Happy 100th birthday to LBJ, 8-27-08
From the calendar at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Democrats/cal
Lyndon Johnson, 1908
Wednesday August 27, 2008
Birthday
Lyndon Baines Johnson
36th President of the United States
(November 22, 1963 to January 20, 1969)
Nickname: "LBJ"
Born: August 27, 1908, near Johnson City, Texas
Died: January 22, 1973, near Johnson City, Texas Read More »
11:50 PM CDT on Saturday, August 23, 2008
By CHRISTY HOPPE / The Dallas Morning News
http://tinyurl.com/5ht6vm
AUSTIN – Barbara Rosenberg of Dallas went to her car only eight days ago and peeled off the Hillary Rodham Clinton bumper sticker – slowly, like she was removing a Band-Aid. ...
Texas' delegation to Denver is almost equally split among Clinton and Obama backers. And while most are ready to celebrate the nominee, others are waiting to assess the salve he offers to their own wounds and the nation's problems. ...
Offstage, the Democratic Party and the Obama campaign are clearly reaching out to female delegates. The convention offers an estrogen-fest of women's gatherings, from Sheryl Crow to Nancy Pelosi, from Oprah Winfrey to Michelle Obama, and virtually every political women's group in the nation is holding an event.
Mr. Obama still has work to do, though. He needs female voters to win in November...
---
complete copyrighted story at link above
"A JACKASS CAN KICK A BARN DOWN, BUT IT TAKES A CARPENTER TO BUILD ONE." Sam Rayburn [so stop kicking our party, it's the best!]
I realize that after 8 years of George Bush there may be some of you who think that "honorable Democrat from Texas" is an oxymoron, but really it isn't. And please remember. George Bush is a Connecticut Yankee, born in New Haven, Connecticut.
Here is a photo of one of the most honorable Democrats from Texas, if not THE most honorable of all Democrats Sam Rayburn, Speaker of the House:
10:03 PM CDT on Saturday, August 23, 2008
By TODD GILLMAN/ The Dallas Morning News
http://tinyurl.com/3f3ugb
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Rep. Chet Edwards made Barack Obama’s final short list for vice president, and for that he feels honored. ...
Mr. Edwards, 56, is an Aggie with an MBA from Harvard, like his most famous constituent, President Bush. He’s managed to win election after election in a district that now holds the distinction of being the most Republican in the country represented by a Democrat. It voted 2-1 for Mr. Bush.
That, Mr. Edwards said, "showed that I could go toe to toe with Republicans."
And there was a case to be made that in a "change election," it would make sense to pick someone who isn’t known nationally, yet brings 18 years of substantive Washington experience to the table. ...
---
complete copyrighted story at link above
One of our bloggers, Michael DeCoria inspired me by reminding me to remember our local Democrats. It's easy to forget that many of them don't have a lot of money and a few extra hands can literally mean the difference between a win and a loss.
THANK YOU AGAIN MICHAEL FOR SPARKING MY AWARENESS OF WHAT ELSE I NEED TO DO. I went straight to Tom Daley's site, the Democrat who is running against Sam Johnson in my 3rd US Congressional District. I signed up for about everything offered to help Tom.
FOLLOWING MICHAELS GOOD INSPIRATION, I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO DO THE SAME.
Thank you for volunteering. Together, we can create a stonger America with broader prosperity and hope for a better tomorrow!
Sincerely,
A poll released by Texas Lyceum, a statewide, non-partisan leadership group, showing Rick Noriega in a deadheat race for the U.S. Senate with incumbent John Cornyn, tells the same story that Rick Noriega's hearing from Texans every day: they're ready for a change.
The live interview poll has Noriega with 36 points and John Cornyn at 38 with still 24 percent undecided voters and a margin of error of 4.5 percent. And here is even better news. McCain is at 43 and Obama is 38. If you know how deeply red Texas has been, then you know the significance of this.
Rick and Obama have similar paths (Rick was born in 1958, three years before Obama): In 1984, Rick completed his undergraduate education with the help of an ROTC scholarship at the University of Houston, receiving his commission in the United States Army. He went on to earn a Master's Degree in Public Administration in 1990 at the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government, where he was an editor of the Harvard Journal of Hispanic Policy.
Read More »
I know that he doesn't have good politics (he was a donor to the Swift Boat Veterans) but I can't help but love the simple logic and go-get-them attitude of the 300 Million Wind Farm T. Boone Pickens Plan. It is a plan that realizes the power of wind, not as the only source of power for the US but as a good subsidy for it. It has beautiful logic to it, but more importantly it clearly points out that there is real money in clean technology. Once other investors see this, I promise you it will be a land rush and this country will turn on it's head faster than you can think. It won't be as soon as most of us want, but I assure you it will happen with the zeal that is capitalistic America. Hopefully our government can take Pickens' example and come together on this to make sure that we pass legislation that both improves clean techonology but also makes sure that Big business is well regulated in doing it.
A UMNS Report: United Methodist News Service
By Linda Green
July 18, 2008 | DALLAS
http://tinyurl.com/5oecqy
Photo caption: The United Methodist Judicial Council will be asked to rule whether or not Southern Methodist University can lease land for a presidential center for less than fair market value.
A faculty member of Southern Methodist University wants The United Methodist Church's highest court to rule on whether the leasing of property to The President George W. Bush Foundation violates the university's articles of incorporation and subsidizes a political view point.
The Rev. Jeannie Trevino-Teddlie, director of the Mexican-American program at Perkins School of Theology at United Methodist-related SMU and a delegate to the South Central Jurisdictional Conference from the Central Texas Annual (regional) Conference, asked for a decision of law that will go to the United Methodist Judicial Council this fall.
"The main thing I am most concerned about is that by leasing property to the Bush Foundation, at less than fair market value, we are in effect subsidizing a policy institute that has a specific political ideology and ideological point of view," she said, adding the denomination's law book, the Book of Discipline, allows church property "to be used for the work of the church and not to subsidize a political point of view."
In February, SMU officials approved giving the Bush Foundation a 99-year lease to build a presidential library, museum and policy institute on university property. The lease is $1,000 for 99 years--renewable for up to 250 years.
Trevino-Teddlie asked Bishop Robert Hayes of Oklahoma, who was presiding over that session of the South Central Jurisdictional Conference, for the ruling of law. Hayes said he will determine if it "was within the bounds of SMU to lease this land for the amount of money that they wanted."
"I have to examine her petition and determine whether I feel that the conference has violated the terms of the Book of Discipline," Hayes explained. "I will write and respond to her seeking a declaration of law and submit it to the Judicial Council."
The council will then examine the question and Hayes' decision and "make a ruling on whether I am correct or she is correct" when it meets in October. The council reviews all bishops' decisions of law during annual and jurisdictional conference sessions.
The delegates to the South Central Jurisdiction, owners of the Southern Methodist University, on July 17 affirmed the leasing of the land to the Bush Foundation. Along with that approval, the delegates asked that the university's integrity be protected.
Trevino-Teddlie said allowing the institute on the campus of SMU is "contrary to what the United Methodist Book of Discipline allows, and I would like to get a ruling on that."
Her question for a ruling of law asks: "Is the approval of the lease of property of Southern Methodist University by the South Central Jurisdiction and Southern Methodist University, at less than market value, to the Bush Foundation for the purpose of establishing a policy institute, in conflict with the articles of incorporation of Southern Methodist University, the rules of the South Central Jurisdiction and/or The Book of Discipline, specifically Para. 2503.4, which requires all United Methodist property to be 'kept, maintained... for the benefit of The United Methodist Church and subject to the usages and the Discipline of The United Methodist Church'" and said lease would subsidize a specific political and ideological point of view?"
While the library and museum have been welcomed by many United Methodists, others have opposed the institute fearing it will be a partisan think-tank.
"The issue is the policy institute," Trevino-Teddlie said. "The United Methodist Church should not be in the business of endorsing any political point of view--whether that is democrat, republican, green party--that is not what The United Methodist Church has stated the use of Methodist property is for. I think there is a violation there."
Acknowledging that seeking the question of law makes her walk a fine line with the university that employs her, she emphasized, "I am a Christian first. I am speaking out of my faith and to me that is all that is important."
http://tinyurl.com/6q8n5e
Photo caption: Delegates to the South Central Jurisdiction affirmed a decision giving trustees of Southern Methodist University in Dallas permission to lease land to bring the George W. Bush Presidential Library to the campus.
A UMNS Report
By Linda Green
United Methodist News Service
July 17, 2008
DALLAS
The owners of Southern Methodist University say a regional mission council was authorized to give the university permission to lease land to the President George W. Bush Presidential Center.
On July 17, the delegates to the South Central Jurisdictional Conference affirmed their Mission Council's action but also approved a petition protecting the integrity of both SMU and the jurisdiction itself by indicating that a proposed institute "does not speak" for either.
The South Central Jurisdictional Conference, which owns the university, says that it is "essential that the President George W. Bush Institute function in a manner that maintains the integrity of Southern Methodist University and the South Central Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church."
The public policy institute is to be one of three parts of a presidential center that will also include a library and museum. The institute has been opposed by United Methodists across the country who fear it will be a partisan think-tank. Supporters have said it would be an independent research facility.
Read More »
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Democratic National Committee
DNC Press Office
Press Release
For Immediate Release
DEAN TO LEAD NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION EFFORT
Register for Change Bus Tour to Kick-off in Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana This Week
Washington, DC - Governor Howard Dean will lead a national grassroots voter registration effort. The cross country bus tour, "Register for Change," will build on the overwhelming enthusiasm and voter turnout seen during the primaries as Democrats mobilize and organize voters for the fall election.
The tour kicks-off with events in Crawford and Austin, TX on Thursday, July 17th. Dean will also deliver the Opening Keynote Speech at Netroots Nation 2008 in Austin, TX. On Friday, July 18th and Saturday, July 19th the tour will continue with events in Hattiesburg, and Jackson, Mississippi, and New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. All listed times are local.
Read More »
By Bob Moser
This article appeared in the July 21, 2008 edition of The Nation
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080721/moser
"Did I mention that it's fun to be a Democrat in Texas?" asks Matt Glazer, editor in chief of the Burnt Orange Report, the state's leading progressive blog. He has, in fact, mentioned it a couple of times over beers at Scholz Garten, a legendary liberal hangout in Austin, and always with the same glimmer of happy bemusement behind his black-frame blogger specs. I'd been seeing that look in Democrats' eyes all over Texas in early June--at their raucous, record-breaking state convention, at local Democratic shindigs, in giddily overburdened Obama HQs. "It's like everyone who toiled on that Democratic death march for years, when it was so difficult, is now seeing daylight," says Josh Berthume of the Dallas suburb Denton, editor in chief of TheTexasBlue.com and another key player in a vigorous blogosphere that has helped ignite the startling Democratic flare-up here, in the bright red heart of Tom DeLay and Karl Rove's "permanent" Republican majority.
The very notion of Texas Democrats glimpsing daylight--of America's biggest chunk of Republican real estate being shaded pink on the '08 election map--seems almost absurd, a contradiction in terms, even to those who are making it happen. Like many of the nuevo pols, bloggers and progressive activists who are constructing a state-of-the-art Democratic machine in Texas, Glazer and Berthume are too young to remember the last time skies were blue for the party that ruled Texas politics from Reconstruction clear through to Reagan/Bush. So is Burnt Orange publisher Karl-Thomas Musselman, who's 23. "The last time Democrats won my hometown"--a small outpost in the central Hill Country--"was 1964," he says. "And that was only because President Johnson brought the chancellor of Germany to Fredericksburg for a visit."
Read More »
Update for SMU Petition Signers, 7-14-08
Monday, July 14, 2008
I am Andrew J. Weaver, organizer of the petition at http://www.protectSMU.org and an ordained United Methodist clergyman and research psychologist. I am a graduate of Southern Methodist University (SMU) and live in New York City. There are over 12,500 petition signers including thousands of SMU alumni who are deeply concerned about the future of the university. I am very grateful for your faithfulness regarding this issue.
---
Breaking Story About Bush Complex and Bribery
July 13, 2008
London Times
Stephen Payne: a hotshot lobbyist who can get you into White House
A lobbyist offered access to Dick Cheney and other US leaders in return for a donation to the Bush library
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article4322719.ece
---
Our Educational Effort Began
In June an intensive educational effort began regarding the Bush project at SMU. It includes a website with interactive capability. You can find the website at http://www.whatwouldjwdo.net
Our goal is to persuade South Central Jurisdiction delegates to reject the SMU/Bush Foundation lease proposal when they meet in Dallas at the Hilton Anatole Hotel, July 15-19. We are seeking to convince the "court of public opinion" through the media that the SMU-Bush linkage is injurious to both SMU and the United Methodist Church (UMC) that owns the university. Please keep this issue in your prayers over the next several days.
Growing the Petition
Finally, please continue to encourage your friends and colleagues to sign the petition. Each name is important. We need to tell officials of the UMC at every level that we find that a partisan institute honoring George W. Bush at SMU to be "utterly unacceptable."
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/protectsmu
With best regards,
Rev. Andrew J. Weaver, Ph.D.
Don't stereotype Texans. First of all, George Bush is a fake Texan. He is a carpetbagger. We Texans have been trying to impeach him for years now and here is proof of it. Be sure and watch it all. You can hear us whooping it up near the end of the video. We brought up impeachment at the 2006 State Democratic Convention.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-933021030567247976&hl=en
Friends of mine at the Houston Montrose Bridge with Peace flag and impeach Bush
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti3FlKvpwHU&feature=related
There is tons of other evidence of how badly many of us want Bush impeached.
by Andrew J. Weaver, et. al.
June 19, 2008
http://www.mediatransparency.org/story.php?storyID=239
Summary
To obtain the George W. Bush presidential library, Southern Methodist University has been required to accept an autonomous partisan institute on campus. Karl Rove is in the middle of the planning of and fund-raising for this Trojan horse project. The institute will give Rove the resources he needs to try to re-write the narrative of the Bush presidency, as well promoting his larger vision -- the domination of the right-wing of the Republican Party in American politics. In July the United Methodist Church, which owns SMU "lock stock and barrel," has one last chance to stop Rove.
From Nel LaBar
THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE - Come and join a citizens group in Ft. Worth on July 8th at 6:00P.M., as they gather for ruckus making prior to going before the City Council with a request for the adoption of a Resolution of Impeachment. The address is 1000 Throckmorton. All people of conscience, who believe in the Constitution and the rule of law, come! Bring together right/left, Republicans/Democrats, Libertarians and Greens, Independents and Partisans.
There will be music and the "Chain Gang" bobble heads, impersonating the criminal element in Washington. Bring your own ruckus making sound, guitar, drum or simply your own voice. Bring signs, the material is plentiful. When Rep. Kucinich presented his Bill of Impeachment against Bush, he read a list of over 35 offenses. We will have extra signs available. Also, you can sign up to speak, just call the Council secretary. Should you have any questions the contact number :( 817)913-1944.
Come and meet Grayson Harper, local artist/activist who will make his 20th appeal to the Fort Worth City Council, asking them to adopt a resolution to Impeach George Bush and Richard Cheney. Grayson has persisted through the Mayor's disparaging remarks, "You can see, no one is interested." and his authoritarian stance, "You will not do this ""Do you understand?" "I will not tolerate attacks on this council - I don't want to hear how we're not following our oath of office."
If the Mayor's plan was to intimidate Grayson it didn't work. Grayson presented time after time. Each presentation was fresh material, as nearly weekly, another impeachable offense was uncovered or new evidence added on to those offenses already established.
If you believe these offenses are criminal and those in Washington need to be held accountable, meet at 1000 Throckmorton on July 8th at 6:00 P.M. Then, at 7:00 P.M., join the true patriot Grayson Harper, as he, along with other citizens of conscience, again, address the Council with a request that they take their oath of office to uphold the Constitution seriously, by adopting a Resolution to Impeach George Bush and Dick Cheney.
Again--here are the essentials: July 8th 6:00 pm
Ft. Worth City Hall 1000 Throckmorton Street
Free parking in the parking lot immediately south of City Hall.
Contact: Grayson Harper, artfulrebel@yahoo.com 817-913-1944
Diane Wood dianewoodtarrantgrens@yahoo.com 817-800-4249