SHARE THE WEALTH:

Once again Matt Glazer starts the ball rolling at Burnt Orange Report, saying we have three Republican Supreme Court seats up, and it makes no sense for two good Democratic candidates to be going after the same one. He himself doesn't mention the dueling Dems, but they are Susan Criss and Linda Yañez. He's one hundred per cent right, and no, I am not going to presume to suggest which should move to another race, but certainly one of them should.

I still remember the needless bloody battle between Ann Richards and Jim Mattox when they both ran for Governor in 1990. Had either run for another office, so that we could have all voted for both of them, then they, the party, and the people of Texas would have all been better off. Let us hope that we avoid a similar waste next year.

TRUE COLORS?:

Dissent from the conventional establishment wisdom continues over the England defection. Matt Glazer quotes a lot of figures welcoming the newly-hatched Democrat at Burnt Orange Report, with plenty of gushing from the Lone Star Project. Declining to wave pom-poms, Harvey Jackson, president of the Grand Prairie Democrats, is unconvinced and downright displeased, because "Kirk facilitated the voter suppression bills". His view, with several added points of agreement from longtime Dallas Precinct Chair Tom Blackwell, are at this post.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram wrote that Katy Hubener "had planned to announce her intention to run for the seat again on Thursday", the very same day England announced he would run as a Democrat. Could it be someone leaked her intention and that's why he jumped in right then? And, let's see, who would have been more likely to know about that in advance -- a Republican, or a Democrat who wanted their own handpicked candidate in place instead of Katy?

"Into your life it will creep...." Let's hope that isn't justified here. Either of these two would be better than anyone else the Republicans can put up there. Sad to see we've got to deal with this internal manipulation now.

WELCOME TO THE NETWORK:

Recently I have been voted in as a member of the Texas Progressive Alliance, which has resulted in links here from several more sites which are members of the group. You can find a list over on the right sidebar.

I've also added one more non-TPA member which has permalinked here recently, Deb of A Sense of Urgency. Thanks to her. Going to look there I found she had a post linking to some lovely signs calling for impeachment of the decider himself. Go see.

MORE ON LOCAL REPUBLICANS SWITCHING PARTIES:

State Representative Kirk England's switch was welcomed as a positive sign by many Democratic legislators, while the Republicans auditioned to portray "Chutzpah" in the next dictionary:

Dallas County Republican Party Chairman Kenn George on Thursday described Mr. Creuzot and Mr. England as fair-weather politicians. Political opportunists are always trying to figure out which way the wind blows, hoping to save their necks by switching parties," he said.

Someone needs to warn notorious party-switching Republican Governor Rick Perry what his Dallas Chair thinks of him.

England was not the only Republican announcing his switch last week. Judge John Creuzot made his return to the Democratic Party official as well, with a statement at the DCDP office. Creuzot, probably the only Dallas County Judge who has been known to ride to work on a BMW motorcycle, had been appointed to the bench by Texas' last Democratic Governor, Ann Richards, in 1991. When the Republican coattails were sweeping all before them, he joined some other Judges in switching parties. Now he's come back to his first political home.

WATCHING THE WEB:

If you want more proof voting Democratic made things better, read these:
Coming Soon: Dallas DNA Exoneration #14 Texas Monthly
Past Dallas DAs concealed exculpatory polygraph in capital case

Democracy For Texas ran answers from the two Democrats running for our U.S. Senate nomination to beat John Cornyn next year:
Rick Noriega’s DFT Questionnaire Response
Mikal Watts’s DFT Questionnaire Response

Gay Pride Parade in Dallas Ignored by Local Newspaper
Weekly Texas Progressive Alliance Blog Round-Up

The re-emergence of the emerging Democratic majority.
Labor Group Sets $53 Million Election Budget N. Y. Times

Democrats Should Attack Bush, Not MoveOn Paul Begala
The Senate Votes on Tropes and the Troops George Lakoff
Perhaps Move On Should Send Cornyn a Thank You Note
Bush attacks on MoveOn and Democrats Olbermann video

Voter Purging: A Legal Way for Republicans to Swing Elections?
The mechanics of election fraud video with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Resurrecting Jim Crow: The Erratic Resume of the Voting Section Chief

How Bush has created a moral vacuum in Iraq Newsweek
Making a killing: how private armies became a $120bn global industry
The Two Words That Can Bring Our Troops Home

Rewriting 'God Bless America' with link to theocratic lyrics
An Evangelical Coup in America's Military
Fascist America, in 10 easy steps Naomi Wolf

Bush setting America up for war with Iran
Drumbeat For Attack On Iran Grows Louder

The top 10 big stories the US news media missed in the past year
15 more stories on the Project Censored list

Just for fun:
"White House reporters literally laughed" Bush in his bubble
How to Avoid Advancing the Gay Agenda hilarious "boycott" list

And the best title for a blogpost about Senator Vitter of Louisiana:
Either a New Orleans hooker or a Republican Congressman is lying. Guess which one passed the polygraph test?

WEEKLY TPA WRAPUP 070924:

It's Monday, and that means it's time for yet another edition of the Texas Progressive Alliance's Weekly Blog Round-Up. This week's installment is compiled by Vince from Capitol Annex.

It's about one thing. TXsharon at Bluedaze tells us why we have to make it about something else.

Bill Howell of StoutDemBlog, a new member of the Texas Progressive Alliance, takes a look at Kirk England's recent party switch as well as other recent party switches in Dallas County in Rove's Permanent Majority Collapses: Now What Do We Do With All These Defectors?

Boadicea at Texas Kaos wonders if MoveOn doesn't owe John Cornyn a thank you note.

Musings discovers that the lead GOP presidential contenders are too
busy for Black and Latino sponsored debates, while the local Harris County GOP claim they are home to Hispanics because of their once a year bike give away.

Gary at Easter Lemming Liberal News has word on Mayor Manlove of Pasadena entering the race to challenge Lampson for Congress and the mayor's race it opens up He also has a short colorful digest of Naomi Klein promoting her book on Disaster Capitalism.

WCNews at Eye on Williamson posts on recent news that Gov. Perry and Speaker Craddick - who Krussee excoriated at the end of the legislative session -- will appear at a fundraiser for him in Krusee Throws Reagan Over The Wall And Under The Bus.

Mayor McSleaze at McBlogger takes a look at some of the dumber things to come out of the right this week, like Bill O'Reilly's trip to a Harlem hot spot where he discovered that it was just like a 'real' restaurant, you know, like Olive Garden.

Off the Kuff looks at the causes and effects of Kirk England's party switch.

Refinish69 at Doing My Part For The Left looks at UT football and ask a simple question - UTLonghorns or UT Thugs.

Burnt Orange Report and its diarists are following the Kirk England switchover with enthusiasm. After breaking the story on Wednesday, the entirestaff, welcomes the newest Democrat to the House.

KT at Stop Cornyn shows how Junior Senator John Cornyn is wasting time again. Instead of getting funding for CHIP or getting our troops the armor they need, John Cornyn forced a vote condemning MoveOn.org. Yet another example of failed leadership and Junior John being out of touch with Texas needs.

Evan at the Caucus Blog covered two major stories this week. First, after months of investigation, discussion, and debate, the Houston GLBT Political Caucus has decided to endorse the HISD bond proposal. Second, Evan has looked into the history of the fight for a federal Employment Non-discrimination Act in the post "ENDA Deja Vu."

Bradley at North Texas Liberal discusses how Washington, D.C. almost had the vote, but lost it due to greedy Senate Republicans. Only
eight Republicans could be bothered to vote for the legendary bill that would have allowed the District a voting member of Congress.

The marriage of the Republican party to theocracy is no accident. Right wing investors like Richard Mellon Scaife are molding US churches, notes CouldBeTrue at in "What does an El Paso Church have to do with the right wing" at South Texas Chisme.

It was quite a week for Senator Box Turtle; he led the Senate charge against free speech, voted against habeas corpus, and against adequate down time for our soldiers. As PDiddie at Brains and Eggs points out, he now owns the war on terror -- in addition to the war on the Constitution and all Americans. But he did unwittingly sponsor a successful fundraiser for MoveOn.org, so he wasn't a complete failure.

WhosPlayin joins a local Republican activist in opposing tax abatements for speculative real estate development in Lewisville.

Vince at Capitol Annex has been keeping tabs on the Texas
Conservative Coalition and its town hall meetings across East Texas in which they propose to eliminate property taxes in favor of an expanded sales tax, and points out that at least one new candidate has already started drinking their Kool-Aid.

Hal at Half Empty was at a campaign kickoff fundraiser for Ron Reynolds who is running for State Rep in HD 27. He took videos and did a series. Links to the series is at his summary posting: Ron E. Reynolds is Running for State Rep in HD 27.

Blue 19th notes that Randy Neugebauer can't hide his contempt for veterans from everyone. So which party was it that supported our troops? Oh yeah, the one that doesn't start with "Republican".

ROVE'S PERMANENT MAJORITY COLLAPSES:

Now what do we do about all these defectors?

(NOTE: See UPDATE at end added Sept. 20.)

Today comes word that Republican State Representative Kirk England, from the Dallas suburb of Grand Prairie, is switching parties. Tomorrow he will announce that he will run for re-election as a Democrat. Considering that last time he only barely beat Democratic candidate Katy Hubener, this could be seen as rank opportunism. But he has at least learned the lingo of his hoped-for new political home (according to the Dallas News):

"In December of 2005, when I filed to run for office, I made a promise to the hardworking families in our community to fight for our public schools, fight for affordable health care and to fight for them on pocketbook issues. After one session in the House, I found that the Republican leadership in Austin had no tolerance for the values and priorities of the folks I represent. ... I am confident that the voters in our district want a representative who will fight for public education and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and who believes that the folks struggling to pay skyrocketing utility bills every month are more important than TXU's profits."

If that's really how he feels, why was he ever hanging out with the elephants? Or maybe that was the opportunism on his part, when it still looked like they were unbeatable. If he's now turned against them, it's karma coming back at them.

He is not alone. Former Democratic Judge in Dallas County John Creuzot, who switched -- with several others -- to the Republican party when they were sweeping all before them, has now switched back and is running for reelection as a Democrat. He has already gathered a primary opponent, Hiram McBeth, who spoke at this week's Stonewall Democrats meeting and denounced Cruezot for being really still a Republican. I jumped up and objected that it was inappropriate for anyone to be attacking another Democrat in the primary at our meeting.

That may have had some good effect. When later Peter Schulte, who is challenging our incumbent lesbian Democratic Sheriff Lupe Valdez in the primary spoke, he didn't attack her in his remarks. It would have been almost inconceivably obtuse to do so there anyway, since Jason Mida of the Victory Fund had just been applauded for praising her and promising that her reelection was a national priority for them.

For the record, Creuzot is one of the best Judges on the bench; I was sorry to see him switch; I'm glad to see him back; and he was an active Democrat here in Dallas County when it was still uphill but not impossible -- long before his challenger was doing anything for the party. Welcome home, John.

We saw this kind of "I'm more Democratic than you" bashing in the primary last year, when Balthasar Cruz ran a truly odious campaign against Judge Sally Montgomery, who had been run out of the Republican Party by an organized campaign against her in their primary. She switched two years later and was elected as a Democrat. Cruz managed to make himself obnoxious in what certainly sounded like either a personal vendetta -- or an intention just to cause trouble for her in November if she won the primary. Sure enough, the Democratic voters who had welcomed her aboard four years before rejected his pathetic crusade.

This year, he's back again - seeking the same Judgeship that SDEC member and former Dallas County Democratic Party Chair Ken Molberg is running for. The good news is that means Cruz will get thoroughly stomped by probably the most widely-supported Democrat in the county (thirty years of hard work for the party builds up a lot of political IOUs). The bad news is that Molberg will have to spend time, effort, and money in the primary that he would prefer to save to fight Republicans with. Maybe that's the idea? If so, it didn't work in 2006, and it should fail in 2008, too. Ken may even lead the ticket as far as campaign activity, and he will be one of the finest Judges we'll ever have.

And how about new Democrat Kirk England? State Senator Royce West, a great Senator but still showing the Texas version of beltway myopia that led him to support Susan Hays as Dallas County Democratic Chair even when the Precinct Chairs were storming the office with parliamentary pitchforks over her support of a Republican Judge, offered praise:

"He's not just jumping off a sinking ship, he's trying to represent the views of his district."

Thankfully, our new and improved Dallas County Chair, pointed out the uncomfortable facts for the latest party-switcher:

Dallas County Democratic chairwoman Darlene Ewing said Mr. England's move to the party was a positive. But she said that many grass-roots party activists would not support Mr. England if Ms. Hubener decided on another run.

Though the party remains neutral in primary elections, Ms. Ewing said she personally backs Ms. Hubener.

"If Katy runs, I'm sticking with her," Ms. Ewing said. "He's going to have trouble beating her in the primary. The grass-roots Democrats are going to back Hubener."

One can hardly blame England for wanting to jump ship. Only days ago another Republican State Representative from Dallas County, Fred Hill, announced that he won't be running next year, and Dianne White Delisi, Republican chairwoman of the House Public Health Committee, also announced yesterday that she won't run again. They can see the trend is strongly against the party that Bush, Cheney, Rove, Delay, Perry, and all those other theocratic corporatist reactionaries have gutted out and turned into an engine of destruction aimed at all Americans (except for the rich and the televangelists).

Now Kirk will have to justify his attacks on Hubener last year. That will be a difficult burden to bear. Personally, I'm supporting Hubener, and Creuzot, and Valdez, and especially Molberg. But judging by England's improved rhetoric (and his far from lockstep votes in Austin this year), if he does win the primary he'll be a whole lot better than anyone the Republicans are likely to run, and I'd have no trouble voting for him against the GOP's offering. Like Darlene, I don't think that will prove necessary.

UPDATE: (Sept. 20) The contest has already begun among other political activists. First we have a letter sent out by Susan Culp, SDEC member for Senate District 9 in Dallas County:

The Republican who couldn't even get the endorsement of the Republican loving Dallas Morning News, couldn't hold his own in debates, and couldn't hold the respect of Republicans in his district now wants to be a Democrat. Mr. England says: "After one session in the House, I found that the Republican leadership in Austin had no tolerance for the values and priorities of the folks I represent." Didn't Mr. England consider whether the values of the Texas Republican Party matched those of himself and his constituents BEFORE he considered running as one of them? Did he not read their Texas Republican Party Platform? I've read it. It gave me nightmares.

Was Mr. England not the deciding vote in favor of the Voter Suppression Bill that passed the Texas House? Personally, I'm of the same mind as our Dallas County Party Chair...."

She then quotes Darlene Ewing's words I quoted above. Culp also posted this comment on Burnt Orange Report:

Any way the wind blows....

Personally, though I'm glad to see the Republicans feeling so threatened in Dallas County, I just can't hold much love for people who simply seem to be coattail riders. They seem to lack principle to me. I'm also not buying his excuse that he some how didn't realize that the Texas Republicans didn't hold the values that were important to him or his constituents. Excuse me, do you run under a party banner WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING who they are and what they stand for? Do you not READ their Party Platform before throwing yourself in their ring?

Sorry, I know most of you don't live in Grand Prairie, Kirk England isn't your neighbor or your State Rep and you probably don't realize what a box of rocks he actually is, so this isn't as important to you, but it is extremely important to me whether Katy Hubener decides to run against him or not.

I for one, will never abandon the people who stuck with their principles and were in the trenches, fighting the good fight and proud to call themselves Democrats when we were down over those who blow with the wind any day.

Another who has weighed in is Sharon Barbosa-Crain, "a former Democratic City Councilwoman in Irving" according to Carl Whitmarsh, who passed on this letter from her:

Sorry I did not get to send this out first. Kirk England is a friend of mine as is his father, mayor of Grand Prairie. He worked very hard to be a good representative in his first session, representing my old district, and has been ill-rewarded by his Republican colleagues who have appeared to have many other things on most of their minds than serving the public interest. Obviously we are doing something right, and we need to be careful to keep on doing it. We don't win unless we bring in more Democrats so this is another good sign. I'm for welcoming every person who wishes to switch.

Apparently there is strong disagreement about England's voting record. Someone needs to research and let us know the truth. I too am for welcoming those who have finally seen the light (or at least the deepening darkness at the heart of their own party). I also remember the old saying from church: we welcome converts, but we don't invite them to lead the choir.

WEEKLY TPA WRAPUP 070917:

It’s Monday, and that means it’s time for another Texas Progressive Alliance Blog Round-Up. This week’s round up is compiled by Vince from Capitol Annex. As the TPA welcomed aboard a few new members this week, you may notice some new names and blogs.

Muse at Musings liveblogs Lap Dog Cornyn’s portion of Petraeus’ appearance before the Senate Armed Services Committee this past week and notes that he slobbers all over himself praising the surge.

McBlogger at McBlogger goes to the CAMPO meeting on the Phase 2 toll roads and finds lies, damn lies and statistics as well as an Austin City Council Member who seems hell bent on ending his political career. Is resurrection possible? Sure… if you believe McCracken is the second coming. Spoiler alert: McBlogger doesn’t.

While on vacation, PDiddie at Brains and Eggs discovered quite a few similarities between the Texas Legislature and the Nevada State Assembly.

Good news brought by TXsharon at Bluedaze: Bush Economy Solves Obesity Problem!

Could Be True at South Texas Chisme notes that the Republican tactics of purging voter rolls, creating barriers to voting, and discouraging new voter registration are moving right along and could get serious in Bexar County.

After the demolition of yet another historic structure in Houston, Charles at Off the Kuff looks at what can be done to abet preservation efforts going forward.

Adam Silva of Three Wise Men, blogging for the UNT Democrats, provides a detailed analysis of competitive U.S. Senate races for 2008.

City life can be complicated-but it includes an awfully lot of conveniences that we take utterly for granted-as long as they work. In Houston, We Have a Problem, on Texas Kaos, The Houston Organization of Public Employees (HOPE) invites all of us to get a little taste, so to speak, of what it takes to keep the fourth largest city in the nation running.

WhosPlayin notes that some Republican Members of Congress just don’t know when to stop digging a hole in continuing to support a failed president.

Since 9/11, an increasingly strident message of xenophobia has seeped into both fringe and mainstream political movements. A new climate of exclusion has formed as a result of this country’s heightened anxiety against racial, ethnic, and religious minorities. Whether or not intended as such, new Texas Progressive Alliance member Xicno Pwr at ¡Para Justicia y Libertad! tells us we are in the midst of a growing culture of hate as the number of hate crimes in this country are on the rise.

WCNews at Eye On Williamson posts on the unintended consequences of the 2003 GOP redistricting scheme in Are Democrats Statewide Prospects Improving Because Of GOP Gerrymandering?

Refinish69, another recent addition to the TPA, at Doing My Part for the Left examines sex scandals and hypocrites in the Repugnant Party and Texas Stonewall Caucus.

Have Republicans moved in a “ringer” to challenge Chet Edwards in TX-CD 17? Vince addresses that in a post at Capitol Annex.

The Texas Clover Leaf (a new member of the Alliance) notes that Alan Keyes has entered the GOP race for President, but asks if he is actually the Republican’s version of Obama.

Texas Toad at North Texas Liberal tells us about the controversy surrounding the preservation of trees at the Trinity Trail in Ft. Worth.

John at Bay Area Houston tells us that Jared Woodfill, Chairman of he Harris County Republican Party, must think Hispanics are stupid with his recent op-ed in the Houston Chronicle “Hispanics can feel right at home in the Texas GOP”.

Jack Cluth at The People’s Republic of Seabrook notes that it would seem that we’ve learned nothing from the 60s. Today, in allegedly-enlightened 21st century America, a man or woman can be fired from their job in 31 states for the simple fact of being a homosexual. Regardless of how you feel about the “lifestyle”, how can anyone who values liberty and freedom be OK with this…especially with Americans dying in Iraq to “protect and defend out freedom”?

Jaye at Winding Road in Urban Area addresses several things, including machine-gun-toting cops in a ‘brain dump,’ post, The Stream of Consciousness Just Overflowed the Toilet. (Please flush!)

Todd Hill (another new addition to the Texas Progressive Alliance) blogging at Burnt Orange Report tells us all about a North Texas Tribute to Speaker Jim Wright.

Matt at Stop Cornyn tells us how John Cornyn worked to disenfranchise minority voters while he was Attorney General.

Evan Leslie at Caucus Blog reviews the Houston GLBT Political Caucus’s deliberations over its potential endorsement of the Houston Independent School District bond proposal.

Don’t forget to check out other Texas Progressive Alliance blogs, too: BlueBloggin (new member!), The Agonist, Blue 19th (new member!), In The Pink Texas, Grassroots News U Can Use (new member!), The Caucus Blog (new member!), The Texas Blue (new member!), Casual Soap Box, Common Sense, Dos Centavos, Easter Lemming Liberal News, Feet To Fire, Marc’s Miscellany, Rhetoric & Rhythm, Three Wise Men, Truth Serum Blog, and Wyld Card.

[NOTE: Usually I just include one link to each of these weekly linkfests among the "watching the web" stuff, which I reprint here from the Dallas County Democratic party's weekly email Roundup. Henceforth I expect to be copying these wrapups in full here on this site. Let the various deserving Texas bloggers get a nano-sized increase in their linkratings on such sites as track stats. Oh, and Vince does the summaries, so any praise for wit therein is to be laid at his door.]

TEXAS POLLS:

In linking to the Texas Democratic Party's ePrimary results last week, I indicated that its results showed the level of the candidates' organization on the internet more than actual voter support. Texas Monthly editor Paul Burka also questioned the final ranking, citing three recent Texas polls (and a fourth is mentioned in the Comments). These show Clinton in first with percentages of 41, 33, 42, and 37; Obama in second at 20, 21, 24, and 18; Edwards in third at 12, 10, 12, and 15; and Richardson (only in the last of the four) in fourth place at 9. Those are broadly representative of the nationwide figures as well. Always take on-line polls with a grain of salt. Of course, it is still a long way to the first caucus or primary, and all of this could change drastically by then. (You can see the figures Burka cites at this page.)

MORE I MISSED:

It is one more sign of how large the crowd was at the DCDP's Labor Day Picnic that I am still hearing from elected officials and candidates who were there, but didn't get spotted by me for the Roundup's listing. Those include State Representatives Roberto Alonzo and Helen Giddings, and candidate Hiram McBeth, who intends to challenge incumbent Judge John Cruezot in the Democratic Primary for Dallas County Criminal District Court No. 4.

GROWING PAINS:

This is a good kind of problem to have. Now that Democrats are winning Dallas County, we are going to face several possible Primary contests for our nomination next year. Statewide those races include President (of course that may be settled by the time the primary circle gets to Texas), U.S. Senator, and a seat on the state Supreme Court where two women are challenging the same incumbent. Locally we may have contests for Sheriff, Tax-Assessor Collector, County Commissioner, and for at least two judgeships.

As always the DCDP Weekly Roundup will not make endorsements in primary fights. Precinct Chairs, State Committee members, former party officials (like me), and any Democratic voter out there is perfectly free to openly support any primary candidate they want (and I will -- but not in the Roundup). Some voters even look forward to hearing their own Precinct Chair's picks for the nomination (though they may not always follow the advice).

Another thing the Roundup will not do is pass on attacks by primary candidates against each other. Let's have a clean fight, because that makes it easier for all of us to support the winner against the Republicans in November. And remember the old saying: Democrats are like cats -- you may hear them squalling all night, but the next day there are still more Democrats.

SOME COMMUNITY (NON-PARTISAN) NOTES:

"The People Empowerment Project [founded by former State Representative Harryette Ehrhardt] is in need of volunteers to help us conduct leadership camps and student council elections in Dallas and Lancaster public schools. Call Suzanne Hickman at 214-824-3107 or email her at volunteer AT governmentbelongstous DOT org if you would like to help."

The Dallas County Domestic Violence Awareness Coalition is sponsoring a Candle Light Vigil, Celebrating the Survivors and Remembering the Victims of Domestic Violence, next Monday, September 24, at 7 PM, at the Dallas Women's Museum, 3800 Parry Ave., Dallas.

There will be a Community Meeting at Easgate Missionary Baptist Church, 6960 South Polk, Dallas, next Saturday, September 22, from 9 to 10:30 AM, with Dallas Councilwoman Angela Hunt "to discuss the reasons why there should not be a Trinity River toll road".

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR A FEW UPCOMING EVENTS:

Sunday, October 7:

• Democratic Grassroots Coalition Music Festival with U.S. Representative Nick Lampson, several bands (Twice as Nice, the Susan B. Taylor Band, Thom Brownlee Jr. & The Jazz Ensemble, and The Ackermans), the Dallas Jugglers roaming the park, and local crafts vendors selling their goods and food (Noon to 8 PM, Flag Pole Hill, 8700 East Northwest Highway - near its intersection with Buckner, Dallas)

Friday, October 19:

• Dallas County Democratic Party Annual Fish Fry (at SOKOL, at the southeast corner of Walnut Hill and Greenville, Dallas; for more info call the DCDP 214-821-8331)

Saturday, October 20:

• Texas Democratic Women of Collin County 1st Annual Dinner: Countdown to Change, with Keynote Speaker Mary Mapes, Peabody Award-winning CBS News Producer who broke the Abu Ghraib and Bush National Guard stories; for more info or to pay on-line see this page. (6:30 PM, Southfork Ranch, 3700 Hogge Road, Parker, TX)

Sunday, October 27:

• Lake Highlands White Rock Democrats Annual Chili Supper (6:30 to 9:30 PM, Dallas; for more info call Billie Whitney 214-341-0357)

EDWARDS WINS TEXAS ePRIMARY:

The Texas Democratic Party announced today the final results in their first-ever on-line ePrimary, conducted over the internet. The winner was John Edwards, with 37.65%. Second was Barack Obama with 21.37%, followed by Hillary Clinton in third with 20.43%. The full results are at this page.

This was fun, especially considering that so many other states have moved up their real primaries or caucuses, so that the contest will probably be over by the time it gets to Texas next March. However, remember this was not a scientific sampling, like the national polls (which have also identified those three as the top contenders, though most lately show Clinton ahead and Edwards in third).

Only 8101 votes were cast in this, while hundreds of thousands will vote in our real primary. That means that campaigns that are better-organized on the internet had a big advantage in mobilizing their supporters by email and web sites. Bloggers and the media have for months indicated that the Edwards campaign is the most web-savvy of the big three, which is reflected here. That may also explain the surprising result of Dennis Kucinich getting more votes in Texas than the only Hispanic candidate, Bill Richardson.

OOOPS!:

I told you I probably missed someone in last week's report about the Labor Day Picnic. Thanks to Larry Duncan for reminding me that another candidate present was Heath Harris. I'm even more embarrassed because I spoke to him myself at the event, then had a brain freeze compiling the list.

Harris is one of two people seeking the Democratic nomination for Criminal District Court #3. He doesn't have a web site up yet, but you can read about his work as Dallas County's gang prosecutor in this story. My apologies to Heath, who was one of several candidates that took on the thankless task of running four years ago, when Republicans were still nearly sweeping our local elections.

WATCHING THE WEB:

Perry's Appointment Strategy May Backfire
Texas Democrats eye high court seat
Texas Progressive Alliance's Weekly Blog Round Up

Myths and falsehoods about progress in Iraq
Key Questions on Iraq
Iraq News Black-Out How the Press Spent its Summer Vacation

Test Marketing war with Iran
A Sept. rollout for Iran war
Do We Have the Courage to Stop War With Iran?

51% Want Congressional Probe into 9/11 Actions by Bush and Cheney
Dick Cheney's top aide: "We're one bomb away" from our goal
Inside The White House’s War on Terror from Bill Moyers

2008 Literacy Test You Have to be This Smart to Vote
Brain function of liberals, conservatives differs
The Difference Between the Parties Is As Deep As a Coal Mine
Democrats have 18- point lead in Generic Congressional ballot

In the Age of Terror, Isn't Busting Toe-Tappers an Insane Use of Our Law Enforcement Resources?

And a shocking statistic: "Out of 173 countries, only four have no paid leave for new mothers -- Papua New Guinea, Swaziland, Liberia and the U.S.A."

LABOR DAY EVENT A BIG SUCCESS:

Several hundred people had a great time at the DCDP's Annual Labor Day Picnic. (Since we didn't charge for it, we don't have an exact count.) They shared food -- much of it potluck dishes and desserts brought from attendees' homes, signed candidates' ballot petitions, heard from a very good young singer and a few speakers, and got to socialize with lots of other Democrats from around the county.


One of the fun tables (shown in the photo above -- taken from Dungeon
Diary) was that of the Stonewall Democrats, who were holding a straw poll. Participants got to vote by putting a donation (which will go to LifeWalk for AIDS services) in a jar labelled with the face of their favored Presidential candidate. (We don't have the official count yet.)

Other groups at the event (including tables for Presidential candidates Clinton, Obama, and Edwards, at least) included the Trinity Vote campaign against the toll road, the Lake Highlands White Rock Democrats, reminding people of their 13th Annual Chili Supper October 27, and the Democratic Grassroots Coalition, telling folks about their Grassroot Music Festival October 7.

One statewide candidate for the Democratic nomination in 2008 was present and spoke to the crowd: Thirteenth Court Of Appeals Justice Linda Yanez is seeking a seat on the Texas Supreme Court. Representatives of both candidates for U.S. Senate against John Cornyn were there: Mikal Watts and Rick Noriega.

Some of the many local Democratic elected officials that we think we saw present included State Senator Royce West (who led an opening prayer), State Representatives Terri Hodge and Barbara Mallory Caraway, Judges Don Adams, Lennox Bower, John Creuzot, Carl Ginsberg, David Hanschen (circulating petitions to run for a higher level court), Martin Hoffman, Jim Jordan, Martin Lowy, Sally Montgomery, Lorraine Raggio, Jeff Rosenfield, Doug Skemp, Ken Tapscott, Carter Thompson, Fred Tinsley, Emily Tobolowsky, Sheriff Lupe Valdez, County Judge Jim Foster, District Clerk Gary Fitzsimmons, County Clerk John Warren, County Treasurer Joe Wells, Justice of the Peace Juan Jasso, Constables Jaime Cortes and Derrick Evans, and Dallas County Democratic Party Chair Darlene Ewing. Other local elected officials included Dallas Councilman Dwaine Caraway, DISD Boardmember Adam Medrano, and Dallas County School Boardmembers Larry Duncan and Ann Hubener.

Among former local officials we believe we saw present were former State Representative Domingo Garcia, former Judges Eric Moye (now running for Judge of the 14th District) and Charles McGarry, former Dallas City Councilmember John Loza, former DISD Boardmember Robert Medrano, former Dallas County Democratic Party Chair Ken Molberg (now running for Judge of the 95th District), and former County Chairs Theresa Daniel and I.

There were also some other candidates present that are not incumbents or former elected officers. I picked up literature from Gracie Lewis (running for Judge of Criminal District Court #3), Robert Miklos (going for State Representative in District 101 - Mesquite), and two of the three candidates for Dallas County Tax Assessor-Collector, John R. Ames and Diana Lackey (our candidate in 2004). Also present was Baltasar Cruz (who lost in the primary to Judge Sally Montgomery two years ago, and this time is running against Ken Molberg in the primary). Emil Reichstadt, who had been aiming at the U.S. Senate, but now may be looking at State Representative District 108, was there, too.

Please forgive any errors or omissions -- not everyone signed in and we may have missed or mistaken someone across the big crowd. And tell us about campaign web sites as they go up!