Texas ActBlue on the Move

If I could pick 5 TexRoots candidates ... (0.00 / 0)

Hank Gilbert (of course)
Juan Garcia
John Courage
Robert Ricketts
Valinda Bolton

Todd Staples : Wrong For Texas

by: Don't Get Stapled! @ Sat Jun 17, 2006 at 23:31:32 PM CDT

*ahem (0.00 / 0)

It's not about which specific candidates you think should be on it, but rather, what types or mix of candidate should be on it?

I appreciate the candidates and I assure you, there will be a separate post about candidates, but this call is for standards.

What 'requirements' should we have for a TexRoots candidate?

I can help you ActBlue.

by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Sat Jun 17, 2006 at 23:47:14 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

excuse me (0.00 / 0)

I think it should be candidates who have reached out to the netroots, are running in competitive seats and are from geographically diverse areas.

sorry if I jumped the gun on candidate suggestions ...

Todd Staples : Wrong For Texas

by: Don't Get Stapled! @ Sat Jun 17, 2006 at 23:49:23 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

no problem (3.00 / 1)

My original post was unclear and I've now updated it. (though I do like some of your suggestions).

Overall, the point of this project is 1) to raise money 2) to increase awareness among candidates that bloggers/people would support 3)give reason for future candidates to make sure to have an online strategy as part of their campaign.

I can help you ActBlue.

by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Sat Jun 17, 2006 at 23:51:33 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Tough question (0.00 / 0)

I would think it should be someone that has some interaction with TPA sites. 

Candidates that post diarys and reply.  Not just the ones who post press releases. 

David Harris would be #1 on my list, even though I am not in his district. 

David Van Os also #1. Can I have two #1s? 

by: terrelldemocrat @ Sat Jun 17, 2006 at 23:46:25 PM CDT

My Thoughts (0.00 / 0)

I don't think a candidate should neccisarily have to "reach out" to bloggers like David Van Os and Hank Gilbert do, but if they do not, they should have a blog themselves; even if they are ultra amateurs.

I also think we need a mix of statewide candidates, congressional candidates, and texas legislature candidates.  A little bit of each is good.

Finally, I think we should allow for some candidates who have barely scratched the surface in the netroots to be endorsed in this manner.  As in, those ultra amateurs that I was talking about, maybe.  People who have started trying to reach out, but simply need more help how to, and are quality candidates.  People who we haven't been talking about forever on blogs such as this one.

Anyways, those are my thoughts.

by: Michael Hurta @ Sat Jun 17, 2006 at 23:55:20 PM CDT

Seed Money (0.00 / 0)

You have to have money to make money.  If a candidate only has $864, the people who can write the big checks ignore him or her.  But if a candidate can demonstratably show that he or she is capable of raising $10,000 from 200 plus small donors, then suddenly the big checkbooks will open up. 

So, given two qualified candidates, I would suggest the one who's fundraising needs a jumpstart.

by: mikecable @ Sun Jun 18, 2006 at 09:36:14 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Let's not forget judicial candidates... (0.00 / 0)

The 3rd and 4th Courts of Appeals each have four Democrats running as challengers or in open seats. Jan Patterson's 2004 victory shows the 3rd is still competitive. (Travis County represents 45% of the vote.) The heavily-Hispanic 4th Court has good demographics and is ripe for a coup.

The Republicans deliberately targeted judicial races in their takeover of Texas. Wherever they saw an oportunity to win, they took it. We Democrats need to be similarly attuned to where the opportunities are. There are three branches of government: we need a three-branch strategy.

As a connoisseur of French cuisine, SacreBleu is perhaps more attuned to unusual cuts of beef. There is more to enjoy than the sirloin, the t-bone and the rib eye, non? Try the onglet, accompanied by a robust Bordeaux, and you will never again overlook the savory cuts from the belly.

"Secrecy and a free, democratic government don't mix."--Harry Truman

by: SacreBleu @ Sun Jun 18, 2006 at 14:43:08 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

online oriented (0.00 / 0)

If we're basing this on a netroots idea, then obviously the candidates should at the very least have a website that they update.

And of course they should also reflect the progressive ideals that the blogs reflect.

Also, helping those that have not already been helped might be a good idea. John Courage always comes out of everyone's mouth/fingers (and yes I know because this and other blogs are Austin based), but he's been helped beyond belief by a lot of donors.

There are a ton of other candidates, especially ones here in the DFW area, who get zero recognition and are up against a tough fight in heavily Republican districts.

Endorsed by Halloween marshmallow peeps

by: John McClelland @ Sun Jun 18, 2006 at 13:27:31 PM CDT