Glen Maxey to Join Bell Campaign

this is great news!!! (0.00 / 0)

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by: David Mauro @ Mon Jun 26, 2006 at 22:12:26 PM CDT

very (0.00 / 0)

I really as giddy talking on the phone. And yes, my love for the Chris Bell campaign did just jump up quite a few notches. Of course, this will probably put a slight cramp on McBlogger reporting, but you know.

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Mon Jun 26, 2006 at 22:15:58 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Hell, if this gives Chris some life... (5.00 / 1)

... nothing would make me happier!

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by: McBlogger @ Mon Jun 26, 2006 at 23:49:50 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Count me in that corner as well. (0.00 / 0)

And enough of the 38% solution.

Be bold. It's frickin' TEXAS!

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

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by: boadicea @ Tue Jun 27, 2006 at 00:40:21 AM CDT

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I bet I don't have to explain who Bell is for much longer (0.00 / 0)

Glen will really get the message out. Yay Glen! And my positive feelings for Bell have increased greatly.

Hill Country Ride for AIDSmy HCRA Page

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by: BeckyH @ Mon Jun 26, 2006 at 22:37:13 PM CDT

sunshine, puppies, and unicorns? (2.00 / 1)

I'm a hobbit blogger myself, with an occasional elf leaning post, now and then.  Either way it will take the unity of all our peoples, to save middle earth.  I say we join the fellowship.

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by: sonia @ Mon Jun 26, 2006 at 22:37:33 PM CDT

Dream Team (2.00 / 1)

We are all lucky to have someone as talented as Glen bringing his expertise to the Bell Campaign. My check is in the mail. Ya Basta!

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by: john mcleod @ Mon Jun 26, 2006 at 22:46:20 PM CDT

My check... (0.00 / 0)

Would have been nicer if Glen was bringing his expertise to the party itself and all the candidates. Not just one.

My check is in the mail as well. But not to Bell.

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by: Baby Snooks @ Mon Jun 26, 2006 at 23:04:49 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

may i ask to whom? (0.00 / 0)

not kinky ...

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by: David Mauro @ Mon Jun 26, 2006 at 23:07:17 PM CDT

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Actually two checks and a letter (0.00 / 0)

Actually I am sending two checks.  One to Utopia. And one to Kinky and his hairdresser's designated charity from the sale of their Farouk Friedman olive oil. I'm also sending a letter asking Whole Foods to carry it. 

http://oasisofpeace.org

http://faroukfriedman.com

Kinky a racist?  Hardly.  He puts his money where his mouth is. And where his heart is. Maybe his mouth gets in the way of his heart at times. But his heart is still where it is and his heart is in a good place.  Loves animals. Loves kids. Would like to see real peace in Israel.  And doesn't just talk about it.  Or about changing it. He does it.  What have the other candidates done except talk?

As Hillary put it, it takes a village. And Kinky is helping one. In Israel.

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by: Baby Snooks @ Mon Jun 26, 2006 at 23:33:26 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

If you must (0.00 / 0)

Really?

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Mon Jun 26, 2006 at 23:41:57 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Against my better judgement (5.00 / 1)

I'm replying to this.  Yeah, Kinky's heart appears to be in the right place on a lot of things, but Kinky doesn't "get" separation of church and state.  I expect he doesn't understand the complexities of a lot of other things he likes to talk about either.
(Help me, before I reply to Baby Snooks again!)

Mgleaf

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by: Mgleaf @ Tue Jun 27, 2006 at 00:28:22 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Some of us believe in a God (0.00 / 0)

"...but Kinky doesn't "get" separation of church and state."

Some of us believe in a God. Some of us believe the Ten Commandments are more than just a mythical tablet etched in stone by the God of Abraham and are instead good standards by which other standards can be set.  My problem with the Ten Commandments in the courthouses in particular is that most don't read them. They just stick them on the wall. And then proceed to ignore them. 

Particularly the one about not bearing false witness. Ask a juror who sat on one of the growing number of juries that condemned someone to death, only to find out later that evidence was suppressed by either the judge or the prosecution or that false testimony was given by someone with the knowledge of it being false testimony by the prosecutors, how they feel about this.

I personally am offended by public prayers, which are quite common, which focus on this "Christian" belief in Jesus Christ our Savior. Yours maybe, not mine. 

But by the same token, I think most children would benefit from some religious or philosohical thought each morning. Something every day to expose children to the diversity of the belief in a God as well as the diversity of people. As well as giving them a standard to live by. And to set other standards by.

It would certainly  counter the hatred quite a few "Christian" children are taught at church. 

Kinky is not for "Christian" anything.  And has never said he was. The Republicans have said they are. You refuse to believe he is not a Republican. He is not a Republican. Or a Democrat. He, like many of us, simply has gotten tired of the partisan politics and the corruption of both parties that have brought us to where we are in this country. And we are not in a good place. I will continue to vote Democratic. But I have serious doubts finally about the party itself. 

Try something other than he's a racist and a religious fanatic. Or that I'm not a Democrat because I don't support Chris Bell. Doesn't play well to a lot of people. Really doesn't.

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by: Baby Snooks @ Tue Jun 27, 2006 at 01:04:32 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Why the Ten Commandments? (0.00 / 0)

Commandments 1-4 (1-3 in some divisions) are explicitly Judeo-Christian monotheistic in nature (no other gods, graven images, Lord's name in vain, Sabbath day).  Without assuming the validity of such a religious faith, how are they good standards by which other standards can be set?

I respect people's reverence for the Ten Commandments.  But I question whether  it's necessary or appropriate to cultivate ethical behavior in children specifically through a set of instructions 30-40% of which concern principles of faith.  Instead of a vague momemt of "religious or philosophical thought," why not revive a tradition of American education and restore civics and ethics classes to our elementary schools?

"In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican." - H.L. Mencken

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by: PI Lawyer @ Tue Jun 27, 2006 at 02:35:38 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Taught by whom? (0.00 / 0)

"Instead of a vague momemt of "religious or philosophical thought," why not revive a tradition of American education and restore civics and ethics classes to our elementary schools?" 

Taught by whom?  Our elected officials?  Most of whom probably can't even tell you how to spell ethics? Or how about having lawyers teach ethics to schoolchildren? No offense but most lawyers probably can't even tell you how to spell ethics either.

The Ten Commandments are to be found in the Koran, just not all together.  So they are not just Judeo-Christian standards.  All religions teach basic concepts of some of the commandments such as you have no right to lie, you have no right to steal and you have no right to kill another human being. All philosophy is based on the concept of ethos.  Collective ethics.  Not just the ethos of rhetoric. Rather the ethos of society.  The higher good.  What is the higher good.  Not what someone can convince you is the higher good.

Want to compromise and have the Three Commandments?

How are they good standards? Why don't you try reading them some time?

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by: Baby Snooks @ Tue Jun 27, 2006 at 03:00:16 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Ten Commandments in the Courthouse... (0.00 / 0)

Instead of God's law, which man is woefully inadequete to judge, why not put up a copy of the Bill Of Rights?

It's really more appropriate anyway for a secular Republic.

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by: McBlogger @ Tue Jun 27, 2006 at 09:49:22 AM CDT

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Shoot (0.00 / 0)

I'd be happy if most Christians would hang up a copy of the Beatitudes in the sanctuaries of their churches.

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by: carmelita @ Tue Jun 27, 2006 at 09:59:08 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

My Point (0.00 / 0)

Is that the universal ethical content of the Ten Commandments boils down to a few simple, straightforward concepts that don't require any reference to the explicitly religious Decalogue to be taught.  I also know that the Ten Commandments are found in the Koran, but the point is the same.  The Koran's commandments 1-4 are also unique to a particular monotheistic faith, and have no ethical content outside of the validity of that faith.

I never denied that the other Commandments are good standards (though I think many would also disagree about the adultery one, at least its general interpretation forbidding cohabitation and other non-traditional forms of sexual expression), but a secular humanist could teach those rules just as well as a Buddhist or a pagan.  My point is that telling kids that it's wrong to kill, lie, steal, and covet isn't exactly earth shattering.  I think even now most kids know that those things are "wrong."  But I assume you would agree that teaching a set of abstract rules is far from cultivating a real sense of ethical or moral behavior.  That requires critical thought, reflection, debate, and discussion, which don't result from putting a list on a bulletin board.  As your own examples indicate, the problem with ethics is not that people don't KNOW what the rules are, it's that they give them insufficient respect or consideration, or their personal calculus about ethical conflicts or trade-offs are wrong.

As for who would teach them, I was thinking more along the lines of the same people who teach the other classes - you know, public school teachers?  I also think civics education is a key part of that curriculum.  I'm disturbed by the fact that our schoolchildren don't even seem to understand the values of our own Constitution.  When over half the kids polled think the government should be able to limit speech if criticism goes "too far," then America is really in trouble.

"In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican." - H.L. Mencken

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by: PI Lawyer @ Tue Jun 27, 2006 at 15:45:34 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Any Christian worth his/her salt (0.00 / 0)

knows that Jesus came down to earth to wipe the slate clean and set forth new laws for future followers/worshippers to believe in.

Which is why the choosing of the Ten Commandments by Christians has always been curious to me.  "The Golden Rule" really, truly, supersedes the 10 Commandments if you're a Christian.  Why we don't see these so-called Christians advocating for it to be placed inside our courthouses is dumbfounding.

The Old Testament is just that, old.  Any  law/teaching set forth by Jesus trumps anything written before the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

As far as whether the 10 commandments are good standards to believe in, I can agree with you on that.  It just seems that putting those on top of our courthouse seems to be extremely arbitrary.  Unless of course you're doing it for religious reasons... which, if you are, then see above.

I find it hard to believe that the Sumerians were running around killing each other and then cavorting with each other's wives with reckless abandon.

thejeffersonian.blogspot.com

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by: Cincinnatus @ Tue Jun 27, 2006 at 10:39:09 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Thats great news... (2.00 / 1)

Glen will whip some ass.  Gotta get them dems away from kinky and strayhorn.

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by: Morter Forker @ Mon Jun 26, 2006 at 23:12:11 PM CDT

I am whole heartily on Board now. (3.50 / 2)

Before I was supporting Chris Bell with the feeling I was just going through the motion. I am now supporting him with the feeling we are going to win. Yea Glen!!!! Ya Basta!!!!!

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by: Ken22640 @ Tue Jun 27, 2006 at 01:48:25 AM CDT

Ya Basta indeed. (2.00 / 1)

I was wondering how long it was going to take for that to find it's way in to this thread. hah.

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Tue Jun 27, 2006 at 02:01:12 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I am really curious (0.00 / 0)

I'm not trying to flame or anything, I really want to know. 

I like Glen Maxey and I've been lukewarm toward Bell. At this stage of the game, I am undecided.  I think Bell's recruitment of Maxey does send a message of unity and indicates that the man has some common sense.

That said, is hiring Glen Maxey really all it takes to turn around your opinion of Bell?  Does this, all by itself, improve Bell as a candidate?

Someone named "the boz" posted over at TxKos (emphasis added):

I heard Chris Bell speak here in Houston, and I was not impressed with what he said.  He did not inspire me to support him, he just sort of coasted through and said some of the things to let us know he's not a threat to us liberals.  However, he didn't really give us any vision.  It was all a bunch of "save the children" bullshit peppered with a few comments on other issues.  I don't watch a lot of TV, but I've seen Rick Perry, Kinky Friedman, and "Grandma", but never saw anything advertising Chris Bell.

I have nothing against Mr. Bell and prefer him over the others just because of the (D) next to his name and his assurances that he is not a threat to liberal causes.

Assures Democratic voters he's not a threat to liberal causes?

If that's not being damned by faint praise, then what is?

Granted, that's just a message board post.  But before the primary, I read that in his term in Congress he voted for the bankruptcy bill and for all of Bush's tax cuts.  And then explained those votes saying, perhaps he would have voted differently knowing what he knows now.

Hiring Maxey tells me he's smart enough to want to win.  It doesn't tell me he stands for Democratic values.  I've met Bell once, never heard him speak.  He does not make much of an impression, and I was distinctly unimpressed with his blase attitude towards greeting voters.

Moreover, I'm not assured by someone who assures me he's not a threat to liberals.  Like many voters in the Connecticut Senate race, I have some doubt that a "D" next to someone's name automatically makes them more trustworthy on the issues. 

Does hiring the right campaign consultant really suddenly make this guy okay?

Okay.  He's an anti-Perry, and he probably wouldn't kick a bunch of kids off CHIP.  But to paraphrase Jim Hightower, if the good Lord had intended us to vote the straight ticket, he'd have given us Democrats to vote for. 

Maxey will go a long way towards getting Bell's message out.  Let's hope his message adheres to progressive values and that he means it.  Right now, I still have my doubts.  I'm not voting for Glen Maxey.  I'm voting for a governor.

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by: carmelita @ Tue Jun 27, 2006 at 06:52:15 AM CDT

OK... (0.00 / 0)

So then read his website, and all the issues he stands on. Lowering the emphasis on high stakes testing. Investing funds in stem cell research. No vouchers - period. Raise teacher salaries to the national average. No more tax breaks to Exxon-Mobil and the like. Lower the cost of insurance/utilities by appointing commissioners that do the job of the people, and not of the big businesses. Honest sex-ed courses to help fight teen pregnancy. Increased investments in alternative energies (I heard he just met with Smitty the other day about this one).

Sorry -- when I interviewed Chris before the primaries, the very least of my concerns was that he had good Democratic values. And the guy probably gives a solid B+/A- in speeches -- the most important part being, he's got excellent quotable one-liners that get into the paper (his coverage in the papers the last month has been much, much better than Strayhorn/Kinky's).

The guy's a great candidate.

Now, a very great man once said that some people rob you with a fountain pen.

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by: Phillip Martin @ Tue Jun 27, 2006 at 09:02:58 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Well.. (0.00 / 0)

"It doesn't tell me he stands for Democratic values."

Except he says he does.

"And then explained those votes saying, perhaps he would have voted differently knowing what he knows now."

He didn't know what Democratic values were when he votd for Republican legislation?

"Maxey will go a long way towards getting Bell's message out."

What message? Only message so far seems to echo the newspaper editors. He will work well with a Republican legislature.  Thanks, but no thanks.

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by: Baby Snooks @ Tue Jun 27, 2006 at 13:23:45 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

hope (0.00 / 0)

I am hoping this will be a small concession to the folks who wanted nothing to do with the TDP after the Convention.

It certainly makes me feel better about things, and a lot better about Chris Bell's campaign chances.

www.stonewalldemocratsofdentoncounty.org

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by: John McClelland @ Tue Jun 27, 2006 at 15:20:45 PM CDT