I wanted to remind everyone attending the Texas conventions, tomorrow, that there actually are other things to think about other than just that presidential vote! Who'd of thunk?

One, or actually quite a few, of those things are the many worthwhile resolutions to vote for to effect change in the Texas Democratic Party Platform. Which resolutions are up for a vote depends upon two things: 1) which resolutions got introduced and passed at the precinct conventions, and 2) which resolutions the Local Platform and Resolutions Committees decide to pass on for a vote by the delegates.

I'm pushing two resolutions:

1. Non-Discrimination Resolution: would call on the Democratic party to support legislation to end discrimination based upon sexual orientation, gender identity and expression,

2. Safe Schools Resolution: calls on the Democratic Party to pass legislation requiring school districts to adopt model policies on bullying and harassment-to prevent some of the terrible tragedies we've been hearing about these days.

Help us write the Texas Democratic party platform! While you're caucusing Tuesday after the primary, help us shape the future of Texas politics by urging precinct resolutions at your precinct convention.

We're asking all Texans (yes, even republicans) to try and pass Non-Discrimination and Safe School resolutions at their precinct conventions.  Our Democratic Non-Discrimination Resolution urges the Texas Democratic Party to support legislation that would prohibit discrimination based upon sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. Our Safe Schools Resolution urges support for legisation that would set minimum acceptable standards for schools to address the growing problems of bullying and harassment.

It may not be obvious, but the more precincts we have that pass these resolutions, the better chance we have of getting these resolutions into the party platform. So please, download the resolutions and help us by trying to pass them at your convention Tuesday night!

Now that it might actually be relevant to some folks, I'd like to start a diary on ways to campaign in Texas and what's it like down here. I've got a few suggestions below the fold. Feel free to add more advice.

I must say that, as a native Texan, I am THRILLED, by the possibility that the Democratic primary might still be undecided by the March 4 Texas primary. Quite frankly, it's been YEARS since any presidential candidate bothered to campaign here. True, they've done fly throughs for money, (I've seen Edwards, Obama and Paul, but not Hillary) but to actually campaign? That's been at least 28 years. People down here are not used to the kind of attention that Iowans expect during a primary. Hell, if they even SEE a candidate they'll probably vote for 'em.

BTW-to all you Kossacks who have openly advocated that the Dems abandon Texas (and you know you're out there), this should be Lesson One why Every State Counts. You should come on down and help out.

Now, lets have some fun.

Currently, Friday morning 1/25/08-the Texas House Committee on Elections is holding a hearing to investigate "voter fraud." In reality, this inter-session hearing is set up to try to establish the need for voter suppression legislation.

This is a road map to how the forces of darkness will try to enact voter suppression on a state by state basis.

All interested parties should watch the battle.

Here's the linkLinkey Thingey. Click on "Live Stream Four."

This diary is intended as a supplement to nyceve's fine diary about the expense of health insurance I'm Going Naked.

I thought this information was too important not to put into a separate diary.

There is a partial solution for some people to the expense of full health care coverage: Major Medical Insurance. Family coverage costs me $750/quarter. Read on.

It would be an understatement to say that local activists are excited about Netroots Nation coming to Austin in '08. Psyched, would be a little closer.

Most of us Austin folks are also pretty darned happy about living and working here, as well. We're awful proud of our city and we want to make sure that visitors see the best of it and that local businesses make the most of all those darned librul bloggers coming to town.

So, let's try a little experiment, here.

I say coffee.

Now, you drool.

Good. Can't you just feel the buzz?

I live in Austin. I love it. I'm active in progressive politics. I love that, too. Given both those things I can not tell ya'll how excited I am that the Netroots Nation Convention will be in Austin next year.

Man, ya'll are going to have fun.

My condolences to New Orleans. I would have loved to have gone there. And I know they need all the help they can get. I personally promise to go there within the next year to eat and drink my fill. I hope ya'll we'll do the same.

Now, on to the fun stuff.

Today, at 10:00 a.m. Texas Legislator Kirk England (D) nee (R) switched parties to become a Democrat. Yes, even in Texas the Republicans are leaving the sinking USS Wingnut.

England represents District 106, Grand Praire, (just west of Dallas, east of Fort Worth). He is a freshmen legislator who won election over a Democrat by only 200 votes.

What does a party switch mean? In this case, it means that the current republican leadership have kept their elected members from representing their districts, that the state-wide republican agenda is too conservative, and that republicans care more about catering to wingnuts than getting kids health care. AND it means that that kind of leadership is slowly killing the republican party. Even in Texas.

Dallas Morning News Article (May be behind a fire wall).

More below the jump.

In case ya'll haven't heard, Atticus Circle and Soulforce are spearheading a campaign to stage vigils around the country for straight people to demonstrate for equal rights, regardless of a person's sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. The idea is to have straight folks in each state hold a vigil on one night between October 7-13 to demonstrate for LGBT equality.

As you can imagine, it's one thing to have LGBT folks stand up and be counted. It's another to have STRAIGHT people demonstrate for equality. It's harder to pigeon hole, dismiss, or ignore people when they are lobbying for someone else's equality. And when people in the majority start demonstrating for a minority population politicians tend to get nervous.

If you've been looking for yet another way to piss off the religious right, this may be it. If you want to show support for your LGBT friends and family, this may be it. If you're just so damned tired of right wingers using fear and hate as wedge issues and to motivate their base, this is your opportunity.

Seven Straight Nigts

More below the jump.

CALL TO ACTION FOR LGBT EQUALITY!

If you're straight, (or know someone who is), here's your chance to show your support for fairness, equality and the principles of non-discrimination.

Seven Straight Nights

During the week of October 7-13, 2007 straight allies will hold vigils in support of the LGBT community and for LGBT rights. The goal is to hold a vigil on one night in at least one town in each of the 50 states. We want to create a nation-wide media event that will demonstrate the widespread support among all people (not just LGBT folks) for Equal Rights.

The event is being organized by Atticus Circle (an organization of straight people fighting for LGBT rights) and Soul Force (dedicated to equal  rights through "relentless, nonviolent resistance"). It is supported by Equality Texas and others. It is endorsed by Judy Shepard, Matthew Shepard's mother.

Though they shouldn't need it, this comes as a cold rebuke to those congressman who think lobbyists, and not citizens, are their constituents. Here's the headline:

Judge takes Congress to task in bankruptcy case
Legal world abuzz about tirade calling act inane, confusing.

A federal judge has taken a slap at congress for the new banckrupcty laws:

In his ruling, [the judge] said the new federal bankruptcy law is full of traps for consumers, calling some of its provisions "inane," "absurd" and incomprehensible to "any rational human being."

He stopped just short of accusing Congress of being bought and paid for, dryly noting, "Apparently, it is not the individual consumers of this country that make the donations to the members of Congress that allow them to be elected and re-elected and re-elected and re-elected."

Read the rest at the link above.

Hey, FAUX DEMS! Are you listening? Are you learning? The blog world has long memories...

An interesting diary got posted by HC Penniwicket with a plea for us to get on board with real, meaningful, gun control.

http://www.dailykos.com/...

It, of course, got everyone riled up. While I disagree with HCP's stance, and most gun control proposals in general, I do think s/he was right to want to discuss gun control. Gun control is something that comes up from time to time. Whether someone within the party is proposing gun control, or someone outside the party is trying to brand us as loonies for proposing it, this is a topic that just won't go away.

So, let's discuss....

Just when you thought things couldn't get any wilder down here, Carole Keeton Strayhorn throws her hat in the ring for Texas Governor as an independent, and suddenly things start looking better for Texas Democrats, the sun comes out, the wildfires get put out, birds start singing and little children everywhere join hands and sing a chorus of "I''d Like to Teach the World to Sing."

Just why am I so happy? CKS' entry into the world of independents is a kick to the groin of the Texas Republican Party--THE key party that has been the strongest base of the US GOP, and the unfailing base of the SHRUB.

CKS' Independence is (contrary to most current pundits) another act of rats leaving a sinking ship. My reasons below the fold:

Yes, yes, yes, Texas looks like a bigoted state tonight. Ya'll have 24 hours to slam us all you want, then feel free to ridicule the Prop 2 anti-civil rights vote all you want from now til kingdom come.

Now that you've gotten that out of your system, there's a very, very scary lesson to be taken from tonights election results. Ok, a few lessons. But let's start with the scary one. This was a test drive for the GOTV vote strategy for the 2006 and 2008 elections.

The conservative Republicans are hyper-organizing the churches and politicizing the clergy in order to increase voter turn out and maintain their control of the legislature. Governor Rick Perry has been meeting with conservative preachers for weeks now, and doing so without much press attention. No big news, you say?

Well, how about this. Prop 2 (anti-gay marriage) won with 10-20% more of the vote than the general concept polled in generic polling.

George W. Bush has now called for conservation, and the elimenation of non-essential driving.
Bush Calls for Conservation article here.

Now, I just have ask this one little simple question. Has Bush taken the lead on this issue and HOW THE HELL DID THE DEMOCRATS LET THIS HAPPEN?

Haven't we seen this coming? Wasn't this inevitable? Is this consistent with a "values president" and conservation as a "personal virtue. Please, feel free to vent below.

I almost put this in a Rita thread, but thought it deserved more prominence amidst all the bad news. So, take this for what it's worth.

One of my sisters evacuated Houston yesterday. It took her 14.5 hours to get to Austin, (normally a 2.5 hour dirve). I spent hours on the phone with her doing route finding, traffic searching, etc. One of my friends was doing the same for his brother. We call it "air traffic control." i'm sure there were hundreds of other people doing the same thing for their families.

Anyway, my sister was stuck for hours trying to get through the small town of Bellville, Texas. (This is a crossroads between 290 an I-10--both major evac routes). Magically, as she got close to town in stop and go bumper to bumper traffic, signs appeared outside the homes of local people: "Restrooms Available" "Water," etc.

Hey folks, I need some help directing family out of Houston. They're on the roads between I-10 and 59. Stuck just north of Richmond/Rosenberg. they've hardly moved in traffic for several hours.

I'm trying to find them alternate routes. Is anyone in contact with evacuees by cell phone and aware of ANY highway west  of town that is actually MOVING?

ANY westward bound news would be appreciated. Update [2005-9-22 13:21:10 by DyspepTex]: 1093/westpark tollway is backed up at least at Katy, if not before. But it was good to Katy a couple hours ago.

It really chaps my ass to have to write this diary.

but, to put it bluntly, this is what happens when you get a bunch of amoral politicos, in this case the christo-facsists, messing around with people's rights for political reasons.

Legislature's Actions Could Mean Death Penalty For Doctors