VOTE ONLINE IN THE DEMOCRATIC ePRIMARY STARTING NOW!

We Give Texans A Real Choice, While The Republicans Just Embarrass Themselves

This weekend Texas Republicans, trying to cash in on the publicity for early straw polls like Iowa and Illinois, are holding one of their own in Fort Worth. Sadly for them, since the Republican-controlled Texas legislature refused to move up our 2008 Primary dates, this event is being ignored or boycotted by all their leading candidates (citing the usual schedule conflicts, such as the urgent need to reorganize their sock drawers). None of their front-runners will be there. Ron Paul (stuck in single digits in polls), Duncan Hunter (even lower than that), and three total nobodies you've never heard of will be there to face largely empty seats.

But the Democratic Party has stepped forward to rescue Texas voters from this silly spectacle -- and to give us a voice before a majority of all the other states cast ballots starting in January. Starting TODAY Texas Democrats are hosting an online ePrimary. You can cast your vote for your favorite Democratic Presidential candidates from now through September 7. The ongoing results will be posted daily from next Tuesday on. The winner will be announced September 10. For each one running there is a bio on the site and (in some cases) a message from the candidate to Texans.

You can read an AP news story contrasting the two parties' differing approach to empowering the voters this weekend at this page. The home page for the Texas Democratic ePrimary is right here. Click on a candidate's picture to go to a page with more information and a chance to cast your vote for them. And spread the word around, so that everyone can participate.

And Don't Forget Our Labor Day Picnic Monday!!

The fun, food, and politics of the Dallas County Democratic Party's annual Labor Day Picnic will begin at Noon on Monday, Sept. 3, and run until 4 PM, at the Catholic Czech Club, located at 4930 Military Parkway, in east Dallas. Meet your fellow Democrats, office holders, and candidates for public office. This is a free event. Dress is casual. Drinks and fried chicken provided. It's a pot luck dinner, so Bonnie Tillery is looking for volunteers to please bring homemade side dishes or desserts. Please contact Bonnie by email to bj-tillery AT tx.rr DOT com with your item.

IN MEMORY: KATHY BANNON:

Kathy Bannon, who had been an active local Democrat and a delegate to the National Democratic Convention, passed away last Monday at the age of 60. She was a financial advisor for the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System for several years. She is survived by a son and his wife, a brother and his wife, several sisters and their husbands, and many nieces and nephews. Her burial was last Thursday at Calvary Hill Cemetery in Dallas.

NORIEGA IN DALLAS THIS WEEK:

On Thursday, August 30, State Representative & Lt. Col. Rick Noriega, candidate for U.S. Senate, will have a "Democratic Activist People Powered Event" here. Join him at the home of Lenna Webb, President of North Dallas Texas Democratic Women, and Bob Franklin, Precinct 1802 Chair, at 17201 Hidden Glen Drive, Dallas 74248; from 6 to 8 PM; Please RSVP to 972-732-7712)

WATCHING THE WEB THIS WEEK:

ONE MORE LEAVES THE SHIP:
Gonzales Resigns, Vows to Find the Real Perjurers R. J. Eskow
Gonzales to Spend More Time Eavesdropping on His Family
"Going Back to Texas to Be One More Horse's ...." Peter Smith
Gonzales The "Granddaddy Of Cronies" Andrew Cohen at CBS News
Gonzales Goes But Investigation Must Continue The Nation
And the best picture of Alberto today is at TalkLeft.

ABOUT IRAQ:
Bush: "Iraq is just like Vietnam, but in a good way" Jon Stewart video
Surge in Bushco Propaganda Denies reality on the Ground Bill Moyers video
War Has Made Baghdad Pre-Industrial Newsweek
fond memories of Cheney pre-invasion speech Colbert video
Lies, Lies, and More Lies what really happened in Cambodia

THE NEXT TARGET:
Prelude to an Attack on Iran Time
Fox Attacks! Iran video from Robert Greenwald
Bush League War Drums Beating Louder on Iran ex-CIA analyst

TO THE LEAST OF THESE:
‘Compassionate conservatism’ for kids forcing states to limit CHIP
Bush is ’soft on lead’ in toys and children's products

ELSEWHERE:
The week's cartoons
Texas Progressive Alliance weekly blog round-up
‘Where do we hide the president?’ Cornyn ducks and covers
ES&S to Face Fines for Use of Uncertified Voting Systems
Whistleblowers on Fraud Facing Penalties

WATCHING THE WEB THIS WEEK:

The week's cartoons (from Bob Geiger)
1994 Dick Cheney vs. Post-9/11 Dick Cheney Daily Show video
No Center, No Centrists By George Lakoff video and transcript

TEXAS:
Job Application: Governor's Crony by the Texas Democratic Party
Texas Progressive Alliance Blog Round-Up
Can you think of 11 different felonies you could commit with an oyster?
American People's Poll on Iraq Ft. Worth rally Sept. 1

ROVE:
Bill Moyers on Karl Rove video
Rove Got Out While the Getting Was Good N. Y. Times
How Rove Directed Federal Assets for GOP Gains Washington Post

(IN)JUSTICE:
Is Justice Possible After Torture?
Padilla Jury Opens Pandora's Box
Founders Had an Idea for Handling Alberto Gonzales N. Y. Times

VOTING:
TDP Setback in Vote Inegrity Challenge to eSlate Machines
The Trouble with Touch Screens video from Dan Rather
(Thanks to the Dallas Air America newsletter.)

Supreme Court Candidate To Visit Irving:

Judge Susan Criss, current judge of the 212th District Court in Galveston County and Democratic candidate for Texas Supreme Court, will address the August 21, 2007 meeting of the Irving Democratic Club. This is the first appearance of a candidate for statewide office before the Irving Democratic Club since 1998. The meeting will be held at Spring Creek Barbeque Restaurant, 3514 W. Airport Freeway in Irving. The business portion of the meeting will take part from 6:30 to 7:00; Judge Criss will speak from 7:00 until 8:00 and then take questions from the audience. Call 972-513-9522 or email irvingdemocraticclub AT yahoo DOT com for more information.

Come To The DCDP Labor Day Picnic!!:
Labor Day Dishes Needed

The Dallas County Democratic Party will hold its annual Labor Day Picnic, from Noon to 4 PM, on Monday, Sept. 3, at the Catholic Czech Club, located at 4930 Military Parkway, in east Dallas. Meet your fellow Democrats, office holders, and candidates for public office. This is a free event. Dress is casual. Drinks and fried chicken provided. It's a pot luck dinner, so Bonnie Tillery is looking for volunteers to please bring homemade side dishes or desserts. Please contact Bonnie by email to bj-tillery AT tx.rr DOT com with your item.

District 111 Community Forum & Health Fair:

State Representative Yvonne Davis invites her constituents to participate in the District 111 Community Forum & Health Fair on Saturday, August 18. They can gather at one location and register for services offered by various State agencies, participate in health screenings, and speak with representatives from utility companies regarding provider services. The Fair will be held in the Fellowship Hall at Concord Missionary Baptist Church, 6808 Pastor Bailey Drive, Dallas, Texas 75237 from 9 AM to 2 PM.

This year's event will coincide with the state of Texas' Annual Sales Tax Holiday, which is effective August 17 to 19, 2007. Representative Davis will provide the first 200 school age children with backpacks to assist with their back to school efforts.

Health screenings, such as blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, diabetes, sickle cell, prostate (for that you must be 38 or older), and Hepatitis C, will be available for constituents, including no-cost mammograms for Dallas County residents. [Please contact 214-941-3895 for mammogram screening and eligibility -- you must be at least 35, and your last mammogram must have been over one year ago; bring picture ID, proof of Dallas County residency, and (if applicable) Parkland clinic card, insurance information, amd Medicaid letter/Medicare card.]

For more information, contact Representative Davis' district office at 214-941-3895.

Watching The Web:

ROVE DEPARTS:
Sen. Pat Leahy on Rove resignation from Firedoglake
My Guesses on Why Rove Resigned from The Next Hurrah
Karl Rove in Retirement amusing future news from Texas
The Rove Goes on Forever
excerpts from "The Rove Presidency" (at The Atlantic Monthly)

TEXAS:
On The Record: Steve Tillery interview at The Texas Blue
Hired Protesters Try To Disrupt Susan Criss Fund-Raiser from Capitol Annex
New TEB Chair's Hostility To Science, Religious Tolerance
Weekly Texas Blog Round Up from Burnt Orange Report

MISC:
The week's cartoons from Bob Geiger
Daily Show explores mysteries of missing stuff in Iraq video
Goading Xerxes: A New Tactical Twist in the Coming War on Iran
The Banality Of Dick Cheney's Evil from Hullabaloo

CALENDAR:

(For the latest updates on local events, and links to more info about these, always check the DCDP website Calendar.)

Tuesday, August 14:

• PVL - A New Era (6:30 PM, Thurgood Marshall Rec Center. 5150 Mark Trail, Dallas)
  
• Dallas County Young Democrats Featured speaker: Zachary S. Thompson, Director of Dallas County Health & Human Services on the causes, challenges, and solutions for poverty in Dallas County. (7 PM, Zubar 2012 Greenville Ave., Dallas)

Wednesday, August 15:

• Garland Democratic Womens Club (11:30 AM, Golden Corral, 10538 Forest Ln.)
  
• NW Dallas County Democrats (7:30 PM, Taco Cabana, 11824 Webb Chapel Rd (at LBJ), Farmers Branch)

Thursday, August 16:

• Drinking Liberally Addison (7 PM, The Quarter, 15201 Addison Rd, Addison)

Saturday, August 18:

• North Oak Cliff Democrats Breakfast (9 AM, Norma's Cafe, 1123 W Davis St., Dallas)
  
• District 111 Community Forum & Health Fair (9 AM to 2 PM, Fellowship Hall, Concord Missionary Baptist Church, 6808 Pastor Bailey Drive, Dallas)
  
• Dallas County Democratic Party Executive Committee Meeting Quarterly meeting; will consider DCDP policy on resolutions relating to Endorsements, Warnings and Issues. (10 AM to Noon, Communications Workers of America Hall at 1408 North Washington at Bryan, Dallas 75204)

Tuesday, August 21:

• Coalition of Black Democrats (6:30 PM, Moreland YMCA, 917 E. Ledbetter (Loop 12), Dallas)
  
• Irving Democrats Speaker: Judge Susan Criss, candidate for Texas Supreme Court (6:30 PM, El Rincon de Viejo, Corner of O'Conner and Rochelle, Irving)
  
• Stonewall Democrats of Dallas Speaker: Rev. Mike Piazza of Hope For Peace And Justice (6:30 PM, Ojeda's Restaurant, 4617 Maple Ave., Dallas)

Monday, September 3:

• Dallas County Democratic Party Labor Day Picnic Pot luck dinner, please bring side dishes or desserts. Drinks and fried chicken provided. (1 to 4 PM, Catholic Czech Club, 4930 Military Pkwy., Dallas)

FOOD DRIVE FOR OBAMA'S BIRTHDAY:

This appeal for charitable donations came from the Dallas supporters of Senator Barack Obama for President: "Obama Dallas grassroots volunteers are pleased to announce a national virtual food drive effective immediately until August 15, 2007 in honor of Senator Barack Obama's 46th birthday. Your gift will benefit the Member Food Bank or Food Rescue Organizations of the America's Second Harvest Network nearest you to fight hunger right away in your own community. To make your contribution go to http://help.secondharvest.org/obama."

(Yes, we know that some other campaigns have had social projects of their own, such as former Senator John Edwards organizing a National Poverty Action Day in July, which we didn't announce here. We're not trying to show favoritism to any candidate: we just report such efforts when we're told about them. Moral: if your favorite candidate does something like that, then do what Obama's supporters did -- email us [roundup AT dallasdemocrats DOTorg] and let us know ahead of time.)

NEW STATE PARTY WEBSITE:

The Texas Democratic Party has redone their website, adding a number of features intended to make it more helpful and user friendly, including a new Letters to the Editor section. You can see it at the same address, www.txdemocrats.org.

(Local Precinct Chair Tom Blackwell reminds us that the address is dot ORG. Be warned that if you type in dot COM, you'll find that the Texas Republican Party cleverly got that other URL to redirect careless searchers to their own reactionary theocratic corporatist propaganda site.)

SHERIFF VALDEZ ACTIVATES REELECTION WEBSITE:

Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez has had to get active early on next year's campaign efforts, since the Republican good old boys have made it clear she is their prime local target for 2008. Kirk McPike writes "Supporters can sign up for the Sheriff's email list -- to stay up-to-date regarding campaign events and volunteer opportunities -- donate online and learn more about the Sheriff's record of success during her first term in office.Volunteer activities have already begun, and the Sheriff is counting on the support of her Democratic friends as she seeks re-election in 2008. To get involved, visit the Sheriff's website at LupeValdez.com. You can also contact the Sheriff's campaign by email to kirk AT lupevaldez.com."

LAKOFF FOR FREE:

Dallas Precinct 2228 Chair Crispin Reedy writes "I have a few extra George Lakoff books and CDs that are taking up space on my shelf that I'd like to get out there and get read by Democrats instead! If anyone would like a copy of "Don't Think of an Elephant" or the DVD "How Democrats and Progressives Can Win: Solutions from George Lakoff", just send me an email with your mailing address to crispin_reedy AT yahoo DOT com."


WATCHING THE WEB:

VIDEOS:
When Dick Cheney smiles, an angel gets water-boarded Jon Stewart video
If FDR Were GWB hilarious video
Patrick Leahy Bitch Slaps for America righteous video
Alberto Gonzales: Lying Liar Edition video self-destruction
FISA and Fear Mongering Keith Olbermann video

GRAPHICS:
Alberto Gonzalez on I've Got A Secret photo parody
The Saturday Cartoons weekly collection by Bob Geiger

TEXAS:
Are Texas Bridges Safe? NO! more deficient bridges than any state
Three Men on a Bridge an impeachment banner on I-35E
Cornyn's Cardboard Conservative Clubhouse dolls to cut out and play with

Feds knew about TYC abuse cases spotted by Grits For Breakfast
Texas Republicans fail our children. Again. from South Texas Chisme
Ritmo: filling the jail cells Americans can’t from The Mex Files

Texas Blog Round-Up from the Texas Progressive Alliance
Bloggers File Brief Against The Texas Speaker's Power Grab
Moeller becomes first female AFL-CIO head found by South Texas Chisme

WASHINGTON:
110th Congress - Democratic Accomplishments Republican Obstructions
What Republicans do when they're not.... from Crooks And Liars
Unacceptable Vacancies Put Us At Risk at DOJ and Homeland Security
Voter Caging to suppress 204 vote -- PBS special report

Bush, Gonzales and Specter: Winning a Cat-and-Mouse Game or Losing a Dogfight?
Bush's Secret Spying on Americans
Dangers of a Cornered George Bush
Cheney: Dark Powers, the Sequel (L. A. Times)

NEW YORK
The women the N.Y. Times doesn't see