Archive for the ‘Campaign’ Category

We have all been a bit surprised at the mob mentality of the ‘Tea Party’ extremists that have been ambushing our Congressman, returning to their districts this summer. Our friend Lloyd Dogget was ambushed in Austin recently and was badly treated by the mob there. Some conservative pundits have said these are just average Americans voicing their concerns over the Congress’ Healthcare proposals, but the truth is out there. These ambushes are not spontaneous reactions by average citizens, they are actually coordinated attempts to disrupt and intimidate our Congressmen and women (who are genuinely reaching out to voters in their districts). These efforts are being directed and funded by special interests committed to destroying any healthcare reforms. They are coordinated with the false and misleading propaganda being aired as ‘advertisements by citizens groups’. These special interest groups are instilling fear, and anger in many average citizens, through propaganda, filled with out and out lies and half-truths, in order to create a pseudo grassroots uprising.

These tactics are being played out across the country as well as in Texas. There is little difference between the phony tea party uprising and the Republican legislators ‘Voter ID’ uprising last legislative session. Their ambush of the Texas legislature completely disrupted the entire legislative agenda, leaving unaddressed many educational, healthcare, environmental, insurance and transportation issues that really effect the lives of average Texans.

We need to bring honesty and integrity to government, and to the election and entire political process. As you Texas Senator, I will work to bring integrity, accountability, and leadership to our state legislature.

Why is John running again?

Those of you who know me know I have been committed to Clean Elections/publicly funded elections for a long time, as well as legislative Redistricting reform. Those are going to be two key issues I will be advocating in my race for the Texas Senate.

As long as ‘Big Money’, special interests and private interests control the electoral process, through their huge financial support to the elected members of the Texas Legislature, they control the agenda in Austin. That has to change. I firmly believe public funding of elections is a game changer. That change, as well as establishing an independent redistricting commission, (because for too long the current system has allowed incumbent legislators to choose their constituents, instead of allowing the voters to choose their elected representatives), should bring more accountability to the legislature. and empower the voters in Texas.

I am also going to focus on improving support for Texas Public and Higher Education, providing affordable Healthcare for all Texans (particularly our children and elderly), Environmental management to insure clean water, major reductions in pollution and greenhouse gasses, and expansion of renewable energy resources in Texas.

I hope to convince people that we need to end the political gamesmanship in the Legislature and focus or real issues that affect all our lives.

• No more bills for guns on school campuses,
• or limiting the voting abilities of some people (Voter ID),
• or forcing pregnant women to look at sonograms of themselves,
• or trying to label a loving committed relationship unworthy of equal treatment under the law.

And most of all, no more special interest legislation that benefits the wealthiest and most powerful in the business and country club set, at the expense of the working families of Texas.

So with help from friends like you and hopefully many other open-minded people in the 25th Senatorial District, I hope to beat the drum on these issues and hold Jeff Wentworth and the entire Texas Legislature accountable to the people.