Saturday, July 31, 2004
CITY UNDER SIEGE
The City of Boston made some huge sacrifices to welcome the Democratic National Convention. Their entire city was shut down, their businesses were temporarily closed, their lives were interrupted. And during the entire week, I was stopped and greeted by Bostonians who had only one question - "Are you having a good time?"
Security was everywhere. We had to show ID to ride the escalator up to the second floor to breakfast every day. We had to show our room keys in order to access the hotel elevators. We had hotel security officers and Secret Service officers mingling among us in the hotel lobby. And that was just in the hotel, before we even got to the Fleet Center.
We were required to show our daily Convention credentials to board the shuttle buses to the Fleet Center, and once we got in, we went through security lines to be X-rayed before entering the secure perameter. There were two different types of lines, which most people didn't realize but I recognized very quickly. In the lines with the smaller X-ray machines the security personnel were hand-picking through everyone's bags, while in the lines with the large airport-style X-ray machines they were passing the bags through without opening. I always picked the latter, and never had a single problem or a single thing confiscated - even with a laptop. It probably helps that I'm an airline employee and know how to strip all my jewelry and shoes off before I get up to the line, but I always breezed through with a smile and a thank you.
All around the Fleet Center, both inside and outside, were military personnel, Secret Service, and other security personnel keeping a close eye on us. I'm absolutely sure I didn't sneeze or cross my eyes without someone taking notice.
On our way out of the Fleet Center on Wednesday night, we passed a long line of MPs - Military Police - each carrying a knapsack, some with bulk packages of bottled water and other sundries. Their job? To spend the night inside the Fleet Center and keep it safe for us for another day.
During the week I managed to go out a few times - lunch at the Barking Crab, a mid-afternoon meal at Legal Seafood, a late-night Guiness at The Black Rose. And at each venue I had no problem getting a table. There were no locals to be found. The hotels were doing a booming business, but restaurants and other retail business suffered greatly by having the Convention in town. At each venue, and even on the streets, I talked to locals who all said the same thing - yes, it's a sacrifice. Yes, we wish we were getting more of an economic bounce. But it's a sacrifice we're glad to make for Senator Kerry and the Democratic Party, and we hope you're having a good time.
The City of Boston really put on a hell of a show. I highly recommend that you go visit. Walk the Freedom Trail. Have some chowder at The Barking Crab. Visit the JFK Library. Sing Irish songs with your pint o'Guiness at The Black Rose. And while you're there, tell everyone thank you for hosting us. The City of Boston couldn't have been more hospitable, and we Democrats - and Americans - won't forget it.
Security was everywhere. We had to show ID to ride the escalator up to the second floor to breakfast every day. We had to show our room keys in order to access the hotel elevators. We had hotel security officers and Secret Service officers mingling among us in the hotel lobby. And that was just in the hotel, before we even got to the Fleet Center.
We were required to show our daily Convention credentials to board the shuttle buses to the Fleet Center, and once we got in, we went through security lines to be X-rayed before entering the secure perameter. There were two different types of lines, which most people didn't realize but I recognized very quickly. In the lines with the smaller X-ray machines the security personnel were hand-picking through everyone's bags, while in the lines with the large airport-style X-ray machines they were passing the bags through without opening. I always picked the latter, and never had a single problem or a single thing confiscated - even with a laptop. It probably helps that I'm an airline employee and know how to strip all my jewelry and shoes off before I get up to the line, but I always breezed through with a smile and a thank you.
All around the Fleet Center, both inside and outside, were military personnel, Secret Service, and other security personnel keeping a close eye on us. I'm absolutely sure I didn't sneeze or cross my eyes without someone taking notice.
On our way out of the Fleet Center on Wednesday night, we passed a long line of MPs - Military Police - each carrying a knapsack, some with bulk packages of bottled water and other sundries. Their job? To spend the night inside the Fleet Center and keep it safe for us for another day.
During the week I managed to go out a few times - lunch at the Barking Crab, a mid-afternoon meal at Legal Seafood, a late-night Guiness at The Black Rose. And at each venue I had no problem getting a table. There were no locals to be found. The hotels were doing a booming business, but restaurants and other retail business suffered greatly by having the Convention in town. At each venue, and even on the streets, I talked to locals who all said the same thing - yes, it's a sacrifice. Yes, we wish we were getting more of an economic bounce. But it's a sacrifice we're glad to make for Senator Kerry and the Democratic Party, and we hope you're having a good time.
The City of Boston really put on a hell of a show. I highly recommend that you go visit. Walk the Freedom Trail. Have some chowder at The Barking Crab. Visit the JFK Library. Sing Irish songs with your pint o'Guiness at The Black Rose. And while you're there, tell everyone thank you for hosting us. The City of Boston couldn't have been more hospitable, and we Democrats - and Americans - won't forget it.
ROLL CALL
Wednesday night was the Roll Call of Delegations, when each Delegation officially casts their votes for the Nominee. This is what I was elected to go all the way to Boston to do - cast my vote and sign my name to nominate John Kerry to be the next President of the United States. It is the highlight of my Convention, seeing and hearing each Delegation's votes being cast. And then my experience got even better.
I had gone to the front of the Texas Delegation to take some pictures before we were due to cast our vote, and Ken Bailey, one of our Delegation Pages, grabbed me and said he wanted me up front to help fill in some of the spots of Delegates who were now filling in behind the Texas podium in the aisle. I went back up to my seat and grabbed my roommate Sheila to be with me, and placed a call to my Dad. "Change of plans, Dad. Don't look for me in the upper right corner of the Delegation. I'm on the front row."
We Texas Democrats, being from the same state as the current pResident, have a sense of humor about our situation. Our State Party Chair, Charles Schoechting, had cards printed out for us - two colors, one side red, one side blue. We're not known for being a Democratic state, so when Texas was called during Roll Call, we cast our votes for John Kerry - and Chair Schoechting said "right now Texas may look like this," and all 232 of us held up our red cards - "but on November 2nd, we will look like this" and we all, on cue, flipped to blue. It was quite a vision. If you want the picture, the latest edition of the Houston Chronicle on Thursday July 29th has a photo of Sheila and me proudly holding our blue cards.
After each Delegation was called to cast their vote, they left the floor. But not me. My friend, traveling companion and baseball fan Janice Kinchion, a fellow Delegate, and I settled in to watch the final Delegations cast their votes. For us, it is history being made and we're not missing a moment. Sheila was running up and down the rows collecting signs, and asked if we were ready to go catch the bus back to the hotel. "Nope, we don't leave until the final out" was my response. I think we were the last Delegates off the floor that night. I really didn't want it to end, I just wanted to sit there and savor every single moment.
Later, back at the hotel, I pulled Ken Bailey aside and I thanked him for what he had done. I told him "It may have meant nothing to you to pull me down to the front, but it meant the world to me. Roll Call is the highlight of my whole convention and I thank you for allowing me such an honor."
I had gone to the front of the Texas Delegation to take some pictures before we were due to cast our vote, and Ken Bailey, one of our Delegation Pages, grabbed me and said he wanted me up front to help fill in some of the spots of Delegates who were now filling in behind the Texas podium in the aisle. I went back up to my seat and grabbed my roommate Sheila to be with me, and placed a call to my Dad. "Change of plans, Dad. Don't look for me in the upper right corner of the Delegation. I'm on the front row."
We Texas Democrats, being from the same state as the current pResident, have a sense of humor about our situation. Our State Party Chair, Charles Schoechting, had cards printed out for us - two colors, one side red, one side blue. We're not known for being a Democratic state, so when Texas was called during Roll Call, we cast our votes for John Kerry - and Chair Schoechting said "right now Texas may look like this," and all 232 of us held up our red cards - "but on November 2nd, we will look like this" and we all, on cue, flipped to blue. It was quite a vision. If you want the picture, the latest edition of the Houston Chronicle on Thursday July 29th has a photo of Sheila and me proudly holding our blue cards.
After each Delegation was called to cast their vote, they left the floor. But not me. My friend, traveling companion and baseball fan Janice Kinchion, a fellow Delegate, and I settled in to watch the final Delegations cast their votes. For us, it is history being made and we're not missing a moment. Sheila was running up and down the rows collecting signs, and asked if we were ready to go catch the bus back to the hotel. "Nope, we don't leave until the final out" was my response. I think we were the last Delegates off the floor that night. I really didn't want it to end, I just wanted to sit there and savor every single moment.
Later, back at the hotel, I pulled Ken Bailey aside and I thanked him for what he had done. I told him "It may have meant nothing to you to pull me down to the front, but it meant the world to me. Roll Call is the highlight of my whole convention and I thank you for allowing me such an honor."
I OWE, I OWE, SO OFF TO BLOG I GO
No chance to blog on Thursday, no way to blog on Friday, and so much to tell you about. So, I'll get started...
There are so many things to say on so many subjects, that I'll post one after another. Be watching for updates throughout the weekend as I try to wrap up my Convention experiences and post my thoughts on things I observed.
Once again, thank you all so much for your patience and your interest. This was truly an experience of a lifetime and I am blessed to be able to share it with the world...
There are so many things to say on so many subjects, that I'll post one after another. Be watching for updates throughout the weekend as I try to wrap up my Convention experiences and post my thoughts on things I observed.
Once again, thank you all so much for your patience and your interest. This was truly an experience of a lifetime and I am blessed to be able to share it with the world...
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
IT BECOMES OFFICIAL - THE CAMPAIGN STARTS TONIGHT.
Tonight is the night we make it official – John Kerry will become the Democratic Nominee for President. Tonight's business is why we came to Boston. And it's already getting exciting.
As I type this from my seat on the Convention floor, Rev. Al Sharpton is speaking. Later we will hear from the Edwards family - daughter Cate (what a good name), wife Elizabeth (another good name) and then our future Vice President, John Edwards.
And then comes the business of the Convention - Roll Call of Delegations. I've already cast my official vote for Senator Kerry, complete with signature. When you break the Convention process down to its most basic level, what I've come to Boston to do is to cast a vote and sign my name. My official work is done, my vote is cast. Now all that's left is for the votes to be counted. And yes, there IS a paper trail.
Roll Call is the most exciting, the most sacred, and the most traditional part of the entire convention process. For me, it is the highlight of the entire convention. It is democracy in action at its most basic, fundamental level. Another page in America's history will be written tonight, and I will be a part of the official record.
MY work at THIS Convention is done. But we ALL have work to do - every day, and in every way - to ensure that our work at this Convention wasn't in vain, and that John Kerry becomes the next President of the United States. Tonight is the official start of what will be a peaceful, prosperous Democratic administration in the White House and beyond. The campaign has officially begun...
As I type this from my seat on the Convention floor, Rev. Al Sharpton is speaking. Later we will hear from the Edwards family - daughter Cate (what a good name), wife Elizabeth (another good name) and then our future Vice President, John Edwards.
And then comes the business of the Convention - Roll Call of Delegations. I've already cast my official vote for Senator Kerry, complete with signature. When you break the Convention process down to its most basic level, what I've come to Boston to do is to cast a vote and sign my name. My official work is done, my vote is cast. Now all that's left is for the votes to be counted. And yes, there IS a paper trail.
Roll Call is the most exciting, the most sacred, and the most traditional part of the entire convention process. For me, it is the highlight of the entire convention. It is democracy in action at its most basic, fundamental level. Another page in America's history will be written tonight, and I will be a part of the official record.
MY work at THIS Convention is done. But we ALL have work to do - every day, and in every way - to ensure that our work at this Convention wasn't in vain, and that John Kerry becomes the next President of the United States. Tonight is the official start of what will be a peaceful, prosperous Democratic administration in the White House and beyond. The campaign has officially begun...
POOR, PITIFUL TEXAS... NOT!
The media always loves to write stories on how mistreated the Texas Delegation is at the Democratic Convention, because we're the (claimed) home state of the Bush family. Truth is, we're not being mistreated at all...
One of the 4+ interviews that I did yesterday was with Sarah Schweitzer of the Boston Globe, asking what I thought about our seating arrangements on the Convention Floor, our hotel location, and our lack of glamorous or high profile guest speakers at our daily Delegation Breakfast.
Obviously I didn't tell her what she wanted to hear, because my remarks are nowhere to be found in her story.
The truth as I see it is this. Texas, as the third largest delegation at the Convention, is a logistical nightmare for ANY convention. Finding a hotel that is large enough to house all of us together is difficult enough, and it's almost always the larger hotels in areas such as the airports that are the best choices for delegations such as ours. We are at the Hilton Boston Logan - one of the newest and nicest facilities in the entire Boston area. And if you are wondering how delegation seating is allocated on the floor of a Convention, envision making 56 puzzle pieces - each of a different size - fit into a finite space in a way that keeps each piece completely whole. Drawing delegations on a convention seating map is akin to drawing Congressional districts - maybe we should have had Tom DeLay draw our delegation seating chart for the Democratic Convention since he's obviously so knowledgeable on the subject. :-(
If I had written the Boston Globe story instead of Ms. Schweitzer, here's what I would have included - based upon the responses I gave yesterday to the reporter's questions:
________
"Cate Read, 37, a Delegate from Houston, is thrilled with the way the Texas Delegation is being treated. "Yes, the Texas Delegates are staying out at the airport - but in Boston, the airport is very close into town and immediately accessible to the rest of the city by the T. We are getting everywhere we need to go, easily and quickly. Others may have the impression that 'out at the airport' is an inconvenient hassle, but you have to take it into perspective - we have Delegates from West Texas who routinely drive 50 or 100 miles just to go to the grocery store. We're not staying out in the middle of nowhere, we're finding it very easy and convenient to get around."
"Regarding our Delegation seating on the Convention floor," Read said, "we really have some of the best seats in the house. Delegations who are closer down to the podium from us are complaining about problems seeing what's going on because of people standing in front of them and the constant movement on the floor. We have comfortable raised stadium seats with a completely unobstructed view. Our other two largest Delegations, from California and New York, are seated in similar locations. The Fleet Center is a relatively small and intimate arena, where the distance from the front to the back of the Delegate seating area is fairly inconsequential."
"As for the lack of high profile speakers at our Delegation Breakfasts," added Read, "we haven't really noticed they weren't here. Our speaker today, Congressman Chris Bell, is a hero to Democrats in Texas and across the entire nation and we are honored that he would spend the morning with us and host today's breakfast. Standing up to Tom DeLay and his illegal activities is a courageous act for Congressman Bell. We are proud of him, and grateful to him for spending time with us here in Boston."
________
That's THE story and I'm stickin' to it.
One of the 4+ interviews that I did yesterday was with Sarah Schweitzer of the Boston Globe, asking what I thought about our seating arrangements on the Convention Floor, our hotel location, and our lack of glamorous or high profile guest speakers at our daily Delegation Breakfast.
Obviously I didn't tell her what she wanted to hear, because my remarks are nowhere to be found in her story.
The truth as I see it is this. Texas, as the third largest delegation at the Convention, is a logistical nightmare for ANY convention. Finding a hotel that is large enough to house all of us together is difficult enough, and it's almost always the larger hotels in areas such as the airports that are the best choices for delegations such as ours. We are at the Hilton Boston Logan - one of the newest and nicest facilities in the entire Boston area. And if you are wondering how delegation seating is allocated on the floor of a Convention, envision making 56 puzzle pieces - each of a different size - fit into a finite space in a way that keeps each piece completely whole. Drawing delegations on a convention seating map is akin to drawing Congressional districts - maybe we should have had Tom DeLay draw our delegation seating chart for the Democratic Convention since he's obviously so knowledgeable on the subject. :-(
If I had written the Boston Globe story instead of Ms. Schweitzer, here's what I would have included - based upon the responses I gave yesterday to the reporter's questions:
________
"Cate Read, 37, a Delegate from Houston, is thrilled with the way the Texas Delegation is being treated. "Yes, the Texas Delegates are staying out at the airport - but in Boston, the airport is very close into town and immediately accessible to the rest of the city by the T. We are getting everywhere we need to go, easily and quickly. Others may have the impression that 'out at the airport' is an inconvenient hassle, but you have to take it into perspective - we have Delegates from West Texas who routinely drive 50 or 100 miles just to go to the grocery store. We're not staying out in the middle of nowhere, we're finding it very easy and convenient to get around."
"Regarding our Delegation seating on the Convention floor," Read said, "we really have some of the best seats in the house. Delegations who are closer down to the podium from us are complaining about problems seeing what's going on because of people standing in front of them and the constant movement on the floor. We have comfortable raised stadium seats with a completely unobstructed view. Our other two largest Delegations, from California and New York, are seated in similar locations. The Fleet Center is a relatively small and intimate arena, where the distance from the front to the back of the Delegate seating area is fairly inconsequential."
"As for the lack of high profile speakers at our Delegation Breakfasts," added Read, "we haven't really noticed they weren't here. Our speaker today, Congressman Chris Bell, is a hero to Democrats in Texas and across the entire nation and we are honored that he would spend the morning with us and host today's breakfast. Standing up to Tom DeLay and his illegal activities is a courageous act for Congressman Bell. We are proud of him, and grateful to him for spending time with us here in Boston."
________
That's THE story and I'm stickin' to it.
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
IT'S GOP NIGHT AT THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
It seems I'm not the only Democrat with GOP relatives.
Spotted in a private box directly above the Georgia delegation, directly above te NECN/Convention News Station sign, are members of the Kennedy family - including the First Lady of California, Mrs. Arnold Schwarzenegger. I'll try to snap a photo or two.
And then, if Maria Shriver's presence wasn't GOP enough, Ron Reagan is addressing the Convention tonight on stem-cell research.
I'm living proof that you can't pick your relatives, or their politics. I'm sure Maria and Ron would agree with me, and share a chuckle - as would all of our families, on both sides of the aisle.
Spotted in a private box directly above the Georgia delegation, directly above te NECN/Convention News Station sign, are members of the Kennedy family - including the First Lady of California, Mrs. Arnold Schwarzenegger. I'll try to snap a photo or two.
And then, if Maria Shriver's presence wasn't GOP enough, Ron Reagan is addressing the Convention tonight on stem-cell research.
I'm living proof that you can't pick your relatives, or their politics. I'm sure Maria and Ron would agree with me, and share a chuckle - as would all of our families, on both sides of the aisle.
WHAT A NIGHT, WHAT AN HONOR
I attended my first Democratic National Convention in 1976. Well, sort of...
I was 9 years old, and absolutely fascinated and enthralled with the whole convention experience - the pagentry, the enthusiasm, the traditions of the political convention process. Every evening of the 1976 Democratic Convention, after my younger siblings were put to bed, my Mom would let me stay up until I fell asleep in front of the TV.
It was that very Convention in 1976 that nominated Jimmy Carter to be President, and it was the same President Carter who addressed our Convention last night. And I was there, in person. I've come full circle.
And then there was Part 2 of the evening, when I was able to once again listen to the man who ultimately brought me to the Democratic Party, President Bill Clinton.
I was born and raised in a GOP family - the OLD GOP, where individual liberties were revered and women and minorities were respected. I actually participated in the 1992 GOP National Convention, as a Sergeant-At-Arms (think "usher") on the Convention floor. I went from the floor of the Conventon on Monday night to the protest site across the street on Tuesday night, where I joined fellow supporters of Planned Parenthood and other groups and proudly displayed my sign that said "I'm voting for Clinton because Bush gives me no CHOICE." I said then, and I still believe now, that Republican Women elected Bill Clinton President.
I fully and officially switched parties in 1994, after the radical right completed their takeover of the GOP in Houston. President Clinton was a major part of my motivation in switching parties. He led our nation into an unprecedented period of economic prosperity while protecting and defending our personal rights and liberties, and he accomplished all of this while still balancing our national budget and gaining respect around the world for bringing peaceful solutions to a world in turmoil.
Last night President Clinton, the Master Teacher, took his students - the American people - back to school. He retaught us the lessons that we've forgotten, the lessons that our nation so desperately needed to be reminded of - the lessons of how economic prosperity can be reattained, how civil and individual liberties can be restored, how respect in the world can be earned again. He rekindled our faith and belief in the Democratic Party and its leaders. And above all, President Clinton reinforced our unified and fervent belief that John Kerry and John Edwards will be the leaders to bring our nation back to that respected and prosperous place we were in just four years ago.
I was 9 years old, and absolutely fascinated and enthralled with the whole convention experience - the pagentry, the enthusiasm, the traditions of the political convention process. Every evening of the 1976 Democratic Convention, after my younger siblings were put to bed, my Mom would let me stay up until I fell asleep in front of the TV.
It was that very Convention in 1976 that nominated Jimmy Carter to be President, and it was the same President Carter who addressed our Convention last night. And I was there, in person. I've come full circle.
And then there was Part 2 of the evening, when I was able to once again listen to the man who ultimately brought me to the Democratic Party, President Bill Clinton.
I was born and raised in a GOP family - the OLD GOP, where individual liberties were revered and women and minorities were respected. I actually participated in the 1992 GOP National Convention, as a Sergeant-At-Arms (think "usher") on the Convention floor. I went from the floor of the Conventon on Monday night to the protest site across the street on Tuesday night, where I joined fellow supporters of Planned Parenthood and other groups and proudly displayed my sign that said "I'm voting for Clinton because Bush gives me no CHOICE." I said then, and I still believe now, that Republican Women elected Bill Clinton President.
I fully and officially switched parties in 1994, after the radical right completed their takeover of the GOP in Houston. President Clinton was a major part of my motivation in switching parties. He led our nation into an unprecedented period of economic prosperity while protecting and defending our personal rights and liberties, and he accomplished all of this while still balancing our national budget and gaining respect around the world for bringing peaceful solutions to a world in turmoil.
Last night President Clinton, the Master Teacher, took his students - the American people - back to school. He retaught us the lessons that we've forgotten, the lessons that our nation so desperately needed to be reminded of - the lessons of how economic prosperity can be reattained, how civil and individual liberties can be restored, how respect in the world can be earned again. He rekindled our faith and belief in the Democratic Party and its leaders. And above all, President Clinton reinforced our unified and fervent belief that John Kerry and John Edwards will be the leaders to bring our nation back to that respected and prosperous place we were in just four years ago.
Monday, July 26, 2004
BEING HERE
Being here is something I can't quite describe, but I'll do my best.
And yes, I am - quite literally - here. As I type this, President Carter is addressing the Convention. My roommate and fellow SD13 Delegate Sheila Blake is on my right, and DNC member David Holmes is on my left. Sue Lovell is directly in front of me, and Rick Brennan is nearby. If you are following the Delegations online and on TV, don't look for the Texas marker - look for Oklahoma, then look about 20 feet to the left and you'll see us. The battery is holding a charge, the wireless is connected, and Little Mario is on my lap. All is right in this Delegate Blogger's world.
We're packed in here like teenagers at a Britney Spears concert. Imagine this - your typical athletic arena filled to overflowing with standing room only, and everyone has brought stuff with them. And then imagine that none of us stay in our seats for too long at a time, so there's constant movement and shuffling. And imagine instead of one Britney Spears, there are hundreds at any given point and time. And we all want to see them and talk to them and get pictures taken with them. It is a multidimensional joyful chaos that the TV cameras and the sound trucks can't even begin to replicate. If you're watching the Convention from home you're hearing the sound wired in from the podium, and seeing only what the cameras are shooting. Here I can look in every direction and see something going on, someone interesting - political and celebrity alike - and hear the constant drum of conversations all around me. It's all music to my ears; a work of art in progress to my eyes. All I can do is sit and absorb it all.
SENATOR Clinton will be introducing PRESIDENT Clinton shortly (I love saying that), and I expect to be on my feet. A lot. Time to post and pack it up, at least for a little while. ..
And yes, I am - quite literally - here. As I type this, President Carter is addressing the Convention. My roommate and fellow SD13 Delegate Sheila Blake is on my right, and DNC member David Holmes is on my left. Sue Lovell is directly in front of me, and Rick Brennan is nearby. If you are following the Delegations online and on TV, don't look for the Texas marker - look for Oklahoma, then look about 20 feet to the left and you'll see us. The battery is holding a charge, the wireless is connected, and Little Mario is on my lap. All is right in this Delegate Blogger's world.
We're packed in here like teenagers at a Britney Spears concert. Imagine this - your typical athletic arena filled to overflowing with standing room only, and everyone has brought stuff with them. And then imagine that none of us stay in our seats for too long at a time, so there's constant movement and shuffling. And imagine instead of one Britney Spears, there are hundreds at any given point and time. And we all want to see them and talk to them and get pictures taken with them. It is a multidimensional joyful chaos that the TV cameras and the sound trucks can't even begin to replicate. If you're watching the Convention from home you're hearing the sound wired in from the podium, and seeing only what the cameras are shooting. Here I can look in every direction and see something going on, someone interesting - political and celebrity alike - and hear the constant drum of conversations all around me. It's all music to my ears; a work of art in progress to my eyes. All I can do is sit and absorb it all.
SENATOR Clinton will be introducing PRESIDENT Clinton shortly (I love saying that), and I expect to be on my feet. A lot. Time to post and pack it up, at least for a little while. ..
SHOAH
I literally stumbled onto the New England Holocaust Memorial this afternoon. And I am moved...
"Shoah" is a Hebrew word that translates to "desolation." It is the term many Jews use to identify and describe the Holocaust. And right on the Freedom Trail in Carmen Park, Boston has built a memorial. I was out and about this afternoon with a couple of guests from SD13 - more on that later - and we found this amazing memorial. If you are in Boston and get a chance to walk through, please do. Take a few minutes to read the inscriptions. Reflect on the hatred and intolerance of yesterday, and of today. Say a little prayer, leave a stone, and wish us all peace.
"Shoah" is a Hebrew word that translates to "desolation." It is the term many Jews use to identify and describe the Holocaust. And right on the Freedom Trail in Carmen Park, Boston has built a memorial. I was out and about this afternoon with a couple of guests from SD13 - more on that later - and we found this amazing memorial. If you are in Boston and get a chance to walk through, please do. Take a few minutes to read the inscriptions. Reflect on the hatred and intolerance of yesterday, and of today. Say a little prayer, leave a stone, and wish us all peace.
NEW YORK TIMES/AP INTERVIEW ALERT
Just a quick update - an interview I did with the Associated Press last week was published in the New York Times yesterday and today.
If you're not registered at the New York Times, it's free. There are actually two versions of the story, one published on 7/25 and one published on 7/26. I'm mentioned in both, as is my newbestbloggerboyfriend Karl-Thomas Musselman.
If you're not registered at the New York Times, it's free. There are actually two versions of the story, one published on 7/25 and one published on 7/26. I'm mentioned in both, as is my newbestbloggerboyfriend Karl-Thomas Musselman.
OH, GOODY...
We received our coveted "goody bags" at Credentials Distribution this morning...
No Convention Barbie this year, but a couple of really cool books - including the latest one from Bill Press - along with some other goodies. I'll go through it more thoroughly later, but I was glad to see a box of "Democrats in 2004" donkeys and stars macaroni and cheese, courtesy of Kraft. I'll pass it on to my Mom, so my nieces and nephew can share it with their Nana on Election Night when Kerry wins back the Presidency for the Democrats, the Nation, and the World.
Keep an eye on KRIV Fox 26 in Houston, as I was interviewed this morning. Somebody please try to tape it for me. I'll keep you posted on any other interviews as/if they come along.
I'm packing up and heading over to the various caucuses and meetings over near the Fleet Center now. I'm taking Little Mario with me, and will see what kind of connectivity I can hook up at the Convention. Little Mario is the name of the laptop that fellow Democrat Richard Garcia loaned me - if you see him, please give him a hug. He's making all this possible.
Oh, and if you're watching the Convention from home, Texas is in the corner stage right as you look out from the podium. And we Delegates will be sitting in our same seats each day - I'll be sitting with the "fun" crowd toward the back. We'll have a little surprise for everyone tonight - a special guest will be joining us, so stay tuned...
No Convention Barbie this year, but a couple of really cool books - including the latest one from Bill Press - along with some other goodies. I'll go through it more thoroughly later, but I was glad to see a box of "Democrats in 2004" donkeys and stars macaroni and cheese, courtesy of Kraft. I'll pass it on to my Mom, so my nieces and nephew can share it with their Nana on Election Night when Kerry wins back the Presidency for the Democrats, the Nation, and the World.
Keep an eye on KRIV Fox 26 in Houston, as I was interviewed this morning. Somebody please try to tape it for me. I'll keep you posted on any other interviews as/if they come along.
I'm packing up and heading over to the various caucuses and meetings over near the Fleet Center now. I'm taking Little Mario with me, and will see what kind of connectivity I can hook up at the Convention. Little Mario is the name of the laptop that fellow Democrat Richard Garcia loaned me - if you see him, please give him a hug. He's making all this possible.
Oh, and if you're watching the Convention from home, Texas is in the corner stage right as you look out from the podium. And we Delegates will be sitting in our same seats each day - I'll be sitting with the "fun" crowd toward the back. We'll have a little surprise for everyone tonight - a special guest will be joining us, so stay tuned...
Sunday, July 25, 2004
YOU MEAN IT HASN'T STARTED YET?
And I'm already THIS tired? Hoo-eey, I'm in big trouble...
Of course, I DID wake up at 3am, drive three hours, take two DC Metro trains and two Continental planes to get from the Delaware Shore to Boston today - a trip that would have taken me a leisurely five hours total via Amtrak. Ah, what I won't do to use those free flight benefits as an airline employee.
The happenin' place at the Texas Delegation hotel this afternoon was the lobby - not because we all WANTED to be there, you see, but because there were no rooms at the inn. Literally. Just as fast as a room was cleaned, it was turned over to the next Delegate. Apparently there were some canceled flights out of Logan on Saturday, which backed up the check-outs. The hotel staff was very accommodating and worked as quickly as they could under what was obviously a stressful situation. Thankfully, a room was readied for my roommate Sheila and I just about the time she arrived. We proceeded to settle in and change before heading out to the official kick-off reception for the Texas Delegation, a "Taste of East Boston" held at the Hyatt Harborside Hotel around the corner.
Dinner was fairly tasty, but didn't include any seafood - to my great disappointment. I was hoping that "East Boston" would land me somewhere in the North Atlantic, but no, it landed me in Italy and Mexico instead. Oh well, it was accompanied by "chah-d'-nay" and an incredible view of the Boston skyline across the water, so all was not lost. Sheila and I ate with Alma Allen, our State Rep nominee (and presumptive-elect) from SW Houston and her daughter Patricia, then we wandered around catching up with everyone from around the state. I met my fellow Blogger and Texas' youngest Delegate Karl-Thomas Musselman for the first time, after many emails. We'll attend the Blogger Bash together on Wednesday night. I've always wanted to go out with a younger man, I just never thought it would be one half my age... ;-)
From the Delegation Dinner some of us headed back to the hotel while others went to see the Boston Pops. Or rather, the opening act for the Boston Pops, which was... um... the Ojays? Lots of dancin' and hooplah, but by the time the Pops was tuning up the Texans were ready to head back to the hotel to join the Cong. Sheila Jackson Lee party already in progress. Sheila is always a motivating speaker, but I've found her to be consistently at her best when she's among friends - good Democrats with lots of enthusiasm, full of heart and soul. She had us all on our feet more than once, and long after the music had cranked up she was still shaking hands and posing for photos.
It's now well after midnight and I have been up for 21 hours straight. And I have to be at the Delegation Breakfast WHEN??? If you see me wandering around Boston wearing one of those silly beer bong helmets with a Starbucks hookup you'll know why...
Of course, I DID wake up at 3am, drive three hours, take two DC Metro trains and two Continental planes to get from the Delaware Shore to Boston today - a trip that would have taken me a leisurely five hours total via Amtrak. Ah, what I won't do to use those free flight benefits as an airline employee.
The happenin' place at the Texas Delegation hotel this afternoon was the lobby - not because we all WANTED to be there, you see, but because there were no rooms at the inn. Literally. Just as fast as a room was cleaned, it was turned over to the next Delegate. Apparently there were some canceled flights out of Logan on Saturday, which backed up the check-outs. The hotel staff was very accommodating and worked as quickly as they could under what was obviously a stressful situation. Thankfully, a room was readied for my roommate Sheila and I just about the time she arrived. We proceeded to settle in and change before heading out to the official kick-off reception for the Texas Delegation, a "Taste of East Boston" held at the Hyatt Harborside Hotel around the corner.
Dinner was fairly tasty, but didn't include any seafood - to my great disappointment. I was hoping that "East Boston" would land me somewhere in the North Atlantic, but no, it landed me in Italy and Mexico instead. Oh well, it was accompanied by "chah-d'-nay" and an incredible view of the Boston skyline across the water, so all was not lost. Sheila and I ate with Alma Allen, our State Rep nominee (and presumptive-elect) from SW Houston and her daughter Patricia, then we wandered around catching up with everyone from around the state. I met my fellow Blogger and Texas' youngest Delegate Karl-Thomas Musselman for the first time, after many emails. We'll attend the Blogger Bash together on Wednesday night. I've always wanted to go out with a younger man, I just never thought it would be one half my age... ;-)
From the Delegation Dinner some of us headed back to the hotel while others went to see the Boston Pops. Or rather, the opening act for the Boston Pops, which was... um... the Ojays? Lots of dancin' and hooplah, but by the time the Pops was tuning up the Texans were ready to head back to the hotel to join the Cong. Sheila Jackson Lee party already in progress. Sheila is always a motivating speaker, but I've found her to be consistently at her best when she's among friends - good Democrats with lots of enthusiasm, full of heart and soul. She had us all on our feet more than once, and long after the music had cranked up she was still shaking hands and posing for photos.
It's now well after midnight and I have been up for 21 hours straight. And I have to be at the Delegation Breakfast WHEN??? If you see me wandering around Boston wearing one of those silly beer bong helmets with a Starbucks hookup you'll know why...
Friday, July 23, 2004
HYPIN' THE HOOPLAH
A funny thing happened on the way to the Democratic National Convention. We found the "story," and it is US...
Four years ago, I made a pledge to send daily email updates from Los Angeles as a Delegate to the 2000 Convention. Now I'm doing it again, but posting to my blog site as well as via email. Turns out that "blogging" has become all the talk of the 2004 DNC in Boston.
There will be tons of resources to keep up with the Convention, and the Bloggers who are writing about the Convention, and the "mainstream" media who are writing about the Bloggers who are writing about the Convention. I've already fielded emails and phone calls from mainstream as well as alternative media for interviews, and I expect there will be more. And I'm just a Delegate who happens to blog.
For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, a "blog" is short for "web log," or an online web journal. You are reading a "blog" now, although not a very widely-read or sophisticated one. There are quite a few of us "bloggers" who will be attending and participating in the 2004 Democratic National Convention - some as Credentialed Media, some (like me) as Delegates and other participants, but all writing about our experiences and observations in a format and a place that will allow the Convention to be a more personalized experience than ever before.
Keep an eye on the links on the right side of the page. I will be adding and updating URLs of various "blog" sites as I can, so that everyone will have a wide variety of blogs to peruse.
You'll also see three Yahoo Groups noted under "Email Me" at the top right. If you are a registered Democratic voter in my State Senate District, you should be a member of SD13Democrats. If you want my political postings throughout the year whenever I find something interesting to send out, you might want to join CateyBeth's Corner. And if you are only interested in my postings from the Convention, then CateyBeth's Convention might be your group. Just send me a note and I'll get you added!
I'm heading to Boston on Sunday 7/25 from Delaware, where I am enjoying the last of a wonderful family reunion. If I could capture time in a bottle it would be this week, when the sun is warm, the waves are high, the corn is fresh, my parents are young, my nieces and nephew are angels, my cousins are happy and we are all together, if for a short time. But time does move on, and next week there is work for all of us to do. I appreciate everyone's indulgence while I've neglected my site this week in order to savor my time with my family. Next week, and beyond, are all yours...
Four years ago, I made a pledge to send daily email updates from Los Angeles as a Delegate to the 2000 Convention. Now I'm doing it again, but posting to my blog site as well as via email. Turns out that "blogging" has become all the talk of the 2004 DNC in Boston.
There will be tons of resources to keep up with the Convention, and the Bloggers who are writing about the Convention, and the "mainstream" media who are writing about the Bloggers who are writing about the Convention. I've already fielded emails and phone calls from mainstream as well as alternative media for interviews, and I expect there will be more. And I'm just a Delegate who happens to blog.
For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, a "blog" is short for "web log," or an online web journal. You are reading a "blog" now, although not a very widely-read or sophisticated one. There are quite a few of us "bloggers" who will be attending and participating in the 2004 Democratic National Convention - some as Credentialed Media, some (like me) as Delegates and other participants, but all writing about our experiences and observations in a format and a place that will allow the Convention to be a more personalized experience than ever before.
Keep an eye on the links on the right side of the page. I will be adding and updating URLs of various "blog" sites as I can, so that everyone will have a wide variety of blogs to peruse.
You'll also see three Yahoo Groups noted under "Email Me" at the top right. If you are a registered Democratic voter in my State Senate District, you should be a member of SD13Democrats. If you want my political postings throughout the year whenever I find something interesting to send out, you might want to join CateyBeth's Corner. And if you are only interested in my postings from the Convention, then CateyBeth's Convention might be your group. Just send me a note and I'll get you added!
I'm heading to Boston on Sunday 7/25 from Delaware, where I am enjoying the last of a wonderful family reunion. If I could capture time in a bottle it would be this week, when the sun is warm, the waves are high, the corn is fresh, my parents are young, my nieces and nephew are angels, my cousins are happy and we are all together, if for a short time. But time does move on, and next week there is work for all of us to do. I appreciate everyone's indulgence while I've neglected my site this week in order to savor my time with my family. Next week, and beyond, are all yours...
Saturday, July 17, 2004
DNC PLATFORM DRAFT READY FOR PRIME TIME
THIS is what we believe, it is what we will work to accomplish for our Country and the World, and it is why we will win in November.
The Democratic National Committee and the 2004 Democratic National Convention have posted the DRAFT of the 2004 Democratic Party Platform online here. It is still a draft until it is approved and ratified by the Delegates at the 2004 DNC in Boston on Tuesday, July 27th.
Many thanks to all from Texas who worked so hard and accomplished so much to make our voices heard. I'm proud of this Platform, and I'm proud to be a Democrat.
The Democratic National Committee and the 2004 Democratic National Convention have posted the DRAFT of the 2004 Democratic Party Platform online here. It is still a draft until it is approved and ratified by the Delegates at the 2004 DNC in Boston on Tuesday, July 27th.
Many thanks to all from Texas who worked so hard and accomplished so much to make our voices heard. I'm proud of this Platform, and I'm proud to be a Democrat.
Sunday, July 11, 2004
THIS AIN'T RIGHT!
Let me draw you a picture...
Let's say I'm a slimeball (but please don't!). I have shady business dealings that result in lots of financial and political power. I share major portions of my financial gains with you and others in our industry.
One day, some whiny little brat lodges a complaint against me. Yeah, the allegations have merit. But I'm not going to worry too much about it. After all, it is you, my dear friend and colleague to whom I gave money, who is investigating me.
Fact or fiction? Read more here.
(All references to persons living or dead is merely a coincidence. All names have been changed to protect the innocent. I know a lot of good defense attorneys - after all, I'm a DEMOCRAT!)
Let's say I'm a slimeball (but please don't!). I have shady business dealings that result in lots of financial and political power. I share major portions of my financial gains with you and others in our industry.
One day, some whiny little brat lodges a complaint against me. Yeah, the allegations have merit. But I'm not going to worry too much about it. After all, it is you, my dear friend and colleague to whom I gave money, who is investigating me.
Fact or fiction? Read more here.
(All references to persons living or dead is merely a coincidence. All names have been changed to protect the innocent. I know a lot of good defense attorneys - after all, I'm a DEMOCRAT!)
Saturday, July 10, 2004
SO MANY THINGS TO NOTE...
So, I guess I'll just get started.
DEMOCRATIC PARTY PLATFORM IS DRAFTED
The Democratic Party's 2004 Platform was written and drafted in Hollywood, Florida over the weekend. For those of you who missed the fun (it was broadcast live on C-SPAN), here's a story on it from Reuters/Yahoo.
Texas was extremely well represented on the Platform Committee, although at times I was sent into a minor panic. Our dear friend Tom Blackwell from Dallas was called to explain his first amendment. And then he was called again. Still no Tom. Then he came in from the hall, where he was still working on negotiations with the Chairwoman of the Drafting Committee, Cong. Rosa DeLauro. This happened several times during the Hearings. If you see him at the National Convention in Boston, wink and call him "AWOL Tom."
Tom does report, incidentally, that he thinks Texas Democrats got more into the DNC Platform this year than ever before. Way to go Tom and our other Texas Democrats!
If you check C-SPAN's website periodically, they will usually upload their archives of previous programs. It's very possible that you will be able to see the Platform Hearings online within a day or two, in case you missed all the action. BTW, you'll also be able to tune in to C-SPAN live on either your cable TV or the internet for live gavel-to-gavel coverage of the Democratic National Convention.
I LOVE C-SPAN!
_________________________________________________________________
HYPOCRITICAL DOUBLE TAKE
I blew cola out my nose the first time I heard the reporter ask Shrub "what's the difference between Cheney and Edwards and he replied "Cheney can be President." HA! You idiot, Cheney IS President! We're not fooled.
My personal favorite of the day was on one of the CNN afternoon programs. The topic was Edwards' lack of foreign policy experience. The Democratic spinmeister (someone I didn't know) came back with my favorite line of the day - "Before Bush became President, the closest he'd ever come to foreign policy was when the Toronto Blue Jays played his Texas Rangers." I'm still giggling at THAT one!
_________________________________________________________________
UN-PATRIOT-ICK!
The Slimy Repuglicans did it again, using their common blunt force tactics to defeat an amended version of the so-called Patriot Act. The methods utlized for defeating the amended version have the easily identifiable stench of Tom DeLay. The amendmended Patriot Act, a much better version (if there is such a thing) actually passed during the standard 15 minute vote period, but GOP leaders (yeah, that would be the Hammer) extended the voting period by an additional 20 minutes while they strong-armed/blackmailed/threatened about 10 members of the GOP to change their votes.
I want them ALL outta there NOW! VOTE RICHARD MORRISON FOR CONGRESS IN TEXAS' 22ND!
_________________________________________________________________
SARGENT SAYS...
The latest from my favorite political cartoonist, Ben Sargent of the Austin American-Statesman. It would be funny if it weren't true...
DEMOCRATIC PARTY PLATFORM IS DRAFTED
The Democratic Party's 2004 Platform was written and drafted in Hollywood, Florida over the weekend. For those of you who missed the fun (it was broadcast live on C-SPAN), here's a story on it from Reuters/Yahoo.
Texas was extremely well represented on the Platform Committee, although at times I was sent into a minor panic. Our dear friend Tom Blackwell from Dallas was called to explain his first amendment. And then he was called again. Still no Tom. Then he came in from the hall, where he was still working on negotiations with the Chairwoman of the Drafting Committee, Cong. Rosa DeLauro. This happened several times during the Hearings. If you see him at the National Convention in Boston, wink and call him "AWOL Tom."
Tom does report, incidentally, that he thinks Texas Democrats got more into the DNC Platform this year than ever before. Way to go Tom and our other Texas Democrats!
If you check C-SPAN's website periodically, they will usually upload their archives of previous programs. It's very possible that you will be able to see the Platform Hearings online within a day or two, in case you missed all the action. BTW, you'll also be able to tune in to C-SPAN live on either your cable TV or the internet for live gavel-to-gavel coverage of the Democratic National Convention.
I LOVE C-SPAN!
_________________________________________________________________
HYPOCRITICAL DOUBLE TAKE
I blew cola out my nose the first time I heard the reporter ask Shrub "what's the difference between Cheney and Edwards and he replied "Cheney can be President." HA! You idiot, Cheney IS President! We're not fooled.
My personal favorite of the day was on one of the CNN afternoon programs. The topic was Edwards' lack of foreign policy experience. The Democratic spinmeister (someone I didn't know) came back with my favorite line of the day - "Before Bush became President, the closest he'd ever come to foreign policy was when the Toronto Blue Jays played his Texas Rangers." I'm still giggling at THAT one!
_________________________________________________________________
UN-PATRIOT-ICK!
The Slimy Repuglicans did it again, using their common blunt force tactics to defeat an amended version of the so-called Patriot Act. The methods utlized for defeating the amended version have the easily identifiable stench of Tom DeLay. The amendmended Patriot Act, a much better version (if there is such a thing) actually passed during the standard 15 minute vote period, but GOP leaders (yeah, that would be the Hammer) extended the voting period by an additional 20 minutes while they strong-armed/blackmailed/threatened about 10 members of the GOP to change their votes.
I want them ALL outta there NOW! VOTE RICHARD MORRISON FOR CONGRESS IN TEXAS' 22ND!
_________________________________________________________________
SARGENT SAYS...
The latest from my favorite political cartoonist, Ben Sargent of the Austin American-Statesman. It would be funny if it weren't true...
Wednesday, July 07, 2004
TIME TO PAY THE PIPER
BREAKING NEWS - Ken Lay, former Chairman of Enron, is included in a sealed indictment delivered today.
According to the Houston Chronicle, a sealed indictment was delivered in a Houston courtroom today and includes chgarges against Lay. The indictment will be unsealed on Thursday 7/8, and Lay is scheduled to surrender to authorities.
Fascinating that four years ago Chairman Lay was wining and dining with the GOP Elite, and now he finds himself looking forward to dining on prison food. There's no way his old buddies can save him, as we're in the middle of a tight election cycle. I wonder if he's regretting all those political donations now...
According to the Houston Chronicle, a sealed indictment was delivered in a Houston courtroom today and includes chgarges against Lay. The indictment will be unsealed on Thursday 7/8, and Lay is scheduled to surrender to authorities.
Fascinating that four years ago Chairman Lay was wining and dining with the GOP Elite, and now he finds himself looking forward to dining on prison food. There's no way his old buddies can save him, as we're in the middle of a tight election cycle. I wonder if he's regretting all those political donations now...
DELEGATE LISTS TO 2004 DNC ARE NOW ONLINE
You can find a list of each Delegation and lots more at the 2004 Democratic National Convention's website.
Here's the Texas Delegation:
Charles Soechting Unpledged Delegates DNC Member Austin, TX Delegation Chair
Tommy Adkisson Unpledged Add-On San Antonio, TX
Jim Alexander Pledged District Level-Dist #31 Amarillo, TX
Sedonia Alford Pledged At-Large Fort Worth, TX
Alma Allen Pledged PLEO Houston, TX
Emma Allen Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis Fort Worth, TX
Lucendy Allen Pledged District Level-Dist #14 Manor, TX
Trista Allen Pledged District Level-Dist #10 Fort Worth, TX
Diana Alonzo Pledged At-Large Dallas, TX
Roberto Alonzo Pledged District Level-Dist #23 Dallas, TX
Albert Alvidrez Pledged District Level-Dist #29 El Paso, TX
Natomi Austin Pledged District Level-Dist #29 El Paso, TX
Sabas Avila Pledged District Level-Dist #25 Austin, TX
Juan Ayala Pledged At-Large Dallas, TX
Ken Bailey Pages Austin, TX
Kathleen Bannon Pledged District Level-Dist #8 Carrollton, TX
Angie Barrientos Pledged At-Large Austin, TX
Gonzalo Barrientos Pledged PLEO Austin, TX
Gail Beagle Pledged District Level-Dist #26 San Antonio, TX
Walter Beeman Pledged District Level-Dist #30 Iowa Park, TX
Hon. Christopher Bell Unpledged Delegates Members of Congress Houston, TX
Vicki Bellow Pledged District Level-Dist #6 Houston, TX
Jeff Benson Pledged District Level-Dist #28 Lubbock, TX
Beth Berigan Pledged Alternate Dist Level-Dis College Station, TX
Roberta Bilsky Pledged District Level-Dist #15 Houston, TX
Sheila Blake Pledged District Level-Dist #13 Houston, TX
John Bland Pledged District Level-Dist #13 Houston, TX
Louis Bolanos Pledged At-Large Socorro, TX
Richard Bolanos Pledged At-Large El Paso, TX
Louis Boulet Pledged District Level-Dist #4 Port Neches, TX
Bill Bowen Pledged District Level-Dist #3 Flint, TX
Richard M. Brennan Pledged District Level-Dist #13 Houston, TX
Rose Brooks Pledged District Level-Dist #25 San Marcos, TX
Roy LaVerne Brooks Pledged At-Large Ft Worth, TX
Garry Brown Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis Austin, TX
Archie Burks Pledged District Level-Dist #23 Cedar Hill, TX
Evelyn Burleson Pledged District Level-Dist #18 Port Lavaca, TX
Lydia Caballero Pledged District Level-Dist #27 Weslaco, TX
Leon Cahan Pledged Alternate District Level-Dist San Antonio, TX
Dania Canales Pledged District Level-Dist #21 Roma, TX
Barbara Canales Black Pledged Dist Level-Dist #20 Corpus Christi, TX
Thomas Carlin Pledged District Level-Dist #12 Hurst, TX
Maria Isela Castanon-Williams Pledged At-Large El Paso, TX
Joaquin Castro Pledged PLEO San Antonio, TX
Ron Chapman Pledged District Level-Dist #3 Trinidad, TX
Norma Chavez Pledged PLEO El Paso, TX
Linda Chavez-Thompson Unpledged Delegates DNC Member Washington, DC
Mary Alice Cisneros Unpledged Add-On San Antonio, TX
Elgie Clayton Pledged District Level-Dist #2 Emory, TX
Curtis Clinesmith Pledged District Level-Dist #30 Denton, TX
Garnet Coleman Pledged PLEO Houston, TX
Charlie Connor Pledged District Level-Dist #22 Ferris, TX
Erica Contreras Pledged At-Large Houston, TX
Yolanda Coroy Pledged At-Large Houston, TX
James Cumming Pledged District Level-Dist #6 Houston, TX
Claude Cummings Pledged At-Large Houston, TX
William Cunningham Pledged District Level-Dist #13 Houston, TX
Amy Dalzell Pledged District Level-Dist #29 El Paso, TX
Blanche Darley Unpledged Delegates DNC Member El Paso, TX
Wanda Davila Pledged District Level-Dist #13 Missouri City, TX
Deralyn Riles Davis Pledged At-Large Fort Worth, TX
Earlie Davis Pledged District Level-Dist #23 Dallas, TX
Ruben Davis Pledged PLEO Alternate Missouri City, TX
Hon. Yvonne Davis Unpledged Delegates DNC Member Dallas, TX
Mitzyn De la Rosa Pledged District Level-Dist #30 Gainesville, TX
Veronica de Lafuente Pledged District Level-Dist #27 Harlingen, TX
Anne del Prado Pledged At-Large Oyster Creek, TX
Maria Luisa Del Toro Pledged At-Large Corpus Christi, TX
Sergio DeLeon Pledged District Level-Dist #12 Fort Worth, TX
W. Joseph Deshotel Pledged PLEO Beaumont, TX
Pauline Dixon Pledged At-Large Dallas, TX
Olen Dodd Pledged District Level-Dist #4 Beaumont, TX
Hon. Lloyd Doggett Unpledged Delegates Members of Congress Washington, DC
Dawnna Dukes Pledged PLEO Austin, TX
Jim Dunnam Pledged PLEO Waco, TX
Nelson Edgerly Pledged District Level-Dist #17 Port Arthur, TX
Hon. Al Edwards Unpledged Delegates DNC Member Houston, TX
Hon. Chet Edwards Unpledged Delegates Members of Congress Washington, DC
Samia El-Badry Pledged District Level-Dist #14 Austin, TX
Bruce Elfant Pledged District Level-Dist #14 Austin, TX
Concepcion Elizondo Pledged District Level-Dist #26 San Antonio, TX
Linda Figueroa Pledged District Level-Dist #20 Corpus Christi, TX
Patti Fink Pledged District Level-Dist #16 Dallas, TX
Cathryn Fleming Pledged District Level-Dist #24 Abilene, TX
Jim Fletcher Pledged District Level-Dist #10 Colleyville, TX
Vanessa Edwards Foster Pledged Alternate At-Large Houston, TX
Hon. Martin Frost Unpledged Delegates Members of Congress Washington, DC
Arif Gafur Pledged District Level-Dist #17 Houston, TX
Pete Gallego Pledged PLEO Alpine, TX
Mario Gallegos Pledged PLEO Houston, TX
Ramon Garcia Pledged PLEO Alternate Edinburg, TX
Roland Garcia Pledged At-Large Houston, TX
Sally Garcia Pledged District Level-Dist #16 Dallas, TX
Sandra Denise Garcia Pledged At-Large Edinburg, TX
Sylvia Garcia Pledged At-Large Houston, TX
Suzann Gentry Pledged At-Large Odessa, TX
Bryan Gerard Pledged District Level-Dist #21 San Antonio, TX
Helen Giddings Pledged PLEO Desoto, TX
Matt Glazer Pledged District Level-Dist #26 San Antonio, TX
Otilia Gonzales Pledged District Level-Dist #13 Houston, TX
Hon. Charles Gonzalez Unpledged Delegates Members of Congress Washington, DC
Jaime Gonzalez Unpledged Delegates DNC Member McAllen, TX
Sylvia Diane Gonzalez-Cibrian Pledged District Level-Dist #25 San Antonio, TX
Valerie Grace Pledged District Level-Dist #26 San Antonio, TX
Frances Granada DeLeon Pledged District Level-Dist #12 Fort Worth, TX
Hon. Gene Green Unpledged Delegates Members of Congress Washington, DC
Mary Kay Green Pledged At-Large Houston, TX
Ryan Guillen Pledged PLEO Rio Grande City, TX
Philip Guittard Pledged District Level-Dist #18 Victoria, TX
Gloria Garza Gutierrez Pledged At-Large Arlington, TX
Gabrielle Hadnot Unpledged Delegates DNC Member Houston, TX
Dorothy Haight Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis Rockwall, TX
Judy Hall Pledged District Level-Dist #19 Heloles, TX
Kirsten Hancock Pledged Alternate At-Large Washington, DC
David Hardt Pledged District Level-Dist #16 Dallas, TX
David Harris Pledged District Level-Dist #9 Arlington, TX
Michael Harris Pledged District Level-Dist #15 Houston, TX
Michelle Harris Pledged District Level-Dist #9 Arlington, TX
Tammie Hartgroves Pledged District Level-Dist #22 McGregor, TX
Syed Hassan Pledged District Level-Dist #9 Arlington, TX
Beverly Hatcher Pledged At-Large Beaumont, TX
Mary Hatfield Pledged District Level-Dist #28 Lubbock, TX
Minnie Dora Haynes Pledged District Level-Dist #21 Laredo, TX
Minnie Dora Bunn Haynes Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis Laredo, TX
Danny Henley Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis Dallas, TX
Jorge Herrera Pledged District Level-Dist #25 San Antonio, TX
Gilberto Hinojosa Pledged PLEO Alternate Brownsville, TX
Robert Hinojosa Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis Houston, TX
Hon. Ruben Hinojosa Unpledged Delegates Members of Congress Washington, DC
Terri Hodge Pledged PLEO Dallas, TX
David Holmes Unpledged Delegates DNC Member Austin, TX
Estelle Holmes Pledged District Level-Dist #11 Hitchcock, TX
Otis Hopkins Pledged At-Large El Paso, TX
Melissa Irion Pledged District Level-Dist #5 Austin, TX
Mae Jackson Pledged PLEO Waco, TX
Nora Jackson Pledged District Level-Dist #2 Garland, TX
Passion Jackson Pledged At-Large Ore City, TX
Winifred Jackson Pledged District Level-Dist #1 Ore City, TX
Hon. Sheila Jackson Lee Unpledged Delegates Members of Congress Houston, TX
Allan Jamail Pledged District Level-Dist #6 Houston, TX
Maria Jimenez Pledged At-Large Austin, TX
Hon. Eddie Bernice Johnson Unpledged Delegates DNC Member Washington, DC
Strathwell Johnson Pledged District Level-Dist #5 Shiro, TX
Luther Jones Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis El Paso, TX
Ruth Jones McClendon Pledged PLEO San Antonio, TX
Leon Kababie Pledged District Level-Dist #29 El Paso, TX
Duffy Keever Pledged Alternate At-Large Austin, TX
Yasmin Khan Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis Sugarland, TX
Janice Kinchion Pledged At-Large Austin, TX
Hon. Ron Kirk Unpledged Delegates DNC Member Dallas, TX
Inayat Lalani Pledged District Level-Dist #10 Benbrook, TX
Hon. Nick Lampson Unpledged Delegates Members of Congress Beaumont, TX
Hon. Iris Lawrence Unpledged Delegates DNC Member Amarillo, TX
Nick Lawrie Pledged District Level-Dist #14 Austin, TX
Juanita Leach Pledged District Level-Dist #30 Gainesville, TX
Gayle Ledbetter Pledged District Level-Dist #22 Cleburne, TX
William Leo Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis La Joya, TX
Nora Linares-Moeller Pages Wimberley, TX
Margery Loeb Pledged District Level-Dist #18 Victoria, TX
Margaret Lopez Pledged At-Large Austin, TX
Dolores Lott Pledged District Level-Dist #19 San Antonio, TX
Sue Lovell Unpledged Delegates DNC Member Houston, TX
Vilma Luna Pledged PLEO Corpus Christi, TX
John Mabry Pledged PLEO Alternate Waco, TX
Majestic Magnate Pledged Alternate At-Large Houston, TX
Molly Beth Malcolm Pledged District Level-Dist #1 Texarkana, TX
Juan Maldonado Pledged District Level-Dist #27 Pharr, TX
Jeannie Marsh Pledged District Level-Dist #10 Fort Worth, TX
Jesse Martin Pledged District Level-Dist #24 Buchanan Dam, TX
Trey Martinez Fischer Pledged PLEO San Antonio, TX
Ernest Mass Pledged At-Large San Antonio, TX
Glen Maxey Pledged At-Large Austin, TX
Barbara Mayo Pledged At-Large Cedar Park, TX
Mark McCulloch Pledged District Level-Dist #14 Austin, TX
Sylvia McDuffie Pledged District Level-Dist #4 Nederland, TX
Jennifer McPhail Pledged District Level-Dist #14 Austin, TX
Hon. Ed Miller Unpledged Delegates DNC Member Texarkana, TX
Nakia Mitchell Pledged At-Large Grapevine, TX
Becky Moeller Pledged At-Large Austin, TX
Paul Moreno Pledged PLEO El Paso, TX
Charles Mott Pledged District Level-Dist #8 Irving, TX
Kay Bell Mudd Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis Iowa Colony, TX
Karen Murray Pledged District Level-Dist #3 Nacogdoches, TX
Karl Thomas Musselman Pledged District Level-Dist #24 Fredericksburg, TX
Elliott Naishtat Pledged PLEO Austin, TX
Alma Nolen Pledged Alternate At-Large Pearland, TX
Hilbert Ocanas Pledged At-Large San Antonio, TX
Christina Ocasio Pledged At-Large Austin, TX
Rene Oliveira Pledged PLEO Brownsville, TX
Juan Ortega Pledged District Level-Dist #27 Harlingen, TX
Hon. Solomon Ortiz Unpledged Delegates Members of Congress Corpus Christi, TX
Anthony Pace Pledged District Level-Dist #8 Dallas, TX
Mary Alice Palacios Pledged District Level-Dist #20 Edinburg, TX
Eunice Parrish Pledged At-Large Houston, TX
Billie Don Payne Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis White Oak, TX
Aaron Pena Jr. Pledged District Level-Dist #20 Edinburg, TX
Linda Perez Pledged District Level-Dist #21 Floresville, TX
Mario Perez Pledged District Level-Dist #10 Fort Worth, TX
Doug Peterson Pages Houston, TX
Grady Prestage Pledged PLEO Alternate Missouri City, TX
Catherine Read Pledged District Level-Dist #13 Houston, TX
Anita Renteria Pledged At-Large Houston, TX
Hon. Silvestre Reyes Unpledged Delegates Members of Congress El Paso, TX
Lisa Richardson Pledged At-Large Austin, TX
Joseph Richeson Pledged District Level-Dist #19 Heloles, TX
Mary Johnson Richeson Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis Heloles, TX
Debra Hastings Rios Pledged At-Large El Paso, TX
Hon. Carroll Robinson Unpledged Delegates DNC Member Houston, TX
Jimmy Rocha Pledged District Level-Dist #5 Cedar Park, TX
Hon. Ciro Rodriguez Unpledged Delegates Members of Congress Washington, DC
Eddie Rodriguez Pledged PLEO Austin, TX
Bruce Rothstein Pledged District Level-Dist #16 Dallas, TX
Tom Rowan Jr Pledged District Level-Dist #7 Houston, TX
Glenda Salazar Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis Dallas, TX
Steven Salazar Pledged District Level-Dist #23 Dallas, TX
Hon. Max Sandlin Unpledged Delegates Members of Congress Washington, DC
Sidney Schwartz Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis San Benito, TX
Mary Ann Seymore Pledged At-Large Houston, TX
Emmett Sheppard Unpledged Add-On Austin, TX
Riaz Siddiqi Pledged District Level-Dist #7 Spring, TX
Bob Slagle Unpledged Delegates DNC Member Sherman, TX
Budd Smith Pledged District Level-Dist #1 Tyler, TX
Shelley Smith Pages Manchaca, TX
Wendy Smith Pledged District Level-Dist #26 San Antonio, TX
Hon. Oscar Soliz Unpledged Delegates DNC Member Corpus Christi, TX
Jacqueline Soliz-Chapa Pledged At-Large Austin, TX
Lenora Sorola-Pohlman Pledged District Level-Dist #15 Houston, TX
Ceole Speight Pledged District Level-Dist #11 Pasadena, TX
Dennis Speight Pages Austin, TX
John Stark Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis New Braunfels, TX
Hon. Charles Stenholm Unpledged Delegates Members of Congress Abilene, TX
Garland Stevenson Pledged District Level-Dist #2 Telephone, TX
Virginia Stogner Pledged District Level-Dist #17 Houston, TX
Jerry Gene Storms, Sr Pledged District Level-Dist #21 Ingleside, TX
Robert Strauss Unpledged Delegates Distinguished Party Leader Washington, DC
John Stuart Pledged District Level-Dist #1 Texarkana, TX
Audrey Swanson Pledged At-Large Carrollton, TX
Kay Sweat Pledged District Level-Dist #5 Lexington, TX
Zafar Tahir Pledged District Level-Dist #18 Sugarland, TX
Charlene Tanner Pledged District Level-Dist #4 Kingwood, TX
Loi Taylor Pages Austin, TX
Sharon Teal Pledged District Level-Dist #3Corrigan, TX
Irmalyn Thomas Pledged At-Large Beaumont, TX
Hon. Jim Turner Unpledged Delegates Members of Congress Washington, DC
Sylvester Turner Pledged PLEO Houston, TX
Leticia Van de Putte, III Pledged PLEO San Antonio, TX
Juana Vidales Pledged District Level-Dist #17 Houson, TX
Fran Vincent Pledged At-Large Austin, TX
Anneliese Vogel Pledged Alternate At-Large Houston, TX
Princella Vogel Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis Houston, TX
Rosa Walker Unpledged Delegates DNC Member Austin, TX
James Wark Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis Lufkin, TX
Dunbar Watson Pledged District Level-Dist #11 Texas City, TX
Mikal Watts Pledged District Level-Dist #20 Corpus Christi, TX
Anne Weedman Pledged District Level-Dist #7 Houston, TX
Geri Wells Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis Sugar Land, TX
Sue Weninger Pledged District Level-Dist #28 Lubbock, TX
Royce West Pledged PLEO Duncanville, TX
Robert White Pledged District Level-Dist #31 Odessa, TX
John Whitmire Pledged District Level-Dist #15 Houston, TX
Martha Williams Pledged District Level-Dist #2 Terrell, TX
William Williams Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis Kingwood, TX
Linda Wise Pledged District Level-Dist #23 Dallas, TX
Miguel Wise Pledged PLEO Weslaco, TX
Gary Woitena Pledged District Level-Dist #19 San Antonio, TX
Hon. Jim Wright Unpledged Delegates Distinguished Party Leader Fort Worth, TX
Natesha Wyrick Pledged District Level-Dist #23 Dallas, TX
Jean Yarborough Pledged District Level-Dist #12 North Richland Hills, TX
Edward Ybarra Pledged District Level-Dist #11 Houston, TX
Michael Young Pledged District Level-Dist #22 Burleson, TX
Here's the Texas Delegation:
Charles Soechting Unpledged Delegates DNC Member Austin, TX Delegation Chair
Tommy Adkisson Unpledged Add-On San Antonio, TX
Jim Alexander Pledged District Level-Dist #31 Amarillo, TX
Sedonia Alford Pledged At-Large Fort Worth, TX
Alma Allen Pledged PLEO Houston, TX
Emma Allen Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis Fort Worth, TX
Lucendy Allen Pledged District Level-Dist #14 Manor, TX
Trista Allen Pledged District Level-Dist #10 Fort Worth, TX
Diana Alonzo Pledged At-Large Dallas, TX
Roberto Alonzo Pledged District Level-Dist #23 Dallas, TX
Albert Alvidrez Pledged District Level-Dist #29 El Paso, TX
Natomi Austin Pledged District Level-Dist #29 El Paso, TX
Sabas Avila Pledged District Level-Dist #25 Austin, TX
Juan Ayala Pledged At-Large Dallas, TX
Ken Bailey Pages Austin, TX
Kathleen Bannon Pledged District Level-Dist #8 Carrollton, TX
Angie Barrientos Pledged At-Large Austin, TX
Gonzalo Barrientos Pledged PLEO Austin, TX
Gail Beagle Pledged District Level-Dist #26 San Antonio, TX
Walter Beeman Pledged District Level-Dist #30 Iowa Park, TX
Hon. Christopher Bell Unpledged Delegates Members of Congress Houston, TX
Vicki Bellow Pledged District Level-Dist #6 Houston, TX
Jeff Benson Pledged District Level-Dist #28 Lubbock, TX
Beth Berigan Pledged Alternate Dist Level-Dis College Station, TX
Roberta Bilsky Pledged District Level-Dist #15 Houston, TX
Sheila Blake Pledged District Level-Dist #13 Houston, TX
John Bland Pledged District Level-Dist #13 Houston, TX
Louis Bolanos Pledged At-Large Socorro, TX
Richard Bolanos Pledged At-Large El Paso, TX
Louis Boulet Pledged District Level-Dist #4 Port Neches, TX
Bill Bowen Pledged District Level-Dist #3 Flint, TX
Richard M. Brennan Pledged District Level-Dist #13 Houston, TX
Rose Brooks Pledged District Level-Dist #25 San Marcos, TX
Roy LaVerne Brooks Pledged At-Large Ft Worth, TX
Garry Brown Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis Austin, TX
Archie Burks Pledged District Level-Dist #23 Cedar Hill, TX
Evelyn Burleson Pledged District Level-Dist #18 Port Lavaca, TX
Lydia Caballero Pledged District Level-Dist #27 Weslaco, TX
Leon Cahan Pledged Alternate District Level-Dist San Antonio, TX
Dania Canales Pledged District Level-Dist #21 Roma, TX
Barbara Canales Black Pledged Dist Level-Dist #20 Corpus Christi, TX
Thomas Carlin Pledged District Level-Dist #12 Hurst, TX
Maria Isela Castanon-Williams Pledged At-Large El Paso, TX
Joaquin Castro Pledged PLEO San Antonio, TX
Ron Chapman Pledged District Level-Dist #3 Trinidad, TX
Norma Chavez Pledged PLEO El Paso, TX
Linda Chavez-Thompson Unpledged Delegates DNC Member Washington, DC
Mary Alice Cisneros Unpledged Add-On San Antonio, TX
Elgie Clayton Pledged District Level-Dist #2 Emory, TX
Curtis Clinesmith Pledged District Level-Dist #30 Denton, TX
Garnet Coleman Pledged PLEO Houston, TX
Charlie Connor Pledged District Level-Dist #22 Ferris, TX
Erica Contreras Pledged At-Large Houston, TX
Yolanda Coroy Pledged At-Large Houston, TX
James Cumming Pledged District Level-Dist #6 Houston, TX
Claude Cummings Pledged At-Large Houston, TX
William Cunningham Pledged District Level-Dist #13 Houston, TX
Amy Dalzell Pledged District Level-Dist #29 El Paso, TX
Blanche Darley Unpledged Delegates DNC Member El Paso, TX
Wanda Davila Pledged District Level-Dist #13 Missouri City, TX
Deralyn Riles Davis Pledged At-Large Fort Worth, TX
Earlie Davis Pledged District Level-Dist #23 Dallas, TX
Ruben Davis Pledged PLEO Alternate Missouri City, TX
Hon. Yvonne Davis Unpledged Delegates DNC Member Dallas, TX
Mitzyn De la Rosa Pledged District Level-Dist #30 Gainesville, TX
Veronica de Lafuente Pledged District Level-Dist #27 Harlingen, TX
Anne del Prado Pledged At-Large Oyster Creek, TX
Maria Luisa Del Toro Pledged At-Large Corpus Christi, TX
Sergio DeLeon Pledged District Level-Dist #12 Fort Worth, TX
W. Joseph Deshotel Pledged PLEO Beaumont, TX
Pauline Dixon Pledged At-Large Dallas, TX
Olen Dodd Pledged District Level-Dist #4 Beaumont, TX
Hon. Lloyd Doggett Unpledged Delegates Members of Congress Washington, DC
Dawnna Dukes Pledged PLEO Austin, TX
Jim Dunnam Pledged PLEO Waco, TX
Nelson Edgerly Pledged District Level-Dist #17 Port Arthur, TX
Hon. Al Edwards Unpledged Delegates DNC Member Houston, TX
Hon. Chet Edwards Unpledged Delegates Members of Congress Washington, DC
Samia El-Badry Pledged District Level-Dist #14 Austin, TX
Bruce Elfant Pledged District Level-Dist #14 Austin, TX
Concepcion Elizondo Pledged District Level-Dist #26 San Antonio, TX
Linda Figueroa Pledged District Level-Dist #20 Corpus Christi, TX
Patti Fink Pledged District Level-Dist #16 Dallas, TX
Cathryn Fleming Pledged District Level-Dist #24 Abilene, TX
Jim Fletcher Pledged District Level-Dist #10 Colleyville, TX
Vanessa Edwards Foster Pledged Alternate At-Large Houston, TX
Hon. Martin Frost Unpledged Delegates Members of Congress Washington, DC
Arif Gafur Pledged District Level-Dist #17 Houston, TX
Pete Gallego Pledged PLEO Alpine, TX
Mario Gallegos Pledged PLEO Houston, TX
Ramon Garcia Pledged PLEO Alternate Edinburg, TX
Roland Garcia Pledged At-Large Houston, TX
Sally Garcia Pledged District Level-Dist #16 Dallas, TX
Sandra Denise Garcia Pledged At-Large Edinburg, TX
Sylvia Garcia Pledged At-Large Houston, TX
Suzann Gentry Pledged At-Large Odessa, TX
Bryan Gerard Pledged District Level-Dist #21 San Antonio, TX
Helen Giddings Pledged PLEO Desoto, TX
Matt Glazer Pledged District Level-Dist #26 San Antonio, TX
Otilia Gonzales Pledged District Level-Dist #13 Houston, TX
Hon. Charles Gonzalez Unpledged Delegates Members of Congress Washington, DC
Jaime Gonzalez Unpledged Delegates DNC Member McAllen, TX
Sylvia Diane Gonzalez-Cibrian Pledged District Level-Dist #25 San Antonio, TX
Valerie Grace Pledged District Level-Dist #26 San Antonio, TX
Frances Granada DeLeon Pledged District Level-Dist #12 Fort Worth, TX
Hon. Gene Green Unpledged Delegates Members of Congress Washington, DC
Mary Kay Green Pledged At-Large Houston, TX
Ryan Guillen Pledged PLEO Rio Grande City, TX
Philip Guittard Pledged District Level-Dist #18 Victoria, TX
Gloria Garza Gutierrez Pledged At-Large Arlington, TX
Gabrielle Hadnot Unpledged Delegates DNC Member Houston, TX
Dorothy Haight Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis Rockwall, TX
Judy Hall Pledged District Level-Dist #19 Heloles, TX
Kirsten Hancock Pledged Alternate At-Large Washington, DC
David Hardt Pledged District Level-Dist #16 Dallas, TX
David Harris Pledged District Level-Dist #9 Arlington, TX
Michael Harris Pledged District Level-Dist #15 Houston, TX
Michelle Harris Pledged District Level-Dist #9 Arlington, TX
Tammie Hartgroves Pledged District Level-Dist #22 McGregor, TX
Syed Hassan Pledged District Level-Dist #9 Arlington, TX
Beverly Hatcher Pledged At-Large Beaumont, TX
Mary Hatfield Pledged District Level-Dist #28 Lubbock, TX
Minnie Dora Haynes Pledged District Level-Dist #21 Laredo, TX
Minnie Dora Bunn Haynes Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis Laredo, TX
Danny Henley Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis Dallas, TX
Jorge Herrera Pledged District Level-Dist #25 San Antonio, TX
Gilberto Hinojosa Pledged PLEO Alternate Brownsville, TX
Robert Hinojosa Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis Houston, TX
Hon. Ruben Hinojosa Unpledged Delegates Members of Congress Washington, DC
Terri Hodge Pledged PLEO Dallas, TX
David Holmes Unpledged Delegates DNC Member Austin, TX
Estelle Holmes Pledged District Level-Dist #11 Hitchcock, TX
Otis Hopkins Pledged At-Large El Paso, TX
Melissa Irion Pledged District Level-Dist #5 Austin, TX
Mae Jackson Pledged PLEO Waco, TX
Nora Jackson Pledged District Level-Dist #2 Garland, TX
Passion Jackson Pledged At-Large Ore City, TX
Winifred Jackson Pledged District Level-Dist #1 Ore City, TX
Hon. Sheila Jackson Lee Unpledged Delegates Members of Congress Houston, TX
Allan Jamail Pledged District Level-Dist #6 Houston, TX
Maria Jimenez Pledged At-Large Austin, TX
Hon. Eddie Bernice Johnson Unpledged Delegates DNC Member Washington, DC
Strathwell Johnson Pledged District Level-Dist #5 Shiro, TX
Luther Jones Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis El Paso, TX
Ruth Jones McClendon Pledged PLEO San Antonio, TX
Leon Kababie Pledged District Level-Dist #29 El Paso, TX
Duffy Keever Pledged Alternate At-Large Austin, TX
Yasmin Khan Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis Sugarland, TX
Janice Kinchion Pledged At-Large Austin, TX
Hon. Ron Kirk Unpledged Delegates DNC Member Dallas, TX
Inayat Lalani Pledged District Level-Dist #10 Benbrook, TX
Hon. Nick Lampson Unpledged Delegates Members of Congress Beaumont, TX
Hon. Iris Lawrence Unpledged Delegates DNC Member Amarillo, TX
Nick Lawrie Pledged District Level-Dist #14 Austin, TX
Juanita Leach Pledged District Level-Dist #30 Gainesville, TX
Gayle Ledbetter Pledged District Level-Dist #22 Cleburne, TX
William Leo Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis La Joya, TX
Nora Linares-Moeller Pages Wimberley, TX
Margery Loeb Pledged District Level-Dist #18 Victoria, TX
Margaret Lopez Pledged At-Large Austin, TX
Dolores Lott Pledged District Level-Dist #19 San Antonio, TX
Sue Lovell Unpledged Delegates DNC Member Houston, TX
Vilma Luna Pledged PLEO Corpus Christi, TX
John Mabry Pledged PLEO Alternate Waco, TX
Majestic Magnate Pledged Alternate At-Large Houston, TX
Molly Beth Malcolm Pledged District Level-Dist #1 Texarkana, TX
Juan Maldonado Pledged District Level-Dist #27 Pharr, TX
Jeannie Marsh Pledged District Level-Dist #10 Fort Worth, TX
Jesse Martin Pledged District Level-Dist #24 Buchanan Dam, TX
Trey Martinez Fischer Pledged PLEO San Antonio, TX
Ernest Mass Pledged At-Large San Antonio, TX
Glen Maxey Pledged At-Large Austin, TX
Barbara Mayo Pledged At-Large Cedar Park, TX
Mark McCulloch Pledged District Level-Dist #14 Austin, TX
Sylvia McDuffie Pledged District Level-Dist #4 Nederland, TX
Jennifer McPhail Pledged District Level-Dist #14 Austin, TX
Hon. Ed Miller Unpledged Delegates DNC Member Texarkana, TX
Nakia Mitchell Pledged At-Large Grapevine, TX
Becky Moeller Pledged At-Large Austin, TX
Paul Moreno Pledged PLEO El Paso, TX
Charles Mott Pledged District Level-Dist #8 Irving, TX
Kay Bell Mudd Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis Iowa Colony, TX
Karen Murray Pledged District Level-Dist #3 Nacogdoches, TX
Karl Thomas Musselman Pledged District Level-Dist #24 Fredericksburg, TX
Elliott Naishtat Pledged PLEO Austin, TX
Alma Nolen Pledged Alternate At-Large Pearland, TX
Hilbert Ocanas Pledged At-Large San Antonio, TX
Christina Ocasio Pledged At-Large Austin, TX
Rene Oliveira Pledged PLEO Brownsville, TX
Juan Ortega Pledged District Level-Dist #27 Harlingen, TX
Hon. Solomon Ortiz Unpledged Delegates Members of Congress Corpus Christi, TX
Anthony Pace Pledged District Level-Dist #8 Dallas, TX
Mary Alice Palacios Pledged District Level-Dist #20 Edinburg, TX
Eunice Parrish Pledged At-Large Houston, TX
Billie Don Payne Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis White Oak, TX
Aaron Pena Jr. Pledged District Level-Dist #20 Edinburg, TX
Linda Perez Pledged District Level-Dist #21 Floresville, TX
Mario Perez Pledged District Level-Dist #10 Fort Worth, TX
Doug Peterson Pages Houston, TX
Grady Prestage Pledged PLEO Alternate Missouri City, TX
Catherine Read Pledged District Level-Dist #13 Houston, TX
Anita Renteria Pledged At-Large Houston, TX
Hon. Silvestre Reyes Unpledged Delegates Members of Congress El Paso, TX
Lisa Richardson Pledged At-Large Austin, TX
Joseph Richeson Pledged District Level-Dist #19 Heloles, TX
Mary Johnson Richeson Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis Heloles, TX
Debra Hastings Rios Pledged At-Large El Paso, TX
Hon. Carroll Robinson Unpledged Delegates DNC Member Houston, TX
Jimmy Rocha Pledged District Level-Dist #5 Cedar Park, TX
Hon. Ciro Rodriguez Unpledged Delegates Members of Congress Washington, DC
Eddie Rodriguez Pledged PLEO Austin, TX
Bruce Rothstein Pledged District Level-Dist #16 Dallas, TX
Tom Rowan Jr Pledged District Level-Dist #7 Houston, TX
Glenda Salazar Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis Dallas, TX
Steven Salazar Pledged District Level-Dist #23 Dallas, TX
Hon. Max Sandlin Unpledged Delegates Members of Congress Washington, DC
Sidney Schwartz Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis San Benito, TX
Mary Ann Seymore Pledged At-Large Houston, TX
Emmett Sheppard Unpledged Add-On Austin, TX
Riaz Siddiqi Pledged District Level-Dist #7 Spring, TX
Bob Slagle Unpledged Delegates DNC Member Sherman, TX
Budd Smith Pledged District Level-Dist #1 Tyler, TX
Shelley Smith Pages Manchaca, TX
Wendy Smith Pledged District Level-Dist #26 San Antonio, TX
Hon. Oscar Soliz Unpledged Delegates DNC Member Corpus Christi, TX
Jacqueline Soliz-Chapa Pledged At-Large Austin, TX
Lenora Sorola-Pohlman Pledged District Level-Dist #15 Houston, TX
Ceole Speight Pledged District Level-Dist #11 Pasadena, TX
Dennis Speight Pages Austin, TX
John Stark Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis New Braunfels, TX
Hon. Charles Stenholm Unpledged Delegates Members of Congress Abilene, TX
Garland Stevenson Pledged District Level-Dist #2 Telephone, TX
Virginia Stogner Pledged District Level-Dist #17 Houston, TX
Jerry Gene Storms, Sr Pledged District Level-Dist #21 Ingleside, TX
Robert Strauss Unpledged Delegates Distinguished Party Leader Washington, DC
John Stuart Pledged District Level-Dist #1 Texarkana, TX
Audrey Swanson Pledged At-Large Carrollton, TX
Kay Sweat Pledged District Level-Dist #5 Lexington, TX
Zafar Tahir Pledged District Level-Dist #18 Sugarland, TX
Charlene Tanner Pledged District Level-Dist #4 Kingwood, TX
Loi Taylor Pages Austin, TX
Sharon Teal Pledged District Level-Dist #3Corrigan, TX
Irmalyn Thomas Pledged At-Large Beaumont, TX
Hon. Jim Turner Unpledged Delegates Members of Congress Washington, DC
Sylvester Turner Pledged PLEO Houston, TX
Leticia Van de Putte, III Pledged PLEO San Antonio, TX
Juana Vidales Pledged District Level-Dist #17 Houson, TX
Fran Vincent Pledged At-Large Austin, TX
Anneliese Vogel Pledged Alternate At-Large Houston, TX
Princella Vogel Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis Houston, TX
Rosa Walker Unpledged Delegates DNC Member Austin, TX
James Wark Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis Lufkin, TX
Dunbar Watson Pledged District Level-Dist #11 Texas City, TX
Mikal Watts Pledged District Level-Dist #20 Corpus Christi, TX
Anne Weedman Pledged District Level-Dist #7 Houston, TX
Geri Wells Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis Sugar Land, TX
Sue Weninger Pledged District Level-Dist #28 Lubbock, TX
Royce West Pledged PLEO Duncanville, TX
Robert White Pledged District Level-Dist #31 Odessa, TX
John Whitmire Pledged District Level-Dist #15 Houston, TX
Martha Williams Pledged District Level-Dist #2 Terrell, TX
William Williams Pledged Alternate District Level-Dis Kingwood, TX
Linda Wise Pledged District Level-Dist #23 Dallas, TX
Miguel Wise Pledged PLEO Weslaco, TX
Gary Woitena Pledged District Level-Dist #19 San Antonio, TX
Hon. Jim Wright Unpledged Delegates Distinguished Party Leader Fort Worth, TX
Natesha Wyrick Pledged District Level-Dist #23 Dallas, TX
Jean Yarborough Pledged District Level-Dist #12 North Richland Hills, TX
Edward Ybarra Pledged District Level-Dist #11 Houston, TX
Michael Young Pledged District Level-Dist #22 Burleson, TX
WORKS FOR ME
Sen. John Edwards has been growing in my esteem. The more I see and hear him, the more impressed I am with him. Kerry/Edwards looks like a winner to me!
Tuesday, July 06, 2004
STAY TUNED
According to AP, John Kerry is ready to announce his Vice Presidential choice. Word is Kerry will announce as early as today.
Kerry must announce within the next week or so, as the Democratic National Convention begins in three weeks and the Convention must formally nominate his running mate.
Speculation is running fierce, but I think the top contenders are John Edwards and Tom Vilsak. Senator Kerry spent some quality time in Iowa with Governor Vilsak this past weekend, and Senator Edwards reportedly left his family vacation at Walt Disney World to have a private meeting with Kerry in Washington. I don't think the nomination will go to Sen. Joe Biden, who has been mentioned, as he comes with too much baggage from his failed 1988 Presidential Campaign and Delaware will likely vote Democratic anyway.
Kerry must announce within the next week or so, as the Democratic National Convention begins in three weeks and the Convention must formally nominate his running mate.
Speculation is running fierce, but I think the top contenders are John Edwards and Tom Vilsak. Senator Kerry spent some quality time in Iowa with Governor Vilsak this past weekend, and Senator Edwards reportedly left his family vacation at Walt Disney World to have a private meeting with Kerry in Washington. I don't think the nomination will go to Sen. Joe Biden, who has been mentioned, as he comes with too much baggage from his failed 1988 Presidential Campaign and Delaware will likely vote Democratic anyway.
Saturday, July 03, 2004
KERRY TO ANNOUNCE VP NOMINATION ONLINE
Senator Kerry is set to announce his Vice Presidential nomination soon, some say as early as this week.
And word is, he'll be announcing it online to his website subscribers first. Make sure you're signed up at www.JohnKerry.com so you'll be among the first to know who the next Vice President of the United States will be!
And word is, he'll be announcing it online to his website subscribers first. Make sure you're signed up at www.JohnKerry.com so you'll be among the first to know who the next Vice President of the United States will be!
Friday, July 02, 2004
AND I THOUGHT THE GOP WAS IN A SLUMP LAST WEEK...
But NO, this week shapes up to be even crazier for our friends in God's Own Party.
A RECAP OF LAST WEEK IN THE GOP
Let's see, last week there was Jack Ryan being dropped like a hot potato from the GOP ticket for - as HE says - "propositioning his wife in an inappropriate place." Then the GOP released a campaign video which used the very clips of Hitler that they so loudly protested against when it was first aired by MoveOn.org.
And now...
I'D SAY KEEP YOUR DAY JOB MR. SECRETARY, BUT I DON'T WANT YOU TO HAVE THAT EITHER
Well, let's see. First of all, Secretary of State Colin Powell fails miserably at being a Song and Dance Man. The Village People? What WAS Powell thinking? If you haven't seen the video, CNN is playing it ad nauseam. It's hysterically ridiculous.
IF YOU CAN'T BEAT 'EM, BEAT 'EM
And THEN there's THIS lovely little gem from the Austin American-Statesman. Turns out a GOP Precinct Chair in Travis County was "physically removed" by a fellow Precinct Chair at a County Executive Committee Meeting. He's still recovering from his "removal."
This reminds me of one of the MANY reasons I switched from the GOP to the Democratic Party in 1994. My (then) husband and I were physically assaulted at our Precinct Convention, by members of our local megachurch who had "come to take over the Precinct from the godless infidels." Funny, I never realized my Presbyterian religion was considered "godless."
Sigh. Some weeks you gotta laugh to keep from crying...
A RECAP OF LAST WEEK IN THE GOP
Let's see, last week there was Jack Ryan being dropped like a hot potato from the GOP ticket for - as HE says - "propositioning his wife in an inappropriate place." Then the GOP released a campaign video which used the very clips of Hitler that they so loudly protested against when it was first aired by MoveOn.org.
And now...
I'D SAY KEEP YOUR DAY JOB MR. SECRETARY, BUT I DON'T WANT YOU TO HAVE THAT EITHER
Well, let's see. First of all, Secretary of State Colin Powell fails miserably at being a Song and Dance Man. The Village People? What WAS Powell thinking? If you haven't seen the video, CNN is playing it ad nauseam. It's hysterically ridiculous.
IF YOU CAN'T BEAT 'EM, BEAT 'EM
And THEN there's THIS lovely little gem from the Austin American-Statesman. Turns out a GOP Precinct Chair in Travis County was "physically removed" by a fellow Precinct Chair at a County Executive Committee Meeting. He's still recovering from his "removal."
This reminds me of one of the MANY reasons I switched from the GOP to the Democratic Party in 1994. My (then) husband and I were physically assaulted at our Precinct Convention, by members of our local megachurch who had "come to take over the Precinct from the godless infidels." Funny, I never realized my Presbyterian religion was considered "godless."
Sigh. Some weeks you gotta laugh to keep from crying...
MY MAN IS OUT OF THE RUNNING
My choice for Kerry's VP nominee was Bill Richardson. Tonight he announced he's requested his name be withdrawn from consideration.
I've been promoting Bill Richardson, the current Governor of New Mexico, for the Vice President nomination. According to the Associated Press, he has notified the Kerry Campaign that he no longer wants to be considered.
In addition to currently serving as NM Governor, Richardson is also serving as the Chair of the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston. He previously served President Clinton as Secretary of Energy and Ambassador to the United Nations, and was a U.S. Congressman from New Mexico from 1982-1997.
Now I don't know WHO to lobby for - ANYBODY but Rep. Dick Gephardt! I'm not wild about Sen. Bob Graham either. Looks like for me it will be a tossup between Sen. John Edwards and Gov. Tom Vilsak. I think I need to call my cousins in Iowa and quiz them about their Governor...
I've been promoting Bill Richardson, the current Governor of New Mexico, for the Vice President nomination. According to the Associated Press, he has notified the Kerry Campaign that he no longer wants to be considered.
In addition to currently serving as NM Governor, Richardson is also serving as the Chair of the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston. He previously served President Clinton as Secretary of Energy and Ambassador to the United Nations, and was a U.S. Congressman from New Mexico from 1982-1997.
Now I don't know WHO to lobby for - ANYBODY but Rep. Dick Gephardt! I'm not wild about Sen. Bob Graham either. Looks like for me it will be a tossup between Sen. John Edwards and Gov. Tom Vilsak. I think I need to call my cousins in Iowa and quiz them about their Governor...
Thursday, July 01, 2004
YEAH, BUT HOW IS IT PLAYING IN PEORIA?
Pretty darn well, thank you! 'Fahrenheit 9/11' is selling out theaters across the country...
According to a CBS News story, Michael Moore's 'Fahrenheit 9/11' sold out theaters all over the country this past weekend - even in the bellweather city of Peoria, Illinois. The movie is selling out in Republican strongholds as well as in heavily Democratic areas.
I'm going to see it tonight, with a fellow Democrat or three. I'm almost afraid to see it - I'm already so motivated to remove Shrub from office, that I don't know how much MORE motivation I can take...
According to a CBS News story, Michael Moore's 'Fahrenheit 9/11' sold out theaters all over the country this past weekend - even in the bellweather city of Peoria, Illinois. The movie is selling out in Republican strongholds as well as in heavily Democratic areas.
I'm going to see it tonight, with a fellow Democrat or three. I'm almost afraid to see it - I'm already so motivated to remove Shrub from office, that I don't know how much MORE motivation I can take...
SAY IT AIN'T SO!
A group of academics is using scientific formulas to predict a Bush win.
According to a Reuters story on Yahoo, a small group of political scientists is using elaborate mathematical formulas to predict that Bush will win reelection with between 53% and 58% of the vote.
Bad news - this group predicted Bush the Elder's win in 1988, in spite of Dukakis leading in the polls, and they came within 1/10th of a percent of Clinton's actual vote in 1996.
Good news - in 2000, they predicted a Gore win with between 53% and 60% of the vote.
I say it ain't gonna happen, and these geeks will be wrong two elections in a row.
According to a Reuters story on Yahoo, a small group of political scientists is using elaborate mathematical formulas to predict that Bush will win reelection with between 53% and 58% of the vote.
Bad news - this group predicted Bush the Elder's win in 1988, in spite of Dukakis leading in the polls, and they came within 1/10th of a percent of Clinton's actual vote in 1996.
Good news - in 2000, they predicted a Gore win with between 53% and 60% of the vote.
I say it ain't gonna happen, and these geeks will be wrong two elections in a row.
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