Texas Early Voting - Dem. Run-Off (30 Largest Counties)

The Texas Democratic Party had some run-offs to be settled. Most prominently was in the race for Governor, where Lupe Valdez faced Andrew White. Valdez led in the March primary, but didn't get 50%.

The chart above shows the early voting total for Democrats in the 30 counties with the largest population. The counties are listed in order of their number of registered voters, with the largest number of registered voters at the top (Harris 2,257,546) and the smallest number at the bottom (Randall 85,302).

Run-off early voting was only held for 5 days -- compared to 11 days in the March primary. So it's not surprising to see fewer people voting in a lot of the counties. Also, fewer people tend to vote in run-offs than in the primary. We'll have to see how strong the turnout is on election day -- Tuesday May 22nd.

I don't have a clue as to how the governor's race candidacy will turn out. Fortunately, I like both candidates, and can easily support either in the November election. I urge my fellow Democrats to vote in the run-off. If you didn't vote early, then please do that on Tuesday. It would look good to have a strong showing, plus the fact that Texas Democrats need to get in the habit of voting in EVERY election and run-off.

Too often in the past, Democrats have not bothered to vote because they didn't think we had a chance of winning. Texas is changing though, and this year we do have a chance -- but only if we all make sure to vote!

The early voting numbers in the chart above are from the office of the Texas Secretary of State.

Temper The Enthusiasm Over The Mississippi Runoff

(The image above of Thad Cochran is from wxxv25.com.)

The media headlines regarding Mississippi's GOP runoff election for U.S. Senate this morning talk about the defeat of the teabaggers in that state. One source even called it a "crippling defeat" for the extreme right. I think it's time we considered the reality.

These headlines make it sound like a moderate defeated a teabagger in Mississippi, but that's not what happened. There was no moderate in that race. When was the last time Thad Cochran voted as a moderate in the Senate, or even considered compromising with the Democrats for the good of the country? All I can remember him doing is voting in lock-step with the extreme right-wingers.

What we really had in that Mississippi runoff was a fairly sane teabagger running against a bat-crap crazy teabagger. And Cochran's "sanity" doesn't mitigate his extremism at all -- it just keeps him from making crazy statements that might hurt him in November. The only difference between the two candidates was the tone of their rhetoric.

There is talk now of how angry the teabaggers are, and some are even saying they might abandon Cochran in November. I don't believe it. They might not be happy with his slightly milder rhetoric, but they know he'll continue to vote as a right-wing extremist, and they'll vote for him in November.

The headline "Extremist Loses In Mississippi" is a valid one -- but equally valid would be one that read "Extremist Wins In Mississippi".

Texas Dems Not Interested In Winning Ag. Comm. Race

AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER (93.57% reporting)
Kinky Friedman...............80,890 (46.21%)
Jim Hogan...............94,124 (53.78%)

The man pictured at the left is Jim Hogan -- the choice of Texas Democrats as their nominee in the November election race for Agriculture Commissioner. Who is Jim Hogan? That's hard to know, because he hasn't campaigned and hasn't told anyone what his issues are. As near as I can tell, he's a right-wing fundamentalist. He admitted that the only reason he ran as a Democrat is because there were already five candidates in the GOP race for Ag Commissioner (and he didn't think he could beat five other Republicans).

Why did Texas Democrats vote for a right-wing fundamentalist, who didn't campaign and says he will not campaign in the general election either (not for himself or the Democratic ticket)? All I can figure is that a lot of Democratic Party regulars think it's more important to settle an old grudge they hold than to have a chance of winning this race in November.

Less than 1.5% of Texas' registered voters bothered to vote in the Democratic primary runoff. That's not unusual, and means that hardly anyone other than party regulars voted. And too many of them still harbor a grudge against Kinky Friedman for running as an Independent in the 2006 governor's race. They blame Kinky for their pitiful showing in that race -- ignoring the facts that Kinky drew as many Republican votes in that race as Democratic votes, and the Democratic candidate was an "empty suit" who couldn't have beaten Rick Perry if it had been a two-person race. And to satisfy that old grudge, they put a right-wing fundamentalist (who's not even a real Democrat) on the November ballot.

Kinky is a maverick, and he doesn't follow the party line. But he is a campaigner, and he was willing to campaign hard for not only himself, but the entire Democratic ticket (and he could have garnered many Independent votes for the ticket). But that wasn't good enough for the party regulars. They preferred a right-wing fundamentalist Republican in ill-fitting Democratic clothes -- a person not willing to campaign for the Democratic Party.

Frankly, I'm disgusted. I won't be able to support Hogan or vote for him in November, because I'm a progressive, and I never vote for right-wing fundamentalists -- even if they pose as Democrats. And by tossing in the towel in the Ag Commissioner race, I'm left to wonder just how serious Democrats are about winning any statewide race this year.

As I said in a post a couple of days ago, it looks like the state party (and its major candidates) are following the same old path to defeat as in the past -- by posing as slightly less right-wing candidates than the Republicans they are running against. They seem to think Texas voters will flock to the polls to vote for the lesser of two evils. But that hasn't worked in the past, and it's a sure road to defeat this year too.

I get daily e-mails from Wendy Davis, Leticia Van de Putte, and David Alameel. But they never tell me what progressive values they are willing to fight for. They just ask for money and assure me they are better somehow than their opponent. That's not good enough. I want to see some Democrats willing to fight for progressive values, and offer a real choice to the right-wingers of the GOP. And I think that's what many others want.

I'm going to vote a progressive ballot in November and I was hoping it would include many Democrats. Unfortunately, the Democrats with progressive roots seem to be running away from those roots. And frankly, that doesn't bode well for November.

Kinky Is The Best Choice For Texas Ag Commissioner

Today marks the start of early voting in the Texas primary run-off election (with primary election day being May 27th -- next Tuesday) -- and Texas Democrats must decide who their candidate for Agriculture Commissioner will be.

I have made no secret that my choice is Kinky Friedman. Kinky is well known in the state, and can bring voters to the Democratic ticket that normally would not vote at all (or vote Republican because that's what their neighbor is doing). And Kinky is campaigning for the entire statewide Democratic ticket. Meanwhile, his opponent is unknown to voters, and has already said if nominated he will not campaign at all. The choice seems clear to me -- either nominate a popular fighter or an unknown wimp. I choose the fighter -- Kinky.

Kinky is also right on the issues. Here are the issues he is running on:

End The Prohibition On Marijuana

•  We are losing the war on drugs - in 2010, Texas arrested 74,286 for possession of marijuana.  The ACLU estimates that in 2010, Texas spent about $251,648,800 to enforce its marijuana possession laws. This war is already lost.

• Legalization means a boon to the economy - a CATO Institute study estimated that Federal drug expenditures on marijuana prohibition in 2008 were $3.4 billion, and legalization would generate $8.7 billion in annual revenue through taxes. This is a $12.1 billion turnaround, and it is only the beginning.

• Fund education through taxation/regulation of marijuana - Washington state, through a 25% marijuana excise tax, retail sales, and business and occupation taxes, has been able to direct 60% of the new revenues toward education, health care, substance abuse prevention, and research.  Texas can do even better.

• Medical marijuana really works - from cancer care to mental health treatment, pot has proven to be an effective medicine throughout history, and we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg.  An investment in studying its medical uses is an investment in Texas’ future.

• Texans, above all, covet personal freedoms - we demand freedom of choice at every other level, why not the freedom to smoke marijuana?

Promote The Cultivation Of Hemp

• Hemp conserves water - it uses one-half the amount of water cotton uses. 

• Hemp is more profitable than cotton - it produces two to two-and-a-half times more usable fiber than cotton. The quality of clothing and other products made from hemp fibers is often even better than cotton.

• Hemp is environmentally friendly - it needs no pesticides or insecticides to ensure healthy growth, it will grow virtually anywhere, and it will overcome and kill weeds trying to sprout nearby. Cotton uses approximately 25% of the world’s total insecticides and 10% of the world’s pesticides. Ranchers and farmers would not need to pay for these ever again.

• Hemp is good for the air we breathe - it is a high-performer at sequestering CO2 out of the atmosphere.  Breathe easier, Texas. 

What To Do About Water 

 

• Water conservation on the state level needs more cohesion - any discussion of water management in Texas eventually must include the radical amending or the end of the “rule of capture.”  Texas is the only western arid state that still abides by this centuries old rule, and the result is a constant flood of suits and countersuits clogging our courts over water rights, mostly by the myriad regional water authorities.  A state level environmental water board needs to be empowered, knitting together the regional authorities under a single authority.

• More investment is needed in harvesting water - this is the only sustainable way to manage our water into the future.  Water harvesting capacity needs to be increased at least ten-fold through Ag grants.

• More research must be funded to advance desalination, both of brackish ground water and gulf water.  The El Paso model has proven extremely effective, but new methodologies must be found for using what may be Texas’ next great water source, the Gulf Of Mexico.

• An indigenous environment uses less water - turf requires two to three times the water of a sustainable mixed landscape.  Tax incentives are needed encourage home owners to replace sod lawns with indigenous ground cover.

  

Family Farms, Organic Farming, School Gardens, School Lunches

• The redefining of the family farm and the erosion of rural communities during the past century has been as dramatic in Texas as anywhere in the nation.  Our current number of a quarter-million family farms operations is declining precipitously.  Texas needs to reinvest in family farms in a big way.

•  Organic farming is the wave of the future  - grants for family farms must focus on organic farming, with a farm-to-table plan that uses these foods in our school lunches.  This will allow sustainable, affordable expansion of our school lunch programs with locally produced, healthy foods.  It will also form a sound business model.

• Bring the gardens to the children - privately financed public school gardens, cultivated primarily by at-risk school children, have already proven highly effective in such cities as Austin.  These programs are already providing fresh organic foods for school lunches.  State grants are needed to expand the program statewide, to ensure all our children are properly and well fed. 

  

Immigration

 • With border crossings currently at zero net migration (and moving quickly toward negative net migration), ramping up border security should not be our current focus, especially if we succeed in legalizing hemp/pot and cutting all illegal border traffic by as much as 60%.

• We need to create worker guest passes/visas that don’t discouragemuch needed farm workers with impossibly high priced permits or fees.  A low cost permit should be offered workers who will then pay their full and fair share of taxes for work done.  This should be offered with a carrot - points toward eventual permanent citizenship.

• Instead of focusing only on the illegal immigrants, law enforcement needs to go after the coyotes, the human traffickers  who prey on their own.  These are the true criminals of the border.

• Law enforcement agencies need to work together to create a less dangerous environment on the Mexican side of the border.  Those who live on the border know that a safer living environment in Mexico will also discourage the influx of immigrants into Texas.

Feral Hogs

 • Feral hogs are a food industry waiting to happen - with between five and six million feral hogs tearing up crops, disrupting farm animals and wildlife, and wreaking havoc on the environment, Texas farmers and ranchers are nearly desperate for a solution.  A full sixty percent of the population needs to be culled every year, just to keep it at the current level.  Nearly all of those culled are simply destroyed.  The ongoing Caldwell County hog program is proving the potential for industry.  The hogs are captured live, taken to processing plants and donated as food to charitable organizations.  This can easily be converted to a for-profit model for the entire state.  It is the only solution that can be implemented immediately, it puts people to work, and the feral hogs can be managed and sustained like a herd.  It will be profitable:  wild boar meat sells for as high as twenty dollars a pound outside the state.  

Alameel Is Clearly The Best Choice For U.S. Senate

It is primary run-off time for Texas Democrats, and one of the two important races they must decide on is who they want as their candidate for the United States Senate. There is really no choice for serious Democrats -- those who want their party to have a chance this November.

That's because one of the candidates in the run-off is not a Democrat at all, but a follower of Lyndon LaRouche -- a candidate who believes President Obama should be impeached and the Queen of England is the head of an international drug cartel. Nominating this candidate would would make the entire Democratic ticket a joke, and seriously hurt the chances of all Democrats in November.

Fortunately, there is a rational alternative -- David Alameel. Alameel was not my first choice a couple of months ago, but he is clearly the best candidate in this run-off. And he's on the right side of issues important to most Democrats. Here are the issues Alameel is running on:

Jobs and Economy

The super-rich and mega-corporations have rigged the system in their favor.  They are pulling the strings of puppet politicians like John Cornyn and other Washington Republicans in favor of Wall Street – not hardworking Texas families. 

We need to stop sending politicians to Washington who care more about the bottom line of CEOs on Wall Street than working families in Texas. 

As Senator, David Alameel will advocate for:

• Forcing big corporations and Wall Street executives to pay their fair share in taxes.
• Creating good paying jobs in Texas that can’t be shipped overseas.
• Taking big banks to court when they ruin our economy, not giving them another bailout.
• Ending tax breaks for corporations that ship American jobs to places like China and India
• Raising the minimum wage so families can work with dignity, put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads.
• Extending unemployment insurance benefits to the long-term unemployed 
• Ensuring tough enforcement of equal pay laws which helps all of our families

Bring Troops Home

David Alameel is a veteran and strong supporter of the United States military.

However, after twelve years it’s time for us to leave Afghanistan, bring the troops home and use the hundreds of billions of dollars we are spending there to help rebuild America. 

We need to redirect those resources back here at home to:

• Create good paying jobs that can’t be shipped overseas
• Ensure a quality education for all Texas children, not just the privileged few
• Protect Social Security and Medicare

Retirement Security

Social Security and Medicare are promises to the seniors who worked hard, paid into the system all their lives and made our country what it is today. 

In the Senate, David Alameel will always honor that promise because he understands that our seniors have earned a dignified retirement.

He vows to NEVER cut Social Security and Medicare and will fight any attempt by Washington politicians like John Cornyn to turn these programs over to Wall Street and privatize them.

Education

As a father, David Alameel believes that the best investment we can make is in a quality education for ALL children, not just the privileged few. 

That is why he has been part of numerous non-profits that provide scholarships to young Texans who work hard in school.

As a Senator, David Alameel will continue to fight for education funding to make sure that our children get the world class education they deserve in order to compete in the increasingly global economy.

Protecting Women’s Rights

David Alameel believes in a woman’s right to choose and that politicians or the government should not interfere in these deeply personal decisions that should be made by a woman, with her family, her doctor and her God.

That is why Dr. Alameel will always fight to protect Roe v. Wade, which the Supreme Court set as the law of the land decades ago, from Washington politicians who are seeking to undermine the basic rights and freedoms of millions of Texas women.

Furthermore, in the United States Senate, Dr. Alameel will demand equal pay for equal work between men and women. In the 21^st Century, there is no excuse for discrimination in the workplace or for U.S. Senators like John Cornyn who voted against the commonsense Lilly Ledbetter Act.  David Alameel would be a proud vote in favor of this important legislation.”

Immigration Reform

David Alameel supports the DREAM Act and comprehensive immigration reform that is both humane and respectful of our laws. 

We can’t let a problem become a tragedy, especially for the hundreds of thousands of children born or raised in America who live in a twilight zone of uncertainty for themselves and their families. 

We need to create:

• A faster track toward a program of lawful work permits.
• A responsible roadmap to citizenship for law abiding and hardworking people who have no criminal record and are only asking for a fair opportunity.

Kinky Is The Best Choice In The Run-Off

I just wanted to remind Texas Democrats that we have an important run-off election in about three weeks. On May 27th, we will need to finalize our choices for U.S. Senate nominee and Agriculture Commissioner nominee for the November election.

The most important of these for me is the race for Agriculture Commissioner, because it has the potential to affect the whole ticket for Democrats. I believe the only rational choice is to nominate Kinky Friedman.

Kinky's opponent has already said he will not campaign if nominated -- for either himself or the Democratic ticket. On the other hand, Kinky has been traveling the state trying to energize voters to make a change. And he has said, he will not only campaign hard in his own race but also for the entire Democratic ticket (especially Wendy and Leticia). Do you want a candidate who will campaign for Democrats, or one that will stay at home and keep his mouth shut?

Kinky also has a loyal cadre of fans that he brings with him -- from across the political spectrum. I believe he will bring new voters out to support him in November (Independents who don't vote in primaries), and he may be able to convince them to vote for other Democrats.

Some party regulars don't like Kinky because he's a maverick, and doesn't toe the party line. But in this time when voters are mad at both parties, that may actually be an advantage. Voters want candidates who think for themselves, instead of following orders from party leaders.

I've said before that I think voting for Kinky's opponent is the same as giving up. The voters don't know who he is and he will refuse to campaign to let them know. I want a candidate that's a fighter -- and that candidate would be Kinky Friedman.