Even in Texas, I'm sure you've heard plenty about what's going on with the still-unsettled Senate race in Minnesota.
While Republican Norm Coleman prolongs his endless and pointless appeals, cementing his admission into the Sore Losers Hall of Fame, progressive organizations Democracy for America and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee have introduced a new effort: NormDollar.com, "A Dollar a Day to Make Norm Go Away." Very simply put, commit to contributing just one dollar per day for every day that sore loser Norm Coleman refuses to concede.
This is exactly the correct approach to take in order to provide Republican leadership in Washington with adequate disincentive from continuing to fund Coleman's endless appeals. The GOP bigwigs funding Coleman's appeals see value in putting their money toward keeping progressive Senator-elect Al Franken from being seated. This grassroots-powered effort will make them think twice by generating many thousands of dollars for progressive candidates for every single day that they fund the Coleman circus.
If you feel so inclined, you can certainly chip in a bit of change directly to the Franken Recount Fund, as well.
Ed. Note. Want a quick refresher on why this is voter suppression? Go to the TDP voter twister website to find out...
4:30pm - I forgot to mention the Texas Observer's blog, Floor Pass, as one to follow today.
Democrats continue to lay the groundwork for the case against voter ID. The arguments are important -- all of this is being entered by a court reporter for a reason. Should the Republicans in the House decide to actually see this thing through to the end -- and guarantee their own political undoing when the Democrats take over the House in 2010 -- then the bill still will have to pass the muster of the courts.
Republicans who are whining about the process so far should remember -- they chose this path. They chose to place this ridiculous piece of legislation before every other issue facing the state of Texas, and they chose to throw out the Senate procedures in the process. I have no sympathy for their whining about the extended discussion of the process -- either it is important enough to merit a week's worth of discussion, or it's not.
A quick scan shows nothing too new. Senator Watson doing a great job asking questions. Senate to break for "10 minutes." I may not miss anything during this class if they break for "10 minutes." Little known rule -- the whole Senate gets ten minutes to break, but each Senator takes those 10 minutes at different times, thus explaining the delays.
2:00pm - Duncan has now dismissed aside all procedural arguments; Republicans begin their inane arguments.
It can't be stressed enough -- voter fraud (and every example that they are going to bring up today) is not what the bill is designed to stop. The bill is designed to stop voter impersonation, not voter fraud. And there is no case of voter impersonation in Texas. They know it is designed to lower the ability of college students, recently married women, seniors, minorities, and practically every other Democratic constituency from being able to vote. They know that it will reduce turnout by 2-3% almost exclusively among Democratic voters -- unless the President runs a major campaign in that state (re: Indiana, Georgia).
I'm out for the afternoon. Feel free to continue the conversation in the comments below.
1:38pm - Senator Tommy Williams -- who admits voter suppression legislation is more important than CHIP or tuition deregulation -- now says that the rules of the Senate floor don't apply to the Committee of the Whole. It's wonderfully symbolic: Republicans will follow those rules that they want, and ignore those they don't want -- that's the entire story of the voter suppression legislation.
1:35pm - Dewhurst/Duncan ruling throwing out the Senate rules basically leaves the Senate without any official rules to operate under. Senator Royce West is pointing out that the Republicans threw out the rules -- and to say now that they don't want to follow them and "apply them to the situation" is beyond logic, reason, or understanding.
Basically -- the R's wanted to play this game. The Democrats are better at procedure, because when R's break tradition in the Senate they don't have a way to really get in and fight back appropriately.
1:30pm - Selby breaks a big story: Duncan sent a memo to Senator Van de Putte saying that Abbott shouldn't testify (today he is saying he never suggested such a thing to Abbott...which may be true, but give me a break). Again, from Selby (who, along with Elise Hu is doing phenomenal work today):
Duncan didn’t think it appropriate that Abbott testify and told the Senate Democrats’ leader that last week. He still could have kept that position to himself—that is, not talked to Abbott or Abbott’s office about it. Seems unlikely, perhaps, but that’s what’s in the public record.
Given the fact that the Office of Attorney General will represent the state of Texas in litigation, if any, arising out of this legislation, it would be inappropriate to present the Attorney General as a witness in the legislative debate. To the extent there are procedural or technical questions relating to elections in Texas, the Office of Secretary of State may be invited as a resource.
A-mazing.
1:15pm - Dewhurst/Duncan basically say that the rules of the Senate do not apply to the Committee of the Whole...questions on that going on now.
12:58pm - Senator Royce West is raising several points of order on the leigslation. Selby is reporting that Dewhurst told him that the points of order shouldn't be valid:
“It’s not valid,” Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst told me shortly before yielding his gavel to Sen. Robert Duncan, the Senate’s president pro tempore, to preside over the Senate sitting as a committee of the whole.
Gallegos this morning put a “tag” on Senate Bill 362 by Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay, a move that under Senate rules usually results in delaying a hearing by 48 hours. Dewhurst told me it wouldn’t stick; he didn’t elaborate except to call it invalid.
(Click "There's More" below to read earlier updates)
His early announcement -- coming more than three weeks before he actually filed -- was viewed by many as an attempt to discourage Houston Mayor Bill White from entering the race.
Of course, as we all know, if that was Sharp's plan it failed. White entered the race about a week after Sharp's initial announcement.
Whether the election is this year, next year, or in 2012, it is sure going to be interesting.
State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio), who saw her star rise this past year with a prominent role at the Democratic National Convention, says she has been approached about running for the U.S. Senate and has not ruled out the possibility of running.
Van de Putte sounds a bit more interested -- possibly -- in Republican U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's job. Hutchison's exploration of a race for governor in 2010 already has more than a few people eyeing Senate race.
"I am just so very honored and extremely flattered that I've had a number of folks be very supportive and talk about my skill set and the fact this country has shown they'd like to go in a new direction," Van de Putte said. "An Hispanic female may not be the same ol', same ol' in the U.S. Senate."
Van de Putte said she's not ruling out such a race, but she emphasized, "You're not going to find me doing an exploratory committee in the next day or two. I'm going to take the holiday and look at the situation. I don't anticipate me doing anything but really focusing on the legislative session in the next several months."
It seems, however, that Obama's election has been an inspiration.
"The days of the party hacks and the party powers-that-be deciding who's going to run and who's not going to run is over," said Van de Putte.
She said a federal race with its contribution limits is more attractive to "someone like me" than a state race in which people can raise unlimited contributions and thus, she said, are benefited by being a member of or at least "comfortable with" the "millionaires' club."
A federal race is "a great equalizer," she said. "You don't need to be a member of the political elite."
Asked whether Democrats John Sharp or Houston Mayor Bill White fall into the old-school category, she said, "I would say, just not a fresh face. ... The U.S. Senate is full of people who look just like that.
While she maintains that she "love[s] being in the Texas Legislature and that's kind of where I'd like to be," it is exciting to see Van de Putte at least considering a statewide race.
In a Van de Putte - White - Sharp matchup, which Democat would you favor?
The Hou Chronicle reports tonight Bill White will run for the senate seat should Kay Bailey vacate it this summer. Funny tidbit in the article-White didnt tip off the DSCC of his plans and they are surprised. Sharp met with the DSCC a couple fof weeks ago to try and secure their support. White severely complicates matters for Sharp and the DSCC. This will be intersting. It looks like everyone wants to run for senate and not guv, so far...
(We would be remiss to make note of the former Congressman. - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
Sad news came to our state today. Bill Patman, a U.S. Congressman and Texas state senator, passed away. (Statesman, DMN)
His life was impressive and meaningful: the son of the legendary U.S. Congressman Wright Patman, Bill went on to be a political figure of substance in his own right. He served as an elected representative for the people of Texas for nearly a quarter century.
He was the best that Texas public servants had to offer. He was constantly concerned with the welfare of working families, and was tireless in doing right by his constituents. Unlike many politicians, he was not especially interested in the limelight. He just wanted to do right.
My admiration for Bill Patman goes beyond the professional. He was a dear friend to me and to my family. He was a pallbearer for my grandfather. My father worked in his office in the Texas Senate. He and his lovely wife Carrin came to my wedding.
He was a man of honor, good humor, and integrity. Texas needs more men like him.
Got my latest e-mail from the Cornyn campaign [Edited for clarity]:
Rick Noriega and his trial lawyer friends are rolling out the red carpet tonight for Barack Obama.
The AP reports Obama "heads to Houston for two high-dollar private fundraisers."
One event host is mega-trial lawyer, and close confidante of Rick Noriega, Richard Mithoff who held a fundraiser for Noriega just last month.
Noriega is sure to be there, pledging his undying devotion to the most liberal member of the United States Senate.
Please click here now to donate to [Rick Noriega], a real representative of Texas values.
It will send a loud and clear message to Rick Noriega and all his deep-pocketed liberal buddies...Texas [needs change]!
But as fun as my "edits for clarity" might have been, I'd like to get serious for a moment about Barack Obama being "the most liberal member of the United States Senate."
The Political Compass is a site which offers a test that will put you on a grid, from left (economically liberal, in today's parlance) to right (economically conservative, in today's parlance), and from authoritarian to libertarian. They have also, for the last few election cycles, generated results for our US candidates.
As you can see, in our system, our major party candidates don't go from "left" to "right." They go from "center right" to "far right." Except for Dennis Kucinich.
So until the Democratic party nominates Kucinich, let's just give this tired old saw about our "liberal" candidates a rest, shall we?
(Don't forget, you can also help Noriega cross the mark on Senate Guru's ActBlue page- they've been so supportive! - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
TPM Election Central is reporting that Liddy Dole is dumping 10 grand worth of donations from indicted Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens leadership PAC.
2008 - Texans for Senator John Cornyn Inc - $5,000
2002 - John Cornyn for Senate Inc. - $10,000
2006 - Kay Bailey Hutchison For Senate Committee - $10,000
By my math, that's 15K Senator Cornyn's received from indicted Alaskan Senator Ted Steven's leadership PAC, and 10K to Senator Hutchison.
Will either Senator give back that tainted money?
Anyone?
Anyone?
Beuhler?
Beuhler?
P.S. - Senator Cornyn's been making hay recently because Rick Noriega's taken money from out of state donors. Liberal out of state donors. I'm no geographer, but I'm not sure one can get much more "out of state" than Alaska. Hawaii maybe. You might could give Noriega some local money. I know he'd appreciate it. Out of state? He'd be happy to have your support too.
I just received the following from the Cronyn (sic) campaign:
From: Kevin McLaughlin
Sent: Friday, July 18, 2008 1:40 PM
To: Rob Jesmer
Subject: Nutroots
Rob-
2 things;
1) Our guys at the convention told us Noreiga (sic) and his out-of-state buddies spent the morning attacking Senator Cornyn
2) according to finance team, the fact that Dean and Pelosi came in to shill for Noreiga (sic) really fired up our supporters the last 24 hours. We have raised well over 10K and I think we could another 10k if we send out the email below again.
Talk soon,
Kevin
Regarding point one: Now, admittedly, I wasn't there, so I don't know if Noriega et al. "attacked" Senator Cornyn. But I have two thoughts:
1) What do partisan gatherings do in an election cycle, but get together and talk bad about the other side's candidates? They weren't expecting a John Cronyn (sic) love in, are they? I mean, is RightOnLine loving on Rick Noriega and Barack Obama, or are they too busy trying to "Defund the American Dream"? (Ooops! I meant "defend.")
B) I would imagine that the Cronyn (sic) campaign would spin any discussion of their campaign by Democrats and the Democratic Party as "attacks."
Frankly, the hyperventilating is getting a bit old.
My name is Ramey Ko, and I'm running to be a delegate for Obama to the Democratic National Convention from Senate District 14, and I am asking for the chance to earn your support. As a young Asian American, I hope to bring a vibrant grassroots perspective to Denver, as well as provide a voice for a community that is just beginning to receive some attention in politics.
Working for Change
I have been an Obama supporter since 2003, when I first met then State Senator Obama as one of my law school professors at the University of Chicago. I helped collect petition signatures to get him on the Democratic primary ballot for US Senate. After he announced his intention to run for president, I founded Asian Americans for Obama in December 2006. Our efforts have lead to the creation of translated outreach materials and Obama videos subtitled in several Asian languages, numerous AAPI targeted voter registration drives, stories in numerous national and local ethnic media outlets, visibility at Asian community events, Asian American phone banks, and even the opening of a grassroots campaign office in the Philadelphia Chinatown.
You can learn more about why I'm running and my work as an activist for Obama at www.RameyKo.com. Please don't hesitate to e-mail me at Ramey.Ko@gmail.com with any questions or comments.
