Thoughts on Rick Noriega for Governor

[johncoby2]

It would be nice to have someone inspiring, Hispanic, bilingual, and who knows what the hell he is doing in Texas government.

Rick has it all, except the money.

The Hispanic community across Texas is looking for a reason to come out to vote. Obviously the attack on immigrants, profiling, the voter suppression, the cost of insurance, electricity, college education, etc etc isn't enough for the Hispanic community to get off their ass and go vote. Call it what ever you want, they are not voting and I dont know what the hell is needed to get them excited enough to vote for their best interests.

Rick could change that in certain areas. I think. The first Hispanic Governor who can actually speak Spanish.

Folks, Sheiffer, White, Sharp isnt going to get the Hispanics to go out to vote. Or me to go block walking. They just are not what we need.

[sonias]

1. I agree we need a better Democratic candidate

And I would support Rick if he chose to run. I just don't see him stepping up again after the Senate run.

Sonia

[tammywammy]

4. I'd totally support him if he ran

But like you, Sonia, I just don't see it.

[tbyg52]

7. Not unless more money is forthcoming.

I still remember looking at the mock election, both students and staff, for our district. Obama won overwhelmingly with students, and it was very close with staff. Noriega was 10-15 points behind Obama. I always figured that could have been easily overcome with more money.

[yellowdogintexas]

10. so would I nt

[WolverineDG]

2. That would be awesome

Can you imagine getting the South Texas Democratic machine really in gear? :evilgrin:

dg

[Baby Snooks]

3. Something wrong with Leticia?

It's not as if Texas has never had a woman governor before. And might again. And god help us all if it's Kay Bailey Hutchison.

[sonias]

5. No, not at all

I would support her too. There has been very little action since the initial movement to draft her into running. Maybe after the legislative session she might decide to step in. But as of now she's holding that decision pretty much to herself.

She's going to be in the same position Rick was though. Her name recognition is really good with Democrats but it may not reach statewide recognition. She would need a lot of money to make a good run.

Sonia

[onestepforward]

6. He would do a great job and has a lot to offer

and I thought he would have inspired more Hispanic voters to vote for him when he ran for the Senate. I'm sure he inspired some, but not enough to win. Lack of funds was surely a cause too. I'd vote for him again!

Bill White would be a great choice too, but maybe not the ticket to inspire voters. He looks like a quiet, mousy guy, but he's a smart powerhouse and has been a very effective and productive Mayor for Houston.

[Ranting_Wacko]

8. Problem is, quiet mousy guys don't do well....

Everyone the Texas Democrats have fielded since Ann Richards has been a quiet mousy guy who was brilliant but unremarkable. That holds true for most of the major state offices as well. To this day I can't tell you the name of who ran against Gov. Goodhair last time.

Say what you will about Kinky Friedman and his policies (or lack thereof) but the guy did know how to market and promote what he was selling.

Don't get me wrong - I think we do need to run on issues instead of personalities, but would it kill us to try and field someone like who has both?

[onestepforward]

9. Yes, we need someone who can inspire voters

to get out and vote so we can have a Democratic governor again! I agree about Ann Richards. I sure do miss her too.

[sonias]

11. Kinky was promoting/selling/marketing himself

Yes he does know how to do that. But he has no business running for Governor as a Democrat. He could care less about public policy. His main interest is selling more merchandise. He sees politics as another avenue for that.

I agree that we don't need that particular "personality" to win.

:eyes:


Sonia

[AllenVanAllen]

12. I've never been sold with Kinky myself

I remember during the Gov debate Bell called Freeman a republican, and he didn't correct him!

[Lisa0825]

13. Bill White has let me down in a few ways. I'd vote for him if

he were the candidate, but I wouldn't draft him. And it has nothing to do with being mousy. I haven't thought the same of him since he spoke at a Tom DeLay fundraiser.

[onestepforward]

14. That's the first time I've heard that.

Yikes. Tom Delay? You can't get too much worse than that except maybe Chaney. That is an incredible disappointment. I'm still blown away but I'm glad I know.

[kjackson227]

15. Voter apathy is rampant in this state when it comes to minorities voting...

but maybe the reason why Hispanics don't come out in numbers here in Texas is because maybe a lot of them can't vote because maybe they aren't legal??? Just a thought. I think I remember voting for White, but I don't think he had the money either because his campaign was DOA. I'd vote for Noriega, but no way would I vote for Kinky because Kinky is all about Kinky (basically he's a joke, jmo).

[sonias]

16. Watch that thought

I know you mean well but please don't add more fuel to the fire on undocumented workers. We already have enough anti-immigrant sentiment in the state as it is. We have one Texas Representative in particular (Leo Berman) that thinks undocumented workers cause every evil thing in the world - including leprosy. I can't wait to hear him spew his racist hate on the swine flu which I'm sure he will pin squarely on the undocumented workers from Mexico.
:sarcasm:

This is a really nice study site courtesy of George Mason University on the 2008 Election Turnout.
2008 General Election Turnout Rates

It includes the percentage of non-eligible voters broken down by non-citizen and ineligible felons. While Texas does have a high estimate of non-citizens, it's comparable with our population. California, Nevada and Florida have high rates as well.

Notice that our VEP (voter eligible population) which removes the non-citizens and ineligible felons still produces the second to the lowest turnout in the country.

In Texas former felons are allowed to vote as long as they are "off paper". Once they have served their sentence and finished their parole requirements they have their full voting rights restored. Although the state won't bother to inform them of this. Perry prefers they didn't know about it anyway. They won't be voting for him that's for sure.

The Republicans really like Texas being a low voter turnout state. They don't want voters electing their representatives, they like for the office holder to choose their voters. Hence the re-redistricting and poor voter education we get in this state and the call for photo ID to reduce it even further. :grr:

The point I'm making is that it is not the undocumented workers who contribute in any way to the low voter turnout in this state. Even if their numbers get included in the voting age population. We have plenty of eligible U.S. citizens who just don't bother to vote.

I don't have the solution, I just agree that there has not been a candidate or an organized effort by the party to engage the Latino community. If a bunch of celebrities organized some shows and encouraged them to vote, they might do it.

Right now though, a lot of them don't see the point.

Sonia

[kjackson227]

17. Okay :)

[sonias]

18. Thanks!

You know I mean that in a good way. Just providing you some background so when you hear the other side say "illegals are voting" - they're not really.

They're here to work. The last thing they want to do is get on the police/law enforcement radar by voting. They know it's illegal to vote and voting in a lot of cities means going to the county courthouse. Why would someone trying to lay low show up to vote at a courthouse?

:hi:

Sonia