It's possible that if I get one more email from Boyd Richie that . . .

[muse]

I might have to hurt somebody. Or some thing.

Although, this did catch my eye from him today:

"I'm honored to announce that the Progressive Populist Caucus (PPC) Steering Committee has recommended that all of their members endorse my candidacy for State Party Chair."

But, just as I was contemplating how intrigued I was about that, I got yet another, throw away email from him. MAKE THIS STOP.

I was fine at "Chris Bell endorses me." I am just such a huge, gigantic, enormous Chris Bell fan. Boyd, you had me there. So, stop already.

I got an email from Maxey today, addressed to Dear James. I know I go by "muse" anonymously all over the place, but I assure you that muse is NOT James. Please meet me at the DU caucus next Friday and discover that for yourself.

The Lakesha Rogers email yesterday was excessive: "She called on Texas Democrats to join her in taking
the platform debate out of the inner sanctums of the Party -- where it has been controlled by the
money-wielding fascist Felix Rohatyn, who rages against the tradition of Franklin Roosevelt -- and
into the workplaces, campuses and neighborhoods, where Democratic voters have been neglected."

What does this mean, exactly? Actually, I'm not really looking for an answer to that.

[NoPasaran]

1. I feel like I'm being buried under astroturf

[Son of Bentsen]

2. Another Boyd Richie Endorsement

A little pee came out when I saw this one:

http://keepaustinblue.org/blog/?p=632

[nick_DFT]

7. Heimlich County Democratic Activists Endorse Glen Maxey

Heimlich County Democratic Activists Endorse Glen Maxey


Arlen, Texas (June 2, 2006) Today Democratic activists across Heimlich County endorsed Glen Maxey’s campaign for Texas Democratic Party Chairman.

“As a member of our Armed Forces and past boyfriend of Gov. Ann Richards, I trust Glen Maxey to stand up for the issues that matter to our party,” said Bill Dauterive.

During his long and accomplished career in the Texas Legislature, Glen Maxey was endorsed several times by the Texas Propane Gas Association. Local grassroots activist Hank Hill added, “Glen Maxey loves the flex defense, a green lawn, and the clean burning efficiency of propane gas, I tell you what, we need him at the TDP”

His son, Bobby Hill, continued, “I wanted to get involved with my local party, and Glen Maxey helped empower me to make a difference. With his training I registered over 100 voters at Arlen Community College with the help of my cousin Luanne.”

Former Representative Maxey has deep roots in the Heimlich County area. His ancestors settled nearby in the early 1820s and as a Legislator and campaign organizer he worked frequently with the energetic and creative Democrats of Arlen.

Grassroots Democrat Dale Gribble confided, “I don’t trust many people, but I trust Glen Maxey to rebuild our party, and make Democrats competitive in all 255 counties, including Heimlich County.”

John Redcorn and Kahn Souphanousinphone, co-founders of the Arlen Emerging Communities Coalition, have also endorsed Mr. Maxey.

Arlen activist Boomhauer said, “Yeah man, I tell ya what, man, that dang ol' internet, man, you just go in on there and point and click, talk about w-w-dot-w-com, man you got voter reg on there, man, just go click, click, click, click, click, it's real easy, man."

Glen Maxey has been a statewide leader in using new types of technology to empower individuals to accomplish amazing things. He is running to rebuild the infrastructure of the Democratic Party and to put tools into the hands of organizers and activists to win elections.

For more information visit: www.MaxeyForChair.com.

-END-

[crispini]

3. Weirdness, I haven't gotten any email from Lakesha Rogers.

I haven't really noticed the Boyd Ritchie emails either. Humph.

[johncoby2]

4. Now I know what they mean when they say that the interim Chair has power

Over the other candidates.

He is able to use the TDP resources to show what he could do for the party, while the other candidates have to use their own limited resources.

Just like Perry using his office to pat himself on the back.

The ideas are good and solid coming out of the TDP, but they were good ideas last year, and the year before. So what has the TDP been doing for the last few years?

I am still on the fence about the chair. Stuff like this is not helping.

[muse]

5. How much money Richie and Jones have spent on their campaigns:

Richie has raised approximately $11,645 and loaned himself $25,000. He has spent $26,913.84. Peck Young, a consultant, has received $18,706.45 of that. According to the financial records at the Texas Ethics Commission, Young’s services include e-mails, printing, stickers and flyers.

Charlie Jones raised approximately $3,925 and spent about 3,038.95. The filing was done by hand (paper record) and there is no digital record of who has donated or what he has spent money on.

Lakesha Rogers has filed, but as of May 8th has neither received or spent any money.
The Maxey camp has said they have filed with the TEC but no copy has been put online.

[johncoby2]

6. $26,000?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? What a state candidate could do with that money....

[WestHoustonDem]

8. The PPC Steering Committee recommendation

I was fully prepared to motion that no recommendation be offered at the start of the phone call. I agreed to the SC recommendation because 1. Ritchie was in a position to implement some of his commitments in time to make a difference to the convention and 2. Ritchie's commitment was made based on the SC recommendation only, regardless of the outcome of the PPC caucus vote, which very well may result in an endorsement of a different candidate or no candidate at all.


This was written by a fellow SC member aka Mr. SPL, and I agree with every word of it.

First, many apologies for your receiving the news about the Steering
Committee's recommendation from Boyd Ritchie before the Progressive Populist
Caucus' announcement. Communications guidelines were discussed at our March
Steering Committee Meeting in San Marcos to prevent just such a mishap but
simply disregarded yesterday when a PPC Steering Committee Member advanced
the announcement before our Secretary prepared the announcement for the
membership and the website.

On Monday, May 29th, the Steering Committee of the Progressive Populist Caucus
participated in a conference call and voted to make a recommendation to the
Progressive Populist Caucus membership that we endorse Boyd Ritchie. The
recommendation is simply a recommendation, not an endorsement. The
recommendation will be discussed at our caucus at 1:00 p.m. Friday, June 3
and may or may not be accepted by the membership. It is up to you, the
membership to accept, reject or revise the recommendation.

When the steering committee conference call began, I was prepared to introduce
discussion for no recommendation because most of the initiatives agreed to
by Boyd Ritchie are all reasonable expectations that I believe any candidate
for TDP chair would find acceptable. However, Boyd Ritchie's current
position as TDP Chair gives him the unique advantage as the only candidate
who can advocate debate within the Convention Rules Committee of our two
resolutions, Public Support for VVPAT and Personal Privacy Protection (TEAM)
in return for our recommendation and it is for this reason that I did not
debate the recommendation. In other words, this is politics, plain and
simple.

I'd like to call your attention to a fantastic workshop that Bill Crosier, our
fellow PPC member and leader of the Progressive Action Alliance has
organized. The Pre-Convention Workshop for Progressive Texas Democrats will
be held on Saturday, June 3 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Heights Branch
of the Houston Public Library. All progressive Democrats should attend this
workshop if at all possible.

Sorry I haven't had and won't have more time myself to discuss this until next week, but I am out of town dealing with some family situations.

[VelmaD]

9. Frankly I am disgusted...

that the PPC steering committee did this and they will be hearing so at the convention. I personally expect the PPC to engage in something a little better than "politics, plain and simple".

BTW, VVPAT is NOT what we want...we want VVPB (Voter Verified PAPER BALLOT).