Noriega Raises Green

let's be honest (0.00 / 0)

this number is a tremendous disappointment.

$570k in a quarter???

That won't get it done.

Your first quarter is almost always the easiest to raise money in.  You go after the low-hanging fruit...friends, family, co-workers, past contributors.

This is a huge let down and defies all of the talk about being "people powered". I don't know how much you can contend people support you when people refuse to support your campaign financially.

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by: colin @ Tue Oct 02, 2007 at 09:46:51 AM CDT

True and False (0.00 / 0)

Yeah, this is a bit of a let down, for his first quarter he should have raised much much more. The Presidential candidates come t Texas because we are a giant pocketbook. The money is there, he's just not getting it.

This does not dispel the people powered movement though. People are poor and middle-class. The measure there is the number of donations, not how much.

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by: trowaman @ Tue Oct 02, 2007 at 10:49:39 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I agree. The more interesting comparison will be the number of (3.00 / 1)

each candidate's reported supporters from Texas. 

The amount of contributions will be one thing to compare in terms of general election viability.

And the number of supporters from outside of Texas will be another thing to compare in terms of buzz generation.

But the head-to-head comparison of the number Texas supporters (no matter how much or how little they gave) is the more relevant measure to answer the question of which candidate is more "people powered."

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by: StopCornyn @ Tue Oct 02, 2007 at 10:58:36 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

This is a good point (0.00 / 0)

But I still think that, at this point, the sample  is too small to be meaningful.  I have no idea, but I would guess that the percentage of people who have given to either campaign, compared to the number of people who will vote Democratic in the general election is rather small.  Nonetheless, the sad fact remains that money is much more of an influencer than grassroots efforts.  We need candidates who are willing to prioritize reducing the influence of money in our election processes.

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by: Hugh Stearns @ Tue Oct 02, 2007 at 12:08:39 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Spin (0.00 / 0)

Your attempt at spin should be making you dizzy at this point.  But nice try.

Todd

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi

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by: Todd Hill @ Tue Oct 02, 2007 at 10:07:34 AM CDT

Come on (0.00 / 0)

Clearly you are a big fan of Noriega and Colin is not.  But this is just another reactive replay to a well-made and reasonable comment.  I am more than a little disappointed in BOR's unwillingness to better protect open discussion.  While you have certainly not been the worst, as a featured writer, you, more than most, reflect BOR culture.  As such we expect more from you.  Maybe this is not fair.

Questions about Noriega have been met mostly by reactive derision and even unwarranted personal attacks.  Supporting a candidate does not have to mean an unwillingness to tolerate others who are uncertain, uncommitted or even those who support a different candidate. In my own search for reasons to support Noriega, this defensive reaction has made it nearly impossible to get good information, or, for that matter, to feel open to the idea of supporting him. This is bad tactic and even more so, it seems to be destructive of the mission that I assume BOR to have in regard to providing a venue for open and respectful dialog. Perhaps I am wrong about that mission.

To the point of the discussion about the amount of money that Noriega has raised, does anyone have real historical information about fundraising at this point of a Texas senatorial race?  I assume that we want to treat this race as if it can really be won, which will probably requires increased spending over past races. 

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by: Hugh Stearns @ Tue Oct 02, 2007 at 11:59:47 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Careful (0.00 / 0)

with your critiques on me, Hugh.  I didn't pile on you in the comments related to your post against Noriega.  I have been the least rabid of the Noriega "fans" on this site.

My original endorsement spoke for itself and I don't feel the need to have to explain it quite frankly.  My words speak volumes and they speak for me alone.  The essence of debate and discussion is to agree and disagree. 

That said, I also made a post about the Mid-Cities Democrats Jim Wright dinner where I met Mikal Watts and I was very impressed with him.  I didn't bash him or make any other reason in that post to show my support for Noriega over Watts.

I've taken additional steps to note on more then one occasion that I'll support either individual should they make it through the primary, which is more then what I can say for many folks on this site. 

I appreciate your thoughts, Hugh, regardless of whether I agree or disagree with you.  I choose to believe Noriega's haul this past quarter is very good and a strong sign of netroots and grassroots support.  That is a strong people powered campaign and I like that a lot. 

All the best,
Todd

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi

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by: Todd Hill @ Tue Oct 02, 2007 at 14:09:28 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Fair Enough (0.00 / 0)

Keeping our eye on the prize, we can all agree that people power is the best form of alternative energy.  Like you, I am prepared to support either candidate in the general election.  In the mean time, as we move through the primary season there are many issues to be considered and lessons to be learned.  I hope that this can be done from perspectives more diverse than just the Noriega Band wagon. 

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by: Hugh Stearns @ Tue Oct 02, 2007 at 14:51:14 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

A Rare Comment (5.00 / 1)

I rarely comment on the Watts vs. Noriega posts.  It is lose lose.  Either I tick off the Watts supporters or I tick off the Noriega supporters. This thread is a clear case and point.

You are as guilty as the people you point to, and as a site and community there is nothing we can do to make everyone happy. While Todd has endorsed Noriega, Todd does not speak for the entire staff.  We will be making our endorsements in 2008, and comments from both sides continue to force me into focusing more and more on House races.

Since April of this year I have worked on StopCornyn.com and I have worked to promote both candidates evenly. While there is a StopCornyn user on this site and others, they are not involved in the site any more.  The site has Noriega supporters, Watts staff, and neutral writers.  We have focused on writing 1/3 Pro Watts, 1/3 Pro Noriega, and 1/3 anti-Cornyn.  The reason I hardly write U.S. Senate materials here is because I put them on that site instead.

You said it is probably not fair for you to accuse BOR or its writers of restricting debate but we have put your journals on the front page multiple times.  We are doing interviews of both Noriega and Watts as you suggested.  Even as you attack BOR over and over again, I personally have engaged you and your ideas through e-mail.  Running BOR is a hard job and we gladly volunteer our time to do it.

I am not asking you to stop, but please take a step back and tell me why you support Watts and not why you dislike BOR or it thousands of users. We strive to be a free market place of ideas.  That is why you are able to comment, journal, and even rank other users. While some write on the front page, all of us have an opportunity to have a voice.

Until Watts releases his fundraising total and donor information, I can't do a side by side study or analysis of Q3.  When that information comes to me, I am happy to continue to do the massive amounts of work this site demands.  In the mean time, please have patients on my research abilities.  If you find the answers to these questions, feel free to write a journal.

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by: Matt Glazer @ Tue Oct 02, 2007 at 15:31:27 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Here here (0.00 / 0)

Well said, Matt. And much nicer than what I was going to write.

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

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by: Phillip Martin @ Tue Oct 02, 2007 at 15:56:31 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

for the most part (0.00 / 0)

i do think that the BOR writers who already have a position on the race have done a pretty fair job of providing a voice for both sides.

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by: colin @ Tue Oct 02, 2007 at 16:05:45 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

To Be Clear (0.00 / 0)

Matt,
To be clear, if not redundant, I do not support Watts and I think that you and BOR do a great job.  This does not mean, on the one hand, that I support Noriega.  Nor does it mean that I don't think that you and BOR are capable of making mistakes.  I am not saying that you are not wearing any cloths. I am saying maybe on this day your socks don't match your pants.  Specifically the issue is the extent to which people who are not on the Noriega bandwagon are marginalized and even at times attacked.  The issue here is not hurt feelings it is productive discussion.
Peace,
Hugh

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by: Hugh Stearns @ Wed Oct 03, 2007 at 07:32:34 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Pot and Kettle (0.00 / 0)

Some Watts supporters on this site are just as guilty as some Noriega supporters.  And until this site has a full time, paid staff, it will never be perfect.

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by: Matt Glazer @ Wed Oct 03, 2007 at 09:42:59 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

BOR (0.00 / 0)

Is great.  Even if there is paid staff there will still be these sorts of discussions and adjusting as you go.  That is what both community building and politics are about.  To the extent that people care about BOR, they are likely to comment on how things go.  The pot thinks that is not a bad thing.

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by: Hugh Stearns @ Wed Oct 03, 2007 at 17:52:45 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Spin?? (0.00 / 0)

"If there was any doubt about the fundraising abilities of State Representative and Lt. Colonel Rick Noriega then they should be put to rest."

That isn't even spin, Todd.  It is total BS and you know it.

$570k for a major statewide in a quarter (the first quarter at that) is anemic at best.

Fortunately in this instance I don't have to spin the truth. Noriega underperformed, horribly.

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by: colin @ Tue Oct 02, 2007 at 16:02:15 PM CDT

[ Parent ]