Innovative Ideas to Suppress the Vote
I gotta hand it to our new Tax Assessor-Collector Leo Vasquez. Never have I seen someone so determined to suppress the vote. I heard there are some new rules for those of us who volunteer to be deputy voter registrars. (1) You must sign-up and get trained at the main office; no longer will their outreach person go to organizations. (2) If you get trained and signed-up, and you register some voters, you will need to turn in completed voter applications at Leo’s office downtown or at the “outreach” location at some warehouse. You will no longer be able to turn in those applications at a neighborhood tax office near you.
So, if you’re of limited means, yet, still support growing our democracy, well, you have to do a lot more now. I’m sure he’s doing it in the name of “saving tax dollars” but there is nothing more valuable than our vote. And, really, there are more innovative ways to trim a budget. So, all I can see is a blatant attempt to suppress the vote before people even get the chance to register.
Perhaps we should have a fully-funded, independent Voter Registrar’s Office in Harris County. Either way, we still have to kick Leo Vasquez out of politics. Frankly, I’m not afraid to use the “V” word in a direct mail piece to Latinos.
Pro-Choice Luncheon–A Hit!
The small group of annoying anti-choicers in the front of the Westin notwithstanding, the 36th Annual Roe v Wade Luncheon was a success. Almost 1,000 were in attendance to hear than Planned Parenthood-Houston completed its Capitol Campaign and raised the $16 Million-plus to build their new facility on the Gulf Freeway. In fact, I drove by there the other day and they are hard at work toward a completion date of February 2010. Congrats to Peter Durkin, the PPH staff, and all who support the work of Planned Parenthood. I had the honor of inviting two young women leaders to the event as part of my outreach. Thanks to HCDP and Muriel Stubbs for sponsoring their ticket. Below is my sis Sylvia Medellin with Ariadna Orozco and Ashley Williams.
The GOP is Changing?
Given their voter suppression, anti-education, and anti-health care ideas, I seriously doubt the GOP can change. Throw in their continued use of immigration in arguing against the stimulus package, even though the AP retracted the article after using only one Republinut source, and we’re seeing that it’s the same old Republican hate machine. Of course, Democrats won’t win if we don’t fight back. So, what better strategy to use when we see the Republinuts failing?
“When your opponent is drowning, throw the son of a bitch an anvil.” James Carville.
Birthday Wishes…
To my friend and DC fan, Jay Aiyer, who will be celebrating his day on Saturday. The rest of you, have a great weekend. I, for one, am going to check out a movie. Can’t decide between Milk, Doubt, Grand Torino, or the Wrestler, but I’m going!
