do you think texas will go blue

[luckyleftyme2]

do you think texas will vote democrat this time?

[Skittles]

1. my guess is no

too many willfully ignorant people here

[Lisa0825]

2. I don't think it is impossible.

I think it depends on how much Republican backlash there is. I remember when the Republicans gained so much power during midterms while Clinton was in office, and I remember the talk radio pundits salivating and exclaiming how it surpassed thier expectations. I am *hoping* that there will be enough similar backlash to give us a surprising blue shift.

Realistically, I believe more counties in Texas will return to their blue roots, and we will recapture a couple of statewide offices. Optimistically, if the conditions are just right, we could gain a lot of ground.

[ooga booga]

3. I expect some small incremental progress in 2006

Texas didn't turn red overnight and it's not likely to go blue overnight. Even when Texas WAS a state dominated by the Democratic Party, Texas Democrats tended to be more conservative like other Southern Democrats than Democrats in other parts of the country.

When the Texas Democratic Party is finally up and running well, it's not going to look like the party in Massachusetts or Minnesota. If it actually ventures into true progressive policy, it'll do so very slowly and cautiously. The Big Money will only do something for the rest of us when they're cornered and need to do it to buy some leverage to get their next sweetheart deal.

[johncoby2]

4. Texans are pretty stupid people

You can raise their gas, electricity, college, and insurance costs and they will still vote for you.

Crap in their hands and they will call it gold.

But if a Democrat craps silver in thier hands, they will complain it isnt gold.

Pretty stupid people.

[texastoast]

6. A MAJORITY of Texans are pretty stupid people

I'll give you that but no more.

And there are a bunch of pissed off Texans who voted Republican in 2000 and 2004 who are up for grabs.

And we'll see how smart the Dems are at getting their votes.

[efhmc]

7. Thanks for including all of us Texans in your generalization.

[Paladin]

8. If I Want To See Some Brain-Dead Trashing....

...of the entire population of my state, I'll just visit the Big Threads, where such idiocy is a regular and unfortunate feature. I see no reason to put up with it here in the Texas forum. If you do it again, I'll be conferring with the moderators....

[Czolgosz]

5. Eventually. Look for congressional gains, gains in the state legislature,

gains within city governments, a break out statewide candidate or two. This will all come to pass; some in this election, some in the next. Never forget the wise words of President Thomas Jefferson:

"A little patience, and we shall see the reign of witches pass over, their spells dissolve, and the people, recovering their true sight, restore their government to its true principles. It is true that in the meantime we are suffering deeply in spirit, and incurring the horrors of a war and long oppressions of enormous public debt...If the game runs sometime against us at home, we must have patience till luck turns, and then we shall have an opportunity of winning back the principles we have lost, for this is a game where principles are at stake."

[carpetbagger]

9. Nope.

The headliner statewide candidates look pretty anemic. Radnofsky and Bell may be nice, idealistic people, but neither one has run a campaign that will have much resonance outside the 20% core. Down-slate, we'll get close, but 48% doesn't get you anywhere.

My guess is we pick up 1-2 house seats, which wouldn't be a bad showing.

The right candidate will beat Cornyn in 2008, but there's only a few right candidates.

I think we win the governorship in 2014, no sooner, and my guess is we retake the legislature in 2030, if the two parties remain roughly where they are without a party-altering event.

[David Van Os]

14. Begging your pardon, 48% gets us wins

Please note, what brought Chris within 5% in the newest Zogby is the inclusion of the Libertarian candidate in the polling. The Libertarians are going to pull more than they are used to getting, because of the votes of Republicans who can't stomach the Republican ticket any more but can't quite bring themselves to voting Democratic. The Libertarian ticket gives them an option and a lot of them are going to use it. In addition, in general the appeal of the Lib party is slowly growing. So here's a 48% that gets us where we want to go:

Attorney General:

Van Os (D) 48%
Abbott (R) 46%
Roland (L) 6%

And begging your pardon further, Chris and Barbara are terrific candidates.

David Van Os
Your Next Attorney General

[Why Syzygy]

18. Mr. Van Os -

humbled to meet you. And really glad you are paying attention.

DEMS are fed up with their own Party! Read the forums, people.

Except, seemingly here in the Texas forum, where a dead drum is the beat. Puking on Kinky is not going to convince anyone. People are turning on to Kinky! I have brought this issue to the attention of a world wide email list, and NO ONE has gone against Kinky. They have rebutted me.

Duer's in the Texas forum can blast all they want. Look at facts, as does Mr. Van Os. When people look to an alternative to the Bushstorm, they will not immediately turn to Kerry Nation.

Look at a Bell Curve (unintentional pun). Most people are Moderates. They don't want Extremes. I am personally extreme, but that's my business. It is MUCH more difficult to get someone to embrace one extreme or the other than move to the middle. They already assume they ARE the middle. Especially now.

Excuse me, Mr. V-O, for picking cherries from your post. But you are oh so correct, they are going to use their option. Who can blame them. I hope you can work with Kinky or Good Hair. I do have faith in your campaign.

[seriousstan]

10. No, they will go SCARLET AND GRAY!!!!!! GOOOO BUCKS

[rrasile]

11. Turn Blue ?

How about 24-7. It's so good kicking Texas ass. It was a bad sign when GW shut off the game at half time. Someone said he had some reading to catch up on.
Other then football I still can't think of any reason to visit Texas.

[Lisa0825]

12. Good.

"Other then football I still can't think of any reason to visit Texas."

[Why Syzygy]

19. You can stay home then.

We won't mind. Get your ice pick ready. Winter ice-over is headed your way.

[David Van Os]

13. Hang tough with your candidates

My dear cynical friends,

Hang tough with your candidates and lay off the negativism, if you please, for 2 more months. The backlash is indeed real. Many, many, many people who thought they were Republicans over the last 15 years are realizing now they are really Democrats. And many, many other people are planning on voting AGAINST every incumbent, period. Those of us who are on the campaign trail are running into the backlash everywhere. It is PARTICULARLY evident in the rural counties and towns. It's so tangible you can touch it and feel it. The best barometers are the county commissioners and county judges, the public officials who always have their fingers on the pulse the best. They are saying it everywhere. We are right on the cusp of a possible realignment of Texas, not just in a few select districts, but the whole deal. Give us a chance. Roll with this. If you think there's no chance, for god's sake will yourself to keep it to yourself, please. We can pull this off.

David Van Os
Your Next Attorney General

[AnneD]

15. I agree with you...

I run into a lot of ex GOP that are so upset with Bush et al that we may see an increase in staight party voting. I am dissapointed that Bell has not begun running tv ads, but I do see more signs in the yards for him. I hate that Kinky is pulling votes away from Chris, but I think he is pulling more from Perry too. I can't wait to dump Cornyn. He is such an embarassment to the legal profession in Texas.

Good Luck DVO...ya got my vote!

[flying_wahini]

16. I think there are more disgruntled Republicans who also can't

vote Lib. or Dem and so they just aren't going to vote at all.
Have heard this from several Republicans.......

[Why Syzygy]

17. What if?

We went Independent? It might happen in Connecticut. Why do people here see Dems as our only salvation? Isn't David Van Os an inspiration? Do you think he cow-tows to the Party? Is the Box sacred? Does anyone else who posts in "Texas" read the broader agenda? Remember Howard Dean? Texas gave a great reception. Why? He was outside the box.

Don't put all your chickens in one coop.

Yes. I live in Austin. And I expect more.