Is Texas really as conservative/narrow-minded as people say it is? (Houston: to live, move)

[cobolt]

When I would call my relatives in Chicago after I moved to Texas, they asked me all kinds of crazy questions: "Do people have real floors there or do they have dirt floors?" "Does everyone have a horse?" "Isn't everyone named Bubba or has initials as their first name?" These questions make the big, "progressive" Oh so cosmopolitan people sound as stupid as the close-minded people they accuse Texans of being.

[theloneranger]

Originally Posted by Spade

To say Texas is nowhere near converting is being disingenous. The leaders of the Republican party will tell you themselves that their party in the state has already peaked. They will also tell you that the democrats are starting to become more confident to take the state in the near future. I never said anything about 2010 or 2012. I did however say that in 2012, Texas could become a swing state. Changing demographics and a growing urban population is starting to change the face of Texas for better or for worse. For me personally, I wouldn't want the state to become solid republican or solid democratic anymore. Be open minded is my motto and listen to both sides.

The leaders in the Republican Party aren't likely to admit publically their party has peaked. And the important thing to remember is that politics is largely cyclical--Texas has had cycles of liberal rule by Democrats and conservative rule by both Democrats and Republicans, as well as periods of moderate rule as well.

Is it likely that the House of Representatives goes blue in 2010? Honestly it depends on how well Obama does and how the Republican primaries turn out. If Obama is doing well in fall 2010, the Dems have a very good chance, and this will get better if the winner of the GOP gubernatorial primary manages to alienate half his/her party and keep them at home.

The Democrats have very little chance to take the State Senate. They have no shot at getting the governor's mansion. They have little shot at the Senate seat. They won't take the House delegation back.

However, the Democratic party is getting stronger in Texas and will have a major say in redistricting barring a precipitous collapse in 2010. They also have a strong shot at several downballot races, particularly if many of the Perry-allied incumbents run against moderate Democratic challengers.

[theloneranger]

Originally Posted by cobolt

When I would call my relatives in Chicago after I moved to Texas, they asked me all kinds of crazy questions: "Do people have real floors there or do they have dirt floors?" "Does everyone have a horse?" "Isn't everyone named Bubba or has initials as their first name?" These questions make the big, "progressive" Oh so cosmopolitan people sound as stupid as the close-minded people they accuse Texans of being.

You forgot about Billy Ray.

[Spade]

Originally Posted by theloneranger

You're from California--you ARE a Yankee!
y.

Californians aren't Yankees and besides, when will we retire that word anyway.

[Canine*Castle]

Originally Posted by Spade

Californians aren't Yankees and besides, when will we retire that word anyway.

I just never understood that; it's so corny. That's like saying, "If you're from Minnesota, you're a southerner."

[theloneranger]

Originally Posted by Canine*Castle

I just never understood that; it's so corny. That's like saying, "If you're from Minnesota, you're a southerner."

No it's absolutely nothing like that.

Yankee around here refers to anyone from outside the South. Last time I checked, California isn't considered to be part of the South. They also were on the Federal side during the War Between the States.

Therefore they are Yankees.

It also has a lot to to with attitude and beliefs. Yankees tend to believe they are better than people from the South and that we're a backwards cesspool that needs to feel real Yankee progress. They also tend to be out-of-touch with regular Americans on social issues (this is coming from a socially center-left perspective, as well).

All in all Yankees are generally the antithesis of our culture, and California fits the bill pretty damn well.

Why on earth would we retire the word "Yankee." We might as well retire "American" then, or "moron," Like Yankee, both are valid words with valid definitions and are very useful, and there's no need to "retire" them at all.

When Yankees act like decent human beings, they will receive my respect. It has happened before but certainly isn't common.

[artsyguy]

The little towns in Texas and Austin are pretty narrow minded.

[theSUBlime]

Yes, yes it is...and you can't tell me otherwise. Hmph!

[rwr]

I guess if you call believing in the sanctity of life, limited government , right to keep and bear arms, helping your neighbor, attending church , grilling various meats (not some soybean mush), loving our state, being friendly to others not so fortunate to reside in our great state, hunting, fishing, and all the other "outlandish" things we do - then we are guilty as charged - we are narrow-minded. God Bless

[worldlyman]

Originally Posted by theloneranger

No it's absolutely nothing like that.

Yankee around here refers to anyone from outside the South. Last time I checked, California isn't considered to be part of the South. They also were on the Federal side during the War Between the States.

Therefore they are Yankees.

It also has a lot to to with attitude and beliefs. Yankees tend to believe they are better than people from the South and that we're a backwards cesspool that needs to feel real Yankee progress. They also tend to be out-of-touch with regular Americans on social issues (this is coming from a socially center-left perspective, as well).

All in all Yankees are generally the antithesis of our culture, and California fits the bill pretty damn well.

Why on earth would we retire the word "Yankee." We might as well retire "American" then, or "moron," Like Yankee, both are valid words with valid definitions and are very useful, and there's no need to "retire" them at all.

When Yankees act like decent human beings, they will receive my respect. It has happened before but certainly isn't common.

When I first moved to Houston as a teen back in 1982, the term Yankee was fairly well-applied, especially on rock radio that I listened to.

Now in 2009...with Houston already laced with transplants and being a bonafide international city, I don't hear "Yankee" applied in that geographical dichotomy anymore. And it seems out of context now, considering what Houston is nowadays.