Texas Dems Ask For Mail Voting (& Prepare For Online Conv.)

The Texas State Democratic Convention is scheduled to be held in San Antonio from June 4th thru June 6th. But the Coronavirus may well throw a kink in that plan. Many experts predict the Coronavirus crisis may not be over by then. If it's not, and San Antonio officials prohibit a gathering of several thousand people, the convention will not be able to be held. What is to be done?

State Democratic Party officials have been wrestling with that very possible scenario. And they have plans to conduct an online convention. Executive Director Manny Garcia said delegates to the state convention will be registered online -- after being chosen in their county or senatorial district conventions. Garcia said, “If the city of San Antonio shuts us down, we’ll have an online convention with online voting and an online show”. 

Delaying the convention is not really an option, since the national convention is slated for early July.

And that's not the only thing that may require some changes. When Texas had its primary on March 3rd, not all races were decided. Some will require a run-off election -- like the race for U.S. Senate on the Democratic ticket. These races would be decided by an election scheduled for May (when the Coronavirus crisis will most likely still be going on).

State Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa is requesting that the run-off elections be conducted only by mail-in ballots. Here is the letter he sent to officials in the office of the Texas Secretary of State (which oversees Texas elections):

The letter we sent to the Texas Secretary of State: 

Dear Keith, Christina, and Kristi,

Our team is still eager to talk to you by phone to discuss the planning for the May 2 and May 26 elections, as I emailed you about last week. However, since COVID-19 contingency planning should be moving quickly, we wanted to put our thoughts and suggested course of action on the table as soon as possible. 

Under the current and projected conditions involving COVID-19, it does not seem viable for Texas to hold meaningful elections in May in which all eligible voters can participate if those elections involve polling place-based voting. Many of the facilities typically used for polling places are closing down and the majority of our election workers are older adults who have now been advised by the CDC to remain at home in order to avoid exposure to COVID-19. 

We should develop contingency plans now that allow the May 2 and May 26 elections to be held entirely by mail to avoid the risks of spreading COVID-19 at polling places and to avoid the many logistical barriers that we are likely to face as this crisis intensifies, polling places close, and our normal pool of poll workers practice social distancing and seclusion. Simply reducing the number of polling places is not a viable option, as that will present insurmountable barriers for many voters to be able to cast their ballots. An all-mail election in which county election officials mail a ballot to every registered voter is the only realistic option that ensures meaningful participation in the elections while also protecting public health.   Fortunately, the basic infrastructure to implement wide scale, mail-in voting already exists.

We have already seen other states like Georgia and Louisiana postpone their presidential primary elections, originally scheduled for March 24 and April 4, respectively. Since we have six weeks until our next election, we have the opportunity to develop contingency plans rather than resorting to such drastic measures. 

As part of the emergency declarations the Governor issues, he should immediately order that the May 2 and May 26 elections be held entirely by mail. In order for elections offices to obtain the supplies and otherwise manage the logistics of mailing ballots to every eligible voter for the May elections (the first of which are only six weeks away), we must act quickly.

We appreciate you reviewing this recommendation, and we look forward to further discussing it with your team or whomever in the Executive you believe best to take up this conversation. 

Thank you, 

Gilberto Hinojosa
Chair, Texas Democratic Party

Dueling (And Overly Wordy) Texas Political Platforms

Last month the Republican and Democratic parties in Texas held their state conventions -- and one of the things they did at those conventions was to finish writing and finalize their party platforms. And saying those platforms were a bit wordy is a gross understatement. The Republican platform droned on for about 40 pages, and not to be outdone, the Democrats wrote a platform that was 62 pages long.

I honestly don't know why the political parties do that. No one but a political junkie is going to even skim through a platform that long (and those political junkies already know who they support). No undecided voter is going to read a political tome of that size -- and even if they were inclined to do so, the parties could never afford to mail out to all voters those massive platform statements (and no newspaper has the space or TV station has the time to thoroughly examine those huge platforms).

It has always seemed to me that these platforms don't need to cover everything. They should just cover what the party thinks is most important for voters to consider in the upcoming election. Personally, I think a platform should just be a short mission statement and a series of bullet-points covering the most important party beliefs -- and should not be any longer than two pages (and one page, if it could be done, would be even better). A two-page platform could easily be mailed out to all voters (and many of them might even take the time to read something that short) -- and it could (and probably would) be thoroughly cover by the media.

I know that probably makes too much sense though, so we'll probably never see it in our lifetimes. Politicians, and the political junkies that support them, are far too fond of their words. So, I have tried to go through these 2014 party platforms, and pulled out what I consider the most important differences between the two major parties. Here are the "dueling ideas" in these platforms:

REPUBLICANS -- Oppose expanding Medicaid, and supports the full repeal of Obamacare.
DEMOCRATS -- Believe medical care is a right. They would not only support Medicaid expansion, but would support going to a full single-payer system covering all citizens.

REPUBLICANS -- Oppose the adoption of national education standards, and would support cutting additional funding for schools at all levels.
DEMOCRATS -- Support the adoption of rigorous national standards, and want to restore the school funding cut by Republicans in the last legislative session.

REPUBLICANS -- Want to prohibit undocumented immigrants from attending public schools.
DEMOCRATS -- Support providing a good education for all of the state's children.

REPUBLICANS -- Want to abolish both Social Security and Medicare.
DEMOCRATS -- Support maintaining the benefits provided by Social Security and Medicare, and opposes privatization of either program.

REPUBLICANS -- Supports abolishing the minimum wage.
DEMOCRATS -- Support raising the minimum wage and indexing it to the rate of inflation.

REPUBLICANS -- Support the reversal of Roe vs Wade.
DEMOCRATS -- Opposes all attempts to overturn Roe vs Wade, and wants women to have easy access to birth control.

REPUBLICANS -- Want to fully repeal the 1965 Voting Rights Act and the 17th Amendment.
DEMOCRATS -- Support the right of all citizens to vote, and to choose the officials who represent them.

REPUBLICANS -- Want to abolish the Environmental Protection Agency.
DEMOCRATS -- Support the EPA, and it's new rules governing carbon dioxide emissions.

REPUBLICANS -- Support the use of "fracking" to produce more natural gas.
DEMOCRATS -- Oppose the use of "fracking", which endangers scarce water resources.

REPUBLICANS -- Support the use of racial profiling by law enforcement.
DEMOCRATS -- Oppose the use of racial profiling by law enforcement. 

REPUBLICANS -- Want to abolish all federal firearms restrictions.
DEMOCRATS -- Want to close the loopholes in the federal background check law for gun purchases.

REPUBLICANS -- Support the use of the death penalty.
DEMOCRATS -- Want to abolish the death penalty and replace it with life w/o parole.

REPUBLICANS -- Oppose legalizing same-sex marriages, and would deny federal courts the right to determine the constitutionality of same-sex marriage bans.
DEMOCRATS -- Support equal rights for all citizens, including the right to marry the person you love (regardless of gender).

REPUBLICANS -- Want to eliminate the separation of church and state.
DEMOCRATS -- Support the separation of church and state.

There are other differences in those documents, but I think that's enough to highlight the huge differences between the two state parties -- and to show why the Republicans need to be voted out of power (for the good of all the citizens of Texas).

The Extremist Platform Of The Texas Republican Party

I wrote earlier this week about the Texas Republicans including in their platform their support for therapy to cure gays and lesbians (like it was some kind of illness). But even though this bigotry is reprehensible, it is far from the only idiotic thing in that teabagger platform (which runs on for 40 pages). I don't have the space (or the time) to bring you all of the nonsense in that silly document, but here are a few more examples of just how weird and out-of-touch Texas Republicans are:

* They want to repeal the 17th Amendment, and let state legislatures appoint senators.

* They want to abolish all federal agencies not specifically mentioned in the U.S. Constitution.

* They want the state legislature to have the right to nullify federal legislation it doesn't like.

* They support the use of racial, ethnic, and religious profiling by law enforcement agencies.

* They oppose issuance of Executive Orders (unless approved by Congress).

* They oppose any kind of affirmative action.

* They want to abolish the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

* They want to abolish the law that prohibits tax-exempt organizations (like churches) from engaging in partisan political conduct.

* They want employers and individuals to be exempt from laws preventing bigotry in the workplace or business.

* They want individuals who have not completed a program in a law school to be able to become an attorney.

* They support the Electoral College system, and oppose the direct election of the president.

* They want to fully repeal the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

* They want to fully repeal the McCain-Feingold Act (limiting political contributions).

* They want to be able to display the 10 Commandments and other religious symbols on government property.

* They want to adopt English as the official language of Texas and the United States.

* They want to deny federal courts the right to determine the constitutionality of same-sex marriage.

* They want to eliminate the laws creating "no-fault" divorce.

* They support the reversal of Roe vs. Wade.

* They oppose Senate ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

* They want welfare recipients to be drug tested.

* They want to phase out Social Security and go to a system of "private pensions".

* They want to repeal Obamacare.

* They want to prohibit undocumented immigrants from attending public schools.

* They oppose the adoption of national education standards for Texas schools.

* They oppose reality-based sex educations programs for Texas schools.

* They want to abolish the Department of Education.

* They want the Texas Legislature to affirm that all Texans have the right to "open carry" and "campus carry" of firearms, and declare null and void all federal firearm restrictions.

* They want to eliminate the separation of church and state.

* They support capital punishment, and want to impose a swifter path to it.

* They want to cut all non-military spending to pre-2008 levels.

* They want to reduce funding for all levels of education.

* They support "fracking" in natural gas production.

* They want to abolish the minimum wage.

* They want to abolish the Federal Reserve Banking System.

* They want the U.S. to withdraw from the United Nations.

* They oppose any cut to the defense budget.

I find it abhorrent that anyone could actually believe the things above, let alone put it down in writing -- but that's what the Texas Republicans have done. There may be states as bad, but there is no state with a more extreme Republican Party than Texas. The teabaggers are fully in control of the Texas GOP, and they have proudly put their ignorance on display for all the world to see.

Cruz Wins Texas GOP Convention Straw Poll

This is not a real surprise to anyone who has been paying attention to Texas politics. The Texas Republican Party is firmly in the control of the teabagger extremists -- and the delegates to their state convention verified that by choosing right-wing extremist Ted Cruz as their runaway favorite for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. No one else even came close in the convention's straw poll of delegates.

Thank You Rachel & David Van Os For Your Service To Your Party And Your State

I wasn't planning on posting anything tonight because I'm pretty beat after spending seven hours in the airport and taking two plane rides home. But I read something on another blog that I thought was uncalled for -- a blog I normally respect and regularly read. That blogger felt the need to take a couple of shots at David and Rachel Van Os. It wasn't enough that the blogger's own candidate beat Rachel for the party chairmanship, but that blogger felt the need to rub it in.

The statements that offended me were that David felt he was the only progressive in Texas, and that he had his wife Rachel run for party chair so he could make a speech to the convention. Neither of those statements are true. David spoke to nominate Rachel for the party chair position because the person who was supposed to nominate her was unable to attend. That person was Hank Gilbert (another Democrat that I highly respect).

And David knows that there are a lot of good progressives in the state party, and he reaches out to them on a regular basis -- not for his own self-gratification, but for the good of the party and the state. I regularly repost many of his intelligent and well written posts here on this blog. And having met and talked with David several times, I have to say that he respects other Democrats and never gives the impression that he thinks he is better or more special than anyone else.

I met Rachel for the first time at this convention, and I was impressed. I found her to not only be very nice, but also a progressive who is passionate about the future of her party and state. She and David believe the party needs to change and become a more dynamic party that offers real choices. I totally agree, and I have said that many times on this blog (both before Rachel ran for party chair and after).

In summation, let me say that I consider Rachel and David Van Os to be friends and good progressives. The Texas Democratic Party is better because they are in it.

Platform Of The Texas Democratic Party

I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised (and very proud) of Texas Democrats when it came to the party platform this year. They passed the most progressive party platform that the Texas Democratic Party has ever had. It came out in favor of equality for all, including the right for same-sex couples to marry. It came out in favor of legalizing marijuana along the lines of how tobacco and cigarettes are controlled. And it came out against the death penalty.

Way to go Texas Democrats! Sadly, a party platform is a document that 99% of the population will never read (and some blue dogs will ignore during their campaign). But for those of you that might be interested in what the platform actually says, I am posting it below. It is fairly long, so I only include the preamble on this page. But you can click and go below the fold to read the rest if you so desire. Here it is:

2012 Texas Democratic Party Platform

Preamble

Texas Democrats believe democratic government exists to achieve as a community, state, and nation what we cannot achieve as individuals; and that is must serve all its citizens.

We believe every Texan has inalienable rights that even a majority may not take away

…the right to vote

…the right to fair and open participation and representation in the democratic process

…the right to privacy.

We believe in freedom

…from government interference in our private lives and personal decisions

…to exercise civil and human rights

…of religion and individual conscience.

We believe in responsibility

…that people are responsible for their actions

…that we, who have benefited so greatly from our state and country, have a responsibility to support and give back to our communities and public institutions

…that corporations are not people and should not be used to shield individuals from the responsibilities of their actions.

We believe in equal rights

…guaranteed in Section 3 of the Texas Bill of Rights

…and equality under the law guaranteed in Section 3a of the Texas Bill of Rights

…and that no state may deny any person equal protection of the laws or due process under the law as guaranteed in the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

We believe in equal opportunity

…to receive a quality public education, from childhood through college

…to have access to affordable health care

…to find a good job with dignity

…to buy or rent a good home in a safe community

…to breathe clean air and drink clean water

…to have our voices heard and not be drowned out by the power of unlimited money to influence or buy elections and legislation.

We believe a growing economy should benefit all Texans

…that the people who work in a business are as important as those who invest in it

…that every person should be paid a living wage

…that good business offers a fair deal for customers

…that regulation of unfair practices and rates is necessary

…that the burden of taxes should be fairly distributed

…that government policy should not favor corporations that seek offshore tax shelters, exploit workers, or pollute our environment.

We believe that our lives, homes, communities and country are made secure

…by appropriately staffed, trained and equipped military, law enforcement and emergency services

…by retirement and pension security

…by encouraging job security where it is possible and providing appropriate assistance and re-training when it is not

…by the preservation of our precious natural resources and quality of life

…by compassionate policy that offers a safety net for those most vulnerable and in need

…and that family values are promoted through policies that value all our families.

We believe in America

…made stronger by the men and women who put their lives on the line when it is necessary to engage our military to secure our nation

…made more secure by competent diplomatic leadership that uses the moral, ethical, and economic assets of a powerful, free nation to avoid unnecessary military conflict.

We believe in Texas

…made stronger by the individual strengths of our diverse population

…blessed with opportunities provided by agriculture, “old” and “new” energy sources, renowned medical and research institutions and high tech industries

…and we believe in the need for an honest, ethical state government that serves the public interest, not the special financial interests of those who “pay to play”.

And It Begins

The picture above is of the Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston. That's where the Democrats will be meeting on Friday and Saturday -- to listen to too many speeches, develop the party platform, lay down the party rules, and select party officers for the next two years.

My journey to Houston got off to an inauspicious start, and for a little while I was worrying this would be a trip laden with bad luck. After we all got on the plane in Amarillo, we were informed that we didn't have any pilots. Our plane's pilots were supposed to have arrived on another plane from Las Vegas, but that plane was late and had not yet arrived in Amarillo. So we got to sit and wait for the pilots to arrive.

Fortunately, it was only a fifteen minute wait, but that put me in a time squeeze since I only had 30 minutes to switch planes in Dallas. And I barely made it. The plane from Dallas to Houston was already boarding when I finally arrived at the right gate. I got into Houston on time, but it was in the middle of a drenching downpour of rain -- so I was wet as I checked in to the hotel.

But things went better after that. I met with two other Texas bloggers, Neil of The Texas Liberal and Perry of Brains and Eggs (see sidebar for links to their blogs), and they took me out for an excellent dinner and some scintillating conversation. I just hope they had half as good a time as I did. I finished up the night by having a short chat with Rachel Barrios-Van Os (who I hope will be our new state party chair in a couple of days) and her husband David. They are super-nice people, and progressive to the core.

Tomorrow morning the convention will kick off with the issuance of credentials, followed by many different caucuses, and finally the Senate District meetings. The convention as a whole will be gaveled to order right after lunch. And after the convention adjourns for the night, the big Bloggers Caucus Party will start about 9:00pm.

Tomorrow will be a busy day (and night), so I'd better get to bed now and get at least some sleep.

Party Like A Blogger

For you conventioneers looking for a party, this is the one to attend. I wasn't at the original one in Houston, but I made the ones in Fort Worth, Austin, and Corpus Christi -- and they were without a doubt the best parties of the convention. This one should be no different. Many of the best progressive bloggers in the state will be there, as well as a lot of Democratic politicians and other good Democrats. (and believe me, these people know how to party). See you there!

Barrios-Van Os: The Change The TDP Needs

It's just two more days until the Texas Democratic Party makes a very important decision -- a decision that will determine the direction of the party for the next two years. That decision is who to elect as the new state party chair. The decision will be made by the delegates to the state convention on Saturday, June 9th. There are two major candidates for the office -- Gilberto Hinojosa, the candidate chosen by the failed current party leadership, and Rachel Barrios-Van Os, a progressive who offers a real change in the party's direction (hopefully leading to a new, vibrant, revived, and competitive Democratic Party for Texas).

I have made my decision to cast my vote for Rachel Barrios-Van Os, and I ask you to consider doing the same. Here is part of Rachel's latest message to delegate voters:

At a candidate forum that I attended, a questioner pointed out that many citizens do not know what the Democratic message is, and asked how we can educate more voters about it. This is a serious problem and there are answers.

In this year’s elections there are 64 districts in the Texas House of Representatives that have no Democratic candidate. That’s 64 House districts, containing over 40% of the population of Texas,where the voters will not hear a Democratic message about issues in the Texas House.

There are 12 Texas Senate districts with no Democratic candidate; so that’s 12 Senate districts, containing over 35% of the population of Texas, where the voters will not hear a Democratic message about issues in the Texas Senate.

Of three statewide seats on the Texas Supreme Court that are up for election, there is only one Democratic candidate. Of three statewide seats on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals that are up for election, there is only one Democratic candidate. This means that for 2/3 of the elections for the Texas Supreme Court and 2/3 of the elections for the Court of Criminal Appeals the voters will not hear a Democratic message.

There is even more to this picture. Every election, a handful of insider consultants and insider un-elected “leaders” get together and decide which races to “target” – in other words, which select Democratic nominees the Party will vigorously support and promote. Only a small handful of races get “targeted”, meaning that the majority of Democratic nominees get told they aren’t important.Worse, many voters hear a message that their votes don’t matter to the Democratic Party.

Not only do the majority of our Legislative candidates not get promoted vigorously, but it has been many years since the Texas Democratic Party promoted our entire ticket of statewide candidates with full-fledged vigor.

So it is no surprise that many voters in Texas don’t even hear the Democratic message. It is also no surprise that many voters across the state feel that their votes don’t matter to the Democratic Party. And that many voters who would vote Democratic don’t vote on the assumption their votes don’t matter.

Still another result is that the vigorous hard work of many dedicated Democratic volunteers doesn’t produce victories. We haven’t won a statewide election in 18 years. Over time, many hard-working volunteers do get discouraged as a reality of human nature, and stop volunteering.

All this has to stop! To take Texas back we have to show the voters in every district and county of the state in every election that the Democratic Party cares about their votes, wants their votes, and wants to fight for them against the greedy Republican elites.

When I am your State Party Chair, I promise with all my heart and soul that every Democratic nominee will be supported and promoted vigorously.

When I am your State Party Chair, I promise that I will pour myself into personally recruiting candidates, and helping SDEC members and County Chairs recruit candidates, to ensure that a Democrat runs against every Republican in every part of Texas at every level of the ballot, from precinct elections to statewide elections.

After the 2012 elections are over I will spend 2013 working tirelessly to fill up the 2014 ballot with Democratic candidates.

This doesn’t mean just putting our marbles on a few media-appointed “superstars”. Let’s not fall for that. Thousands of Democrats are worthy of running for public office and serving the public well.They only need to know their Party wants them and needs them.

And when the election is over, all the Democrats who fearlessly carried our banner on the ballot, whether they won or lost, must be embraced warmly, honored, nurtured, and encouraged to run again.

To those who ask, “where is the money going to come from”, I say, we must stop letting the fear of money hold us back. Our battle cries must be: Courage! We can do it! It’s time to win!

In Democratic Unity, I am
Rachel Barrios-Van Os*I approve this message.

http://the2012convention.com

It's Convention Time - And We Need A New State Party Chair

(The picture above is from the web site of The Texas Tribune.)

The Texas Democratic Convention will kick off in just a couple more days. The official start is on Friday (June 8th), but most people will be arriving in Houston on Wednesday or Thursday. I will be there, pulling double duty with both delegate and press credentials (and anyone who would like to meet or talk with me can find me either with Senate District 31 or in the press room). I have to admit I am a political junkie and I love the state convention. Living way up in Amarillo, I don't get a chance to see many other Democrats very often, and the convention gives me a chance to see old friends again and to meet new ones.

There will be a lot to do in the two days of the convention (meeting and making friends, meeting and listening to our candidates, approving a party platform, etc.), but nothing is more important that choosing a new party chair -- the person who will lead out state party for the next two years.

Our current party leaders have led the state party down the road to near irrelevance. There hasn't been a Democrat elected to a statewide office for at least 18 years, and both houses of the state legislature have large Republican majorities. We don't just need a new leader, we need a leader that will shake up the party and get it turned around -- a leader that can re-energize Texas Democrats all over the state, and put them back on the path to victory.

There are two major candidates for party chair. The candidate of the current party leadership is Gilberto Hinojosa. I have nothing against Mr. Hinojosa. I'm sure he's a very nice guy and a good Democrat. But I question whether he would be a real change from the current leader, or whether he can be the real change this party needs. After all, he is the choice of those currently leading the party.

The other candidate is the lady pictured above -- Rachel Barrios-Van Os. She's not only a good Democrat and a real progressive, but she's a ball of energy ready to get this party moving again. I will be voting for Rachel, and I hope you other delegates will give her some serious consideration also. Here is her latest missive:

If I am elected State Party Chair, we are going to go straight to work organizing every part of Texas for victory for President Obama and every Democratic candidate. Here are the schedule and locations by city and town of the regional planning meetings that I will personally facilitate for 14 consecutive weeks beginning on June 23. (Specific venues to be announced):


June 23 – San Antonio

June 30 – Houston
July 7 – Arlington
July 14 – McAllen
July 21 – Texarkana
July 28 – El Paso
Aug. 4 – Orange
Aug. 11 – Del Rio
Aug. 18 – Nacogdoches
Aug. 25 – Lubbock
Sept. 1 – Austin
Sept. 8 – Abilene
Sept. 15 - Waco 
Sept. 22 – Corpus Christi

These will not be lectures, but collaborative, interactive planning meetings involving: SDEC Members, County Chairs and other County Party representatives, all Democratic Candidates, and Democratic organizations, with all interested Democratic activists welcome to attend and add their ideas and volunteerism to the coordinated campaign.I firmly believe grassroots Democrats have the collective vision, brainpower, and know-how to penetrate every part of Texas at every level and take Texas back.

Every County Democratic Party in Texas will be encouraged to pick a regional meeting to attend based on distances, schedules, and convenience. The regional meetings will generate more ideas, assistance, and support for your localized planning. If the demand exists, I will work with County Chairs and SDEC members to set up more meetings in more towns. As I have promised, I am going to be an extremely hard-working State Party Chair.

Join me in the campaign for a Democratic Texas. There is so much at stake. If Texas’ electoral votes go into the Democratic column, there will be no possibility of a Republican president being elected for many years. I’m positive that with the right attitude and fighting spirit we will carry Texas for President Obama and all Democrats. We Can Do It! It’s Time to Win!

Sincerely,
Rachel

P.S. If I am elected Party Chair next Saturday, in 2014 this kind of cross-state regional planning will start much sooner than June.

Rachel Asks For Your Texas Delegate Vote

Dear Texas Democratic Delegates and Friends:

An exciting State Democratic Convention is on the horizon next week. One of the most important things that will happen is when the Delegates elect the next State Party Chair on June 9 at the Convention. I’m Rachel Barrios-Van Os and I enthusiastically offer to serve you as your next State Chair. It’s time that we change things around and start winning again statewide. With your help, I will be a part of the change that we so desperately need. If we work together, we can all make those changes to ensure victory for all Texans.

It has been 18 long years since a Democrat won a statewide election in Texas, that’s way too long, and I’m tired of it! As your next State Party Chair, I promise I will work for this Party and for each and every Democrat in Texas to start winning again. There are great challenges ahead for us but I will not let anyone discourage us from standing and fighting for what we believe in. There is no challenge for us to fear and there is nothing that can hold us back. There is no limit to the great things we can do if we have the right determination.

We must bring that great determination back to this Party again. Sometimes in life we never realizethe greatness that each of us has within us because too many people try to hold us back and too many people will try to tell us these great things are not possible. We must not listen to the naysayers because this is our time to get up and fight and we must not let anyone hold us back anymore. No more, ya basta!!! It’s time to win!

Every County and every city and town including all rural communities in Texas are important in the political process and we must leave no one out. I am the only candidate in this race for Party Chair who has traveled to every county in Texas. When I managed my husband David Van Os’ campaign for Texas Attorney General in 2006, David and I personally traveled to all 254 counties in Texas to meet people in every part of our great State. I met people who were yearning for democracy and who felt like there was no one there for them.

They told me many times that it was one of the reasons they stopped voting and so we must change that. We must let the citizens know that the Democratic Party will be there fighting for all citizens of this great state in every part of the state. It’s time to win! 

I will make sure that all voters know they have a Party that will represent them no matter what part of the state they live in or come from. When I campaigned for the Democratic Party across Texas, the voters were grateful to see a Statewide Candidate come to their town and talk to them about taking back our government from the greedy Republican stranglehold. People are thirsty for change and I promise when elected, I will bring back a winning strategy to take back our State again and bring the change that the people so desperately want and need. It’s time to win! 

We must build and enlarge our candidate pool to ensure that no Republican gets a free ride. We must challenge every Republican in every seat both small and large. No Republican is too big for us. It’s time to win! 

We must support each and every Democratic candidate from the bottom up and across the State and we cannot leave any candidate behind. We will support, embrace and promote each candidate who decides to run and we will not discourage anyone from seeking office because it is his or her democratic right to do so. We need to welcome all citizens who want to run and who want to stand up for the things they believe in. Every Democratic candidate in every district is important and every voter is important. It’s time to win!

Our target will be the whole state of Texas, and we will take this state back. I’m taking my Texas back from the greedy hands of the Republican elite. This is our Texas, the Lone Star State and we are proud but we can be even more proud when we win the state again. The people of Texas will rise again, I guarantee it.

It’s time to win!

Of, By and For the People,
I am, Rachel Barrios-Van Os
*And I approve this message

My website address: http://the2012convention.com

Texas Democrats Do Have A Choice

I just wanted to remind all you Democrats heading to the state convention in Houston in early June -- you don't have to rubber-stamp the candidate for party chair that has been hand-picked by the current failed party leadership. There is a viable progressive alternative this time. It is Rachel Barrios-Van Os (pictured above with her husband, David). Rachel will do what is necessary to get the party back on track, and she will push the Democratic brand in all 254 counties.

Last week, I let you know that our former candidate for Agriculture Commissioner, Hank Gilbert, had endorsed Rachel for party chair. Now she has a union endorsement. The Texas Carpenters Regional Council, through its Texas Working Families Political Action Committee, has contributed some money to Rachel's campaign, and their Political Director, Joe Serna, says:

“On behalf of the members of the Texas Carpenters Regional Council, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support of working men and women and their families. We are encouraged when candidates take a strong position on those issues that impact everyday men and women, who are trying to provide for their families. Again, thank you for your continued support and efforts.

In Solidarity We Remain.”

We need a change in our state party leadership. Please consider voting for Rachel Barrios-Van Os when we meet in Houston.

Press To Be Barred From Santorum Speech

(Cartoon above is by Bill Schorr at caglecartoons.com.)

Rick Santorum is very popular among Texas Republicans (who are as right-wing as it gets). In fact, Santorum was easily leading Willard Mitt Romney (aka Wall Street Willie) in all Texas polls before he suspended his presidential campaign -- and will probably still get a significant portion of the vote when Texas Republicans hold their primary on May 29th (even though Romney is assured of being the nominee).

But the state Republican Party knows which side of their bread the butter is on. While Romney will not be making an appearance at the state convention, Rick Santorum will be. In fact, he is the featured speaker at the convention's Friday night banquet. Naturally, the press (especially the Texas press) wanted to cover Santorum's speech. Unfortunately, that's not going to happen.

The state party has decreed that the press will not be allowed to cover the banquet speech. Party leaders said the banquet is a "private" fundraiser. Party communications director Chris Elam went further and said, "There has never been media availability at the state party's premiere banquet." But Elam is lying. Mitt Romney was the featured speaker in 2008, speaking on behalf of John McCain, and the press was allowed to cover that speech.

The truth is that while party leaders in Texas are ultra-right-wingers, they are not complete idiots. They know that Santorum will tell the party faithful what they want to hear and raise a lot of money, but they also know he is likely to say one or more things that will not sound good to the general public and could easily hurt them in the coming general election with Independents.

State Republican Party leaders want to have their cake and eat it too. They want Santorum to fire up the conventioneers (who are mainly teabaggers and fundamentalists) with his nuttiness, but they don't want the general public to hear any of the speech (because Santorum only appeals to right-wing religious extremists).

This is the time of an election year when the Republicans start trying to hide their extremism and pose as a more moderate party. I don't think they realize yet that in this internet age, that's no longer possible. The extremism exposed in their primary will be replayed many times before election day. They're stuck with it.

Hank Supports Rachel For Party Chair

I have made it very clear on this blog that I think we need a change in the direction of the Texas Democratic Party. To that end, I am supporting (and will vote in June for) Rachel Barrios-Van Os. And I hope other Democratic delegates to the state convention will do the same. But if you need a little more to convince you, maybe this will help. The Democratic candidate for Agriculture Commissioner in the last couple of elections, Hank Gilbert, is now endorsing Rachel Barrios-Van Os. Hank, a true and proud Texas Democrat, has this to say:

“I met Rachel on the campaign trail when we campaigned across Texas back in 2006. It really impressed me that even though Rachel was managing her husband David’s campaign for Attorney General, she always promoted the whole Democratic ticket at every event. She is pure Democrat to the core.

Rachel will stand up for the hard-working people of Texas and won’t back down to the Republicans or to any other talking heads. This party needs someone with courage, conviction and the backbone to do the right thing. Rachel will unite the people to support the Democratic Party and bring it back to a majority in this state.

She’s one tough woman with a heart of gold and I support her all the way for State Party Chair.”

Help to bring the Democratic Party back. Support Rachel Barrios-Van Os at the state convention next month.

Texas Democrats Need New Leadership

I've made no secret of the fact that I think the Texas Democratic Party needs new leadership. It has been nearly 20 years since a Democrat held any statewide elected office, and the Democratic portion of the state legislature seems to shrink with each passing election.

As a delegate to this year's state convention, I am going to be voting for and supporting the lady pictured above -- Rachel Barrios-Van Os. She is a true progressive who will change the direction of the state party -- taking it back to its progressive roots and contesting races across the state (instead of just the urban areas). If you are a delegate (or have influence on a delegate), I urge you to support Rachel, too.

We have a good chance this year to break the grip the "good ole boy" network has on the state party leadership, and unless we do so, nothing is likely to change. Here is part of the interview Rachel gave to the Texas Tribune:

TT: Why are you running? Why would anybody want this job?

Barrios-Van Os: I'm running for the office of state chair of the Texas Democratic Party because I believe it is time to start winning again. It's been too long since we’ve won an election statewide. Our statewide candidates have not won an election since 1994.

When statewide candidates lose, we lose. We end up with governors like George Bush, Rick Perry and so on, and all the corporate elitists that they bring with them. It’s time we have a voice for the people, and it’s time that we start winning.

TT: What has the party done or not done that created that situation?

Barrios-Van Os: I think the biggest problem is targeting. The party leaders decide they are going to target certain House races, certain elected candidates that they think are choice candidates, and they leave everybody behind. I have seen that in the experience that I have had running three statewide campaigns, and it has to stop. We need to support all our candidates from the bottom up all the way to statewide candidates, and I think we need to focus on statewide candidates because they have the power of state government to do people's work — to represent the people, to bring a real government to the people.

TT: What’s the party doing wrong? What part of it is the responsibility of the candidate, on one hand, and of the party on the other hand?

Barrios-Van Os: The responsibility of the candidate is to put his life and duty to that office that he seeks, to the party, to the people. The part of the Democratic Party leaders is to support those candidates and to run — what I would recommend — is running coordinated campaigns. We put our funds together and stretch our resources out amongst all the candidates, and that hasn’t been happening.

TT: The money seems to have run to the Republicans; are there enough people with enough money out there to support Democrats in Texas to make this viable again?

Barrios-Van Os: I believe there is. Even if I just took a dollar from a million voters, a million citizens, I would have a million dollars and not be beholden to one contributor that gives $1 million [who] is forcing the party leadership to run the campaigns or the candidates he wants to run, and the message. I don’t think that a contributor should be the sole leader in saying, "This is how I want you to push the campaigns, this is the message." I think the message has to come with the issues, and about the people, and what are the best things we can do for the people. So a-dollar-a-person sounds a lot better to me. It's going to be a hard job, but I will work hard to bring in that money. I'll do whatever it takes, night and day, seven days a week. I will get the job done.

I believe I'm the right candidate for the job. I believe what it takes is a person that is a true activist. I'm a lifelong Democratic activist. I'm a lifelong union activist.

I joined the union in 1980. My father told me the night before I started my first job at Southwestern Bell, "Get a union rep as soon as you get there. Go look for a union representative. Sign your union card and get involved." My father, my family, we were not wealthy. We were a struggling family. I'm one of nine children. My father knew the power of the union and the power of representation with the voice and power of labor behind you. So I followed his instructions or orders. I found a union rep. I didn’t wait for them to find me, and ever since then it's helped shape who I am. I'm a strong union woman, a strong Democrat. 

I give my mother credit as well. I had a very strong mother — I mean, she had nine children, you’ve got to be strong — and she was very involved in community politics and kind of gave me my first lessons in grass-roots organizing and doing neighborhood events. Bringing in candidates, getting them introduced to the neighborhood. We were from a small barrio, a small Southside neighborhood — the Palm Heights area — full of heart, a great neighborhood.

Wall Street Willie To Skip Texas Convention

Rick Santorum may not be a presidential candidate anymore, but he will be coming down here to Texas to attend the state Republican convention. It fact, he will be one of the featured speakers at the convention. But there will be one big-name no-show at that convention -- Willard Mitt Romney (aka Wall Street Willie), who is now pretty much assured of winning the Republican presidential nomination.

Now you may think it's odd that Wall Street Willie would skip this convention. After all, Texas is a Republican state and has a ton of electoral votes. But it doesn't surprise me at all. Romney knows that Texas is not really a Romney-loving state, although a majority of Texans will likely vote for him grudgingly next November. I think he's afraid he'll come off looking bad if the convention-goers give Santorum a much better reception than they give him -- and that would very likely happen if he showed up.

Romney's trying to make his candidacy look like he is formidable competition for President Obama, and getting embarrassed at the Texas convention by Santorum is not going to help with that at all. The Texas Republicans did invite Wall Street Willie, but his campaign didn't even bother to answer the invitation. They just ignored it.

The primary will be held on May 29th, and now that he's the only candidate still in the race (Paul has no chance in his home state, being too crazy even for Texas teabaggers), Romney will probably win the majority of the state's delegates (which are designated proportionally according to the primary vote). But don't be surprised if there is still a strong anti-Romney vote in the primary. A lot of Texas Republicans will have a problem supporting the "Yankee flip-flopper" (as he is viewed down here).