How did Bush get re-elected in Texas

[procopia]

after destroying the environment and budget? Did the damage occur during his second term? Why the high approval rating there?

[Melodybe]

1. Diebold is on his side!

[david_vincent]

2. There are a lot of Texans who just love kissing the Bush family's ass

n/t

[pistoff democrat]

3. Could it have been

Satan? (props to the Church Lady)

[Gulf Coast J]

4. The budget seemed fine in 1998, the environment was about the same

And I recall the Democrats running a very weak candidate (Mauro?) with little name recognition. There was serious talk of not even fielding a candidate.

[wuushew]

5. simple

$

[Skittles]

6. small town newspapers absolutely brainwash their readers

90% of Texans don't have a clue what really is going on

[Sagan]

7. Remember it was 1998..

The Clinton Economy was roaring along here in Texas. Jobs, money, opportunity. All despite Chimpy's best effort. Texas had surpluses from the tax revenue during that time.

The Texas Governor doesn't have very much power at all. It's a figurehead kind of position. So you see, Chimpy was ideally suited for his next job.

[TexasPatriot]

8. heh

read Ivin's Shrub...

Mauro was a weak candidate, Bush was his father's son, petrochem loves him, etc... Money, greed, corruption, pick one.

If you want a better feel for Bush the candidate, look at what he did to Richards and McCain. He plays dirty and hard.

[pmbryant]

9. Budget problems purposefully blew up after 2000

The election was 1998. I missed it by a month, as I didn't move here until November 1998, but Texas has never been big on environmental protection, even before Bush, so he didn't have much to destroy.

He purposefully waited to do his budget-busting until 1999, after re-election and right before he skipped out on us.

:grr:

--Peter

[neebob]

10. I think the answer is probably in

Fortunate Son, which I've been reading, but I'm having trouble with the chapters where he's the governor of Texas. I feel obligated to read the whole thing start to finish, but I'm finding myself bored and unable to concentrate on these chapters. So far I have the impression he paid off his friends and lied like a mofo, just like he's doing now. One thing that stuck in my brain is that he was able to sign and take credit for a lot of legislation that was already in the works when he took office, so it seemed like he fulfilled most of his campaign promises in his first term.

[theorist]

14. Also

Some of the legislation he took credit for was also opposed by his own "administration" at the time. (Quotes because TX governorship is VERY weak, and the Lt. Gov. is elected separately.)

[DemoTex]

11. He out-spent his opponent by a factor of 7. It's the Bu$h way.

Bu$h spent $21 million to get re-elected GovTex to the Democratic opponent's $3 million. The propaganda machine was doing the full-tilt boogie, even back then. Lay was pushing Bu$h like crazy too. It didn't hurt that so many brain-dead Texans thought he looked good in cowboy hat and boots. Remember too, Texas is a truly weird place.

[Brazosboomer]

12. What'd you say?

You said that Texas is a weird place like there's something wrong with that.

To say that Mauro was "weak" is like saying that Bush occasionally tells a few fibs. The Godfather to Mauro's son endorsed Bush. To add insult to injury, the Godfather was Lt. Gov Democrat Bob Bullock. It was painful to watch.

Weird is good - http://www.brazosriver.com/franken.htm

[Yupster]

13. He started the campaign up 30 %

and won by 30 %.

He debated Mauro too though there was no reason for him to do it. Bush's people thought Mauro, a personal friend of the Clintons was not in the race to win, but just to sloppy Bush up some for the presidential election.

[jburton]

15. It was pretty much a non-race

There was only one televised debate between B* and Mauro. On a Friday night. In Texas during High School football season.

In other words maybe three people watched the debate.

Even Bob Bullock, the "Godfather" of Tx Dem politics, endorsed B*. And Bullock was literally the godfather of Mauro's kids. I'm not even kidding.

[NoPasaran]

16. A big state

Not a smart one.