In November 2000 my wife Rachel and I flew to Palm Beach, Florida to support the Democratic efforts to secure an honest vote count. Rachel served as a recount observer. We spent our time at ground zero, the Palm Beach County counting station.
The enormous usage of lies, spin, intimidation, and subjection of public office to political power to prevent all the votes from being counted was obvious and chilling.
There is an extreme faction on our State Board of Education (SBOE) that has a specific agenda that is not in the best interest of our children's education. Incumbent board member David Bradley is a member of this extreme faction. He represents the seventh district on the SBOE, which includes Brazoria, Chambers, Galveston, Jefferson, and portions of Harris counties. The SBOE approves all public school curriculum and selects text books for our schools.
Compared to two years ago, it appears that voucher sugardaddy James Leininger has pulled back a bit (so far) in his donations to candidates for state office. Leininger is the state's biggest financial supporter of private school voucher schemes. (You can read more about Leininger in a 2006 Texas Freedom Network Education Fund report on the religious right in Texas.) Vouchers take money from public schools to pay for tuition at private and religious schools.
Over the years Leininger has poured millions of dollars into the campaigns of pro-voucher Republicans, including current Texas Gov. Rick Perry. Leininger has funneled a lot of that money through political action committees. That strategy can give him and his hired hands more control over the campaigns of candidates he supports.
So far in 2007-08 election cycle, however, Leininger has given only about $815,000 to Republican candidates and PACs, according to reports available on the Texas Ethics Commission Web site. That compares to nearly $4 million Leininger had donated by this point in the 2005-06 cycle. More than $2.35 million of that money two years ago went to the Texas Republican Legislative Campaign Committee, a PAC that targeted five House incumbents for defeat in the Republican primaries because they opposed private school vouchers. Another $620,000 went to The Future of Texas Alliance PAC, which backed House Republican incumbents who supported vouchers.
Of course, Leininger's attempt to buy a Legislature that would finally pass a voucher scheme failed in 2006. He defeated only two anti-voucher Republican incumbents. In addition, a number of pro-voucher GOP incumbents - including then-House Public Education Committee chairman Kent Grusendorf, R-Arlington - lost their re-election bids.
Leininger hasn't fared much better this year. For the second time in a row, gobs of his money failed to unseat state Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth. (Geren, a strong supporter of public schools, famously said two years ago that he wouldn't "whore for Leininger" and vote for vouchers.) This year Leininger gave $100,000 to Tom Annunziato's failed effort to defeat Geren. Annunziato's campaign got another nearly $70,000 from Empower Texans PAC, which itself has received $100,000 from Leininger.
Leininger also ponied up more than $70,000 for the failed re-election campaign of state Rep. Nathan Macias, R-Bulverde. Leininger bankrolled Macias' successful effort to unseat anti-voucher state Rep. Carter Casteel, R- New Braunfels in 2006. Macias, who also got about $80,000 this year from Empower Texans PAC, narrowly lost his Republican primary last March.
Although his spending so far is less than usual, we would be surprised if Leininger doesn't spend more money in support of pro-voucher candidates in the fall.
Nancy Reagan and the daughters of Lyndon Johnson have extended a joint invitation to the presumptive Democratic and Republican nominees to host two "town hall meetings" between Obama and McCain this summer. One would be held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi, California and the other would be at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library on the UT campus in Austin.
The McCain camp, which has been pressuring Obama to participate in a whole series of joint town hall meetings with the Republican nominee, has already accepted the invitation. No word, yet, from the Obama campaign.
The two campaigns have been wrangling over the number and type of joint appearances they will agree to before the election. The McCain camp initially proposed ten such meetings to take place before the Democratic and Republican conventions. The Obama campaign has countered with an offer to participate in one joint town hall meeting in July, in addition to three traditional debates and an in-depth foreign policy debate in August. The McCain camp says that is insufficient and are obviously hoping that they can make this a campaign issue, as did Clinton.
The LBJ/Reagan press release states that "A respected, independent polling organization will be brought on to ensure that the audiences will represent a cross-section of the American people." I have written to Anne Wheeler with the LBJ Library asking how the public will submit themselves for consideration. I will update this diary with details if I hear anything.
Last night, Thursday, April 03, the Capital City Young Democrats (CCYD) held its endorsement election for the upcoming Austin municipal election on May 10, 2008.
CCYD endorsed the following candidates:
Austin Community College Board of Trustees, Place 1 Tim Mahoney
Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees, District 3 Jerry Garcia
Let me just take a moment to say, that Ray fully deserves to be in public office and that I hope he considers running again, be it for local office or otherwise. For all the differences the campaigns may have had during the primary, I am humbled to see this post and our collective commitment to highlighting the huge differences we have with John Cornyn in our efforts to replace him this fall.
While I of course supported Noriega, Ray ran a positive campaign on the issues and I would be dishonest in saying that my head wasn't nodding from time to time listening to him speak. My personal hat off to him both as a teacher and a candidate.
~Karl-Thomas
McMurrey Statement on Primary Results Expresses Thanks to Supporters; Endorses Noriega
Ray McMurrey issued the following statement regarding Tuesday's primary results:
Based on the results of the March 4th primary election, my candidacy for the 2008 Democratic nomination for United States Senator has ended. I gave my time, talent and treasure to this race. My campaign was always about the issues and ideas that will improve the daily lives of Texas families. My platform resonated across Texas, and I appreciate the many supporters who believed in me and my message. It is my hope the Democratic ticket will embrace single-payer health care, a strict timetable for withdrawal from Iraq and public financing of campaigns.
I wish to thank the wonderful people of Texas for the gracious reception and hospitality given to me. It was one of life's greatest experiences to travel this beautiful state, to hear Texans' concerns and hopes and to run as a Democrat.
I endorse Rick Noriega for the United States Senate. During this primary, Rick has always been a gentleman and shown kindness to me and my family. I have the highest respect for his military service to this country and his legislative experience in the Texas House of Representatives. Without reservation, I will lead a get-out-the-vote movement in my area to elect Rick Noriega.
Although elections should not be about money, we know the reality: John Cornyn has raised millions of dollars in campaign money from corporate interests that pollute the political process and betray the public interest. Mr. Cornyn epitomizes what is wrong with politics today. He is the reason why working-class Texans struggle daily and lose faith in the political process.
Texans need to rally around Rick at this time and help him accumulate the funds needed to take on John Cornyn. I urge all Texans to do what they can to help Rick end the Cornyn legacy of abusing Constitutional liberties and rights to privacy, betraying children by denying health benefits to hard-working families and deceiving this nation about the Iraq War. We must - and we can - do better.
Let's elect Rick Noriega in November! Start today by visiting his Web site, http://www.ricknoriega.com, and contributing now.
I'm still trying to find one more poll worker myself and saw the blog on the Travis Poll Workers and knew Harris County was in the same position. I couldn't get through to the HCDP so I e-mailed Martha and here is what Harris County needs you to know about Poll Workers:
Our phones are maxed out.
Either email april@hcdp.org or fax info to HCDP at 713-802-2082
We need this info:
Name:
VR#: You can find this on you Voter Reg. Card(must be registered voter in Harris Co!)
address:
part of town (very important---NE, NW, SE, SW, inside loop, etc.)
phones: home and cel
email:
willing to work: home precinct only, in immediate area, anywhere needed?
Note:
The SOS requires all workers to attend training for this election.
Online training available at:
http://www.sos.state.tx.us/ele...
Connecting trained workers with the judges who need them is very difficult at the last minute.
Best advice for trained workers--stay cool, if you aren't contacted before Tuesday, go to your nearest poll on March 4 and see if they need help. If the judge says no, move on. You may be needed somewhere else. Call HCDP at 713-802-0085 or check www.hcdp.org for last minute announcements.
If not needed inside the poll as a clerk, maybe you can help inform voters about the precinct convention process outside the distance markers. However, make sure you are a source of good information. Details on precinct convention process is on our web site (bottom of front page).
Thanks for doing this. It will be an election for the history books!
Martha Cottingham
Primary Director
Harris County Democratic Party
(Volunteer if you can -- take a day off from work or school, let us know about your experience, and we'll feature your story on BOR after the election is over! - promoted by Phillip Martin)
Passed along from The Travis County Democratic Party (512) 477-7500 (info@traviscountydemocrats.org):
Here's the deal, if we don't get enough folks to work these precinct polling locations, THEY WILL HAVE TO BE COMBINED!! This will lead to much confusion, turning first-time voters off, and possible voter disenfranchisement for both the primary and caucus!
If you are an Election Judge worried about missing your own caucus, you can hand off the post-poll closing paperwork delivery to an alternate judge or clerk.
If you can work basically 7am-7pm on election day, please read more below...
"We need a leader who has the strength and experience to lead on day one," said Barrientos, who served 30 years in the Legislature before retiring in 2006. "Hillary doesn't just talk about change, she delivers change."
Also in with his endorsement is Former State Attorney General Jim Mattox:
Former state Attorney General Jim Mattox also came out for Clinton. "In Texas we have a phrase: 'She's earned her spurs,'" said Mattox, attorney general from 1983 to '91. "Hillary has spent more than 35 years earning her spurs, and she is the best leader for our country."
(If I understand Will's note -- and I think I do -- then the below post is from Ray McMurray's blog --- so the "I" used throughout is McMurray. Feel free to discuss in the comments below. - promoted by Phillip Martin)
(Since there has been a call for positive posts about Mr. McMurrey, I've decided to cross-post some of the policy papers/columns that we've already posted on our campaign blog. The one that follows can be found here. --William Pate)
The subject of immigration is hot in the 2008 election, but immigration in the Americas is older than the United States itself. We should keep the emotion over this issue in perspective by understanding that the entire history of the Americas has been one of mass human migration. Moreover, it should be understood that the truth needs to be told to the American public. It appears both parties have a tendency to shade the truth, and I believe there is confusion where there should not be.
To begin with, we must admit that regarding immigration there are really two issues:
1. What do we do with those here?
2. What do we do in the future to control the border?
Let me first say that I have some experience with this issue, and my life experiences prepare me to deal with immigration and border issues. After graduation from college, I did what LBJ did - taught public school in south Texas. I lived on the Texas-Mexico border in Eagle Pass for seven years. I taught in a Title 1 school and lived in a colonia. I also married a local girl who is the daughter of migrant farm workers. My wife was born in an Oregon migrant camp while her parents did seasonal agricultural work picking sugar beets. The year was 1965. And her father's parents had been coming to the U.S. prior to that. Given my history, I have a very good understanding of border life and the complexities of the immigration issue.
I think Democrats are reluctant to address this issue for fear of losing Latino votes. This is where my experience and leadership come into play. My family members are immigrants and my children Latino. I can speak honestly about these issues. Immigrants and Latino citizens are respectful of the laws and understand the need to control the borders, just like everyone else.
With regard to those that are now here, we must admit that we have failed to enforce the laws on the books regarding immigration. From properly funding the Border Patrol to cracking down on companies hiring illegal immigrants, we did not do our job. That is why it is frustrating to hear Republicans call immigrants "criminals." In fact, the real criminal behavior was for those in authority to not enforce the law so they could "sell out" to agribusiness and commercial farming interests by providing them the cheapest labor possible, mostly through the use of Latin American immigrants. Not to mention the direct effect that had on the ability of family farmers to compete in the marketplace, thus leading to the decline of family farms.
Those that are here came because we allowed them through our own intentional inaction. They sought a better life for themselves like all who come to this great nation. Their families are intertwined with this nation to such a degree that it would be inhumane to impose a forced removal where roots have been planted - doing so would result in another Trail of Tears. I favor a legal pathway to citizenship for those that are here, but automatic amnesty is not the solution. The pathway should come with a cost. But that cost should be fair and dignified.
In the future we should neutralize the term "illegal" by providing a legal and open immigration policy to this country for law-abiding people to live and work. Our Latino brothers and sisters to the south are our closest neighbors and deserve to have "favored nation" status when considering immigration quotas.
We need to create legal and favorable conditions with Latin American countries so law-abiding people can legally enter our nation under a taxpayer identification system so all workers are documented and paying taxes. Labor leaders need to be at the table to ensure the integrity of American jobs and economic opportunity for American workers.
There is a law enforcement and security issue to the border that is fundamentally different than 15 years ago. We must acknowledge that the drug trade and terrorism are real dangers that bolster the need to monitor our borders.
I believe that with current security issues, this nation does have a responsibility to know who is entering and exiting the nation, as does any sovereign nation. I also believe it is appropriate to substantially increase the funding and salaries for our Border Patrol so they may really do the job we ask them to do. Rather than funds being spent building a wall, we should invest in our immigration enforcement agencies.
The major component of this debate is that Americans believe their government is willing and able to protect American security, American labor and American justice. Republicans are wrong to attack immigrants as criminals while they turn a blind eye and do not enforce the laws on the books, selling out to commercial agribusiness. The real crime is the failure of the American government to secure the border.
In closing, while we do have problems dealing with immigration, my overall faith in the strength of diversity is strong and I believe in the end we will be a stronger and more competent nation. We can do better, and I am ready to provide leadership on this issue as your next U.S. Senator.
