Friday night at the Dallas Democratic Part Fish Fry, a man stood up during Watt's speech and announced "he's Anti-Choice" etc and started booing him. I would love to shake that man's hand!!! Mikal was so hurt by this that he canceled a $10,000 speakers table at the Johnson, Rayburn Richards Harris County Democratic Party dinner. I guess Mikal cannot stand the heat. Texas and Texas Women would be better off if Daddy Warbucks dropped out of the race completely.
(Quick work there, alaprst. And congratulations to all those who worked so hard to make this milestone on the way to getting a new Senator for the great state of Texas. - promoted by boadicea)
To say I am encouraged by this latest development in Rick Noriega's quest to unseat our state's heartless Bush rubber stamp incumbent U.S. senator is an understatement.
Rick Noriega, whose campaign has gained considerable momentum since he announced his candidacy for Heartless John Cornyn's senate seat, has raised an impressive $570,000 toward his quest.
There's a lot more work to be done between now and our state's primary and (later) general election, but I can't help but be encouraged by this development.
More below.
You have spoken loud and clear. With overwhelming support from all over the State, Rick Noriega is the stand-out choice of the grassroots to face John Cornyn in the race for the U.S. Senate. The final results are:
John Cornyn has been on the wrong side of countless issues that are critical to Texans in general and DFT supporters in particular. Beyond that, well, he's just an embarrassment. But we're not telling you something you didn't already know, right?
Democracy for Texas has never endorsed a candidate for public office. But this race is too important to the future of our state and our country not to put all of our resources behind the candidate we feel best represents our "socially progressive, fiscally responsible" philosophy.
John Cornyn has been on the wrong side of countless issues that are critical to Texans in general and DFT supporters in particular. Beyond that, well, he's just an embarrassment. But we're not telling you something you didn't already know, right?
Democracy for Texas has never endorsed a candidate for public office. But this race is too important to the future of our state and our country not to put all of our resources behind the candidate we feel best represents our "socially progressive, fiscally responsible" philosophy.
Rules:
1. One person, one vote. If you vote more than once, all of your votes will be tossed.
2. You must be a Texan.
Click Here to Vote. Poll is only open for a few more days, so get in there and make your voice heard. Then tell your Texas friends to get in there, too.
8.04 (a) A lawyer shall not... (5) state or imply an ability to influence improperly a government agency or official
If we backtrack to see where Watts has claimed an advantage because of his and his firm's "heavy" financial support to court judges, how can that NOT be a grounds for at least some sort of action.
Recently unearthed, though, is a new series of emails between Watts and his chums about how to meet, and how to coordinate their millions to best buy seats on the court. In "A Plot To Control The Bench," El Defenzor posts full emails between Mikal Watts and other area attorneys. With a subject line of Keeping Our Power Dry on the 148, the attorneys collude to hand-pick the best candidates...
(Thanks for sharing the analysis. - promoted by boadicea)
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. It's a crime that the United States is the only major industrialized power on the planet that doesn't offer universal health insurance to its citizens.
One Democratic U.S. Senate candidate here in Texas, Mikal Watts, offered a lot of lip but no real specifics on what he will do to fix this problem.
Much of what Watts proposes is well and good, but sadly missing is any mention of eliminating the health care costs faced by average folks like myself as well as a prescription on how the proposal will be paid for.
More below.
Cross-posted from Blue Texas and Burnt Orange Report
Do you really think Republicans aren't going to mention this in their attack ads should Mikal Watts win the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination to face Bush rubber stamp incumbent John Cornyn?
After watching what Republicans did to another monied candidate, Tony Sanchez, in his race to seat Rick Perry in 2002, I'm very concerned about what lengths Republicans will go to attack Watts in any general election fight against Cornyn.
And given the GOP track record, is there any reason the GOP won't use Watts' wealth and work as a trial lawyer against him?
More below.
I might as well say it. My choice for the U.S. Senate next year isn't even close, either in the Democratic primary or the general election.
Rick Noriega is way beyond any other candidate has come up, either Democrat or the disease of an incumbent we have now in Bush rummer stamp John Cornyn.
Mikal Watts, also seeking the Democratic nomination, is a big-time trial lawyer who has contributed tons of money to Democratic campaigns throughout the country.
There is, however, some other concerns about Watts that concern me about his giving.
More below.
Congressional Quarterly's Greg Giroux takes a look at the upcoming Senate Races in the NYT.
The Texas Senate race is described as a bit of a challenge for the incumbent:
John Cornyn of Texas, who raised $2.1 million in the second quarter and banked $5.3 million, needs plenty of campaign money because he represents the nation’s second-most populous state.
He could face a wealthy Democratic challenger with deep pockets for a political campaign. Lawyer Mikal Watts reported $5 million in second-quarter receipts for his “exploratory” effort, chiefly in the form of contributions and loans that Watts made to his own campaign. Watts raised about $1.1 million from individual donors.
But here's the best bit, from my admittedly biased point of view:
Watts, though will have serious competition for the Democratic nomination from state Rep. Rick Noriega, who recently filed paperwork establishing a Senate exploratory committee. Noriega has been touted by some Texas Democratic insiders as their strongest prospect in years to break a long Republican Party winning streak for statewide office in the home state of President (and former Texas governor) George W. Bush.
Strongest prospect in years gives Auntie B a big, big happy.
Time to get on the Noriega Express. Gonna be a heckuva ride.
When mainstream media takes notice this early and takes seriously Democratic efforts to retake the state, it's a good sign. And Noriega proves he understands Texas & it's issues purty dang well with this statement:
"Texans want someone who's walked the walk, who has been on the front line, not just talked about the border, talked about immigration, talked about the inefficiency of (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) but who has experience," Noriega said.
"John Cornyn is the chief apologist for the Bush administration and their failed policies from immigration to health care to the war in Iraq," Watts said.
Those are two redmeat issues in this state. Being able to talk about those issues and back it up with experience is a huge advantage for Noriega against Cornyn, who as the state's biggest Bush poodle has sent plenty of Texans to Iraq - but never actually bothered to go himself. Unless it was a photo op.
(Remember this-no matter which side you're on during primary season. - promoted by boadicea)
Kentucky House leader Rocky Adkins tells a story about how an old-time Kentuckian who was once accused of being willing to vote for Satan if Satan ran as a Democrat. The old-time Kentuckian replied:
"Not in a primary, I wouldn't!"
The recent announcement from Mikal Watts that he was considering running for Senate has started a lot of accusations from both sides accross the blogosphere.
While it surely has not escaped the attention of Ol' Box Turtle that San Antonio lawyer Mikal Watts just put a cool 4 mil on the table to match Cornyn's warchest, it's important to keep the role of money in politics in the proper perspective.
