Last night was an incredible success for TexBlog PAC. Over 150 individuals, candidates, elected officials, and bloggers attended the inaugural fundraiser at the home of Austin attorney Amy Clark Meachum. Our friend and fellow TexBlog PAC board member Vince Liebowitz drove in to town to celebrate with us, and there is a lot to celebrate.
TexBlog PAC is less than two months old, and already we can say that it is an overwhelming success.
In less than two months over 5,000 people have signed up to take back the House. We have raised over $10,000 from a little over 100 donors. We have a working coalition that includes our largest supporter to date, the Texas Democratic Party, the Lone Star Project, the House Democratic Campaign Committee (who's board includes Rep. Jim Dunnam, Rep. Pete Gallego, and Rep. Garnet Coleman), and Democracy for Texas. This doesn't even begin to cover the more than a dozen Democratic State House Members that have given generously.
A very special thanks to the 7 Democratic House members who took the time to attend the event last night-- Pete Gallego, Lon Burnam, Elliott Naishtat, Eddie Rodriguez, Tracy King, Mark Strama, Valinda Bolton.
All this and we are just getting started. Not a single person on the board is getting paid for their efforts, and still, every blogger across the state is devoting their personal time and energy to this project. We are uniquely committed to taking back the State House, and it appears you are too.
Last night, my former boss, Rep. Gallego spoke to the crowd and told them we are at a crossroad. In 2001, we had 78 Democrats in the House. In two short years that number fell to 62 because of Tom DeLay and Tom Craddick. Over the past 4 years, we have increased our numbers from 62 to 70 Democrats in the House. It is our turn to join with groups like DFT, HDCC, TDP, and local counties and organizations to help win the next 6 seats.
Texas Bloggers will only be as successful as you allow us to be. Your donations will allow us to build a movement and elect good Democrats next November.
To all of you who made it last night, a huge thank you. To those who have supported us, thank you. We have one year to work together and take back the people's house. Help TexBlog PAC achieve that goal.
Last night we proved we were more than an echo chamber.
Representative Kirk England's decision shows courage and commitment to his district. Time and again, Representative England has stood up against the extreme partisan Republican leadership in Austin that has continually failed our state. He's a fighter for the people who elected him to serve and I am very pleased to welcome him to the Texas Democratic Party.
-- Boyd Richie, Chairman of the Texas Democratic Party
"This decision was not made lightly, but I believe I can get more done on the issues we care about as a Democrat. Of course, I have many close friends, supporters and even family members that are Republicans. But when I went to Austin, I saw firsthand the agenda of the Republican leadership, along with the strong arm tactics used in enforcing that agenda. I realized that the leadership and the special interests they represent had very little in common with the principles and ideas I value most. At the end of the day, I decided that the ability to represent my district was more important than following a party line set by folks in Austin.
"I was born and raised in Grand Prairie, and I have lived here my whole life. My wife Marcy and I raised our two sons, Sam and Charlie, in this community, and I own a small business here. I trust the voters in District 106, and I am confident that my friends and neighbors agree that doing what is right is more important than partisan politics.
"I am prepared to roll up my sleeves and work hard to be reelected in 2008. I am confident that the voters in our district want a representative who will fight for public education and the Children's Health Insurance Program and who believes that the folks struggling to pay skyrocketing utility bills every month are more important than TXU's profits. I am committed to returning to Austin to keep the promises I made to citizens of District 106."
But clearly actions speak louder than words. Lucky for us, we can look at the 80th session and see how Rep. England acted to make Texas a better place for everyone. As the Lone Star Project points out, Rep. England will be a valuable member and asset to Democratic caucus.
Stood Up to Craddick: In an extraordinary display of courage, England broke with GOP freshmen and voted with centrist Democrats against Tom Craddick on the defacto "Vote of No Confidence" against the Speaker.(Source: H- 1047 Motion to Sustain the Ruling of the Chair)
Strongly Supported Educators: Showing the courage to stand with children and educators over partisan party leaders, England voted with centrist Democrats to raise teachers salaries by $6,000 to reach the national average. (Source: H- 1157 Motion to Table Amendment #3 by Dunnam)
Protected Our Ballot: To protect the sanctity of the ballot and senior voters in HD106, England voted with centrist Democrats to exempt elderly voters from Voter ID requirements. (Source: H- 604 Motion to Table Dunnam Amendment to B Brown Amendment #1)
Acted to Stop Child Abuse: Breaking with Republicans who refused to aggressively investigate child sexual abuse at Texas youth facilities, England voted with centrist Democrats for a special prosecutor to investigate the TYC. (Source: H- 147 Motion to Table Amendment by Dunnam)
Fought for Clean Air: Taking action to improve air quality and promote energy conservation, England voted with centrist Democrats to provide taxpayer-funded incentives to build clean energy projects. (Source: H- 706 Motion to Table Amendment #2 by Vaught)
Kirk England is going to be a fantastic representative for HD-106 and for the rest of Texas. His courage to stand against Craddick and his top lieutenants (Chisum, Brown, Howard, etc.) shows his commitment for a better Texas. We aren't the only ones happy to see him join our party, for that, you will have to read below the fold.
City Councilmember Wendy Davis announced her resignation from the Fort Worth City council today then told colleagues she will run for the Texas Senate in District 10. Davis, a Democrat, will seek the seat currently held by Kim Brimer and will make a formal campaign announcement at a later date.
As we reported on Wednesday, Less than 20 percent of those surveyed give Brimer a “favorable” rating and nearly 50 percent know so little about Brimer that they cannot rate him at all, which is extraordinary for a 20 year office holder. During Davis’ remarks, given during a moment of personal privilege in council session today Davis alluded to Brimer's failures.
I have enjoyed our honest partnership, and I know it is responsible for our success here in Fort Worth. Unfortunately the public’s partnership in Austin is badly broken. These failed leaders have forgotten who they represent, forgotten their way home. Failed to remember that it is you and I, those who elect them, who called them to serve – not the powerful special interests.
We saw the advantage a former city councilmember has when running against an incumbent failure. Paula Pierson's victory in 2006 was due in large part to her time as an elected city council woman and her connections in both the business and activist communities.
Davis has served eight years as the councilmember from District 9, which includes downtown Fort Worth and much of the central city. Davis’ council district – to which she has been elected to five times – is entirely within Senate District 10.
On her last day, former mayor pro tem Ralph McCloud had this to say about Davis:
Wendy Davis is a true leader, a hard worker and an honest broker. Wendy will be sorely missed on the City Council, but her can-do attitude will serve Tarrant County well in the legislature.
There is a strong chance for a primary in SD-10, but Davis's entry into the race further proves the point that Brimer is vulnerable. Any person willing to brave a possible primary in order to get rid of a do nothing elected official is good in my book.
A few days ago we talked about a bizarre Criminal Appeals ruling that will allow criminals to destroy evidence and generally avoid the law. The more I think about the ruling the more bizarre it seems.
Ruling empowered corrupt and unethical elected officials to falsify records, destroy evidence, generate false information, tamper with legal information, or even lie on government forms. This ruling serves to protect Tom DeLay and inserts political agendas into our courts.
Democratic Party Chairman Boyd Richie points out that even with this bastardization of the law, Tom DeLay will still be held accountable in the court of law.
Today's ruling simply reaffirms a lower court decision and changes neither Tom DeLay's legal status nor the fact that Tom DeLay's scorched earth, corrupt politics showed a blatant disregard and disrespect for Texas voters, his own constituents, and his colleagues in Congress.
Although the Court made a technical ruling, all substantive charges of criminal activity against Tom DeLay's corrupt activities remain. DeLay's own colleagues in Congress admonished his shameful and unethical behavior three times. And DeLay himself cut and ran to Virginia to avoid having Texas voters cast a vote on his record of corruption last November.
Tom DeLay’s damage has been done and he will be prosecuted, but it's up to Texas voters to undo the damage he and Republican leaders have inflicted on our state and our nation.
As one reader pointed out, Justice Cathy Cochran, writing the dissent in which three other justices joined, said “common sense” dictates that a conspiracy to commit a felony is a crime, no matter where in the law books the felony appears.
The Lone Star Project secured an e-mail showing proof that the U.S. Justice department, along with the Texas Attorney General, all knew of the sexual assault scandal engulfing the Texas Youth Commission. Even though victims were interviewed and enough circumstantial evidence was established, neither the Texas Attorney General's office under Greg Abbott, nor the U.S. Justice Department under Alberto Gonzalez, took the necessary steps to stop the sexual assault of children housed in the commissions system. Why? Electing Republicans was more important then protecting incarcerated teenagers. I guess now we see Republican policy on reforming troubled youth includes allowing them to be sexually assaulted.
LSP correctly draws the clear conclusion that politics during an electoral season took precedent over protecting assaulted teenagers. Considering Gonzalez is under assault for a politically motivated attempt to replace all U.S. Attorney's across the country this Bush crony can ill afford to have yet another black eye. But he certainly deserves one for this.
Leo Berman, the Tyler Republican and Chair of the House Elections Committee, says he supports House Bills 993 and 996-- legislation to move the primary from March to February.
Where do you stand on a February 5th primary in Texas?
This shows that the Republicans want to do something differently than what Democrats have proposed. Maybe any early primary is better. Maybe, we should exercise some caution when pushing for an early primary, to ensure we're not doing something that will actually hurt Texas Democrats. Discuss the possibilities below.
Legislation is currently being considered in the Texas State House to move the Texas Primary from March 4, 2008 to February 5, 2008, and Texas Democrats are taking the lead on the issue. Bills supporting a February 5th primary have already been filed by Representative Roberto Alonzo of Dallas (HB 993) and Representative Trey Martinez Fischer of San Antonio (H.B 996). State Representative Richard Raymond of Laredo has cosponsored the Alonzo bill and made a strong public endorsement of the effort calling upon current presidential candidates to endorse an early Texas primary. (Read the statement here)
Last night's victory in TX-23 was a huge one, the majority of the credit for which must be placed at the hands of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. The DCCC spent over a million dollars in the last month helping build out Ciro's campaign and the hard work of Adrian Saenz, Meghan Gaffney, and Vanessa Gonzalez put him over the top. Their work as well as that of others that went unseen, was critical in making this a winning race.
The TDP, while constrained by the McCain-Feingold laws, did its part and devoted voter information, a secondary field program in 6 counties, some fundraising, and a few statewide e-mails (though woefully inept in that department as usual). Still, it's more than I'd ever have expected out of the TDP prior to Boyd Richie and should be congratulated.
And of course, there are thanks to be made to LULAC & MALDEF who fought ongoing legal battles to keep early voting going, True Blue Action, the TexRoots, Labor, and many other players.
But the one group that would have you believe they did it all and were the first out of the gate and into bloggers inboxes with their "look what we won" e-mail, would be the Lone Star Project. While they have done plenty of good stuff in the past, their release last night and this falling-over-themselves piece is best summed up by McBlogger.
I wasn't going to write anything about this, but goddamn if there wasn't an email last night, mere hours after Ciro Rodriguez won, from LSP taking credit for the damn thing. Matt [Angle], I'm going to terminate my address on your f***ing list if you don't stop with the auto-fe****io. Seriously, how much did LSP raise for Ciro? From my perspective, this was the candidate, DCCC, LULAC and MALDEF. LSP didn't even like the LULAC map that produced this district; now you're the ones responsible?
The winners are never going to call bullshit, so it falls to us. Matt you do a hell of lot and there is no need to take credit for everything. It distracts from the real work ahead and breeds resentment among people who work really hard, cycle after cycle. People you're going to need at some point in the future.
Sometimes, modesty is an asset.
Indeed. Now on to the rest of the analysis and impact of this race as that's off the blogs' collective chest.
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott is using $1.5 million in federal grant funds to prosecute Texas citizens who help senior citizens apply for ballot applications and cast their vote by mail. Most of the Texans being prosecuted by Abbott are senior citizens, African American or Hispanic, and ALL are Democrats.
Abbott has taken his job to such extremes as to recently spy on Senior Citizens like 69 year old Gloria Meeks. Meeks’ sworn statement says that Abbott sent two men to interrogate her because she was legally casting her through the mail. Once she had been asked to wait, the men began snooping around the house to accidentally see Meeks bathing and drying off on two separate occasions.
Why is Abbott so passionate to violate the Voting Rights Act?
Because of these targeted voter suppression tactics, the Lone Star Project in conjunction with the Texas Democratic Party have files suit against the flawed ballot statute.
[Lone Star Project] assert(s) that the challenged statutes enacted in Texas in 2003 violate both the U.S. Constitution and the Voting Rights Act by denying senior citizens and community activists the ability to receive and provide legally protected assistance to participate in elections and, in the case of challenged ballots, the very right to have their vote counted. The suit further asks the Court to block Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott’s current efforts to prosecute community activists and other individuals who assist senior citizens and the disabled in completing the mail ballot process and then help insure that completed ballots are mailed or delivered properly to election offices. It is a narrowly drawn complaint that seeks to correct a technical flaw in the Texas Election Code that is being exploited by Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott to selectively prosecute and suppress elderly, minority, disabled, and Democratic voters.
This is from our friends at the Lone Star Project today-- it's about time the TDP grew a set!
Court asked to stop AG Abbott’s voter harassment and selective enforcement
Today, six Texas voters joined with the Texas Democratic Party to file a lawsuit in U. S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas, challenging mail ballot statutes enacted in 2003. The presiding Judge is T. John Ward.
