I don't often like to post about organizational events or fundraisers, especially if they are specific to just one city in the state, but we wouldn't be the Burnt Orange Report without the University Democrats at UT-Austin.
The University Democrats, established in 1953, is the largest and oldest political organization at The University of Texas at Austin and the leading force of progressive student activism in the state of Texas. Today, they are the largest College Democrats chapter in the country - working to bring democratic ideals to UT, the state of Texas, and the entire nation.
Last year they broke records by registering 12,000+ young voters across the state and mobilizing an entire generation of young Texas activists to blockwalk, phonebank, and elect strong Democrats to the County Court House, the State House, and the White House. After the elections, they continued to be at the forefront of the youth movement in Texas by organizing students to be the voice on important legislative issues like tuition relief, gun-free schools, tax-free textbooks, and the disenfranchising voter ID bill.
This year they have pledged to be at the forefront of the movement to turn Texas blue. University Democrats has built a large and committed team of extraordinary student activists who are ready to organize young people to bring change to our state. With a plan, BLUEPrint for Texas, the mission is to turn Texas blue from the ground up by mobilizing student activists to:
• TRAVEL to swing districts across Texas to work for candidates.
• DISTRIBUTE voter registration cards in key neighborhoods.
• REGISTER new voters.
• KNOCK on doors for key candidates.
• CALL households on behalf of Texas Democrats.
• MOBILIZE young people to vote early.
In order to be effective in mobilizing students for change in Texas, Unversity Democrats needs the resources and support from community leaders like you! Please support them by making a donation at their fundraiser this Wednesday. I know I'll be writing them a check.
University Democrats: BLUEPrint for Texas
8:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 18th, 2009
UT-Austin Business School Special Events Room (CBA 3.304)
Julian Castro, the new mayor of San Antonio and the youngest mayor among the top 50 American cities, will be hosting a virtual town house tonight. Our San Antonio readers and others interested around Texas are invited to tune in to www.mayorcastro.com tonight at 7pm.
WHAT: Mayor to fulfill campaign commitment and hold first "Virtual" Town Hall meeting with bloggers and cyber community
WHO: Mayor Julián Castro
WHEN: TUESDAY, Nov. 17, 7 p.m.-8 p.m.
WHERE: Live webcast from Trinity University, Northrup Hall, Room 040
MORE: Mayor Castro will answer questions posed directly by the community via e-mail, a live chat room at www.mayorcastro.com and from a studio audience. Media parking available in visitor's lot outside Northrup Hall or in Alamo Stadium parking lot.
Recently, Houstonians for Health released it's latest video providing viewers their opinion of what's wrong with the health care system in Houston. Houstonian's' for Health is an unknown group, that I still can't identify. The very detailed video shows how Dan Wolterman, CEO of the powerful Memorial Hermann Health System, tried to "dump" one of their hospitals on tax payers. What's scary about it is the reason that Dan gave for trying to get the Harris County Hospital District to bail him out.
When asked by the Houston Chronicle reporter, Wolterman said he wanted to get rid of it because there was a "demographic decline" in the area. According to the video, the area is 31% Hispanic, 23% African American, and 12% Asian. I'm not sure what Dan doesn't like about those demographics, but he better get comfortable with them given the changing face of Texas.
After seeing the video, I spent some time calling around to learn more about this ground and Wolterman. The information people were willing to give about Wolterman was interesting.
Apparently Wolterman is facing two civil law suits alleging antitrust violations, he threw his doctor's under the bus during the sale, he upset most of the Harris County officials to the point he was compared to a "car salesman," and then had a "political pep rally" with Kay Bailey Hutchison opposing health reform--upsetting local Democrats, probably, Rick Perry as well. With that many powerful enemies.
What's scary about Mr. Wolterman's statement is that it creates the perception, rightly or wrongly, that he would rather serve patients living in the suburbs who are rich/insured patients, rather than underserved patients in the inner city.
You may remember the the first video from Houstonian's for Health Care. You can see Wolterman, front in center, celebrating Kay Bailey Hutchison and pleading for her and her party to slow down the process in reforming health care. Now we see the latest video and understand why.
Texas can't stand for this kind of reckless attitude and "leadership." The problem in health care is less about the system, and more about greedy guys like this who run our institutions. Perhaps it is time to create a system that limits the negative influence of men like Wolterman
If you haven't noticed by now, Bill White is doing some cool stuff with online advertising. Here on Burnt Orange Report, and a number of other Texas political blogs, White has been running blog ads. They have also been running more premium banner ads, both here on BOR, and targeted to Texas on a number of other national political sites that also use Common Sense Media ads. (For more information on CSM ads, including here at BOR, click here.) But what is smart is the campaign is also adapting our ads to what's going on day-to-day.
So for example, the other day, the ads changed over to promoting their Jerry Jeff Walker contest. All people have to do to enter is text JJW to TEXAS (83927) or enter their cell number at www.billwhitefortexas.com/JJW. Texting could be a big part of the outreach and GOTV efforts that will be especially vital to a special election. If the campaign wants to reach people where they are, whether that's reading the Burnt Orange Report, on their cell phones, or in person at a events all over the state, then updating their advertising to be timely to help build these lists and relationships is smart.
And people are noticing. See Twitter updates like the ones below.
The campaign says they got nearly 1200 text signups in a matter of hours the last time they coordinated their ad & email conversation.
Hopefully we'll see more Democratic campaigns make smart use of their money with targeted message and advertising online. There's no reason to cede that territory to Republicans in Texas who have made use of it more effectively in past general election cycles.
Farouk Shami is going to announce his Democratic primary bid for Texas Governor on Thursday...at the CHI USA headquarters.
Sue Schechter, former state representative, Harris County Democratic Party Chair, and former Rick Noriega for US Senate campaign manager, has announced she is running for Harris County Clerk.
Is retiring El Paso state senator Eliot Shapleigh thinking about a run for Governor? Here's to hoping that he adds a "Lieutenant" in front of that before running.
There are petitioners in El Paso trying to overturn the city's recently adopted unmarried partner benefits program. I'm guessing these people aren't concerned because of the fiscal impact.
The city spends about $35 million each year on health benefits for its 6,000 employees and their families. Extending coverage to the unmarried partners of city employees could cost another $287,000 annually.
It was bound to start up again at some point- attacks on Houston Mayoral candidate Annise Parker, not based on any critique of her policy positions or campaign plans, but on her being a lesbian. Granted, Annise has been an out elected official for multiple elections and has hardly made the issue anywhere close to central as part of her campaign this year, but that won't stop the anti-gay forces from spinning a web of lies.
Houston Chronicle: A cluster of socially conservative Houstonians is planning a campaign to discourage voters from choosing City Controller Annise Parker in the December mayoral runoff because she is a lesbian, according to multiple ministers and conservatives involved in the effort.
The group is motivated by concerns about a "gay takeover" of City Hall, given that two other candidates in the five remaining City Council races are also openly gay, as well as national interest driven by the possibility that Houston could become the first major U.S. city to elect an openly gay woman.
Another primary concern is that Parker or other elected officials would seek to overturn a 2001 city charter amendment that prohibits the city from providing benefits to the domestic partners of gay and lesbian employees.
"The bottom line is that we didn't pick the battle, she did, when she made her agenda and sexual preference a central part of her campaign," said Dave Welch, executive director of the Houston Area Pastor Council, numbering more than 200 senior pastors in the Greater Houston area. "National gay and lesbian activists see this as a historic opportunity. The reality is that's because they're promoting an agenda which we believe to be contrary to the concerns of the community and destructive to the family."
Eye roll.
The worst part is her opponent Gene Locke is courting the same awful people.
He appeared at the Pastor Council's annual gala last Friday and was encouraged several times by State Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, a featured speaker, to stand for conservative values.
Locke has also met with and sought the endorsement of Dr. Steven Hotze, a longtime local kingmaker in conservative politics and author of the Straight Slate in 1985, a coterie of eight City Council candidates he recruited who ran on an anti-gay platform.
Houston deserves better. Our city has a well-earned reputation for tolerance and openness. We don't need inflammatory appeals to folks' worst instincts.
We've been here before. In 1997 a small-minded ballot initiative would have ended the city's affirmative action program that helped minority and women contractors. Mayor Bob Lanier went on the air in an ad that bluntly stated his opposition to a proposal that would "turn back the clock to the days when guys who look like me got all the city's business."
Lanier couldn't have been more clear: Discrimination is just not right.
It was a powerful moment of leadership. The referendum went down to defeat, and news outlets around the country marveled that a "wealthy white developer" had taken the lead on affirmative action.
It's time for another such moment of leadership.
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The rhetoric of people like Steven Hotze and Dave Welch carries a high cost. Their support should not be purchased at the price of bigotry.
(Karen Sage is a candidate for the 147th District Court in Travis County. - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
Hello, my name is Karen Sage, and I'm running to be your next judge on the 147th District Court. I am writing this diary because I wanted to lay out why I'm running for judge, what makes me qualified, and why this race is important, so what better forum on the internet is there than Burnt Orange Report to do so? First, I'd like to tell you a little bit about who I am before I get into my legal credentials and the race itself.
Who I Am I was born 44 years ago in a small Minnesota town called Worthington, a place with fewer than 10,000 residents. It is in the far southwestern corner of the state, just north of Iowa and just east of South Dakota. My father, Jim, was a police officer there for 40 years, and my mother, Dorothy, ran a small drapery and upholstery business. I was the first in my family to attend college, and the first in my family to attend law school. My career and my family have taken me many places, and I've lived in Los Angeles and New York City before settling in Austin, where I'd like to spend the rest of my life.
I am married to a professor of law at the University of Texas, and I have two children ages eight and ten. It hasn't been easy to be a mother and an attorney, but my drive to work in public service has always made the struggle worth it. My experience growing up in the Midwest and living on the two coasts has given me a unique perspective. It is my hope to serve this community with all of my ability, to make Austin a better, safer place, and to broaden the horizon of justice to serve all of the citizens of this world-class city.
Why Run? The most common question I hear when I'm out on the campaign trail is: "Why are you running for judge?" The answer is simple for me - I believe in public service and I believe in justice. For most of my career, I have been a public servant, and I have always tried to do justice no matter what role I have occupied. Justice is the backbone of our democracy, it is the safeguard of our rights, and it is the last bastion of our civilization. There is nothing nobler than pursuing justice, ensuring equality, and fighting for what is right. I believe that I have the courage, the compassion, and the commitment to be a great judge.
Last Friday, Michael wrote a good post on Senator Hutchison's decision to postpone her much-delayed anticipation of a future resignation from the Senate at some indeterminate time in the future, choosing instead to once again ensure she has the proper time to "reassess" the options that have been identical for the past decade.
I know when I make the decision to lead, I always try to make it in the least inspiring way possible. (Eye roll).
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison's commitment to continue to do nothing in Washington instead of doing nothing in Texas befits her non-legacy. As the senior Republican Senator from the largest Republican state in the country -- who enjoyed unprecedented power in Washington for eight years while a President from her state sat in the White House -- why does Hutchison think she can have any affect now? What is it she hopes to accomplish in Washington -- further her own legacy of ineffectiveness?
Kay Bailey Hutchison's latest decision to continue to do nothing in Washington only cements the fact that when Texans ask who the real KBH is, they are left scratching their heads -- because they don't know what she does or what she believes in any more than Kay does.
Hutchison's commitment to not commit stirred up a lot of flurry over the weekend. The Rick Perry talking point blog, Rick vs. Kay, captured lots of quotes from various Republican elected officials praising Kay for living up to her lifelong career of doing as little as possible. I've captured their quotes below, and added my own commentary following each statement:
Senator John Cornyn (R-TX): “I applaud Sen. Hutchison for once again putting Texas first and remaining in the Senate this year..."
Former Senator Phil Gramm: “It is the right thing for Texas and America. … Having worked with Kay, I am confident that she can both protect us in Washington and run successfully for governor.”
State Representative Dan Branch: She, like other professional women, can multitask as well as men or better,’ Branch said.
Me: Dan, thanks for deciding not to run for higher office. You would have been too sensible for a statewide Republican ticket.
Jason Embry also used the bulk of this morning's First Reading blog for the Austin American-Statesman to game out the various electoral calculus that is better defined (or better ill-defined) following Hutchison's declaration that she still wasn't going to do anything.
Ultimately, though, none of this matters. None of it. KBH could never win the Governor's primary, and even if she did -- how would she win the general election? She has almost no political instinct, and has not defined herself at all. To date, she has allowed Perry to define her completely.
Meanwhile, the Texas Democratic Party has done work of their own to define Hutchison -- or ill-define her, as the case may be. Below is their top ten list that answers the question, "Who is the Real KBH?" -- follow the links, and try to imagine how she could ever get elected for any office again:
With her recent announcement that a resignation will not come before the March primary, Kay Bailey Hutchison hopes to balance
successfully fending off healthcare reform by herself,
following that up by destroying the idea of a Cap and Trade Bill, and
topping it off with a win over Rick Perry in the the party that Rick Perry seems to control.
She has a lot on her plate, doesn't she? Well, she might, but that's obviously not challenging enough for someone like Kay Bailey Hutchison.
So. Time to make the task harder for the apparent star politician. How to challenge this GOP and Texas champion? I know! Work the weekends in the Senate!
Senator Harkin, give this ambitious student of politics her extra work:
The Iowa senator laid out an ambitious schedule for the final weeks before the end of the year. He said Democrats expect to hold the first big test vote by Friday on a motion to proceed to the bill. But no amendments will come up until Nov. 30, at the earliest. He said Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is committed to working through every weekend in December if that’s what it takes to pass the bill before lawmakers break for the Christmas holiday.
"We're going to be going long days — I've already talked to Leader Reid about this — long nights, weekends — constantly, from then until right before Christmas, when I think we'll have the votes, hopefully, to pass the bill," he said.
Weekends and long nights in the Senate, too? I'm sure you can pull it all off, Kay Bailey! You're great at time management, so I'm sure you'll still find your time to campaign for governor. You could probably beat Rick Perry and the Democrats' agenda with a hand tied behind your back and your eyes closed!
But that meanie Harkin guy really wants to test you now. So, Missy Hutchison, show us what you're made of!
So a couple of major events in the Houston Mayor's Race that we have been remiss in noting the last week.
3rd Place Finisher Peter Brown Endorses Annise Parker
In a news conference on the steps of City Hall, Brown today that he would be casting his vote for Parker in the runoff election December 12 and he asked all his supporters, friends and family to do the same.
Brown said: "One candidate stands out with a 12-year proven track record of public service, particularly in terms of efficient, transparent government, the quality of life in our neighborhoods, and fiscal responsibility, especially important in these difficult economic times."
Houston Chronicle Analysis Suggest Edge for Annise Parker
Houston Chronicle: "The numbers paint a very good picture for the Parker campaign and present some obvious challenges to the Locke team in the finals," said unaffiliated political consultant Keir Murray, whose analysis of the precinct data concurs with that of the Chronicle. "Annise goes into the runoff in a very strong position. I think she's the person to beat."
...
Parker, who established a major base of support among inside-the-loop white voters and placed first or second in traditionally conservative areas, must get out her base and undertake a major push to woo conservatives, a possibility that may be within reach, according to the data, campaign officials and analysts.
Locke, who placed a distant fourth in traditionally conservative areas, must raise black turnout, unite African-Americans behind his candidacy and win over far more upper- and middle-class white voters, particularly those in the conservative areas that may be most up for grabs, analysts said.
In an October survey by Lake Research Partners, among voters who voted for Peter Brown originally, Annise was their second choice candidate and by a margin of 2 to 1 over Locke. And among voters who chose Morales (either first or second), almost a third chose Parker (30%) compared to just 10% who chose Locke.
Gene Locke Poll Showing Parker Lead of 4 Points
Burka Blog: Gene Locke's campaign has released the first poll taken since November 3. The poll was conducted Monday and Tuesday nights (November 9 & 10) by Paul Maislin, who also polled for Lee Brown and Bill White. The poll showed [Annise] Parker leading by 43-39% with 18% undecided. The margin of error was 4%.
The poll shows that Parker and Locke are splitting Peter Brown votes fairly evenly with most white Democrats shifting to Parker and Brown's African-American supporters moving to Locke. The undecided voters at this point are mostly suburban, white, and Republican leaning. The suburban-white-Republican-leaning voters that have made up their minds about the race are breaking strongly in Locke's favor by about a 70-30 margin. This group is primarily been responsible for Locke moving from 10% down in the election to within the margin of error of Parker.
The poll is modeled on a 170,000-voter turnout in the election. About 180,000 voters voted on November 3.
More Maps by Greg Wythe
Now you can see the order of finish of both Annise Parker and Gene Locke by precinct across Harris County in this map. Greg also tries to divine a sense of victory by mapping these three neighborhoods.
Annise Parker Campaign had a Field Game
One of the markers of the first round of the election was that while Peter Brown was spending millions on TV, Annise Parker was talking to her base out in the field. With the first round over, some numbers from muse.
In just the last 90 days, our volunteers have made more than 179,000 phone calls and knocked on over 50,000 doors. On just the weekend before the election, our field operation knocked on 14,000 doors! Now that's how to win a campaign when you are outspent more than two to one.
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The internal memo from the Parker campaign yesterday revealed that their field campaign increased turnout 10% in targeted precincts. That's pretty impressive data on ROI on field.
