Republicans MIA in TX-23 Exemplifies Shameful Trend « Right Of Texas

This sort of turnout and result was seen all throughout the country this past election cycle as the Republican Party was taken to the woodshed. Not so much by Democrats, but by ourselves. Many people thought they would sit on their hands or vote for “the other guy” in order to teach Republicans a lesson. Listen very closely my fellow R’s: if you want to punish the elected officials within our party, and vote for representatives who truly mirror our values, you primary the incumbents out of office. You don’t punish the entire country by allowing the Democratic Party to take control.

First, and ultimately irrelevant point, no one ran against Bonilla in the primaries. Apparently, everyone in the Republic party thought Bonilla was doing a heckuva a job and didn’t feel the need to offer an alternative. Then they might also have felt safe in the knowledge that Delay had the district redrawn to reverse Bonilla’s steady decline in the percentage of voter support in recent years

2004 69.25%
2002 51.52%
2000 59.31%
1998 63.78%
1996 61.84%
1994 62.59%
1992 59.06%

It is the second point that I think is more important and that many Republicans don’t get. Voters start to get annoyed when politicians put party priorities above the voters interests, at least in Texas. Party loyalty can get you lots of things that benefit the district such as appointments to the appropriation committees and campaign contributions. However, when a politician places more importance on responding to the party to maintain the flow of goodies that benefits him but not necessarily the district, he (or she) is no longer “our man” in Washington but the party’s man in Washington. And eventually, (interesting that both parties consider the general voter “not smart”) this fact makes it into the consciousness of the general voter.

This was evident by Bonillas declining victory margins. Rather than trying to reconnect and respond to the district’s voters, Bonilla went to the party, Tom Delay, for help. And this is why the analysis won’t do the Republicans any good because it fails to recognize that people didn’t vote for Bonilla because he was too beholden to interests other than that of the districts. He was voted out much in the same way Bustamenta was previously.

Party hacks on either side might expect voters to hold their noses and vote for a candidate just to support their party on the national level, but then the opposite must also be true. Voters are willing to vote out the local candidate because of what the party is doing at the national level.

According to the analysis, Republicans didn’t vote for Bonilla to teach the Republicans a lesson. Yet, they also didn’t vote for Bonilla because he didn’t “truly mirror our values.” Well, if he didn’t truly mirror their values, where was the alternative in the primaries? Maybe some Republicans really wanted to punish the national Republicans and didn’t care about Bonilla.

Does anyone else remember all the articles before the election by conservatives who thought the Republicans needed to loose some to shake them up? Many felt that party loyalty and the desperate desire to stay in power was undermining the “true” values of the Republican party?

And then there is also the self-interest factor that somehow keeps getting ignored although only on certain levels. Bonilla acted in his own best interest in associating with Tom Delay and others to make sure he received the benefits of being part of the party in power. Well…the special election took place after it was firmly established that the Republicans were no longer in power. What was the motivating factor for Republican base to go out and vote? It certainly wasn’t going to help the party at a national level. Given Bonilla’s actions in the Appropriations committee, it’s hard to see how anyone thought he would still be an important player in distributing pork (you know, what they use to call earmarks before the Republicans controlled Congress) locally.

Bonilla has never come across as a bi-partisan kind of politician which would be the only reason to even consider voting for him after the November elections. But then saying a Republican lost because he was too much of a loyal Republican would suggest that the election might have been lost because of disenchantment with the party rather than any individual.

Technorati Tags: Henry Bonilla, Ciro Rodriguez, TX 23, Election analysis

TIME.com: How the G.O.P. Got Blindsided in Texas — Page 1

In a region where “government is the economy,” Hernandez said, Bonilla had been able to parlay his seat on the appropriations committee into a sizable campaign war chest and a powerful platform. The district stretches from El Paso east to San Antonio and south to the Mexican border, embracing several cities with large military bases and poor, rural counties where federal programs are vital. But once the power shifted away from Republicans in the House, in Hernandez’s view, independent voters pragmatically voted for Rodriguez.

Let’s see, the San Antonio Express News got the first part and that was basically it’s justification for endorsing Bonilla. However, according to this analysis, it looks like that the majority of the voters in CD 23 got the idea of the implications of the power shift and voted for Rodriguez. Somehow, the Express-News missed the power change.

The Express-News could justify it’s pathetic endorsement for the November election. But if its endorsement was based on serving the best interests of the district pragmatism, there is absolutely no way to justify it’s second endorsement of Bonilla. By then, the Democrats were firmly in control of the House. What was pragmatic about continuing to support Bonilla at that point?

Furthermore, the Express-News justified it’s position despite Bonilla’s track record by “hoping he will be better in the future.” In other words, he could stop misbehaving. Yet, the Express-News seems unable to believe that Rodriguez might take a different tack once in office.

MySA.com: Editorials

And on the issues that Rodriguez does manage to define himself, his position is detrimental to the district. When Rodriguez flogs free trade and the elimination of barriers to commerce and finance, he’s undermining a $1.2 billion investment by Toyota and the creation of 4,100 jobs in his district.

Except Rodriguez doesn’t have a track record of being against the creation of jobs in his district by foreign companies. Rodriguez would be against Toyota establishing a manufacturing plant here and paying local taxes. I believe that the Express-News is hung about Rodriguez’s unwillingness to support China in the WTO and such. That is not the same thing as building a manufacturing plant in south San Antonio. Now how much is China investing in manufacturing in the United States anywhere?

And if Bonilla received a treasured seat on the Appropriations committee when he was first elected despite his lack of seniority, why couldn’t the Express-News imagine the same possibility for Rodriguez?

Why does this bother me so much? A couple years ago some researchers out of New Orleans found that the vast majority of the population will believe what they want to believe despite significant evidence to the contrary. Their study determined about only 15% of the population was willing to change their mind after being presented with concrete evidence. For some reason, I thought that a newspaper would fall into that 15% category. Silly me.

Technorati Tags: Henry Bonilla, Ciro Rodriguez, Bonilla, San Antonio Express News, Endorsements

Bexar County Elections
If you are in Bexar County you can find your precinct information and they will even show you a sample ballot. Don’t waste your time on the sample ballot, it is just Ciro Rodriguez DEM and Henry Bonilla REP

Online Voter Central

Click on either polling place or ballot on the left hand side. You will need to enter your drivers liscence number and birthdate to get the information.

Runoff Polling places for Bexar county and the area. Scroll down for Medina County, Uvalde County, and Zavala County. If you aren’t covered by this then online voter central will have the information but they have been swamped today and getting the site to work is hit and miss.

MySA.com: Politics

Bexar County Polling Places

1009, Riverside Park Academy, 202 School St.

1011, Gilbert Building, 931 E. Southcross

1015, Columbia Heights Literacy Cntr, 1502 Fitch

1016, Adams Elementary, 135 E. Southcross

1017, Gilbert Building, 931 E. Southcross

1018, Adams Elementary, 135 E. Southcross

1019, Connell M.S., 400 Hot Wells

1020, Wright Elementary, 115 E. Huff

1021, Rayburn Elementary, 635 Rayburn

1022, Collier Elementary, 834 W. Southcross

1023, Columbia Heights Literacy Cntr, 1502 Fitch

1025, Price Elementary, 245 Price Ave.

1026, Dwight M.S., 2454 W. Southcross

1028, St. Leo Catholic Church, 4423 S. Flores Parish Hall

1034, Geronimo Village VFD #1, 2096 Talley Road

1039, Hidden Cove Elementary, 5003 Gray Buffalo

1040, Price Elementary, 245 Price Ave.

1041, St Clare Church, 7701 Somerset

1042, Palo Alto Elementary, 1725 Palo Alto

1044, Kazen M.S., 1520 Gillette

1045, South San H.S., 2515 Navajo

1046, Kazen M.S., 1520 Gillette

1047, Vestal Elementary, 1111 W. Vestal

1048, Gillette Elementary, 625 Gillette Blvd.

1049, McCollum H.S., 500 W. Formosa

1050, Harlandale Comm Cntr, 7227 Briar Pl

1051, Bellaire Elementary, 142 E. Amber

1052, Goodwill Industries, 3838 Pleasanton Road

1053, Harlandale Comm Cntr, 7227 Briar Pl

1054, Kingsborough M.S., 422 Ashley Rd

1056, Gallardo Elementary, 1300 Del Lago Parkway

1057, Freedom Elementary, 3845 S. Loop 1604 East

1058, Gallardo Elementary, 1300 Del Lago Parkway

1059, Kazen M.S., 1520 Gillette1060, Bob Hope Elementary, 3014 Reforma Drive

1061, Indian Creek Elementary, 5830 Old Pearsall Road

1062, Bob Hope Elementary, 3014 Reforma Drive

1063, Somerset H.S., 7650 S. 1604 West, Somerset

1064, Elm Creek Elementary, 11535 Pearsall Rd, Atascosa

1065, Somerset H.S., 7650 S. 1604 West, Somerset

1066, Elm Creek Elementary, 11535 Pearsall Road, Atascosa

1067, Southwest H.S., 11914 Dragon Lane

1068, Southwest H.S., 11914 Dragon Lane

1069, St. Michaels Episcopal Church, 10208 Culebra Road

1073, Geronimo Village VFD #1, 2096 Talley Road

1074, Connell M.S., 400 Hot Wells

1075, South San H.S. West Campus, 5622 Ray Ellison Drive

1081, Air Force Village, 5100 John D. Ryan Blvd.

1089, Cyndi Taylor Krier Juvenile Cntr, 3621 Farm Road

1091, Cyndi Taylor Krier Juvenile Cntr, 3621 Farm Road

1094, South San H.S. West Campus, 5622 Ray Ellison Drive

1097, St. Leo Catholic Church, 4423 S. Flores, Parish Hall

1101, Galm Elementary, 1454 Saxon Hill

1102, Freedom Elementary, 3845 S. Loop 1604 E

1103, Price Elementary, 245 Price Ave.

1105, Kazen M.S., 1520 Gillette

1107, Southside ISD Admin Bldg., 1460 Martinez-Losoya

1108, Galm Elementary, 1454 Saxon Hill

1110, Galm Elementary, 1454 Saxon Hill

2037, Maury Maverick Library, 8700 Mystic Park

2063, San Antonio MUD #1, 16450 Wildlake, Helotes

2065, Ward Elementary, 8400 Cavern Hill

2066, Braun Oaks Swim Club, 10555 Tezel Road

2084, Maury Maverick Library, 8700 Mystic Park

2099, Braun Oaks Swim Club, 10555 Tezel Road

2101, O’Connor H.S., 12221 Leslie Road, Helotes

2108, Coke Stevenson Middle, 8403 Tezel

2123, O’Connor H.S., 12221 Leslie Road Helotes

2124, Ward Elementary, 8400 Cavern Hill

2139, Nichols Elementary, 9560 Braun Road

3005, St Anthony the Great Coptic Orthodox, 153 W. Borgfeld Road

3016, O P Schnabel Park/YMCA, 9606 Bandera Road

3017, Fair Oaks Ranch City Hall, 7286 Dietz Elkhorn Road, Fair Oaks Ranch

3023, Rudder M.S., 6558 Horn Blvd.

3029, University Baptist Church, 6465 Babcock Road

3030, Huebner Elementary, 16311 Huebner Road

3032, Thornton Elementary, 6450 Pembroke

3033, Alzarfar Shrine Temple, 901 N. Loop 1604 West

3034, Fair Oaks Ranch City Hall, 7286 Dietz Elkhorn Road, Fair Oaks Ranch

3036, San Antonio Christian Church, 6131 De Zavala

3037, Scobee Elementary, 11223 Cedar Park

3039, M H Specht Elementary, 25815 Overlook Parkway

3042, Hardy Oak Elementary, 22900 Hardy Oak Blvd.

3043, Monroe S. May Elementary, 15707 Chase Hill Blvd.

3044, Huebner Elementary, 16311 Huebner Road

3045, Huebner Elementary, 16311 Huebner Road

3051, Scenic Loop Playground, 18249 Sherwood Trail, Greyforest

3054, O P Schnabel Park/YMCA, 9606 Bandera Road

3055, Messiah Lutheran Church, 9401 Dietz Elkhorn Road, Fair Oaks Ranch

3056, Clark H.S., 5150 De Zavala Road

3058, Ed Rawlinson Middle School, 14100 Vance Jackson

3073, Clark H.S., 5150 De Zavala Road

3074, Woods of Shavano Community Club, 13838 Parksite Woods St.

3075, Shavano Park City Hall, 900 Saddletree Court

3076, Fire Station #43, 2055 W. Bitters Road

3078, St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 16320 Huebner

3089, St Anthony the Great Coptic Orthodox, 153 W. Borgfeld Road

3093, Fire Station #43, 2055 W. Bitters Road

3094, Leon Springs Elementary, 23881 IH 10 West

3095, Monroe S. May Elementary, 15707 Chase Hill Blvd.

3096, Leon Springs Elementary, 23881 IH 10 West

3097, Leon Springs Elementary, 23881 IH 10 W

3098, Monroe S. May Elementary, 15707 Chase Hill Blvd.

3099, Bob Beard Elementary, 8725 Sonoma Parkway, Helotes

3101, Bob Beard Elementary, 8725 Sonoma Parkway, Helotes

3102, Hidden Forest Elementary, 802 Silver Spruce St.

3106, Helotes Elementary, 13878 Riggs Road, Helotes

3109, Murray E. Boone Elementary, 6614 Spring Time Drive

3121, Canyon Springs Golf Course, 24405 Wilderness Oak

3123, O P Schnabel Park/YMCA, 9606 Bandera Road

3124, Hollywood Park City Hall, 2 Mecca Drive

3127, Carl Wanke Elementary, 10419 Old Prue Road

3128, Scenic Loop Playground, 18249 Sherwood Trail, Greyforest

3129, Katherine Stinson M.S., 13200 Skyhawk Drive

3130, Shavano Park City Hall, 900 Saddletree Court

3134, Katherine Stinson M.S., 13200 Skyhawk Drive

3142 ,Monroe S. May Elementary, 15707 Chase Hill Blvd.

3143, San Antonio Christian Church, 6131 De Zavala

3146, University Baptist Church, 6465 Babcock Road

3147, Thornton Elementary, 6450 Pembroke

3148, St Anthony the Great Coptic Orthodox, 153 W. Borgfeld Road

3149, Ed Rawlinson M.S., 14100 Vance Jackson

3163, Stone Oak Elementary, 21045 Crescent Oaks

3172, Murray E. Boone Elementary, 6614 Spring Time Drive

3173, Stone Oak Elementary, 21045 Crescent Oaks

3174, Messiah Lutheran Church, 9401 Dietz Elkhorn, Fair Oaks Ranch

4003, Davis Scott YMCA, 1231 Iowa St.

4019, Foster Elementary, 6718 Pecan Valley

4020, Foster Elementary, 6718 Pecan Valley

4023, Rogers M.S., 314 Galway Drive

4024, Kate Schenck Elementary, 101 Kate Schenck

4025, Highland Hills Elementary, 734 Glamis

4026, Steele Elementary, 722 Haggin

4027, Steele Elementary, 722 Haggin

4028, James Bode Recreation Center, 900 Rigsby

4029, Smith Elementary, 823 S. Gevers

4030, Miller Academy, 207 Lincolnshire Drive

4031, Highlands High School, 3118 Elgin

4032, Highland Hills Elementary, 734 Glamis

4033, Pecan Valley Elementary, 3966 E. Southcross

4034, Hirsch Elementary, 4826 Sea Breeze

4062, Pecan Valley Elementary, 3966 E. Southcross

4070, Sinclair Elementary, 6126 Sinclair Road

4073, Harmony Elementary, 10625 Green Lake Drive

4074, Harmony Elementary, 10625 Green Lake Drive

4077, Sinclair Elementary, 6126 Sinclair Road

4109, Japhet Elementary, 314 Astor

4121, John Glenn Jr. Elementary, 7284 FM 1628, Atkins

4124, Foster Elementary, 6718 Pecan Valley

4133, Rogers M.S., 314 Galway Drive

4177, James Bode Recreation Center, 900 Rigsby

MySA.com: Politics

Area Polling Places

San Antonio Express-News

Medina County Pcts. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 20 and 21 — Rick Taylor Center, 601 Harper Road, Hondo

Pcts. 6, 10, 11, 12 and 14 — County building, 1312 Geneva St., Castroville

Pcts. 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22 and 23 — County building, 209 S. Teel St., Devine

Pcts. 8 and 9 — Mico Volunteer Fire Department, 7121 County Road 217, Mico

Uvalde County
Pct. 1 — Civic Center, 300 E. Main, Uvalde

Pct. 2 — Central Christian Church, Sabinal

Pct. 3 — Utopia Community Church, Utopia

Pct. 4 — Concan Community Building, Concan

Pct. 5 — Old Memorial Hospital, Uvalde

Pct. 6 — Montell Community Building, Montell

Pct. 7 — Road Department, U.S. 83 North, Uvalde

Pct. 8 — Bread of Life Fellowship, 700 N. High, Uvalde

Pct. 9 — Anthon School, Uvalde

Pct. 10 — New Testament Fellowship, 220 S. Crisp, Uvalde

Pct. 11 — Lutheran Church Annex, Knippa

Pct. 12 — Uvalde Junior High School, Uvalde

Pct. 13 — Robb School, Uvalde

Pct. 14 — Heard School, Reagan Wells

Zavala County
Pcts. 1A and 2 — Commissioners Court Room, 200 Uvalde St., Crystal City

Pcts. 3 and 4 — Road Department, 1700 N. U.S. 83, Crystal City

Technorati Tags: Henry Bonilla, Ciro Rodriguez, voter information, vote, runoff, Run-off, December 12th, Polling places, politics, texas politics, district 23, congressional district 23, election

MySA.com: Editorials

In this runoff, Bonilla is simply the better choice. As distasteful as that may be, it is reality.

And this time, they’re sharing their “really good” reasons for supporting such a distasteful candidate.

There’s the seniority thing again.

MySA.com: Editorials

Bonilla has enough seniority to maintain his seat on the House Appropriations Committee even though the GOP has lost its House majority and will lose seats on the panel.

Maybe the Express-News should do some research on the differences between the house and senate and being in the minority party. They could just go into their archives and do a search on how many Democratic representatives had a significant influence on legislation compared to their counterparts in the senate.

Maybe if Bonilla had shown some willingness to work with the other side when his party was in power he might have had a chance to accomplish something as a member of the minority. But wait, this is the man that the editorial points out

MySA.com: Editorials

a Republican, has veered too far into partisanship during his seven terms in the House. In the most vivid example, Bonilla supported a GOP rule change that would have allowed former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay to maintain his leadership position even if indicted on felony charges.

Yet somehow, the SAEN believes that Bonilla will help protect important military projects for San Antonio.

MySA.com: Editorials

The valiant but unsuccessful attempt by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, to push the derailed military construction bill through Congress last week demonstrates the need for Texas voices to ensure that projects approved by the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission are funded. The potential for Brooke Army Medical Center to become one of only two multiservice military medical centers is at stake. The plans aren’t pork but important military policy that will boost San Antonio for the long term. Bonilla is in a position to help.

This would suggest that Bonilla has the stature of Kay Bailey Hutchison who is in the SENATE and wasn’t successful under a Republican controlled Congress. Again, how exactly is Bonilla in a position to help? And are they saying that Rodriguez hasn’t supported keeping the military in San Antonio. (Wasn’t there something called Brooks City Base?)

But examples and facts just don’t seem to be the SAEN’s strong point. Apparently, the SAEN concludes that Rodriguez was a “lightweight” but doesn’t give any specific examples.

MySA.com: Editorials

Rodriguez is a decent man, but he was a lightweight congressman. He was far from the most effective member of the San Antonio delegation when he served in Congress.

Oh wait, here’s one:

MySA.com: Editorials

The large field of Democratic candidates in the special election demonstrated the low regard for Rodriguez’s abilities within his own party.

So wouldn’t that apply to any Democrat who ran in the November election? Or maybe he was a “lightweight” because he was in the minority party the whole time he was in the house? Kind of like Bonilla will be?

Finally, something factual and meaningful!

MySA.com: Editorials

Although his initial indecisiveness cost him organized labor’s support in the first round, Rodriguez is too closely aligned with the shortsighted economic policies of unions and organized labor. He opposes free trade measures that are crucial to boosting the global economy and South Texas in the long run.

Rodriguez voted against giving the president the authority to negotiate trade agreements that Congress would then approve or reject without amendment. Trade promotion authority is vital for any administration and for the nation’s trade policy.

So this is worst than voting to allow corporations to receive financial assistance from the U.S. taxpayers while avoiding paying taxes themselves?

Taxpayers for Common Sense — Taxpayer Action Center

Representative Bernard Sanders (D-VT) offered an amendment to H.R. 4818, the Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill, in order to deny direct loans or loan guarantees to corporate expatriates. In recent years, some U.S. corporations have moved overseas while retaining a mailbox in tax havens for the sole purpose of avoiding tens-of-millions of dollars in U.S. taxes. On top of this avoidance, they ask for billions in subsidized loans, loan guarantees, and other financial assistance. The Sanders amendment would deny direct loans or loan guarantees to corporate expatriates.

According the Express-News, “Elections seledom provide perfect choices.” I would argue that when you get down to it, this election comes down to two choices.

One choice favors big business over the individual in the belief that what benefits corporations eventually benefits the individual. (I admit, I’m giving Bonilla the benefit of the doubt here. As far as I can tell, he’s just interested in supporting corporations.)

The second choice protects the individual against the excesses of big business in the market economy and believes that corporations will ultimately adapt in order to make a buck. In other words, big business isn’t supposed to profit at the expense of the individual.

The Express-News seems to prefer the first choice and tries to justify it with meaningless observations. If you’re for a big business, party hack, just say so. Otherwise, vote for Ciro Rodriguez.

Technorati Tags: Bonilla, Henry Bonilla, Ciro Rodriguez, Texas CD 23, District 23, Congressional District 23, Texas, San Antonio Express News

He also faulted Rodríguez for taking $250 from Abdurahman Alamoudi, who was later convicted of conducting illegal business transactions with Libya. Left unsaid was that Alamoudi’s check came years before he was investigated and that Rodríguez was one of nine congressmen he sent money to, a list that also included Lee Hamilton, later named co-chairman of the 9-11 Commission.Rodríguez should have sent that money back, Bonilla said.

This is why people should think before they throw out allegations. Bonilla is faulting Rodriguez for $250, lets stroll through some of Bonilla’s questionable contributions.

“Bonilla is in no position to use this method of attack,” one wrote, adding that “he accepted $1,000 from the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe as part of the Jack Abramoff bribery scandal.”

Hmmm. Should have sent it back.

Bonilla’s contributions from pharmaceutical giants, big oil and big tobacco are far too numerous to detail, and there is nothing new about the $20,000 he took from Tom DeLay’s Americans for a Republican Majority PAC.

Why isn’t he sending that back?

But donations Bonilla got from the players in a scandal that all but paralyzed California’s energy grid, and led to the collapse of Enron and the loss of thousands of workers’ pensions, are troubling.

Bonilla’s campaign got $2,500 from Arthur Andersen PAC, $5,000 from Enron Corp. PAC and $12,500 from Reliant Energy Inc. PAC. American Dream PAC accepted $2,500 from Enron’s PAC, $1,500 from Reliant’s and $1,000 from former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling, who is now a convicted felon.

Interesting, why didn’t he send those back?

Interestingly, those contributions were made from 1997 to 2001, the same period when the firms’ collusion sent Californians’ energy bills through the roof. Enron’s last check was logged three days before Ken Lay revealed that Enron had overstated its profits by $586 million, triggering the firm’s collapse.

Equally troubling contributions came from ADCS, a defense contractor whose PAC gave $8,500 to Bonilla’s campaign and $3,000 to Dream PAC. Its founder, Brent Wilkes, also sent $1,000 to Bonilla’s campaign. Wilkes was “co-conspirator No. 1″ in the indictment that sent former U.S. Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham to prison for bribery and corruption.

Oh my, why the heck did he take those?

When I asked Bonilla spokesman Phil Ricks if Bonilla had returned that money, he said, “Why should he? Those were legitimate contributions when they were made.”

The bottom line is that Phil Ricks is right here of course he wouldn’t send them back they were legitimate contributions at the time they were made. As was the $250 piddly little dollars that Ciro Rodriguez took in 1997. Bonilla has some nerve faulting others for things he has done larger himself.
I hope Bonilla and Phil Ricks learn that you really should look in your closet before you start pulling out tiny infantisimal things out of others closets.

Don’t let this pathetic, last ditch effort pay off at the polls for Henry Bonilla. Tell him loudly with your vote that we don’t play that way anymore. We aren’t going to be swayed by emotionally manipulative ads and those who use them will be taken from power absolutely.

The San Antonio Current has a much longer article worth the read. Some highlights:

San Antonio Current – Hating on the Candidates

But Craig Goodman, a political-science professor at Texas Tech, suggests that Bonilla could be a shadowy backbencher and even less effective now that his party won’t control the agenda. Then there’s that little matter of payback, which is always a bitch when you’re the one getting it. Bonilla could be up for a horse head in his bed (see also CATTLE entry below), for aggressive tactics like threatening Democratic lawmaker Marcy Kaptur of Ohio when she offered a last-minute amendment, saying he would zero out any project that benefited her constituents if she didn’t shut up. Now she’s the senior Democratic lady on the Appropriations Committee.

Now why did the Express-News endorse Bonilla?

San Antonio Current – Hating on the Candidates

Henry’s probably trying to protect any and all Texas meat industries, like he did with beef during the 2003 U.S. Mad-Cow scare. Remember how he fought country-of-origin labeling, saying the burden would be too costly for the industry? That’s more compelling than a case of the fatal Creutzfeldt-Jakob brain melt any day.

I suppose a cost-benefit analysis showed that victims of mad cow disease didn’t linger before dying, running up enormous health bills at tax payers expense. Or maybe, they figured most would be covered by private insurance. Good thing we have the government looking out for our best interests. Thanks Henry.

Technorati Tags: Bonilla, Henry Bonilla, Ciro Rodriguez, Texas CD 23, District 23, Congressional District 23, Texas, San Antonio

Taxpayers for Common Sense — Taxpayer Action Center

Representative Bernard Sanders (D-VT) offered an amendment to H.R. 4818, the Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill, in order to deny direct loans or loan guarantees to corporate expatriates. In recent years, some U.S. corporations have moved overseas while retaining a mailbox in tax havens for the sole purpose of avoiding tens-of-millions of dollars in U.S. taxes. On top of this avoidance, they ask for billions in subsidized loans, loan guarantees, and other financial assistance. The Sanders amendment would deny direct loans or loan guarantees to corporate expatriates.

Technorati Tags: Bonilla, Henry Bonilla, Ciro Rodriguez, Texas CD 23, District 23, Texas, Congressional District 23

Being the “underdog” is a role I’ve embraced throughout my life…When I first ran for Congress, experts said I had no chance to win…Once again, we’re the “underdog” against the National Democrat’s attack machine.

Wow, poor Henry. Still the underdog even after having ten times the amount of money Rodriguez has (who, by the way, is not a terrorist supporter but just exhibits poor judgement), the support of the Republican Secretary of State, and the endorsement of the largest newspaper in his region.

What I can’t understand is why the Republican party is wasting their money on his campaign. After all, didn’t they go into debt with this election cycle? Bonilla may very well win this election but what about the next one? If he needs this much help to win with everything in his favor, what will he do when his opponent has the time and money to run a real campaign? Guess they think like the Express-News and expect him to do a better job of representing his district this time. Or maybe after the experience of the American Dream PAC, they realize he’s the only Hispanic they got.

MySA.com: Metro | State
Early voting extended to Saturday

Bexar County has an extra day of early voting thanks to a compromise reached Tuesday between state officials and a Hispanic civil rights group that had been challenging the election date set for the runoff in Congressional District 23.Following the agreement, U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez in San Antonio signed an order giving the district’s 20 counties the authority to add Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., to their early voting calendars. The order also allows extended poll hours to 8 p.m. on any of the remaining weekdays.

Just wanted to throw this out there. I saw it earlier today and then forgot about it. Early voting can be extended, make sure to call your county elections department to find out where and when you can vote. You can find the number here.