Why won't myth of conservative TX die? (Plains, China: live, cost)

[KantLockeMeIn]

Originally Posted by padcrasher

Ron Paul obtained only 5% of the GOP Texas primary vote or 1.7% of the total Texas primary vote. Huckabee recieved 6 fold the number of votes Paul did. Clearly there are alot more religious conservatives in Texas than these mythical Goldwater Republicans/Libertarians . They are as rare as hens teeth and could only play spoiler to the GOP in close races.

It has a lot more to do with self awareness than anything from my experience. Ron Paul wasn't a hard sell on anyone in the Dallas area... most people simply never heard of him due to a lack of media coverage... but when people heard the actual principles of a libertarian platform without naming it as such, everyone I knew, save a few, felt that it matched their principles moreso than any other.

Let's face it... the two popular political philosophies have done a great job in making people think that they're the only two available. They both know that while they wish to overtake the other, if more options are available, they're both in trouble. So it's no surprise that other ideas never get press time.

And yes, it's possible to be a member of any party and still be libertarian... most of us discussing this haven't been talking about Libertarians, rather libertarians.

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by twojciac

And yes, it's possible to be a member of any party and still be libertarian... most of us discussing this haven't been talking about Libertarians, rather libertarians.

Absolutely right on the mark!

[KerryB]

Originally Posted by Mr. Xeno

On the contrary, Texas is a very conservative state. That is why John McCain is not doing so well. He is not a Conservative. He is a Moderate at best. He is also what we Conservative Republicans call a RINO (Republican In Name Only).

Bah, if Bush in 2004 can sweep Texas like he did, McCain will too in 2008 because they basically have the same policies, voted on many of the same issues, etc. Bush is McCain's boy & he's made that clear over the years. He's agreed with him almost every step of the way, even after his popularity plummeted & the economy tanked.

Contrary to what people are saying on this board, I think there's very few traditional conservatives left in Texas & they've followed right along with this Neocon movement, or at least have voted that way.

If McCain doesn't overwhelmingly sweep TX in November then I'll eat my hat. I hope you guys prove me wrong. And no, that doesnt mean you have to vote "Liberal" or for Obama.

[Jason0711]

I agree. My perception of Texas is that it's Gods Holy Land but then again, i've never been. I guess you guys have Bush to thank for that reputation.

[spursfan]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

Remember where the President who pushed through the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other legislation for the Great Society was from - born and raised and taught in small town Texas.

Im not completely sure what point you are making, b/c using this as an example, then small town Texans really, really enjoy meddling in other's lives and love socialistic policies. The so-called Great Society failed (aside from the civil rights aspect) if i remember my history correctly.

[Soccersupporter]

Originally Posted by coog78

You must be speaking about the rural regions of TX.

Living here inside the loop Houston, good luck getting elected as a Republican. Sheila Jackson Lee is one of the most liberal House members in the US and she accurately represents the views and interests of urban Houston. You'll find the same in Austin and Dallas. Living in progressive urban strongholds in TX is what makes the state a wonderful place to live.

Living in suburban TX in a floor plan identical to 5 houses over is conservative/boring.

Living in suburban TX in a floor plan identical to 5 houses over is conservative/boring.

It may be so, but it is a great place for us ex-Californians that moved from conservative Orange County to live. We could not ask for a better environment and inexpensive housing to spend our hard earned home equity.

Is this the Sheila Jackson Lee you are talking about? If so Houston must not be a very friendly place to live.

In her first two years in Congress, Jackson-Lee's staff reportedly had a 180 percent turnover rate, which was attributed by the Houston Press to overwork and bullying by the congresswoman. [9] Accordingly, House staffers unofficially voted her the "second meanest" member of the body as well as naming her "Biggest Windbag" and "Show Horse" in a 2006 Washingtonian article. [10]

Sheila Jackson-Lee - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[padcrasher]

"Is this the Sheila Jackson Lee you are talking about? If so Houston must not be a very friendly place to live.

In her first two years in Congress, Jackson-Lee's staff reportedly had a 180 percent turnover rate, which was attributed by the Houston Press to overwork and bullying by the congresswoman. [9] Accordingly, House staffers unofficially voted her the "second meanest" member of the body as well as naming her "Biggest Windbag" and "Show Horse" in a 2006 Washingtonian article. [10]"

This is really the problem with US voters. They don't know much about the issues or candidates voting records.. They know plenty about Obama's preacher, McCains supposed temper, McCain's age, Obama's middle name.
Who's the "biggest windbag" or "Show Horse"....LOL

Just as an example, Sheila Jackson Lee was one of 156 members of Congress to vote against the Iraq war. A gravely serious matter no matter whether you agree with her or not. (4000 plus soldiers killed, 10 Billion being spent per Month) Who gives a crap what her staffers think about her style? 99% of your opinion of them should be how they vote or not vote in your best interest.

[KerryB]

^This goes back to what I was saying earlier about how most people want to be spoon fed in this country & no one wants to hear the truth about their candidates. Which is why new conservatives (neocons) watch Fox News & the liberal whackos watch CNN. Just because it tells them what they wanna hear.

If everyone stopped watching this garbage & got the facts on their own other than what mainstream media tells them, we'd sure as hell make better decisions. But thats not gonna happen for the reasons I gave & there is just too much ignorance in the good ol' USofA.

[catman]

I'm a latecomer to this thread, but I must say that in my opinion Texas is conservative; it's not a myth. I know some people who aren't, of course, including myself, but the majority I would consider conservative. Especially the small towns and rural areas.

[Rathagos]

Originally Posted by padcrasher

"...4000 plus soldiers killed..."

We're really off topic here, but there's something that's been simmering in me, and I have to let it out. I really am amazed at this younger generation's fascination with touting the number of casualties of this five-year war as some astronomical number. Any loss of American lives is a loss to the nation as a whole. But look at the numbers (these are only Americans):

American Revolution - 7,000 killed
Civil War - 203,000 killed in action (~620,000 total deaths)
WWI - 58,480 casualties (over 14,000 missing)
WWII - 418,500 casualties (Pearl Harbor had over 2,000 casualties that first day!!)
Korean War - 54,000 casualties (over 8,000 missing)
Vietnam - 58,217 casualties (almost 2,000 missing)

If you are against the war, that's fine. If you think the reason for the war was idiotic, that's fine. But stop acting like the casualties of this war are adding up to anything that is more than American has ever seen. That's just idiocy in and of itself. I want to reiterate that ANY loss of American life is a shame and should never be downplayed. But it should also never be used as some political leverage when the numbers are lower than they have EVER been in the history of the US battles (of course with few exceptions like the first Gulf War). What would Americans ever do if we had to face numbers equivalent in ratio to those of the previous wars? We're probably talking in the millions. 4000 brave men and women have given their lives. Debate the reasons until the cows come home, but don't use them as political pawns for your own reasons. Thanks!