(Keith Hampton is a widely respected attorney in Texas seeking a seat on the Court of Criminal Appeals. He's running against presiding Judge Sharon Keller. - promoted by Katherine Haenschen)
For over a year, I have worked tirelessly to persuade Republican Judge Larry Meyers to become the first statewide Republican to switch parties. I was so convinced he would run against Presiding Judge Sharon Keller as a Democrat, I decided to run in an open seat to ensure we had a Democratic candidate in each race. But after weeks of meetings at Texas Democratic Party offices, it recently became clear that Judge Meyers would remain a Republican. Under these circumstances, I have decided to run against the incumbent most deserving a challenger, Presiding Judge Keller.
I thank each of you who has worked to collect signatures. I must now collect those same signatures more quickly than ever to be on the ballot for Place 1 against Judge Keller. In my efforts to switch a Republican-to-Democrat I lost weeks of time, leaving me only 60 days to file the petitions necessary for me to be the only Democrat on the ballot for a statwide judicial race. Please sign up now to help collect petitions.
I thank you again for helping my campaign for this judicial office, and I thank you for caring about the state of justice in Texas. It matters.
State Representative Chente Quintanilla (D-El Paso) will not be returning to the legislature next session.
The long-time state rep will be taking on fellow Democrat Willie Gandara, Jr. for his seat on the El Paso County Commissioner's Court.
Quintanilla's district overlaps the county commissioner precinct that is currently held by Gandara.
Quintanilla is a retired school administrator and will be eligible for a pension as a state legislator.
With Quintanilla leaving the legislature, it will leave District 75 with an open seat and redistricting lines make the district more rural and more Republican than the previous lines.
It has been a tough news weekend for the United States.
I've been blocking out news coverage today and cringing every time I hear a partisan or pundit prognosticate about the decline of America, or our supposed shuffle closer to doomsday.
My heart breaks hard every time I think about the selfless men and women we lost in Afghanistan this weekend. Brothers and sisters alike, it seems almost trivial to sit here tonight and type--a freedom they have won for me--while so many are facing grim realities and long, tense moments of combat half a world away.
It's easy to lose focus of who you are and what you stand for in times like these.
Tonight, I'm reminded of a famous speech given by a wartime American president from Illinois (emphasis added):
"It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
It is easy to cower in the face of disappointment or unspeakable tragedy, to cave to the demands of those playing the temporary game of political opportunism. In these times, we should not forget who we are:
Rosemary Lehmberg, Travis County District Attorney, announced today that she will seek re-election to a second term.
Lehmberg took office in January of 2009, the first woman to hold that office in Travis County history. In announcing her bid for a second term, Lehmberg pointed to the successes of her office during the last two and a half years of her four year term.
“I am proud of my amazing staff who work tirelessly to keep the people of Austin safe,” said Lehmberg. “Over the last two and a half years we have implemented important initiatives like the deferred prosecution program, mental health team, and the environmental prosecution unit.”
Lehmberg’s campaign team will consist of general consultant David Butts, campaign manager Katie Naranjo, fundraiser Susan Harry and treasurer Bill McClellan. “Rosemary is one of our finest public servants working to ensure the integrity of our government with a watchful eye across the state,” said Butts.
“It has been my honor to serve this community for the last two and a half years,” said Lehmberg. “I look forward to expanding our environmental prosecution of industrial polluters and continuing to create new approaches that end the cycle of incarceration.”
Lehmberg’s kick-off will be hosted by former opponents, Asst. District Attorney Gary Cobb and former Asst. District Attorney Mindy Montford this Thursday at Threadgill’s.
What: Re-Election Campaign Kick-Off for District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg
Date: Thursday, July 14, 2011
When: 6PM to 8PM
Where: Threadgill’s, 301 West Riverside Drive
The event is open and free to the public and all are welcome to attend. For more information about Rosemary Lehmberg's campaign visit: www.rosemarylehmberg.com
here in Ellis County,we are the bastion of liberalism.(OK,I'm one of three)
One of my local papers demonstrates this:
http://www.elliscountypress.co...
http://www.elliscountypress.co... "Part of what Christian and conservative voters instinctively feel we must accomplish in this Midterm Election (now only five days away, with Early Voting ending on the 29th) is to remove and replace as many part-of-the-problem elected officials as possible, then complete the job in the 2012 Elections."
http://www.elliscountypress.co... Almost anyone can fully understand why any leftist, socialist, progressive, or whatever they choose to call themselves, would vote Democrat this election cycle. After all, the Democrat Party has little or no policy differences with their European Social Democratic or even Green Party counterparts. So, there is no question why those on the left would pull the lever for any Democrat.
There is, however, a legitimate question as to why anyone who does not fall into the leftist category would even contemplate voting for a Democrat this year. If you consider that Barack Hussein Obama and the Democrat majorities in both houses of congress have taken this republic in an unprecedented direction and given the federal government unprecedentedly vast powers,
http://www.elliscountypress.co... It was quite a surprise the past week to hear German Chancellor Angela Merkel say that "Our attempt to have ethnic groups and religions live side by side and enjoy each other has failed, utterly failed."
Not only is this from a major European leader, a socialist and one-world supporter.
It is also surprising that it is coming from a country with Germany's history, which makes this particularly encouraging.
There is MUCH,MUCH more at the site.Gay-hating,racial baiting,incitement of hate.Welcome to Ellis County,y'all.
I received this information from an activist and friend in town. Please pass it along to everyone in your mailing list, your blog, and in any possible venue.
My Book:http://ReadMyBookNow.com
Reports of the last few days indicate that the attack on health care reform will continue and, in all probability, escalate in the final days of this mid-term electoral season. Why? Because polls show that attack ads work -- even if they are not completely true or, worse, false. Shame on us!
As people of faith -- trusted messengers -- it's our turn! With fewer financial resources, but with relationships that reach into the depth and breadth of our communities, it is our job to transcend partisan politics and economic self-interests, and to be the truth-tellers in support of a compassionate health care future with a system includes and works well for all of us.
We begin with the declaration that "truth is witness to the whole." We know that one short sound-bite taken out of context -- even if it's a fact -- does not necessarily represent the whole truth. We denounce the use of such sound-bites (from any party!) when they are intended to pervert truth for electoral gain. In the end, we acknowledge that a manipulation of facts to frighten and confuse vulnerable populations is just plain immoral.
We can change what's happening, but it means each of us must be willing to share the TRUTH when we hear it. We can and must make a difference because health care is, first and foremost, a people issue that should not be relegated to the caverns of political ideologies. In sharing TRUTH, we are not supporting one candidate over another. We are simply making sure that people make their choices based on truth that witnesses to the whole -- not on distorted perceptions based on mis-represented facts.
"A Daily Dose of Truth" will arrive in your email each day to help you compare what you are hearing to the real TRUTH in the Affordable Care Act. Please help spread the message to the far reaches of our country -- via viral email, Facebook, telephone calls, chats with neighbors, and discussions in your communities of faith. Help us counter what is touted as true (with a little "t") with what is actually the TRUTH!
A Daily Dose of Truth #1: Medicare in Health Care Reform
When health care reform was passed in March 2010, our nation's seniors became the beneficiaries of a strengthened, improved, and re-structured Medicare system. A number of provisions will improve Medicare services for enrollees and extend Medicare's solvency for another ten years.
Direct benefits of health care reform for Medicare beneficiaries
Prescription drugs. The prescription drug coverage gap (the "doughnut hole") will be eliminated over ten years. In 2010, the coverage gap will be reduced by $250 in the form of rebate checks that have already been sent to millions of beneficiaries who have reached the doughnut hole. In 2011, program enrollees will receive a 50% discount off the price of brand name drugs during the coverage gap. In ten years, the doughnut hole will be closed completely. Other provisions will expand assistance for some low-income beneficiaries enrolled in the Medicare drug program.
Preventive care. For traditional Medicare beneficiaries, in 2011 co-pays and deductibles will be eliminated from most preventive services. An annual comprehensive wellness visit and personalized prevention plan are added, which are not subject to coinsurance or deductibles.
Medicare Advantage plans. The private-for-profit Medicare Advantage plans will be prohibited from charging beneficiaries higher cost sharing for services than is allowed in traditional Medicare. Plans that offer extra benefits will be required to give priority to wellness, preventive care services, and cost-sharing reductions over benefits not covered by traditional Medicare.
Physician incentives. Generous incentives are in the Affordable Care Act to increase the number of primary care physicians and to encourage primary care physicians to treat Medicare beneficiaries.
Low-income program. Outreach and enrollment assistance will be increased to beneficiaries eligible for the Part D low-income subsidy program.
$500 billion savings to the system
The $500 billion in cuts that are being denounced in attack ads are NOT cuts to benefits. They are cuts in waste, fraud, abuse, and government subsidies for private-for-profit insurance.
Private-for-profit Medicare Advantage. Payments to private-for-profit Medicare Advantage plans will be restructured. Excess payments will be rolled back, and performance bonuses will reward quality plans. Part of the argument to privatize Medicare is that the private market can provide the same or more benefits at a lower cost than the federal government can do it. Supporters believe that competition will keep the prices down and the quality up. However, recent research is showing that the government is actually paying $1000+ more for Medicare enrollees in private plans than those in traditional Medicare. Further, only 20% of Medicare beneficiaries are in the private plans subsidized by the government, but 100% of enrollees are paying for those subsidies!
Waste, fraud, abuse. Penalties will be enhanced on providers for waste, fraud, and abuse.
Hospital readmissions. Reimbursements to hospitals with excess preventable readmissions and hospital-acquired infections will be reduced.
Coordinated purchasing. Value-based purchasing for hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, skilled nursing facilities, and home health agencies will be established.
THE TRUTH (with the "big T"): Because of the 2010 reform of U.S. health care, Medicare is strengthened; beneficiaries will receive increased benefits; and costs will be controlled by cuts in waste, fraud, abuse, and government subsidies to private insurers.
Sign up for the email list of Faithful Reform in Health Care
If you did not receive this email directly from Faithful Reform in Health Care, and would like to receive additional information about the TRUTH in health care reform, sign up for the email list now!
MoveOn members in Texas's 21st District have voted to endorse Lainey Melnick for Congress. It's up to all of us to stop the corporate takeover of Congress-you can volunteer with the campaign here:
Looking back over my notes (the liveblog below), I can honestly say I enjoyed the forum/debate. Kathie Glass, like Debra Medina, is an honest and sincere person. However, she is absolutely out there -- her answer on how to address mental health issues (cut taxes, lower spending, secure our borders) was one of the most incredible stick-to-talking-points-when-you-don't-know-the-answer responses I've ever seen. She is even more of a state's rights, sovreignty person than Perry. Glass declared that education is "socialism."
But ultimately, she was there. She was willing to share what she thinks. Rick Perry isn't. Rick Perry had one of his trolls working the chat room for the livestream of the debate online -- and getting thoroughly rebuked by everyone in there. Rick Chicken Perry continues to disrespect the voters of the state -- because he doesn't have answers to the $18 billion budget shortfall, how he's doubled state debt and nearly doubled state spending. Perry refused to debate Medina, refused to attend editorial board meetings, and has now refused to appear at a public debate.
A career politician like Rick Perry isn't going to get to ignore the voters for four more months. The more he does, the worse he and his campaign will be.
---------------
8:00: That's it! First debate closes. Actually an informative conversation. Perry got beat up the whole time, and Kathie Glass is a strong messenger on his issues. For any libertarian/Republicans who have Perry fatigue, she will be a suitable alternative. Wrap-up post tomorrow. Thanks for reading!
7:57: Glass closes with a big, "are you afraid?!?!" speech. One line: "Are you going to awaken and wonder what freedom they've taken away from us next?" Goes back to her greatest hits -- sovreignty, border security, cutting taxes -- and says "if you're going to vote for Rick Perry, that's a wasted vote."
7:54: Oh yeah -- for the record, Bill White won the coin toss tonight! Each candidate will get to close with their stump speech. Nice direct line: "Rick Perry will see how many times he can say "Obama" and "liberal" in a :30-second TV commercial." Talks, again, about respect and public servants. White's closing:
"If you don't have the guts to get up here on stage and answer to the taxpayers who pay your salary then you shouldn't be elected Governor."
7:52: White responds to how to reduce unemployment Texans by talking about the need for improvements in education, planning for the future across all issues. He really sees the whole big picture, which is encouraging to see in comparison to Part-Time Perry, but also can get him pulled off track.
7:51pm - Final question: "What measures would you do to reduce unemployment?" If you guessed that Kathie Glass said, "cut taxes" you were right. She also wants to remove certain licensing laws. Kaiba is...less than impressed with Kathie Glass. I'm starting to get the feeling this is the only liveblog I'll be doing until Rick Perry gets involved...
7:50pm - Conversation on health care. Nothing new here...Glass wants to nullify everything.
7:48pm - White asked, "What mandates would you give agencies in Texas to see that our industries" keep things healthy. White's response:
"My mandates to the agencies would be to make decisions based on public health criteria, and not how much somebody donated to a campaign."-- Bill White
7:44pm - Feed is getting choppy here towards the end...trying to fix.
7:42pm - Glass rejects the premise that Texas needs more revenues. I didn't see that one coming. (eyeroll.) Calls for the elimination of the property tax, and the franchise tax. Kathie Glass doesn't mince words -- she will cut everything!!!
7:40pm - White: "State spending has gone up by 79% since Perry has been Governor." Talks about looking under the hood for tightening the budget.
7:38pm - Bill White talks about history in Houston, and how he helped address mental health issues in Texas. White then goes into a sincere conversation about how he will do more to address the issue in Texas.
7:37pm - Kathie Glass will increase our mental health by....cutting taxes, lowering spending, and securing our borders. Why? Because with less spending, we'll be mentally healthy. Not joking. Definitely a highlight of the night.
7:35pm - Water resources conversation. I'm taking a water break. Nothing tangible said, but not that much can be. Water is one of the most complex issues imaginable. The management of our state's water resources is twice as challenging as figuring out transportation, and look how poorly we do on that.
7:32pm - Bill White goes into his 5-point plan on education. It was one of his most-liked posts on Facebook. Yes, I know that. I'm also live-blogging this.
7:31pm - Kathie Glass declares that public education is socialism. Home run! It's eerie how much she sounds exactly like Rick Perry at times. "You can't just fix socialism" is the classic quote!
(Remember, after the close of the polls next Tuesday at 7pm there are precinct conventions! Not as busy or sexy as the 2008 presidential caucuses but important for the structure of our party. - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
Big tip of the hat to MarkCamann
Purposes of a resolution 1. To memorialize someone recently deceased.
2. To congratulate a person or group.
3. To amend the Rules of the Texas Democratic Party (TDP).
4. To amend the TDP Platform.
5. To urge Democratic elected officials, especially in the Texas Legislature and the U.S. Congress, to advocate certain positions on policy issues. As the delegates assembled at the state convention are the highest authority within the TDP, such resolutions should carry weight with elected officials as the consensus of the grassroots of the party.
Has anyone read the latest posts about the Jack McDonald vs Michael McCaul race for the Texas 10th District? We deserve a strong, progressive Democratic candidate in a district which is trending Blue. Increasingly, it looks like McDonald has the same "I'm not really a Republican" problem plaguing Tom Schieffer's candidacy.
I have found a few documents that I find very surprising and require some answers. A short ten years ago, Jack McDonald was registered as a Republican in New York City where he worked for a prominent Wall Street law firm. See the link below:
Okay, so he was once registered GOP - I'd like to know why and what changed his heart and I'm sure I can accept those answers. What deserves a little more explanation is why he was repeatedly donating to George W Bush - one big contribution coming as late as 2003. See the link below:
Our last TX-10 candidate, Larry Joe Doherty recently put his support behind Jack McDonald, but is anyone asking any questions about McDonald's past political affiliations, his donations, and his positions on key progressive issues? I think it is very important that we know who he is, what he stands for, and where he is going to lead our Congressional District, if elected.
