It was an incredible weekend at DemFest here in Austin. This morning was Grassroots Training 101 - brilliant, common sense "how-to's" from two campaign managers and a candidate. Our blogger's caucus Friday afternoon was packed and the speakers, especially TX State Rep. Mark Strama, lined up by othniel were great. Being able to hang out with folks like Jeffrey Feldman (sole proprietor of the Frameshop), Barbara Radnovsky (our next Senator from Texas - woo hoo! - go Barbara!), listen to Molly Ivins and Glen Maxey tell hilarious stories about life as a liberal in Texas . . . . wow.

But I can't put it all in one diary, and others of our group (the Austin Kossacks - here's roses diary which includes links to more) will surely be posting some too, so I'd just like to say a few words about Jesse Jackson, Jr tonight.

Our Austin Kossacks group has been excited about DemFest since we first heard about it. Looking for a way to contribute, we decided to host a Blogger's Caucus in the Specific Interests Caucuses timeslot. Note that we're the only caucus with a link - and it's to our Kos at DemFest blog, natch.

Othniel has been working hard to line up speakers for the caucus and now Democracy for Texas has put up a special shout out and press release about our caucus.

[More  . . . and press release below]

(Cross-posted from BooMan Tribune.)

This morning's Austin American Statesman has an article that introduces us to a family that would be destroyed by Rep. Robert Talton's, [R (of course)-Pasadena] hateful amendment to the Child Protective Services bill (brought to the attention of Kossacks by tom 47 yesterday).

Gay foster parents decry proposed ban

Eva Thibaudeau, back from left, Christina Rodriguez and Rep. Garnet Coleman expressed their opposition Wednesday to a proposed ban on gays in foster care. Thibaudeau and Rodriguez brought their children with them, front from left, Isaiah, 10; Quincy, 2; Saleem, 9, and Maya, 2.

Rep. Coleman, of course, is a Democrat.

(More below)

I just received an email from the organizers of Democracy Fest 2005 and wondered if y'all were aware that this is coming up - June 17-19 (Fri, Sat, and Sun) at Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, the capitol of Texas.

What is DemFest? From their flyer, " . . . a gathering of progressives from all over the country who will meet . . . to hear nationally known speakers, receive grassroots training, and enjoy an evening of entertainment with stellar musical and political guests."

Here are some of the people who will be there:

Saturday night speakers include Gov. Howard Dean, Jim Hightower, and Molly Ivins.

Workshops include:

Got your attention yet?

There's more . . .

My best friend fought cancer for eleven years. The last time we had a quiet "best friends" conversation - I'd gone over to her house because I was worrying more about her. So thin. Weaker. Harder to keep the pain under control. As I sat on her bed, my boyfriend called - "It's started. The war." We turned on the TV. She said, "That fucker. I can't believe he really did it."

She died two weeks later. Two years without my best friend and two years of a pointless, horrible war. Her death couldn't be helped. She fought. Medicine did all it could. But how many have died for this mistake - this lie, this war?

The email I sent to my friends about the march on Saturday said, "Well, I guess we never learn. Isn't it deja vu all over again? I've always said that I wasn't really an activist against the Vietnam war, but that I'd show up if there was a protest. Well, there'll be one next Saturday (different war, same insanity), so . . ."

More, with photos, after the jump.