Nugent
Posted on 10/18/2004 4:08:59 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative
A crowd of about 90 people at the state convention for Tejano Democrats stood up Sunday afternoon in a ballroom at the Omni Bayfront Hotel, clinking their glasses with spoons, applauding and chanting, "Kerr-Y, Kerr-Y," for Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.
David Van Os, a Democratic candidate for the Texas Supreme Court who is running against Justice Scott Brister, had just reminded them of the state's Democratic roots.
"Don't believe anybody who tells you this is a rebuilding year for the Democrats of Texas. The hell it is!" Van Os said, reminding listeners that Texas voted for Carter in 1980. "We can take the state."
Since the Carter win, a string of Republican contenders, including President George W. Bush, has captured the state's presidential vote, and the state has two Republican senators in office.
One of the themes of the convention was the need for a resurgence of the Democratic Party in Texas.
The state convention for Tejano Democrats ended Sunday with a speech from President Lyndon B. Johnson's only grandson, Lyndon Nugent, and with a tribute to former state Sen. Carlos Truan of Corpus Christi.
Truan received the first Lifetime Achievement Award from the group. State Rep. Irma Rangel of Kingsville, who died in March 2003, and Raul Yzaguirre of the National Council of La Raza, will be honored with the Tejano Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005, organizers said.
During several speeches by candidates from across the state, a similar message came through on Sunday - the only way for Democrats to be better represented in Texas is to win seats vote by vote and to win a majority seat by seat. And Democrats need to spread the word by displaying support and telling other people the Democratic Party is the "party of the people," several candidates said.
Nugent said the "political gridlock" that has held Democrats started with a Republican effort to take over more than three decades ago. Nugent said if four to six people were elected to the state House of Representatives, it would be more difficult for Republicans to hold the majority.
"Support the local Democrats, get a bumper sticker," said Nugent, a lean man who has his grandfather's hairline and intense brow.
After he spoke, a woman in the audience asked Nugent if he would consider running for governor. He replied in Spanish that he wasn't sure he has the passion to run for the position.
Before Nugent took the stage, Tejano Democrat State Chairman Aaron Pena said it was very appropriate to have the state convention in Corpus Christi because of the history of progress by Mexican-Americans in the Coastal Bend.
He mentioned that the group was sitting less than a mile from the Nueces River, which used to be the southern border of the United States, and the struggles that Tejanos had during that time - losing property to aggressive Anglos.
Pena also mentioned the work done by J.T. Canales, a state representative who launched an investigation of the Texas Rangers in 1905 because some of them were killing Tejanos in South Texas. Several assassination attempts were made against Canales, and he started to walk around Austin with four people near him - to his left, right, in front of him and behind him. In front of him was Sam Johnson, Nugent's great-grandfather.
Both Pena and Truan brought up injustices they say were landmarks in Tejano civil rights history. Truan said he was criticized when he supported a bill to have classes taught in Spanish in Texas schools. People said he wasn't patriotic. Truan made the point that inclusiveness and vocal dissent is more patriotic, and then called on the audience to take part in their government.
"You can be more of an American by participating," he said.
The Plot Thickens -- Bill Burkett's Lawyer Supported by Communist Party USA
Ping!
Nugent
Draft this b*st*rd of a b*st*rd of a son-of-a-b*tch!
Whatever happened to Lyndon Nugent's father? I understand that Lady Bird "ruined" him after he was caught in an adulterous situation, but Lady Bird also "forgave" LBJ for such indiscretions.
Whatever happened to Lyndon Nugent's father? I understand that Lady Bird "ruined" him after he was caught in an adulterous situation, but Lady Bird also "forgave" LBJ for such indiscretions.
"Don't believe anybody who tells you this is a rebuilding year for the Democrats of Texas. The hell it is!" Van Os said, reminding listeners that Texas voted for Carter in 1980. "We can take the state."
He's as nuts as Burkett!
Not it didn't. Texas narrowly voted for Carter in 1976. In 1980 it went strongly for Reagan after surviving four years of the most incompetent administration in history.
Bump!
That's what Luci's baby turned out to look like? Wow age is a horrible thing.
Lucy's got a lot of 'splaining to to do.
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