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Here are Houston Democracy Project Blog Notes & Observations for September 19. Election Day is in 46 days on November 5th and Early Voting begins in 32 days on October 21st. (Today's Picture of the Day is of a boat I recently saw going down Buffalo Bayou.)   

​* Republicans offer violence if they lose and dictatorship if they win. This is not an original observation on my part. At the same time, it's an observation that can't be made enough. We have no obligation to accept this. Voting is essential. But we must be ready for whatever is on the way. This can't be said enough because it can be a lot to process. We will have to show up for ourselves. There are plenty of good people in our politics. At the same time, people do not navigate systems that have taken us to the brink of authoritarianism so they can take risks for us.     

* We rightly focus on election-denial at the national level. We must also be ready for Texas Republicans to challenge election results here in Harris County. This is of course exactly what they did in 2022 with multiple failed frivolous lawsuits to overturn ballot box losses. This time it may well be far more direct intervention from the State of Texas and Attorney General Ken Paxton. The races in Harris County for Sheriff and District Attorney are a big deal. Understanding how awful Kim Ogg has been, imagine a full four years of a Republican DA in Harris County. Of course Republicans would cheat to make it happen.

* You and I know undocumented people are not voting in our elections. Republicans claiming they are know this as well. Regretfully, many voters believe this lie.  KUHF has a story today about the rarity of non-citizen voting in Texas. Discussions--arguments--with people who believe this lie are often frustrating at best. But the story has numbers if you want to try and make your case.          

* This morning along with Egberto Willies, I interviewed Nicole Petersen who runs the voter protection program for the Harris County Democratic Party. This was on the weekly Thursday hour-long Houston Democracy Project segment on Egberto's Politics Done Right show on KPFT. Here is the show on Egberto's YouTube channel.  

​Here is a fundraising pitch for the Houston Democracy Project. I'm doing the work and showing up in many different ways.  Please help the effort. 
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Please sign the Houston Democracy Project petition to make the pledge to show up for freedom in 2024 no matter what.

The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County.
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Here are Houston Democracy Project Blog Notes for September 18. Election Day is in 47 days on November 5th and Early Voting begins in 33 days on October 21st.

* The picture above was sent to me by a friend. It's of a new Collin Allred for Senate ad. The picture is of people protesting in front of Ted Cruz's house. Senator Cruz lives in Houston. Mayor Whitmire recently tried to ban protests at the homes of politicians. So far he doesn't have the votes on Council to pass the ordinance. I'm glad the Allred people used this picture. Remember this when Republicans are not accepting election results and we are on the streets. Politicians are fine to use protest when it suits them. In my experience, they are also quick to over-police protest when that it what suits them. (I'm glad to report there are two regular members of the John Cornyn Houston Office Protest in that picture.)      

I attended a Colin Allred rally a few weeks back where pro-Palestinian protestors were aggressively pushed out. Rep. Allred himself did not seem overly mad at them from the stage. But that is what happened.         

* A new poll says 54% of Americans support mass deportations and 46% are concerned about undocumented people voting. I don't know if people understand the police state and breaking up of families mass deportations would bring. There are next to no accounts of undocumented people voting. I know there are a lot of cruel people in this country & Republicans intend to use the false issue of people casting ballots who should not be casting ballots to contest and deny elections results. 

We must be ready for whatever is on the way and we must have each other's backs. 

* Ken Paxton has found a new way to try and stop people from voting. You can read the details if you want. It's all the same. On Paxton's Twitter feed today he posted an Elon Musk tweet about electing Harris would bring tyranny right before his tweet about today's new voter suppression tactic. It's terrible right wing stuff.  We focus on Republicans denying Trump's defeat like in 2020. But it'll be worse this time with all sort of down ballot races caught up in the lies.  

* Tomorrow, Thursday, 9/19, Nicole Pedrsen who is running the voter protection program for the Harris County Democratic Party, will be the guest on the Egberto Willies Politics Done Right Show. I'm on the show with Egberto each Thursday from 6 AM to 7 AM for the Houston Democracy Project segment. You can hear the show on the radio, stream it on KPFT or watch it later on Egberto's YouTube channel.      

Here is a fundraising pitch for the Houston Democracy Project. I'm doing the work and showing up in many different ways.  Please help the effort. 
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Please sign the Houston Democracy Project petition to make the pledge to show up for freedom in 2024 no matter what.

The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County.

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Here are Houston Democracy Project Blog Notes for September 17. Election Day is in 49 days on November 5th and Early Voting begins in 34 days on October 21st.

* Above is word of an October 3 fundraiser for Houston Democratic City Councilmember Mario Castillo. Councilmember Castillo is up for re-election in 2027.

Councilmember Castillo could donate 15% of the proceeds from this event to the Harris County Democratic Party 2024 Victory Campaign, or announce at the event his 2024 GOTV plan for District H. Money could also be committed to identify and train young Brown & Black organizers in District H.

Such actions by Councilmember Castollo would be a reasonable and productive course of action given the authoritarian threat we face in Texas and the nation. Doing this would serve Councilmember Castillo himself as I'm certain he does not wish to live in an authoritarian society. It's also important that we hold our elected officials accountable. Business as usual has taken us to the brink of a Viktor Orban-style Presidency and mass roundups of migrants.

* Another poll today reports that many Republicans-46%-will not accept election results if Trump loses and that a good number-14%- would consider some type of action if Trump loses. It doesn't take large numbers  of violent people to do a lot of damage. Especially given the many law enforcement unions supportive of Trump and of far-right insurrectionists like Ted Cruz. We can't be afraid or fatalistic. But we do have to be prepared for whatever is on the way.      

* At the weekly John Cornyn Houston Office Protest today a lady stuck at the red light called us communists. We've been called communists many times and many other names as well. We don't care. But I  shake my head when I hear communist because my dad fought in the Korean War & actually fought the Chinese Communist government under Chairman Mao. The impact of his service was felt in our home long after the war. The chief lesson my father told me from the war was the equal humanity of the Chinese, Korean & American people he encountered in the war. That's an argument likely lost on Trump supporters.   

Here is a fundraising pitch for the Houston Democracy Project. I'm doing the work and showing up in many different ways.  Please help the effort. 
​
Please sign the Houston Democracy Project petition to make the pledge to show up for freedom in 2024 no matter what.

The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County.

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​​Below are Houston Democracy Project Blog Democracy Notes for September 16. Election Day is in 50 days on November 5th and Early Voting begins in 35 days on October 21st. (Today's picture of the day is from my outing yesterday to the Houston Botanic Garden. )  

* The right says that telling the truth about how Trump is a threat to democracy is an incitement to violence is a crock. Keep telling the truth and don't be afraid. They want us to be afraid. Don't be afraid.      

* Here is a list from the Harris County Democratic Party of candidates on the 2024 ballot who have contributed to the 2024 Victory Campaign. That's what they call the coordinated campaign. Candidates   give money to the county party to sustain efforts that benefit the full Democratic ticket. Those who have not contributed are also listed. I get that candidates in uphill legislative and Congressional races have limited resources. But the other folks could do better. Ask them when you see them what they are to defeat the authoritarian threat of the Republican Party. What in the world does it take to get people involved?  

* This upcoming Thursday, 9/19, Nicole Pedersen who is running the voter protection program for the Harris County Democratic Party, will be the guest on the Egberto Willies Politics Done Right Show. I'm on the show with Egberto each Thursday from 6 AM to 7 AM for the Houston Democracy Project segment. You can hear the show on the radio, stream it on KPFT or watch it later on Egberto's YouTube channel.

Here is my fundraising pitch for Houston Democracy Project. I'm doing the work and showing up in many different ways.  Please help the effort. 
​
Please sign the Houston Democracy Project petition to make the pledge to show up for freedom in 2024 no matter what.

The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County.

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Below are Houston Democracy Project Blog Democracy Notes for September 15. Election Day is in 51 days on November 5th and Early Voting begins in 36 days on October 21st. (Today's picture of the day is a scene from Houston today.)    

* Don't neglect your mental well-being. The prospect of authoritarianism is stressful. Our current politics are a mental health crisis for millions of people. Take the time you need to be well.

Here is an article about politics and mental health from the American Psychological Society.     

* Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton continues to target voter registration efforts and specifically it seems Latino voter registration efforts. I said this yesterday. What I'm adding today is that many of these non-profits that register voters have extensive ties and connections to elected officials. Those connections are not going to keep them safe. Non-profits and advocacy groups would do well to reach into the actual grassroots and deepen their networks of support.  

​*The Houston Democracy Project tries to keep it local. But the world often intrudes. It is right to allow Ukraine to target deep into Russia with weapons from the United States and Europe. We are fighting on many connected fronts.  

* JD Vance is worse than Trump. I don't mean that as a throw away sentence. Vance is a true believer and you should read about it and tell others.   

Here is my fundraising pitch for Houston Democracy Project. I'm doing the work and showing up in many different ways.  Please help the effort. 
​
Please sign the Houston Democracy Project petition to make the pledge to show up for freedom in 2024 no matter what.

The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County.

​Below are Houston Democracy Project Blog Democracy Notes for September 14. Election Day is in 52 days on November 5th and Early Voting begins in 37 days on October 21st. (Today's picture of the day is from last week. I saw a boat hauling way storm debris down Buffalo Bayou.)  

* Please sign the Houston Democracy Petition on Change.org to commit to showing up no matter where our politics take us in 2024 and 2025. With Republicans clear that they will not accept election results they don't like, we must be ready for anything.   

* Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton continues to target voter registration efforts and specifically it seems Latino voter registration efforts.

I've had personal conversations with people who are registering voters who've expressed concern they could be investigated or prosecuted for making an innocent mistake. Or maybe even no mistake at all. Paxton and Texas Republicans sure seem afraid of new voters and of voting itself.

​* There are plenty of good people serving as Democratic Party elected officials In Harris County. At the same time, these people did not successfully navigate these systems taking us to the brink of such bad outcomes in order to take risks for us. In most cases, we'll have to insist that they show for us as needed even in the tightest spots.             

* Don't forget the anti-democratic state takeover of HISD. Community Voices for Public Education is helping lead the opposition to the takeover.  CVPE says vote "No" on the November HISD Bond. I've never voted against a school bond, but I will in 2024. I can't support the removal of our elected board and the arbitrary behavior and actions of Superintendent F. Mike Miles and the unaccountable state-appointed Board of Managers. Check out the CVPE website for more information.    

Here is my fundraising pitch for Houston Democracy Project. I'm doing the work and showing up in many different ways.  Please help the effort. 
​
Please sign the Houston Democracy Project petition to make the pledge to show up for freedom in 2024 no matter what.

The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County.  

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Below are Houston Democracy Project points and observations for September 13. Election Day is in 53 days on November 5th and Early Voting begins in 38 days on October 21st. (Above is a picture from last week's John Cornyn Houston Office Protest. The gentleman in the picture is telling Deborah and Doug how they are wrong about everything.) 

1. All Houston political journalists should be asking every local elected Republican in Houston/Harris County what they think of what Trump and Vance are saying about immigrants. This includes the six Republican Houston City Councilmembers. Shouldn't we know if our elected officials are okay with fascists, authoritarians and bigots?   

2. Trump and Vance keep overstating the number of undocumented people in the United States because they want not only mass deportations of undocumented people, they want to get rid of people here legally as well.   

3. Republicans don't have to moderate what they are saying for the General Election because they will 1. Win the election, 2. Steal the election in the courts, 3. Steal the election with violence/coup, 4 Steal the election with a combination of the courts and violence. The more extreme the message they reach the White House with, the more they can do saying they told us all along.     

4. The Harris County Democratic Party is running a solid program to protect voters in 2024. There will be poll watchers and a volunteer hotline for voter questions. Here is the link to contact the party and get involved. Republicans don't intend to accept election results they don't like. We need to be ready for whatever is on the way.  

Here is my fundraising pitch for Houston Democracy Project. I'm doing the work and showing up in many different ways.  Please help the effort. 
​
Please sign the Houston Democracy Project petition to make the pledge to show up for freedom in 2024 no matter what.

The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County.  

Please share word of the Houston Democracy Project. If you have a question about the Project or a suggestion, please send an e-mail to [email protected]​​​​​

​Here are Houston Democracy Project points and observations for September 12. Election Day is in 54 days on November 5th and Early Voting begins in 39 days on October 21st. (Above is recent picture I took of Houston, Texas. No matter the stress of our politics, we should enjoy the day we have.)        

1. Republicans do not intend to accept election defeats in Harris County, in Texas and across the nation. This is no revelation. But we must be prepared for wherever we are headed in 2024. Election Day is just one day along the process.  

2. The Harris County Democratic Party is running a good program to protect voters in 2024. There will be poll watchers and a volunteer hotline for voter questions. Here is the link to contact the party and get involved. We've got to win the election and also not let the right steal the election.  
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3. Here is a link to the Democrats on the 2024 ballot in Harris County. None of the state legislative or Congressional races are competitive. They are all gerrymandered. The Democratic candidates running in strong Republican districts merit respect and their presence on the ballot makes a difference. (And you can't give up hope.) But the races that could go either way are Sheriff, District Attorney, Tax Assessor, the countywide judgeships and the 10 Appellate Court seats that cover a ten county area. It is criminal justice and public safety issues that will be at the forefront of the local campaign ahead.                  

4. There is no public safety without democracy. Democracy is as much a part of public safety as fighting crime or traffic safety. Authoritarians and would-be dictators are not safe for people who want to live freely.  

5. The decision today of the Tarrant County (Fort Worth) Commissioner’s Court to have a full compliment of early voting locations including local university campuses was a victory for aggressive activism against far-right County Judge Tim O'Hara.         

6. Showing up is important. It takes brains and effort. Show up, keep showing up and show up for everybody. 

7. Activism is a decision by ordinary people to act. Everyone has the capacity to act.
     
Here is my fundraising pitch for Houston Democracy Project. I'm doing the work and showing up in many different ways.  Please help the effort. 
​
Please sign the Houston Democracy Project petition to make the pledge to show up for freedom in 2024 no matter what.

The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County.  

Please share word of the Houston Democracy Project. If you have a question about the Project or a suggestion, please send an e-mail to [email protected]​​​​

I watched the debate last night. While the main focus of the Houston Democracy Project is that we must advocate for ourselves and not rely on elected officials, I was heartened by Kamala Harris' strong performance and by Trump's weakness.

No matter what happens going forward and what right throws at us, we are going to win.         

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Above you see a mailer I got in the Houston Mayoral campaign last year. (I adorned the mailer with coffee stains.) It is about John Whitmire's finishing first in the first round of the vote over the late Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee. There are two logos on the mailer. The logo on the right is the Houston Police Officer's Union and on the left is the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association. The firefighters are an AFL-CIO union.

If Shelia Jackson Lee was linked to a movement meant to review and change how we conduct policing as a bad thing in an important election, shouldn't Mayor Whitmire and the unions involved here also be firmly linked to what they are connected with?    

Mayor Whitmire is sitting on $9.9 million in campaign cash and not working in any clear way to confront a clear authoritarian threat from the right. He was endorsed last year by far-right State Senator Paul Bettencourt. Police unions across Harris County have endorsed the insurrectionist Ted Cruz. The firefighters have given money in 2024 to extreme figures such as Governor Greg Abbott, Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham and State Rep. Briscoe Cain. They've also given $5,000 in 2024 to the Texas Young Republican Federation Political Committee. 

Any elected official who supports Donald Trump to be President of the United States is an extremist.  

I'm not at all equating "defund the police,"--often the term used for any type of police reform proposal--which was looking to address how we conduct policing in the United States with Trumpism. What I'm saying is that pro-Whitmire forces painted a picture of Congresswoman Jackson Lee suggesting she did not care about crime. At the same time, these pro-Whitmire forces and the Mayor himself, seem perfectly fine looking the other way at extremism and supporting the extremists.

It's never too late to correct the record & it is always the right time to speak clearly about the present day.     
      
Here is my fundraising pitch for Houston Democracy Project. I'm doing the work and showing up in many different ways.  Please help the effort. 
​
Please sign the Houston Democracy Project petition to make the pledge to show up for freedom in 2024 no matter what.

The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County.  

Please share word of the Houston Democracy Project. If you have a question about the Project or a suggestion, please send an e-mail to [email protected]​​​​