Netroots Nation '08 Coming to TEXAS!

On behalf of all Texans, Rick Noriega congratulates the City of Austin as he shares in their excitement as host of the 2008 Netroots Nation convention. The Netroots community has not only proven that it can change the conventional wisdom of politics, but that it can change the conventional practices of politics as well.

We have the opportunity to enact meaningful change in the makeup of the U.S. Senate in 2008 and Rick is proud to be the candidate to put Texas in play. Our grassroots movement in Texas has garnered Democracy for America's first Senate endorsement, the support of John Kerry and Wesley Clark, the backing of the Texas netroots and Blue America communities, as well as contributions from over 2,400 online donors-- the most donors of any Senate challenger on ActBlue.

Welcome to Austin, Netroots! Rick and our entire campaign team look forward to meeting many of you in person next July 17-20.

-Sue Schechter, Campaign Manager
Rick Noriega for U.S. Senate

Rick Thanks YOU... the Netroots!

"Now with this new dimension in American politics, netroots, it allows for regular folks like myself, who have devoted their lives to public service to step forward and offer themselves up for higher office.

"No longer do you have to be a celebrity or a self-financed millionaire to offer yourself up for higher office.

"The netroots in large part has leveled the playing field."

"The netroots component is going to be a critical piece of us defeating John Cornyn and getting the state and nation back on track after this administration has so misled us."

Rick on Record about Bloggers

"The netroots is a...powerful force for change"

September 14th, 2007

Rick Noriega, who is exploring a run for the U.S. Senate, made the following statement in response to Texas Republican Party political director Hans Klingler’s comments in Wednesday’s Fort Worth Star-Telegram:

“Mr. Klingler’s characterization of bloggers as an echo chamber, rather than a grassroots movement, sounds a lot like whistling past the graveyard,” Noriega said.

“Far from an echo chamber, progressive bloggers in Texas and across the country are opening the door for millions of Americans to participate in the political process. Specifically, the Texas ‘netroots’ is one of the three largest Democratic state blogging communities with over 100,000 page views a week. The ‘netroots’ is the new grassroots in American politics, and is becoming a powerful force for change.”

“As our men and women in uniform put their lives on the line every day in Iraq and Afghanistan, the blogosphere has played a valuable role in our democracy by forcing elected officials and the news media to be accountable for what they say and do.”

“I am honored to have the support of many bloggers from across the great state of Texas and this country, and am proud of their efforts to restore accountability in government and engage millions of Americans in our democracy.”

Rick's Boo-Boo

It seems that Rick has made some unfortunate comments with regards to bloggers.

Here's the quote with none of the surrounding context from R.G. Ratcliffe:

"We've seen talk radio become an organizing tool for the die-hard right, while liberals are credited with turning the blogosphere into a political weapon. Each of those media has a targeted demographic group and works them into an ideological lather," Noriega said.

"This, I believe, is damaging to the political culture in this country."

All I can say is that comments like this are commonly completely blown out of proportion and that I still support Rick. He's discussed the issues on FDL, and has come out to answer questions about what happened, and I know of no Texas bloggers that have peeled away from Rick.

Here's coverage from around Texas:
http://eyeonwilliamson.org/?p=1488
http://www.offthekuff.com/mt/archives/010169.html#010169
http://txsharon.blogspot.com/2007/09/watt-spin-and-rg-ratcliffe-falls-in.html
http://www.mcblogger.com/archives/2007/09/noriega_out_of.html
http://stxc.blogspot.com/2007/09/political-hits-noriega-and-blogs.html
http://burntorangereport.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4050
Sloppy Reporting Rears Its Ugly Head in TX-Senate Race

Hal at Half Empty wondered who in the H-E-double-Hockey Sticks pays R.G. Ratcliffe for his journalistic abilities? He challenged him here . Off to summer school RG.

More to come later.

Rick Gets Blogosphere Blessing

From The S.A. Current:

"In 2006 I was primarily focused on getting John Tester elected in Montana,” said Markos Moulitsas, founder of DailyKos, a progressive political blog that boasts over a million visitors a day. “This year, I am going to do everything I can to elect Rick Noriega in Texas.”

It wouldn’t be too much of an exaggeration to say that Moulitsas’s ringing endorsement is the political equivalent of a Bill Gates letter of recommendation. His site — Daily Kos — worked with other leading progressive sites such as MyDD.com and the Swing State Project to raise more than $1.5 million for 17 candidates in the 2006 election cycle.

The 2006 elections were the tipping point for successful online political organization. The people-powered movement was able to propel its own brand of candidates to high political offices. Their successes include U.S. Senators Jon Tester (Montana) and Jim Webb (Virginia). Many at the convention are hoping to send a third people-powered candidate to the U.S. Senate — Rick Noriega.

Immediately after the convention, an article in the Washington Post conveyed the level of support Noriega developed in Chicago, saying that “many at the YearlyKos convention cared more about Democrat Rick Noriega than Sen. Barack Obama. They hoped Mr. Noriega will unseat Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Republican … ”

Cornyn’s low approval ratings — which have stagnated around 31 percent according to the latest polls — have given Democrats across the country hope for an upset. Nationally, another Democrat in the U.S. Senate would mean wonders for the agenda of the Democratic Party, but if it’s possible, the implications of a Cornyn defeat are even more meaningful here in Texas.

Video Memories of Another People-Powered Success

I remember the days... The First Youtube video...


February, 2006: Ned, meeting informally with folks in a local pizza place, talking to people 30 or 40 at a time...


May, 2006: Then came the endorsements: NOW


June, 2006: Democracy for America:


Then.. the Bloggers:


May, 2006: Ned recognizes the importance of Bloggers. He received over 33% of the delegate vote at the state convention, (15% required for a primary):


July 4th, 2006: Ned walks every single July 4th parade he possibly can. At the Willimantic Boombox parade, The Float:


Bring in the superstars: Al Sharpton


Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA),


Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH),


Actor, Activist Danny Glover:


Jesse Jackson:


All leading to this... It was all worth it:



What Followed? Amazing support for those who wanted to turn our country around. Kerry, Edwards, Kennedy, Clark, Dean, Dodd, all stumped for Ned. Endorsements from labor, UAW, AFT, SEIU, Teamsters. The energy was amazing. The atmosphere at every event was undescribable.

New Haven:


UCONN:


Debate:


Bringing out the Truth:


We can bring this to Texas. We can reinvigorate the masses, get people excited about politics, about being able to stand for a change, to be able to stand for something again. We can make this happen.

CONTRIBUTE NOW!

Video Credits:
Connecticut Bob, SpazeBoy, TParty with LamontBlog, Connecticut Blog