A life long dream came true when Annette Taddeo spoke at the Democracy for America hospitality suite.  Annette was attending Netroots Nation and was meeting bloggers from across the nation. Here was a candidate who started out speaking about civil liberties and what it means to actually care about your constituents rights.

Cross posted @ Doing My Part For The Left

Conventions are not a new thing in my life but this was my first Netroots Nation.  I missed Yearly Kos in Las Vegas and in Chicago but after the fabulous time I had this past week, I will try never to miss another one.  Thursday after registering I immediately started running into local activists from Austin.

Matt Glazer from Burnt Orange Report & Fran Vincent from Democracy for Texas.

Glen Maxey, Laura Kolstad, and Matt Glazer

cross posted @ Doing My Part For The Left

Today is the 4th of July and is the day we celebrate American Independence.  There will be lots of flag waving, speeches, fire works and food.  While celebrating the 4th with family and friends at a back yard cookout, parade or political rally, I hope everyone takes a few moments to reflect on what they consider America and why they are celebrating.

cross posted @ Booman Tribune, Texas Kaos, Doing My Part For The Left

Sometimes you just need a break from politics and the insanity. LOL

This past week was the Texas Democratic State Convention and I was there as an Obama Delegate.  It was so thrilling and exhausting to be with over 15,000 Democrats for 3 days.  
               
               The weekend started off Thursday night with all the parties.  I was at the Bloggers Caucus and had a blast!!!  It is one of the best attended parties at every Texas Convention.  We had lots of bloggers, candidates, elected officials and excited Democrats.  Who wouldn't have a great time drinking and talking politics with some the best of the Texas Blogosphere.  The event was host by the Texas Progressive Alliance and I am happy to report I am a member.

Listen to the podcast @ Hearding Cats at the Texas Democratic Convention

A little music, a little politics and a few laughs. LOL

Here is a question for all the folks attending the Convention in Austin.  What parties will you be attending tonight?

Cross posted @ Texas Kaos

10 Republican State Attorneys General want California to stay the enforcement of their landmark ruling on Gay Marriage. This is nothing but a further attempt by the Republican party to try and deny rights to the GLBT Community.  What right does any attorney general from another state have in trying to stop California's Supreme Court?

Cross posted @ Texas Kaos & Doing My Part For The Left

Why shouldn't we just go ahead and let Hillary be President?  What have we got to lose?  She has been the heir presumptive since 2006.  She is entitled to be president and has proven what a great leader she will be for the next 4 years.

Follow me below this yonder fold to see why it will be a good thing.

Cross posted at Booman Tribune, Texas Kaos, Doing My Part For The Left

This week the California Supreme Court ruled that the laws banning Gay Marriage in California were unconstitutional per the California State Constitution.  This was a historic day in the history the GLBT struggle for Equal Rights and in the struggle for Equal Rights for All People.

The Republicans are already trying to use this to rally their ultra conservative base to help elect John McCain and reelect some of the worst Republican Senators and Congressmen.  This was to be expected.  What was not expected was the cry from many progressives on so many blogs.

  It’s bad timing.
  It will only help the Republicans.
  It will help John McCain.
  It will hurt Democrats in the fall.
  It should have waited till after November.
  It will do the same as Gay Marriage did in 2004.

Cross posted at Texas Kaos, Booman Tribune, Doing My Part For The Left

Trust old Bible thumping Bigot Cornyn to start talking about the National Marriage Amendment yet again on the day the California Supreme Court rules against the laws and statues banning Gay Marriage in California.

cross posted at Booman Tribune, Texas Kaos, & Doing My Part For The Left

The Obama campaign currently has 69 offices in North Carolina and Indiana staffed by high-quality, dedicated, selfless people contributing to the amazing effort to install a transparent, open executive to help our nation get back on track. Let's show them their efforts are not unnoticed.

On Tuesday, let's make sure each one of these offices receives a food delivery from a DailyKos reader. Are there a few good Kossacks ready, able, and willing to feed these brave warriors? Yes we can!

[Idea was nurtured by GN1927, this is her baby... I am just the babysitter]

On April 24th & 25th, I attended the Texas Solar Forum at the capital.  It would probably have been better to send someone with a science background to cover it but I did learn quite a few interesting facts about solar power.

A survey was done 25 years ago asking people where they thought they would be getting their energy in the 21st century.  48% of the people surveyed  said they would be using solar power.  Sad to say in Texas only .01% of power is supplied by solar power at this time.

cross posted @ Texas Kaos, Doing My Part For The Left, Booman Tribune

I wrote last week about Safe Schools: National Day of Silence April 25th I would like to share a little more about the day and the rally I attended at the Texas State Capital to break the silence.

Young people across America went to school and did not speak on National Day of Silence to bring attention to the silence that is heard from teachers, parents, school administrations, elected officials, and students about the ongoing problem of bullying in our schools.

Cross posted @ Booman Trinbune, Texas Kaos, Doing My Part For The Left

This election year is one of the most exciting ones I have ever seen in my 41 years of being involved in politics and civil rights.  There is all the buzz about the presidential campaigns, Texas being in play for the first time in decades and exciting races such as Rick Noriega for Senate and all the Texas Legislative races.  

Well, there are another set of elections that will take place in June at the Texas Democratic Party Convention and I have decided to throw my hat into the ring.

(cross posted @ Texas Kaos, Booman Tribune, Doing My Part For The Left, Burnt Orange Report, My Left Wing)

Today is the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.  I still remember hearing the news and being shocked that this great man had been killed.  Growing up in a small town in North Carolina, I had heard him called many things besides great but disagreed with those who wanted to teach racism and continue the history of injustice in America.  I was just a small scared white boy but I knew things were not right.  

(cross posted @ Texas Kaos, Booman Tribune, Doing My Part For The Left)

It has come to my attention that a Democratic County Chairperson called and asked an Obama delegate to switch to at large so they could move an Alternate delegate up.  Depending on the make up of the alternate pool in any county or  precinct, there is no guarantee that the alternate moved up to take a delegate's place would have the same presidential preference.  This is called playing a numbers game and is deplorable.  

(cross posted @ Texas Kaos, Doing My Part For The Left, Booman Tribune)

December 1st is the day to honor the memory of all the people we have lost to AIDS and say a prayer in our hearts for those living HIV & AIDS.  The world has lost so many men, women, and children to this horrific disease.  

(This is a repeat of a dairy I posted last year with  a link to my WORLD AIDS DAY 12/01/2007 Podcast.  I have nothing to add but more tears for those we have lost.)

To enjoy some music and memories listen to the Doing My Part For The Left Happy Thanksgiving Podcast.

It is Thanksgiving Day and in Austin Texas, I have a lot to be thankful for.  This past year has been a very trying year for me.  Earlier this year I lost my job, my home and the majority of my personal belongings.  Luckily for me, some great people from all over the nation pulled together to get me through the difficult times and in all reality saved my life.  They opened their hearts and even wallets to assist me in getting through one of the worst periods of my life.