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DALLAS - A former Ron Kirk campaign donor was sentenced on October 22, 2002 on charges stemming from an anti-terrorism investigation over illegal computer equipment exports to the Middle East. The United States Attorney's office for North Texas announced Ihsan Elashyi's sentencing to four years in prison plus over $280,000 in restitution for his four-count guilty plea from a 39-count federal indictment (See USDOJ website). The Associated Press reports that Elashyi's conviction was the first criminal action to come from a 2 year investigation by the government's North Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force. As was first reported by the Austin...

N.J. And Texas Get Tossed Out Of Toss-ups: The CBS News Election and Survey Unit has decided to change the status of the Senate races in New Jersey and Texas. We now believe that the New Jersey Senate contest between Democrat Frank Lautenberg and Republican Doug Forrester is leaning Democratic. Meanwhile, the Texas Senate race, between Republican John Cornyn and Democrat Ron Kirk, is leaning Republican. That will leave six Senate races - Arkansas, Colorado, Missouri, New Hampshire, South Dakota and Minnesota - in the toss-up column. A CBS News/New York Times poll conducted last week showed Lautenberg leading Forrester,...

I didn't read the endorsement in the newspaper but I heard on the local conservative radio station here that the Dallas Morning News has endorsed John Cornyn, the republican candidate for senate, while the Houston Comical(Chronicle) endorsed Ron Kirk, the democrat candidate for senate. This should be a political mouthful considering Ron Kirk was mayor in Dallas. I guess they know better like the Arkansas Democrat did not endorse Clinton for president the first time and has endorsed Tim Hutchinson this time for senate. Interesting. Not sure if someone had posted this about Ron Kirk and John Cornyn yet; therefore,...

Businessman sentenced for violating order to stop exporting to Saudi Arabia Wed Oct 23, 3:34 AM ET DALLAS - The owner of a computer company has been sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to pay US$281,892.52 restitution for shipping computer hardware, software and telecommunications equipment to Saudi Arabia after the U.S. Commerce Department (news - web sites) ordered him to stop. Ihsan "Sammy" Elashyi, 42, of Richardson, Texas, faced a maximum sentence of up to 50 years in prison and a fine of US$1.25 million after pleading guilty in June to four counts of a 39-count indictment, including...

Kirk, Cornyn run on out-of-state cash Cornyn criticizes Kirk's sources but also gets money from outside Texas 10/23/2002 By WAYNE SLATER and PETE SLOVER / The Dallas Morning News AUSTIN - While Republican Senate candidate John Cornyn has chided Democratic challenger Ron Kirk for seeking contributions far from Texas, he's been fairly bullish himself about mining for money outside the Lone Star State. Campaign reports indicate that Mr. Kirk has raised more money from outside Texas, but both candidates have attracted big names and big bucks from the glass canyons of New York to the bright lights of Hollywood....

SEPTEMBER 2002 Kirk Lies about Radical Anti-Israel Activist's Role in Campaign By Phil Magness Campaign ethics reports show that U.S. Senate candidate Ron Kirk employed a controversial anti-Israel activist named Steven L. Hyland on his campaign through mid-June. But Kirk, who avoided the question until a late September meeting in Houston, now suggests that Hyland, a friend of John Walker Lindh, was merely a 19 or 21 year-old campaign volunteer who put together a few yard signs. In fact, Hyland was a paid campaign aide who received nearly $7,000 in salary over a three month period from the Kirk...

Sanchez, Kirk head to the Valley for support Candidates use joint appearance to push 'getting the vote out' 10/22/2002 By BRENDA RODRIGUEZ / The Dallas Morning News MERCEDES, Texas - Democrats Tony Sanchez and Ron Kirk teamed up Monday in a campaign sweep along the border, urging supporters to ignore the polls and embrace their ideas for helping Texans. "We need your help," Mr. Sanchez told a packed room of civil leaders and business officials. "The party's over. We can't talk about all our big policy issues. ... What we need to talk about is getting the vote out."...

Parties stump in Plano, Houston GOP rallies the faithful locally; Kirk touts Chronicle's backing 10/21/2002 By TODD J. GILLMAN / The Dallas Morning News PLANO - Buoyed by new polls showing wide leads in the races for governor and U.S. Senate, the GOP ticket rallied the faithful Sunday and poked fun at the Democratic "dream team." With early voting set to open Monday statewide, the Democrats, led by former Dallas mayor and U.S. Senate hopeful Ron Kirk, returned the jabs during an appearance in Houston."The genius of the dream team has nothing to do with complexion," Mr. Kirk said...

GOP leading in top two races 10/20/2002 By WAYNE SLATER / The Dallas Morning News AUSTIN - Republicans seeking the state's top offices hold a double-digit lead over their Democratic opponents, but undecided voters still could narrow the gap with less than three weeks until Election Day. Gov. Rick Perry is favored by 50 percent of likely voters over Laredo businessman Tony Sanchez, backed by 35 percent in the latest poll by The Dallas Morning News. In the Senate race, Republican John Cornyn leads former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk by 10 points. The Democrats' best chance in the Nov....

Kirk, Cornyn turn up the heat 10/19/2002 By TODD J. GILLMAN and GROMER JEFFERS JR. / The Dallas Morning News HOUSTON - After simmering in a slow-cooker for the first 20 minutes, Friday's first televised meeting between Democrat Senate nominee Ron Kirk and GOP rival John Cornyn warmed up into a tepid spat between the two button-down candidates. Democratic nominee Ron Kirk took frequent swipes at Mr. Cornyn over his contributions from the failed Enron Corp., and Mr. Cornyn peppered Mr. Kirk with criticisms of his opposition to President Bush's plan to alter Social Security, his acceptance of an...

Kirk, Cornyn to use debate for wide appeal 10/18/2002 By TODD J. GILLMAN and GROMER JEFFERS JR. / The Dallas Morning News Heading into their first debate Friday night, Senate contenders John Cornyn and Ron Kirk face the same delicate balancing act. The Republican wants to wrap himself in the president's glow without coming off as a White House dupe. The Democrat needs to attract Texans who idolize the president, so he needs to avoid getting painted into the Hillary Clinton-Ted Kennedy-Tom Daschle corner. Yet each candidate has hewn close to his party's agenda, from Social Security and taxes...

Kirk accuses rival Cornyn of 'racial politics' As contest heats up, AG denies charge, says foe embraces violent music 10/18/2002 By GROMER JEFFERS JR. and TODD J. GILLMAN / The Dallas Morning News FORT WORTH - Democratic Senate candidate Ron Kirk on Thursday accused GOP rival John Cornyn of trying to frighten voters with "racial politics" by criticizing his appearance at a rap music summit. Mr. Cornyn denied the charge and countered that his opponent had embraced music that glorifies cop-killing. The exchange, the campaign's most contentious yet, came on the eve of their first debate. They also argued...

A friend asked me to share my experiences meeting the two men running for US Senate from Texas this year, Mayor Ron Kirk of Dallas and Attorney General John Cornyn. I met John Cornyn in the summer of 1999 at Red’s Gun Shop and Rifle Range in Austin, Texas, where a lawyer friend and I had gone to rent and shoot some guns we were thinking about buying. We had finished up on the range and were in the retail section of Reds looking at some gun cases and the like when my lawyer friend pointed out a white haired...

Another Bush lends support to Cornyn Reports: Republican raised more funds than Kirk in third quarter 10/16/2002 By TODD J. GILLMAN and GROMER JEFFERS JR. / The Dallas Morning News FORT WORTH - The president's mother on Tuesday became the latest Bush family member to stump for John Cornyn, telling donors that her son needs his help to face down Senate Democrats. "We need a senator who's close to the president, who can work with the president. ... No matter how fine the opponent, or even how bad the opponent, or how good a man he is, it's his...

At Hip-Hop Summit, Kirk pleads for generation to vote In audience, Green Party hopeful criticizes Democrat's record 10/13/2002 By GROMER JEFFERS Jr. / The Dallas Morning News Senate candidate Ron Kirk, in a tight race with rival John Cornyn, turned to the hip-hop generation for help Saturday, calling the thousands of youngsters and musicians who attended a Dallas summit an untapped political resource. "Your vote is powerful and will make a difference in the election," Mr. Kirk said at the Dallas/Fort Worth Hip-Hop Summit. "Obviously, I want you to vote for me, but please just vote." Mr. Kirk was...

Staubach throws support to Cornyn Democrats question GOP hopeful's role in pushing fund for AGs 10/12/2002 By TODD J. GILLMAN / The Dallas Morning News After standing at Ron Kirk's side for two mayoral contests, Dallas Cowboys legend Roger Staubach threw a fund-raising dinner Friday for fellow Republican John Cornyn. And earlier in the day, Democrats attacked the GOP nominee for promoting a fund that solicited campaign money for state attorneys general from businesses they might sue. Mr. Staubach, the quarterback turned real estate investor, said he still considers Mr. Kirk a friend and agrees with some of his...

Cornyn: Kirk has 2 takes on taxes GOP hopeful assails ads on Bush cuts; rival won't pull commercials 10/10/2002 By GROMER JEFFERS Jr. / The Dallas Morning News GOP Senate candidate John Cornyn on Wednesday called on opponent Ron Kirk to pull the plug on a TV ad, saying the Democrat is trying to dupe voters into believing he supports President Bush's tax cuts. Mr. Kirk has said in recent days that tax cuts should be delayed until the economy improves. "We've gone from a $5.5 trillion surplus to now a $300 million deficit," Mr. Kirk said Wednesday in...

Candidates differ on Social Security Cornyn favors partial privatization; Kirk cites risks to benefits 10/09/2002 Associated Press AUSTIN - Senate candidates Ron Kirk and John Cornyn clashed from afar Tuesday over Social Security. Mr. Kirk, a Democrat, appeared in Austin with two elderly residents and a young woman who said she's already worried about her retirement. Mr. Kirk said Congress needs to end "partisan bickering" and work on health care and prescription drug benefits, education and pension reform. A bipartisan coalition, such as the one President Bush is working toward with regard to Iraq, needs to come together on...

John Cornyn for Senate is in need of volunteers at the campaign hq in downtown Austin. We need volunteers everyday of the week. Please let me know if you are interested to join us in these final 28 days for stuffing envelopes, making calls, putting up signs, stamping post cards, or entering data. Thanks for your continued efforts on behalf of Cornyn for Senate! Beth Nikiel Cubriel Organization DirectorJohn Cornyn for Senate 512-494-8535 office 512-626-8584 cell 512-494-8161 fax

Kirk's new ad supportive of Bush Cornyn says rival's policy proposals are 'all over the map' 10/08/2002 Associated Press AUSTIN - In a new TV ad, Democratic Senate candidate Ron Kirk disputes Republican John Cornyn's criticisms of him and says he supports President Bush's efforts to lower taxes and improve education. "If a quarter of what John Cornyn says about me were true, my mama would disown me," Mr. Kirk says in the commercial that began airing Monday. On hand to unveil the ad was Willie Mae Kirk, Mr. Kirk's 80-year-old mother, a retired teacher. "I will still support...