StoutDemBlog

Political And Other Miscellany From A Stout Democrat In Dallas Texas.
"Politics is the only game for adults." --from Robert A. Heinlein's Double Star

Monday, July 28, 2008

Sponsor a billboard for as little as $50


We are putting up Vote Democratic billboards in key neighborhoods, and we can reach more areas with your small contribution. For as little as $50.00, you can sponsor a board. There are also opportunities to be the sole sponsor, or sponsor a bus sign. Click here to learn more and make a contribution. If you have questions, please call the Party office at 214-821-8683.

Support Democrats by walking precincts


Volunteers are needed to walk precincts on weekends beginning Sept. 6 to support our Presidential and local candidates. Democrats are walking precincts all summer and through the election, but our major volunteer walks will begin Sept. 6.

Click here to sign up now and we will contact you to get you started. You may also email to volunteer AT changingdallas DOT com or call 214.821.8683. This is one of the most effective things you can do to help get out the vote for Democratic candidates.

New DCDP Campaign Website


Please visit our new Dallas County Democratic Party campaign website at www.changingdallas.com. Find voting information, news, events and information about our 2008 candidates. This is the place to get involved to CHANGE Dallas and CHANGE America in November.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

In Memory: Schatzie Carter


Ada Ethel "Schatzie" Braeutigam Binford Carter passed away July 18, 2008 in Euless, Texas, at the age of 94. She was a Democratic Precinct Chair and an Election Judge for very many years in Dallas. She had been a registered nurse and was a longtime Sunday School teacher and volunteer at Agape Memorial United Methodist Church in Dallas. She entered many embroidered items in the State Fair of Texas and won many ribbons. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Bill Binford, who was Chief Deputy Sheriff of Dallas County, and by her second husband, Jack Carter, and is survived by her two daughters and a step-son and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, in-laws and other relatives. Her funeral and interment was yesterday at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home and Cemetery, 7405 W. Northwest Hwy., Dallas.

Win A Trip To The National Convention


For most of us who are not among the thousands of delegates and alternates attending this year's Democratic National Convention in Denver, both the Obama Campaign and the Democratic National Committee are offering a chance to win a free trip to watch history being made in person. The Obama Campaign has posted this message:

If you make a donation in any amount before midnight on July 31st, you could be selected to travel to Denver for the last two days of the convention -- including the huge event at the open-air stadium on the final night. Ten supporters from all over the country will be selected to go Backstage with Barack. We'll provide airfare, accommodations, and two days of convention activities for each supporter and their guest -- including a private meeting with Barack before his historic speech. (Watch a video about it and sign-up on-line at this page.)

The DNC is asking people to make and submit a video (2 minutes or less) by August 1st telling why you are a Democrat in 2008. They'll select the five best and let us vote on the winner, who will get a day in the campaign press pool and a trip to the Denver Convention, where the video will be played. Read more at this page.

Watching The Web 080722


Weekly Texas Progressive Blog Round-Up

News of the Week Mainstream Media Forgot to Report RFK Jr.

Rick Noriega on energy video

John McCain: "It's All In Your Head" Move-On video

McCain gaffes pile up

It's the Economic Stupidity, Stupid Frank Rich

Court Confirms President's Dictatorial Powers

Attempt by Bush Admin. to Undermine Women's Rights from Sen. Clinton

The Myth of a Toss-up Election

GOP Is Losing Ground

Proof: Democrats Are Better For the Economy

Texas is #1 again! "We should be so proud. Texas not only has the highest insurance rates in the nation, the highest teen pregnancy, the highest rate of uninsured children, the highest pollution in the nation, but now we have the highest electricity rates in the nation."

And from The Onion, January 17, 2001: Bush: 'Our Long National Nightmare Of Peace And Prosperity Is Finally Over'

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Congressman John Conyers Here Saturday


Special Guest for Congresswoman Johnson Fundraiser

Congressman John Conyers is the second most senior member in the House of Representatives and is Chairman of the House Committee on the Judiciary. He was also a member of the Judiciary Committee in its 1974 hearings on the Watergate impeachment scandal.

In 2005 he realeased the report "Preserving Democracy: What Went Wrong in Ohio" about the 2004 election. It's available online as a pdf documenet at this link. In 2006 he realeased "The Constitution in Crisis; The Downing Street Minutes and Deception, Manipulation, Torture, Retribution, and Coverups in the Iraq War", which can be found as one or several pdfs linked from this page.

Congressman Conyers will be here this Saturday, July 19, from 7 to 9 PM, at the Oak Lawn Room of the Warwick - Melrose Hotel, at 3015 Oak Lawn Avenue, Dallas TX 75219. Contribution levels are $100, $250, $500, $1000, $2300. RSVP to 214-871-9291 or by email to ebj AT ebj08 DOT com.

Monday, July 07, 2008

Watching The Web 080707


(Yes, we haven't done this for three weeks now, so it's a little long.)

Jeff Strater's Denver Bound Blog a Dallas delegate's posts

How Democrats Could Turn Texas Into the Blue Star State

The Natural Linda Yanez runs for Supreme Court

Top 10 Awesomely Bad Moments Of The Perry Administration

Cornyn staffer used fake name to 'troll' on blogs

Weekly Texas Progressive bloggers' wrapup

Obama to send staffers to Texas, other GOP strongholds

Obama's aim: 14 Bush states and local races

Obama plots to reverse DeLay's plot Texas redistricting

Obama Making Gains in Red States

Liberal Bloggers Accuse Obama of Trying to Win Election

Obama Will Give Convention Speech At Stadium

Last Nominee To Deliver Acceptance Speech In Stadium? JFK video

Bush Official Who Just Resigned, To Aid Obama

The Modern Republican Party: A Compendium of Catastrophe

Iraq undercuts Republican support among military

"Flag City" Just Another Media Myth About Obama

Fox News’ coverage of Obama tops the bias scale

The Far-Right's Patriotism Problem

For Republicans, the Senate outlook is bad

Congressional Races Looking Up For The Dems

Republican Campaign Against Likely Democratic Voters Begins

The 10 Most Awesomely Bad Moments of the Bush Presidency

The Spying Started Before September 11

China inspired interrogations at Guantanamo

Rove's Third Term Paul Krugman on McCain

Gen. Clark and That POW Thing McCain Hates Talking About

Countdown: All Aboard The Double Talk Express! video and links

Superstition ain’t the way McCain's fears

Right Wing Watch: The Dangers of Auto-Replace

Bringing Ireland to Baghdad: How the Resistance Will Eventually Kick the Americans Out

The Bush Administration steps up its secret moves against Iran.

Iran: The Threat (?!)

Only 7 percent support taking military action against Iran.

On George's Future After His Term Ends

News of the Week the Mainstream Media Forgot to Report RFK Jr.

Democrats Free Another Innocent Man


Judge Don Adams reports: On July 3, 2008 Patrick Waller became the 18th person freed by DNA evidence in Dallas County when, after hearing the evidence, Judge Don Adams told Waller he was "free to go" This ended 16 years imprisonment on a life sentence for an offense he did not commit. The prior Republican District Attorney had opposed DNA testing for Waller, but Democratic Judge Don Adams granted the request for DNA testing after Democrat Craig Watkins took office. (Read more about it here.)

New Local Democratic Club


A new Democratic Club is forming in the Preston Hollow area. Boundaries are LBJ, Central, Northwest Hwy and Midway. The first organizational meeting will be held on Thursday, July 10 at 6:30pm at the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce at 10707 Preston Rd near Royal. It's behind the Guaranty Bank building. Some of our candidates will speak, refreshments served. We welcome everyone to attend this meeting and help plan the direction of this club. Contact Roger Grape for more informationat 214-502-7084 or email to roger_grape AT mac DOT com.

DCDP Gets Facebook Site


Our Dallas County Democratic Party is now on Facebook. This social networking website serves an active online community that allows its members to come together, exchange ideas, and connect with other like-minded individuals. This is an open group, which means that anyone with a Facebook account can join. You can join this group by clicking this link. If you already have a Facebook account, logon with your email and password, and click Login, then click the "Join this group" link. If you don't have and want to create a Facebook profile, click on the Sign Up button, enter the requested information, click Sign Up, then repeat the steps above for joining.

WEEKLY TPA WRAPUP 080707


It's Monday, and that means it is time for another edition of the Texas Progressive Alliance's Weekly Round-Up. The roundup is compiled each week based on submissions by TPA member bloggers. This week's round-up is compiled by Vince from Capitol Annex.

According to PDiddie at Brains and Eggs, if Chris Bell -- in his current inclination toward making a run for the Texas Senate in District 17 -- were to stand next to Italy's Leaning Tower of Pisa, it would appear to be at a 90-degree angle compared to him.

At WhosPlayin, new contributor Kit asks a million tough questions about America's interventionism and the illusion of national security.

CouldBeTrue from South Texas Chisme is appalled that special prosecutor, Terry McDonald, gives former Sheriff, Michale Ratcliff, a sweet plea deal for the sexual assault of a minor supposedly under his protection.

Bay Area Houston says Governor Perry is calling for an investigation into the insurance industry.

Gary at Easter Lemming Liberal News now sees his Pasadena neighbor Joe Horn saying he is no hero. Will he be subject to the same attacks those who have been saying that all along have experienced? Gary has been on vacation, mostly, but remains ticked off over the stupid.

Lovelie99 at McBlogger takes some time out of her busy schedule to inform us about the plight of supermodels. Apparently, there is a shortage of H-1B work visas since far too many math nerds are being imported to, you know, make stuff and stuff and program computers and stuff. And make other stuff, such as cellphones, such as. Which means there are too few supermodels who are allowed to work in the US. Well, at least the kind who are emaciated, gaunt and angular. We at McBlogger wondered if possibly there are math nerds who could do double duty. Then we laughed and laughed and laughed.

The Texas Cloverleaf wonders which is the better place to live...Collin County or New Jersey?. Forbes has the answer.

WCNews at Eye On Williamson posts the latest toll scam we'll be paying for soon, Going "Cashless" Will Cost Us All.

Off the Kuff notes a recent CNN Presidential poll and says it's not a dead heat if someone is leading.

Last week was a great one for evolutionary biology, but sucked if you happen to be a Conservapedia believer. Over at Texas Kaos Boadicea shares the tale of Conservapedia Ignoramous Schooled by Evolutionary Biologist and then discovered a sequel in which Lenski Meets the Naked Scientists.

refinish69 ponders the American Dream on the 4th of July at Doing My Part For The Left.

North Texas Liberal reports on Kim Brimer's cowardly move to keep worthy opponent Wendy Davis off the ballot in Fort Worth's SD 10.

Vince at Capitol Annex tells us about State Rep. Warren Chisum's announcement that he'll be trying again to pass legislation creating a two-year waiting period before couples can divorce.