The Best Thing I Saw All Day Yesterday

As I’ve written previously, I’m pro-Cargas for Congress, and yes, I’m working on behalf of the campaign in a professional aspect.  I thought we could differentiate between this being my opinion of what I saw transpiring in the campaign versus the actual news releases, but a flying monkey still persists in implying that his blog is an actual credible source of news, in which he has subjected himself to the same rigorous examination of his “sources” as the mainstream news with none of those pesky regulatory monitors and that mine is, well… not.  

That same flying monkey likes to put words into people’s mouths.  He and the candidate he is working on behalf of, object to anyone from the Cargas campaign referring to him as the “communications director” of the campaign, simply because he’s not being paid.  So, from now on, I will be referring to him as Lissa Squiers’s (unpaid) Communication Director, because if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, common sense reaches that it must be a duck.  In this instance, the quacking stems from the fact that the same language and phrases that Lissa uses often originate in his blog and vice versa.   I believe Citizens United refers to that, as collaboration, but since Ms. Squiers feels reporting her donations to the FEC is above her, as well, I’m sure the word collaboration is just as foreign.  

Over the last few months, that flying monkey has decided to imply that James Cargas is not a Democrat.  Lissa has also followed suit.  In fact, she questioned why a candidate needed to be a delegate (by replying to this blog) to the state convention and told me that I was “indicating” that to be a good candidate, one must have participated in the process before, mostly by aiding other candidates.  That is, in fact, true.  There is, after all, this mantra of practicing making perfect.  If you haven’t been on a campaign, you don’t know what all it takes.  Engaging in whisper campaigns in both one-on-one conversations and using a blog are both charming aspects of what you think a campaign is and does, but it’s obvious from comments made by the blogger that he thinks that working on campaigns  as paid staff are a gateway to great wealth.  With that comment, it’s almost embarrassing how obvious it is that he’s never been a paid staffer on one.  (That was one of the many things we got a great kick out of yesterday.)   That’s okay, I’m sure there’s a lot of integrity to be had in being a “sales” man.  

However, for those of you that don’t know, the Cargas campaign (finally) answered these month long allegations in a press release, which provided unbiased proof of the two candidates’s voting records, as shown below: 

Once again, Lissa proves that she feels she’s above all the regular work that goes into a campaign, but it goes even further than that.  She doesn’t believe in participating in the process unless there’s something in it for her.  Rather than participating in her obligatory civil duties or participating in the process of the Texas Democratic Party’s State Convention, she’d rather go to the parties and engage in rhetoric while cornering people on elevators (not to mention blindsiding them).   With what’s hiding in her past, that behaviour doesn’t really shock me.  

But, even better than the press release, was Carl Whitmarsh’s* own comment from his email list: 

I couldn’t have said it better, Carl.  

Coincidentally, this was the worst thing I saw all day yesterday.  There’s nothing like a poor winner to spoil the fun.  Normally I love Juanita Jean, but this has tainted her blog.  She should apologize to the Van Os’s for the cheap shot.  There’s winning and then, winning with honour and dignity.  Considering what happened at the convention, you could afford a little humility to those that did lose.  I am not a fan of what went down, as far as the elections are concerned, and I know quite a few people who aren’t, either.  But to rub our noses in the process of what happened by making fun of those that decided to offer the people of Texas a choice at the Democratic State Convention, to participate in an election the way things should be run, is outrageous.  If this is an indication of how the next two years are going to go, you’re going to lose a lot of people in the party, and frankly, that’s something we can’t afford.  

*Edit - The attribution to Carl Whitmarsh that appears in this blog was made in complete error by yours truly.   His list is still a kickass list to belong to and he still works hard at it.  The error was an innocent mistake on my part.  

Are You A Democrat… In Texas…?

I know that Texas is not typically associated with the word “Democrat”, despite giving the world LBJ.  (“The Great Society” anyone?)  I also know that our late primary, due to the redistricting crisis that erupts every ten years, means that even less people are concerned about the primaries in this state and the district conventions, as well.  There’s even the possibility that you’re used to attending your precinct convention on Primary election day and then attending your senate convention.  I know I hate it when my routines get inconvenienced by people seeking to silence minority voters.  

There’s also not a contested primary going on - not an exciting one, like Obama v. Hillary in 2008.  

However, it still saddens me how dramatically low the Senate District Democratic Convention turnouts seem to have been all across the state this past weekend.  It was a beautiful day in Houston, so maybe I kind of understand it a teensy bit.  I was honestly hoping we would be done quickly, so as to turn around and be able to partake in the beautiful day (we, fortunately, were able to leave quickly, in part due to the low turnout).  I also know that waking up on a Saturday to sign in at 8 a.m is a little daunting.  I mean, it is the weekend, after all.  

Here’s the thing: I don’t care what your excuse was for missing your Senate District Convention this past weekend.  I really, really don’t.  The fact of the matter is, The Texas Democratic Party needs you.  So, if you weren’t able to be at your Senate District Convention this past Saturday, get in touch with your local county’s Democratic Party or your precinct chair or your local Democratic club.  If you participate on any level as a Democrat in Texas politics, we NEED you.  It’s not too late to sign up to attend the state convention as a delegate.  Your Senate District has until April 25th (that’s WEDNESDAY!!!) to select their delegates.  In Senate District 7, for example, we are allocated 216 delegates and 216 alternates.  We currently have 76 delegates assigned for the convention.  

I know you think Obama has the White House and there’s no need to go to the convention, as there is no important contested race, but so much is decided at the state level at this convention, and it’s just a lot of fun, if you’re into politics.  We decide on Resolutions and so many other things.  Also, the state convention is going to be in Houston this year, and I know that it doesn’t sound cool, but were an awesome city!  (My second favourite in Texas, I promise, only after Austin.)  

So, if politics is your thing, you’re a Texan, currently living in Texas, and you’re a Democrat, your party needs you!