It's a little after two. The San Antonio Express-News has published an editorial via the Web concerning the "glitch" in Webb County's results, which are critical to Ciro Rodriguez in CD-28.
To top it all off, boxes are still out in a few GOP races I'm trying to cover, at least via SOS.
No Nonsense in November and Donna Howard's campaign both used online phonebanking in their campaigns to contact voters; I think it's a great way to harness the power of the netroots and to clean up voter information lists for future campaigns. I booked a computer lab at Rice last year during No Nonsense and was able to have a half-dozen volunteers call Double D voters from the comfort of our campus. If I wasn't busy with Garnet Coleman's campaign, I'd sign up for this myself.
If you haven't gotten involved with a local race, this might be a good opportunity to help out a good man running against one of the most right-wing Democrats in the House.
[Update: Ciro Rodriguez was on Majority Report tonight. Missed an email about this until now, but it's on their blog here.]
Ciro Rodriguez got another boost today in his race against Congressman Henry Cuellar in the Democratic Primary for CD-28 as his camp revealed a list of high-powered endorsements including that of 2004 Democratic Presidential Candidate and U.S. Senator John Kerry.
You will recall no doubt recall that Ciro Rodriguez lost to Cuellar in the CD 28 primary in 2004 by a very slim margin. Given Rodriguez's list of congressional endorsements, it appears his colleagues on The Hill want him back. The following sitting members of Congress endorse Ciro Rodriguez: (Fund-raising update below, too!)
(I'm working on taxes today, so thanks to Journalers like SADem you can be kept up to date, even on a Sunday. - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
Here's a shocker, the San Antonio Express-News has endorsed Henry Cuellar for re-election.
Among the reasons: "Cuellar has worked hard and demonstrated an independent nonpartisan mind-set that angered labor unions and other liberal interest groups."
"The congressman angered some Democrats with his willingness to work with Republicans, but extreme partisanship is a cancer that threatens to destroy the nation's political system. Cuellar's willingness to place his district ahead of his political party is refreshing."
In a post on The Red State blog, a recent ad by Frank Madla says that he helped created the CHIP program. However, he only co-authored the orignial bill.
On Daily Kos post about the Ciro-Cuellar debate at Sunset Station, Cuellar asserts, "The CHIP [Children's Health Insurance Plan] is a Texas program that I started."
And yet there is still a third possible source: Fort Worth Mayor and former State Senator, Mike Moncrief (D). According to the mayor's website, "...he has been recognized nationally for authoring the Texas Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)..."
Although I'm strongly leaning toward supporting Ciro Rodriguez, my goal here was to create a somewhat neutral district profile for TX-28. I cross-posted over at my blog Casual Soapbox, and I'm thinking about cross-posting on MyDD also. I'd love to get some feedback, since I enjoy doing this sort of research in my spare time (when I have any). If people find it helpful, I might do a few more. What do you guys think? -- abramcf
The Democratic primary down in TX-28 seems to have heated up recently, since the photo of President Bush cupping the face of incumbent Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar at the State of the Union surfaced. That photo has prompted a surge of support for primary rival Ciro Rodriguez. With so much interest out there, I thought I'd post a district profile, like the one I did for TX-21 a few weeks ago.
One of the hottest races in Texas this spring is going to be in CD 28. This an overwhelming Democratic district, to the point that the GOP doesn't bother running anyone in it. So, in effect, whoever wins the primary in CD 28 wins the election. The current Congressman from this district is Henry Cueller. From what I can tell, he's not much of a Democrat...
On School Vouchers
He said last month that he is against school vouchers, but Lone Star Project has dug up a dozen or so quotes by Cueller promoting vouchers. Apparently he was for them before he was against them...check out the extended entry for all the quotes and sources.
On Katrina Voted no on H Res 437: To establish the Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina.
According to Dos Centavos, where was Cueller when Congress was voting on he initial $10 billion aid package for the Katrina effort? At a photo op with John Carter and Mike McCaul. Who were they photo oping with? None other than John Carter and Mike McCaul (both Republicans).
On CAFTA Voted with 15 other Democrats to pass CAFTA.
On Redistricting In 2003, Cuellar worked with Tom DeLay ally and House Redistricting Committee Chairman Phil King to redraw Texas congressional districts and eliminate five senior Democrats from Congress. (Source: Phil King Deposition November 23, 2003)
On Immigration Broke with Democrats to support the Republican Immigration plan to build a wall along the US/Mexico border; (Source:109th Congress Roll Call vote 31, February 10, 2005)
On The Budget Broke with Democrats to support the Republican Tax Package; (Source: 109th Congress Roll Call vote 621, December 8, 2005)
On Tort Reform Broke with Democrats to support Republican Leadership to limit the access of individuals to pursue civil class action law suits; ( Source: 109th Congress Roll Call Vote 38, February 17, 2005)
Cueller was endorsed by the "Club for Growth". This is the first time the organization has endorsed a Democrat. Why did they endorse him?
"By voting for CAFTA, to repeal the Death Tax, to prevent huge tax increases, and for supporting school choice, Congressman Cuellar has become one of the House's most pro-economic growth Democrats," said Club for Growth President Pat Toomey. "The House of Representatives would be better off with more Democrats - and even some more Republicans - who demonstrate Rep. Cuellar's commitment to their constituents' prosperity through economic freedom. It is particularly noteworthy that Rep. Cuellar cast these votes for a stronger economy despite intense pressure not to by some in his party."
And finally...
Cuellar was one of several Texas Democrats to support Bush over Al Gore in 2000.
If that doesn't work, let me paint you a picture:
Ciro Rodrigez is running against Henry Cuellar. If you have the time, please volunteer for him. At the very least, send a few dollars his way. (since this morning, the netroots has raised over $6000 for Ciro...help out if you can.
