The Progressive populist caucus. History? Purpose?

[johncoby2]

I've been to their events. Lots of great Democrats.
Anyone have any history on the caucus?

[PDittie]

1. John, all I kin tell ya is

I went last year for the first time and there were 75 people in Austin, at Threadgill's, to hear Jim Hightower speak.

This year in Houston there were three times as many to hear Ronnie Dugger.

They have only been in existence for four years; there were about 15 people at their first meeting.

There were hundreds of folks at the convention's caucus meeting last June. They describes themselves as the largest caucus in the Texas Democratic Party.

Their website:

www.texaspopulists.com

David Van Os, one of the founders of the PPC along with past Chair Stan Merriman, has his share of detractors (as has been shown in your other thread), but no one would -- or should -- have a problem if he defeats Greg Abbott for AG next election.

[mhr]

2. Based On The Way He Personally Attacked Me And Others

I will never vote for him.

We don't need elected officials that stoop to Hitler like tactics to suppress people that don't agree with them!

[NoPasaran]

3. Hitler like tactics?

David Van Os invaded you without warning, bombed your defenseless cities and exterminated your intelligentsia?

[mhr]

4. Suppression Of Speech That Did Not Support His Agenda

Equals Hitler Like Tactics!

The story can be found here and can be confirmed by others because it is the truth.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=180x10473#10648

[sonias]

5. My experience has always been positive

I've been to 4 of the meetings including the annual meeting that PDittie mentions last year in Austin. Where we did in fact have about 75 people. The meeting we had in San Antonio last fall was just as big.

What I like about this group is that we have regular meetings outside the State Democratic convention. Some state caucuses only meet once in two years at those state conventions. That isn't very effective for me. Also things actually get accomplished in these meetings. We vote on things and take action items. The PPC is a very grassroots action caucus. The Corpus Christi region chair is none other than John Kelly, who helped bring Air America radio to his region. There are movers and shakers in the PPC.

This caucus keeps encouraging its membership to run for office, precinct chair, county party chair whatever office you want. We're building a support system to help move progressives up the ladder in party leadership.

Sonia

[mhr]

6. And All Of These Positive Activities Were Blocked By Van Os

In 2002/2003 in his zeal to oust Molly Beth as state chair.

As I stated previously, many of us entered into the organization with the best of intentions. Van Os killed that.

It got so bad in 2003 that the state party considered delisting the PPC as a recognized caucus.

Those are the facts!

[PDittie]

7. I respect you POV, mhr

I just don't agree with it.

I have known David only a short while, and I know he is a fighter -- a bricks-and-bats-Gangs-of-New-York-style-fighter -- for the causes of the Democratic Party and its candidates.

I'll go to war with him. Because he is exactly what this party needs.

Too bad you had a bad experience. But if you're trying to convince anyone that he's not a good Democrat, or a good canddate, or a good person, you're wasting your time here. You're in the wrong forum for that.

And another thing: You can stop sliming him now. You've made your point.

[mhr]

8. I Will Never Stop Telling The Truth - He Did What He Did And He

Should be held accountable.

What I described are facts that occurred to me and others.

If you CHOOSE to ignore the facts then you have CHOSEN to live in ignorance.

That says more about you than me.

[PDittie]

9. You're a little too bitter

about this.

Your obsession with a minor slight some years ago, and the slurs you have posted repeatedly about it, calls into question whether you're a real Democrat.

Got anything beside this whining and complaining to post?

Because if you don't, you can go away now. Please.

[mhr]

10. I Am Not Bitter At All - I Entered Into The PPC Effort With The Best

Intentions of doing good work.

David Van Os is the bitter one because he thought he should lead the state party and used the PPC as his platform to oust Molly Beth Malcolm.

Those are the facts we good PPC volunteers came to understand in 2003.

We argued vehemently, that we should focus our efforts on constructive activities instead of petty inside politics. Van Os would have none of it and he orchestrated a way to oust us with the Oath of Fealty.

Those of us that pushed a positive agenda were right, Van Os was wrong!

PS - Unlike many, I back up my intentions with action. I volunteered over 1,000 hours of my time with the Martin Frost campaign this last election cycle.

[PDittie]

11. Now then; that sounds a little better

Good Democrats can disagree every now and then; that's why we're so much better for the country than the GOP.

For example: I'll be supporting David in his bid for AG and you won't.

Glad we had this time to to chat.

[sonias]

12. mhr you are certainly entitled to your opinion about David

And we aren't obviously going to change that in this thread. But you are doing the PPC a lot of disservice with your personal attacks. Whatever happened to you in 2002/2003 is in the past. David is not in charge of the PPC, he's just one member. The membership is growing, active and doing lots of good grassroots work.

And FYI if I had been a member of the PPC during that time period I would have felt that we needed to get rid of Molly Beth too. Lets face it, she was a failure during her leadership. If we are to change the party and take back this state, we have to recognize that we have to shake up some things. There are no more legacy state party positions, either you perform or we move to replace you. This is the new Texas Democratic party where the people are going to make the leadership accountable.

I applaud that you are still working hard to do your part with your campaign work. Obviously the PPC is not where your interest lies, but please don't tear it down for someone else who might find it useful.

Sonia

[CitySky]

13. I'm pretty new to Texas politics; wasn't here in '02

... but my 2 cents is that the PPC and DVO himself are among the groups/people that have given me some hope and gotten me connected with other active Dems. There's value in that.