Home > Postcards > Archives > Democratic politics category
Democratic politics
August 28, 2008
Primacaucus hearings resume Sept. 6 in Harlingen
Sen. Royce West of Dallas insisted today that he remains undecided on whether Texas Democrats need to end the controversial method of choosing presidential delegates both by voting at the polls on primary day and through primary-night caucuses.
A party-appointed advisory panel studying the “primacaucus” system has set its schedule of upcoming hearings, which will wrap up in Austin on Nov. 14. (Mark the date if you want to speak directly to the party leaders considering changes.)
The hearing dates and cities:
Sept. 6: Harlingen
Sept. 12: Houston
Oct. 17: Arlington
Oct. 18: Nacogdoches
Nov. 8: Lubbock
Nov. 14: Austin
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic National Convention, Democratic politics, Presidential race, Texas Senate
August 27, 2008
Noriega assails Cornyn; aide says money not crucial
Rick Noriega, the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican John Cornyn, hit his marks in a speech to Texas delegates at breakfast on the third morning of the convention.
Noriega, a fifth-term Texas House member from Houston, called Cornyn out of touch with Texas families and insensitive to the plight of people unable to obtain health insurance or adequate health care.
And he promised to stump to every corner of the state — or send family members to do so.
“We have to get the state back on the right track,” Noriega said. “We have to stand up and fight. We have got to take it back. It is not going to be given to us.”
Noriega opened his speech with a sure sign that President Bush is unpopular, even back home. He said he feels compelled to apologize to non-Texans for what’s happened in Washington the past six to eight years.
Separately, Noriega’s spokesman, Martine Apodaca, said that it’s not critical that Noriega pick up the financial support of the Washington-based Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which is separately holding an event in Denver celebrating other Democratic Senate aspirants.
Noriega has already courted the DSCC in hopes of a late-campaign infusion of money that could be spent on turning out voters and TV advertising. So far, the committee has not committed.
Regarding the DSCC, Apodaca told me: “We’d like to have all the help we can get. I don’t think that we need it. We’re not expecting it.”
His contention: Noriega can overtake Cornyn regardless of the fundraising gulf between them. Unease over the Iraq war and concern over access to health care will be driving issues, Apodaca said.
“Texans aren’t stupid,” he said. “They remember the last six years.”
“Once voters meet Rick, they’ll take him over John Cornyn.”
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic National Convention, Democratic politics, U.S. Senate
August 25, 2008
Texas GOP draws attention with anti-Obama ad
The Republican Party of Texas is reveling in big play it says it’s getting from a Web-only advertisement that swings at Sen. Barack Obama for his jibes at Sen. John McCain’s multiple houses and condominiums.
Peek here:
GOP spokesman Hans Klingler, the party’s political director, said he created the ad in his office on a laptop Friday afternoon; the voice-over comes courtesy of Janie Mathis, the party’s deputy political director.
Klingler said he was torqued by an article on Obama’s half-brother in the Italian version of Vanity Fair magazine and a subsequent report on CNN. “I was not going to sit by and let Barack Obama say these things without something from us,” Klingler said.
Permalink | Comments (11) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic politics, Republican politics
August 24, 2008
Stuck in Denver again (Monday night party)
The headline above is my little joke about landing in Denver in time for the first night’s proceedings—featuring a speech by Michelle Obama. Meantime the same night, the Texas delegation to the convention is throwing down for a party.
The invitation/notice shows 13 corporate and association sponsors for the do, with the guest speaker expected to be Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter. As I mentioned last week here, the venue, Mile High Station, is in keeping with the high hopes of Texas Democrats.
Fetch the invitation here.
With no one except Sen. Joe Biden biding to be vice president at the four-day convention, I’ll be on the prowl for sideshows and political whodunnits. Got one or two handy? Let me know, you hear?
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic politics, Presidential race
July 24, 2008
This weekend, politics and Barton Springs do mix
Barton Springs may already be a hotbed for sunbathing and aggressive relaxation; this weekend, political activism will be added to mix.
Spurred by Sen. Barack Obama’s “Listening to America” campaign, Austinite Richard Morgan is organizing a “platform meeting” on Saturday to compose the “first ever major party platform written of, by, and for the people.” The weeklong campaign, which ends Sunday, encourages citizens to meet in their communities and come up with policy recommendations for Democratic Party leadership.
How well sunbathing and politics will mix remains to be seen, but Morgan said he is hopeful that grassroots activists will be able to wield some power over the decision-making process through the meetings.
“The goal is have our voices be heard,” said Morgan, a Texas State University student studying water resource management. “We’re pretty confident that it’ll happen given that for them to win this election, they’re relying on the backs of students and [grassroots activists].”
Morgan said he has gotten 43 RSVPs for the event, and added that will be recording participants’ testimony on video tape and sending it directly to DNC chair Howard Dean.
The meeting will be held at Barton Springs this Saturday from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the picnic tables near Philosophers’ Rock.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic politics
July 22, 2008
Doherty vows to Webcast lobbyist meetings
Larry Joe Doherty, the Democratic nominee for the U.S. House seat held by Michael McCaul, R-Austin, told Austin-area Democrats on Monday night that as McCaul’s successor, he’ll Webcast meetings he has with lobbyists so constituents can listen in.
Doherty, fresh off a trip to Washington, said he’s lately determined that it’s physically feasible for a congressman to Webcast office visits. He said he already e-mails thank-you videos to campaign contributors.
Before a friendly crowd at the headquarters of the Travis County Democratic Party, Doherty also revisited his proposal to create a veterans advocacy board of district residents to help Texas veterans get benefits from the federal government.
Doherty, a Burton lawyer, is running in congressional District 10 as configured by the Republican-majority 2003 Legislature. It runs 160 miles east-west along U.S. 290 from a chunk of Austin to a chunk of Harris County; McCaul won the seat in 2004 and in 2006.
Buoyed by record-breaking turnout in the March Democratic primary, Doherty’s campaign says he can win if he swamps McCaul in Travis County and manages at least 37 percent of the vote in the Harris County part of the district. Fetch a consultant’s full analysis for Doherty here.
Doherty, who has played a judge on TV, has a countrified air that could boost his appeal.
Could also be he has an edge that bears watching. Asked how much time he had for audience questions, Doherty replied: “It depends on whether or not somebody gets personal.” Nobody did.
He also said a couple things he likely won’t repeat, including: “We have as good a chance of beating Michael McCaul as the Republicans have of beating Nick or Ciro,” referring to U.S. Reps. Nick Lampson and Ciro Rodriguez, Texas Democrats seeking re-election.
He also recapped what he said was an encounter with a Republican Texas House candidate at a July parade. He said the candidate told him he knew two things — that he would win his statehouse race and Doherty would take McCaul.
How did the Republican know Doherty would win? “You’re here,” Doherty quoted him saying, the implication being that McCaul was not there and would lose ground due to his absence from district events.
Doherty said afterward he doesn’t believe either Lampson or Rodriguez are in trouble in their races. “McCaul is in trouble,” he said.
When asked to elaborate on the parade moment, he was interrupted by an aide who said “there was some confusion there” and Doherty wasn’t talking that day to the Texas House candidate, only someone supporting him.
“It wasn’t him?” Doherty replied, sounding surprised. “I thought that it was (the candidate) himself. I’ve never met (him)… We were all queuing up for the same parade.”
Doherty reminded, “McCaul wasn’t there.”
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic politics, U.S. Congress
July 19, 2008
Liberals like the army too
Conservatives will have you believe that liberals hate the army, Netroots Nation participant Timothy Smith says, but it’s simply not true.
Smith, who might be more familiar to DailyKos readers by his handle “Timroff,” organized a workshop here at Netroots to make care packages to send to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Volunteers are currently cramming underwear, candy, fireproof gloves and a long list of other supplies into more than 100 cardboard boxes.
“The Right will tell you that taking a magnet that looks like a yellow ribbon and is made in China and slapping it on the back of your SUV is the proper way to show support for your troops,” Smith said.
“You want to support the troops, this is how you support the troops, you get a box … and if you cram that box full of that stuff that they need and send it to them, you help decrease the chances that they come down with PTSD, you increase the chances that they survive, you decrease the chances that they come down with depression.”
Smith said the idea sprouted from a comment thread on DailyKos, in which bloggers were trying to figure out what they could actually do to support the troops.
At the workshop, Jon Powers — an Iraq War veteran who is now running for a Congressional Seat in New York’s 26th district — recounted watching other soldiers’ shirts get shorter and shorter as they spent more time in the field. They had run out of toilet paper, Powers said, and soldiers were cutting pieces off their t-shirts to get by.
The packages will be shipped out Monday morning, Smith said.
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic politics
July 18, 2008
UPDATED: Noriega likes idea of compulsory service
UPDATE: My colleague Peter Mongillo points me to a DailyKos post by Noriega, where he hails the Netroots’ community—drawing 97 comments (good golly).
An excerpt:
“Like the families of Texas, the people at Netroots Nation who I’ve met are frustrated that their voices aren’t being heard in Washington. They’re organizing with fellow activists, making phone calls, and bringing people together in a growing movement to change Texas this fall.”
See the whole deal here.
Meanwhile, Rick Noriega said earlier today he likes the idea of young Americans being subject to compulsory public service of some kind, though he stopped short of saying he’s going to coin a proposal.
Noriega, the Democratic nominee challenging U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, mentioned his interest in compulsory service while speaking on a panel of veterans at the Netroots Nation conference.
He said afterward: “It’s something we ought to look toward as an attitude… Just fundamentally, I think that it is an idea that’s overdue.”
He said he also supports the idea of a public service academy, much like existing military academies, “that is currently gaining steam in Washington.” Also, he’d like to better formalize “how we look at this initiative going forward.”
Noriega said he’s focused lately on his proposals regarding national energy policy, and this package won’t include a plea to open up drilling for oil off U.S. coasts or in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. Details are expected by Tuesday or so.
A few weeks ago, Noriega told Midland audiences that he favors drilling for oil in Iraq, though his campaign later said he was joking.
Noriega said today he wasn’t joking; he was trying to illuminate the lousy thinking behind the invasion of Iraq, he said, including the prospect that the move would result in a flow of oil from that nation to the United States.
“Even for those who would have couched our policy of going into Iraq for the oil… I have said that even for those persons, it was a failed policy. I mean we couldn’t even get that right,” Noriega said.
Broadly, Noriega said, Cornyn “continues to try to sell to the Texas voters that there is some magic spigot of oil just outside our coast or up in (the Arctic), that if we could only access that, gas would go back to $1 a gallon. You know, he is selling some mythical solution; that dog just won’t hunt. I mean, here’s a guy that told us that we had weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. So now we’re going to believe him that there’s a magical spigot of oil that’s going to reduce everybody’s price per gallon?”
Cornyn spokesman Kevin McLaughlin pinged in response: “In West Texas, it’s a joke…but when he’s with his liberal blogger buddies, he’s dead serious. The only joke is Rick Noriega’s inability to come up with a coherent energy policy.”
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic politics, U.S. Senate
Pelosi won't be a Netroots bore; a poem
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s session at Netroots Nation 2008 starts early Saturday; it’s been moved up to 8:30 a.m. at the Austin Convention Center.
If you’re teetery about going, consider this nudge-by-poem:
Maybe it’s a chore to get up early for Pelosi. But count on this, pal; the Netroots corps won’t be bored. You never know who she’ll bring through the door; Could be a matador, a bigwig from days of yore. I’d say more, but I agreed not to start a roar.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic politics
July 17, 2008
Dean keynotes Netroots confab seeing blue
Howard Dean revisited a vow from his ‘04 presidential campaign in his keynote address to Netroots’ enthusiasts Thursday night by noting that he visited Crawford, near President Bush’s ranch, to kick off a voter registration drive on Thursday morning.
Nice town, he said, and Bush will soon be retiring there.
“We went to Crawford, Texas to show that we do not want a third term of George W. Bush,” he said, suggesting Sen. John McCain, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, lines up with Bush on Iraq, the economy and other issues.
Dean’s remarks — forecasting a Democratic-blue election this fall — mirrored his noon-hour rally outside the Austin Convention Center; see my account of that here.
In his evening keynote, Dean said that if it weren’t for Netroots’ Nation, Democrats wouldn’t hold a majority in the U.S. House. He also thanked the liberal blog-ocracy for helping him win election as chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
Sen. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, stands to win because Democrats will run a 50-state campaign, Dean suggested.
“This is going to be a very close race,” Dean said. “But I believe that hope and the future will always triumph over the candidate who’s always looking backwards.”
Getting a roar, Dean also revisited his noon-hour vow on arriving in Austin for Democrats to gain five Texas House seats in November — a step he said will enable lawmakers to begin to reverse the impact of congressional districts redrawn for Republican gains in 2003, at the urging of Tom DeLay.
Dean also incorrectly said more people voted for Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton (combined) in this year’s turnout-heavy March 4 primary than the Texans who voted for the Democratic presidential nominees in the 2004 and 2000 general elections. His point holds true in comparison to 2000, but not to 2004; peek at the vote tallies starting here.
Dean, sporting what looked like an American flag lapel pin on his suit jacket, was introduced to an estimated 2,000 Netroots Nation attendees by former Austin state Rep. Glen Maxey.
Maxey recalled telephoning Dean’s presidential campaign office and telling them he was going to captain the Vermont governor’s Texas efforts — even though the person at the other end of the line said Dean wasn’t organizing in Texas yet.
Not long after, Dean raised $30,000 at an East Austin fund-raiser.
“We were empowered by Howard,” Maxey said, “and we organized it over the Internet.”
He sounded like he was hearkening to ancient history.
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic politics
Gen. Wesley Clark exhorts Netroots Nation
Wesley Clark, the retired Army general who ran for president as a Democrat in 2004 (and who keeps his thoughts on securing America posted here), credited Netroots ‘08 bloggers for making it possible for him to run for office.
Before launching into issues stressed by nearly every Democratic candidate for office (universal health care, more of an emphasis on non-military rather than military solutions, an energy policy focused on alternatives to oil, human rights), Clark mentioned Darcy Burner, a U.S. House aspirant in Washington state whose house just burned down (yes, her name is evidently really Burner).
Clark later called Rick Noriega, the Democratic nominee against U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, “our next United States senator.” Noriega stood next to one of the many round tables in the hall and waved.
He shortly asked most everyone to stand—individuals ranging from officeseekers to nurses to police officers—but stopped short (they always stop short) of recognizing journalists in the room (though “The Onion” Web editor later gave props).
“Did I miss any professional group?” he said. “If I did, I apologize.”
Understandably, there was one more group he wanted to recognize, the Netroots’ nation of bloggers.
“You’re like the keel on the ship of state, you’re like the compass on the bridge,” the general said. “You keep America going in the right direction. You bring passion, you bring commitment, you bring your ideas and you bring your energy to American politics.
“We’ve needed you for so long in this country and we need you desperately right now.”
Referring to Sen. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, West said: “Let’s move America forward. Together, Netroots Nation, you can do it. Let’s do it.”
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic politics
Obama Girl invades Netroots Nation
First, here’s the video featuring Obama Girl, Amber Lee Ettinger, visiting the media room at the Netroots Nation conference:
Right after the video was shot (and after Eileen Smith of Texas Monthly’s Poll Dancing shot her own video second), Obama Girl’s handler Melissa asked me not to post the video.
“You brought her to the media room so that we could shoot a video of her and then not post it?” I asked.
Melissa said I was asking her too many political questions that Obama Girl didn’t know the answer to in an effort to make her look dumb.
I told her I don’t cover politics. “Believe me, she probably knows way more about politics than I do,” I told her.
Still, she thought I wasn’t showing Amber’s best side (I disagree), and I promised to post something nice to go with the video. Here it is: she was very nice to agree to the video in the first place and she seems like a perfectly nice young woman. Crush-worthy, even.
Unfortunately, that was how my day at Netroots ended — I wanted answers to all my political questions, and if we can’t count on Obama Girl to figure it all out for us, then I will have to remain disillusioned in our fledgling Internet stars.
(Bonus note: try to find the exact time in the video when Obama Girl got completely bored with me and started looking around for something more interesting to do.)
Permalink | Comments (43) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic politics, Journalism
Whasssssup at Netroots
That’s what the fellow warming up folks for retired General Wesley Clark, who’ll be talking before Howard Dean.
“Whassssup?” he asked.
The guy, identified as the Web editor of “The Onion,” went on to warm up the crowd at Netroots 2008 with three calls-and-responses:
“When I say fired up, you say ready to go!” Happened three times; a basic salute to Sen. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.
Two more:
“Netroots… Nation.”
“Mental… recession,” a jab at former U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas, who suggested some Americans are in just such a state.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic politics
Noriega busy before heading to Martha's Vineyard
Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Rick Noriega stands to be in the middle of the muddle at the Netroots 2008 convention, starting with his star appearance at a party tonight and commitment to speak on two panels during the day Friday — one on military issues, the other on Texas campaign ‘08.
The twist: Noriega, hoping to unseat GOP Sen. John Cornyn, intends to head east by Saturday in time to participate in a leadership retreat being hosted by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. The do is taking place through the weekend on Martha’s Vineyard, an island off Cape Cod — a Massachusetts island, for any critics primed to type l-i-b-e-r-a-l. (It’s way beautiful, by the way.)
At least one other Democratic Senate nominee is likewise heading from Austin to the retreat: Larry LaRocco of Idaho, seeking the Senate seat being vacated by Republican Larry Craig.
Both nominees, of course, want the committee to throw campaign money their way in time for TV advertising in the fall.
By the way, Cornyn’s campaign reminded supporters in an e-mail dispatched today that Noriega counts on online donations from out of state. The e-mail says in part: “Noriega has raised nearly half of his total funds online, much of it from out-of-state “progressives” who will never even visit Texas, let alone vote here. His campaign regularly boasts that he has strong support from the left-wing blogosphere. Make no mistake, if he were to get elected he would be beholden to these people.
“Texas cannot afford that. Will you continue to help John Cornyn in the battle?”
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic politics, U.S. Senate
Netroots Nation: Waiting for Obama Girl
More evidence that they sent the wrong person to cover Netroots today: instead of listening in on the Latino Caucus session, which was my original plan, I’m hiding out in the chilly, but well-stocked Media Room waiting for Obama Girl.
I had no idea she’d even be in town (doesn’t she have a photo shoot and some short-shorts waiting somewhere?) but according to my new favorite person, Eileen Smith of In the Pink/Texas Monthly, she should be here “Around 5ish.”
I’ve been watching Smith and Karen Brooks of The Dallas Morning News shoot hilarious videos of each other and joking about their anti-Big-Media sticker. I think I’m in the right place.
I e-mailed my editors: “Obama Girl is supposed to be in the Media Room soon. I’m ON IT.”
Hunter S. would be so proud.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic politics, Journalism
Like real life, with more nude virtual dancing
A “Second Life” panel at Netroots Nation attracted more virtual participants than real ones.
About 30-40 people spread out all over the U.S. (and France) connected to the virtual online world of “Second Life” to participate in a conference where they couldn’t appear physically.
In Austin, however, only about 10 people showed up to see avatars on a giant screen and to appear on video in a giant real-life screen within the virtual world (got all that?).
Some of the participants, with names like, “Spokane Skytower,” “Lake Woebegone” and “John McCain Weezles” (wearing only a thong) boogied on a dance floor. (“Weezles” was being portrayed by a popular blogger.)
Keynotes from Netroots are being fed into “Second Life,” but this was a more intimate affair as people in “SL” greeted everyone in the room (they were also connected by voice via speakers).
It was Wonk Meets Geek. And pretty cool, honestly.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic politics, Journalism
Netroots Nation: Request for hazard pay
I don’t cover politics, so my apologies in advance for going wildly off-message from what this blog usually covers. (I cover personal technology, which is to politics what the former Planet Pluto is to a can of Pringles.)
Nevertheless I am here at the Convention Center covering Netroots Nation, more as an outsider blogging type than as a hard-nosed political reporter.
The first panel I’ve been to, “Craft Your Message” is in a huge, cavernous room with a giant screen and an enormous panelist table. It looks very expensive. The most number of people I’ve seen in the room so far at one time was 30.
Maybe they didn’t “craft the message” about this panel?
Nevertheless, I have learned that I am in no way qualified to ever run a campaign, political or otherwise. At the end of the presentation, several examples of good campaign ads were shown, and to be honest, they all looked identical to me, with the same lilting, Lite FM (or “Isn’t this sad?” guitar pluckings) background music, the same “I am going to do THIS and it will be AWESOME!” politicalspeak, the same authoritative bold fonts and the same insulting simplifications about the respective opponents.
My plea to the other people in the room is not that they change their ways because something must be working for them all to be employed. My plea is that they just don’t run any of these commercials on channels I actually watch.
Nobody told me that I’d have to sit through TV campaign commercials as part of my job.
I demand hazard pay.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic politics, Journalism
Netroots Nation: Caucus fail
The first caucus/session I tried to go to at Netroots Nation, “Moms’ Caucus” had this sign on the door:
That’s a bit of a hike. Think I’ll stay here and find somewhere else to go.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic politics, Journalism
Dean: No yelps, but a call to walk door-to-door
Howard Dean, fresh off a bus from Crawford, grinned his way today through an appeal to Democratic activists at the Netroots 2008 convention in Austin.
He called on them to walk door-to-door in their neighborhoods to encourage voter registration and then November turnout.
Dean said: “The most powerful people in America in getting people to vote are you; it’s not Rush Limbaugh or Bill O’Reilly,” a reference to two iconic conservative commentators. “You are more powerful than they are to the people that you know.”
The Democratic National Committee, which Dean chairs, launched a national voter registration drive this week.
On Dean’s watch, the committee also has vowed to stoke Democrats in every state, not just states most likely to tilt the party’s way. The approach is a new effort to widen the party’s appeal that appears to fit neatly with the no-holds-barred hopes of liberal political bloggers at the convention.
“I can see at the grassroots level he has a plan that’s working,” said Diane Palmer of Tempe, Arizona, who wore a pink “NH, Live Free or Die” cap. “We shouldn’t write anyone off, any state, any group.”
Dean, a former governor of Vermont, started the Texas portion of the drive this morning in Crawford, the hamlet close to Waco that’s also near President Bush’s ranch.
Dean reminded his Austin crowd that when he ran for president in 2004, he often ended speeches promising to send Bush into retirement on the ranch. He likened Sen. John McCain, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, to Bush, saying: “We don’t need four more years of George W. Bush.”
He excited Austin activist John Denson by stressing the need to turn out voters toward the goal of helping Democrats capture five Texas House seats, giving the party a majority in the 150-member body—and maybe a promising foothold toward Democrats playing a controlling role in the 2011 legislative session when lawmakers look again at drawing legislative and congressional districts, based on U.S. Census updates.
“We’re going to undo all those evil things Tom DeLay did,” Dean said, a reference to the GOP-majority Legislature’s redraw of congressional districts in 2003. At the time, then-Rep. DeLay was the U.S. House majority leader and a prime architect of the redistricting effort.
“Yeah yeah yeah, that’s right,” Denson responded to Dean. “That’s what we want.” (Denson said later he wishes Dean was showing up as a possible vice presidential pick for Obama.)
Dean also made cheery though not unexpected predictions to a few hundred folks, many holding “Democracy for America” and “Change We Can Believe In” placards in a partially shaded park just north of the Austin Convention Center.
Dean’s forecasts: Sen. Barack Obama, the Democrats’ presumptive nominee, is going to win the White House. And Obama will win Nevada and Florida, taken the past two rounds by George W. Bush. And he’ll take Michigan. And he’ll snag Virginia, which has tilted Republican in presidential elections.
“South Dakota,” a woman in the crowd suggested.
“I’m not gonna name every single state,” Dean said.
Winning the presidential election isn’t enough, he said.
“This is about taking long-term responsibility for your country,” he said. “We have to rebuild this country, and it is from the bottom up. We have to rebuild this country so that it stands for ordinary people again.”
Style note: Dean stepped down from the bus in khakis and a white polo shirt. It turned out that Boyd Richie, chairman of the Texas Democratic Party, and an aide were the only luminaries sweating out the midday rally in suits and ties.
Note of confusion: Right before Dean spoke, some crowd members chanted: “Four more years.” Eh?
Dean is expected to catch up with Austin-focused activists later this afternoon; more on that later. Indoors, he’s giving the convention keynote this evening.
Permalink | Comments (11) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic politics
Live blog with 'Netroots Rising' co-author Nate Wilcox
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic politics, Journalism
July 16, 2008
UPDATED: Godfather of liberal Netroots on the air today
Markos Moulitsas Zúniga, the godfather of liberal political bloggery, is penciled in as the guest on KOOP FM’s “Texas Politics Today.” He’ll be there from 2:30 to 3:00 p.m. Texas time; the station is at 91.7 on Austin’s FM dial and also streams live over the Internet here.
UPDATE: Moulitsas told hosts David Kobierowski and Deece Eckstein that too often “the Democrats are so afraid of themselves, they are so afraid of their own convictions,” and voters react accordingly.
Then again, he’s optimistic about Democratic chances in the 2008 elections, at least nationally. “Republicans have made such a mess,” he said. “You could be a monkey and win some of these (races).”
Asked to make a Texas prediction, Moulitsas said statewide wins depend on turnout.
An upset—say, Sen. Barack Obama over Sen. John McCain—is possible, he said. “I wouldn’t say it’s probable,” he said.
Weather note: Moulitsas began his appearance by referring to the typical July heat, saying: “It’s always nice to visit scalding hot Austin.”
Moulitsas is the founder and principal author of DailyKos.com, the political blog that lays claim to an average daily readership of over 750,000 people. Also, he’s written several books, incuding “Crashing the Gate: Netroots, Grassroots, and the Rise of People-Powered Politics” and the pending “Taking On the System: Rules for Radical Change in the Digital Era.”
According to KOOP, he’ll be talking about the netroots phenomenon and how it’s transformed politics, and giving his thoughts on the fall elections in Texas. Naturally he’s in Austin in anticipation of the Netroots conference starting Thursday.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic politics
July 14, 2008
Cornyn has 10 times more cash than Noriega for campaign
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn outpaced Democratic challenger Rick Noriega in cash on hand through June by about 10-to-1, according to their respective campaigns.
Noriega had $915,506 in cash on hand at the time, his campaign says.
Cornyn, a Republican, will report a treasury balance exceeding $9 million, his campaign advises.
The financial reporting deadline is Tuesday.
Spin for Cornyn: He’s positioned to swamp Noriega in TV and radio advertising and direct mail. He has enough money to both define himself (a weakness to date, by some polls) and to define the little-known challenger (a weakness acknowledged in Noriega’s camp).
Spin for Noriega: The lieutenant colonel in the Texas Army National Guard is still the right guy for these tilting-toward-Democratic times. If he can nudge up the fund-raising — maybe get to half the original goal of $10 million with an infusion of out-of-state cash — he can match up with Cornyn sufficiently to make the race competitive.
Noriega is hoarding money better than the Democrats’ 2006 nominee against GOP Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas.
Through June 2006, Houston lawyer Barbara Ann Radnofsky had less than $350,000 in cash on hand. Hutchison, who had $9.2 million in hand at the time, ultimately beat Radnofsky, 62 percent to 36 percent.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic politics, Republican politics, U.S. Senate
John Dean attending fundraiser for Travis County Democrats
John Dean, President Nixon’s White House counsel at the time of the Watergate break-in and cover-up, is slated to be among participants in this week’s Netroots conference in Austin.
I spoke with him 35 summers after he testified against Nixon before the U.S. Senate’s Watergate committee.
Among his comments: “Democrats need to keep their act together because my old tribe scares the hell out of me.”
On a lighter note, the Beverly Hills resident said he doesn’t hear Chairman Sam Ervin’s rumbling drawl in his sleep—nor does he have a handle on what caused the infamous gap in the tape recordings of Nixon’s conversations with aides.
Folks not attending the conference can catch Dean on Thursday night; he’s set to speak to the North by Northwest Democrats from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Waterloo Ice House at West Sixth St. and Lamar Blvd.
Dean calls himself an independent, but the Waterloo do is a fund-raiser for the Travis County Democrats. Dean could be signing copies of his latest book, a tome co-authored by Barry Goldwater Jr. on the late Sen. Barry Goldwater of Arizona.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic politics, Presidential race
July 11, 2008
Fero: Tony Sanchez intended negative '02 run at Perry
Democratic consultant Kelly Fero of Austin walks back through the 2002 Texas elections—including Laredo businessman Tony Sanchez’s sudden rise and big fall—in an interview with Nate Wilcox. Though the interview took place in 2007, it’s just posted online because it plays into a book, “Netroots Rising”.
An excerpt:
…when I was first talking to Tony, very early, still in 2000. Sanchez and I were at the Four Seasons and he told me he wanted to run the most negative campaign ever. It registered with me later, after he ran one of the most negative campaigns in history.
Peek at the interview transcript here.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic politics, Governor, Republican politics
July 9, 2008
Doozy or dud: Republicans pick Obama sticker
The Republican Party of Texas has declared a winner of its anti-Sen. Barack Obama bumpersticker contest.
Doozy or dud?
Peek below or order here.
Permalink | Comments (22) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic politics, Presidential race, Republican politics
July 7, 2008
UPDATE: Richie floats changes to Democratic "primacaucus"
Boyd Richie, chairman of the Texas Democrats, floated two ideas to a party panel studying changes to the party’s method of choosing presidential delegates to its national convention.
Before the start of a hearing in Austin today, some party activists said the party needs to match states that award delegates to presidential candidates based on voting on primary day, rather than having about 25 percent of delegates picked at night-time caucuses.
“Caucuses are subject to mob rule,” said Frances Morey of Austin, who has supported Hillary Clinton for president. “And that’s what happened” this year.
Barack Obama gathered more delegates from Texas than Clinton, thanks to caucus turnouts, though Clinton led in the popular vote in the March primary.
Richie’s first idea: employ electronic voting at the caucuses, which drew 1 million voters in this year’s presidential primary. That could cost about $2 million, Richie said.
Idea two: shift the caucuses from the night of the primary to another day. Richie suggested holding the primary on a Friday and caucuses the next day.
Panel members are faced with a ticklish judgment — whether to preserve caucuses the party considers critical to small-donor fundraising and to building grassroots support or shift to choosing presidential candidates based on whoever turns out to vote at the polls alone.
D.J. Johannson, a Tarrant County activist on the panel, compared the rollicking, often chaotic caucuses this year to a 100-year flood, saying: “This isn’t going to happen all the time.”
Sen. Royce West, an Obama supporter, interjected: “Oh yes it will.”
West, a Dallas Democrat, said today’s kickoff hearing at the Eastview campus of Austin Community College will be followed by several public hearings around the state, leading to recommendations that might be weighed by the 2009 Legislature.
Today’s hearing featured party officials, but West said he intends to hold another hearing in Austin to hear from anyone.
“I want to make certain that we come to Austin to allow for input from the public,” West said before bringing today’s hearing to a close.
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic politics
June 30, 2008
Primacaucus hearing set for July 7
The Texas Democratic Party will begin a review of its now-notorious presidential candidate nominating system at a hearing scheduled for July 7.
A committee led by state Sen. Royce West of Dallas will hear from past and present party officials about the history and issues with the combined primary and caucus system.
The party’s unique system developed quite a national reputation because Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York won the primary vote but Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois ended up with more total delegates due to the caucus turnout.
Chaos at some caucus sites combined with the uncertainty about which candidate actually won more Texas delegates led to calls for reforming the Texas two-step system.
Party Chairman Boyd Richie formed this committee to collect testimony and recommend possible changes. The party is also gathering input through an online survey.
The meeting will be held at 10 a.m. on the Austin Community College campus at 3401 Webberville Road in Room 8500 of the Health Science Building.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic politics
June 27, 2008
Hightower going to lake, Republicans to ranch
Former Texas Agriculture Commissioner Jim Hightower, calling himself “America’s No. 1 populist,” will be the guest speaker at a gathering tonight of the Lake Travis Democrats, a group whose members say they’re gaining ground in historically Republican territory.
Mary Ellen Roche, who handles public relations for the group, says anybody is welcome to the free barbecue starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Lakeway Activity Center, 105 Cross Creek Road.
“You do not have to be a Democrat,” Roche said.
Prefer a Republican alternative? Roger Williams, the former Texas secretary of state helming the Republican Party of Texas’ get-out-the-vote effort this year, intends to host an “All-Star Event” at the ranch he owns with his wife, Patty, on Saturday featuring Gov. Rick Perry, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Michael Williams, chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission.
General admission for the 5:30 p.m. event is $250 a person, though guests paying up to $10,000 get access to exclusive shoulder-rubbing. Early word is that more than $600,000 has been pledged.
To land a late invitation, call 866-789-9223.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic politics, Republican politics
June 19, 2008
Russert once tried to hold Texas-centered debate
The unexpected death of Tim Russert, NBC’s mainstay in its coverage of national politics, brought me back to the time I briefly interviewed him. It was the fall of 2002 and Russert invited the Texas candidates for the U.S. Senate, Republican John Cornyn and Democrat Ron Kirk, to debate live on his Sunday morning program.
Cornyn accepted, while Kirk declined to make the Washington trip.
Before deciding against the joint appearance on network TV, Kirk told the editorial board of the San Antonio Express-News (the paper that had me watching the race that year) that he wasn’t inclined to take time for Russert.
Kirk said then that he had not planned to leave Texas in the last month of the campaign to appear on TV or for any purpose. He also called Russert a “huff and puff,” though to this day he insists he would not have hatched such a tame descriptive.
Russert was the host of “Meet the Press,” which then reached 6 million viewers a week.
When I reached him about Kirk’s comment, he was mystified.
“What is a ‘huff and puff?’” Russert said. “Sometimes candidates get tired and say things. I’m here to do my job, and I want to do a debate with the candidates from Texas.”
Dave Beckwith, a Cornyn campaign adviser at the time lately serving as the senator’s Texas chief of staff, remembers the Russert-debate back-and-forth this way:
“In 2002, Russert was just starting his now-established practice of screening a full hour debate in competitive Senate races. He called both camps to issue an invitation. Attorney General Cornyn accepted almost immediately, nearly three weeks before the planned date in September. Kirk stalled, and delayed a decision.
“Meanwhile, NBC aired what I believe was Russert’s first such debate, between Sen. Wayne Allard and challenger Ted Strickland. Russert asked both candidates about their plans to resolve the Social Security crisis — raise taxes, cut benefits, or what else? Allard touted private accounts. Russert pressed Strickland repeatedly, but he could not come up with an answer. He looked foolish.
“Early the next week, Kirk announced he would not be accepting the Russert invitation. Russert later told me that he had mixed success arranging these debates that first year, and in every failed case, it was the Democrat candidate who had refused to come on his show.”
Justin Lonon, Kirk’s spokesman at the time, said this week that the issue came down to Kirk’s busy schedule, filled with campaign stops and fund-raisers. “Ron was getting a lot of national exposure,” Lonon said, recalling that national and international reporters were already touring with him. “Getting national exposure was not a problem for us.”
Kirk agreed with Lonon’s recollection, adding that the campaign took the debate offer seriously. “I wanted to do it. With the travel, I just couldn’t give up three days 10 days out front of an election.”
“I was a Tim Russert fan,” Kirk said. “I liked the show… I respected him. He was a good guy, he was tough, he was fair.”
Kirk dismissed Beckwith’s theory that he dodged the Russert opportunity after the previous Democrat who debated a GOP opponent struggled. Kirk said: “That’s (horse puckey). We were not afraid. I was not afraid of debating John Cornyn anywhere. For us, it was just an issue of time.”
That’s all I know about what could have been a significant Russert moment in Texas political history.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment Categories: Comings and goings, Democratic politics, U.S. Senate
June 10, 2008
Beachballing at Democratic state convention
In case anyone has a wish-I’d-been-there feeling about the Texas Democratic Party’s state convention last weekend in Austin, here’s a video flashback from floor action during a break.
I’ll wager there won’t be beachballs afloat at the Republican Party of Texas convention this weekend in Houston.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic State Convention, Democratic politics, On a Lighter Note
June 9, 2008
Texas labor leader switches to Obama
Texas AFL-CIO President Becky Moeller, chosen Saturday to be a superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention in August, has newly urged Democrats to line up behind U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, the presumptive presidential nominee.
At the party’s state convention this weekend, Moeller was a delegate for U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton for president.
“I am confident an AFL-CIO endorsement in the presidential contest will arrive before long, but today I am personally and independently urging Democrats, union members and open-minded independents across Texas to rally around Barack Obama’s historic campaign for the presidency,”” Moeller said in a statement issued Sunday.
“Hillary Clinton’s candidacy made a permanent mark on American political history. As a union activist and as a woman who has fought to break glass ceilings in my career, I joined millions of Americans who saw in Hillary the path to a better, more just society. Democrats in both camps worked to our utmost abilities in this campaign, and it is a tribute to Sen. Obama that he became the presumptive nominee against competition that touched a chord with so many Americans.”
“Now is the time to look at the bigger picture and unite. The issues facing our nation are too important and the gap between the candidates too great to let even the greatest of political primary struggles linger. Sen. Obama has shown he, too, can lead us to a better, more just society. I thank Ron Kirk and all the Obama campaign officials in Texas for declaring that from here on, all Democrats are invited to walk together toward victory in November. At this new juncture, I proudly, wholeheartedly and optimistically support Barack Obama for president. ”
“A new future is at hand for America. We know the path to positive change and we know the path to more of the same. By coming together around Barack Obama’s candidacy, Democrats will write the next chapter in an election for the ages and in the history of our great nation.”
Permalink | Comments (12) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic State Convention, Democratic politics
June 7, 2008
UPDATED: Watson sips clear liquid, wisecracks
Kirk Watson, the Austin state senator chairing the convention, needs to keep his voice hale and hearty. So he’s been sipping from a plastic cup of clear liquid—what the rest of us call water.
Then again, here’s what Watson said a moment ago, after a sip: “Tito’s Vodka is one of the best vodkas. And it’s made right here in my Senate district.”
I’d write that Watson then tumbled clumsily from view, but that would be incorrect—and plain wrong.
UPDATE: Watson spilled his cup a little while later.
“Uh oh,” he said. “I spilled my vodka.”
UPDATE II: Mindful that delegates needed more time to vote on two party positions, Watson said from the dais that he’d grant them three additional minutes. Besides, he said, that would give him time to go to the men’s room.
“Let’s see if both of us can get it done in three minutes,” Watson said, stepping away from the microphone.
Then he was back, adding: “Yes we can.” That’s an Obama campaign chant.
For the record, he made it back in time.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic State Convention, Democratic politics, Texas Senate
Stemwindering, two challengers to Boyd Richie
Taking what appear to be longshot runs at denying Graham lawyer Boyd Richie a second two-year term as chairman of the Texas Democratic Party, two candidates spoke to delegates at mid-afternoon Saturday (though the convention floor at the Austin Convention Center appears to be emptying out, slowly but surely).
Neither one of them mentioned Richie by name—though one painted him as way old-school, out of step with the Obama/Howard Dean spirit of campaigning for Democrats everywhere.
San Antonio lawyer David Van Os vowed to get on a plane to Chicago to visit Sen. Barack Obama’s camaign and give them a “toe-to-toe” what-for to spend money on Texas so Texas will turn out votes for Obama and the Democratic ticket top to bottom.
“I am tired of hearing year in and year out that this is another rebuilding year,” Van Os said. “Now is the time to establish from the leadership of this party, the vision, the winning attitude, the shoot for the stars… we will put Texas in play. And I mean it.”
Fort Worth hospice worker Roy LaVerne Brooks, the state party’s vice chairwoman for the past two years, spoke very briefly. Mentioning the late Barbara Jordan, she said: “We can do it together.”
Richie got final say. More on his remarks soon.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic State Convention, Democratic politics
Obama wins Texas -- finally
Unless Democratic officials say otherwise later Saturday, it looks like Sen. Barack Obama will take 99 Texas delegates to the August Democratic National Convention in Denver with Sen. Hillary Clinton landing 94 delegates based on voting on primary day and at battles starting with the boisterous primary-night caucuses. It took this long to say (that’s three months since the March 4 primary) so for sure because the total depended on which Democratic delegates showed up for this weekend’s state convention.
So ink in the headline for sure: Obama Wins Texas.
That result was solidified this morning as Kirk Watson, chairman of the convention, announced the results of the presidential preferences recorded by delegates signing in for the state convention on Friday. Specifically, 7,239 delegates signed in; 4,144 for Obama (57 percent) and 3,088 (43 percent) for Clinton.
The 99-94 Obama edge doesn’t take in how 35 superdelegates from Texas will vote. Our pre-convention count of them had it 14 for Obama, 14 for Clinton and 4 undeclared, with three spots to be filled after party Chairman Boyd Richie nominates them; he hadn’t done so as of 11 a.m. Saturday.
Again: Obama Wins Texas.
Permalink | Comments (9) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic State Convention, Democratic politics, Presidential race
June 4, 2008
Elfant: Word expected soon on Obama, Clinton in Austin
Travis County Constable Bruce Elfant, in charge of security at this weekend’s Texas Democratic convention in Austin, expects to hear soon whether the party’s presidential candidates (Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton) will drop in on the convention Friday and Saturday.
Elfant confirmed Tuesday the Secret Service has been through the Austin Convention Hall, the convention site, though he reminded that such visits can occur for planning purposes without anyone knowing a leader is actually coming.
(Also fair to wonder: Why would Obama need another Democratic audience just as he’s focusing on broadening his appeal?)
Elfant said both candidates should come to what’s going to prove the nation’s next big Democratic do after Tuesday’s primaries.
“We’re going to have the ‘unity picture’ eventually,” Elfant said. “It might as well happen in Austin.”
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Democratic politics, Presidential race
June 3, 2008
Lulu Flores: Clinton should fight on to convention
Austin lawyer Lulu Flores, president of the National Women’s Political Caucus, wants Sen. Hillary Clinton not to give up her campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Flores, reacting to an Associated Press report Tuesday stating Clinton intends to concede to Sen. Barack Obama, said Clinton deserves a chance to persuade super-delegates — party dignitaries and Democratic members of Congress — that she would be the strongest November foe for presumptive GOP nominee John McCain, the Arizona senator.
The caucus, which endorsed Clinton for president in April 2007, has raised tens of thousands of dollars for Clinton’s campaign, Flores said, believing that her candidacy would be the one to finally place a woman in the nation’s highest elected office.
“We’ve waited. We have had 43 male presidents. We are probably about to elect our 44th. I hope not. I’m still not giving up,” Flores said.
Regarding Obama’s popularity, Flores said: “We are not selecting our next rock star. We are selecting our next commander-in-chief.”
Flores said she’d spend part of her afternoon telephoning voters in South Dakota and Montana, which have Democratic primaries wrapping up tonight. And, she said, she hopes Clinton puts off a concession to Obama — and that the super-delegates give her a chance to make the case that she’ll have a stronger chance of winning big states in the fall such as Pennsylvania, Ohio and Florida.
Flores was in Washington over the we