Something I forgot to work into this entry earlier: Sema Hernandez on Redacted Tonight VIP.
Yesterday I did not check my Junk folder, so I missed the other message that I received from Our Revolution. The message contains some the information found in this document, listing state and regional OR endorsements for various races, including Congressional contests in which Gulf Coast residents might vote. Be advised that the hyperlink at the top of each page directs you to a Google documents page containing the candidates' statements. In addition to the lack of an endorsement for US Senate, the document mentions no endorsements for any statewide races. I presume they're holding off on that until after the primaries, but why? If I find out, I'll post something about it here. Also, since Lina Hidalgo is unopposed for the Democratic nomination for Harris County Judge, they have opted to wait on that race as well. Our Revolution Texas had its statewide convention in San Antonio two weekends ago. Just this morning I received the Gulf Coast delegations report via e-mail. As disorganized and as unreliable a correspondent as I tend to be, it would be wrong to give them shit for the long delay. I'm pleased to report that the OR Gulf Coast delegation chose my former fellow First UUer Luigi Bai to be its state Steering Committee representative. The message notes that Luigi also played a major role in drafting the state body's bylaws, which are still subject to revision and approval by regional groups. In addition, seeing that populist firebrands Jim Hightower and David Van Os were not only in attendance but actively participating in this confab fills my heart with light and warmth. Sema Not Endorsed The paragraph below was not the only one in the message containing flagrant use of the passive voice. As for the development in relates, I'm not sure how I feel: The Harris County OR Delegation made their unanimous motion for OR Texas to endorse Sema Hernandez for state senator. There was lengthy debate as to the appropriateness of the motion. It was decided the motion was appropriate and arguments were had for and against the endorsement, and for and against the appropriateness of this particular process for endorsement. After much debate and procedural maneuvering, the motion failed. We hope the new Statewide Steering Committee will work promptly to develop a process for endorsing candidates for state-wide office. The Texas Progressive Alliance reminds you that TODAY is the last day to register to vote in the 6 March primary. DBC reminds you that, even if you intend to skip the primary and instead participate in a Green or Libertarian precinct convention on the evening of 13 March, you need to be registered to vote. Also, please bring your cotton-pickin' registration card to the convention. Here's the blog post and news round-up from last week... The Houston Chronicle reports that 175,000 voters in Harris County have been marked "in suspense," many due to having their homes destroyed by Harvey. The good news? They can still vote. From Democratic activist Jerry Wald, via Facebook: To clear up misinformation regarding Harris County residents displaced by Hurricane Harvey being taken off the voter rolls: Socratic Gadfly says that Beto O'Rourke appears to be a ConservaDem or something halfway close.
David Collins at DBC Green had lunch with Harris County Judge candidate Lina Hidalgo, and came away impressed. This evening in Clear Lake, CD-36 candidate Dayna Steele has a fundraiser hosted by two friends from her 'Rock Goddess' days: Melissa Etheridge and David Crosby. Texas Leftist published a candidate questionnaire from SD-17 candidate Fran Watson. John Coby at Bay Area Houston re-enters the fray with a handful of snarky campaign finance report postings. They follow the same tired cliché that the establishment believes is canon: whoever raises the most money wins, or should win, or should at least be considered the front-runner (irrespective of their political stances on any issue), and the ones who raise the least money should drop out. This is no way to run a democracy, but far too many Democrats just don't get it. In a stunningly appropriate metaphor, Congressional Republicans traveling to a weekend retreat to discuss the impact Trump will have on their 2018 prospects were on a train that hit a garbage truck, killing the poorest (the sanitation workers) but leaving the politicians only a little shaken. (Passenger rail enthusiast DBC adds: Condolences to those killed and injured in the collision Sunday morning between the Amtrak Silver Star and a freight train in South Carolina.) The Dallas Observer has news of the grand opening of the first cannabis oil dispensary in the state. The AP, via the Beaumont Enterprise, is following the case of four Texas youth prison guards who were arrested after they choked a 19-year-old unconscious and badly beat another. In the past year, at least nine officers of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department have been arrested on abuse or misconduct charges, and another was convicted of having sex with a youth in custody. The still-unfolding crisis has so far prompted Governor Greg Abbott to replace the agency's top officials and launch yet another investigation. The Texas Standard wants to know how gerrymandering might be solved, and has news on a group of mathematicians who gathered in Austin over the weekend to work on the problem. There is a public hearing tonight (Monday) for Houston-area residents (specifically, it's being held at Woodward Elementary in Cypress at 6 p.m.) regarding the Texas high speed rail line, according to HPM. jobsanger sees Trump's deregulation as a war on workers. Free Press Houston notices that the attorneys representing roadside megastore retailer Buc-ees are an aggressive and litigious bunch when it comes to "protecting" their logo. And Harry Hamid celebrates a blogaversary with David Bowie and Marlene Dietrich on the ramparts. This longtime Green apparatchik, who has used some strong and unpleasant language in referring to the US Democratic Party, is strongly considering volunteering for a self-identified progressive Democrat's campaign in 2018. This afternoon I sat down at Brasil with Lina Hidalgo, candidate for Harris County Judge, for a chat & chew. As mentioned previously, I reached out to her campaign after seeing her give a remarkably coherent 90-second get-to-know-me speech at the Gulf Coast Our Revolution meeting two weeks ago. If the Green Party's ballot access drive doesn't pan out, I hope to be able to help kick Hidalgo's campaign into overdrive between June and early November. Hidalgo has no opponents at all, let alone an pro-establishment opponent in the primary race. As far as I'm concerned, that's a plus. Assuming she doesn't pull an Ahmad Hassan and bail out of the race (she assured me that she won't), she will be there and in need of support this summer and fall. Plus, when running against a moderate Republican as well liked as Judge Ed Emmett, you may as well cast yourself as a fire-spitting Progressive. Another quick entry: I clicked the Twitter icon on Sema Hernandez's campaign site, and it took me to this mess. What the actual phuck?
The correct Twitter page for the Hernandez campaign is here. In the absence of evidence, we're not going to blame the O'Rourke campaign for creating the phony page. But it says a lot about his followers and the acolytes of the Democratic Party establishment that certain persons unknown felt compelled to create it. Somebody's getting merit badges in left-punching and underdog-trolling. UPDATE: The link appears to have been fixed. This will be a short entry, I promise. After all, I avoided watching the SOTU Tuesday night and went to a special event at Brash Brewery (try their milk stout, Milk the Venom—it's vicious and delicious), so I'm not still seething with "OMG WTF is he even saying???"
It's time to resort to an Ordered List, which will help me keep this entry tidy and concise, because I need all the help I can get with that.
|
Blogging Sporadically since 2014Here you will find political campaign-related entries, as well as some about my literature, Houston underground arts, peace & justice, urban cycling, soccer, alt-religion, and other topics. Categories
All
Archives
April 2023
|