Tonight is the night that Obama became the "presumptive Nominee." The timing could not be more interesting for the Texas Democratic Convention which convenes June 6. I cannot help but wonder what this means for all the pre-convention negotiations between Obama Delegates and Clinton Delegates, block voting, people who are considered party "regulars" and people who feel that they finally got a voice in the party.
On the other hand, the convention is not just about Presidential politics; it is about building the Texas Democratic Party of the future- and on this our concerns should be united on the basis of what our most common beliefs are; not the beliefs that separate us as Clinton and Obama supporters, but the beliefs that separate us aa Democrats and Republicans. At the convention we should be looking to put together the best teams to move Texas forward.
Nationally, Texas has a significant impact. However, the impact of our local choices in Democratic leadership, candidates, policy and strategies are something that we not only have greater control over, but can indeed have a significant impact on our day to day lives and the quality of life we enjoy in our cities, neighborhooda, and schools.
So, while we wait for the National party leadership to make peace or not with the results of the primaries, our selection of leaders for both the Texas Democratic Party, its committees and Senate Districts should reflect the peace and cooperation we need to move forward productively and that we want to see at our Party's National level. In our Counties and even in our precincts, neighborhoods and clubs, where the differences between colleagues supporting different Presidential choices have made things tense, it is time to come back together, and show our National Party leaders how to unite. We can afford nothing less.
Dot Nelson Turnier
dothcdp@earthlink.net
Harris County Democratic Party
www.hcdp.org
As you all probably know, I am the Democratic Nominee for the 151st Civil District Court of Harris County, Texas. This is the county that contains Houston. It is a huge county, with 1.9 million voters. Bigger than many states.
For about 15 years, since Ann Richards was defeated by Shrub, the Republicans have dominated this state, and this County. There are zero county-wide Democratic office-holders. Our County Judge (head county official), Sheriff, DA, County Attorney, Tax-Assessor/Collector, County Clerk, District Clerk, all of our county court and district court judges, appellate judges and all through the state Supreme Court are all Republicans.
Houston, in contrast, has a Democratic Mayor (Bill White) and a Democrat dominated City Council.
In response to the scandal of Harris County District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal, County judge Ed Emmet decided he would create an Ethics task force to report back within 90 days on suggested reforms. Well, 90 days has passed, and no ethics suggestions have been made.
Was it because none were needed, but just a new DA was required? No.
Was it because the task force was taking longer than expected? Not even that.
Already forgetting his promises? This isn't even a full term. It's a good thing we have quality Democrats watching his back, like challenger David Mincberg.
This is the year that Democrats are starting a hard and tough campaign to win back Harris County. It comes with good timing, too. We need it.
The Houston Chronicle reports on a Zogby Poll they commissioned that shows Democrats have an edge for the 2008 county-wide elections in Harris County. Granted, the edge remains within the margin of error, but this is certainly a good sign for Democrats who hope the Harris County Democratic Party could accomplish the same this year as the Dallas County party did in 2006.
Perhaps more clear in the poll results is the loss of a Republican advantage over Democrats in local contests that will be decided in November.
Of the 604 voters surveyed Wednesday and Thursday, 42 percent said they will vote for a Democrat for county leadership positions, and 40 percent said they will vote for a Republican.
Similarly, 41 percent said they will vote Democratic in local judicial races in November and 37 percent said they will vote Republican.
The results essentially are a tie on both questions because the poll has a margin of error of 4.1 percentage points.
With the Texas Democratic presidential primary producing enthusiasm within the local party, 46 percent of those surveyed identified themselves as Democrats, 38 percent as Republicans and 16 percent as independents.
This gives Democrats a statistical advantage of at least 4 percentage points, considering the margin of error.
With no Democrat winning countywide in over 10 years, this certain bodes well. Hopefully it will remain this way if not get better -- it seems county Democrats might be able to turn Harris; hopefully state Democrats can do the same for Texas, too.
Yesterday, I filed to run for United States Congress in Texas' 7th Congressional District. The 7th is one of the best educated and hardest working in America and it's time the citizens of this District had a representative who reflects that. I will bring new energy to Washington to work to turn things around and get this country back on track. I need your support to do that.
It's been a while since I've posted here, but I read BOR every morning for the latest Lone Star State news. I wanted to let you all know about a Texas campaign that really, really interests me in 2008. A few weeks ago, I won my first elected office – Union County, New Jersey Democratic Committeeman. Well, the "campaign bug" is apparently quite contagious in my family, as it’s now affected my cousin, Mike Engelhart (http://www.engelhart...) Mike is running for Judge of the 151st Civil Judicial District Court of Harris County (Houston), Texas. It’s a trial court judge position – they elect all of their judges in Texas. He’s starting early; the election is in November 2008, but now that he’s officially going to be a candidate (the Harris County Democrats have apparently slotted him to run for the job) he’d like to chat with the Blogosphere (he also has an account on Daily Kos and has posted here over the past several years). So, on his behalf I’d like to introduce Mike to y’all, what his job entails and why you should care (other than he’s my cousin!).
We may have to designate a new name for Governor Rick Perry around these parts. While he has been known as "Governor 39%" due to his election results, the new January SurveyUSA poll has determined his approval rating rests at 45%. While that is not good, it's a slightly higher number than December's poll.
Approve 45%
Disapprove 52%
Not sure 3%
600 adults surveyed, margin of error +/- 4.1%
The breakdown of race, sex, political affiliation, etc holds some interesting numbers. While most all of the numbers are bad, Perry has strong support among Hispanics in this poll. 53% of the Hispanics surveyed approve of him, reversing the trend from the December poll.
Backing up our claim that Perry is not supported by everyone, even in his own party, 30% of those surveyed that identified as Republicans still disapprove of how he is handling his job.
Among regions, some of his worst support comes from Harris County. 69% of those surveyed in Harris disapproved. This could also be related to the Republican numbers, as many GOP members in Harris County have held a negative opinion of him going into the election this past November, mainly due to his handling of the tax situation.
Do these numbers show that Governor Goodhair is growing on us? Or does it reinforce the notion that the state did not want 4 more years? Judging from the bad numbers among all of the demographics, I would have to go with the latter.
Harris County Democratic Party Election Night Watch and Victory Party, beginning as soon as the polls close (7:00 p.m.), at the Sheraton Houston Brookhollow Hotel, 3000 North Loop West. Co-hosted by Congressmembers Gene Green, Sheila Jackson Lee, and Al Green, Harris County Commissioner Sylvia R. Garcia, State Representative Alma Allen, Justice of the Peace Armando V. Rodriguez, and candidates Mark McDavid, Jim Sharp, Herb Ritchie, William Connolly, Leora T. Kahn, Andrew C. Burks, Jr., and Alfred Valdez.
Barbara Radnofsky: Join us at Maria Selma restaurant, 1619 Richmond, Houston 77006 beginning at 7 pm, or online for the webcast.
Chris Bell: Everyone is invited to the Election Night Party of the Chris Bell for Governor campaign, in the Discovery Center Room at the Intercontinental Hotel, 2222 W. Loop South, Houston, TX 77027, starting at 7:00 p.m. For more information contact Katelyn Patterson at 713 524 0009.
Jim Henley: Join us for the Victory Party at El Meson in the Rice Village at 2425 University Blvd., starting immediately after the polls close.
Kristi Thibaut: E-Night Victory Party, 7:30 - 10 pm. Campaign headquarters - 10620 Westheimer. For further information contact 713-978-7701.
Chad Khan: Victory Party for Texas House District 126. Joining Chad is Gary Binderim, Democrat for CD-02. 7:30 to 12AM. Lazeeza Restaurant, 3991 FM 1960 W, Houston, TX 77061. Wireless available for blogging!
Diane Trautman: "Out with the Crabb--In with the Trout!" Victory Party 7:30PM, at the Homewood Suites, 23300 US Hwy. 59 in Kingwood, TX 77339.
James G. Pierre: Victory Party at the Red Hat Jazz Cafe, 924 Congress in downtown Houston (just off the Metro light rail Preston stop), 7:00 pm - until ?
During the early voting period just completed, the city of Houston offered free flu shots to people at selected locations. This was challenged by the Harris County Republican Party, which claimed through their chairman Jared Woodfill that it was a "scheme" to get Democrats to the polls. Mayor Bill White promptly ceased the program.
One of the vile local conservative blogs -- this is the only hint I'm giving -- quoted Jesus out of context from Matthew 26:11: "the poor be with ye always".
This rankles me on several levels:
1. I could simply note that the Harris County branch of US Hezbollah, also known as the Republican Party, is as sorry as Satan regarding this matter and leave it at that, but I won't.
2. Bill White is a bigger coward than John Kerry for rolling over on this. I hereby declare my support for whomever happens to be White's Democratic primary opponent when he runs for higher office.
3. The biblical quotation is not only out of context but incomplete as well. Anyone with a passing familiarity with the Holy Scriptures -- that barely describes me, incidentally -- can easily figure out that Jesus wasn't contradicting his many statements about the poor being blessed, the meek inheriting the Earth, that people should not covet earthly possessions and in fact should sell them, that the moneychangers were sinful, that the wealthy have almost no chance of entering heaven, and so on. Michael Dawson does a much better job of dissembling this atrocious rationale.
I don't go to church, I hardly even believe in a higher authority, but I sure know an Elmer Gantry when I hear him.
What the Harris County Republican Party managed to pull off this week is absolutely NOT what Jesus would have done. But that won't stop them from wallowing happily in the stench of their hypocrisy like pigs in s***.
