Ronnie Earle was the District Attorney for Travis County in Austin, Texas, and he indicted Tom DeLay - ending DeLay’s reign of terror in Congress. It cannot be overstated that progressives, Texans, and all Americans owe this man our thanks.
DeLay’s indictment was the first blow against the Republican control of all of Washington under George W. Bush, and a direct line can be traced from Earle’s principled and brave actions to the Democratic winning of Congress in 2006 to Obama’s victory two years later.
more after the jump:
Ronnie Earle is now running to be the Lieutenant Governor of Texas – which, given the bizarre nature of Texas politics, is even more legislatively powerful than the Governor. Prior to his thirty years as a D.A., Earle was a member of the Texas state legislature, and he knows how the system works. His knowledge of the mechanics of the office he seeks, combined with his bedrock-solid integrity, make him the best candidate for the office.
Progressives have a fight on their hands this year, but Texas – of all places – is a great opportunity for progressives to do well and set things right. Bill White, the best candidate for governor the Democrats have fielded since Ann Richards, has both Kay Bailey Hutchison and Rick Perry running scared. He raised more money than either of them in the last reporting period. Perry is favored to win his primary, and there’s the rub: his appeal to the extreme right in Texas to win the Republican primary has left a sour taste in the mouth of level-headed Texans. And these Texans will vote in November – for Democrats.
Ronnie Earle will make common cause with Bill White, and the duo of the wildly popular and successful Mayor of Houston and Texas’ most steel-spined and incorruptible lawman will be a genuine threat to the Republicans in this state.
Ronnie Earle did America an enormous favor in cutting out the cancer that Tom DeLay was in our politics, and we must do right by him. Please go to his ActBlue page or to his campaign website's donation page and give – even ten dollars will make a difference. He did right by all fifty states – now it’s our turn to do right by him.
The Texas primary is today, so we must act now!
UPDATE: holy smokes! recommended already...y'all spread the word!!! Ronnie Earle+Bill White = the "one-two punch" Texas politics sorely needs!!! We CAN turn this state from red to blue!!!
UPDATE II: thanks to RenderQT for reminding us how the Texas Legislature has worked under Republican Rule. hopefully, under Lt. Gov. EARLE, the legislature's rules will be followed AND enforced!