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June 30, 2005

Tenacious Dems Stay Hot on Trail of Downing Street Minutes

Fifty-two Democratic Congress persons, including John Conyers and our own Sheila Jackson Lee, have filed a new and very broad Freedom of Information Act request. The request, which is addressed to the White House, the Defense Department, and the State Department, asks for documents related to the Downing Street Minutes and the run-up to the Iraq War. Maybe Bush's Tuesday night festival of falsehood added fuel to their fiery search for the truth, because these courageous Dems did not stop there!

In addition to the FOIA request, the fearless fifty-two called for various Congressional committee hearings on the DSM. Of course, their Republican counterparts will ignore them, but they are making it much harder for the So-Called-Liberal-Media to ignore them too. Take a look at the FOIA request, and if you have time, write an LTE to support their efforts:

Raw Story Showcases the FOIA Request

Posted by at 07:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Activist Events for July

Here's a short listing of some mark-your-calendar items coming next month:

On Satuday, July 9 a Peak Oil Mini-Conference will be held from 1-5 p.m @ First Unitarian Universalist Church, 5200 Fannin. Discuss the adjustments our oil-dependent economy will have to make. A showing of "The End of Suburbia" plus workshops and open space conferencing. Suggested donation $5; contact Don Cook at (713)705-5594 or Alfred Molison at (713) 726-9009.

The Campaign for a National Majority will have an organizing event in Bellaire at the home of Kathy Dreyfus and Jim Grotta, 4555 Elm Street, on Tuesday July 19. CNM is a grassroots effort focusing on achieving winning races for Democrats, starting with state elections. Their goal is to build a "farm team" of Democrats who can win statewide and national elections. Click on their site above to learn more and RSVP.

Don't forget about the "Art for Life's Sake" event on Saturday, July 16.

And on Saturday July 23rd, Helping Democrats Get Elected will have an organizational meeting from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at Pappas Burger Restaurant (in the party room), 5815 Westheimer Rd, 77057 (between Fountain View & Chimney Rock). Talk about upcoming city elections and the candidates, and get more information about the statewide 2006 elections and campaigns. We will organize and set up some committees. Join us for some tasty food and an important meet-up.

Posted by Guest Blogger PDiddie at 10:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack

Well That's Comforting!

In response to news yesterday that the second case of Mad Cow Disease in the U.S. was discovered at a Waco processing plant, Governor Perry reassures us that:

"Texans can be sure that the beef they buy at their local supermarkets or restaurants is as safe today as it was yesterday,"

I feel better already.

Posted by Lyn Wall at 06:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack

Eminent Domain Comes Home to Justice Souter

Ah, sweet justice. However, Supreme Court Justice David Souter most certainly has a different view on the matter. According to the Concord Monitor, he is facing a challenge, as a result of the recent Supreme Court ruling on the use of eminent domain. It seems that one man has a "better" use for the land on which Souter's New Hampshire farmhouse stands.

Logan Darrow Clements in a faxed letter to Weare city officials states:

A recent Supreme Court decision. . . . clears the way for this land to be taken. The justification for such an eminent domain action is that our hotel will better serve the public interest as it will bring in economic development and higher tax revenue to Weare.

The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that local governments have the authority to seize private property and bulldoze homes if the projects generate increased tax revenue and jobs that benefit the area. Apparently, the justices who voted in favor of expanding the use of eminent domain weren't thinking about the possibility their own houses could fall subject to their ruling.

Charles Meany, the code enforcement officer for Weare, said he takes the matter seriously as has the police department. Several officers in police cruisers are posted just outside Souter's home as a precaution. Lieutenant Mark Bodanza says, "It was a precaution, just being protective."

Logan Clements aptly named his proposed hotel the "Lost Liberty Hotel." The hotel would include a dining room named the "Just Desserts Cafe" and a museum to focus on the loss of freedom in America.

Clements is the CEO of Freestar Media, a company based in Los Angeles, that fights "abusive" government through a web site and cable show. Clements is planning to move to New Hampshire
Clements is the CEO of Los Angeles-based Freestar Media that fights "abusive" government through a Web site and cable show. Clements plans to move to New Hampshire soon as part of the Free State Project. The group promotes limiting government powers.

If the five-member board of selectmen for the city of Weare approves the project, zoning laws would have to be revised and the planning board would also have to approve the proposed hotel.

Souter has not made any comment about Clements' plans for his two-story colonial farmhouse worth about $100,000 (See picture). Souter paid $2,895 in property taxes for the house last year. Clements says his hotel will bring in more revenue for the city and provide new jobs for local residents, a better use of the land than at present.

Charles Meany said:

"In lieu of the recent Supreme Court decision, I would imagine that some people are pretty much upset. If it is their right to pursue this type of end, then by all means let the process begin."

Posted by at 12:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

June 29, 2005

House Democrats Blast $7 Billion Republican Tax Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 29, 2005 Contacts: Rep. Dunnam: Jerry Philips, 512.463.0508
Rep. Gallego: Kurt Meachum, 512.463.0566
Rep. Coleman: Ben Hallmark, 512.463.0524

House Democrats Blast $7 Billion Republican Tax Bill
~Democratic Leadership Opposes Saddling Texans with Highest Sales Tax in the Nation~

AUSTIN -- Texas House Democratic Leaders wasted no time blasting House Bill 3, the $7 billion Republican tax bill that passed out of the House Ways and Means Committee this afternoon. All five Republican members of the committee voted for the tax bill, while the four Democratic members of the committee voted against it.

"The $7 billion Republican tax bill will raise taxes on the vast majority of hard-working Texans to give huge tax cuts to only the wealthiest property owners without putting any real new dollars into public school classrooms," said state Rep. Jim Dunnam, House Democratic Leader. "I do not believe the members of the Democratic Caucus are interested in supporting an unfair, unbalanced tax bill that does nothing for public education."

The center point of the Republican tax bill is a 16 percent increase in the sales tax. This Republican tax bill will give Texas the highest state sales tax in the nation.

"I do not understand why my Republican colleagues are so intent on making hard-working Texans pay the highest state sales tax in the nation," said State Rep. Garnet Coleman. "House Democrats have continually opposed any increase to this extremely regressive tax. If we are going to be asked to raise taxes, we need to do something for public education, not multimillionaires."

In addition to giving Texas the highest state sales tax in the nation, the Republican tax bill will expand the sales tax to include computer repairs and maintenance, car repairs and bottled water. The Republican tax bill will also tax motor vehicle and boat sales at 7.35 percent, raise the cigarette tax by $1.00 per pack and increase taxes on tobacco.

"The Republican tax bill passed today is nothing more than a tax shift from a few wealthy property owners to the vast majority of hard-working Texans," said state Rep. Pete P. Gallego. "This $7 billion Republican tax bill is not a good bill for Texas or Texans."

Posted by Lyn Wall at 08:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Don't trust Perry with your kids education

More reform promises from Governor Perry

This week Governor Perry announced a number of measures as a way to reform public school financing, currently titled "Robin Hood". Unfortunately Governor Perry has a horrible track record for reform in the area of homeowners insurance, tort reform, and the medical malpractice. With this record, how can homeowners, parents and educators trust Governor Perry with reforming our children’s education and the adequate funding of Texas public schools?

Two years ago Texas homeowners had the highest insurance rates in the nation. After Governor Perry passed insurance reform in 2003 insurance rates doubled and provided less coverage. The insurance industry was rewarded with little if any regulation. Homeowners were left with higher rates and without important coverage such as foundation, water, mold, and sewer damage.

Governor Perry also supported and passed a massive tort reform bill which reformed our legal system thereby providing yet another plum with limited liability for insurance companies and businesses in Texas. In return, the citizens of Texas were rewarded with fewer rights to a fair trial in a civil matter. The loss of services and protection with this reform will never be fully understood by a consumer until the consumer needs the services.

Governor Perry supported limiting the liability of medical malpractice suits. He promised reductions in medical malpractice rates thereby providing affordable medical care to Texas citizens. After passage of Proposition 12, the promises of lower medical malpractice rates and affordable care were DOA. The rate reductions, if any, were minimal at best leaving the doctors with broken promises just like homeowners with home insurance.

And now Governor Perry wants parents, homeowners, and educators to trust him with the funding of our children’s education, as he meets with his campaign donors in secret meetings in the Bahamas. He calls for reductions in homeowners property taxes and tax cuts for business, yet has no plan on how to replace the lost revenue to adequately fund our schools. Given his horrible record of promises in Texas, it should come as no surprise when the joy of less property taxes is followed by a decrease in services and increases in other taxes and fees to offset the tax breaks for his business buddies.

The writing on the chalkboard should be very clear to all: Governor Perry’s plan will reward his campaign donors with less taxes, distract homeowners with substantial property tax cuts, then picks their pockets with other taxes and fees. The folk hero, Robin Hood, stole from the rich and gave to the poor. Governor Perry will steal from the many and give to the few who donated to his campaign. With his broken promises on insurance reform, proposition 12, and tort reform, and his private meetings in the Bahamas with his campaign donors, it will be hard to trust the Governor with our children’s education.

John R. Cobarruvias
Homeowners Against Deficient Dwellings

John Cobarruvias is President of Homeowners Against Deficient Dwellings, Texas and a long time consumer activist in new home construction, insurance and tort reform. He has testified in many hearings during the 2003 legislation session including insurance reform and tort reform.

Posted by John Cobarruvias at 02:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Applications Sought for HCDP Executive Director Position

With Harris County Democratic Party Executive Director moving to Portland, Oregon, HCDP Chair Gerry Birnberg, has announced that the party is accepting applications for the position of Executive Director. The Executive Director is the person who (subject to the direction and supervision of the County Chair) is responsible for the administrative and day-to-day operations of the party and the coordination of its efforts to mobilize its supporters. A formal Job Description, identifying specifically the functions which the Executive Director will be expected to fulfill (either personally or through recruitment and supervision of other qualified individuals) is posted on the Party’s website at www.hcdp.org

The only mandatory requirement for the position is that the applicant must provide evidence of having voted in a Democratic Party primary election in at least two of the last three Primary Elections (unless the applicant resided in a state which did not have partisan party primary elections) and not have voted in a Republican, Green, Libertarian, or other party primary, nor signed a nominating petition for a candidate of any such other party or an independent candidate for office, at any time between 1999 and the present. (It is not necessary that the applicant have voted in a primary election in Harris County or even in the state of Texas, so long as he or she has voted in Democratic Party primaries in some location in the United States, unless he or she resided in a state which does not conduct partisan primary elections).

Substantial involvement in community organizing activities and party functions, active participation in political campaigns and especially filling position(s) of responsibility in same, demonstrated capabilities in fundraising, and basic familiarity and comfort with computer technology (such as databasing, mail-merge word processing, and mass e-mailing) are highly preferred (though not necessarily mandatory) qualifications.

Resumes must be submitted by Monday, August 1, 2005. They may be submitted by e-mail addressed to candidates@hcdp.org or by telecopier to (713) 981-8670 (the office of the County Chair, so that the applicant may maintain confidentiality with regard to the fact that he or she is submitting an application for the position and the contents of the resume) or by hand delivery or mail addressed to Harris County Democratic Party Chair Gerry Birnberg, 2000 Bering Drive, Suite 909, Houston, TX 77057-3746. Alternatively, the applicant may submit a resume to the Harris County Democratic Party Headquarters at 1445 N. Loop W., Suite 110, Houston, TX 77008 by mail or hand delivery (or by telecopier to the Party Headquarters at (713) 802-2082), but the applicant should be advised that confidentiality may not be maintained with regard to resumes submitted to the Party Headquarters. In any case, however, the resume should be sent sufficiently in advance of the deadline so that it is received by August 1, 2005.

If available, resumes may be accompanied by letters of recommendation from no more than four current or former officeholders or candidates with whom the applicant has worked attesting to the applicant’s capabilities in the areas specified above as preferred qualifications.

Inquiries or requests for further information can be directed via e-mail to candidates@hcdp.org or telephonically to Gerry Birnberg at (713) 981-9595.

Posted by Lyn Wall at 12:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

June 28, 2005

Democratic Tax Plan Goes Down by ONE Vote

Proposal would have cut taxes, increased teacher pay
By Jason Embry
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Tuesday, June 28, 2005

The Texas House turned back a Democratic proposal for a school finance overhaul by one vote today, barely avoiding what would have been a major change in the direction of the special legislative session.

The House defeated the Democrats' proposal with a 75-74 vote, with Speaker Tom Craddick casting the deciding vote after the rest of the House was tied. Speakers generally do not vote, although Craddick has regularly done so on major proposals this year.

The plan drew the support of every Democrat and 12 Republicans.

It would have cut the maximum property tax rate for school maintenance and operations from $1.50 to $1.30. Its supporters also wanted to increase the value of a home that is exempt from school taxes from $15,000 to $45,000, although that language was not included in the proposal offered on the House floor.

Democrats said their plan would provide $3,200 in across-the-board pay increases for teachers. The Republican-backed plan that lawmakers will consider later today would give teachers across-the-board increases of $500, plus require school districts to give additional raises averaging $1,000 per teacher. Republicans also want to spend more money on incentive programs for teachers.

On taxes, the Republican plan would cut the cap on school taxes to $1.10 over the next two years. It does not include a homestead exemption increase.

Rep. Scott Hochberg, D-Houston, said the Democrats' plan would give larger tax cuts to the average homeowner in 144 of the state's 150 House districts. He also said three-fourths of Texas school districts would see more money under his plan than under the GOP plan.

But Republicans described Hochberg's as a costly plan that would require a tax increase.

"It will trap you into voting for a tax in the next few years that you will not be very proud of," said Rep. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa.

The House is expected to debate the school-finance bill all day today. The second major proposal of the special legislative session, one that would raise billions of dollars in state taxes to replace the money lost in property tax cuts, is stuck in committee.

Democrats have not specified how they would replace the property-tax revenue that would be cut under their plan.

All Central Texas Republicans voted against the plan, except Rep. Harvey Hilderbran, R-Kerrville. None of the Republicans who supported the plan spoke on the House floor about their votes.

Posted by Stace Medellin at 11:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

The honor of your presence is requested

James Robertson Jr., chairman of BlackDems, passes along this invitation:

"Art for Life's Sake: An Evening of
Music, Poetry, Dance, and Fine Art"


"Man's Eyes", by Alysia Minor

Benefiting the Mayor's State of Emergency Task Force against HIV and AIDS

Saturday July 16, 2005
at the historic El Dorado Ballroom, 2310 Elgin @ Dowling

Doors open for viewing at 2 p.m. / event performances begin at 6 p.m.
/ auction closes at 9:30 p.m.

Confidential HIV testing available

Refreshments provided courtesy of Niko Niko's and This Is It

Over 100 Artworks from emerging and established artists nationwide will be showcased

Performances include members of the Houston Poetry Slam Team, poetess Marie Brown, members of the Blackout Arts Collective, Jazz Band Signature, dance performances & more

The State of Emergency Task force, established in 1999 under the Brown Administration and continued by Houston Mayor Bill White, has served the Houston community by going into the "trenches", providing HIV/AIDS testing and education where others might not venture. This includes everywhere from nightclubs to churches, street corners to apartment complexes.

Councilwoman Ada Edwards currently acts as chair of the task force.

For more info or to RSVP email: aminor@oosix.com

Blackdems encourages everyone to attend the first annual Art for Life's Sake event. HIV/AIDS is the #1 Killer of African Americans 25-44. Join us in raising HIV/AIDS awareness for all communities.

Check out the article on the event here.

James Robertson Jr.
Chairman Blackdems
www.blackdems.com

Posted by Guest Blogger PDiddie at 11:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Lip service

Dr. Jeffrey Feldman did a seminar at Democracy Fest; this is from his latest post:

Lately, Americans have been less and less inspired to serve in the armed forces. And yet, as shocking as our sagging enlistment figures are, they have been quickly knocked off the front pages by Congressional bickering over a speech made by one senator, by the President's half-hearted attempt to sell the country a Social Security plan it does not want, and by yet another anti-Constitutional bill intended to criminalize the burning of the American flag.

Just as plunging stock prices indicate a loss of faith in a publicly traded corporation, plunging enlistment numbers signal a radical loss of faith in the war policies of a President. Simply put: When Americans believe in a war, they are inspired to enlist. Even if a war is not the official policy of our government, Americans who believe in that war are inspired to serve in it.

Amidst the noise over issues that mean little, if anything, in comparison to Iraq, nobody seems to be asking this: Why are Americans no longer inspired to serve in the armed forces? What has happened in less than five years of George W. Bush as President that Americans are shying away from service in our military?

The answer is disarmingly simple: politicians lie, soldiers don't.

That's the long and short of it. In the past few months, the truth that soldiers speak upon returning from Iraq has started to outpace the lies that policians tell in their attempts to sell the war to the American people. And that impact will continue to be felt the longer we keep our soldiers in Iraq.

With each passing day, more and more soldiers return. With each passing day, Americans who were inspired to serve their country in time of war are returning from the battlefield with stories about the real situation in Iraq. Despite all that we who have not served are being told by the White House or by the Democrats in Congress--despite all we read in the papers or see on TV or find on the internet--the stories of American soldiers who have actually served on Iraq are now circulating in the very places that once had the highest enlistment numbers in America.

As a result, the war in Iraq is no longer being fought solely on the battlefields of Baghdad or in the desert of Darfur. The war in Iraq is also being fought at kitchen tables in Texas, during carpool rides in North Carolina, at lunch counters in Louisiana, and at water coolers in Wyoming.

These everyday locations, familiar to all of us, are now places were Americans are listening to and retelling the stories of their brothers, their children, and their parents who have just returned from Iraq. In these ordinary places far away from the bright lights and backdrops of party politics, Americans are discussing the stories, emails and letters from soldiers in the field.

More here.

Posted by Guest Blogger PDiddie at 07:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack

June 27, 2005

Truth-Tellers vs. War-Sellers

On Tuesday evening we may have to choose between two riveting moments of televised drama. George W. Bush takes to the airwaves tomorrow to persuade the nation that Cheney was correct in describing the Iraqi insurgency as in its "last throes," and that freedom is indeed "on the march" ... although it is "hard work." At or near the same time, John Conyers, Maxine Waters, and Barbara Lee will be presenting "Special Orders" speeches about the Downing Street Minutes on the House floor, hopefully covered by C-SPAN cameras. These three Profiles in Courage need our help.

Conyers, Waters, and Lee are asking that we contact our Congress persons to request that they take part in the Special Orders speeches, thus helping to educate the American public about how they were duped into an unnecessary war. Here is a link for a sample letter, etc.:

AfterDowningStreet.org

AfterDowningStreet.org and other groups are also planning a special day of recognition for the third anniversary of the Downing Street meeting that led to the revelations in the Minutes/Memos. They are hoping to organize house parties and other events across the country on July 23, 2005, in order to attract the media scrutiny that these important documents deserve:

DSM Day

Also, please don't forget to support our Gold Star Families for Peace, who are trying to get the truth out about the DSM and to do the real work of supporting our troops:

Support Cindy Sheehan and Gold Star Families for Peace


Posted by at 09:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

DeLay's staff a no show for his constituents..

delay1.jpg

DeLay's staff a no-show at his office in Clear Lake.

Approximately 15 of Tom DeLay's constituents were greeted with a CLOSED sign at his office in Clear Lake along with members of the building security team. They were there to discuss the Iraq war and to request an investigation into the Intelligence Community for the complete intelligence failure that led us to war. Our letter can be viewed at http://www.bayareanewdemocrats.org/files/delay.pdf.

Pictures are at:
http://www.houstondemocrats.com/archives/delay2.jpg
http://www.houstondemocrats.com/archives/delay3.jpg
http://www.houstondemocrats.com/archives/delay4.jpg
http://www.houstondemocrats.com/archives/delay5.jpg

We had sent a letter to DeLay's office via mail and FAX 4 months ago. After being ignored for 2 months, we hand carried the letter to his office. We were ignored again. This time we requested to meet after work to accomodate those who worked in the area. DeLay's office refused, so we decided to send a smaller group at 4:30, 30 minutes before they closed. DeLay's staff instead closed at 3:00. The original letter can be viewed at:
http://www.bayareanewdemocrats.org/files/delay1.pdf.
http://www.bayareanewdemocrats.org/files/delay2.pdf.

A camera man from Fox 26 rode the elevator with us and interviewed some of the members including a lady whose son was severely injured in Iraq. DeLay's staff had left the office locked at 3:00 and we left the building after security hassled us for being there. The Webster police were called. They surveyed the situation and commended us for exercising our rights to assemble and staying within the law, then left.

delay2.jpg

We continued to protest under the watch of the security task force and was greeted with very positive reactions from those passing by.

An hour after DeLay's office closed, I was called at home to arrange a meeting with DeLay's office. We will report on that meeting soon.

--
John R. Cobarruvias
14646 Cardinal Creek Court
Houston, TX 77062
281-486-5203

Posted by John Cobarruvias at 09:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack

Election Assessment Hearing here Weds., 6/29

On Thursday, June 30th, the (James A.) Baker -- (former Pres. Jimmy) Carter Commission on Federal Election Reform will hold their second and final hearing at the campus of Rice University.

The commission has already refused to hear the testimony of Rep. John Conyers, who of course headed a congressional subcommittee investigation into the voting irregularities with regard to the 2004 election in the state of Ohio. David Cobb, the Green Party's 2004 presidential candidate, was also denied the opportunity to testify about the problems he encountered with Ohio's electoral processes during the attempted recount. Other election process researchers, analysts, investigators and atorneys were likewise refused the chance to report their findings of problems with our election processes during the 2004 election.

In response to this apparent lack of interest on the part of the Baker-Carter Commission in surveying problems with election processes evidenced in the last election, and in order to provide state election officials which will help them make informed decisions, 51 Capital March, with the endorsement of BradBlog, CAEF, IPPN, J-30 Coalition, USCountVotes, VotersUnite and others, is sponsoring an Election Assessment Hearing to be held in Houston on June 29th, the day before the Baker-Carter Commission is scheduled to meet.

Here's the location and agenda, and this is the list of presenters, which include Cobb and Bev Harris of BlackBoxVoting.org .

Posted by Guest Blogger PDiddie at 11:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

June 26, 2005

Just for Fun

Go here

Posted by Lyn Wall at 10:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Pride Parade Report

WHDC With Hubert Vo and Alma AllenLast night, HCDP members marched in the Pride Parade. We had a great time.

Abe Goren and Garnet ColemanWHDC marched with Hubert Vo who received cheers from the crowd througout the route. We were between Rep. Garnet Coleman's and Alma Allen's entries.

There was a large HCDP entry as well. KTRK (Video) reports that over 1000 people took part in the parade which was attended by as many as 300,000 people.

Hubert Vo and LynSenfronia ThompsonI managed to get photos of myself with Hubert as well as Senfronia Thompson. If you haven't had a chance to read Senfronia's scathing speech opposing HJR 6, you can read the transcript at Pink Dome.

Posted by Lyn Wall at 09:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Photos of Today's Rally Against Torture

Jimmy Dunne

Speakers

Gray Panthers

Joe Erwin

Petition Table

Counter Protestors

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL GROUP 23

PO BOX 130901
Houston, TX 77219-0901

www.amnestyhouston.org
mail@amnestyhouston.org
281-587 5386

Amnesty International activists take to the streets to denounce torture

Event: “Houston Denounces Torture” rally.
Date: Sunday, June 26th, 2pm.
Place: Plaza in front of Central Library, Downtown Houston, 500 McKinney.

On June 26th, Amnesty International members and other concerned Houstonians will hold a rally to denounce torture as part of the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. Amnesty International groups throughout the US will participate. Speakers at the Houston rally will address torture and ill-treatment committed by the US within the context of the “war on terror.”

Speakers are: Joe “Chip” Pitts, Chair of the Amnesty International USA Board; Alamdar Hamdani, attorney, ACLU and Council on American-Islamic Relations; Deacon Sam Dunning from the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston; Jimmy Dunne, coordinator of the Denounce Torture Campaign for the Houston chapter of Amnesty International; Bob Buzzanco, Professor of History at the University of Houston and author of books and articles about US Foreign Policy; and Dave Atwood, former Chair of the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.

Posted by Lyn Wall at 08:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

You Know It's a Republican-Controlled Legislature When...

Republicans always like to proclaim they are backing up the average Americans, the workers, the farmers, etc., but they tend to have a habit of rewarding the millionaires instead.

The Austin-American Statesman breaks down what the tax bill means. Basically, most Texans are going to end up paying more.

Industry Projected change in total tax bill

Agriculture -7.79%

Mining -1.16%

Utilities and transportation -1.48%

Construction 9.95%

Manufacturing -4.00%

Trade 0.96%

Information -1.59%

Financial, insurance, real estate -8.39%

Services 11.60%

Which one went up the highest? Of course, services. So those with the least money and least savings will end up paying a greater share for general services.

Here's the real kick in the teeth:

Family income range change in total tax bill

$0 to $13,415............4.49%
$13,415 to $22,833...3.92%
$22,833 to $31,735...4.00%
$31,735 to $41,463...3.78%
$41,463 to $51,750...3.55%
$51,750 to $64,325...3.09%
$64,325 to $79,271...2.21%
$79,271 to $100,593..1.39%
$100,593 to $140,853..-0.41%
Over $140,853..........-2.42%

How is that "trickle down effect" supposed to work again? It looks like the money just keeps pooling at the very top, and vanishing at the bottom. I hope the rich are enjoying eating their cake now because this system can't go on forever. It's going to fall apart sometime, when and how badly is what's unknown.

Just last Thursday on the way to HCDP headquarters, I saw a beaten up and faded car plastered in Republican bumper stickers, and thought if the driver only knew what the Republicans were really doing, he wouldn't be a Republican. I'm sure he's going to be enjoying that 4% tax increase.

Posted by at 12:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Eh, Uh, Uh, And, Uh, Eh...

Tom DeLay was just having one of those days I guess. In addressing an audience, he came off as sounding worse than Bush (something normally hard to do). Maybe he's been spending too much time in the Rose Garden with his Good Old Pals. Or possibly, the factfinders are beginning to hit close to home.

DeLay agreed (no surprise) with Rove's recent comment about liberals wanting to "prepare idictments and offer therapy" instead of "preparing for war," and he was attempting to quote it, but had some difficulty with his diction.

Here's the video clip of Tom DeLay's speech via DEM bloggers.

Maybe this is what DeLay was worried about:

From the Houston Chronicle:

AUSTIN - Documents released in a civil lawsuit Friday show that Texas Association of Business officials were trying to influence the outcome of state House races when they ran a $1.7 million "voter education project" paid for with corporate money.

"Of the nine incumbents ... we went after, seven were defeated. This is huge news," a TAB executive said in a 2002 e-mail the day after the group helped Republicans win control of the Texas House for the first time since Reconstruction.

It appears the Texas Association of Business and Texans for a Republican Majority were pretty cozy bedfellows.

Additionally, Daily KOS is reporting that Ralph Reed the former head of the Christian Coalition and current Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor in Georgia is swirling amid scandal (WXIA-TV Atlanta).

Ralph Reed delivered what was expected as a consultant to two Alabama anti-gambling campaigns: victories over proposals for a state lottery and video poker, and donations totaling $1.15 million.

But Reed didn't tell the campaign organizations -- and, he insists, he didn't know -- that the money came from a Mississippi Indian tribe trying to protect its casinos from competition.

It's amazing to think that so many Republicans are former businessmen, and they all don't seem to know anything about accounting for their money.

I think Representative Randy Hinshaw, a Georgia Democrat has it right:

Republicans blocked last-minute efforts to revive a bill requiring nonprofit groups -- such as the Christian Coalition -- to disclose the sources of money they use to buy advertisements to influence referendums. The sponsor, Rep. Randy Hinshaw, a Democrat from Huntsville, said he was skeptical that such groups don't know where their money comes from.

"You give me $850,000," Hinshaw said Tuesday, "and I'm going to know who gave me that so I can give them a big ol' kiss."

It's interesting to note that Reed was also a consultant for Enron and a close buddy of Jack Abramoff. Need I say more?

Check out the Daily KOS for the rest of the scandal. It seems to me that powerful Republicans stand for a "culture of corruption and personal gain" rather than a "culture of life," but maybe they meant a "culture of the good life."

Posted by at 12:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

June 25, 2005

Breitweiser Rips Rove A New One - KBH Agrees with Rove

Wednesday night, President Bush's advisor Karl Rove said:

"Liberals saw the savagery of the 9/11 attacks and wanted to prepare indictments and offer therapy and understanding for our attackers."

Kristen Breitweiser, the 9/11 widow who gained prominence by forcing the Administration to support the 9/11 Comission has some questions for Rove at The Huffington Post:

...what exactly did you do to prepare for your war? Did your preparations include: sound intelligence to warrant your actions; a reasonable entry and exit strategy coupled with a coherent plan to carry out that strategy; the proper training and equipment for the troops you were sending in to fight your war? Did you follow the advice of experts such as General Shinseki who correctly advised you about the troop levels needed to actually succeed in Iraq? No, you didn't... more

Meanwhile, from Tapped (6/24):


RICK SANTORUM: ROVE DOESN'T SPEAK FOR ME. This afternoon, Tapped called the offices of every Republican senator and asked their press staff the following: “Does Karl Rove speak for Senator X in his recent comments on liberals and September 11?”

Several offices had no comment. Many transferred us into voicemail boxes, and we plan to call them back on Monday if they don’t respond. But we got two offices to react. While Kay Bailey Hutchinson’s staff told us she agrees with Rove’s remarks, Rick Santorum's communications director, Robert Traynham, suggested that the Pennsylvanian had a different reaction. He told me: “Karl Rove speaks for himself. He doesn’t speak for the senator. On 9-11, there was no such thing as a Republican or a Democrat, and that’s what the senator believes.”

Posted by Lyn Wall at 07:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack

And the Winner Is...

The former hard-line mayor of Tehran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is the new president of Iran. He has often referred to Iran's 1979 revolution and expressed concerns about rapprochement with the United States. He won the runoff Friday in a landslide. This result cannot be good for international relations in the Middle East.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad defeated Ali Akbar Rafsanjani, the former two-term president who had won in the first round of voting last week, but had not attained the percentage necessary to win the presidency. Rafsanjani was the moderate reformist candidate who attempted to garner support from socially moderate and reformist voters. He wanted to continue the reformist policies of President Mohammad Khatami, who had to leave after serving two consecutive terms

However, Rafsanjani was not successful. With 85% of the votes counted, Ahmadinejad is in the lead with 61.8%, to Rafsanjani's 35.7%. In the second round of voting a smaller percentage of voters turned out, only 47% compared to 63% in the first round.

The State Department's response:

[In Washington, a State Department spokeswoman, Joanne Moore, told the Associated Press that the result would not change the U.S. view of Iran.

["With the conclusion of the elections in Iran, we have seen nothing that sways us from our view that Iran is out of step with the rest of the region in the currents of freedom and liberty that have been so apparent in Iraq, Afghanistan and Lebanon," Moore said.]

I can't help but think Bush's recent remarks about Iran's presidential elections being a shambles did anything to help the moderate candidates' fortunes. Bush's sharp and pointed rhetoric cannot possibly help the chances of a moderate candidate who says he would like to promote a more concillatory stance in international relations and those with the United States.

In some ways it seems that Bush may have played the Osama bin Laden role, as in our recent presidential election. I know this may not be an adequate comparison, but both men came out with a statement not long before the presidential election was to take place, potentially swinging some votes.

This time Bush was the "unknown quantity" who spoke harshly about Iran just before the election. The result: the election of a more hard-line fundamentalist leader who espouses the 1979 revolution in which the US was referred to as the "Great Satan."

By criticizing Iran so harshly at a critical time, it now appears that Bush may have driven away support from Rafsanjani, who in the first election had the popular vote, but not a high enough percentage to win the presidency. Then in the second election Ahmadinejad came from behind to quash the moderate candidate.

I know in the past the Bush administration has hinted at regime change in Iran. I certainly hope the president does not choose to move ahead with such a plan. I can't really see how it is possible at the moment, especially when we are already overcommitted to other responsibilities, particularly in neighboring Iraq.

I find the current result especially disappointing when Iran has been modernizing and moving towards greater reform. Now when we must confront a nuclear Iran that likely is developing or has developed nuclear weapons, we must deal with a hard-line fundamentalist leader. Now it appears Iran may be drifting away from greater reform, further complicating West-Iran relations, particularly US-Iran relations. This result is not going to help the volatile situation in the Middle East at all.

What's done is done, and now we must make the best of it, but 2008 cannot come fast enough.

Read the article in the Washington Post.

Posted by at 01:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

June 24, 2005

Democrat Offers Another Tax Plan

PRESS RELEASE
OFFICE OF STATE REP. EDDIE RODRIGUEZ
~ Rodriguez' Plan Offers More Funding for School Children ~
~ Lower Taxes for Most Texans ~

Austin, TX// State Representative Eddie Rodriguez (Austin) filed the first school finance bill to address the long term needs of Texas' public schools.

HB 33 and HJR 13 completely abolishes the "Robin Hood" property tax (or "Maintenance and Operations tax). While the Governor's plan offers a temporary reduction (from $1.50 to $1.20 per $100 dollars in valuation), Rodriguez' plan drops the rate to zero. It is the only plan which abolishes the M & O. It also prohibits reinstatement of the tax under the Texas Constitution.

It's the only plan that offers a permanent tax cut for homeowners without raising taxes on renters, who receive no direct benefit from property tax cuts. Other plans being proposed are funded with increased sales taxes that hit poor and middle-income Texans the hardest.

Rodriguez' plan includes full Health Insurance benefits for all public school employees. In addition, it provides roughly $3.5 Billion annually in new money for schools. Funding for all of this is based on a State Personal Income tax, which must be approved by voters.

"The rate of the tax is low," said Rodriguez. "It begins at 1% on the first $25,000.00. So the total tax on a family of four, with yearly income of $100,000.00, is less than two percent."

Rodriguez plan also gives Texas voters direct control over the rate of the income tax, with the right to reject "loopholes" that the Legislature might try to create in the future.

The vast majority of Texas taxpayers will benefit from a lower tax bill that is predictable, fair and based on each taxpayer's ability to pay, unlike property taxes, which rise as the local appraiser sees fit.

"Governor Perry's plan offers a short term property tax solution. It is small and fleeting," Rodriguez said. "That reduction in property taxes will disappear in as little as five years, or the first time you move into a new home. It's a Band-Aid on a gaping wound. The Governor’s tiny cut in property taxes is offset by a permanent increase in sales taxes."

The same can be said of the other plans offered by the leadership, both House and Senate, during the last Regular Session. Both plans offered property tax cuts that would have been lost to rising appraisals within four to six years. These property taxes will continue to rise, even above the levels seen today; meanwhile, the poor will be burdened worse than ever.

"Texas' faulty tax system throws the State Legislature into a budget crisis at least once every decade. Dependence on Sales taxes and Property taxes, without a balance of revenue from personal incomes, will always result in an unstable base of revenue, " said Rodriguez. "As long as they keep going to the same well, we will be right back where we are now."

CONTACT:
TIM THETFORD
(512) 463-0674

Posted by Stace Medellin at 09:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Apologies to Charles Soechting

Yesterday, a false rumor was posted to this blog that rightfully caused a stir. Mr. Soechting is not resigning as Texas Democratic Party Chair.

Even though Mr. Soechting assured me it's not necessary, we apologize to Mr. Soechting and anyone else affected by this post.

Posted by Lyn Wall at 10:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBack

Chris Bell Releases New Podcast

If you find you don't have time available to attend a Chris Bell event, you can now listen to his new podcast.

Chris Bell talks about issues important to Texas and his take on the governor's race now that Carole Keeton Strayhorn has announced her candidacy and Kay Bailey Hutchison has said she won't run. He also takes Perry to task on his education record.

Chris Bell also says on his website that he plans to officially announce if he will run for Texas governor.

Bell says:

I know I'm ready to run for governor but I want to make sure that the Democratic Party will unite behind me. I would build coalitions and reach across the aisle because it's likely the Republicans will be in the majority.

Check out "Democrat may enter governor's race."

Upcoming Chris Bell events in the Houston area:

Thu, 7/7: Chris to speak to the Cy-Fair Democrats in Houston

Sat, 7/16: Chris to speak to the Sharpstown Democrats in Houston

Posted by at 02:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

A Premature Attack

We all know about those vaunted truthsayers in Washington and how they will always strive to spread the most accurate information they know.

Here's what the non-partisan group FactCheck.org has to say about a new Republican ad:

Pro-Bush group's ad faults Democrats for criticisms they haven't yet made, about a Supreme Court nominee who hasn't been named, to a vacancy that doesn't yet exist.

The following is part of the article from FactCheck.org:

Summary

A pro-Bush group fired the opening salvo - they call it "a warning shot" - in what threatens to become a multi-million dollar advertising and public relations campaign over a possible Bush appointment to the Supreme Court. The ad predicts "Democrats will attack anyone the President nominates," saying that "a Supreme Court nominee deserves real consideration, instead of instant attacks."

But this ad itself is an attack that goes beyond "instant" - it was launched without waiting for Bush to name a replacement for the ailing Justice William Rehnquist, or even for Rehnquist to say publicly whether or not he will retire as he is reported to be considering. And whether or not Democrats will criticize "anyone" Bush names can't be known for sure at this point - it may or may not turn out to be true.

To support its case, the ad cites editorial blurbs from Republican newspapers criticizing Democrats over their treatment of Supreme Court nominees in the past. But the ad fails to note that the blurbs were about the Robert Bork nomination fight that happened nearly 18 years ago.

Analysis

The Republican group Progress for America released the television ad "Get Ready" on June 22. In a news release, the group reports that the ad will run through July 1 as part of a $700,000 effort to "warn opinion leaders in Washington, DC and beyond that some Democrats will soon unleash a fury of dishonest and ugly attacks about any Justice that President Bush nominates to the Supreme Court should a vacancy occur."

The group will air the television ad nationally on CNN and the Fox News Channel. In the Washington, D.C. area, the group plans to air the spot on MSNBC, CNBC, a number of Sunday morning political talk shows like NBC's "Meet the Press," and a local news channel. The group will sponsor banner ads linking to its www.UporDownVote.org site on the websites of several newspapers, including The New York Times and Washington Post, and blogs, including the Drudge Report and Instapundit.

Of course the attack ad leaves out some major points:

• The articles the ad cites are editorials from September and October of 1987 during President Reagan's nomination of Robert Bork to the Supreme Court.

• While the articles are critical of those who would discredit Robert Bork, a Tribune article stated that the dispute over Bork was not the first "ugly" nomination battle, and that Jimmy Carter's nominee, Abner Mikva, to the DC Circuit of the US Court of Appeals "had a hard time with conservatives."

• It has been nearly 18 years since the Bork dispute, who was rejected by a vote of 58 to 42 in the Democratically controlled Senate. Since then Anthony Kennedy (1988), David Souter (1990), Clarence Thomas (1991), Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1993), and Stephen Breyer (1994) have been approved under George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

Watch the preemptive attack on Democrats.

I'm really impressed at the lengths that some Republicans will go to tell the "truth," especially managing to find 18-year old editorial articles. It's hard to believe that is the most recent stuff they can come up with.

Posted by at 01:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

The Return of the Soccer Moms

Well, it seems this week has been yet another of endless bad news. I know it must get pretty dreary reading about yet another case of some half-baked piece of legislation, the sputtering economy, and what DeLay has done this time.

Here's some good news for a change... (Really, I mean it.)

It's certainly one of those times to reflect and ask yourself: "Am I really better off now than I was before the GOP dominated every branch of government?"

It seems that many women are discovering that answer is "No."

At least that's what a recent poll conducted by Garin-Hart-Yang Research found. Historically, men and women have reacted to Republicans in different ways, and it appears the gender gap may again be asserting itself, something that obviously could create difficulties for the GOP in 2006.

Perhaps more seriously for the GOP is that the recent polling information reflects the widespread disatisfaction among Americans for Bush's policies and the war in Iraq.

Bush did well among women voters in 2000, receiving 48% of their votes, a narrower gender gap than commonly observed. However, the recent survey of 2,613 voters found 43% of women would choose to support a Democratic candidate in the 2006 Congressional elections versus 32% who would vote Republican.

Male voters still narrowly favor a Republican congressional candidate, producing a 16-point gap between the genders - a bigger one than in the 2004 Congressional election (14 points) and sharply higher than in the last midterm election in 2002 (5 points).

Ellen Malcom, president of Emily's List, the organization that sponsored the survey, believes:

The erosion that now has been appearing in many polls for the Republicans is almost solely attributable to the shift of women voters, and many of the gains that President Bush had in his reelection in November have disappeared with those groups of women voters.

Even GOP pollsters have noticed a widening of the gender gap. The president of the Tarrance Group, Ed Goeas says there is a 17-point division. However, he adds that other methods of evaluating the data give Republicans an advantage. For example, married couples preferred Bush by 33% and those who attended church frequently preferred him by 22%.

While these numbers do not guarantee Democratic gains in 2006, they seem to show the GOP is sliding downward in popularity. However, something could happen to elevate the GOP's position.

A Democratic activist advocates the need to more effectively appeal to women voters by showing concern for families through health care and security. Of course I believe the Democratic Party has always stood for these things, but maybe the message isn't being made effectively enough.

Women's greatest concerns:
Social Security: 27%
War in Iraq: 25%
Health Care: 20%

When asked whether the statement, "Taking care of the needs of other people is the most important role I play," describes them well, 46 percent of women voters said yes. But only 24 percent of men said that description fit them.

Now maybe if the women could get their husbands to see eye to eye with them.

See the article in the Christian Science Monitor.

Posted by at 12:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

The Senate is Flagging When it Comes to What's Important

Do we really need a Constitutional amendment to make it illegal to burn the American flag? While you or I may not like it, aren't there some more important issues to deal with? I don't quite see how such an amendment is going to help anyone get a better education, a job, adequate health care, a secure retirement, etc. If someone else can make an argument for such a connection, please let me know.

The Houston Chronicle reports that Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) is sponsoring an amendment to the United States Constitution to ban flag burning. Supporters of such an amendment hope that the amendment gets more than half-staff support this time. They believe a larger Republican majority, the attacks of September 11, 2001, and patriotism fueled by the war in Iraq provide the best chance for the amendment to pass.

Senator Hatch says:

The American people want this.

However, the GOP senator might wish to consult with the Associated Press's polling results. The AP's informal survey hints that a flag burning amendment is no more likely to pass now than it has in the past. The AP poll discovered that 35 senators oppose such an amendment, which is one more than the number needed if all 100 senators vote.

Hillary Clinton and two other senators have come out strongly against the proposed amendment.

Clinton said:

As I have said in the past, I support federal legislation that would outlaw flag desecration, much like laws that currently prohibit the burning of crosses, but I don't believe a constitutional amendment is the answer.

The House has voted overwhelmingly in favor of the amendment by a vote of 286-130.

To pass, the amendment will need the support of two-thirds of the Senate in addition to the support already gained in the House. To be ratified three-fourths (38) of the states must approve the amendment within seven years. Although the House passed the flag burning amendment, and has several times before, it usually gets shut down in the Senate. Of course this time could be different

Critics say that the amendment violates an individual's right to free speech. Supporters suggest that critics are out of touch with the American people.

Representative Randy Cunningham (R-CA):

Ask the men and women who stood on top of the Trade Center. Ask them and they will tell you: Pass this amendment.

Really?

Is prohibiting the burning of our flag going to make the families affected by the attacks on September 11 come any closer to knowing the full extent of the intelligence failures that occured?

Is protecting our flag going to somehow increase our national security? I certainly would feel safer if the Stars and Stripes were protected from flammable objects.

Is protecting our flag going to provide any protection to the hundreds of thousands of Americans overseas fighting in Iraq? I'm not so sure the soldiers will be happy to find out that this amendment comes before adequate armor and supplies.

Is a flag burning amendment going to prevent any future conflicts?

I believe the answer to each of these questions is an absolutely firm NO. I believe as Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) does:

If the flag needs protection at all, it needs protection from members of Congress who value the symbol more than the freedoms that the flag represents.

The really sad thing is that I bet most of our American flags are made abroad in countries like China. That's what bothers me more than if someone burns a flag. What has happened to the production base of our country? What ever happened to "Made in the USA?" Wal-Mart even used to pride itself on only selling American-made products. Now one is hard pressed to find something at Wal-Mart that isn't made in China, or some other developing country. Our country is in a profound state of neglect.

I believe the GOP is the one who is out of touch.

It's time to take back the government and to focus on the issues that really matter. Sure flag burning may not be "right" or "appropriate," but neither do I believe it is right or appropriate to desecrate the US Constitution by using it for one's own political gain. I cannot fathom the Senator's desire to focus the efforts of the Senate on an issue such as flag burning when our nation is spending billions of taxpayer's money in Iraq (Kerry really was right), where over 1700 Americans have died (in addition to the soldiers from other nations and at least tens of thousands of Iraqis) at a time when Medicare is about to flatline, Social Security is facing insolvency, children are being left behind because the money for public education is being spent in Iraq, etc., etc., etc....

But maybe the GOP is trying to keep the focus on issues other than their (dis)information that led us to war in Iraq, the lack of any coherent and measured plan to get out of Iraq, Bush's plummeting ratings, his poor record on Social Security, the cost of gas, etc., etc., etc....

Shouldn't we be focusing on the nation itself, not just its symbols? I mean what good is a national flag if the nation falls apart?

If Republicans are really dead set on prohibiting the burning of the American flag, would it not be easier to just make the flag out of a material that won't burn? At least that way they could award yet another no-bid contract to Cheney's Good Old Pals (the real GOP) over at Halliburton for a cool billion dollars.

I would like to end with this:

One cannot create respect for any national symbol through legislation. That is only something developed over time through leading by example and action, not merely paying lip service as our brazenly arrogant administration does to our inalienable rights, freedoms, and values protected in our Constitution.

Posted by at 12:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

June 23, 2005

Children Are Our Future

The Pentagon certainly seems to think so. The Defense Department has established a partnership with a private marketing firm in order to compile a database of high school students aged 16 to 18 and all college students. The Pentagon hopes to use the database to help the military target potential recruits during a time when new enlistments are declining.

Could your children be on this list?

The Washington Post reports the Pentagon will record personal information including birth dates, Social Security numbers, e-mail addresses, grade-point averages, ethnicity, and the subjects students are studying.

A private firm, BeNow Inc. of Wakefield, Massachusetts, will be responsible for managing and analyzing the data. BeNow is a marketing firm that uses computers to analyze huge amounts of data in order to target potential customers based on their personal profiles and habits.

According to the Pentagon's official notice of the program:

The purpose of the system . . . is to provide a single central facility within the Department of Defense to compile, process and distribute files of individuals who meet age and minimum school requirements for military service.

Privacy advocates are concerned that by using a private firm to create an anaylze personal information, the Pentagon is attempting to circumvent laws that restrict the government's right to collect or hold citizen information.

Some of the information the Pentagon seeks to collect is already given to military recruiters in a seperate program under provisions of the 2002 No Child Left Behind Act (See No Child Left Unrecruited). If a school fails to provide the information requested under No Child Left Behind, it risks losing its federal funding. The military has already used the information disclosed under the No Child Left Behind to contact students at home.

Under the new system, additional data will be collected from commercial data brokers, state drivers' license records and other sources, including information already held by the military.

According to written statements made by Pentagon spokeswoman Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke:

Using multiple sources allows the compilation of a more complete list of eligible candidates to join the military.

This program is important because it helps bolster the effectiveness of all the services' recruiting and retention efforts.

According to the Pentagon, anyone can "opt out" of the system, but the Pentagon will still keep a record of the individual's information. Instead an individual's information will be placed in a separate "suppression file" that will be matched with the full database to ensure those who do not want to be contacted are not.

The West Coast director of the Electronic Privacy Information System, Chris Jay Hoofnagle, has referred to the Pentagon's system as "an audacious plan to target-market kids, as young as 16, for military solicitation."

A coalition of privacy groups wrote the following in response to the Pentagon's announcement in the Federal Register last month:

We support the U.S. armed forces, and understand that DoD faces serious challenges in recruiting for the military. But . . . the collection of this information is not consistent with the Privacy Act, which was passed by Congress to reduce the government's collection of personal information on Americans.

Hoofnagle says that even collecting Social Security numbers is unnecessary. Additionally, collecting the individuals' numbers puts them at greater risk for identity theft. Furthermore, Hoofnagle adds that the private sector already has other methods to accurately track individuals for marketing without using their Social Security numbers.

Another question that such a database raises is what new threat is posed to the millions of high school and college students included in the database if it is broken into by identity thieves? I think it is safe to say that many databases run by private companies thought to have been safe, have already been compromised, exposing individuals' private information to the world. It seems that every week we hear about some new case of massive identity theft from a private company's database. What safeguards are there to protect this information that would make this database less susceptible to hacking?

The Pentagon affirms that the military is "acutely aware of the substantial security required to protect personal data," and it intends to only use Social Security numbers in order to "provide a higher degree of accuracy in matching duplicate data records." The Pentagon adds that it regularly monitors its vendors to ensure compliance with its security standards.

On the issue of how much this new database will cost us, the Pentagon sopkeswoman says she did not know the cost of the contract with BeNow, or even if it was bid competitively. That sounds like a red flag.

According to the Federal Register notice, the data will be open to "those who require the records in the performance of their official duties." It said the data would be protected by passwords.

The system also gives the Pentagon the right, without notifying citizens, to share the data for numerous uses outside the military, including with law enforcement, state tax authorities and Congress.

There are these things called the Privacy Act and the Family Educational and Privacy Rights Act (FERPA).

Here's a political cartoon that appeared on January 28, 2005 in the Washington Post that is quite apt regarding the government's recruitment strategy.

No wonder the GOP is so adamantly against abortion. They're counting on the next generation to enlist to support their militaristic freedom march around the world.

Posted by at 11:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

RUMOR FALSE: Soechting Not Resigning as State Party Chair

Update: Thread title updated by moderator


Charles Soechting, Chairman of the Texas Democratic Party has announced he will resign his position. There will be more on this soon. Thanks to Martha C., who is in Austin this week, for giving us this news item.

Update: Apparently this is only a rumor that is circulating from some source. We now have it on authority from the Texas Democratic Party that Charles Soechting is NOT resigning. Sorry for the confusion.

Check out the Burnt Orange Report for more information.

Posted by at 09:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (11) | TrackBack

Normal People Don't Care About the Downing Street Memo

At Democracy Fest in Austin last weekend, I attended a session on campaign management presented by a veteran Democratic political consultant. He assured the 300 or so people in the auditorium that we were not normal. His prime example was: "Normal people do not care about the Downing Street Memo." Of course, I was a little bit insulted, being all obsessed with the DSM and all! So where do we abnormal folks go from here?

Being old enough to remember when normal people were not interested in the third-rate burglary at the Watergate, I still nurture hope that Bush et al will be held accountable for an unnecessary war. It is true that the new generation of Woodwards and Bernsteins seems to be nonexistent. However, maybe we can be our own Bob and Carl. Here are some good articles to pass around and keep the conversation about the Downing Street Memos going:

Molly Ivins

David Corn

Ray McGovern, Former CIA Agent

Posted by at 01:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack

DeLay Compares Houston to Iraq

If you ever wondered what Iraq is like these days, you can save yourself the cost of actually traveling to Iraq. Apparently all you have to do is look around you (at least according to DeLay).

Here's DeLay's statement as reported by the Houston Chronicle:

You know, if Houston, Texas, was held to the same standard as Iraq is held to, nobody'd go to Houston, because all this reporting coming out of the local press in Houston is violence, murders, robberies, deaths on the highways.

And if you took that as the image of what is a great city that has an incredible quality of life and an incredible economy, it's amazing to me. Go to Iraq. And see what's actually happening there.

Everybody that comes from Iraq is amazed at the difference of what they see on the ground and what they see on the television set.

Ok, so Houston is like Iraq. Well let's just check up on what things are really like and see how similar they are to Houston.

Here's an account from someone who is on the ground:

This from Baghdad Burning:

Thursday, June 21, 2005

General Update...
The cousin, his wife S. and their two daughters have been houseguests these last three days. They drove up to the house a couple of days ago with several bags of laundry. "There hasn't been water in our area for three days…" The cousins wife huffed as she dragged along a black plastic bag of dirty clothes. "The water came late last night and disappeared three hours later… what about you?" Our water had not been cut off completely, but it came and went dur