BOR Endorsements: 2008 UT Student Government Elections

by: Karl-Thomas Musselman

Wed Feb 27, 2008 at 04:10 AM CST

Having served a couple of times on the Daily Texan's mind numbingly tedious endorsement panel (no fault of their own- it was a lot of work to make an informed decision that 95% of the voters won't make themselves), I'm going to take the easy route this year and issue endorsement with as much thought as the typical student voter. Hey- at least there are competitive races to endorse in this year (after last year's 8% turnout for the uncontested SG slate).

This is going to be short and sweet, so lets get started at our attempt to stay relevant to our "Burnt Orange" roots. (Students: vote online here.)

President- Khrushchev Rajahmadinejad (Keshav Rajagopalan on your ballot)

Shocking all watchers, my vote (even though I've graduated and don't have one) goes to the establishment candidate because there is nothing more anti-establishment than once in a while, going for the obvious choice. We hear he'd be the first South Asian president which is a little odd because I didn't know there was a country called "South Asia". He's also a Friar which is good because SG will need someone who's handy with a George Foreman grill for that overly expensive annual SG retreat. That, and we hear he might actually stand up for students against the UT administration and the Lege, which would be nice, instead of being the usual bobbing head while the student body gets screwed.

Vice President- Frankie Muniz (Frankie Shulkin on your ballot)

SG needs more good looking Jewish men and Shulkin more than accomplishes the job. It's a shame we have to endorse his uncontested race because he gets his news from the Drudge Report (he refused our calls about whether he anything to do with that picture of Barack). It's ok though because we share 78 friends on facebook and he's cute and totally doesn't mind me pointing it out. A vote for Frankie is a vote for an SG leadership controlled by the Texas Coyboys. (Hey, at least it's not Tejas.) Anyways, he'll have big shoes to fill (though we're sure he'll fill the pants just fine).

More downballot endorsements to entertain below the fold!

Friday Fun From Around the Country

by: Phillip Martin

Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 04:00 PM CST

• Nebraska finally did away with the electric chair. Wow. Welcome to the 20th 21st century, Cornhuskers.
• Obama girl -- remember the video? -- didn't vote. I lost all respect I had for her.
• The Onion provides some good definitions for political beginners. What is a delegate?

  Delegate - A demented, often screaming individual who experiences intense arousal at the sight of a vertically printed placard bearing his or her state's name.

How to Get People Commenting on your (Political) Blog

by: Karl-Thomas Musselman

Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 11:35 PM CST

Feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments! (see, I'm doing it right and haven't even started yet...)

1. Collect Email Addresses - Do you have enough people reading your blog? Use VerticalResponse's Burnt Orange Reports free opt-in form, it's just a few clicks. Then as soon as you publish your post comment about why your opinions are not being voiced in posts you can submit yourself, send an email marketing campaign to your list Matt Glazer with a snippet of your new posts (you haven't written one yet, remember?). Sometimes simply publishing your post won't drive traffic if your readers don't know about it or aren't subscribed via RSS don't know about the right hand sidebar.

Be advised, BOR sells the emails of banned users to Nigerian spammers. If you get more than ten 0's, it is indicative of your small penis size which is why you may start getting offers via email to increase it. Just saying.

2. Ask for The Comment!  - At the end of each blog post ask your readers to comment on something you wrote about.

While the end of each post does include a link encouraging you to "Discuss" this is really a lie. What happens in the comment threads can hardly be called discussion.

3. Ask Your Friends Sockpuppets to Comment - Sometimes people are shy nuts, but if they see others commenting they may chime in too two, three, five, or ten times! Get the ball rolling any way you can- and we mean any!

Ok, next one.

4. Write Some Good Content - Not everything Nothing you write is going to be Pulitzer worthy- you're on a blog remember!  However there are sleazy ways to see what people are excited about reading. We installed Google Analytics Spyware on our blog to see what people are most interested in, then write more of that particular topic. For example, it was pretty clear that many of our readers liked things formatted so that it's easy to read.

Some examples include "5 Quick Things..." or "10 Ways to a Better..." "5 Things Everyone Agrees About Except You", "This Post Paid for by Candidate X", "Please Have an Unrelated Conversation In My Thread, I Don't Mind", "Kinky Friedman is a Racist", "OMG the TDP is Amazing/Awful and Boyd Richie is Not a Homosexual like Glen Maxey/Supported by the Grassroots", "Important Issue Phillip Martin Cares About (But You Won't Comment On)", "Chris Bell or Bob Gammage? 100 Comments Please!", "David Van Os or How I learned to Stop Worrying and Throw Bombs", "Susan Criss v. Linda Yanez: Seriously? Like, WTF?", "Local Judicial Races: You've Got the Most Experience But No One Cares!", "Colin Supports Everyone You Hate", and if all else fails "Rick Perry is Gay".

5. Write Often - Get your readers used to you publishing on a regular basis whenever the fuck you feel like it so that there is enough for them to read when they haven't been to your blog in a while have run out of nonsense to debate in a thread pushed way down the front page days ago.

And to close it out...

6. Get Your Readers Riled Up! - From time to time be crazy and take a different stance. Write about something controversial to get them commenting or point to another blog McBlogger. Then ask them how they feel (even though you don't care but are asking anyways because those extra pageviews can be monetized!)

This post has been tagged as BOR Humor.  

Five Years Ago: "The Stephen Colbert House for Democratic Runaways"

by: Mark Duncan

Wed Nov 14, 2007 at 07:21 PM CST

Keeping in line with the great coverage this week on where Texas Democrats were five years ago and all the fallout from the GOP takeover in 2002, with a bit of levity, here's a story Stephen Colbert did as a correspondent for the Daily Show in 2003 on redistricting in Texas.

Night of the Living Texas Republicans

by: SADem

Sun Nov 11, 2007 at 03:51 PM CST

International Talk Like a Pirate Day

by: Matt Glazer

Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 10:38 AM CDT

The international (that's right, international) celebration began in 1995 as a joke between John Baur ("Ol' Chumbucket") and Mark Summers ("Cap'n Slappy").  Today we honor there contribution to the world by working to make sure lousy Republican mateys walk the plank next November.

International Talk Like a Pirate Day (TLAPD), which adopted Treasure Island star Robert Newton as its patron saint, now attracts fans from as far afield as Britain and Australia and even boasts a special Wikipedia site on the Internet.

As we do every September 19th, a happy pirates to ye all.

Republican Party Taps Heflin as New Director

by: Matt Glazer

Mon Jul 30, 2007 at 11:43 AM CDT

“Talmadge Heflin has over twenty five years of conservative leadership and experience as both a leader in the Texas Legislature and a businessman. This background will be invaluable in helping lead the team of political professionals we have assembled who will lead Republicans to victory in 2008 at the Republican Party of Texas,” said Tina Benkiser, Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas.

This is a perfect fit for the Republican Party and we wanted to suggest a few other key offices they might want to fill:

Staff:

Arlene Wohlgemuth - Vice Chair
Gene Seaman - Ethics Adviser/Property Manager
Tom DeLay - Fundraiser/Finance director (with Jim Ellis, Warren Robold, and John Colyandor assisting him)
Tom Craddick - Rules Committee Director
Debbie Riddle - Communications Director
George Antuna - Asst. Comm. Director
Mark Foley - Student Outreach/Campus Recruitment
George Allen - Minority Recruitment

Special Projects:

Mike Krusee - Toll Director
Warren Chisum - Marriage Protector Director
Ron Wilson - Convention Parliamentarian
Bill Zedler - Court Jester/Comedian
Al Edwards - RPT Cheerleader

The Secret Plan to Overthrow Craddick

by: Karl-Thomas Musselman

Sun May 27, 2007 at 05:41 PM CDT

So, unknown to us all, there have been some signs you may not have noticed that are all secret message and part of the final plan to topple Craddick tonight. We're offering this as a BOR exclusive.

Listed in the original Loco And Dissent Calendar was actually a list of members ready to sign on to anti-Craddick efforts, disguised as sponsors of a bill.

After that signal was sent, the Governor have his tacit approval by defeating the State Amphibian bill of Bonnen, a sign of thanks offered to Rose for releasing his pledge to Craddick, seeing as the blind salamander is in his district and he was not given the chance to offer the bill.

Now, Rep. Dunnam has planted his daughter on the dias who has control of the gavel. The plan? Have her steal it and run out of the house. Without the gavel, the Speaker will be powerless as his absolute power is drawn from the 17 inch Phoenix feather located in its core, which happens to match the same core feather found in Tom DeLay's gavel. 

At that point Rep. Talton will raise a Point of Order that the whole House is out of Order, the whole Session is out of Order, and which point the Order of the Phoenix will swoop in and change Speaker Craddick into a blind salamander. A swift motion and vote will be made, vacating him from the chair and installing the newly Salamandarized Craddick as the official Puppet of the State of Texas.

Game. Set. Match. 

The Loco and Dissent Calendar

by: Burnt Orange Report

Sat May 26, 2007 at 11:08 PM CDT

Some late night humor for all of your courtesy of Adrian Wapcaplet, Chair, Loco and Dissent Preservation Board. Full text in the extended entry...

You may also wish to check out some great photoshops posted over at PinkDome today.

The Puppetmaster 

The Craddicktator 

Report on State Democratic Committee Meeting April 28, 2007

by: jmcconnell

Fri May 04, 2007 at 01:33 PM CDT

I journeyed to Austin this past Saturday, April 28, 2007, to see what I could see and hear at the quarterly meeting of the Democratic State Democratic Executive Committee--the SDEC. I did see a spark or two of Democracy fly up here and there. A few individuals gathered up their courage and got to their feet to speak out. They got little encouragement from the podium. Few SDEC members seem to see standing up and speaking out as a basic part of their role.

I attended the meetings of the Grassroots Committee at 10 a.m. and the Rules Committee at 11 a.m. Most of the time in the Grassroots committee was spent in forming subcommittees and discussing goals for those committees. As I recall the committees established were the Precinct Chair and County Chair Support Committee, the Outreach Committee, the New Democrat Welcome Committee, and the Grassroots Handbook Updating Committee. There was considerable discussion, and the Chair, Marvin Sutton, seemed to be trying to do a good job of conducting the meeting. I can't comment on the content of the discussion as it was very difficult to hear what was said. There was no sound amplification system. I believe it was decided that only SDEC members could serve on the subcommittees. That would seem to eliminate much help and possible expertise. Members also agreed that they could communicate in any way possible in carrying out their tasks since Committee decisions would constitute recommendations to the SDEC. My overall impression was that the Grassroots Committee was in  sore need of direction from the SDEC. One quarter of 2007 is behind us and this committee is still getting organized. By this late date, it should have teams out in the field helping the county parties organize Grassroots Democrats. Representatives of these teams should have been reporting their progress to the Grassroots Committee in this meeting.. The members of this committee represent a wealth of talent and experience. The CEC should have put all of this expertise to work  months ago. One Committee member stated emphatically that "The bottom line is to win. It don't matter if we don't win." He didn't suggest the best way to do that.

I attended the Rules Committee meeting at 11:00 a.m. This committee meeting was a horse of another color. I knew something was afoot when I tried to get in the room. It was already packed. It appeared to me that all the officers and staff were there. State Chair Boyd Richie and DNC member Bob Slagle were practically arm-in-arm. Dennis Speight, Ken Bailey, and Jim Boyington were there. It looked more like a full-blown SDEC meeting rather that a subcommittee meeting. I heard someone say there was disagreement on the question of delegate apportionment. Many people had a copy of the 2007 Delegate Selection Plan in their hand. It appeared that Black Democrats were unhappy with the number of delegates they had been apportioned for 2008. I can't be sure of that because the room was packed and noisy and there was no sound system. At one point, State Chair Richie accused a Black member of threatening to sue the Texas Democratic Party. This member protested that he had not threatened to sue, that he merely stated that he would pursue his options. Bob Slagle then lectured the complaining member about the legal aspects of the situation. I could hear little of it, but I was sure I had heard it all before. The upshot of it was that the Blacks lost in the Committee. Since so many people had spoken out, I asked to speak too. I wanted to ask if this debate would be repeated in the SDEC meeting. I was not granted the floor.

State Chair Boyd Richie called The SDEC meeting--the main event?-- to order sometime after 1 p.m. Many people were late getting back from lunch because the Rules Committee ran overtime and the room was not quite ready. At that point, there were about twelve persons on the podium looking down on all. The second item on the Agenda called for invocations and the Pledge of Allegiance. I don't recall an invocation being given but the Pledge of Allegiance along with the Pledge to the Texas flag were recited. Since these are exercises which not all Texas Democrats can take part in because of their religious nature, their propriety at SDEC meetings should be discussed by the SDEC. The role was then called. I couldn't hear well as the responders had no mikes and there was much commotion in the room. Several responded with "Sustaining Member." I was surprised to hear Bob Slagle's name called. DNC members are listed as members of the SDEC in the Texas Democratic Party Handbook, but I thought that was just another of many errors in that document. DNC members are not listed as SDEC members in The Election Code or The Rules of the Texas Democratic Party.  But Bob Slagle was certainly present. I don't believe he ever sat down. He appeared to have much to do with running the meeting. The DNC was certainly well represented. After the role was called the meeting was called to order. Richie declared a quorum, but there appeared to be many vacant seats. I estimate that there were 30 or 40 visitors. Technically speaking, if calling the roll is the method by which the presence of a quorum is determined, that should come first, followed immediately by the Chair's calling the meeting to order. The Chair does not exercise his or her authority as presiding officer until the assembly has been called to order.

Next on the Agenda was the Agenda's approval which was done unanimously without discussion. This was followed by the approval of the minutes of the January meeting. The minutes were also approved unanimously without discussion. Next came recognition of special guests. Four interns were recognized for their service. There was a young man named Rodriguez and four young women. I did not hear the names of the women mentioned.

The Treasurer gave his report next. Again, I could not hear the figures quoted. The report was adopted by the assembly though this is normally not necessary or proper.

Ken  Molberg gave the Nominations Committee Report. I could hear little of what he said except that I believe he introduced Shannon Bailey as replacement member for SD16, Molberg's old SD precinct. I did not hear a vote to approve Bailey in this position or a vote approving Molberg as SDEC member from SD23.

Rose Salas gave the Rules Committee Report. There was a mini version of the discussion regarding the selection of delegates, which took place in the Rules Committee meeting earlier. It was not nearly as spirited, but was much more interesting than any committee report I have heard before in an SDEC meeting. Several persons spoke pro and con. A woman in the visitor's section spoke at length in favor of reconsidering the Rules Committee Report. Another woman in the visitor's section asked to speak, but Chair Richie told her that he had been advised that he could not recognize non-SDEC members. He got bad information. Party Rules permit any Democrat to participate fully in Party meetings except where prohibited by law or Party Rules. Non-SDEC members could not, of course, vote on questions before the assembly. Field Director Brian Pendleton contributed to the discussion by circulating a cordless mike around to many of those who spoke. That did help, but the room was fairly large, and he couldn't get around to every speaker. The major debate on this matter took place in the Rules Committee. It should have taken place in the SDEC General Meeting. The Committee's report was accepted without all SDEC members having heard all of the discussion of the matter. Not all who wished to speak on the matter were able to speak. Such discrepancies do not contribute to the health of the Texas Democratic Party.

Other committee reports were swiftly made and approved with little or no discussion. There was no "Old" Business. There was no New Business. No new
business? This meeting marked the end of the first quarter of 2007. We are looking at a Primary Election early next year with an enormous amount of work to be done to prepare for. There was no new business? We face a State Convention and a National Convention early in 2008 and a Presidential Election in the fall--and there was no new business.

Toward the end of the meeting, Boyd Richie put out a call for volunteers saying "Staff and I can't do this all alone." The Staff and Boyd Richie aren't supposed to do the work of the Party all alone. They most certainly are not supposed to decide what is to be done. That is the responsibility of the SDEC. This call for volunteers brings up an area in which Democrats are weak. Volunteers must do most of our work, but we don't have a plan covering the recruitment and employment of volunteers. Such plans exist. We should choose one. But the SDEC has abdicated its authority and turned its responsibilities over to the Chair, the staff, and the subcommittees and gone home for four months. It has left no instructions in the form of new business. What should the SDEC have done in this critically important meeting? It should have determined what is left to be done to prepare for the Primary Election, the coming 2008 conventions and the general election, and it should have delegated tasks and necessary authority for their completion to the proper subcommittees and the Chair. It should have instructed the Chair to monitor subcommittees to be sure they are on task and on schedule. It should have instructed the Chair to call a special or emergency meeting of the SDEC if serious problems arise. We are in a battle, folks. We can't allow our generals to turn everything over to the colonels and the sergeants and head for the golf course. If we do, we may be in for the disaster of our lives--and we would deserve it.

John McConnell, Democratic Precinct Chair
Precinct 3047
Bexar County, Texas