The Big Tent Event in Austin

by: Lainey Melnick

Fri Feb 26, 2010 at 10:03 PM CST

Supporters, Volunteers, Friends and Family  

You are invited to celebrate with ~ Lainey Melnick ~ Candidate for US Congress and Our Co-Hosts:

Capital Area Democratic Women ~ Burnt Orange Report ~ Capital Area Progressive Democrats ~ Capital City Young Democrats ~ Circle C Democrats

Plus These 2010 Democratic Primary Candidates and Their Supporters:

~ Bill White for Governor ~ Farouk Shami for Governor ~ Rebecca Bell-Metereau for District 5, Member State Board of Education ~ Judy Jennings for District 10, Member State Board of Education ~ Valinda Bolton for District 47, State Representative ~ Donna Howard for District 48, State Representative ~ Kurt Kuhn for Place 4, Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals ~ Lora Livingston for District Judge, 261st Judicial District ~ David Crain for District Judge, 331st Judicial District ~ Tim Sulak for District Judge, 353rd Judicial District ~ Eric Shepperd for County Court at Law 2, Judge ~ Olga Seelig for County Court at Law 3, Judge ~ Brandy Mueller for County Court at Law 6, Judge ~ Elisabeth Earle for County Court at Law 7, Judge ~ Sarah Eckhardt for Precinct 2, County Commissioner ~ Daniel Bradford for Precinct 1, Justice of the Peace ~ Yvonne Williams for Precinct 1, Justice of the Peace ~ Karin Crump for Precinct 2, Justice of the Peace ~ Susan Steeg for Precinct 3, Justice of the Peace ~Raul Gonzalez for Precinct 4, Justice of the Peace ~ Herb Evans for Precinct 5, Justice of the Peace ~

The Big Tent Event in Austin

by: Lainey Melnick

Mon Feb 22, 2010 at 11:24 PM CST

Supporters, Volunteers, Friends and Family  

You are invited to celebrate with ~ Lainey Melnick ~ Candidate for US Congress and Our Co-Hosts:

Capital Area Democratic Women ~ Burnt Orange Report ~ Capital Area Progressive Democrats ~ Capital City Young Democrats ~ Circle C Democrats

Plus These 2010 Democratic Primary Candidates and Their Supporters:

Bill White for Governor ~ Farouk Shami for Governor ~ Rebecca Bell-Metereau for District 5, Member State Board of Education ~ Valinda Bolton for District 47, State Representative ~ Donna Howard for District 48, StateRepresentative ~ Kurt Kuhn for Place 4, Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals ~ Lora Livingston for District Judge, 261st Judicial District ~ David Crain for District Judge, 331st Judicial District ~Tim Sulak for District Judge, 353rd Judicial District ~ Eric Shepperd for County Court at Law 2, Judge ~ Olga Seelig for County Court at Law 3, Judge ~ Brandy Mueller for County Court at Law 6, Judge ~ Elisabeth Earle for County Court at Law 7, Judge ~ Sarah Eckhardt for Precinct 2, County Commissioner ~ Margaret J. Gómez for Precinct 4, County Commissioner ~ Daniel Bradford for Precinct 1, Justice of the Peace ~ Karin Crump for Precinct 2, Justice of the Peace ~ Susan Steeg for Precinct 3, Justice of the Peace ~ Herb Evans for Precinct 5, Justice of the Peace

Turning Texas Blue with Asian American Democrats

by: Eugenia Beh

Fri Sep 11, 2009 at 04:22 PM CDT

Health Care Reform Forum Sun., 2pm, Austin, TX

by: David Kobierowski

Sun Aug 23, 2009 at 09:15 AM CDT

When:  Sun., Aug. 23rd, 2:00pm-4:30pm

Where:  AFL-CIO Hall, 11th Street and Lavaca (just West of the TX State Capitol), Austin, TX.  Lots of free parking available.  We'll be inside with Air Conditioning.  We'll have complimentary ice water, drinks, and light snacks.

What:  Health Care Reform Forum hosted by the Gray Panthers.  Expert speakers will include Anne Dunkelberg, Center for Public Policy Priorities;  Regina Rogoff, People's Community Clinic;   John Troutner, MD, Physicans for a National Health Plan.  We'll also have a Q&A at the end.

Cost:  FREE.  Everyone is welcome!   We expect over 150 attendees.  Join us!

Best,
David Kobierowski
Gray Panther Board Member
512-249-0716

Good for Perry, Bad for Texans

by: David Kobierowski

Sun Aug 02, 2009 at 11:52 AM CDT

Richie makes a lot of interesting points in the letter.  Some include:

Here's the Republican primary politics price tag on just this one issue.  The state will have to borrow - with interest - as much as $2B to cover the shortfall in our unemployment fund.  Texas employers will pay a "Republican Primary Tax Hike" because our tax dollars went to other states.

The unemployment fund fiasco should send an ominous warning to voters about what happens when politicians stay in office so long that they put their political careers ahead of what's right for Texas.

Today, we are paying the prices for a Republican primary between two politicians who have shown neither the character nor the leadership that made Texas great.

My Take:

Realize, what Rick Perry did, as horrible as it is for Texans, was politically brilliant.  This is candy for his 400,000+ Republican primary votes he'll need to secure his win over Hutchison.    

Perry was down by as much as 25% before this, and up at least 10% after.  

Smart move for Perry, horrible for Texans.  This is the reason Perry will win the Repub Primary in March 10'.  He will do anything to win.

Can you blame Gov. Perry for wanting to win and doing whatever it takes to win?  A lot of folks in that position might have done the same thing.  He's simply pandering to his conservative primary base.

What would you do if you were in his shoes, knowing this act would likely help you win the Governor's seat?

Best,
David Kobierowski

ACTION ALERT: Do TX Congressional Leaders Support Public Option for Health Care?

by: Phillip Martin

Thu Jun 18, 2009 at 04:49 PM CDT

You want everyone in America to have access to affordable health care? Then it's time to make some calls.

We need to know which members of the Texas congressional delegation support the public option for universal health care, and which ones don't. The reason is simple, as Chris Bowers wrote, "Let’s Get Some Answers On The Public Option" --

For years, candidates for, and members of, Congress told us that we needed to elect and re-elect them in order to lower health care costs and provide universal coverage. And so, for years, we dutifully worked our collective asses off, delivering wide majorities for Democrats--who said they would lower health care costs and provide universal coverage--in both branches of Congress.

Now, when it comes time for them to deliver on health care by providing a public option--the care minimum required to reduce costs and provide universal coverage--what we are getting instead are backroom deals, flip-flops, and cop-outs.

Enough.

Everyone is on board with this plan. Health Care for America Now, Democracy for America, and dozens of progressive bloggers around the country are joining forces to ask Congress these simple questions:

Here's the list for every member of Congress -- who has made public statements, and who hasn't. Here's the current list:

• TX Democrats: Congressman Chet Edwards and Congressman Gene Green have not issued any comment about the public healthcare option. All other Texas Democrats have said "yes" -- that they support the public healthcare option.
  
  
• TX Republicans: Not one member of Texas' Republican delegation -- including Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn -- have said anything about whether or not they support a public healthcare option.

Folks, its time to make some phone calls.

Follow this link to find out where each member of the Texas Congressional delegation stands. (I've also copy and pasted the information below the fold for those members of Texas' Congressional delegation that have not yet announced their position). That link also has phone numbers and e-mail addresses for each member of Congress -- write them or call them with the questions listed above, and then let us know what they said.

You can respond in the comments with any answers you get, or e-mail me privately at phillip@burntorangereport.com.

Is Rush Limbaugh moving to Austin, TX?

by: David Kobierowski

Sun Apr 12, 2009 at 11:12 PM CDT

According to the Austin American-Statesman, Sun., April 12th, 09':

Gov. Rick Perry told the Dallas Morning News that he plans to invite the controversial radio host to move to Texas.  Limbaugh has said he's looking for a new second home - he wants to leave New York, where he lives when he's not in Palm Beach, Fl., and he has mentioned Texas as a possibility.

Gov. Rick Perry went on to tell the Dallas Morning News:  

I think Austin would be an awesome place for Rush Limbaugh.  You know, keep Austin weird.

My Take:  I'm on the fence about this.  Being a radio talk show host myself, I respect Rush for his talent and the incredible market he has won over his 20+ year career.  Having him in Austin, TX might make for some interesting discussions and debates.  I welcome that.  And overall, I don't take him too serious.  I consider Rush to be mostly info-tainment and a lot more bark than bite lately.  But since I don't agree with him on most of his policies or the way he goes about attacking others that he doesn't agree with, I'm concerned that his polarizing influence and his do-almost-anything-to-win behavior will hurt a city that has already lost most of its soul.

My favorite Rush quote (great comic relief) "Consensus is the absence of leadership".  

In October of last year, I also remember Rush saying that Obama is endorsed by terrorists.  Classic Rush!

What do y'all think?

Best,
David Kobierowski

Happy Birthday, Charles Kuffner!

by: Phillip Martin

Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 10:51 AM CST

Ed. Note -  Charles Kuffner, of Off the Kuff, is among the most well-respected members of the blogosphere -- not just here in TX, by anywhere. Texas Monthly named him one of the 35 people who will shape our future. On this, his birthday, we give him this space to showcase the incredible number of interviews he has done for all of us. Happy birthday, Charles!

--------

THE ANSWER, by Charles Kuffner 

Today is my forty-second birthday, which I feel should bring me one step closer to understanding what life, the Universe, and everything is all about. If I get any blinding insights, I'll be sure to share them. As always with my birthdays, the truly important things to note are that I share the date with Justine Bateman, and that I'm exactly one day older than Cindy Crawford. I mean hey, with references like those, how can I lose?

Today is also the first day of early voting in Texas for the March 4 primary. Those of you in Harris County, you can find early voting information and locations here (PDF). I highly recommend voting early this year, as turnout projections are incredibly high, and I wouldn't want to get caught in the chaos that's sure to occur on the fourth. Of course, that means you have to figure out who you're voting for once and for all. I'll post an incomplete list of people for whom I'll be pushing the button tomorrow, for what that will be worth to you. Some choices are easier than others, but they're all important. Please make sure your voice is heard.

Here's a sorted list of the candidate interviews and Q&As I've done for the Democratic primary. I hope this helps you make your decisions. Thanks very much, and go vote!

Interviews:

US Senate - Rick Noriega

US House, District 10 - Dan Grant and Larry Joe Doherty

Harris County Judge - David Mincberg

Harris County Sheriff - Adrian Garcia

Harris County Tax Assessor - Diane Trautman

State Senator, District 11 - Joe Jaworski

State Representative, District 27 - Ron Reynolds and Rep. Dora Olivo

State Representative, District 140 - Armando Walle

State Representative, District 145 - Carol Alvarado

State Representative, District 147 - Rep. Garnet Coleman

State Representative, District 148 - Rep. Jessica Farrar

Harris County Commissioners Court, Precinct 3 - Dexter Handy

Written Q&As:

State Supreme Court, Place 7 - Sam Houston and Baltasar D. Cruz

State Supreme Court, Place 8 - Judge Susan Criss and Judge Linda Yanez

125th District Court (Civil) - Jim Wrotenbery and Kyle Carter

174th District Court (Criminal) - Ruben Guerrero

190th District Court (Civil) - Bruce Mosier and Andres Pereira

215th District Court (Civil) - Fred Cook and Steve Kirkland

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Place 1 - Harold Landreneau

It's possible I'll get some more responses - I did send out more Q&As than this - and if so I'll print them when I get them.

Clinton Leads In IA, NH, TX, AR In New ARG Poll

by: rob

Fri Mar 23, 2007 at 02:29 PM CDT

http://bluesunbelt.c...

Clinton leads overwhelmingly in Arkansas and has a narrow lead over Sen. Obama in Texas.

Democrats; TX; AR;  IA; NH
Biden;  4%;  2%;  2%; 2%
Clark;  4%;  8%;  2%; 1%
Clinton;  34%; 49%; 34%;37%
Dodd;  1%; -%;  1%; 1%
Edwards;  11%; 12%; 33%;20%
Gravel;  -;   -;  -;  -
Kucinich;  -;  -;  1%; 1%
Obama;  32%; 16%; 16%;23%
Richardson 4%;  2%;  1%; 2%
Undecided;10%; 11%; 10%;12%

TX Liberal Sensation: Drinking Liberally

by: John McClelland

Thu Nov 30, 2006 at 04:51 PM CST

What started in Hell's Kitchen in New York City in 2003, has exploded into 170 chapters nationwide. Texas will welcome it's 8th city chapter of Drinking Liberally when Houston start's its own on December 6th.

Cities like New York and Boston would seem the ideal spot for liberal drinkers to want to congregate. But the DL concept has spread widly to 42 states in the country and to cities that one would not find to be especially liberal.