Your election woes amount to nothing more than a PR problem, hinging on two ideas. First, you've somehow allowed "government" to become a bad word, especially when preceded by the word "big." If I hear one more Republican go unchallenged when s/he quotes Ronald Reagan's "scariest words I've ever heard..." I might scream. I am a progressive, and I will always vote Democratic (although I wish that Bernie Sanders and Russ Feingold ruled the world). And here's what the word "government" means to me: as a U.S. citizen, "government" means freedom, democracy, security, stability, reliable infrastructure. Government means education, safety, and rules that help 310 million people function together as a society. Our "government" is why people from all over the world want to live here. "Big government" only means more of those things. It means safer air to breathe, water to drink, and food to eat. "Big government" means nature, wildlife, woods to hike, beaches to stroll and streams to swim. Not only does "big government" mean the existence of these things, but it helps ensure a pleasant, unsoiled, safe experience when I do so. "Government" is NOT a dirty word and you need to take it back!
The second point of your PR problem is related to "special interests." How have you let billions of big business and foreign interest dollars tarnish the modest donations of working Americans? "Union money" represents my mother the schoolteacher, my grandmother the waitress, and my grandfather the truck driver, who voluntarily gave a portion of their hard-earned money to band together with their co-workers and fight the exploitation of big business; to advocate for safe working conditions, reasonable hours, and fair wages. Unions represent "Main Street," and it's a travesty to pollute their advocacy by allowing Republicans to lump them together with the efforts of corporate America to turn our business landscape into something resembling the working conditions in China or India. Union money represents everyday Americans working together to maintain the same principles that have made the United States the envy of the world in the last two centuries.
Lest you think I am nothing but an idealistic bleeding heart: I understand the realities, and recognize that there are flaws in each system I have advocated. Government is inefficient and sometimes stifles innovation. Democrats are as guilty as other politicians of subjugating their principles to the pursuit of election funds. Power often begets power, and unchecked power in government is as dangerous as unchecked power in unions, big business, or anywhere else. I recognize that we live in a disposable society, but when something has flaws it doesn't always need to be discarded. Given government's inefficiencies, I would love an alternative to keep business in check and minimize exploitation, pollution, and danger. Alas, we don't currently have one. The question I constantly pose to my conservative friends, which has yet to be answered, is, "If not government, then who?" Industry can't be the answer because it's motivated solely by profit, and the greater good will always be subverted to the pursuit of the dollar. Charities can't be the answer because they are not centralized and have no authority. Government is what we have, "of the people, by the people, and for the people," and unions are just organized groups of "the people!"
If you launch a PR campaign to take back the ideas of government (even "big" government) and unions, my prediction is that the Democratic party would retain power for decades, if not centuries.
The demonization campaign is in full swing in Texas.
Location: View southbound from Interstate Hwy 35 just north of exit 315, town of Bruceville, TX
Question: How is the Earned Income Tax credit (EITC) pioneered by Richard Nixon, Treasury Secretary Connally (a Texan), and Economist Milton Freedman less "socialist" than Obama's stimulus plan that simply routes money to "shovel ready projects" in the states to reduce the "pro-cyclical" impact of reduced state government spending? The EITC is a shameless form of wealth transfer, almost like the "Negative Income Tax" (NIT) Freedman advocated along with his flat tax. Yet, there is an effort to demonize Obama for a stimulus plan less shamelessly "Socialist" than the Nixon-Connally-Freedman program?
AUSTIN, TX - Students are beginning classes and already attending their first College Democrats meetings of the year. If you're one of the many chapter Presidents across the state or are interested in starting a chapter at your school here is an extremely helpful link from the College Democrats of America: http://bit.ly/dx8qWX
Here are some best practices from TCD President Emeritus Andy Jones:
1. Solidifying membership is key. A high profile speaker at the first meeting is awesome, but the second and third have to be about keeping members, not talking at them.
2. Motivate the base. Get student organizations that have helped your chapter in the past motivated to work with you again.
3. Fun, fun, fun. We're not the West Wing campaigning for Santos. Food at events, contests, rewards, etc. Fun, fun, fun 'til her Daddy takes the ballot away...
Here is the first three weeks of state strategy from TCD President Ryan Lofton Payne:
Week one • Contact local election office and schedule a time to deputize your group.
• Start registering people in high traffic areas of campus.
Week two • Make sure you have contacted local candidates and inform them of where you will be registering on campus.
• Contact professors that teach the largest classes and ask if you can come in and register the class at the beginning of class.
Week three • Start getting ready for the fall conference in Dallas and really start focusing on what you have implemented in the first two weeks.
Also, this just in! Sneak peek at the Texas College Democrats' fall conference trainings:
1. College registration and GOTV (get-out-the-vote)
2. Old & New: Effective media for college campuses
3. Issue advocacy: making a statement at your school
4. Tools for success: fundraising & chapter development
Mark your calendars! The conference is set for September 18th and will be held at the Progressive Center of Texas in Dallas. Expect more details in the next week.
College Democrats to Meet in Dallas: Is Texas the Next 'Big D'?
Dallas, TX - Texas College Democrats will have their Fall Conference September 18th at the Progressive Center of Texas located at 1409 S. Lamar Street. Speakers and trainings will be announced in the coming weeks. Dallas was one of the last urban areas to turn blue but Obama net gained more votes in Dallas than any other city in Texas.
Southern Methodist University Democrats, who won the bid, is the home of the George W. Bush Presidential library and is on first glance in a conservative area. In 2008, SMU was named #3 among all U.S. colleges for "Most Conservative Students" by the Princeton Review. However, SMU Democrats was one of only two college chapters to qualify for the full five delegates at the TYD 2010 Convention, was the second largest Texas delegation to the CDA 2010 Convention, and SMU Students for Bill White is the third largest SFBW chapter in North Texas, only behind Austin College and UNT.
Former YDA President David Hardt and current YDA Vice President Renee Hartley are from Dallas. The Dallas County Young Democrats is one of the largest Democratic activist organizations in Dallas County, and one of the largest Young Democrats groups in the nation. With almost 600 members, the DCYDs are able to provide strong volunteer support to local Democratic and community events including parades, campaigns and rallies.
Dallas County has been the most productive county in taking back the state house with 4 gains. Also, a Democrat running county-wide in Dallas County hasn't lost since 2004. More importantly, there are more recognized vulnerable Republican state house members in Dallas County than any other county in 2010.
The Metroplex represents a very real prospect for Texas to turn blue. Texans are folks who love common sense and aren't afraid to swim upstream. In a time when Texas Republicans are in the news shouting about "terror babies", stealing taxpayer money for personal expenses, and being recorded to work part-time for a full-time salary---people from across the Lone Star state will look at their ballot and do the only thing a reasonable, rational, logical person would: vote Democratic.
"The courts won’t end the controversy over Arizona’s anti-immigration law, only leadership will."
Every seat at the Rose Marine Theatre was taken last night. Sitting next to me was a stylishly dressed, middle-aged Anglo woman who has clearly seen success in her life. She said what I’ve been waiting years to hear — “it’s time people who look like me start speaking out.”
That was the impact of 9500 Liberty, a documentary by filmmakers Eric Byler and Annabel Park, that chronicles the experiences of Prince William County, Virginia, when they passed an ordinance identical to SB 1070 — even written by the same right-wing, anti-immigration think tank.
At the invitation of my friend State Representative Lon Burnam, I hosted 9500 Liberty’s Fort Worth premiere on the very day SB 1070 was supposed to take effect before a federal court thankfully said otherwise. The movie drew a crowd that was equal parts Anglo, African American, and Hispanic. This was so much more than a movie premier; this was a community dialogue.
The documentary takes an interesting turn — not just when the city of Manassas suffers economic hardship and foreclosures as people move out of town, but when an unlikely pair of middle class moms start showing up at council meetings and doing their own research, become bloggers, and yes, become political activists. Their actions gave courage to others.
So I started thinking to myself, who in Texas is inspiring others to speak out?
The Case for 2010: Young People in Texas Look for a Democratic Future
Austin, TX - Living in Texas, we are often told that Republican victories are inevitable. We buy into the lie that because we are young and because we are Democrats our votes don't really matter. We don't get excited for our elections, we don't get involved, and sometimes we don't even vote. Republicans would have us believe that they will always be in power and that there is nothing we can do about it.
"If you want to make something happen, tell a Texan it can't be done"
However, statistics show that our generation trends in the opposite direction. In 2008, if 18-29 year olds had decided the election the Lone Star state would have been blue on the electoral map. Within the Democratic Party, Texas continues to lead in national youth roles:
David Hardt, YDA President (2007-2009)
Katie Naranjo, CDA President (2008-2010)
Renee Hartley, YDA Vice President (2009-Present)
Alejandra Salinas, CDA President (2010-Present)
Democrats have an incredible opportunity to win big this November starting at the top of the ticket of great candidates by electing Bill White to be the next governor of Texas. White represents our best opportunity to win back the Governor's mansion since Ann Richards while Perry represents the greatest vulnerability. People often forget that he won re-election in 2006 with only 39% of the vote.
Rick Perry has proven his corruption and incompetence to voters across the state through murky land deals, a dropout crisis in our public schools, a $18 billion budget deficit, a rental mansion that is costing taxpayers $10,000 a month, claiming that the BP oil spill was "an act of God", or seriously talking about how Texas should secede from the Union.
"Shouldn't we be the state the leads the nation, not that leaves the nation?"
The eyes of Texas are upon you. Organize your campus, register people to vote, and volunteer for our candidates. America is watching us-waiting to see if we will allow for Rick Perry to have an unprecedented 3rd term and the Texas GOP to remain a source of national shame. We must do everything in our power to take back our state.
This week the Congress passed a $34 billion dollar extension of benefits to Americans who have been out of work for more than 26 weeks, and these benefits where passed along party lines with the Republicans in the Senate blocking the benefits for weeks. Congressional Republicans argued that the benefits should not be passed unless a corresponding amount of budget cuts could be made, however, another argument that Republicans have offered is that unemployment benefits themselves are a disincentive to find work. At a time when long term unemployment is high than at any time since the Great Depression, and there are five workers applying for every one job these arguments seem ludicrous. The unemployment benefits will help 2 million struggling Americans, and the extension of benefits will last through November.
The idea that unemployment benefits will unacceptably add to the deficit is a relatively weak argument, considering that the fall in consumer demand if unemployment benefits are not extending in the long run will add more to the deficit in lack of tax revenue. Also, it seems a bit disingenuous for Republicans to lecture anyone on deficits or government spending. According to analysis by the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, significant causes of our current deficits where due to the 2001 and 2003 Bush Administration tax cuts (which by the way Republicans are still arguing doing not need to be paid for with corresponding cuts in the budget). The other idea that unemployment benefits are a disincentive for people to find employment is another weak argument when you consider that there are not enough jobs for American workers. What these arguments are about is plain and simply politics.
As is often the case, the "mainstream" media nowadays is pushing a "conventional wisdom" line that has only one major problem – it’s largely or completely wrong. In this case, the "wisdom" is that voting for limits on carbon pollution is bad politics. The polling indicates it’s far more complicated than that.
For instance, the latest CBS/NY Times poll indicates that nearly 90% of Americans believe U.S. energy policy needs either "fundamental changes’ or "to be completely rebuilt," while 97% of Americans are "angry" or "bothered" by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Those percentages hardly appear to indicate a status quo, "conventional wisdom" electorate on this issue, or an automatic political downside to making fundamental changes in U.S. energy policy.
Perhaps that is why, when you actually look at the 17 Democrats up for reelection this year (Bayh, Bennet, Boxer, Burris, Dodd, Dorgan, Feingold, Gillibrand, Inouye, Leahy, Lincoln, Mikulski, Murray, Reid, Schumer, Specter, Wyden) and subtract out those retiring (Bayh, Burris, Dodd, Dorgan) or defeated in a primary (Specter), you find that the vast majority – all except for Blanche Lincoln - are in favor of climate and energy legislation. Let’s take a look.
Michael Bennet- What could be clearer than this recent quote, "The best way to limit carbon pollution is for Congress to pass a comprehensive climate and energy bill." Barbara Boxer- A climate champion by any measure Russ Feingold- Issued a statement declaring, "Climate change is real and we need to address it. By blocking action on climate change, the Murkowski resolution would have stalled our march toward energy independence through more efficient vehicles, alternative fuels and renewable energy, all of which can spur new American jobs." Kirsten Gillibrand - Listed as a definite "yes" on a comprehensive clean energy and climate bill by E&E News Daniel Inouye- Also listed as a definite yes by E&ENews Patrick Leahy- He recently stated, "Let us not be known as the Congress that continued to punt, pass and kick on some of the crucial issues like these, on which the American people are looking for solutions, not procrastination." Barbara Mikulski - Listed as a definite yes on a comprehensive, clean energy and climate bill by E&ENews Patty Murray- Also listed as a definite yes by E&ENews Harry Reid – Has called for "bring[ing] comprehensive clean energy legislation before the full Senate later this summer." Chuck Schumer- Also listed as a definite yes by E&ENews Ron Wyden- Also listed as a definite yes by E&ENews
And let’s not forget these two letters – one on March 19 to Harry Reid and the other on January 26 to President Obama - showing 33 Senators (not even counting John Kerry and Joe Lieberman, who didn’t sign either letter but obviously are champions on this issue, plus most likely others as) clearly calling for climate legislation.
So, why is it that we keep seeing the perception in the "mainstream media" that a vote for comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation is bad politics? Perhaps because of the unfortunate tendency of the "mainstream media" to keep recycling quotes from a few loud Senators -- like Byron Dorgan and Evan Bayh -- who just happen to be exiting the scene altogether for potentially "greener" (and not in the environmental sense!) pastures. For the "mainstream media," recycling their preferred narrative may make a good story (or the story they want to tell, for whatever reason). In politics, however, perception is nine tenths of reality, and in this case the reality is that there is far too much at stake for this country to rely on "conventional" wisdom, especially when the facts – those troublesome things - tell a very different story.
In this context, this past Friday, Greg Sargent of The Plum Line asked an important question regarding clean energy and climate legislation in the U.S. Senate: "Can A bold new crop of Senators save carbon limits?" Sargent’s intriguing thesis was that[,] "[i]f carbon limits have any prayer of surviving in the Senate's energy reform bill, it may turn on the efforts of one group: The energetic freshman and sophomore Senators that are pushing hard to keep carbon limits alive." Sargent pointed to an interview with one of those freshmen, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, in which he argued that "There's a lot of new energy in those two classes, and they recognize that this is the moment."
In short, what Merkley’s saying is that it’s time for Democrats to stop listening so much to the "old guard" of Senators who are retiring. Instead, Merkley makes the case for paying more attention to the Senate freshman (and sophomores), who by definition were elected relatively recently and, therefore – at least theoretically - might have their fingers closer to the pulse of the public than the old timers. In part, the question is whether there could be a "generational" difference going on here. Not "generational" in the chronological sense, in which "younger" Senators are more pro-environment than "older" Senators. But, perhaps, "generational" in the sense of "political age," as in "how long have they been in Washington, DC?"
Given the analysis above, we might want to add "members in cycle" to Merkley’s admonition about listening more to freshmen then to old timers. Because the fact is, the majority of Democrats actually facing the polls this November are in favor of taking action on energy independence, clean energy, and holding corporate polluters accountable. Perhaps this is because they are listening to what the public is clearly demanding, which is fundamental change in U.S. energy policy? And perhaps they are not listening to a "conventional media" narrative which is completely wrong? Regardless of the reason, it appears at the moment – and certainly on this issue - that Democrats would be better served by listening more to the folks facing public opinion, as well as those elected more recently, and less to the ones preparing to depart for "greener" pastures.
(For all those headed to the State Democratic convention in Corpus Christi next weekend. - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
In just two weeks, this year's state Democratic Convention will be held in Corpus Christi (June 24-26). We finally have the complete list of caucuses for the convention, starting with the Senatorial District Caucuses and moving to the Issue/Organization Caucuses:
SENATORIAL DISTRICT CAUCUSES
Friday, June 25
3:00-5:00 pm
SD 1: Exhibit Hall B (1), 1st Floor, American Bank Center
SD 2: Riviera 1, Lobby Level, Omni Marina
SD 3: Room 225C, 2nd Floor, American Bank Center
SD 4: Riviera 2 & 3, Lobby Level, Omni Marina
SD 5: Room 226, 2nd Floor, American Bank Center
SD 6: Room 227, 2nd Floor, American Bank Center
SD 7: Padre Island Ballroom A-B-C-D, Lobby Level, Omni Marina
SD 8: Watergarden A (1), 2nd Floor, American Bank Center
SD 9: Room 103, 1st Floor, American Bank Center
SD 10: Bayview Ballroom D, 2nd Floor, American Bank Center
SD 11: Corpus Christi Ballroom A, 3rd Floor, Omni Bayfront
SD 12: Nueces Ballroom B, Third Floor, Omni Bayfront
SD 13: Bayview Ballroom B, 2nd Floor, American Bank Center
SD 14: Bayview Ballroom A, 2nd Floor, American Bank Center
SD 15: Room 225 DE, 2nd Floor, American Bank Center
SD 16: Bayview Meeting Room, 1st Floor, Omni Bayfront
SD 17: Marina View, Lobby Level, Omni Marina
SD 18: Corpus Christi Ballroom C, 3rd Floor, Omni Bayfront
SD 19: Selena Auditorium, Rehearsal Hall, American Bank Center
SD 20: Bayview Ballroom C, 2nd Floor, American Bank Center
SD 21: Room 105, 1st Floor, American Bank Center
SD 22: Nueces Ballroom A, 3rd Floor, Omni Bayfront
SD 23: Watergarden B, 2nd Floor, American Bank Center
SD 24: Watergarden A (2), 2nd Floor, American Bank Center
SD 25: Corpus Christi Ballroom B, 3rd Floor, Omni Bayfront
SD 26: Room 225 A-B, 2nd Floor, American Bank Center
SD 27: Room 101-102, 1st Floor, American Bank Center
SD 28: Riviera 4 & 5, Lobby Level, Omni Marina
SD 29: Room 104, 1st Floor, American Bank Center
SD 30: Exhibit Hall B (2), 1st Floor, American Bank Center
SD 31: Aransas Room, 3rd Floor, Omni Bayfront
ISSUE/ORGANIZATION CAUCUSES
Friday, June 25
9:00 - 10:00am
Progressive Hispanic Caucus, Bayview Ballroom B
9:00 - 11:00am Democrats with Disabilities, Bayview Ballroom D
Democrats for Life, 225 C
Gun Owners Caucus, Room 104
Non-Urban Caucus, Room 226
Reform the TDP Caucus/Primary Process, Room 225 D-E
10:00 - 11:00am Mexican American Democrats, Bayview Ballroom B
Tejano Democrats, Arena
10:30 - 11:30am UAW Caucus, Bayview Ballroom A
11:00 - 12:00pm Hispanic Caucus, Arena
Local Communications and Outreach Coordination, Room 103
11:00 - 12:30pm Small Business Caucus, Room 106
11:00 - 1:00pm Clean, Fair, Public, Voter-Owned Elections, Room 225 C
Coalition of Black Democrats, Watergarden B
East Texas Democratic Caucus, Room 226
Texas Democratic Veterans Association, Bayview Ballroom C
Texas Democratic Women, Bayview Ballroom D
Texas Environmental Democrats, Room 101-102
West Texas Coalition of Democrats, Room 227
11:45 - 1:00pm TX AFL-CIO Labor Caucus, Bayview Ballroom A
12:00 - 1:00pm #TDPSC Tweet-Up, Room 104
12:00 - 2:00pm Education Transformation with State Representative Mike Villarreal, Room 103
Muslim Democratic Caucus, Room 105
Technology Caucus: Democratic Caucus on Computers and Communications, Rehearsal Hall
Texas Blue Dog Coalition, Bayview Ballroom B
12:30 - 2:30pm Texas Stonewall Democrats, Watergarden A
1:00 - 2:00pm Energy Caucus, Room 101-102
State House District 17, Room 227
Jewish Caucus, Room 226
1:00 - 2:30pm Democrats Against the Death Penalty, Room 225 D-E
Texas State Teachers Association, Room 225 A-B
5:00 - 6:00pm Asian American Democrats, Watergarden B
The campaign for TX-17 looks as though it will go a full twelve rounds, but Democratic Congressman Chet Edwards told Politico that he is ready for a fight.
"Every year the [RNC] predicts my demise. I'm lean and mean and have earned the support of Republicans and independents, as well as Democrats."
As Left of College Station reported last week, Edwards is facing a Republican opponent who recently won a divisive and expensive primary and runoff. While the Edwards campaign has been gearing up for reelection, the Flores campaign now has the challenge of transitioning from primary to general election campaign mode. While the district is predominately Republican it takes more for a candidate to win an election here than an R next to their name in the ballot box. Edwards has spent ten terms in Congress, and has faced well funded Republican opponents before. Like these previous campaigns the Flores campaign is attempting to paint Edwards as a liberal, and to connect him to President Barack Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
"Texans across the 12 counties of this district are chomping at the bit to vote out Chet Edwards and fire Nancy Pelosi, as evidence by more people voting in the March 2010 GOP primary than did for the GOP nominee in November 2006."
