Wednesday, November 08, 2006

The Day After...Dem's Whoops Heard Around the Nation...But Fall Deaf at the State Lines...Spiritual Healing for Political Bloggers...

I can't believe I'm sitting here depressed typing this thing. On the one hand, Dem's across the Nation are whooping and hollering this morning because a) They've regained control of the House, and b) just might gain control of the Senate. Which is good news in the sense that if the Dem's will do as promised in their campaign platforms they will bring our troops home soon, end our part in this ridiculous War for Spreading the Fruits of Democracy in a region that probably wouldn't know what to do with it once they got it anyway (if they ever wanted it in the first place, it always struck me that the Iraqi's main concern was getting rid of Saddam Hussein, and not so much a need to change a whole thought process, and/or idealism.) That's the good news.
The bad news is that for most of us who wanted a change in the Texas political landscape, Rick Perry was re-elected Governor of Texas, yesterday. A shining example to what big business, special interests, and a handful of prize-eyeing Mayors from a predominantly Democratic region of the State will get you. There was a certain bitterness in his acceptance speech last night as he addressed the voters who did not vote for him. Somewhat an "okay, you sonsofbitches" attitude deep inside his gut, twisting with hate, and disdain for any human being who felt he was not up to par enough to be our Governor. This is my opinion, mind you, but after thirty-three years on God's green Earth, I've learned to spot the bullshit from the truth, regardless of my immediate reactions, or any particular explanations. And a good percentage of the time, I've always been right, in spite of the outcome.
There was little I could do yesterday, except hope against hope Rick Perry would not be re-elected. I joked with a close friend of mine over emails that lighting candles, and taking spiritual barridas were not beneath me at this point, and that a lot of what makes this practice so popular makes it all the more feasible. This morning, I responded to another of his emails with the following:
(name withheld by author),
so much for candles, and spiritual baths...what a crock, eh? About the only good news shining brightly this morning is the fact that the Dem's have taken back the House, and we're still waiting to see if they took control of the Senate. As far as Texas is concerned, well, it must be true that 'the people get the government they deserve', which doesn't give people like us much to look forward to. I'm dealing with it, I guess, but as always it never ceases to amaze me what and who the people will vote for...Jesus, it's a never ending circle, isn't it? One step forward, two steps...yeah....
yours crossing black cats, and walking under ladders from now on,
Hector
(email response to friend regarding the outcome of yesterday's elections. Parts of which have been deleted for personal reasons)
(sigh)
That's where I'm at, at the moment, and I don't see my mood changing anytime soon. Political grieving comes no where near other losses, but there is a certain numbing pain that fixes itself to your brain like a leech. And as far as I know, there are no magic potions, candles, or baths to cure it....

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

GET OUT AND VOTE!

A little comic relief as you head to the polls today courtesy of Rico Politico at Rio Grande Valley Politics. They posted a HILARIOUS take on the Bud Light commercials with Rick Perry as the subject. Check it out here at http://valleypolitics.blogspot.com/
Other than that, PLEASE I URGE EVERYBODY TO GO OUT AND VOTE TODAY IF YOU HAVE NOT YET DONE SO. THE FINAL CHOICE IS UP TO EACH OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY, BUT REMEMBER IT IS JUST THAT--YOUR CHOICE. DON'T COMPLAIN A YEAR FROM NOW IF YOU VOTED FOR SOMEONE WHO UP UNTIL NOW HAS DONE VERY LITTLE FOR THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, NO MATTER WHAT THE RADIO ADS TELL US. DID YOU TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL THIS SUMMER? EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT THE STATE WAS LEGALLY OBLIGATED TO CHANGE THE SCHOOL FINANCE SYSTEM, DO YOU REALLY THINK ANYTHING WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE, OTHERWISE? TEACHER PAY RAISES? TAX DEDUCTIONS? HOW ABOUT LIMITED FUNDS FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT DON'T COME ANYWHERE NEAR THOSE IN SAN ANTONIO, OR CORPUS CHRISTI, SO THAT SMALLER SCHOOL DISTRICTS NEED TO SEND THEIR KIDS FORTY MINUTES AWAY EVERY SINGLE MORNING TO A BIGGER SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT CAN HANDLE THE NEEDS OF OUR KIDS? OR THE UNNECESSARY TIME IT TAKES TO DRIVE ACROSS CITY LIMITS TO A SCHOOL WITHIN THE SAME DISTRICT BECAUSE THE SCHOOL YOUR CHILD SHOULD BE ATTENDING JUST ACROSS THE STREET DOESN'T HAVE THE FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS OR PERSONNEL? HOW ABOUT ALL THESE JOBS THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED BY THE GOVERNOR BRINGING IN BUSINESSES FROM ACROSS THE NATION? TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR MINIMUM WAGE PAYCHECKS, EVERYBODY. DO YOU SEE ANY MONEY BEING TAKEN OUT FOR GRADE A HEALTH INSURANCE? LIFE INSURANCE? RETIREMENT? HOW ABOUT THE FACT THAT IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY THE SAME PEOPLE DOING THE SAME JOB ARE GETTING AT LEAST TWO TO THREE DOLLARS MORE THAN YOU ARE. FOR THE SAME AMOUNT OF WORK, AND THE SAME AMOUNT OF RESPONSIBILITY. MEANWHILE YOU'RE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET BECAUSE THESE POLITICIANS ARE HOLDING ON TO THE "OH IT'S THE COST OF LIVING" ROUTINE. INDEED, BUT IF WE'RE THE FASTEST GROWING REGION IN THE STATE, WHEN ARE OUR WAGES AND BENEFITS PACKAGES GOING TO REFLECT THAT? WELCOME TO THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY...MORE WORK, LESS PAY...NO COMPLAINTS. SO, YOUR CLAIMS OF THE GOVERNOR HAVING DONE A LOT FOR THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, MAYORS, FALL FLAT ON THE EARS OF ANYBODY OUT THERE WITH HALF A BRAIN TO REALIZE THAT JUST ISN'T SO.
VOTE YOUR CONSCIENCE, PEOPLE. GET OUT AND VOTE...OR BETTER YET, START YOUR OWN BLOG, THE VALLEY NEEDS MORE VOICES.

Friday, November 03, 2006

Brad McClellan's Reply to email...

"Nothing is more important than our children's education--a top quality education. Thank you again for all you do for Texas, and you are right to speak up and speak out and fight for what is right--something learned at an early age in my family--and blogging is certainly the latest equalizer in getting out information.
Carole Keeton Strayhorn announced as an independent Texan, not a new party. She will be a Governor for all the people of Texas just as she has been all her life since her days as a school teacher. I personally apologize to any affront caused by our Secure-Texas plan--which does call for the Texas Rangers to oversee and coordinate security in our whole state--they would not actually be deployed to the border--there are not very many. The complete plan is on our web site for any to review, and you will note that this is about all of Texas not just pandering to fears about our Southern border. She will also make sure the Texas Rangers and others reflect how Texas looks with all segments represented including females and that border communities are represented and heard.
A large part of our proposal was directed towards her Texas NextStep proposal and to increase funding for local officials, and one on the largest parts of the proposal was to dedicate $84 million to the border counties not for a wall but for economic infrastructure and development of roads, utilites, and improvements for the community.
She has always fought discrimination in her political career, and she will always fight discrimination of any kind. Everyone will have a voice and a seat at the table, and she will not govern with threats, intimidation, and mean spirited divisiveness. We welcome the support of any and all hardworking Texans, and to lift Texas, we must lift all Texans. My mother has fought discrimination all her life and even today gets hate mail solely because she is a female. She was the first woman school board president in Austin, and then the first woman Mayor of Austin in 1977, when two days before the election two local businessmen said a woman could not handle the job and basically implied she should be home taking care of her four boys--one of which I am. I was never as mad and frustrated after that comment that a woman could not handle being Mayor of Austin, but two days later I was extremely happy that she was elected and reelected two more times to the non-partisan position. She believes every person should be treated equally. My mom and I welcome your advice.
Thanks,
Brad
(excerpt from an email sent by Brad McClellan to Hector Gomez Nov. 2, 2006 in response to original email sent by the author of RGV Politics Re-Visited. See previous post)
I sent the original email not really expecting a reply, or at least not one as eloquent as Brad's. I have sent my share of emails to candidates running this election season, and was met with either a non-reply, or a sort of brush off with a link to the candidates web site where they address the issues. So, my thanks to Brad McClellan for permission to post an excerpt from his email to me, and also for the clarifications on any confusions I may have had before.

Thursday, November 02, 2006

Letter to Brad McClellan...Strayhorn's Campaign Director...A bad case of hives

"Mr. McClellan,
my name is Hector Gomez, author of the South Texas political blog site 'RGV Politics Re-Visited'. I have been very critical of Mrs. Strayhorn's election run for Governor of this Great State, mainly because of her indecisive pledge to any particular party. But basing a voting decision on one issue alone is like judging a fajita taco by the guacamole without ever getting to the fajita.
I will concede, though, that as we head into the final days of this election season, there's no doubt in my mind that she is indeed a more viable candidate than Chris Bell ever was this entire season. For different reasons, you know, but too lengthy to get into here.
Mrs. Strayhorn has taken a good stance on the issue of education which is important to me because I'm a father of a kindergarten student. I don't believe Perry will ever do anything worthwhile for the children and teachers of Texas, and Chris Bell is offering nothing more than "whatever Perry did, I'll undo." But no mention as to how he wants to go about getting it done.
For me this election has become about getting rid of Rick Perry, kicking him out of office that fine Tuesday in November. I think a lot of us feel that way down here, but we're stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to going against a party we've been taught to believe in, and voting for someone who has the courage, and perhaps a much needed audacity to change things.
But at this point, I'm only so close to doing that, and the only reason why has to do with one issue she's intending to put into practice if she's elected Governor. That is sending the Texas Rangers to the border to aid with Homeland Security.
As a human being of Hispanic descent, there is a history to the effect that doesn't paint the Texas Rangers along the border in a very positive light. For everything the law enforcement agency rightfully stands for in this day and age, it's history is not something a good amount of people in our region take lightly. I wish she would reconsider sending the National Guard to the border, or increase funding for local law enforcement officials to be better prepared to handle security along the Rio Grande River. This would put my mind to rest as I head into the election booth next Tuesday, but until then, I don't think I have it in me to overlook her insensitivity to a region she's been politically wooing for a long time now. You can stand only so much expired guacamole before you break out in hives...
Thank you for your time,
sincerely,
Hector Gomez
RGV Politics Re-Visited
That's an email I sent to Carole Keeton Strayhorn's Campaign Director Brad McClellan. It's pretty self explanatory, and pretty much sums up where I'm at in this confused state of electing a Governor that will do what's right for ALL of us. Especially for us in the Rio Grande Valley, where most would agree that we've been getting the shit end of the stick for a long time now.

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Wednesday's Hump Day Links...Doing Yourself a Favor...C'mon, you know you want to...

Less than one week away from the Nov. 7 election, and I thought I'd pass along some very interesting links to take note of.
Matt Taibbi's report in Rolling Stone magazine this week profiles the 109th Congress. You can read it at:
You can also read Rolling Stone's pick of the top ten worst Congressman, while you're there.
Also, a little closer to home, check out The Austin Chronicle where Amy Smith has a couple of interesting articles regarding Chris Bell and next week's general election. You can read them at:

The Wandering Eye...John Kerry Fumbles...All is Lost(?)

There's something about being 'Independent' that gnaws at my brain night and day like a bloodthirsty tick on a blood hound some random hot August afternoon. I'm not there yet, but with things getting botched time and time again by Democratic leaders, what else is a person who wants what's best for his family, and his children to do? And, christ, turning Republican is like shaving off my head and donning a white hood and cloak. That's not a pretty sight for a six foot four Mexican, and it doesn't look right (turning Republican, that is) for a group of Valley mayors to do it. They'd still have my support if they'd at least have tossed their political muscle with 'Independent' candidate Strayhorn. Hell, I've got friends who are voting for her, and regardless of this, they still and always will remain at the top of the masthead in my book. I laugh at them to myself, of course, but that's besides the point. At this point in the game, it's all about believing in something bigger than yourself. The idea that our country can be great again if we can just concentrate on getting our kids home, and start worrying about all the injustices that are going on in this country, at this moment, instead of trying to fix any country with a hint of political and financial interest and their 'sudden' need for a Democratic society. Christ, we can hardly keep ours intact half the time, what makes us think that we can go around the world encouraging others to do the same?
For all this ranting, all I wanted to pass along to some of you who may be in the same boat at the moment trying desperately to figure out how to make heads and tails of things this election season, is a link to John Kerry's web site at www.johnkerry.com
The Senator, who in my book, did nothing more than fumble the ball on the tie-breaking winning touchdown run at the two yard line in the Super Bowl, by making the following comment: "They got stuck in Iraq."
Now, I say and agree with the Senator that his words were nothing more than a botched joke directed at our Commander-In-Chief. Most people, especially with the mass media's support, got spoonfed the version which takes aim at our troops in Iraq. Their anger is understandable, and believe me when I say I'm one of those people who would jump on this like a rabid dog out to take my dying frustrations out on somebody-anybody if there was an ounce of truth to Kerry's comment being aimed at our troops. Considering that most people don't pay close attention to politics and probably don't even know who John Kerry is, or what state he's a Senator for, chances are they have much less any idea in what context his comments should be taken in. I'm not trying to get anybody riled up over this, I'm just asking for some of you to take a look at what he has to say and pay closer attention to our political environment before jumping the gun. Especially at a time when a Republican majority in a heated election season has just scooped up the ball and ran ninety eight yards in the opposite direction to score the winning touchdown. If I'm angry at John Kerry, it's because he should've known what the majority of the people, who are seldom interested in the political environment unless it makes headlines, are apt to take out of context regarding a comment, botched joke, or whatever he wants to call it when it makes the top story in the evening news just before Entertainment Tonight, or La Fella Mas Bella. His stupidity will be the final straw that broke the camel's back, and those sleazy little Republicans with less than a week left in the election's are going to exploit, and juice it for all it's bitterly worth. Their dreams are intact once more, and with millions of people who don't give a damn about their futures by not doing anything about it either way, it's nice to know at least some greedheads will be sleeping soundly the rest of the ride into next Tuesday. Are those cookies I smell?-Grandma Strayhorn, is that you?
(To read John Kerry's answer to this whole fiasco follow this link: http://www.johnkerry.com/news/articles/newsarticle.html?id=75)