Grass Roots Candidates in Texas: David Van Os

OK, folks, don't fall out of your chairs! Yes, we have awesome candidates right here in Texas!

I'm blogging up to 11/7 on our candidates. We've GOT to get the word out!

They're all running grass roots campaign because they didn't kiss the ring in the ivory tower at State Party Headquarters in Austin. It hasn't stopped us True Blue Democrats from getting behind our candidates and fighting like the "yella dawgs" we are!

David Van Os (http://www.vanosfortexasag.com/) is running, quite possibly the most populist campaign in history. He recently completed a "Whistle Stop" tour where he visited the County Courthouse in all 254 Counties in the state of Texas. While in those counties, he's filing sworn affidavits detailing his promise to Texans: to represent the PEOPLE of Texas, not the corporations!

Now, for those of you in other parts of the county, let's put this in perspective. It takes 2 full days to drive from the eastern border to the western border, as well as 2 full days to drive from the northern border to the southern border. (You could drive from the eastern border of New Mexico to the Pacific Ocean in the amount of time it takes to cross the state, if that helps...from South to North, you could drive from Southern Oklahoma to North Dakota.) Not to mention that David and Rachel Van Os, along with their children, are doing this in the Van Os family van...No corporate jet or "tour bus".

But enough of the geography lesson. Let's talk about what David's strategy has done! Rural voters in this state have been almost completely disenfranchised by BOTH parties. In many of the counties that David visited, he was told (quite often) by those who showed up to hear his message that they couldn't remember a state-wide candidate EVER visiting their county. So, first these people are predisposed to like David just because he's shown up in the hinterlands! While David is out meeting Texans in every county in the state, his opponent Greg Abbott, sits in Austin trembling at the prospect of fighting a populist candidate and using state resources and time to create campaign advertising (even though he has a $7M campaign war chest).

His accomplishments as an attorney have brought him esteemed recognition such as the following:

• Named one of Texas’ Super Lawyers by Texas Monthly in 2003, 2004, and 2005
• Named in Best Lawyers in America since 1986, by survey of fellow attorneys
• Rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible evaluation in legal ability and professional ethics, by survey of fellow attorneys
• Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
• Member, College of the State Bar of Texas

Then people hear his message and they're convinced that he's the correct choice (from David's web site):

David has this to say to you personally:

"I am traveling in person to every one of the 254 counties in Texas. I am speaking at the county courthouses because that is the most public of places and the structure that most symbolizes government belonging to the people. I am also placing written oaths in the public records in every county, because my fellow Texans have a right to know exactly what my intentions are and that I mean what I say.

"Incumbent attorney general Greg Abbott is sitting on a campaign bank account of approximately $7 million from big business executives and corporate law firms who have written huge checks to purchase the office of Texas Attorney General. But I am reaching out to every county in Texas, placing my trust in the people and in democracy.

"Abbott's millions are nothing but legalized protection money. Greg Abbott serves his paymasters well. He uses the office of Attorney General to protect the corporations from the people, when it should be used to protect the people from the corporations.

"All over Texas, the good people of this great state want their government back. They want government to serve and benefit the people, as Article 1 of the Texas Constitution guarantees.

"A Texas government that serves the people as it should will include an Attorney General who understands that his job is to be the people's lawyer and that the office belongs to all the people, not just corporations, business executives, rich lawyers, and political hacks. I am working harder than I've ever worked at anything in my life, taking to all the people in every part of Texas my message that the Attorney General's office belongs to them. Just as government belongs to the people, my campaign and my message belong to the people in every part of Texas.

"In my written oath I solemnly promise that I will use every legal means available to me by the office of Attorney General to protect Texans and their property from the unconstitutional attack on the integrity of our land and property known as the Trans-Texas Corridor. I will enforce and uphold the Texas Constitutional promise that runaway corporate monopolies will not be allowed to devour democracy and free enterprise. By way of example, the people of Texas are entitled to protection form the greed and arrogance of Big Oil, the Insurance Monopolists, and all the other robber barons. On behalf of the people I will fight them until hell freezes over, then I'll fight them on the ice.

"I further solemnly promise under oath that I will enforce and uphold the fundamental principle that public authority should never be used for special private gain. Further I solemnly promise that I will enforce and uphold every enumerated right and liberty of the Bills of Rights of the United States and Texas Constitutions, such as the First, Second, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution.

"Further, I will honor and treat all persons who encounter the giant bureaucracy of the child support system as individual human beings entitled to impartial and equal justice under law, rather than as statistics to be exploited in self-congratulatory press releases. The office of Attorney General will belong to the people and I will be the people's lawyer."

I can't say it any better than David Van Os says it for himself, as evidenced above!

The time is ripe. The time is now. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain!

Grass Roots Candidates in Texas: David Van Os

argh...won't let me delete this one.

One Voice...Or What Can I Do?

I normally don't blog over the weekends...but I didn't blog every day last week so I guess I'm feeling a little guilty and blogging yesterday and today are penance.

Today's blog entry, unlike most of my blog entries, isn't inspired by any one event that's caught my eye. No, today's posting is coming directly from the heart to the keyboard in stream-of-consciousness fashion... Well, not completely, but almost...

There was a time when I didn’t think that my one voice could make a difference. There was a time when I didn’t think that anything I could do would matter enough to spark a change.

I've been thinking alot today. I tend to do that as elections start drawing closer and closer. I wonder, "Have I done enough? Could I do more? If so, what more could I do?"

I've donated every dollar I can possibly afford without losing my cell phone, satellite service and DSL connection. (That may sound extravagant to some of you...But let me defend those 3 luxuries for anyone who might just stumble across this blog while surfing in cyberspace...I live on a horse farm in uber-rural, uber-conservative Texas...Yeah, I choose to live here but there are certain "luxuries" that are "necessary" in this environment and those 3 items are "my necessities".)

I've volunteered to actively work in 3 campaigns (hmmm, the number 3 seems to be a recurring theme here...). That means I've shown up for events when I had really rather have stayed home and watched Keith Olbermann. It means I've purposely chosen my day's wardrobe based on what I was doing that day... For instance, I'm going to the grocery store...I think I'll wear Candidate "X's" t-shirt to town. I've stored and distributed yard signs and push cards. I've introduced candidates to my Church congregation. As a Precinct Chairman, I've written letters (...and I paid for the paper, ink, envelopes and postage) to the Democrats in my Precinct to educate them on "our" issues and "our" candidates.

I've called my Precinct voters to remind them to vote in the Primary elections...Heck, I even called other Precincts where there was no Precinct Chair just to make sure that the word got out to vote! This THIRD thing I've done is where this post is leading...CALLING!

Won't you help get the word out? We are now only 9 days from the election. There are literally hundreds of thousands of people who need to be called!

Start by calling your neighbors and telling them about all the issues and where the candidates and the positions both Parties have taken on the issues. Next call your friends and do the same. In all these conversations, ask them to call their friends. We are truly at a crossroad of Democracy.

We have never had more to lose...or more to gain! It is time to stop relying on our National Party to spread the message. They have shown that they don't have the passion or capability to effect national change. That is why the DNCC has chosen to only fund those races they think they can win. It is, therefore, up to US to get the word out in "Red America".

We can’t even rely on the Texas Democratic Party to pay more than lip service to our candidates. That is why the TDP has chosen to write off a slate of candidates that has more principal than any slate I've had the honor of voting for in my lifetime. Instead, the TDP has chosen to sit back and moan that they have no money to support these candidates. The truth of the matter? These are POPULIST, grass-roots candidates. They didn't "kiss the ring" at the Ivory Tower at Democratic Headquarters in Austin.

So, you make the decision to start calling. After you’ve called all your friends and neighbors, there is still a tremendous amount of calling to be done! How do you know who to call? Will people hang up on me? Probably. I’m not going to lie to you. However, there are people out there like you and me thinking, “I can’t be the only one!” and you will hear the sigh of relief in their voices when you reach out to them.

But back to the question at hand: How do you find those people to call?

All you have to do is go to:

http://www.trueblueaction.com/

From there, you’ll need to enter your e-mail address and zip code to “join”. Once you have joined, you can volunteer to call candidates. TrueBlueAction has tools and resources to help those first few calls easier for you. The beauty of TrueBlueAction is that you can decide which candidate on whose behalf you will make calls! Based on the information you provide TrueBlueAction, they will send you a list of people to call on a candidate’s behalf. These are people who have already been identified as receptive to the Democratic Party message! You will not be expected to call Joe and Betty Republican and ask them to change their minds! Now then, that doesn’t seem too bad does it?

If you are more concerned about taking back Congress, you can also volunteer to call for those candidates in hotly contested races. MoveOn.org currently has a campaign designed to let average citizens like you and me do just that. It is the “Call For Change” campaign. To find out more about it, click here: http://pol.moveon.org/phone/volunteer/c4c.html?id=9316-2958926-frjntlkkMtb2WEjgMtsg2A&t=3

Don't click on the groovy graphic. I'm not sure how to make it "clickable"... Just click on the link above...It'll get you where you need to go...

Finally, if you go to church, talk to your fellow congregants about all the issues. Ask them, if He were here today What Would Jesus Do (WWJD)? There is a great tool you can download from the internet that doesn't support either party, but talks about "Voting God's Politics". It's available for free download from Sojourners at:

http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=action.display&item=VGP_resources

The Republicans, to their credit, do a much better job than Democrats in their Get Out The Vote (GOTV) drives. They whip their base into a frenzy. They talk about "morality" issues in their mass mailings and then let the local religious leaders beat the "abortion" and "gay marriage" drums to ensure that they turn out the religious conservative base.

They're very careful not to talk about the hungry or children without insurance or people working 3 minimum wage jobs just to put food on the table. They don't talk about the person with AIDS that is too sick to work but not so sick they have to be hospitalized that qualifies for Medicare but whose drug prescription plan isn't robust enough to pay for a year's worth of their medications. (They do, however, tout what a great job they are doing to help those with AIDS in Africa while turning a blind eye towards Americans with AIDS.) What about these values? Why are they any less important than the environment, reproductive choice and homosexuality?

So I'm asking you to join me in the next 9 days to make a difference.

Hey Greg, WRONG is WRONG, LYING is LYING and STEALING is STEALING

Statement of David Van Os, October 27, 2006

The "good guy" image of himself that Greg Abbott is spending millions of dollars to promote is phonier than a three-dollar bill. Beneath the glossy campaign ads, he's a thief and a hypocrite, and his claim to be such a nice guy is a pack of lies.

Abbott has been caught red-handed using film produced by state employees on state equipment and on state time in his campaign commercials and in his campaign website. WFAA-TV laid out the undeniable evidence in its 10:00 news on October 27. Anyone with an Internet connection can view the story at wfaa.com. (Blogger note: I'm making it easy for you... Just click here) http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/VideoPlayer/videoPlayer.php?vidId=97952&catId=104

The WFAA report also reveals that Abbott set up an expensive video department in the AG's office on tax dollars so he could produce films for his grandstanding at the taxpayers' expense.

Greg Abbott is a state employee. State law prohibits state employees from using state resources for political purposes. It's stealing the taxpayers' money.

Hey Greg, WRONG is WRONG, LYING is LYING, and STEALING is STEALING.

There's no difference between stealing a penny and stealing a dollar; cheating on a test or cheating in an election; little white lies or whoppers.

Just like all the other insider politicians, Greg Abbott thinks he has an entitlement to public office, as if it were his personal property.

Greg Abbott is so sure of his entitlement, he thinks he has a special privilege to steal public equipment and resources to promote himself. If he doesn't apply the law to himself, then he'll also selectively enforce the law - and that is what he does.

He gives free passes to big campaign contributors through non-enforcement of consumer protection laws; but enforces the law vigorously against those who are defenseless and usually penniless.

He garnishes a child's bank account so he can get a statistic claiming he's collected child support ; by taking the money from the very child the money was intended for.

He calls himself the holy defender of the Ten Commandments while trampling on its injunctions not to steal, lie, or idolize himself.

He calls himself the patriotic defender of the Pledge of Allegiance while disgracing our nation's fundamental value that government belongs to the people.

We the people have got to take our government back from the crooks. Greg Abbott is such a hypocrite it makes me want to throw up, and it's time the people throw him out of the office he is stealing from them.

Pay No Attention To the Man Behind the Curtain!

OK,

First Tony Snow said that Shrub never said, "STAY THE COURSE"...

Then, he said, ok... we can only find where he said it 8 times...

Then, Keith Olbermann (a man amongst men) did a Google search and here's what he found:

1. Stay the course
2. Stay the course
3. Stay the course
4. Stay the course
5. Stay the course
6. Stay the course
7. Stay the course
8. Stay the course
9. Stay the course
10. Stay the course
11. Stay the course
12. Stay the course
13. Stay the course
14. Stay the course
15. Stay the course
16. Stay the course
17. Stay the course
18. Stay the course
19. Stay the course
20. Stay the course
21. Stay the course
22. Stay the course
23. Stay the course
24. Stay the course
25. Stay the course
26. Stay the course
27. Stay the course
28. Stay the course
29. Stay the course

Watch the video!

http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?g=b46df832-012e-4e3f-bb90-bec5d18cbeb0&f=00&fg=email

BIG OIL...Texas Tea

It's not just for the Clampett's anymore...

Is it any wonder that Dick Cheney holds so closely to his vest who took part in his Energy Task Force to discuss US energy policy? Is it any wonder that over and over again, Republicans vote to protect and preserve big oil?

It's a disgrace.

As Attorney General of Texas, David Van Os has pledged that one of his first duties in office will be to go after "big oil". Having gotten to know David during this election cycle, I would say that the big oil producers had better start shaking in their boots.

This is from David's web site: www.vanosfortexasag.com

"The Big Oil tycoons and their protectors in the White House and State House tell us that the high prices we pay for gasoline are the inevitable results of mysterious Market Forces over which they have no control. They also tell us that the staggering, record profits the tycoons are raking in are likewise the results of those same mysterious forces over which they have absolutely no control. But I say different. And I say the people are way too smart for the liars' continuing lies."

Before continuing the subject of Big Oil, let's just take a little look at David Van Os' opponent, Gregg Abbott:

http://salon.glenrose.net/default.asp?view=plink&id=1955
Researchers identified the interests behind more than $8 million of Abbott’s campaign money, finding that business interests accounted for more than 99 percent of his total.

http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A412274
...Greg Abbott has let such corporate wrongdoers run roughshod over the state – as indeed he has. Despite several splashy "cyber crime" initiatives (remember getting tough on MySpace?), Abbott has done little to make Texans safer, especially from the pollutant-spewing, scofflaw conglomerations...

Am I the only one that's cynical about the price we're paying at the pump dropping so drastically and continuously the closer we get to the election?

Maybe I'm naive. Maybe I'm not. I do know that I'm skeptical...Especially when we look at where the 14 MILLION DOLLARS donated by "big oil" have gone. Let's take a look, shall we?

1. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R)
Senate ~ Texas
$258,361

2. Conrad Burns (R)
Senate ~ Montana
$188,775

3. Rick Santorum (R)
Senate ~ Pennsylvania
$188,120

4. Denise Bode (R)
House ~ Oklahoma
$153,650

5. George Allen (R)
Senate ~ Virginia
$148,600

6. James M. Talent (R)
Senate ~ Missouri
$147,470

7. John Cornyn (R)
Senate ~ Texas
$142,750

8. Joe Barton (R)
(Committee on Energy* and Commerce)
House ~ Texas
$138,450

9. Dennis Hastert (R - House Speaker)
Senate ~ Illinois
$122,200

10. Richard Pombo (R)
House ~ California
$121,340

This data is from the FEC as of 9/11/06. Compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics.

(Thanks, Leila, for the heads up on these numbers!)

Let's see now, that would be:

10 Republicans
0 Democrats
3 Texans

Go here to see Kay Bailey Hutchison's abysmal voting record on Oil and Gas Issues:
http://www.ontheissues.org/International/Kay_Bailey_Hutchison_Energy_+_Oil.htm

Barbara Ann Radnofsky is running against Ms. Hutchison this year. In contrast to Hutchison, here are Barbara Ann Radnofsky's positions on Oil and Gas Issues:
http://www.ontheissues.org/International/Barbara_Radnofsky_Energy_+_Oil.htm

Go here to see John Cornyn's abyssmal voting record on Oil and Gas Issues:
http://www.ontheissues.org/International/John_Cornyn_Energy_+_Oil.htm

Joe Barton is being challenged by Democrat David T. Harris who is a National Guardsman and Iraq War Veteran. Stop big oil and support our troops by voting for David T. Harris, if you live in Texas' 6th Congressional District. As opposed to Barton's $138K in Big Oil contributions, Mr. Harris has received $0 from Big Oil. Who do you think is more inclined to fight Big Oil in D.C. on our behalf???

Folks, the time is now...We may not have a better chance to replot the course for our future.

If you live in Texas, EARLY VOTING started YESTERDAY! By all means, exercise your right to vote early! It's much more convenient, the lines are shorter and you have a longer period of time than if you wait until November 7th!

Shame On the Media

Nancy Pelosi = "San Francisco Democrat"

Come on. We're not that stupid. The Republicans are ratcheting down their "obvious" homophobia and resorting to "code" and the liberal media (sarcasm intended) is enabling them...

SAN FRANCISCO!
Homoburg
Sissyville
Pansy Town...

Yikes!

Sorry guys, we're not falling for it.

In Honor of the First Day of Early Voting:

I was ranting via e-mail with a dear friend over the weekend about the electronic voting machines and all the possibilities for fraud that are inherent in these systems... We both agreed that they stink, but she goes one step further with what actually seems to be a logical working plan!

My friend, Chele, took it one step further and not only fixed the e-voting debacle but the entire electoral process. I say, Chele for President in '08! (It's ok, she's a Progressive, too.)

Here's what she has to say, followed by a rant about Diebold from me:

OK. Here’s what we gotta do.

First we gotta dump the electoral college. No other democracy in the world has such an arcane system. Either we’re one country – not 50 – or we’re not.

Each precinct should include only the number of voters whose ballots could be counted within a 24-hour period. (Census data should be able to determine this.) Paper ballots from each precinct should be counted by eyeball – with checkers from every party on the ballot auditing in the counting rooms. There should be two teams counting. Hire people – anyone who can read and count will do. (Precinct ID checkers should be hired as well. We’re running out of little old ladies in tennies.) The party auditors can be volunteers. Not until the tallies from both locked counting rooms matched would the results then be entered into a “collection” program – in full view of all the counters and auditors.

Here is where computers could be used to facilitate the process. A program that would accommodate the local issues and candidates as well as the National totals would compile the results. As the totals are entered, a printout of the tally with the precinct’s totals added would be generated and kept – time stamped – with the ballots and tally sheets for possible recount. These would go under lock and key in the presence of the checkers and be displayed in public under constant guard until the election is ratified. The tallies would not be entered into the main database until a set time, so that all tallies go into the system within the smallest amount of time the program could handle. No news coverage of how each state is going. No announcements until the final results are in – not even of the local candidates or issues. The news programs could do all the exit poll stuff – that should be speculative enough to hold everyone’s interest.

It couldn’t be more complicated than the search engines and hit counters in use already on the web.

Yeah, it’s still computers and if a program can be built, it can be fiddled. But with the numbers rolling in from all over the place almost simultaneously, and with those numbers being entered by people with at least one of each major party watching over their shoulder, seems to me like we should be able to come up with an honest count.

Why isn’t someone at MIT working this out? Do I have to do everything?

The makers of these e-voting machines claim that there is no way to produce a "paper record" of one's vote. That's just absurd to me. We can put a man on the moon, but we can't get a machine to print a piece of paper with our "transaction" information on it? OH, WAIT! THERE IS A MACHINE THAT DOES THAT! It's the ATM machine! Not only does it tell you how much money it gave you, but it also tells you your account balance once your transaction is complete...and it doesn't even have to be one of your bank's machines! WOW!~

Now here's what really pisses me off! The major company supplying these e-voting machines is a company by the name of Diebold. Any idea as to their claim to fame? ATM MACHINES! Don't believe me? Drive up to almost any ATM and see the Diebold logo on the machine. Now, they can make a machine that spits out a piece of paper as outlined above, but they can't do the same for their voting machines?

Can't or won't?

That's the question that should be asked.

VOTE STRAIGHT DEMOCRATIC!

...Our Democracy may very well depend upon it...

Thoughts on last night...

First and foremost, 3 things were painfully obvious:

1. Barbara Ann was incredibly well-prepared.
2. KBH was on the defensive for the entire debate
3. Scott Lanier Jamison came across as a "plant" to slow down the pace of the whole affair.

I call it an affair because there was nothing in the hour that could be qualified as debate. A political "forum" perhaps. I'm quite certain that the only way BAR could convince KBH to a "debate" is under a tightly controlled format...and that's just what she got.

With a moderator and representatives from Houston, San Antonio and Dallas media, much of the event was like watching paint dry. The rules dictated that there could be no rebuttal, no challenging of facts...nothing. Just a round robin of questions where each candidate was to answer the question posed to them... Sure, KBH used a portion of her time to bend the rules and respond to BAR's previous question response, but if she hadn't she wouldn't have just been knocked out...they would have had to carry her (KBH) out on a stretcher.

BAR was poised, eloquent and aggressive. She came loaded for bear and delivered. She had the numbers down and it appears that her debate prep team anticipated all the right questions, so she was able to frame her answers intelligently, even when she was the first of the 3 to speak.

KBH, on the other hand, relied on the usual GOP mantra: cut and run, cut and run, cut and run... She didn't have a good answer for why she is breaking her campaign promise (before her 1st and 2nd campaigns) not to seek a third term. To say that it took 2-terms to learn the ropes and get choice committee appointments that need to be preserved is absurd... especially, since it appears that she has no intention of staying in the Senate for her entire 3rd term (as pointed out by BAR and not disputed by KBH). This led to another moment of triumph for BAR when she responded by saying (and I'm paraphrasing here), So, the people of Texas should elect you again to protect the seniority you've gained and when you leave the Senate, your replacement drops to #100 in seniority. BRILLIANT.

BAR also got the opportunity to point out that Texas is 41st in the amount of Federal Highway Dollars received. KBH lamely attempted to point out that it was because we're such a "large state" that it skews the numbers. Yet another opportunity for BAR to pounce and, man, did she ever! She said that (paraphrasing again) equating dollars received by Texas to dollars received by Rhode Island was absurd and followed no logic. To buy that, you would have to be from another planet.

I'm starting to wonder if the Libertarian Candidate, Scott Lanier Jamison, wasn't a "plant" from the KBH camp. How else could his presence be explained. Not only did he not sound like a Libertarian (espousing universal health care? come on, dude, that's so UNlibertarian and it's a Democratic issue!) but he sounded like he was having a really difficult time staying tuned in. Maybe he suffers from adult A.D.D. What other explanation could there be for having to ask to have the question repeated to him after both KBH and BAR had already given their responses. Also, at this point in the race, the non-verbal "um, duh, uhhh's", etc., made him come across as unprepared and unqualified.

To learn more about BAR and to donate to her campaign or volunteer, go to:

www.radnofsky.com

Check out BAR's speech at the Texas Democratic Party Convention:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yW7AO7bX_o0

There is also a great thread over at DailyKOS on the debate that can be found at:

www.dailykos.com/story/2006/10/19/23323/858

Finally, at the end of the day...Does the debate matter? Probably not, unfortunately. It's been virtually ignored by the media. Only we die-hard partisans watched...and for that matter, mostly die-hard Democrats... A story was related to me yesterday by a friend. She asked one of her Rethuglican friends if she was going to tune in for the debate. The reply: "well, why on ever should I do that? I'm a Republican and I already know who I'm voting for!"...Too bad.

On a positive note, however, last night a star was born. BAR finished the evening impressing me even more than ever. I think she definitely has a bright future in politics.

Don't Forget

TEXAS' Senatorial

Debate Tonight

9:00 p.m. on your local PBS Station,
as well as C-SPAN.

Post-Debate rally at

www.radnofsky.com

at 10:00 p.m.

I'll comment on it tomorrow...

My, Oh My

Discontent with GOP finds way into Texas

By SUZANNE GAMBOA, Associated Press Writer Tue Oct 17, 3:19 PM ET

DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas - The economy is strong and Rickye Lennon's excavation business is thriving. Yet his son may soon go to war, government scandals are in the news, and Lennon, a Republican deep in the heart of Bush country, doesn't think his party should remain in charge of Congress.

"I think we need a wake-up call," said Lennon, 50, of Dripping Springs. "They need to be paying attention to the issues the people are concerned about and I think we need to become more moderate in our views."

Three weeks to the midterm elections, GOP discontent is seeping into the home state of President Bush, where every statewide elected official is a Republican. The state's Republican House members were supposed to be protected from such voter mood swings by the 2003 redrawing of the state's congressional districts, orchestrated by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

But largely because of DeLay, who resigned in June embroiled in scandal, Texas this year unexpectedly is one of the states that could help Democrats wrest control of the House from the GOP this November. Races for three of the state's 32 congressional seats are considered competitive.

No Republican is listed on the ballot in the race for the seat once held by DeLay. That's left Democrat Nick Lampson the favorite against write-in Republican candidate Shelley Sekula-Gibbs.

Democrats hope the congressional page scandal will help push Republican Rep. Henry Bonilla (news, bio, voting record) into a runoff against one of his seven challengers for a district stretching from near El Paso to Laredo.

And voter unease also may thwart Republican efforts to seize the Central Texas district that is home to Bush's ranch, a congressional seat now held by Democratic Rep. Chet Edwards (news, bio, voting record).

There is disquiet in the state's gubernatorial race, too, in which incumbent GOP Gov. Rick Perry is polling only in the high 30s against three challengers.

Walter Dean Burnham, a professor emeritus in the University of Texas at Austin government department, said that while "there certainly is some sign of discontent" in the state, he expected its impact in congressional races to be limited.

"I don't see any good reason the love affair with the Republican Party has weakened all that much," he said.

News that Republican Rep. Mark Foley (news, bio, voting record) sent illicit electronic messages to congressional pages was unfolding when Lennon stopped at the Dripping Springs post office recently. A cap embroidered with "Legends of Texas Swing Music Festival" shielded his eyes as he slapped dust from his jeans.

To Lennon, the handling of the Foley scandal and ethical problems involving other congressmen are examples of Republican hypocrisy.

"It's cronyism," he said. "There are a lot of people out there that will do anything they can to protect their party. That's wrong. We have to do what's right. We have laws that everyone has to follow and they are not above that law."

He expects to vote for his Democratic congressman, Lloyd Doggett of Austin.

Others are ready to give the GOP another chance.

Sokhom Chum, who lives in the Dallas suburb of Carrollton, said there's plenty he doesn't like about Congress. The finger-pointing is wearing on him and he'd like to see more compromise on immigration.

But Chum, 46, said he is willing to give Republicans another year to resolve the Iraq war and do a better job of governing. "I'm a patient man. The economy seems to be doing fine," he said.

Two years ago, Republicans took charge of the Texas congressional delegation, winning 22 of 32 House seats. The DeLay-led redistricting ensured few competitive races. Democrats produced some competition when they sued to keep Republicans from replacing DeLay on the ballot.

And while Republicans pledged to spend as much as a $4 million on the race, the money hasn't materialized. Such spending has become less likely as the Foley scandal puts at risk more Republican seats around the country.

In Edwards' district, Republican challenger Van Taylor has waged a blistering campaign that accuses the Democratic incumbent of being soft on illegal immigration. But voters were more likely to mention Edwards' work to keep open the local veterans hospital and snare a homeland security contract for one of the district's largest employers.

"I generally vote Republican, but in Chet's case ... he is looking out for the people and his district," said John Henry, 66, of Waco.

On Tuesday, Edwards' campaign gleefully trumpeted reports that the national Republican committee had abandoned plans to spend $1.5 million on the race. Taylor's campaign would not confirm the reports, but spokesman Mike Spellings said, "We were prepared from the very beginning to win this campaign on our own and Van has shown that he is adept at raising money."

Bonilla found himself in an unexpected fight after the Supreme Court ruled that Hispanic voting strength had been diluted in his district and ordered it redrawn. Now that the district is more Hispanic, his Democratic challengers are hoping for a runoff, although Bonilla still is favored to win.

Bonilla acknowledged his party faces challenges, listing DeLay's resignation and the Foley page scandal among others, but says the Democratic uproar is an "act of the devil" to distract voters.

"It's like a family member, when somebody goes bad," Bonilla said. "It makes it harder for the whole family to function."

Associated Press, no less! Cool.

This just keeps getting better and better for our Democratic Candidates... even in Texas!

David Van Os at DailyKOS

I'm taking the day off from my blog to make sure that the latest diary entry by TxSharon regarding David Van Os stays active! Click the link and recommend this diary! Post comments, too!

Here is the link to the latest diary: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/10/16/7197/7444

We would appreciate your recommendation and participation.

Texas Dems vs. Repubs Platform Position Statements

Improving International Relations

Texas Democratic Platform
Yes - “America can be made stronger and regain confidence and trust among the nations of the world by respecting human rights and restoring our leadership role in the international community. The United States must comply with our Constitution and laws, and our obligations under international accords.”

Texas Republican Platform
No - “We believe it is in the best interest of the citizens of the United States that we immediately rescind our membership in, as well as all financial and military contributions to, the United Nations.”

“We urge Congress to evict the United Nations from the United States and eliminate any further participation.”

Honoring Religious Freedom

Texas Democratic Platform
Yes - “Texas Democrats believe government should scrupulously honor every Texan’s right to religious freedom guaranteed by the Texas and U.S. Constitutions, while respecting the separation of church and state.”

Texas Republican Platform
No - “America is a Christian nation, founded on Judeo-Christian principles.”

“We pledge to exert our influence toward a return to the original intent of the First Amendment and dispel the myth of the separation of church and state.”

Preserving Social Security

Texas Democratic Platform
Yes - “Social Security provides the foundation of income security for workingAmericans. Private savings accounts and other pension programs should be additions to the guaranteed Social Security benefit, not a substitute for any portion of it.”

Texas Republican Platform
No - “We support an orderly transition to a system of private pensions based on the concept of individual retirement accounts, and gradually phasing out the Social Security tax.”

Punishing Hate Crimes

Texas Democratic Platform
Yes - “To continue the fight against crime and make our streets and our homes safer and to improve the administration of justice, Texas Democrats support tough and smart policies, including ... strong enforcement of the James Byrd, Jr., Memorial Hate Crimes Act.”

Texas Republican Platform
No - “We urge the immediate repeal of the Hate Crimes Law, which is unnecessary and unconstitutionally creates a special victims class.”

“We oppose any criminal or civil penalties against those who oppose homosexuality out of faith, conviction, or belief in traditional values.”

Increasing the Minimum Wage

Texas Democratic Platform
Yes - “We believe the minimum wage must be increased meaningfully to make up for lost purchasing power and must be indexed from now on to keep it from eroding again.”

Texas Republican Platform
No - “We believe the Minimum Wage Law should be repealed and that wages should be determined by the free market conditions prevalent in each individual market.”

Reforming the Health Care System

Texas Democratic Platform
Yes - “Texas Democrats support comprehensive reform to provide guaranteed access to affordable health care for all Texans and Texas small businesses.”

Texas Republican Platform
No - “We support market-based, private sector initiatives to improve the portability, quality and affordability of healthcare. We support consumer choice of providers.”

Preserving a Woman’s Right to Choose

Texas Democratic Platform
Yes - “Texas Democrats trust the women of Texas to make personal and responsible decisions about when and whether to bear children, in consultation with their family, their physician, and their God, rather than having these personal decisions made by politicians.”

Texas Republican Platform
No - “We urge the reversal of Roe v. Wade.”

“...we urge the Texas Legislature to enact laws that restrict and regulate abortion.”

Ensuring Equitable
Public School Funding

Texas Democratic Platform
Yes - “The Texas Constitution provides for free public schools budgeted with public tax dollars, yet many Republicans seek to siphon off public education funds for inequitable, unaccountable voucher and privatization schemes that interfere with that constitutional mandate. Texas Democrats believe we should establish a 100% equitable school finance system with sufficient state funding for all education costs to offer an exemplary program and equitably reduce reliance on “Robin Hood” recapture.”

Texas Republican Platform
No - “We encourage the Governor and the Texas Legislature to enact child-centered school funding options which fund the student, not schools or districts. This measure could only be considered upon passage of a state constitutional amendment that prohibits imposition of state regulations on private and parochial schools.”

“We call for the abolition of the U. S. Department of Education and the prohibition of the transfer of any of its functions to any other federal agency.”

Ending Discrimination

Texas Democratic Platform
Yes - “To protect our rights and freedoms, we support action against all forms of discrimination and sexual harassment. We support the right to privacy and protecting the confidentiality and privacy of personal, medical, and financial records - in both paper and electronic formats.”

Texas Republican Platform
No - “We are opposed to ... marriage between persons of the same sex, custody of children by homosexuals, homosexual partner insurance or retirement benefits.”

“...we recommend the disqualification of homosexuals from military service.”

Strengthening
Environmental Protection

Texas Democratic Platform
Yes - “We believe every Texan should be able to breathe clean air and drink pure water, and recognize that they are essential to public health, our economy, and our planet’s environment. We reject the false Republican premise that Texas must choose between a clean environment and jobs.”

Texas Republican Platform
No - “We urge Congress to modify any environmental acts to allow the EPA to permit states to consider costs when comparing various emission control techniques...”

“We oppose the Endangered Species Act.”

Ensuring Fair Campaign Financing

Texas Democratic Platform
Yes - “To ensure that our campaigns are financed legally, fairly, and transparently, we support ... public financing for general election campaigns for elective office at all levels.”

Texas Republican Platform
No - “We oppose any so-called campaign finance reform that restricts ... the amount of individual or Political Action Committee campaign contributions.”

Imposing a Moratorium on Executions

Texas Democratic Platform
Yes - “In order to promote public confidence in the fairness of the Texas criminal justice system, Texas Democrats support the establishment of a Texas Capital Punishment Commission to study the Texas death penalty system and a moratorium on executions pending action on the Commission’s findings.”

Texas Republican Platform
No - “We believe that properly applied capital punishment is legitimate, is an effective deterrent, and should be swift and unencumbered. When applied to the crime of murder, it raises the value of human life.”

“We believe that rape is a heinous crime for which punishment options should include death.”

Adequately Funding State Parks

Texas Democratic Platform
Yes - “The preservation of recreational and open spaces is essential to a healthy Texas. We must reverse years of neglect of our state parks by Republicans by providing adequate funding for their upkeep and maintenance and the acquisition of more state park land.”

Texas Republican Platform
No - The Republican platform does not mention state parks.

Source

2006 Texas Democratic Party Platform:
http://www.txdemocrats.org/whatwestandfor/partyplatform

2006 Texas Republican Party Platform:
http://www.texasgop.org/site/PageServer?pagename=library_platform

Early Voting Begins October 23, 2006
Election Day Is November 7, 2006

Democracy is about YOUR vote.

Compiled by SD7.org

Back on Monday!

So Much For the Sanctity Of Life

601,000

...and counting.

According to a report in The Washington Post (10/11/6), that is the number of dead Iraqis since March of 2003. These are incremental deaths as a direct result of the preemptive, unjustified war in Iraq...violent deaths; not the additional 54,000 dead as a result of disease caused by the lack of reliable clean water, food, or even natural causes.

The study was done by Iraqi physicians and overseen by epidemiologists from Johns Hopkins University's Bloomberg School of Public Health (not a university where one can get an online degree, I might add).

In December, President Bush estimated the number of Iraqi dead was 30,000 in a speech.

Is he lying or is it just possible that 571,000 have been killed in the past 10 months? Yes, to even ponder that is preposterous.

The Bible doesn't say, "Thou shalt not kill, unless you can justify the killing." Especially if the justification isn't even "just". (Remember, another of those same 10 Commandments is, "Thou shalt not lie".)

Would someone correct me if I'm wrong about the following?: The Republican Party line is that "every life is sacred" (the so-called sanctity of life argument is used to oppose everything from safe abortions, Terri Schiavo's right to die and the discarding of countless numbers of embryos in petri dishes that could be used for stem cell research that could lead to the cure for numerous diseases).

Don't get me wrong. I am pro-choice on the abortion issue, not pro-abortion. There is a big difference. Abortions should be infrequent and there is no reason for legal so-called "partial birth" abortions, except to save the mother's life or if the fetus isn't viable.

I am for stem cell research using embryos that will never be implanted and allowed to become human beings. The President, the Republican Party and the Religious Right (which is neither "religious" nor "right) had rather see these embryos THROWN AWAY than used for medical research that could actually save lives! THAT'S HYPOCRITICAL. They don't seem to have a problem with them being "discarded". I've yet to hear a single conservative rail about the embryos in that context. I just can't wrap my mind around this.

I'm also all for people being able to die with dignity. Terri Schiavo had no dignity. Countless others have been allowed to die with dignity when there was no hope for them returning to a productive, "real" existence. I also believe that those in the last stages of terminal illnesses should have the right to end their lives in a way that is acceptable to them. It's called being humane.

These same conservatives are also for capital punishment. That means KILLING a criminal. I would like just one of those conservatives to make a rational argument justifying the death penalty using the "every life is sacred" argument. I certainly believe there are cases where the death penalty is justifiable, but I'm not ranting and raving about the "sanctity of life" when it comes down to common sense.

WOW! Thanks Repub's For Doing Such a Lousy Job For Texas

Republicans have controlled Texas since 1994.

Here are the results:

• 1st in the number of executions

• 1st in the percentage of uninsured children

• 2nd in the number of veterans denied VA medical care

• 2nd in exposure to ozone pollution

• 7th in poverty

• 32nd per capita spending on education

• 45th on per capita spending on public health

• 46th in average hourly earnings

• 49th in Federal transportation dollars

• 50th percentage of population with health insurance

• 51st in Federal funds received

• The average state receives 11 times more in Federal funds per person than Texas

As a native Texan, I remember when we were at the TOP of all these lists. What happened? I'll tell you (if it's not already painfully obvious): Starting with Gov. Bush and now with Perry and Strayhorn, et. al, and the subsequent hijacking of our entire State Government, the Republicans have driven us into the cellar.

Shame on them. Shame on ALL of them.

We owe it to our heritage to get the word out between now and election day, November 7th, about who is truly responsible for the sad condition of our state.

So, instead of just complaining, let me offer a course of action. Tell your neighbors. Tell your friends. DON'T be AFRAID of offending Republicans...tell them, TOO!

What Liberal Main Stream Media or Why Didn't WE Get the Memo?

I find it really disingenuous that the whining right claims that there’s a “liberal” media or that the “main stream media” (MSM) is liberal…However you want to slice it. One need look only to the way the Clinton era was covered versus the current regime’s coverage and it’s easy to see that we actually have a very conservative media!

How many lies has this administration told? How many of those lies have been actively passed along and given credence by the MSM? Right now, the media is so titillated by the salacious “Foleygate” that they are scarcely covering any of the other issues! Iraq? Old news…George Allen’s obvious racism? All but disappeared from coverage…Port security? Forgotten…The FEMA/Katrina debacle? People have lost interest so the MSM stops covering the, as yet unresolved, issues…Condoleezza Rice LYING about her knowledge of Osama’s plans prior to 9/11? Barely a blip on the radar screen (not nearly as much fun as gay bashing a Congressman with a penchant for young boys)…

But I digress.

Back to the main point. There is no concerted real “liberal” media, unless you count Air America…and for every “liberal” talk radio program, there are a dozen Rush’s…

SO, the easiest way to dispel the myth is to “show me the money”, as Cuba Gooding, Jr. so eloquently stated in Jerry Maguire.

$30,033 to the RNC
RUPERT MURDOCH ( FAUX…er…FOX “NEWS” )

$6,150 to the RNC
WALTER ISAACSON ( AOL/Time Warner…CNN, folks )

$160,350 to the RNC
JACK WELCH ( GE/NBC )

$208,852 to the RNC
MICHAEL EISNER ( Disney/ABC )

$12,500 to the RNC (Sept. ’04 alone!!!)
LOWRY MAYS/CEO ( Clear Channel )

$334,000+ Federal Republican Contributions
CLEAR CHANNEL EXECS and their PAC (Political Action Committee)…and this number is just through ’04!!!

I suppose I have the attention span of a gnat or I’m positive this list could be much longer with lots more $$$.

So, the next time one of your friends (or a talking head on television, for that matter) starts to whine about the LIBERAL MSM… Just say, “show me the money!”

sources: http://www.democraticunderground.com/ and http://www.usatoday.com/