Your Texas delegation to the Democratic National Committee spent this weekend in Washington, DC for the 2011 Winter Meeting. Every DNC meeting has its own particular rhythm and flow. This report contains a number of details that may be of interest to only a few people, however I have attempted to relate the mood as best as possible.
As always, it is an exceptional honor to represent young Texans on the DNC. The job pays nothing, requires a great deal of time and personal expense, but allows young people to have their voice heard at the highest levels of our party.
Thank you for allowing me to serve.
Wisconsin
The hot topic of conversation among members was the situation in Wisconsin. Recent Republican attacks in the Badger State and in several other states on working families' right to negotiate for improved work conditions and compensation have galvanized the labor movement and the Democratic Party. Texas' own Linda Chavez-Thompson (DNC Vice Chair) led the Labor breakfast on Friday morning and the energy in the room was palpable. The Democratic Party will not stand idly by while the rights of regular Americans are under attack from right-wing extremists.
DNC Investments in Texas and the Future of Organizing for America
Beginning in 2009, as the President-Elect was transitioning into the White House, his 2008 campaign morphed into Organizing for America, a 50 state grassroots operation.
As you all know, the DNC is coming to the Lone Star State Sept 10-12, 2009, and it is right around the corner! If you have ever wanted to see the inner workings of the Democratic National Committee, learn how you can be a part of your local, state and national Democratic Party, this is a can't miss opportunity.
Here is a little bit of information on the DNC meeting from DNC Secretary Alice Germond:
DNC Coming to the Lone Star State!
Our upcoming meeting, September 10 - 13, 2009 at the Renaissance Austin in Austin, Texas marks our first opportunity to gather as a united party working together on behalf of President Barack Obama's administration.
When we meet in Austin, we will highlight the 2008 - 2012 Democratic National Committee and the initiatives that will change America. We will also commemorate September 11th with community service, elect new members and committees and celebrate the great State of Texas. Governor Kaine will address the Democratic National Committee at our general session on Friday.
This is an awesome time for Texas and our nation, and we need your help! The DNC needs full-time and part-time volunteers for Thursday-Saturday of the DNC events.
The volunteer opportunities include things like helping out with registration and directing folks to their meetings. Being a DNC volunteer is a way to get a front row opportunity to witness the meetings and exciting events for the conference with all the national movers and shakers of the Democratic Party.
If you have not been to a DNC meeting before, this is a can't miss opportunity, the DNC Youth Council is also putting together a "Youth Guide" for things to do around Austin and fun events for the weekend, we hope you can help us out while you enjoy Austin. The DNC Youth Council will also meet on Saturday, September 12th at 10:30am, all are welcome to attend.
If you have any suggestions of fun events or activities in Austin, or need additional information on the DNC Youth Council please send questions to Amber Goodwin ambergoodwin@gmail.com
Sign Up to Volunteer TODAY!! The DNC Needs YOUR help!
Please RSVP and include your name, cell number, city you live in and what day(s) you would be available to Melanie Aranda at aranda.melanie@gmail.com. We need volunteers
Look forward to seeing you in Austin!
Amber Goodwin - DNC Youth Council Co-Chair
Rick Cofer - Texas DNC Member
Katie Naranjo - CDA President
Renee Hartly - YDA Executive Vice President
Melanie Aranda - TYD President
If you run a red light in College Station and a police officer does not see you, do you still get a ticket? Depending on what red light you run the answer could be yes, and the city of College Station is attempting to increase the places in which that could happen. On February 18, 2008 cameras placed at four different locations in College Station began capturing video and photographic evidence of residents who ran red lights. The cameras have cause controversy and debate, and as the city prepare to place five more cameras in other locations residents have once again been voicing their opinions about the subject.
Even the purpose of the cameras is under discussion. Proponents of the cameras argue that the main purpose the cameras are to catch traffic violators and that a secondary purpose is to prevent traffic accidents. However, opponents of the cameras believe that the genuine motive for the cameras is to raise revenues. According to an article in The Eagle, College Station Traffic Engineer Troy Rother said that "the goal of the program is not to raise money."
There is strong public support for red light cameras. When asked if they supported red light cameras in the "most dangerous intersections" 69% supported the idea, according to a recent poll by Public Opinion Strategies (POS). The analysis of the poll by POS found that support for the cameras was strong through all demographics and political ideologies.
Since we apparently are in a slow period of good Democratic news while waiting for the Texas legislature to convene here's a nice diversion. Apparently the last hearing was held on the Texas Two-Step. The advisory committee should be coming up with a conclusion and suggest possible changes to the process. The Express-News ran an article in Sunday's edition and Jaime Castillo provided commentary in today's edition. In Jaime's column today he mentioned the challenges Bill Sinkin would have had to have endured to participate in the system. Anyone who knows Bill Sinkin must know how painful it was to sit on the sidelines for this election. The man has been my inspiration since I first met him after having moved to San Antonio 20 years ago.
Our local newspaper the Austin American Statesman has a 'blogging' section that I recently became aware of by the lurid right wing headlines featured on the frontpages of their daily online edition. Authors have the ability to 'approve' comments which means that right wing bloggers don't publish any comments that make their 'arguments' (and I use the term loosely) look bad.
One blogger who caught my attention in particular was a blogger who goes by the name 'Nogirlemen' and uses a picture of Arnold Schwarzenegger as his Avatar. Besides the homophobic/misogynistic undertones to his name (essentially nofaggots or nosissies) Nogirlemen spends a lot of time spreading disinformation under lurid headlines. 'Obama is a coward,' 'Obama's weakness with Whites,' etc. He also refuses to accept comments refuting his point of view, so I decided to take action.
The 2008 Texas Democratic Party Chair's Advisory Committee on the Platform is having its first meeting next Thursday, May 8th at 10:00am at the AFL-CIO at 1106 Lavaca in Austin. State Representative Garnet Coleman, one of our House Democratic Caucus leaders and Chair of the policy-oriented progressive legislative Study Group, is the chair of the committee again this year.
Boyd Richie explained the purpose of the advisory committee in an email to the committee members, "this committee is not an official committee of the Convention. However, because it is virtually impossible to write a coherent and thoughtful platform from scratch on a Saturday at the convention, in years past this Advisory Committee has proven helpful in preparing a working draft that has resulted in platforms vastly superior to the Republicans!"
The official party platform will be drafted and approved by the Platform Committee members who will be elected by the senatorial district caucuses at the state convention. The advisory committee is tasked to draft a working document that the elected Platform Committee uses as a starting point at the convention.
I am one of the members of the advisory committee this year. I live in Austin in SD 14. If any Democrats in Austin or elsewhere would like to make suggestions for the 2008 platform, please send me your ideas by email to scottcobb99@gmail.com, call me at 512-689-1544 or put them in the comments. I would like to see as much grassroots and netroots input as possible into the platform drafting process.
You can also come to the advisory committee meeting yourself next Thursday. In the past when I have been on the committee, anyone who comes to the meetings could participate in the discussions, although if it comes down to a vote on any issue, it could be that only the appointed committee members get to vote.
Tom Blackwell has all the TDP platforms going back to 1996 on his website, so if you are interested in seeing how the platform has changed over the years, visit Tom's site. Thanks for doing that, Tom.
I am running for the Texas Youth seat on the Democratic National Committee. Democrats from all across the State of Texas are endorsing my campaign, and I am grateful for their advice and support.
I want to serve our party on the DNC to advocate for young people, organize young voters across our state and help Texas Democrats win!
This opportunity, however, is a real campaign with real expenses. Thousands of Democratic delegates to the State Convention will decide this election. I will need the resources to communicate my vision and goals for the DNC for the next four years to all of these Democratic delegates before and during the Convention.
I am asking for your financial support to succeed. Your donation of $25, $50, or whatever you can do will be greatly appreciated.
(Happy to promote this piece. - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
Dear Fellow BOR Community Members,
I want you to be among the first people to know that I'm running for the Texas Youth Seat on the Democratic National Committee. As the Texas Young Democrats endorsed candidate, I'm running to advocate for young people in our party, organize young voters across our state and help Texas Democrats win.
I have been fortunate to campaign alongside thousands of fantastic Democrats across our state. I have worked on campaigns for State Rep. Mark Strama, State Rep. Patrick Rose, former State Rep. Glen Maxey, Howard Dean, Barack Obama and am especially humbled to currently work for our Democratic Nominee for U.S. Senate, Rick Noriega.
Together we can ensure a permanent space within our party for young people to thrive, succeed and contribute.
Young people play a vital role in our party. Youth voting in the Democratic Primary tripled from 2000 to 2008. In 2008, over 440,000 young people voted in the Democratic Primary, a historic 15% of the total vote!
As your DNC member, I will be an advocate for the issues of young people and create opportunities for young people to succeed and contribute to our party, our community, and our democracy.
I'm honored and humbled to have the endorsement of the Texas Young Democrats, 24 State Democratic Executive Committee Members and party leaders across our state.
Supporters include: (partial list)
The Texas Young Democrats
Kris Banks, Secretary - Texas Young Democrats
Hon. Valinda Bolton, State Representative - District 47
Hon. Lloyd Criss, Chair - Galveston County Democratic Party
Victor Garza, Treasurer - Texas Democratic Party
Amber Goodwin, Secretary - DNC Youth Council
David Hardt, President - Young Democrats of America
Renee Hartley, National Committeewoman - Texas Young Democrats
Ramey Ko, President - Capital Area Asian American Democrats
Molly Beth Malcolm, Former Chair - Texas Democratic Party
Hon. Glen Maxey, Former State Representative - District 51
Karl-Thomas Musselman, Publisher - Burnt Orange Report
Katie Naranjo, President - Texas College Democrats
Charles Soechting, Former Chair - Texas Democratic Party
Dennis Speight, Vice Chair of Finance - Texas Democratic Party
Hon. Mark Strama, State Representative - District 50
Hon. Carla Vela, Chair - Bexar County Democratic Party
