I am speechless

[NoPasaran]

Barbara Radnofsky: 180,392 - 44.11%
Gene Kelly: 153,626 - 37.56%
Darrel R. Hunter: 74,980 - 18.33%

Gene fucking Kelly---a worthless piece of shit whose whole strategy is getting his idiotic name on the ballot to have his ass kicked by the repukes---forces BAR into a goddamned runoff? What the fuck is wrong with this party? Jesus fucking Christ, we deserve Governor Kinky!

[liveoaktx]

1. You have to wonder how many morons voted just because they

recognized the name.

[Gman]

15. Kelly uses his name every election

and causes problems for serious candidates.

[crispini]

2. Yep.

Amazing how many people are OK with showing up and voting a race based on somebody's NAME.

[TexasThoughtCriminal]

3. I had more than one voter in my precinct comment on the name.

God, I hope they didn't take him seriously.

[liveoaktx]

4. We had a rep for Radnofsky come to our Dem rally and she

said that she had heard that people would vote for Gene Kelly on name recognition alone. Dumb.

[WestHoustonDem]

5. I was at Radnofsky's party tonight

They were hoping to pull it of without a runoff, but very much prepared for it if it happened. PDittie and I were both interviewed on the webcast which will be available later or tomorrow at http://www.radnofsky.com/.

[lavenderdiva]

22. thanks for the link, WestHoustonDem!

watched yours and PDittie's interview and you both looked and sounded great! Too bad about the runoff, but I have every confidence Radnofsky will emerge the winner! (looked like you were enjoying a great margarita too)

[WestHoustonDem]

26. Thanks LD! I was at a Mexican restaurant after dark, yes of course

I was having a margarita! :rofl:

[Czolgosz]

6. In my dumbass county Gene Kelly WON?!?!?!? God save us.

[derby378]

7. So who the hell IS Gene Kelly, anyway?

The man didn't even have a website. How did he rate so high?

[Freddie Stubbs]

8. Perhaps the other candidates failed to run a strong enough campaign

allowing Mr. Kelly to get enough votes to force a run-off.

[GOPisEvil]

9. He runs for office in every election, and hopes to cash in on his name.

[GOPisEvil]

10. BAR has GOT to get her name in the news.

Most casual voters :puke: probably think she's no different that Gene Kelly (who really needs to stop running for office).

[Avalux]

11. It's fixed; I am convinced it is.

Sorry, but I have no other explanation for some of the stuff that happened last night.

[Freddie Stubbs]

12. If they really wanted to fix it to screw the Democrats,

they would have made Gene Kelly won. He has won primaries before in TX, so it wouldn't have been that shocking.

[Avalux]

13. He didn't win, but there will be a runoff.

And then he'll probably win that.

[Freddie Stubbs]

14. He has been winning primaries long before there was touch-screen voting

in Texas. If Ms. Radnofsky can't beat this guy, what chance does she have against KBH?

[Avalux]

16. Are you a supporter of his?

Just asking. :hi:

[Freddie Stubbs]

17. Absolutley not

He is a joke. The fact that this guy in competative in (and sometimes winning) state-wide primaries is a teatament to the poor shape that the Democratic party is in Texas.

[redqueen]

19. Amen.

I think Dean's proposal to spread the money around more evenly instead of leaving some areas out to dry should help with that.

[Czolgosz]

35. A RUN OFF HELPS BAR -- a run off means 30 more days of free press,

30 more days before the media ignores the campaign until it really heats up again as November approaches, 30 more days for BAR to meet the voters while interest in the campaign is most intense, 30 more days of positive endorsements, 30 more days of wall-to-wall yard signs, etc.

This is all good. We shouldn't be worried that BAR has a run off; if anything, we should be disappointed that Bell didn't.

[Lisa0825]

52. totally different issues.

"we should be disappointed that Bell didn't." No, not at all. Bell isn't just a name on a ballot like Kelly. He had an actual campaign, as did Gammage, and the outcome was completely fair. If you want to speak as a supporter, fine, be dissapointed. But the issue of Kelly vs Radnofsky is a completely different type of situation, not one of two qualified candidates running against each other.

[MrTriumph]

64. What spin! It looks like BAR couldn't fight her way out of a paper bag

Let's see, BAR, a candidate who has tirelessly campaigned for the nomination, couldn't beat an opponent that does not campaign nor advertise.

Czo, your spin is beyond the pale. I can only imagine the difficulty BAR will now have raising funds as the media reminds us for the next 30 days that a man with only the name of a dead dancer forced her into a run off.

Time for BAR to fire her staff and start over.

[Czolgosz]

66. The hatred is strong in this one, Obi-Wan...

[Czolgosz]

67. BTW, the idea that a run off is good for BAR isn't "spin." It's a fact.

BAR has no prior experience as an elected official, and her statewide name identification is not very high as a result. This is why there is a run off, because Kelly has name identification (even thought it's for someone else with that name) and BAR doesn't. The best way to raise BAR's name identification, is to continue campaigning hard, as you do in a run off.

A run off campaign will be covered by the media -- make no mistake, the level of media coverage for BAR's campaign (and everyone else's campaign, too) will drop off after an initial burst of meet-the-candidate post-nomination press. This run off extends the period of more intense media coverage, which is exactly what BAR needs to improve her name identification. That's good, not spin.

Also, have no doubt BAR will get the nomination. The type of politically underinformed voters who voted for Kelly will vote in much, much smaller numbers in the run off election (these underinformed voters are generally at the poll to support some family friend or other candidate they know personally in one specific race -- for example, Kelly did especially well in Corpus Christi because there was a very high number of otherwise apolitical voters who were drawn to the polls out of interest in a contentious 5-way Democratic Party sheriff's race). These otherwise apolitical voters generally will not show up for the run off unless their candidate-of-interest is also on the run off ballot.

BAR should campaign like the run off election will be close, but her nomination is all but assured.

[merci_me]

18. Gene Kelly could pull it off again

In the 2000 run off, in our precinct and several others in our area, that senate race was the ONLY race on the ballot. It was a looong day.

It was also raining, yet some people actually went to the polls in a run off (rare in itself), which only had one race to vote and they STILL voted for a "name only" candidate, and he won in each of those precincts and went on to be the candidate, for the US Senate from Texas, in November.

This time there will be two statewide runoffs, plus several other runoffs around the state. I don't know if that will add to Kelly's votes or if it will benefit Radnofsky.

But Kelly ended up getting the nomination before. It could get very dicey.

Let's just hope during the next month, it isn't the real or should I say reel Gene Kelly's birthday or the anniversary of his death and TCM or AMC runs a day of Gene Kelly movies.

[redqueen]

20. Thanks for posting this.

Now I know how important it is to GOT(Randofsky)V for the run off.

[crispini]

21. Anyone who did 10 minutes of research could tell

that Radnofsky was the one to vote for. This disappoints me.

[Bouncy Ball]

28. I'm proud to say it took me approximately two minutes,

maybe less, to determine who to vote for in that race (I had never heard of Gene Kelley).

[NoPasaran]

23. Updated returns

Still a few precincts out:

Darrel Reece Hunter 99,682 19.05%
Gene Kelly 195,780 37.42%
Barbara Ann Radnofsky 227,667 43.52%

All trashing of Gene Kelly aside, WTF is up with the hundred thousand people who voted for Hunter? His website requests that you NOT donate money to his campaign!!! What kind of brilliant strategy is that?!?!?

We complain a lot about how the DNC and the rest of the acronymosphere don't take our races seriously. Looking at this, I really can't fault them.

[merci_me]

24. The truth about websites

is a LOT of people don't go to candidate websites. In fact, a lot of Democrats who are poor, can't afford computers or the monthly access costs. A lot of people have jobs that don't give them the chance, which obviously a whole lot of us do, to surf during the day (nurses, retail workers, police officers, construction workers, yada, yada).

I've often directed people to a candidate site or other sites and they aren't interested, in what they consider the "vanity sites", yet when you try to talk to them about issues, they'll say "e-mail me the position paper", but do they look it up themselves? Usually not.

WE go, our friends pretty much do, so we think everyone does. The truth is, most people get their information from MSM and the MSM doesn't do diddly squat in the primaries, which in a way, is almost better than the diddly they do.

My brother-in-law (repuke anyway) uses his for his law practice and my sister, strictly for her real estate work. They have a home computer, just to make access to work easier. Actually, the people on either side of us (one with 3 repuke yard signs) don't even own computers. One couple is in their 70s, but the other are both professional 30-somethings, working for Chase Bank and Wells Fargo Bank.

We need to remember to not only use more up-to-date campaign methods, but to not scrap the way we've done retail politics for years. Unfortunately, as it has for years (ask anyone in Ohio about the name Brown for a leg up, in either party) an easy name helps.

[redqueen]

25. Could the money and attention help make the races more serious?

I have a hard time understanding how cutting off resources is supposed to help improve the situation any.

[TexasLawyer]

27. DU Texans--Cut and paste my Radnofsky v. Kelly post into an e-mail

and send it to anyone who can be convinced to vote in the primary. Radnofsky needs a decisive win in the run-off. She CAN beat KBH in November!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=180x27888

[PDittie]

32. Done. See here:

http://brainsandeggs.blogspot.com/2006/03/surprises-from-yesterday.html

[TexasLawyer]

44. THANKS, PDittie

That's awesome!

[MrTriumph]

29. BAR's web site stinks- don't use it.

Half of it is devoted to her law career, hardly the stuff that compels voters to support a candidate. The balance is a mix of bland and non-committal clap-trap.

If you have an excerpt of her saying something that ignites voters, send that instead.


(Sadly, I suspect BAR's web site is a mirror of her: Trying hard not to alienate any voters she inspires none.)

[johncoby2]

30. Can you poo-poo on someone else for a while?

[crispini]

31. LOL, Mr. Triumph certainly seems to have a dislike of Bar, eh?

I have to admit, I don't see a lot of point in publicly pillorying someone who is the only candidate in the race to offer anything substantial in the way of a campaign. At least Barbara has the fighting spirit to take on Kay Bailey Hutchinson. I certainly admire that tremendously.

[MrTriumph]

37. I admire her for taking on KBH if she's a real fighting Democrat

and not too keen on compromise with Republicans. If she's is just another DINO (and not as I hope a real Democrat that will soon learn how to speak forcefully Democratic Party themes), well, we don't need any more DINOs, do we?

[crispini]

42. Yes, such a DINO. NOT.

I glanced over that position matrix that was linked to. It's 42 pages long. How is that not enough detail for you? Her stances appeared plenty liberal enough for me. We live in Texas, in case you hadn't noticed. We're not going to be electing any far-left progressives to statewide office anytime soon.

What on earth is your problem? You saw her ONCE and you were disappointed, so you come on here and rant about how she's a DINO and she's not campaigning hard enough. What is your alternative? The other two candidates are JOKES. She is doing a damn good job running for a very expensive statewide office. I believe Ron Kirk spent 10 million and didn't win.

All of your hatin' on Barbara, who is, after all, the only decent candidate that we have, is pretty much only having the effect of making me wonder about YOU.

[MrTriumph]

49. I can take the heat.

And may I correct you? I advocate her positions be clearer and more concise. To say she has a 42 page position matrix proves my point. She needs state strong positions (not wishy-washy blather) in a form that's easy to read.

And may I correct you again? I do not hate BAR. I don't know her personally or as a candidate. Her positions are too vague.

You shouldn't be mad at me ("What on earth is your problem?"). I want a Democratic senator, too. If you want BAR to stand a chance this fall, you should be asking why she couldn't beat a "JOKE" (your term, not mine) in the primary and advocating for change in her campaign.

[crispini]

51. Have you forwarded your suggestions to the campaign?

I can give you their contact information. I have the email address for the statewide finance director, as well as a gal up in Collin who is doing media relations work for the Radnofsky campaign.

I just don't think that your opening salvo in this thread: "BAR's web site stinks- don't use it" is a terribly useful critique. I think if you offered a well-reasoned critique similar to that you gave the Patrick Franklin website, it might be well-received by the campaign. Of course it might be even better received if you started off by offering them your help. I guess my point is instead of engaging with a bunch of us here on the internet, why don't you engage with the campaign? I mean your original post on "Is Bar simply a well-financed DINO." She's certainly not very well financed. Compare and contrast their sources of campaign contributions. 99% of BAR's come from individuals. I certainly don't see where she's in the pocket of big business.

http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.asp?ID=TXS2&Cycle=2006

[MrTriumph]

34. Hey, Mr. Pollyanna. Someone needs to state the obvious.

Okay, I realize bad news is hard to hear. But face it. BAR has run a lackluster campaign. This run off probably ends it even if she wins. Whatever credibility she had as a contender has likely vanished. I'd like to have a Democratic Senator, too, johncoby2. But without some big changes, she's toast.

Go to her web site and see if what I said is true. It is largely devoted to her legal career in the most uninspiring fashion. There is nothing that ties her broad legal career to any voter's needs. None whatsoever.


"Issues" is way down on her menu under "News". And when you get there it is mostly bland taking points.

Here, I'll give you an example. Take a hot button issue like Border Security. This, from her web site, is her stand:

• Ensure that Texas gets reimbursement proportional to its costs as a border state for immigration and border security
• Ensure that federal, trained professionals patrol our borders
• Oppose vigilante border security proposals
• Tie immigration to security and develop a comprehensive strategy that encourages rather than discourages legal trade between Mexico and Texas

Do you see any mention of employer sanctions?
Do you see any mention of working conditions?
Did she say security should be beefed up?
Did she say anything about the 12 million illegals already here?
Did she say anything to Texans concerned about their wages and jobs?

What I do read is some clap-trap about 'comprehensive strategy that encourages rather than discourages legal trade between Mexico and Texas'. What does that mean to voters, johncoby2? More NAFTA? You read it. Please tell me what she means. You can't because it is too much like a platitude, far too vague.

I'll guarantee no Texans reading her don't slap the keyboard and say "Wow, that makes sense to me!"

Voters want candidates they can understand even if they disagree with them. They want candidates that have strong beliefs.

BAR has one issue she is clearly emotional about: Not breaking promises to our vets. But is she can't find other issues as deserving of her emotional commitment, she'll just be 'Frosty Rosty' to voters and an also ran in Nov.

[Czolgosz]

38. Are you unable to navigate a website or are you deliberately misleading?

I'll assume that you are not being disingenuous. Those "bland talking points" are the titles to BAR's in-depth position statements. They are links to the detailed articles. Links work like this: you right click on them with your mouse and the link takes you to a whole other webpage which has detailed information on the topic. For example the first "bland talking point" is a link to a position statement with 116 footnotes -- it is the most detailed issue statement of any candidate's website that I know of.

I hope that you are just confused and not deliberately being misleading about this.

[MrTriumph]

47. OK, Czo, using the web site, pls tell us BAR's position on Border Security

Okay, Mr. (or Ms.) Smarty Pants. Using her site as a basis, please answer the simple questions about BAR's stand on Border Security. So you don't have to look it up, here it is again:

Take a hot button issue like Border Security. This, from her web site, is her stand:

• Ensure that Texas gets reimbursement proportional to its costs as a border state for immigration and border security
• Ensure that federal, trained professionals patrol our borders
• Oppose vigilante border security proposals
• Tie immigration to security and develop a comprehensive strategy that encourages rather than discourages legal trade between Mexico and Texas

Do you see any mention of employer sanctions?
Do you see any mention of working conditions?
Did she say security should be beefed up?
Did she say anything about the 12 million illegals already here?
Did she say anything to Texans concerned about their wages and jobs?

[Czolgosz]

55. When I went to her website, I found this discussion of border issues:

McALLEN - The Houston Democrat who is hoping to displace U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison in Congress has described an immigration bill introduced recently by Texas’ senior senator as “wacko.”

Attorney Barbara Ann Radnofsky, who is holding events in the Rio Grande Valley today and Friday, said Hutchison’s legislation to create a Volunteer Border Marshall Program was so poorly written that it was not worthy of a U.S. senator.

“The bill’s sloppy wording alone ought to generate controversy,” Radnofsky said. “It describes volunteers as ‘licensed by a state authority to enforce state or local penal offenses.’ The senator surely means enforce the law, not enforce offenses.”

Radnofsky said Hutchison was “grandstanding” on the issue of immigration and border security. She said ‘volunteer’ was just a “nice word” for vigilante.

“It%u2019s only a matter of time before someone is killed, and then Ms. Hutchison will wonder how things got out of hand with vigilante proposals,” Radnofsky said. “Until we gain control of our borders, we cannot begin to face the tragedy of ten million—far more than ten million mothers, fathers and children who are already here. Ms. Hutchison%u2019s grandstanding proposal fails to protect our borders or our national security. It’s a wacko idea.”

Hutchison, a Republican, introduced her bill on the same day she met with U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. She said the bill would give state and local officials expanded authority to arrest, detain and prosecute illegal aliens as well as create a Volunteer Border Marshall Program.

“Our borders have been hemorrhaging for too long. It is a national security and safety threat to our nation,” Hutchison said, when she introduced her bill. %u201CElected officials and residents from border and non-border states alike want to see action to secure our homeland and enforce our laws.”

Hutchison said her bill would remove barriers to state and local prosecution for both criminal and civil immigration violations. At present, the authority of state and local law enforcement officials to enforce immigration laws is limited to the criminal provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The physical crossing of the border illegally is a criminal violation under the INA. However, the enforcement of civil violations, such as the apprehension and removal of deportable aliens already in the country, is viewed as a federal responsibility.

Hutchison said her bill would also allow the Secretary of Homeland Security to create a Volunteer Border Marshall Program to strengthen border security and reduce the strain on local and federal border officials. She said the program would assist DHS through the use of trained, state-licensed peace officers working a volunteer capacity. The volunteers could be sworn in and assigned to the Border Patrol on temporary missions to identify and control illegal immigration and human and drug trafficking.

“There is no doubt the Minutemen highlighted the dire need for more agents to patrol our borders. While I worked with other border-state senators to secure funding in the appropriations process for 1,500 new Border Patrol agents, we need more,” Hutchison said. “Trained, licensed peace officers could be a valuable and accountable asset to supplement our Border Patrol.”

Radnofsky said it was wrong for the federal government to “pass the buck” for border security onto border cities and counties. She said border communities needed a senator who fights for their interests, not a “rubber stamp” senator who merely carries out the “failed policies of the Bush Administration.”

Hidalgo County Democrats Victor and Lena Carrera hold a reception and fundraiser for Radnofsky at their McAllen home tonight. Among the hosts are Morris Edelstein, Jose E. and Mary A. Garcia, Jaime and Rina Gonzalez, Fernando Mancias, Reynaldo and Debbie Ortiz, Hidalgo County Democratic Party Chair Juan Maldonado, and state Rep. Aaron Peña, D-Edinburg.

On Friday afternoon, Radnofsky holds a press conference on veterans’ affairs at the Hidalgo County Democratic Party headquarters in Pharr.

<http://www.radnofsky.com/press_release.php?items_id=165>

[MrTriumph]

59. Still no answer.

The article does more to illuminate KBH's positions than BAR's.

It still does not answer most of the questions posed about BAR's stand on Border Security.


One omission especially stood out. What to do about the flow of illegals.

"Radnofsky said. 'Until we gain control of our borders, we cannot begin to face the tragedy of ten million—far more than ten million mothers, fathers and children who are already here. '

Okay, so what is BAR proposing?

[Czolgosz]

61. Is there some other website anywhere on the planet that's specific enough

for you?

Traditionally, the Senators wait until they get elected, then they write the detailed legislation.

Why do you single out BAR for the alleged vagueness of her website when every other candidate in the known universe either has no website or has a website which is more vague?

Kay, is that you? Welcome to DU!

[MrTriumph]

63. Glad to see you agree she is vague. But what she needs is

Voters expect their candidates to take positions. BAR is not a celebrity. She needs strong poistions on issues to ignite her campaign.

Or is it simply enough to be a very successful lawyer and a senate seat is just the next accomplishment on a career ladder?

[johncoby2]

40. That response is just too long to read.

[Ken Burch]

56. Not sure that's actually "poo-pooing",actually...

It may well be that the website's shortcomings partially explain why Radnovsky ended up in a runoff.
If the site is made more interesting, Radnofsky's chances could be improved.
It's certainly worth considering.

[MrTriumph]

60. The candidate sets the tone.

Ken- I accept your thought. But it is more than the web site. Her stump speech needs less bio and more heart.

I am afraid her web site is a representation of BAR not quite knowing what her mission is. If she is a real fighting Democrat, I hope she finds her message and can articulate it well.

[Czolgosz]

33. I think BAR's website is the best candidate website in Texas. I don't know

what you are looking for in a candidate website, but I want to know where the candidate stands on issues important to me and how the candidate would differ in her apporach as compared to her opponent.

BAR's website is a through-the-roof success in this regard:

We present our proposals and contrast them with the most cynical, anti-Texas positions espoused by the senior U.S. Senator from Texas, as Kay Bailey Hutchison rubberstamped the Bush Administration's vote directions in 2005, voting for Bush positions in 95.6 percent of all votes in 2005 and declining to discuss any specific challenges to her anti-Texas voting record. This rubberstamping fails Texas, ranking: 50th in high school graduation rate, 48th in average SAT scores, and 46th in secondary teachers with degrees in the subjects they teach. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projections show that by the year 2030, about 60% of Texans will only have a high school education or less. Since 1999, Texas has dropped from 25th to 40th in the nation in per-student spending. Texas leads the nation in uninsured adults and children, with the highest share of uninsured persons of any state. Every major metropolitan area in Texas exceeds the US average. "The sheer number of uninsured Texans ultimately makes health care less affordable for Texas employers and individuals alike. Much of the costs involved in providing health care to the uninsured ultimately are shifted to those who have health insurance--and to Texas taxpayers." “Within a decade, an aging America will spend one of every five dollars on health care, according to government analysts who see no end to increases in the cost of going to the doctor and taking medicine. The nation’s total health care bill by 2015: $4 trillion. Consumers will foot about half the bill, the government the rest.” Texas will encounter another first: For the first time in our history, the next generation of Texans will suffer declining income and less prosperity. Household income will decline by $5,000 by 2030, sucking 60 billion dollars out of our economy. Average incomes in the U.S. fell from 2001-2004, the weakest showing since 1989-1992.After two terms of representation by Kay Bailey Hutchison, Texas is worse off than any other state. With no one fighting for our interests in Washington, Texans are forced to sacrifice more of our children and economic wellbeing than any other state. Since Hutchison began rubberstamping the administration in 2000, total federal spending has increased 42 percent, even as Texas becomes less and less well off.

PLUS MUCH, MUCH MORE -- See <http://www.radnofsky.com/issue.php?items_id=590>, <http://www.radnofsky.com/issue.php?items_id=237>, <http://www.radnofsky.com/issue.php?items_id=218>, <http://www.radnofsky.com/issue.php?items_id=132>

Also, if you found too much discussion of her legal career, it's probably because you were looking at the "Professional Highlights" section of her website (she's a mediator-lawyer so her professional highlights would naturally fall within that field). If you look at the "Community & Volunteer Experience" section of the website, instead, you'd find that BAR has been:

President of the Board, World-Wide Concurrent Premiers and Commissioning Fund, Inc. (1992 - 2005).
Board Member, Southwest Regional Board, Anti-Defamation League (May 2001 - 2005).
Secretary and Board Member, Friends of World Foundation AIDS Research and Prevention (May 2001 - 2005).
Faculty, Prejudice Awareness Summit, Houston, TX (November 13, 1995).
Member, SPIRIT Comprehensive Health Care Clinic, Advisory Board of Directors, AIDS Foundation Houston (1995 - 2000).
Faculty, Houston Bar Association Peer Mediation in the Schools Project, teaching mediation to Spring Forest Middle School students (1994) and to Spring Branch Middle School Students (1995 - 2004) and to Monarch School private students (2002-present).
Member, Board of Directors, Friends of the Texas Medical Center Library (January, 1994 - 2005).

<http://www.radnofsky.com/community.php>

[MrTriumph]

36. Get real. The site is awful.

When you finally get to the 'Issues' section, you have BAR's rather bland comments of the left with nasty comments about KBH on the right. The nasties are fine. But BAR's comments are too milquetoast.

And I don't know what your background is, but no Texans I know will say, "Wow, I must vote for Barbara! After all she's President of the Board, World-Wide Concurrent Premiers and Commissioning Fund, Inc.!"

[Czolgosz]

39. You should ask your mommy for help navigating the site.

I only wish that BAR's experience included cheerleading at college instead of working on the frontline to help find a cure for AIDS and to fight bigotry, but how can we hope to match KBH's cheerleading experience?

[MrTriumph]

45. Here is what my mother and most Texans would say...

She'd say, "Goodness, looks like a high-powered lawyer from that big Enron firm is running for something." And is that what you want web site visitors to say?

No, Czolgosz, that's NOT what you want. Yes, her history gives us a sense that she is an accomplished, powerful lawyer. But NOTHING ties that into why she'd be a good senator for Texans. Zero.

Here, Czo, is what the site says: "Barbara Ann has been lead counsel in jury trials involving commercial disputes, medical malpractice, tax, contractual indemnity, false arrest, malicious prosecution, assault, premises liability, insurance defense matters, pedestrian and auto accidents, Section 1983 Civil Rights disputes, worker's compensation matters, and products liability. She has argued successfully before the Fifth Circuit on pro bono prisoner's rights and torts matters, and has conducted appeals there, and in Texas state appellate courts. Barbara Ann has represented clients in Congressional hearings and administrative tribunals."

Whoever wrote that for her should be shot. It does not say who's side she was on in most of the cases. For all we know she's defending drunken doctors, insurance scam artists, and the like. The one group she singles out as defending, prisoners, hardly is a group that most Texan feel need defending. Texans like to lock people up and throw away the key.

Further, who's she representing before congress? Rafael Palmeiro? Ollie North? Michael Corleone? There is no connection between her law practice at one of Texas most powerful and arguably most notorious law firms and the needs of Texans.

Now if she's been out fighting bigotry and doing all kinds of good things she needs to tell us so, but most importantly how it relates to her Senate race.

Finally, she needs to take a hard stand on more (most) issues, move issues to the forefront of her campaign and abandon the strategy that running on her accomplishments as a lawyer is going to get her elected.

(As an aside, may I mention the speaker that introduced her at the event where I heard BAR speak made a big deal about himself being a lawyer. And he said that it was important that she was a lawyer because she could speak well when making her case as a senator. Hmm. Since when has the ability to a make clear, persuasive case been reserved for lawyers?)

[Czolgosz]

54. BAR's work as a lawyer is important; here's why: BAR was a partner at

Vinson & Elkins at a time when it was very difficult for a woman to become a partner. BAR set up a small section within Vinson & Elkins to represent children burned by defective cigarette lighters. For someone to set up that kind of a law practice group within a big firm like Vinson & Elkins demonstrates an incredible ability to achieve progressive goals within a very conservative environment which is generally discouraging of consumer advocacy. I think the environment at Vinson & Elkins is not very different from the environment in the Senate, and if BAR can get Vinson & Elkins to bend their rules and she can achieve progressive goals within that conservative environment, I believe those skills will serve her well in the Senate. KBH is Bush's rubber stamp, and whatever you might say about BAR's legal career, she's no rubberstamp.

[MrTriumph]

58. Fine. Then the web site should say what you just said.

If that's the deal- she was a determined woman figting in a man's world- then she should say what you just said (in a more concise, personal way).

[johncoby2]

41. Take a look at this site and tell us what you think.....

http://www.franklinfortexas.com/

[crispini]

43. ROFL!

Bless him, he's trying.

[MrTriumph]

46. Okay. You asked. Here is what I think

Using the shamrock for name recognition is corny, but sometimes corny works.

He should substitute the mugshot-like picture with a shot of him out shaking hands.

From the site:

"Dear Friends and Neighbors:

I became a candidate for the Legislature this year because I believe the challenges confronting our state in the 21st century are some of the most significant our government has ever faced.

Our school finance system is broken. Our teachers are over-worked, underpaid, and unappreciated. A flawed system of high-stakes standardized testing has added even more stress to an already overburdened system.

It has been at least 16 years since these and other important issues have been debated in District 7. This year, I have promised to give the people of East Texas a real political debate.

I will be spending the months between now and November 7 meeting residents of the District. I look forward to waging a campaign of ideas and working hard to earn the support of my fellow Texans.

Thanks,
PATRICK FRANKLIN"

Hey, the guy has an issue as his focus: education. He is clearly appealing to teachers and he's fighting against injustice (the standardized test).
He's taking the high road (campaign of ideas). Without knowing his district that might be a good or it could be disaster, but the point is he is revealing his strategy in a no-nonsense way.

Notice how issues are forefront. That's good, too.

It is light years better than the overdone, legal bio-heavy, slick-page look of a Town & Country magazine web site that promotes BAR.

[crispini]

48. Well, you have offered some interesting critiques.

I hope you are offering your web and flyer design and "message" services to a local candidate in Tarrant or Dallas county. It looks like Tarrant has a pretty good slate this year! I'm sure some of the local State House or JP candidates would really appreciate your help! I can always introduce you to someone in Dallas county too. We have over 60 candidates on the ballot this time and we could use all the help we can get.

[MrTriumph]

50. Your turn, Crispini.

How about your critique of Patrick Franklin's site.

BTW, the shamrock may be corny, but I remembered the guy's name without referring back to it.

[crispini]

53. Nope, not gonna say anything about his site.

I could mention some good points (you have already mentioned many) and I could mention some "needs improvement" points. But I don't live in East Texas and I don't know what he and his campaign staff out there think will work for his area. And I also subscribe to the Eleventh Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Speak Ill of a Fellow Democrat In Public. Which this is. ;)

[Lisa0825]

57. I knew nothing about this Kelly guy until now.

So, what's the deal? Does the party have no say at all about someone running as a member of the party? Is there no way to prevent him from running as a Dem?

[NoPasaran]

62. About all it takes is your filing fee or petitions n/t

[sonias]

68. As long as you pay your filing fee

You can run. And this perennial candidate Kelly keeps doling out the money to get on the ballot. It's not cheap either. The fee is $5,000 I believe.

He's run 10 times in the last 14 years. Lost every one of the general elections. Most times he loses in the primary, but of course in 2000 the clown actually won the runoff and was our candidate for Senate against Kay Bailey. So you see, he's already lost to her. So what's the point of doing this now? Just to show that the name he shared with a famous dancer that's dead, can still win a race? He's a f**king idiot.

Sonia

[Lisa0825]

69. Actually

I was thinking he's probably a republican doing this on purpose just so he can lose. That's why i wondered if there is a way the party can stop him. what's the point of having an organized party if there are no rules for being a member?

[crispini]

70. HEY. What is Gene Kelly's primary voting history?

Your vote in the primary is what makes you a "member" of either party. Now does Gene Kelly have consistent Democratic voting history in the primaries? And if not, can the TDP use it as a reason not to certify him? So he wouldn't be on the ballot?

Doesn't help us this time but it might work for next time. Where does he live? Can someone get on the horn to their county elections office and get his primary voting history?

[merci_me]

71. Well, if he votes for himself

every time he runs, it ought to be a hell of a consistent Democratic voting record.

I think we're stuck with him, til he runs out of money or breath, whichever comes first.

[MrTriumph]

65. Elitist nonsense that will hurt BAR

One of our posters commented that, "I only wish that BAR's experience included cheerleading at college instead of working on the frontline to help find a cure for AIDS and to fight bigotry, but how can we hope to match KBH's cheerleading experience?"

I suspect more Texans identify positively with KBH being a cheerleader than all the important titles BAR has held. For good or ill, people identify with people that have had similar life experiences.