What is everyone fighting over---Do you even know? (5.00 / 1)
This is Charles Soechting, member of TTLA and Past Chair of the Texas Democratic Party (2003-2006). I have been reading the posts here for the better part of the day while iced in at the house. First, I called a couple of people that I really like and respect and asked should I comment. The answer was "No", but as those that know me best know, I usually end up doing what I think is right. With that said, let me start by telling you that I am no apologist for Russ Tidwell. In the world of Austin Democratic politics it was well known that Russ and I could not stand to be in the same room with each other. Nothing since I left as Chair of the Texas Democratic Party in April 06 has happened to change that. Like many others, I think Russ has made some terrible boneheaded calls---ignored good candidates -treated good candidates terribly because he didn't like their consultant--
bad mouthed other political consultants for no good reason--but at the end of the day he is TTLA's asset or liability. Understand, nothing I have said here is actionable because it is true. The money spent at Russ'direction is TTLA's money to spend. TTLA has it's membership to answer to and that's how it works. As for pushing donors toward Strayhorn, in my mind it was worse than wrong--it was dumb and in a million years I will never understand his motives but it was those donor's money to do with as they pleased. Don't give Tidwell too much credit, these were smart donors who gave money to who they wanted to. Like every organization TTLA has adjustments in the way they do business and that is an internal matter for membership. As best I can tell, none of the posters except me is a dues paying member of TTLA so a little deference is due. Now, back to some of the things I really wanted to address. When I was elected Chair in October 03 I was asked by many reporters why I would want to be Chair of the TDP at this time. I said then and I still believe that the Democratic Party in Texas is coming back. It's not going to happen all at once, but it is happening right in front of us. The sad thing is that there are so many good candidates that I wish could be adequately funded but short of acting like the Republicans act, which is for the most part, illegal, you cannot make people donate money. This combined with the changes in law brougt on by McCain-Feingold and it is a different world that it was in the 80's and 90's. Someone posted that Hewitt-Fero called the shots when I was Chair. That person/poster needs to be drug tested. I barely knew/know Hewitt and as for Fero, Kelly and I have been friends for a long time and happen to agree on a lot. I believe to this day that he is one of the best political consultants around even if we do disagree on some things. As Chair, I prided myself that I would listen well to a lot of people and then make decisions based on the best information available. What I regret is that now that D's are starting to win, the inevitable infighting has started. Why not take pride in the wins that were won together. For instance, Russ Tidwell and Charles Soechting/Kelly Fero do not like each other--period. Yet, we all worked to beat Ron Wilson along with a lot of other people like Sue Schechter. Our strength is in working together. Now, onto another subject. There has been a fair amount of discussion about the Texas Trust, mostly by people who know know very little about it and how it actually works. I speak with some direct knowledge because I was there at the time of formation. Not once did I ever receive a call from anyone suggesting how things ought to be done. That is not to say that I didn't meet with a lot of people concerning the Trust. SDEC members met with me and Trust principals and were fully informed about what it was and wasn't. It is one thing to disagree with strategy but quite another to attack the motives of good people. The Trust is an effort to rebuild the Party that had to change to accomodate the times. In closing, I just want to say how much I appreciate what all of you are doing to further the cause of the Democratic Party. It's early in '07 and I might even try to learn to like Russ-----stranger things have happened. Democratically yours, Charles Soechting ces@oqlaw.com PS As always, I did not spell check or proof read.
Coming up with creative new lines of litigation-and doing it on the cheap-is imperative for plaintiffs' lawyers in Texas these days. No other state's trial bar has suffered a greater reversal of fortune.
To make a long story short, the Texas Trial Lawyers have gotten their asses kicked. Basically, their political enemies have used money to influence elections so effectively that trial law, as a profession is endangered. The trail lawyers have been defunded. Their greed, excess, and lack of political smarts spurred the Big Insurance and other big money corporations to pour more and more money into Texas politics, tipping the balance to the GOP.
Even worse, the same genius who has driven the Texas Trial Lawyers Association into the ground has been running the strategy for the Texas Democratic Party. His name is Russ Tidwell.
He's the guy who advised wealthy trial lawyers like Walter Umphry, Joe Jamail, and John Eddie Williams to funnel millions into supporting the gubernatorial campaign of Republican-turned-Independent Carole Keeton Strayhorn. At the same time, Tidwell was exercising veto power over the Texas Democratic Party. He vetoed candidates -- saying "no thanks" to candidates for state representative if he didn't like them or their chances. He vetoed the likes of John Sharp and Pete Laney when they were urged by supporters to run statewide in 2006. He never even considered backing Chris Bell. He personally threatened candidates who were already running if they didn't fire consultants he disapproves of to hire his favorite hacks. Even though Democrats have steadily lost power under his reign, he is allowed to keep calling the shots - and losing.
But my blog isn't about politics. It's about political tactics, so bear with me as I pull more from the Business Week story.
