(This is a huge event today, and an important opportunity to protect Texas water and lands. - promoted by Katherine Haenschen)
When was the last time you saw Jim Hightower and Debra Medina together at the same rally?
Today a broad coalition of local officials, property rights activists, religious leaders, and environmentalists will gather together in Austin at the U.S. Department of State public hearing to sound the alarm about the threat of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline that would transport dangerous tar sands oil across east Texas properties and wetlands. If this pipeline were allowed to be built, up to 1.7 million gallons of toxic tar sands oil could flow into east Texas drinking water and land before the proposed automatic shutoff valve would trigger in the event of a spill.
The U.S. Department of State needs to re-do its faulty analysis that did not include the heightened threat to water resources with exceptional drought conditions in Texas. At the hearing, Uris Roberson and the Mayor of Gallatin, TX will announce the formation of a '391 Commission' creating local authority to address the threat.
WHO:
Uris Roberson, East Texas 391 Commission
Neil Carman, Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club
Debra Medina, We Texans (Tea Party)
David Daniel, East Texas landowner and founder of STOP, Stop the Tar sands Oil Pipeline
Amanda Yaira Robinson, Texas Interfaith Power & Light
Jackie Joy, Sierra Student Coalition at University of Texas Pan-American
WHAT:
United States Department of State public hearing on a proposed toxic Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline
Prayer Vigil, Press Conference, Public Hearing and Rally
WHEN:
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
10:30am - Interfaith Prayer Vigil
11:30am - Press Conference
Noon - Hearing begins
6:00pm - Rally Featuring Jim Hightower, Debra Medina and Rep. Elliott Naishtat
8:00pm - Hearing ends
WHERE:
LBJ Auditorium,University of Texas at Austin, corner of East Dean Keeton Street.
This is our best opportunity to communicate directly with the Obama administration. Let's generate a good turnout and tell TransCanada: Don't mess with Texas!
Last night over 160 euphoric Democrats congregated in downtown Fort Worth for the 2nd Biennial North Texas Salute to Speaker Jim Wright dinner hosted by the Mid-Cities Democrats and the Tarrant County Democratic Party. Former Agriculture Commissioner, Jim Hightower, lit up the audience with his energizing and hilarious commentary on the state of our political foes on the opposite side of the aisle:
I went to welcome you all to what is STILL the state of Texas. Governor Good-Hair puts the goober in gubernatorial, doesn't he? He isn't limited by stupidity, just insanity. He certainly wasn't the fastest bunny in the litter.
Hightower went on to provide a motivating call to get involved:
Even the smallest dog can pee on the tallest building. We are scrappy Democrats. They have the fat-cats and we have the alley-cats. It's time to strategize, organize, and mobilize because we are capable of coming together as a strong political force.
The evening ended with Hightower moderating a sit-down conversation with Tarrant County's own Speaker Jim Wright. When Hightower asked Speaker Wright about what it takes to step up and lead, be involved, and make a difference, he didn't hesitate to point out the Mid-Cities Democrats as an example of doing exactly that:
Look no farther than the people in this room. These Mid-Cities Democrats said 'no more!' That Mid-Cities area is the crown jewel of Tarrant County. As most counties continue to lose population that area continues to grow. And these people said we will be pushed no more. We will stand up, organize, and mobilize. We'll stand up for what is right. I see what they are doing. They energize youth. They let them lead. They are young in heart and young in spirit. I see what they are doing and it is working.
San Antonio attorney and Friedman adviser Abel Dominguez will serve as treasurer of the campaign committee, called "Texans for Kinky."
Dominguez orchestrated Victor Morales' victory in the 1996 Democratic U.S. Senate primary. Former Texas Agriculture Commissioner Jim Hightower also is helping Friedman.
Jim Hightower? Really? Disappointing.
If there is anything that I'll take for comfort, it is the tone of the following statements from both the Statesman article and his campaign press release.
"I am a humorist, but I know these are not humorous times," Friedman said in a letter to supporters. "There is a pathetic lack of leadership at the state level. The last governor who was truly on the side of the people was Ann Richards. She was a very funny lady-she was also a great governor."
"I intend to run a serious campaign, one that grows the party," he wrote. "I intend to play by the rules. I will endorse and campaign for whomever wins the Democratic Primary."
A Personal Note: About a month or so ago, I briefly chatted with Mr. Friedman at the Democratic GAIN event at Opal Devine's that BOR jointly sponsored. I was likely more cordial than Matt in my words, which were few, but it was more than we exchanged in the 2006 campaign. As to that campaign, I stand by the editorial decisions I approved and directed for this site in releasing the tapes and series of posts on 'racist Kinky Friedman' which began as far back as the primary.
In our exchange, Mr. Friedman stated his primary interest was "seeing a Democrat in the Governor's mansion". I agree with that statement (and told him so), though I have yet to be convinced that Kinky Friedman should be that Democrat.
Personally, I believe that Democrat should be Sen. Leticia Van de Putte but I recognize that there is a chance our choices might be limited to Kinky, Tom Schieffer, and maybe Gene Kelly. That's hardly the most inspiring line up for Texas progressives and it's only because there is not a clear alternative at this point to Friedman for grassroots progressives, I may wait and see how seriously he chooses to approach this campaign.
Though, Kinky Friedman does have more in common now with Carole Strayhorn. They'll each have run for office as a Republican, Independent, and as a Democrat.
Jim Hightower is coming to Rockwall to campaign for Glenn Melancon. Jim is the most entertaining and thought provoking Texan alive today. Author of the book, Swim Against The Current: Even A Dead Fish Can Go With The Flow, Jim Hightower has spent three decades battling the Powers That Be on behalf of the Powers That Ought To Be - consumers, working families, environmentalists, small businesses, and just-plain-folks.
Jim wants a true populist to sit in Mr. Sam's seat. Are you ready for change in Washington?
Don't miss the fun as Jim and Glenn team up to fight George Bush' good ol' boy network. Space is limited. Tickets for this event are only $100. All money raised is a donation to Texas Families for Glenn Melancon.
Glenn Melancon of Sherman is the Democratic candidate in Texas' 4th Congressional District. The district includes Bowie, Camp, Cass, Collin, Delta, Fannin, Franklin, Grayson, Hopkins, Hunt, Lamar, Morris, Rains, Red River, Rockwall and Titus counties.
I do not live in Texas and haven't since May 2001. But I still have a few friends left in my beloved Bluebonnet and Paint wildflowers state. There's one in particular who did the Jerry Jeff Walker thing: moved from NY to Texas and never left. And that was thirty years ago. I met him when I was in grad school at North Texas State (now UNT). He works in the DFW metroplex.
Recently, I e-mailed this buddy with a good Shrub joke. For those who are interested in the joke, you can read it at my blog, Benny's World. He replied with pleasantries and asked me how things were going for my POTUS candidate, John Edwards.
The Young Democrats of America (YDA) National Convention kicks off in just 28 days in Dallas Texas.
We will be there July 18-21 to see what's going on and talk to young democrats from across the country.
A recent e-mail sent out highlight some of the speakers at this years convention-- Senator John Edwards, former Texas Agriculture Secretary Jim Hightower, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope, John Stolz from VoteVets, and others.
The YDA Convention will also have training sessions, a community service project with Democrats Work, and our national officer elections. Feel free to register or learn more at their website.
John Edwards is returning to Texas for yet another grassroots event. Sen. Edwards will be in Houston, Texas on June 27th. Come see the Presidential candidate that Jim Hightower calls a True Progressive and a True Democrat.
Senator Do Nothing claims he is "Approaching all issues with one question: How will it affect our families?"
After five years of "representing" District 3, Staples is remembered for two things: (1) Sponsoring HB3, the 2003 redistricting bill and (2) Sponsoring HJR6, the hateful gay marriage amendment that was passed last November.
When considering legislation, Todd Staples asks the question "How will it affect our families?" If the answer is "badly", he throws his support behind it.
What a record he has. In an attempt to suck up to the Republican powerbrokers so they'd let him run statewide, Todd Staples' two biggest legislative "accomplishments" also happen to be the two biggest wastes of time in recent memory.
Next week is not just the start of the special session but there's also three excellent events for activists to kick off the week!!
U.S. Senator Russ Feingold announced today that he will travel to Austin next Tuesday, April 18th, for a series of events with Texas Congressional Candidate John Courage.
Feingold and Courage will hold a Listening Session on the campus of the University of Texas at 12:30 PM CT, in the Quadrangle of the University’s Student Union. This event is open to the public. Feingold and Courage will be available to the media following the event.
At 7:30 PM CT that evening, Tuesday, April 18th, Feingold will join Courage at Jovita’s, 1619 First St. in Austin, for a large event with Courage supporters. The event will feature live music and addresses by Jim Hightower, the former Texas Agriculture Commissioner and radio commentator, Feingold, and Courage. Tickets for this event can be purchased at the door or in advance at www.frontgatetickets.com, Encore Video and CD, Stubbs BBQ and Waterloo Records.
Cindy Sheehan is also at UT on Monday the 17th. appearing at the east mall near the MLK statue from 11 am until 12:15 as part of the Cameo anti-war rally.
I have only a preliminary agenda, and there's nothing on the Cameo site yet, so if you have more information about this event, please post it in the comments.
