06.09.07
Minutes, June 9
Max Beauregard called the meeting to order at 9 AM. We met at Kobain’s, the bar behind Chatter’s, because this morning we had a special book-signing and lecture event with Melinda Henneberger, the author of “If They Only Listened To Us: What Women Voters Want Politicians to Hear”. He commented, "this morning we have a wonderful day and set-up with 4 quality speakers". Max announced some special guests in attendance.
Sondra Wygal, President of the Texas Young Democrats, spoke first. She announced 2 upcoming fundraisers for her organization. The first, a fundraiser for the Texas Young Democrats leadership fund, will take place at the
She announced an upcoming conference of National Liberal Youth. John Edwards is already confirmed to speak at the conference. Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Bill Richardson are tentatively scheduled, but not yet confirmed.
Max Beauregard announced that GHDC will be marching alongside the ROADWomen in the Pride Parade. Bob Scamardo, who is President of the Houston Equal Rights Alliance (HERA), spoke next. He said that the volunteers for the Pride Parade will get t-shirts in exchange for committing to work 2-hour shifts.
Jen Bryan, a member of HERA, discussed the Voter ID Project. HERA, in conjunction with GLBT, is conducting the largest voter registration and Voter ID Project in its history. They are seeking 100 volunteers (www.houstonera.com).
Max Beauregard said our contingent in the Pride Parade will gather at 7 PM at
He mentioned that gospel and soul singer Candi Staton will perform later this month at a Juneteeth Celebration, that will be hosted by former State Rep Al Edwards (www.candi-staton.com). He announced that Mayor Bill White will be the keynote speaker at an Environmental Summit in the
The Harris County Republican Party has a defamatory video on the internet, which attacks all of the Democrats serving in city government. It is available on You Tube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDBw-Q8NHVw The slanderous, scare-tactic propaganda video, which is paid for by HCRP TV (Republican Party), urges voters to not support Melissa Noriega. The clip purportedly "stars" "Team Noriega" (Rick and Melissa) and shows footage of them, Annise Parker, Carol Alvarado, Bill White, Mayor Bill White, and Sheila Jackson Lee, and is accompanied by scary music with screams. Ron Green noted that the current composition of City Council is 8 Democrats and 6 Republicans. He said, "we’ll be in even better shape if Melissa wins on Saturday. We’ll have 9 Democrats and 6 Republicans". The last day of early voting in the run-off is Tuesday.
David Robinson, who is Chair of Precinct 57, noted that election workers make just $6 an hour for an exhausting day of work.
Max Beauregard said that early voting takes place at
Joe Jennings said that he is also a precinct chair. He reported that Dennis Kucinich has submitted an amendment to impeach Vice-President Dick Cheney for helping to start the war with
Leta Parks pointed out that the mere act of lying, if it wasn’t done under oath, is not a "high crime and misdemeanor", and is thus not grounds for impeachment. A heated discussion ensued.
Referring to the Iraq War, Joe Jennings accused Dick Cheney of being the "brains of the operation". Max Beauregard expressed concern about whether a quorum was present at the meeting. He said the procedural issue is whether we had enough paid membership in attendance that morning. He wanted to know whose membership was paid, and who’s not paid.
Mary Kay Green asked for further discussion. Leta Parks said she has a question about whether Dick Cheney lied under oath. Joe Jennings pointed out that the Detroit City Council recently passed a resolution in favor of Kucinich’s call to impeach Dick Cheney. Representative John Conyers’ wife serves on the Detroit City Council.
Mary Kay Green suggested that we either write to Sheila Jackson Lee on an individual basis or ask her to sponsor it, or that we do it as a group. She questioned whether lying was a violation of his oath of office, or specifically which law it violated. Leta Parks said the fundamental question was whether it constituted lying under oath. Joe Jennings said, "I’m not making something up here". Mary Kay Green said the danger with this resolution is that "it might divert Congress’s attention away from a lot of important issues that we would like for Congress to address". The motion passed, although not unanimously. Joe Jennings agreed to send a letter on this topic to Sheila Jackson Lee.
Sheila Jackson Lee said that she had just come from a meeting a few blocks away on flood prevention preparedness. She said, "I am a lawyer. We know at this point where we are politically. Any sort of lightning rods that we can keep in the presidential campaigns should best stay there. I appreciate and encourage the debate. I’ve been engaged with Dennis Kucinich from the very minute that he filed it".
"We’re going to have a press conference tomorrow on the failure of comprehensive immigration return. We can do this in the right way". The press conference was held on Sunday, June 10, at 2:30 PM at the
Regarding the collapse of legislation on the curtailment of funding and withdrawal from
Max Beauregard said, "We want Sheila Jackson Lee back again. She predicted, "we’re going to win in November".
Kevin Hoffman said, "She’s been working hard on the campaign to preserve historic landmarks in
She said, "I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired. We’re destroying the historic landmarks in our community. We’re becoming development-victimized. You’ve got to stand up. When you aren’t powerful, you’re being railroaded. They want to tear up the bricks. We want to discuss the set-up of a development fund that will go toward the funding of historic landmarks. We will meet with the Mayor on Monday. It is a question of moving forward on historic preservation. I would love for you all to write a letter of support for historic preservation. If you could write letter to me and to the Mayor, I would appreciate it. Thank you all very much. I look forward to seeing you all on the campaign trail".
Barbara Ann Radnofsky said, "it was an absolutely wonderful experience to be accompanied on the campaign trail by a New York Times reporter. She’s written a really wonderful book that the Brazos Bookstore has agreed to carry. We had an event last night, and sold 60 books. This morning we have an opportunity to hang out in a bar (Kobain) and listen to her. With that, I give you Melinda Henneberger".
Melinda Henneberger said she comes from a very Republican background. In order to give inkling, she said, "if this poor President’s popularity rating plummeted to 3%, my family would still be supporting him.”
She grew up Catholic. Throughout her childhood, her favorite priest was anti-war and used to ride around town in a psychedelic bus. She was affected at that time by the anti-war and Vatican II movements in the Church.
She greatly enjoyed the experience of writing her new book. She found it to be therapeutic to learn what women are really looking for in our next leader. She said, "the first thing I heard from women is how ‘unheard’ they feel. The other thing I started to realize is the extent to which American politics is still not an OK thing to talk about. That’s still especially true of women. If we’re not out there talking about these issues, then maybe we don’t actually know what our leaders should be doing policy-wise. The other thing is, ‘here, who am I to weigh in? One of the thrills of the project is realizing how we can have an impact. I really did become convinced that change is possible. We can make a difference".
For a lot of mothers, who are known as the "security-moms", security is a major issue. It was the number 1 issue cited by the Democrats who defected from the Party in 2004. Abortion is a very important issue for swing voters. The Bishop’s pronouncement on the issue influenced a lot of swing voters. Democratic women now are looking for a way to return back to the Party.
Another pivotal issue was the idea of condescension. She said, "some women commented that, ‘Democrats look down on me’. This is a very religious, true-believing country. The number 1 thing that I am going to tell Senators is to make a moral argument for our policies.
Last summer while on vacation, my family and I listened to a cassette tape of Martin Luther King. What he really achieved was the impossible. If we make a moral case, I think that we can really get there in a big way". Someone said that her faith-based analysis seems reminiscent of Bush. She retorted that Republicans do not have a monopoly on faith, and that "Bush is the best friend that corporate
Since her first days in journalism, she has moved into writing political commentary. She said, "until recently I had no political opinions whatsoever. I was an objective political reporter".
She discussed the 2008 Presidential campaign. Mary Kay Green said, "we have an advantage, but it’s not a done deal. Anybody on the Republican side is going to have some bedrock appeal. Bush being out of the way is going to be to the Republican’s advantage.
She noted that Bill Richardson has the best overall experience level. He has been a Congressman, Cabinet-member, and Governor. She said, "let’s face it. We don’t elect Senators. We elect Governors". History bears that out.
Melinda Henneberger commented, "I have a lot of concerns about Hillary Clinton. Her negatives run so deep. Authenticity is a big issue. I hope that we don’t choose another nominee who people don’t want in their living rooms". She said her 3 favorite Presidential candidates right now are "Bill Richardson, Barack Obama, and John Edwards". She warned, "if the Republicans were to choose someone like Giuliani, who is pro-choice, then they would be formidable".
A professional photographer, D. R. Dalton, was in the audience, and took photos of the event. www.daltondehart.com
Max Beauregard announced that he would be leaving the meeting shortly with Melinda Henneberger and Barbara Ann Radnofsky to attend a presentation at the U.H. Hilton Hotel entitled "True Blue, Texas Women…speak their minds". All of the local state Representatives, Dr. Alma Allen, Ellen Cohen Jessica Farrar, Senfronia Thompson, and Ana Hernandez, were going to be there. Max Beauregard is currently working on a demographic analysis of the voting patterns of Houston-area women.
Melissa Noriega said, "I know that you’ve been listening to Melinda Henneberger for a while". She said she has already started reading the chapter on Catholic women in Ms. Henneberger’s book. She said, "I’m running for Shelley Sekula Gibbs’s old seat (At-Large 3). This seat has been active since December. Only 2% of the electorate, or 15,000 to 20,000 voters, are expected to turn out to vote". Her campaign office is located in a 2-story-office building at 7401 Gulf Freeway. She will have an Election Night Party at Cafe Adobe. She said, "as soon as the polls close, the party will begin".
Sheila Jackson Lee said, "thank you, and go Heights Democrats".
Vicki Bellow reported that she and Max Beauregard have been blockwalking for Melissa Noriega. Max Beauregard said, "I have been elated by the response that we have gotten while blockwalking". He announced that we will have a July 4th Happy Hour Party at
Max Beauregard adjourned the meeting at 11 AM.
