor. So to that end, here are 3 club meetings that you may wish to attend.

First off, Capitol City Young Democrats (CCYDs) is starting anew (as it has from time to time) so if you feel you are a "young urban professional", graduated from UT, or maybe attending another Austin University that is without a Democratic Club, CCYDs is perfect for you. There first meeting this semester is this Sunday and membership dues are only $10.

When: Sunday, January 22nd, 7pm
Where: Opal Devines
700 West Sixth Street
Contact: David Z. @ (512) 680-8210

Another local group in an area that has seen quite a bit of recent Democratic activity, North by Northwest Democrats (NXNW) just had their monthly meeting this past Monday at the Village Shopping Center. But if you happen to be up in that part of Travis County, contact Richard Anton at richardanton-at-alumni.utexas.net or 512 343 0112 for more information.

Lastly, University Democrats at UT will be restarting the semester next Wednesday at it's usual time of 8 pm (every Wednesday) in a NEW room, Mezes 1.304. Dues are only $5 for the semester, which gets you voting rights in our elections as well as the ability to partake in the Dining with Democrats program as well as our paid Internship program which is now expanding to 3 offices this semester.

Rider Out of March Primary

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

From the Statesman, Kathy Rider will be pulling out of the March Primary in District 48. (Even if Howard wins, there would still in theory be a primary, though the three candidates have agreed that if one won the special election, the others would not contest them in the primary).

Political consultant and lobbyist Bill Miller, a close ally of some Republican leaders, described the results as an upset because the seat was drawn in 2001 to elect a Republican. He said it could signal that good times are ahead for other Texas Democrats as they try to pick up seats in a Republican-controlled Legislature this year.

"She still has to win, and you have a runoff," Miller said. "But it's a big warning to Republicans to take a look at the issues that are surfacing in this race and how they play with the electorate."

The winner will serve for the rest of 2006, including at least one special legislative session this spring to address the state's school finance system. Baxter resigned in November, citing professional and family reasons, and now lobbies for the cable industry.

Rider said she will drop out of the March Democratic primary to see who will face Bentzin in November for a new term that will start in January 2007.

"I think the Democrats are going to take the seat in the runoff, and we're pleased," Rider said.

I'll be the first to thank Kathy Rider for her previous service to the AISD and for helping to show that Democrats can solidly perform in District 48 (and for being gracious in defeat). No one could have predicted that her campaign more or less kept Donna Howard from winning outright tonight, even though after the fact, that does appear to be the case.

This now puts candidate Andy Brown in a bit of a pickle, because if Donna wins the run-off, his campaign doesn't need to restart, but no real decision can be made until a month from now when that election is over. I'm willing to bet there will be pressure, now that Rider is out, to urge Brown to fully endorse Howard in the run-off. We should hear from that camp in the next couple days. Check back with Burnt Orange Report for any updates. Also thanks to the Texas Whip for their reporting.

District 48 Election Results Thread

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Early Results are in for tonight's special election here in Travis County. I'm at the Donna Howard Victory Party at Waterloo Icehouse, where the candidate has just arrived.

Results (SOS):

(R) Ben Bentzin // 2,088 // 45.76%
(L) Ben Easton // 99 // 2.17%
(D) Donna Howard // 1,825 // 40.00%
(D) Kathy Rider // 551 // 12.08%

Overal Turnout: 4.64% (EV)

The important thing to note, Democrats have 52% of the vote total right now, and you can make your own conclusions about what that would mean if Kathy Rider was not in this race. I expect the numbers to improve from here as the night goes on, though these early numbers are already better than expected. If Howard comes in with more votes than Bentzin, she is well placed to win what seems to be a likely run-off. But anything could happen.

Update:

Travis County Results when they come in will be here, along with precinct by precinct.

The two precincts with over 10% turnout are being won by Howard with 53% and 57% of the vote. Bentzin is only at 36% and 30% in those precincts.

Update:

In the early vote, Bentzin is winning only winning 13 of 39 Precincts with over 50%. Rider's ceiling is 20% in any one given precinct. Looking at the 10 Western Travis County Precints (the 370s) which Bentzin won outright, the turnout is below average, some precincts below 1%, most below 3%.

Update: 14 of 39 Precincts Reporting

New Cumulative:

(R) Bentzin: 40.4%
(L) Easton: 2.13%
(D) Howard: 45.8%
(D) Rider: 11.7%

Election Day Only:

(R) Bentzin: 31.3%
(L) Easton: 2.1%
(D) Howard: 55.7%
(D) Rider: 11.0%

Update:

New Cumulative:

(R) Bentzin: 37.5%
(L) Easton: 2.1%
(D) Howard: 49.15%
(D) Rider: 11.3%

Final Results

(R) Bentzin: 37.8%
(L) Easton: 2.3%
(D) Howard: 49.47%
(D) Rider: 10.45%

Howard was 73 votes off of avoiding a run-off. 59.92% is the combined Democratic Vote. Needless to say, Howard is in a very good position to win a run-off as most people were expecting to Bentzin to have around 48%-49% of the vote tonight, not 38%. Now all Howard has to do is consolidate the Democratic vote columns, making sure not to lose too many voters from the 14% turnout tonight which is sure to drop in the run-off, likely to be set in mid-February.

Precincts won by 50%+ (of 39 total precincts).

Howard: 20
Bentzin: 6
Rider: 0
Easton: 0

Election Day in HD 48

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

It's the first day of school for students at UT, and it's Election Day in House District 48, which includes some Far West student precints. So students heading in and out of classes, and everyone else that lives or knows someone out in the District, be sure to vote today for Donna Howard (or Kathy Rider) in your home precinct. A list of precinct locations can be found here. If you need to check which precinct you are in, you can look that up online here.

Remember, if Ben Bentzin is kept under 50%, it will force a February run-off, and it's my bet that he's going to be within 1-2% of that mark either way. Should Bentzin win today, he becomes the State Rep through November, and gets to cast pro-voucher, Baxter-esque votes during this spring's special session(s).

And just think about where Bentzin's money is coming from...

Texans for Lawsuit Reform: $20,000
Bob [the swift boat guy] Perry: $10,000
HillCo PAC: $10,000
Mike Toomey: $1000

Update: Texan: More than 4,500 early voters have already cast their ballot to find a replacement for Todd Baxter's vacated northwest Austin state representative seat, according to Travis County voting records released Friday. (For comparison, 68,663 votes were cast in the 2004 general between White and Baxter.)

Results will be here tonight. I may try to make it to one of the victory parties to report on results as they come in this evening, sometime after 7pm.

Update 2: Is anyone going to the Donna Howard Victory Party at 7 up at Waterloo Icehouse at 6023 N Capital of Texas Hwy? Want to give me a ride? E-mail or call me.

UT Shutting Down as of 2 PM: Updated

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Texan: The University will be closed due to weather concerns from 2 p.m. Wednesday until 10 a.m. Thursday.

I'm sure the University Wide e-mail will be out shortly. Students may want to contact professors if you had tests or projects due during this time. It's going to be cold and slightly frozen out there, so stay warm, wrap the pipes, and bring your plants indoors (or put bags over them). It's already 34 degrees here in Austin, but real-feel is around 23.

So instead of going to class, you can read this piece by the Bell campaign which knocks down some Perry claims.

UPDATE

Official University E-mail now out.

Due to today’s forecast of inclement weather, the University will officially close beginning at 2 p.m. today and reopen at 10 a.m. tomorrow. Employees who must work to provide essential services and functions will receive state compensatory time.

All university buildings normally locked by night custodial staff will be locked by the day custodial staff immediately after closure.

Classes and exams scheduled for this afternoon will be made up on Monday (Dec.12) using the same class or exam schedule and location. Classes and exams scheduled for tomorrow morning before 10 a.m. will be made up on Tuesday (Dec. 13) using the same class or exam schedule and location. If this “last” class meeting is not necessary, faculty may cancel the class.

Human Resource Services will provide instructions on recording time to Department HR Contacts.

UPDATE:

Due to the university closure and potentially unsafe road conditions ALL UT Shuttle service will be suspended at 7 p.m. today (Wednesday, Dec. 7) and is scheduled to resume tomorrow (Thursday, Dec. 8) at 9 a.m.

Please refer to the Capital Metro website (www.capmetro.org) for more information regarding service interruptions and schedule information.

Please note: Classes and examinations in the Division of Continuing Education are cancelled for today (Dec. 7). University Extension students should contact the University Extension office for information about rescheduling evening classes.

If you've been trying to check your UT e-mail, the system is being strained and is not logging some people on. Be patient.

The Craziest HD-48 Scenario

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

There will be a lot going on behind the scenes in the next few days. There is some talk about consolidating the field and having one person run. This is the process that will happen this spring that you all should be aware of, as I understand it.

The January Election is an open free for all election. All Republicans and Democrats run against each other. The top 2 go to run off in February. The winner of all that then is the State Rep for the Spring Special session that will likely be called for March-June because of the school finance ruling that set the June 1 deadline or else schools shut down.

BUT

There is still the regular primary in March which will decide the nominees for the November general election.

SO

Say it is Bentzin (R) Howard (D) Brown (D) & Rider (D)

They duke it out in the open special, winner wins. They all could potentially run again (and have new challengers) in their party primaries in March. So given that, the following is actually a possible scenario.

January Open Special Election: Bentzin & Brown go to run-off
February Run-off: Brown wins, serves as elected Rep for any Spring Special Session
March Primary: Bentzin wins the Republican nomination, Brown goes to run-off with Howard for an April Run-off, forcing him to campaign during the middle of the special session
April Run-off: Howard wins Democratic nomination and campaigns against Bentzin for November election, while Brown serves out the rest of the term as the elected lame-duck rep, while the session is still going on!

I'm not saying this is in the cards, but Rick Perry's election date enables this to be a possibility. And remember, Travis County officials estimate the election will cost as much as $250,000, plus another $125,000 or more if there is a runoff.

Rip Avery has some thoughts as well.

As I have mentioned before, Bentzin not only lacks Baxter's baggage (voting record and TRMPAC connections) but is in a position to finance a campaign before any single Democrat is ripe for candidacy in the general election. Also, as noted, there are at least three players on the Dem side, and in a special election all candidates run at once, with the winner being he/she who obtains the majority of votes. If there is no majority, then there is a runoff between the top two candidates. The three way split may not be as bad as one thinks, since the goal of the Democratic Party should be to make sure that Bentzin stays below 50%. Votewise, even if Howard and Rider took some votes from the left, Brown should be ok if he can suck enough votes from the center to prevent a Bentzin victory in the first round. The problem, of course, will be the expense (consolidating elections analogous to a primary and possibly general in such a short time frame).

While Bentzin lacks Baxter's "baggage," he did take money from Texans for Lawsuit Reform (and Bob "Swift Boat" Perry) in 2002. TFLR is bankrolled by Dr. James Leininger, and it contributed heavily to Baxter as well as Craddick and others in the Texas GOP leadership. Leininger was he mojor influence behind issues like school vouchers, and reportedly pulled GOP reps off the floor to lecture the Legislators on the importance of voting for them and his other pet issues. Oh yeah, Leininger contributed heavily to TRMPAC and Stars Over Texas PAC (TRMPAC's successor and a Baxter contributor). So, Bentzin (despite his reputed $37m "fortune") is still connected to the same policy "puppet masters" as Baxter. If you like Tom DeLay and Tom Craddick (and their buddy, Rick Perry, another beneficiary of Leininger largesse), then you should vote for Bentzin. If you, like me, don't care for the Right Wing's influence in Texas, then you should support Andy Brown.

HD 48 Special Election Date Set

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Election Day: January 17th (Tuesday)
Early Voting: January 2-13
Filing Deadline: December 19th

via QR

Developing...

It's hard to expect Rick Perry to get on the stick with much of anything these days, and certainly not elections, considering the residents of District 143 in Houston had to go for entire special sessions with no representation.

But faced with having to deal with his failure last year to fix school finance, and now having to do it by June 1st lest the Republicans would rather see the schools shut down (probably an absolute dream for a couple of them), we get an early election called, with all candidates running in a free for all.

As a student friend of mine said when I told them this, Perry is a bastard, because the entire election takes place over the holidays, and election day is the first day of classes. That means all those Democratic student voters out in Far West, which are hard enough to turn out anyways, will be next to impossible to get. University Democrats, which has been active in block walking for Andy Brown's campaign, might have enough time to get an endorsement out next week (while still open, would likely go to Brown at this point) and if that couples with Central Austin Democrats could provide for some of those infamous yellow doorhangers to go up out in the district. But as far as volunteers go, the student impact has been minimized.

Such an early election means money and existing on the ground infrastructure means a lot. Brown has been blockwalking since the summer, hitting thousands of houses out there. Donna Howard will have to depend upon the Kelly White network of donors and volunteers. Kathy Rider (if she's still planning on running) will have to rely on name ID because there hasn't been sign of any organized activity I can pin down. Of course, that reveals our other problem, that there will be more Democrats than Republicans running, either 2-1 or 3-1, since Ben Bentzin will be the Republican nominee.

If the Dems all run, they have to keep Bentzin below 50% on the first round and then join together in the run-off to have a chance. It would be better if we could consolidate behind one candidate, and then focus our collective efforts on turnout, instead of worrying about turnout and fighting over voters at the same time. But with from what the candidates on our side have signaled, that doesn't seem likely to happen. But this early election could change that.

Until then, we wait. You can look at the HD-48 map (pdf) in the meantime.

Austin City Charter Propositions

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Save Our Springs Alliance is collecting signatures on petitions for calling an election on two propositions. Pay is 75 cents per valid signature of a City of Austin registered voter. (Voter signs both petitions and you make $1.50). Work any hours, any place. Door to door or tabling.

For information call Glen Maxey 443-2004 (o) 656-6337 (cell) OR Nate Walker (680-8438). Petitions can be picked up and information at: Glen Maxey Consulting, 512 E Riverside Ste 203, Austin TX 78704 Call 443-2004 to make sure someone is at the office. Usually here 1 pm to 6 pm / Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Information email: Glen at RepGMaxey-AT-aol.com

The ballot propositions are listed in the extended entry. One is a Save Our Spring Charter Amendment to close loopholes being used to get around the landmark SOS ordinance when it was first passed. The other is an Open Government Online measure.

Grits has some thoughts on the Online measure, which would force open some APD police records.

UPDATE: The official charter campaign website is here.

Summary of “Save Our Springs” Charter Amendment

General Purpose: Upon approval by the voters of the City of Austin, the Amendment would make it the official policy of the City of Austin to protect the quality and quantity of water flows in the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer and to take actions in support of this policy, as summarized below:

Key Elements:

Recognizes Scientific Consensus -- In 1997 more than 35 Central Texas scientists, environmental engineers, and urban planners wrote and endorsed a policy paper entitled “Protecting the Edwards Aquifer: A Scientific Consensus.” The Charter Amendment would require the City to follow the key recommendations of this scientific consensus.

Directs Development Downstream – Requires the city to direct development to the east and downstream of the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer in its development of roads, water and sewer investments, economic development efforts, etc.

Limits Development Subsidies – Prohibits the City from offering tax abatements or other economic development subsidies to companies or their close affiliates that seek to build in the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer, and requires those companies receiving economic development subsidies to refrain from future development in the watershed.

Minimizes Grandfathering -- The City’s overly lax reading of state law has allowed massive amounts of development in the Barton Springs watershed as “grandfathered” from the 1992, Austin voter-approved Save Our Springs ordinance. The charter amendment would require the City to narrowly define “grandfathered development” under state and federal law.

Summary of “Open Government Online” Charter Amendment

General Purpose: The Amendment would open Austin City Government to public scrutiny by requiring most of City business to be carried out online, in real time, and with full right of public access and public input. Current internet technology makes it possible for local governments to carry out most of their business online, including permitting, contracting, project and policy development and management, broadcast of council and board and commission meetings, disclosure of meetings and correspondence with lobbyists, etc. And just like with businesses, doing so reduces costs and increases competition in the market place of ideas, so that better decisions are made. By opening city government to public scrutiny and to the ideas, information and participation of everyone who cares about Austin, we can make a better future for Austin and establish Austin as a leader in open, online and participatory democracy.

Key Elements:

Require Open, Online Government for Efficiency –Using internet technology to manage permitting, contracting, and public information disclosure, the City can save time and money. Rather than spend staff time responding to public information requests, most City information would be automatically disclosed requiring no time at all. Most of this information is in electronic format already – its just not accessible to the public.

Require Open, Online Government for Accountability—It’s long been recognized that shining light on government is the best disinfectant against waste, abuse, and malfeasance. By forcing City Government to be accessible online and in real time, we can assure far greater accountability of both elected officials and city management.

Require Open, Online Government for Participatory Democracy – Austin is best when it invites, considers, and responds to the questions, information and opinions of everyone who cares about our city. The Open Government Online Amendment would allow interested citizens into the city decision making process by requiring that development permitting and project and policy development be done through webpages that automatically post comments of interested citizens within the same process of considering proposals and applications by developers, contract bidders, and other commercial interests. Also, by requiring full public disclosure of how and with whom elected officials and top management spend their time, the Amendment would create a powerful incentive for balancing lobbyist access with citizen access.

Require Open, Online Government for Equal Access and Fairness – Too much of city decision making is cloaked in shadows and springs forth whole, the decision already made well before interested citizens even know there’s an issue. The recent $30 million tax abatement giveaway for Samsung (a company that admitted to felony price-fixing charges and a $300 million fine) is a perfect example. By forcing disclosure of virtually all correspondence with commercial interests – and specifically requiring all corporate welfare packages be negotiated in public – the Open Government Online Amendment will make Austin city government much more fair to the average interested citizen.

Jim Stauber Announces Run Against Rep. Gattis

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Check out Eye on Williamson County's post on Democrat Jim Stauber's bid to unseat Republican Dan Gattis.

I will immediately work to:

+Prohibit local and state government from taking your homes and land for private development by others for their commercial profit.

Dan Gattis refused to support this prohibition.

+Restore 2900 Texas State jobs to Texas residents, which the legislature eliminated by outsourcing to a low paying private company and, possibly, non-Texas residents.

Dan Gattis voted to allow outsourcing Texas State jobs to non-residents.

+Restore funding to the CHIPS Program (Children’s Health Insurance Program) to provide adequate health care to Texas children and return Federal funds to Texas.

Dan Gattis voted for a lesser and lower level of care for our children and to turn back, to the Federal government, millions of our tax dollars.

+Move immediately to make the Toll Road Authority answerable to the public by making the members elected officials instead of appointed officials.

Dan Gattis opposed making the members directly answerable to the voters.

Attention Austinites

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Especially students... are you tired of those "every address" bulk junk mail pieces that you get? There are apparently ways to get off the lists. If interested, take a gander at this post by Kaan.

Baxter's Revolving Door

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Funny guy that former Representative Todd Baxter.

AAS: Todd Baxter, who resigned as state representative from Austin two weeks ago today, has become the state cable industry's top lobbyist, the group said Monday.

Baxter, a Republican, left his state House seat Nov. 1, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family.

I guess we know who Baxter's real family is- the Texas Cable & Telecommunications Association.

Baxter's official title will be vice president for government affairs and general counsel. He replaces Kathy Grant, who resigned to go into private practice on Oct. 20. She lobbied for the industry this session as cable providers bitterly fought to stop legislation they say gave SBC Communications Inc. and other phone companies an upper hand as they begin selling television services.

And the best part? Kathy Grant retired on the same day as Baxter. Like that wasn't planned...

"I have enjoyed working in the Legislature in a variety of capacities, but I expect this endeavor to be the highlight of my professional career," Baxter said in the statement.

Anyone who thinks being a cable lobbyist makes for an exciting highlight to one's professional career, obviously wasn't having near enough fun as a legislator. Of course, for Baxter, it's not like this will be much of a change in job description, since he was serving the same function during the actual session (and special sessions).

During the regular session, Baxter was a member of the House Regulated Industries Committee, which oversees the telecommunications and electric industries. He played an active role in Senate Bill 5, the bitter legislation that pitted cable and telephone companies against each other.

Baxter voted for the legislation, which passed during a special summer session. He unsuccessfully pushed for a provision that would have let cable providers get out of their local franchise agreements and qualify for a single statewide franchise. SBC Communications Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc., have been granted such franchises as they roll out their new television services.

Nice knowing you. I look forward to a Rep. Andy Brown or Rep. Donna Howard next year (since the Kathy Rider campaign can't even bother themselves with a website or a candidate a step above "snooze").

BMW Ad Contract Goes to GSD&M

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Kudos to GSD&M, local Austin advertising firm that was responsible for the "We're Texas" ad campaign (which you can watch here) which just won BMW's $75 million dollar ad contract for North America.

AAS: GSD&M employees were celebrating Monday night at the company's headquarters on West Sixth Street, with a German band playing in the background while BMW and agency executives made the announcement.

"They don't call Austin the live music capital of the world for nothing, if we can get an oompah band on short notice," said Roy Spence, president and co-founder of GSD&M.

Though I'm not certain if getting an oompah band on any notice is something I'd want to be able to do...heh.

Sheryl Cole for Austin City Council: Place 6

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Mayor Pro-Tem Danny Thomas, currently holding the "African-American" seat on the Austin City Council is retiring due to term limits. But fear not, a replacement has already stepped up in the form of Sheryle Cole, who if elected would be the first African-American woman to serve on the Austin City Council. She has just announced her candidacy and her website will launch later this month at www.sherylcole.com.

Local consultants David Butts and Mark Nathan will be heading up her campaign, a signal at least to me, that Cole may be less of "a" candidate for place 6 as "the" candidate, though I'm certain that others will jump into the race. I'd expect to see Austin continue to leave the "black seat black" as it is one of the ways the city keeps from being federally forced to have single member districts to ensure minority representation.

From the press release, full text of which is in the extended entry...

Cole currently serves on the Board of Leadership Austin and the Austin Area Urban League, and is a former Board member of Communities in Schools. Cole also served as Tri-Chair of the 2004 AISD Citizen Bond Committee, and was appointed by former mayor Kirk Watson to serve on the 1998 City of Austin Citizen Bond Committee.

Cole said that if elected she hoped to help the Council and Manager focus on “strategies for spreading economic success to all parts of Austin.” Cole – naming economic development, transportation, public safety, social services, and environmental protection as her top priorities – said she will be a champion for East Austin at City Hall.

Thanks to the campaign for giving BOR the scoop before the local media. You sure know how to butter my bread.

Austin, Texas – Austin attorney and accountant Sheryl Cole today filed papers with the City Clerk appointing a campaign treasurer, and announced her intent to run for the Place 6 seat on the Austin City Council. Place 6 is being vacated next year by Mayor Pro Tem Danny Thomas, who was elected in 2000 and served two three-year terms.

If elected, Cole would be the first ever African-American female to serve on the Austin City Council. The election is scheduled for Saturday, May 13, 2006.

Cole, 41, is a 23-year resident of Austin. She earned her B.A. in accounting from the University of Texas in 1986 and became a Certified Public Accountant in 1987. Cole subsequently returned to U.T. for law school, earning her J.D. in 1991. Cole’s legal career includes six years as staff counsel at the Texas Municipal League.

Married to Austin attorney Kevin Cole for 14 years, Sheryl Cole is the mother of three boys and currently serves as president of the Lee Elementary School PTA. The Cole family belongs to David Chapel, where Sheryl teaches 2nd grade Sunday School. David Chapel pastor Rev. Joseph Parker, Jr. is serving as Cole’s campaign treasurer.

Cole currently serves on the Board of Leadership Austin and the Austin Area Urban League, and is a former Board member of Communities in Schools. Cole also served as Tri-Chair of the 2004 AISD Citizen Bond Committee, and was appointed by former mayor Kirk Watson to serve on the 1998 City of Austin Citizen Bond Committee.

Cole said that if elected she hoped to help the Council and Manager focus on “strategies for spreading economic success to all parts of Austin.” Cole – naming economic development, transportation, public safety, social services, and environmental protection as her top priorities – said she will be a champion for East Austin at City Hall.

“Too often, East Austin is still missing out on the upside of economic growth happening in the larger community,” said Cole. “I believe that City Hall needs to stay focused on taking steps to help East Austin participate in our prosperity.”

Cole said she would also work to deliver honest, accountable public service to every Austinite across the spectrum of issues that come before the City Council. “Whether it’s a single zoning case or a far-reaching policy initiative, my goal will always be to get all the facts I can, and make the best judgment I know how,” she said.

Cole said her official campaign kick-off event would be held in January 2006, and that her campaign website, www.sherylcole.com, would launch later this month.

Travis County Prop 2 Map

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Sent to me by two readers already, here is a downloadable precinct by precinct map of the Travis County vote on Proposition 2 done by city
demographer Ryan Robinson. The Austin Chronicle will have an expanded precinct map in this Thursday's issue which will have results broken down by state house district.

Download file (pdf)

Anyone know if they've seen other urban counties with maps produced like this? If so, send them my way.

Travis Early Vote Final Results

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

The final Travis County Turnout for the 2005 Constitutional Amendment Election. Big bump today, some numbers below.

UT: 776 today // 5,228 total (highest single day & highest overall early vote location in Travis)
Travis: 11,680 // 56,369 total (highest single day)
(UT cast 9.3% of Travis County votes)

Travis Turnout: 10.57%
Est. Turnout: 17.6% (assuming 60/40 early v. election day turnout pattern seen last fall)

Oddly, that turnout prediction is only off .4% points from the one I figured would be way off on the second day of voting. My hopes are of course that there will be closer to a 50/50 pattern which would be more in line with past elections, and would result in Travis casting and even higher overall percentage). We'll soon find out if last November was an anomoly or a new pattern.

To download the early vote spreadsheet in excel format, click here.

Dean Powers Named Finalist for UT President

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Bill Powers, dean of the School of Law, has been named the only finalist for UT president by UT System Chancellor Mark Yudof, the Texan is reporting. The regents will vote on the nominee in the next three weeks.

Powers was named dean of the UT law school in May of 2000, leaving the University of Washington School of Law. He was chair of the task force that explored curricular reform and suggested a new University College that would house all incoming freshman undergraduates before they entered a specific college of study. The regents interviewed possible candidates all day Friday before naming Powers as the sole finalist.

The Presidential Search Advisory Committee, chaired by Teresa Sullivan, System vice-chancellor for academic affairs, submitted candidates to the regents last week. Sullivan is married to law school associate Dean Douglas Laycock.

Powers was the only internal candidate submitted to the regents. Provost Sheldon Ekland-Olson and Liberal Arts Dean Richard Larivere were both often mentioned as possible finalists in the search for a new University president, but Larivere had previously denied that he was in the final running for the office. "[Powers] seems to be very good at bringing large groups together and sympathizing points of view," said Regents Chairman James Huffines.

If I remember correctly, I want to say it was due to Dean Powers that the University has included sexual orientation into its nondiscrimination clause, originally at the Law School because it was needed in order to move UT Law higher in National Rankings. I've tried to find reference to this online, does anyone remember this?

Limited Ballot

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

I was just alerted to a fantastic opportunity for those of you who are not yet registered to vote in Travis County:

LIMITED BALLOT

If you were previously registered in a Texas County and have not registered to vote in Travis County, you may be eligible to vote a Limited Ballot. Limited ballots are available only during the Early Voting period, Monday, October 24 – Friday November 4, 2005, at the main Early Voting location at 5501 Airport Boulevard. For the November 8, 2005, Joint Special Elections, a person voting a limited ballot is entitled to vote only on statewide propositions.

To vote a limited ballot, a voter:

§ Has moved to Travis County from another Texas county

§ Was a registered voter in the county of former residence when the voter moved to Travis County

§ Has completed an Application for Limited Ballot and submitted the Application to the Travis County Elections Division.

Constitutional Amendments are statewide elections so you can vote AGAINST Constitutional Amendment #2 at the Travis County Elections Division Office (also the Tax Office on Airport Blvd...on the way to Highland Mall from campus) even if you are not a Travis County voter! They request that you call ahead at 512.854.4996 to let them know you are coming. Remember, you can only take advantage of this opportunity until Early Voting ends on Friday.

Please remember just how important this election is in the fight for equality.

How to Oppose the Klan

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

The worst thing that those of us here in Austin could do is make a big violent mess out of the Ku Klux Klan's arrival at City Hall this Saturday. While some plan a second mooning of the Klan, if you really want to be useful, I'd suggest joining the No Nonsense in November campaign starting at 1pm this Saturday at Auditorium Shores (South 1st and Riverside Drive map) and then walk peacefully out to the middle of the 1st Street Bridge where the march will halt in silent, watchful protest, within auditory and visual contact of City Hall. Join us there between 1-3 PM.

This will be yet another turning point for the campaign, and the Klan's arrival almost guarantees state and national media interest. We gain little in rioting. We gain so much more in non-violent protest, standing strong, sending our message, and proving that the true repository of hate lies with the KKK and the supporters of this Amendment.

The campaign's official remarks are below the fold.

1. Fair-minded Texans are encouraged to gather at Auditorium shores and the southern entrance to the First Street Bridge for brief introductory remarks by rally leaders.

2. All those in attendance will be given posters, signs and other messages designed by our staff with nonviolent language consistent with our campaign message, balloons, etc. There is no need to bring anything with you. (If you bring hand made signs, please remember we are doing this for statewide TV coverage IN OPPOSITION to Amendment #2. Please DO NOT exhibit hate or anger messages toward the Klan. Let the Klan speak for themselves.)

3. When instructed by our leaders, we will walk in unity to the middle of the bridge over the river. This will be a silent walk and protest. We will not yell, call out, or otherwise respond vocally to any of the speaker's antigay comments. In keeping with the Soulforce principles taught by Gandhi & Martin Luther King, Jr., we will instead "absorb the suffering" without responding in any manner that could be perceived as violent or aggressive. Your presence, the truth of your life, and the beautiful photo images, we believe, will challenge the speaker's antigay statements in a way more powerful than any words.

Please note: If you do not feel emotionally ready to be involved in such an action without reacting in anger, we respectfully ask that you decline participating in this peaceful response. Any action that could be perceived as aggressive or violent by the media would actually work in favor of the Ku Klux Klan.

In fact, a representative for the American White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan wrote: ". . . we expect anti-Klan demonstrators to be there who may become violent. We certainly don't want any of our people hurt nor any city officials. We just want to come and encourage people to vote for Christian Family Values and against legalized homosexual marriage in the state of Texas."

Again, this will be a peaceful counter-protest and we will refrain from any actions, words, or signage that could be misperceived as violent or hateful. Glen Maxey and/or his designee will answer questions by the media.

Howard In, White Out

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Bumped. Welcome visitors from the Donna Howard campaign e-mail, this is the post you were probably looking for. -KT

I've been aware of the talk that Kelly White would jump into the HD 48 primary in the hope of being a "consensus candidate" according to local consultant David Butts. This has been causing tensions of course since White is candidate Donna Howard's treasurer, and would immediately change the dynamic of the race for all candidates including Andy Brown (who's website design and e-mail images are still too wide to fit in average sized browsers) and AISD school board president Kathy Rider.

But this weekend I was at a fundraiser for the No Nonsense campaign where I learned that Kelly was giving Donna 'veto power' over any run she might make. And considering I just received an e-mail press release stating that Donna was in the race no matter what from consultant Kelly Fero, a run by White has now effectively been 'vetoed'. White is instead focusing her immediate time raising five figure money for an upcoming project for the No Nonsense campaign.

I'd also like to thank White for winning a No Nonsense campaign shirt at the fundraiser as a Thanksgiving present for my father.

The press release...

Veteran public education advocate Donna Howard today said she will be a candidate in any special election to fill the soon-to-be-vacant Texas House District 48 seat, and called for a series of public debates featuring every declared candidate to make sure voters have a chance to participate in a full discussion of the critical issues facing the district.

"The voters have a right to know who the candidates are and where we stand," Howard said. "At these prices, the stakes are too high to let partisanship, cronyism, and last-minute maneuvering at the Capitol take away that right."

A special election and possible run-off to replace incumbent state representative Todd Baxter, who resigned suddenly earlier this month, could cost taxpayers as much as $1 million, according to local election officials.

Howard, already a candidate in the regular primary election scheduled for March 7, 2006, said her campaign will offer hope to voters who are frustrated by the failure of the current state leadership to address public school finance, children's health care, soaring property tax and homeowners' insurance rates, and other major challenges.

"My campaign will be a home for anyone who believes we should be putting our community and the issues that concern us first and political gamesmanship last," Howard said.

A series of vigorous public debates would help voters counter the efforts of partisan leaders at the Capitol to short circuit the normal democratic process and hand pick their preferred candidate in a special election, Howard said.

Howard, a former Eanes ISD board member and widely recognized leader on school issues, was a co-founder of Advocates for Eanes Schools, a parent organization, and helped start the Texas Education Crisis Coalition, a grassroots group of parents and community leaders. Certified as a Master School Trustee by the Texas Association of School Boards, Howard has previously run for the State Board of Education.

Howard has a bachelor's degree in nursing and a master's in health education from the University of Texas. She has worked as a critical care nurse at Brackenridge and Seton hospitals, served as the first hospital-based Patient Education Coordinator in Austin history, and helped get the Seton Good Health School off the ground. She has also been president of the Texas Nurses' Association (District 5) and a Health Education instructor at UT.

Just Listen

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Who do you think said this?

"We believe that as Christians we have an obligation under god to take a stand against homosexuality. Homosexuality is a sin and an abomination to God and goes against our Lord's plans for the human race."

And the following is the above's strategy...

"There are plans to infiltrate churches, to bastardize scripture, to galvanize people against minorities by using religion...

Scary what conservatives will say sometimes. But the above wasn't in relation to right-wing Texas Republicans.

It was the KKK. Coming to a city hall near you November 5th.

Rep. Chisum Violating Election Law?

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Yesterday's post by Phillip brought to light yet another offense that seems to have been committed by Rep. Warren Chisum, making this pattern egregious enough that as of 3 pm this afternoon, I have filed an official complaint and "request to investigate" these actions with a special prosecutor in the Public Integrity Unit of the Travis County District Attorney's office.

You can download my official filing: page 1, page 2, page 3.

So what did he do?

The following files outline what I see as a breach of state limitations on use of public funds and offices for the purpose of the promotion of the passage of Proposition 2. Below is the text of my filed criminal complaint.

"On a letter to Texas Pastors dates Sept 16, 2005, printed on Rep. Warren Chisum's official House of Representatives letterhead and signed by Rep. Warren Chisum (HD-88), Rep. John T Smithee (HD-86), and Rep. David Swinford (HD-87), statements were made encouraging involvement in the Nov. 8th Constitutional Amendment Election. Included in the letter were documents labeled "VOTE FOR PROP 2" and promoting the www.texansformarriage.org website. Staffer for Rep. Chisum Annette Glass is listed as a contact in the letter, listing her official House e-mail and the office number for Rep. Chisum.

Additionally, Rep. Chisum's office on October 25, 2005 distributed a Press Release through the Capitol e-mail system entitled "False Campaign Meant to Destroy Prop 2" in which Annette Glass is again listed as the contact with Re. Chisum's primary office phone number."

The following are .tif image files of the September 16th Letter sent to pastors, forwarded to me by e-mail.

Sept. 16th Mailer (The Letter .tif format)
Included Letter Document (Page 1 | Page 2)

Key things to mention here. The included documents with the letter are clearly promoting the election or defeat of the amendment as they are titled with a bold VOTE FOR PROP 2 title. Included on the Chisum letterhead are key phrases such as, "To save marriage as we know it, and prevent activist judges from ruling in favor of same-sex marriages, the churches of this state must actively work to get out the vote. ... It is clear the churches can stand in the gap and make the difference in this election." The letter closes urging pastors to "contact my office at 800/692-1389 or e-mail annette.glass@house.state.tx.ud" which seems to be an addition clear violation of the use of his public office for the campaigning for this amendment.

The full text response of Rev. William D. Nix, Jr. of Canadian, TX to Rep. Chisum is included in the extended entry. He was by no means pleased, as a faith leader, receiving this letter from Rep. Chisum and Company. It is from him indirectly that I received this information.

I was shocked to receive your letter of September 16 addressed to “Senior Pastor” which I assume was sent to all churches in your district and to those of Messrs. Smithee and Swinford, who also signed the letter. Regardless of one’s views on Proposition 2 or the issues it raises, the letter and its enclosures are offensive to all mainstream Christians and Texans of other religious preference for whom freedom of religion is among our most cherished rights. For elected officials to attempt to influence elections by exerting pressure on churches is an abuse of the public trust and an infringement of the Constitutionally-guaranteed separation of church and state.

The enclosure promoting Proposition 2 is an even more blatant violation of the separation of church and state. The organizations cited as sources include Jerry Falwell’s “Liberty Council,” James Dobson’s “Focus on the Family” and other extreme-right Christian lobby groups. The suggested sermon points include a mixture of half-truths, misrepresentations and demagoguery, all calculated to arouse homophobic anxiety in the public. And their very inclusion in a letter from members of the legislature should be offensive to all theologically-educated clergy.

On the face of it, Proposition 2 is a thinly-veiled attempt to write discrimination toward gay and lesbian Texans into the Constitution. The existing “Protection of Marriage” law is discriminatory enough, denying basic legal protection and spousal benefits to anyone whose sexual orientation or committed relationship differs from the norm. And the promoters of Proposition 2 are aware that it is probably doomed to be found unconstitutional by the courts - thus their rush to write it into the Constitution.

Whet a pity that the last Legislature will be known primarily for failing to fund our children’s education and for attempting to deprive many Texans of their rights! Please don’t compound the error by eroding the wall of separation of church and state.

The Rev. William D. Nix, Jr.
Canadian (Texas)

OverSeen at the OverPass

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Saw this over at Austin MetroBlogging and I was reminded that many people have seen this group before. They have shown up from time to time out on the 12th Street overpass along I-35 holding a big banner that says "Say NO to Gay Marriage".

People have asked me as well as Glen Maxey, director of the statewide No Nonsense in November campaign fighting Prop 2, if we should be worried or do something about it. Nope. Heck, let people think that they can say no by voting no on Amendment 2 (even though they should anyways since it puts Texas Marriage into legal limbo if this passes according to front page Dallas news).

This guy is actually Mark Weaver and I have a little story about him that I was just sent.

"mark weaver who stands out on the 35 bridge holding a for prop 2 sign and is that ultra conservative asshole...calls kvue to say "i am outraged! my phone is ringing off the hook. all my congregation has been calling me to say 'i thought you said we were supposed to vote FOR this, what do we do, i am confused!' and what is WORSE, is that some people who wanted to vote for 2 already voted and voted against because of the call!"

Well, that is what 2 million phone calls will do, from a preacher (who is real contrary to Republican Bloggers, retired minister here in Austin). You'd expect more organization or concern from this Pro-2 side, but they got too comfortable. Even before the revelation that this Amendment has the potential to void all marriage in Texas and any of the media and GOTV that is going on now, the other side was polling 55/45, only a 10 point margin of yes to no. It's losing in Baxter's district as well as Martha Wong's.

This will be a nail biter but one in which we have already won in one sense, we were never expected to do better than the State of Oregon. Plus we could very easily be minus a few more Republican state reps next fall.

KKK to Support Prop 2 in Austin

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

From the world of "oh brother" comes this wonderful gem. Apparently someone thought it was a good idea to bring a white supremacist group, to Austin, for them to rally in support of Proposition 2. I'd seriously like to know who their scheduler is.

One, don't bring the KKK to Austin of all cities in Texas. That's just stupid. Two, having the KKK support Proposition 2 is one of the few, if not only things you could do, that might make people actually want to vote against it simply because of how negative an opinion they have of this group. Three, having your little shindig in the middle of the afternoon on a Saturday during the weekend when there isn't any voting going on makes little electoral sense, reducing that as a motive for the event. Four, having it on the weekend just invites all those off work staffers and various other Austinites to show up and make a ruckus, which is quite obviously the real intent.

The city has given permission of the Ku Klux Klan to hold a rally on Saturday, November 5. The group says they want to have a pro-family values rally in front of City Hall that afternoon to get voters to vote against gay marriage.

The city has reserved the Austin City Hall’s south plaza on Lavaca and Cesar Chavez from 1-3 pm on Saturday, November 5.

In an e-mail to the city for permission, a representative for the American White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan wrote: “Our speech will not be inflammatory, but we all know the reputation of the name of the KKK, so we expect anti-Klan demonstrators to be there who may become violent. We certainly don’t want any of our people hurt nor any city officials. We just want to come and encourage people to vote for Christian Family Values and against legalized homosexual marriage in the state of Texas.”

I only wish I could express the degree to which I'm rolling my eyes and sighing right now.

Join Us Overnight at UT

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Our Campus Alliance Against Inequality is throwing an overnight shindig in front of the UGL (Flawn Academic Center) tonight starting at 8 pm and running until tomorrow morning when the polls open to start casting votes in the Constitutional Amendment election.

We invite you to join us on the West Mall, starting at 8 pm, we will have 3 local bands perform, a break for the media at 10 pm, then a Campus Storm to get flyers and posters up all over campus, and then free food and movies as the night wears on. Bring a sleeping bag, pajamas, a blanket, whatever you like, or go home and join us again for 7 AM early voting, where there are more media expected as well and we will be handing out free balloons to those who voted, which we made especially for this event.

I will be liveblogging the events tonight so tune into BOR for what develops as well as my endorsements on the Constitutional Amendments, since now I have to actually think about the rest of these boring lame ass amendments before I vote at 7 am.

Travis County Bond Election

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

While we are all focused on the Constitutional Amendments, there are three Travis County bonds up for a vote on Nov. 8th that deserve your support.

Here is the flyer that visually lays out where the projects are planned for purchase or construction. http://www.traviscountybonds.org also has some information on why you should vote for all three.

BOR endorses a YES vote on Travis County Bond Propositions 1, 2, and 3.

Clarification on City Council Stuff

By Andrew Dobbs

The other day on the post about Danny Thomas' position on Prop 2, I left a comment going against a couple of people who suggested that his support for this Proposition (which I, of course, oppose) should disqualify him for the City Council or Mayor in the future. Here's part of what I said:

Second, I wasn't aware of his desiring to run for Mayor, but I don't understand why this should be a litmus test for Mayor or City Council. They don't have the power to decide these things anyways, so its not like gay rights are doomed with him up there. He's good on environmental, public safety and economic development issues. He is one of the most consistently liberal voices on city council. He is also an evangelical pastor, which means that on a handful of issues he'll probably come down on a different side as everyone else. One bad issue does not a bad councilman make.

In other words, which would you rather have: a George W. Bush/Tom Craddick type with a pro-gay marriage stance or a Paul Wellstone type with an anti-gay marriage stance? Before you answer that question, remember that Wellstone voted FOR the Defense of Marriage Act and was generally more conservative on this issue than others. This is one issue, and it should not be a litmus test. Danny Thomas has been a wonderful city councilman, and this issue notwithstanding its a shame he won't be on our council any more.

Today I got an email from a dear friend of mine who works closely with Mayor Will Wynn and he thought that the "George W. Bush/Tom Craddick type" who supports gay rights referenced in my post might refer to the mayor. I want to make it clear that it DOES NOT. Mayor Wynn is a great leader, and has shown tremendous leadership. There are some things I disagree with him about, but he has my full support.

I was simply referring to a theoretical situation. If you had a hypothetical right wing jerk who just happened to have a decent position on gay rights (like maybe Barry Goldwater) versus a good liberal who happens to have a not-so-great position on the issue (like Danny Thomas or Paul Wellstone), who would you choose? Perhaps if it was for the US Senate or something in that regard you could reasonably make this one issue a litmus test. But what about for the City Council, where issues of development are much more pertinent and gay rights aren't a big issue on the docket? I was simply saying that we should not yank the plug on Danny Thomas because of one bad issue.

On that same note, I support Mayor Wynn and am proud that the mayor of my city stands against a hateful amendment like Prop 2. Don't want to confuse anybody, and sorry if I caused any bad feelings.

Todd Baxter to Resign?

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Say it ain't so. Quorum Report gives us this: Austin politicos of both parties in turmoil over possible resignation

Sources familiar with the discussions tell QR that Rep. Todd Baxter (R-Austin) is expected to resign in the near future to pursue other career opportunities.

If he did I've been told it would go to special session sometime in December, maybe January, with the primary then 3 months after that, with the full election next November. Talk about changing the local dynamics. I'll sure miss one of our local corruption poster boys. The least he could do it hang around to 2006 for us.

Odds and Ends

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

West Campus here in Austin has a lot of development going on right now, with last year's rezoning of the region. The Statesman had an interesting article about it earlier in the month.

The only reason I bring this up is because it's the best tie in I could think of to ask you to fill out a fellow blogger's survey for his stats project. You need only answer if you are actually renting the place you currently live. Answer his one question survey here.

Speaking of money, if you are a local candidate or campaign, you might think about buying a BlogAd. As you may have noticed, for the first time in months, we have a period of no advertisers. I'd take advantage of this lull as there are some more national buys coming later in the month and it's prime time for a buy. I've even noticed an uptick in people clicking on the Google Ads instead because that tower is now up at the top of the page.

Many times I use BlogAds sales to turn right around in my giving to local political action. For instance, I'll be making about $100 of recent income available to campus efforts to defeat Constitutional Amendment 2. We blog because we care, not because we're going to get rich!

Danny Thomas on 2

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Austin Councilman Danny Thomas was the one city council member who was not signed on with Mayor Wynn's press conference Monday in opposition to Amendment #2. A reader sent in this information.

“I just made it clear that I don’t have anything against anyone, but I don’t believe in same sex marriage,” said Thomas. “I'm in favor of proposition 2.” Danny Thomas was attending a church convention in Lubbock Monday.

Austin Smoking Ban Upheld

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

From the Statesman:

A federal judge has upheld the voter-approved City of Austin smoking ban but ordered the city not to revoke licenses or permits of business owners who violate the ban without first allowing them to have some sort of judicial review. The judge also ordered the city to limit fines against businesses that do not comply with the ban to $500.

U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks also said the city fine for violators of $2,000 violated state law.

...

Sparks also ruled that there "has been no clear showing by plaintiffs that the threatened injury of loss of business income outweighs the injury to the city and the citizens of Austin who enacted the ordinance."

I find it slightly ironic that the same businesses who whined that "constant revision of local ordinances disrupts the economic atmosphere and discourages investment or economic expansion" choose to try to force the judiciary to revise the local ordinances yet again. I guess it's less about any coherent value system and more about their bottom line.

They're businesses, they should be worried about their bottom line, but at the same time, personally I can't get too worked up about businesses that depend on an activity that kills you and negatively affects those around you. Now that I'm 21, I look forward to visiting downtown bars and music venues and not coming back smelling like a Drag Rat.

Austin Mayor Opposes Prop 2 (update)

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Austin's Mayor Will Wynn publicly opposed Constitutional Amendment 2 today at a Press Conference in town. I havn't seen it hit any wires online yet, but here is the text release of this statement. He was surrounded by a plethora of local elected officials who didn't speak but stood with him in opposition.

A listing more or less of those officials are as follows. In italics are those that did not join the coalition of officials calling for a "no" vote on Amendment #2.

Mayor Will Wynn
Mayor Pro Tem Danny Thomas
Council Member Raul Alvarez
Council Member Betty Dunkerley
Council Member Jennifer Kim
Council Member Lee Leffingwell
Council Member Brewster McCracken

County Commissioners
1- Ron Davis
2- Karen Sonleitner
3- Gerald Daugherty
4- Margaret Gómez

Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos
Rep. Dawnna Dukes
Rep. Elliot Naishtat
Rep. Mark Strama
Rep. Eddie Rodriuez

Travis County Constables
4- Maria Canchola
5- Bruce Elfant

District Clerk Amalia Rodriguez-Mendoza
Tax Assessor-Collector Nelda Wells Spears
Treasurer Dolores Ortega-Carter
County Attorney David Escamilla
Sheriff Greg Hamilton

There are two primary reasons that I’m standing here today to voice my opposition to Proposition 2, which will appear on the November 8th ballot. This proposed amendment would place in our state constitution the definition of marriage as being solely the union of a man and a woman.

First, I’m a proud American who believes that the First Amendment of the American Constitution prevents us from making any laws that codify religious values. I understand full well that a lot of well-intentioned folks oppose gay marriage on the basis of their religious beliefs. And, I respect the First Amendment rights of these citizens to speak their minds about their opinions. I don’t, however, want their - or my - feelings and thoughts about religion put into law. It’s not an accident, in my opinion, that the same amendment to the American Constitution that guarantees free speech also forbids laws regarding the establishment of religion. We can talk about and practice our religious faith with wide latitude here in America, but we will not make laws about it. The founders of this great country knew all too well that the mixture of religion and law produces a fatally divided society, and they were not about to let the mistakes of past empires and nations be repeated in the new republic that they were building.

Further, the wisdom of our country’s founders regarding the separation of church and state reflects not only their observations of history, but also the Christian heritage that they shared: it was, after all, Jesus who said, "Pay Caesar what is due to Caesar, and pay God what is due to God."

Second, I’m very proud to be a sixth generation Texan with roots in the Austin area going back to 1843. And, to me, one of the great cultural characteristics of Texas is that, here, we mind our own business. In Texas, there’s more than enough room for a lot of different people with a lot of different opinions. We may not like something that someone else is doing, but unless it’s really hurting somebody, we just go our own way and let it be. I like this aspect of Texas culture a lot—a whole lot, in fact. I think it comes with being such a big and wide-open state, and I think that it, more than almost any other mindset, defines what it is to be Texan. So, let’s
just not get into the habit of taking our opinions and trying to turn them into the laws of the land, particularly constitutional amendments: every time we let this happen, we lose a big part of what it is to be of and from the Great State of Texas.

Thank you all.

Will Wynn

Anti-Earle Ads Running in Austin

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

As locals may have started noticing, the 'barking dog' anti-Earle commercials are now being broadcast here in Austin. Why? Because it's part of a Republican strategy to make the issue of corruption, not about Tom DeLay (because he's certainly not corrupt) but about a District Attorney who's prosecuted more Democrats than Republicans and was popularly elected county wide without Republican opposition last fall.

Watch the ad here.

I think my favorite part is the end of the ad, where the narrator urges people to call Earle (the phone number goes to the office of the DA, I called tonight) and "tell him it's not a crime to be a conservative."

No, it's not a crime to be conservative. But it is a crime to be corrupt or commit criminal acts.

In the meantime, Earle has subpoenaed DeLay's home phone and car records.

No Bush Library for UT

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

The state's two largest higher education systems have both been passed over in the quest to find a home for the Bush II Presidential Library. Neither UT nor A&M made it to the final cut (not did the City of Arlington for what it's worth). Moving on will be Baylor University, Southern Methodist University, the University of Dallas and a group led by Texas Tech University in Lubbock.

Statesman: Baylor has been working on its proposal for several years and has purchased more than 100 acres on the banks of the Brazos River as a potential site. Waco is also close to Bush's ranch in Crawford. Lubbock, meanwhile, is near where the president and first lady grew up. The president and first lady will make the final site selection.

The University of Texas proposal, put forth by the UT System, offered a 21-acre parcel along Austin's Town Lake or two sites in Dallas as possible locations for the library. In addition to the main site, a secondary conference center site at UT-San Antonio also was proposed.

Want to bet who ends up with this thing? UT's bid felt half-hearted from the beginning. I think they realized Bush wouldn't pick them anyways and people in Austin weren't interested in potentially having it at a site here. Yes, I understand about research and all, but I'd give that up to keep our city free of any complex devoted to this "miserable failure" of a presidency.

Best of Austin, Again

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

I don't think I could ask for a better present on this day of my 21st birthday. The Austin Chronicle has come out with the 2005 Best of Austin awards and Burnt Orange Report has been honored with the Best Local Blogger in the readers poll!

Hat tip to PinkDome on earning a tie with us in that category and for filling our shoes as we vacated the Best Local Political Blog spot which BOR earned last year. Heck, cheers again for us being mentioned as a runner-up in that category alongside In The Pink Texas and Grits. Which brings me to give congrats to ITPT for garnering the critics poll Best "Blushing Blog" spot.

So for a second year in a row, I think our BOR crew has proven to be your best source for much of the state's happenings, keeping an eye (or a couple of dozen of eyes) on the State of Texas. Our traffic has continued to grow beyond what we thought might have been a peak with last year's election. Thanks to Byron, Jim, and Andrew who were the crack writing team that got this whole project started and for bringing me on board as a bright eyed freshman, and thanks to every writer since then, all of whose voices make BOR the reporting engine that it is. And lastly, you the readers, our biggest critics, and the reason why we do this. Thanks for making us the Best of Austin once again. With your support, we'll be sure to stay that way!

Now the clips...

Best Local Blogger

Tie: Burnt Orange Report & PinkDome

Ooh, snap! That's right, they said it! Pink Dome and Burnt Orange are often so sharp and critical, it is actually possible to hear our Guvna' cringe all the way from Lavaca. Establishing themselves as the pre-eminent Austin-based anti-red state blogs, they're helping to keep the Capitol accountable and the rest of us well-informed.

Local Political Blog

PinkDome

It's time to polish the Dome. Thanks to their staff of writers, their eponymous head, Bluebonnet, and Rawhide, PinkDome has, in short time, become one of Central Texas' most popular political blogs, taking the Republican piss with their salacious, slanderific prose. And don't get us started on their clothing line and "Adios, Mofo" gear. The Dome, and for that matter, all her stellar runners-up (Burnt Orange Report, In the Pink, Grits for Breakfast), makes us recall a quote from that lone star populist Molly Ivins "Good thing we've still got politics in Texas, finest form of free entertainment ever invented."

Blushing Blog

In the Pink

InThePinkTexas.com or "Politics on the Lege of Reason," gives an insider's view to the goings-on at the state Capitol and beyond. Eileen Smith's blog is controversial, often offensive, mostly nonpartisan, and totally thought-provoking. The photos and text are updated many times a day, and a loyal group of commentators keeps the conversation going beyond the daily installments.

There are a ton of really great standouts in this year's BOA awards, a couple are listed below, though I'm incredibly proud of my State Representative, Carter Casteel, for her critic’s poll award!

Bipartisan Kids Legislator

Rep. Cartel Casteel

Carter Casteel is a rare bird in Texas politics these days. She's a Republican who refuses to toe the party line on public education issues. If the GOP leadership had its way, the state would scrap public ed altogether and hand it off to profiteers. Republicans, the dangerous ones at the top, think corporates and/or Bible thumpers can do a better job of running schools than educators. Rubbish, Casteel says. The House member from New Braunfels is a former schoolteacher who knows a thing or two about teaching kids. Trying to educate her party bosses is a bigger challenge. Casteel's best-of-show came in May, when she delivered a fire-and-brimstone argument against private school vouchers that threatened to put public schools out of business. You got a problem with public ed? Casteel asked fellow lawmakers. "Look in the mirror! We are what we are, and we have created it!" The voucher bill died, thanks to a dozen brave Republicans like Casteel who bucked the bosses and voted their conscience.

Use of Recycled Material

Carole Keeton Strayhorn

The highly marketable "One Tough Grandma" campaign slogan worked so well for Carole Keeton Strayhorn in her 2002 bid for state comptroller, she's taking the catchphrase out for another spin, this time in her candidacy for governor.

State Legislator

Mark Strama

We knew politics could get hot, but we never knew it could be this hot. Mark Strama: HOT (wink, wink). Yes, we know there is more to consider, such as: his unseating of Republican incumbent Jack Stick; his involvements with initiatives "Rock the Vote" and KidsVoting USA; not to mention his founding the first company to register online voters. He is so much more than a pretty face. We heart you, Mark (tee hee)!

Dream Finally Realized

UT Gender & Sexuality Center

After seven years of planning, one of the largest universities in the nation finally acquiesced to student and faculty demands for a gender and sexuality center. Combining elements of an LGBT safe-space headquarters and a women's resource center, the little office in the SSB (Student Services Building, for you non-Horns) has been offering counseling, mentorships, and good ol'-fashioned advice to UT students and faculty. Director Ana Ixchel Rosal and crew aren't stopping there, either. Plans to resurrect the Safe Space program and institute faculty training sessions are just the first step. Yet, with the undeniable success GSC has had and since Michigan's version has existed since the Seventies, one question remains: What took so long?

Way With Words

Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston

"I have listened to the arguments. I have listened to all of the crap. ... I want you to know that this amendment [is] blowing smoke to fuel the hellfire flames of bigotry." Rep. Senfronia Thompson, who delivered an impassioned argument against a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages and civil unions. Following her remarks, the Texas House voted overwhelmingly in favor of the ban.

Loot/Booty Free-for-All

West Campus Curbs and Dumpsters

At the end of every semester, West Campus looks like the furniture section of a Goodwill – except everything is free. Dumpster diving is never better than when students move out of their apartments. Whatever doesn't fit in daddy's SUV goes on the curb and is free for the taking – usually by other students. Most of their stuff was used when they got it, but a lot of it is still fine, functional furniture. Folks have been known to discover and salvage entirely decorated Christmas trees in their West Campus quests – just in time for the holidays!

Glen Maxey picked up a couple of BOA's, for best GLBTQ leader as well as his No Nonsense in November campaign. Kinky Friedman picked up Best Visionary in the readers poll, but then again, was listed next to Leslie Cochran, our local, wo/man about town. How appropriate.

JetBlue in Austin

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

So now Austin is connected to the JetBlue network via three non-stop flights to New York City. $79 for a one way ticket? Sounds like I might be doing some more adventuring at that price. Cool.

UT Pride Week Kicks Off

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

UT's annual PRIDE Week kicked off today and News 8 Austin actually had a really great report and video on it. You can watch it here. The full listing of this week's events can be found here.

We'll also be out continuing to register voters tomorrow on campus because it is the last day to do so for the Nov 8 election. Be sure to do so if you are not already, and if you are a student, check out the Campus Alliance Against Inequality, whose activism around Prop 2 was in the video report linked above.

Help us Register UT

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

When: Oct. 9, Sunday, 7 pm
Meet at: South Steps of the UT Tower (by the flags)
What: As part of the Campus Alliance Against Inequality's last push to register students at UT we’re doing something that has NEVER been done before:

1. We’ll be putting up fliers all over campus AND
2. We’ll be distributing over 6,000 voter registration cards in every dorm on campus!

But to do that we need your help! We need 50 good people to help us in this last-ditch effort to get as many UT students registered as possible! So if you can help, please RSVP to Marti ASAP!

Jason Earle Announces his Candidacy

By Katie Naranjo

This Tuesday, Oct. 11th, Jason Earle will announce his bid for House District 47 at Pease Elementary School in Austin, TX. The event will begin at 11a.m. outside the school and it will be lively. If you do not know where the school is, it is at 12th and Guadalupe downtown. See you there!

Important Info:
Jason Earle District 47 Announcement
10 a.m.
Pease Elementary School (12th and Guad.)

Justice on Austin Hate Crime

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

The Statesman reported today that two of the four males involved in a hate crime against a gay man here in Austin last year have been sentenced to 6 years in prison.

Donald Bockman, 25, and Darren Gay, 22, faced up to life in prison on charges of aggravated robbery and aggravated sexual assault. When they pleaded guilty last month to aggravated assault, prosecutors recommended the 6-year sentences.

...

All four were accused of picking the victim up at Oilcan Harry's in the Warehouse District and going to his apartment in Southeast Austin, where police said they smashed a glass against his head, punched him, kicked him, whipped him with a vacuum cord and poked and prodded him with swords and daggers.

According to court documents, the group also used a sex toy to assault the man, who is not being identified because of the nature of the crime.

Roy Minton, the attorney for both Bockman and Darren Gay, said his clients attacked the victim because he attempted to make a sexual advance on Glen Gay. (Why is this always the lame excuse given in every one of these cases? -kt)

The men declined to say anything before state District Judge Brenda Kennedy sentenced them. Before they were put in handcuffs and taken to jail, the victim called the men cowards.

"You are not real men at all, merely self-righteous, self-serving cowards," he said.

Interestingly, Darren Gay (and why do these things always seem to involved some straight attacker with the last name of Gay) has a UT facebook profile where he is listed as having 7 friends at UT, a girlfriend at St. Eds, and an about me section saying "Went into the Texas Penitentiary System on October 6th for aggravated assault (6 years). But I bet I'll parole out in 3. See ya'll in 2008!!!"

If we could move towards a world of respect and tolerance for our GLBT citizens, and not attack them or their rights, maybe the world would be a nicer and safer place in which to live.

Watson to Kick off Campaign at DFT Meeting Tonight

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

What: Democracy for Texas (DFT) monthly meeting kicks off Watson's campaign
Where: Mother Egan's, 715 West 6th Street, Austin
When: 7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 5

Watson looks to be able to take this without a primary challenge, (and why would anyone want to), providing a very strong replacement to Sen. Barrientos. I would wager that his appeal across the board politically as well as being one of the most popular former elected officials in this county, will allow for some down ballot aid into HD 47 and 48 next fall. That combined with an active Congressional campaign by John Courage in those same areas should really make even Keel's old seat competitive. This is the type of synergy that we get by making sure we Run. Everywhere.

In addition, John Courage, candidate in Congressional District 21, will speak at the DFT meeting regarding his recent selection as Democracy for America's first Grassroots All-Star of the 2006 election cycle.

Vigil Tonight, Party Tomorrow

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Want to help defeat Proposition 2, the Texas Marriage Amendment? Then come take part in these activites here in Austin and the UT Campus over the next couple of days. Check out our UT- Campus Alliance Against Inequality website for more detail and future events or to get on our listserv.

#1 Equality Vigil
Thursday, September 29th, 5:30pm
South Steps of the Texas State Capitol

Join thousands of other Austinites in the city's first big show of public support for the No Nonsense in November campaign.

#2 Discussion with Rep. Warren Chisum
Friday, September 30th, 12:30 pm
Jeffers Moot Court Rm, Law School 3.140 (map)

Author of Amendment #2, Rep. Chisum will square off with NNN campaign representative Anne Wynne and our very own CAAI Chair, Marti Bier! Please come support our side during this sure to be lively and professional exchange.

#3 Party on the Patio
Friday, September 30th, 7pm
Texas Union Patio by Wendy's (map)

Join the Campus Alliance in kicking off the countdown to election day with live music, a conference call with Glen Maxey and a special guest, as well getting up to date on upcoming campus actions and how you can help defeat Prop 2.

#4 Neighborhood Block (Walking) Party
Meet Saturday, October 1st, 10:30am
Texas Union Presidential Lounge, 3rd Floor

You heard the word now spread it to West Campus! Join your foot soldiers for equality as we get trained and head into West Campus for some good old fashioned political footwork and spread our message. Please RSVP to Peter (peter_clark22@hotmail.com) so we can have enough food and supplies!

Donna Howard Launches Website

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Donna Howard, candidate for the Democratic nomination for HD 48 against Todd Baxter, has launched her official campaign website:

www.votedonna.com

That makes two of our three announced candidates who have their web operations up and running early in the game, which is good for our party. Give it a look over to read up on her positions.

Challenger Andy Brown's site is here for comparison.

ACL Fest Awards

By Phillip Martin

As most all of you know, last weekend was the 4'th annual Austin City Limits Music Festival. After a weekend of music, sun, and 20+ bottles of water, my girlfriend, Kaiba, and I have sat down and created an arbitrary award list for the performers that impressed us for whatever reason. All winners will receive an e-mail from me, and will be asked to send me free tickets to their future concerts (except Mates of State, for whom I am filing a restraining order to ask that they never come within 100 yards of any music show I may attend in the future).

For those who know more about the bands I mention here, or feel like I short-changed and/or didn't properly acknowledge other acts, feel free to destroy me in the comment section. I don't pretend to know everything about all bands -- I only know what I like, and I loved this past weekend.

So, for a mix of traditional and not-so traditional awards, as well as a unique reflection on the best ACL Fest yet, click on the jump and see just how much work I didn't do over the weekend.

Best Group Performer (tie): Wilco and Coldplay. Is it a copout to give the last two acts of the festival the best group nod? Not when they played the sets they did. For the first time in their years of playing the ACL Fest, Wilco seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves, and they mixed together a set that showed why they are the best-known, best-sounding "indie" band there is. Coldplay, meanwhile, surpassed the joke made about them in the movie Forty Year-Old Virgin to enormous lengths. I'm not gonna lie -- I thought they would just be OK. But between their connection with the audience, a killer setlist, and managing to upstage a weekend's worth of unbelievable music, I can understand why they're the biggest band in the world right now. As the English blokes in front of me screamed, "they're f***ing brilliant, mate!"

Best Male Performer: John Prine. I'm probably the only person who would give Prine this award, but you got to understand -- I've been hearing these songs since I was in the crib. Watching him play, you would have thought he was in a 10-person bar, and not in front of thousands and thousands of people. From classics like "Samstone" and "Angel From Montgomery" to the crowd pleasers "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore" and "Some People Ain't Human", Prine shined high above the rest.

Best Female Performer: Ruthie Foster. Untouchably the most soulful person I saw the entire weekend, she impressed the hell out of me. Appearing on the Gospel and Blues stage, her voice stirred even the most dispassionate of folks to hand-clapping, feet-stomping, arm-waving good fun. An amazing artist, one you have to catch sometime in the very, very near future.

Best Stage: Capitol Metro Gospel and Blues Stage. From deSol and Grupo Fantasma to the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Ruthie Foster, this stage continues to be the best the ACL-Fest has to offer. Underneath a tent-structure that provides ideal shade, the stage features artists that aren't darlings of Rolling Stone or the indie-OC crowd. And that's a good thing. This stage featured artists filled with soul and spirit that perfectly embody everything that Austin City Limits is about.

Best Artist I'd Never Heard: Aqualung. Going solely on my sister Amy's recommendation, these guys rocked. For those who don't know them, think Radiohead, circa "The Bends" album -- only happier. I'm going to Waterloo when I get my next paycheck to buy their album, though I imagine I won't ever get to hear their killer cover of Queen's "Somebody to Love" again. One of those great moments you can only experience if you're there.

Speaking of covers, that leads me to my untraditional awards....

Jimi Hendrix's "All Along the Watchtower" Award: "Ring of Fire" by Coldplay. Given to the best cover song of the festival. While Oasis did a show-defining cover of The Who's "My Generation", Coldplay's cover of this Cash classic was funny, surprising, and enjoyable. An all acoustic rendition followed a well-done tribute to the Man in Black, it was a new take that worked perfectly and gave the tens of thousands watching a real treat.

Damn, He Brought it Award: Robert Randolph. Given to the performer who you can't help but think, "damn, he brought it." I've heard about him for years, and finally got to see him. Randolph, during one song, jumped from steel guitar to drums to bass, all the while screaming and playing as if the music would burn him alive if he didn't get it all out. Bringing the 100-degree, sweat-soaked crowd to roaring ovations throughout his hour-long performance, Robert Randolph is officially the hardest working man in the music business. Period.

Seinfeld Award: Robert Earl Keen. Given to the best ACL performer that continues to please no matter how many times you've seen them. REK always plays the classics, and this set included such staples as "Feelin' Good Again," "The Road Goes on Forever," and "Gringo Honeymoon." However, his new album, "What I Really Mean" is his best since "Picnic," and the songs he played proved it. No matter how many times you see him, Robert Earl Keen is always going to make you smile, make you sing, and make you glad you came to see him.

We Understand and Actually Care Award: Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Given to the band who made the best New Orleans tribute. The Dirty Dozen played a long medley for New Orleans that culminated in an off-the-charts version of "When the Saints Go Marching In." After a week's worth of watching politicos roll up their sleeves and try their best to seem empathetic, watching the most prolific New Orleans brass band around sing this song was a refreshing, caring tribute.

Miller Lite Award: Built to Spill. Given to the act who sounded great, but didn't fill me up and satisfy me as much as other acts (Great Taste, Less Filling). They had a nice sound, good crowd and all...but nothing to write home about.

Adios, MoFo Award: Mates of State. Given to the band that needed to be run out of town on a rail. If some of you guys like them, great, have fun. Not at all for me. Imagine having an 8-year old brother and a 7-year old sister , and for Christmas your parents gave them a drum set and keyboard, respectively. Full of pierced screaming and repetitive pounding, I felt like the whole set was about who could out-quirk the other.

Hey Jude Award: "Champagne Supernova" by Oasis. Given to the best anthem/sing-a-long song of the festival. While most of Coldplay's songs could be here (most noticeably, "Yellow" and "The Scientist"), Oasis didn't have to ask anyone to sing along. In fact, right before the song, Noel Gallagher shouted "this is the one you wanted, right?" While Oasis wasn't as crowd-friendly, this song sure was.

Tom Petty "You Don't Know How it Feels" Award: Widespread Panic. Given to the band you most want to get high to listen to. All that burnt grass wasn't just on the ground, and those smoky clouds weren't just from the dust flowing through the air. Long jams that are undeniably repetitive, Widespread Panic's music remains endlessly pleasant and enjoyable. If you wanted to chill, relax, and embrace Matthew McConaugehy's Austin spirit, they were the band to see.

That's all, folks. See you next year for the 5'th Annual ACL Fest. The most perfect closing act we could hope for? Van Morrison. Talk about a show everyone would go to see!

Pro-Prop 2 Flyers Distributed

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Do you remember Rep. Chisum claiming that Glen Maxey would be bussing in voters from other states to defeat Prop 2? Apparently there are still fliers going around claiming this to be the case. A LOT of fliers. According to Austinites, one Chuckee Cheese parking lot was covered (she removed them) and the parking lot at Barton Creek Mall was hit as well (tried to remove as many as possible, "but there were zillions.")

Here is the text... (I'm trying to get a hold of a scan).

TEXANS
VOTE YOUR VALUES ON
TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE ONLY
(ONE MAN/ONE WOMAN)
NOVEMBER 8, 2005
THE HOMOSEXUAL GROUPS WANT TO PASS,
THE SAME SEX MARRIAGE IN TEXAS
IF YOU CAN PROVE THAT YOU HAVE LIVED IN TEXAS FOR AT LEAST 30 DAYS
BEFORE
THE ELECTION, YOU ARE ALLOWED TO VOTE
THE HOMOSEXUAL ACTIVISTS PLAN TO BUS IN HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE FROM OTHER
STATES
A MONTH EARLY, IN ORDER TO VOTE AGAINST
THE TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE AMENDMENT
OR WORST ENEMY? IF YOU BLOW THIS OFF AND NOT BOTHER TO VOTE
THE TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE IS IN DANGER
PROTECT OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN'S FUTURE
BOTE IN FAVOR OF
THE TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE AMENDMENT

Why is it that these crazy right wingers never can put normal flier together and have awful grammar usage? Following was my response which was not actually printed in the Statesman after they accepted it.

Rep. Warren Chisum's claim that Marriage Amendment foes are now bussing in voters from surrounding states is as illogical as it is absurd.

In an attempt to discredit the civic task of registering voters by thousands of certified deputy voter registrars such as myself, Chisum forgets that our state's neighbors aren't exactly overflowing with anti-amendment voters. Remember, last fall constitutional marriage restrictions passed with 75% in Arkansas, 76% in Oklahoma, 78% in Louisiana, and 86% in Mississippi.

Rep. Chisum should be more concerned with pre-existing Texans who have shown that they have had enough of his legislative nonsense than he is with non-existent caravans from Carson City.

Remember, join the No Nonsense in November campaign.

The Moonlight Towers

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

I first learned about Austin's apparently well known and well loved Moonlight Towers this summer when I lived at the 21st St Co-op and just a block away was one of the remaining 17 towers, the most well known of which turns into the big Zilker park electric Christmas Tree each fall. The Texan had a really great article on the history and background of them, as well as how Austin residents over the past 110 years have taken care of them, passing millions of dollars in bonds to secure their existence and maintenance.

Today, only 17 of the 31 original towers remain, but they continue to be lit 365 nights a year.

In May 1890, citizens voted to issue $1.4 million in bonds for the city's first power and lighting system as city organizers began developing plans for the growing town. The lighting of the original towers on May 6, 1895 coincided with the first operation of the city power plant and the first citywide use of electricity.

...

When Austin erected the tower system, Detroit, Mich., was believed to have been the only other city in America with similar lighting. By the late 1930s, Detroit had abandoned its tower lighting system, and the San Antonio Express-News wrote in 1937 that the Moonlight Towers "attract more attention than any other single feature in Austin."

...

While advertising value kept the towers aloft in 1937, sentimental value has kept them alive since then and has earned them the affectionate title of the "Moonlight Towers." When the electric department tried to take down one of the towers in 1964 without assuring immediate relocation, hundreds of citizens signed a petition demanding that the city council immediately reestablish the tower in its original area.

Sentiments were quite different before construction of the towers, when many people predicted the 24-hour light would cause severe overgrowth of gardens and lawns. Farmers feared that giant corn and beans would be impossible to harvest and that homeowners would have to chop their grass with an axe. Optimists, on the other hand, claimed that chickens would lay eggs 24 hours a day.

People soon realized that the artificial moonlight had no effect on plants or animals.

In 1958, superintendent Tom Turner, of the electric distribution department, was asked if there were any plans to tear down the towers. Turner laughingly replied that the town would "stage a revolt" if that were attempted. The most serious threat of removal came in 1942 as World War II gripped America and the ability of a town to "blackout" all of its lights was considered a crucial defense. The city installed a central "blackout" switch for all of the towers in case of an attack.

Rumor has it the towers were arranged across the city in the shape of a star. In fact, they were just put where they were needed, and they don't form a star.

Austin Rescheduled Events

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

From the Statesman...

Fitness

The Marathon Kids kickoff celebration scheduled for Saturday at the UT Mike Myers track and field stadium has been canceled. There is no rain date. Go to www.marathonkids.com for more information.

Arts

The prostate cancer awareness play "A Matter of Manhood" on Friday has been postponed. Huston-Tillotson University, King Seabrook Chapel, 900 Chicon St. 919-1877.

Schools

ACT — Testing scheduled for Saturday has been postponed at: Akins High School; Cedar Park High School; Round Rock High School. Students will be notified of the makeup date.

Bastrop school district — Elementary schools released at 11:30 a.m. Friday. Secondary schools released at 1:30 p.m. Friday. Afternoon pre-kindergarten and Head Start classes canceled Friday. All after-school activities on Friday and all weekend activities are canceled, including community-education classes and facility usage agreements.

Lake Travis ISD — All weekend extracurricular events will be rescheduled.

Baylor University — Friday classes canceled and all campus events and programs scheduled for Friday through Sunday are canceled.

Sports

HIGH SCHOOLS

* These area high school games, originally planned for Friday, have been rescheduled for tonight:

Temple at A&M Consolidated, 7 p.m.
S.A. Southwest at Seguin, 7:30 p.m.
San Marcos at S.A. East Central, 7 p.m.
Connally at Kerrville Tivy, 7 p.m.
Hendrickson at Lake Travis, 7:30 p.m.
Medina Valley at N.B. Canyon, 7:30 p.m.
New Braunfels at Del Valle, 7 p.m.
Rockdale at Hutto, 7:30 p.m.
Smithville at Giddings, 7:30 p.m.
Manor at Cameron Yoe, 7:30 p.m.
Caldwell at La Grange, 7:30 p.m.
Devine at Wimberley, 7:30 p.m.
Llano at Comfort, 7:30 p.m.
Salado at Somerville, 7:30 p.m.
Rogers at Lago Vista, 7:30 p.m.

* These games will be played Friday but at new times:

Lanier at Marble Falls, 6:30 p.m.
Jarrell at Lexington, 6 p.m.

* These games have been canceled:

Gonzales at Lockhart
Elgin at Houston Smiley

* Nike Invitational cross-country meet in The Woodlands, featuring several Austin-area teams, is canceled.

* Most Houston-area school districts canceled classes, games and other extracurricular events through Friday.

OTHER COLLEGE SPORTS

University of Texas Invitational — Friday through Sunday. The men's tennis tournament has been rescheduled for Oct. 28-30. Penick-Allison Tennis Center, UT campus. 471-3333.

* Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas Southern in Houston and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi canceled all sports events.

* Texas State's volleyball games at Lamar and McNeese State were canceled. UT-San Antonio canceled a cross-country meet of collegiate and high school runners Saturday.

PRO SPORTS

* Houston Astros are in Chicago this weekend.
* Houston Texans have an open date this week.

Grassroots

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

A grassroots supporter here in Austin has created a website in support of John Courage's bid to gain the DFA-List All Star endorsement. Courage is still #1 though a certain Californian who was at the top of the first round vote has crept up to #2 this week. So check out the grassroots website and then vote for Courage. Balloting ends this Saturday.

The Dalai Lama

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

I attended the lecture series this afternoon at the Erwin Center where the Dalai Lama spoke. It was am impressive 2 hours of time and I can hardly begin to put into words. Thankfully, someone already has. I would suggest reading this detailed report to get a sense of what the reception was like. I do have to say, that he was funny at times, sitting cross-legged, wearing a visor to shade his eyes, and casually joking with the crowd which he felt more a part of, rather than apart from.

KUT also has an audio recording of the event if you'd like to hear it.

City of Austin Sued over Smoking Ban

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

One last nugget from today's Central Texas Digest. I've only been downtown once since it went into effect, but then again, that's almost more often than I regularly visit 6th Street, and I've certainly spent more on 6th after the ban than before it, though not for smoking v. non-smoking reasons as of yet.

Several businesses filed suit Friday against the City of Austin, saying the smoking ban passed in May violates state law by including penalties that are too high.

The suit also contends that the ordinance is too vague, is unconstitutional and violates state law regulating smoking in public places. The businesses that filed the suit include the Warehouse Saloon & Billiards, 219 West, Elysium, Lovejoy's Tap Room and Brewery, Beerland, the Horseshoe Lounge and Ego's. The ordinance bans smoking in public places and workplaces, with a few exclusions.

For those of you who have experienced the new nightlife, what are your thoughts on the effects of the new ordinance?

"A Place to Lay His Head and a Place to Vote"

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Robert Andrews, Field Director for the Radnofsky campaign has been working at the Austin Convention Center almost nonstop the last few weeks. I can honestly say that his dedication is a reflection of the spirit of Barbara and her entire team, not as a political campaign, but as decent, caring Texans. The following is a touching report by Robert that you must read, if it is the one Katrina Human Interest story you ever read.

Just stopped off for Ruffin to heat up some Gumbo on the way to move into his apartment. Ruffin is excited to be leaving the Austin Convention Center, and to have a place of his own in Austin for now. We located a couple of place settings of dishes and some silverware. Some salt and some Ivory Liquid. And a spare mixing bowl. Ruffin is taking his cot and bedding from the Convention Center for now. Austex54 is bringing him a mattress tonight.

Ruffin says, "Hello, and God Bless all of you. Please join me in New Orleans for Mardi Gras. I appreciate everything you have done for me in Austin. It feels Good to have my own place for now, and I think I can work the bus lines, and find a job or two."

"I spent several days under the Causeway Bridge for I-10, with only the clothes on my back. It was muddy and stank like nothing I have every smelled before. It was way too crowded, but I did get to see Jesse Jackson who came to help our people. I got there by taking a boat down Delachaise Street to St. Charles, and walked from St. Charles to Napoleon to a bus to go to Houston, but was instead dropped at the causeway bridge. The water was all in my house when I began making my way to safety."

"I had nothing to eat for days, and could not eat the food here in the Convention Center, so I guess I had not eaten for six days when Mister Robert found me exhausted in the Convention Center and took me out to eat for some Crab meat bisque to get my strength back up. Now we have become friends, and I have my own place to sleep again tonight."

"I appreciate the people of Austin for their help and prayers. This is one experience I won't forget. Ever."

Veronica is moving into her place tonight, along with many of the senior citizens from New Orleans. We are getting her a plant for her balcony tomorrow.

Janet Strange is taking Liz to the Humane Shelter to pick up her dogs, while Troy and Ari move their things into their new apartment near Oltorf and I-35. Troy and I took a short trip to San Antonio last evening, and he plans to drive to Houston tomorrow to visit his two year old son for the first time since the strom - though it will be a while before he can get to Atlanta to visit his 11 year old son, Troy Junior. In New Orleans Troy lived in the same neighborhood with both sons, so he misses them a great deal, and they miss each other.

Karyn, Orlando, Edwima, Lawrence, Michelle and most of their family are locating near Northcross Mall, although Roderick, his three siblings and his mother Coretta will be a few blocks away.

Karry left today for Kentucky to join his brother. I told him goodbye for all of us, thanks for the Gumbo he cooked, and that we are proud to have known him. He promised to call me with his new contact information.

Relaxing a moment while Ruffin heats his Gumbo and makes some rice. And smoking my brand new pipe Ruffin got for me from Wal-Mart last evening as a surprise thank you. I have never had one which meant as much to me. I will treasure this gift of friendship for years.

Ruffin and I met with the apartment folk and they provided some pots and a skillet - and will provide a shower curtain. Austex54 brought by the mattress - bed frame to follow tomorrow - and a set of towels, together with a trash basket and pillow.

Ruffin and I hit the HEB and he is stocked and cooking his own supper tonight, with fresh tomoto and an apple pie.

His new prize - A Texas Democrat bumper sticker placed on the built in shelf between a collector barbie and a teddy bear - above the basketball. Home Sweet Home. A Place to Lay His Head and a Place to Vote.

There may be up to a thousand new households to equip in Austin alone, and almost all are unfurnished.

A certain Miss Congeniality actress who lives in Austin, and whom I encountered regularly actually working among the people in the shelter) has been on top of this need a bit, but she certainly cannot reach everyone. Austin Interfaith organizations are also organizing a drive and you can contact Texas Interfaith Disaster response at www.tidr.org, 512.342.8732, Rev, Amy Elder, aelder@tidr.org, and mention Robert Andrews - I have been serving as a volunteer chaplain through the combined auspices of TIDR and the Austin Police Department at the convention center. TIDR is attempting to match unmet needs with resources, and is designed to function statewide in Texas, though I only have experience with the Austin group.

Pro Bono lawyers located anywhere can help. I cannot tell how many people have no idea the status of their cases in family law, bankruptcy, social security appeals, criminal law, tort law, etc. The Austin Bar Association will be holding a pro bono seminar soon.

The Red Cross donations which so many of you have made are actually going toward the rent (Red Cross is funding one month's rent for all households in the Austin Convention Center) and making a small dent, though much of the Red Cross Debit Card (about 350 per person) money has now gone to other items - though in any event 350 does not go far.

FEMA checks are also helping, though actual delivery of the checks has been somewhat sporadic, and most people are being somewhat conservative about holding the funds for return to New Orleans or major purchases. Although the City of Austin is waiving utility deposits for electricity, and most apartments here include water in the rent, no such arrangements have been made for phone service, and electric bills will come due soon.

While Austin has good central city mass transit through buses, many are relying on cabs to get to job interviews, and most do not have access to rental cars through insurance - though some, such as Troy, have 30 days from auto insurance of a rental vehicle - assuming one can be found.

In short, every wooden spoon and roll of charmin is a blessing. When you add in many amenities we generally take for granted the needs become overwhelming. Coffee makers, televisions - can you imagine replacing your entire DVD, VHS, CD collection - and then there are the drowned computers and internet service. How would most Tribbers make it without internet access?

Remember, many of these folk were in apartments or other housing with no insurance whatsoever. Many also were small independent business men or women, and simple issues like the fact that their accounts recievable have disappeared comletely while their automatic debits form their checking accounts function like clockwork would to most of us prove insurmountable.

One thing which has galled me about our collective governmental and societal approach has been the failure to recognize how many members of our society actually lead productive lives but do so while living on the margins. I continue to be amazed at the willingness of the people of New Orleans to hold their heads highand move forward.

Any extra bicycles out there Austin? Mine is being delivered to Ruffin today.

Winter Soldier Screening

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

If you are on campus or in Austin tomorrow, I encourage you to check out a screening of Winter Soldier hosted by Vietnam Veterans Against War. A couple of local activists who were recently in Iraq will speak as part of a panel as well. So below is the info...

When: Sunday, Sept. 18, 1 PM
Where: University of Texas Art Auditorium Rm. 1.102 (on 23rd and San Jacinto St.)
Why: Winter Soldier will be shown as a part of the Parallax View program - a component of the texascinema film festival. The showing will be followed by a panel discussion featuring several VVAW members of long standing (including Dave Collins) as well as other activist veterans of the American War in Viet Nam. Carl Webb, who you may know, will discuss the status of his efforts to win CO status from the military. Finally, two local activists will report on their recent travels to Iraq.

About: In February 1971 over 100 members of Viet Nam Veterans Against the War met in a hotel in Detroit and conducted what we called the "Winter Soldier Investigations". For two days veterans testified about their experiences in Viet Nam. It was the testimony of those veterans that John Kerry reported to Senator Fulbright's Foreign Relations Committee that summer during VVAW's "Dewey Canyon" operation in Washington. A documentary of the event was made, called simply 'Winter Soldier'. Although it opened to critical praise, it was not widely shown, being dubbed "too controversial". As a result of current conditions, the remnants of the Winter Soldier Collective that produced the film have reissued it and it is showing in many venues around the country.

Another Drunken Bush

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

I think I had a Government class with him last semester. And does anyone else find it odd that his initials spell J.E.B.?

The youngest son of Florida Gov. Jeb Bush was arrested in downtown Austin early today on charges of public intoxication and resisting arrest, officials said.

John Ellis Bush, 21, was taken into custody around 2:30 a.m. near the intersection of Trinity and Sixth streets near the downtown entertainment district. He was released around 10:30 a.m. today on a personal recognizance bond. Bail had been set at $2,500.

An affidavit on the public intoxication charge was not immediately available; according to an affidavit for the resisting arrest charge, Bush continually pushed against an officer for the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission as the officer attempted to handcuff him.

"Subject further resisted by pushing back with his body as he was restrained at the (Austin Police Department) transport van," the document said.

Bush is the nephew of President George W. Bush.

HD 47 (Republican) Candidate

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Rich Phillips is your "Pro-Family, Pro-Small Business Leader for Texas" and he's running as a Republican in retiring Rep. Terry Keel's (R) HD 47.

In an interesting article out today, he made some economic proposals that sound a bit iffy to me (in reaction to Texas being ranked #17 in terms of 'economic freedom'). Of course, being a Republican Primary candidate in West Austin can do that to a person anyways, but here's a taste.

Said Phillips, "Frankly, I don't think Texas should be second to anybody. Let alone Oklahoma. Texas can and should do better. This is the vision we share: that Texas lead the nation in growth and prosperity. And you can't tax and spend your way to prosperity."

Phillips' Agenda for Economic Freedom includes a call to roll back the Franchise Tax on Business from 4.5 percent to 1 percent. "Rolling back the franchise tax will create jobs, increase incomes and ultimately result in billions in new revenue to the State through economic growth," said Phillips. "Reagan understood this. I understand it. Only growth brings prosperity."

In addition to a reduction in small business taxes, Phillips announced his support for a Taxpayer's Bill of Rights to limit the growth of government spending to inflation plus population growth and a moratorium on new occupational license fees.

His plan also called for the immediate expansion of the homestead exemption from $15,000 to $25,000 for all homeowners which would reduce the taxable portion of everyone's primary residence and deliver an immediate tax break to Texas homeowners. Said Phillips, "From 1998 to 2003, Travis County residents were dealt a 52 percent increase in property taxes. Good people are spending more on their taxes than they are on their mortgage. That just isn't Texas."

That last quote is right up there with TEXAS isn't spelled TAXES crowd, which I guess we could include Mark Strama's opponent, Don Zimmerman into considering he only has three issues in his campaign, and each one of them is taxes...

Which is interesting considering that shockingly, a recent statewide poll pegged approval/disapproval for a state income tax at 45/47 which is pretty amazing considering it's supposed to be the third rail of Texas Politics.

Local (Gumbo) Flavor

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

There have been some comments on Matt's earlier post about the Gumbo Zones which have prompted me to make a phone call and delete one comment.

The reason why there were a couple of comment from NOLA survivors is because one of the Barbara Radnofsky campaign staff has been working almost nonstop with the refugees since they came here to Austin. He took Troy out to Lampasas where he apparently also met my parents. The other day he had some of the people from the Convention Center, who just wanted to have something else to eat than the fare offered there, over to his house where they cooked up some home-style dishes, giving them some taste of home.

And in something that I don't think I've seen anywhere else, they gathering liveblogged their dinner experiences. It's given some of them hope, and a little bit of home. One person was able to get online and use Yahoo Messenger (something not available at the Convention Center) and was able to let about 5 people know that they were safe and alive for the first time. Their comments are something unique, connecting with our world which has tried to make sure that Austinites can help theirs.

Now, agree or disagree with the concept of Gumbo Zones or the name of economic development zones, but let's at least find out the story of who and why people are commenting. In this case, I think theirs is a story we should listen to.

"Go FEMA Yourself"

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Apparently Vice President Cheney was in Austin Saturday to tour the sucesses of local efforts here in aid of those residing in the Convention Center. Or rather, he was here for a photo op that takes advantage of local Austin efforts that were successful because of the leadership of local officals (Democratic for the most part) and the support of an abundance of central city volunteers who have made this one of the better places in the state for displaced NOLA citizens. (Only a third of the original Convention Center occupants are still there, and more are being bussed in from Houston to replace them).

"The reason I'm here today was because I was impressed by the caliber of the effort that was mounted here, and it's a good place to come learn some valuable lessons," said Cheney, who spent Thursday on the ravaged Gulf Coast.

Yeah, learn some valuable lessons. I guess Bush/Cheney's federal government could use a few of those.

Outside the convention center, dozens of protesters holding posters that carried messages including "Go FEMA Yourself" and "Incompetence Kills" stood along Cesar Chavez Street as Cheney's motorcade pulled away.

ASA's Dining for Life, Monday September 12

By Damon McCullar

Monday September 12th and to a more limited degree on the 13th, AIDS Services of Austin will be having their 13th annual Dining for Life event. Area restaurants will donate 15% of their total dinner proceeds to AIDS Services of Austin. The list of area restaurants is located here.

AIDS Services of Austin (ASA) responds to the HIV needs of the Austin area by providing services that enhance the health and well being of individuals and the community in the face of an evolving epidemic.

So roll up your sleeves and take the family out to eat. It's a win-win situation.

Austin Katrina Relief Effort

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Charities Being Charitable Benefit Concert.

WHAT: Benefit concert supporting the hurricane relief effort
WHO: Chaparral, Blues Crawler, Weary Boys, other bands TBA
WHEN: Saturday, September 10, 2005 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
WHERE: Republic Square Park, downtown Austin (4th St. and Guadalupe)
COST: Suggested donation of $15 per adult, $3 for children under 12
CONTACT: Dave Shaw, 512-632-6044, dshaw@russell-shaw.com

ADD’L INFO: In addition to the concert, the family-friendly, outdoor event will feature children’s activities along with local food and beverage vendors. Lawn chairs recommended. Free parking at nearby Classified lots. Reserved parking for news media.

One hundred percent of the money raised from attendees will be donated to the Central Texas Red Cross. During the event, the Capital Area Food Bank will be accepting donations of diapers, bottled water, peanut butter (plastic containers preferred), canned meats (ring-pull lids preferred) and granola/cereal bars.

Joining YouthLaunch are Austin Farmer’s Market (a project of the Sustainable Food Center), Austin Bar Association Foundation, Austin Children’s Museum, Austin Film Festival, Austin Public Library Foundation, Austin Sustainable Business Council, Austin Young Lawyers Association Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas, Community Action Network, Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, Greenlights for Nonprofit Success, Hispanic Bar Association of Austin Foundation, Liveable City, Meals on Wheels and More, Office of Austin Mayor Will Wynn, Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic, Seton Healthcare Network, Skillpoint Alliance, and Texans Standing Tall.

Austin IT Volunteers

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Want infomation on being an IT volunteer here in Austin to aid the Katrina Refugees, take a look at this site:

http://www.austinfree.net/katrinavolunteer.htm

Chip Rosenthal has some more info about a listserv for volunteers.

A Part of America Once Again

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

The following is an Op-Ed written by Alexander Hunt, President of the University Democrats and TYD College Caucus Chair. -KT

One week ago, Hurricane Katrina unleashed its fury on Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Initially, citizens of the vulnerable city of New Orleans breathed a sigh of relief; the storm predictably hooked right at the last minute and spared New Orleans a direct hit. However, as more time passed, the storm proved to be more powerful than the New Orleans levees could handle and the local government’s numerous flood warnings became reality. The storm left thousands stranded and pleading for help.

It is always amazing to see how Americans come together to help their fellow man in times of need. Millions around our nation donated to the Red Cross and other charities. Here in Austin volunteers were actually turned away because of the massive outpouring of those trying to help. However, for every heartwarming picture I saw of people coming together, I saw a plethora more of people suffering needlessly. I saw people who followed the instructions of their government and trusted in the system, and were left behind.

The question that I, and other frustrated citizens asked was Where was our federal government? Where was our government supposedly led by the ideals of “compassionate conservatism” and “the culture of life”? As I watched people on the ground doing the best they could and desperately pleading for more help, I saw Senate leadership leisurely coming back from break. I couldn’t help questioning the priorities of Congressional leadership who were able to vote in less than 24 hours on Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube, but took 4 times the amount of time to provide nourishment to thousands in the Superdome in New Orleans, where people watched their loved ones die from starvation and dehydration in their arms. Surely nothing could have prevented Hurricane Katrina from disrupting and uprooting the lives of thousands in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, but something could have been done to curtail the misery of the masses.

After much needed help arrived in the storm ravaged areas, numerous evacuees have expressed that they “once again feel they are a part of America.” Once again? How could we have let them become third-world foreigners in their own land? This is not a Republican issue or a Democratic issue. This is not a white or black issue. This is an American issue and this is a time for all Americans to come together and demand more from their government.

Our government officials didn’t live up to their promise. However, there is still so much that we can all do NOW to make life better for the people whose lives have been affected.

First, write to your Congressperson and demand that this never happens again. Ask that they do everything in their power to make Katrina’s victims lives’ as normal as possible. Get the survivors the funding to get back on their feet, get their children school supplies, and get them day-to-day necessities.

Secondly, stop by the West Mall this Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday to see how you can help here in Austin. The University Democrats have asked the College Republicans to join us in a three-day rally to obtain donations and provide information about how students can volunteer in the Austin area. Even if you can’t donate money or supplies, your time will make a world of difference for those affected.

Let’s make sure Katrina’s victims know that they are a part of America. Let’s make sure that every person that survived the torture of the past week finds shelter and the supplies needed for daily living. Let’s make sure all children have adequate school supplies. Join us this week on the West Mall to find out how you can help.

Thank you,
Alexander Hunt
President, University Democrats

Austin's Stories

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Ray in Austin brings us the first of what are likely to be many stories of those staying with us here in Austin. An eyewitness of one of NOLA's levee breaches.

His name was Jonathan, he lived on Spencer Avenue, 600 yards from the Hammond breach. I asked him when the breach happened, because everybody is still saying on the news it broke Tuesday, but I blogged about it Monday afternoon here, and I know I was hearing rumors about it before that. He said, "Tuesday is bullshit, bra. Nine AM Monday morning, there was this huge BOOM and instantly five feet of water in my house, violent rolling water, and rising fast." He ran upstairs and was trying to save his vinyl collection, stacking it on his bed, til he passed out and woke up five hours later.

When he was rescued, he could hear neighbors all around, in their attics, knocking knocking knocking trying to get somebody's attention. The firefighters who pulled him out said three things, "Are you over 18? Are you healthy? Do you have military experience?" He said yes, yes, yes, and they handed him an axe and said "you're hereby deputized" and he spent the rest of the day chopping through people's roofs and pulling them from their attics.

It was an intense story. He likes Austin. He's thinking about staying.

But there are also stories that we may not be hearing. About those gay and lesbian partnered refugees who may get burned by the very bureaucracy which is supposed to help them, underscoring why we need to defeat Constitutional Amendment #2 on November 8 (a Bad Proposition for Texas).

The Federal Defense of Marriage Act prevents FEMA from providing any relief in the form of family benefits to same-sex couples.

The laws also will directly impact gay and lesbian families where one partner has died as a result of the hurricane.

Federal DOMA bars Social Security survivor benefits. State benefits would also be denied.

If the deceased partner were the birth or adoptive parent of the couple's children those children could be removed from the care of the other parent and placed in foster care.

Should the family home be in the name of the deceased partner the survivor would have no rights. Any insurance payouts could go to the estate of the deceased and if there is no will would go to the closest blood relative.

In cases where one partner is hospitalized the other partner would not be guaranteed visitation rights or any say in medical care.

Surviving same-sex partners even could be denied any say in funeral or burial decisions.

Even in those cases where couples had legal documents such as living wills, powers of attorney or other agreements that could be valid in the states in which they were prepared and notarized there is no guarantee they would be honored in states where survivors were relocated.

Update: Another story here, this time from an Austin volunteer who talked with some of those staying with us.

The Austin Red Cross is especially in need of the following list of items for the victims of Katrina. Please bring your donations to Freescale (Motorola), which is located at 3501 Ed Bluestein.

Shoes (all sizes)
Pillows
Magazines
Gauze bandages
Adult diapers
Large and small Baggies Tote bags, laundry baskets, knapsacks, backpacks, and boxes
Denture Cream
Body Lotion
Eye wash
Eye masks
Contact lens solution
Arthritis gel
#2 size baby diapers
Benadryl Razors
Throat lozenges
Baby powder
Baby diaper rash ointment
XL and XXL women's and men's clothes and underwear
Large size bras
Hearing aid batteries
All size batteries
Mylanta
Universal chargers for cell phones
Socks Men's pants and shorts
Women's shorts
Pajamas and sweat pants
Baby bottles
Toddler size clothing
Towels and washcloths
Linen
Crutches
Wheelchairs
Walkers

From The Austin Convention Center

By Damon McCullar

A friend of mine just finished a shift as a volunteer Chaplin at the Austin Convention Center for the New Orleans Refugees. He told me of somethings that are needed there and brought back some stories of the survivors. Everything is contained after the jump.

I have just completed my second day as a volunteer chaplain at the Austin Convention Center. I have met the most incredible people with indomitable spirits.

I can add to the items which are needed the following:

1. Reading Material, especially large print and other senior adult reading material. Even old magazines are appreciated, especially national geographic, music industry publications, Austin or Texas Magazines, and general fiction. The adults need diversion, and all that is available are large screen TV's which are tuned to news channels. Religious services and child care provide some diversion, and many are beginning to get their bearings and walk around downtown, but reading material is a plus.

2. Underwear.

3. Jobs are a critical issue for many people. Most of the men and women whom I have met are proud to be workers, and anxious over accepting government unemployment benefits. There will be a critical need for creative employment counseling soon.

4. Children's books and simple toys. There are far more children than I expected. Four huge rooms in the convention center are filled with people. There are also an extraordinary number of single men, who fill one large room. Many of these men remained behind while getting their families to safety and are anxious to hear from families.

5. Large Size Women's clothing. Many people have donated clothing but women who need larger sizes have been underserved. I am thinking of one woman in particular who still remains in the clothes on which she camped on the remnants of I-10. I am taking her some men's tshirt's in the morning, but she is only one of several.

6. Fun. We need some outdoor downtown concerts or some such thing soon.

Most of the people who are in Austin were in the Convention Center in New Orleans. Many others were sleeping on the concrete on I 10. Most came here by commercial airliner, some by military aircraft.

The Austin Police and Firefighters have been awesome.

Saw Mark Strama with Will Wynn and Lee Leffingwell as I was leaving. Mark immediately set about arranging a concert.

Here are a few stories:

A most amazing day. The situation in Austin is nothing like it is in Houston, I am sure, but the need for the people with whom I interacted simply to have their basic human dignity returned to them is intense. Everyone is missing someone close to him or her and has no idea how to find the person or if he or she can indeed be found. The loss is staggering, but the spark of human spirit is impressive. I am overwhelmed by a 19 year old pastry chef who waded through water to insure his wheelchair bound grandmother could have transport and that she could live. 7 family members are here, but his own mother, father, brother and sister are missing. His smile is still strong and his spirit unbroken as he talks of finding work, shuffling through his backpack to show me the two books he managed to save from the flood. We talked of my time as a cook during college and law school and what it means to grill a steak Pittsburgh rare for a picky customer on a busy Saturday night. He had saved the tools of his trade, but had to surrender them when transport was arranged by commercial airliner and he could not board with his grandmother and maintain his culinary knives. His grandmother spoke of her church, her pastor, and how she served food to so many in the Church. I affirmed her years of ministry and told her it was time to rest and let others return to her the ministry she had provided to so many for years. The family had survived five days living on the remnants of I-10.

Another woman who managed to hold thirteen family members together in the New Orleans Convention Center, and somehow get them all together to Austin, watching her nine year old grandson play and return to childhood.

A man who operated machinery to fill soft drink bottles, waiting on his first shower in six days and watching his wife sleep and rest at last on the adjacent cot. Wondering when he will work again, when he will again be a provider, but holding his head high.

Aid in Austin

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

If you are looking to help in the Houston area, Charles has the latest requests and roundups. Here in Austin, things seem to be filling up with whispers of opening up the Frank Erwin Center at some point if President Faulkner goes for it. I was going to volunteer last night down at the Convention Center but so many people had already offered that by midnight they were turning away most people for the evening. They were busy sorting loads of clothes into piles by size, water, food, diapers, cots. It looked like most of the floor and ballrooms throughout the center were being occupied already.

Remember to help here in Austin and to call 974-1110, the city hotline, before venturing out somewhere. If they can't use your help this weekend, be patient and help in upcoming days and weeks.

I just called the hotline and as of now they have enough volunteers for the afternoon, but they asked people to go to this site and find specific actions they best match up with for now.

One Action Item:

The shelters located at the Austin Convention Center and the Palmer Events Center urgently need wheelchairs. Anyone with wheelchairs to donate should bring the chairs to the Convention Cneter loading dock on Red River St. (East side of the Convention Center) or to the receiving area at the Palmer Events Center as soon as possible. No other donations are accepted at shelter sites.

Refugees Arrive in Austin

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

The first wave of NOLA refugees has arrived in Austin on Capitol Metro buses headed to the Convention Center from the airport. They were sighted on Cesar Chavez just minutes ago with police escorts and an ambulance. The electronic displays say "Captal Metro/Welcome to Austin" alternating on the front of Express Route busses which don't otherwise run on weekends. The electonic highway notification signs are giving directions to incoming buses and cars. The first group sighted was a caravan of 10 buses.

Remember to look at how you can help.

Austin Katrina Aid

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Now that Austin has been added as another hub of help for aiding Katrina victims, many Austin bloggers have found resources that may be of use for those of us in the Capitol City trying to figure out how we can help.

Volunteer: 974-1110 (City-staffed hotline)
Food: 282-2111 (Austin Food Data Bank)
Clothing: 6519 Burnett Lane (Goodwill drop-off - actually also at any Goodwill store location)

First, the City of Austin's official page. Clicking on the How to Help page is important because in some cases they are asking volunteers to not just show up but call to ask how best to help. We don't want to get in the way of logistics so stay on top of the updates. If you are in search of help as a refugee, there is information there for you too.

Austin Helping New Orleans is a new site that has popped up also helping to coordinate information. They have let us know that the Austin Convention Center, NOT the Tony Burger Center, is now the headquarters for evacuee activities.

The city is requesting bedding donations for the following items: air mattresses, cots, folding lawn chairs, wash cloths, towels and anything that would make the refugees comfortable.

Donations need to be taken to the Freescale Campus at 3501 Ed Bluestein Blvd. or the Trinity Street entrance of the Austin Convention Center.

The Bicycle Sport Shop is also asking for donations of new or used bicycles, parts, helmets, bags, racks, or other cycling accessories to help refugees from Hurricane Katrina at the 517 S. Lamar location for delivery to Houston on Sunday, so if you have anything it needs to be dropped off today.

If you can help out with techie work at the centers, look here.

News 8 Austin has a good roundup story, and lets us know there are 5000 refugees on the way to our city.

There is a Benefit Concert Sunday, September 4.
Location: 6510 Berkman Drive. Time: 7:30 PM

Sheehan in Austin

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

I didn't make it last night, but Casual Soapbox has a really good roundup and pictures. The Daily Texan also has a report. Looks like there was a couple thousand people there last night, and Cindy said that when she gets to Houston she's donating the 5000 lbs of supplies they had left from Camp Casey in Crawford the relief effort there.

A good point. 35% of the Louisiana National Guard and 37% of the Mississippi National Guard are in Iraq.

A Panel with Sarah Weddington

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Gearing up for the John Roberts nomination, some of the leaders of the women's movement as well as the warriors for choice will be here at UT next Tuesday for a panel discussion that "discusses options available to women before abortion was legal," which of course is important considering the upcoming nomination hearding for John Roberts.

When: Tuesday, September 6, 2005 at 12pm

Where: Eastwoods Room in the Texas Union at the University of Texas at Austin (2.102)

What: A Panel Discussion with Trailblazing Women On the Eve of U.S. Senate Confirmation Hearings for Judge John Roberts

Who: Speakers will include:
Sarah Weddington, Winning Attorney, Roe v Wade and Adjunct Professor, University of Texas
Barbara Hines, Clinical Professor of Law, University of Texas Law School
Victoria Foe, Research Professor, Dept. of Biology, University of Washington
Judy Smith, Director of HomeWord an Affordable Housing Developer in Missoula, Montana
Lin Smith, Media Specialist, Missoula, Montana

Former staffers from The Rag, a newspaper that put Austin on the counter-culture map from 1966 to 1977 will be conducting a panel discussion focusing on the state of women’s and reproductive rights before the Roe v Wade decision. The group will be in town for The Rag Reunion taking place during Labor Day Weekend. At this event, they will be talking about the history they share as part of the early women’s movement in Austin. These trailblazing women, all former UT students, organized a referral project to inform women about their bodies, about their rights, about available birth control options and about safe abortion. At a time when Texas law banned abortion “unless necessary” to save the woman’s life, the group printed public service articles about safe and unsafe abortion methods and sources. This same group eventually recruited a young Austin attorney, Sarah Weddington, to their cause. Weddington, currently an adjunct professor at UT, went on to file and later successfully argue the case of Roe v Wade before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Join these amazing and ground-breaking women for an open question and answer session that is sure to be informative and memorable. The timing of the event is historical in itself; confirmation hearings will be taking place simultaneously in Washington, DC for President Bush’s nominee for the Supreme Court, John Roberts.

Sponsored by: Voices for Choices
Ali Puente (832)-541-3262 psychotaco@gmail.com

Press Contact: Dilen Kumar, The Weddington Center,
(512)-478-7163, DilenK@aol.com

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC – PANEL MEMBERS WILL HAVE PRESS AVAILABILITY BEFORE PANEL DISCUSSION BEGINNING AT 11:30AM AND AFTER

A Few Austin Events

By John Pruett

Cindy Sheehan will be speaking in Austin tomorrow. This will be the first leg of her bus tour across America that culminates with the National March for Peace in Washington, DC on September 24th.

Here is tomorrow's info:
Time: 5:30pm Wednesday 8/31/05
Place: Austin City Hall Plaza
301 W. 2nd St.
Austin, Texas 78701
(park at the City Hall garage enter off Lavaca)

Also, starting this Thursday, former members of The Rag will be hosting a reunion weekend. The Rag was a student newspaper created in 1966 at UT-Austin. The main events this week include:

Backward Through the Fog - RAGfotos
Thursday, September 1st, 6-10 pm
The Old School, 1604 East 11th
with protest and labor songs led by
The Melancholy Ramblers

RAG Art Show
Friday, September 2nd, 7:09-10 pm
South Austin Museum of Popular Culture
1516-B South Lamar

Rag Mama Rag Concert
Saturday, September 3rd, 8-12 pm
Threadgill's World Headquarters Beer Garden
304 West Riverside, $5 cover

No Nonsense Austin Kick-Off

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

No Nonsense In November
&
Austin Alliance for Social Justice

KICK-OFF FUNDRAISER
THURSDAY, AUGUST 25TH, 2005
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
MOTHER EGAN’S PUB; 715 W 6th St.

The Texas Legislature has voted for the first time to amend the Texas Constitution and write discrimination into the Texas Bill of Rights. The Alliance for Social Justice and the No Nonsense in November campaign have mobilized in Travis County to educate the public about this proposed Constitutional Amendment.

Accepting any contribution, large or small
$15, $25, $50 or $100

Come and be a part of Texas History!

ALL FRIENDS WELCOME
FREE APPETIZERS – CASH BAR

Veteran denied in-state tuition by ACC

By Jim Dallas

This distresses me (via the Houston Chronicle):

A decorated Marine enrolling in college was surprised to learn his Texas driver's license, car registration and bank records weren't enough to qualify him for the lower-priced state resident tuition.

Carl Basham said officials at Austin Community College told him that his two tours of duty in Iraq kept him out of the state too long to qualify for Texas resident tuition.

Privacy laws prevent college officials from specifically discussing Basham's case, but Austin Community College spokesman Dwayne Cox said it's not Basham's military tours that keep him from meeting in-state residence requirements.

Under Texas law, members of the military are presumed to maintain the same residence as when they enlisted in the service. Although he grew up throughout Texas, mostly in Waco, Basham graduated from high school and enlisted in the Marine Corps in Monroe, La.

The school's response surprised Basham, 27, who was born in Beeville, is registered to vote in Travis County and does his banking in Austin.

Not having the in-state designation would mean paying about $2,600 instead of about $500 a semester in tuition.

It's unclear how many returning service members face the same problem as Basham, said Ray Grasshoff, a spokesman for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. But officials at the agency are looking into Basham's case.

This isn't a purely black-and-white situation; ACC may have just made a mistake, or maybe Basham really isn't qualified for in-state tuition. Nonetheless, I would hope that ACC aspires to offer in-state tuition as liberally as reasonably possible; and moreover, if indeed our state law is keeping veterans from qualifying for in-state tuition, that would be unacceptable.

I'm glad the state is looking into this; but I'm still planning on writing an e-mail to my state representative "to keep the heat on."

Passing Notes

By Marcus Ceniceros

The Girl's School of Austin is hosting a fundraising gala that should be a lot of fun.

"Passing Notes" will feature Ann Richards and Liz Carpenter answering notes passed to them by the students of the Girl's School. It will be an enjoyable night and a great fundraiser for the Girl's School, which needs to add an additional classroom and get new computers and school supplies.

The event is at Spazio on September 8 at 7:00 pm. Reserve your tickets early, they are $40 now and $50 at the door.

The full invitation can be found in the extended entry.

The Girls' School of Austin Invites You To A Gala Benefit

Passing Notes

Enjoy an evening of leadership, learning and levity with Ann Richards and Liz Carpenter

Thursday, September 8 at 7:00 p.m.
at Spazio by Lytle Pressley ~ 1214 West 6th Street

Tickets are $40 in advance and $50 at the door. Cocktails, music by Barton Strings and a silent auction. All proceeds benefit The Girls' School of Austin. Reserve your tickets by calling 478-7827.

The program will feature Governor Ann Richards and Liz Carpenter responding impromptu to written questions from students at The Girls' School...passing notes from girls to women and back again. It guarantees to be an entertaining evening as no one knows what twists and turns the party will take!

The benefit will introduce The Girls' School of Austin to the community and proceeds will help fund an additional classroom, computers, supplies and scholarships for needy students at this growing school.

Sponsored by KUT-FM, KEYE-TV, The Austin Chronicle and Lithoprint. Valet parking provided.

Down at City Hall

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Council Member McCracken's office is looking for an unpaid intern who has an interest in learning more about issues affecting the City of Austin. The intern will assist the Council Member's two aides. Some responsibilities include, but are not limited to, data entry, reviewing neighborhood newsletters and updating staff on key issues, administrative duties, and constituent work.

We strive to create an educational environment for interns by encouraging them to attend events with Council Member McCracken, inviting them to participate in meetings and discussions and teaching them about current events. If you or someone you know are interested in working in a fast-paced political office at the new City Hall, email your resume to

Karen.Gross@ci.austin.tx.us.

Karen Gross
Policy Director
Office of Council Member Brewster McCracken
974-2256

No Nonsense Newsletter #2

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

The next newsletter sent today. Remember, please sign up for the campaign to defeat the Marriage Amendment. There are some juicy comments about Rick Perry and some other inside details. But I wanted to highlight first a comment made by Rick Perry political consultant Dave Carney who compared "opposition to gay marriage to aversion to communism" in response to a statement by Glen Maxey that Perry would use this election to ID conservatives to turnout against Comptroller Carol in the Primary next year.

Maxey expects legislators and Republican leaders to be penalized by voters for lofting the amendment but failing to lower local school property taxes or bolster school funding.

He speculated that Perry will use the amendment to identify social conservatives he can energize against Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn in the Republican gubernatorial primary in March.

"Silly," Carney said, comparing opposition to gay marriage to aversion to communism, galvanizing voters of all stripes.

The No Nonsense group intends to remain active in the 2006 elections by tapping voters whom Maxey expects to rouse against the marriage amendment.

Maxey likened the public to a snake that's been provoked by legislators who have advanced marriage to the polls while stalling on school finance.

"This snake can bite. It's going to bite them all over this state."

Maxey, who earlier in his career coordinated Get Out the Vote efforts for former Gov. Ann Richards, said, "There are campaigns and there are campaigns, and I know how to run a campaign."

Since I last wrote you … No Nonsense in November has picked up solid financial support, generated a lot of buzz in the media and even picked up a few clues on what the opposition’s planning.

* Members of the Human Rights Campaign have committed to raise $120,000 to support the infrastructure of the campaign. This is a fantastic boost to our efforts!! Clear your calendars for the middle of September and watch our web site as we’ll soon be posting dates for major fundraising events inAustin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. Next week, you’ll be able to donate towards one of those events on our web site, www.NoNonsenseInNovember.com!

* We had several great stories in the media – all in cities critical to the campaign.

Political reporter Kristen Mack wrote about the campaign in her column in today’s Houston Chronicle entitled, Marriage amendment foes have 'No Nonsense' plan, and noted the city school district elections could increase turnout.

Austin American-Statesman political columnist Gardner Selby wrote about our campaign on August 11, in a story headlined, Marriage amendment foes at work. Selby’s story has the opposition praising our quick start-up efforts with “a prominent conservative” quoted as saying, “The other side seems way ahead. The question is whether those in favor of the amendment are going to wake up before it’s too late.”

The president of the Dallas-based Texas Eagle Forum echoed that sentiment in David Webb’s article in the Dallas Voice, “No Nonsense Campaign Off to Fast Start.”

We’re glad our efforts are being noticed because we have been working hard to build a strong coalition to do what no other state has done – defeat a marriage constitutional amendment. It’s going to take all the strength we can muster and then some.

* Opposition Rears Its Ugly Head. If there was ever any doubt about where the right is going with this issue, consider what Rick Perry’s political consultant, Dave Carney, says in Selby’s article.

Carney, who is confident the amendment will pass, compares opposition to gay marriage to an aversion to communism, describing it as “something that would galvanize voters of all stripes.”

Is he suggesting that the right’s game plan will use the same hate-mongering tactics we saw during the McCarthy era?

Word on the street is that the “grand old party” will be deploying “strike teams” to churches to do Voter I.D. As usual, they’ll rally support for the amendment by portraying themselves as the party that’s “for family values.”

With your help, we’ll be ready for them.

* Volunteer to fight … we need people to host House parties, volunteer in our field offices and be part of our Speakers Bureau, which is in formation. Within days, you’ll be able to download speeches and talking points from the web.

The Speakers Bureau will keep the focus where it belongs – on the Texas Legislature’s failure to address real issues and on our zeal to Defend, not Amend, the Texas Bill of Rights.

While they may be able to afford television ads, showing people around a dinner table talking abut family values, we’ll be organizing around our own dinner tables, and talking to Texans in churches and temples, in offices and at civic group meetings, letting them know that our families have value, too.

We’ll counter their claim to be a party that supports limited government by pointing out that there is nothing more intrusive than government telling Texans who they can marry.

And we’ll show them that the real power of the people is to defend a Constitution and a Bill of Rights that protects all people.

We’ll stand up to them in the same way people stood up to McCarthy-ism.

* We’ll show them that Texas voters are like a snake that’s been provoked by legislators who have advanced marriage at the polls while stalling on school finance. We’ll show them this snake will bite and it will bite them all over the state.

We will galvanize our people to vote against this amendment. We will vote against the purveyors of this hate in 2006. And we will support those good legislators in 2006, who took the right stand and stood with us.

* Where’s Rick?

One thing “the buzz” isn’t clear on is whether Gov. Perry will actually campaign for the amendment. His smiling face and good hair are all over the opposition’s web site, www.txmarriage.com, but inquiring minds want to know whether he’ll get out in front of this, and use this wedge-issue to identify social conservatives to vote for him and not One Tough Grandma in the Republican primary?

Word has it that some GOP movers and shakers are afraid that all their GOTV efforts for the constitutional amendment election will be used to fuel – and finance - a “Re-Elect Rick Perry” campaign, and they’re not happy campers.

The election will definitely come down to who can turn out the most voters. Help us increase our numbers by sending the Pledge to Vote page to five of your friends and get them pledge to vote against the Nonsense Constitutional Amendment.

And help keep up us on “the buzz” by letting us know when your local paper or broadcast station covers the campaign. We want to post those stories on the web site, and keep all of you updated.

Thanks again for all you are doing … now go back and click on these links!

Glen Maxey
Campaign Director

Kelly White to Back Donna Howard in HD 48

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

A source close to the goings ons in HD 47 tipped me off and confirmed some big news in Western Travis County.

Andy Brown, quick to announce his bid for the Democratic nomination after Kelly White (who narrowly lost to Todd Baxter last fall) stated she would not seek a rematch, will be challenged in the primary by former State Board of Education nominee and former Eanes School Board member Donna Howard. Kelly White will be signing on as Donna's treasurer and Ann Kitchen who held the seat prior to being bumped out by Todd Baxter, will also be joining the girls club in support of Howard's candidacy.

Two big issues and reasons for this move.

Public School finance- as a former school board member of one of the "rich districts" in Texas (which used to send money to my district in Fredericksburg until we ourselves became a rich district two years ago) Donna would be able to hammer Baxter on this one relentlessly. When Donna ran for SBOE in 2002, she ran in a district that included this part of Travis County and stretched out into the Hill Country to my hometown of Fredericksburg, which was the home of the incumbent Dan Montgomery who is actually one of the few more moderate minded members of the otherwise crazy SBOE. From what I remember from her then, I was very impressed with his knowledge and skills as a candidate.

Choice- In a district where polling has shown about 60% of the voting populace to be pro-choice, the pro-choice powers that be would like to see a woman run for the seat and represent it. Now I honestly doubt that Andy Brown would be any less pro-choice than Donna Howard, but something tells me there's a feeling that it's more genuine coming from a female candidate to those that intimately care about this.

I was actually looking forward to not having a large primary battle in this district (or HD 47 assuming we even get some official candidates down there) but unless Brown decides to back out for some reason, I expect one to ensue. My only hope is that it is clean, fought on the issues, and remains positive because the enemy here is Todd Baxter and we have to remember this is a seat that in light of the failure of the lege to do much of anything, we should win in 2006.

A Victory for Player's

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

The University of Texas backs down and will alter plans for their new hotel, as well as give up on eminent domain use sparing the popular Player's Restaurant near campus. The Texan has a full report of where things are headed.

They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique
And a swinging hot spot
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot.

Chumscrubber Comes To Austin

By Damon McCullar

Chum: 1.Bait usually consisting of oily fish ground up and scattered on the water. 2.An intimate friend or companion. This remarkable film by Arie Posin focuses a microscope on the skeletons that live in the closets of suburbia's Type A personalities: Their kids. This is an amazing film that explores the toll that over-medication, violence and neglect is taking on the youngest generation of Americans that are coming of age.

In the movie, Dean Stiffle discovers the body of his best friend, Troy, hanging in his bedroom as his mother throws a party. Turns out that Troy has been the main supplier of "happy pills" to the communities kids. When the drugs dry up, Billy, a local thug, and his gang try to blackmail Dean into getting Troy's stash by kidnapping his brother. Only they foul up and kidnap the son of the local sheriff.

Chumscrubber opened to mixed reviews at The Sundance Film Festival and was featured this spring during South By Southwest here in Austin. The limited opening takes place on Friday here in Austin and in Dallas. The unlimited opening is on August 26th.

I recommend all of our readers see the film and talk about what they got from the it in the comments. And please, if you like it, recommend it to a friend, the producer is counting on word-of-mouth to make this movie a success.

Thanks to KT for suppling me with the locations both here and in Dallas:

8/5/2005
DOBIE TWIN THEATRE, AUSTIN, TX
ARBOR CINEMAS @ GREAT HILLS 8, AUSTIN, TX

AMC GRAPEVINE MILLS 30, GRAPEVINE, TX

CINEMARK 24 (THE LEGACY), PLANO, TX

MAGNOLIA 5, DALLAS, TX

Keeping Wynn Weird

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Well, the otherwise neutrally bland Austin Mayor Will Wynn scored a PR coup today as he gave Austin, and himself, some flavor.

And here's the actual strange, but true video, though maybe Mayor Jumps Off Bridge isn't the best title.

The Brown List

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

While we wait for Marcus's report this afternoon, I thought I might take a run though the Andy Brown public supporter list to see who he had lined up in this seemingly non-existant primary race (any supporters of Donna Howard or Hugh Brady and Duffy Keever, neither of whom I've heard anything about for quite a long time, please e-mail me at karltm-at-gmail-dot-com or tell them to Step Up.)

I'm sure I'll miss certain people (and there is always the chance that some of these people have the same name as those I know) but here is a short list of who's who and why they may be important.

Things to note? Strama crossover support is high, as are elected officials, and many of the people that have an interest in the neighboring HD 47 race. The info after the jump...

The Honorable Ben Barnes

Jeff Brooks
*(Kelly White's Political Director, nice!)

Cass Robert Callaway
*(Got his business card at DemFest, forgot to e-mail him back!)

Larkin Campbell
*(UDems Presidential Candidate and awesome Postermaker)

Liz Carpenter
*(LBJ's Press Secretary)

Rick Cofer
*(Puppetmaster of all things Gregg Knaupe, Gregg's rumored to run in HD 47 as well)

Mandy Dealey
*(Place 3 City Council Candidate, first round UDems endorsed)

Matthew Dempsey
*(Why does this name sound familiar to me?)

David Holmes
*(Originally rumored to run in HD 47, supposedly now supporting the rumored Speight)

Lowell Lebermann
*(Wonderful man, $$)

The Honorable Lee Leffingwell
*(Ol' Man Leffingwell as the UDems song goes, our favorite City Councilman)

The Honorable Garry Mauro
*(His son lurks these pages at times)

The Honorable Glen Maxey
*(Data Guru, Man About Town)

Ambassador Stan McLelland

The Honorable Ed Miller

Bettye Nowlin
*(High dollar donor, Friend of Strama, Beautiful House)

Catherine Robb
*(Of the LBJ legacy, also a Friend of Strama's Intern Program)

Ambassador Arthur Schechter

The Honorable John Sharp
*(BOR Banter Fame)

The Honorable Rose Spector
*(Nominee for HD-122 Special Election which Byron and I volunteered for)

Dennis & Emily Speight
*(Finance Guy for the TDP rumored to be running in HD 47)

Kate Volti
*(Leader in the Austin Progressive Coalition that I worked with once on campus)

Marc & Suzanne Winkelman
*(Calendar Magnates whose daughter I worked with on Strama's campaign?)

Seven Cheers for Lance

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

One last time, "The Star-Spangled Banner" rang out over the Champs-Elysees in honor of Lance Armstrong.

One last time, on the podium against the backdrop of the Arc de Triomphe, the cancer survivor who became the greatest cyclist in Tour de France history slipped into the leader's yellow jersey Sunday. This time, it was the winner's jersey, for an unprecedented seventh consecutive year in the world's most grueling race.

He held his yellow cap over his heart as the American anthem played, and his twin 3-year-old daughters, Grace and Isabelle, wore matching yellow dresses.

"Vive le Tour! Forever," Armstrong said.

Half a Million people in Paris heard from now seven time Tour de France winner and Austinite Lance Armstrong.

I can only imagine what Congress Avenue will be like when he comes home to us. Way to go Lance, you inspire us all.

Campaign for a National Majority

By Damon McCullar

I attended the Campaign for a National Majority kickoff here in Austin last night. I had an opportunity to sit down and speak with with Micheal Fertik, one of the founders of Campaign for a National Majority. This is what he had to say about the organization.

Campaign for a National Majority (or CNM) is around 18 months old and has a membership of roughly 3000 people. They have members in 33 states and a presence in New York City, the District of Columbia, Louisville KY, Philadelphia, New Haven, San Francisco, Los Angles. They are kicking off their efforts in Texas this week with the get together in Austin yesterday, San Antonio today and Houston on Tuesday. Their research staff consist of around 150 all volunteer researchers.

The goal of CNM is to see Democrats elected to state-wide executive offices. These include Governor, Lt. Governor, Comptroller, Secretary of State, Ag Commish, Railroad Commish, and Mayor in the larger cities. The conventional wisdom holds that Presidents come from the Governor's mansion these days. So, CNM asked the question: Where do Governors come from? Turns out from their research that Governors come from the other executive offices that I mentioned before, as well as mayors from larger cities in the state. Their goal of getting Democrats elected to these offices gives the Democratic party a "farm league" from which to choose from in national elections.

CNM does exhaustive research on candidates for the above mentioned races. They look at a candidates record in public office as well as their character. CNM will interview everyone from a candidate's grade school teachers, to their college professors, members of the their church and so on to get a complete picture of just who the candidate is. Once CNM has vetted the candidate, they will endorse and fund raise for that candidate. In addition, they will lobby other groups to endorse and fund raise for the candidate. They will share their research with the group in question to help convince them to endorse.

CNM took put their model into effect last year in a few state legislature races. First was David Leibowitz here in Texas. In that race, they were able to help get him elected to a seat in the Texas Lege held by an incumbent Republican. Also, they were able to help Jeff Daniels of Ohio get elected to a state legislature seat that was open, but had historically been a Republican seat.

In 2005, CNM is working on mayoral races. There are currently 500 races that CNM wants to be involved in. However, they need a research staff of roughly 500 to be able to handle the work load. CNM is looking for volunteer researchers to help fill that gap. They are also looking for folks to pledge to donate to candidate that they endorse.

Campaign for National Majority on Sunday

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

This Sunday, July 17, former Congressman Chris Bell will headline the Austin kickoff of Campaign for a National Majority, a pragmatic political action committee that supports Democratic candidates for state executive offices nationwide. The event will be held at the Cedar Door (201 Brazos Street) and begins at 7:00 p.m.

The event is free and not meant to be a fundraiser. I'll try to make sure that myself or someone from BOR is there to cover the happenings. Below is some more info on the CNM from their press release.

Campaign for a National Majority supports viable candidates in tough races who show promise as contenders for progressively higher offices.

“The goal is to build a ‘farm team’ of Democrats,” said Michael Fertik, one of the founders of Campaign for a National Majority. “We support Democrats who can win statewide and national elections, based on the idea that governors make the best presidential candidates and that the best governors are typically elected from other state executive offices, such as lieutenant governor or attorney general.”

Campaign for a National Majority has endorsed two candidates from Texas in the last two years, State Representative David Leibowitz and former San Antonio City Councilman Julián Castro, and is currently evaluating other potential candidates for the 2006 election year.

“CNM’s focus on winning state executive elections for Democrats reflects our belief that winning those races is one of the best ways to strengthen the party in the long run,” Fertik added.

Austin will host the first of a series of events in Texas, to be followed by similar kickoff events in San Antonio and Houston. The events are designed to introduce local Democrats to the group’s mission and activities.

I'm all for building the farm team, god knows we need it in Texas.

Chonicle Best of Austin Poll

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

The Austin Chronicle is doing their yearly poll for the Citizen's Best Of's. If you want to cast a ballot, do so here in the next 24 hours.

You don't have to fill it all out, but here are some that I know I filled in under the Politics and Personalities section.

State Legislator: Mark Strama (if for anything, to help his re-electin bid)
Local Grassroots Group: Democracy for Texas (natch)
Local Political Blog: BURNT ORANGE REPORT

Of course, BOR would be defending the title of Best Local Political Blog after being selected in 2004. In any case, go vote and help determine the Best of Austin.

Summer 2005 State Democratic Executive Committee Meeting

By Damon McCullar

Here's the thread for the SDEC meeting here in Austin. You can follow along after the break.

11:00 Grassroots Committee Meeting

In today's grassroots committee meeting here are the things that were covered

We were introduced to four candidates for office. First on is Hank Gilbert from Tyler Texas. He is running for Ag Commish. Next comes Ted Ankrum, he's running in Congress in CD 10. He will be at the 1960's Democrats meeting in Harris County on Monday. The meeting starts around 7:00pm. John Courage, running for Congress in CD 21 is present. Finally, Charlie Thompson is running for Congress in CD 5 along with Patrick Wilson.

Some other interesting things coming out of the Grassroots Committee Meeting is that there is a Grassroots Handbook in the works. The handbook folks are taking input from anyone that wants to contribute.

If you have an idea you think needs to be in the handbook contact Karl Silverman at silverman@ghg.net, 129 Bayou Bend Drive, League City Texas 77573.

There will be a Rural Democratic Summit this fall. It will be August 27th and 28th at the Tyler Ramada Inn. Events will consist of a reception for attendees on Friday. There will be workshops on Saturday culminating with a keynote address by a national democratic figure. For more information, contact Sam Allen at (903)530-5157.

12:15
Chris Bell Luncheon: Chris is here meeting his guest today. Also here is Shane Sklar. He is running for Congress in CD 14.

12:30
Today I want to talk about—and please forgive me if this sounds crazy—but my vision for the Democratic Party here in Texas, a Democratic Party that doesn’t take anyone for granted, a Democratic Party that has a coherent message, and a Democratic Party that wins elections for a change, not just in blue states and college towns, but right here in the heart of Texas.

As I travel Texas, Democrats are telling me something that just a few years ago would have sounded like heresy to some in our party. Everywhere I go, Texas Democrats say they are looking for new leaders who aren’t afraid to act like Democrats.

The young people who are joining the Democratic fold in such impressive numbers are not doing so because they are looking toward the past. They are looking toward the future because they are the future and they are looking for leaders who understand the Texas of today and who are willing to work for a brighter tomorrow.

As I travel the state, I talk about what I call the New Mainstream. And some people are asking me what I mean by that.

When Republicans say they’re representing the mainstream they really mean a narrow section of special interest groups in Texas, leaving a huge majority of people on the outside. Remarkably, these new outsiders are solution-oriented people of all stripes--the moderate Republicans who Rick Perry is trying to kick out of his party, the Independents who are getting quite scared about what’s going on, and the Democrats who knew from the start that Rick Perry couldn’t lead a silent prayer. People who want our state to work, in short.

And all those folks who don’t take frequent dips in Tom Delay’s hot tub and whom Rick Perry says aren’t real Texans, well, they are part of the New Mainstream. Todos estamos en esto juntos. We are all in this together.

And if we are all in this together, it’s time that we in the Democratic Party start acting like it.

First, we can’t afford another two years in which the people in this room are treated like props while Austin insiders pick our nominees like they’re casting yet another sequel to Cannonball Run. The SDEC is the grassroots leadership of this party, but for too long you all have been stuck at the kids table when you all should be at the grown-up table where the decisions are made.

The people in this room don’t need a pollster to tell them that the Democratic Party needs to do a better job, a much better job, of articulating what I think should be the core Democratic message: that education is the best investment in individual achievement ever made, and that a truly moral government is one that demands excellence not only from our kids but from our Governor as well. It’s one that tells parents that if they do their part, then we’ll make sure that teachers have the freedom and the resources that they need to teach our kids something more than how to take yet another standardized test. And if we are going to make teaching our kids the highest purpose of government, then we need to give greater rewards for doing the teaching.

Succeeding generations teach us over and over again that to achieve the American Dream, you have to go through the front door of the schoolhouse and work hard for yourself.

Sadly, as everyone in this room knows, far too many kids in this day and age, when going through the schoolhouse door, are heading in the wrong direction. They’re going out, not in, and the dropout rate is around 40 percent in this state – the worst in the country.

It is time for the Democratic Party in Texas to stand up and say these are our children. Estos son nuestros ninos. We cannot stand idly by and watch almost half of each generation drop out of school and forgo the opportunities that Texas provides.

The Republicans want you to believe that we are on the right track to solving our education problems. Don’t be fooled. The so-called “Texas Miracle” is nothing more than a politically expedient mirage. Enron-style “accountability” has corrupted the curriculum and increased the dropout rate, and it’s left our kids needing more remedial help when they get to college.

That is what is really happening, my friends, and it is time for us to say enough is enough. We can no longer simply accept test-driven curriculums that are driving away our children in droves. We know how to improve our schools. We need to put principals and teachers back in control of schools and classrooms, give them textbooks that aren’t censored by special interest word police, the materials they need to teach, the technology needed for kids to learn – and then we might really witness a miracle.

Testing isn’t the answer; it’s just one way to ask the question. The folks running schools from Austin think they can use tests to make our kids smarter. Tests don’t make our kids any smarter than a ruler will make you taller, but Rick Perry and the lobbyists for the testing companies either don’t get it or hope you haven’t yet figured it out.

We need a governor who wants to take advantage of the knowledge that exists to make schools better and who is committed to making our public schools the best in the country. Not just better. Not as good as Arkansas. The best. No wiggle words. The best schools in the country. That’s a vision as big and exciting as Texas.

Education needs to be the main course, but there’s so much more on the table for us to chew over.

With the highest teen pregnancy rate in the country, Texas Democrats need the moral courage to stand up and protect birth control and give our kids the medically accurate information they need to know so they don’t get pregnant in the first place.

With college tuition rising faster than anywhere else in the country, Texas Democrats must show people that Rick Perry’s “deregulation” scheme has failed, and we must put and end to runaway tuition increases—what amounts to a tax on education for the middle class.

And with corporate cash infecting our elections, and 9 lobbyists for every state lawmaker in Austin, Texas Democrats need to demand political reforms that make our campaigns and our government more transparent and accountable.

And with more than 500 kids dead of child abuse and 150,000 kicked off health insurance, Texas Democrats need to get up every day and tell Republicans that budgets are moral documents that should reflect our priorities and not a wish list for wealthy campaign contributors.

For too long, we have assumed that all we really need to do is wait for people to realize just how bad Republicans are before they started voting for Democrats again.

It is not enough to be right about them being wrong. We have to start defining a future not just for the Texas Democratic Party but for Texas as a whole.

We can no longer charge into battle and assume that our armies are right behind us. We need to give Democrats something to fight for.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for finding common ground, but when you have to choose between your conscience and compromise, you’ve got what I think is an easy choice. After all, Jesus didn’t need a dial-tested focus group to convince him to kick the moneychangers out of the temple. And David didn’t use third-party surrogates to attack Goliath. He picked up the five smooth stones and did the slinging himself.

With a Republican in his second term in the White House, Republican majorities in the House and Senate both in Washington and in Austin, and a Texas Republican Governor who wants to parlay six years of incompetence into yet another term in the Governor’s Mansion, maybe, just maybe it’s time to try something new. Maybe—borrowing here from the accidental wisdom of Rick Perry as he sought to avoid a traffic ticket—it is time to “get on down the road.”

We’ve tried to out-Republican the Republicans, and all we’ve gotten for it is a demoralized base, demoralized donors, demoralized activists, and demoralized leaders. Our unwillingness to challenge the other side has given us the most corrupt and incompetent Texas government in a generation. It is our duty to restore Texas pride.

Our struggle for relevancy in the 21st Century in Texas is no longer about Ralph Yarborough versus Lloyd Bentsen, the liberals versus the conservatives. It’s not about narrowing the definition of a Democrat down to its purest essence. Our charge is to reach out to the true silent majority—the New Mainstream. Our duty is to articulate a positive vision of the future that unites all Texans. And we do this by talking about Democratic values, which I believe are the true shared values of Texans, and not by abandoning them at the first report of gunfire.

This is what I am talking about when I talk about the New Mainstream. Rick Perry can put a fence around his folks and tell the rest of us “Adios, MoFo,” but Texans want a leader who has the moral courage to apply something as radical as common sense to our problems and who has the vision to lead us into a tomorrow worth fighting for.

There is a disaffected majority of Texans in the state who are waiting, just waiting to find the basic moral courage to talk about the world the way it is and not the way it polls. They are waiting for us to stop pandering to the issue of the day and to start offering visionary solutions to create a tomorrow that they can get excited about.

The New Mainstream is waiting for the Democratic Party to start getting serious about solutions.

In short, how can we call ourselves “progressive” if we fail to offer progress?

This is where I want to lead the Texas Democratic Party if I decide to run for Governor. My exploratory campaign is coming to a point this month when I’m going to have to make a decision. And I’ll tell you with all honesty that I’m not running unless the Democratic Party is ready to hear how a Democrat wants to tackle our challenges, and not how we’d do it just a little bit differently than the Republicans.

The time for that is long past.

Welcome to the New Mainstream, my friends. If we choose to stand together, no one can defeat us. If we work together, there’s not an election we can’t win. We restore Texas pride and we can build a better Texas together.

Thank you.

We are getting a lot of folks yellin' "Amen", and "Tell it, Chris Tell it". Chris finishes his speech to a standing ovation.

Q and A

When are you running?

I will make a decision this month. His wife is battling breast cancer and has finished her treatment and recovering. He's gotten a great response over the last few months. We must get past our "defeatist attitude".

Kudos from one lady for filing the ethics complaint against Tom DeLay.

Tom DeLay is a gift that keeps on giving. We have to demand a more ethical state government.

Are God, Guns and Gays are killing the party in West Texas?

We allowed the Republicans to hijack the moral agenda and it's time for us Democrats to show folks what we stand for and we need to set the moral agenda. Taking care of the poor and the oppressed (abused mothers and kids) is a moral value that we are dedicated to. Jesus had the most radical agenda ever and us Democrats are cut from the same cloth.

2:10
The GLBT caucus is being held at the bar. I swung by and enjoyed the libations with them. We will see you guys at the next meeting. I apologize if my typing becomes erratic from here on out.

3:00
Well, that's it folks! I am heading home. It's been an interesting day and I hope you guys liked the coverage.

Live Blog of State Democratic Executive Meeting

By Damon McCullar

Hey folks! I will be at the State Democratic Executive Committee meeting tomorrow live blogging the speakers. Coverage will start around 1pm.

ACL Schedule Out

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Look over here, and take a gander at the Austin City Limits schedule (which of course is the inspiration for this category, as well as the pattern used for all the major Texas cities' categories on this site).

The headliners:
Friday - Lyle Lovett/Black Crows
Saturday - Widespread/Oasis
Sunday - Coldplay

Musselmans at MeetUp

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Tonight my father (and mother) will be coming up to Austin. After winning his city council seat back in Fredericksburg in May, he's become a bit of a rural Democratic star and thusly, we have been asked to be the featured speakers at tonight's July Democracy for America- Austin Meetup. The details are here and posted below. Come out and give a hollar!

Mother Egan's
715 West 6th Street (MAP)
Austin, TX 78701
512/478-7747

Mark Strama's Speech

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

If you attended the Democracy Fest Bloggers Caucus or heard about it, you'll know that State Rep. Mark Strama's speech on technology and campaigns was an important one as well as a crowd pleaser. Here is a full transcript of what he talked about. It's something every Texas (and beyond) Democrat should read in regards to how our party must integrate technology into our campaigns, not to replace the hard work of old, but to make it more efficient and effective.

Speaking of technology, check out the new DNC website. Click on the Democracy Bonds BlogAd to learn how to sustain your Party. It's a brilliant marketing strategy for the DNC, basically selling something as unglamorous as recurring monthly contributions into something that you can take ownership in (as well as get a snappy signed 'bond' from Howard Dean). And hat tip to the DNC for making an investment into the progressive blogosphere on this one. I'm sure that almost every site they are running on has talked about that ad (as well as some bloggers getting personal calls from Gov. Dean).

I'm sure we are too small to get noticed on that level still, but it's a major shift in approach from the last cycle. (Our phone is on though, just in case.) I look forward to their rollout of new tools and the big message plan that is coming later this fall.

Austin Moving Forward Liveblogging

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Latinos for Texas is liveblogging the Austin Moving Forward Conference with George Lakoff and others. Check it out.

DemFest Coverage

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

KUT, our radio station here, has an audio report on DemFest. There was also an Austin Chronicle and News 8 Austin report on it, located here.

Also, just to note, the Democratic nominee for CD 22 against DeLay is now 99% officially former Rep. Nick Lampson as Houston city councilman Gordon Quan has said he's not going to get in the race and is endorsing Lampson, who currently has a June fundraising "star" on his website.

Save Player's

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Sign the petition to Save Player's all you Austinites.

Read about what the University is trying to destory with its Eminent Domain powers in this Texan article.

DemFest Wrap Up

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

If you are looking for a good, overall in depth run down of events at this weekend's Demfest, I'll point you to this Kos diary from one of our Williamson County neighbors to the north.

Also check out this hilarious post from the KosatDemFest blog.

Here are some pictures from the weekend as well.

And if you have nothing else to do...

Dean in Austin

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

If you want to see DNC Chairman Howard "My Party is not as White as Yours" Dean this weekend, he will be at an Austin fundraiser downtown titled "Don't Mess with Dean". You can buy tickets here. He will also be in Houston and Dallas on Friday.

DemFest on CSPAN

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Democracy Fest, to be held this weekend in Austin with about 900 people from all over the country (and world), will have a segment aired on C-SPAN on Saturday. Tune in around 3:50 CST for the training segment called the "DeLay Factor".

Two More Dems Looking at HD 47

By Andrew Dobbs

With Keel's abdication of the increasingly competitive HD 47 has come a deluge of potential candidates. Initially three Democrats-- attorney and former Glen Maxey and Jim Dunnam staffer Hugh Brady, health care lobbyist and former City Council candidate Gregg Knaupe (pronounced "Nap" for the uninitiated), and Democratic activist and attorney Duffy Keever-- were rumored to be considering the hunt. Now two more have been rumored, and reporting rumors as fact is our business here at BOR .

The first is Texas DNC member David Holmes-- one of the youngest members in the history of the Committee and a tireless advocate for Texas' needs on the national Democratic level. He is also Hubert Vo's chief of staff and a great young Democrat. Having said that, as of right now 4 of the 5 rumored potential candidates are friendly acquaintences (or in a few cases, outright friends) of mine so I'll be keeping my cards close to my chest.

Second is Texas Democratic Party Vice Chair for Finance Dennis Speight. Speight is also a staffer for State Rep. Chuck Hopson and former president of the Texas Young Democrats. He lives in the district (I'm not sure about David, of the other three only Knaupe lives in the district), he and his wife are involved in local community organizations and he can raise money very well. He too would make an exciting candidate and great representative. He is also a friend of mine, so at the risk of sounding obsessive, I'll remind everyone of my caveat. I don't support anybody, I don't oppose anybody in this race at this point, particularly since no one is actually running.

Obviously my sources in regards to the GOP are rather paltry-- I have to read what the papers say. Gerald Daugherty (Travis County Commissioner) and 1992 HD 47 candidate Bill Welch (who, blast from the past, lost the GOP nomination to Susan Combs whose life in the Southwest Austin suburbs qualified her to be Ag Commissioner) are tinkering with running. We'll see how the race shapes up.

Keep tuned to BOR for all the news you could ever want on this and other developing 2006 races and be sure to let us know what you think about the proposed candidates.

UPDATE: I have been criminally remiss in not mentioning one of the biggest and earliest names floated, which slipped my mind until I was just reminded-- Jason Earle. Earle is the son of Travis County DA Ronnie Earle and head of community relations for Girling Health Care here in Austin.

Quorum Report is also dropping the name of former NFIB (National Federation of Independent Businesses) director Jeff Clark. I am assuming that he would be a Republican (though if he is not, I'll be the first to say a Mea Culpa).

Jennifer Kim elected to Council

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Election results are in for Austin City Council elections and 2nd place finished Jennifer Kim (in the first round) pulled through to become the 1st place finisher in Saturday's Run-off by a 7 point margin in a 9% turnout election. From the Elections Dept..

Jennifer Kim / 19,527 / 53.52%
Margot Clarke / 16,956 / 46.48%

I need to see tomorrow what regional patterns there are beyond the expected Margot advantage in the Central City. I'll try to make up a precinct by precint win map (if any reader can direct me to a great city of austin precint map, that will really help me with this project, link to it in the comments.)

I couldn't vote in this election as my registration was back home in Fredericksburg. I'm not particularly bound to either candidate and thought both of them would have done a fine job for the City of the Austin. Congratulations to Kim, even though Campus precincts had miserable turnout, the two oncampus did go for Kim. One of them by a 2-1 margain. As in 2 votes for Kim, one for Margot. Less than 1% turnout in an area that saw 99% turnout last November. Students are more focused on national politics over local, and were also not anywhere near polling locations in this election.

Better Late Than Never: Margot Clarke and the Toll Road Lobby

By Andrew Dobbs

So I meant to get this up before now, seeing as there are only 20 minutes are so left before the polls close. One way or the other, I think it is important that the people of Austin are aware of what's going on in this race.

Margot Clarke has been running a race that is focused largely on her refusal to take "toll lobby money." At one forum she even expressed an openness to the Austin Toll Party's attempts to recall Mayor Will Wynn, Councilman Brewster McCracken and Councilman Danny Thomas. She has flouted her endorsement by the largely Republican and right-wing Austin Toll Party and tried to make herself out to be the sole opponent to toll road expansion in Austin (though all four original candidates and both of the runoff candidates are equally opposed to toll roads).

Her proud claim to accept no toll road lobby money would be all well and good were it actually true. The Austin American-Statesman is reporting that Clarke has admitted to taking at least $1100 in toll road money and has been forced to give the money back. Furthermore Clarke has claimed that Mandy Dealey endorsed her after the first round, a complete fabrication. Her endorsement lists have contained people who did not ask to counted as her supporters, and at least some who were actually known supporters of other candidates in the race.

The fact of the matter is that Margot Clarke has run something of a dishonest campaign. I like her positions on environmental issues, but her lack of candor and her history of instability threatens the ability of the City Council to function. I didn't support her in the first round, and I'm not supporting her this time.

Its not too late to vote, find your polling place and hurry!

Austin Early Voting Starts Today

By Byron LaMasters

Today is the first day to vote in the Austin City Council Place 3 run-off between Margot Clarke and Jennifer Kim.

Early vote locations here.

I voted just about an hour ago, and I think I'll just keep yall guessing as to who I voted for. I do not intend to issue a personal endorsement in this race. I am a member of four local clubs. Of them, the Central Austin Democrats, Austin Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus and the Austin Stonewall Democrats have endorsed Margot Clarke. The University Democrats have endorsed Jennifer Kim.

Smokin'

By Jim Dallas

I've not always had the highest opinion of CounterPunch, since they're a tad on the nutty side sometimes (then again, aren't we all?).

Still, I didn't expect they'd run a fairly good article reviewing restaraunts in Lockhart, the barbecue capital of Texas.

I've always wanted to stop in Lockhart on the way from Austin to Houston, but have always been deterred by time or lack of money.

University Democrats Endorse Jennifer Kim

By Byron LaMasters

The University Democrats endorsed Jennifer Kim for Austin City Council at a specially called meeting today. While many students will have already left Austin by the time of the run-off election, the endorsement of Kim means that the APC (Austin Progressive Coalition) will not endorse in the run-off and no APC flyers will be handed out for the run-off. The Austin Progressive Coalition forms to support the candidates endorsed by both the University Democrats and the Central Austin Democrats during city elections and Democratic primaries. All APC endorsed candidates and ballot measures won in the election on Saturday (Leffingwell, Dunkerly, Smoking ban and ACC).

Austin's Real World

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Because everyone else and their dog is linking to the Austin-American Statesman article about the Real World cast leaving Austin (finally), we here at BOR would like to wish them a farewell as well. I remember once almost running over a couple of cast members on my bike on the drag, so that's about as "real" as my world gets with them.

Here's the story.

Photo Gallery

Austin Bloggers React to the Smoking Ban

By Byron LaMasters

Pandagon, Norbizness and Urban Grounds are not happy about the new Austin smoking ban. I was genuinely conflicted about the ban. I made up my mind only about 10 minutes before I cast my vote - a rarity for me.

As a progressive and as a Democrat, I was quite conflicted. Several governmental principles that I value came into conflict. On the pro-ban side, I valued the idea of protecting bar employees from second-hand smoke. I believe that all employees should be able to work in a safe environment, and second-hand smoke is definitely harmful to one's health.

On the anti-ban side I agreed that business owners should be able to decide what is best for their business. As a Democrat, I believe that as long as a business pays their fair share of taxes, pays their employees fair wages and benefits, supports the local economy and environment - then they should pretty much be unrestricted by government in the decisions that they make regarding their business. This was the best argument that the anti-ban folks made, and I had sympathy for the their position. Another good argument against the ban was that previous anti-smoking restrictions were placed on some establishments two years ago. Many of those businesses spent thousands of dollars to comply with the new restrictions by installing separate ventilation systems. It's bad for business to force them to spend lots of money every two years to meet new requirements.

However, the selling point for me was the UD/CAD/APC endorsement meeting. At that meeting the speaker for the ban, David Butts, made a very passionate speech in favor of the ban. Butts is an Austin Democratic political consultant for which I have a great deal of respect. On the opposing side, the anti-ban speaker made several of the aforementioned arguments, but also several very un-compelling ones. The idea that live music in Austin will die, or even seriously suffer because of the ban lacked substantial proof. Furthermore, some of the anti-ban spokesmen questioned the risk of second-hand smoke. That's silly. There are good arguments and bad arguments for and against the ban, but those two were bad.

Studies have shown that smoking bans may have a short-term negative effect on some businesses, but in the long term I doubt that it will make a difference. Seriously, does anyone really believe that San Marcos will replace Austin as the live music capitol? In fact, I know a good number of non-smokers that have said they would go out more to clubs and bars if there is a smoking ban. I personally will take issue with Urban Grounds on his assertion that people who voted for the ban will not go out to bars and clubs. Well - I voted for the ban, and spent a good deal of money last night at bars and clubs on 6th and 4th street. I had a few drinks, and didn't smoke (or drive for that matter). I had a good time, and was more than happy to support the Austin economy.

May 6 is No Pants Day

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Celebrated for years now, and an Austin invention, the first Friday of May (meaning tomorrow) is No Pants Day. Here is the schedule.

7-9 am. Capital Rally
Hanging out at the Capital, for the early-rising, hardcore celebrants. We're gonna promote No Pants Day to people early in the morning downtown. It'll be a blast to be out in no pants when those not in the know are milling about doing their work. Meet on 11th, in front of the gates, just south of the Capital.

9am-5pm. West Mall
The main event. No Pants Day Rally on the West Mall on the UT campus. Shirts, music, games, songs, handing out fliers, and just plain celebrating.

7pm- Miniature Golf
Mini Golf at Peter Pan Mini Golf. 1207 Barton Springs.

So, here's some things we need for The West Mall-
*musical instruments
*frisbees
*snacks
*handmade signs.

ACL Rumors

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Life Distilled, an austin blog, brings us what could be the preliminary ACL festival band list. While I don't agree with their characterization of Blue October as "less exciting" it is exciting to see Coldplay in the mix.

Someone “on the inside” saw the list and says confirmed acts are: Widespread Panic, Jimmy Cliff, Allman Bros. Black Crowes, Coldplay, Wilco, Oasis, Robert Randolph, Black Keys.

Here are some less exciting bands that will be there:

Fri 09/23/05 Blue October
Fri 09/23/05 Dave Alvin & The Guilty Men
Fri 09/23/05 DeSol
Fri 09/23/05 Robert Earl Keen
Fri 09/23/05 The Ditty Bops

Sat 09/24/05 Bettye LaVette
Sat 09/24/05 Buddy Guy
Sat 09/24/05 Dierks Bentley
Sat 09/24/05 Low

At least the bottom half of the list seems to be more or less true, as a friend of mine confirmed Blue.

Worst of Austin Poll

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

I don't know where it came from, but hey, if we have the Best of Austin, why not vote on the worst.

Poll here.

It's good to see of course that Perry is leading the way in one category...

Worst Politician

1. Governor Rick Perry : 102 (76%)
2. Mike Krusee - man behind CapMetro Rail Plan : 18 (13%)
3. Leslie - our favorite transvestite mayoral candidate : 15 (11%)

Place 4: Jennifer Gale "gets no satisfaction"

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

I was wandering around the web and came upon the Austin City Council video statements at the city election site. Though I'm not going to sit through a dozen videos, I was interested in 15 (17?) time candidate Jennifer Gale, transgender homeless former Marine who many of us on campus have come to know and love (well, a few of us). Last election cycle when Gale ran in an AISD election, she carried 3 of the 6 campus precincts and her chalk advertisements and round paper ads posted on electricity boxes in West Campus are common place.

But her video. You just have to watch it. The best part is when she breaks out in song at 3:44. I've cut the 4 best clips apart for you to watch if you have limited speed and bandwith.

Watch...

On the Ballot (1 Mb)
Finest Political Team (1.2 Mb)
I'm Sexy (1.3 Mb)
Gale Sings the Rolling Stones (3.8 Mb)

Full Version in WMV (28 Mb)
Full Version in MPG (37 Mb)

Transcript Highlights for the full verison-

min:sec
00:00 Hi Austin, it's springtime again!
00:17 < holds up her flyer >
00:27 Really, who votes on a Saturday so please, vote early.
01:00 Remember, the first thing you do is vote for the last name on the ballot, Jennifer Gale.
01:22 I'm also going to hire a wheelchair bound student intern to complete the finest political team ever assembled.
01:34 Or you could be my mascot. Every team needs a mascot!
02:06 Now many of you are going to elect me because you feel I'm sexy, and that should go without saying. But I want you to vote for me because we are going to be there for each other.
02:44 A newspaper owned by Austin like the Green Bay Packer owns the Packers.
03:08 As a former US Marine, I will come to you, to your high school to meet with you to promote our PTAs and share a potluck dinner and discuss issues.
03:44 < sings Rolling Stones- I Can't Get No Satisfaction >
04:12 My other opponent Wes Bennidict ran 2 years ago in Place 6, in the American of African heritage place.

Conservative Groups Support Gregg Knaupe

By Byron LaMasters

In recent days, Austin Place 3 city council candidate Gregg Knaupe has received support from two conservative organizations - The Young Conservatives of Texas and the right-wing newspaper, The Austin Review.

YCT writes the following about the Place 3 race (via email):

Austin City Council Place 3 - The four candidates are all Democrats, but there are big differences. Endorsed by the Austin Police, centrist Gregg Knaupe opposes the smoking ban, supports building roads, and denounced the affirmative action taxpayer-funded bailout of a private nightclub. Left-wingers Margot Clarke and Mandy Dealey have both been lobbyists for Planned Parenthood and can be counted on to put salamanders before humans. Jennifer Kim gave money to liberal Ann Kitchen when she ran against Rep. Todd Baxter and supports quotas in city hiring.

The editorial board of The Austin Review writes the following in their endorsement of Gregg Knaupe:

It would be a travesty if some conservatives voted for a leftist like Margot Clarke simply because she opposes toll roads. Both Clarke and Mandy Dealey have had as their lifelong occupations liberal political activism for groups like Planned Parenthood and the Sierra Club. Both support the smoking ban and will be guaranteed votes on the Council for higher taxes and more regulation. In contrast, Gregg Knaupe opposes the smoking ban, spoke out against the outrageous Midtown Live night club bailout, and will be a common sense voice for fiscal restraint on the Council.

Conservative Austin blog, Voice in the Wilderness has also endorsed Gregg Knaupe:

This is the most competitive race of the three. Clarke and Dealey are liberal ideologues and clearly out of the mainstream, even for Austin. Kim and Knaupe are more intriguing. Both seem less nutty than the others and have some economic development chops, at least for Democrats. I like Knaupe’s vision for the medical school and how it can help with both economic development and indigent health care. Pulling it off will be tricky, but he seems to have thought through the idea and his health care cache will help make it happen.

VitW endorses Greg Knaupe for City Council, Place 3.

Gregg Knaupe is not a Republican, but it is clear to me that many of his supporters represent the right-wing of Austin City politics.

City Council Endorsements

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

If you wanted to know how all the Groups in this City have endorsed for the City Council races, see below.

Austin Progressive Coalition PAC (Central Austin Democrats & University Democrats)
Place 1, Lee Leffingwell
Place 4, Betty Dunkerley
Smoking Ordinance -- FOR
ACC Expansion -- FOR

Austin Tejano Democrats
Place 1, Runoff vote resulted in No Endorsement
Place 3, Runoff vote resulted in No Endorsement
Place 4, Betty Dunkerley
Smoking Ordinance -- AGAINST
ACC Expansion -- FOR

Austin Lesbian Gay Political Caucus
Place 1, Lee Leffingwell
Place 3, Margot Clarke and Mandy Dealey
Place 4, Betty Dunkeryley

Black Austin Democrats
Place 1, Lee Leffingwell
Place 3, Jennifer Kim
Place 4, Betty Dunkerley

Capital Area Progressive Democrats
Place 1, Lee Leffingwell
Place 3, Margot Clarke
Place 4, Betty Dunkerley

Central Austin Democrats
Place 1, Lee Leffingwell
Place 3, Margot Clarke
Place 4, Betty Dunkerley
Smoking Ordinance -- FOR
ACC Expansion -- FOR

Huston-Tillotson Young Democrats Coalition
Place 1, Andrew Bucknall
HTYD's will not be making endorsements in either Place 3 or Place 4.

North by North West Democrats
Place 1, No Endorsement
Place 3, No Endorsement
Place 4, Betty Dunkerley

North East Travis County Democrats
Place 1, Lee Leffingwell
Place 3, Margot Clarke
Place 4, Betty Dunkerley

Saint Edward's University College Democrats
Place 1, Lee Leffingwell
Place 3, Gregg Knaupe
Place 4, Betty Dunkerley

South Austin Democrats
Place 1, Lee Leffingwell
Place 3, Margot Clarke
Place 4, Betty Dunkerley

South Austin Tejano Democrats
Place 1, Lee Leffingwell
Place 3, Mandy Dealey
Place 4, Betty Dunkerley

South West Austin Democrats
Place 1, Lee Leffingwell
Place 3, Margot Clarke
Place 4, Betty Dunkerley

Stonewall Democrats
Place 1, Lee Leffingwell
Place 3, Margot Clarke
Place 4, No Endorsement

Texas Environmental Democrats
Place 1, Lee Leffingwell
Place 3, No Endorsement
Place 4, Betty Dunkerley

Travis County Democratic Women
Place 1, Lee Leffingwell
Place 3, Dual endorsement: Margot Clarke & Jennifer Kim
Place 4, Betty Dunkerley

University of Texas Democrats
Place 1, Lee Leffingwell
Place 3, Mandy Dealey
Place 4, Betty Dunkerley
Smoking Ordinance -- FOR
ACC Expansion -- FOR

West Austin Democrats
Place 1, Lee Leffingwell
Place 3, Margot Clarke
Place 4, Betty Dunkerley
Smoking Ordinance -- FOR
ACC Expansion -- FOR

Leffingwell Stays in Race for Place 1

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Lee Leffingwell, frontrunner for Austin City Council Place 1, is staying in the race as announced at his press conference this afternoon. His wife had passed on last week.

"My wife was a wonderful woman who cared for people and who cared about her community. Losing her is a great tragedy in my life," Leffingwell said at a Thursday morning press conference. "But it cannot and will not be the end of my life . . . I know that is not what she would have wanted.

"If I am fortunate enough to be elected by the voters, I will serve in honor of her memory," Leffingwell said.

I think that every Democratic group in town is also breathing a collective sigh of relief. Partly because if he had dropped out of the race, it would have made it wide open very late in the game, forcing people to re-endorse or actually have to look at the rest of the field again. My best wishes to Lee, and I hope to see him happy on election night when gets elected to the council.

Irony

By Byron LaMasters

It's a bit ironic that Rick Perry and Elton John both attend an event in Austin a day after John made a marriage announcement, and the same day that the Texas legislature voted to make gay marriage double secret illegal. The Austin American Statesman writes:

A day after announcing plans to marry his longtime partner, Elton John performed just blocks from the Texas Capitol, where lawmakers are working to put a gay marriage ban in the state constitution.

John performed at a fundraiser for tennis star Andy Roddick's charitable foundation, with Republican Gov. Rick Perry also in attendance.

In an interview with The Associated Press, John would not discuss personal matters, including Monday's reports that he planned to marry David Furnish, his partner of 11 years, later this year.

The same day as John's marriage announcement, the Texas House of Representatives approved a constitutional ban on gay marriage. State law already bans gay marriage from being recognized.

Also from today's irony department, check out this post from Pink Dome.

HJR 6 Update

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Ok, I had to go hunt this down on the LGRL blog to find out why today's second reading vote on HJR 6 means it was passed to the Senate without needing a third reading in the House.

Joint resolutions are used to propose amendments to the Texas Constitution, ratify proposed amendments to the U.S. Constitution, or request a constitutional convention to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Joint resolutions proposing amendments to the Texas Constitution require a vote of two-thirds of the total membership of each house for adoption. Other joint resolutions require a simple majority vote in each house for adoption. A joint resolution takes the same course through both houses as a bill and is like a bill in all respects, except that, in the house, if it receives the required number of votes at any reading after the first reading, the resolution is passed. Three readings are still required to pass a joint resolution in the senate.

And to think, any 2 Aye votes could have just voted present and not voting and this would have been that much closer to dieing. My personal gripe, shame on Rep. Patrick Rose. I gave money to your last campaign but don't be expecting any from me the next go round.

Leffingwell's Wife Found Dead

By Byron LaMasters

The Austin American Statesman reports that the wife of Austin City Council Place 1 candidate Lee Leffingwell was found dead this morning:

Mary Lou McLain, the board president for Family Eldercare and wife of City Council candidate Lee Leffingwell, was found dead this morning inside her Northeast Austin home.

Police are investigating the death as a suicide.

Police spokeswoman Toni Chovanetz said authorities received a call at 10:19 a.m. that a person had died inside a home on Bradwood Road. When they arrived, they found McLain's body. Police have not released the cause of death.

Mark Nathan, a spokesman for Leffingwell, said the campaign has suspended all activities and that a memorial service is being planned. He said Leffingwell likely won't decide for several days whether he will continue running for the Place 1 seat being vacated by Daryl Slusher.

There will certainly be political ramifications of this, especially if Leffingwell decides to drop out of the race, but at this point, it would be inappropriate to ponder such possibilities. For now, I know I speak for the entire BOR team in saying that our thoughts and prayers are with Lee Leffingwell and his family through this tragedy. I also hope that our readers, and the greater Austin community join all of us tonight as we pray for Lee Leffingwell and his family.

Rally to Save Texas Families

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

I'm floating this up since the event is in a few hours. The following is from Jake Holbrook, director of StandOut, recognized as the "Best New Organization" on campus this year.

In light of recent attacks on the LGBT community by the Texas legislature in the form of SB 6, an anti-gay foster care bill. It would seek to further solidify the place of the LGBT community’s members as second class citizens. StandOut of the University of Texas at Austin is organizing a Rally and Protest at the Texas Capitol, this Friday April 22nd.

What: Save Texas Families Rally and Protest
Where: In front of the Capitol Gates, 11th and Congress
When: Friday, April 22nd –
12:00 pm Gather and make posters,
12:30 pm Rally begins,
2:30 pm Rally ends.

Why:
StandOut has organized this Protest and Rally in reaction to SB 6 which seeks to reform the Texas Child Protective Services Agency. Rep. Robert Talton’s amendment to this bill though would do, among other things:

• Prevent Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual people from fostering children in the state of Texas
• Take the children away from all 43,000 Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual people already forming families
• Remove these children from loving, stable families and place them back into the already overburdened Foster Care system
• Emotionally destroy these Texas families
• Allows the new CPS Agency to conduct “investigations” into suspect foster parents not already officially identified as Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual
• Will cost the state of Texas an additional $8 million dollars every year

We will not tolerate this kind of discrimination. We will stand together. We will fight. We will make ourselves heard.

Jake Holbrook
Director, StandOut
Young People For, 2005 Fellow

Byron's Austin City Council Endorsements

By Byron LaMasters

I figure that I might as well make endorsements for Austin City Council for what it's worth. I voted on Wednesday for Andrew Bucknall, Mandy Dealey and Betty Dunkerly in Austin City Council Places 1, 3 and 4. I also voted for the smoking ban and for ACC expansion. My endorsements:

Place 1: Andrew Bucknall and Lee Leffingwell

I've been impressed with Lee Leffingwell's civic service, progressive Democratic record, and environmental activism. The more I've seen of Leffingwell, the more I've liked him. It is extremely likely that Leffingwell will win this election to fill the seat of Daryl Slusher, and he would serve Austin well. However, Bucknall also has a progressive Democratic record of activism in east Austin. Bucknall has revitalized the Huston-Tillotson University Democrats, served as a precinct chair, and on citizens' committees addressing affordable housing. Either Bucknall or Leffingwell would serve Austin well. I voted for Bucknall, but both are a solid choice for progressive leadership.

Place 3: Mandy Dealey

Place 3 has four qualified candidates to replace Jackie Goodman. All four bring new ideas and energy to Austin politics, and any of the four would be an asset to the council.

Margot Clarke and Mandy Dealey clearly have the longest record of Democratic and progressive activism. Clarke's work has been on the grassroots side of things, whereas Dealey's work has been more related to fundraising and serving on numerous boards. They've both contributed valuable work that certainly qualifies them for the council.

Jennifer Kim and Gregg Knaupe round out the field. Kim is an impressive first time candidate, and is very well-spoken, but she lacks the experience of Clarke or Dealey. Knaupe is running an impressive campaign, but he has received a great deal of money from developer and Republican sources, and while I trust his Democratic credentials, I worry that he may be strongly influenced by his developer and Republican friends.

As the campaign has progressed, it is clear that Margot Clarke and Mandy Dealey bring the best progressive credentials to the race. Of the two, I am most impressed with Dealey. Clarke is the type of anti-growth, anti-development candidate that is less likely to be able to compromise and negotiate with others on the council. Furthermore, of all four candidates, Clarke has the least comprehensive website as to her agenda on the city council. On the other hand, Dealey's background with progressive nonprofits make her the best qualified candidate to work towards consensus on the council from a progressive perspective. She also has an extensive plan of action for Austin on her website. I was proud to vote for, and I am proud to endorse Mandy Dealey for Austin City Council.

Place 4: Betty Dunkerly

I've already indicated my support for Betty Dunkerly, but I'll do it again. Dunkerly entered politics during the economic downturn, because she believed that her background in public finance and as assistant city manager of Austin put her in position to help the city through the economic downturn. She's always been very accessible and has the best interests of Austin at heart. We need more people like her in politics. I wholeheartedly endorse Betty Dunkerly for re-election.

Smoking Ban: Yes, no, maybe so, ok, I guess, yes

I debated with myself over the smoking ban for awhile. I'm pretty much indifferent to it. In the end, I found the arguments for the ban more genuine than the arguments against the ban. People who I respect have spoken passionately on both sides of the issue. I know that Andrew feels strongly about this issue, but I was also moved by David Butts's support of the smoking ban at the UD/CAD/APC endorsement meeting. I've constantly debated the merits of the bill and weighed the rights of property owners and the rights of smokers versus the rights of non-smokers and the health risks of second-hand smoke, especially for people that work at bars.

In the end, I still couldn't decide, but I broke the deadlock with the statement by one of the anti-smoking ban guys at the UD/CAD/APC meeting. He said something to the effect that there was little evidence to prove that second-hand smoke was a health risk to which a lot of us were very much taken aback. There are good arguments against the smoking ban, but questioning the health risks associated with second hand smoke is not one of them. For me, this was a tie-breaker. I voted for the ordinance.

ACC Expansion: YES

This was an easy vote. Austin Community College (ACC) expansion allows more young people the opportunity for a higher education, and forces suburbanites to help pay for it. If this isn't a no-brainer, I don't know what is.

No Pants Day is on its Way

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

May 6th, the last day of classes, it's coming...

Come on, you know you want to share the No Pants Day love. Click on the icon and take it from there to save it and add it as your icon.

You Student Government types...be prepared is all I have to say.

Latinos for Texas Endorse

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Andrew Bucknall - Place 1
Margot Clarke - Place 3
Betty Dunkerly - Place 4

Via here

Early voting at the UGL on campus today yielded 178 voters.

The Daily Texan Endorses

By Byron LaMasters

The Daily Texan Austin City Council Endorsements:

Place 1: Lee Leffingwell
Place 3: Mandy Dealey
Place 4: Betty Dunkerly

Smoking Ban: NO (dissenting opinion here)
ACC Expansion: YES

More on the Kerry Event

By Byron LaMasters

For some rather snarky coverage of Saturday's Kerry event, check out In the Pink Texas. I sat near Eileen Smith in the press section, and we had the opportunity to chat a little bit afterwards. For some great pictures of Kerry at the event, check out these by frequent BOR commenter John W Walthall.

Update: More pictures from Jake McCook, here.

Statesman Endorses Leffingwell, Kim and Dunkerly

By Byron LaMasters

Leffingwell and Dunkerly were forgone conclusions, but Kim is a bit of a surprise. You can read the Austin American Statesman endorsements here.

Chronicle Endorsements

By Byron LaMasters

Newspaper endorsements usually don't mean much, but I always follow the Austin Chronicle endorsements in Democratic primaries and city elections with interest. I think that a lot of people, especially in South and Central Austin see the Chronicle as their local paper, and take their opinions, especially their editorial page seriously. With that, check out their endorsements:

Austin City Council Place 1: Lee Leffingwell
Austin City Council Place 3: Margot Clarke and Mandy Dealey
Austin City Council Place 4: Betty Dunkerly
Smoking Ban: YES and NO
ACC Expansion: YES

No major surprises in places 1 and 4. Leffingwell and Dunkerly are pretty much foregone conclusions, although I'm glad that the Chronicle had some kind words for Andrew Bucknall. Every progressive and practically everyone who supports education will vote to expand ACC. The waffling on the smoking ban is a cop-out, but I understand their wishy-washiness. I've been back and forth on the issue myself.

Finally, their dual endorsement in Place 3 is a bit of a surprise. The Chronicle endorsed Margot Clarke in her first run for city council, so I'm surprised that they strayed from her a little bit, and forced her to share an endorsement with Mandy Dealey. Needless to say, this is great news for Dealey. Her campaign got off to a slow start, but she has gained much momentum in the past weeks.

Late Night Posting

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

I'm a bit scared right now. Because every time I tilt my head to the side, I notice John Kerry looking at me as he leans up against my wall. Thank goodness he's just made of cardboard. And yes, he's so spending the night, considering I've already grinded with him on the dancefloor at this weekend's UDems party.

He's coming to campus this Saturday you know, and there is a place to signup (admission not guaranteed) here.

Oh, and I must have forgotten to link to this great picture of me looking like I'm about to punch myself in front of UDems endorsed City Council candidate Mandy Dealey.

City Council Finances

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

In the realm of not all that interesting blog posts, I bring you info from the Gregg Knaupe campaign 30 finance report! (Of course, if you are like my father back home and are self-financing a much smaller city council race then there is nothing to file but anyways...)

from the Knaupe blog which is back up again...

The campaign filed it’s 30 day out campaign finance report yesterday. The campaign raised $50,685 for this reporting period, giving us a grand total of $60,733 raised from the beginning of the campaign to the present report. The campaign spent $27,870, the smallest amount of any of the campaigns.

The total cash on hand right now is $46,963, which is more than all the other place three candidates combined.

Oh, and I noticed today that the Margot Clarke campaign has changed their quote from me on their main page sidebar, from the "Margot has the momentum back post" to some of my comments about vision, when I wrote about each of the candidates a while back. But that was on April 1, not March 28 as her site says, though it's not really an issue, just something that probably wasn't updated from the other quote.

Smoking Ban

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

A little birdie told me that polling on the Smoking Ban Proposal on the Austin Ballot May 7 shows that the group of people most in favor of the ban, are those that attend live music venues.

That's got to throw a bit of a wrench into the anti-ban crowd's arguements...

Live Webcam!

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Well, for the next hour or so I'll be out here at the UDems Shack-A-Thon. You can see me on LIVE NUDE GIRLS our temporary webcam here, an idea that we may expand to meetings and beyond! If you want to converse with my on AIM, I'm howarddean13. Or leave a comment.

Response about Chairs

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

This is for all of you freaks worried about City Council meetings turning into Springer Style Chair Throwing episodes if Margot Clarke gets elected to the city council. Thanks to Sharon for writing in.

Dear Karl -

It has been brought to my attention that a comment was made on the Burnt Orange website that "Margot Clarke had been fired from Planned Parenthood" and "threw a chair". Both statements are totally false!

I was Margot's supervisor for the majority of the time she was employed at Planned Parenthood of the Texas Capital Region. She resigned her position as Director of Public Affairs to pursue other opportunities, and never threw a chair while an employee. In fact, Margot is one of the most loyal, dependable, hardworking people I've had ever known.

Margot is very qualified to represent Austin citizens on the City Council. She has a long history of fighting for the issues important to us as a community and will make an outstanding member of the City Council, if elected.

Thank you for posting a correction as appropriate to the false comments that were made about Margot.

Sincerely,

Sharon Bettis
12140 Tunnel Trail
Manchaca, Texas 78652
512-292-1341

UDs / CAD Endorse

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Well today's 4 hour long endorsement meeting was fun. I'll cut to the chase and let you know the results.

Both the Univerisity Democrats and Central Austin Democrats endorsed Lee Leffingwell in Place 1, Betty Dunkerly in Place 4, and YES votes on the proposed Smoking Ban and ACC District Annexation.

CAD went to a run-off in Place 3 between Margot Clarke and Gregg Knaupe and endorsed Margot Clarke, though that wasn't a big suprise. UDems went to a run-off between Margot Clarke and Mandy Dealey and endorsed Mandy Dealey. A lot of people's votes shifted very late in UDems, for a variety of reasons, towards Dealey, and the runoff was not one decided by just a couple votes or anything.

Of course, I'm not allowed to release the vote totals of any of the balloting because UDems has this informal agreement of not allowing it, which is no where in the constitution and when push comes to shove, I'm sure could be a FOIA issue or something that probably is a tad illegal if anyone really cared. I might draw up some language to clarify it in the constitution to all the numbers to be public later on since it's always bugged me.

APC Endorsements

By Byron LaMasters

I liveblogged the meeting earlier today, but I shut off my computer shortly before voting took place. Here are the endorsements made today by the two organization:

University Democrats:
Place 1, Lee Leffingwell
Place 3, Mandy Dealey
Place 4, Betty Dunkerly
Smoking Ban, YES
ACC Expansion, YES

Central Austin Democrats:
Place 1, Lee Leffingwell
Place 3, Margot Clarke
Place 4, Betty Dunkerly
Smoking Ban, YES
ACC Expansion, YES

All candidates and ballot initiatives except the Place 3 endorsees are also endorsed by the Austin Progressive Coalition, so if you live in Central Austin, you'll be getting your yellow doorhanger in the coming weeks.

The Place 3 race went into a run-off with both clubs. CAD had a run-off between Margot Clarke and Gregg Knaupe, which Clarke won easily. UD's had a run-off between Margot Clarke and Mandy Dealey, which Dealey won as many Clarke supporters only voted in Place 3 and left the meeting early.

Liveblogging the APC/UD/CAD Endorsement Meeting

By Byron LaMasters

I'm liveblogging the joint city council endorsement meeting of the Austin Progressive Coalition, University Democrats and Central Austin Democrats. Andrew is sitting next to me, so he'll be adding some thoughts later as well. Also liveblogged at Alert The Inter.net.

10:55 AM: The forum started with the place 1 candidates.

Andrew Bucknall spoke first and was well received. He emphasized his work as President of the Huston-Tullitson University Democrats and with the Martin Luther King neighborhood association. Bucknall said that he was the “grassroots progressive” choice for place 1 and served in various other capacity.

Next Lee Leffingwell spoke about his background also as a lifelong Democrat, his military experience, and his passion for environmental protection. Leffingwell also spoke of the need for greater mass transit with an emphasis on light rail and bike lanes. He also noted the need to better fund city services. Finally, Leffingwell noted that every city Democratic club except for the H-T young Democrats had endorsed him.

Casey Walker spoke as a lifelong Austin resident, and spoke much on student issues. Walker noted his endorsement of toll road opponents and Independent Texans.

11:14: First question for Walker. Says that he is a registered Indepdent (ed. Note, there is no party registration in Texas). However, he noted that he voted for John Kerry

Question two for Leffingwell on his involvement with the ACLU’s project on banned books. Leffingwell worked with the ACLU to issue a report on banned books in public schools in Texas and says that it has been a great experience.

Smoking ban. Leffingwell opposes the idea, but says he is taking no public position. Bucknall and Walker oppose the ban as well.

Last question on what issues are most critical to students. Tuition and public education and mentioned as the major issues by all candidates.

11:35: Margot Clarke spoke first. Speaks of Austin background and experience with non-profit advocacy. She stresses her involvement with Planned Parenthood, League of Conservation Voters and the Sierra club. States her Democratic credentials and of her canvassing in Ohio for John Kerry in the 2004 election. Speaks of investing in the future of the city, cleaner air and water, etc. States her endorsements notably Democratic one.

Mandy Dealey starts off with a laugh that she’s the first candidate here that was not a native Austinite, but that she got here as quickly as she could. Mandy is also wearing burnt orange and said that she hoped that it would send a subliminable message – to quote our president. Dealey speaks of how welcoming Austin was for her and her son many years ago. Dealey was proud of her involvement with the local and national boards of Planned Parenthood. Dealey also spoke of work with the mental health association. She long-range planning, problem solving, consensus building and developing a budget.

Jennifer Kim spoke next. She spoke of her work on environmental protection for state sen. Judith Zafferini (D-Laredo). She stated that this work in poor minority communities around the boarder was extremely rewarding. Also mentions her work on affordable housing. She mentions her work in former East Germany in the U.S. state department as part of her diverse level of experience. She wants more affordable housing for Austin. Mentions the aquifer as an important reason for the need to have an important relationship with the legislature.

Gregg Knaupe spoke last. Said that he came to Austin in 1987 and fell in love with the city. Mentions his work for State Rep. Barry Telford and his work on the 1990 Ann Richards as evidence that he is a lifelong Democrats. Stresses the importance of dealing with Austin’s growth in order to prevent people from being left out or left behind – strategic land use planning. Mentions that he works for the Texas Hospital Association as a lawyer. Notes his emphasis on health care work. Mentions his federal, statewide and local experience on various issues in addition to health care, notably affordable housing.

Question for Gregg Knaupe for his support of Prop 12 in 2003 on tort reform. Knaupe stated that he voted against Prop 12, and has problems with it, but the Hospital District had it on their agenda. Another question for Knaupe regarding Austin Police Department allegedly funneling money through the Real Estate Council spending money in his campaign. Knaupe said that he was unaware of what activities APD would be engaged in, and told the questioner that he would have to ask APD.

Next question was on the smoking ban. Kim is voting for the smoking ban. Dealey supports smoking ban as does Clarke. Knaupe doesn’t really answer the question. Says that he’ll support the will of the people.

Andrew asked if any candidates were supported by the Austin Toll Party which is seeking to recall elected Democratic officials. Dealey, Knaupe and Kim state that they have not been supported by the Austin Toll Party. Clake says that she opposes the recall efforts, but opposes toll roads and is proud to stand up against it.

12:17 PM: I started to drift off as the q&a continued on for awhile. Place 3 is completed, Place 4 is starting now with Betty Dunkerly, Jennifer Gale and John Wickham.

Dunkerly speaks first. She is running for re-election. States her background in city governments in Beaumont and Austin. She said that her experience prepared her to make the tough decisions during the recent economic downturn by cutting the budget and keeping the tax rate the lowest of any major city in Texas.

Jennifer Gale spoke next wearing a yellow shirt with Martin Luther King on it. She attacked David Butts and the Chamber of Commerce for supporting Betty Dunkerly. She attacked Wes Benedict (who was not even present) for working for the Libertarian Party. She attacks Butts again and the light rail system. Jennifer Gale certainly adds comic relief to these type of things. Once again, today, she has not disappointed. At the end she also attacked the GLBT community for supporting candidates that do not support them. I’ll be asking a question in that regard.

John Whickham spoke next. If someone was listening, post it in comments.

It was asked if the candidates were Democrats. Dunkerly stated that she supported many Democrats and Democratic causes but is an Independent. Gale mentioned that she ran for Congress as a Democrats. Wickham said that she was a swing voter.

I told Jennifer Gale that I was a board member of the Austin Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus, an organization that has endorsed Dunkerly. I asked if she was aware that candidates were required to fill out a questionnaire in order to speak before the organization. She attacked the organization as mean-spirited and urged candidates in the future not to attend their meetings.

Next question was on the smoking ban. Dunkerly will vote for the ban. Gale mentioned that smoking kills, but sought compromise. She complained that no one listened to her.

12:33 PM: Next was the debate on the smoking ban. David Butts spoke against the ban. Butts said the human costs of covering uninsured people of lung cancer was much higher than the amount of fees that could potentially be collected by fees. Next a small business owner with a punk rock club spoke against the ban. He stated that he didn’t smoke, but that the vast majority of his customers did. Next was a question regarding second hand smoke. The business owner stated that second hand smoke did not necessarily cause lung cancer – the same argument made by decades by cigarette manufacturers.

City Council Update

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

First, here is a semi-live blog post about Wednesday's Place 3 City Council Forum thanks to Tim.

As far as the forum went. It changed minds. For a race that has has 4 great candidates, it is certainly hard to set them apart. But the forum certainly rearragned my own choices, though I have some commentary about all the candidates. (btw, 25 members joined last night and voting membership is now locked thanks to our little Constitutional Amendment that was passed for this endorsement.)

Commentary below the fold!!!

Margot Clarke- If there is any candidate in this race that provides what I can call a "vision" it's Margot. It's not too hard to tell that when it comes down to it, Community and the Austin flavor are at the heart of any decision that she might make. It's comforting to know as easily as it is with Margot where her heart it, so even if I don't know how she might vote on any specific proposal, and have a sense of where she is coming from. Granted, that shouldn't be a reason to vote for a candidate by itself (see the case with Republicans and Bush), but it's nice to see in a Democrat for once. Margot has been a friend of University Democrats for a long time and certainly has support there. The big question this week is how much of the membership are naturally Margot supporters or how many Margot supporters are now suddenly part of the membership...

Mandy Dealey- If anyone was a winner of last night's forum, it was Dealey. For someone who made horrible first impressions with UDems (in her frantic, hair ruffling, my car might get towed speech) last night she connected with and audience of students (even though she's the senior candidate in the race) and came across as quite motherly. Her responses showed her depth of knowledge of the issue, as well as how she might go about solving particular problems. Her clear statement that the Smoking Ban was a public health issue, plain and simple was a total plus for me as well as her concept of a Commission of Students from area Universities to work, dialouge, and interface with the Council was awesome, and if that was an on the spot idea, even more so. All semester long I didn't think I would ever be tempted by the Dealey campaign, but that changed last night as she swayed more than one officer's vote and a number of the members.

Jennifer Kim- From the very beginning I have been a supporter of Ms. Kim. I'm not one to turn away from candidates just because they are new, young, or it's "not their time". I can tell that she's doing this for the right reasons and no matter what happens, I hope to see her name on the ballot somewhere once again. But I was a bit disappointed last night, because what I saw as youth, fresh ideas, and enthusiasm, gave way to unpreparedness and a bit of nervousness on the understanding of some issues. I would have appreciated an "I don't have enough information on that issue to give an appropriate response" to some questions than what I heard, though that goes for a couple candidates at various times. People have been challenging me all semester as to having a good reason to vote Kim over others. I have been waiting for that reason, and I do not believe I was given one last night.

Gregg Knaupe- I've been a bit hard on the Knaupe campaign here on BOR. Gregg came off well at the forum, though he has a John Kerry-esqe ability for loooong answers, running over his time limit on almost every question. It wouldn't be so bad if it also weren't for the policy wonkish density of his answers, which would be great in front of the business crowd, but not a UDems Forum. Though his (and Kim's) respecting the choice of the voters on the smoking ban is a cop-out (and likely signal that they are opposed to it) it fits with his pro-business campaign.

But it still feels like the Knaupe campaign is just another Brewster McCracken/Will Wynn white male business guy snoozefest that is attempting to attract support from Liberal organizations to balance his otherwise more moderate background. Come on, he worked for the Texas Hospital Association (compared to a more progressive groups like Planned Parenthood, Sierra Club, etc. like Margot or Dealey). He didn't lose any support last night, but I don't think he gained any either.

City Council Endorsement Meeting

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

First, a new semi-old pic of me with Katie Naranjo, our newest BOR writer and possible candidate for TYD Region 6 Thingamagig (which Byron is now).

Location: GSB 2.124
Begins: Saturday 2 April 2005 10:00am
Ends: Saturday 2 April 2005 12:00pm

UDems MEMBERS: This Saturday is a very IMPORTANT meeting.

It is our endorsement meeting for City Council. We will vote on the candidates that we support for Place 1, 3, and 4 and two ballot propositions. It will determine how we are involved with city council for the rest of the year.

Please come to vote for your favorite candidate. The speakers start at 10:30 AM, but free breakfast will be provided starting at 10:00. Please don't miss this important event. It will be in our regular meeting room: GSB 2.124.

Afterwards, we will be having a party of some sort that will involve free stuff for those who attend the meeting. Please make plans to spend the day with us. See you Saturday!!!!

Please note: the constitutional ammendment to limit voting members for this Saturday's meeting to only those who became members as of this past Wednesday passed unanimously.

NO MEMBERSHIP WILL BE GIVEN ON THE DAY OF THE ENDORSEMENT.

Austin Place 3 Candidate Forum

By Byron LaMasters

It's tonight at 7:30 in the Jester Auditorium. Karl-Thomas and Katie will be busy performing their duties as UD officers, but Andrew and I will try and liveblog it if there's a decent wireless internet connection. You can read my thoughts on the Austin City Council races here.

Update: The forum went well. The wireless was down, so Andrew and I didn't have the chance to liveblog. I got bored 15 minutes into the forum and went outside where I chatted with Andrew, several of the campaign staffers and DNC member David Holmes. Holmes's boss, State Rep. Hubert Vo (D-Houston) attended the meeting. Another one of Vo's staffers is volunteering for Jennifer Kim, and wanted to attend the meeting, so Vo and Holmes ended up attending as well. After the meeting I decided to pick up dinner at Freebirds, and use my free burrito card that I won last time I ate at Freebirds. Interestingly enough, David Holmes and Hubert Vo were also in the mood for burritos, and after running into them again, I ended up sitting down and eating dinner with them.

It was nice to have the opportunity to chat with Representative Vo. I told him that I was looking forward to working with other bloggers to help his 2006 campaign, at which point he made a kind remark of Houston blogger Greg Wythe. Greg did a lot of voter registration work in and around Vo's district. Regardless, it was fun to sit down and chat with Hubert Vo and his staff.

My thoughts on the Austin City Council Races

By Byron LaMasters

I wanted to follow-up on Karl-Thomas's post the other day on the Austin city council races. In preparation for the University Democrats and Central Austin Democrats (Austin Progressive Coalition) endorsement meeting on Saturday, I wanted to post some brief thoughts on the races.

Place 1: Lee Leffingwell is the frontrunner for Daryl Slusher's open seat. He's a decent Democrat, and I'm sure will make a fine councilman. However, I'm inclined to support my friend, Andrew Bucknall. Andrew was the re-founding president of the Huston-Tullitson University Democrats, and I've worked with him to integrate his chapter into the Texas Young Democrats.

Andrew calls himself the "grassroots progressive choice for place 1", and is a Democratic precinct chair in east Austin. I think that it is important to stand up and support fellow young Democrats when they run for office, so I plan on voting for Andrew at the UD/CAD/APC endorsement meeting on Saturday. You can read more about him here.

Place 3: Only in Austin would this race be possible. Here we have four more-or-less progressive Democrats fighting for a single city council seat being vacated by Jackie Goodman. On many levels, the four candidates are indistinguishable from one another. Margot Clarke and Mandy Dealey clearly have the longest record of Democratic and progressive activism. Clarke's work has been on the grassroots side of things, whereas Dealey's work has been more related to fundraising and serving on numerous boards. They've both contributed valuable work that certainly qualifies them for the council.

Jennifer Kim and Gregg Knaupe round out the field. Kim is an impressive first time candidate, and is very well-spoken, but she lacks the experience of Clarke or Dealey. Knaupe is running an impressive campaign as well with endorsements by the Central Labor Council and law enforcement organizations, but Knaupe is hindered by the fact that a victory by him would leave only one woman (assuming Betty Dunkerly is re-elected) on the seven member city council. That is an issue that weighs in the minds of many voters.

Unlike Karl-Thomas and Andrew, I have no preference order. Sometimes, I think that I should just flip a four-sided die before I cast my vote - it's that silly. Seriously, flip a coin or something. This race is hard to gauge. I agree with Karl-Thomas that Clarke is probably the frontrunner at this point. However, I could see any of the three other candidates making a runoff with her. Eventually, I'll probably make my decision of who to vote for when I enter the voting booth.

Place 4: This race is the easiest for me. Betty Dunkerly is one of these public officials committed to good government above all else - the type that are in politics for all of the right reasons. She's an Independent, and in most circumstances I would be looking for a progressive Democrat to run for the seat.

However, Dunkerly entered politics during the economic downturn, because she believed that her background in public finance and as assistant city manager of Austin put her in position to help the city through the economic downturn. She's always been very accessable and has the best interests of Austin at heart. We need more people like her in politics. I wholeheartedly endorse Betty Dunkerly for re-election.

City Council Forum

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Dear Austinites,

You are invited to attend the Place 3 City Coucil Forum sponsored by the University Democrats (and SG, and Senate of College Councils, and UT Watch) to be held this Wednesday, March 30, at 7:30 PM in the main Jester Auditorium.

As the most competitive place on the ballot, all four candidates will be attending including Margot Clarke, Mandy Dealey, Jennifer Kim, and Gregg Knaupe.

The candidates will field questions from a panel of UT students regarding issues such as housing development in the campus area, the Austin economy, and transportation, as well as take questions from audience members.

More information located here.

Also up for a vote by UDems members will be a Constituional change to extend voting rights to those having paid dues as of the end of the Wednesday Forum in an attempt to protect the endorsement meeting from being stacked by any of the campaigns.

As an aside, it feels as if Margot Clarke has regained her frontrunner status from Gregg Knaupe with her recent series of endorsements. While the UDems endorsement is far from locked down by any campaign, I sense a shift in Margot's favor among the membership at large. That and the fact she has a 139 person strong facebook group, 96 of which are in the UDems facebook group. It is filled with progressives, a number of campus leaders, former UDems officers. I'm a bit impressed.

My personal order of candidates (for the moment) is Kim, Clark, Knaupe, Dealey. This week should be interesting and I think the Forum is going to be critical for a lot of people's votes in our Saturday endorsement meeting.

Aw Hail!

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Well, it hailed some mighty fierce tonight. Golf ball sized in some places, and it didn't take long for it to pop up with on the ground reports here on the Internets. About.com's Austin section has a report with some pictures here.

I was actually driving with some friends (after having watched one of them get a tatoo on his back) over to Kerbey Lane on Kerbey Lane when we ran into the rain front. And then the hail front. We couldn't even see the hood of the car through the windshield. So after some screaming and such we drove off the side of the road, into a parking lot, and took refuge behind the side of a building. Twice.

Talk about a flash flood, I've never seen something that fierce in Austin, the Hill Country yes, but not here. I think the streets really highlight the runoff affect. I'm hoping that my father's campaign yardsigns survived the attack out in Fredericksburg. I'll try to have a report tomorrow.

Austin City Council Endorsement Update

By Byron LaMasters

I listed the endorsements made for Place 3 for Austin City Council made earlier this week by NxNW Democrats, ALGPC, and Stonewall Democrats. Here are some more endorsements in the past few days:

3/21: CAP-D (Capitol Area Progressive Democrats): Margot Clarke
3/21: TED (Texas Environmental Democrats): No Endorsement
3/23: Austin Neighborhoods Council: Margot Clarke

I must say that the Margot Clarke campaign has done a relatively good job of consolidating her base (progressive grassroots) considering the size of the field. If the Clarke campaign had planned a little bit better, they probably could have won the NxNW (word is that they lost that one by a single vote).

I also learned today that the St. Edward's University Democrats have endorsed Gregg Knaupe.

Bus Survey and Election Reform

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Do you ride the busses here in Austin as a University Student? What about the campus routes in particular? Take this short survey from Parking and Transportation services to help them out. This has been a public service post.

Also, Election Reform Forum....

Could SG Elections be BETTER for you?
Got Concerns? Bring'Em On!

- Eliminate the Ticket System?
- Make it Easier for Students to Run?
- Host Debates in your College?

Thursday, March 24
WELCH 2.246 - 8:00 PM

Protest Culture

By Jim Dallas

The Washington Monthly has a piece up about contemporary protest culture. The author concludes:

Perhaps in an age when blogs have given average people the pundit's power to bring down network anchors and Senate leaders and shape the nation's political agenda, dissenting Americans no longer need protests and marches to be heard. Yet there remains among many a need for something more—to have an adventure, to experience an historic event, to make direct connections with like-minded people. This existential desire, plus a certain nostalgia for the good old days, fuel much of contemporary march culture. Which is fine: Protesting for protesting's sake serves a market. But so do rock concerts and tractor pulls. If today's marchers want their efforts to mean a great deal more than that, they would do well to recognize the real reason why the marches of yesteryear are remembered. It wasn't just about the messengers. It was about the message.

This reminds me of an episode during my freshman year of college. I was bored one afternoon so I started walking around downtown Austin just to learn about the place. Eventually I managed to run into an anti-death penalty protest that was being organized down in Republic Park. To be honest, I've always been somewhat against the death penalty (because, frankly, there's something tacky and morally offensive about the degree to which capital punishment is employed in this state); although to be sure I've also always been more or less indifferent.

So I stopped by just to see what was going on. A couple minutes later somebody handed be a placard. It wasn't too much longer before I was more or less caught up in the moment, which I went along with mostly out of sheer Gonzo-esque curiousity. After all, we hear a lot about this great Austin protest culture, so I wanted to know what it was all about.

(At the time, I was a peon page-designer at the Texan; despite the fact I had no power over editorial copy at the time I never found it coincidental that the managing editor gave all staffers a good warning about getting involved in protests a few days later).

But my experience begs the question - how many people are involved in these things by accident, sort of like Forrest Gump?

Later on in my college career, I pushed the UDs to get active in the campus anti-war movement. There are of course somethings that are so important and likely to sway opinion (as I think a lot of people thought in the months before the war in Iraq started) that people of good conscience have to be involved. And then of course there's everything else.

Austin City Council Update

By Byron LaMasters

My apologies for light posting recently. I have a paper due at 3 PM tomorrow, so once that's finished, along with some needed sleep, I'll be back to more regular blogging. In Austin City politics, our city council races are picking up steam with Lee Leffingwell and Betty Dunkerly the frontrunners in Place 1 and 4 respectively, while the open Place 3 is pretty much wide open. The Austin Chronicle has more on the recent developments in the race. Three progressive organizations held their endorsement meetings tonight. Their Place 3 endorsements are here:

NXNW (North by Northwest) Democrats: No endorsement
ALGPC (Austin Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus): Margot Clarke and Mandy Dealey
Austin Stonewall Democrats: Margot Clarke

I have not endorsed in this race, although I did make the motion for a dual endorsement at the ALGPC meeting tonight. ALGPC rules require a 60% majority for an endorsement, and no candidate had even a simple majority on the first ballot. However, the combined vote of the top two candidates, Dealey and Clarke was 70% of those voting on the first ballot, thus a dual endorsement of the two was the logical motion.

A Tale of Two Ciggies

By Jim Dallas

Houston and Austin are dealing with the problems of second-hand smoke in public places in slightly different ways.

The Houston city council passed a smoking ban in restaraunts - but not in bars or in outdoor areas - on Wednesday. The Houston Chronicle writes:

Under the ordinance, which goes into effect Sept. 9, the city will continue to allow smoking in bar areas within restaurants, in outdoor dining areas and in free-standing bars. Mayor Bill White proposed the measure as a compromise between the economic interests of restaurant and bar owners and anti-smoking advocates who pushed to ban smoking in all public indoor spaces.

The ordinance also bans smoking in covered bus shelters and in taxis that are not designated as smoking vehicles.

Under the previous ordinance, all public buildings could have designated indoor smoking areas, as long as they were clearly marked and properly ventilated.

"Today council acted decisively to make more of Houston smoke-free," White said after the 9-4 vote. "This is Texas, where we do balance freedoms."

Meanwhile, in Austin, which may or may not be part of Texas (it depends on what the meaning of "is" is), and where the freedom-balancing scales apparently are broken, the people will get to vote on the following ballot proposition on May 7:

"An ordinance repealing Austin's current ordinance relating to smoking in public places and replacing it with a new ordinance that maintains the current prohibition against smoking in most public places, including workplaces, and expands the prohibition against smoking to apply to all bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, and billiard parlors, except for restaurants with restricted permits that are renewable through September 1, 2012."

The Austin Chronicle writes:

Battle lines are now in place over the upcoming public vote on a new Austin ordinance that aims to ban smoking in nearly all public places, including bars, music venues, and bowling alleys. As anticipated, City Council voted on Thursday to place the newly proposed ordinance language on the May 7 ballot, for the voters to decide whether to strengthen the less-restrictive anti-smoking ordinance that went into effect in June of 2004. The city clerk had certified on Monday that Onward Austin, the group promoting the ordinance, had gathered enough petition signatures – more than 36,000, representing 10% of Austin's electorate – supporting a strict, new ordinance to force city action. On Tuesday, local bar and club owners, fearing a loss of business, filed a federal lawsuit against the city in hopes of heading off the ordinance, and continue to organize an opposition campaign. At the same time, anti-smoking forces say they are adding business owners and other high-profile supporters to their ranks.

Which solution to this Dreaded Cloud of Tobacco Smoke is better? Depends on who you ask.

The Daily Cougar, the student paper at UH ran a story today on student reactions to the Houston ban, which has been generally positive (although others would opt for a complete ban like in Austin). Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights, however, lambasted the Houston plan as weak policy, and it looks like they'll try to push for total abolition in Houston. Will it succeed? I don't know, but considering (1) that the City Council rejected an amendment that would ban smoking in all public places by a whopping 10-3 vote, and (2) that it's not like air pollution is exactly a novel concept to Houstonians, I somehow doubt we'll see a total ban anytime soon.

Ironically, though, half-way measures create interesting incentives for some owners. The AusChron tells us the story of one local businessman:

At least one business owner has broken ranks with his colleagues. Reed Clemmons, owner of the Bitter End, Reed's Supper Club, and Mezzaluna, spoke Thursday in favor of the complete ban. He said the current ordinance puts his bar-restaurants, each ineligible for a smoking permit, at an unfair disadvantage against smoking bars, and he blames the cost-prohibitive ventilation systems required to allow smoking in bar-restaurants. "My happy hours are down 40% since the current ordinance took effect," Clemmons said. "The best-case scenario would be to let bar owners decide whether to allow smoking or not. But in reality, I know that's never going to happen in Austin again. … I have to fight for my business interests." Clemmons considers the proposed complete ban as effectively leveling the playing field among all kinds of bar venues.

Indeed, there's at least ample evidence that a laissez-faire policy works. The Daily Cougar story, for example, tells the story of Ziggy's Healthy Grill, i