Hey you Texas bashers! Yeah, YOU! Check it out.

[flamin lib]

Hey! All you Texas bashers out there! Check it out!

Hill Research Consultants, a Houston-based Republican polling firm, recently conducted a poll of active voters and the news isn’t good for GOP in Texas.

Half the respondents believe Texas is on the wrong track.

On every measure the GOP brand is less appealing than the Democratic brand.

Respondents say the GOP is out of touch and is more interested in looking out for special interests than the common good.

When voters were asked which party "champions the needs of homeowners, small businesses and average taxpayers” Democrats score 13 points higher than Republicans.

Republicans lead in negative characterizations like arrogant, racist, corrupt, and angry by double-digit margins. Dems lead by double digits on positive descriptions like "smart," "fair," "innovative" and "party of the future."

Even the people who self identify as Republicans don’t like the party in its current state. The old divisive issues of abortion, prayer and bigotry don’t appeal to the emerging Republican base, mostly young suburbanites who aren’t church oriented and are centered around the Dallas metroplex. Much of the state has gone Democratic in emerging party affiliation.

From the article in the Dallas Morning News, “A party that ends up only talking to itself is a party that cannot change. A party that cannot change lacks the means of its conservation. Texas Republicans have a decision to make. A demographic tide is rolling across what was once the reddest state. The troubled party can choose to roll with it – or watch their prospects drown in a deep blue sea.”

Now is the time for all good men and women to come to the aid of their party. Donate, volunteer, write letters to the editor and talk to your neighbors. Be Democrat and be proud of it, show it with bumper stickers and put candidate’s signs in your yard when the time comes. Be visible and be proud. You are not alone.

Maybe now the national party will start sending money down here instead of begging from us to finance blue state candidates. 'Bout damn time!

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/viewpoints/stories/DN-dreher_04edi.State.Edition1.25b83af.html

[atreides1]

1. Tell You What

The next election in Texas will prove whether you're right or just living on a prayer.

[snappyturtle]

5. I can see it here where I live. People are NOT happy with the gop. nt

[izquierdista]

15. Slow learners

How long have they been getting screwed over?

[snappyturtle]

21. Having only been here two and a half years, I would guess about as long

as the other existing red states.

[lisa58]

2. I was just in Texas and thought it was great....

...drove all the way through from El Paso to (wherever I-10) exits on the eastern border...we had a great time - this does not surprise me at all.

[KamaAina]

3. Yee-HAAAAA!!!

Once we turn that puppy Blue, the repukes will simply go out of business, like the Whigs. :bounce:

[XemaSab]

4. Some of the most liberal counties in the country are in Texas

:patriot:

[timeforpeace]

6. But Democrats dominate in the Texas Legislature. So if it's on the wrong track

what is the point of the article and/or poll?

[flamin lib]

8. Oh really?????? What cloud are you living on? nt

[timeforpeace]

10. Sorry, my mistake. Info was dated Jan 2009 but about another year.

[Lisa0825]

11. Wrong-O!

Makeup of the Texas House of Representatives

Republican Party 76
Democratic Party 74
Total
150


Makeup of the Texas Senate

Republican Party 19
Democratic Party 12
Total
31

[tavalon]

26. Only one that I know of

My hubby likes to joke that Orange County, Ca and Travis County, Tx were swapped at birth. Even Travis was going purple when I got the hell out of Dodge.

[47of74]

7. Maybe if it gets blue enough the former Crawford village idiot will take the hint....

....and find someplace else to live.

[BlooInBloo]

9. (shrug) When they change, my opinion will change.

[texastoast]

13. I've been staying awake about that opinion

We are working on it. The wheels of change move slowly. It will all depend on how the Democrats behave here (must not play footsies in the men's toilet, backstab us by turncoating on the Trans-Texas Corridor, shooting down as a matter of course the very progressive voice trying to be heard by the Texas Democratic Party, etc.).

It's the Dems' for the taking if they are not stupid.

[girl gone mad]

16. And we should care about your opinion because?

:shrug:

[LiberalAndProud]

12. This is good news.

It will be interesting to see how this translates in terms of votes.

[Gman]

14. This will go down to the wire next year

for control of the legislature and redistricting.

p.s. Don't count on any money flowing into Texas. Texas is the Democratic Party ATM machine for the rest of the country. Only thing is, they only do withdrawals from this ATM.

[tammywammy]

18. I got another DCCC fundraiser mailer last week

I ignored it, but it's still sitting in my mail pile. I'm thinking of returning it with a "when you start spending money in Texas, I'll think about sending you money again."

[Gman]

24. We've complained about this and told the DNC, DCCC, et al the same thing since at least 1988

The problem is the mercenary fund raisers for the party. (I call them mercenaries because they raise money for national Democrats, but couldn't care less about what happens in the state and local level elections.) These are the people that host the fundraiser that the candidate or headliner comes in and rubs elbows with people who've paid $1,000 a head for about an hour. They do it for the suck up points and access they hope to have if the candidate wins. The fundraisers are rarely publicized beyond the list of people known to be able to contribute mega-bucks. You hear about it on the news that evening when it's over.

[WolverineDG]

29. That's why I don't give my money to the national party

fuck 'em. They've left us to twist in the wind, even with their 50 state strategy, we still got nothing but crap from the national party. Fuck 'em all & fuck everyone who hates Texas but won't lift a finger to help us out.

dg

[sonias]

17. Tipping point

We've always said it was coming and it will happen. And when it does, when Texas flips to a blue state - it is all over for the GOP. Their southern strategy is screwed when they lose Texas. Right now Texas has 34 electoral college votes but with the redistricting coming we're expected to pick up at least 4 more congressional seats. Texas will be a southern powerhouse for the Dems. This state becomes a minority majority state in 2015.

Our job in Texas is to continue to register more voters, get out the vote and recruit good candidates to run for all races. Leave no seat unchallenged.

I hope that in 2010 we at least take back the Texas House. We have 2-3 seats we could pick up and have a slight majority.

A pick up seat or two in the statewide races would be really sweet.

Yes we can!

:dem:

Sonia

[walkaway]

19. I know a bunch of ex-Texas wall streeters who call themselves..

"Libertarians" (actually conservative republicans) who are to embarrassed to say it. They are all buying houses outside of Dallas now because you can get a really nice house for under $150,000. They believe that now is the time because they expect big inflation, prices are going to skyrocket and the value of their money will shrink like a cheap shirt manufactured in China.

Maybe we can get some nice young progressives to move to Austin to counteract them.

[struggle4progress]

20. Let's turn Texas blue in 2010! Then we could smile broadly while redistricting!

[tavalon]

27. And may the Democrats be as fair minded as the Republicans were

when they redistricted.

:sarcasm:

[kjackson227]

22. THANK YOU!!! Why does the DNC put us on ignore, anyway???

With their help, maybe the politics in Texas could change.

[sonias]

23. Because they suck ... money out of Texas

We've been an ATM for the DNC for many a decade. I do believe that things are going to change though. They are starting to see the opportunity knocking in Texas. Obama for America does have people working in Texas and DCCC is looking very seriously at some Congressional races.

Those of us in Texas just have to make sure to give locally first. Support your state and local party and candidates by giving directly in Texas first.

Sonia

[tavalon]

25. My two favorite Texans are dead and the state is still, as the tourist book said,

"Like a whole other country". And you know what? I get to bash the State because I accidently, and not on purpose, lived there for 23+ years of my life. That's half my life if you care to know. Half of my life, I lived in a State I couldn't stand and while I'm happy that the backwoods rednecks who populate most of that place are finally noticing that the Republicans haven't done jack shit for them, ever, I'm not moving back.

I can tell you like it there and I'm glad. Somebody needs to love that Godforsaken State. I don't.

[KharmaTrain]

28. My Boycott Of Texas Still Stands...But...

Since 2000 I have refused any business or personal trips to Texas...having forced several meetings to move to bluer locations. Our vacation plans always revolve around blue states...and fortunately there are several former red, now blue, that I plan to visit this summer...Indiana & Ohio in particular, as well as solid blue Michigan that could use the extra sheckels I can and do throw around. Colorado and Florida are also in future travel plans. Sorry Idaho and Alaska. :rofl:

In the past I've supported Texas Democrats and will do the same in the upcoming election cycle. Here's hoping you fine Texas Dems can make me want to visit your state someday.