tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102886732011-04-21T12:33:45.909-07:00"You gotta be good. You gotta be strong. You gotta be two thousand places at once."Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.comBlogger531100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1128652810061676402005-10-06T19:39:00.000-07:002005-10-06T19:40:10.070-07:00

Lawrence E. Young Staff Writer of The Dallas Morning News THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS (DAL) Published: MAY 25, 1991Dallas City Council member Harriet Miers told a group of minority lawyers Friday that protecting council incumbents influenced the way boundaries were drawn under the 14-1 redistricting plan. "Incumbent issues caused the maps under consideration to be drawn a certain way,' Ms. Miers said

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1128652988854208362005-10-06T17:30:00.000-07:002005-10-06T19:54:03.763-07:00

Strauss, Miers, Tandy undecided on 14-1 plans Council meets today to discuss redistricting proposals David Jackson Staff Writer of The Dallas Morning News THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS (DAL) Published: MAY 20, 1991Three key City Council members said Sunday they are undecided about two 14-1 redistricting proposals -- one of which could settle Dallas' 3-year-old voting rights lawsuit, and the other,

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1128653111073637692005-10-06T17:20:00.000-07:002005-10-06T19:52:34.940-07:00

Council tells lawyers to settle voting suit Accord sought under 14-1 plan Lori Stahl Staff Writer of The Dallas Morning News THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS (DAL) Published: MAY 9, 1991On Page 14A Thursday, a quote from Mayor Annette Strauss was misplaced. The mayor said her statement "This is what I hoped would happen,' referred to the City Council's decision to seek a negotiated 14-1 settlement in the

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1128653244275478152005-10-06T17:10:00.000-07:002005-10-06T19:53:14.683-07:00

Lipscomb blasts `new leadership' He says whites using blacks to cause rift David Jackson Staff Writer of The Dallas Morning News THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS (DAL) Published: MAY 8, 1991City Council member Al Lipscomb criticized what he called a "new leadership' of blacks Tuesday, saying its members were being used by the white business establishment to divide Dallas minorities. Mr. Lipscomb singled

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1128653361316559052005-10-06T17:00:00.000-07:002005-10-06T19:50:31.303-07:00

Miers to head State Bar Council member beats lawyer from Houston Chris Kelley Staff Writer of The Dallas Morning News THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS (DAL) Published: MAY 3, 1991AUSTIN -- Dallas City Council member Harriet Miers has defeated a Houston lawyer to become president-elect of the 55,000-member State Bar of Texas, the organization announced Thursday. She is the first woman to hold the post.Ms.

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1128653797399250282005-10-06T16:55:00.000-07:002005-10-06T19:56:37.403-07:00

Council fails to vote on 10-4-1 map Plan's chances could be hurt Lori Stahl Staff Writer of The Dallas Morning News THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS (DAL) Published: APRIL 30, 1991The Dallas City Council abruptly canceled a meeting Monday to change the 10-4-1 election plan, a development that supporters and critics said could jeopardize its approval by the U.S. Justice Department. The council's failure to

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1128653932855310582005-10-06T16:40:00.000-07:002005-10-06T19:58:52.856-07:00

Foes of 10-4-1 in DC Council members lobby against plan Lori Stahl Staff Writer of The Dallas Morning News THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS (DAL) Published: APRIL 24, 1991A delegation of City Council members went to Washington on Tuesday to lobby against the 10-4-1 municipal government system, while talks continued in Dallas on changes to broaden support for it. Four council members who oppose the plan,

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1128654046686541162005-10-06T16:30:00.000-07:002005-10-06T20:00:46.690-07:00

Feud between city, judge goes public Buchmeyer oversees housing suit amid furor David Jackson Staff Writer of The Dallas Morning News THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS (DAL) Published: APRIL 21, 1991As far as a federal judge and the city of Dallas are concerned, fairness is in the eye of the beholder. The way some city officials see it, U.S. District Judge Jerry Buchmeyer has substituted political

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1128654189828540072005-10-06T16:20:00.000-07:002005-10-06T20:03:09.830-07:00

Strauss criticized for lying City Council credibility damaged, members say David Jackson Staff Writer of The Dallas Morning News THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS (DAL) Published: APRIL 4, 1991Dallas City Council members said Wednesday that the credibility of government has been damaged by Mayor Annette Strauss' admitted lying and her allegation that U.S. District Judge Jerry Buchmeyer told her to do so. "

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1128654379021602902005-10-06T16:10:00.000-07:002005-10-06T20:06:19.023-07:00

$150,000 allocated to pursue 10-4-1 fight But city shuns controversial ex-rights official Lori Stahl THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS (DAL) Published: MARCH 28, 1991The Dallas City Council voted Wednesday to pay attorneys up to $150,000 more to fight for the 10-4-1 election plan but agreed that William Bradford Reynolds will not be among them. The vote came after more than 50 speakers decried the former

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1128654495689385862005-10-06T16:00:00.000-07:002005-10-06T20:08:15.696-07:00

Hispanics discouraged by prospect of 10-4-1 Plan would not deliver 3 seats, some say Lori Stahl Staff Writer of The Dallas Morning News THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS (DAL) Published: MARCH 24, 1991For most of his 38 years, Luis Sepulveda has been troubled by the deterioration in his west Oak Cliff neighborhood. He has often wondered whether his children are being exposed to harmful chemicals from

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1128394805702012172005-10-03T19:58:00.000-07:002005-10-03T20:00:05.706-07:00

10-4-1 protested at councilLaw firm OK'd for election suit Lori Stahl Staff Writer of The Dallas Morning News THE Published: August 10, 1989At the final City Council meeting before Saturday's election, council members Wednesday faced a "silent' protest from opponents of the 10-4-1 council plan and, in an unrelated vote, committed $100,000 to defend Dallas' municipal election system in court.The

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1128393967181931792005-10-03T19:44:00.000-07:002005-10-03T19:46:07.186-07:00

Housing suit plan backedBut Miers blasts proposed accord David Jackson, Craig Flournoy Staff Writer of The Dallas Morning News THE Published: June 21, 1990A majority of Dallas City Council members emerged from a closed-door meeting late Wednesday and said they were confident that a $118 million proposal finally will settle a landmark public housing desegregation lawsuit. Before discussing the

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1128394188932153832005-10-03T19:43:00.000-07:002005-10-03T19:49:48.933-07:00

Coffers of Poss, Miers top rivals'Data show Place 5, 9 hopefuls' funds at least double runoff opponents' James Ragland Staff Writer of The Dallas Morning News THE Published: May 13, 1989Community volunteer Mary Poss has raised nearly twice as much money as lawyer Glenn Box in their race for the Place 5 seat on Dallas City Council, but she has bankrolled nearly half the campaign with her own money

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1128393822335166452005-10-03T19:42:00.000-07:002005-10-03T19:43:42.336-07:00

BUERGER WINS SEAT ON COUNCILMiers, Garner face runoff in Place 9 James Ragland Staff Writer of The Dallas Morning News THE Published: May 7, 1989Jim Buerger scored a decisive victory Saturday in winning the at-large Place 10 seat on the Dallas City Council, while the citywide contest for Place 9 will be decided in a May 20 runoff.With 100 percent of precincts reporting unofficially, Mr. Buerger

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1128393668223466442005-10-03T19:39:00.000-07:002005-10-03T19:41:08.226-07:00

Council candidates spar at forum James Ragland Staff Writer of The Dallas Morning News THE Published: May 17, 1989Place 9 Dallas City Council rivals Harriet Miers and Jim Garner and Place 5 hopefuls Mary Poss and Glenn Box squared off at separate Dallas Press Club "hot seat' forums Tuesday as a prelude to the runoff election Saturday.The candidates spent less time at debating the issues than

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1128393356195720412005-10-03T19:32:00.000-07:002005-10-03T19:37:32.590-07:00

Would she have run for City Council this fall if she had not been elected State Bar president? Miss Miers sidesteps the question adroitly, saying the chance to head the bar "was really a very good solution to what would have been a very difficult question. I couldn't have run (for council) as an at-large candidate,' since, under 14-1, only the mayor is elected citywide. But some of her friends

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1128392388504980222005-10-03T19:19:00.000-07:002005-10-03T19:25:19.593-07:00

Joyce Saenz Harris THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS (DAL) Published: JULY 28, 1991Depending on who is talking, there seem to be three women named Harriet Miers in Dallas. One is the hard-nosed career lawyer, a partner in the Dallas firm of Locke Purnell Rain Harrell, who has just become the first woman president-elect of the State Bar of Texas. This Harriet Miers is a commercial litigator with a

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1128392329627458332005-10-03T19:17:00.000-07:002005-10-03T19:18:49.633-07:00

This woman has piqued my interest, so I'm about to dump everything interesting I can find in the DMN out here and we'll see what that stirs up.

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1118186563671144402005-06-07T16:18:00.000-07:002005-06-07T16:23:10.500-07:00

Well, the Texas Lege has gone home for two more years -- unless there's a special session to address school finance, which looks likely -- and at least it's over. I must confess, I'm kind of glad that they only meet once every two years. At least now we don't have to keep up the pressure and vigilance -- in THAT direction, anyway -- for awhile.So I've been following certain bills there ever since

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1118095053982720602005-06-06T14:55:00.000-07:002005-06-06T14:57:33.986-07:00

Well, now we know what the new city council looks like. It's Medrano in District 2. I still don't know what to think about that race. Angela Hunt in District 14, yay! Natinksy in District 12 and Fantroy in District 8.To me, the striking thing about the results was how low the turnout is. No surprise, of course, but it's still shocking to see how few people came out. From Dalcoelections.org:

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1117581999094485042005-05-31T16:08:00.000-07:002005-05-31T16:41:53.613-07:00

Because every story has three sides: Dallas City Council District Two runoff race gets nasty.To recap.In THIS corner: Pauline Medrano, charming single Hispanic lady from a long-established Democratic Dallas family. Now, "some people say" that the Medrano family are sort of the, well, Mexican Mafia in South Dallas. Some OTHER people say that the Dallas Morning News spreads this blatant and nasty

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1117552430845321462005-05-31T08:11:00.000-07:002005-05-31T08:13:50.853-07:00

The Dallas Democracy for America Meetup is starting an interesting project: "All About Voter Apathy." Why don't more people go vote? This promises to be a very interesting discussion... If you're in the area, why not join us?RSVP and info: http://dfa.meetup.com/143/events/4687779/In June, we continue our series on winning elections. What we have learned thus far from the campaign managers’ forum

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1117135392832370302005-05-26T12:18:00.000-07:002005-05-26T12:25:30.626-07:00

Please consider signing this petition, which was forwarded to me by my father who is retired from the airlines. This act (Senate Bill 861) is supported by Northwest, Delta, Delta Retirees, and the pilot's union (ALPA). It will allow the airlines to stretch out the payments they make to their pension plan over a 25 period rather than a 5 year period. This will allow the airline to continue funding

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1116682005562910842005-05-21T06:19:00.000-07:002005-05-21T06:26:45.576-07:00

Ok, now this is pretty funny. A couple of folks on the internet have decided to update the Zodiac. According to them, "the new signs of the Zodiac are all news reporters. This is due to a breakthrough in philosophical thought: TV personalities represent every human personality trait so far developed." According to them, I'm: LibraAn air sign, Libra is one of the most talkative. Exceptionally

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1116526861593166872005-05-19T11:10:00.000-07:002005-05-19T11:31:12.830-07:00

Well, what I have been working on recently (and a big cause of not updating the blog so much) has finally come to pass: our DFA group presented the first "volume" of our precinct training to the DCDP Precinct Coordinators last night, and it was an outstanding success. Honestly, it is such a pleasure to work with the people on the training committee, especially Kim and Doug who were key in getting

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1116280040625661572005-05-16T14:41:00.000-07:002005-05-16T14:47:20.630-07:00

Up to now I've restricted this blog to mostly local and state politics and my own ideas on activism, but I want to share this with you: the virtual march to stop global warming. I am concerned about our future on this planet and the future of all of the other species that share this planet with us. Plus, it looks kind of fun. Wesley Clark sent it to me, and now I'm going to send it on to as

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1115674220592678432005-05-09T14:24:00.000-07:002005-05-09T14:30:20.600-07:00

This just in, by guest blogger Bernie, on behalf of our local Dallas DFA Meetup. We just got done with some interesting municipal elections here in and want to get a dialog going with everyone!So, another election has come and gone and we want to hear from you. Now is the chance for everyone to start a dialog on the candidates, local issues, media coverage, etc. Are you an experienced campaigner,

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1115673474250566232005-04-15T20:16:00.000-07:002005-05-09T14:30:55.356-07:00

For me, the highlight of this meeting was hearing Lakoff say that they are starting a companion organization to the Rockridge Institute, called Rockridge Action. This will supply activists with training and materials. They're going to write a book which they'll give away free on the web, chapter by chapter. I heard him say this and I was completely thrilled. THAT is what we've been needing. The

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1112393359857570302005-03-31T14:01:00.000-08:002005-04-01T16:05:27.760-08:00

ARE YOU A DALLAS COUNTY TAXPAYER? READ THIS!As you probably know, Parkland hospital could use some financial help.Did you also know that Parkland is the only hospital that treats the uninsured and indigent in a seven county area in North Texas?Did you know that, by state law, all counties are required to set aside 8% of their budget to spend on health care for the uninsured, but they are not

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1112398526105373982005-03-26T17:24:00.000-08:002005-04-01T15:35:26.113-08:00

I wasn't involved in the committee that planned this, but I am pleased and proud that our Democracy For America group managed to pull this off and even got Sam Baker of KERA to moderate the forum. I attended the entire Dallas slate and here are my impressions of the candidates who attended. Disclaimer: This is based on my notes and impressions and I do not claim to be 100% accurate, but I have

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1111781478590937932005-03-25T12:08:00.000-08:002005-03-25T12:11:18.590-08:00

Well, Susan Hayes resigned. Can't say that it's much of a surprise, really. And, it comes at an especially appropriate time. Spring is in the air; it's time for a fresh start. I wasn't particularly thrilled with the way the party office handled itself in the run up to the 2004 election, but I'm not particularly thrilled with the way the "Petitioners" handled themselves either. Although the whole

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1111101353567293742005-03-17T15:02:00.000-08:002005-03-17T15:15:53.570-08:00

Here's what I've been working on lately... My local Democracy for America group developed a committee to work on training for Precinct Chairs. We've got several "training modules" underway. One thing that I've finished is a Democratic Powerpoint template: . Cute, eh? Email me if you want it... it took about 10 minutes to whip up so I'm not saying it's anything fantastic but if you don't know

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1110824999316701902005-03-14T10:27:00.000-08:002005-03-14T10:29:59.323-08:00

Allow me to begin by telling you a story...December, 2004. Passwords and access for the new Voter Relationship Management website, sometimes (inaccurately) called "Demzilla," are given to people in Dallas County. A technical lead in the county begins creating accounts. He has questions, so he posts them on the online help forum on December 27. There is no answer to his questions posted.February,

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1110586073146354662005-03-11T16:05:00.000-08:002005-03-11T16:11:45.076-08:00

Signal: the wavelength, the groove, the clarity of your TV picture or your radio reception. Noise: static, garbage, useless information, fuzz. A high signal to noise ratio: Meaning, more signal, less noise. In other words, there is clarity. You can see and communicate easily. A low signal to noise ratio: Most of what's coming across is crap, garbage, meaningless nonsense. Too much noise.This

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1110477198588769232005-03-10T09:51:00.000-08:002005-03-10T12:16:07.283-08:00

First, what is a Precinct Chair?(Now, bear in mind that my only experience is with Texas, so if you are reading this from another state, your mileage may vary.)The Precinct Chair is an official position with the Democratic Party. Precinct chairs can go to conventions and give input into the official Democratic Party platform. Precinct chairs, as members of their county party's Executive Committee

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1110395116396194152005-03-09T11:03:00.000-08:002005-03-09T11:07:11.173-08:00

The highlights of this meeting included:- information about a new anti-animal cruelty bill that the Young Dems are endorsing, and which I think would be worth following.- Dallas Constable Mike DuPree of Constable Precinct 5.- a discussion with Beth Ann Blackwood, sponsor of Proposition 1, the so-called "Strong Mayor" amendment to the Dallas City Charter- and, of course, Texas Democratic Party

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1110390131802131832005-03-09T09:38:00.000-08:002005-03-09T09:42:11.810-08:00

The plot thickens.Since I'm not an official precinct chair (yet) I'm following all of the great DCDP controversy through Burnt Orange Report's coverage. (Latest here.) I really wanted to keep this quiet, but since everybody and their dog are now posting this crap all over the internet, I guess I may as well get in on the fun. Check out this letter from the CWA president:Dear Fellow Democrats,I

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1110062875976839112005-03-05T14:44:00.000-08:002005-03-05T14:47:55.980-08:00

If you're a precinct chair, you're going to need volunteers to help walk your precinct. If you're a candidate, you're going to need volunteers to run your campaign. If you're any kind of committee leader, you're going to need volunteers to do the work. And you want to make sure that you take care of these volunteers and give them the best experience possible. Because you want them to

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1109799222056696532005-03-02T13:31:00.000-08:002005-03-02T13:37:58.186-08:00

I am politically involved because it gives me a feeling of deep satisfaction and pride. Every time I go to a meeting, learn something, or otherwise participate in our political process, I walk away feeling that I have fulfilled part of my duty as an American citizen. And, because I believe in government by the people, for the people, doing my patriotic duty makes me happy all the way down to my

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1109744319518915872005-02-28T21:53:00.000-08:002005-03-01T22:19:54.440-08:00

Well. Again, think of it all as Free Entertainment, and Better than Watching Fear Factor, and this all becomes more fun. I wasn't going to blog this at all, but it seems that everyone else has weighed in, so what the hell.So. Background. Basically, it's Dallas County Democratic Party Chair Susan Hayes and her supporters vs. everyone else in a catfight that makes one think of Siegfried and Roy's

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1109630655452609782005-02-28T14:41:00.000-08:002005-02-28T14:44:15.453-08:00

Well, since the proverbial cat has been de-bagged by Burnt Orange Report, I figure I may as well write about this. The backstory is here: http://www.burntorangereport.com/archives/003372.html and I'm off to the showdown now...

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1109558050649052562005-02-27T18:15:00.000-08:002005-02-27T18:39:54.600-08:00

In a perfect world, everyone in politics would be altriustic and concerned with doing the right thing for their world, their country, and their power. Self, and its egotistical concerns, would take a back seat to Doing The Right Thing.Yeah. Well, we live in the real world. So let's say you're caught in the middle of a big egotistical catfight. Infighting. Ally vs. ally. Jane is on Jack's shit

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1109462683809371912005-02-26T16:02:00.000-08:002005-02-26T16:04:43.810-08:00

I'm actually of two minds about writing this. On the one hand, this is a very, VERY useful technique. On the other hand, it's quite possibly manipulative as hell. Anyway, here goes. Leave a comment, tell me what you think.So let's say you're in a group at work or a volunteer group and you're not the leader or the boss or anything like that, but you have some ideas you'd like the group to adopt,

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1109462517179269192005-02-26T16:00:00.000-08:002005-02-26T16:05:56.830-08:00

and go on until you come to the end. Then stop." -- Lewis Carroll

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1109364417977708842005-02-25T10:31:00.000-08:002005-02-26T15:49:10.730-08:00

I woke up this morning thinking about a part of this city, Oak Cliff. I don't live in this part of town, although when I was househunting I did look there. It's south of downtown. It's hilly and tree-lined. There's a lot of history there. Some residential neighborhoods are full of beautifully kept mock-Tudors, prairie style houses, etc. Others, just a block away, are run-down and gang-ridden.

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1109364371985619122005-02-24T23:45:00.000-08:002005-02-26T15:50:09.846-08:00

Boy, it's been a busy day, what with the SS town-hall this morning and tonight's League of Women voters meeting on the Texas Budget. It was a good presentation, attended by about 25 people from the Dallas League, the Richardson League, and a few other community organizations. The overhead slides they used were a little out of date, but they gave us updated figures as they went along.

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1109290254443198912005-02-24T16:09:00.000-08:002005-02-26T15:50:50.190-08:00

So. I just got back from my representative's town hall on Social Security. Actually, this fellow – Republican Jeb Hensarling – isn't really mine anymore since I got gerrymandered out of his district, but I felt like attending, so I went anyway. This guy represents a very oddly-shaped district that takes in substantial parts of rural Texas, east of Dallas, as well as some of Dallas proper. This

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1109222535615489052005-02-22T20:03:00.000-08:002005-02-26T15:52:02.293-08:00

Well, I wasn't intending to write any more about this topic but having read another blog posting in this general area today, some observations about people and the internet: #1. The internet causes rational people who have been using it for some time to become rather cynical. It only takes a few hoaxes or urban legends or "Bonsai Kittens" to wise most folks up to the fact that there's a lot of

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1109222413871238462005-02-21T15:23:00.000-08:002005-02-26T15:52:29.736-08:00

There is a lot of hoo-ha and excitement going on right now about bloggers, online message boards, and internet activism. So I'd like to talk about that for a minute.There are a lot of different things that people do, politically, online. Signing online petitions, emailing around requests for action and news articles, writing letters to the editor or to journalists, writing your congresspeople,

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1109222303721302672005-02-17T19:20:00.000-08:002005-02-26T15:53:07.453-08:00

This entry is meant more as a reminder to myself. But, if you're reading it, there's a good chance you might need to hear it.If you're like me, you're holding down a full-time, forty hour a week (or more) job, and you're trying to do a lot of stuff on the side. Your evening hours might include a meeting to plan a fundraiser, a night out with the Democratic women to write letters and kvetch, or

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1109222148035257472005-02-13T17:13:00.000-08:002005-02-26T15:53:37.960-08:00

In my experience there are three basic kinds of people who are activists. The type A activist is very focused on getting organized and getting the work done. These are the self-motivated, self-starters who make the world go around. With them involved, meetings will be efficient, lists will be drawn up, sessions will get planned, and things will get done. This person is very work-centered.The type

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10288673.post-1109221908210265812005-02-12T21:00:00.000-08:002005-02-26T15:53:59.240-08:00

Ten years ago I gave myself an imaginary title. I've still got it, actually. I even have these imaginary business cards. They're light gray, with a slick corporate-looking logo in purple, and then, in a sans-serif font, right under my name, my title:Secret Agent for Positive ChangeNow, at that time (I was 28) I already had a real job, complete with a real job title. But I preferred my imaginary

Practical Activisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04675722853487112107noreply@blogger.com0