Chris Bell will be the first H-Town Mayoral candidate out of the gate this Sunday when he officially kicks off his campaign. It will be interesting to hear what he has to say and what he lays out as his vision for Houston – along with his priorities. Maybe Teddy Schleifer will give us a pre-announcement preview of what Chris’ campaign will look like. Here is Chris’ announcement tweet from yesterday:
Chris Bell @ChrisBell2015 • 14h 14 hours ago
Announcing my candidacy for Mayor of Houston this Sunday, 1/25, at 3:00 at Sam Houston Park, 1000 Bagby. Please retweet and join us!
He is going to need a lot more followers
I have to admit to having the same reaction when I heard the California Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer announcement that she was retiring and DC Dem players are handpicking as her successor a non-Latino. They completely and conveniently forgot that it is the Latino vote that is largely responsible for California being the bluest of blue states. Talk about insensitive dumbarses. Here is from Politico today:
The procession of prominent Washington Democrats who lined up last week to sing the praises of California Attorney General Kamala Harris for Senate had the feel of an anointment. Sen. Cory Booker said he was “so excited” about her candidacy. Sen. Elizabeth Warren called Harris, a favorite of the Obama White House, “smart” and “tough.” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand told supporters she needed Harris “by my side.”
But back in California, a backlash is brewing among Latinos, who say the Democratic establishment’s quick embrace of Harris threatens to deny a Hispanic candidate a fair shot at the state’s first open Senate seat in more than two decades. Latinos are an outsize force in California politics: With nearly 40 percent of the population, they have moved ahead of whites to become the state’s largest demographic group. Since 1990, Latino representation in the Legislature has more than tripled, and Hispanics have been chosen in recent years to lead both chambers of the state Capitol.
Nothing against Harris, Latino officials say, but there needs to be a level competition for the seat that Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer is vacating in 2016.
“National figures should slow their roll a bit and allow this process to evolve naturally so we can all rally around one strong Democratic candidate,” said state Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León, a Los Angeles Democrat.
“I think Hispanic leaders are concerned about some kind of coronation, as opposed to a real electoral campaign,” added Arturo Vargas, the executive director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials. “There are certainly talented Latinos who could run for that seat.”
A number of possible Latino candidates have been floated as possible candidates since Boxer announced her retirement earlier this month, from Rep. Xavier Becerra, the House Democratic Caucus chairman, to Alex Padilla, the just-elected California secretary of state. But most of the speculation has centered on Antonio Villaraigosa, the colorful and ambitious 61-year-old former Los Angeles mayor. In recent days, prominent Hispanics across the country have urged Villaraigosa to jump in, frustrated by the clamor for Harris before the race has really begun.
Among the Villaraigosa suitors has been Henry Cisneros, the former Housing and Urban Development secretary. The two spoke by phone over the weekend, and in an email, Cisneros said he expected Villaraigosa — whom he hailed as a “trailblazer in a California Latino tradition that is proud and rich in history” — to enter the race.
What a shame! I am most disappointed with Sen. Elizabeth Warren. I thought she would know better. I have said it before. Latinos just need to lead and have the non-Latino Dems follow. When are we going to learn? We are the present and the future!
Here is the entire Politico story: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/01/hispanics-kamala-harris-2016-california-senate-election-114474.html?hp=t4_r.
New ‘Stro Colby Rasmus was picked by San Luis in the first round of the 2005 MLB Amateur Player Draft with the 28th overall selection. Who did the ‘Stros pick with the 24th selection of the first round?
On “Today” this morning, chief foreign affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell was reporting from Cuba where an American delegation was meeting with Cuban officials. The two leading American diplomats are female and Mitchell said this about the delegation – “led by two strong women.” I have to say if they were both men, I doubt Mitchell would have referred to them as “strong.” Just an observation.
I am not going to spend a whole lot of time talking about the Texas State Senate doing away with the two-thirds rule yesterday other than to say that at least they didn’t take away the Dem Senators’ parking privileges at the State Capitol.
Brian Bogusevic of course was selected by the ‘Stros with the 24th pick back in 2005. Bogusevic didn’t play last year and is trying to get back to MLB with the Phillies this season.
We traded away catcher Carlos Corporan to the Rangers yesterday.
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