Politics and Dharma

Observations on Texas Politics and Grassroots Action

Archive for the 'Convention Politics' Category


The Democratic Surge

Monday, June 9th, 2008
Convention Politics, Current Events, Democratic Party, Politics | 1 Comment »

This interactive election guide from NYT is a great resource because they also show the relative results of the last eight presidential contests for each state. I like to think that the way to read this as the effects of having a particularly charismatic figure running for office. The effect of having a Reagan or [...]

Getting Hit By a Truck

Saturday, June 7th, 2008
Convention Politics, Current Events, Democratic Party, Politics Action, Texas Politics | No Comments »

After arriving home a couple of hours earlier than expected this afternoon, I showered and relaxed into my office chair to catch up on the world. Fifteen minutes later, when I stood up again, I felt like I had been hit by a truck. Every muscle is sore from tip to tail. Even those little [...]

My Day in the Circus (pt. 1)

Friday, June 6th, 2008
Convention Politics, Current Events, Democratic Party, Politics Action, Texas Politics | No Comments »

Ugh! These dogs are tired. And my feet hurt, too.
Caucusing is a long and painful process in the best of worlds. What we’re seeing in the Democratic State Convention this weekend is the party for the first time actually having to function on the scale at which it was intended. For several decades, the party [...]

Preparations for Madness

Wednesday, June 4th, 2008
Convention Politics, Democratic Party, Politics Action, Texas Politics | No Comments »

Although I did not garner the expected state convention delegate seat this year, I am still going to be there. The party had to go to a raffle system to determine who would be guests — and who would be volunteers! They’re expecting 15,000-18,000 attendees this weekend at the convention center. I had signed up [...]

Truth in Prosecution

Friday, January 4th, 2008
Convention Politics, Law and Culture, Prisons | No Comments »

So it’s not just my perception that tuff on crime crowd aren’t usually the sharpest knives in the drawer. A couple of high-profile exonerations have left some overly-agressive prosecuters red-faced. One man in Dallas had 27 years of his life stolen away by a single victim’s mis-identification. Another man in New York state was freed [...]

Additional Delegate Training Offered

Saturday, December 1st, 2007
Convention Politics, Current Events, Democratic Party | No Comments »

I recently mentioned that the Texas Democratic Party is hosting a delegate training class today, from 2-4pm at the ACC Riverside Campus, building G lecture hall.
Gluttons for punishment that they are, they are offering a second chance at the same material, Wednesday night, from 7-9pm, at the AFL-CIO Building downtown, 1106 Lavaca St.
See the party [...]

Do you know the way to Denver?

Wednesday, November 28th, 2007
Convention Politics, Democratic Party, Politics Action, Texas Politics | 1 Comment »

The Texas Democratic party is hosting a special workshop this coming Saturday, December 1st at the ACC Riverside campus, from 2-4pm.
What does it take to become a delegate to a National Convention in a presidential year? Texas will send 288 delegates to the National Convention in Denver, and it’s not as easy as you think [...]

Request for Action

Sunday, November 18th, 2007
Cannabis, Convention Politics, Legalization Action, Politics Action, Regulation, Texas Politics | No Comments »

Billions of dollars have been spent annually for decades to eliminate cannabis and yet marijuana is even more prevalent today, and cheaper, than when the drug war began. It is repeatedly demonstrated on the evening news that the policies of prohibition are needlessly dangerous and expensive. How many cops have died serving drug warrants? How [...]

Civic Process

Thursday, September 13th, 2007
Convention Politics, Democratic Party, Legalization Action | No Comments »

Studies in the Democratic Process
I recently had a pleasant email exchange with my senate district party rep. Do you know your senate district party rep? Mine’s a nice guy — I’ve met him a few times and we’ve had some occasions to chat.
My recent conversation with him centered on my idea to flood the state [...]

Tis the season

Thursday, September 6th, 2007
Convention Politics, Democratic Party, Politics Action | No Comments »

The 2008 political season must be starting to crank up in earnest — I’m starting to get email from addresses I haven’t heard from in about two years. Although you’ve probably been hearing more than you’d like about the presidential election, that’s hardly the only game in town. Allow me to suggest a few ways [...]