DVO Courthouse Tour, July 25-29

[PDittie]

More East Texas tourstops next week:

Tuesday, July 25

9:00 AM Hays County Courthouse, San Marcos
10:45 AM Bastrop County Courthouse, Bastrop
12:45 PM Lee County Courthouse, Giddings
2:30 PM Milam County Courthouse, Cameron
4:00 PM Bell County Courthouse, Belton
6:00 PM Fundraising reception at the home of Chris and Dian Ruud, Temple

Wednesday, July 26

9:00 AM Falls County Courthouse, Marlin
10:30 AM Limestone County Courthouse, Groesbeck
12:15 PM Freestone County Courthouse, Fairfield
2:15 PM Navarro County Courthouse, Corsicana
4:00 PM Henderson County Courthouse, Athens

Thursday, July 27

9:00 AM Cherokee County Courthouse, Rusk
10:45 AM Rusk County Courthouse, Henderson
1:30 PM Harrison County Courthouse, Marshall
2:30 PM Marion County Courthouse, Jefferson
4:00 PM Gregg County Courthouse, Longview
5:00 PM Potluck fundraising reception at Gregg County Democratic Headquarters, Longview

Friday, July 28

9:00 AM Panola County Courthouse, Carthage
10:30 AM Shelby County Courthouse, Center
12:00 PM Nacogdoches County Courthouse, Nacogdoches
3:15 PM Anderson County Courthouse, Palestine (evening dinner reception with Anderson County Democrats, candidates, elected officials, and supporters)

Saturday, July 29

Ride on Texas State Railroad with Chris Bell

[PDittie]

1. Kickin' it for the Texas State Railroad!

[PDittie]

2. Austin-American Statesman:

"The naysayers, including some in my party, I'm sorry to say, say I cannot win, and I say to heck with that. I'm taking my case directly to the people," said Van Os, who is running against incumbent Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott.

Van Os said that as the business interests give more money to political campaigns, politicians have developed a culture of greed and corruption.

He talked about the rising cost of gas in Texas, attributing the increase to the recent mergers of some of the major fuel companies such as Chevron and Shell, He said many elderly and low-income residents can no longer afford gas.

"Working people are having to choose not being able to afford not going to work or not being able to afford going to work," Van Os said.

After his speech ended, Van Os' wife Rachel Barrios-Van Os told a story about an elderly man who came to Van Os in Caldwell County, crying because he and others in his community couldn't afford gas.

"He said to David, 'Will you fight for us,' " Barrios-Van Os said. "People are crying, democracy is being stolen in front of our very eyes and they see it," she added.

Van Os also lamented that many victims of Hurricane Rita could not afford homeowners insurance and have not been able to fix their damaged homes.

Van Os said that Texans pay the highest premiums on homeowners insurance in the country because of what he called corporate control over those who set the premium rates. Texas Department of Insurance spokesperson Jim Hurley confirmed that Texans pay higher rates but said it is because Texans file more claims than people in any other state because of hurricanes, hail, tornadoes and other natural disasters.

The attorney general's office has the authority to protect consumers and can sue gasoline, insurance and other types of companies.

Van Os added that Abbott receives money for his campaign from corporate interests, citing Houston home builder Bob Perry, who has contributed $1.1 million. Van Os said home building is another industry in Texas with too few companies for consumers to choose from.

...

Jim Mattox, former Democratic attorney general for Texas from 1983-1991, said that Van Os faces a difficult time getting his name out, though he thinks Democrats may be able to exploit Gov. Rick Perry's low approval ratings.

"I would tell him to try to get all the Democratic ticket to campaign together and to continue to preach fire and brimstone in the media. David is a great speaker; he is probably the best speaker running today in Texas politics," Mattox said.

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/07/26vanos.html

[sonias]

3. Amazing that the AAS did a decent story

David's efforts in other counties are finally making some headway in the urban area MSM as well.

Sonia

[redqueen]

4. That really deserves its own thread.

I almost didn't check this thread 'cause I already knew Van Os's schedule from his website... sure am glad I did!

:bounce:

[PDittie]

5. Corsicana Daily Sun:

"They think your votes don't count." (good photo at link)

Van Os greeted his supporters, which included his parents and local Democratic officials, with excitement and a message of change in the way Texas government works.

“They don’t think your votes count,” Van Os challenged the group as he began his attack on incumbent Greg Abbott, who he hopes to unseat in November. “They think that re-election is a done deal.”

“I wrote a letter to Greg Abbott and invited him to meet me on this tour of Texas,” Van Os said. “But, he’s a part of the Rick Perry team of arrogance.”

Van Os echoed a familiar theme in this year’s campaigns — an attack on the Trans-Texas Corridor project proposed by Governor Perry.

“They have already decided what to do. It was done in secrecy,” Van Os claimed, saying that according to the Texas Constitution, the attorney general has an obligation to block it and hasn’t done so.

Van Os clearly voiced his dislike of the current administration in Austin, blaming the Perry administration for everything from gas prices to school finance to health care.

“In the mid-90’s, it looked like we were in for good times,” Van Os said, “then a bunch of silk-tied gangsters stole the election in 2000 and turned into a bunch of power brokers ... then left the junior gangsters in charge in Austin.”

Van Os displayed a poster he is distributing on his campaign targeting “the big oil companies” he says are to blame for oil and gas prices.

“The price of gas is not a laughing matter. People are struggling like dogs to make paychecks to afford $3 a gallon gas. There is no worse ‘catch 22’ — you can’t afford the gas to go to work, and you can’t afford not to go,” Van Os said.

“I’m giving notice to big oil ... I’m coming after you, and I mean it. What they are doing to us is a crime, a sin and a travesty,” Van Os added.

Van Os also touched on other political hot topics such as utility rates, health and homeowners insurance premiums, and how the cost of essential services affects not only consumers, but business and government as well, all translating into higher costs to Texans.

“Nobody is minding the store for Texans. Our message to them is those that haven’t been doing their jobs need to be fired,” Van Os said, urging Democratic supporters to reach out to Republican neighbors to share his message.

Also addressing the crowd gathered to meet Van Os were Hank Gilbert, a candidate for Agriculture Commissioner, and Sharon Davis, who is taking on State Rep. Byron Cook in the November election.