Burnt Orange Report

Hey now! I'll be collecting on that cookie, you know.

I don't know enough about this particular issue to offer a comment but I think it's important to point out that the story says the majority of Gammage's district supported the legislation. Isn't that the responsibility of an elected representative--to push for laws and measures that his/her constituents want?

My "representative" (and I use that term very loosely) is Joe Barton. He was recently asked about a vote and said something to the effect that, "My vote is between me and my God." Ummmm...no, Joe. It isn't. That's why you are called a REPRESENTATIVE. Because you REPRESENT the people who voted for you. You were not annointed by God to carry out His wishes nor were you selected to push your own agenda and do whatever you want to do based on your value system. Whatever you and your God want to chat about is fine, but don't push your own religious agenda to the detriment of your constituents, please.

That's the real question here...do you think that a REPRESENTATIVE should perform his job based on his own value system (whether it's liberal or conservative) or should he actually REPRESENT the wishes of the people who voted for him...who chose him to carry out THEIR wishes--the wishes of the majority in that district.

I know Bob Gammage and I know that his primary interest and concern is to represent the people of the state of Texas--the people who voted for him--not to push his own agenda and do what HE wants to do. Not something that can be said about our current crop of "our way or the highway, we know what's best for you" leaders.

Here's what I posted up on Greg's site... in the interest of full disclosure, I'm a Gammage supporter here in Travis County.

There's no hemming and hawing about abortion, Greg, and to say otherwise is as much of a distortion of the truth as that letter from the Dirty Dozen.

Bob Gammage has been pro-choice since BEFORE Roe v. Wade. During his time in Congress he had problems with federal funding for abortions, NOT a woman's right to choose. He has since, PRIOR to this campaign, changed his position and admitted the mistake. We finally have a politician who will admit mistakes and you want to beat him up?

As for this HUAC nonsense, you've got the wrong chamber, Greg. McCarthy was in the Senate and if you're going to try to paint someone with the same brush try something that's a little less of a reach. McCarthy and Gammage is about as believable as Barney Frank dating Trent Lott.

Why are we discussing a bill the entire TX delegation supported (Bob didn't write this, nor did he introduce it) when you've made no mention of Chris' support for the Bankruptcy Bill. That's my reason for not supporting Joe Biden in anything he does in the future, AND THAT'S MY REASON FOR NOT SUPPORTING DINO CHRIS BELL.

Trey,

So you forgive Gammage for his attempt to infringe on civil liberties due to the "fact" that every other Texas Rep. was doing the same thing (a fact wholly unsupported by reality, btw), but you consider Bell a DINO due to his support of a bankruptcy bill that had the support of 25 to 3 by the Texas delegation?

Gee, it's nice to know there's a double standard that goes along with the reinvention of Bob Gammage as a true-blue Democrat.

Ref: Vote #20 ... http://www.pirg.org/score2003/texas.html

So should Sirhan Sirhan be let out of prison because McCarthy's top committee staffer (Bobby Kennedy) at HUAC was a tad too zealous some 50 years ago? Let's have a little perspective here, folks.

Bob Gammage was out winning elections before Chip Staniswalis was eligible to vote.

No double standard, I'll vote against anyone who voted for that bill whether they have an R or D next to their name. I sent letters and made phone calls to McCaul warning him not to vote for that bill.

As for the HUAC thing, I still don't know what it was about. My point was that the entire TX delegation, 9 Democrats and 2 R's, signed on as co-sponsors. I therefore have some questions as to what the purpose of it was. I'm also a little suspicious how this information was released, especially the manner in which is disclosed. I mean, Joe McCarthy? Greg, that was way over the top. What's next... are you going to try to tie him to Roy Cohn?

I'd like to know where Chris is on a Clean Air, Clean Water amendment as well. I know where Bob is on it, it's in his platform.

This is as shameful as the "Governor Perry Found in Bed with Gay Lover" garbage and just reflects a belief by some that if you tell a lie long enough, people will believe it.

In the end, most people don't. In the end, most people just take a look at who spread the lie. In this case and as in the case with the gay governor rumor, Chris Bell. In both cases, the mark of a loser lashing out.

This does little for the credibility of those who maintain there is basis to it. It does great damage to the credibility of BOR that it allows it to be continued to be even debated.

This committee was created in 1937 and was created for the sole purpose of investigating subversive activity including treason by government workers. This committee was not involved in the McCarthy hearings. To maintain that it was, again, just points to the only fact in any of this which is that some refuse to accept facts and instead choose to distort them.

To frame the point, every Democrat who voted for the Patriot Act should be removed from office if the rationale of Greg Wythe and now Jim Dallas is to be followed. The purpose of both, no matter how both may have been abused by some, was to protect the national security.

Some of you remind me of a pack of rabid dogs that are foaming at the mouth and biting at anything you can. In desperation.

Chris Bell has never served any true Democratic purpose. His voting record reflects instead that he has served his own purpose. And his own agenda. And it crossed party lines when it suited his purpose. He only represents himself. And he is driven solely by the taste of power that public office affords him. He likes it. And obviously likes to abuse it as reflected by the admonishment he received from the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.

I don't know the man. I only know of him. And I know he is not someone I would want in any public office. And this latest attack on Bob Gammage is just further reason why.

Orig Trey, the "entire" Tx delegation was much larger than 11 members in the fall of '77 when Gammage signed on to that HUAC bill. They did not "all" sign on to a bill to restart a House Unamerican Activities Committee.

In '77, Gammage had just defeated Ron Paul, narrowly. He was a progressive in a relatively conservative district. I suspect some political consultant/adviser suggested this as a good idea because the crazy libertarian Dr. Paul may not have supported this idea, but I have ni evidence or recollection about that.

I do recall Billie Carr and a lot of Harris Co. D's being displeased about the HUAC bill. And Trey, in addition to McCarthy in the Senate, there also was a House Unamerican Activities Committee - a Cold War relic from the likes of J. Edgar Hoover - which was first Chaired in the House by the colorful Rep. Martin Dies of Southeast Texas, a man who later ran statewide after toying with a "pro-America" Presidential campaign in 1940 which featured a huge, widely publicized rally at the Hollywood Bowl.

The point of this historical sketch is to illustrate why Gammage's move aroused some negative passion at the time from some Democrats who'd been around. That said, Gammage lost narrowly to Paul in the next election and went on to serve on the Tx Supreme Court and support Democrats in state and national races.

Orig Trey, the "entire" Tx delegation was much larger than 11 members in the fall of '77 when Gammage signed on to that HUAC bill. They did not "all" sign on to a bill to restart a House Unamerican Activities Committee.

In '77, Gammage had just defeated Ron Paul, narrowly. He was a progressive in a relatively conservative district. I suspect some political consultant/adviser suggested this as a good idea because the crazy libertarian Dr. Paul may not have supported reinventing HUAC, but I have no evidence or recollection about that.

Trey, in addition to McCarthy in the Senate, there also was a House Unamerican Activities Committee - a Cold War relic which was first Chaired by the colorful Rep. Martin Dies of Southeast Texas, a man who later ran statewide after toying with a "pro-America" Presidential campaign in 1940 which featured a huge, widely publicized rally at the Hollywood Bowl.

The point of this historical sketch is to illustrate why Gammage's move aroused some negative passion at the time from some Democrats who'd been around. I recall Billie Carr and other Harris Co. Dems being displeased about Gammage's support for the HUAC bill. That said, Gammage lost narrowly to Paul in the next election and went on to serve on the Tx Supreme Court and support Democrats in state and national races.

I use to be a Bell supporter. When Gammage entered the race, I looked closely at both men and it was obvious, the choice had to be Bob Gammage. Because of my previous support for Chris and because I liked him personally, I decided to focus on other races and my support for Gammage would come on primary day.

Thanks to the direction TeamBell, led by Jason Stanford, started to take, I decided to come out and actively support Gammage. It took only another week or so, when I had my name removed from the Bell e-mail list. I no longer cared to even know what Jason had to say, since it was all typical Stanford garbage.

Well today, speaking of garbage, I just took my Chris Bell t-shirt I got when I went to Austin for his announcement last August and dumped it in the trash, because that is just where Chris has allowed his campaign to go. He is not the man I thought he was. He is either what Jason is or he's too weak to stand up to his own team.

Hopefully, Stanford will finish sinking Chris by the primary, rather than us having to watch what has become of Chris and his team going into a November Titanic.

To those of you, to whom I sent e-mails over the past year, telling you Chris was a great candidate, please accept my apology.

My mistake... on the delegation.

"Well today, speaking of garbage, I just took my Chris Bell t-shirt I got when I went to Austin for his announcement last August and dumped it in the trash, because that is just where Chris has allowed his campaign to go."

Maybe liberated Texas Democratic women should follow your lead and burn their bras AND their Bell T-shirts.

I'll not support Planned Parenthood in Houston, or any organization associated with the Dirty Dozen, until it gets a new executive director and a new board.

Did anyone find out which organization the $500 sponsorship that Alison Bell was reimbursed for from campaign funds went to? Or is that just another stupid Baby Snooks question that answers itself?

Maybe not as stupid is the question of whether it was legal. It certainly doesn't seem ethical. Which is an important question since Chris Bell has made such a point of ethics and law. Or does Chris Bell simply believe ethics, like law, only applies to everyone else?

"This is as shameful as the "Governor Perry Found in Bed with Gay Lover" garbage and just reflects a belief by some that if you tell a lie long enough, people will believe it.

In the end, most people don't. In the end, most people just take a look at who spread the lie. In this case and as in the case with the gay governor rumor, Chris Bell. In both cases, the mark of a loser lashing out. "

I thought it had been Carole 4Names behind that rumor (maybe only 3Names at the time).

Same garbage, different loser.

Let's talk about Chris Bell's record in congress..... among other things, he's an anti-environmentalist who voted to drill for oil in the ANWR! That wasnt 30 years ago either! Chris is a slime-ball with a Republican past. He's not fooling anybody. It takes a fat nerve to critisize when Chris himself is the dirty one.

I thought it had been Carole 4Names behind that rumor (maybe only 3Names at the time).

No doubt that was put out by the two Democratic sleazeballs in Houston, both Bell supporters, who put the rumor out on the internet to begin with. And put that out when they were caught and called on it.

As has been discussed here before, Carol's campaign staff, Bell's campaign staff and even Perry's campaign staff are all buddies.

(Remember the, "Alison Bell got a phone call..... from Strayhorn's campaign aide....?"

If you don't recall, we can look it up together in BOR's December Archives....

I guess they all became friends (and passed rumors like playing 'telephone') when many of them were working for Bush Pioneer Rob Mossbacher.

Bell's campaign has always seem too cozy with that crowd. I guess that's why the Nau's (see the Perry Bahamas vacation trip for reference if you're not sure who THEY are) contributed to him in 2002 and 2004 - must have been on the advice of Mrs. Bell's republican contacts.

John L Nau III and his wife (Babs, I think) clearly show up on Bell's FEC reports for 2002 and 2004. Look it up... it's a real adventure .....!

There's lots of Republican money behind Chris Bell. Most don't take the time to look at his campaign finance reports. Not only John Nau but lots of others whose contributions the Republicans probably question even if the Democrats don't.

Some politicians go whichever way the wind blows. Chris Bell goes whichever way the money blows. Particularly the Republican money. His votes in Congress reflect that.

Most apparently don't look at his voting record either. They just listen to whatever Jason Stanford tells them.

Chris Bell is proof positive that PT Barnum was a very wise man. There's a sucker born every minute.

You know, Babe.... I'm pretty much a blog skeptic ("believe 'em at your own peril") , but you've been on the money on many, many things.

While it's true that some people believe what they want to believe (true or not), you've often raised enough red flags to slow down the spin a bit. There are quite a few grateful for the insight.

Hey you all from Houston......I just had a friend tell me that Chris Bell got an award from the Harris County REPUBLICAN PARTY a few years ago! What the heck is that all about?? Anybody know? Citizen

Not insight so much as just simple observation and a good memory coupled with a strong distaste for "revisionists." But thanks for the compliment.

It was probably the Harris County Republican Party's "PT Barnum Award."

He was a common sight at quite a few Republican functions, always merely accompanying his Republican wife of course, until he decided to run for Congress although obviously he kept his hand open for the Republican checks that continued to pour in that should have gone to the Republican candidate but didn't. That in itself should have raised questions among Democrats. It did raise questions among some Republicans. Just didn't look right. Or smell right. Then or now.

Look, I remain undecided, except that I know I will enthusiatically vote for and contribute to the Democratic candidate. That said, I continue to lean more and more strongly to Gammage, mostly due to Bell's voting record in Congress.
But I dont think there is anything wrong with this "attack" and certainly dont think its anywhere near the ludicrous "Perry rumors."

Gammage sponsored a piece of legislation. That legislation was controversial. Bell supporters are arguing that the legislation was a bad idea, and that Gammage should be rejected for it. Whats so dirty about this? That they identified it with McCarthy? The committee was designed to investigate treason -- isnt there a reasonable argument that starting such a committee posed the same risks as the McCarthy hearings, even if Gammage would have preferred that the committee perform a more limited role? Is it dirty because it happened a long time ago? That lessens its value to me, but it doesnt make it dirty -- much of Gammage's record happened a long time ago.

Sure, there are benefits when our primary opponents focus on Perry. Gammage, who, again, I think I will probably support, is to be commended for steadfastly adhering to this strategy. But there is a big difference between personal attacks and analyses of the records of the candidates.

That's the thing, there no reason to mention McCarthy's name other than shock value.

So would be fair game to describe the dangers of Bush's domestic spying in terms of Watergate or COINTELPRO? Or is that merely "shock value" because the relationship is one of analogy?

Sure, its a little hyperbolic to associate so closely with McCarthy, and it doesnt change my mind, but its relevant. Politicians and their supporters hype their claims. Woop-de-doo. Gammage can defend himself.

That's the thing... McCarthy never served in the House.

As for comparing current illegal surveillance to COINTELPRO, I'm not sure since it was a far more extensive program than just wiretapping. However, both were illegal.

And this is why we lose elections. We don't NEED Republicans, we are more than capable of defeating ourselves. Does anyone really, honestly, in their heart of hearts believe Judge Gammage is a closet McCarthyite? Of course not. Then why bring up 30 year old crap like this in a desperate bid to win the nomination? I freely admit I am supporting Gammage and for purely selfish reasons--I think he can win, and Bell (who seems like a great guy despite voting for the bankruptcy "reform" bill) can't. We already have trial lawyer money going to Strayhorn; Gammage knows where the money is and how to get it. This race will be BRUTAL, and Gammage is already a veteran of nasty political brawls. Support whoever you want, but for God's sake, let's stop ripping each other apart. This ain't 1990; there aren't enough of us left to engage in a primary bloodbath.

Primaries involve some comparison of records. Gammage voted for abortion funding restrictions, and sponsored legislation that would have created a house committee on internal security. Thats not a blood bath, its an appraisal of his recorded public positions: it doesnt suggest anything unethical on his part, it doesnt pry into his personal affairs, and it doesnt really offer ammunition to the right (Rick Perry attack Ad Voice Over: Bob Gammage likes to SAY he is for choice, but he voted against tax-payer subsidy of abortion for poor women. Vote Perry...)
I think both candidates should be focused on Perry, but there has to be some room to compare to each other if we are to make an intelligent decision about which to back.
I appreciate the efforts of both sides. Lets rebuild the party

A little perspective...
Last go round, Perry accused our candidate of complicity in the MURDER OF A FRIGGIN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER for cryin out loud. If this is what counts for "dirty" in democratic primaries, then I am proud (because we arent stooping so low) and scared (because the repugs are going to teach us what dirty really is)

Joel, to clear up your misapprehensions. Gammage sponsored NO bill, he signed a discharge petition to get a bill out of committee. It never went further than that.

The Bell people have tried every way they can to smear him and twist reality into a shape that doesn't resemble the truth. The tactics of the Bell campaign so closely resemble 'swiftboating tactics' that Republicans often use that it has fueled speculation that the ties Bell (and his campaign staff) have with the Republican party in Texas are more than 'skin deep".

I know that that trashy piece of 'oppo' and the spin on it was floated to almost every blog owner in Texas about 3 weeks ago. The only ones to post it are hard-line Bell supporters. The ONLY reason it hasn't been nastier is because they really don't have anything significant to bitch at Gammage about.

This isn't about 'issues'... it's about smears. It isn't about anything other than that the Bell campaign has had a year to stop flopping and floundering around and organize grassroots Democrats to help EVERY DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE IN TEXAS.

Instead, they intended to skate to the general election only caring about their own campaign and to hell with everyone else. They chose the easy way out, they gambled and they've lost.

Gammage is working to help every downballot candidate in Texas that he can. Has Bell even offered?

Bell supported Bush's tax plan for the wealthy (though he said he wasn't sure whether they should be 'permanent' or not). Bell voted FOR the bankruptcy bill. Bell voted FOR drilling in ANWAR (via Bush's energy package).

Those all happened less than 30 months ago. Those votes are both relevant and revealing, and not in Bell's favor.