The Texas netroots (aka Texroots) is bubbling over with excitement about State Rep. Rick Noriega as the best challenger to take out John Cornyn next year, but first we need to help his wife win a city council seat in Houston against a truly odious creep. Texas Nate

I've been talking up my friend State Rep. Rick Noriega as the person who's going to beat John Cornyn in 2008. But first things first, we've got another Noriega to get elected first, Rick's wife Melissa. She ably took his place in the Legislature when he served our country in Afghanistan in 2005 and now she's running for Houston City Council.

Even if you don't live in Houston, this race matters.

From the diaries. Longtime readers will remember Richard Morrison from his 2004 race against Tom DeLay. He ran one of the strongest netroots campaigns in that cycle. Jerome

In 2004, when I challenged Tom Delay at the height of his power, it was seen as a fool's errand.  The Majority Leader of the House was considered unassailable.

I and my campaign team assailed him nonetheless, because it was a job that needed doing. When  we held him to 55%, it was clear that Fortress Delay had more than a few cracks.

In 2008, we have another job that needs doing.  Time to replace John Cornyn in the Senate.  And Cornyn's numbers  show him to be vulnerable to a strong, people-powered  candidate from the Democratic side.

Is there such a candidate?  I believe there is.   I'm asking you to help me draft him into the service of his state and his country once again.

Since you last heard from me, we are closing in on our goal of raising $25,000 to get our attack ad on cable TV.  In less than two weeks we have raised $5,128.25.  With your help we have the Goper's in Fort Bend County running scared.  Even Gov. Rick Perry is worried about Fort Bend.  

The Fort Bend Herald, Fort Bend County's largest newspaper, reported last Friday that the local republicans are terrified of us democrats.

http://www.herald-coaster.com/articles/2 006/09/15/news/news02.txt

"The Democratic Party in Fort Bend County this year is well funded and has been highly active, said more than one Republican candidate at the Fort Bend County Republican Party Executive Committee meeting..."

Bumped, and the ad is awesome. - Matt

We have produced an ad on behalf of the Fort Bend County Democrats here in the great state of Texas - and we're using the "D word" - Democrat. For those of you who don't know, Fort Bend County is the home (or former home) of Tom Delay.

You may have noticed Barbara Radnofsky's little dig to the ridiculous Bill O'Reily in her blog ads.  If this is your first time to meet Barbara, she is running for U.S. Senate against Kay Bailey "perjury is just a technicality" Hutchison.  Visit her website at www.radnofsky.com.

Kay Bailey needs to be defeated.  She is one of the lead characters in the corrupt republican regime.  

I'd like to introduce you to a friend of mine who's running for Congress here in Texas: John Courage. John is a school teacher from San Antonio, an air-force veteran, and a committed Democrat. He's running against Lamar Smith, the man who has done more to erode civil liberties than any other single member of Congress. Oh yeah, he's Tom DeLay's good friend too!?!

You might have seen some blogs talking about Smith's confidential immigration policy memo to Karl Rove that leaked yesterday. There's a lot more about Lamar's nastyness here.

With his strong showing in the DFA grassroots balloting, Courage has emerged as the strongest netroots candidate in Texas this cycle. He's got a chance to win Democracy for America's "Grassroots Allstar" election. The winner will get an email sent to the entire nationwide DFA list, announcing their endorsement of him or her. Vote for him in the finals here: http://tools.democracyforamerica.com/housevote/