Burnt Orange Report

I don't see how opposing a constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage is analogous to supporting civil unions in a state that as he points out already statutorily bans same sex marriage. If it bans same sex marriage then obviously it bans civil unions as well.

As governor, would he insist on introduction of legislation and would he then lobby for legislation to allow civil unions since he supports them? Or is merely saying he supports them sufficient? Or should I say sufficiently safe politically? The gay community wants to know. So does everyone else which is why as always there is this flip-flop with Chris Bell.

As for his congressional record he voted against an amendment banning same sex marriage but I don't see where he has even attempted to support civil unions legislatively. Maybe Thomas missed something in its congressional records?

The only bill he supported that was related to "equal rights" and "civil unions" was PPIA although again he did so only under pressure. If he supported equal rights under the law he would have been one of the first co-sponsors rather than one of the last.

I noticed he voted for the Bush-Cheney energy bill in 2003. Maybe you don't drive a car. The rest of us do. And are not real happy with the Bush-Cheney energy plan every time we stop at a gas station. Or with anyone who voted for it.

It truly was an impressive crowd. And the heat was pretty awful! But it was exciting. I have heard him speak before and this time he was on fire (with the damn heat I suppose literally!).

We haven't had a politician in the Dem Party at the top of the ticket like this since Ann Richards. And finally a populist message - and a perfect one for this Red state.

I think the Pact with Parents is brilliant and will be the best way to hold the Repugs feet to the fire. And any man or woman that can take on Tom DeLay withouth flinching gets a braveheart award from me.

Some people say we need a more "seasoned" candidate that is more "conventional." Well conventional got us Rick Perry, Tom Craddick, redistricting and made us lose Bell and the other 5 Democratic Congressmen. We have only 6 years until the next redistricting. We don't have a moment to lose on conventional!

Although I wish we were Berkley or San Francisco sometimes, this is the perfect candidate for Texas! It doesn't hurt that he is handsome and has a beautiful family either.

No wonder he was so popular in Houston!

"Well conventional got us Rick Perry, Tom Craddick, redistricting and made us lose Bell and the other 5 Democratic Congressmen."

We lost Bell. We did not lose a Democratic congressman. Al Green now represents us. Last time I checked Al Green is still a Democrat. He won the primary that Bell lost. Had the Republican won the district, you could blame Bell's loss on redistricting. The point is the Democrat won. Or are you saying only a white Democrat counts?

I think a lot of people get tired of this blaming Bell's loss on redistricting. If nothing else it demeans the voters who decided they would rather have Al Green. Does anyone consider that? Or do they consider it and they don't want to raise the "race card" which Bell himself did when he lost and whined that he was the wrong color. He was just the wrong person and may have been the wrong person even if there had not been redistricting. He couldn't have been that popular or he would have drawn more than 30% in the primary. There was a white majority in his old district. People assume the white majority would have returned him to Congress. People should never assume about the voters. That's how people lose elections.

I agree he can be a very dynamic speaker. That is how he got elected to Congress. But a lot of people felt he simply didn't deliver once he was in Congress.

Obviously the people who attended are going to post laudatory messages. I wonder why only half of those who supposedly RSVPd according to Bell showed up. I have to wonder with regard to some other posts here if some of those who didn't show were those who finally, as Bell put it on Sunday, oddly echoing Kinky Friedman, "got it" and simply said "no thanks." Quite a few of us have said "no thanks" as well.

Is this Burnt Orange Report or the Austin edition of Chris Bell for Governor?

1. Isn't Lloyd Doggett's seat majority Hispanic? That shows that race and redistricting isn't an excuse for why Chris Bell lost his congressional seat.

2. According to the Chronicle article, 100 people showed up with 50 of them coming from a bus from Houston. That's a pretty weak showing for months of work.

I think the Democratic Party needs to look around for another candidate or two.

And don't forget Gene Green and the 29th District which I believe added some African-American neighborhoods to the primarily Hispanic district as a result of the redistricting. He had no problem getting re-elected. His constituents like him. Despite his being the wrong color and having his district redrawn. Maybe some just don't like Chris Bell?

The Democratic Party can look around all it wants. Quite a few Democrats along with quite a few Republicans have had enough after the latest antics of Perry and Dewdrop and our legislature which spent two special sessions taking care of the special interests, including themselves, instead of taking care of public school funding which supposedly was the sole purpose of the special sessions and are planning not to vote in the primary and signing the petition to put Kinky Friedman on the ballot. He thinks gay marriage is just fine by the way. And doesn't give a damn what a bunch of Bible-thumping rednecks think. Although quite a few Bible-thumping rednecks do give a damn what Willie Nelson thinks. And Willie Nelson just came onboard for Kinky Friedman as well. And with a little luck, he will be joined soon by Ann Richards. So much for the comparison of Chris Bell to Ann Richards.

What the Democratic Party in Texas needs to do is to concentrate on the lieutenant governor's race and winning back the legislature. That includes replacing some of the Democrats in the legislature who agree with the Republicans that the way to pay for public schools is to let the rich pay less tax and put the tax burden on the poor. Or do they think the poor don't pay sales tax? They apparently don't think they pay electric bills after raiding a $400 million dollar fund to help the poor pay those electric bills. And just where DID the money go after they put it in the general fund? To their new pension funds?

Best plan so far is Kinky's plan to create a permanent trust fund that the legislature cannot touch the way it did the Lite Up Texas fund and add surcharges and other fees to the income of some of the "sacred cows" who pay no taxes at all in this state. The attorneys and the oilmen in particular.

The trust fund would ensure that our real public servants, not these slimeballs in Austin, would be guaranteed decent salaries and decent retirement funds. Our police and firemen and most of all our teachers. Who are always on the bottom of the totem pole when budget time rolls around. And usually end up with nothing.

No offense to the college kids who obviously have fallen for Chris Bell but the real world is not filled with idealism. It is filled with taxes and utility bills a growing number of Texans cannot afford to pay. And so far only Kinky Friedman seems to understand that.

AMEN! I wish D's would quit sniveling and realize that our goal is to WIN RACES not be nice to a nice guy so he can run and lose a MAJOR race, like governor of Texas.

It's almost embarrassing being a Democrat nowadays. Buck up and recruit, support and WORK on behalf of real candidates.

LOL! The nerve of Chris Bell running for re-election after Tom DeLay redistricted him. AND ON ELECTION DAY NO LESS! How dare he!! Please...

People know he ran his race with dignity. People know that he did not walk away and let DeLay choose the representative of his district. And the people chose and in the redrawn district they chose Al Green. It was done the way it should have been done - by the voters. And so with great class and statesmanship, Chris Bell brought Al Green to the House Democrats and presented their new Congressman and colleage. And they both received a standing ovation. And that was in March of 2004.

And instead of coasting for the next 7 months, he did for Texas and the country what nobody else had the guts to do. He took on Tom DeLay. Besides bringing attention to the corrupt house republicans, it kept DeLay busier in Texas and spending more money in his own race. He did more for races around the country in his 1 term in Congress than most politicians will do in a lifetime. And his investment and sacrafice is still paying dividends in Congress today.

There sure is alot of similarity in syntax on some of these blog comments. Looks like some mischief is afoot! I think we have certainly gotten the Republicans and the Republican-lite peeps attention. This could only be a good thing. Looks like Perry may get the ass kicking he deserves!

No offense to the college kids who obviously have fallen for Chris Bell but the real world is not filled with idealism.

And you are supporting who for Governor? I haven't weighed in yet, but I'm going to support someone who can help but Democratic ideas (like Scott Hochberg's amendments on the education bill) into law, and I hope that's not too idealistic.

The real world tells me that when the numbers meet the calendar, Kinky Friedman is going to be lucky to get on the ballot. While I think he's a funny guy who has some good ideas, so is Jon Stewart. And my 10 pm news anchor ain't run'n for Guv. of Texas (isn't it a shame that there is actually better coverage of national political stories in satire than on network news?)

That being said, what about some really serious candidates, like Jeff Foxworthy or Larry the Cable Guy (If your Governor makes Arnold look smart, you might need to elect a red-neck)

He also filed an ethics complaint against Al Green during the primary. He certainly likes to file complaints and involve himself in other people's campaigns and other people's lives while proclaiming himself the savior of the Democratic Party and the standard bearer of ethical behavior when his behavior at times has been anything but.

He filed a complaint against Tom DeLay that was actually put together by several organizations including Common Cause which he then embellished with innuendo to the point that even the Democrats on the committee chastised him in addition to chastising Tom DeLay.

How about being a little more truthful? Chris Bell is NOT the savior of the Democratic Party. And is not completely ethical himself. The House has rules and standards that Chris Bell violated and they are rules and standards that Chris Bell was called on the carpet for having violated. Odd how everyone seems to overlook that fact.

He has always touted his having overhauled the ethics code while on city council. He did so only after he and other councilmembers were caught violating the existing ones. Again, how about being a little more truthful?

Nancy Pelosi herself got caught at several points committing the same violations she accused Tom DeLay of committing. And then went on Sunday morning network news programs and actually intimated that unethical behavior by Democrats is not really as unethical as unethical behavior as Republicans. Say what? Democrats are destroying themselves by engaging in this finger-pointing while not taking the time to look in a mirror.

And you are not much better. Anyone who doesn't support Chris Bell must be a Republican? I guess that includes the 70% who voted for Al Green?

I take exception with a few of the comments listed here. First of all this is and always will be Burnt Orange Report. We write on Democratic State Politics for the most part and Chris Bell and Felix Alvarado are the only two declared Democrat candidates in this race. I'm sorry to say it, but they are going to get more coverage than anyone who is not a declared candidate. Further, I have made several efforts to contact the Felix Alvarado campaign and so far they have provided very little content to report on.

Second, to address Bill, most of the "college students" haven't fell in love with Chris Bell. I happen to be in college right now but in the last 10 years I've been serving my country in the United States Navy and I have been voting since I was 18. To imply that I support Bell out of some imature naivety is insulting and just plain wrong.
There are other bloggers such as Greg's Opinion and Off The Kuff (again not "college kids") that have made tons more posts on Chris than I have.

Finally, everytime I post something on Chris Bell, there are at least 10 comments. This drives our web traffic up and spurs debate. You can bet your bottom dollar that as long as that trend continues, I'm going to post on Chris Bell as much as I can. It seems that folks have a lot to say on the subject and I'm providing them an outlet for that.

Nothing naive about idealism. But sometimes idealism masks the reality of life. You have to find a balance. I and obviously quite a few others don't see that balance in Chris Bell or in what we currently have representing us in Austin.

Sometimes the problem with politicians is that their idealism is 180 degrees from their reality. They say what we want to hear simply to get elected. Some say it better than others. Most of us who have been around for any length of time tend to look at politicians and see puppets and wonder who is pulling the strings.

I think that is one reason why so many of us have decided to support Kinky Friedman - he doesn't appear to have any strings attached.

Some of us are also tired of this "two-party only" system in Texas. Both parties tell you to send the money, wave your flag, and vote a straight ticket. And then the people you elect tell you where you can stick your flag.

Maybe some of us would like tell the two parties where to stick their flag.

I and others have a hard time defining a Democrat or a Republican with regard to our legislature. Both seem only interested in the special interests including themselves. I think they should all be allowed to enjoy their new pensions that they voted for themselves instead of what they were called into special session for.

We often have little choice in Texas but the proverbial "lesser of two evils" and I hope the first thing Kinky Friedman does as governor is get rid of this restriction on independent candidates except by petition which is then usually thrown into the courts to block any real choice for the voters. Sometimes there is no "lesser of two evils" on the ballots. Because sometimes both parties are pulling the strings on both candidates. Just in case. All you have to do is get familiar with the financial data bases to realize how prevalent that has become.

There is something wrong when Republican money starts going to Democratic candidates and Democratic money starts going to Republicans although the "cross-over" appears to be mainly with the Republican money going to Democratic candidates. Which should, but doesn't, raise the question of who the candidate is going to represent once elected. In many cases, you have a Democrat who was backed by big Republican money. That should speak for itself. Sadly, it doesn't.

Thank you Snooks! All I see, like I said in a post further down, is a middle of the road Democrat who could easily pass for a middle of the road Republican. We already have Rick Perry, so why would I want Rick Perry Lite?

And as for his statement that he supports civil unions but isnt ready for marriage, really doesnt help the anti-amendement movement whatsoever. Thats like saying I like Coke but Im not really ready for Coke with Lime. Saying the vast majority of Texans arent ready for something sounds kind of like past things they werent ready for- like freeing slaves (which they did after everyone else). Or a white woman marrying a black man. If we waited til someone was "ready for it", we'd still have the whites only section when going out to eat!

The guy campaigns in a open field for months, and attracts 100 folks for his announcement. More people than that went to my corner convience store on Sunday.

The guy runs for office eight times, and wins four. Batting .500 is great in baseball, but not so hot in politics.

And finally, I will once again repeat these two words: Chip Staniswalis!!!

The only real support I have seen for him in the gay community is from the Human Rights Campaign crowd that apparently doesn't want to admit they made a mistake supporting him to begin with.

Hey rerun thanks I had not thought about Chipper in a long time, wonder if he is still asking for kickbacks from his employees. A side note..know who shared an office with Staniswallis in his first session...one Talmadge Heflin.

Chris Bell is a real Democrat. I can understand if you people don't recognize what a real Democrat is, having had to put up with Democrats in name only all these years. And "Baby Snooks" is dead wrong on every account. So far you are making the case for Tom DeLay, Rick Perry and Tom Craddick on redistricting, and you pretend to know politics and post inaccuracies on BOR as if you are some sort of novice expert. Did you have anything to with the CD9 race last year? Did you work for or on behalf of any candidate in that race? Tom DeLay may be a crook, but he knew what he was doing with CD9. Chris was the elected Congressman for CD 25, which was taken away from him. CD9 is NOT CD25 so don't try that. Roughly a third of the old 25th is in the current 9th district. As far as Gene Green is concerned, he was not a DeLay target, but that didn't stop the bastard from redistricting Gene out of his house.
If you want to vote for Kinky Friedman, you go right on ahead. If you don't want to call yourself a Democrat, then fine. But we real Democrats have a real Democrat running for Governor of this great state. Maybe you don't like Democrats, or you didn't like the Democrats on the ballot these past few years. That's why Kinky Friedman supported and endorsed George Bush, right? Between his heart warming stories of getting coked up with rock stars and his comedic articles on getting drunk with country music stars, it's easy to see why you've all aligned yourselves with the "outside" candidate. It's all very entertaining, really, but I for one am tired of Texas being a joke. We've already had a coked up funny man for Governor and he's now the president. Not so funny anymore, is it?

Kinky Friedman didn't actually vote for GWB, since he apparently hasn't voted in 10 years.

Marie,

For a blog called the Burnt Orange Report, your comments are very Aggiesque. "We real Democrats..."? So if someone doesn't support Chris Bell they aren't a real Democrat?

The same whining went on once before when the Democrats redistricted the hell out of Texas except it was the Republicans whining.

Neither party likes redistricting when they are the "loser" and the reality is the voters are the losers. There have been quite a few "alternatives" offered to make redistricting more fair and both the Democrats and the Republicans have always rejected them. They only want to be "the" party in power and as most Texans have finally seen this past legistlative session, neither party really gives a damn about Texans or about what used to be called the "public interest" and all they care about is taking care of everyone who has lined their pockets with cash.

If Chris Bell is a "real" Democrat then I feel sorry for the Democrats. If Tom De Lay is a "real" Republican then I feel sorry for the Republicans. Next time someone asks me if I'm a Democrat or a Republican I intend to tell them I'm "kinky." As far as I can see the "real" Democrats and the "real" Republicans gave up a long time ago and just stopped voting. They got tired of the "lesser of two evils."

Both Chris Bell and Tom DeLay are nothing more than loud-mouthed and ill-tempered hypocrites. My personal opinion. But it is an opinon I suspect quite a few Texans share. Most are fed up with both of them. Most have read the committee's findings and the letters they issued to both Tom DeLay AND Chris Bell. You and everyone else who believe that Chris Bell is a poster boy for ethics apparently have not.

As for Kinky Friedman being a "dopehead" at least its not a "natural state" the way it is for Chris Bell and Rick Perry who appear to be our only other choices for governor. About the only complimentary thing I can say about Chris Bell is that he's good with the one-liners. Rick Perry can't even remember the one-liners except the one that ended up on T-shirts. The one even hard core Republicans will probably remember when they don't vote in the primary and then go to the polls next November and say "Adios MoFo" to him by voting for Kinky Friedman.

All I really know about District 9 is that minorities ended up with another district for themselves with one of their own representing them and that apparently is what really upsets everyone who call themselves "real" Democrats.

It also explains why the "real" Democrats ran Ron Wilson out of office for having the guts to point that little fact out. It appears that "real" Democrats are simply "white" Democrats who believe that they can represent minorities better than the minorities themselves can.

I'm "white" but I was deeply offended by Chris Bell and his "I guess I'm the wrong color" comment when he lost the primary. And I'm beginning to be deeply offended by this anger over District 9. The real anger appears to be rooted in prejudice. Not politics.

Damon,

Thanks for your military service. I don't call people names, I quote other people doing it. Hope this helps,

No offense to the college kids who obviously have fallen for Chris Bell but the real world is not filled with idealism.

Posted by Baby Snooks at August 15, 2005 09:53 PM

I think mine was the immediate post after. Hope that clears that up (besides, I call you guys much worse... but not college kids. that goes to far:)

Here's another good one:

It also explains why the "real" Democrats ran Ron Wilson out of office for having the guts to point that little fact out. It appears that "real" Democrats are simply "white" Democrats who believe that they can represent minorities better than the minorities themselves can.

Posted by Baby Snooks at August 16, 2005 01:36 PM

Hey Baby,

Alma Allen beat Ron Wilson. Last time I hung out with her, she was still black. I'll let you know the next time I see her if anything's changed, but the odds of that happening are about as good as Kinky Friedman's being Governor.

What does her being black have to do with her running because some white Democrats wanted to get rid of Ron Wilson after he disagreed with them and pointed out the fact that redistricting created a new district that would be primarily African-American and would benefit African-Americans? There was also a similar Hispanic district created as well in South Texas as I recall and a similar threat of "annihilation" in the Hispanic political community as well if anyone pointed that out. They shut up. Ron Wilson didn't. To me, Ron Wilson is a "real" Democrat because he didn't shut up.

What has happened to the Democratic Party in this state speaks for itself. Even when some don't think it does.

BS,

By calling Ron Wilson a "real Democrat" you've just shown how you could do something as foolish as hooking up with that huckster Kinky.

Wilson whored for Craddick and the Right Wing on many issues besides redistricting. For example, he voted for the Republican budget in '03 that cut off 150,000 kids from CHIP. That's why Wilson's ass got whipped by a woman who had proven she was a real Democrat.

Meanwhile, Kinky doesn't know what he is, but, like Wilson, he doesn't shut up. One minute, he prattles on in orgasmic terms about his love for George Bush. The next minute he sounds vaguely left. The next minute he's telling people NOT TO VOTE. Then comes some more jokes that, apparently, only a few idiots and Charles Soechting find funny.

But the joke will be on Kinky when so many of the people who sign his petition end up voting in the primary and leave him on the sidelines sucking on a cigar. In fact, I know of a whole lot of Democrats who intend to do just that.

That most likely is why they intend to get 3-4 times as many signatures than they really need in order to make sure the Democratic and Republican morons who think they're pulling a fast one will only be pulling a fast one on themselves. He's one step ahead of you kid. Must be all that dope he smokes. Has turned him psychic.

As for Wilson having "whored" himself, by your standards then quite a few other Democratic representatives have as well. His sin was not "siding with the enemy" it was speaking up for what was best for all African-Americans in this state. And are you saying he was the only Democrat who voted to cut the CHIPS funding? Put up or shut up. Let me see the roll call.

And are you implying that Charles Soechting is an idiot? Now that is really party unity if ever I saw it.

whiskeydent:

They cannot sign a petition until AFTER the election. So tell your friends to pick another strategy.

As for Mr. Bell, I shall just keep repeating Chip Staniswalis Chip Stansiwalis Chip Staniswalis. If you can't beat that goofy convict, you are a weak candidate. Anyone care to debate that point?

Will someone please tell me who Chip Staniswalis is/was? I'd like details.

Baby Snook,

You should spend more time doing research on LGBT issues before you start criticizing Chris Bell's record.

1. Marriage related laws are the purview of the states. A federal civil unions bill, which you attack Bell for not advocating in Congress, would violate that. Besides, civil unions would be a pale comparison to marriage.

2. It would be ridiculous for Bell to begin aggressively pushing civil unions in Texas when state lawmakers have not seen fit to protect people from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, public acccommodations etc. The Texas legislature cannot even agree that public school students should not physically and verbally abused for being percieved as gay.

3. The former congressman's co-sponsorship of the Permanent Partners Immigration Act should be applauded, not dismissed with a few snotty words. Just as it takes gay people time to discover and accept their sexual orientation, it takes us educating potential allies about how they can support our fight for equality.

Michael

I'll run through them in semi-order:

1. 3-4 times? Good luck. That's a lot of John McCall's hairspray money.

And rerun, it doesn't make a difference whether they get petitions signed before or after the primary, Democratic primary voters can burn up a lot of Kinky's time and money by signing his petition.

2. As I recall, 6 Dems voted for the Republican budget when it went through. The number went up on some of the conference committee reports.

But that was just one of many, many votes in which Wilson voted with the Republicans. For another example, he was the leading advocate for vouchers, which few if any D's support.

3. It's CHIP, not CHIPS.

4. You obviously misread style for substance when it comes to both Kinky and Wilson. Just because Wilson called out "white liberals" and other such crap doesn't mean he speaks "up for what was best for all African-Americans in this state." That's assinine. After all, if he did speak up for African-Americans, why was he defeated?

You obviously are not a Democrat or know what one is, so quit trying to explain it to someone who is an ardent and loyal Democrat. Just go along your way with Kinky and try to win the race on the merits. Again, good luck.

Why not refresh everyone's memory about the Bell versus Staniswalis race? Or are you afraid it might be removed from this blog the way it appears to have been removed from another blog?

"Just as it takes gay people time to discover and accept their sexual orientation, it takes us educating potential allies about how they can support our fight for equality."

He had already been given the John Walzel Political Equality Award by Human Rights Campaign when he then hesitated to sign on as a co-sponsor of PPIA which raises some questions about Human Rights Campaign as well for having given him the award to begin with. The matter was openly and very publicly discussed and quite a few had a problem with his position on PPIA. He did not willingly sign on a co-sponsor. That is the reality that for some reason you choose not to accept.

"...when state lawmakers have not seen fit to protect people from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, public acccommodations etc. The Texas legislature cannot even agree that public school students should not physically and verbally abused for being percieved as gay."

So does this mean he will ask for legislation to address all of this? Or are you just making excuses for him and his flip-flopping on the matter of gay rights in general? His position is he supports equal rights but will not fight for them unless he is forced to. The situation with PPIA spoke for itself. As does most everything with Chris Bell.

"As I recall, 6 Dems voted for the Republican budget when it went through. The number went up on some of the conference committee reports."

Which 6? Were they targeted for removal along with Ron Wilson? Who are these other 6?

I don't agree with you so obviously I am not a Democrat? And you wonder why the Democratic Party has collapsed in Texas? Who the hell are you to tell me I'm not a Democrat because I don't support your position and don't support a hypocrite for governor? Them's fightin' words.

But the fight will have to wait. A girl has to do what a girl has to do and on the subject of hairspray I have to go have my hair done.

BS,

If you're working for an INDEPENDENT candidate such as Kinky, then you're not much of a DEMOCRAT, as your comments have shown. Take responsibility for your actions. You can't have it both ways.

As for who the six were, look it up yourself. I'm not your library.

More importantly, that's not the point. Ron Wilson consistently voted against his district and that's why the voters of his district voted him out of office. Case closed.

Several others besides Wilson had primary opponents and were defeated, including Jaime Cappello (sp?) and what's-his-name in Fort Worth. Ritter won his primary challenge from Bernsen (again, if you want exact numbers, go look it up).

And, by the way, Ritter has been a star in the fight this year against the Republicans' education and tax plans.

PS I didn't call Soechting an idiot. If you understood the rules of grammar...

Update: Alma Allen is still black and Kinky Friedman is still not Govenror. However, I would rather drink beer with him than Ron Wilson. More news to follow. . .

Memo to "Marie": try anger management. Whew, you got issues, gal.

Don't mistake anger for an informed woman. And don't call me "gal".

"If you're working for an INDEPENDENT candidate such as Kinky, then you're not much of a DEMOCRAT, as your comments have shown."

I'm not working for anyone. I am supporting Kinky Friedman. I am not supporting Chris Bell. I am a Democrat. That does not mean I have to wave a flag and support a fool. I probably would vote for Rick Perry before I would vote for Chris Bell. You apparently like to wave a flag. So may I suggest you take your flag and stick it where the sun don't shine. But remove your head first. I wouldn't want you to injure your bent-out-of-shape nose.

Ron Wilson lost his seat because people like you went around waving a flag and saying he was not a Democrat and no longer represented the interests of his constituents. Last time I checked, he is still a Democrat. But he decided to let you and everyone else take care of the interests of his constituents. Alma Allen was on the State Board of Education before she replaced Ron Wilson. Did she take care of the interests of the children of her constituents? I didn't see any plan proposed by her. Maybe because she was part of a board that in large part created the problems to begin with? Or do we just overlook that the way we overlook a lot in this "new mainstream" as Chris Bell calls it. More like trying to maneuver upstream in white water in a rubber dingy if you ask me.

As for Chris Bell, I would like to know more about Chip Staniswalis. Someone said he was in prison when he won the election? The voters must have really loved Chris Bell if they elected a convict instead. This supposedly was in Amarillo in the mid or late 1990s? Before he ran for Houston City Council? I thought Houston City Council was his first political venture. Or adventure. Or misadventure. In any case, someone keeps bringing Chip Staniswalis up. So how about some more information about him and Chris Bell?

Marie is fine. She just confuses loyalty to party with loyalty to principles. I'll stick to my principles, Democratic principles, and vote for Kinky Friedman. As will quite a few others.I do agree with her about your attitude. Why is that men can have opinions and women can't?

"Then comes some more jokes that, apparently, only a few idiots and Charles Soechting find funny."

When you link Charles Soechting with "a few idiots" in the same sentence as you have, you are implying that he is an idiot. Others have called him much worse. Personally I rather respect a state party chair who would take the time to blog with the people he represents. Something the local party chairs might learn something from.

Final: Alma Allen is/was/will continue to be black, Ron Wilson was defeated in a Democratic Primary by another Democrat, and Rep. Allen will fully take the blame for not personally solving the school finance issue that has plagued our state in her freshman year.

Kinky Friedman is still cool but not a Democrat, Chris Bell is still white, and Rick Noreiga is the biggest hero this legislative session.

And I thought I was on vacation! I leave for one day and look what happens. j/k

One of the reasons that I'm actually a big fan of making sure that BOR covers all the action in the Gov's race regardless of who it is, is because it gets people talking on here, and we start to see where at least part of the party is at, not media or campaign controlled at all. And I'll bet you that of all the major state Democratic blogs, you are going to find the most vibrant dicussions and more diverse postings here on BOR.

There are over a dozen writers for BOR that could add their voice to this topic and I can assure you that by no means is there even a near majority behind any one person right now. Damon's probably our oldest writer age wise, Byron's graduated as is Jim Dallas with Dobbs and Neumann soon to follow. While some of us are still here at UT, others are moving on and Matt Hardigree who's posting today also has graduated. Hell, I'm the youngn' here and somehow ended up owning this show.

It has little to do with age. It has everything to do with a passion for writing, building our party, and providing a Report that is a bit Burnt Orange in perspective.

Nothing wrong with youth or with idealism and absolutely nothing wrong with passion. Passion is what keeps the fire of idealism burning through old age. Or at least until you're 50.