Parker County has no elected officials who are Democrats.
It's a sad state of affairs, but we're not just sitting around weeping about it. In fact, we're getting off our butts and welcoming several Democratic candidates at our third annual Old-Fashioned Democratic Rally, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 3, at Hall Middle School in Weatherford.
The schedule of speakers is as follows:
12 p.m. - John Sharp
12:30 - Hank Gilbert
1 p.m. - Bill White
1:30 p.m. - Jeff Weems
2:50 - Felix Alvarado
3:30 - Neil Durrance
We'll also have appearances by State Rep Mark Veasey, a representative from Tom Schieffer's campaign, and Sharon Wilson (you may know her as TxSharon).
Plus, there will be all of the usual stuff: Silent auction items, baked goods, and barbecue!
This is shaping up to be a great event and we really, really need support, as we're kind of the Lone Rangers out here in Parker County. If you're in the DFW area, please come by.
If you need more info, please see www.parkercodemocrats.org. Thanks! Hope to see you there!
Fort Worth City Council candidate Chris Turner evidently has calculated that his long history as a harshly partisan Republican political operative with ties to Tom DeLay and Tom Craddick, along with his work as a special interest lobbyist, is not a very good profile when campaigning for a nonpartisan office like the City Council. So, in a recent Fort Worth Star Telegram article, Turner simply decided to mislead the reporter by denying his close ties to DeLay and Craddick and outright lying about the extent of his work as a paid lobbyist.
In fact, Turner received over $250,000 for work supporting Craddick/DeLay allies and
earned as much as $240,000 working as a lobbyist. That is completely contrary to what he told the press a few days ago.
"Turner said his lobbying work was limited to two clients during the past five years."
Looking at filings at the Ethics Commission tells the full story. The reality is, Chris Turner has registered as a lobbyist for 9 different clients in the last 5 years and 5 clients since just January 1, 2007. Those contracts were worth as much as $240,000.
Chris Turner's Registered Lobby List 2004-2007
Anheuser-Busch Inc.
Bank of America N.A.
Carlisle & Gallagher Technology Incorporated
Crescent Real Estate Equities LTD
Harvest Partners Ltd.
Positive Pain Management
Provident Realty Advisors Inc.
San Jacinto Public Affairs L.L.P.
Texas Music LLC
Republican Operative Turner has said he has never been paid by DeLay or Craddick, but looking through public records it is clear that Chris Turner is parsing his words to hide the fact that he's worked for candidates and committees that are bankrolled by DeLay and Craddick.
He's contracted to send over 9 million pieces of partisan GOP mail and was paid over quarter of a million dollars in funds raised and contributed by Tom DeLay and Tom Craddick. Turner is clearly showing his political operative skills by playing word games to mislead reporters and voters.
Need help following the money? Check out this beautiful flow chart!
We get to pay tolls on our roads. The government in Austin get to eat doughnuts.
This is the latest in toll road hypocrisy in the state of Texas, and specifically in the DFW area. In a Star Telegram article the story is that that TxDOT has lavished us with yet another toll road in the Metroplex. How did they announce this? :
Texas Transportation Commission members passed out Krispy Kreme doughnuts Thursday to symbolize their support for the outer loop, which would be built in segments from 2011 to 2030 as part of the Trans-Texas Corridor....."We are committed to the Doughnut," commission Chairman Ric Williamson declared, raising a pastry to about 30 visiting North Texans.
I can not even begin to put into words the insanity of this whole Trans Texas Corridor project, that is now pulling in an outer loop in DFW dubbed Loop 9, or now "The Doughnut"!
And what is worse, Democrats like Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price and State Senator Royce West, have joined in on the debacle at a press conference recently held in Desoto, near southern Dallas, in support of Rick Perry's plan. I'm sure the mainly African American residents of South Dallas will lavish these politicians with praise, as they are given the opportunity to drive on toll roads.
So, as our pockets grow empty in the Metroplex, Rick Perry and TxDOT's tummies grow larger!
Since it is usually fairly busy on Monday mornings where I work, I am going to jump the gun and introduce myself now.
Karl-Thomas has asked me to come on board to be part of the new summer series writers. A couple of you already know me, and some of you have already seen my comments and diaries here and there.
