Is the Party Irrelevant?

Amazing Quote (0.00 / 0)

Fero had a TDP consulting contract under Soechting and, obviously, helped the Party achieve that irrelevancy he so dearly hoped for.  Good riddance.

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by: El Jefe @ Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 13:20:12 PM CDT

Grover Norquist? (0.00 / 0)

That reminds me of that Grover Norquist quote about the government being so small it could drown in a bathtub. Eerily similar.

I can't believe that Kelly Fero is saying that the status quo is working for our party and our state. Completely mind-boggling!

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by: msanford @ Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 13:57:01 PM CDT

Ive seen the vision of some of his associates first hand... (0.00 / 0)

people who dont really work at or care for grassroots organizations.  Sad really.

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by: Morter Forker @ Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 14:46:13 PM CDT

Uhh, I hope not (0.00 / 0)

I give too much money to the TDP for it to be irrelevant.

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by: danielbbailey @ Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 14:52:13 PM CDT

I'm confused (0.00 / 0)

Before anybody jumps down my throat, let me say that this comment isn't intended to pick a fight, but...

Is Fero's sentiment really that far off from Glen Maxey's?  I'm really, really not a fan of Kelly Fero, but I was honestly suprised to see this post from K-T.

Fero says the the TDP is "at it's best when it's almost wholly irrelvant."  But he goes on, "[i]n Texas, the political environment has traditionally been candidate-driven, not party-driven." Couldn't one argue that he is agreeing with Maxey's notion that individual candidates should represent the party, not the Chair?

I guess I'm really asking if we should take Fero's "wholly irrelevant" line literally.  (Fero certainly has been known to shoot from the lip in the past). If Fero is speaking literally, then yeah, he and Maxey disagree.  Glen has a vision for the role of the party, albeit one that if adopted would represent a real paradigm shift in Texas Democratic politics.  But if Fero is speaking more rhetorically than literally, then wouldn't he and Maxey agree?

I'm just asking...

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by: CMistress @ Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 15:26:15 PM CDT

Maxey response (0.00 / 0)

I think Fero is speaking about the Party itself and not the Chair. And this is Maxey's response to what she said (just sent by email this afternoon). The party needs to be there to back up the candidates. It is not there to be a face for the candidates.

My Vision for a Democratic Party that Competes in Every County and Every Precinct
You may have read a shocking quote in the Austin Chronicle yesterday. Let me relate it straight from the horse's mouth:

Kelly Fero, an Austin Political Strategist who worked breifly for the state party under Soechting said, "I consider the state party to be at its best when it's almost wholly irrelevant, which it currently is." - Austin Chronicle, June 2, 2006

Let me be clear: Kelly Fero and that mentality is dead wrong.

I believe our party should be dynamically placing tools into the hands of local community organizers and activists to go win elections.

I believe the party should be a resource for every Democratic candidate running in Texas, from JP to President.

I believe our party should should have infrastrucutre so that candidates like Barbara Radnofsky and Chris Bell don't have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars organizing Democrats.

I believe our party needs a tune-up, and that's why I'm running to be Chair. Working together we can make our party a 21st century leader in empowering individuals to go do amazing things.

Kelly Fero is dead wrong, our state party is at its best when every activist, organizer, candidate, and party leader has the tools they need to win elections.

www.stonewalldemocratsofdentoncounty.org

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by: John McClelland @ Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 14:14:32 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

You can't praise Fero... (0.00 / 0)

and try to link his quote to Richie. That was below the belt, and that kind of stuff from Glen's supporters backfires on Glen.

Fero's quote says more about him than any person who would take the time to run for State Chair.

And like El Jefe said, Fero was Soechting's top consultant, so if you blame Soechting for irrelevance, Fero is a party to it. Perhaps as he wanted it?

Today, Richie and his staff are working to rebuild TDP infrastructure, just as  Glen promises to do. Surely we can agree neither of them want an irrlevant TDP.

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by: getreal @ Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 15:35:32 PM CDT

comments (0.00 / 0)

One comment that appeared here briefly as written by Phillip has been deleted as it was not Phillip who wrote it but someone who wrote a rather aggressive statement under his name on an unlogged out computer. For those who read it while it was up, we both would like to clarify that it was not Phillip attacking me on the content of the post. It struck me as odd as well since we're far better friends than that.

On a differnt note, I wonder how many consultants will post on this thread before the day is out.

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 15:59:55 PM CDT

Friends (0.00 / 0)

You can heartily agree, and bitterly disagree, and still be able to work together. That's one thing I've learned very well here on BOR.

As Dylan said, in his song Talking World War III Blues:

"Half of the people can be part right all of the time,
Some of the people can be all right part of the time,
But all the people can't be all right all the time --
I think Abraham Lincoln said that.
'I'll let you be in my dreams if I can be in yours,'
I said that."

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

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by: Phillip Martin @ Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 16:04:46 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

your in my dreams phillip (0.00 / 0)

In a totally not gay sort of way. Because then you wouldn't be able to run to be chairman of any party. Unless of course, the Party was a Fabulous one.

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 16:43:45 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

LOL! (0.00 / 0)

KT and Phil run an amazing blog and I just wish they could teach people in other states how to run a statewide blog!!  You all should go around to College Democrat Statewide Organizations and offer to come in and give a training!  THAT would be an amazing party building activity. 

With that being said, I have an honest question KT, do you really believe this debate is fundamentally about sexual orientation.  It seems like several of Maxey's supporters (not you, but others)insinuate that if one doesn't support Maxey that one must instantly hate gay people.  It's quite divisive. 

I'll openly admit, I hadn't though about this race/developed a preference until I read both of their interviews (thanks Phil!).  I hold no animosity towards either candidate.  I just find myself agreeing more with one than the other.  That's the beauty of Democracy, two people can look at the facts and still come up with a different opinion.  Except, of course, with Fallout Boy.  Then, we all know "Sugar We're Going Down" is the most apropos song of all time! :)

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by: David O. @ Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 16:55:54 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

thanks (0.00 / 0)

As to your question, this debate is fundamentally about the future of the Democratic Party of Texas. It has nothing to do with sexual orientation. Glen's sexual orientation is about as much of a real concern to delegates as Charle's Soechting's being a trial lawyer was. And for people that have privatly (because no one will say it publicly for good reason) worry themselves into a knit about Republicans targeting certain districts in the state with "OMG the TDP Chair is Gay"... well, one day they'll grow up to.

It's the issue that no one personally cares about, but people thinks everyone else will care about.

Republicans never used "the chair of the Travis County coordinated campaign is gay" flyers in any effort in any rural part of Travis county when glen was here, and for good reason, voters don't give a shit. Delegates need to realize this on a statewide scale as well. One small blessing of no one having a clue as to who most any Democrat is these days. If half the population has never even heard of most of statewide candidates, I'm really not too concerned about something as obscure as a party chair.

I mean hell, I didn't even know the Republican Party Convention was going on right now in San Antonio until like an hour ago, wasn't even on my radar and I couldn't tell you a damn thing about anyone elected to any position in their party structure.

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 17:33:51 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

What??? (0.00 / 0)

K-T,

Lamar Smith is the honorary chairman or whatever it is they do!

N

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by: nickDFT @ Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 18:42:51 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Honorary Chairman (0.00 / 0)

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 18:49:01 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

another state (0.00 / 0)

This is all totally off topic to the thread but I was looking back at my old homstead and NC has a good statewide blog called BlueNC.com that was linked to MyDD. I believe its also based in the liberal university enclave of Chapel Hill, but talks about statewide politics.

www.stonewalldemocratsofdentoncounty.org

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by: John McClelland @ Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 14:18:35 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Two factors.... (0.00 / 0)

have shaped today's outlook on the Texas political landscape:

1) The far-right evangelicals have mobilized voters towards the staunch conservative officeholders in Texas. Perry is no conservative, but he can part his hair right and look good in a Christian Coalition photo-op.

2) The parties have taken a major facelift over the past 10-15 years. Gone from the modern landscape are the giants such as Bullock, Hobby and Connally. Both parties have been hijacked by activist groups, from MoveOn.org to the Christian Coalition.

Texas Democrats, for the most part, give little voice to the hardline conservatives or even Democrats who would include the word "conservative" on their campaign signs. Texas Republicans give little voice to moderates such as Ratliff, who believe that they speak for most Texans.

The fact is, it's all an activist's (liberal or conservative) playground. I believe that never again, will common sense ever prevail in the Texas political scene. Last time that happened was before I was even born (in 1978).

www.completethewar.com

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by: sfagrad02 @ Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 16:13:05 PM CDT

Karl.... (0.00 / 0)

you oughta send me a pack of iced oatmeal cookies in the mail sense I finally remembered to get it right on the paragraphs...LOL

www.completethewar.com

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by: sfagrad02 @ Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 16:17:56 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

haha (0.00 / 0)

maybe, but not just for one time.  I think some people thing that dropping to the next line and indenting 5 spaces makes a new paragraph when it doesn't format that way. That's also why there is always the preview buttons.

But thank you nonetheless.

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 16:45:19 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

KTM or Phillip, please check your email... (0.00 / 0)

and send me back a response if possible regarding Urbina-jones.  Thanks.

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by: Morter Forker @ Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 16:15:26 PM CDT

When the priorities of the party are upside down they become irrelevant (0.00 / 0)

I'm posting a diary on this site today about the misplaced priorities of the State Democratic Party. I just got a call from Hank Gilbert telling me that they aren't scheduling the State Wide Candidates to speak (10 min max each) until Saturday afternoon.  Yeah Folks. Way to go!

Faith Chatham

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by: faithm @ Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 16:52:44 PM CDT

Considering the TDP couldn't even (0.00 / 0)

Book hotel rooms for its convention without it becoming a total Charlie Foxtrot, it's hard to pretend that it's relevent today.

Hope is not a plan.

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by: Dave In A Cave @ Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 18:46:48 PM CDT

Learn Something New Every Day (0.00 / 0)

I had to look that one up.

Charlie Foxtrot
Phonetics for "cluster-f%*k"

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 18:50:59 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Any inside scoop on Richie? (0.00 / 0)

Being in Austin, I've seen Maxey's successes (and failures) firsthand. Even given the last couple of failures, I'd trust him to rebuild the Dem infrastructure in this state. He's certainly "walked the walk".

What I've seen so far from the Richie camp seems like a lot of "me-too" ism. But that's from the outside. Can anyone with first-hand experience say whether Richie seems up to the task to fix the Dem infrastructure?

While I like Maxey because he's local, I really don't care who's the Dem Chair as long as each campaign isn't re-creating the wheel.  And where progessive-types wanting to help are channeled into volunteer positions instead of being blown off.

[The GlennM with two n's in the name.]

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by: GlennM @ Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 19:53:12 PM CDT

there are consultants... (0.00 / 0)

...and there are consultants. Some do it just for money. Some do it because they have to make a living (although not great) doing something they care about.

When it comes to this convention, I think it was booked 2 or 3 years ago, and that was before any of the State Chair candidates were running.

We all attribute motives and cross the line when we shouldn't sometimes. In such instances, we all need to step back and learn to laugh at ourselves. When good people care about our party and share our beliefs enough to run for the very difficult and often miserable job of Party Chair, we should respect them, not lob cheap shots.

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by: getreal @ Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 20:29:34 PM CDT

Nothing has changed in 50 years (0.00 / 0)

What ya'll don't seem to understand is that nothing has really changed in Texas politics in the last half century.  The same people, with the same mentalities, have dominated -- and guys like Alan Shivers and Lloyd Bentsen and Lyndon Johnson led that leadership.  I still haven't forgiven Bentsen for his 1970 primary campaign against Ralph Yarborough.  And if you hated redistricting, just know that our Democratic heroes taught them how to do it.

In the last half century, one thing changed:  70% of the Democratic Party changed party labels.  Not beliefs or issues, just labels.  Quite a few of them said the Democratic Party had abandoned them, not vice versa.  I can identify with that quite a bit, but my own experience is that it requires a personal change as well to be willing to be called a Republican.  I see this because I no longer want to be called a Democratic, at least not for a while, but I could not stomach being called a Republican.

So I can relate to what Fero has to say, and I think I understand it better than most of you.  I am a retired consultant.  Being a campaign or party consultant is an intimate experience that you do not really understand if you have not done it.  No matter the money involved -- which is impressive only to lower-income Democrats -- one has to do it as a labor of love as well.  Democratic consultants get far more grief from Democrats than they do from Republicans, so it really has to be a labor of love.

You not only have to love it, but you become painfully aware of what the party is and is not doing, and how well it is or is not connecting with the Real World.  After a while, it's like working in a renal dialysis unit:  you can't stand to watch the patients continually going downhill and dying due to lack of self-care.

So eventually love is not enough.  Fero must be experiencing this, and he understands that in a state as huge as Texas, there still is not enough work for even one 5-star Democratic consultant.  So yeah, he loses with Schoechting's resignation, but the TDP loses far more.

Neither Richie nor Maxey can ever deliver the TDP to legitimacy.  You would serve yourselves better by writing a job description for the optimal party leader and finding candidates who fit it.

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by: Wanderer @ Thu Jun 01, 2006 at 23:12:34 PM CDT

Wanderer has it about right (0.00 / 0)

And so does Fero.  I read Fero's comments and took them to mean that the average Texas voter has no idea who the party chair is or what the party is up to.  The average Texas voter casts his/her ballots for candidates, not parties.  They want less partisanship, not more.  Activists and party hacks would do well to listen.

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by: BenBentzin'sBrain @ Fri Jun 02, 2006 at 18:51:03 PM CDT