Kirk Watson

Kirk Watson, former mayor of Austin, thanked the crowd for their hard work to send thousands of people to the convention "of the party of diversity , responsibility, opportunity and investment. ... Republicans are damaging the future by refusing to invest alternative energy, health care, education. The democratically elected Speaker of the House has no right to autocratically run the Legislature.

He had choice words to say about the attorney general and the Lt. Governor as well, but his dig at Gov. Perry for his awarding the TTC contract and the national Republicans for the war in Iraq drew a larger response, with shouts and boos.

"Democrats have come together because we must," drew some reaction but not as much as he evidently expected, but the roar began to build as he talked about the differences among Democratic candidates fading in comparison with those with Republicans.

"We come together to this fan this ember of energy into a spotlight. At this place and this moment let us reject the poison politics of Karl Rove in the past, reject the politics of cynicism and let us rally for change. This is our time and this is our cause. Our cause is open and accountable government; our cause is education ; our cause is protection of the air we breath and the water we drink, honoring our military with the equipment they need and the care they deserve when they come home. Freedom and a hopeful future for our children. Our cause is the worker, the senior, and the child that can't get health care. Our state has the highest number of people without health care in the nation. That child denied the opportunity to realize whatever potential they have. In Texas more than in any other state, a child is most likely to suffer the steep incline to the future than any in the nation.

"That kid, any kid is out cause.... We pursue our cause with optimism, but a cautious optimism not as those who forecast a bright future without investing in it. Your optimism joins hope and action, faith that isn't idle, work that isn't selfish and debate that doesn't destroy. It benefits all, it rejects the cynicism that we can't do better. The Democratic Party has always had real optimism. It fires our cause and inspires our vision... it will create the world our seniors deserve and out children will inherit.

Then he introduced a video Lt. Rick Noreiga of Houston, candidate for the U.S. Senate.

State Rep. Al Green of Houston, introduced Noriega.