11.16.06
Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 1:01 am by M Beauregard
2006 Post Election Analysis using computer mapping will be on Nov. 16 at 5pm. The admission fee is $10. but includes free parking, access to the gorgeous new Federal Reserve Bank on Allen Parkway (and its art collection), and a full buffet meal (including tea and dessert)–so it is totally worth it–plus the presentations!! HOWEVER,
rsvp is mandatory for admission to the Fed Reserve (designed by Michael Graves).
Texas Economic & Demographic Association (TEDA) presents…
Election 2006—What the Results Mean
Richard Murray, Ph.D., Director, Center for Public Policy, University of Houston
Max Beauregard, Demographics, GIS, and Political Consultant
Thursday, November 16, 2006 • Federal Reserve Bank • 1801 Allen Parkway
Advance registration is required to enter the facility. Security officers will not grant access to anyone who is not pre-registered. RSVP to teda@houston.org.
Free parking is accessed via Gillette St. on the east side of the building. For a map: www.dallasfed.org/fed/direct_hou.pdf
Only the most jaded observer could resist the combination of Dick Murray and Max Beauregard dissecting the dynamics of an election and spelling out what the results tell us about the future of local, state, and national politics. Beauregard will spend half an hour showing us how who voted locally, using slides to display small area patterns. Murray, an election night analyst familiar to generations of Houston TV viewers as an expert commentator who always knows what’s going on and why, will spend an hour ranging through key elections in Houston and across the country.
Local elections include Wong vs. Cohen, the most expensive Texas House race, and Vo vs. Heflin, a rematch of the ’04 contest that Vo won by 16 votes. Texas has a four-way gubernatorial contest in which the most votes—not necessarily a majority—win. Nationally, Democrats need to pick up just 15 seats to capture control of the House and six to command the Senate, where three states now look like tossups. Who could resist the opportunity to hear these two renowned experts comment on how things turn out?
Networking with complimentary hors d’oeuvres at 5 p.m.; meeting 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Free for TEDA members; $10 per person for guests. Call Edith Chambers at 713-844-3618 www.TEDA.org
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With Dick Murray and Max Beauregard, this is always an event that offers the kind of political and demographic insight you’ll find nowhere else. I hope to see you at this meeting (see attachment for details) on November 16.
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Posted in GHDC Blog at 1:01 am by M Beauregard
November 14th, 2006
To My Conservative Brothers and Sisters:
I know you are dismayed and disheartened at the results of last week’s election. You’re worried that the country is heading toward a very bad place that you don’t want it to go. Your 12-year Republican Revolution has ended with so much yet to do, so many promises left unfulfilled. You are in a funk, and I understand.
Well, cheer up, my friends! Do not despair. I have good news for you. I, and the millions of other caring PEOPLE who are now in charge, along with our Democratic Congress, have a pledge we would like to make to you, i.e. a list of promises that we offer you because we value you as our fellow Americans. You deserve to know what we plan to do with our newfound power — and, to be specific, what we will do to you and for you.
Thus, here is our Liberal’s Pledge to Disheartened Conservatives. I, and my fellow signatories, hereby make these promises to you:
1. We will always respect you for your conservative beliefs. We will never, ever, call you "unpatriotic" simply because you disagree with us. In fact, we encourage you to dissent and disagree with us. That’s the American way and why we are different than other countries!!
2. We will let you marry whomever you want, even when some of us consider your behavior to be "different", "immoral", just a bad choice, or maybe because they are just plain ugly or have bad breath. Regardless of your choice, who you marry is none of our business. Love and be in love — it’s a wonderful gift to share.
3. We will not spend your grandchildren’s money on our personal whims or to enrich our friends. It’s your checkbook, too, and we will balance it for you.
4. When we soon bring our sons and daughters home from Iraq, we will bring your sons and daughters home, too. They deserve to live too. We promise never to send your kids off to war based on either a mistake or a lie.
5. But should a mass murderer ever kill 3,000 people on our soil, we will devote every single resource to tracking him down and bringing him to justice. Immediately. We will protect you; now and forever.
6. When we make America (now the last Western democracy) to have universal health coverage, and all Americans are able to get help when they fall ill, we promise that you, too, will be able to see a doctor, regardless of your ability to pay. And when stem cell research delivers treatments and cures for diseases that affect you and your loved ones, we’ll make sure those advances are available to you and your family, too. I’m guessing that later on when you personally need this help, that you will be most grateful for our vision and foresight.
7. Even though you have opposed environmental regulation, when we clean up our air and water, we, the Democratic majority, will let you, too, breathe the cleaner air and drink the purer water. Numerous, recently endangered species and newly threatened animals will once again thrive as well.
8. We will never stick our nose in your bedroom or your womb. What you do there as consenting adults is your business. We will continue to count your age from the moment you were born, not the moment you were conceived. That’s what BIRTHDAYS are all about and why we celebrate them when we do, until the day we die!!
9. We will not take away your hunting guns. But if you REALLY REALLY need an automatic weapon or a handgun to kill a bird or a deer, then you really aren’t much of a hunter, are you? So maybe just perhaps, you should consider selecting another sport? We intend to make our streets and schools as free as we can from the OVERKILL of these automatic weapons and we will protect your children, just as we would protect ours.
10. When we raise the minimum wage, we will pay you — and your employees — that new wage, too. When women are finally paid what men make, we will pay conservative women that same wage.
11. We will respect your religious beliefs, even when you don’t put those beliefs into practice. In fact, we will actively seek to promote your most radical religious beliefs ("Blessed are the poor," "Blessed are the peacemakers," "Love your enemies," "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God," and "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.") We will let people in other countries know that God doesn’t just bless America, he blesses everyone, everywhere ! We will discourage religious intolerance and fanaticism — starting with the fanaticism here at home, thus setting a good example for the rest of the world.
12. We will not tolerate politicians who are corrupt and who are bought and paid for by the rich. We will go after any elected leader who puts him or herself, ahead of the people. And we promise you that we will go after the corrupt politicians on our side FIRST. If we fail to do this, we need you to call us on it. Simply because we are in power does not give us the right to turn our heads the other way when our party goes astray. Please perform this important duty as the loyal opposition.
I promise all of the above to you because this is your country, too. You are every bit as American as we are. We are all in this together. We sink or swim as one. Thank you for your years of service to this country and for giving us the opportunity to see if we can make things a bit better for our 300 million fellow Americans — and for the rest of the world.
Signed,
Michael Moore
mmflint@aol.com
www.michaelmoore.com
P.S. Please feel free to pass this on.
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11.15.06
Posted in Events at 12:00 am by M Beauregard
Free lecture and open to the public!!
8:00 p.m.
Grand Hall
Rice Memorial Center (map below)
Pulitzer-Prize winning investigative journalist Seymour Hersh has proven himself one of the most influential reporters of our time. His groundbreaking reports include many landmark events in American journalism: coverage of the Abu Ghraib prison abuse in Iraq, the My Lai massacre in Vietnam, the CIA’s bombing of Cambodia, Henry Kissinger’s wiretapping of his own staff, and the CIA’s efforts against Chile’s assassinated president Salvador Allende.
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11.11.06
Posted in Meeting Minutes at 10:46 pm by M Beauregard
GHDC Meeting MInutes
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Mary Kay Green called the meeting to order at 9:10 AM. She opened the meeting with a statement about what Veteran’s Day is all about. She announced that Vicki Bellow’s son has returned from Iraq and is currently stationed at Fort Hood. She thanked everyone who helped out on her campaign.
Robert Jarra of Campaign Strategies discussed the election results and made predictions for the future. He said that Jim Sharp carried Harris County in his race for 1st Court of Appeals justice. That’s a big step.
Democrats won forty two judgeships in Dallas. A Democrat there won the race for District Attorney.
There’s a tipping point, and we’re getting real close to it. Despite the fact that Hubert Vo was gay-baited and immigrant-baited, he won in District 149 with 54% of the vote.
Ellen Cohen won in District 134 against Martha Wong with 54%.
Democrats won in North Dallas and Arlington, which are suburban areas that used to be very Republican. In District 133, Jim Murphy won with only 55.8% of the vote. That’s Joe Nixon’s old district, so we’re closing in.
Turn-out will be up in 2008, which is a presidential year, so our judicial candidates will be able to win next time. In this cycle, Democrats won every countywide seat in Dallas.
There is a lot of potential with the post-baby boom generation, which is the group born after 1965. They are voting. They’ve seen governments fail. They really have no faith in government or political parties. They are naturally skeptical. They have no patience.
They are not partisan, but they will vote Democratic if we give them a product that they’re willing to buy. It’s really important that the state folks give the voters products that they want. These are people that are buying the most home for the buck. People are moving into these areas for affordable housing.
Jim Rine made a quick announcement about the Veterans for Peace entry in the parade downtown today. There is free parking in the Theater District until noon today. The event starts at 10 AM at Hermann Square at City Hall, and the parade will go from Smith and Texas and will last until 2:30 PM.
Max Beauregard commented that Mary Kay Green lost by only 6,800 votes, and there were 51,000 under-votes. We have to emphasize to voters the importance of voting all the way down the ballot.
Linda George said she saw voters in her precinct with push cards from the Texas Medical Association advertising a vote for the straight-party Republican ticket.
Mary Kay Green welcomed the new visitors to our meeting. She related the Treasurer’s report from Vicki Bellow that we have $1,091.25 in the bank.
Max Beauregard announced that DVD’s of the Bill Moyers special on the Tom DeLay-Jack Abramoff scandal are available on the back table for a one dollar donation.
Vicki Bellow aid that Chris Bell came in a close second place in her precinct.
Mary Kay Green welcomed the new visitors to our meeting. She asked for suggestions on where we might have our annual Christmas party in December. She said we might have it on December 9, which is the date on which we will have our regular meeting. She asked whether anyone has any other announcements.
Max Beauregard announed that we have GHDC club t-shirts available.
We revised the GHDC by-laws to allow for the election of club officers in January rather than in December.
Barbara Ashley commented that Mary Kay Green was the top Democratic vote getter in Harris County, and hope that she decides to run next time. She said that Mary Kay Green is very compassionate, and is always there to help. She made a motion that we donate at least $100 to the Mary Kay Green campaign.
Vicki Bellow said that for now we are donating $100 to the campaign.
Mary Kay Green said that she understood that the gift would be for $100. She said thank you.
Max Beauregard introduced Scott Bruns, our webmaster.
Mary Kay Green accounced that Melissa Taylor has resigned from her position as Executive Director of the Harris County Democratic Party. There will be a party in her honor tonight from 6 to 9 PM in Cobain’s, the sports bar that is located immediately behind Chatter’s.
The meeting was adjourned by Mary Kay Green at 10:10 AM.
by Henry Weissborn
GHDC Secretary
Approved by Mary Kay Green
GHDC President
Date: December 6, 2006
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Posted in Events at 6:00 pm by M Beauregard
"Art on the Avenue" is an evening celebration and silent auction of the works of artists with a connection to the historic Washington Avenue and Near Northside neighborhoods located north and northwest of Houston’s Downtown. Art on the Avenue benefits Avenue CDC’s affordable housing programs.
2006 Honoree: Mayor Bill White
2006 Honorary Chairs: Council Member Peter Brown and Anne Brown
| Location: |
Winter Street Studios |
| |
2101 Winter Street |
| |
Houston, TX 77007 |
| |
Winter Street Map |
To purchase tickets for the event:
Call 713.864.8099, ext. 229,
or email jimmieL@avenuecdc.org
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Posted in Events, Expired Posts at 10:00 am by M Beauregard
Join Heights Dems member JIm Rine and Veteran’s for Peace entry #87 (of 158 total) for the parade!!
Meet at Preston & Louisiana Sts. 11am. 281/414-1386 or jmrine@hotmail.com
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Posted in Events at 9:00 am by M Beauregard
Join us at our regular meeting as we commisserate, celebrate, or compensate for the outcome of Nov 7.
Come share your ideas on the election and discuss the local results.
Regardless of the outcome, we plan to have Mimosas, we which we usually do NOT have!!
Details of the meeting as they evolve, but certianly some detailed preliminary analysis.
These pies show the percent each candidate received by county. The map uses a log scale so both small and large counties display relative to one another.
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11.10.06
Posted in Meeting Minutes at 10:43 pm by M Beauregard
Mary Kay Green called the meeting to order at 9:15 AM. She introduced Debra Landis, who spoke on behalf of U.S. Senate Barbara Ann Radnofsky. The candidate is doing a lot of traveling lately, and was out of town on this date. She had sent a personal apology prior to the meeting stating that she could not attend. Ms. Landis distributed a Radnofsky position paper, entitled "Where I Stand"; a biography; and, personal highlights. She announced the campaign web site, which is
www.radnofsky.com. Ms. Landis is a personal acquaintance of Barbara Radnofsky, and is a fellow civil litigator and trial lawyer. She commented that Barbara Radnofsky has always been well-prepared and respectful throughout her 30 year career. She was trained in mediation, and has taught mediation and practiced as a mediator. Her father was a NASA scientist. She grew up in the Houston area. Ms. Landis declared, "Now is the time. She (Barbara Radnofsky) is the lady that we need". She announced that Seth Davidson, who is her campaign manager, can be reached at (713) 858-6256 and
seth@radnofsky.comMary Kay Green asked about the exact date of the scheduled upcoming televised debate between Barbara Radnofsky and Kay Bailey Hutchinson. Ms. Landis thinks that it has been postponed. Details are forthcoming and will be announced as soon as they are known.
Max Beauregard commented that he’s from Amarillo. Kay Bailey Hutchinson declined to denounce a Ku Klux Klan rally that recently took place there.
Mary Kay Green introduced Fred Lewis of the Neighbor to Neighbor PAC, which does grassroots organizing for Democrats. He said that Tom Craddick will be gone if Democrats win 5 seats in the Texas House. He predicted that Scott Hochberg (
www.scotthochberg.com) and Hubert Vo are going to get reelected. He said that 2 Texas House seats are in play in Houston: Kristi Thibaut in 133 (
www.votekristi.com) and Ellen Cohen in 134. He said that sooner or later these 2 districts are going to go Democratic. He declared that Houston has a golden opportunity to pick up these 2 House seats. He said that if you really want to make a difference, you need to get out and get people registered to vote. He said the reason why we win in the Austin area is because people there actually get out and work. He predicted that if we get and here in this city and work, we will win.
He urged us to go next Saturday at 9 AM to Hubert Vo’s headquarter’s at 11360 Bellaire in order to get deputized as voter registrars (
www.hubertvo.com). He said the question is whether Houston is going to go Democratic in 4 years, or in 15 years. Inevitably, it will go Democratic.
Max Beauregard mentioned the online organizing tool,
www.trueblueaction.com. He said we are trying to increase awareness in our area, the Heights. He announced that there is an exhibit at the Art Car Museum, 140 Heights (
www.artcarmuseum), tonight.
Mary Kay Green announced that the Ellen Cohen campaign, 4950 Bissonnet, Bellaire, Texas 77401, has called for volunteers (
www.ellencohen.org).
She mentioned that volunteers are needed during the 38th annual Fiestas Patrias Parade, "El 38 Desfile de ‘Fiestas Patrias’", downtown next Saturday on September 16. Marchers will line up at 9 AM on Texas Avenue between Bastrop and St. Emmanuel behind Minute Maid Park. The parade will start at 10 AM in front of Minute Maid Park, and will end at the corner of Preston and Crawford.
She announced this year’s Johnson-Rayburn dinner, which will take place on September 30 at the J.W. Marriott Hotel Grand Ballroom, 2nd Floor, at 6:00 PM. U.S. Senator Russ Feingold will headline the event. The hotel is located at 5150 Westheimer by the Galleria.The tickets are pretty pricey, $125 per person. Max Beauregard said this is a first-class event that usually brings 500 people. A "Silent Auction" will take place prior to the event.
Mary Kay Green related the Treasurers Report from Vicky Bellow that we have $779.25 in the bank.
Diane Mosier and 2 other members contributed a combined total of $400, which includes $200 that will allow us to have a separate table at the J.R. dinner and $200 for our personal (club) use.
Mary Kay Green reported that the Heights Festival is not going to take place this year due to some entrance liability issues. She asked us to consider having our own festival in lieu of the Heights Festival.
Diane Mosier said there will be a Dickens Street Fair in the Heights the first weekend in December. She suggested scheduling some events in the Boom Boom Room, a casual wine, panini, and coffee bar, which is located at 2518 Yale (713-868-4740). Jackie Harris, the owner, is a dedicated Democrat.
Mary Kay Green said part of the reason why the Heights Festival was such a benefit for us is that it was a perfect opportunity to register voters. Tuesday, October 10, is the last day to register voters.
Diane Mosier said the Heights Trolley stops at the Casa Ramirez folk art gallery, 239 W. 19th Street (713-880-2420). The owner, Macario Ramirez, is a dedicated Democrat. Mary Kay Green told us to plan on being there at the gallery on October 7 to register voters.
Max Beauregard announced upcoming speeches by George Soros on September 7 at the Hobby Center and Frank Rich on October 29 at the Wortham Center. He said that both of these speakers are incredibly critical of the Bush Administration.(
www.progressiveforumhouston.org, PO Box 1722, Bellaire, TX. 77002).
Diane Mosier said to stay tuned for some upcoming "Keep Jessica Strong" events. She’s an incumbent Democrat who’s done the right thing. She’s fighting the good fight every day. She can’t fight Craddick by herself.
She said the Heights is the largest art district in the state. There’s tremendous potential to tap registered voters in this area. Good places to start are the Art Car Museum, Casa Ramirez, Redbud Gallery, and the Boom Boom Room.
Jim Rine announced that there will be free food from 7 to 10 tonight at the Art Car Museum. He brought subscription forms for the Crawford, Tx. "Iconoclast" to our meeting.
Jim Jennings criticized Progressive Forum speaker George Soros.
Mary Kay Green asked whether there were any other announcements. She said it’s incredible, but former Congressman Tom Delay has weighed in on who people should vote for on the dance competition TV program "Dancing with the Stars". He has e-mailed his supporters asking them to vote for country singer Sara Evans, who is a Republican and performed at the 2004 Republican National Convention. She said that Tucker Carlson is participating in this thing, as well. She asked, "why would we have expected Tom Delay to have gone quietly into the night?" She announced that we have gotten in a new shipment of Heights club t-shirts.
Jim Rine reported on a recent article from Truth-out.org entitled, "Bush Declares Eco-Whistleblower Law Void for EPA Employees" about the Bush Administration declaring itself immune for whistleblower protection under the Clean Water Act (
www.truthout.org). This article was based on legal documents released by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER,
www.peer.org). The opinion and ruling releases nearly 2 decades of precedent. This administration has been chipping away quietly at environmental protections for years.
Mary Kay Green interviewed with the Houston Chronicle’s endorsement board yesterday.
She adjourned the meeting at 10:40 AM.
Henry Weissborn, GHDC Secretary
Mary Kay Green, GHDC President
October 14, 2006
All-new Yahoo! Mail - Fire up a more powerful email and get things done faster.
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Posted in Events, Expired Posts at 5:30 pm by M Beauregard
District H Councilman Adrian Garcia and the Port of Houston are sponsoring this boat tour and networking opportunity as part of their on-going monthly series. Please join us for the "Power Hour" Networking Mixer; a great opportunity to meet community representatives, civic leaders, and concerned citizens in a social setting.
Date: Friday, November 10, 2006
Time: 5:30pm to 8:00pm
Place: Port of Houston / Ship Channel
Our networking mixer will take place on the boat, therefore, space is limited. Reservations will be made on a first-come, first-serve basis. Due to the limited space, please reserve your spot as soon as possible.
You must r.s.v.p. edward.gonzalez@yahoo.com.
If you do r.s.v.p., please ensure that you also attend; if not, that will preclude someone else from attending. Complimentary hors d’ oeuvres will be served, and there will be a cash bar.
Special thanks to our sponsor, the Port of Houston Authority.
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11.09.06
Posted in Events, Expired Posts at 7:30 pm by M Beauregard
Angelika Film Center 510 Texas Avenue Houston, Texas 77002
Thursday November 9, 2006 7:30 PM
"One of the most important political docs of the last several years."
– LA Weekly
$10, RSVP required
HOSTED BY: ISIS PAGES http://bravenewtheaters.com:80/group/show/4797-isispages
http://americanblackout.org/
http://blackout.bravenewtheaters.com/screening/show/7486-houston
American Blackout critically examines the contemporary tactics used to control our democratic process and silence voices of political dissent.
Many have heard of the alleged voting irregularities that occurred during the presidential elections of 2000 and 2004. Until now, these incidents have gone under-reported and are commonly written off as insignificant rumors or unintentional mishaps resulting from an overburdened election system.
American Blackout chronicles the recurring patterns of voter disenfranchisement from Florida 2000 to Ohio 2004 while following the story of Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney.
The film features interviews with: US Congressional Representatives, John Lewis, Cynthia McKinney, John Conyers, Bernie Sanders, and Stephanie Tubbs-Jones; former US Civil Rights Commissioner & Dean of UC Berkeley’s School of Law, Christopher Edley; BBC journalist Greg Palast; Bob Fitrakis, and, Van Jones, Executive Director of the Ella Baker Center. American Blackout is directed by Ian Inaba of GNN TV.
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