Tag Archives: Texas

Beto News Briefs 4/25 to 5/3: Beto Challenges Cruz To Debate In Spanish, O’Rourke: “We Don’t Need A Wall” & More

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Beto O’Rourke Wants To Debate Ted Cruz Six Times, Twice In Spanish U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-El Paso, has invited U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, to participate in six debates with O’Rourke across Texas, two of them in Spanish, during their U.S. Senate race. O’Rourke campaign manager Jody Casey made the proposal in a letter last week to Cruz’s senior staff, adding that the debates should have “media reach to all twenty markets in the state.” “I would like to begin direct coordination of the debates with your campaign team between now and May 10th,” Casey wrote to Cruz advisers … Continue reading →

Beto News Briefs 4/17-4/24: ‘O’Rourke Inspires A Patriotic Small Donor Wave’ & ‘Beto In The Outfield’

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Sanders, Warren, O’Rourke inspire patriotic small donor waves During the 2016 presidential campaign, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) fired the small-donor fundraising shot that was heard around the political world and now stands on the brink of transforming American politics for a long time to come. The Sanders fundraising triumph in 2016, raising huge amounts of money by refusing dirty special interest money and appealing to intensely patriotic and idealistic small donors, is a living legacy that is demonstrating enormous political power as the midterm elections and the 2020 presidential campaign come closer. .. Now Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas), who is … Continue reading →

4/4 News Roundup – Sanders To Speak On The Legacy Of MLK Tonight, Trump’s Plans To Deploy Border Troops Blasted & More

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‘Beyond Disturbing’: Trump Says He’s Working on Plans to Deploy Troops Along US-Mexico Border

After days of ranting and raving on Twitter about the “caravans” of migrants making their way toward the United States—”caravans” that are made up largely of Honduran asylum-seekers looking to call attention to their plight—President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that he has begun working with Defense Secretary James Mattis to deploy the military to “guard” the U.S.-Mexico border until his proposed wall is constructed.

“We have very bad laws for our border, and we are going to be doing some things—I’ve been speaking with General Mattis—we’re going to be doing things militarily,” Trump declared during a White House meeting with Baltic leaders on Tuesday. “Until we can have a wall and proper security, we’re going to be guarding our border with the military.”

Lawmakers and advocacy groups immediately called the new proposal—which is reportedly favored by White House senior advisor Stephen Miller—as a “beyond disturbing” addition to Trump’s already expansive anti-immigrant agenda.

In a statement responding to Trump’s “caravan” tweets on Monday, the refugee rights group Pueblo Sin Fronteras highlighted America’s role in fueling the violence migrants are now attempting to flee by supporting the 2009 Honduran military coup and denounced the president for refusing to honor international agreements that enshrine the rights of asylum seekers.

“The unprecedented number of Central Americans who have joined the current refugee caravan and the high percentage of people fleeing Honduras in the group are the result of multiple political crises in the region provoked in large part by the policies of the U.S. government,” the statement noted.

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3/14 News Roundup – Pipeline Protestors Decry State Surveillance, Texas Dems Worry Bigger Rifts Ahead With National Party & More

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Via DemocracyNow!: Critics of Bayou Bridge Pipeline in Louisiana Decry State & Company Surveillance of Protesters In Louisiana, newly disclosed documents reveal a state intelligence agency regularly spied on activists opposing construction of the Bayou Bridge pipeline, which would carry nearly a half-million barrels of oil per day across Louisiana’s wetlands. The documents show the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness regularly drafted intelligence memos on anti-pipeline activists, including a gathering of indigenous-led water protectors who’ve set up a protest encampment along the pipeline’s route. Other newly revealed documents show close coordination between Louisiana regulators and the … Continue reading →

3/12 News Roundup – Sanders Fires Up Phoenix, Thousands March To Stop The Kinder Morgan Pipeline & More

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Bernie Sanders in Phoenix: Senator encourages supporters to fight for change, riles opponents

Bernie Sanders returned to Arizona on Sunday, highlighting the delayed successes his 2016 presidential run secured for the Democratic Party and urging voters in the predominantly red state to keep fighting for change.

The 76-year-old independent senator from Vermont rallied supporters — and riled opponents — alongside Democratic Arizona Congressmen Ruben Gallego and Raúl Grijalva at the Orpheum Theatre in Phoenix.

The self-described democratic socialist has maintained a following among liberal Democrats in the nearly two years since he dropped out of the presidential race. He drew a young and diverse crowd Sunday, filling the 1,200-capacity theater.

“People said my ideas were too radical, but now look all over the country,” Sanders said, pointing to the uptick in states proposing higher minimum wages and decriminalizing marijuana. He also mentioned the $1 trillion infrastructure plan unveiled by Democrats last week.

Once someone stands up and fights for an unpopular idea, he said, “more and more people start thinking about it, and then it makes sense.”

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Sanders also weighed in on immigration, pledging to find a solution that would provide legal status to the roughly 700,000 immigrants with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status. The future of the program, which offered deportation protections for migrants whose parents brought them to the U.S. illegally as children, remains uncertain.

“I want to say to (DACA recipients) here in Arizona: If you think you’re alone, you’re not alone,” he said. “Poll after poll shows 80 percent or more want to provide legal status to DACA and a path to citizenship.”

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3/9 Bernie Takes On Rockstar Status at SXSW (with Update )

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Bernie Sanders made his first appearance at the South by South West Festival, also known as SXSW. There were long lines to get into his session with Jake Tapper, whereby Tapper asked Sanders his views on current events. Update: here the video of the session in its entirety: In addition, I have reports from three different media outlets, but also some live tweets during the event. According to Deadline Hollywood, the session was introduced in this way: Appropriately, the Vermont senator was introduced with the question, “Are you ready to fill the ‘Bern’?” To which the crowd erupted with cheers. … Continue reading →

3/7 News Roundup – Bernie Blasts Bill Deregulating Big Banks, DCCC’s Scorched Earth Campaign Against Moser Fails & More

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17 Democrats Decried for Sending This Clear Message: “I Work for My Bank Donors, Not My Constituents’

Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders are not impressed.

And they were not alone Tuesday as outrage and disgust erupted among consumer watchdogs and progressives after Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) and sixteen Democrats joined with 50 Republicans in the U.S. Senate to advance a bill that critics say is just another handout for Wall Street banks—one that also sets the stage for the next major financial meltdown.

With a vote of 67-32, including the 17 Democrats who voted yes, a “motion to proceed” received enough support to send the ‘Bank Lobbyist Act’—technically the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act, or S. 2155—to the floor for debate, possible amendments, and then a final vote later this week or next.

Kurt Walters, campaign director at Demand Progress’s grassroots anti-corruption wing Rootstrikers, said those 17 members of the Democratic caucus who voted to advance the bill in the Senate have simply no defense.

“Voters have seen this movie before. It didn’t work out in 2008 and it’s no wiser today. There is simply no excuse for a Democrat to add their name to Wall Street deregulation,” Walters said following the vote. Identifying members who voted in favor as “the Bailout Caucus,” he said those lawmakers have now sent a very clear message: “I work for my bank donors, not my constituents.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who like Sen. King caucuses with the Democrats, also appeared to have a had a hard time understanding those who supported the bill:

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3/1 News Roundup – Senators Call For Removal of US Forces From Yemen, Sanders Schedules Texas Speeches & More

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Sanders-Led Group Introduces Bill Calling for Removal of US Forces From Yemen

As the Trump administration continues to expand the U.S. military’s role in fueling the Saudi-led coalition’s deadly assault on Yemen—which has killed at least 10,000 civilians and sparked “the world’s biggest humanitarian crisis”—a coalition of senators led by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced a bipartisan joint resolution on Wednesday that calls for the removal of American armed forces from the country.

“The bill will force the first-ever vote in the Senate to withdraw U.S. armed forces from an unauthorized war,” Sanders, who will be joined by Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) in introducing the resolution, said in a statement on Tuesday.

The U.S. has been heavily supporting Saudi Arabia’s war on Yemen for years, supplying the kingdom with weaponry and military intelligence. Last August, the Pentagon acknowledged for the first time that American troops are on the ground in Yemen.

While American complicity in the Yemen crisis is rarely discussed on Capitol Hill, the House of Representatives last November overwhelmingly approved a resolution declaring that U.S. military assistance to Saudi Arabia in its war on Yemen is not authorized.

With their legislation—titled the Yemen War Powers Resolution—Sanders, Lee, and Murphy are looking to take concrete steps toward ending U.S. complicity in Yemen’s suffering, which Murphy has called “a stain on the conscience of our nation.”

“By continuing to blindly back Saudi Arabia’s starvation campaign, on top of fueling Yemen’s suffering, the U.S. is creating more enemies and fueling the very extremism the War on Terror is supposed to be eradicating,” said Paul Kawika Martin, senior director for policy at Peace Action, in a statement on Wednesday. “Congress knows this, but Saudi Arabia’s legions of lobbyists on Capitol Hill have convinced some members of Congress to bury their heads in the sand.”

12/29 News Roundup – Sanders’ Revolution Is Changing Politics In Texas, CEO-Worker Income Gap Highest In U.S. & More

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Bernie Sanders movement changing Democratic politics in Texas

While Sanders conceded the Democratic nomination for president in the summer of 2016, the followers he cultivated haven’t gone home and have vowed to remain engaged in politics and reshape the Democratic Party and its platforms.

“This wasn’t a one-shot deal,” said Chris Kutalik-Couthren, a Sanders supporter who is now a statewide coordinator for Our Revolution Texas, a coalition of former Sanders supporters. “Many of us wanted to keep going.”

They have since created nearly 500 chapters throughout the nation with a proclamation: Campaigns end. Revolutions endure.

The results have already shown themselves in local races, with Our Revolution helping recruit candidates and mobilize voters in local races for city councils in San Antonio and school board races in Houston. Now, 2018 offers a chance for the movement to impact congressional races.

“There’s a different animal in the cage this time,” said Jim Hightower, the former Texas agriculture commissioner who become one of Sanders’ most prominent supporters.

Hightower said the Bernie Sanders movement highlights an economic populism that used to be the way Texas Democrats dominated with working men and women. Access to health care, college education and a healthy distrust of corporate greed are all elements of the Sanders rise to prominence that could be tools for Democrats in Texas to finally win back the state, he said.

More on Todd Allen here.

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What will it take to defeat Ted Cruz in 2018?

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Before last night, this is what the Senate looked like: Notice the sea of red stretching from North Carolina to Texas? It’s now got one unexpected kink in it, Alabama. There are three senate seats that will be contested across that belt in 2018 (yes, I’m going to totally ignore Florida). An open seat in Tennessee (Bob Corker’s retiring), Mississippi (Roger Wicker) and Texas (Ted Cruz). A lot of attention will be focused on Tennessee, where Corker’s open seat creates a lot of possibilities. A Democrat has not represented Tennessee in the Senate since 1995. I’m going to ignore Mississippi But I want … Continue reading →

10/7 News Roundup – Bernie Hosts Vermont College Fairs, Nina Turner & Jim Hightower In Texas & More

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Happy Saturday everyone! Thought I would do a Saturday roundup.

Starting off with Sanders of course:

Sanders to hold college fairs Oct 7 at Lyndon State, Oct 14 at Castleton

Senator Bernie Sanders is inviting Vermont high school students and their families to join him at two college fairs on Saturday, Oct. 7 at Lyndon State College (link is external) and Saturday, Oct. 14 at Castleton University (link is external). Vermont colleges, universities, and certificate and apprenticeship programs will be on hand to describe the excellent post-secondary educational opportunities that are available right here in our state. The Vermont Student Assistance Corporation will explain different financial aid options that students may be eligible for, and will even help students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

A series of 30-minute financial aid workshops will start at 10:30 a.m. and end at 12 p.m. Attendees do not have to pre-register for workshops. Instead, they will sign-up on a first-come, first-served basis, when they arrive.

“At a time when post-secondary education is more important than ever to get a decent-paying job, we must do everything possible to make sure every high school student, who has the desire and ability, has the information they need to further their education and career prospects,” said Bernie, who serves on the Senate education committee.

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Have a great day!

Will Fisher’s Campaign For Congress (TX-26)

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Will Fisher For Congress

Currently I am a proud husband, father, Texan Democrat, and practicing business lawyer. Married for 12 years, my wife and I are proud parents of two smart and energetic girls who attend elementary school in Flower Mound. As a father I want to pass down the values that I learned as a child: to love people wherever they are, to yearn for justice, mercy, and equality, and to value the inherent dignity of the human soul.

Like so many others, I woke up on November 9th in shock from the direction our country had taken, unsure of what a future America looks like for my kids and future generations. The direction we are headed does not reflect our shared American values, and I believe our current congressman, Michael Burgess, is contributing to this moral disaster.

I’m proud to have put down roots and settled my family in Texas. I came for the economic opportunities, but soon learned that what made Texas special was its people. Good people with big hearts. I believe in fairness, justice under the law, and equality of opportunity, and I have a soft heart for those disadvantaged in our society. I believe we’re at our best as Americans when we’re diverse, and that ensuring minority groups have every opportunity and legal protection as the majority makes us a stronger, more vibrant nation. I believe that love is love, regardless of gender. Most of all, I believe that we’ll never be fully free so long as we allow inequality and injustice to persist. I believe we all deserve better than the representation our current leaders are providing, and by working together we can elect representatives who reflect our shared values.

These are the reasons I’m running for Congress! My team and I are fired up, and like you, we’re working hard so the entire district can bid farewell to Burgess. I invite you join me in this effort. Let us rise up and take District 26 together. Let’s teach Michael Burgess how to say goodbye.

As a proud, modern Democrat, Will is committed to fighting for our shared values. He pledges to:
•fight for single-payer, universal healthcare,
•advocate for all Americans’ civil rights,
•defend women’s rights,
•champion the rights of our LGBTQ loved ones,
•protect the rights of Americans with disabilities,
•combat voter suppression, and
•push for a true public works infrastructure program to put Americans in high-paying, middle-class jobs.

Will On Twitter
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Todd Allen’s Campaign For Congress (TX-24)

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I intend to be a representative for everyone in the 24th Congressional District, not just those who happen to agree with me or identify with my party. That means I am willing to listen and engage in conversations, especially when we don’t agree. The issues below are my conversation starters, not the final word. That word can only come from the people of the 24th. If you’d like to know more about a specific issue or would like to keep the conversation going, please contact me here.

Allen’s Issues:

Kitchen Table Economics – Middle Class Tax Cuts and Deductions

•The American middle class deserves a tax break. Let’s put money back in working American’s pockets. When working Americans have more money, they spend it in their communities, creating jobs. A prosperous and robust middle class means a healthy American economy.

•For many Americans, child care costs are like having a second mortgage, and student loan debt feels like quick sand. We have an obligation to help working American families. By increasing the tax deductions for child-care and student loans, we recognize the burden faced by American families and offer a deserved helping hand.

Education – They’re Children, Not Products

•For too long we’ve been sold standardized testing and vouchers as “solutions” for public education, but these solutions are really just band-aids for bullet-holes. Education isn’t about test scores or treating students as a defective cog in a testing machine, it’s about opportunity. It’s time we acknowledge that there is as much value in a student who has a genius for machinery as there is for one who can write an academic essay.

•With that in mind, we have an obligation to provide an opportunity for our children who have a skill or an interest beyond academia. We must invest in entrepreneurship, skilled labor, and innovation. By investing in a variety of educational programs designed to match the needs of our changing labor force, we offer our children the opportunity to provide for themselves and their families in the future.

Healthcare – Increasing Access for All Americans & Lowering Costs

•60,000. In just the 24th District, that is the number of Americans who would lose healthcare coverage under the Republican House plan energetically supported by our current representative. Most of us would agree that healthcare insurance premiums are too high and that the cost of coverage is hurting more American families than it heals.

•A single-payer system is now a part of the national conversation and one many Americans are interested in exploring. As your representative, I will advocate for this approach and work to improve healthcare accessibility and cost for all Americans.

Todd Allen For Congress
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8/29 News Roundup – Sanders On Single Payer As A ‘Litmus Test’, Harvey Continues To Hammer Texas & More

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Good morning friends! Jumping straight to the comments with the news/video/etc. In todays roundup: *Sanders Discusses the ‘Single Payer Litmus Test’ *Harvey Continues To Cause Chaos *Abdul El-Sayed Talks About His Campaign *Oklahoma Isn’t Working *Pipeline/Water Protector Updates & Lots more Any issues can be sent to the tpwhelpdesk@gmail.com