Keep Austin Blue with Chris Bell

Please join us for the

“Keep Austin Blue Social Hour”

with Chris Bell

Wednesday, May 25, 2005

TIME: 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

PLACE: Mother Egan’s Irish Pub (715 W. 6th St)

CONTACT: info@keepaustinblue.org

What if you mixed up progressive personalities, a relaxed setting, and a shared passion for Austin's unique lifestyle? Throw in some stimulating conversation - highlighted by well-known speakers - and you've got yourself a genuine Keep Austin Blue Social Hour. Come see why Austin's standing as both a progressive oasis and highly coveted hometown is no coincidence.

6:30 to 7:30 - Social Hour

7:30 to 8:00 - Speaker, Congressman Chris Bell, who filed a formal ethics complaint against House Majority Leader Tom DeLay in June, 2004 and who has formed an exploratory committee to run for Texas Governor.

Come See For Yourself:

Keep Austin Blue – Politics. People. Place. & Fun!

but i'm thinking about going? do any of you attend these social hours?

Because we've only been around for about a month. I'll be there Wednesday. Hope you can make it.

guess your right! I haven't been in Austin that long either but I'm definetly gonna try and make it!

It's the responsible thing to do.

Hey, I like the fact that Chris Bell keeps visiting Austin so much. Makes us feel important.

Sonia

If he ended up living here!

Houston would be delighted to "lend" him to you for a few years.

As soon as we evict the current tenant!

And throw him out of the people's house.

Sonia

It's only neighborly.

helping him pack.

:7

Since I'm leaving Austin pretty soon, this will be my last chance to see everyone.

Plus, I love Mother Egan's meatloaf. :)

And another thing -- please forgive my lack of Texas political knowledge (I'm still fairly new), but who is Chris Bell again? I know he's thinking about running for governor, but could someone give a 1 paragraph history on him? Gracias.

Here's 3 paragraphs:

After five years on the Houston City Council, where he served as chairman of the Ethics Committee and succeeded in passing landmark campaign finance and ethics reform bills Chris Bell was elected to Congress in November 2002. He quickly earned a reputation as an incredibly effective freshman, being named a "rising star" in Roll Call, the leading Capitol Hill newspaper. But serving in Congress also gave Chris a chance to see firsthand the crippling effect of cynical partisanship. He became a prime target of the infamous 2003 Republican redistricting effort in the Texas Legislature, and he was defeated in his bid for reelection after his district was redrawn.

Not content to stand idly by and stomach the violation of laws and abuse of power that accompanied the redistricting effort, Chris filed a formal ethics complaint against House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. The House Ethics Committee unanimously admonished DeLay on two of Chris's charges and left a third on the table pending a criminal investigation in Texas

After leaving Congress and returning to Houston, Chris became aware that the worst traits of Washington politics had begun to contaminate our own political system here in Texas. The ethical abuses of congressional leaders like Tom DeLay are being mirrored by the abuses in the governor's office. The great Texas tradition of bipartisan cooperation has given way to the poisoned Washington tradition of parliamentary trench warfare. And mainstream Texas voices are being drowned out by the partisan screeching we hear coming from Austin. Chris has launched an exploratory bid for Governor because he thinks it's time for an ethical renewal in Texas.

I can respect anyone with the balls to go against The Hammer. I'll have to think of some good questions to ask tonight!

And no one ever told me about a secret handshake....

I was pretty impressed. :thumbsup:

His stump speech was ok for this early in the game. But I really really liked him when he was just sitting around talking to everyone. You ask him a question and he gives a thoughtful answer.