Friday, November 17, 2006
In Response to State Rep Aaron Pena: Straight ticket voting takes the power from the people and gives the elected a free reign.
11.12.2006
A Republican Victory In The 13th Court of Appeals
I am frequently asked why incumbent Court of Appeals Judge Fred Hinojosa lost his race to Rose Vela out of Corpus Christi. It seems to be out of character with the Democratic sweep across the nation and the Democratic victories in Texas. I usually respond with the obvious, namely the strong measure of respect the Vela name carries in South Texas, the growing numbers of Hispanics in the middle and upper classes and an effective advertising or advocacy effort. This coupled with the sad legacy of South Texas boss or strongman politics which relied heavily on patron managed turnout rather than the advocacy of ideas. Lastly and likely coupled with the rest was turnout in this particular election. No longer able to effectively turn to boss politicians, neglect of the fundamentals and the community by the state and national party has led to less than favorable turnout levels. In a community dominated historically by one party rule, lacking competitive elections in the general election and the near absence of party infrastructure, Republicans may see increased success in South Texas.
The success of Governor Perry (Bell received only 41% of the Hispanic vote) in South Texas and the recent Republican victory in the 13th Court of Appeals did not come without warning. Many of us in this region have for over a decade warned state officials of the effects of continued neglect. Party officials repeatedly dismissed our protestations and instead relied heavily on strongman politics and an untrustworthy politiquera (vote harvester) system. I say untrustworthy because politqueras now go to the highest bidder and today that is increasingly the Republican. This is sadly the beginning of more to come. The next wave of elections will likely see more of the same unless action is taken.
With an expected rise in the competition for the South Texas vote by the two parties, Austin and Washington's neglect may yet be remedied with a return to the fundamentals of service to the needs of the community and in respectfully making our case to the individual voter. Coupled with strong and true principles, with an honest commitment to service (to people), a victors salvation comes from respecting rather than neglecting the voter.
In meeting rooms quiet discussions among politicos about the circumstances of the Hinojosa-Vela race are being observed. Republicans will try to replicate the recipe of success in the next cycle. Democratic leaders would be wise to learn from the mistakes perpetuated over generations. The false comfort of the old methods are making the party in South Texas less competitive. The old patron, patronage driven system is dead, as it should be! In it's place should be a principle and service driven advocacy for the hearts and minds of our neighbors and the citizens of our state. Only time will tell.
The Corpus Christi Caller Times carries more on the problems of turnout in South Texas politics.
posted by The Rep. @ 8:35 AM 4 comments
4 Comments:
At Sunday, November 12, 2006 2:14:08 PM, Gritsforbreakfast said...
The Austin court (3rd) went nearly all GOP, too, with one D winning in a squeaker. I'm sure you've read my arguments on Grits that the courts may be Rs electoral Achilles heel. This election, you're right, the appellate races were an Achilles heel for the Democrats, and it's sure worth trying to understand why.
Suerte amigo.
At Sunday, November 12, 2006 5:17:44 PM, Anonymous said...
The Valley counties (Hidalgo, Cameron, and Willacy) accounted for only 88,056 votes.
The Middle counties (Kenedy, Kleberg, and Nueces) accounted for only 70,061 votes.
The Northern counties (San Patricio and everything north) accounted for 82,963 votes.
Democrats are strong in the Valley and Middle counties plus only a couple Northern counties (Bee and Calhoun). The dozen remining counties within the northern end of the district are reliably Republican.
Once upon a time, whoever won Democratic primary won the election, and whoever won Hidalgo, Nueces, and Cameron counties won the primary.
It now apears that Nueces County will support a local Republican in the general election over a Valley Democrat assuming that the candidates are both qualified. I presume that the same is true in Cameron County (the Cameron County voters would likely support a local Republican over a Hidalgo or Nueces County Democrat).
The growing vote north of Nueces County, and its predominantly Republican nature, bodes ill for Democratic candidates from Hidalgo County (and also suggests that the Republicans would do best electing candidates from Nueces or Cameron County).
It is no longer wise to think of Nueces and Cameron Counties as reliably Democratic counties when a local Republican is facing a Democrat from outside the county. Democratic candidates from Hidalgo County would do well to build up their presence and contacts in Cameron and Nueces Counties.
At Tuesday, November 14, 2006 10:52:24 PM, Anonymous said...
In discussing why she won the race, Vela had this to say to the Corpus Christi Caller: "I think [the people] saw that I did a good job as a district judge for eight years and I applied the law evenly and fairly." Vela is clearly living in a fantasy world. Lawyers are in a better position to assess the quality of a judge's performance, and every attorney poll taken, including a poll taken in Corpus Christi, favored Hinojosa. The only thing that people "saw" was a purposeful distortion of Hinojosa's record through her use of mailers and commercials. The only "good job" that Vela did was to use her husband’s money to pay for her disgraceful commercials, through which she accused Hinojosa of allegedly releasing sexual predators out on our streets. Vela knows that the public won't actually read, let alone have the opportunity to read, the cases that her commercials talk about. This is something that Vela counted on when making the commercials, because if one actually did read the cases, as I did, that person would know that Vela painted a grossly inaccurate picture of the truth. The fact that I know about the truth of these cases, however, doesn't really make any difference in the grand scheme of things. However, the judges that currently sit on the Court most certainly know the truth of what those cases actually said. In light of that fact, I have to wonder how Vela plans to "do a better job" while walking into a Court filled with judges who will undoubtedly already view her with disgust. The saddest thing about this whole thing, however, is that she utilized the name of her father-in-law to help her campaign. Anyone who truly knew Filemon Vela would know what a tremendous democratic supporter he was. I think it's reasonable to say that if he was alive today, he would have never allowed all of this to happen.
At Wednesday, November 15, 2006 1:26:57 AM, Jaime Kenedeño said...
It is no longer wise to think of Nueces and Cameron Counties as reliably Democratic counties
That is because the Nueces Democratic Party was infilterated by a Socialist Group who posed as Democrats and called all others DINOS. Anyway it is good for the people that a Candidate cannot assume Polanca Democratica. Keep in mind, the Republicans did not vote straight ticket either.
Straight ticket voting takes the power from the people and gives the elected a free reign. Now we will rebuild a Democratic Party. We will not vote straight ticket until the elected become responsive to the people. We are all conservative and we are all Democrats. Some just more than others.
A Republican Victory In The 13th Court of Appeals
I am frequently asked why incumbent Court of Appeals Judge Fred Hinojosa lost his race to Rose Vela out of Corpus Christi. It seems to be out of character with the Democratic sweep across the nation and the Democratic victories in Texas. I usually respond with the obvious, namely the strong measure of respect the Vela name carries in South Texas, the growing numbers of Hispanics in the middle and upper classes and an effective advertising or advocacy effort. This coupled with the sad legacy of South Texas boss or strongman politics which relied heavily on patron managed turnout rather than the advocacy of ideas. Lastly and likely coupled with the rest was turnout in this particular election. No longer able to effectively turn to boss politicians, neglect of the fundamentals and the community by the state and national party has led to less than favorable turnout levels. In a community dominated historically by one party rule, lacking competitive elections in the general election and the near absence of party infrastructure, Republicans may see increased success in South Texas.
The success of Governor Perry (Bell received only 41% of the Hispanic vote) in South Texas and the recent Republican victory in the 13th Court of Appeals did not come without warning. Many of us in this region have for over a decade warned state officials of the effects of continued neglect. Party officials repeatedly dismissed our protestations and instead relied heavily on strongman politics and an untrustworthy politiquera (vote harvester) system. I say untrustworthy because politqueras now go to the highest bidder and today that is increasingly the Republican. This is sadly the beginning of more to come. The next wave of elections will likely see more of the same unless action is taken.
With an expected rise in the competition for the South Texas vote by the two parties, Austin and Washington's neglect may yet be remedied with a return to the fundamentals of service to the needs of the community and in respectfully making our case to the individual voter. Coupled with strong and true principles, with an honest commitment to service (to people), a victors salvation comes from respecting rather than neglecting the voter.
In meeting rooms quiet discussions among politicos about the circumstances of the Hinojosa-Vela race are being observed. Republicans will try to replicate the recipe of success in the next cycle. Democratic leaders would be wise to learn from the mistakes perpetuated over generations. The false comfort of the old methods are making the party in South Texas less competitive. The old patron, patronage driven system is dead, as it should be! In it's place should be a principle and service driven advocacy for the hearts and minds of our neighbors and the citizens of our state. Only time will tell.
The Corpus Christi Caller Times carries more on the problems of turnout in South Texas politics.
posted by The Rep. @ 8:35 AM 4 comments
4 Comments:
At Sunday, November 12, 2006 2:14:08 PM, Gritsforbreakfast said...
The Austin court (3rd) went nearly all GOP, too, with one D winning in a squeaker. I'm sure you've read my arguments on Grits that the courts may be Rs electoral Achilles heel. This election, you're right, the appellate races were an Achilles heel for the Democrats, and it's sure worth trying to understand why.
Suerte amigo.
At Sunday, November 12, 2006 5:17:44 PM, Anonymous said...
The Valley counties (Hidalgo, Cameron, and Willacy) accounted for only 88,056 votes.
The Middle counties (Kenedy, Kleberg, and Nueces) accounted for only 70,061 votes.
The Northern counties (San Patricio and everything north) accounted for 82,963 votes.
Democrats are strong in the Valley and Middle counties plus only a couple Northern counties (Bee and Calhoun). The dozen remining counties within the northern end of the district are reliably Republican.
Once upon a time, whoever won Democratic primary won the election, and whoever won Hidalgo, Nueces, and Cameron counties won the primary.
It now apears that Nueces County will support a local Republican in the general election over a Valley Democrat assuming that the candidates are both qualified. I presume that the same is true in Cameron County (the Cameron County voters would likely support a local Republican over a Hidalgo or Nueces County Democrat).
The growing vote north of Nueces County, and its predominantly Republican nature, bodes ill for Democratic candidates from Hidalgo County (and also suggests that the Republicans would do best electing candidates from Nueces or Cameron County).
It is no longer wise to think of Nueces and Cameron Counties as reliably Democratic counties when a local Republican is facing a Democrat from outside the county. Democratic candidates from Hidalgo County would do well to build up their presence and contacts in Cameron and Nueces Counties.
At Tuesday, November 14, 2006 10:52:24 PM, Anonymous said...
In discussing why she won the race, Vela had this to say to the Corpus Christi Caller: "I think [the people] saw that I did a good job as a district judge for eight years and I applied the law evenly and fairly." Vela is clearly living in a fantasy world. Lawyers are in a better position to assess the quality of a judge's performance, and every attorney poll taken, including a poll taken in Corpus Christi, favored Hinojosa. The only thing that people "saw" was a purposeful distortion of Hinojosa's record through her use of mailers and commercials. The only "good job" that Vela did was to use her husband’s money to pay for her disgraceful commercials, through which she accused Hinojosa of allegedly releasing sexual predators out on our streets. Vela knows that the public won't actually read, let alone have the opportunity to read, the cases that her commercials talk about. This is something that Vela counted on when making the commercials, because if one actually did read the cases, as I did, that person would know that Vela painted a grossly inaccurate picture of the truth. The fact that I know about the truth of these cases, however, doesn't really make any difference in the grand scheme of things. However, the judges that currently sit on the Court most certainly know the truth of what those cases actually said. In light of that fact, I have to wonder how Vela plans to "do a better job" while walking into a Court filled with judges who will undoubtedly already view her with disgust. The saddest thing about this whole thing, however, is that she utilized the name of her father-in-law to help her campaign. Anyone who truly knew Filemon Vela would know what a tremendous democratic supporter he was. I think it's reasonable to say that if he was alive today, he would have never allowed all of this to happen.
At Wednesday, November 15, 2006 1:26:57 AM, Jaime Kenedeño said...
It is no longer wise to think of Nueces and Cameron Counties as reliably Democratic counties
That is because the Nueces Democratic Party was infilterated by a Socialist Group who posed as Democrats and called all others DINOS. Anyway it is good for the people that a Candidate cannot assume Polanca Democratica. Keep in mind, the Republicans did not vote straight ticket either.
Straight ticket voting takes the power from the people and gives the elected a free reign. Now we will rebuild a Democratic Party. We will not vote straight ticket until the elected become responsive to the people. We are all conservative and we are all Democrats. Some just more than others.
