Hi, there all, it is time for me to start bugging people about the AIDS Walk Austin. So, the economy sucks, those of us with jobs are really grateful just to have them, candidates are asking for money, there's an important election in November..... And here's me, with my hand out, too. Well, not my hand. Well, yes, my hand, but I'm seeking donations to benefit men & women in Austin & Travis County who are living with HIV/AIDS. AIDS Walk Austin has been going on for 23 years, and bebefits people living with HIV & AIDS in Austin & Travis County. The agencies also do prevention & education, so that the population of persons affected does not continue to grow. I'm going to talk about the Walk, and about some other stuff I'm doing & there's a song involved. If you want to skip that part, here's my AIDS Walk Austin page. Please donate if you can.
Today marks a big defeat for kids in Texas, and anywhere else else kids read and use textbooks. The current State Board of Education (SBOE) approved history requirements that, among other things, incorrectly imply that:
Woodrow Wilson and Oliver Wendell Holmes were eugenics proponents,
Global organizations undermine US sovereignty through treaties,
Social Security and Medicare are not credible programs,
and a host of other inaccuracies that promote a distinct partisanship that can't be confused with historical truth.There were some small victories today but ultimately, most of the conservative agenda and amendments were or will be approved.
We are past the point of petitions & public hearings- the ONLY recourse we have now is to change the face of that board. That means we need to open our wallets and donate to Democratic State Board of Education candidates Judy Jennings and Rebecca Bell-Metereau right now.
Even if you don't live or vote in Texas, it's clear that the missteps of the SBOE might have implications for kids outside of Texas. Your donation matters more than a lot of races out there - because the outcome of this race has not only Texan implications, but national impact. Please vote with your wallet and change the face of the State Board of Education for all students' sake.
We also need your help to spread the word to others.
Below we've created one-click links for you to share a message of support on Facebook & Twitter. Click either or both of the links, customize the text if you like, and then share this call to action with your friends.
The Hill Country Ride for AIDS is next Saturday. I've raised way more than the minimum, so I'm writing a diary about the Ride in general, and ask for donations for others. This ride is full of amazing, wonderful, beautiful people. Come with me below the fold & see
I'm doing the Hill Country Ride for AIDS on April 24. This is the 11th annual ride, and it is a beautiful, amazing event. I've done a couple of lighthearted diaries, but this one will be serious. (ok, I'll still put something lighthearted at the end, can't be all seriousness on a Friday)
40 days from today - on May 18 - we will see two HUGE primaries for U.S. Senate. Even though these races aren't in Texas, they impact Democrats across the country and, well, the entire country as a whole.
In Pennsylvania, Democratic Congressman Joe Sestak will try to upset Republican-for-decades Arlen Specter.
In Arkansas, Democratic Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter will try to upset corporate lackey Blanche Lincoln.
These two races are tremendously important to defining who and what the Democratic Party is and what we will be fighting for.
If you can volunteer for these candidates (or encourage friends and family in Pennsylvania and Arkansas to do so), that would be amazing.
Of course, if you can help with a contribution to either or both via the Expand the Map! ActBlue page as soon as possible, it will make a big impact.
Polling shows that both Specter and Lincoln are at risk of - if not likely to - hand these Senate seats over to far-right-wing Republicans. (And, even if these two retain the seats, that's not much better on many key issues.)
Congressman Sestak and Lieutenant Governor Halter winning these primaries are critical to keeping these seats in truly Democratic hands. Your support can help make that happen! Please hop over to the Expand the Map! ActBlue page right away to make a contribution - an investment in the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party to pull out an old expression - and show your support.
Thanks SO much for any support you can provide. 40 Days.
So in 22 days, I'll be doing the Hill Country Ride for AIDS. It is a 1-day event, with varying ride distances, raising money for agencies that assist people in Austin & Travis County affected by HIV & AIDS. This is a cause that is dear to my heart, there are people who I adore who are HIV+, and I always try to raise a lot of money for this cause. Come with me below the fold & I'll inject some cuteness & levity into my appeal. Warning, cuteness & silliness follows.
As we await the historic vote on health care reform, it's important to remember that we're just ten days away from the end of the first fundraising quarter of 2010. The fundraising totals reported in this quarter will be pivotal to determining the tenor of many races for the rest of the year. If there is any time to contribute, now is the time!
Please head over to the Expand the Map! ActBlue page and contribute whatever you are able to these terrific Democratic candidates for Senate.
Democrat
Currently At
End-of-Quarter Goal
Distance to Goal
Kendrick Meek
$25
$300
$275
Bill Halter
$445
$750
$305
Joe Sestak
$1,320
$1,600
$280
Paul Hodes
$1,447
$1,700
$253
Robin Carnahan
$1,163
$1,400
$237
Remember, the contribution you can make isn't just a donation to a single candidate or political campaign. It's an investment against Republican obstruction (and conservaDem enabling) and an investment toward achieving that more perfect union.
This is simply incredible. Just got this in my e-mail:
As of the end of the last filing period on Feb. 20, nearly 8,700 supporters had contributed to former Houston Mayor Bill White's campaign.
In the month preceding the Feb. 20 deadline, more than 1,500 contributors gave more than $2.2 million to the campaign to elect Bill White as Texas' next governor.
"Our pace has doubled since the last fundraising period," said Scott Atlas, Campaign Finance Chair. "More than 1000 first time contributors joined the team in the last month. The outpouring of support in advance of the primary has been phenomenal."
In the previous fundraising period, White outraised all other gubernatorial candidates.
White ended this period with more than $5.4 million in cash on hand.
The 1,000 first-time contributors is extremely impressive, and should not be overlooked. Yes, the total numbers are incredible -- but the grassroots support Bill White has cultivated in recent months is what will sustain this fundraising clip through the end of November.
Well if we've met you know I have 2 big passions besides electing more & better Democrats - AIDS Walk Austin (for which I was the biggest fundraiser last October) and the Hill Country Ride for AIDS, which I'll be participating in for the 11th time in April. I've been the top fundraiser for the Ride before & both the Ride and I have big fundraising goals this year. I want to raise $10,000 which is a crazy big goal for an individual and the Ride has a goal of $700,000.
It would be expected for Kay Bailey Hutchison, who has been in the U.S. Senate since 1993, to raise a significant amount of money from Washington, D.C. for her gubernatorial campaign.
However, Rick Perry -- the guy who cannot go one speech without blaming all of Texas' problems on "Washington" -- actually raised more money from Washington than Hutchison did in 2009.
Kate Alexander, the Statesman’s data guru, ran some numbers and found that, in the second half of 2009, Perry raised $37,500 in Washington, while Hutchison raised $19,900. For all of 2009, Hutchison raised $45,165 from Washington and Perry raised $38,225. (As a sitting governor, Perry was barred from raising money for almost all of the first half of 2009 because of the legislative session.)
Embry notes that Hutchison transfered $600,000 from her senate account and so, if that amount is included, she likely did raise more from Washington in 2009.
There should be no surprise that national Republicans are taking a financial interest in a primary that is billing billed as a battle for the soul of the Republican Party. What is slightly surprising is that Perry leads Hutchison in fundraising in a city that she has spent more than fifteen years working in.
