Doing My Part For The Left Has Moved

After blogging for over 3 years at blogspot, I have bitten the bullet and moved Doing My Part For The Left to a dedicated server. I have transferred the stories but will leave this site up for awhile so readers can find me. The new site will have more features and I plan to add more pages and do some interesting things. You will find one page called All Things Cornyn where I will continue to blast Sen. Box Turtle every chance I get.

There will be other fun pages and lots of new post added often. I have lots of plans and ideas and hope you will come check it out and let me know what you think.

Texas Kaos is Having a Party and Y'all are Invited

Mark your Calendars for Saturday July 19th 7:00PM to 10:00PM.  As the Netroots Nation conference winds to a close Saturday evening, come by Bay6 Studios in East Austin:

Kick Back and Kick it Up before We Kick 'Em Out!

Sponsored and hosted by Texas Kaos and Bay6 Gallery.  Featuring music, food, drink and  a group art exhibition of work by Texas artists with a political theme titled:

"Blogging from the Right Side of the Brain."


In honor of all of the effort that has been going on around Texas Kaos over the last couple of years Bay6 Studios has decided to host a party to say thank you for all of the good work you have done.  Please accept this as your personal invitation to attend.  I would like to also personally extend an invitation out there to any artist's, lurking or not, to submit pieces for consideration in the show.  I have always been fascinated by left brain/right brain thinking (as opposed to GOP no brain thinking!) and hope this event turns into a good mix between the bloggers and artists.  We have some great art work lined up for the event already and will make room for more if you are so inclined.

This is an out of pocket expense for Bay6, our way of saying thank you to people like Krazypuppy, Boadicea, and all of you really who make this a stimulating place to be.  We will be passing the boot at the event and all proceeds will go to ActBlue, editors choice (sounds like a good opportunity for a poll).  

We are not looking for any cash to put the event on, but if you are in the Austin area and would like to participate in catering, food, drink or music, we would appreciate any and all donations to the effort.  If you would like to lend a hand in putting the event together, volunteering at the event that would be helpful also.

Looking forward to seeing you all there.

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For any and all inquiries, email kevin@bay6studios.com

Texas Progressive Alliance Weekly Blog Round-Up

It's Monday, and that means it is time for another edition of the Texas Progressive Alliance's Weekly Round-Up. The roundup is compiled each week based on submissions by TPA member bloggers. This week's round-up is compiled by Vince from Capitol Annex.

According to PDiddie at Brains and Eggs, if Chris Bell -- in his current inclination toward making a run for the Texas Senate in District 17 -- were to stand next to Italy's Leaning Tower of Pisa, it would appear to be at a 90-degree angle compared to him.

It was a week for new contributors at WhosPlayin. Kit asks a million tough questions about America's interventionism and the illusion of national security, and txdemjen expresses the frustration a lot of us have with Obama's sudden right-ward bend.

CouldBeTrue from South Texas Chisme is appalled that special prosecutor, Terry McDonald, gives former Sheriff, Michale Ratcliff, a sweet plea deal for the sexual assault of a minor supposedly under his protection.

Bay Area Houston says Governor Perry is calling for an investigation into the insurance industry.


Gary at Easter Lemming Liberal News now sees his
Pasadena neighbor Joe Horn saying he is no hero. Will he be subject to the same attacks those who have been saying that all along have experienced? Gary has been on vacation, mostly, but remains ticked off over the stupid.

Lovelie99 at McBlogger takes some time out of her busy schedule to inform us about the plight of supermodels. Apparently, there is a shortage of H-1B work visas since far too many math nerds are being imported to, you know, make stuff and stuff and program computers and stuff. And make other stuff, such as cellphones, such as. Which means there are too few supermodels who are allowed to work in the US. Well, at least the kind who are emaciated, gaunt and angular. We at McBlogger wondered if possibly there are math nerds who could do double duty. Then we laughed and laughed and laughed.

The Texas Cloverleaf wonders which is the better place to live...Collin County or New Jersey?. Forbes has the answer.

WCNews at Eye On Williamson posts the latest toll scam we'll be paying for soon, Going "Cashless" Will Cost Us All.

Off the Kuff notes a recent CNN Presidential poll and says it's not a dead heat if someone is leading.

Last week was a great one for evolutionary biology, but sucked if you happen to be a Conservapedia believer. Over at Texas Kaos Boadicea shares the tale of Conservapedia Ignoramous Schooled by Evolutionary Biologist and then discovered a sequel in which Lenski Meets the Naked Scientists.

refinish69 ponders the American Dream on the 4th of July at Doing My Part For The Left.

North Texas Liberal reports on Kim Brimer's cowardly move to keep worthy opponent Wendy Davis off the ballot in Fort Worth's SD 10.

Vince at Capitol Annex tells us about State Rep. Warren Chisum's announcement that he'll be trying again to pass legislation creating a two-year waiting period before couples can divorce.

Happy 4th of July

Today is the 4th of July and is the day we celebrate American Independence. There will be lots of flag waving, speeches, fire works and food. While celebrating the 4th with family and friends at a back yard cookout, parade or political rally, I hope everyone takes a few moments to reflect on what they consider America and why they are celebrating.

I am the last person in the world to be a "flag waver". The notion of wrapping myself in an American flag and singing "Old Glory" is sort of repulsive to me for many reasons. I have watched the neocons turn patriotism into an evil thing actually and use it as an excuse to condone genocide and needless war. I do not celebrate the America we are but the American Dream I believe our great country can be.

We have all heard and song "America the Beautiful" but I wonder how many have actually read the words.

"America the Beautiful - 1913
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife.
Who more than self the country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for halcyon skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!

O beautiful for pilgrims feet,
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America ! America !
God shed his grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through
wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!

O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man's avail
Men lavished precious life !
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee!"


Katharine Lee Bates wrote the original version in 1893. She wrote the 2nd version in 1904. Her final version was written in 1913.

Here is a note from Katharine Lee Bates:

"One day some of the other teachers and I decided to go on a trip to 14,000-foot Pikes Peak. We hired a prairie wagon. Near the top we had to leave the wagon and go the rest of the way on mules. I was very tired. But when I saw the view, I felt great joy. All the wonder of America seemed displayed there, with the sea-like expanse."


The song speaks of a dream. A wondrous dream where Americans work together to make this a great country for all and not for selfish gain. It speaks of freedom for people and striving to make America the best it can be without restrictions based on faith, creed, color or any other man made barrier. America the Beautiful speaks of working to make this Country of ours all it can be and working endlessly to improve the world. This is my dream for America and why I do what I do in politics and civil rights. Instead of singing the National Anthem with it's images of War, I will sing America the Beautiful with it's dream and images of Hope for a better America.

Celebrate this day and the freedoms we have and cherish. Use today to rekindle the fire and resolve to continue the battle to create America the Beautiful for all Americans and for future generations.

Cornyn Staff Member is a Sock Puppet

News report from KVUE-TV on Dave Beckwith, a staffer for John Cornyn, sockpuppeting on Burnt Orange Report and other blogs.

“STOP THE BULL, TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT OIL”

Tomorrow 5 Democratic Congressional Candidates will hold a press conference to tell the GOP to stop the lies and o something for their constituents.

Five area Democratic Candidates for Congress will gather together today in the midst of a herd of Longhorn cattle and in front of an historic oil well at a well-known Dallas area gas station to tell their GOP Opponents, “Stop the Bull, Tell the Truth about Oil.”


The five candidates are Tom Daley (CD-3), Glenn Melancon (CD-4), Tom Love (CD-24), Ken Leach (CD-26) and Eric Roberson (CD-32). Each is committed to lowering the price of oil for consumers at the pump by working to return balance to our oil futures markets by fully ending the Enron Loophole, London Loophole and enacting common sense market reforms that will return balance to our oil markets.


These Democratic candidates assert that their GOP opponents are selling the citizens of North Texas a wagon load of bull manure by blaming Democrats for today’s high oil process and simultaneously providing no solutions. Texans know something about oil and about oil markets, so it’s time that Congressional Republicans quit their load of bull, stop offering fake solutions to the current oil crunch, and tell Texans the truth.

Anybody who knows anything about futures markets knows that the possibility of oil hitting the market 10-15 years from now will not impact current prices. When faced with the facts, the Democratic Candidates believe that the citizens of North Texas will be able to see through the political Bull and will see that the Democratic Plan for our energy future is the pathway to lower gas prices in both the short and long run.



GOP Load of Bull Facts



Democratic Policies Keep America from Drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) or in a variety of areas Off-Shore These policies were created by a Republican President, supported by decades by Republican and Democratic congresses, and have long had bipartisan support.


Only Democrats do not want to drill in the Alaska National Wildlife refuge.Even John McCain agrees that ANWR is too pristine to commence drilling

Drilling in ANWR or off the shore of the U.S. coast of the United States will cut the price of oil in half

Oil From these areas will not reach market for more than a decade and according to Energy Information Agency estimates that at the height of potential production oil from ANWR will under most scenarios lower the price of oil less than a dollar per barrel.


Calls for reducing market speculation by re-introducing prior market regulations are merely a “Sham” and will not work.

Wall Street experts agree that uncontrolled speculation is responsible for more than 25% of the current cost of oil. Based on supply and demand alone, the price of oil should be well below 100 a barrel.


The Problem with the oil price is a lack of supply.

Even T. Boone Pickens agrees we can not drill ourselves out of this mess. Currently up to half of the price of a barrel of oil is caused by a “Speculation Premium” and the low value of the Dollar. The best way to lower the price of oil is to end the market of unfair and unneeded speculation and return strength to the US dollar.


The Democratic Solution is anti-market and big government.

The futures markets functioned for decades under the prior rules without the current level of unfair and unneeded speculation. If you believe in the market, you will fix it and not allow it to be manipulated.


These 5 Democratic candidates for Congress will stand in unison to say that the people of North Texas deserve solutions not sound bites. The Democratic Congress is offering a well-reasoned 4-part solution to the current oil mess:


(1)Return the oil futures markets to their historic rules that prevented improper speculation by getting rid of the Enron Loophole, the London Loophole and requiring full registration of all U.S. oil traders to identify the scope of the current problem;


(2)Return strength of the American dollar by moving towards a balanced budget and strengthening the economy;


(3)Enact legislation to increase supply of American Oil by actually requiring the holders of governmental oil leases to “use them or lose them” as is required for coal leases; and,


(4)Work on lowering demand for oil by using market incentives to foster the prompt development of plug-in hybrids and natural gas powered cars that lower emissions and use American sources of power.


When America goes to vote this November, they need to be able to vote based on facts, not on Bull.


After the press conference, each candidate will be available for questioning prior to providing photo opportunities talking with real consumers, pumping gas and checking tire pressures to increase mileage (Full press packets will be available at the event that will include candidate bios, fact sheets, and a detail of current bills in the Congress designed to lower the price of oil for all Americans.)

Texas Progressive Alliance Weekly Blog Round-Up

It's Monday, and that means it is time for yet another edition of the Texas Progressive Alliance's weekly blog round-up. Posts included in the round up are submitted each week by Alliance member blogs. This week's round-up is compiled by Vince from Capitol Annex.

Maybe PDiddie at Brains and Eggs was wrong about Obama and Texas. Decide for yourself.

Off the Kuff has one last belated interview from the state Dem convention, with CD32 candidate Eric Roberson.

There is a new email scandal in Harris County. XicanoPwr writes about the offensive emails discovered at the Harris County Sheriff's Office by a local media undercover investigation. One email has Osama bin Laden urging folks to vote Democratic. In another email, a top commander suggested that alligators should be put in the Rio Grande to cut down on illegal immigration.

Big Drunk at McBlogger points out, again, the flaws in the R's "Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less" strategy. Which really isn't hard to do since the R's don't exactly excel at critical thinking, are in love with fantasy and are (to a large extent) willfully ignorant.

refinish69 of Doing My Part For The Left is delighted to announce that the Texas Medical Association Rescinds their endorsement of Box Turtle and shares Rick Noriega's response to Big Bad John.

WCNews at Eye On Williamson posts on the cracks forming in the Texas GOP in A Cooling Off Period For The Texas GOP.

Vince Leibowitz at Capitol Annex takes a look at the Texas Supreme Court's recent opinion declaring, essentially, that if you are injured by a church, you are screwed, which stems from the case of--get this--an exorcism gone horribly wrong.

North Texas Liberal reports on the charge that John McCain and his wife Cindy have defaulted on four years of back taxes for their La Jolla, Calif. residence.

The Texas Cloverleaf helps expose the fact that oil companies are not drilling on 3/4 of the land they already lease, because it will cost them too much. Corporate greed, anyone?

Over at Texas Kaos, it is Kenneth Foster all over again, as it looks like Texas' law of parties is fixing to execute another man, Jeff Wood, who didn't kill anyone.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme notes John McCain shows his true colors by choosing Phil 'Enron' Gramm as a close associate.

NyTexan at BlueBloggin tell us how the Bush administration has hit the pinnacle of security chaos. We can rest easy now, knowing that we have outsourced the outsource; Department of Homeland Security Outsources National Security

Bay Area Houston writes about State Senator Kim Brimer keeping campaign cash for himself.

Texas Medical Association Rescinds Endorsement of Cornyn

John Cornyn screwed up again. He decided that funding for Medicare was not important and voted to stall funding for Medicare.

Link

The political action committee of the Texas Medical Association, furious about a Thursday night vote on a Medicare-funding bill, is going to rescind its endorsement of Sen. John Cornyn’s reelection bid, association spokesman Brent Annear said.

Cornyn and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison voted to stall a bill that would have prevented a 10 percent cut in Medicare funding for physicians, prompting an unusually harsh reaction from the medical association, which has 43,000 members and is one of the most powerful trade groups in Texas politics.

Big Bad John better stick to doing bad videos instead of being a Senator from Texas. He proves yet again he does not care for Texans unless they are paying for his campaign. He is a total sell out and a worthless senator. He does not care about the elderly of Texas or America. Time to vote him out of office and send a real Leader to DC.

Look at a video response to Big Bad John.



Here is the press release from Rick Noriega about this issue.

Rick Noriega: Cornyn’s Medicare Vote Irresponsible for Texas Seniors and Families

Houston, TX – Republican incumbent John Cornyn’s deciding vote against cloture last night on H.R. 6331 the "Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008" is another example of Cornyn’s misplaced priorities – putting special interests over Texas seniors – said Rick Noriega today.




"Today's vote is simply unconscionable. John Cornyn's vote has jeopardized access to health care for thousands of elderly Texans," Noriega said. According to the Texas Medical Association, 58 percent of Texas physicians will have no choice but to limit the number of new Medicare patients they treat. Noriega said Cornyn's actions will force more and more physicians out of the Medicare program.

"Instead of standing up for Texas' patients and physicians to fix Medicare's flawed payment system, Cornyn has once again put partisan
politics and the profits of private, for-profit Medicare HMOs ahead of the needs of Texas seniors."

The legislation which passed the House of Representatives on an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 355 to 59, would grant an 18-month
reprieve from the 10.6-percent Medicare physician payment cuts scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2008. The bill would pay for the reprieve by eliminating subsidies to for-profit Medicare Advantage plans. Cornyn’s vote single handedly killed the bill last night in the Senate.

"Why would Senator Cornyn defend the practice of paying more money for a medical service to a private HMO than to the physician performing
the service?” said Holly Shulman, press secretary of the Rick Noriega campaign. “This vote proves once again that John Cornyn is nothing more than a shill for the big insurance companies that are funding his campaign."

Noriega added, "Senator Cornyn has shown a consistent pattern of callous disregard, voting against the health of Texas' Veterans, Texas' children and Texas' elderly. Texas needs a Senator who will fight for access to quality health care and stand up against the health insurance companies and special interests."

Texas has a chance to send a True Leader to DC in November and we better do it!!!