Cornyn Out Of Touch With Reality

Senator John Cornyn did some campaigning in Fort Worth on Tuesday, and once again showed just how out-of-touch with the real world he is. It's bad enough that he wants to foul our coastlines, the Rocky Mountains and the Alaskan National Wildlife Reserve with new oil drilling, even though the oil companies have thousands of leases they have not yet drilled on, and they export a huge amount of our domestic oil production.

But he is also opposed to any new taxes on the oil companies. It doesn't matter to him that they continue to set new records for windfall profits, to the tune of thousadns of dollars per second for every second of every day. Like most Republicans, he wants to shift the burden of taxes from the rich to the children and grandchildren of middle and working class people.

He's not opposed to spending government money. He's voted for all of Bush's record-breaking spending. He just doesn't want the corporations or the rich to have to pay for any of it. He seems to be perfectly willing for the Saudis and the Chinese to bankroll an ever-increasing portion of our growing national debt.

A prime example of how out-of-touch with reality the soon-to-be ex-senator is, concerns our transportation infrastructure. He knows our highways and bridges are crumbling, but how does he want to fix that? In Ft. Worth, he called for a "new system" to finance our transportation needs. The one thing he didn't do was explain how he's going to actually pay for it.

He wants to lower income taxes on the rich, refuses to support higher gasoline taxes, and says he opposes toll roads. What is left? Does he want the Chinese and Saudis to finance even more deficit spending? What happened to old-time conservatism that said we should balance our budget and pay-as-we-go?

Or mabe he thinks he a just pray new roads and bridges into being. We have got to vote this fool out of office. We need a senator that understands the simple concepts of economics. It's really not that complicated. You cannot cut your income and increase your spending. It doesn't work for an individual or family, and it doesn't work for a government either.

Fortunately for Texans, we have a candidate this year with some common sense -- Rick Noriega. He understands that no entity can earn less and spend more. He understands that deficit spending just means we are shoving our debts onto our children and grandchildren.

It's time we do something good for ourselves, our state and our country. It's time to send John Cornyn home and send Rick Noriega to Washington!

Cornyn Hates The Troops

It's getting harder and harder to have even a ounce of respect for the junior senator from Texas. A couple of days ago, the U.S. Senate voted 75-22 to pass a new G.I. Bill. This bill grants education benefits to those who have served our country in the military. Guess who was one of the 22 senators voting against the bill?

That's right -- Senator Cornyn of Texas voted against supplying the education benefits for our soldiers! It was bad enough that "Chickenhawk" Cornyn avoided military duty himself and then voted to support Bush starting an unnecessary war in Iraq. A war that has killed at least 4,081 American soldiers and wounded, both physically and psychologically, many thousands more.

It became worse when he voted time and again to continue the war, even after it became obvious to most Americans that it was a terrible blunder. Now he has voted to deny education benefits to those who fought in the unnecessary war he helped to start and continue. The man has no shame!

This makes it very clear that the people of Texas need a new senator. They need a senator that will support and help our brave soldiers. Fortunately, there is such a candidate in this election -- Rick Noriega.

Lt. Col. Rick Noriega has proudly served his country in the military -- commanding troops in the Afghanistan conflict.He understands what our soldiers are going through because he has experienced it himself. He also believes that we owe these soldiers a debt when they return.

Noriega thinks we must offer our returning troops the best medical and psychological care. He also knows that we must fulfill our obligation to help these troops get an education and find decent jobs.

I don't know why Cornyn hates our troops, but his actions show that he does. He's even said he will vote to support Bush if he vetos the new G.I. Bill. It's time to replace him. Support Rick Noriega for Senate.

Noriega Closing The Gap On Cornyn

I have to admit, this took me a bit by surprise. I've believed for several months that Democrats have an excellent campaigner and a great candidate in Rick Noriega, but the real campaign hasn't even started yet. Traditionally, campaigns don't kick into high gear until after the state convention.

Noriega hasn't even been able to run any commercials, and doesn't have anywhere near the money or name-recognition of his incumbent opponent. Additionally, with the presidential nominating race sucking up all the media attention, the senate race has not received much coverage. But even with all these things working against him, Noriega has been able to pull to within a few points of Cornyn.

According to the latest Rasmussen poll on the Texas senate race, Noriega is now only four points behind. The poll gives Cornyn 47% and Noriega 43%. Those are incredibly good numbers for Noriega at this point in the campaign!

This should worry the hell out of Cornyn. At this point, before the serious campaigning has really started, it doesn't look good for an incumbent to be polling less than 50%.

I think there are two things at work here. First, Cornyn is not a really popular senator and has not distinguished himself with the poor job he has done. Second, the public is really disappointed in the terrible job the Republicans have done for the last few years.

Even in a state as red as Texas, it looks like people are ready to give Democrats serious consideration. If Democrats can get all the people who voted in their primary back to the polls in November, Rick Noriega will be the next senator from Texas.

But it won't be easy. Cornyn has a lot of money, and he'll be willing to spend it to keep his job. This would be a great time to help Noriega out financially. Even if you can only give $10 or $20 dollars, please do it. Every dollar matters.

Rick can win this thing with a little help from us!

Noriega Campaign Is Off And Running

State Rep. Rick Noriega officially kicked off his campaign for for the United States Senate last Saturday. He spoke before the Sun City Democrats, making the case for replacing John Cornyn. Lt. Col. Noriega also laid out the reasons we must withdraw our troops from Iraq.

Three others have filed for the position in the Democratic primary, but only one of them showed up at the event -- teacher Ray McMurrey. McMurrey is trying to paint Noriega as the candidate picked by the "party bosses". He could not be more wrong.

Noriega was not picked by party leadership, but instead was convinced to run by a groundswell of support from the grassroots of the Democratic Party. He has that grassroots support because ordinary Democrats see him as a candidate with enough substance to actually beat Cornyn.

I know that I couldn't care less who the party leaders support. I support Noriega (and have been sending him monthly donations) because I really believe he is the best possible Democratic candidate in 2008. I also think he'll make a great senator. Thousands of others believe the same.

There are two other candidates. One (Rhett Smith) has lost races for governor and mayor of San Antonio when he ran as a Republican. I can't consider his candidacy as a Democrat as anything but a joke.

The same goes for perennial candidate Gene Kelly. The 81 year-old candidate runs in every election, but does no campaigning. He simply relies on having the same name as the famous actor and dancer. Surely, voters have figured out by now that the dancer is dead, and the politician with his name is not serious.

It would be good for Noriega to defeat these opponents in the primary without a runoff. That would show that he is truly the best candidate to oppose (and defeat) Cornyn.

I don't think Lt. Col. Noriega will have much problem in South Texas where he is well known. But I urge my Democratic brethren here in North Texas to climb on board the Noriega Express. Talk to your friends and family, and send a few dollars his way if you can. It's important.

It's important because we must beat Cornyn, and Noriega is the man who can do it.