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February 27, 2006

Photos from the Kick-Off Rally!

CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO LAUNCH THE SLIDE SHOW from this weekend's Democratic Kick-Off Rally! It was an awesome event! Congrats to Coby, Kellen, and all the volunteers for a job well-done.

people.jpg
Photos courtesy of Toni Medellin and Stace Medellin
If anyone else has more to add, please send them to doscentavos@gmail.com

Posted by Stace Medellin at 12:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

The Filibuster for Independence begins this Friday, March 3 at 6 pm

Candidates confirmed include Larry Stallings, John Courage, and Charlie Urbina Jones. Other expected candidates include Ben Z Grant and Fred Head.

Hospitality for bloggers and volunteers at the Austin campaign office (see below for details)



In 1836 the founders of Texas declared and won their independence from dictatorship and entered the community of nations. In our day the people of Texas must again win their independence from the modern dictatorship of corruption, cronyism, and corporate government. We have a Constitution to save!

Please join Democratic Attorney General Candidate

DAVID VAN OS

in honoring the

170th Anniversary of the Texas Declaration of Independence

by conducting a

24-hour Filibuster for Independence

at the seat of Texas government on the State Capitol grounds.

Commencing 6:00 pm, Friday March 3
continuing until 6:00 pm, Saturday March 4

The Filibuster for Independence will be conducted on the South Steps or Grounds of the State Capitol Building, 11th Street at Congress Avenue, Austin

The Capitol Building and Grounds belong to the People, and public discourse on issues of public concern is their highest and greatest use.

Other local & statewide candidates have been invited to speak. The public is invited to attend, observe, and listen. Representatives of the press are welcome to attend.

Hospitality Suite:

Austin David Van Os Campaign Headquarters
1101 Music Lane Suite 304 (South Congress @ Academy, behind Doc's Restaurant)

Walkable (under 2 miles), else a Dillo ride (free) or short Bus Route 1 (50¢) away.

Refreshments, shower, "crash pad", use of internet for blogging the event, telephone use for getting friends to come, more.

Help us promote this event.

Or volunteer.

Or just join us during the Filibuster as we make history.

Posted by Lyn Wall at 11:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

February 26, 2006

Sunday Funnies (Ports in a Storm edition)



More... --->



Posted by Perry Dorrell at 07:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

February 23, 2006

"In 1836 our beloved Texas..."

"... joined the community of nations as one of the earliest Constitutional democracies in the world. Now our democracy is being ripped off by corporate and political power-grabbers. In the spirit of our courageous forebears, we the people now must rise up in peaceful political revolution to rid our state of government by professional power brokers and influence peddlers.

From 6:00 p.m. March 3 to 6:00 p.m. March 4, I will conduct a 24-hour Filibuster for Independence on the State Capitol Grounds in Austin. Please join me to make sure the voices of the people are heard. We the people of Texas WILL WIN our independence from corruption, cronyism, corporate government, and Bushite tyranny."

David Van Os

============

Please join us.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

-- Margaret Mead

Posted by Lyn Wall at 08:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

February 22, 2006

Saturday Feb 25 HUGE Democratic Rally downtown

Saturday Feb 25 HUGE Democratic Rally downtown
RSVP BY WEDS 5:00PM!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mark your calendars and send in your RSVP NOW to kellen.wilson@sbcglobal.net for a HUGE rally on Saturday Feb 25. Already confirmed Barbara Radnofsky, Nick Lampson, Chris Bell, Bob Gammage, David Van Os, and many local candidates running for Federal, State, and local offices. Over 22 Democratic clubs are sponsoring this event and we expect a HUGE crowd for it!

http://www.bayareanewdemocrats.org/files/feb25rally.pdf

RSVP: to kellen.wilson@sbcglobal.net

Candidates and Elected Officials: To RSVP please contact john.cobarruvias@bayareanewdemocrats.org

Where: Drexler¹s BBQ Downtown 3 blocks east of 59, 2300 Pierce St. at Dowling

Time:5:00PM Social 6:30-8:00 Program

Cost: $5.00 for bar b-q buffet. Confirmed reservation is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Tables Available: Tables will be available for candidates, clubs and organizations to display their items for sale, to advertise their clubs, or their candidates. Suggested donation is $100/table (exemptions available for new or small clubs) Bring your own table, please.

Sponsored by: This event is being sponsored by a collection of Democratic Clubs in the Harris County and surrounding area including:
*    1960 Democrats
*    I-10 East Democrats
*    Area 5 Democrats
*    Battleground Democrats
*    Bay Area New Democrats (BAND)
*    Bellaire Democrats
*    Braeswood Democrats
*    Democracy for Houston
*    Fort Bend Area Democrats
*    Greater Heights Democratic Club
*    Harris County Democrats
*    Harris County Democratic Party
*    Harris County Young Democrats
*    Katy Area New Democratic Organization (KANDO)
*    Kingwood Democrats
*    Meyerland Democrats
*    Northwest Crossing Area Democrats
*    Oil Patch Democrats
*    River Oaks Area Democratic Women
*    San Jacinto Democratic Veterans Brigade
*    Sharpstown Democrats
*    Texas Progressive Populist Caucus.
*    West Houston Democratic Club.
*    West University Area Democratic Club

Posted by Lyn Wall at 08:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

February 21, 2006

Early Voting Starts Today

Early voting starts today. Be prepared for glitches at the polls. Make sure you know your precinct number and check the bottom of the paper with your PIN number to make sure they got it right. Mine was incorrect and if I hadn't noticed before I cast my ballot, I would have been unable to vote in the primary races in my district.

Be sure to bring your voter registration card to the polls. Poll workers will stamp it DEMOCRATIC, and you will need to show this card in order to participate in your precinct convention to be held on TUE March 7th @ 7:15 pm.

During early voting, Harris County residents may vote at any of the early voting locations within Harris County.

EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS (pdf)

EARLY VOTING SCHEDULE:
TUE February 21st – FRI February 24th
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

SAT February 25th
7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

SUN February 26th
1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

MON February 27th – FRI March 3rd
7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Posted by Lyn Wall at 01:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Cindy Sheehan in Houston Yesterday

Tea PartyMrs. Bush Please SitBetween 200 and 300 protestors showed up to join Cindy Sheehan yesterday at the Tea Party for Barbara Bush on President's Day. Barbara did not show.

We had participants from all over the country. Gold Star Families for Peace and Veterans for Peace were there in force. Mimi Kennedy and Ann Wright joined Cindy as well as Diane Wilson, who was just released from jail for a banner drop at a Dow Chemical factory joined us.

See below the fold for more photos.

 

Diane Wilson with Cindy Sheehan, Ann Wright and Gold Star Mom Amy Branham.

Mimi Kennedy with event organizers Cheryl Norris and Madeleine Crozat-Williams

War is contrary to the will of God
War is contrary to the will of God

Bush Lied, Thousands Died


A surprise appearance by Dubya
A surprise appearance by Dubya

Posted by Lyn Wall at 11:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBack

February 19, 2006

Scott Ritter to Appear 2/26

Neo Conned


U.S. Tour of Duty's Real Intelligence Project, KPFT, and Light in the Darkness Publications present an emergency public discussion about Iraq, Iran and America's constitutional crisis with Former UN Weapons Inspector SCOTT RITTER

We Won't Get Neo-CONNED Again: A citizen response to lying, spying and dying for the "war on terror"

Sunday, February 26, 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church, 2025 W. 11th Street, Houston, TX

Suggested donation: $10 (nobody turned away)

Doors open 4:00 PM. Seating is first-come, first-served.

SCOTT RITTER was the UN's top weapons inspector in Iraq between 1991 and 1998. Before working for the UN, Ritter served as an officer in the US Marines and as a ballistic missile adviser to General Schwarzkopf in the first Gulf war. He wrote the introduction to Neo-CONNED! Again and will be signing copies of this explosive new anthology on the war in Iraq immediately following his presentation. Neo-CONNED! and Neo-CONNED! Again will be available for purchase before and after the event.

For more information: www.ustourofduty.org,

Posted by Lyn Wall at 04:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Sunday Funnies (Guns and Ammo edition)



More ... oh yes, there's more ... --->


Posted by Perry Dorrell at 07:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

February 18, 2006

Diane Wilson of Code Pink Released from Jail

Unreasonable Woman Diane Wilson was released from jail today after serving more than 75 days of her 120 day sentence. The charges stemmed from a banner drop at a Dow Chemical factory. Wilson was arrested in Houston back in December after interrupting a speech being given by VP Dick Cheney. (indy media coverage: http://www.houston.indymedia.org/news/2005/12/46033.php)

Diane says she's delirous to be out of jail, and was humbled by the experience. (see her letter from a Texas jail here ) The time spent behind bars gave her the opportunity to reflect on situtations like Guantanamo Bay where inmates have no outside contact at all. The environmentalist and anti-war activist described herself as more committed then ever to the cause of social justice.

Despite what she's been through "I have no regrets" says Wilson. Diane confirmed she will return to Houston on Monday night to join peace mom Cindy Sheehan at her Tea Party outside the Bush's church. Diane will return to court on Tuesday morning charges of posession of a fake I.D., the same I.D. she used to infiltrate the DeLay Fundraiser.



More here:
Diane's daughter arrested:
http://www.houston.indymedia.org/news/2006/01/46904.php

Info on the Sheehan protest here:
http://www.houston.indymedia.org/news/2006/02/47382.php

Learn more and donate to Diane's legal fund here:
http://www.chelseagreen.com/2005/items/unreasonablewoman/fromjail

Posted by Lyn Wall at 12:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

February 16, 2006

Mutiny on the Bayou - 2/20/06

From Mayor Bill White:

A race riot in the streets of Houston. Sixteen people killed. Police officers engaged in brutal beatings. Court-martial for 118 African-American soldiers, the largest in U.S. history.

It all happened here beginning on August 23, 1917, yet it's a story too few Houstonians know much about.

How did this history shape our community? How do we discuss it with our children? To learn from our history, we first have to know it.

So, please join us on Monday, February 20th at 7 p.m., when the recent film "Camp Logan" hosted by award-winning news anchor Jerome Gray, will be shown in the Brown Auditorium of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, in collaboration with the Mayor's Office and KHOU-TV Channel 11.

MFAH Director Peter Marzio and I will introduce the film, after which there will be a question-and-answer discussion with an expert panel hosted by City Council Member Ada Edwards. Members of the panel include historians Garna Christian, Fred McGhee, and Angela Holder (also a descendent of one of the Black solders involved), Channel 11's John Smith, and Sandra Hajtman, descendent of Ira Raney, one of the white police officers who was killed.

Admission is free of charge. Parking is available either on the south lot at the Presbyterian church between Main and Montrose, or paid parking in the garage on the corner of Fannin and Binz.

When: Monday, February 20th at 7 p.m.

Where: The Museum of Fine Arts
Brown Auditorium
1001 Bissonnet Street
Houston, TX 77005

Join: Mayor Bill White
City Council Member Ada Edwards
KHOU Anchor Jerome Gray

We look forward to seeing you on Monday.

Posted by Lyn Wall at 11:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Join David Van Os for a "Filibuster for Independence"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Perry Dorrell 800-714-7222 713-569-4714 (cell)

======================

Texas Attorney General candidate David Van Os will conduct a 24-hour "Filibuster for Independence" on the south steps of the Texas Capitol in Austin, beginning Friday March 3 at 6 p.m. and concluding at 6 p.m. on Saturday March 4. The attached file contains additional specifics of the event.

All Democratic candidates running for federal and state offices across Texas have been invited to participate in the Filibuster for brief periods. A full roster of participants will be released shortly. The people of Texas are invited to this event, as well as members of the media.

Contact the campaign at the above numbers for more information.

In 1836 the founders of Texas declared and won their independence from dictatorship and entered the community of nations.

In our day the people of Texas must again win their independence from the modern dictatorship of corruption, cronyism, and corporate government.

Please join me as I honor the 170th anniversary of the Texas Declaration of Independence by conducting a 24-hour Filibuster for Independence at the seat of Texas government on the State Capitol grounds.

The Filibuster for Independence will commence at 6:00 p.m. on Friday,

March 3 and will continue until 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 4.

The Filibuster for Independence will be conducted on the South Steps or Grounds of the State Capitol Building, 11th Street at Congress Avenue, Austin.

The Capitol Building and Grounds belong to the People, and public discourse on issues of public concern is their highest and greatest use.

All candidates for public office are invited to relieve me temporarily in speaking duties during the Filibuster, but are requested to remain on topic.

The public is invited to attend, observe, and listen.

Representatives of the press are welcome to attend.

-- David Van Os

Democratic Candidate for Texas Attorney General
www.vanosfortexasag.com

Posted by Lyn Wall at 11:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

February 15, 2006

Molly Ivins on Dick Cheney's Hunting Accident

Dick Cheney goes hunting
Accident or not, Cheney's responsible
By Molly Ivins

02.14.06 - AUSTIN, Texas - Of course the jokes are flying all over Texas -
what's the fine for shooting a lawyer? - and so forth.
Dick-Cheney-shooting-Harry-Whittington is fraught, as they say, with irony.
It's not as though the ground in Texas is littered with liberal Republicans.
I think the vice president winged the only one we've got.

Not that I accuse Harry Whittington of being an actual liberal - only by
Texas Republican standards, and that sets the bar about the height of a
matchbook. Nevertheless, Whittington is seriously civilized, particularly on
the issues of crime, punishment and prisons. He served on both the Texas
Board of Corrections and on the bonding authority that builds prisons. As he
has often said, prisons do not curb crime, they are hothouses for crime:
"Prisons are to crime what greenhouses are to plants."

In the day, whenever there was an especially bad case of
new-ignoramus-in-the-legislature - a "lock 'em all up and throw away the
key" type - the senior members used to send the prison-happy, tuff-on-crime
neophyte to see Harry Whittington, a Republican after all, for a little
basic education on the cost of prisons.
When Whittington was the chairman of Texas Public Finance Authority, he had
a devastating set of numbers on the demand for more, more, more prison beds.
As Whittington was wont to point out, the only thing prisons are good for is
segregating violent people from the rest of society, and most of them belong
in psychiatric hospitals to begin with. The severity of sentences has no
effect on crime.

Texas still keeps the nonviolent, the retarded, senior citizens, etc. locked
up for ridiculous periods - all at taxpayer expense. If we could ever get to
where we spend as much per pupil on education as we do per prisoner, this
state would take off like a rocket. In 2003, we spend nearly $15,000 per
prisoner, while average per-pupil spending was just over $8,000.

I am not trying to make a big deal out of a simple hunting accident for
partisan purposes - just thought it was a good chance to pay tribute to old
Harry, a thoroughly decent man. However, I was offended by the
never-our-fault White House spin team. Cheney adviser Mary Matalin said of
her boss, "He was not careless or incautious (and did not) violate any of
the (rules). He didn't do anything he wasn't supposed to do." Of course he
did, Ms. Matalin, he shot Harry Whittington.

Which brings us to one of the many paradoxes of the Bush administration,
which claims to be creating "the responsibility society." It's hard to think
of a crowd less likely to take responsibility for anything they have done or
not done than this bunch. They're certainly good at preaching responsibility
to others - and blaming other people for everything that goes wrong on their
watch.

Of course the Cheney shooting was an accident.

But is it an accident if your home and your life are destroyed by the flood
following a hurricane? Especially if the flood was caused by failed levees,
a government responsibility?
Is it an accident if you are born with a clubfoot and your parents are too
poor to pay for the operation to fix it? Is there any societal
responsibility in such a case?

Is it an accident when your manufacturing job gets shipped overseas and all
you can find to replace it is a low- wage job at the big-box store with no
health insurance, and your kid breaks his leg, and you can't pay the bill,
so you have to declare bankruptcy under a new law that leaves you broke for
good, with no chance of ever getting out of debt? Or was all of that caused
by deliberate government policy?

Cheney is much given to lecturing us about taking responsibility. When and
where does societal responsibility come in?

Cheney has a curious, shifting history on issues of blame and
responsibility. He was vice chair of the congressional committee that spent
11 months investigating the Iran-Contra affair and author of its minority
report. As John W. Dean highlights in a recent essay, the 500-page majority
report concluded the entire affair "was characterized by pervasive
dishonesty and inordinate secrecy." But Cheney's report said the Reagan
administration's repeated breaking of the law were "mistakes ... were just
that - mistakes in judgment and nothing more."

Those of you who saw Cheney's interview with Jim Lehrer last week may recall
the passage on Darfur that ended with this:

Lehrer: "It's still happening. There are now 2 million people homeless."

Cheney: "Still happening, correct."

Lehrer: "Hundreds of thousands of people have died, and - so you're
satisfied the U.S. is doing everything it can do?"

Cheney: "I am satisfied we're doing everything we can do."

His head still tilts over more to the right when he lies.

(c) 2006 Creators Syndicate

URL: http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?itemid=20358

Posted by Lyn Wall at 05:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

February 14, 2006

Van Os to Abbott: Explain these connections!

Van Os to Abbott: Explain these connections!

Texans have a Constitutional right to uncorrupted government that serves and benefits the people instead of power-hungry political dictatorships. Texans most especially have a right to expect the state’s chief lawyer to be independent of any such taint.

Texans have a right to know that wheeler-dealer Republican political operative John Colyandro, a central figure in the Tom DeLay-TRMPAC money-laundering scandal that funneled large sums of corporate dollars into the hands of Texas Republican candidates in the 2002 general election, served on Greg Abbott’s campaign payroll during the same time frame in 2002.

Texans also have a right to know that Greg Abbott is one of the favorite candidates of Bob Perry of Perry Homebuilders. Perry is one of the biggest financiers of Karl Rove’s favorite political tactic of maligning their opponent with insults and lies. For example, he financed the so-called "Swift Boat Veterans" in their 2004 smear of John Kerry. Since 2001 Bob Perry and his wife have contributed over $570,000 to Abbott's campaign accounts. In the month of December 2005 alone, Perry gave Abbott $50,000 in one payment.

This might explain Abbott’s unswerving allegiance to the Rove-Bush-DeLay political machine, such as when he gave prompt legal clearance in 2003 to DeLay’s power-grabbing redistricting scheme -- from which the U.S. Supreme Court has accepted an appeal on constitutional and voting rights grounds and will conduct expedited argument beginning March 1.

No doubt Abbott’s cronies in the Rove-Bush political machine will give him the best hatchet men Republican money can buy to smear me with their usual lies in their desperation to stop me from restoring the Attorney Generalship to the people.

Greg Abbott would do better addressing questions he needs to answer, such as the still-unanswered inquiry I sent him over 3 weeks ago about his constitutional duty to investigate Rick Perry’s toll-road schemes. Abbott also needs to tell Texans about the connections that brought and kept John Colyandro in his employ at the same time Colyandro was taking care of Tom DeLay and TRMPAC, as well as why one wealthy right-wing Houston homebuilder continuously showers him with so much green. The people will await his answers, but they won’t be holding their breaths.

Posted by Lyn Wall at 09:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

February 13, 2006

Top Nine Reasons Cheney Shot His Hunting Partner

It was bound to happen. From http://www.thenoseonyourface.com/:

Top 9 Reasons Dick Cheney Shot His Hunting Partner

During a weekend quail-hunting trip in Texas, Vice-President Dick Cheney accidentally shot and wounded one his hunting companions. Harry Whittington is being treated at Christus Spohn Health System in Corpus Christi where he is reportedly "alert and doing fine."   

It goes without saying that we wish Mr. Whittington a speedy and full recovery. However, we decided to take a look into the situation to try and find out if this was really an "accident" as the Vice-President asserts, or if the true colors of a madman are beginning to show through as many on the left claim.

Through exhaustive research and tireless fact-checking we have compiled a list of possible motives. Decide for yourself which is the most likely scenario.

9. (tie) Harry kept talking about changing their names to Ennis and Jack and "starting up a sheep ranch out west together when we retire."

9. (tie) Retaliation for Tupac.

8. One too many lesbian jokes.

7. (tie) It was Saturday.

7. (tie) He looked a bit like Howard Dean in that lighting.

6. With Jack Bauer's kill count way down the last few weeks someone had to try and step up to the plate.

5. His dog talked him into it.

4. Wayne Gretzky's wife bet him he wouldn't do it.

3. He hadn't bagged his limit.

2. To bolster his sagging "street cred" ratings.   

1. To show Muslim extremists that they don't have the market on crazy cornered just yet.

And while we're at it, here's what Juanita Jean had to say about the incident:

Gotta shoot them over here so you don't have to shoot them over there. Look, I know there's some parts of Texas where lawyers are in season year-round; however, they're hardly worth shooting because they taste bad, and taxidermists can't figure out which end of them to hang on the wall.
I do hope Cheney has a better excuse than bad intel.... No body armor for his hunting partners either? ... Maybe if Cheney hadn't gotten five deferments from serving in the military, he'd know how to use a gun.....
You know, no wonder they tried to keep this a secret. There's just too many good lines for this. Of course, maybe they thought they had 72 hours to file a retroactive report.

Posted by Lyn Wall at 11:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

February 12, 2006

Urgent Message from Democracy Now - Help Save Public Access TV

Cable TV and the major telecom companies, while competing for your business, are united in trying to do away with local public access television and the right of cities and towns to negotiate fair deals with these companies. These multi-year deals, called franchises, are the basis of the PEG system - the Public, Educational and Government channels that these cable/telecom companies must provide to cities where they do business.

Companies like Verizon, AT&T (formerly SBC Global), Comcast and Time Warner hope to hike their profits while at the same time doing away with any public interest or pubic access obligations to the cities and towns where the operate.

Choose a link below and follow the simple instructions -

the deadline for comments is end of day Monday February 13!

An important FCC proceeding is underway that could well impact the future for community access media.

Please take a few moments now and make public comments - and ask every supporter you know to please join our cause.

Keep Community Media Local!

For cable access organizations, producers and access supporters there are three excellent sites available to choose from:

Access organizations = http://www.alliancecm.org

Access producers & friends = http://mnn.org/saveaccess/nprmhowto.html

General public & other allies = http://www.freepress.net/fcc/comment.php?d=05-311


And for inspiration, here's word from Jeff Chester at Center for Digital Democracy standing up and speaking out! - http://www.democraticmedia.org/news/washingtonwatch/FCCfiling.html

Posted by Lyn Wall at 02:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Sunday Funnies (Ali G edition)



(Reference to above found here. More non-AG toons are on the backside...--->





Posted by Perry Dorrell at 06:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

February 09, 2006

Statewide Tejano Democrats convene here this weekend to screen and endorse candidates

Here's the agenda. The convention is being held Friday and Saturday, February 10th and 11th, at the Sheraton Suites Hotel in the Galleria area. Public events include the Welcome Reception Friday evening and the workshop and luncheon ($25/pp for non-TD members) on Saturday:

Friday, February 10, 2006
12:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Registration (Lobby)
12:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Credentials Committee (Juniper Room)
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Executive Committee (Juniper Room)
3:45 pm - 5:00 pm
Committee Meetings
Resolutions Committee (Palmetto Room)
Young Tejano Caucus (Primrose Room)
Screening & Endorsement Committee – Uncontested Races (Foxglove Room)
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Welcome Reception – Welcome to Houston
Jenny Marquez and Armando Walle, Co-Chairs
Rick Noriega, State Representative Distict 145
Special Guest Juan Garcia, Candidate for State Representative District 32

Saturday, February 11, 2006
8:45 am - 12:00 pm
Registration (Lobby)
9:00 am
Welcome by Phillip Ruiz, Chair of the Tejano Democrats of Texas
Opening Ceremonies
Carol Alvarado, Mayor ProTem of City of Houston
Bill White, Mayor of City of Houston
Charles Soechting, Chair, Texas Democrats Party
9:30 am
Screening & Endorsement Committee (Greenbrier Ballroom-Salon C)
9:30 am - 11:00 am
Workshop – Hosted by the Texas Democratic Party (Greenbrier Ballroom-Salon A and B)
11:00 am
Committee Meetings
Credentials Committee (Foxglove Room)
Young Tejano Caucus (Primrose Room)
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Luncheon Sponsored by ATT
Introduction of Master of Ceremonies Gene Green, U.S. Congressman
Mistress of Ceremonies Ana Hernandez, State Representative District 143
Color Guard by Westbury High School R.O.T.C.
Invocation, Father Bill Davis, OMI, Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church
Keynote Speaker Nick Lampson, Candidate for U.S. Congress
All statewide candidate in attendance will have 3 minutes to address the convention.
Introduction of Senator Gonzalo Barrientos by Senator Mario Gallegos
Remarks from Sen. Barrientos
Special Presentation by Co-Chairs Jenny Marquez and Armando Walle

Posted by Perry Dorrell at 12:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

February 08, 2006

Hutchison gives in to pressure, asks for Valley VA hospital

See? Protests really do affect change:

After U.S. Senate candidate Barbara Ann Radnofsky's nearly two years of advocacy for a VA hospital south of San Antonio, Kay Bailey Hutchison asked the Veterans Administration yesterday to consider turning a former regional hospital into a VA hospital for South Texas veterans.

In her June 27, 2005 press release Radnofsky formally called for a veterans' hospital south of San Antonio as soon as Hutchison entered the race, and she repeated that call in over 300 campaign stops, rallies, meetings and press conferences throughout Texas, as well as in media advisories and position papers including her most recent press release on February 2, 2006.

Succumbing to Radnofsky's advocacy, the activities of local veterans, South Texas legislators, and a resurgent Democratic Party, and feeling the pressure of declining support among Hispanics (56%, Nov. 2005 to 46% in Jan.2006) in the most recent Zogby Battleground States poll, Hutchison moved to limit the damage by finally moving ahead with a much-needed hospital.

"Hutchison, as Veterans Affairs Subcommittee chairwoman on the appropriations committee, has failed to fill the gap in projected VA budget shortfalls and has deserted our veterans," says Radnofsky. "Her resistance to a hospital south of San Antonio until forced by my campaign, and her repeated votes against increased veterans’ funding, demonstrate that our veterans need a real advocate in Washington, not a rubber stamp for the administration."

According to Radnofsky, "Sen. Hutchison, after following my lead on a VA hospital for South Texas veterans, now needs to follow my recommendations on guaranteed funding for the VA, protection of veterans and service personnel from unscrupulous lending practices and discrimination in bankruptcy proceedings, insurance reform, and federal research authorization for pharmacy and medical schools in South Texas and El Paso."

Posted by Perry Dorrell at 08:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

February 06, 2006

Join us in a protest with Cindy Sheehan on Feb. 20!

cindy-header.jpg
On Feb. 20, which is President's Day, Cindy Sheehan and the Gold Star Families for Peace, in conjunction with Veterans for Peace and Code Pink (and other groups) will be taking our protest of the Iraqi War to Barbara Bush, mother of the President. We want to ask her "Why did our sons die for your son's lies?" This is to be a peaceful, nonviolent anti-war protest/demonstration, mother to mother (and we all have mothers, right?).

Place: In front of St. Martin's Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road at Woodway in Tanglewood just outside 610 (the West Loop).
Time: 4-7 p.m. on Feb. 20

Posted by Lyn Wall at 08:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

February 05, 2006

Sunday Funnies (SOTU edition)




More --->




Posted by Perry Dorrell at 06:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

February 03, 2006

Democratic Primary Kick-off and Roundup Rally in Houston

roundup.jpgThe Harris County Democratic Party and over 20 Democratic Clubs are joining together for a Democratic Primary Kick-off and Roundup Rally in Houston Saturday Feb 25. This event will showcase our clubs and our candidates just before the primary elections.

Join us for fun, socializing, food, drink, and to support our Democratic candidates.

Flyer can be downloaded at http://www.bayareanewdemocrats.org/files/feb25rally.pdf

Sponsored by: This event is being sponsored by a collection of Democratic Clubs in the Harris County area including:
* I-10 East Democrats
* Area 5 Democrats
* Battleground Democrats
* Bay Area New Democrats (BAND)
* Democracy for Houston
* Greater Heights Democratic Club
* Harris County Democrats
* Harris County Democratic Party
* Harris County Young Democrats
* Katy Area New Democratic Organization (KANDO)
* Kingwood Democrats
* Meyerland Democrats
* Northwest Crossing Area Democrats
* Oil Patch Democrats
* ROAD Women
* San Jacinto Democratic Veterans Brigade
* Sharpstown Democrats
* Texas Progressive Populist Caucus.
* West Houston Democratic Club.
* West University Area Democratic Club

RSVPs ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: To RSVP for this event contact Kellen Wilson with your contact information. Name, address, email, phone and number in party.
Speakers and Program: To Be Announced.

Candidates and Elected Officials; To RSVP please contact John Cobarruvias

Time:5:00PM Social 6:30-8:00 Program

Cost: Confirmed reservation is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. $5.00 for bar b-q buffet.

Tables Available: Table will be available for candidates, clubs and organizations to display their items for sale, to advertise their clubs, or their candidates. We encourage clubs to have a table for recruiting purposes. Suggested donation is $100/table (exemptions available for new or small clubs)


Posted by John Cobarruvias at 07:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

February 02, 2006

Chris Bell on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 Tonight

CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360" will feature a story about the Chris Bell's role as the guy who had the guts to break the ethics truce and file the complaint against Tom DeLay that many say started the Hammer on his downfall. We're told it will air in the second hour, which is 11 pm in DC, 10 pm in most of Texas, and 9 pm in El Paso.
The Harris County Democratic Party supports and promotes all Democrats. The HCDP encourages and welcomes all Democratic candidates, even those with opponents in the March primary, to send HCDP news and events for posting.

Posted by Lyn Wall at 05:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

February 01, 2006

Texas Progressive Alliance launches

The Texas Progressive Alliance features seventeen of the the best blogs in the Lone Star State, and its mission is to advance the cause of progressive issues and candidates. It also features an advertising network for those who wish to deliver their message to over a quarter of a million Texas progressives weekly -- the readers of the following blogs:

Texads logo.jpg

The Agonist
Annatopia
Brains & Eggs
Burnt Orange Report
Common Sense
Capitol Annex
District Sixer
Eye on Williamson County
In The Pink Texas
Just Another Blog
The Jeffersonian
Mind Fyre
The People's Republic of Seabrook
Pink Dome
The Red State
Rhetoric & Rhythym
Truth Serum Blog
Wyld Card

Posted by Perry Dorrell at 03:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack