FW: Houston Chronicle article on Tom DelLay's Democratic opponent.

Mon May 24 11:48:53 2004

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 Dear Roger,
Beating Tom Delay in his home district would be the sweetest political victory over the Bushaviks of all--you could send Morrison a political contribution. Perhaps think of it as penance for your last Nader "I told you so".

Did you read the Robert Reich article I sent? How do you rate it for truth about what lays in waiting for us if we suffer four more years of Bush. I think the oil companies must see Hydrogen on the horizon, as well as the end of the resource and they are quick trying to score as much as possible in case they are forced out of business by the new technology or an end of the resource. That must be what motivates the rampant greed that turned to war.

Of course, there is also the element of "if you build it they will come". Boys with the toys have to see if the bombs really work.
Hmmm, could the fuel warriors resolve be testosterone driven?
Frances 

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Date: Mon, 24 May 2004 07:57:33 -0700 (PDT)
From: David Shapiro <daveinaustintexas@yahoo.com>
Subject: Houston Chronicle article on Tom DelLay's Democratic opponent. 
To: Alfred Stanley <astanley@astanley.com>,
	Robert Notzon <Robert@notzonlaw.com>,
	Anne Kohler <annetk@austin.rr.com>,
	Walter Timberlake <waltertimberlake@aol.com>,
	Frances Morey <frances_morey@excite.com>
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May 24, 2004, 5:52AM

DeLay foe aware win would be long shot
But Morrison gets funds, attention
By JOHN WILLIAMS
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle Political Writer

Houston environmental lawyer Richard Morrison III
knows that running against Tom DeLay is a lot like
tilting at windmills -- except that DeLay is a real
and powerful adversary. RESOURCES 
• Graphic: U.S. House District 22

Morrison is the Democratic candidate against the
10-term Sugar Land Republican, U.S. House majority
leader and conservative icon. The 22nd Congressional
District DeLay represents votes about 2-1 Republican. 

But while Morrison admits he's a long shot, liberals
around the country are trying to spur him on with more
attention than has been granted past Democratic
candidates for DeLay's seat. 

Liberals and Democratic partisans have long viewed the
powerful majority leader as a bogeyman. That status
grew last year because of Texas congressional
redistricting, which is expected to give the GOP a
majority in the state's 32-member delegation to the
U.S. House of Representatives. 

Democrats accuse DeLay of heavy-handedly pressuring
the state Legislature to push through the new maps. 

In the past two weeks, Morrison has been a guest on
liberal talk radio, including the Air America program
hosted by actress/comedian Janeane Garofalo. She
referred to DeLay as "one of the more belligerent of
what I call new heavy-metal conservatives." 

Morrison also has won the endorsement of former
Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, the firebrand who failed in
his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination and
now has taken up the causes of about a dozen other
candidates nationwide. He plans to visit Houston later
this year to campaign for Morrison. 

"The dump DeLay campaign has officially started," said
liberal syndicated talk-show host "Big" Ed Schultz
during a recent interview with Morrison. He and others
are urging the Democratic faithful to send money to
Morrison. 

DeLay spokesman Jonathan Grella said his boss takes
challengers seriously, but is confident about his
chances in the fall. Grella dismissed opposition
broadsides against DeLay. 

"On a very political level, these are the same tired,
warmed-over attacks that come from pandering
politician after pandering politician," Grella said. 

Morrison's emergence as a darling of liberals -- who
would like to see DeLay distracted even if he's not
defeated -- has money flowing into Morrison's coffers
from sources outside Texas. 

As of March 31, he had $7,400. During the past two
weeks, since he has appeared on the talk shows and
gotten Dean's endorsement, Morrison said he's picked
up $50,000 more. 

DeLay, one of the savviest fund-raisers in politics,
had $685,000 at the end of March. 

"We know we will be outspent, perhaps $5 million to $1
million," Morrison said. 

While Morrison does not expect to match DeLay dollar
for dollar, he hopes to have enough money to amplify
negatives he perceives the incumbent has on mass
transit and health care issues. 

But the national publicity and funding also come with
a downside for Morrison. 

His adoption by liberals as a poster boy may not play
well in the 22nd District, a conservative part of
south and southwest suburban Houston. 

For many voters, their first impression of Morrison
will be his association with famous names like Dean
and Garofalo. 

"It may be worth the gamble of being thought of as a
liberal to get enough money to have a real campaign,"
said University of Houston political science professor
Richard Murray. "But that district was drawn to elect
a Republican. Tom DeLay is no fool." 

Morrison calls himself a "moderate Democrat" and has
positions on abortion and other hot-button issues that
confound liberals and conservatives alike. 

On abortion, for example, he supports abortion rights,
but also supports parental notification when minors
seek abortions. 

On prayer in school, he supports a moment of silence,
but opposes organized prayer. 

"I find that I sometimes make both sides of an issue
mad," he said. 

Morrison, 37, the son of former Texas Parks & Wildlife
Commission board member and plaintiffs lawyer Richard
Morrison, is making his first run for political
office. 

For the past two years, he has had his own law
practice after working seven years with the firm of
environmental lawyer Jim Blackburn. Morrison's clients
during his tenure with Blackburn included opponents of
the Port of Houston Authority's proposed expansion of
its Bayport facility. 

So why take on one of the most powerful men in
Congress in a district that has elected him 10 times? 

Morrison said he has wanted to get into politics since
he was in high school, and now sees a chance to build
a grass-roots campaign against DeLay. 

"It's almost turned into a national crusade against
Tom DeLay, it's a crusade of the little people,"
Morrison said. 

The Morrison campaign hopes to tap into the same type
of passion that Dean exploited in his presidential
bid, when he tried to draw upon opposition to
President Bush. Dean's Internet site helped him raise
millions in campaign contributions. 

The national attention from the radio shows and Dean's
endorsement, Morrison said, have drawn contributors to
the Morrison Web site www.takingontomdelay.com. 

With the money, Morrison said, he plans to mount a
campaign that will focus on three weaknesses he
perceives in the House majority leader. 

He said DeLay has too long worked against helping the
Houston region get a diversified transportation system
by blocking federal funding of rail. In addition, he
said, DeLay has done little to help lower national
health care costs and address flooding in the Houston
area. 

"What Tom DeLay does is work to get more power for Tom
DeLay," Morrison said. 

Grella, DeLay's spokesman, said Morrison is making the
same type of attack that failed for Democratic
challenger Tim Riley in 2002, when the congressman got
63 percent of the vote. 

Grella said Morrison's complaints are not valid
because DeLay has championed spending bills that
brought hundreds of millions of dollars into the
region. 

While DeLay is skeptical about rail, he has helped the
region secure $968 million in federal transportation
money, including funds for Metro buses, Grella said.
On health care, DeLay helped push the recent Medicare
reform bill and brings federal dollars to the Texas
Medical Center. 

Despite the national attention, Fort Bend County GOP
Chairman Eric Thode said he doubts Morrison will raise
enough money to mount a credible race, which he would
lose anyway because the district is overwhelmingly
Republican. 

"People don't give money when they think it's going to
a loser," Thode said. 

Harris County Democratic Party Chairman Gerry Birnberg
said he is not sure how much money Morrison will
generate locally. But the candidate has the attention
of area Democrats wiling to volunteer for the race. 

"The local troops, even those who don't live in the
district, are willing to provide shoe leather in this
race," Birnberg said. "They are still very upset with
DeLay's role in the redistricting." 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"instant Coverage By Phone"  

HoustonChronicle.com --
http://www.HoustonChronicle.com | Section: Politics 
This article is:
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/politics/2588332

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