The GOP's existential threat: Texas Democrats fired up and organizing on a level like never before

[arely staircase]

I just got back from a tri- county meeting where we signed up activists where we haven't had precinct chairs in 20 years. We are getting our data together and our asses in gear. As Paul Begala said texas is not a red state. It is a non voting state. We are changing that precinct by precinct. And when Texas Turns blue you will not see a Republican president for a generation.

Viva Wendy

[Arugula Latte]

1. Good work, good luck and here's hoping for some major change!

[Wounded Bear]

2. Outstanding!

It really does start at the local precinct level.

Thanks for all of your hard work. When you turn Texas, it will be a great day for America.

[arely staircase]

7. that is right. the precinct level

Personal door to door neighbor to neighbor contact. Community organizing, if you will.

[pscot]

3. Viva Wendy

[gopiscrap]

4. YES!!!!

[lamp_shade]

5. I love your enthusiasm. Go get 'em, arely!!!

[DonCoquixote]

6. these folks need our help

Because if texas turns blue, the GOP can kiss the white house goodbye!

[UTUSN]

8. R#8 & K for, from your lips to Zeus's ear!!!!!!1

[Jefferson23]

10. Highly recommend this post....perfect. n/t

[arely staircase]

11. game on indeed nt

[FailureToCommunicate]

38. Wow. Just wow.

"Plus: What we'll miss about Rick Perry"

[Jefferson23]

9. Excellent! n/t

[neverforget]

12. From your mouth to God's ears!

[jwirr]

13. That sounds beautiful to this lady who remembers the Democrat party when JFK was elected. I

wish you all the success in the world.

[kath]

81. Please, it's the DemocratIC Party.

"Democrat Party" is what the right-wingers call us.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democrat_Party_(epithet)

[jwirr]

82. Yes, of course it's official name is Democratic but until recently we older Democrats were the ones

calling it Democrat. At least since I started following political news in the 50s. Recently is the first I have heard of the arguement over which we should call ourselves. I refuse to let the rw dictate what I call myself. I suspect that what I am saying here can be varified in our own writings going back further than the 50s since my parents who love FDR called themselves Democrats. Don't give the rethugs any more power over us than they already have.

[truebluegreen]

14. Has the demographic shift we've been waiting for

already happened in Texas?...assuming the Hispanics get out and vote? Just curious.

[arely staircase]

18. if we do nothing demographics will take care of themselves in 20 years

If wendy can win or get within danger distance, Texas becomes a swing state in the 2016 presidential cycle.that is why we are registering hispanic voters like crazy and creating the databases and GOTV infastructure (pricinct up.)

[kalli007]

47. From what I understand

the demographics are here, PEOPLE JUST DONT VOTE!!!

[truebluegreen]

70. Yes, that was my impression too...

but as the battle lines become clearer, maybe they will begin to.

[brer cat]

15. Great news, indeed!

Thanks for all of your work!

[Frankie the Bird]

16. I have always said it's important to educate the voters on key issues.

Especially on heavily gerrymandered areas, and explain why the Rethuglicans won't do shit for them.

[Snotcicles]

17. I'll be spending some of my limited political contribution cash in Texas and Kentucky this year. nt

[arely staircase]

19. thank you

We need your help.

[DontTreadOnMe]

20. If the DEMs can elect a Gov to Texas, it would be a huge victory

We need to get the BEST candidate and work it at the local as well as national level.

Texas is the key to putting a big hurt on the GOP, especially with the increase in Latino voters over the next decade.

[Gothmog]

84. Lt. Governor has more power in Texas compared to the Governor

The party is also recruiting for Lt. Governor and all of the other races. It has been a while since the Democrats have fielded a full slate of candidates. In Texas the Lt. Governor is actually more powerful than the Governor because the Lt. Governor controls the Texas Senate. Right now, David Dewhurst is the Lt. Governor but he is probably going to lose to a rightwing nut case name Dan Patrick. Dewhurst has honored Senate tradition and enforced the rule that it takes two thirds of the Senate to adopt most measures. The Democrats have used this to block many GOP priorities. Dan Patrick wants to abolish this tradition and eliminate filibusters by Democrats.

I understand that we have a couple of good candidates who may run if Senator Davis runs for Governor. This could be a fun election cycle

[voteearlyvoteoften]

21. That's how you do it!!

We are getting busy in Florida too...
Thank you for volunteering

[bluestate10]

22. I don't want to see a republican President ever again. The policies of that party are anti-human. nt

[SunSeeker]

32. +1

[dem in texas]

23. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

I have been doing my best in Dallas County for years, so glad to see the tide is finally turning.

[Peacetrain]

24. EXCUSE ME!...but I must say this

Go arely .. go arely.. go arely..

that is awesome!

[Cryptoad]

25. Im dreaming of a Blue Texas!!!!!

[arely staircase]

35. yes yes yes

But hard work makes thr difference between 8 and 20 year s.

[Major Nikon]

37. Texas is the only majority-minority red state

Eventually it will go blue just like its neighbor, New Mexico.

[Cryptoad]

41. AZ is not that far behind TX nt

[nightscanner59]

55. God I hope so. I think it already would be blue if there weren't

so damn many Fox news tuning snowbirds flocking there to vote in November.

[Mopar151]

59. A little effort in the right place might help with the snowbirds

My Depression-born aunts, uncles, and friends are starting to warn their friends off Fox News "It's all a big put-up, to sell more soap!" They seem to love the word "bankster", too.......

[libdem4life]

26. Love the Castro twins and their exceptional mother...lifetime, Left Democrats...they have a long

and important future in Texas.

[arely staircase]

85. the Castros rock and so does Davis

We are gonna get up in their grill this year with leaders like those three.

[riqster]

27. Glad to hear it!

Ohio needs a Wendy to get people off their asses. Glad Texas is motivated!

[sheshe2]

28. Thank you arely!

And thank you Texas, you can do it!

[SunSeeker]

29. Thank you for your service to your country, arely staircase!

Getting Dems in control of Texas government will save lives, especially Texan women's lives. Keep up the good work!

[Uncle Joe]

30. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, arely staircase.

[marble falls]

31. Its better than you think. I am one of a lot of Republicans who haven't voted ....

for the GOP candidate for office above the county level in years.

[Loki]

33. Thank you!

I wish I could have stayed there to be a part of it, but Missouri is in need of sane government and representation so we have our work cut out for us. But, boy will it be worth it.

[Politicub]

34. Texas going blue means

Game. Set. Match!

And I believe we will see it happen.

[Major Nikon]

36. When Texas goes blue (and not "if") the GOP will go the way of the Whigs

With a blue Texas there is no way the GOP can make the electoral college math work ever again. The GOP will never survive as a regional party and will factionalize into obscurity.

[YoungDemCA]

39. K&R

[Scurrilous]

40. K & R

[kelliekat44]

42. THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!!!! Go Dems!!!!!!

[kelliekat44]

44. Only this: I don't want to see GOP Senators or Congresspeople either for generations. nt

[TxDemChem]

43. Excellent!

I've been harassing my slightly younger family members to start participating. We've started voting as a family affair. No one in our family is the only person in their district, so we carpool to vote early. GOTV!!!

[Ron Green]

45. Si, se puede.

[kalli007]

46. HELL YES WE ARE FIRED UP!!!!!!!!

Sorry for the all caps but I got excited there!

[eridani]

48. I'd really like to see Wendy Davis as the next governor of Texas

Go for it! And if you want to solicit party-building donations, please do.

[Lobo27]

51. Her as Gov and one of the Castro Bros as senator, hell why not both.

[DFW]

67. A LOT of us would like to see that

My housemates back in Dallas are holding a fundraiser for her later this fall, and they expect to see some serious money contributed to her coffers. Bill White is a good guy, but he didn't fire people up. Wendy does that.

[Vanje]

49. Thats exciting!

Register those voters!

Registrar a los votantes

[Lobo27]

50. Didn't almost every major city go blue this past election?

Last edited Mon Sep 23, 2013, 06:39 AM - Edit history (1)

And not to mention the entire southern border area? I think one of the problems we face is the that we have so many rural areas. Its why winning on the urban areas hurt the Dems.

We have to be very proactive, because the GoP has already started attacking the Castros and Wendy of course. The GoP has to be terrified of them.

[DhhD]

54. Rural area people have been lied to by Cruz. Wendy Davis can get the truth to them. And when they

see the truth about the ACA and a lot of other issues, they will push R-Cornyn over for a Democratic Senator. Cornyn is up for reelection and R-Cruz will not support Cornyn! Both are out of touch with the Republican Party, each other, and with the people of Texas.

Will Cornyn get the blame for Cruz's lies? Democrats can make sure ever Texan knows the truth.

Texans should be encouraged to vote, therefore voting in their own best interest.

[Skittles]

52. I am on board

I am with Wendy - those misogynist fools overplayed their hand as usual and I intend to help hand them their ASS

[Dawson Leery]

53. Yes.

[nightscanner59]

56. I remember Austin in the 1970's

When the Mo-Pac was being built, was being called the freeway to nowhere! Now that Austin has grown up it's become a force rather than the liberal island in a sea of conservatism like we used to call her.

[MNBrewer]

57. good luck

[octoberlib]

58. Go, Texas!! nt

[calimary]

60. From your keyboard to God's computer screen!

It'll take a generation of Democratic presidents just to rehabilitate the Supreme Court.

[treestar]

61. good for you!!!!!

[SaveAmerica]

62. Awesome news Arely!! But you have to plan for the long haul (see NC!!)

Tell everyone to dig in their heels so your successes in '14 and '16 will not be temporary!! Good luck to you guys!! Please come back often and share what you guys need; I've found that many DUers will kick, rec, and donate to help as they can!

[NBachers]

63. Ho - Lee - Shit We're watching it happen! I'm sending money to Texas

I've already been contributing to Wendy.

Go!

Go!

Go!

[Iliyah]

64. K & R

I hope she runs.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

65. Good for you guys

Considering the vast number of Republican whack-a-doodles from Texas in the news lately it's hard not to get to fired up.

[cui bono]

66. Thank you!

[JNelson6563]

68. Bravo!

Go Texas Dems! Nice to read of some lefties being productive, pro-active and effective!

Julie

[Democracyinkind]

69. Thank you for fighting the good fight.

[BlueStreak]

71. I'm not sure there actually are ANY red states

Maybe Utah. Maybe a couple in the great plains. But other than that, they are ALL "non voting states" as Begala puts it.

In all the key issues, Americans favor what is ostensibly the Democratic position by huge margins -- usually something like 65-35 or 70-30. The problem we have is that too few Democrats actually stand up for those policies, so why should anybody vote?

The argument is always "lesser of evils". You must vote to avoid having a Republican in control. Well, we need better than that. We need a generation of people to vote FOR.

[IronLionZion]

72. I hope so. Do it Texas!

Get them fired up and turned out to vote.

[Coyotl]

73. Precinct-level organizing makes all the difference

Knowing/contacting every voter and getting them to the polls, no precincts forgotten!

[TBF]

74. Texas was long a dem stronghold -

it has only been the past 30 years that we've had to deal with this nonsense. Rick Perry started out as a dem, so did Ann Richards.

Demographics will be perfect in 20 years, even better if we can bring it back sooner.

Edited to add the link for those who want to know more about the history: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Texas

[proReality]

75. Fingers crossed! n/t

[Chaco Dundee]

76. very sweet

What can I do to help?

[MineralMan]

77. And that's exactly what's needed everywhere.

Go, Texas Democrats! Show the rest of the country the way!

[Paladin]

78. K&R. Thanks, arely. (nt)

[Gothmog]

79. I have seen a great deal of excitement in Texas

I am active with the Fort Bend Democrats and I have also seen a great deal of excitement. We had two training sessions in which we had more than 150 participants in Feb. and March of 2013. The Silver Democrats (the over 50 democrats) had a roast of Juanita Jean and we raised over $18,000 (the most ever for a Democratic political fundraiser in Fort Bend County). I attend a standing room only in Waller county.

In Fort Bend County, we are busy recruiting candidates and have a good candidate for County Judge.

This will be a very exciting election in 2014.

[grantcart]

80. my favorite 3 words in the English language

GOP Existential Threat

[arely staircase]

86. but in this case

to the

[Liberalynn]

83. Keep up the great work

[Gothmog]

87. Fort Bend County had a great CEC meeting last night

The Fort Bend Democratic Party had a great meeting last night where we had more than a quorum of precinct chairs present to elect an interim party chair and to make plans for 2014. We had over 50 precinct chairs present at this meeting and a large number of other Democrats including some candidates for office. Last night we filed out the forms for all of the precinct chairs to run for the 2014 primary.

There was a great deal of enthusiasm at this meeting. The major cities are already turning blue and we think that Fort Bend County will be the first suburban county to go blue.

[Recursion]

88. Outstanding. That would be a crushing blow.

Don't forget to take the state house with you, btw...