The Kidnappers Released Me
I think I’ve become a tad too obsessive about my not-a-blog because when I leave for one day, people start emailing me asking if I am okay.
It’s hard for me to post to the blog when I’m on the road because I have to use my phone to do it and holy cow that sucker has tiny little keys. So, like me on Facebook and I’ll try to let you know what is happenin’. I don’t know if they have a place where you can not like me on Facebook, but if they do I am certain that the line is much longer there.
I was in Austin today for a meeting of the campaign committee of the State Democratic Executive Committee. Some damfool – and I have a suspicion of who it is – leaked the plan of Battleground Texas that’s coming next month. You know it wasn’t me who leaked it because it was leaked to Politico and you guys know how I feel about Politicolonoscopy.
The leak is here. Next month it will be rolled out in all its glory. Not on Politico.
The good news is that this influx of money into Texas, unlike the last time this happened ten years ago, will not be consultant driven. It will not end up in the pockets of same-ole, same-ole consultants who pocketed millions of dollars with diddle squat to show for it. This influx will be used for a ground game.
In the past, Texas Democrats have not been able to turn out their base because they never knew where the base was. And even when they accidentally stumbled across it, they had no idea how to get it to vote.
Now we have a new chairman, a new staff, and real, live, actual plans from the newly empowered State Democratic Executive Committee to make those plans happen. This Party is no longer run by 5 guys in Austin. This Party is run by the people elected to run it.
A big ole thank you to Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa for trusting in the elected Executive Committee and empowering Texas Democrats to be a part of turning Texas blue.
That’s where I’ve been for two days and I’d just like to add that Texas Republicans can kiss my big blue butt.
I hope one of the Castro twins runs for Governor in 2014 and the other runs for Senator. What a dream that would be!!!
1Go Texas Dems!!!! If Texas turns blue, up here in badgerland we won’t have to worry about Walker trying to mess with our electoral vote.
2A Texas friend says it might turn purple maybe, but never blue. If Texas Democrats wrote to the CEO of Ford, maybe they could get Ford to make a special blue just for Texas… an automotive version of the blue & red cups 7-11 used for polling. Of course, not every Texan can afford a new Ford, but just think of all the free marketing the Texas Democratic Party would get! I happen to think Ford, Dodge & Chevy should come out with 2 shades of purple – one a bit more blue & the other a bit more red.
3They can make one for TEA Partiers that needs an old crank to start it.
4@CH, Julian has already stated that he is running for a third term as Mayor. He’s doing a great job as mayor of San Antonio, but I think he wants to accomplish a few more things here before running for a higher office. In the meantime he’s getting a lot of good publicity and becoming known throughout the country. He’s a real asset for the party.
5My only concern is that in the drive to make texas “Blue” the rest of the country will be told how they have to comprimise on democratic party principles so as not to scare off some theorical possible potential D voter but one who wants to outlaw aboration, protect their assualt weapons, pump as much water out of the ground as they want, reject EPA regulations etc So the rest of the national Democratic party cannot take a firm stand on any of these issues because it might offend this imaginary democratic voter in texas.
Best thing that Obama’s electoral machine has done is move away from dumbing down the Democratic party so it could appeal to the knuckle draggers south of the Mason dixon line and move forward with the understanding that someday the education system in the south will improve to the point that neanderthal thinking ( i.e. creationism, anti=union, anti-environment, anti=choice, pro-murder, etc) will die out under the lack of its connection with reality.
6On the bright side, there are worse things than being kidnapped by Gilbert and the Texas Democratic Exec. Committee. Just keep reminding yourself that it is good to be loved even if it does make you feel like putting your inbox on diet.
Here in Missouri, not only do we not have a plan, we don’t even have a clue! I look forward to hearing about the non-politico version of the plan.
7From the blue state of Maryland, I salute you and wish you all the luck you can handle!
As for the TX GOP, to paraphrase the best line in a mystery I read recently, “You can kiss thirty-six inches to the right, and then come back to the middle and kiss thirty-six inches to the left!” That’s if I wanted them touching me at all.
8I assume you will keep us informed, with instructions about how to help.
9C’mon you Texas smurfs. Make it happen! You’ve got the Latinos and Juanita….what more do you need?
10From the blue city of Juneau, I salute you also and wish you great luck and success. Texas deserves better than it’s been getting. You. your Executive Committee and the Texas Democrats are just the bunch to give it to them…you…all. Ah, you know what I mean.
11That was supposed to be You, your…etc.
Hate it when I do that.
12@Ken…. first, not all of us here in Texas are “knuckle-draggers”. IMHO…. the reason Texas has stayed red, red, red…. is simple. When given the choice to vote for a Republican, or a Democrat running really a lot like a Republican….The Repulicans stuck with their own party, and a lot of Democrats stayed home. Although, some of us held our noses, and voted. And, at best what we got was Republican-lite. What I’m hoping for is that Democrats in Texas, when they decide to get their message out, will point out to the voters…. that there is a difference, between the two parties. We’ll see how it goes. Give it some time…..it’s going to take a while. The dumbing down has gone on for a long time. Undoing the damage isn’t going to be easy, and it’s not going to happen over night. With people like JJ and Bubba leading the charge….. I have a lot of hope……. for change.
13Well thanks for the update. Now when they call, I will contribute.
14This is the “Rawstory” take on it. Good article. More detailed that the Politico thing.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/01/25/dems-hope-generational-shift-will-turn-texas-blue-and-shut-gop-out-of-white-house/
15Congratulations to my home state of Texas. I will waiting with great anticipation as Battleground Tennessee is needed here as well! We elected a new Democratic Party chair yesterday in a very Evangelibagger heavy lege, so it is going to be difficult here in Nashville – we will follow your lead~BLUE SOUTH
16Not to add to the Pressure Miss Jaunita, but I have been a gay Democrat Ex Pat Texan for over 30 years, and Mama Back in Nacogdoches is NOT getting in younger!(Insert Foot pat here) Ya’ll need to make it safe for me to come home. Not so much that folks would harm me, I did grow up in East Texas, more like I’d end up getting myself imprisoned for contributing to the righteous cause of ridding the world of stupid, one East Texan at a time…
17Oh and those ole Texas Dem Practices of Supporting young, good Candidates until they get too far into an Election to drop out, and then Deciding that you would rather have the Incumbent Repug keep the office cause you got dirt on him and can blackmail him into doing your bidding…. that sh*t has to go…. I have faith and hope in the New Texas Democratic Party – ya’ll Get to it!!!!(Keep an Eye On Icon Blue Blood Sen. Bob Eckhardt’s Daughter, Sarah)
OK, was just scrolling down to get to where I’d read last, and passed the picture of Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa. I had to scroll back up and take a second look because what my brain registered was Robin Williams in one of his silly characters.
18Now I’ve read it and I’m glad to hear consultants are out of the loop. Consultants get too damn much money, especially our tax dollars, in Texas for studies and such.
19Thank you, JuanitaJean, for checking on us and giving us the update. The news is lovely! And I had a brief, silly vision of you giving the kidnappers exactly what they deserved. 😉
20The GOP learned not to trust consultants in this last election. Is Texas karma a special type of hell?
21Ford already has a deep purple truck!
http://media.ed.edmunds-media.com/ford/f-150/2000/oem/2000_ford_f-150_regular-cab-pickup_xlt_fq_oem_1_500.jpg
Texas Democrats need to capture that bluish-purple color to represent middle-of-the-road voters. . . before some consultant tells them to! Moderates are sitting back just waiting to be asked to dance!!
22I remember that when w was first poluting the national discourse in the 2000 race the highest ranking D in texas ( speaker of the State house I seem to remember) came out and supported him because his provincial perspective of better our a——e ruining the country then some one like Gore helping the country. He was trotted out to show w’s bipartisan “cred”. He hurt Gores campaign, he helped w, he damaged the country and he was the top ranked D in texas.
Those are the D’s I fear. Those are the knuckle draggers that will ruin the country. Those are the knuckle draggers who were appeased by the national D’s.
I know not every one is a knuckle dragger but until every street, library etc that is named after traitorous scum ( i.e. lee, jackson and other trash) are renamed for Lincoln, Grant, Sheridan or Sherman I must assume that the knuckle draggers are still in charge.
23Kidnapped? Juanita Herownself? By the GOP? Ohhhh, my. Heh, heh, heh. Sorry, but the first thing that popped into my head was “The Ransom of Red Chief”! Heh, heh, heh, heh……
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