Texas Democrats: Remember to attend your Precinct Conventions.

[efhmc]

They take place at 7:15P.M. on March 9, right after the polls close.
It is very important to be there and show support for all of our candidates and issues. Thanks.

[seabeyond]

1. guy

is this the ninth. was going to check today tomorrow to see if the democrats are in town. thanks efhmc

[bluestateguy]

2. I have a softball game

If this was still a contested race, and/or if I was planning on living here permanently I might go, but my softball team needs me. I already voted early at UT for Kerry.

[ChickMagic]

3. My husband and I are both going

to the caucus for the first time.

[Brazosboomer]

4. Okay, so ....

... if you can't make it to your precinct convention, ease your guilt and send a donation to Richard Morrison so he can whip Tom DuhLay! http://www.richardmorrisonfordistrict22.com/

Or, you can send a few dollars to the good people at Fort Bend Democrats http://www.fortbenddemocrats.org/ who are helping Morrison. Their address is

Fort Bend Democrats
PO Box 785
Richmond, Texas 77406

Yes, this is shameless begging!

[silverlib]

8. I sent in mine...

don't live in the district, but I think this election is so very important. Don't have much money, so I have to be picky, and Morrison is worth the money.

[LDS Jock]

15. shameless yes.. but...

A very worthy cause. No one other than Bush himself deserves to be voted out of office more than Tom DeLay. Just typing his name makes my blood boil. I thought of Tom today as I voted for Lloyd Doggett in the primaries, since Tommy wanted him out of office so badly. I've donated to Morrison. Seriously, if anyone can help, this is a great place to do so.

[pmbryant]

5. So are they at the voting locations?

And what exactly goes on at these conventions?

If it weren't for DU, I'd never even know they existed. I haven't read anything about them on either the newspaper's web site or the local Democratic Party site.

:shrug:

--Peter

[silverlib]

7. Yes, held at your polling place...

This will be my first one, too. We'll both hopefully get some idea of what goes on. I am taking some resolutions approved by the Progressive Populist Caucus of the Democratic Party to the meeting.

[pmbryant]

12. I'm going to try to go

Even though I am rather perplexed as to why these are so completely unpublicized.

:shrug:

Peter

[silverlib]

6. Yes! This is so important - note the email I received this morning

from David Van Os, who is running for the Texas Supreme Court. Thank you to Dalia Stokes, President of ROADwomen for forwarding this alert which all true Texas Democrats should heed.

I will be attending my precinct meeting in my neighbor's garage thanks to the Texas Republican redistricting plan with no public buildings located in my precinct.

"----- Original Message -----

It has been brought to our attention that the Christian Coalition has sent a letter to its members in Texas urging those who live in districts where their Republican elected officials are "safe" to vote in the Democratic Primary and ATTEND THE DEMOCRATIC PRECINCT CONVENTIONS in the evening with the objective of infiltrating the Texas Democratic Party and taking it over. Because Democratic Precinct conventions are so poorly attended, this is not as far-fetched an idea as one might think. In fact, it is exactly what they did to take over the Republican Party beginning in 1990. They were wildly successful in those efforts - ask any moderate Republican.

The only defense to this is to ATTEND YOUR DEMOCRATIC PRECINCT CONVENTION and try to prevent these infiltrators from getting elected Chair of the pct convention and from becoming delegates to the Senate District Convention. Often they advance to the next level by stealth - that is, they do nothing to signal that they are Christian Coalition, such as trying to pass a pro-life resolution. You might be able to flush them out by proposing the pro-choice or other resolution. If you have any such infiltrators, ROADie is most interested in learning of it.

The Democratic Party is historically truly a big tent - welcoming to all, even pro-lifers. But this is a horse of a different color - this is purely an attempt by conservative Republicans to hijack the Democratic Party."

[Jane Austin]

13. Your post

Your post helped convince my husband to attend tonight, too.

Thanks.

[silverlib]

16. Welcome to DU!

Glad to have another Austinite aboard!

[NoPasaran]

9. These ARE important

This is going to be my first one as well so this is all based on what I've been told, not real-life experience.

The main thing is we're going to be picking delegates to go on to the county conventions which I believe are Saturday March 27. The number of delegates varies from precinct to precinct and reflects the number of votes cast for Tony Sanchez in 2002. The county conventions in turn pick delegates for the State convention.

There are a number of delegates to the national convention who are not determined by the primary, but rather through the caucus process that starts tonight. So if you want to pick up some strength in Boston for your guy, you have the chance tonight.

Also, anyone in attendance has the right to submit resolutions. Concerned about BBV? Texas Safe Voting has a resolution to introduce (or roll your own).

Want to breath some life into the old Donkey? You get your chance tonight.

[Jane Austin]

14. BBV Resolution

You wrote:

Also, anyone in attendance has the right to submit
resolutions. Concerned about BBV? Texas Safe Voting has a
resolution to introduce (or roll your own).

Me:

Does a resolution like this need to be in writing for
submission?

[silverlib]

17. Yes, in writing...

here's a sample one. We will have to change the wording on the presenter, but it will get you started.

RESOLUTION ON PROTECTION FROM ELECTION FRAUD

Whereas computerized voting equipment is inherently subject to programming error, equipment malfunction, and malicious tampering;

Whereas many voting experts are advocating voting equipment provide an individual paper voter-verifiable audit trail, by which we mean a permanent record of each vote that can be checked for accuracy by the voter both before and after the vote is cast and which is difficult to alter after it has been checked;

And Whereas many of the electronic voting machines being purchased by election authorities in Texas do not satisfy this requirement;

Be it resolved that voting machines should not be purchased or
used unless they provide an individual paper voter-verifiable audit trail;

Be it resolved that when such machines are already in use, they should be replaced or modified to provide an individual paper voter-verifiable audit trail;

Be it therefore resolved that providing an individual paper voter-verifiable audit trail should be one of the essential requirements for certification of new voting systems and election procedures mandate that the individual paper audit trail be the vote of record in the event of a recount.

Submitted to and Adopted by Precinct Number __________________________County______________________
Precinct Convention Secretary (signature)_________________________________on____________________(date)
Submitted to and Adopted by State Sen. District_____,___________________________County
Sen. District/Co. Convention Secretary (signature)__________________________on____________________(date)

[derby378]

10. Christian Coalition ass-whooping KICK!

CC infiltrators in the Texas primaries? As Han Solo once said, "Bring them on! I prefer a straight fight to all this sneakin' around!"

[sonias]

11. kicking it

Texas Dems - get out and do your part. We have to take our state back from the Reich wing. The only requirement you need to meet is voting in the primary to attend the caucus in your precinct.

Just do it, the Democracy you save may be your own.!!

Sonia