David Van Os needs your help

[PDittie]

A Personal Appeal to Friends and Supporters

Since the spring, I have been working very hard to talk with and listen to grassroots voters across Texas. During this time, you have not heard very much from me about money. I have a notion, which some would call quaint, that politics in our democracy is about people first. I chose to spend this year's spring and summer concentrating on people, not on money. It is my philosophy that the base must be organized before anything else can meaningfully happen. I believe that if you have the people, the money will follow.

The grassroots outreach and interaction over the spring and summer has proven to me that the support base for this campaign is deep, broad, and enthusiastic. Now a time has come when I must seriously talk to you about money. You cannot fully imagine how much I abhor asking friends for money. Especially do I detest having to do so right now, when we are all having such a difficult time economically. Not only have the Bushites made a wreck of our economy, but also, the first priority for all of us during the past two weeks has been to do whatever we could to ease the suffering of New Orleans and its survivors.

At this time, however, I have no choice but to ask you for help. Through most of the spring and summer, sufficient funds have come in to keep my travel and printing expenses paid. However, the campaign's bank account is now very low. If there is not an immediate infusion of funds, I will soon have to discontinue my activities. I know you will not let that happen.

If you believe, as I do, that Texans are entitled to an Attorney General who knows that his Constitutional duty is to be the People's Lawyer, please act now to support your belief. Please donate what you can spare to this campaign. Any amount will be greatly appreciated. If every recipient of this message contributed something, of any amount, the campaign would be flush.

Checks may be made out to "Van Os for Attorney General" and mailed to:

Van Os for Attorney General
1530 North Alamo Street
San Antonio, TX 78215

In addition, you may donate on-line at the Website, www.vanosfortexasag.com , by clicking on the navigation bar for "Contribute" and following the easy steps for an on-line funds transfer through Pay Pal. Please consider signing up for a regular monthly donation of an amount of your choosing. This is the easiest way to do your part to sustain this campaign; if every recipient of this message signed up for a recurring donation of any amount of their choosing, the campaign would have a predictable, sustaining revenue base.

You may certainly make a one-time donation on-line. Every donation of any amount materially adds to my ability to keep communicating the mission of this campaign to the public. Permanent records of all transactions are carefully kept by the campaign, and will always be available for you to confirm your transaction.

I trust the people. If I didn't, there would not be much point to my working as hard as I am. I know you will come through in our mutual desire to restore Texas to the people who own it.

My sincerest personal regards,

David Van Os

I'm in for $10/month. How about you?

[texastoast]

1. I'm in

I heard this guy speak at length and liked a lot of what he had to say.

[madfloridian]

2. Nominate him here at this link.

He was a Dean Dozen last year, and I know a lot who have nominated him for the DFA List. It is at the blog:
www.blogforamerica.com

And here is my post about the Grassroots All Star.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2087280

[PDittie]

3. Thanks, y'all. Here's an update:

I posted my fundraising appeal to the Steering Committee the night of September 12, then to an 8,000-name email database of supporters and likely supporters about 7:00 this evening (14th). Since the first posting Monday night, approximately $650 in on-line contributions has been received through Pay Pal. The encouraging thing about the on-line contributions is that most of them so far are the first installments of monthly sustaining donations that people are signing up for. There has not been enough time for any mailed contributions to begin to be received. I know of one pledge to mail in a contribution of $200.

David runs his campaign on a shoestring. He drives himself all over Texas to meet and speak to Texans like us that are disillusioned, disenfranchised, and just plain pissed off about Republican one-party rule.

He's been fighting for the people -- us -- for a long time now.

Even if it's a small amount, please help him continue the fight.

[PDittie]

4. Jim Hightower endorses DVO

David Van Os will fight for the people against the special interests. He is a genuine, old-fashioned Texas truth-teller who says what he means and means what he says. He is an authentic voice of the people in the proud tradition of Texas populists of the past like Jim Hogg and Ralph Yarborough. With David as the Attorney General of Texas, the people will have a lawyer who represents them for a change. I enthusiastically support David Van Os to serve as our next Attorney General, and I urge you to help put him there.

-- Jim Hightower

[Vincardog]

5. [What good can David Do for me? Why should I support him? nt

[PDittie]

7. Yo Vince

Here's one answer to your question; it was written by Garland Stevenson:

Santa Claus and Politics

Do you believe in Santa Claus? By that I mean, do you expect to wake up on Christmas morning and find piles of gifts all around your tree without you or anyone else having done any shopping? Try it sometime and see how happy your children and others are on Christmas morning.

Now, a similar question about political campaigns. Do you think that companies provide political signs, literature, office space, gasoline, motel rooms, and telephone service without charge for political candidates? Do you want candidates who represent your views and will look after you, your family members, and society in general? Do you want elected officials to put the rights and needs of individuals ahead of the interests of corporations?

Everyone I've talked to about politics agrees that candidates shouldn’t rely on large corporations and PACs for their financial needs. People want populist, grassroots politicians who, when elected, are only responsible to ordinary citizens. By the way, those people include EVERYONE. Democrats, Republicans, Green Party members, etc. We the People. That's us. That’s every citizen, visitor, etc.

What other sources are available to candidates? The primary other source is the ordinary citizens that the candidate wants to serve when elected.

In 2004 2,832,704 Texans voted for John Kerry for president.

In 2002 1,819,798 Texans voted for Tony Sanchez for governor.

In 2004 2,817,700 Texans voted for David Van Os for Justice, Supreme Court

In 2002 1,841,359 Texans voted for Kirk Watson for Attorney General.

If every Texan who voted for a Democrat in one of those elections would contribute one dollar ($1.00) to each candidate, it would make a tremendous difference in how campaigns are run. Candidates would be able to use all of their time campaigning and appearing before the public to present their agendas and not spend countless hours trying to raise money just to keep the campaign alive.

THINK ABOUT THAT!

Now comes the hard question. Have you ever contributed money to a political candidate? If so, was it just a token donation, a feel good contribution? Were you thinking that someone else or some organization would take up the slack? I have to tell you this. THERE IS NO POLITICAL SANTA CLAUS.

I think that David Van Os' candidacy for Attorney General is really the key to the outcome of the 2006 elections in Texas. David is the only candidate that I've heard so far that tells it like it is. He's not trying to appease anyone. He steps on toes that need to be stepped on. He has the most thorough knowledge of Texas and United States history of any candidate. If you’ve heard David speak, you've heard solid historical facts about the Office of Texas Attorney General. You've also heard about some of the ways in which Attorneys Generals relate to the federal government.

When other candidates speak, people listen. When David speaks, people get excited. If he is elected, those Democratic candidates to whom people listen will be elected because David got them excited enough to vote.

I don't have access to all of the people on David's e-mail list. If I did, I'd personally send this letter. Since I don't, I've asked David to do so. Please know that I have written this on my own initiative. I know and trust David Van Os to be the person whom I want to represent me in Austin. I hope that you do.

If you haven't made a contribution, please do so. If you can't make a large donation at one time, please make a monthly contribution. It will make a difference. Visit David's website at www.vanosfortexasag.com to see how to contribute.

Over the years, people who worked with and for me heard this statement, "The easiest thing to do about anything is nothing. Don’t do it!"

[Vincardog]

8. OK so no one will support him if we don't. What is he going to DO FOR ME

I mean so he is an exciting speaker, WHAT IS HE GOING TO DO?

[PDittie]

9. Kick corporate ass, for starters

This is from his website:

Are you tired of the big oil companies taking your last dime at the pumps? It's time Texas had an Attorney General who'll take the people's side against the power of giant corporations.

Are you tired of double-talking politicians using public office to enrich their cronies at your expense? It's time Texas had an Attorney General who'll stand up for you against corrupt politicians regardless of person or party.

"I am a fighting lawyer and will be a fighting Attorney General. I'm ready to take on all the price gougers, con artists, and corporate hustlers, whether in or out of government; no matter how powerful. I want to fight for you and make Texas a safe place for the future of our families."

On the Texas Toll Road:

"I'm sick and tired of self-dealing, insider cliques stealing self-government from the people for their private enrichment. That's the only thing this toll wreck plan represents..."

What exactly does he need to do for you?






:wtf:

[Vincardog]

11. All right he is going to take on all the price gougers, con artists, and

corporate hustlers. How is that going to affect me? Don't tell me David is going to do anything about KBR ar Halliburton. What is he going to do? I am not talking in general I just need one specific action I can expect of him.

[crispini]

12. well, quite possibly, lower your insurance.

From his website:

The Center for Economic Justice and Texas Watch report that in 2004, Texans were overcharged by $4,000,000,000 (four billion dollars) on homeowners and auto insurance policies, overpaying their greedy insurance companies by an average of $600 per home insured and by $200 per vehicle insured. “Insurers Price Gouge Texas Policyholders By $4 Billion in 2004,” A Report by the Center for Economic Justice and Texas Watch, March 31, 2005.

In short, conduct a judicial investigation or lawsuit against the insurance companies on behalf of the Texas people who have been overcharged.

[Vincardog]

13. What gives him the Right do do anything to the Insurance companies?

Aren't they just too big for the Texas AG to mess with?

[crispini]

14. I dunno.

From Van Os' website:

Indeed it does. Article 4, Section 22 of our Constitution provides that the Attorney General “shall especially inquire into the charter rights of all private corporations,” and that, “He shall, whenever sufficient cause exists, seek a judicial forfeiture of such charters.”

Sounds good to me!

I think you're trying to make some kind of point here, but I fail to see what it is. :P

[Lisa0825]

15. ditto.

why not just spit it out instead of beating around the bush? :shrug:

[Vincardog]

16. What? I am just asking a few simple questions. It is a free country Right?

[crispini]

17. It just sounds like you're trying to make a point,

but I don't get what it is.

Are you still the Van Os campaign coordinator for Denton? How's that going?

[Lisa0825]

18. Your replies have a twinge of antagonism in them.

Why is that? what point are you trying tomake? In other posts, you support David, but here, you seem to be demanding a reason to support him. Split personality much? :shrug:

[Vincardog]

21. Does Jeff Gannon oppose the Shrub?

:eyes: :think:

[Lisa0825]

22. .

:wtf::eyes:

[StellaBlue]

6. David rocks.

If I had a job, I would donate. As it is, I will pledge my vote!

[sonias]

10. Me too PDittie I'm in

I've been a little busy lately, but David does need our help. He's one of our most progressive politicians and I'll stand with David.

Sonia

[PDittie]

19. Good news today

Campaign contributions have picked up in the last few days. It is very clear that Steering Committee members are making things happen. Since Thursday there has been a steady inflow of checks coming in regular mail from donors. The checks are arriving in the pre-addressed reply envelopes. This means that a lot of the checks have to be coming from people who have gotten the reply envelopes from Steering Committee members or through opportunities provided by Steering Committee members, because I have not sent out a general fundraising mailout enclosing reply envelopes in nearly 3 months.

Now that we are a little better, please keep it up. Please keep pushing the fundraising in your communities. We have to maintain a steady flow of funds from here on to November 2006. I have to mail out a much broader, wide-scope fundraising appeal to potential supporters so as to expand the fundraising base, and significant funds are needed to supply the priniting and postage. Further in this regard, my friend Richard Morrison has provided a fundraising letter over his signature to mail to his donor base for the benefit of this campaign. The sooner we can get this mailout into the hands of Richard's donors, the sooner it wil generate funds. (Richard is awesome, isn't he?) In addition, we have to be able to set aside funds as a reserve for campaign office rental and campaign manager salary expenses. So, although we're doing a little better today, we have to keep doing ever better. Thank you for all that you are doing and will do.

My wonderful friends on this Steering Committee, do you realize what it will demonstrate to the rest of the country when we win this election for a major statewide office right here in Texas through the people power of grassroots populist messages and tactics coming straight from the heart?

Thank you all, you are awesome.

Megadittos, people.:yourock:

[sonias]

20. Way to go Richard Morrison!

My little envelope went in the mail today.

Sonia