Former President Bill Clinton will kickoff his second annual Clinton Global Initiative University today on the campus of the University of Texas.
CGI U will bring more than 1,000 students from all 50 states and 60 countries along with over 80 university presidents for a weekend "intended to inspire students and university administrators to undertake projects to repair the world in ways large and small."
Sessions on topics such as the world's food supply, poverty and infectious diseases will be held on campus and at the Austin Convention Center. Clinton's participation will include a panel discussion at UT this afternoon, a speech Saturday and a community service activity Sunday morning at Rosewood Park and Recreation Center in East Austin.
Austin is familiar turf for the former president.
"I lived in Austin in 1972 as a coordinator of the (George) McGovern presidential campaign," he said. "It's really a wonderful place. I've watched the evolution of it and the university."
As many of our readers probably already know, former President Bill Clinton will hold this year's Global Initiative University at the University of Texas at Austin from Februrary 13 to 15.
The event, held last year at Tulane University in New Orleans, is expected to attract 1,000 college students and 100 college presidents.
CGI U is more than just an event. It is a growing community of young leaders who don't just discuss the world's challenges -- they take real, concrete steps toward solving them. Throughout the year, and as a prerequisite of attending the CGI U meeting, students and university officials develop their own Commitments to Action: specific plans of action that addresses a pressing challenge on their campuses, in their communities, or in different parts of the world.
Commitments range from installing energy-efficient light bulbs to establishing campus bike share programs, from distributing life-saving water filtration kits to designing medical backpacks from nomadic doctors in Africa. Since the inaugural meeting, nearly 1,000 commitments have been made by students around the world. From presidents to academics, from the boardroom to the classroom, CGI members from all walks of life are creating positive change.
I wrote a post today on North Texas Liberal about Bill Clinton. More specifically, it's a rant about Democrats trashing the former president.
It really irks me that Democrats are so willing to throw Clinton under the bus, especially considering that he's the only Democratic president we've had since the 1970s (not counting Obama, obviously). We experienced peace and prosperity under his administration.
If you don't like his wife, just say it. If you are still pissed about his extracurricular activity, well... you need to move on. With the way some Democrats go on, you'd think he was a Bush Republican.
Clinton was a good president. Let's stop trashing his legacy.
The Trashing of a Former President: Throwing Bill Clinton Under the Bus
It began during the Democratic primary, when detractors began accusing former President Bill Clinton of being a racist.
Since then, people have blamed Clinton for sinking his wife Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential ambitions. People, especially the pundits, have been chattering since before the New York senator even conceded about the former president's role on the campaign trail.
After his wife's concession and endorsement of Barack Obama for president, they continued to denigrate Bill Clinton by saying that he wasn't fully on board, he wasn't doing what was asked of him by the Obama campaign, that he didn't really want Obama to be elected, and that he and Hillary would likely vote for John McCain so she could run for president again in four years.
Now, as reports abound that Hillary has been offered the secretary of state position in the incoming Obama administration, the networks can't stop discussing whether or not Bill will cost her the cabinet post.
President Bill Clinton has recorded a robocall for Larry Joe Doherty that will be used on Monday.
In the call, Clinton reminds voters that, "Tuesday is the day. It all comes down to who shows up to vote."
Clinton calls Doherty, the Democratic nominee against Republican Mike McCaul,"a real Democrat who's standing up for health care, education, and fighting to get our economy back on track."
The call, presumably sent to Democratic leaning households, could also provide a slight boost in turnout in the district that could benefit candidates like Donnie Dippel along with all of our statewide candidates.
A robocall from Bill Clinton is further proof that Mike McCaul is in trouble and national Democrats are starting to smell blood in TX-10.
This clip is from last night's 2000+ person Democratic rally in Dallas with former President Bill Clinton. About time for someone to speak the unspoken.
(Another great report on the success and energy of the Clinton rally in Dallas for the Democratic ticket. The wave is building. - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
So, I saw John Cornyn on Channel 4 (or maybe it was 11) here in Dallas/Fort Worth a few minutes ago ~ and he was making some kind of snide remark about President Clinton being in town and how that's not such a good thing since so many people don't hold such a favorable view of the former president.
Of course, Cornyn didn't look terribly enthusiastic when he said it. Maybe it's because he was forced to be in Dallas today. Those darn Democrats.
Breathing all that Dallas Democratic Party air must have been very challenging for Senator Cornyn. He looked terribly pale to me in the clip I saw.
Or maybe I'm just not used to seeing him in living color.
No matter. President Bill Clinton was here and he was so fired up! And Senator Rick Noriega was here and he was magnificent and incredibly fired up! And based on polling from October 1st, the gap has closed to 7 percentage points between Noriega and Cornyn. Wow! That's two weeks ago.
The Dallas News reports that President Clinton had high praise for Rick Noriega tonight:
In a rally that included most every major Democrat in North Texas, Bill Clinton on Tuesday urged voters to elect Rick Noriega to the Senate to help Barack Obama push a change agenda.
"Nobody is smart enough to do this alone," Mr. Clinton said of electing a Democratic president. "The supporting cast matters."
Hillary Clinton had some things to say, too:
Mr. Clinton said that his wife, who recently stumped for Mr. Noriega in South Texas, was miffed that the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee was not active in the Lone Star Senate tilt.
President Clinton offered even more praise for Rick Noriega:
Mr. Clinton said Mr. Noriega would help Mr. Obama and Democrats restore jobs, achieve energy independence for the country and reform the nation's health care system.
And the quote that will surely put some color back in John Cornyn's worldview:
"Don't believe the polls," said Dallas County Party Chairwoman Darlene Ewing. "He's within striking distance of Cornyn. He can win this." [emphasis added.]
(Early reports from Rick Noriega's rally with Bill Clinton yesterday! - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
I visited Dallas this evening at the invitation of the Rick Noriega for US Senate campaign staff for a rally and fundraiser for the Rick Noriega campaign, attended by Bill Clinton.
The crowd was electric, all of the local television stations were set up with live shots. Local candidates, including me, and elected officials running for re-election paraded across the stage and greeted the crowd. Sherriff Lupe Valdez had a great response from the hall. Senator Royce West and Commissioner John Wiley Price gave all too brief, but energizing speeches. Bill Clinton followed and introduced Rick Noriega, and gave a heckuva rallying speech to boot. Former Tarrant County Executive Director, J. Nile Fischer, put it best: the President still has it, he made everyone in the event feel like he was talking right to them. You betcha!
I have to give special thanks to Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton for campaigning for Rick Noriega here in Texas. To all Democrats, I ask you to tell them: Thank You. You have given so much to this country, and you aren't done yet, are you?
This is exciting. You can pick up tickets at any location listed below the fold. Hillary must have been really moved to help Rick after her successful South Texas fundraiser for the campaign.
JOIN US FOR A RALLY WITH SPECIAL GUEST PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14
Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Event starts at 6:30 p.m.
Thomas Jefferson High School
4001 Walnut Hill Lane, Dallas, TX 75229
Tickets are available at ANY the following locations:
While the Dallas Morning News went off and endorsed John Cornyn, hardly a surprise considering the paper's conservative bent and the fact they endorsed Cornyn over Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk in 2002- there is more interesting news to be heard today regarding the metroplex.
Trail Blazers: Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Rick Noriega is getting some high and low Clinton help. Last week, Hillary Clinton appeared with him at a fundraiser in the Valley. Next week, it's in Dallas with Bill Clinton. The former president and Noriega will rally together Tuesday evening at Thomas Jefferson High School on Walnut Hill Lane. Doors open at 5:30 pm and the rally begins at 6:30 pm.
Congressman Chris Bell has a new ad, "Award". The name of the ad comes from the Political Courage Award that the Harris County Republican Party gave Chris Bell in 2001 for helping to pass Houston's first property tax rate cut.
Bell was one of two Democrats who voted with the 8-7 City Council majority to reduce the city's property tax rate from 66.5 cents per $100 valuation to 65.5 cents.
In addition, Austin State Senator Kirk Watson has had some great things to say about Bell.
Why all the push for Congressman Bell? First the campaign has been crowded by a bunch of ambitious Republicans. Second, one of Bells opponents hasn't gotten the support they need in the district, so they loaned themselves $750,000. Third, Republicans have shown time and time and time again, they are willing to play dirty.
A push poll is going out to voters in Senate District 17 trying to smear Chris Bell's bipartisan record.
The push poll is attacking Bell on issues like immigration, same-sex partnerships, and pregnancy prevention. Seems like the usual wedge issues.
You can do something about it. You can join President Bill Clinton by helping Congressman Bell?
He is having an event tonight, Wednesday, Oct. 8 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Four Seasons Hotel (98 San Jacinto Boulevard) in Stone's Crossing Room.
While the Dallas Morning News went off and 