I am collateral damage.

Some days, I am calm, confident and I know we will win.  Other days, I want to fall on my knees or rip open my chest and expose my bleeding heart for the world to see.  Today is a bleeding heart day.

I have written previously about how the <del>trickle down</del> choke hold economy has financially crippled me and about my love-hate relationship with the area where I live.   I have not yet written about the 27 commercial injection wells that surround me and could kill me by poisoning my water--a diary that is coming soon to a blog near you.  Knowing the personal history should preclude anyone from labeling me as hysterical and will hopefully eliminate the ignorant cowboy hat comments.

I am a prisoner on a viciously irrational and emotional rollercoaster that is exacerbated by a bizarre mainstream media that turns negatives into positives and ignores any substantial analysis of candidates or issues thereby influencing the outcome of the most desperate election in my lifetime.  Reasonable people would easily see that an attorney general, whose office is Constitutionally charged with protecting the people, cannot and will not represent those people if it receives millions of dollars in protection money from the same monopolistic corporations from which it should protect us.  Regarding the race for Texas attorney general, the media almost mocks David Van Os because his campaign coffers, when the snapshots were taken, held roughly $3,000 while it holds up as a shining example his opponent's coffers filled with over $9Million dollars of, what I call, corporate bribe money.  If the lazy, "corporate embedded media" ^TM would honestly and adequately perform its job of educating the electorate, reasonable people would know the difference and I could get off this rollercoaster.

The non-mainstream media of the small town local papers, which are normally owned by conservatives, is doing an excellent job of educating their citizens.  A recent article written by Roy Maynard, roymaynardtmt@gmail.com, Staff Writer for the Tyler Morning Telegraph  is an example of a reporter who takes his job seriously.  I will quote from that article below and throughout.

VAN OS AIMS TO 'RESTORE OFFICE,' FIGHT FOR PEOPLE
By ROY MAYNARD, Staff Writer
10/11/2006

Texas attorney general candidate David Van Os says he felt compelled to run.

"I'm running because I have to," the Democrat said. "I am running in order to change the political culture of greed and chasing money, chasing self-promotion and chasing power that has taken over the top of our political system in state and federal government."

Van Os, a former Kilgore resident who now lives in San Antonio, spoke to the Tyler Paper's editorial board recently. He faces incumbent Attorney General Greg Abbott in the Nov. 7 general election. Libertarian Jon Roland is also on the ballot.

"I am running to restore the office of attorney general in Texas to what it is supposed to be," Van Os said. "It was intended by the framers of the Texas Constitution to be the representative of the people, to protect and fight for the people."

That's not how the office is run today, Van Os contends.

"The AG's office today is occupied by a very ambitious politician who uses the office as a launching pad for endless press releases to congratulate himself," Van Os said. "He's nothing but a slick public relations hound."

Instead, the attorney general should be defending the people of Texas, he said.

Clearly, I am not the only person who senses that we have reached the tipping point in almost every area of our world.  David Van Os is not running simply because he wants to serve.  He is running because he has to!  He has no choice but to exercise his right and duty to seek political office because he has friends, family and children who live here.  He is one of a handful of brave citizens willing to take "a wrecking ball to his personal life" by working and sacrificing with a dedication that few could parallel, rather than hand this election back to the incumbents.   The incumbents have brought this once great state to or nearly to the bottom in every category where we should be on top and to or nearly to the top in every category where we should be at the bottom.

"Texas is not being represented by individuals in the political system who are like the average person," Van Os said. "The people who have climbed to the top of the political ladder are greedy self-promoters."

They're enabled by people with big money, he added.

Tyler Morning Telegraph

At every opportunity, our elected officials, in their lust for more protection money, have sacrificed the interest of the people for that of big business.  The American Dream that I told my sons about is a lie.  They cannot grow up to be president because it is no longer about achieving great things; it's only about how much money you have.  David Van Os understands that we must change this destructive pattern, NOW,  in this election cycle, and he has made great sacrifices to achieve those changes.
 

Last April, David and Rachel Van Os vowed to travel to each of the 254 counties in Texas.   They wanted to make a strong "moral statement that government belongs to all the people of Texas, therefore the political process has to reach all the people in every part of Texas."  David also believes that, "Rural Texans have been pushed to the bottom of the ladder for way too long.  Government is supposed to belong to all the people, not just the urban elite power brokers."  The desire to do the right and moral thing for all Texans has rewarded them with a successful campaign even when the bank balance was running on fumes.  The result could change the structure of future political campaigns.

"Instead of spending my time parked on the telephone calling people with bank accounts, I am going to the people all over Texas," Van Os said. "If government is going to belong to the people, the political process has to include all the people. I set myself the mission of going to every one of the 254 courthouses in Texas."

That whistle-stop tour will end Oct. 20 at the Travis County Courthouse in Austin.

"It has been a tremendous learning experience," Van Os said. "I have learned a lot about how rural Texans feel so left out and ignored and unrepresented. And I've learned a lot about just what an incredibly beautiful and great state this is, and how its inhabitants are such a good people."

He makes an exception for many politicians.

Tyler Morning Telegraph

Texans for Public Justice recently analyzed the campaign coffers of David Van Os and Greg Abbott.

Texas voters definitely have a choice in this November's attorney general race--although few of them may be aware of it. Nonetheless they can expect to hear soon from the incumbent Republican. Attorney General Greg Abbott has raised almost $9 million since his 2002 election. Although he still retained $7 million in his war chest at the end of June, Abbott pledged to spend heavily to ensure that voters know about his accomplishments. At the top of his list, he says, is busting Internet pedophiles.

Meanwhile voters should not expect to hear from Democratic challenger David Van Os--unless they mosey down to their local court house on the appointed day. A longtime labor lawyer, Van Os is running a populist campaign--and has the bank account to prove it.

TPJ

His bank account could use your help.  

Texans for Public Justice researchers found that more than 99% of Abbott's contributions came from business interests.

Van Os' contributions proved more difficult to track because they are largely from small donors.  

From Tyler Morning Telegraph

It's a disgrace the way the middle-class Texan is getting battered by predatory utility rates, predatory practices by the big dogs of the insurance agencies, predatory oil companies at the gas pumps, and the attorney general hasn't lifted a finger to protect the people," Van Os said. "We see him trotting around looking for easy ways to get publicity for himself. I am determined to change that culture."

It begins with big campaign contributions, Van Os said.

"Money is dominating our political culture," he said. "It is a horribly corrupting influence. Everybody that I meet and talk to knows that government - at the top of our political process - is run by money and for money. It should be by and for the people."

DVO

Comparing the top donors of both candidates it is beyond the comprehension of any reasoning person to think that Greg Abbott could have our best interest in mind when he goes about making his decisions.  It is a failure of Texas mainstream media that they do not report and educate Texans regarding these conflicts of interest.

Greg Abbott Top Donors

From Tyler Morning Telegraph

Nobody with common sense believes that people who write those kinds of checks are doing it out of civic interest," he said. "They are buying protection, and protection is what they're getting. The AG's office is giving a pass to a certain kind of speeder. The robber barons are not getting ticketed, but it's worse than that. They're not being clocked."

By winning the race without the help or influence of special interests with big checks, Van Os said, he will send a message to others.

"That in and of itself will have a big impact on the political process," Van Os contends. "A lot of people will look at this and say maybe we don't need those consultants, maybe the old way of meeting the people in person all over the state is really the way to do it."

David Van Os Top Donors

David is determined to redeem me for lying to my children about the American Dream.

David and Rachel have said that the Whistlestop tour has been one of the greatest experiences of both their lives.  Rachel wrote:

"We bonded with wonderful new friends who met us with incredible hospitality everywhere we went. We learned first-hand about problems and issues our fellow Texans are facing in every part of Texas. We saw the breathtaking landscapes of our beautiful Texas everywhere. And, as the tour progressed, David felt more and more touched by the fundamental greatness of this state and goodness of its people. He became more and more determined to do everything in his power as the people's lawyer to protect his fellow Texans and this wondrous land from the political and economic greed and arrogance that are running them over. He loves our state more than ever and will be a better Attorney General for having taken this journey."

A significant recognition from David's reach-out to rural Texas was the recent endorsement by the Family Farmers PAC.  The signer of the endorsement letter, Wes Sims, is also president of the Texas Farmers Union and is on the board of the Texas Fair Trade Coalition. Wes is one of the most recognized and esteemed voices for the family farmer in the West Texas agricultural community.

Dear Mr. Van Os:

We are pleased to advise you that the Family Farmers United Political Action Committee unanimously endorses your candidacy for Texas Attorney General.

We appreciate your strong support for family farmers and ranchers as well as the vibrancy of rural Texas. We wish you the very best in the coming election and look forward to working with you in the future.

Sincerely yours,

Wes Sims, President

Family Farmers United PAC

Be a part of Texas political history.  Attend one of the last five Whistlestops this week and please inform your friends and family.

Monday, October 16    #250: Tarrant County Courthouse
100 W Weatherford, Fort Worth TEXAS 76102
Gathering at Billy Miner's, 3rd@Houston, after Speech


Tuesday, October 17    #251: Dallas County Courthouse
Front of "Old Red" Courthouse, 100 S Houston Street, Dallas TX 75202
Join us for Dinner@6PM in Founders Grill, Hotel Lawrence, 302 South Houston Street


Wednesday, October 18    #252: Harris County Courthouse
301 Fannin, Houston TEXAS 77002
Gathering after Speech 5:30 - 7:30 PM at Chatter's, 140 South Heights Boulevard


Thursday, October 19    #253: Bexar County Courthouse ("Old Courthouse")
100 Dolorosa Street, San Antonio Texas 78205
Gathering after speech 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. at Picante Grill, 3810 Broadway, buffet meal provided


Friday, October 20    #254: Travis County Courthouse
1000 Guadalupe, Austin TEXAS 78701
Gathering after Speech 5:00 - 8:00 PM at Cafe Caffeine, 909 W Mary

I feel much better now!  The writing of this has already helped slow the bleeding of my heart and the rollercoaster is starting to climb up again.  My rational self knows that the numbers are on David's side in this election.  I have seen the tremendous crossover support he has and the awakening his Whistlestop tour has created all across Texas.  The turning of the tide is coming.

also posted at Texas Kaos