Wesley Clark: Send Nick Lampson and Chet Edwards back to Washington

Wesley Clark could not have said it better.

Today, I'd like to bring your attention to two fine Democrats who stood directly in the path of DeLay's redistricting scheme: Nick Lampson and Chet Edwards. They aren't backing down. Instead, they're fighting back this year, and they need your help.

Congressman Nick Lampson was one of DeLay's top targets, and, in 2004 at least, DeLay succeeded in removing Nick from the Texas delegation. But DeLay's efforts came back to bite him, as Nick decided to challenge the former Majority Leader in Texas Congressional District 22 -- and the strength of Nick's campaign eventually forced DeLay to bow out of the race because DeLay knew he would lose to Nick in November!

Unfortunately, DeLay and his allies have hand-picked a successor who doesn't have the same baggage, and they are planning to put more than $3 million behind her campaign to distort Nick's record. In fact, they've already started running push-polls in the district to distort Nick's stands on the issues. Nick Lampson was a great Representative in Congress -- a leader on mental health, seniors' and veterans' issues, and initiatives to protect children -- and he'll be a fine representative once again after he wins in November.

Click here to help give Nick the resources he needs to fight back against Tom DeLay's hand-picked successor!

Chet Edwards, who represents President Bush's Crawford ranch, was also supposed to be a victim of DeLay's redistricting, but he was the sole targeted Democrat who was able to pull out a close victory -- by just over 9,000 votes. Thus, it's no surprise that he's being heavily targeted again -- running against a multi-millionaire ExxonMobil heir, who has only lived in the district for 17 months. I have complete confidence in Chet's ability to pull out another tough victory if he gets the resources he needs to get his message out to the voters.

I've known Congressman Edwards for years. When I was a 2 star at Ft. Hood in Texas, Chet was a young congressman, and he was one of the people that everybody knew had a great future in American politics. Chet is running in a very conservative district; in fact it is the most Republican district in America represented by a Democrat. He continues to be reelected, because Chet has served his constituents well. Chet has fought hard for our veterans. He believes that we must honor the promises made to those who fought to defend our nation, especially promises for health care and retiree pay.

It's up to us to make sure he gets back to Congress to fight for our veterans -- click here to contribute to Chet's campaign today!

For years, the Texas delegation was among the strongest Democratic delegations in the country. By sending Nick Lampson and Chet Edwards back to Washington this November, we can help to rebuild the delegation and ensure that Texans throughout the state have Representatives who are focused on helping their constituents, not partisan politics.

Republican Behavior Police

House Republicans rammed legislation to prohibit online gambling under the guise of terrorism. These sleazeballs are probably looking out for their big money friends in the casino hotel business and at the same time taking another step to diminish our freedoms - See NSA spying, Patriot Act. Or worse, they really want to control our behavior, and our freedom. These fascists are making this country a dangerous place to live. One wrong step, you go to jail.

Texas Rep. John Davis and the mistaken $100,000

One of our local state Republicans must have taken the "Tom DeLay how to steal money from taxpayers" course but as with Tom Delay, a passing grade in his class means you steal until you get caught with you hand in the cookie jar.

Republican state Rep. John Davis has represented the Clear Lake area for eight years, but there are questions about what happened to nearly $100,000 in campaign donations.

Like every member of the Texas House of Representatives, Rep. Davis collects campaign donations and is required to report them to the Texas Ethics Commission.

11 News tracked Rep. Davis's campaign finance reports for the last six years and found that unlike most members of the Texas House, Rep. Davis is unusually vague about what happens to much of that money.

Most of his reports are specific and follow the rules: $50 for the electric bill in his Austin apartment; $300 for a sponsorship of the NASA area little league team.

But there were also entries such as, $5,490 for "miscellaneous expenses," paying of an American Express bill. In fact, credit card charges that contained no explanation as to what the card actually purchased total $48,734 in the last six years.

After receiving a citizen complaint about that, the Texas Ethics Commission sent Rep. Davis a letter announcing an investigation and asking him to provide copies of the American Express bills.

Rep. Davis says he is complying.

More entries included John Davis paying John Davis with campaign donations. He lists them as reimbursements for "out of pocket expenses," but the ethics commission rules are clear on that: Politicians need to specifically say what they're purchasing, and why they need to be reimbursed with campaign donations. And Rep. Davis never does. In six years, those out of pocket reimbursements add up to $50,135.

Rep. Davis told 11 News by phone, "I made a mistake, and we'll get it corrected. It's incumbent on me to know what the rules are."

Local Bloggers Muse and Colby were gunning after Mr. Davis weeks ago prior to this story breaking with media. Kind of makes you wonder what's going through the minds of some of these republicans doesn't it? Anyway remember to cast you vote for the only logical choice on November 6. Here name is Sherrie Matula.
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Bush approval at 33%

Now this is bad...

Meanwhile, the president’s approval rating has fallen to a new all-time low for the Newsweek poll: 33 percent, down from an already anemic 36 percent in August. Only 25 percent of Americans are satisfied with the direction of the country, while 67 percent say they are not. Foley’s disgrace certainly plays a role in Republican unpopularity: 27 percent of registered voters say the scandal and how the Republican leadership in the House handled it makes them less likely to vote for a Republican Congressional candidate; but 65 percent say it won’t make much difference in determining how they vote. And Americans are equally divided over whether or not Speaker Hastert should resign over mishandling the situation (43 percent say he should, but 36 percent say he shouldn’t).

What's plan B Laura? Lowing gas prices ain't working.

Victory Bell

I had the opportunity to watch the debate last night and thought Chris Bell did extremely well. As for the others well...Kinky was a flop...Grandma was one big boring commercial and Perry defended his terrible record and lies. Bell winner by a landslide!

Other who from Texas give their thoughts.

Bell knoocks it out of the park.

Bell won and analysis.

Bell beat 'em like a pinata.

Bush goes mad

You know the other side is desperate when ...

Go to Lone Star Shame, better known as Lone Star Times, to find out. These fools actually think they are on to something. Be ready...it's comical in a very strange kind of way.

To David Benzion, if you feel you need to go after anyone... it should be your party leaders who covered up the disgraceful acts of Tom Foley. Time and time again, we hear how you and your party of republican'ts have the upper hand on religion and morality. Well, it's time to get your elephant trunk out of your mouth and prove it. Going after Nick Lampson after your party has failed you miserably just proves to us all just how desperate you guys are. So go ahead and continue on with what you do because I'm sure Jesus would approve.

Dirty old men

The Five Stages of (GOP) Death

The Five Stages of (GOP) Death
By Nancy Greggs

DENIAL:

There was no vote tampering, voter suppression, or vote machine manipulation in the 2000 and 2004 elections. Bush won fair and square.

No one could possibly have anticipated using commercial airlines as missiles. No one could possibly have anticipated that the levees would be breached. No one could possibly have anticipated that there would be a strong insurgency.

There was no cherry-picking of intelligence. We all honestly believed that Iraq had WMDs.

We never implied that there was a connection between Saddam Hussein and 9-11.

We never implied that we knew where the WMDs were.

ANGER:

If you disagree with the Administration’s policies you are not a patriot!!!

If you don’t get behind the president, you are aiding and abetting the enemy!!!

The anti-war crowd is jubilant every time a US soldier is killed in Iraq, because they want the terrorists to win!!!


BARGAINING:

Just give up a few of your freedoms, and we’ll protect you in exchange. Trust us.

Tax cuts for wealthy individuals and corporations will trickle down to the middle class, so it’s a win-win situation. Trust us.

Outsourcing American jobs will actually mean more high-paying jobs here at home. Trust us.

Let us put the country into debt – it will actually strengthen the economy. Trust us.

Spying on American citizens is unlawful, but don’t you want to give the president the tools he needs to keep America safe? Trust us.

Torture is a terrible thing; but isn’t it worth it, if it saves American lives? Trust us.


DEPRESSION:

N.I.E. Report: “US War in Iraq Fuels Terrorism”

Bob Woodward’s “State of Denial” hits bookstores

Abramoff emails show ties to White House stronger and more far-reaching than previously reported

Foley resigns amidst sex scandal involving under-age boys; higher-ups implicated in cover-up

Vital information withheld from 9-11 Commission starts surfacing

Polls show steadily increasing gains for Democrats within weeks of mid-terms


ACCEPTANCE:

November 7, 2006

RIP, GOP.

Dear Opportunist: Walk the walk, don't just talk the talk

It looks like this bag of hot air will need more than the Dick and a bag of money. Shelley-Sekula-bag-of hot-air.

But some on council are accusing her of flip-flopping on the issue.

A day after the majority of city council walked out as Sekula-Gibbs hammered the city's immigration policy, the council woman and Republican candidate for congress says she did the right thing.

She said, "There is no good time to talk about a tragedy."

But council member Toni Lawrence, a conservative who was one of the first to walk out, accused Sekula-Gibbs of flip-flopping -- pointing out that when former council member Mark Ellis tried to get the city to rescind its immigration policy last November, Sekula-Gibbs wouldn't support him.

"She was quoted as saying, 'I don't know that much, it's not a big deal.' Now every time she gets up it gets out," Lawrence said. "It's political with her, I don't like that. Walk the walk, don't just talk the talk."

Listen to what Sekula-Gibbs told Eyewitness News last fall.

She said, "Mr. Ellis sent an email that I really believe is a political stunt."

Thursday she refuted that accusation

Like she would actually agree.


Shelley, your really fucking this up for me!