(OK Dallas readers- time to chime in and tell us how you feel about this! - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
Now that the Dallas County Democratic Party's Labor Day Picnic has concluded, it is officially primary campaign season. Incumbent judges and their potential primary opponents are collecting signatures. People are talking about running for State House and Congress. I wanted to take some time to break down the hot races that are starting up in Dallas County.
What with the Dan Patrick's sonogram bill probably hitting the Senate floor tomorrow and Texas women taking yet another step back towards the bad old days, some Dem. State Senators are certainly playing it coy with their constituents and their colleagues.
Sen. Carlos Uresti's office got upwards to 150 calls from constituents yesterday urging him to stand with his colleagues against SB 16. He's received calls from Dem. leaders from all over the state. Sen. Mario Gallegos asked him personally to block SB 16 this week so he could be at the hospital when his daughter gave birth to a new grandbaby.
Uresti sought out the support of the Planned Parenthood's C4 Action Fund in his district. He's indicated he was extremely uncomfortable with the gross over-reaching by Sen. Patrick in SB 16.
Is he standing with his constituents? Is he keeping his word? Looks like no.
Redistricting is coming around and he's up in 2012. I don't think you even need to live in the district to run in the primary the first election after redistricting. Nonetheless the good people of Sen. Dist. 19 deserve better than this weasel posing as a Dem. State Sen. There are women in this state that will work for a real Democrat in the primary.
Today is the filing deadline for the Democratic Primary, and, with only 58 days until Election Day, I am proud of the progress my campaign has made so far.
I've received endorsements from six public safety associations, including the state's largest, the Combined Law Enforcement Association of Texas (CLEAT). I am humbled to have earned the support of CLEAT once again, as well as the Travis County Sheriffs Officers Association, Travis County Sheriffs Law Enforcement Association, Austin/Travis County EMS Employee Association, Austin Police Association, and the Travis County Firefighters Association.
I also have the support of the only three elected officials to have endorsed in this race: Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe, Austin City Councilman Bill Spelman, and Constable Richard McCain. Additionally, I have been endorsed by former Travis County Judge Bill Aleshire, former Texas Land Commissioner Garry Mauro, and former Texas Comptroller John Sharp.
After fifteen years as county commissioner, I am so proud to have the support of both the current president of University Democrats Melessa Rodriguez and the immediate past president Jimmy Talarico.
With more than three decades of Democratic activism in my hometown of Austin, I am proud to have the support of many Democratic activists, including Precinct 424 Democratic chair Walter Timberlake. To view my full supporter list, click here.
Volunteers, friends, family and I have been working hard over the past few months to spread the word to Precinct 4 voters about my record on the Commissioners Court. Our campaign has knocked on over 1800 doors throughout southeast Travis County and made countless phone calls.
There are less than two months until Election Day, and just over a month until early voting begins. The support our campaign has enjoyed has been great, and I look forward to continuing to work hard as I visit and listen to voters across Precinct 4 about how county government can better serve them.
What may have seen impossible in the immediate wake of her third-place finish in this spring's Austin Mayor race, may actually end up happening. The Statesman's Jason Embry has reported that Carole Strayhorn has had discussions with Texas Democratic Party Chair Boyd Richie about seeking the party's nomination for comptroller.
Strayhorn, who has run for office as a Democrat, Republican, and Independent, has served as Mayor of Austin, railroad commissioner, and, before incumbent Susan Combs took office in 2007, comptroller.
The Statesman's Gardner Selby had previously reported that Strayhorn had contacted Houston Mayor Bill White, the leading Democratic candidate for governor, about her possible candidacy for comptroller.
“We will rely on our voters to consider each candidate’s record and decide if they have the Democratic credentials they want in a nominee. Our role is to run a fair primary.”
While former Congressman Nick Lampson said he was considering running and State Rep. Mike Villarreal (D-San Antonio) briefly thought about entering the race, no Democrat has decided to challenge Combs yet.
If Strayhorn decides to run, she will have a lot of explaining to do for her Republican past and, given the frequency of her attempts at electoral office, she will have to also prove that she truly wants to be comptroller. Despite her negatives, she has won at least four or five statewide elections, and certainly has higher name ID than probably any other potential rival to Combs, whose campaign has $4 million on hand.
As many of you know, over the last five days, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, in partnership with a number of progressive organizations and blogs including Senate Guru, asked those in the netroots, "Should a Draft Sestak movement be created to take on Sen. Arlen Specter in the Pennsylvania Democratic primary?"
The results are in and they are overwhelming. 85% of Pennsylvanian respondents and 86% of respondents nationally want Democratic Congressman Joe Sestak to challenge Arlen Specter in the 2010 Democratic Senate primary. The poll has even gotten the attention of Congressman Sestak, as the PCCC points out:
"I am honored that so many of you took the time to vote in the recent grassroots Straw Poll. Let me tell you, I and many others were paying attention. If I decide to run it will be in large measure because of the grassroots energy of so many people like you. Until I and my family make that decision, please accept my thanks and my best wishes as you continue be active participants in our people-powered democracy. Thank you so very much!"
Due to such an overwhelming response, a Draft Sestak Fund has been created on ActBlue. To contribute and further encourage Congressman Sestak to enter the race, click on the image below:
If you need any additional motivation to contribute to this effort to draft a real Democrat to oppose Specter in the primary, consider Specter's actions since announcing his Party switch:
1) Specter opposed the Obama budget.
2) Specter opposed the "cramdown" mortgage/bankruptcy reform, siding with banks over families.
3) Specter reiterated his opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act.
4) Specter reiterated his opposition to President Obama's nomination of Dawn Johnsen to the Office of Legal Counsel.
5) Specter announced his support for Republican Norm Coleman over Democratic Senator-elect Al Franken in Minnesota's Senate race.
6) Specter promoted a website that appeared to raise money for cancer research but, in actuality, simply raised money for his campaign.
7) Specter denied reports that he told President Obama that he would be a "loyal Democrat" despite multiple reporters sticking to their story.
The netroots have displayed overwhelming support for Congressman Sestak to take on recently-Republican Arlen Specter. Help the effort by contributing to the Draft Sestak Fund.
The Progressive Change Campaign Committee, working with a number of progressive organizations and blogs including Senate Guru, has put out a poll to gauge netroots interest - in Texas and all across the country - in supporting an effort to draft Congressman Joe Sestak to challenge recently-Republican Arlen Specter in the PA-Sen Democratic primary next year. The poll will be open for the next four days, and provided are both pro and con arguments regarding a draft effort. To read the arguments and vote in the poll, click the below link:
Barbara Ann Radnofsky, the Houston lawyer who was the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2006, has been known to be considering a run for Attorney General for some time.
The Houston Chronicle reported yesterday that Radnofsky has filed paperwork to run for Attorney General next year. Radnofsky is the first Democratic candidate to jump into the race, joining Republican Ted Cruz, a former solicitor general.
But Radnofsky may not be the last Democrat to enter the race, especially if current Attorney General decides to run for the U.S. Senate or Lt. Governor, as many expect. By being the first Democrat out of the gate, Radnofksy will hope to discourage primary competition by posting impressive fundraising numbers.
What other Democrats do you think (or hope) will jump into this race? Let us know in the comments.
Tom Schieffer, who is exploring a Gubernatorial run as a Democrat, sat down with Jenny Hoff of KXAN in Austin yesterday for a six minute interview.
Schieffer says a lot of stuff that I completely agree with in the interview, especially about education.
He says as Ambassador he was serving the nation, "not the Republican Party" and that he never stopped being a Democrat. He has said before he does not regret supporting George W. Bush in any of the races.
I would like to hear Mr. Schieffer explain why he supported George W. Bush over Ann Richards in 1994, over Garry Mauro in 1998, over Al Gore in 2000 and over John Kerry in 2004.
As a Democrat, what made him think Bush would do a better job?
He can insist he never left the Democratic Party all he wants, but eventually we are going to need some answers.
Tom Schieffer, the former Bush appointed Ambassador to Australia and Japan, announced earlier this week that he is forming an Gubernatorial exploratory committee.
While much has been made of his close ties to former President George W. Bush and his short stint as a conservative Democrat in the Texas House of Representatives in the 1970s, not much attention has been paid to his years as Ambassador.
In 2004, Schieffer criticized a Labor Party leader for proposed amendments to a U.S.-Australia Free Trade agreement.
Mr Schieffer warned yesterday that US certification of the deal was no longer certain because of the Opposition amendments.
"The concern we have about the amendment is that ... for patent law there's an attempt to carve out a special exception with regard to pharmaceuticals," he said.
"The concern we have is that if you were able to do that, then could you then carve out something later on for automotive parts or for this or that sector in the economy?"
The Opposition trade spokesman, Stephen Conroy, said Mr Schieffer had entered the debate without a clear understanding of what the Labor Party's amendments were about.
"What Tom Schieffer's comments suggest is that [Prime Minister] John Howard has negotiated a free trade deal that sells out the PBS [pharmaceutical benefits scheme]," Senator Conroy told ABC radio
....
"For people to be concerned that there have been changes to the Patents Act demonstrates that they haven't carefully examined Labor's amendments. "In terms of other carve-outs, I repeat, there are not carve-outs here."
Senator Conroy said Labor had been attempting to ensure that the government and the parliament were not beholden to the drug companies, as they were in the US.
"The Bush administration have been a wholly owned subsidiary of the drug companies in the US for some time." he said.
US Ambassador Tom Schieffer told The Age that Mr Latham's comments "could have very serious consequences beyond Australia." Such a move risked damaging the US alliance and could assist terrorists accomplishing larger goals, he said.
Though I have been openly critical of his Republican ties, I am trying to take a "wait and see" approach to Ambassador Schieffer's campaign. While I sure haven't seen much to get excited about yet, if he is the Democratic nominee he will have my support.
Having said that, the filing deadline is many months away and those Democats who look at Schieffer and think "We can do better" have plenty of time to find their candidate.
Tom Schieffer was named one of Texas Monthly's "Ten Worst Legislators" back in 1975. Schieffer, a former Ambassador to Australia and Japan who is now considering a run for Governor as a Democrat, was a state representative from Fort Worth at the time.
Tom Schieffer, 27, Conservative Democrat, Fort Worth. What you get is even less than what you see.
Arrogant and—what is worse—ambitious. Gained abundant notoriety early in the session as the sponsor of a patently unfair presidential primary bill designed to boost the chances of Senator Lloyd Bentsen. His garbled mishandling of that affair could put him on the Ten Worst by itself, but he wins his spot by conspicuous lack of merit in every field.
“Actually he is furniture,” said one lobbyist. “His mistake was in trying to be anything else.” Said another: “He sits around and acts like he’s thinking. The worst type of person is someone who’s very ordinary and gets it into his head he’s some sort of big shot.” Said a high-ranking employee of a key state agency: “He’s just not very capable. All he can do is turn red in the face and scream at you.”
As chairman of the Local and Consent Calendars Committee, he killed uncontroversial but important legislation sponsored by members he didn’t like. Said one person victimized by Schieffer’s maneuverings: “He really had big britches this session. Every time he let a bill out, he acted like he’d done you a big favor.” After a feud with Comptroller Bob Bullock over the fiscal implications of the presidential primary (capped by a letter from Bullock remarking, “I am sorry if you were offended by the cost of your own bill”), he killed two innocuous bills that were vital to the orderly operation of the comptroller’s office.
The most appalling news of the 64th Legislature may be the fact that Tom Schieffer is soliciting pledges to be Speaker of the House.
Texas Monthly was so scathing that they even said that a state senator deserved, "the Tom Schieffer Award for the member whose ambition most outstrips his talent."
Of course, a lot could have changed in 34 years. Although he was appointed by Bush, Scheiffer told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram he voted for Obama in both the primary and general election. Whether that is enough to win the approval of Texas Democrats remains to be seen.
