Airdate: Friday, September 1, 2006, at 7:30 p.m. on PBS.
(Check local listings at http://www.pbs.org/now/sched.html.)

Across the nation, states have enacted new laws supposedly designed to prevent voter fraud and avoid election-day debacles. But qualified voters may also be left out in the cold, especially minorities, the poor, the elderly and the disabled.

This week NOW looks at several states where these new rules may keep voters away from the polls in November.

Critics charge that the Bush administration is part of the problem as the U.S. Department of Justice, which is charged with protecting the rights of all voters, has signed off on a number of the new regulations.

In Florida, new penalties that can reach up to $5,000 for registration delays or problems, which forced traditional registration advocacy groups, like the League of Women Voters, to avoid registering voters for a crucial primary.

"The law has done harm because the League of Women Voters, as well as other organizations, were not able to register voters before the primary," said Dianne Wheatley-Giliotti, the president of the LWV in Florida.

Florida Rep. Ron Reagan defends the law saying "it's to encourage people to turn them [registration forms] in on time."

In Georgia, a new law requires residents to show photo identification before voting, blocking thousands of people who currently lack the proper ID as well as the means of acquiring it.

But are these voting barriers unintended consequences or intended outcomes? Some distrust the true motives of lawmakers.

"This is a concerted effort to make sure that certain people don't have the opportunity to vote, that they don't have the opportunity to participate in their own democracy," Georgia state representative Alisha Thomas Morgan told NOW.

Perspectives: Voter's Voices

State by State: Voting Rules and Restrictions

Personal Essay: Democracy in the Deep South

From Mother Jones: America's 11 Worst Places to Vote

Book Excerpt: "Stealing Democracy"

Primer: The Voting Rights Act

Posted by Aimee Mobley Turney at 10:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Keith Olbermann Video

Keith Olbermann's commentary on Rumsfeld's recent remarks last night serve to remind us what we're fighting for.

View the video below the fold:

From http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6210240

Aug. 30, 2006 | 8:34 p.m. ET

Feeling morally, intellectually confused?

The man who sees absolutes, where all other men see nuances and shades of meaning, is either a prophet, or a quack.

Donald H. Rumsfeld is not a prophet.

Mr. Rumsfeld’s remarkable speech to the American Legion yesterday demands the deep analysis—and the sober contemplation—of every American.

For it did not merely serve to impugn the morality or intelligence -- indeed, the loyalty -- of the majority of Americans who oppose the transient occupants of the highest offices in the land. Worse, still, it credits those same transient occupants -- our employees -- with a total omniscience; a total omniscience which neither common sense, nor this administration’s track record at home or abroad, suggests they deserve.

Dissent and disagreement with government is the life’s blood of human freedom; and not merely because it is the first roadblock against the kind of tyranny the men Mr. Rumsfeld likes to think of as “his” troops still fight, this very evening, in Iraq.

It is also essential. Because just every once in awhile it is right and the power to which it speaks, is wrong.

In a small irony, however, Mr. Rumsfeld’s speechwriter was adroit in invoking the memory of the appeasement of the Nazis. For in their time, there was another government faced with true peril—with a growing evil—powerful and remorseless.

That government, like Mr. Rumsfeld’s, had a monopoly on all the facts. It, too, had the “secret information.” It alone had the true picture of the threat. It too dismissed and insulted its critics in terms like Mr. Rumsfeld’s -- questioning their intellect and their morality.

That government was England’s, in the 1930’s.

It knew Hitler posed no true threat to Europe, let alone England.

It knew Germany was not re-arming, in violation of all treaties and accords.

It knew that the hard evidence it received, which contradicted its own policies, its own conclusions — its own omniscience -- needed to be dismissed.

The English government of Neville Chamberlain already knew the truth.

Most relevant of all — it “knew” that its staunchest critics needed to be marginalized and isolated. In fact, it portrayed the foremost of them as a blood-thirsty war-monger who was, if not truly senile, at best morally or intellectually confused.

That critic’s name was Winston Churchill.

Sadly, we have no Winston Churchills evident among us this evening. We have only Donald Rumsfelds, demonizing disagreement, the way Neville Chamberlain demonized Winston Churchill.

History — and 163 million pounds of Luftwaffe bombs over England — have taught us that all Mr. Chamberlain had was his certainty — and his own confusion. A confusion that suggested that the office can not only make the man, but that the office can also make the facts.

Thus, did Mr. Rumsfeld make an apt historical analogy.

Excepting the fact, that he has the battery plugged in backwards.

His government, absolute -- and exclusive -- in its knowledge, is not the modern version of the one which stood up to the Nazis.

It is the modern version of the government of Neville Chamberlain.

But back to today’s Omniscient ones.

That, about which Mr. Rumsfeld is confused is simply this: This is a Democracy. Still. Sometimes just barely.

And, as such, all voices count -- not just his.

Had he or his president perhaps proven any of their prior claims of omniscience — about Osama Bin Laden’s plans five years ago, about Saddam Hussein’s weapons four years ago, about Hurricane Katrina’s impact one year ago — we all might be able to swallow hard, and accept their “omniscience” as a bearable, even useful recipe, of fact, plus ego.

But, to date, this government has proved little besides its own arrogance, and its own hubris.

Mr. Rumsfeld is also personally confused, morally or intellectually, about his own standing in this matter. From Iraq to Katrina, to the entire “Fog of Fear” which continues to envelop this nation, he, Mr. Bush, Mr. Cheney, and their cronies have — inadvertently or intentionally — profited and benefited, both personally, and politically.

And yet he can stand up, in public, and question the morality and the intellect of those of us who dare ask just for the receipt for the Emporer’s New Clothes?

In what country was Mr. Rumsfeld raised? As a child, of whose heroism did he read? On what side of the battle for freedom did he dream one day to fight? With what country has he confused the United States of America?

The confusion we -- as its citizens— must now address, is stark and forbidding.

But variations of it have faced our forefathers, when men like Nixon and McCarthy and Curtis LeMay have darkened our skies and obscured our flag. Note -- with hope in your heart — that those earlier Americans always found their way to the light, and we can, too.

The confusion is about whether this Secretary of Defense, and this administration, are in fact now accomplishing what they claim the terrorists seek: The destruction of our freedoms, the very ones for which the same veterans Mr. Rumsfeld addressed yesterday in Salt Lake City, so valiantly fought.

And about Mr. Rumsfeld’s other main assertion, that this country faces a “new type of fascism.”

As he was correct to remind us how a government that knew everything could get everything wrong, so too was he right when he said that -- though probably not in the way he thought he meant it.

This country faces a new type of fascism - indeed.

Although I presumptuously use his sign-off each night, in feeble tribute, I have utterly no claim to the words of the exemplary journalist Edward R. Murrow.

But never in the trial of a thousand years of writing could I come close to matching how he phrased a warning to an earlier generation of us, at a time when other politicians thought they (and they alone) knew everything, and branded those who disagreed: “confused” or “immoral.”

Thus, forgive me, for reading Murrow, in full:

“We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty,” he said, in 1954. “We must remember always that accusation is not proof, and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law.

“We will not walk in fear, one of another. We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason, if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember that we are not descended from fearful men, not from men who feared to write, to speak, to associate, and to defend causes that were for the moment unpopular.”

And so good night, and good luck.

Posted by Lyn Wall at 09:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

August 27, 2006

Sunday Funnies

And there's more, as always ... --->

Posted by Perry Dorrell at 06:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 26, 2006

Impeachment Town Hall Meeting Featuring Ann Wright

Impeachment Town Hall Meeting

Start: Sep 4 2006 - 1:00pm

End: Sep 4 2006 - 5:00pm

Location

Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church

2025 West 11th Street

inside the 610 Loop, north of I-10, just west of T.C. Jester

Houston, TX, 77008

See map: Google Maps

Tired of high crimes & misdemeanors in the White House, but don't know what to do about them? 

On Labor Day, Sep. 4, join us for an

IMPEACHMENT TOWN HALL MEETING

with special guest and keynote speaker

ANN WRIGHT 

Learn how to support the US Constitution

and achieve (non-violent, of course) regime change here in the US.

Ann Wright is a veteran and former diplomat who resigned from the US State Department because of our invasion of Iraq.  She's a great speaker and very familiar with the lies leading up to the US invasion of Iraq and other impeachable offenses.

This is a non-partisan event.  The emphasis will be on the impeachable offenses committed by George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, how to talk with people about those offenses in a way that will help them understand the necessity for impeachment, and what we as citizens can and should do about it.  The goal is NOT to promote or bash a particular political party.

It will be in the Activity Building of the Resurrection Metropolitan Commmunity Church, where we had Cindy Sheehan's visit with the Bring Them Home Now Tour last year.

Mapquest map:  http://tinyurl.com/9hqfn

See below for Google map.

Protect the Constitution.  Restore American values.  Stop the lying, spying, and torture.

The program is still being worked out, so check back later for details.  Besides words from Ann Wright and some others, we plan to show some videos related to impeachment, and hope to have a workshop on how to talk with your friends, neighbors, and co-workers about impeachment from a postive point of view -- standing up for values we can all relate to, including supporting the Constitution, against torture, etc.

Ride the bus:
Metro bus routes that go directly to the site:  Nos. 48 and 40

http://www.ridemetro.org/Schedules_and_Maps/bus_routes.asp

Select either 40 or 48 to get the schedule and route map for those busses.

There is much at stake, and we need you to help save our democracy.
Note that this is Labor Day, a holiday for most of you.  After celebrating the gains we've made in this country because of organized labor, let's do some organizing to make sure our children and grandchildren can enjoy the benefits we've had from living in the US.  As citizens in a democracy, let's try to preserve what's left of it for them.

Tables & Literature
Progressive organizations are welcome to set up tables and/or to distribute literature to promote upcoming events and activities.

If you see counter-demonstrators, remember that we are people of peace, even if they do not understand what our government is doing to us and to the rest of the world.  Do not engage counter-demonstrators if they want to argue.  Smile and be friendly.

Help plan this event
Check the Progressive Action Alliance web site for more information

Event Sponsor:
Progressive Action Alliance

Event Phone Contact Information:
713-641-4941

Event Fee:
$5 suggested donation, no one turned away due to lack of funds

Posted by Lyn Wall at 02:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

August 24, 2006

Happy Anniversary, Katrina (you bitch)

One year ago as our merry little band of leftists was returning from Camp Casey, we heard on the radio that a strengthening hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico had turned toward New Orleans.

That bitch's name was Katrina.

Jordan Flaherty was an eyewitness on the ground; here's the archive of his postings. His journal begins here. I blogged about my experiences helping evacuees in the Astrodome and the GRB convention center, and I posted those of others'. Lyn's account was also significant.

Earlier this week the four-part documentary by Spike Lee, When the Levees Broke, aired on HBO. I urge you to watch it.

Here's a Katrina timeline from Think Progress.

This YouTube from scoutp is moving:

I'm left with these still-raw recollections, and the ominous foreboding that it could all happen again, shortly, here in Houston or Miami or New Orleans once more.

Do you feel safer?

Posted by Perry Dorrell at 05:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 22, 2006

Film: "The Time is Now" This Friday

Several groups are teaming up to present a film series of politically-oriented movies, and we hope you'll join us to relax and enjoy yourself while getting a chance to discuss important issues in an informal atmosphere, too.  Bring flyers for events you'd like to promote, too.

Feel free to forward this to others who may be interested -- it's open to all.

When: Friday, Aug 25, 6:30 - 9:30 pm (Fourth Friday of each month)

The August film is a new one called "The Time is Now" http://www.thetimeisnowthemovie.com/

The movie sheds light on episodes of American foreign policy that link our government to torture and other war crimes, and the arming and training of terrorists, both at home and abroad.  It connects these horrors to each of us, with an intimacy that is both comforting and at the same time unsettling.  "The Time is Now" heralds a new voice and a courageous new examination of America.  This searing political monologue exposes shocking discoveries in a way that is part plea, part confessional, and part outcry.  It emphasizes the need for a U.S. Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We'll have time for socializing (with refreshments) before and after each film, so you can visit with others while relaxing. Invite your friends and relatives who may not want to go to political meetings or protests, as we want these to be fun events.

A discussion will follow each film, for those who can stay.

The evening's schedule:

6:30 PM    Mix, mingle, munch, and mellow out with others. You are welcome to pass out flyers for your favorite issues, events, and candidates. You may bring drinks (BYOB) and food or snacks to share if you wish (not required, though).

7:30 PM    Movie begins - "The Time is Now" (78 minutes)

9:00 PM    Discussion on movie and how it relates to current events.

$4 suggested donation, no one turned away

Location for the August film:    Harris Co. Democratic Party Headquarters    1445 N. Loop West, Ste. 110,  Houston This is on the south side of the North Loop I-610, east of Ella Blvd (N. Loop exit 14). Turn into the first or second driveway after the IBEW sign.  There's free parking and it's wheelchair accessible.  The Democratic party is not sponsoring the movie, just letting us use the facility.

We may change locations for later films.  Check the web site below for updates and future film information.

For more details on the movie, or to download a flyer that you can download, print, and give to friends, go to http://progressiveactionalliance.org/ and click on the event title (Fourth Friday Flicks & Fun).  There is also a link to the movie web site in that notice, where you can watch a trailer for the movie online.

I hope to see you Friday night!

Posted by Lyn Wall at 08:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

August 20, 2006

Houston Chronicle Article Advocates Election Machine Reform

Last week it was an op-ed from our own Stan Merriman. Last week, Stan, Gerry Birnberg and others met with the Chronicle's editorial board and here's the result. Way to go!

From the Chronicle:

Aug. 19, 2006, 8:44PM Ballot backstop Texas should join the states mandating a paper trail to verify the accuracy of electronic voting machines

Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

In in an electronic age haunted by computer viruses and hackers, many people cling to paper security blankets, whether they come in the form of ATM receipts, itemized credit card charges or monthly bank statements.

Yet in the essential civic exercise of choosing our representatives, Texans who use electronic machines are forced to trust a fallible computer program with no way to check the accuracy of the results. Such a system amounts to faith-based voting.

With the knowledge that no computer is tamperproof and a growing list of malfunctions by direct recording electronic machines (DREs) during elections, 27 states have enacted laws requiring voting systems that produce paper ballots that voters can verify (VVPBs). After individuals make their selections and cast their vote electronically, a hard copy of the ballot is printed showing the selections. The voter views the results to make sure their vote is accurate, and then drops the ballot into a sealed box, providing a record independent of the electronic machine that can later be audited.

Texas, unfortunately, has no such requirement, and Harris County, which uses the Hart Intercivic machine and also conducts municipal elections, has no plans to purchase the company's optional printer system to create a paper trail. County Democratic Party officials are clamoring for such a system, as well as increased security and voting machine tests for accuracy.

"If folks can hack the Pentagon," Harris County Democratic Chairman Gerry Birnberg said, "they can certainly hack a machine in Harris County."

County Clerk Beverly Kaufman, a Republican, says such concerns are unfounded. "There's this kind of cavalier attitude on these folks' part that all you've got to do is just bolt on a printer and there it is," said Kaufman, who estimates that it would cost up to $8 million to buy equipment and reprogram the system with the capability to print ballots in three languages. "We're just not at a point here where we're able to do it if we wanted to, which we don't."

Kaufman also contends that the current system has the capability to produce a paper copy of results after the election is concluded. However, whatever would be printed out would simply reflect what the system recorded and would not detect computer malfunctions, erased votes or fraudulent manipulation of programming.

In a report this year on electronic voting machines entitled "Malfunction and Malfeasance," researchers for the nonpartisan group Common Cause concluded that DRE machines "are vulnerable to malfunction and also to tampering in which a computer-savvy hacker with minimal access to the machine could introduce malicious code to the DRE software and change the results of an election."

The report cites an incident during this spring's Texas primary in which voting machines in Tarrant County, which uses the same system as Harris, recorded 100,000 votes that were never cast. Hart Intercivic officials took responsibility for the programming mistake that caused the overcount but discounted the incident because votes for all candidates were boosted equally.

Last year the Commission on Federal Election Reform led by former Secretary of State James Baker, a Republican, and former President Jimmy Carter, a Democrat, issued election reform recommendations that included a call for a federal law requiring all electronic voting systems to be equipped with paper printouts. Legislation died in the last session of Congress but has been reintroduced by Rep. Rush Holt, D-N.J. A similar bill, the Voter Integrity and Verification Act, has been introduced in the Senate by Republican John Ensign of Nevada.

Since Texas has yet to approve paper trails that voters can verify, it is not Kaufman's responsibility to make that decision. The Texas Legislature and Congress should pass legislation mandating the installation of paper audits on all electronic voting machines.

They are more expensive and might create more work for election officials, but VVPBs are necessary to boost voter confidence in system and give candidates recourse to recounts.

Posted by Lyn Wall at 09:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Sunday Funnies (The terrorists are winning edition)

More ... --->

Posted by Perry Dorrell at 05:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 16, 2006

Sign President Clinton's 60th Birthday Card

President Clinton celebrates his 60th birthday on Saturday, August 19th. As you may remember, we commemorated his birthday last year by surprising him with an online card signed by tens of thousands of people. Many of you even took the extra step of making a contribution to the Clinton Foundation, a gift he greatly appreciated because those gifts go to fund our life-saving work around the world.

President Clinton was deeply touched by this tremendous outpouring of goodwill. For this 60th birthday, we'd like to surprise him once again with messages and support from even more people.

You can send your birthday greeting to President Clinton by visiting:

http://www.ClintonFoundation.org/birthday

The past year has been very exciting for President Clinton and everyone at the Clinton Foundation. We have continued making progress in the global fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic by bringing treatment to more than 400,000 people, including children and those living in rural areas. Through the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, we are taking concrete action to reverse the deadly trend of childhood obesity in America, including a landmark beverage agreement that will affect at least 35 million students by providing healthier drink options for children in our schools. We are also working to make a difference in the battle to reverse the effects of climate change through the Clinton Climate Initiative; convening leaders from around the world to take action on critical issues through the Clinton Global Initiative; empowering urban small businesses in the United States; and much more.

President Clinton has dedicated his life to public service, and he continues to take on many critical new challenges through the Clinton Foundation. Show your support for his important efforts by signing his birthday card and considering a donation to the ongoing work of the Foundation.

Sign President Clinton's card by visiting:

http://www.ClintonFoundation.org/birthday

We will collect all of your e-cards on President Clinton's birthday, present them to him and take photos so you can see it, and even post some of them on our website. Last year's cards and contributions meant so much to him, and I know your support for the Clinton Foundation will make his 60th birthday even more special.

Please join us in wishing President Clinton a happy 60th birthday by visiting:

http://www.ClintonFoundation.org/birthday

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

Security Theater

Great posts on Bruce Schneier's weblog, Schneier on Security about recent events.

Last Week's Terrorism Arrests, a post about security theater: measures designed to make us feel safer but not actually safer

Faux Disclosure, a little bit of geek speak but an easy enough read that could have easily substituted the names of DRE vendors for Apple and Microsoft. "The further we move away from full disclosure, the less incentive vendors have to fix problems and the more at-risk we all are."

On the Implausibility of the Explosives Plot, even the deliberately ignorant would have a rough time refuting this analysis of the chemistry involved in the alleged UK terrorist plot.

Bruce Schneir has testified on security before the United States Congress on many occasions and is a member of the Brennan Center Task Force on Voting System Security.

Harris County election judges have possession of Hart InterCivic eSlate System Judge's Booth Controllers (JBCs) for up to 72 hours before elections.

Support David Van Os, your Texas Democratic Party Judicial Candidates and James G. Pierre.

Posted by Aimee Mobley Turney at 07:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 15, 2006

The Perplexing World of Politics: a behind the scenes look at a political campaign

Featuring Jim Henley, Congressional Candidate for District 7

Jim Henley, an award-winning career educator, will speak about:

The Perplexing World of Politics
A behind the Scenes Look at a Political Campaign
Featuring Jim Henley: Congressional Candidate for District 7

• The main issues and Henley's positions in the upcoming November election
• What goes into running a political campaign
• How teens not old enough to vote can still make a difference

Date: Sunday August 20
Time: 4 to 6 PM

Location: Bellaire Civic Center (See map: Google Maps, Yahoo! Maps)
7008 S. Rice, Bellaire, TX 77401

Posted by Perry Dorrell at 08:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 13, 2006

Join the Galleria Democrats this Thursday

Join us for the Galleria Democrats meeting on Thursday 8/17 at the Magnolia Bar & Grill (Richmond at Fountainview). Let's meet at 6:30pm and we can eat (or drink) and listen to Marty Morrison talk about voter registration. This is your opportunity to be a deputy voter registrar for Harris County. Marty will give you the specifics.

I'll also have some info about precinct organization, i.e. how to obtain lists of Democratic and swing voters in your precinct etc. This will help "Get Out The Democratic Voters" in November.

Only 2 1/2 months until the election! See you on Thursday!

Posted by Lyn Wall at 01:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Needed a Paper Trail for County Ballots

This op-ed by Stan Merriman. was published in today's Chronicle:. Stan has been working tirelessly on the issue of voting security and serves on the Voting Security committee for HCDP.

Needed: A paper trail for county ballots County clerk and mayor shouldn’t ignore troubling situation any longer

By STAN MERRIMAN

A year and a half-long study of the security vulnerabilities of electronic voting systems has just been published by the Brennan Center For Justice at New York University, deploying the expertise of a panel of computer security experts, including Dr. Dan Wallach of Rice University. This seminal study recommends a regime of tests and a voter-verifiable paper trail ( VVPAT). It is referring tofor the huge Hart InterCivic, Inc., electronic voting system right here used in Harris County.

Read the rest of the op-ed here.

Posted by Lyn Wall at 08:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Sunday Funnies (an extra helping of incoherence edition)

More ... --->

Posted by Perry Dorrell at 07:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 11, 2006

Councilwoman Sekula-Gibbs Piles On

Well, at least she's being a good sport about it. Thus spake the Chron:

Councilwoman joins write-in bid

Houston City Councilwoman Shelley Sekula-Gibbs announced Thursday that she would seek the state Republican Party's support as the write-in candidate for the seat once held by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

She would fill out her application to become a write-in candidate only, she said, if she got the party's backing...

"It will be tough but not impossible" to win as a write-in, said Sekula-Gibbs, a Clear Lake dermatologist. "What I hope will happen is that the Republican Party will come together and select one candidate who will then receive their full backing. I hope that candidate is me."

Let me get this straight. She'll run as an independent against the Democrat, but only if the Republicans say it's okay. Like having our own little local Lieberman.

Dr. Sekula-Gibbs is, of course, joining Sugar Land Mayor David Wallace in chirping about the nest for the Big Worm of approval dispensed by Mama Bird--in this case the state Republican party. Both are calling in favors, scratching backs, getting all chummy with precinct chairs and activists in a private little calf-scramble to become the next officially unofficial Republican in the race this November. This is such an unseemly display--essentially a mockery of the democratic process--with insider lobbying, good ol' boy elbow rubbing, and community pitched against community, Fort Bend vs Houston, as these candidates (bound to be joined by one or two more hopefuls) jockey thru a closed door screening process for the Republican's officially unofficial support.

The Republicans this year have maneuvered themselves in letting the party machinery vet their candidates, not their party's rank and file members. This is pretty big slap in the face to ordinary voters of the 22nd District.

If I recall my history correctly (and if I can't HISD has made a terrible mistake in hiring me) the whole point of the progressive era reforms 100 years ago was to make sure that elections and even partisan nominations were decided among the general public, democratically, not by closed door bartering among clubby insiders. The Texas GOP seems to be taking a huge step backwards here, mostly in deference to the corrupt mess that Tom DeLay left in his wake as he contrived to slither out of office this summer right after the primaries, only after it was too late for the people to have their say.

If I were a Republican in the 22nd, I would be going thru a bit of buyer's remorse right about now. I would be looking around to see if there wasn't a party out there that--agree or disagree on any given issue--at least believed in democracy enough to trust and value my opinion.

Posted by Bucky at 09:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

August 10, 2006

Houston Peak Oil Conference, Sunday 8/13

Second Annual Peak Oil Mini-Conference
Houston, Sunday August 13, 1 p.m. -- 5:15 p.m. (Registration begins 12:30 p.m.)

First Unitarian Universalist Church, 5200 Fannin at Southmore

$10 donation, no one turned away for lack of funds. Space is limited, so please pre-register at the website. Discuss "How can we cope with peak oil?" with:

** Jeffrey J. Brown, independent geologist in the Dallas area, author of "What the mainstream media are not telling you about the run-up in oil prices" and "Texas and lower 48 oil production as a model for Saudi Arabia and the world"
** Alan S. Drake, a consulting engineer, former accountant, and professional researcher based in New Orleans and author of "The electrification of transportation as a response to the peaking of world oil production".
** Karl Pepple, City of Houston, Director of Environmental Programming
** Fred Yebra, Austin Energy, Director of Demand Side Management
** Chris Boyer, Vice President of Houston Renewable Energy Group, a non-profit organization for citizens

See Conference Agenda (.pdf) for a list of workshops. Sponsored by: Houston Peak Oil Progressives, First Unitarian Universalist Church Community Involvement Committee, Oil Patch Democrats, Houston Climate Protection Alliance and Harris County Green Party.

Posted by Perry Dorrell at 07:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 08, 2006

Cut and Don't Run - DeLay Style

The Chronicle is reporting that Tom DeLay will withdraw his name from the ballot in the race for Congress in District 22. Yesterday's refusal by Scalia to accept the appeal means that the Republicans will not have a candidate on the ballot in District 22.

Former U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay will support a write-in candidate for his old seat, his daughter said today, one day after the state Republican Party lost its legal battle to replace him on the November ballot.

In a statement, DeLay said he would withdraw his name from the ballot. Since state law does not allow a party to replace an official nominee who withdraws from the race, no Republican candidate will be on the ballot.
Click to learn more...

Dani DeLay Ferro sent the Chronicle an e-mail confirming her father's intentions to support a write-in candidate.

Juanita points out that August 8th is the anniversary of the day that Richard Nixon resigned.

Martha has a very interesting analysis of the rules for write-in candidates.

Congratulations to the voters of District 22 for finally being free of Tom DeLay!

Posted by Lyn Wall at 02:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Guys, we need to grow some ovaries.

Please read this great Letter to the Editor submitted by Jim Rine to the Houston Chronicle. I sure hope they print it..

Guys, we need to grow some ovaries.

This last weekend in Crawford, I finally realized that estrogen has replaced testosterone has the “power hormone.”  This fact struck me during an ecumenical service last Sunday (6 August 2006) at Camp Casey III in Crawford.  As one speaker admonished us “To leave the confines of our peace groups and go into our neighbor’s congregations and speak out Jesus’s message “Blessed are the peacemakers.  We Christians need to grow… you know….”  And Cindy Sheehan spoke up and said, “Some ovaries!,” to a loud applause.

Where’s the proof to my premise?  Well for one, George Bush, the commander-in-chief of the most powerful nation in the world, acknowledged that Crawford, Texas was not big enough for the both of them, by announcing an early departure upon the arrival in town of his new neighbor, Cindy Sheehan.  The Dixie Chicks have replaced the likes of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young as the speak-up-to-power rockers.  And who has taken the place of Martin Luther King, Tom Hayden, and the Black Panthers?  Cindy Sheehan, Susan Sarandon, and CodePink.  CodePink?

In Crawford last Sunday, I spoke to a remarkable CodePink member, Martha from Portland, OR, just before we marched to the gate of George Bush’s ranch. This retired teacher who, although needing a cane to walk the miles in the hot afternoon sun, had already been arrested outside of the White House in D.C.  In our conversation, we spoke about her time with the co-founder of CodePink, that “unreasonable” Texas woman Diane Wilson, with whom Martha had spent many hours in Lafayette Park across from the White House.   Diane, who has been on a health-threatening water-only fast since July 4th, was arrested with Martha when they blocked an entrance to the White House during the visit by Tony Blair.  Also arrested then was Ret. U.S. Army Colonel Ann Wright, who “had the ovaries” to resign from the State Department in protest of the then impending Iraq War while her boss, Colin Powell, was knowingly lying to the UN and the American people.  Remember the “lady in pink” arrested during the recent speech to congress by the Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki.  Yep, another CodePinker.

I rest my case.

Jim Rine
Secretary
Veterans for Peace, Chapter 12

Posted by Lyn Wall at 08:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 07, 2006

Even Scalia won't help DeLay get off the ballot!

Courtesy of lonestarproject.net

Supreme Court Denies Texas Republican's Request for Stay in Tom DeLay Ballot Challenge

Just a short while ago, Justice Antonin Scalia denied the Texas Republican's request for a stay in Tom DeLay's ballot challenge - less than one day after it had been filed.

While Texas Republicans have a few legal options left, their practical options are essentially exhausted.

Because Rick Perry refused to call a special election and because Tom DeLay and the Republican Party have insisted on pursuing a flawed scheme to overturn the GOP primary, voters in the 22nd District of Texas have gone three months without a voice in Congress.

Tom DeLay remains the Republican nominee for Congress in the 22nd District of Texas. He may withdraw from the ballot if he wishes, but he cannot be replaced by another candidate. After attempting to "cut and run" instead of facing voters in a fair election, Tom DeLay must now decide to "run or cut".

You can read the Application for Stay Here

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

August 06, 2006

Texas Progressive Alliance Launches ‘TexRoots’ Fundraising Initiative

Bloggers Unite To Raise Funds For Texas Democratic Candidates

The Texas Progressive Alliance today launched ‘TexRoots,’ an online fund-raising campaign designed raise funds for Democratic candidates in Texas via the internet. The launch of ‘TexRoots’ is the first major coordinated fund-raising effort by Texas blogs of its kind.

The Alliance, a group of blogs and bloggers united to promote Democratic and progressive candidates and causes, launched ‘TexRoots’ Monday with solicitations for three Texas candidates: Hank Gilbert, candidate for Agriculture Commissioner, Juan Garcia, candidate for Texas House of Representatives in District 32, and Shane Sklar, candidate for U.S. House in Texas House District 14. TexRoots works with the nationally-recognized fund-raising tools of ActBlue.com.

The candidates were selected by the more than 20 member blogs of the Alliance and comprise the first set of what is likely to be as many as five groups of candidates solicited for prior to the November general election. Candidates selected for this and future TexRoots solicitations were picked after a number of factors were considered including the strength of the candidates and their Republican opponents, the candidate’s use of the internet and blogging, and the demographics of the districts of the candidates.

“This first group of candidates comprises a good cross-section of regions, ideologies, and ballot races,” said Anna Brosovic of Arlington, founder of the Alliance and author of Annatopia.com. “We have a statewide candidate, a congressional candidate, and a candidate for Texas House of Representatives which we believe are worthy of the intention of the Texas Netroots,” Brosovic continued.

“These particular candidates range from a career military officer trying to upset one of the state’s most entrenched, out-of-touch Republicans in the Texas Legislature to a conservative Democrat opposing the only Congressman in Texas to vote against Hurricane Katrina aide, to a former high school agriculture teacher opposing one of the Trans Texas Corridor’s greatest allies. It is really a diverse group,” said Karl-Thomas Musselman of Austin, another founding member of the Alliance and owner of BurntOrangeReport.com.

TexRoots came into being earlier this summer, when the Alliance’s member blogs launched a fund-raising drive to activate ActBlue in Texas. After raising $5,000 for this effort, the bloggers have worked behind the scenes for several weeks in anticipation of today’s announcement.

“We are pleased that we have been able to raise the funds necessary to activate this important fund-raising tool. Netroots money has made the difference between merely being competitive and winning in races all across the country, including here in Texas.  Through TexRoots, we can do our part to ensure online support and funding for many of Texas’ Democratic candidates,” said Charles Kuffner, a Houston blogger who writes OffTheKuff.com and is another founding member of the Alliance.

TexRoots follows a formula similar to the popular national Netroots Candidates fund raising solicitations launched earlier this year by blogs such as DailyKos and MyDD. However, TexRoots focuses only on Texas candidates.

Solicitations are made by individual bloggers at Alliance member blogs. Typically, member blogs will put up a post discussing the candidates and inviting readers to contribute to fund-raising efforts online. More than 20 Texas bloggers from the Rio Grande Valley and Austin to Dallas/Fort Worth and East Texas participated in Monday’s launch.

Texas Progressive Alliance

TexRoots Candidates Biographies

August 7, 2006 Launch

Juan M. Garcia, III (D-Corpus Christi)

Texas House of Representatives, District 32

[Opponent: Gene Seaman (R-Corpus Christi), incumbent] 
 
 

Juan M. Garcia III is a second generation naval aviator with multiple deployments to the Persian Gulf. He graduated with honors from UCLA, where he gave the 1988 commencement address. He earned his law degree from Harvard and his master's degree in public policy from Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

After completing his naval officer and flight training, Garcia received his "Wings of Gold" at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. Lieutenant Commander Garcia flew 30 armed missions in the Persian Gulf, including an emergency landing in a sandstorm, served as a top aide to the deputy Commander in Chief of U.S. Naval Forces in Europe, and served in Operation Allied Force in Kosovo. He served on the aircraft carrier USS Constellation in support of the enforcement of the no-fly zone in Iraq. His military awards include the Joint Commendation Medal, the Naval Commendation Medal, and the Naval Achievement Medal.

In 1999, Garcia was one of 16 Americans selected to serve as a White House Fellow, the nation's premier leadership development program whose alumni include Henry Cisneros and Colin Powell, and worked as a special assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Education.

Garcia left active duty in 2004 and continues to serve as an instructor pilot at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi with the Naval Reserves.

A practicing lawyer, Garcia has chaired the Board of Citizens for Educational Excellence, and serves on the Board of Governors for Leadership Corpus Christi.

Garcia and his wife Denise, who met while classmates at Harvard Law, have four children, including twin seven-year-old sons, a five-year old daughter, and a two-year old son. They live in Corpus Christi. 

Shane Sklar, (D-Edna)

Fourteenth Congressional District of Texas

[Opponent: Ron Paul (R-Surfside), Incumbent]

Shane Reese Sklar is a fourth-generation rancher who grew up in the heart of the 14th Congressional District. He's an energetic, nationally known leader in agriculture who has fought hard for Texas cattlemen and traditional small town values. 
 
 

For the last four years, Sklar has served as the Executive Director of the Independent Cattlemen's Association of Texas (ICA) and has earned a reputation for innovation and hard work.

Under his leadership, ICA's membership doubled at a time when most agricultural groups saw their numbers shrink. Sklar also played a key role in making sure the 2002 federal Farm Bill required country-of-origin labeling for retail beef.

Recently, news reporters from across the country turned to Sklar for accurate information and knowledgeable opinions regarding the outbreak of mad cow disease in Texas.

Prior to joining ICA, Sklar was a key member of the staff of Congressman Chet Edwards, who represents a Central Texas district. As Edwards' Field Representative, Sklar traveled throughout the district updating constituents about important issues and representing the Congressman at district events. Sklar also served as the Field Director for Edwards' successful 2000 re-election campaign.

Sklar is a 1994 graduate of Edna High School, and earned a B.S. in Agriculture Business with a minor in Political Science from Sam Houston State University. He is a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity and a member of Saint Agnes Catholic Church in Edna. He is married to Jill Turner of Anahuac, Texas. 

Hank Gilbert (D-Whitehouse)

Agriculture Commissioner

[Opponent: Todd Staples, (R-Palestine), open seat] 
 
 

Hank Gilbert's agricultural career began on the family ranch—a 150 head commercial cow/calf operation in rural Smith County in northeast Texas. In high school and in college, he was active in Future Farmers of America as Area President. He was instrumental in forming the collegiate FFA chapter at Tyler Junior College, and was the FFA Representative to the Student Council at Texas A&M University.

After graduation, Hank taught high school agriculture for 13 years at LaPoyner Independent School District and in Pittsburg ISD, both in East Texas. After leaving the teaching profession, Hank has continued to work with agricultural youth both as a volunteer 4-H leader in his community, as well as a volunteer with the local FFA chapter. He believes that the future of Texas agriculture, as well as our country, depends upon the quality of today's youth.

Hank has served as a director of the Texas Simmental/Simbrah Association and currently serves as the President of Walnut Grove Water Supply, a member-owned cooperative. As the president, he has been able to cut operational expenses and reduce the member’s water rates by 35%, while still making the necessary improvements to the system.

Hank, his wife Karla, two sons, Peyton and Cody, own and operate Peyco's Land & Cattle. They raise and market registered Simbrah cattle on ranches around the Tyler area of northeast Texas. His sons exhibit their cattle at fairs and show throughout Texas and the southern U.S.

His affiliations include: Texas State Teacher's Associations, Texas State Simmental/Simbrah Association, Vocational Agriculture Teacher's of Texas, The Association of Former Students, Texas A&M University, Texas Farmers Union, Texas 4-H, American Simmental/Simbrah Association, Texas Young Farmers, Southern Baptist Convention, and East Texas Farm & Ranch Club. 

Texas Progressive Alliance

Participating Blogs

August 7, 2006 Launch

The Agonist

Annatopia

Bay Area Houston

Brains & Eggs

Burnt Orange Report

Capitol Annex

Casual Soap Box

Common Sense

Corked Bats

District Sixer

Dos Centavos

Eye on Williamson County

Greg's Opinion

In The Pink Texas

The Jeffersonian

HoustonDemocrats.com

Just Another Blog

Kuff's World

McBlogger

Marc's Miscellany

MindSpeak

Musings

North Texas Liberal

Off The Kuff

People's Republic of Seabrook

Pink Dome

The Red State

Refinish69

South Texas Chisme

Texas KAOS

Truth Serum Blog

Wyld Card

Half Empty

View From 22

Posted by Lyn Wall at 09:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Sunday Funnies (The Passion of the Anti-Semite edition)

More ... --->

Posted by Perry Dorrell at 07:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 04, 2006

Henley Campaign Bus Arrives Saturday At 3:00 P.M.!

The Henley Campaign Bus arrives Saturday, August 5, 3:00 PM at Headquarters! The press will be present for the occasion and we would like all supporters to come out for the photo opportunity! Help us celebrate the arrival of our mobile campaign headquarters! After the brief event, everyone is invited aboard to take our first spin around West U! A big thanks to Jim's former student, Elliot Champaign of Lake Charles, Louisiana (Class of '87) for locating the bus and adding air conditioning, window tinting and digital campaign signs!

Date: Saturday, August 5
Time: 3:00 p.m. Location: Henley for Congress Campaign headquarters
2482 Bolsover (NE corner of Bolsover & Kelvin in Rice Village)
Houston, TX 77005

Map: Google

Posted by Sarah Gonzales at 03:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

On call with Barbara Radnofsky

The next Senator from the Great State spent some time with a few of us blog-types on the phone last night, talking about her campaign, her opponent, and the brightening Democratic prospects in November.

Radnofsky had spent the day in Southeast Texas -- Jasper, Beaumont, Orange, Port Arthur, and Baytown -- talking to newspaper editorial boards and seeing firsthand the still-unrepaired damage from last summer's Hurricane Rita. In our 45-minute call we discussed immigration, education, healthcare, and veterans' affairs as well as polling and debates.

Some highlights follow, dear reader, but first take a moment and go read a little about Pence-Hutchison, our incumbent Aging Prom Queen's response to the immigration 'problem'.

Shorter version: Kay Bailey is asking all people in the United States without proper documentation to "just please go home".

Seriously. She calls it 'self-deportation'.

Once they do so, they can proceed to Ellis-Island type 'centers' -- buildings to be constructed by Halliburton, I'm guessing -- where they will be medically examined and biometrically tagged.

I'll bet you think I'm making this up, don't you?

Those people who get the US Government's Seal of Approval get a shiny new ID card matching their ear tag and the chance to apply for something called a Good Neighbor SAFE visa, and while they wait, Uncle Sam gets busy tightening up border security Republican-style (which means triple fences, more helicopters, guards, and much larger detention facilities). This process appears to be designed to last two years, and then once the President of the United States has certified our country's borders as "secure", then people get to begin returning – provided, that is, that they can prove they have a job waiting for them.

Oh yes, one more thing, this 'guest worker' program is limited to citizens of Latin American countries which have ratified NAFTA and CAFTA.

After twelve years -- seventeen if they need the extra time -- these folks can apply for citizenship without leaving the US. Yesterday on Lou Dobbs' program they were calling this legislation the "Amnesty for All" bill.

That label alone likely queers the deal with the conservative hard-liners.

Fabulous plan, isn't it? I'll bet the eleven to twelve million undocumented workers here now will be rushing to take advantage of this opportunity.

Hutchison's own opinion of her legislation?

"What Mike and I are trying to do -- we've been meeting for a month -- is put something out there and say, 'Let's start.' We're not saying this is perfection. We're not saying this is the end result."

OK, now that you've managed to stop laughing, let's point out that Barbara Radnofsky thinks this idea is just as bizarre and doomed to failure as you do. This is unfortunately typical of the impact Hutchison has made throughout her tenure; it’s another example why the senior Senator from Texas has been so ineffectual. After thirteen years she still has no idea how to craft or even advance legislation, much less serve the interests of any but a narrow band of her constituents.

Radnofsky used a fishing term to describe Hutchison's incompetence: "she hasn't put out the traps." I don't know if Barbara has ever done any crabbing along the Texas coast, but I have, and I damn sure know what that phrase means: it means someone is too lazy even to catch themselves something to eat. Barbara probably meant that Hutchison hadn't done her due diligence. I took it to mean that Kay Bailey has simply done the same thing she has done all her life -- waited for someone else to catch, clean, cook and serve the food she eats -- and do the dishes afterwards.

And that's really an apt microcosm of Kay Bailey's political career. Cheerleader, homecoming queen, TV weather girl. She's never worked for anything in her entire life; it's all been handed to her. It's also part of why she refuses to agree to a debate with Barbara, describing herself as "too busy" even as she skips votes in the Senate.

Kay Bailey is weaker than rainwater. She’s the human equivalent of pablum. And everyone -- her colleagues, her supporters, and her constituents -- all know it. It’s why when you write or call her office you never get anything but a canned response.

KBH did manage to become a lawyer, though her interpretation of the law occasionally falls short of the law's actual definition, such as when she considered Karl Rove's (alleged) perjury to be a technicality, or when she recently asked Alberto Gonzales to simply overlook the anti-trust provisions being violated in the Wright Amendment.

These are only a few of the reasons why the woman once described as "the most popular politician in Texas" is suddenly slumping in the polls, even as Radnofsky begins to creep up. Texans -- like the rest of America -- have developed an acute case of Bush fatigue, and Kay Bailey has been one of the many enablers of its disastrous agenda.

At the conclusion of our conference call I asked Barbara specifically about the odd phenomenon of Democratic disillusionment, expressed in MSM articles like this one, and she said she'd experienced it in her nearly five hundred trips around the state, and that she, like Chris Bell and David Van Os in previous Texblogosphere calls before her, had also sensed a turning of the tide. The outrage of Republican policies in Washington and Austin has been expressed repeatedly by the Republicans who have shown up at Courthouse Tourstops and Trans-Texas Corridor hearings. The momentum is clearly shifting, the Traditional Media is largely unaware of it, and Democrats up and down the ballot will be the beneficiary.

Next week, as part of the push to November, the Texas Progressive Alliance (of which this blog is a founding member) will announce our first Texroots-endorsed candidates. Many of the Democratic candidates you have already read about here will be featured. A call to arms -- including of the financial kind -- will be part of that appeal.

Texas is going to turn a little more blue, and we're all going to have a hand in it.

Posted by Perry Dorrell at 02:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 03, 2006

Court Ruled DeLay's Name Stays on Ballot

The Associated Press | Link to article
Thursday, August 3, 2006; 2:33 PM

NEW ORLEANS -- A federal appeals court panel on Thursday refused to let Texas Republicans replace Tom DeLay's name on the November congressional ballot.

A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a ruling by U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks, who said in July that DeLay name had to stay on the ballot even though he quit from Congress and moved to Virginia.

DeLay won a March primary before resigning from Congress on June 9. He is awaiting trial in Texas state court on money laundering and conspiracy charges alleging that illegal corporate cash helped pay for legislative campaigns in 2002.

Republicans want to pick another nominee to face Democrat Nick Lampson in November. Democrats sued to keep DeLay on the ballot. Keeping him on the ballot gives them the opportunity to make the indicted former House majority leader their symbol for claims that the Republicans are corrupt.

Thursday's ruling said that GOP state chairwoman Tina Benkiser acted unconstitutionally when she tried to remove DeLay as the party nominee because he lived in Virginia. Democrats had noted that DeLay's wife, Christine, still lives in the DeLays' house in Sugar Land, just outside Houston.

The U.S. Constitution says that anyone who lives in the state on the day of the election is qualified to run for Congress, the 5th Circuit said.

"Proof of DeLay's present residency may suggest where he will be in the future; however, it does not put the matter beyond dispute or question," the opinion said.

Posted by Sarah Gonzales at 02:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 02, 2006

John Culberson - Flawed judgment

Rep. Culberson's decision to oppose all options for Richmond rail undermines transit interests of both his constituents and the entire city. | Link to article
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

It's fitting that Rep. John Culberson chose a Montrose area hot dog eatery as the site to declare his opposition to the use of any part of Richmond for the westside portion of the light rail University corridor. Instead of providing responsible leadership, the 7th District GOP official is attempting to score political points with a highly vocal anti-rail minority at the expense of everyone else.

Last year Culberson joined then House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land and Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison in supporting the Metropolitan Transit Authority's successful bid for federal funding for a regional transit plan that included westside rail. But old political habits die hard, and Culberson now seems to be reverting to his past political stance as a knee-jerk opponent to all things rail.

In letters to Mayor Bill White and Metro chairman David Wolff, Culberson makes the factually unsupported claim that 97 percent of the people who live, work or own property on Richmond strongly oppose Metro's plans. Since the transit agency is considering a number of options for either putting rail along all of Richmond or utilizing crossover routes at various points to Westpark, one wonders what crystal ball the congressman was using to come up with those numbers.

Since more than 700 residents have signed petitions supporting rail and the operators of Greenway Plaza and other major businesses on Richmond have welcomed it, Culberson's 97 percent figure is nothing more than political wishful thinking. Culberson's clout on the congressional committee that apportions federal transit dollars has given him his power to hold the region's entire mobility plan hostage to his own political agenda. In his letter to the mayor he singled out White and himself "as the two elected officials with primary responsibility for mass transit funding in Houston to protect our constituents and to ensure that their nearly unanimous decision is honored." The congressman has got it wrong. Only Mayor White is responsible for the city's needs as a whole and near unanimity has never been a requirement for civic progress.

In any major public works project, there will be opposition from some homeowners and businesses. As Metro supporters note, Culberson had no problem with supporting the condemnation of hundreds of properties in the expansion of the Katy Freeway.

Culberson's Democratic opponent in the November elections, Jim Henley, believes that this is a local issue and "we should follow the leadership of the mayor, Metro and City Council."

The congressman's position that rail cannot be built on any part of Richmond would doom any effort to create a westside rail link to the proposed Galleria area Uptown line and bus routes beyond. Without at least a partial Richmond rail, there would be no way to tie the elements of the Metro transit plan into a working whole that would remove thousands of cars from the streets and lessen congestion.

In basing his opposition to Richmond rail on spurious figures and questionable reasoning, Culberson has done the city and his constituents a grave disservice.

Posted by Sarah Gonzales at 11:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack