Useful Links:

Official Bastrop County Website

Nora Cano, Bastrop County Elections Administrator

Bastrop County Democratic Party Executive Committee

Texas Democratic Party

Democratic National Committee

Bastrop County Democratic Club

Bastrop County Democratic Blog

Find out what folks here in the county have to say about what's happening out there!

 

Bastrop County Precinct Map and Email Contact Links


2008 General Election Candidates:

 

U.S. President and

Vice President -

  Barack Obama

  Joseph Biden

 

U.S. Senator for Texas

  Rep. Rick Noriega

 

U.S. Congressional Representative; Dist 10

  Larry Joe Doherty

 

U.S. Congressional Representative; Dist 25

  Lloyd Doggett

 

Texas Railroad Commissioner -

  Mark Thompson

 

Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice -

  Jim Jordan

 

Texas Supreme Court Justice, Place 8 -

  Linda Yanez

 

Texas Supreme Court Justice, Place 7 -

  Sam Houston

 

Chief Justice - 3rd Court of Appeals -

  Woodie Jones

 

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3 -

  Susan Strawn

 

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 4 -

  J. R. Molina

 

State Representative - Dist 17

  Donnie Dippel 

 

Judge - District 21:

 Terry Flenniken

 

Bastrop County:

 

Judge - District 423:

 Chris Duggan

 

Sheriff 

 (Arlan) Wayne Smith

 

TaxAssessor/Collector

  Linda Harmon

 

Commissioner Precinct 1 - Dock Jackson

 

Commissioner Precinct 3 - John Klaus

 

Constable Precinct 2 -

  Gus Meduna

 

Constable Precinct 3 -

  Matt Henderson

 


Political Resources:

 

Bastrop County Elections Administration

 

Texas Democratic Party Handbook Online

 

Poll Worker Training

 

Democratic Party Convention Processes OR How to Become a  Democratic Convention Delegate- Slide Show begins the process, starting at the precinct caucus level (pages 6-18)and going through the county (19-31), state (32-43), and national conventions (44-49).  In the process you learn how the conventions work.
 
Democracy for America - Night School

It's free and you'll learn how to organize to win elections for your candidates.  Download past presentations or purchase DVDs at the training stores.

 

Precinct Organizing

 

Election Forms Index

 

More Grassroots Organizing Resources

Who Represents Me?
 


More Links:

 

County Convention Results

 

Snopes.com

 

Race Funding Info

 

Follow the Money

 

Texas Blue

 

True Blue Action

 

Texas Freedom Network

League of Women Voters

 

Democracy for Texas:

Socially progressive; Fiscally Responsible

 

Rural Democrats

 

MoveOn.org

 

TruthOut.org

 

CSPAN'S Capital News

 

Project Vote Smart

 

True Majority Action

 

Lone Start Project

 

League of Conservation Voters

 

Elections.kut.org

 

NOW - Public's best progressive TV half-hour

 

Daily Kos

 

Bill Moyers Journal - this week's stories

 

Frontline - Dynamite Indepth reporting from PBS on important issues.

 

"We are the party of Roosevelt. We are the party of Kennedy. So don’t tell me that Democrats won’t defend this country."  Barack Obama, August 28, 2008

 

 

Please Donate to BCDP Now

 

Need Campaign Paraphernalia?

 

George W. Bush Legacy

 

McCain/Republicans Watch Page

 

Who is Sarah Palin?

 

What's a fiscal conservative?

 

Democratic National Convention Speeches:

 

Barack Obama - Text or Video

Joe Biden

Hillary Rodham Clinton

John Kerry

Bill Clinton

Jim Leach (R)

 

Get Free Adobe Reader to read pdf files.

Click either of the two links below to contact us to volunteer.

 

Mitzi VanSant, Bastrop County Democratic Chair

 

Bastrop County Democratic Party Executive Committee

 

 

Click here to go to bottom of page for more contact info.

 

 

Please Donate to BCDP Now

 


Ed: The following is the best summary I've seen of the Republican Convention. 

Running From Reality

By BOB HERBERTNY Times Op-Ed Columnist

Published: September 6, 2008

If there was one pre-eminent characteristic of the Republican convention this week, it was the quality of deception. Words completely lost their meaning. Reality was turned upside down.

From the faux populist gibberish mouthed by speaker after speaker, you would never have known that the Republicans have been in power over the past several years and used that titanic power to lead the country to its present sorry state.

In his acceptance speech on Thursday night, Senator John McCain did his best Sam Cooke imitation (“A Change is Gonna Come”) and vowed to put the country “back on the road to prosperity and peace.”

Mr. McCain spoke at the end of a day in which stock market indexes plunged. The next morning the Labor Department gave us the grim news that another 84,000 jobs had been lost in August, and that the official unemployment rate had climbed to 6.1 percent — the highest in five years.

If there were any good ideas at this convention of mostly rich and mostly right-wing delegates about how to haul the country out of this mess that the G.O.P. has gotten it into, they were kept well hidden. Perhaps they were tucked away behind the more prominently displayed creationism and “just-say-no to global warming” documents.

It stretches the mind almost to the breaking point to think of John McCain as an agent of substantive change. He once believed that Phil Gramm was the most qualified person in the United States to be president. And he now believes that Sarah Palin is the most qualified to be vice president.

Click here for the full article.


Texas House Democratic Victory Map

Let's not forget the effort to take back the Texas House of Representatives.  Democratic House District 17 Robby Cook is retiring.  Donnie Dippel is running for the seat and we need to heavily support his effort as possible.  Contact him through his website (Click on his name in the green side-bar at left to go to his website), where you can show your support and make him aware of your issues.  And, watch for him in the upcoming events in the pink side-bar on the right.

The Lone Star Project has put together a victory map and bios for all of our Democratic candidates for the seats we must win.  See the map and article at LoneStarProject.net.  Show your support.  We need to win back the House so that we can redistrict the state in a sensible way - no more Republican gerrymandering and no more Tom Craddick.


Commissioner's Precinct 3 Summer Rally - September 13th

 

Time: 11:00 - 2:00 pm

 

Cedar Creek Fire Station

On 535 just east of elementary school at corner of Hwy 21 and FM535 - Cedar Creek

 

Meet Bastrop County representatives at the local, county, state, national levels.  Headlining are U. S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett, Rick Noriega for U. S. Senator and Donnie Dippel for Texas Dist 17 Congressman. Bring your friends and family for food, drinks and fun.  Get to know your representatives and your neighbors.  Take the opportunity to talk one-on-one with candidates about their positions on those issues about which you are most concerned.  Learn more about how you can help take back Texas for all Texans.

Candidate and Democratic Party 2008 campaign memorabilia will be available.  Donations appreciated for the signs, bumper stickers, buttons, caps and T-shirts in blue, red, black, pink and white.

Come and let's provide a warm Bastrop County welcome for our  representatives, friends, family and neighbors.  Keep checking here for more info as available.

Find out how you can help:

BCDP Office Phone: 512-985-6591 10am-5pm weekdays; Sat 11am - 3pm

Linda Laughinghouse - 830 839 4313

Barbara Nichols - 321 1962

Email: info@bastropcountydemocraticparty.com


Get-Out-the-Vote (GOTV) in-Smithville Event

 

Come join us in our canvass of Smithville for our candidates.  We will gather at the Smithville Public Library at 6th and Main Street at 10AM sharp.

 

The first hour will be training volunteers from all over the county in HOW to block walk, how to engage with voters at their homes and in what info we want to collect.  Then, about 11:30 we'll head out to canvass designated areas in pairs.

        

Those volunteers who are Deputy Registrars will be registering voters as we go. If you want to register voters, go to the Elections Administrator at the Bastrop County courthouse between 9AM and 4 PM to be deputized.  Others will be handing out voter registration cards, candidate push cards, handbills and candidate forum information.  All will have a great time meeting Smithville voters.

 

Canvassing info will be returned to Mitzi's home at 400 Bishop St. after completed.  Our candidates need you, so come on over to Smithville to help.

 

See you there!


 

Democratic Party Adopts National Platform

''Renewing America's Promise''

 

August 9, 2008


At its meeting in Pittsburgh today, the full Platform Committee recommended that the Convention adopt the Democratic Party's national Platform "Renewing America's Promise" when it is presented in Denver later this month. Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean, Governor Janet Napolitano, chair of the Platform Drafting Committee, and the co-chairs of the Platform Committee, Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts, former New Mexico Attorney General Patricia Madrid and former Discovery Communications President and CEO Judith McHale issued the following statement:

"Today is an exciting day for the Democratic Party as we adopt our national platform - 'Renewing America's Promise' - which will be presented at the Democratic Convention in Denver. Last month, together with the Obama for America campaign, the DNC launched 'Listening to America'--where for the first time, we opened up the platform process so every American could have a voice in writing this document that embodies the values of our Party.

"More than 1,600 listening sessions took place in communities in all 50 states. Nearly 30,000 Americans from all walks of life participated. And these voices are now included in our Party's Platform. We'd like to thank our hardworking staff, and the members of the Platform Drafting Committee and the full Platform Committee for their efforts to make our Party's platform a document that's truly reflective of the Democratic Party's values and priorities for the American people.

"Our Platform reflects Barack Obama's commitment to changing the way we do business in Washington and outlines clear examples on how we'll make ethics reform a priority and find new ways to use technology to open government, make it more inclusive and accountable. It recognizes the important role women play in the Democratic Party and the strength and diversity of a united party fighting for a new direction for America.

"This Platform stresses our values. It outlines how we will jumpstart our economy by investing in good paying jobs through infrastructure, education and creating green jobs. We will end our dependence on foreign oil and offer a new energy plan to create five million new jobs, not $4 billion in new tax breaks for oil companies under the McCain plan. It commits to providing every American access to affordable, portable, comprehensive health care - and it lays out principles for how we will get there. We pledge to bring the Iraq War to a responsible end and refocus our efforts on fighting terrorism in places like Afghanistan. We will confront global issues and threats head on while working with our allies and restoring America 's standing in the world. We will do right by our veterans and build a 21st Century Veterans Administration.

"As our preamble states, this is a 'defining moment in the history of our nation. We can choose to stay the current failed course. Or we can choose a path that builds upon the best of who and what we are, that reflects our highest values.' The 2008 Democratic Platform reflects our highest values. The Democratic Party and Barack Obama will carry out the policies and ideas put forth in our Platform and bring real change we can believe in."

 


Crimes Against Nature

 

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

2004 - Exerpts from Jacket Summary and Introduction

 

In this powerful and far-reaching indictment of George W. Bush's White House, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. the country's most prominent environmental attorney, charges that this administration has taken corporate cronyism to such unprecedented heights that it now threatens our health, our national security, and democracy as we know it

 

In a headlong pursuit of private profit and personal power, Kennedy writes, George Bush and his administration have eviscerated the laws that have protected our nation's air, water, public lands, and wildlife for the past thirty years, enriching the president's political contributors while lowering the quality of life for the rest of us.

 

In his introduction, Kennedy says, "Earlier this  year I was invited to speak at the Round Hill Club in Greenwich Connecticut.  If Greenwich is the Republican's Mecca, then the Round Hill club is the Kaaba.  In the foyer I passed beneath an oversized photograph of Senator Prescott Bush, a former Greenwich resident and the current president's grandfather. ... It was the club's annual meeting - always well attended - and as I stepped to the podium I looked out over a sea of skeptical faces, the faces of affluent conservatism.  I spoke for an hour - about why the environment is so important to the physical and spiritual health of our nation and its people, about how a wholesome environment and a healthy democracy are intertwined, and about the way that president Bush is allowing certain corporations to destroy our country's most central values.  I pulled no punches, and I got a standing ovation.

 

"A month before, I got a similar response at the Woman's Club of Richmond, Virginia, where someone boasted that no member had voted for a Democrat since Jefferson Davis.  They told me it was the first standing ovation there in 38 years.

 

"Earlier that week I had spoken at an oil-industry association meeting in the northwest, and I received an equally enthusiastic response.

 

"I got those reactions not because I'm a great speaker, (I'm not), but because I talked about the values that define our community and make us proud to be Americans - shared values that are being stolen from us.  Those oil executives, Richmond Republicans and Round Hill Club members have the same aspirations for their children as I have for mine: clean air and water, robust health, beautiful landscapes in which to play and grow and be inspired and a community that stands for something good and noble."

 

Ed. This book is a must read. You'll be shocked but armed with vital info about how our democracy is threatened by the actions taken by the administration and corporate friends - a threat for all of us, not just Democrats.  You may think you know what he says, but you will be surprised and horrified.  It is available at the Bastrop Public Library.

 


Snopes.com Rides to the Rescue Again

 

Remember how good Snopes.com is at debunking urban legends, when they are patently false?  Here's another great example.  There is an email running around the world that is full of lies about the relative positions of Obama and McCain on taxes.  To fortify yourself to answer any queries you get from concerned friends, relatives and neighbors about these charges, go to this website and read it to the end.  At the end there is a list of sources to validate the Snopes.com findings. 

 

http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/taxes.asp

 

Incidentally, notice the Snopes.com icon on the URL address is an old fashioned light bulb.  Aren't we glad there are non-partisan people of integrity out there to shed light of truth on the lies?  Don't forget Snopes.com and FactCheck.org and OpenSecrets.org as great resources to help with information for your interactions during this election cycle.

 

Many thanks to Elin Jackson (Mitzi's daughter) for forwarding this jewel.

 


 

Follow the Money...

 

Ever wanted to know more about the money in a presidential campaign?  The Center for Responsive Politics does a thorough study and provides on their website - OpenSecrets.org.  Check out the following pages and/or review the entire site for information on all fundraising governed by the FEC.  Try entering your zip code.  It's an eye opener.

 

Obama:

http://opensecrets.org/pres08/summary.asp?id=N00009638&cycle=2008

McCain:

http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/summary.asp?id=N00006424&cycle=2008

Comparison:

http://opensecrets.org/pres08/index.php?cycle=2008


Loose Lips Can Win Elections

Click here to read an excellent article, showing the importance of talking up our candidates wherever we go, and how that can be more effective than TV ads. Thanks to Vickie Vogel, Senate District 18 (SD18) Committeewoman of the State Democratic Executive Committee (SDEC), for providing the link.


Match your views to a Presidential Candidate

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/projects/ongoing/select_a_candidate/


 

  Presidential Candidates on Health Care

 

 

WebMD presents thorough coverage of each candidate's position on providing health care to Americans.  Just click here for access.

 


Iraq War

 

IRAQ WAR CASUALTIES

 


Fact or Fiction

 

Ever wonder how you can check claims - political and otherwise - against facts?  Try Factcheck.org and Snopes.comFactCheck.org is a non-partisan group who checks political claims.  Snopes.com keeps a database of urban myths that float around, sometimes arising again after years like a phoenix.  For example, have you read the email about how the new dollar coin was designed to omit the phrase, "In God We Trust"?  See what Snopes.com has to say about that by clicking hereBoth organizations are very helpful in dispelling misinformation from various sources, including cyber sources.  Check them out!


 

   “All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.”  Thomas Jefferson

 

"It is an affront to treat falsehood with complaisance. Thomas Paine

 


Historic Democratic Party Accomplishments

bullet

8-hour day

bullet

Social Security

bullet

Minimum Wage Law

bullet

G. I. Bill of Rights

bullet

Marshall Plan

bullet

NATO

bullet

Peace Corps

bullet

Medicare

bullet

Medicaid

bullet

Operation Head Start

bullet

Civil Rights Act of 1964

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Voting Rights Act of 1965

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Water Quality Act

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Clean Air Act

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First Man on the Moon

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Women's Suffrage Amendment

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Workers Compensation Act

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Unemployment Compensation Act

bullet

Rural Electrification Act

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Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

bullet

Federal Home Loan Program

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Securities $ Exchange Act

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Guaranteed Student Loan Program

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Family and Medical Leave Act

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School Lunch Program

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Motor Voter Act

bullet

100,000 new police on U. S. Streets

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Balanced budget in 1998 as a result of the Balanced Act of 1993

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Davis-Bacon Act


 

Please Donate to BCDP Now

 

 

§§ Come get your Campaign paraphernalia at the office (see address below - call first).  We have T-Shirts in red, blue, white, black and pink, as well as buttons, bumper stickers, and lots of signs like you see in the picture below.  Donations are very appreciated.

 

We welcome your comments, questions, volunteer efforts and donations.  Contact us for more information through the following links:

 

Office hours starting Tuesday, September 2nd

Bastrop County Democratic Party Office  10am-5pm M - F; 11pm-3pm Saturday

(If you wish to come earlier or later, please call the day before to make an appointment.  Current hours are 2-5pm weekdays.  Office is closed for Labor Day)

  1106 College Street, C10, Bastrop, Texas 78602

  512 985 6591 (Leave a message if after hours or press start to send FAX.)

Our Mailing Address:

  Bastrop County Democratic Party

  P. O. Box 755

  Bastrop, TX 78602

BCDP Executive Committee (County and Precinct Chairs) - Click Here

General Information

    info@bastropcountydemocraticparty.com

Mitzi VanSant, Chair    

    partychair@bastropcountydemocraticparty.com

Ed Skarnulis, Secretary

    partysec@bastropcountydemocraticparty.com

Dorothy Skarnulis, Treasurer

    partytreasurer@bastropcountydemocraticparty.com


© 2007-2008 Bastrop County Democratic Party

The Bastrop County Democratic Party is not responsible for the content of linked sites, although every effort is made to remove links to sites containing material that could be offensive to the general population. Links to individual candidate sites do not imply the endorsement of that candidate by the Bastrop County Democratic Party, and are provided as a service in order to provide voters with the information they need to make an informed decision at the polls.

www.bastropcountydemocraticparty.com

Webmaster: ltangum@yahoo.com

 

Upcoming Events:

Bastrop County Democratic Party Meeting Schedule 

 

 

Sep-Oct

 

Bastrop County Democratic Party Office Hours are expanding thanks to some faithful volunteers!

Click here to see our new hours and come on down!

 

Next Summer Rally

 

September 13, 2008

 

Rally will be 11am - 2pm at the Cedar Creek Fire House on FM535 just east of the elementary school at the corner of FM535 and Hwy 21.  Many Democratic candidates will be there, allowing you to impart your ideas to their campaigns directly.   Also, music, food, speeches and  political paraphernalia.  (Donations appreciated.)More to come as info available. 

 

September 16, 2008

 

Bastrop County Democratic Party Meeting

at 7pm in Bastrop at Aqua Water Community Room; 415 Old Austin Hwy.  Time is winding down to the election; we are hard at work on our GOTV efforts.  We need as many volunteers as can come to participate.  We expect to blanket the county with signs, voter registration, electioneering, phoning, driving voters and any other needed tasks.  If you love your country, please help.  See you there. Click here to contact us before then if you can work.

 

September 20, 2008

 

GOTV Event

Smithville

Gather at the Smithville Public Library at 6th and Main St at 10am sharp.  See center column for more info about this get out the vote (GOTV) effort.  See you there.

 

September 21, 2008

 

Bastrop County

Non-Partisan Forum

3-5pm

Bastrop High School Cafetorium.

Candidates from both parties will answer pre-screened questions have been submitted by voters via email.  Deadline for submitting email questions was

September 4, 2008. Click here to see press release with all the forum information

 

November 4, 2008

 

U. S. Presidential Election

7am - 7pm

Precinct Voting Polls

Bastrop County

 


McCain/Repub Watch:

  Sarah Palin?

  POW Speaks Out

  More Bush Hypocrisy

  Bush Legacy

  Phony Fraud...

  Summer Reading

  No New Ideas?

  Nazi Appeasing Bush

  Spiritual Advisor...

  Gas Tax Holiday Bad

  100 Years in Iraq!

  McCain Said What?

  Keating Five

  McCain Confusion

  McCain Voting Rec

  Facts about McCain

  Pentagon Backed "Unbiased"Commentary

  Rice Lies in Sworn Testimony

  Imperial Bush Presidency

  Book Report - The Age of American Unreason

 


Campaign 2008

  Doherty

  Noriega

  Strawn

  Molina

  Smith

 

Departments:

 

ALERTS:

  Too Much CO2

  Candidates on Global Warming   

Message from Mitzi:

  3/29/08 Chair's address at the 2008 Bastrop County Democratic Convention

 

BDCP Press Releases:

  Bastrop County Non-Partisan Candidate Forum for County Wide Offices and Precinct Commissioner Seats

 

Freedoms:

  "We the People"

    Thom Harmann

  Remember our lost and wounded

 

Values:

  Guest Commentary -Heartland of America Democratic Values

 

Government Issues/Info:

  VOTEXAS.com

 

Legislative Issues:

  Debt over $9 Trillion

 

Environment:

  Env. Defense Fund - 20 Simple Steps to Fight Global Warming

  Too Much CO2

  Art Expressing Env. Issues

  Links to Env Issue Websites.

 

Peace and Justice:

  Who Will Tell the People? - Tom Friedman

  Cost of Suffrage New note re: Sarah Palin

 

Labor Issues:

  Fair Labor Association

 

Community Interests:

  Opportunity Bastrop County Citizen's Advisory Committee Report

   Press Release-Bastrop Arts

  Web portal for Bastrop County