Democratic Convention Wrap Up

by Inga VanWagoner, Democratic National Convention Delegate from SD8

Fired Up! Ready to Go! The Texas delegation is headed home, armed with this go to phrase that embodied the final night of the DNC. We experienced a night of high energy speakers, Hollywood A-listers and music stars as diverse as the national delegation gathered to support President Obama. And most inspiring of all, we heard President Obama's acceptance speech!

The DNC reconvened with Marc Anthony singing the National Anthem and James Taylor performed the classic "Going to Carolina" prompting an arena wide sing along. Shortly after, Representatives Barney Frank, Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaragiosa addressed the crowd. Wasserman Schultz gave tearful testimony as a survivor of breast cancer and the significance of the Affordable Healthcare Act.

Beau Biden, Attorney General of Delaware made the hearty motion to nominate his father, Vice President Joe Biden, to which the delegation gave a boisterous second and verbal vote to pass the motion. Actresses Kerry Washington and Scarlett Johansson followed a Rock the Vote style showing by the Foo Fighters.

Veterans like myself noted the failure to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the opening of the night's agenda. We were amazed at the appearance of former Representative Gabrielle Giffords assisted by Debbie Wasserman Schultz to center stage. Giffords led the arena in a joyful recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, which brought many to tears. Also featured were Caroline Kennedy, native Texan actress Eva Longoria, Senator John Kerry and former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, whose rowdy no holds barred speech whipped the crowd into a frenzied Democratic fervor.

Dr. Jill Biden introduced Vice President Joe Biden, who accepted the nomination for VP. And of course the surprise second appearance of the First Lady Michelle Obama brought another chant of "We love Michelle" as she introduced our President Barrack Obama. The crowd shifted to chants of "Four More Years" as he stood, taking in the view of assembled supporters. We stood more than we sat for the duration of his speech as the President listed the numerous points of success in the last four years. A humble moment was felt when Obama quoted Abraham Lincoln saying "I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go,” promising to continue to do the work to lead our country.

We returned to the host hotel enthralled and emboldened to return home fired up and ready to go, the mantra of Obama supporter Edith Childs. Even as I stand waiting to board my flight home, chants in the airport of Yes We Can abound.

Editor's note: The picture right is of a group of about 60 people gathered for a Convention Watch Celebration at Rugby House Pub, in north west Plano, to hear President Obama's acceptance speech.

2012 Democratic National Convention On Thursday

President Barack Obama at the 2012 Democratic National Convention

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Vice President Joe Biden at the 2012 Democratic National Convention

Federal Court Stays Injuction That Blocked Restrictive Voter Registrar Laws

A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled 2-1 on Thursday to stay an injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Gregg Costa early last month that blocked enforcement of parts of Texas' new deputy voter registrar laws.

Judge Costa in Galveston had blocked the state from enforcing the new laws rules until their legality can be determined in a court hearing scheduled for next month. But yesterday's 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling allows Texas to enforce new deputy voter registrar laws passed by the 2011 Texas Legislature. Those laws limit who can hand out voter registration cards and who can collect completed registration forms:

1. No one can work in voter registration drives who doesn’t live in Texas;
   
2. No one can work outside any one particular county;
   
3. Payment to registration drive workers must be an hourly wage and compensation cannot be based on the worker’s productivity;
   
4. No completed voter registration forms can be photocopied by the registration drive workers or the registration drive organization; and
   
5. All completed voter registrations must be delivered to county elections officials in person by the deputy registrar.
   

Texas Volunteer Deputy Registrar Guide on the Texas Secretary of State website.

The last day to register to vote in the November 6, 2012 General Election is Tuesday October 9, 2012.

If you have not already received your new yellow 2012-13 voter registration card, you may not be registered to vote in the county where you currently reside.

You should immediately check your registration status and take action to properly register, if you find you are not registered to vote in the county where you reside.

To check your Collin Co. registration status - click here. To check your registration status in another Texas county - click here. If you find you are not registered to vote, you can find the Voter's Registration application by clicking here.

More details available at Your 2012 Collin Co. Voter Registration Card.

Early voting for the Nov. 6, 2012 General Election will run from Monday, Oct 22, 2012 to Friday, Nov 2, 2012 at your usual county early polling locations.

2012 Democratic National Convention On Wednesday

President Bill Clinton at the 2012 Democratic National Convention

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Elizabeth Warren at the 2012 Democratic National Convention

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Cecile Richards at the 2012 Democratic National Convention

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Sandra Fluke at the 2012 Democratic National Convention

Notes From The Democratic National Convention, Tuesday

By Inga VanWagoner, Democratic National Convention Delegate from SD8 ~ pictures by Cindi Koehn, Democratic National Convention Volunteer & SD30 Committeewoman

By Monday September 3rd the Texas Delegation had arrived in arrived Charlotte North Carolina! Despite some travel delays and occasional rain showers courtesy of Hurricane Isaac, we received a warm and enthusiastic welcome from the DNC volunteers. Shortly after landing, we were settled on buses and en route to the Texas Delegation host hotel, Great Wolf Lodge.

Charlotte is on full display this week with art, banners and billboards touting the DNC.

There is a palpable energy in the city as the festivities get underway. This evening's activity for Texas delegates included a welcome reception at the Discovery Place, an interactive science museum noted as one of the nation's best.

Other welcome events were held across the city at 12 notable Charlotte venues including the NASCAR Hall of Fame, where Mayor Anthony Foxx addressed delegates and guests.

Special thanks to Democratic National Committeeman Glen Maxey for diligently posting schedules and updates for us!

Monday morning, your SD8 delegates were up early, checking in to sign our daily credentials and selecting caucuses to attend. Then came uplifting and stirring speeches were delivered by Rev. Jesse Jackson in the African American caucus and Christine Pelosi in the Veterans and Military Families caucus.

We had numerous opportunities to hear from our dynamic DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz. I personally was able to meet the oldest delegate in attendance, Mr. Steven Sherman, a decorated disabled WWI veteran, age 91.

A conference call was held for all national delegates, nearly 6,000 in total, more delegates than any national convention in history. Our topic of conversation--answering the question "are we better off today than we were four years ago." Our reply--a resounding "YES!"

Monday evening wrapped with a Texas delegation beach themed party in our host hotel and excited conversations about the convention's call to order.

TDP Chairman Gilberto Hinajosa spoke at Tuesday's delegation breakfast as we prepared to sign our names--one by one--to nominate President Obama to four more years!

The Women's Caucus was an impressive and inspiring collection of voices for the continued advancement of women. Actress Ashley Judd and correspondent Donna Brazille rallied us on after a special recognition of Congresswoman Gabby Giffords.

The afternoon led up to the gavel in by DNC Chair Wasserman Schultz and it began......a evening of spirited, memorable speakers.

Cheers erupted time and time again at the remarks of Mayor Corey Booker of New Jersey, Assistant Secretary Tammy Duckworth and our own San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro. Cheers from our Texas delegation brought Castro's speeches to a pause, as did chants of "USA" and "Four More Years."

The perfect ending to the night was the shining moment of First Lady Michelle Obama. Her emotionally stirring words of family, faith and the foundation she and President Obama built for their own family.

The adoration and respect of Mrs. Obama was never more evident as she waited for the applause and chants of "We love Michelle," to settle. Mrs. Obama led the charge to work these next 7 weeks to work for the re-election of President Barack Obama.

Tuesday evening, the mass of delegates filtered out of Time Warner Arena reveling in the high points of the night's message of "Moving Forward, Not Back."

After stopping at the MSNBC outdoor broadcast to gear DNC Chair Wasserman Schultz review the evening, we, the Texas delegates were gathered again at Whiskey River Restaurant and rehashed our favorite sound bites of the night before turning in for the night.

2012 Democratic National Convention On Tuesday

First Lady Michelle Obama's Remarks
2012 Democratic National Convention

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Mayor Julián Castro's Keynote Address
2012 Democratic National Convention

Celebrate President Obama's Acceptance Speech

by Deborah Angell-Smith

We invite you to get "fired up and ready to go" for the rest of the campaign Thursday evening, September 6th at a Convention Watch Celebration at Rugby House Pub, in north west Plano, to hear President Obama's acceptance speech. (map)

The Democratic National Convention is getting started, and after a week of wild Republican nonsense last week, it's going to be wonderful to hear truthful speeches from our candidates and supporters.

The pinnacle of the convention will be Thursday night, when President Barack Obama gives his acceptance speech. You'll want to be part of a cheering crowd of Democrats to share the energy and enthusiasm of what is sure to be one of the highlights of this campaign.

We invite you to get "fired up and ready to go" for the rest of the campaign Thursday evening, September 6th at a Convention Watch Celebration at The Rugby House in north west Plano, near Preston and 121. Come whenever you like, beginning as early as 6, but keep in mind that President Obama will speak sometime in the 9:00 hour, so be sure to arrive in plenty of time so you have time to greet everyone, order and eat before the President speaks. The Rugby House has a diverse menu of excellent food at reasonable prices, and Happy Hour specials are extended till closing Thursday night.

Thursday September 6, 2012

6

RSVP

Democratic National Convention Watch Celebration

Rugby House Pub
8604 Preston Rd., Suite 100, Plano 75024
(East side of Preston Rd & South of Hwy 121)

Thursday, Sept. 6,
6:00pm - 10:30pm

Thanks to Texas Democratic Women Collin County and Democratic Blog News for co-hosting this event, and individuals from Drinking Liberally in Plano and McKinney for helping to promote it. Similar events are being held at other locations, including private homes and at least one other restaurant in downtown Plano, Vickery Park. You can find details about all of the Convention Watch, phone banking and other events supporting the Obama campaign at www.BarackObama.com.

Also, be sure to mark your calendars for our next Democratic Network Forum, Saturday morning, September 22nd, when we'll have a program on Voter Empowerment and Election Protection at the John & Judy Gay Library in south central McKinney. We'll send out more information soon, but hope you'll plan to attend and bring some Democratic friends with you.

The Democratic Network offers opportunities for current and future Democratic activists to learn about the issues that affect us here in Collin County, and what we, as Democrats, can do to make things better. We invite your input on topics, speakers, format and other options - and encourage you to get involved in growing our network. If you'd like to add Democrats you know to our distribution list, please let us know.

You can email us at info@collindems.net, or call (469) 713-2031 to leave a voice message.

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Democratic Network Educational Forum

The Labor Union Movement in America

Labor unions are responsible for the many benefits of our jobs that we enjoy today. Even if you only work part time in the worst job possible, you still enjoy at least some of the fruits that labor has fought for. Here are 20 of them.

1. Minimum Wage: Without federally mandated minimum wage, we’d still be working for pennies.
2. Child Labor Laws: Without these laws, children would be hired as cheap labor.
3. Paid Vacations: Did you go on a cruise this year? Perhaps to the Grand Canyon or another country? Thank a union.
4. Employer Health Care, Dental, and Vision Insurance: If you have a medical, dental, or vision care plan through your employer, your a lucky person. All because of organized labor.
5. Pensions: If you were able to retire at 65 and get pension checks in the mail, congratulations, you’re living proof that unions work.
6. Safety Conditions: Do you work at a potentially hazardous job but have safety regulations in place to protect you? If so, unions are responsible for your continued safety.
7. Collective Bargaining: Just having the right to negotiate with your employer is a benefit guaranteed by a union.
8. Weekends: If you have weekends off to spend with your families, a labor union is responsible for giving you that time off.
9. Sick Leave: Did you get to use a work provided sick day to get well? Unions fought for that too.
10. Overtime: Are you able to work overtime and get paid even more for it? Thank a union
11. 8 Hour Work Day: Without unions, we’d all be working non-stop 24/7. Because of unions you’re able to go home and spend some time at home with family and friends before you catch 6-8 hours of sleep.
12. 40 Hour Work Week: Just like number 11, without unions, we’d never have a day off and work would encompass our entire life.
13. Unemployment Benefits: Are you unemployed but receive unemployment benefits to care for your family until you find another job? One word. Unions.
14. Wrongful Termination Laws: Because of unions, you can’t be fired for stupid reasons, like the color of your skin or because you make too much money.
15. Pay Raises: Unions are responsible for your ability to ask for and receive pay raises.
16. Holiday Pay: Do you at least get some holidays off? If so, thank a union.
17. Pregnancy and Parental Leave: In some countries, women give birth on the job and have to go back to work the next day. Corporations would make women do the same thing here if not for the determination of a union.
18. The Right To Strike: We have the right to organize and protest against the government. A union fought for your right to organize and strike against your employer.
19. Equal Pay For Women: Women finally get equal pay for equal work. Thank a union.
20. Laws Ending Sweatshops: Because of unions, sweatshops, which employ cheap labor with harsh conditions, are illegal.

Song by singer/songwriter Turner R. Corn. Turner is a native Hoosier and proud union member of Laborers Local 795 in New Albany, Indiana.

Every right that a worker has in the workplace is all because a union fought hard to get it. As Republicans continue to wipe out unions and weaken them, they also weaken us and our ability to fight back against unfair business practices. We are at risk of losing all the things that unions fought long and hard to secure. Even our jobs are at risk. Because of unions, many of the jobs Americans still hold, have not been outsourced overseas. Unions protect jobs in America and where there are unions, there are jobs.

Because the private sector has largely wiped out unions, big corporations are able to lay off American workers and give those jobs to cheap labor overseas. If you want a job, or want to keep yours, organize or join a union and fight for your right to work. Unions fight for the American worker, therefore they fight for us.

Anyone who says that unions are un-American only wants to get rid of the above list so that they can make ridiculous profits off the backs off a cheap labor workforce. If you support American workers, American jobs, and the continued prosperity of the American people, support labor unions.

TDP Chairman Hinojosa And 5th Court of Appeals Candidates

by Michael Handley

Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa spoke at the party's reception for 5th District Court of Appeals Democratic candidates last Monday. Democrats from the Fifth Court of Appeals District (Dallas, Collin, Grayson, Hunt, Rockwall and Kaufman counties) also heard comments from the five Democratic Fifth Court of Appeals candidates.

Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa
Plano, Tx, ~ Monday, August 27, 2012

The Texas District Courts of Appeals are distributed in fourteen districts around the state of Texas.

The Courts of Appeal have intermediate appellate jurisdiction in both civil and criminal cases appealed from district or county courts.

Like the Texas Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals, Justices of the Texas Courts of Appeals are elected to six-year terms by general election.

The Court of Appeals for the Fifth District of Texas at Dallas includes one Chief Justice and twelve Justices. No Democrats currently sit on Fifth Court of Appeals.

Comments from the five Democratic Candidates running for the 5th Court of Appeals:

David Hanshen for 5th Court of Appeals Place 9 - "Why are the courts of appeals important? Every case out of the Collin County Court House that gets appealed - probate, family, civil and criminal, every case - ends up in the 5th Court of Appeals. Collin County is not the battle ground [for this election,] Collin County is the key. I ran for the 5th Court of Appeals four years ago. I got within two percent [of winning that election.] You can deliver an extra two percent - it's Collin County that is the key. I remember Dallas in 2001 when I ran the first time for Judge; I thought I was the only Democrat. There were three Ann Richards signs in my neighborhood, that was it. In 2006 we came back and cleaned [Republicans] out of the court house and we held it in 2008 and 2010, again. You can do that in Collin County! The Supreme Court candidate four years ago nearly won. There are the Democratic votes here in Collin County to elect Democrats to the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals!"

Larry Praeger for 5th of Court Appeals Place 12 - "When you boil this race down, there are a couple of things you really need to know. In the last presidential cycle the court of appeals candidates in 2008 got nearly 48 percent of the vote. People ask me all the time, what does the court of appeals do? It does basically two things: it tells you if you've had a fair trial and it protects your individual liberties. Lets talk about our individual liberties. The importance of the power of these justices can not be over emphasized. When laws that infringe on individual liberties come out of the legislature are challenged in the court system, it's going to the Court of Appeals first, before it goes to any federal court. So, if you are wondering who is ruling on the constitutionality of those laws, its your appellate justices. I would urge you to go to the Internet and look up the current justices and look at the groups who endorse them and that will give you a clue where they see things."

Tonya Holt for 5th Court of Appeals Place 11 - "It is a pleasure and honor to be here to tell you we are going to do it, we are going to win. We need all of you to get out the vote, and when you go out to vote, take a few people with you. My opponent was appointed by Rick Perry in 2002 and in 2003 Rick Perry appointed his sister. They are so out of order and so out of balance and plain wrong. We can't allow that to continue. You know, people talk about [elections] 2014 and 2016 - now I'm talking about wining in 2012. We need to get it done now! Tomorrow will take care of itself, but we have to deal with today while we're facing it. ... I am a Democrat. I am a Democratic because it is the party of inclusion - everyone is welcome, everyone's rights matter and that is important to me. I fought for civil rights - I believe in civil rights. We can't allow the Republicans in their backward thinking to take away what we fought so hard for."

Penny Phillips for 5th Court of Appeals Place 5 - "Every vote matters! The more that you all get people out to vote in 2012, and vote [for candidates] down ballot, the better chance that we can win on November 7th. So I can't emphasize how important it is for you to help get out the vote. This court - the Court of Appeals - is so important. There was a study that came out in April of this year from the University of Houston Law Review that shows how this court ruled, and how all the Courts of Appeals have ruled. What that study found was that if you, an average citizen, are a plaintiff - if you're the individual person who got wronged by a corporation - and you go through the trial process and win at trial, but that ruling is appealed, then one out of two times - 50 percent of the time - your trial win will be overturned on appeal. On the other hand, when corporations win cases at trial, their wins are only overturned 25 percent of the time across fourteen Courts of Appeals in Texas. And for the corporation win cases that are appealed to the 5th Court of Appeals, only get overturned 14 percent of the time - and those include personal injury cases and deceptive trade practices cases. All of that is to say that we do need balance on this court and it does matter who your justices are who are elected to the appeals court because these cases affect peoples' lives and well being.

Pictures taken at the Reception

Courts of Appeals are where the rubber hits the road for protecting the individual rights that we fight so hard to protect. It's 2012, not 1912, and we are coming up on the 100th anniversary of women having the right to vote in 2020 - we haven't even had the right for a 100 years yet. I want to keep all the rights that we as individual citizens and we as women fought so hard to win and continue to fight so hard to protect."

Dan Wood for 5th of Court Appeals Place 2 - "There hasn't been a Democrat on the 5th Court of Appeals since the 1990's when Republicans took over every seat. Why does that make a difference? You need a diversity of views at the table when these appellate decisions are made on the cases that affect you directly."

In the 2012 General Election five Democratic Candidates are running for the 5th Court of Appeals:

• Tonya Holt for 5th District Court of Appeals Place 11
  
• Penny Phillips for 5th District Court of Appeals Place 5
  
• Larry Praeger for 5th District Court of Appeals Place 12
  
• David Hanshen for 5th District Court of Appeals Place 9
• Dan Wood for 5th District Court of Appeals Place 2
  

Both civil and criminal appeals are typically heard by a panel of three justices, unless in a particular case "en banc" hearing is ordered, in which instance all the justices of that Court hear and consider the case. (Graphical Guide to the Court System of Texas) (map)

Other Democratic candidates who spoke at the reception include:

• Michele Petty for Justice, Texas Supreme Court
• Jack Ternan for Texas Senate District 8
• Lois Parrott for State Board of Education, District 12

Democratic National Convention Watch Party

Texas Democratic Women of Collin County (TDWCC)
Democratic Network
Democratic Blog News

Invite you to join them for a

Democratic National Convention Watch Party

Where: Rugby House Pub, 8604 Preston Rd., Suite 100, Plano 75024
(East side of Preston Rd & just South of Hwy 121)

When: Thursday, Sept. 6, 7:00 pm to ?
(We’ll stay to hear President Obama’s speech)

Cost: Whatever you want to purchase of the Rugby House food/drinks

RSVP to rsvp@tdwcc.org so we have an idea of the attendance number.