Houston Blogs: Houston Political Blog

Images from the Convention... !

I snapped some photos using my brand new camera in the last 24 hours or so in Austin.  I've made a little slideshow... see if you see yourself, or someone you know.  So far, the convention has been a fast paced, go there, dash here, sort of thing for the media.  I've been interested in seeing all the Hillary and Obama supporters still so passionate about both candidates.  Chelsea Clinton is making an appearance tonight, so that should be very interesting!  How will the rest of the convention go? I can't wait to find out who from our area will be heading to Denver.

Want the high quality picture of your smiling face? Leave me a comment with email info. Enjoy!

Images from the Convention... !

I snapped some photos using my brand new camera in the last 24 hours or so in Austin.  I've made a little slideshow... see if you see yourself, or someone you know.  So far, the convention has been a fast paced, go there, dash here, sort of thing for the media.  I've been interested in seeing all the Hillary and Obama supporters still so passionate about both candidates.  Chelsea Clinton is making an appearance tonight, so that should be very interesting!  How will the rest of the convention go? I can't wait to find out who from our area will be heading to Denver.

Want the high quality picture of your smiling face? Leave me a comment with email info. Enjoy!

The Penn Drops

After a long stretch of unhappy Clinton supporters grumbling about chief strategist Mark Penn, this from ABC news:

Mark Penn has been pushed out as chief strategist of Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign after his work on a Colombian free-trade agreement that Clinton opposes, sources tell ABC News.

Sources said that the Clintons were angry to learn about Penn's work, especially because they had been told that Penn had recused himself from controversial clients and would restrict his private work.

Though Clinton campaign manager Maggie Williams said, "After the events of the last few days, Mark Penn has asked to give up his role as chief strategist of the Clinton campaign," sources told ABC News Penn was pushed.

The Wall Street Journal first reported on Friday that Penn, who also is chief executive of the lobbying and public relations firm Burson-Marsteller Worldwide, had been hired by the Colombian government to help secure a trade deal.

On Saturday, the Colombian government said it was firing Penn's firm after he said through the Clinton campaign that his consultations with Colombian officials were "an error in judgment that will not be repeated, and I am sorry for it."

The Penn Drops

After a long stretch of unhappy Clinton supporters grumbling about chief strategist Mark Penn, this from ABC news:

Mark Penn has been pushed out as chief strategist of Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign after his work on a Colombian free-trade agreement that Clinton opposes, sources tell ABC News.

Sources said that the Clintons were angry to learn about Penn's work, especially because they had been told that Penn had recused himself from controversial clients and would restrict his private work.

Though Clinton campaign manager Maggie Williams said, "After the events of the last few days, Mark Penn has asked to give up his role as chief strategist of the Clinton campaign," sources told ABC News Penn was pushed.

The Wall Street Journal first reported on Friday that Penn, who also is chief executive of the lobbying and public relations firm Burson-Marsteller Worldwide, had been hired by the Colombian government to help secure a trade deal.

On Saturday, the Colombian government said it was firing Penn's firm after he said through the Clinton campaign that his consultations with Colombian officials were "an error in judgment that will not be repeated, and I am sorry for it."

The Penn Drops

After a long stretch of unhappy Clinton supporters grumbling about chief strategist Mark Penn, this from ABC news:

Mark Penn has been pushed out as chief strategist of Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign after his work on a Colombian free-trade agreement that Clinton opposes, sources tell ABC News.

Sources said that the Clintons were angry to learn about Penn's work, especially because they had been told that Penn had recused himself from controversial clients and would restrict his private work.

Though Clinton campaign manager Maggie Williams said, "After the events of the last few days, Mark Penn has asked to give up his role as chief strategist of the Clinton campaign," sources told ABC News Penn was pushed.

The Wall Street Journal first reported on Friday that Penn, who also is chief executive of the lobbying and public relations firm Burson-Marsteller Worldwide, had been hired by the Colombian government to help secure a trade deal.

On Saturday, the Colombian government said it was firing Penn's firm after he said through the Clinton campaign that his consultations with Colombian officials were "an error in judgment that will not be repeated, and I am sorry for it."

The Penn Drops

After a long stretch of unhappy Clinton supporters grumbling about chief strategist Mark Penn, this from ABC news:

Mark Penn has been pushed out as chief strategist of Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign after his work on a Colombian free-trade agreement that Clinton opposes, sources tell ABC News.

Sources said that the Clintons were angry to learn about Penn's work, especially because they had been told that Penn had recused himself from controversial clients and would restrict his private work.

Though Clinton campaign manager Maggie Williams said, "After the events of the last few days, Mark Penn has asked to give up his role as chief strategist of the Clinton campaign," sources told ABC News Penn was pushed.

The Wall Street Journal first reported on Friday that Penn, who also is chief executive of the lobbying and public relations firm Burson-Marsteller Worldwide, had been hired by the Colombian government to help secure a trade deal.

On Saturday, the Colombian government said it was firing Penn's firm after he said through the Clinton campaign that his consultations with Colombian officials were "an error in judgment that will not be repeated, and I am sorry for it."

LULAC thinking about filing lawsuit against TDP

Austin-- Update:  You can see the video of the story on the ABC13 website.

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) told me today that it's considering filing a lawsuit against the Texas Democratic Party.   LULAC's national general counsel Louis Vera told me that he believes the caucus process disenfranchises the state's Latino voters.  Although the caucus numbers between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are not final yet, LULAC has been contemplating the lawsuit for a few weeks.

"We had reports all night long and this morning of many, many people who couldn’t stay there anymore," says Vera.  "It was 9:30, 10 o'clock and they haven’t even begun to vote."

Vera is also concerned that because the Primary allocates delegates based on turnout of the previous election, a vote for delegates  in San Antonio or south Texas is actually worth less than a vote out of Houston or Dallas. LULAC isn't officially allowed to endorse anyone, but Vera and a number of high ranking officials within the organization support Clinton.

Vera says a decision will be made about the lawsuit when all the caucus numbers roll in, which could take a few weeks.  "What we are considering is whether or not there are violations of the Voting Rights Act, " he says. "I’m not sure if all the changes in the caucus system has been pre-cleared by the Justice Department."

I called the Texas Democratic Party today, and spokesperson Hector Nieto says he did not hear about the rumblings of a lawsuit until I called him.  "When you put a million people across the state in a caucus, off course you’re going to have problems," says Nieto.  "there will be people waiting, there will be people crammed into small rooms... All I can say is that this system was put into place for participation by all, and judging by the turnout, we  had an equal opportunity for people to participate."

Vera says if they are filing a lawsuit, it will be done before the state Democratic Convention.  He also says this is not about Clinton or Obama. It's about whether or not the voices of Latino voters are heard.

LULAC thinking about filing lawsuit against TDP

Austin-- Update:  You can see the video of the story on the ABC13 website.

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) told me today that it's considering filing a lawsuit against the Texas Democratic Party.   LULAC's national general counsel Louis Vera told me that he believes the caucus process disenfranchises the state's Latino voters.  Although the caucus numbers between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are not final yet, LULAC has been contemplating the lawsuit for a few weeks.

"We had reports all night long and this morning of many, many people who couldn’t stay there anymore," says Vera.  "It was 9:30, 10 o'clock and they haven’t even begun to vote."

Vera is also concerned that because the Primary allocates delegates based on turnout of the previous election, a vote for delegates  in San Antonio or south Texas is actually worth less than a vote out of Houston or Dallas. LULAC isn't officially allowed to endorse anyone, but Vera and a number of high ranking officials within the organization support Clinton.

Vera says a decision will be made about the lawsuit when all the caucus numbers roll in, which could take a few weeks.  "What we are considering is whether or not there are violations of the Voting Rights Act, " he says. "I’m not sure if all the changes in the caucus system has been pre-cleared by the Justice Department."

I called the Texas Democratic Party today, and spokesperson Hector Nieto says he did not hear about the rumblings of a lawsuit until I called him.  "When you put a million people across the state in a caucus, off course you’re going to have problems," says Nieto.  "there will be people waiting, there will be people crammed into small rooms... All I can say is that this system was put into place for participation by all, and judging by the turnout, we  had an equal opportunity for people to participate."

Vera says if they are filing a lawsuit, it will be done before the state Democratic Convention.  He also says this is not about Clinton or Obama. It's about whether or not the voices of Latino voters are heard.

LULAC thinking about filing lawsuit against TDP

Austin-- Update:  You can see the video of the story on the ABC13 website.

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) told me today that it's considering filing a lawsuit against the Texas Democratic Party.   LULAC's national general counsel Louis Vera told me that he believes the caucus process disenfranchises the state's Latino voters.  Although the caucus numbers between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are not final yet, LULAC has been contemplating the lawsuit for a few weeks.

"We had reports all night long and this morning of many, many people who couldn’t stay there anymore," says Vera.  "It was 9:30, 10 o'clock and they haven’t even begun to vote."

Vera is also concerned that because the Primary allocates delegates based on turnout of the previous election, a vote for delegates  in San Antonio or south Texas is actually worth less than a vote out of Houston or Dallas. LULAC isn't officially allowed to endorse anyone, but Vera and a number of high ranking officials within the organization support Clinton.

Vera says a decision will be made about the lawsuit when all the caucus numbers roll in, which could take a few weeks.  "What we are considering is whether or not there are violations of the Voting Rights Act, " he says. "I’m not sure if all the changes in the caucus system has been pre-cleared by the Justice Department."

I called the Texas Democratic Party today, and spokesperson Hector Nieto says he did not hear about the rumblings of a lawsuit until I called him.  "When you put a million people across the state in a caucus, off course you’re going to have problems," says Nieto.  "there will be people waiting, there will be people crammed into small rooms... All I can say is that this system was put into place for participation by all, and judging by the turnout, we  had an equal opportunity for people to participate."

Vera says if they are filing a lawsuit, it will be done before the state Democratic Convention.  He also says this is not about Clinton or Obama. It's about whether or not the voices of Latino voters are heard.

LULAC thinking about filing lawsuit against TDP

Austin-- Update:  You can see the video of the story on the ABC13 website.

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) told me today that it's considering filing a lawsuit against the Texas Democratic Party.   LULAC's national general counsel Louis Vera told me that he believes the caucus process disenfranchises the state's Latino voters.  Although the caucus numbers between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are not final yet, LULAC has been contemplating the lawsuit for a few weeks.

"We had reports all night long and this morning of many, many people who couldn’t stay there anymore," says Vera.  "It was 9:30, 10 o'clock and they haven’t even begun to vote."

Vera is also concerned that because the Primary allocates delegates based on turnout of the previous election, a vote for delegates  in San Antonio or south Texas is actually worth less than a vote out of Houston or Dallas. LULAC isn't officially allowed to endorse anyone, but Vera and a number of high ranking officials within the organization support Clinton.

Vera says a decision will be made about the lawsuit when all the caucus numbers roll in, which could take a few weeks.  "What we are considering is whether or not there are violations of the Voting Rights Act, " he says. "I’m not sure if all the changes in the caucus system has been pre-cleared by the Justice Department."

I called the Texas Democratic Party today, and spokesperson Hector Nieto says he did not hear about the rumblings of a lawsuit until I called him.  "When you put a million people across the state in a caucus, off course you’re going to have problems," says Nieto.  "there will be people waiting, there will be people crammed into small rooms... All I can say is that this system was put into place for participation by all, and judging by the turnout, we  had an equal opportunity for people to participate."

Vera says if they are filing a lawsuit, it will be done before the state Democratic Convention.  He also says this is not about Clinton or Obama. It's about whether or not the voices of Latino voters are heard.