HAS ENOUGH HAPPENED TO MAKE AMERICANS TAKE BACK OUR COUNTRY FROM THE GOP SPECIAL INTERESTS... EVEN IN THE HEART OF TEXAS?

We haven't heard much from Republican back-bencher Michael Burgess, a far right hack from north Texas' 26th CD, since he unexpectedly beat Dick Armey's pathetic son in a GOP primary to replace the retiring Papa Armey in 2002. Since then, though, Burgess has amassed one of the ugliest and most reactionary voting records imaginable. He participated in 58 roll calls regarding Iraq and all 58 times he found no flaws in the Bush-Cheney agenda. He voted to rubber stamp Bush all 58 times. Burgess never tires of chanting, zombie-like, about how we have to support the troops. But his voting record on supporting the troops is the worst in the entire U.S. Congress! Of the 22 roll calls relating to the well-being of America's military personnel, Burgess voted against them all 22 times. Similarly he has voted against military veterans every single time a piece of legislation has come up to ease their burdens. Of the 22 roll calls Burgess has participated in since 2003, he has voted against veterans  all 22 times! But Burgess isn't against everything; he has voted 100% of the time to support the corporate lobbyists who have underwritten his political career. When it comes to fair play for the middle class, Burgess is AWOL; when it comes to government welfare for corporations, Burgess is leading the charge, especially for Big Pharma and Big Energy, his two top campaign funding sources (over $900,000 from Big Pharma, HMOs and corporate "health" care groups and over $200,000 from energy companies).

TX-26, northwest of Dallas, is one of the redder districts in America (PVI is R +12). John Kerry only managed to bring in 35% of the vote against Bush in 2004 and in 2006 Burgess took 60% against Tim Barnwell (who spent $15,412 to Burgess' $942,742). This year Burgess has an energetic, dedicated opponent in Ken Leach, whose resume and posture brings our northern California pal Charlie Brown immediately to mind. This morning Ken wrote a message to other Democratic candidates at NovemberVictory about how the corporate infotainment media has been distorting politics and doing an injustice to democracy. He gave me permission to republish his statement:

The wrong message is getting out

Children in this country die because their parents cannot afford health insurance... and we are hearing about whether the candidate wears a flag pin or not.

Some of our smartest students cannot go to college because Republicans cut student aid... and we are flooded with what the candidate's preacher said.

Our bravest and finest are being killed in Iraq... and they are talking about what the candidate's spouse said.

People in America work three jobs and are still below the poverty level... and the media is reporting gotcha politics.

Our money is becoming worthless... and there is upset because there may not be another debate.

More than 69,000 of our bravest and finest have been permanently injured in Iraq... and the reports are the convention may be deadlocked.

Our environment is being raped by Republican subsidized corporations and headlines report the race card has been played.

Bush is trashing the U. S. constitution... and the news channels loop sound bites.

McCain wants to stay in Iraq 100 more years... and pundits discuss election point spreads.

Middle class Americans are paying a higher rate of tax than the richest 1.5% in this country... and the news is how much money each candidates has raised.

American companies are sending American jobs overseas reaping the Republican tax breaks... and voters are told about voting patterns.

The few jobs being replaced after jobs being sent overseas pay lower wages... and conflicting polling results are blasted across the airwaves.

The American bridges and highways are in need of repair... and we learn when candidates get haircuts.

Reagan, Bush One, and Bush Two have racked up 70 percent of the total national debt accumulated during all administrations... and we discover the candidate's tour bus has been named.

The Supreme Court is one vote away from overturning Roe V. Wade... and we are shown what the candidates may look like after aging eight years in the White House.

Gasoline may reach $4.00 a gallon by this summer... and it is revealed young voters cannot be counted on in the general election.

Ken Leach
Democratic Nominee
Texas 26th Congressional District

If you'd like to help him get his message out, his ActBlue page is open and ready for business-- our business. Fat cat Republicans and corporate lobbyists will funnel hundreds of thousands of dollars into a dependable shill like Michael Burgess. Grassroots Democrats like Ken have proven again and again around the country that they don't need to match a Republican dollar for dollar to beat them. But they do need to be able to raise enough to make their case known to the voters. And, believe me, the National Association of Realtors, AT&T, Valero Energy, the National Beer Wholesalers Association, the AMA, and Koch Industries, all mega-donors to Burgess, are not going to be writing checks for tens of thousands of dollars to Ken. And if you're worried that sending money to a "red district" like this is somehow a waste, think again. On March 4, 42,000 Republicans turned out in the primary. Nice turnout, huh? 73,000 Democrats turned out the same day. In fact, Texans are so fired up to make up for sending Bush to Washington that statewide over 400,000 more Democrats voted in the primary this year than voted for Kerry in the 2004 general election! [NOTE: And this isn't just a Texas phenomena. Dispirited and disgusted Republicans look at McCain and decide to just give up-- while over a million new Democrats have registered to vote-- in just the last 7 primary states!]