www.gpdemocrats.org

Welcome to The Grand Prairie Democrats website.

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Our organization serves to advance the cause of the Democratic Party within the City of Grand Prairie, Dallas and Tarrant County as well as the State of Texas and The United States.

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The New Year has begun

And it is time for the Dallas County Democratice Party to re-take our county!

We look to the year 2010 with great anticipation as our leadership continues to work to expand our office holdings in Dallas County. We have an opportunity to tip the scales in the commissioner’s court toward a more favorable and cooperative body for our esteemed Sheriff, Lupe Valdez, and our nationally recognized county prosecutor, District Attorney Craig Watkins. Additionally, we have an opportunity to make our court system more Democratic as more and more bench seats are being sought by bona fide Democrats. We are seeing some Republican constable and JP seats as more vulnerable, thanks to the antics of the current holders of these offices. There is a major push to gain more seats in the state houses as well. And this is a must! A majority of Democrats in the State legislative body will make it easier to return the state back to the people who were disenfranchised by the gerrymandering of districts by the Republican Party to block out their voices. We have a promising candidate to occupy the governor’s mansion.

2010 promises to be a year of hope as we Democrats once again proclaim:

YES WE CAN!!

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So Sorry!!!!

What??

Say again?

“I’m ashamed of what happened in the White House yesterday”, Mr. Barton (R Texas) said in his opening statement. “I think it is a tragedy of the first proportion that a private corporation can be subjected to what I would characterize as a shakedown — in this case a $20 billion shakedown.”

The cake and eat it too Republican Party has once again made clear through their most prominent member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee that they want it both ways. Accusing the President of not doing enough for the people of the gulf region and then, launching a tirade against him when he demands a full accounting of the economic and financial harm that BP’s carelessness has caused. Wasn’t it a Republican who was deriding the President for his moratorium on off shore drilling because of its cost to the Texas oil industry employees? And now that BP has agreed, due to pressure from this Administration, to also compensate those for their lost income, the Republican Party doesn’t like that either.

Don’t get me wrong. I know that Mr. Barton apologized later for his statements after the Republican leadership saw votes “slip sliding away”. Did the conversation in Congressman John Boehner’s office go something like this?

Boehner; “Now Joe, you know that there are some things we just don’t say out there” (wink, wink)

Barton: I know, but I just had to say how I and the rest of us feel about this President. We’ve got to make him look bad at every possible opportunity, and we all know what side of the bread our butter is on. Where would we be without oil money? We’d be out there on the streets begging for money from ordinary citizens, that’s where!”

Boehner: “Its about perception Joe! I know all of this, but there has to be a more subtle way to attack this President than that. We’ve got the tea party doing all sorts of crazy things, but they are just subtle enough to get people riled up over half truths and outright lies and it is helping us a great deal. You see, they can lie and posture and everything without anyone knowing that they are playing our cards.

Now, go out there and voice an apology. You don’t have to mean it but people need to hear it. You pissed off everybody! We need those people!”

Barton: “what do I say? I’m sorry Mr. President that you picked on my oil friends”?
Boehner: You’re not helping Joe! Just say you’re sorry you were sorry”!

Barton: “I’m sorry I was sorry”??

Boehner: “You’ve got it” (wink, wink)

Barton: “I’m sorry I was sorry”, “I’m sorry I was sorry”, “I’m sorry I was sorry”

“Okay, got it”

Later:

Joe Barton "If I might take a small point of personal privilege I want to be absolutely clear that I think BP is responsible for this accident, should be held responsible and should in every way do everything possible to make good on the consequences that have resulted from this accident," he said. "And if anything I said this morning has been misconstrued to the opposite effect I want to apologize for that misconstrued misconstruction."

Okay!

Okay?

Wait!

Did he really retract or apologize when he concluded his statement by saying that the whole world had just misconstrued his earlier statement?

President: Dan Woolery
Vice President: Vacant
Secretary: Peggy Woolery
Treasurer: Lydia Alcalan
Parliamentarian: Jim Monihan

(appointed)

But Wait! There’s more!

Linda Harper Brown is owned by the red light camera people?

Per the Dallas Morning News, a newspaper that is not a friend of the Democratic Party:

“State Rep. Linda Harper-Brown, who sits on the powerful House Transportation Committee, drives a luxury car owned by a company that makes millions through state transportation contracts.

Harper-Brown, R-Irving, requested and received State Official license plates for a 2010 Mercedes E550 sedan and 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe. But Durable Enterprises Equipment Ltd. owns the vehicles. Harper-Brown’s husband, William E. Brown III, said the cars are compensation for accounting work he does for the owner of Durable and that he lets his wife drive the Mercedes.

Harper-Brown has not reported the cars on financial disclosure statements or in campaign finance reports, but her husband said she doesn't have to because they are part of his pay. She declined several requests for interviews this week. Her campaign spokesman referred questions to her husband.

The arrangement has led to questions about whether Harper-Brown is obligated to report her use of expensive items owned by state contractors operating in a field her committee oversees. And the situation has some questioning the toughness of Texas ethics laws.”

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/061710dnmetharperbrown.b2379636.html

Here are some questions for you Mrs. Harper-Brown:

If it seemed a conflict of interest in the Irving City Council so that you recused yourself from voting on matters related to these companies under the same arrangement, why is not wrong to advance their cause in the State House while having the same advantage.

And what? This $55,000 car that “belongs" to your husband has special legislative tags?

And what? Your husband has two cars that belong to this company? Is it one for each foot?

And what? You don’t have a car of your own that does not belong to a company you are sending special favors too?

Will you please go have a talk with Congressman John Boehner? Maybe he can help you out too.

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Contribute a commentary:

See our commentary page!

As the Obama Administration continues to take shape and his personal touch is being seen with greater clarity, news commentators are beginning to, more and more, dissect his actions and pass judgements on them. This is as it should be. (The fact that a radio personality who makes his living saying outlandish things is being considered the "Spokesperson" for the Republican Party gives one pause, however) Commentators and analysts are also pointing out the fact that some "liberal" group or other assumed to be on Obama's side do not always agree with the President's decisions.

So here is a question for all of you Democrats out there.

Is it okay to be a True Blue Democrat and disagree at times with the Presidents policy or direction on some issues. And, if it is okay, what do you do about it?

Our organization will publish your comments on our editorial page.

We may need to edit for length and grammar, but your responses will be published if possible. We will not shy away from controversy. E-Mail your anwers to our email address below and you may see it on the web.

We welcome any questions or comments. Please contact us at:

Our mailing address is
The Grand Prairie Democrats
P.O. Box 532753
Grand Prairie, Texas 75053-2753

Phone: 214.384.4146