Burnt Orange Report: - Recommended Diaries

Robin Cravey's Retire the Debt Party

Robin Cravey — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:21:38 GMT

As you know, my run for a seat on the Austin City Council was a huge effort. Although I did not win a seat on the City Council, I'm proud of the job my staff and I did in getting our message out to Austin citizens. We were gratified by the support and response we received from many friends and citizens.

Since the election, I have been encouraged to continue advocating for Austin's hometown agenda but I need your help! Although I ran a grassroots campaign, I incurred some debt that I need to retire. Please join me at Mary Ann and Craig's house for my "Retire the Debt Party".

I look forward to seeing you and getting an opportunity to discuss the future of our city once again.

See you on August 5th!

Fraternally,

Robin Cravey

Robin's Retire the Debt Party

August 5th, 2008
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

The home of Mary Ann Neely & Craig Smith
1908 Barton Parkway
Austin, TX 78704

Suggested donation $35 (all welcomed)
Sponsorships available
Maximum donation is $300 per individual per Austin City Charter.

Contributions to help retire the debt
gratefully accepted in person, by mail or online at www.RobinCravey.com

To join the Host Committtee or to RSVP, please contact Nick at 535-1235 or email him at nick@stanley-garrison.com

Thoughts on the Changing Politics of Texas…

liberaltexan — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:40:23 GMT

"It's precisely the pursuit of ideological purity, the rigid orthodoxy and sheer predictability of our current political debate, that keeps us from finding new ways to meet the challenges we face as a country" -Barack Obama

From time to time I like to reevaluate myself, and rethink my positions and reflect on my beliefs. What I have come to realize lately that I am much more of a liberal than I ever realized, and that I am also a liberal first and a Democrat second. Although I support the Democratic Party and its candidates I also endeavor to look at politics through both an idealistic and realistic lens.
As I have watched the political landscape and the blogosphere for the last two months, I have noticed that my fellow bloggers tend to hold politicians up to a very ideologically pure light. While much of my beliefs and political views are uncompromising, I have found myself much more willing to allow my representatives flexibility. I have found myself much more willing to come to compromise without believing that it comprises my beliefs.

However, I do believe that liberals in the blogosphere and the media should hold politicians up to that uncompromising light, because it is that light that can prevent politicians from becoming complacent. In many ways the voices of dissent should be the loudest, and they should rise about the conventional wisdom and speak to our principles and ideals.

At the same time we must also be able to look at ourselves in the mirror and do all we can not to become what we disapprove of the most about those that oppose us. We must be cautious of embracing the politics that have divided us for so long. As much as anyone I have felt the visceral reaction those that have held the majority the current administration, but this should not be about Republicans this should be about Americans.

During this reflection there have been voices in the blogosphere speaking up in frustration about the mainstream media's coverage of the Texas Senate campaign.

The problem is that the Democratic Representative Noriega is running a campaign in a state in which a Democrat has not won a state wide office in over a decade which is going to make the media reluctant to take Democratic candidate seriously, even when running and against a Senator who has become a caricature of himself. Senator John Cornyn is running television adds like the infamous "Big John" and as ridiculous as it might have been there was no mention of Representative Noriega when Jon Stewart mocked the add on the Daily Show. The truth is that Senator Cornyn represents the very worst of political partisanship, and we should not.

The most important thing that the campaign needs is fundraising. With money comes credibility, and with that comes press coverage. During a period of time when most of the public does not have a significant interest in anything other than the presidential campaign the press is only going to cover the candidates that make good copy. What we need to do as Representative Noriega supports is focus our efforts on fundraising. We need to stop focusing on whether or not we are getting fair coverage in the media, because with the money will come the press coverage.

We need to organize and focus. We need to organize and focus on one day. One day of donations. If we can raise enough money in one day, then the media and everyone else has no choice but to notice.

Let's repay Rick Noriega for his service to our country. This veteran wants someone representing Texas that is more than just related to a veteran, but someone that can relate to veterans because he is one.

Political and Social Thought...
to the Left of College Station

Fort Worth Residents Rally Support for Moratorium on Barnett Shale

TXsharon — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:35:16 GMT

While John McCain is trying to sell his energy policy of "Drill here. Drill now. Drill. Drill. Drill..." those affected by the devastation of the Domestic Drilling Agenda are calling for a moratorium.

Fort Worth woke up just in time to discover the free money promised to them by Chesapeake Energy landmen comes with a high price. Chesapeake Energy wants to run high pressure-100 psi minimum-gas pipelines through Fort Worth Neighborhoods. The highly corrosive, raw, wet gas can eat through a new pipeline in 3 or 4 years and is unodorized, invisible and extremely explosive.

Chesapeake, a private company, is using eminent domain to take yards and sometimes the entire home for their profit. Eminent domain should be used only for public gain with no private stakeholders.

If you are in the Barnett Shale area, you should try to attend this rally and learn from the mistakes made by Fort Worth residents.

The Fort Worth Coalition for a Reformed Drilling Ordinance (CREDO) is made up of individuals and groups who are concerned that gas production in Fort Worth is proceeding without adequate consideration of long-term impacts
CREDO believes the City is obligated to assure the safety and well being of its citizens above all other considerations
CREDO calls for a City-imposed moratorium on gas well permitting until:
Plans are in place to accomodate the total impact of urban gas production over the life of the activity

Post-depletion planning is in place to protect future residents

Planning for gas production is integrated with the city's Comprehensive Plan and other appropriate plans

Regulations are in place to assure safe operation of the total gas production activity

Click Here for Details about the Call for a Moratorium

Pipelines are dangerous:

In 1937, the New London School Explosion killed 300 - 400 children and teachers.

A Palo Pinto County gas well explosion in 2005 left a crater the size of a football field. The flash was seen 100 miles away.

An explosion in Forest Hill caused 500 homes to be evacuated in 2006.

Other unresolved issues of concern?

Infrastructure and quality of life impacts of drilling and fracking operations over the life of a well
Pipeline routing and the questionable use of Eminent Domain
Public safety, from drilling through production and long term degradation of the gas production infrastructure
Water use, waste transport and disposal
Effects of gas production on property values, insurance rates, future development, etc.
Economic parity for those who signed leases early without organized efforts
Air quality including release of hazardous compounds
Impacts on public parks and loss of other important green space

Bring a burger and spend your lunch hour with us!

Heed this warning Hanesville Shale and Marcellus Shale residents. Learn from the mistakes of Fort Worth.