Texas, a toss-up state? (Houston, Austin: mineral rights, legal, floor)

[hound 109]

Originally Posted by mikeyyc

The thing that will end up causing the Republicans a loss are social issues, not economic ones. I know my Texas history well and there's more than a century's worth of gerrymandering from both sides, but an eye for an eye leaves everyone blind.

What you'll find is that there is an ever growing contingent of people who love the business centric approach of Texas but loathe the Texas Republican stance and incessant focus on women, gays and minorities. As a freedom loving Texan I feel that freedom extends to everyone. The state should not continue wasting my tax dollars over what two consenting adults choose to do in their bedroom, or if a woman decides to make an independent decision about her body. Those are the reasons I can't vote R, and would rather pay a little extra short term so that everyone can experience the same freedoms I can.

I agree. Government should stay out of the bedroom. But aside from gay marriage & abortion, how do "Republicans focus" on women & gays?

As far as the numbers. 30% agree with you (on social issues). 30% disagree with you. & 30% (like me) are WAY more concerned with economic issues than social issues (even if we agree with you on social issues). The other 10% you can toss where ever you want.

& how do Republicans "focus on minorities"? The color of one's skin is a non issue to 19 out of 20 Texans that I know. (now if a politician wants me to give money (or create expensive programs) strictly because of one's race, then they can go pound sand). Besides, i don't believe there is a majority in Texas (unless it's Hispanic).

[ScoPro]

Originally Posted by wheatpenny

I vote third party, but I don't see that Texas will be turning blue this election. There are too many HIllary haters in this state and Hillary's base isn't exactly fired up to vote for her.

Same here.


The GOP and the jackass party are in it for themselves, and not the little guy. But they do have plenty of useful idiot support through their organizations..

[thenewtexan]

It won't be a toss up state in this election, or the next one, but it will be much closer than the 16 point margin we saw in 2012. Not all transplants, Hispanics, and LGBT people are liberals. They are vote the way they do for very different reasons.

[wheatpenny]

Originally Posted by thenewtexan

It won't be a toss up state in this election, or the next one, but it will be much closer than the 16 point margin we saw in 2012. Not all transplants, Hispanics, and LGBT people are liberals. They are vote the way they do for very different reasons.

I think that it's a mistake to label all Texas Dems as "liberals". I voted Dem for most of my life, but have ALWAYS been fiscally conservative, but socially liberal. Neither the D nor the R have my best interests in mind, but I would probably vote Dem (holding my nose) if Texas were a toss-up state.

[tcualum]

I agree with some of the Republican party's stances on certain issues but I'm tired of them legislating morality and religion. I also find it hypocritical that they say that the federal government should stay out states' business but they keep trying to boss around cities and towns. If a city wants to ban fracking, for example, the city should be allowed to. Some cities may have had problems as a result of it so want to get rid of it while other towns may not. That should be the city's choice.

[LeagleEagleDFW]

Originally Posted by tcualum

I agree with some of the Republican party's stances on certain issues but I'm tired of them legislating morality and religion. I also find it hypocritical that they say that the federal government should stay out states' business but they keep trying to boss around cities and towns. If a city wants to ban fracking, for example, the city should be allowed to. Some cities may have had problems as a result of it so want to get rid of it while other towns may not. That should be the city's choice.

You misunderstand: modern-day Republicans are all for keeping the government out of things, unless by doing so one of their cronies doesn't make another $2,000,000, then by God, it's the government's duty to step in.

[mikeyyc]

Originally Posted by hound 109

I agree. Government should stay out of the bedroom. But aside from gay marriage & abortion, how do "Republicans focus" on women & gays?

As far as the numbers. 30% agree with you (on social issues). 30% disagree with you. & 30% (like me) are WAY more concerned with economic issues than social issues (even if we agree with you on social issues). The other 10% you can toss where ever you want.

& how do Republicans "focus on minorities"? The color of one's skin is a non issue to 19 out of 20 Texans that I know. (now if a politician wants me to give money (or create expensive programs) strictly because of one's race, then they can go pound sand). Besides, i don't believe there is a majority in Texas (unless it's Hispanic).

There is a focus because there should be no looking at all. Every time we get smacked by the Supreme Court all the usual gang of idiots trots out to squeal about our rights, when they're the ones actively trying to subrogate the process. There's a reason Texas was on a short leash for voters rights for over 50 years, and what happens when we get off? We go out and violate voters rights again. This abortion stupidity has cost us millions, and wound up actually putting women's health in danger over a made up problem based on religious fervor instead of the rule of law. I have no problem with religion, I just don't want it making policy decisions.

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by JKAddict

Most of those "democrats" would most likely be republican today.

Yes, Texas was a Yellow Dog Democrat state (now think about what that really says about the voter - "He'd vote for a yellow dog if it was a Democrat" and his actual thought process when deciding his vote) until the Democratic Party changed out from under them. The people didn't change - the parties both changed on the people.

In my opinion, Texas should take the reins firmly in hand, toss out red and blue, free its collective brain from the party line, and turn a nice rich shade of purple as everyone makes their voting decisions based on the individual issue and candidate, not what the party wants them to think (or more accurately, not think) about things. THEN we can get somewhere!

[Ivory Lee Spurlock]

Originally Posted by lepoisson

As more and more Hispanics, Californians, and Northeasterners move here, I suspect that it will happen eventually

I think most of the Californians we are getting in Texas normally vote Republican. I also think alot of those Californians who are moving here are originally from Texas and are moving back.However, I think it's inevitable as Texas becomes more and more urban and more of a minority majority state, it will turn blue by 2020 and no later than 2024.

[KerrTown]

Originally Posted by hound 109

I agree. Government should stay out of the bedroom. But aside from gay marriage & abortion, how do "Republicans focus" on women & gays?

When half of the party is composed of fundamentalist Evangelical Christians, mostly white, who still thinks of the world as it was in the 1950s. How do you get them to the polls on Election Day, reliably? Fear. Fear of the boogeyman of (insert issue here) taking away (insert some value or valued possession here) and infringing your rights as a "devout Christian." Broadcast fear constantly on a media platform designed to get like-minded people to mind the news emanating from it with reminders of when Election Day is and you get a sustainable constituency!

Originally Posted by mikeyyc

There is a focus because there should be no looking at all. Every time we get smacked by the Supreme Court all the usual gang of idiots trots out to squeal about our rights, when they're the ones actively trying to subrogate the process. There's a reason Texas was on a short leash for voters rights for over 50 years, and what happens when we get off? We go out and violate voters rights again. This abortion stupidity has cost us millions, and wound up actually putting women's health in danger over a made up problem based on religious fervor instead of the rule of law. I have no problem with religion, I just don't want it making policy decisions.

I've always wondered about Canadian Conservatism ever since I decided to do more research into Calgary and decided against immigrating to Canada when I was younger (due to dealing with an immigration process). You sound like a Hillary Clinton (mainstream, centrist/left-of-centre) Democrat over the Conservatives that I would expect the Albertan school system to produce!

How is Conservative in Canada different than the conservatism of the Republican Party in the U.S.A.? I do know American politics are too much to the right of the rest of the developed Western world.