Ok, I admit it. I was out sick last week. And today I wake up to find, what? That Sylvester Turner is considered an alternative (?) to Craddick? In 2006, even with the House turned what we would call upside down, the Dems put up a real fight for Speaker of the House, with even some Republicans puttting Committee Chair postitions on the line to overthrouw Craddick. Yet, thanks to the right-of center D's lead by Sylvester Turner himself, Craddick prevailed. Heads rolled. Even birds died in Austin.
And one of the bills sponsored by Turner that year....A tribute to Al Edwards years of service.....
IMHO...'Nuff said.
Reference: Birds died in Austin: (http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/blotter/entries/2007/01/08/drivers_should_avoid_congress.html) (http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/MYSA011207_01B_Rodriguez_304bea5_html6723.html)
Talk about the need to unite the party! It seems we were able to come out of the convention uniting behind Obama, but what about behind the Texas Democratic Party?Many delegates were upset by the following quote in the BOR interview with Boyd Ritchie “Our focus needs to be on down ballot races and let the Presidential race take care of itself.”This quote has been interpreted to mean the Chairman of the Texas Democratic party is not concerned about Texas “being in play “ to quote David Van Os, for the Presidential campaign, despite his endorsement of Obama.Combine this quote from Chairman Ritchie with the Pre-Convention release of the Lone Star Project“Pick a Dozen State Representatives Lotto”(my name), where they release their opinion of the 12 most likely to succeed House Representative Candidates, and it seems like same old, same old in Texas- when all else fails lower your expectations.
Both the Party, the House Democratic Campaign Committee and the Lone Star Project have been notorious for picking elections on which to focus often pulling major donors along with them, and leaving “less likely” candidates with little hope or help: meanwhile our National companion, the DNC encourages “everyone to run”- we know this helps strengthen the base.
This, I believe was the impetus for David Van Os to throw his notorious hat in the ring. After Boyd Ritchie won, I was dismayed that he did not take that moment to assure us that he would be supporting all campaigns.
However, as progressives and grassroots activists, we know a vote beats a dollar every day. It is the work we do for candidates, in voter registration, and in getting out the vote that will make the difference up and down the ballot in November. Join your local club. Support your local county party.
Tonight is the night that Obama became the "presumptive Nominee." The timing could not be more interesting for the Texas Democratic Convention which convenes June 6. I cannot help but wonder what this means for all the pre-convention negotiations between Obama Delegates and Clinton Delegates, block voting, people who are considered party "regulars" and people who feel that they finally got a voice in the party.
On the other hand, the convention is not just about Presidential politics; it is about building the Texas Democratic Party of the future- and on this our concerns should be united on the basis of what our most common beliefs are; not the beliefs that separate us as Clinton and Obama supporters, but the beliefs that separate us aa Democrats and Republicans. At the convention we should be looking to put together the best teams to move Texas forward.
Nationally, Texas has a significant impact. However, the impact of our local choices in Democratic leadership, candidates, policy and strategies are something that we not only have greater control over, but can indeed have a significant impact on our day to day lives and the quality of life we enjoy in our cities, neighborhooda, and schools.
So, while we wait for the National party leadership to make peace or not with the results of the primaries, our selection of leaders for both the Texas Democratic Party, its committees and Senate Districts should reflect the peace and cooperation we need to move forward productively and that we want to see at our Party's National level. In our Counties and even in our precincts, neighborhoods and clubs, where the differences between colleagues supporting different Presidential choices have made things tense, it is time to come back together, and show our National Party leaders how to unite. We can afford nothing less.
Dot Nelson Turnier
dothcdp@earthlink.net
Harris County Democratic Party
www.hcdp.org
(And let's not forget the coordinated campaigns in the counties that will change Texas in 2008. - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
Five days until the Texas Democratic Convention and counting; and I am counting. Going to the convention to me still generates the similar excitement I feel when I go to a baseball game. It has all the players, the drama, the tension (if you are paying attention) and, especially this year, some unknown outcomes.
I know for others, it is blah blah blah, yak, yak, yak, and my comparison to baseball continues.
I have been working with the Democratic Party in Texas for only a short period of time compared to many people in the party here in Texas and most of my work has been with County parties. Most of my professional experience is working with not-for-profit organizations, specifically, social service organizations. When it came to funding not- for- profit organizations people most specifically wanted to give to the program, not the infrastructure; they wanted to pay for the soup or the soup kitchen, not the accountant or the desk.
It is much the same in politics. People want to give money and time to the candidates, and we, also speaking as a former candidate, are ever so grateful that they do. However, just like the soup kitchen needs the accountant, and the baseball player needs the baseball team, umpires, and park, the candidate needs the Party.
The County Party is responsible for running the primary elections, assisting candidates who are running for office, and getting out the vote which not only helps the local candidates but everyone from the Presidential candidate down.
I was at one of the Senate District meetings (of course) and overheard someone say "we are not here for the party we are here for (candidate's name)." Yet where would Lance Berkman be if Major League baseball did not exist? Working in Waco, drinking Dr. Pepper and hitting balls in his spare time. Where did all the great woman basketball stars go before the WNBA? Similiarly, good, bad or otherwise, the candidates need the Party. It is indeed the plight of the independent candidate.
So, don't forget your County Party. Become a member in whatever program they have. If you give less than $ 1000 to a candidate, I recommend a matching gift to your county party. If you are a major donor to a candidate, I recommend $ 1,000 or 10% of your major gift to your County Party. In order to succeed, we need to succeed at all levels.
See you in Austin or Houston.
Dot Nelson Turnier
dothcdp@earthlink.net
Harris County Democratic Party
www.hcdp.org
