Monday, April 30, 2012

El Paso Young Democrats 2012 Democratic Primary Endorsements!!

El Paso Young Democrats "kicked off" the  2012 Democratic Primary with their endorsements.  The YD's are considered the corral where young leaders go through campaign boot camp and work their way through field operations and campaign war zones to get their medals of honor and honorable discharge papers needed to move on to running for office.

Getting involved and being in a YD organization will pretty much help a young Democrat test the waters of politics and determine whether they can weather the storm of the combat sport in El Paso we call local politics.  Lots of good, hard working national, state, and local Democrats have come through the ranks of the Young Democrats.  And so here are their endorsements for the 2012 Democratic Primary:

United States Representative, District 16 SILVESTRE REYES
United States Representative, District 23 PETE GALLEGO
State Board of Education, District 1 SERGIO MORA
State Representative, District 75 MARY GONZALEZ
State Representative, District 77 AARON BARRAZA
State Representative, District 78 JOE MOODY
Chief Justice, 8th Court of Appeals ANN CRAWFORD McCLURE
Justice, 8th Court of Appeals District Place 2 TOM STANTON
District Judge, 41st Judicial District DOLORES REYES
District Judge , 243rd Judicial District RICHARD CONTRERAS
District Judge, 383rd Judicial District LISA ACEVES HAYES
District Judge, 388th Judicial District LAURA STRATHMANN
District Judge, 448th Judicial District REGINA ARDITTI
Criminal District Judge, Court No.1 JOSE CASTILLO
District Attorney, 34th Judicial District JAIME ESPARZA
County Tax Assesor-Collector ARMANDO RODRIGUEZ
County Commissioner, Precinct No.1 LIZA MONTELONGO
County Commissioner, Precinct No.3 DORA OAXACA
Constable, Precinct No.1 ROBERT WHITE
Constable, Precinct No.2 JEREMIAH HAGGERTY
Constable, Precinct No.3 HECTOR BERNAL
Constable, Precinct No.4 LUIS "LOUIE" AGUILAR
County Chairman JOSEPH GLEN "BUTCH" MAYA



There are a lot of new young leaders on the ballot this time and only two incumbents who lost the El Paso Young Democrat endorsement.  The incumbents not getting the EPYD endorsement are Marisa Marquez and Victor Flores. The new and young faces in El Paso politics are part of the emerging home grown leadership. Congratulations to the El Paso Young Democrats leadership for their involvement and dedication to the El Paso Democratic Party!
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Tuesday, April 24, 2012

“Cancellation for “security reasons” is code for something else. You figure it out!” Bob Arum – CEO Top Rank


Not much has been disclosed at this moment, but what I have read and seen is that Bob Arum, CEO of Top Rank is seriously upset about the UT Regents decision, to cancel the Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., vs Andy Lee fight scheduled for later this June at the University of Texas at El Paso Sun Bowl.

The boxers were at a press conference on the field of the Sun Bowl to disclose the details of the much anticipated fight when officials from UTEP informed the promoter and fighters, that the fight had been cancelled.

According to TV interviews with boxing magnate Bob Arum, who was visibly irritated, the fight was cancelled for “security reasons”.  In the interview he states “it is code for something else. You figure it out.  Arum also stated that the UT Chancellor called UTEP to inform them of the decision ONE HOUR before the press conference.

This is problematic for many reasons.  If  UTEP was in a contract with Arum, you can bet he will seek legal damages for breach of contract.  In addition, we are trying to justify that El Paso is a “progressive” and safe city but I hate hearing this because I believe it is a matter of time before we have more crossover violence (talk to some “progressive” police and they will say it has already crossed over). Rumors that the regents had concerns with “stray bullets” have surfaced, giving El Paso a big black eye in the national and international sports world (not good when you want to pass a gagillion dollar bond for all these sports arenas). A successful event at the Sun Bowl, could have justified the argument for the gagillion dollar sports arena bond package (the cancellation sounds fishy to me). Further Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., son of boxing legend Julio Cesar Chavez, is Mexican (is it because he’s Mexican that stray Mexican bullets are more likely to cross over into the US and in the Sun Bowl) and widely popular in Mexico and Latin American because of his boxing record and his handsome looks. He could have packed in an international crowd!!

And so I too, am perplexed at the first time ever decision, by the UT Regents and UT Chancellor to cancel, at the last minute, a premier boxing event that was scheduled at the Sun Bowl.  Bob Arum is one of the Kings in boxing.  He is a kingmaker and not someone you want to tangle with outside of the ring! I hope some real journalists investigate this further, find out what is REALLY going on, or as Arum says it “it is code for something else”.
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He's the 42nd President of the United States. He's President Bill Clinton!

He's a President.  He's Bill Clinton. He is married to the most powerful woman in America - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The Clinton's are a powerful political couple in America and "rock stars" of the Democratic Party, and President Clinton is here to support and endorse Congressman Silvestre Reyes for another term in Congress.

If you don't have a wrist band, go the El Paso County Coliseum at 1 pm and get your wrist band.

It's free. There will be music, Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo Youth social dancers and more. It's good for the kids, teens, young people, any El Pasoan to see a President of the United States!

So see ya there!


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Monday, April 23, 2012

RED HERRING: Something, esp. a clue, that is or is intended to be misleading or distracting


1.red herring292 up25 down
In novels, usually mystery novels, a "red herring" is an extraneous character meant to divert the reader's attention from the true killer/robber/etc. It is usually a logical choice for the culprit, but ends up being nothing.
2.red herring123 up19 down
Something used to divert attention form the real matter, issue or object(a dead red herring was often used to confuse or test the scent of a hunting dog)
"That kid was just a red herring to prevent his friends from being caught in the act."
(Has someone cloned my blog?  There are videos out there to do that  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsTBJ0nEOv4 .  Hacking is a federal crime folks. Report all incidents!)

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ALLEGED COVER UP AT CITY HALL OF HIGH PROFILE DWI?

With all the vehicular homicide and drunk driving arrests and accidents, DWI has been determined a problem here in El Paso.  Sources close to the Police Department have indicated that a DWI arrest of a high profile elected official and alleged feeding of the high profile elected official, so that when he "blew" he would pass the breath test, occurred recently.

The source states that allegedly the City Manager was called in and a high ranking police official to help sober up the elected official.

Details will be made available as they are sourced for legitimacy.

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Sunday, April 22, 2012

Blogging Thoughts and "Border Talk" Radio: Expanding the Public Conversation in El Paso

I am now settling in to the transformation from elected official to private citizen, to blogger, and now radio talk show host (my newest venture).  The private citizen part of it is a big relief because I am on a different legal standing in that the haters (bloggers, media, and such) cannot take liberties in writing or reporting about me because I am no longer under the scrutiny and public standing of being an “elected official”.  During this transition, I have had some good mentors who have shared many things, including remembering that although I am no longer an “elected official” I am still very much a “public” person with both admirers and haters and because of that, my exit from politics was not only watched, but my new ventures are also being watched by many, with interest and by some with envy. 

I believe these thoughts because no matter where I go, be it a Democratic function, community event, march, funeral, grocery store, or airport, people always ask “what’s next for Norma”?  The “next” has been a journey. There are many things that I have been working on some things more public than others. I am loving the opportunity to venture into blogging as I have always loved to write.  I had tremendous staff during my 14 years serving in the Texas legislature but I was also a pain in the you know what, because I always wanted to review and edit documents that were submitted to me for my final approval.  Sometimes a letter to an agency head, or an op ed for the El Paso Times would be delayed because I had to “Normaize” it. 

When I returned to UT to finish my degree after a 17 year 
 absence, my papers at the beginning were far from what they were when I graduated (Ramon Bracamontes, I wasn’t a “bonobo” attending the university for 20 years, I went BACK to finish my degree, hermano).  It was definitely a transition, dusting off the old college brain cells plus utilizing the writing center at UT was tremendous help!  I know I am not the greatest writer nor am I grammatically perfect (far from it) but I like the exploration and communication with words.  It is a new “weapon” is how I put it once (when I was mad at some blogger for saying lies about me), but it is a creative medium that has NO LIMITS!  I recommend anyone, anytime, to write, write, write.  To your kids, grandkids, parents, friends, enemies, frenemies, husband, lover, people you are mad at, express yourself with the written word. It is a lifter, you leave what is heavy in your heart or what is in your head, in the document you are authoring.  If anything, write for YOURSELF!

This bloggie and being a “blogera” I have discovered, gives me the freedom of expression in a whole different medium and I have come to realize that it is not necessary to always respond to every little opposing opinion or snide remark that is said about me. Lord knows that I have the haters and that they have done quite a butcher job creating an electronic foot print of who they would like people to think I am.  Fortunately, I can write in my own words MY STORY, the truth, what I feel, and I can critique based on my personal, political, and legislative experiences, as I see things and without anyone’s approval.  There is no right or wrong, it is my personal opinion.  It is the opinion of a Xicana with an “X” (my term of self), Latina (the term I choose that the government has given me), 2nd generation El Pasoan, blue-collar background (I’m not a blue blood), born along the US/Mexico Border, dark skinned “India” and proud of my darkness and indigenous heritage and roots.    


And so I am blogging and have every intention of continuing to blog, and for the record, I WRITE MY OWN BLOG POSTS ALL THE TIME!!  I could use an editor or reader, because sometimes I just hammer at the keys and write what is in my head at the moment (like now) and don’t create a structure.  I intend to continue to blog opinion, based on my life experiences. I am in no competition with any other blogger in America or the world, I’m not trying to duplicate what someone else is doing, nor am I interested in defending myself perpetually because my haters have written another negative blog post about me. I will defend my reputation and standing in the community. I am very accomplished and will fight to preserve the work I did for El Paso.  It is public record, buried underground for now, but not for long.

And now, we add a new venture to my post elected official experiences, talk radio with the one and only “Paul Strelzin”. Yes me and “THE STRELZ”, an El Paso icon who is greatly marginalized and who’s voice has been silenced in the past for “saying what he thinks” on the airwaves, or supporting a candidate or two that wasn’t the advertisers or business elites candidate, and/or helping to influence an election because of his standing with the community because his opinion matters to others.  Yes, I get to be mentored, by the “Howard Cosell” of El Paso talk radio, “the mouth of the South”. The New Yorker from the “Bronx” who came to the Borderland, fell in love, married his girl, and made El Paso home.  The voice of El Paso sports, the voice of El Paso basketball giving UTEP and “The Bear” Don Haskins the famous “Minnnnnnnnnneeeeeeeer Ball”, the voice of baseball and the “Diablos” formerly known as the “Sun Kings” at the late great Dudley Field, and the voice of hockey and the “Buzzards”!  Yes I get to work with former Bowie Bear Principal Paul Strelzin and learn how to keep an audience on edge, how to agitate, engage, educate, inform the listening radio audience.  I get to learn the medium of radio with one of the masters of great talk radio! 

And so I hope to bring this new venture of talk radio to a fruitful level for El Paso and the Border, and as a business venture. It is an independent program, not a non-profit, nor politically funded (no super PACS), nor an Entravision sponsored program.  To succeed it has to grow, build audience, it is a “political talk” show and considering that every radio talk show in El Paso is (mostly) syndicated nationally and Republican leaning, “Border Talk” radio is local, independent programming, and Democratic leaning. We will also be promoting anything El Paso including the arts, music, culture, literature and anything community because Paul and I love the 915!


I’m excited about this new project.  The public conversation, the public debate, the opportunity to give the community another medium to vent, to discuss, to build, to demand, to create, to share.  So I hope you will join us in this new venture “Border Talk”!!    

Tune in Monday thru Friday, 10 am to 12 noon, at KHRO 1150 am. You can stream live too (listen from your laptop or work computer) by linking to www.khro1150.com. We are still working out the kinks, have had a great line-up of guests that includes Congressman Silvestre Reyes, former Congressman Ciro RodriguezYsleta Del Sur Pueblo Councilman Trini Gonzalez and Speaking Rock Entertainment GM Karl Maahs, Joe Dorgan, Police Chief Greg Allen, Butch Maya, Democratic Chairman Danny Anchondo, and ERace3 with Bryan Guzman and Jaime Barceleau.  We have already been streamed in Dallas, Ft. Worth, Arlington, Austin, San Antonio, South Texas, Washington DC, Spokane, Washington, New Mexico, Mexico, Germany, and Osaka Japan (people have messaged us on Facebook with their location). We are utilizing the tools of social media, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, my bloggie, and we’ve been mentioned in El Paso Inc’s “Whispers” all this and we’re only one week old (4/22/12).  Even though Paul is adjusting to having a regular co-host, I’m blessed with the opportunity to learn how to host by my own show, working side by side with the BEST – Paul Strelzin. 

Stay tuned and tune in, it’s going to be a Borderland desert twister!!

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Wednesday, April 18, 2012

El Paso Democratic Party Convention April 21st

The 2012 El Paso Democratic Party Convention will be held this Saturday, April 21, at Jefferson High School in Central El Paso.

This years convention is different in that there has been no Democratic Primary because of the redistricting court cases, rulings, and finally agreements reached between the Democratic and Republican Partys.  The convention is the first step to being selected to the Texas Democratic Party state convention where state party officers will be elected in June.  In addition, anyone wanting to be a National Delegate to the DNC Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina beginning September 3rd, must start the process at the COUNTY CONVENTION level.

You have a chance to talk to all the candidates for office plus any office holders that show up.  Perfect time to ask questions one on one, and see how the candidates interact with each other and with hard core Democrats.  Plus is the time to present resolutions for consideration on issues you would like presented at the state convention.  There is a Resolution Committee that will take any and all resolutions to the committee where they will recommend resolutions to be considered by the convention floor by all the Delegates present.

So all of you young Democratic whipper snappers, and oldies but goodies, Yellow Dog Democrats, Blue Dog Democrats, and the rest of you "D's" the convention is this weekend! Get ready for a long day!  The Credentials Committee will start seating Delegates at 8:30 am and the convention starts at 10:00 amish (we are Democrats and may start a little after).  

I'll be blogging and tweeting from the convention floor!

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Monday, April 16, 2012

IT'S OFFICIAL PRESIDENT CLINTON IN EL PASO FOR CONGRESSMAN REYES!!

(updated 5:30pmish)

LET THE POLITICAL PING PONG BEGIN!!

Next week, former President Bill Clinton will make a CAMPAIGN STOP for Congressman Silvestre Reyes.  This is not a drive by scenario where they make a pit stop while doing other "official business" and "squeeze in" a visit, THIS IS AN ENDORSEMENT STOP FOR THE CONGRESSMAN.

And it is a big deal for the Congressman, because the Clintons (Bill and Secretary of State Hillary, as well as Chelsea) are the most popular Democratic political figures in El Paso. And the El Paso Clinton base is die hard loyal.

Four years ago, when the El Paso Democratic Party Convention was being held at UTEP, a thousand plus Clintonites took verbal orders, made phone calls, and read on line directions on "how to become a Clinton Delegate" and help Hillary make it to the White House.  It was a county convention like I have never witnessed before.  I being an Obama supporter, and the first elected official in Texas to support Obama, was on the receiving end (with the 29% Obama Delegates in El Paso County) of a political beating by the disciplined delegates and party officials who were hard core Clintonites, taking order from the Clinton Machine.  And machine it was!  At Democratic County and State Conventions across America, the Clinton Machine dictated a calculated strategy to Clinton generals and lieutenants who organized the troops including denying credentials to Obama delegates, bullying tactics at precinct conventions, and altering or ignoring the rules in order to put Obama Delegates at a disadvantage. The denying of the appropriate number of El Paso Obama Delegates to the state convention resulted in a challenge at the state level where Obama Delegates had to fight to get their 28% allotment.  We eventually won the challenge due to the legal work of John Padalino, Mike Torres and Don Williams (in that order). Don would claim to be the victor of this challenge, but it was Padalino and Torres who wrote the challenge, Don in his forced way of "getting his way" presented the well written challenge.

Because of the terse energy prior to the convention, I PAID an independent film videographer to have the entire convention video recorded.  In fact, I hold the only tapes of that convention.  The tapes were used to win the challenge at the state level to seat the El Paso Delegates and are pretty telling on some local Democrats and the lengths they would go to for the Clintons and for personal political gain.  Although the Obama Delegates were equally disciplined, it was hard ball on the convention floor, and the raving committed Clinton Delegates out numbered the Obama Delegates with 70% of the convention hall for Clinton and only 28% for Obama.

I have been to every El Paso County Democratic Convention since 1992 and to this date, there has never been a convention like 2008.  I bring this up, because this a Democratic National Convention year and it will be held on September 3rd, in Charlotte, North Carolina.  In fact the El Paso County Democratic Convention will be held this Saturday, April 21st at Jefferson High School, and trust me the topic of conversation is going to be "President Bill Clinton is coming to endorse Congressman Silvestre Reyes".

So, my political assessment of the Robert "Beto" O'Rourke response to Clinton coming is "it doesn't matter what you say" EL PASO IS A CLINTON TOWN!.  It didn't matter what we Obama Delegates said about the rules, about being fair, about apportionment based on election returns, the Clinton Machine does what the Clinton Machine asks.  And the Clinton Machine is asking people in El Paso to VOTE FOR CONGRESSMAN SILVESTRE REYES.  It is a big deal.

And this blog post is not to marginalize in any way  President Barack Obama's endorsement today of Congressman Silvestre Reyes.  It is a one-two punch to the O'Rourke Campaign and a message - - - two former political adversaries, the most accomplished and popular to date - President Clinton, and the most powerful man in the world - President Obama, are supporting our Congressman.  What more can a sitting Congressman ask for!!

Sorry, but two presidents don't throw their support to a Congressman that has corruption looming in the background.  Just doesn't happen.  Plus the most powerful man in the world went on RECORD in Cartagena, Columbia and stated his clear position that he is not for the legalization of drugs!!

The race is on!  But the Congressman pulled two HUGE endorsements and it is a statement.  Two Americans bestowed with the power to lead our nation, trust and support Silvestre Reyes for another term in Congress.  (It is unfortunate that an elected official in El Paso tried to steer Clinton off course. But that is for another blog!)

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Sunday, April 15, 2012

AT THE DRIVE IN Headline Coachella Music Fest TONIGHT!

AT THE DRIVE IN, completed a Texas city mini tour starting in Austin, then on to Dallas and Marfa, and ending in El Paso, selling out the Austin show in 11 minutes and every other show within an hour (that is cool rock-n-roll kind of stuff).  Their show in El Paso, at Tricky Falls was jammed packed, predominately a 20-30 something crowd (yes, those of us in my age bracket were either music junkies, in the El Paso music scene, just curious, or parents taking their teenage kids), and the fire department's quick venue check, didn't put out the fire burning return of ATDI.

After cautiously deciding to stay near the back where the merchandise was being sold, when ATDI took stage, I took a brave step going toward the middle and found myself skirted through the crowd by the force of a mob like crowd, with my feet moving without my control so that I wouldn't be trampled (no one was trampled) but that experience and all the shoes and boots that stepped on my ANKLES, was enough to voluntarily send me to the back of the bus again.

ATDI is the El Paso great American story, music story. how a local garage band of boys from El Paso High make it big in the music industry. On the premier of Border Talk's radio program (that will focus on the arts, music, film, creative arts on Fridays), I learned from Joe Dorgan how the band used to horse around at the KXCR studio while Joe did his live "Stepping Out" radio show. Joe was genuinely proud of the band's early days and anxious for the concert, explaining how back-in-the-day, even in the recent 90's, there was no twitter, or Facebook to immediately get out the word of a band performance like what was done for this mini tour which sold out the Austin show in 11 minutes.  Social media has impacted the music industry in a big way too!

I have to admit, I never saw AT THE DRIVE IN (ATDI) in the 90's but I remember a good friend Casey Monahan (Texas Music Office Director who I know from back in the Austin music scene days - mid 80's) telling me about the great music that El Paso was busting out and how this band "At the Drive In" was breaking records and was the big buz around town.  I've always known the name, but I too was mesmerized by the hype, and having met Omar Rodriguez Lopez in Austin and co-producing the "Los Chidos" movie premier after party with Frontera Bugalu, I am now a middle aged Omar fan and wanted to see the roots of this young El Paso creative arts genius.

Omar Rodriguez-Lopez is not just a founding member of ATDI and their spin off Mars Volta, (two very successful bands in a "difficult to make it" music industry), he's a proud Puerto Rican born El Pasoan, with family roots here, and he is a multi-instrumental musician, recognized guitarist, songwriter, producer, writer, actor and film director. Rolling Stone Magazine (10/6/09) listed Rodriguez-Lopez as one of the "Greatest Guitarist of all time".

From what I witnessed, lead vocalist Cedrix Bixler Zavala blasted out song after song with ease and a solid band performance.  Loved the sing-alongs by hard core fans (and they were everywhere), but some of the reviews I have read about the bands return after an 11 year sit out, was that the band was more sedate? Nothing sedate to me, it was a pretty rowdy but contained crowd relating to a pretty high energy band from El Paso. They are no longer in their 20's they are in their 30's and musically maturing.  I personally loved the energy of the audience and the band.  I wish I were a fly on the PA system,  where they will blast out their official 11 year reunion on stage to 65,000 people (read that somewhere) at the Cochella Valley Music and Arts Festival tonight and next Sunday.

The Rodriguez-Lopez musician influence was heard in the band opener, Zechs Marquise with Marcel, Marfred and Riko Rodriguez-Lopez playing. The improv musical rock band is pretty good, I enjoyed it.  I kept an eye on their merchandise table (which they maned themselves), until they finished their set, when they returned to happily great fans and friends and sell their "Getting Paid" CD, cool t-shirts and silk screen collector poster.  Good karma!

From their debut album "Hell Paso", to their successful home band "making it big" in the music industry, to their 11 year break up, to their other successful musical ventures, to coming home to play "El Paso", to their return as a band at the Coachella Music Fest, AT THE DRIVE IN has come full circle. They have done it their way. Played their hearts desire. Been successful. How many people can say that?  And their only in their 30's!

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Friday, April 13, 2012

PRE COACHELLA MUSIC FEST, AT THE DRIVE IN ROCKS THE MESMORIZED HOME CROWD

Everyone knows the words to the songs!


Zechs Marquise opening for ATDI


At The Drive In Fans In Line at 2:30 pm at Tricky Falls. Show sold out in 11minutes!

Downtown El Paso, young people are hanging aound the tour bus parked around the corner of music venue Tricky Falls, waiting for the doors to open to hear El Paso's "At The Drive In". I'll be heading out to the sold out venue and will update this post.


Thursday, April 12, 2012

Honorable Paul Moreno, El Paso Sheriffs Officers Association, El Paso Municipal Police Officers Association, National Border Patrol Council Local 1929 host Fundraiser for Aaron Barraza

Former State Representative Paul Moreno will host a fundraiser for candidate for State Representative District 77 Aaron Barraza, with El Paso law enforcement organizations this evening.  The endorsement by the El Paso County Sheriff Officers Association, El Paso Municipal Police Officers Association, National Border Patrol Council Local 1929 and CLEAT adds to the endorsements for Aaron Barraza by the El Paso Young Stonewall, and Tejano Democrats. 

This makes a total of 7 endorsements to date that the young UT graduate has been able to garner away from two term incumbent Marisa Marquez.  It is unusual that an incumbent who has a fair record passing bills, and who takes every opportunity to inform an audience that the delegation "gets along so well now" is loosing endorsements.  In addition, this is the first election ever, that the El Paso Firefighters Association has broken ranks with the law enforcement coalition of organizations as they are the sole organization of the coalition supporting the incumbent.  Sources within the Sheriff Officers Association have informed me of a meeting between Marquez and leaders of the association that went from bad to worse and shouting and threats to kill bills were made by the incumbent to leaders of the association.  Her behavior and actions solidified the Sheriff Officer Association's commitment to support the young leader Aaron Barraza.

In addition, local trial lawyers have jumped on the Aaron Barraza train. Big wheel trial attorneys are supporting the young leader and are expected to appear at tonight's fundraiser.  Both have pledge their support to Barraza.  In addition, important and recognizable Democrats have been said to be supporting Aaron Barraza, I will confirm those names.

Former State Representative Paul Moreno's support should not be under estimated. His family and field operatives control the local Tejano Chapter, are positioned in the El Paso Democratic Party and they are solid "boots on the ground" something that Marquez lost with the exit of every single person (outside her family) that was part of her "kitchen cabinet" either supporting the challenger or not helping Marquez.

This fundraiser is a message to the incumbent!

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Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Former President Clinton to Visit El Paso for Congressmann Silvestre Reyes Campaign Endorsement!!

The 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, will visit El Paso for a campaign stop to support and endorse Congressman Silvestre Reyes on April 24, 2012. It is the first stop by former President Clinton for Congressman Reyes.


Earlier this year, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi visited El Paso to support Congressman Reyes, tour the El Paso medical school, and speak at the El Paso Democratic Hall of Fame.  More Democratic leaders are likely to converge on the city as Congressman Reyes is considered to be in his most difficult re-election race since being elected 15 years ago.  Former City Councilman Robert "Beto" O'Rourke, Democratic credentials have come into questions because of Republican parents, and a Republican funded Super PAC that will fund big Republican dollars for negative ads against incumbent Reyes (including contributions from his Republican father-in-law Bill Sanders, a wealthy real estate tycoon).  In an El Paso Times article on 6/04/01, O'Rourke praised his father for running for office as a Republican ("he dared to switch parties and run for countywide office as a Republican. I love him for taking those risks...").   

President Clinton served two terms from 1993 to 2001 and is only the second Democratic President to win a second term since Franklin D. Roosevelt. He began his first term at age 46, and is the third youngest president.  He is the first president of the "baby boom" generation, took office after the Cold War, and he presided as president over the longest period of peacetime economic expansion in American history.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
, is also a friend to Congressman Reyes.  When she was a candidate for President, she made her first stop along the US/Mexico Border in El Paso with Reyes. 



The Clintons are not only considered a power couple of the Democratic Party they have now reached "global rock star" status.  In addition, President Clinton has willingly traveled across America to support worthy Democratic incumbents and select Democratic candidates supported by the Democratic Party.  El Paso is clearly a Clinton town, as Secretary Clinton handedly defeated President Barack Obama by 70% in the 2008 El Paso Democratic Primary.  The Clinton endorsement and campaign stop is HUGE FOR REYES!!

I still recall with amazement Clinton's stop in my District, at the Carolina Park, standing in the back of an old pick up truck, giving a speech and asking for votes for Hillary.  He went to different places in the Lower Valley with the same messaging. In true Clinton fashion and and using their keen political wisdom - know your audience!

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Thursday, April 5, 2012

UPDATED: El Paso Times Piece April 1, 2012: Campaign 2012 Silvestre Reyes vs Beto O'Rourke


(Updated 4/412)

I thought the El Paso Times 2012 16th Congressional District comparative piece between Congressman Silvestre "Silver" Reyes and Robert "Beto" O'Rourke was pretty balanced. Chris Roberts is a straight shooter. Reyes comes across as the balanced, experienced, elder statesman. I think he doesn't provide enough detail on how key, (at the Congressional level), RELATIONSHIPS are and what an important role they play in getting things done for a community.

When I was in the Texas Legislature, I was on the Veterans Committee and we were given briefings on BRAC (Defense Base Closure and Re-Alignment Commission) and Ft. Bliss had to make the argument to be a base worth preserving and adding troops. Granted it was a community effort that included the Chambers of Commerce (all of them), state, county and city governments, business and community leaders and of course all federal elected officials. But the local Congressman has to have the respect from other members in Congress and the President and Vice President, to have gotten what we got. It just wouldn't happen with a freshman or shady congressman. Reyes is not known as a public speaker, he sits at the table of power – he has proven he is a deal maker, (example he was successful in leading the BRAC strategy to save Ft. Bliss, he was able to secure $1 billion dollars for the Beaumont Army Medical Center). El Paso benefits from having an experienced Congressman with key relationships with  Democrats and Republicans in Congress. 

In addition, the argument could be made that seniority is vitally important for a community with a military base like Fort Bliss, a new medical school still dependent on federal funding, and because of the on-going public corruption investigations and future indictments of elected officials that continue to shatter our community. The stability of a senior member in the highest elected position for El Paso, is arguably the most compelling reason to re-elect Congressman Reyes. Not quite time for change!

The current political capital for our city at the federal and state level includes a freshman Texas Senator, two freshmen legislators (all going to re-election for a second term), one sophomore legislator and we will be sending another freshman legislator to Austin. (As a freshman State Representative with connections to the party in power, Dee Margo stated he was connected to the leadership and criticized the incumbent for failing to file and pass bills, yet he passed only 2 bills and was not able to fulfill his campaign promises). 

The senior legislators (on the federal and state level) are Congressman Silvestre Reyes and State Representative Joe Pickett. That is it.  Inexperience in the hierarchy of the institutions of Congress and Texas legislature is significant for a community. Although both institutions have similarities, Congress committee assignments are not only based on seniority but on relationships and position with the Speaker of the House or Minority Leader.  Congressman Reyes has a tremendous relationship with Leader Pelosi and has long standing relationships and respect by the most politically powerful Democratic political figures in the national Democratic Party, former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Remember, Secretary Clinton chose to make her first stop as a candidate for US President along the US/Mexican Border in El Paso with Congressman Reyes. That is a very big statement of the respect and trust the Clintons have of Congressman Reyes. In addition President Barack Obama has demonstrated his support and trust of Congressman Reyes and not many congressmen have flown on Air Force One, much less under two different presidents.

El Paso Times reporter Chris Robert's comparative piece presents two completely different choices for Congressional District 16 and I think he did a good job. Here are is my political opinion and analysis.

Congressman Silvestre “Silver” Reyes
Congressman Reyes is presented as the “well connected” Washington insider (not necessarily a bad thing when the political capital for our El Paso state delegation is freshman and sophomore legislators).  Seniority then becomes important. The Vietnam veteran combat war experiences are important to his rise to power and his survival of real live combat attacks have allowed him to handle and put in perspective the political attacks by O’Rourke.  Not to say he is not concerned about this election, but observing him and the strategy of the campaign, his moves have been tactical.

When Roberts covers the “bump in the road” which was the discussion of marijuana legalization, Roberts writes of a consistent elder constituent who compares marijuana legalization with Prohibition and provides O’Rourke’s continued argument of supply and demand.  But Congressman Reyes has never budged on the issue.  And he won’t.  His background is law enforcement and you are either a bad cop or a good cop, and Reyes has not been a corruptible cop!  Reyes, again using a tactical war strategy, reflects on his successes with the US Border Patrol stating his record and shares his experience of the ultimate corruption - bribery.  In that story, he shares how he was offered $5 million dollars, which he turns down, and the drug cartels dump 5 bags of onions on his driveway. The onion bags were symbolic and a message (because the drug cartel hide cocaine in the onion bags), and he and his family had to go under protective custody for a period of time.  That is a very good story and counter to O’Rourke’s pro-marijuana legalization stand.  He wasn’t bribable, he isn’t for drugs, and he doesn’t support legalization of a drug that could lead to harder drugs.  PUNTO!

Next subject is the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) recommendations and his role in that process.  In order to put the horse in front of the cart, we as a community had to deal with our potential water shortages of the future due to our water source – underground water Bolsons.  The El Paso Times story documents that “THE THEN IMMINENT CLOSING OF FORT BLISS” was due to El Paso’s lack of a long term water supply.  And one of the most important projects that Congressman Reyes, and Senator’s Hutchison and Cornyn accomplished was the globally recognized water desalination plant.  This project ensured Ft. Bliss was back in the “keep open” category and then it became an expanded base to where we are today.

I cannot emphasis enough that this doesn’t happen without an organized community, which our local chambers did a fantastic job, the local governmental entities demonstrated unity, but the sitting Congressman of the district has to be a respected member of Congress to have been able to have garnered the support of other congressmen to keep Ft. Bliss open!!  A freshman Congressman won’t have that kind of pull as we address future needs for the base. 

The next big issue includes political attacks by O’Rourke that Ft. Bliss expansion didn’t include enough local contracting.  Contracting of $500 million dollars to local businesses is BIG, but I find O’Rourke’s accusation leaning on cronyism.

When I was a policy maker, I never interjected who should get what contract. That was not my job. Our jobs as legislators, (federal or state), is to ensure the procurement process is fair.  O’Rourke’s stance demonstrates his ease and comfort level with involving himself in the awarding of public dollars, of which he showed his wiliness to do so when necessary on various occasions while sitting on Council, by voting on projects that he should have recused himself, because his father-in-law had either real estate holdings or directly benefited from O’Rourke’s vote (more specifics on this in another blog).

Again, in the low brow Congressman’s response, he gave his honest answer that the office held seminars for the business community, but $500 million dollars to local contractors is a big deal. 

The next question of Aliviane is from the O’Rourke playbook.  Reyes did the good cop thing again, called for a full investigation (it should be noted that State Representative Marisa Marquez authored and passed Texas House Resolution 1875 and HR 1628 and provided it to the Congressman for that specific earmark and to demonstrate the delegation’s support of the funding).

The final issue is skirted but is in my opinion a significant issue.  The issue of race. 

The first and only Hispanic Congressman to represent El Paso is Silvestre Reyes.  He is the first Texas Congressman to Chair the US Hispanic Caucus, and the first Texas Congressman to Chair a standing committee in the US House of Representatives.  He is probably one of a handful of congressmen to ride in Air Force One with both President Clinton and President Obama.  His wife, Carolina, is the first Hispanic female to be President of the Congressional Spouses Club in the 103 year history of the club.  It is an elected position by the spouses of members of Congress both Democrat and Republican. Again, Congressman Reyes has the respect of colleagues to have risen up the political ladder in Congress, his wife has been an honorable partner.

And I can tell you that at the state level, speaking among ourselves, Latino legislators would ask who would be the next Latino senator for El Paso and who is likely to be the Latino to take Pickett’s seat when he retires.  The seats are statistically Latino districts, you don’t see many non-minorities representing minority districts in the legislature or in Congress anymore.  El Paso would reverse the trend with O’Rourke. 


Robert “Beto” O’Rourke
First, he absolutely utilizes the newspaper story to roll out his campaign agenda (Reyes did not do this, and I think that decision was tactical).  Robert “Beto” O’Rourke starts his interview in the Lower Valley and every political junkie in town knows that El Paso is a walk district. O’Rourke makes that the entrance to his story and according to him he’s walked 12,000 houses to date.  Pretty grassrootsy.

O’Rourke is not the son of a sharecropper, he is the son of the late Pat O’Rourke a County Judge in the 1980’s and a conservative Republican. His mother Melissa O’Rourke is a business woman and owner of Charlottes Furniture who also voted in the 2010 and 2006 Republican Primaries.  He is married with children.  His wife Amy, is an administrator at La Fe Preparatoria (a Charter school) and her father is real estate tycoon Bill Sanders a Republican. The 39 year old has an Ivy League degree from Columbia University, and served 6 years on City Council. 

The newspaper has helped 39 year old O’Rourke’s campaign by giving him a new title “reformer” vs the name that is most associated with him and the political group he emerged from “progressive”.  That is an interesting play and way to disassociate himself from the City Council majority he voted with, that were all recalled by petition (legal challenges left the actual vote for the recall in limbo and out of time).  Most honest political pundits believe that had he remained on council, he too would have been successfully recalled.

In addition to the good looks and somewhat anti-incumbent sentiment in El Paso, O’Rourke has help from a Houston Based Super PAC (a Texans for Lawsuit Reform (TLR) federal "big sister" PAC).  The mission of the PAC is to take out long term incumbents and it will have the money and capacity to fund negative campaign ads, phone banks, radio, and TV.  The PAC leaders and deep pocket contributors are from Republican based TLR, including big chunks of change from his father-in-law Bill Sanders.  I’m sure that the Super PAC will drop big dollars against Reyes, adding to the three TLR Texas House seats in El Paso they have bank rolled and now this roll of the dice for the congressional seat. (The prototype for this type of funding is my race where TLR bankrolled 86% or $338,000  of Rep. Naomi Gonzalez campaign funds, making her the number 1 purchase in Texas in 2010.  The title of the story is “Who Owns the Legislature”  http://www.texasobserver.org/cover-story/who-owns-the-legislature and that is what TLR is now doing on the federal level).  O’Rourke will benefit from this Republican money.

Although Roberts mentioned in detail the “smart growth” initiatives for Downtown, he failed to mention the eminent domain problems O’Rourke had with Downtown property owners not tied to his father-in-laws real estate investments or Downtown millionaire businessmen who created Paso Del Norte Group (PDNG).
Nor was mention made that he was forced into recusing himself after an unsuccessful recall petition drive and because ethics complaints were filed on votes that included conflict of interests because of real estate investments of his wealthy father-in-law. It should be noted that O’Rourke was brave enough to silence speakers at a City Council meeting who were supportive of a ban of use of eminent domain for private redevelopment Downtown and “a vote was quickly called by O'Rourke without hearing from people who had signed up to speak”. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beto_O'Rourke  Nor did Roberts interview people living in Segundo Barrio or Chihuahuita who opposed the transportation projects that could displace them.  Nor did he interview people at the bus station that was relocated to the Chihuahuita area at the desire of the PDNG who did not want the bus riders or "that element" at the Plazita de Los Lagartos (San Jacinto Plaza) anymore.  

As O’Rourke continues his journey through “Lower Valley” neighborhoods, he presents his political campaign issues.  A full service VA hospital, improving the international bridge time to cross over (remember Rep. Stevo Ortega sitting in his car with a videocam trying to cross the bridge – that is how they roll together), and cleaning up corruption (really? that is a good one).

Lower Valley Dan Gonzalez is given 7 paragraphs to tell how he likes Reyes, how Reyes has done good, how he got $40 million dollars of work at Ft. Bliss because of Reyes, even states the old Shapleigh line “don’t ever make the mistake that we didn’t get our fair share” BUT he’s voting for O’Rourke.  That appears very, very well staged.

In the newspaper, O’Rourke makes his public debut statement that “he will NOT bring the legalization of marijuana issue to Congress”.  What perfect timing. Sunday’s paper, above the fold, and conveniently mentioned in between his laying out his political campaign agenda.  He’s written a book on the subject with City Rep. Susie Byrd (his political ally and confidant), he started a book tour (which was quickly stopped), he presented a resolution on City Council to call for the legalization of marijuana, and he’s been in many pro-marijuana publications because he was proposing legalization as a sitting City Councilman on the Border with Mexico where a drug cartel war has torn our bi-national community apart. And during this metamorphosis he went from legalization to a legalization “conversation” and now in the El Paso Times, it’s “I’m not for that anymore”.  He is pro-legalization of marijuana and Congressman Reyes has every right and should pounce on his head with that every chance he gets because he “shelved” the issue for now, he didn’t kill it.

The international bridge issue is multi-tiered and thanks to the terrorists who masterminded the 911 American tragedy, homeland security takes precedence over speeding up lines of vehicle traffic into the US. The technology is being tested, and a slew of federal agencies have jurisdiction over the international bridges not to fail to mention international law and treaties, and sorry Beto but the drug cartel wars and trafficking come into play in the whole public policy decision making process.  I hate to tell you, but a freshman congressman is not going to just speed up the cars and the bridge waits.  This political issue is silly and demonstrates O’Rourke’s lack of knowledge of Congress.

One thing O’Rourke does is tell everyone that he supports another international bridge. What he doesn’t say is that the bridge location he prefers is the Yarbrough Bridge that Congressman Reyes has adamantly opposed.  In addition, the newspaper did not state that an international bridge must get the approval of the sitting Congressman in order to proceed to the permitting phase.  Bill Sanders and his real estate investment companies and real estate partners have vast real estate holdings on both sides of the border as well as in the Sunland Park international bridge area.  The Ysleta Independent School District has opposed the bridge because of health and safety issues of the pre-school that was constructed on Yarbrough, neighborhood groups oppose the bridge, and the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo oppose the bridge at Yarbrough.  Because another international bridge is such a big issue for commerce and trade, for the Lower Valley, and with environmental impact and safety issues, the bridge at Yarbrough deserves an in depth investigative story by the El Paso Times and or El Paso Inc.  (Why is the Tornillo bridge not sufficient?)

O’Rourke cannot truthfully say that the international bridge is a Metropolitan Planning Organization issue because any international bridge will have to get the approval of the sitting congressman where the bridge is proposed.  O’Rourke needs to be directly asked if he is for the International Bridge at Yarbrough, Congressman Reyes is adamantly opposed.

O’Rourke’s response to his mother’s corporation “Charlottes Furniture” charges were skirted again in the paper as “IRS disclosure issues” but she entered a “plea” for the corporation SHE OWNS and signs a PLEA AGREEMENT admitting that the corporation SHE OWNS accepted $630,745 IN CASH, and that there was the “altering receipts” for a “particular customer” and she was fined $250,000 as part of her/the “plea bargain (and ironically Melissa O’Rourke was a Director of the Federal Reserve Bank in Dallas – doesn’t quite pass the smell test she should know the rules intimately). In addition, agents analyzing seized records show “structured payments” of $1,071,934 in “CASH PAYMENTS” between 2005 and 2008 for “a particular customer”. Use of structured transactions is a common placement strategy for “money laundering”. If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck and it looks like a duck, it’s probably a duck. Looks more like money laundering to me “for a particular customer”. Beto O’Rourke’s response – he punted to his attorney. http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site525/2010/0506/20100506_091732_Plea%20Deal.pdf

Cleaning up corruption is an O’Rourke’s campaign message in the Lower Valley and in political mailings. Wow a closer look at his votes on Council demonstrate tax breaks for political contributors, at least one conflict of interest vote on Downtown revitalization that directly benefited his father-in-law, ethics complaints that were reviewed by friends and dismissed, a mother’s corporation and her signed “plea agreement” for a federal felony, a father with an alleged cocaine problem. I believe the message is pandering to a worn Democratic base that has witnessed the corruption scandal and indictments of a variety of elected officials with no end in sight. But be careful what you ask for.

O’Rourke concludes his “Lower Valley” tour with a veteran who is genuinely disheartened with the 10 hour wait he had at the El Paso VA Healthcare offices. O’Rourke advocates for a full VA Hospital, however, Reyes has secured $1 BILLION dollars for a new Beaumont Army Medical Center. (Thomason Hospital name was changed to University Medical Center (UMC) – aren’t they one in the same?).

And finally term limits. “The promise”.  Proposing term limits is political pandering to the Democratic Lefties. It is not likely to pass in our life time.

So me and my family, have decided that experience at this time, is important. Seniority has great value at the federal level. And a respected elder statesman is what we need as we continue to go through the public corruption scandals in El Paso and as our state legislators build seniority. Congressman Silvestre Reyes is not perfect.  He is not an incredible public speaker but a deal maker, he stayed within the federal election laws when he hired and paid or reimbursed family members as campaign staff (maybe not the smartest thing to do, but legal), he has been consistent in utilizing his seniority to rise among the ranks of Democrats in Congress and has been successful in bringing federal funding to El Paso and adding language unto bills moving in Congress for El Paso, and Congressman Reyes is TOUGH ON DRUGS.  He’s one of us. And he has earned my vote for another term in Congress.




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