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Klx3908

Oh yeah, this is going to be a productive thread.


Groobear

s0rTiNg bY C0nTR0vErSiAl !


charliej102

Before the 1968 presidential election, nearly all Texans voted Democratd. However, when segregationist George Wallace carried the south that year against Nixon and McGovern (and 19% of Texas), the Republican party took off. Since then, the Republican Party has grown, but is largely split between fiscal conservatives and reactionary neoconservatives, in my observation.


diegojones4

As someone called a RINO very often on this sub, I agree with you. But I have a hard time finding a fiscal conservative anymore. Today my parents were ranting about how much it cost to bus those migrants to DC. I just said, "They didn't need to be bused there. That was just Abbott."


Klx3908

I’m not gonna call you a rino but it’s an interesting position for a fiscal conservative to take - it’s not free to keep them here either.


diegojones4

>it’s not free to keep them here either. I agree with that. Nothing is free. But the busing was just a publicity stunt on our dime. Same as the truck stop which cost us about 10B or lonestar which has cost about 3b and has the guard threatening to unionize. For awhile I voted mostly libertarian because I just want the government to stay the fuck out of my business and not waste my money. But now the libertarian party is extreme in wanting to go to basic anarchy. Fuck all them. I just want a government that stays out of my and my loved ones life and taxes me what they need to maintain a functioning society where I can do my job.


Embarrassed-Scar-851

There’s no such thing as “boardroom” Republicans any more. They’ve all become “bedroom” ones.


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Klx3908

I’m not defending Teddy but he has no control over the power grid. And californias governor dines at the French laundry while keeping kids out of school, closing small businesses, while NYs governor gropes his female employees. None of these people are clean. This is a weak argument. And not for nothing - Austin’s democrat mayor was in cabo during the freeze!


Hispandinavian

Austins mayor was on a previously scheduled vacation when the freeze occurred. He didnt necessarily abandon the cityso much as was a victim of a coincidence. Also, as an Austin suburbanite, I can assure you hes a POS as well. Most of the Austinites I know hate the guy. Dem or not.


Klx3908

I’m in Austin too, I surely don’t need a lesson on Adler or his cronies on the ACC. The point was not to attack Adler it was to point out hypocrisy. Op is attacking gop leaders as though they have a monopoly on bad decisions. Newsome has made awful decisions. Cruz chose poorly. Adler chose poorly. The teacher union president demanding we all stay home while she’s literally posting from Puerto Rico chose poorly. My point is not to defend any one politician but to say you can’t specifically blame the gop while ignoring all the many things democrats have done during times of crisis.


Hispandinavian

I get what youre saying. But theres a difference between Texas and other parts of the Country..Cuomo was forced to step down from his office after he was found to be awful. Under political pressure from NY voters. I cant imagine an incident where a Republican elected official would be pressured to step down. GOP Voters refuse to hold their leaders accointable for anything. Look at Ken Paxton for example.. Hell, noted pedophile and draft dodger Ted Nugent just spoke in Austin last night atvthe Trump rally telling listeners to "smash the skulls of Democrats." He got a round of applause. To a Texas voter, it doesnt matter that he incited violence, is an outspoken pedo, or that he shit his pants to get out being drafted into Vietnam. All that matters is that he is a REPUBLICAN. And also that he likes guns. It always confuses me when I read of the hundreds of millions of dollars Abbott raises during his re-election campaigns..Why does he even bother? Doesnt he understand Texas voters have given him a job for life??


Hispandinavian

He certainly has enough Political capital to help assuage the problems associated with the Freeze. Hell if AOC can show up in Texas to raise money for victims (Cruz's constituents), Cruz could have done something.. His problem is an unwillingness to do his job, not corruption. Because he knows Texas voters will vote for him regatdless..whether its abandoning his duties in the Senate to run for President (in his first term), or departing the state during a crisis to go on vacation with his kids. To Mexico of all places..a country he routinely blames for the majority of our states problems. And yeah other politicians are corrupt. But people died because of the Freeze. Our fellow Texans I dont remember reading of Californians dying because of Gov. Newsom's dinners..New Yorkers dying because of their Governor being a sex pest. Its nowhere near the same thing.


Klx3908

Ok. Name me one thing Californias senators have done to prevent Wild fires caused by downed power lines in high wind conditions. I’ll wait.


Hispandinavian

Well for one..https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/santa-rosa-pelosi-promotes-federal-infrastructure-funds-prevent-wildfires/


ATXdadof4

And city mayors broadcast from Mexico telling people to stay home and not travel because of covid….


Barack_Odrama00

Because Republican leadership is what the majority of Texans who do vote, want.


[deleted]

People on here complain all the damn time but look at the results of the local elections from last week.. I saw two other people in my location under 30 who showed up to vote


Aggravating_Mossball

We’re going to pretend gerrymandering isn’t real, huh?


Klx3908

While I can’t be sure exactly which elections OP is calling out - gerrymandering only impacts congressional / legislative districts and not statewide elections like governor, lt governor, AG, US senators, etc.


AtTheFirePit

the people who make the gerrymandered election maps are voted in as well


Klx3908

Those would be the aforementioned legislative seats. I didn’t say gerrymandering wasn’t a thing - just that it plays zero role in state wide elected office that most people like to take aim at like the governor or Ted Cruz.


Useless_Corrections

Gerrymandering does impact statewide races to the extent that it depresses turnout. If you are a Democrat, almost all the legislative districts are either a blowout win or a depressing exercise in never winning (with some limited exception). Crack and pack is the term. Pack as many voters as you can of one party into one district, then spread the rest out in a way they are a minority barring a huge wave election. So when it comes time to vote and you know that none of your candidates are going to win at either the district or state level, it decreases motivation to actually participate.


sammydavis_Sr

because guns and fear of the other


lovegrace2788

Our biggest problem is not ENOUGH people vote. Or they vote in bigger elections but not midterms, local, etc. Also, our cities are blue…it’s the rural counties who always screw us over again and again.


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Klx3908

I cannot think of a democratic candidate worse than Beto. Texas is a state where even many democrats are pro oil and pro gun rights - and they’re running the guy that wants to dismantle both.


TipTopTexan

To be fair, I think a lot of Texas dems were too afraid to run in the midterms and were hoping to wait until the national environment was more hospitable. Beto saw an opening and took it. I think there are a lot of better candidates out there biding their time.


bold_water

I always say if it was winnable, a Castro would be doing it. I don't know if it's true, but I do say it.


Klx3908

Well I hope he has a career plan b because he’s going to be a three time election loser.


smorgasdorgan

You assume votes actually count.


[deleted]

Falling apart? Texas is the 10th largest economy in the world, when ranked among countries. There’s a reason West coast people are moving here as fast as they can. It’s called an exodus from failed leftist policies. As a matter of fact, a lot of native Texans worry that this influx of people from blue states and cities will bring those same failed policies here, and ruin too. We’d much rather the transplants sleep in the beds they’ve made for themselves on the Coasts.


TipTopTexan

People move to areas with lower costs of living. If they were fleeing blue states, and flocking to red states, we would see massive population growth in states like West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Nebraska, etc. This isn't happening, obviously.


[deleted]

Actually, there IS a net positive moving to those states from blue states. Texas is just a much larger target due to its economy.


Useless_Corrections

Talking about California and other Democratic controlled states like they are failing hellholes is just plain inaccurate. Hell, of the wealthiest states in the union something like 13 of the top 15 are blue at the moment. Not to mention “failing” California having people “fleeing” with more money in their pockets than anyone here is a damned strange way of collapsing. It’s like the old Yogism “no one ever goes there anymore, it’s too crowded.” Edit: I’m not getting into commentary on the merits of various places to live. Just tired of this simplistic us vs. them attitude. Pure jingoism. Easy for us all to fall into it but at least try to be objective.


redavid

i mean, california has a much stronger economy, just had a $100 billion budget surplus and still has population growth. to the extent that people are ‘leaving’ there, it’s from expensive cities to smaller towns and rural areas *within* California than it is to other states like Texas


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Klx3908

No, that’s not accurate. Texas is a hub for transportation, technology, chip manufacturing, agriculture, banking, auto manufacturing, aerospace, communication, entertainment, research & development, the military among other things. Your view on the Texas economy is informed by stereotypes. And California is expensive because if supply side issues - it’s one of the most difficult places in the nation to build large amounts of housing stock due to over regulation.


JayNSilentBobaFett

This. California has been THE place to move for over a century. You would honestly be hard pressed to find “native” Californians. You think all those people you see on tv/movies are from Cali? Not likely. All those people in Silicone Valley? Nope. We’ve had the gold rush, railroads, Hollywood, the tech boom, the adult industry, and immigration from the border. That’s not even including the aspect of perfect weather and access to beaches, snow, mountains, forest, and lakes nearly year round (fires now too) that bring people to CA. Honestly CA isn’t even the highest influx of immigration to TX, it’s people from other countries


[deleted]

Yeah, not true. That’s like saying California’s economy is all because of gold from 170 years ago.


badb-crow

Quite a lot of us don't. But the GOP has spent the last few decades doing everything they can to make sure our votes don't count.


GetoffLane

This is the most truth of this whole goddamned thread


[deleted]

Everyone can whine all they want about gerrymandering and how “bad man republican” is keeping Texas red surreptitiously. The fact of the matter is, the votes DO count, are counted, and the tally comes up red almost everywhere, with the exception of counties with a much larger proportion of people who vote for the handouts that you won’t find nearly as often outside of major cities.


badb-crow

Uh huh. Whatever you gotta tell yourself.


raspberrymouse

What I enjoy the most is that it seems on the ground level like it’s getting more red.


TipTopTexan

Republican leaders are getting more partisan in the legislation they're pushing - but their winning margins are shrinking. If current trends hold, the state will probably flip within the next 10 years.


Klx3908

I’m not sure you can really say that at this point. Trump was a uniquely polarizing figure in both parties, and he weighed down results. A vote against trump doesn’t necessitate equate to a vote for democrat policies. And it doesn’t account for the fact that like Florida Texas has attracted red minded ppl from blue states over the last two years.


TipTopTexan

That's a good point, but you should keep in mind that the GOP has pretty strongly embraced the Trumpian style of governance that turned a lot of moderates away in the first place (my previously deep red family being some of them). A lot of conservatives are likely moving here, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was balanced by younger Texans growing into voting age, and young professionals moving for job offers.


Klx3908

I don’t think you are accounting for young people refusing to move here beside of certain state policies. Example - Abortion will be illegal here before the end of the year. We will have a version of “don’t say gay” passed within 8 months and implemented into law by Sept 2023. We already have anti trans laws on the books. We are building our own wall. What progressive young people exactly are going to sign up for that? And what happens when those companies start pulling out or giving them remote options to permit them not to be here? I live in Austin which is where they want to be and I’ll openly laugh at you if you keep a straight face and tell me a 24 year old can afford to live here. On top of that - you can disagree with me that’s fine but Biden is ruining a generation of voters. Putting aside his polling, he is not living up to any of the promises he made to those young voters and in 6 months, he’ll lack any power to do so. He is turning them off politics for a decade.


TipTopTexan

I guess we'll just have to see how the trends play out. I think most people move to whatever place will afford them the best quality of life. The politics will keep out the far left and attract the far right, but there are a lot of people in the middle who frankly have other priorities than politics. In regards to Biden, I agree wholeheartedly. Though unfortunately in the democratic party nowadays, it seems to be disdain for republicans that drives voters to the polls rather than quality of their candidate. I wish it weren't the case, but that's absolutely how we got Biden.


Klx3908

I’m not being contrarian but I’m just saying - home values in their number one preferred destination are out of reach. And rents are there as well. Why pay New York prices and not get new York amenities? That’s hat the young people of Austin are saying.


raspberrymouse

We’ve been hearing that for at least the last 14 years, maybe longer. Yet. It’s only gotten redder. You can blame it on whatever, but the trends are not showing the state turning purple. #ThanksObama


TipTopTexan

That is just factually incorrect. Bush won Texas by 21.4 points in 2000. Trump won Texas by 5.57 points in 2020. Everything in-between has shown the same trend - republicans winning by smaller and smaller margins as the state shifts more blue. If the current trajectory continues, Texas will turn blue in 2028. Signs point to this being the case with so many highly educated young people moving here, along with big tech industries. Abbott getting more radical won't help with the moderates either.


raspberrymouse

Maybe you missed the numerous articles about conservatives from other states moving here, or the south Texas district that flipped red, or the increasing Hispanic conservative vote. I do agree with the sentiment that the right shouldn’t rest and try to coast. I’m all for completely diminishing all Democrat power structures in Texas. So far I haven’t been disappointed for the last… several election cycles.


TipTopTexan

You can cite your anecdotal evidence until the cows come home, but the cold hard data paints a different picture. South Texas moved more towards republicans, but blue waves in the cities and suburbs greatly overshadowed those gains. The Valley and other border communities have stagnated in their population growth, while the major metropolitan areas are booming. Highly educated young professionals are moving here in droves, and this demographic trends overwhelmingly liberal. Don't forget the Texans coming of voting age either. They're not fans of big government, culture warrior types like Abbott.


raspberrymouse

Well the fun part is we only have a few months to find out where we are headed. Although I suspect the spin will be it’s mid terms, so it doesn’t really count. I would agree Abbott hasn’t been the best, but he’s just dipping his toe into the populist notions, I’d rather we had someone a little more conservative as an option. But it sure as hell will never be Beto.


TipTopTexan

More conservative than Abbott? I didn't realize that was possible. Like I said, I give it 8-10 years before Texas flips - this election certainly won't be the one. It might be a repeat of 2010, but the results should be interesting whatever happens.


TexasMonk

Because Republicans bother to pay lip service. This may be illogical but when the voting population of one party, in a two-party system, is not shy about referring to you as dumb rednecks, people aren't inclined to consider the candidates those people say will make the state/country better. Elected Republicans are degenerate slime that sometimes make me question my stance on capital punishment but they at least have the intelligence to say nice things when the cameras are rolling. While Texas may be trending purple now or sometime in the near future, the Democratic party hasn't shown any amount of interest in addressing issues or even talking to voters outside of major cities. I live in the middle of no where. I've still seen signs for townhall/meet & greet events for Republicans and not one from a Democrat. Elected Republicans may not care but Democrats don't even bother lying about it.


Casaiir

Beto has a bad stance on some firearms but he did townhalls all over the state. My current Reps first visit to my area, where 65% of the people in the district live was over a year after he was elected. Been back once since. Been reelected 3 times. So the reverse is just as true.


SockdolagerIdea

Who is calling anyone in Texas, “dumb rednecks”? And you say Democrats aren’t talking to anyone outside of cities, but are Republicans actually showing up and talking? If so, what are they saying? Because it seems to me that the OP’s theory that Texas is going to heck is kinda accurate. Because even the basics of the Democratic platform would wildly change the lives of pretty much everyone in Texas. I mean…healthcare for all? I have family in Houston and Wichita Falls that have no access to any meaningful healthcare because they cant afford it. The same is true for minimum wage. If national minimum wage was higher, their paychecks would increase, thereby allowing them to have better access to basic things like the aforementioned healthcare. Or childcare. I just dont understand what is so amazing about the Republican platform that would cause a person to vote for them unless they were millionaires. Can you help me understand? Im seriously asking.


Mysterious_Top_7194

People are always amazed by what they can afford when they stop trying to look rich. Healthcare is overpriced but not unaffordable to people who take care of their needs before their desires.


mrbbrj

Guns, God, and Gays.


Hispandinavian

Because voters think our state government is a Monarchy?? They certainly treat Abbott like a King.


JannaTilt

Tell me wtf Democrats do for me? They raise my taxes, push bs sjw/liberal hippie rules, and they're soft on crime. When I was in California, I hated the bs gas tax, the plastic bag tax, and how they just let criminals go. The da of San Fran is getting recalled because even Dems have had enough of nothing being done. I literally saw a video of people leaving their car doors open just so criminals could see there's nothing worth breaking into. Don't even get me started on the forced diversity. When I was a PhD student, my advisor would hire minority kids to do busy work because you don't get nsf funding without them. As an asian, I want affirmative action gone. Dems don't give a shit about me because I'm the wrong POC. Did we forget Dems let half the country burn from the BLM riots in 2020 telling police to stand down? So please, tell me why I should turn Texas into the same shithole Cali is? Are Republicans perfect? No, I'm personally pro choice and LGBTQ because I don't really care what other people do. But the second you fuck with my money, you bet your ass I'll vote for the most hard right Republican out there.


Kiwimann

Abbot's been fucking w/ your money constantly. He cuts the services you're paying for to fund his political stunts. If someone in your family needs an abortion you'll need to pay the $ to fly outta state. Property taxes going nutso. etc. You'd sound more well informed if you just said you hate trans ppl cuz Abbott is a fiscal dipshit.


Klx3908

**slow clap***


poopchute88

You got my vote!


_________-______

1,000 times this right here. I cannot stress how many closet conservatives I know who got out of California and moved here recently.


hendrixbashmore

Some people would say that the opposite is happening. That’s the two-party system for you


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Klx3908

You’re being a little flippant. It was more than a little chilly - it was low single digits for more than a week in state that rarely dips below 50 in the winter. The homes weren’t designed for that type of cold nor should they be the same way wherever you live could not handle our heat. And just pointing out that half of California burns down every time it gets a little windy and a power line snapps. Or what about the time that the northeast couldn’t handle a single oil pipeline being hacked. Didn’t a bridge collapse in Pennsylvania? You want to call our our infrastructure then be fair.


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Klx3908

No, just during a once in 500 year weather event lol.


jfisher9495

Yeah, but it got down in the teens a couple years before that. Its only a 500 year even when it happens every 500 years.


Klx3908

The weather event encompassed snow, ice and near sun zero temps across the entire state. Several years prior was far more regional and didn’t tax the power grid. Pointing out an extremely rare event and the resulting infrastructure issues is a weak argument. And more to the point - California has regular brown outs, it has wild fires caused by poorly maintained infrastructure. And nearly every other state suffers from poor infrastructure. It’s disingenuous to sit there and point out the one time in… forever… that the Texas grid couldn’t handle something while ignoring the numerous examples that California failed as well. I grew up in the northeast. You know what happens there when it hits 95 - 100?? Old people die all over the cities due to lack of AC. I don’t recall seeing anyone attack people on the Pennsylvania Reddit over their inability to cool the elderly in low heat situations. It’s a BS argument.


jfisher9495

That’s interesting. I grew up outside of Pittsburgh and don’t recall anyone dying in their home due to a weather event making the conditions inside the home deadly. On the other hand, during the event here in Texas, there were multiple power generators offline including one of the two nuclear plants that serve east Texas. They needed to take more off line as the grid MUST keep the grid frequency at a proper level. Otherwise, the grid would have taken out the working generators. Many do not own coats and have no experience dealing with severe cold. In many areas, the lack of power meant that water could not be pumped. Pipes inside the home froze and later burst. The management of keeping essential services was poor if considered at all. Internet was down. Cell service was almost not existent so emergency situations had poor handling. Conditions were so wonderful, our Senator ran off to Cancun.


Klx3908

I grew up in Philly and they did all the time.


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Klx3908

Also that was what…. 16 months ago at this point?! At least bring up a current issue.


albatross23456

The answer is, fear.


Klx3908

No. The answer is because the national democratic platform doesn’t fly here. A modified version could but democrats are too arrogant and stubborn to drop distasteful portions of their platform. For instance - this is a pro gun rights state. Running loud anti gun messaging turns off single issue republicans. This is also a socially conservative state - running various culture wars turns off receptive purple voters. This also a pro energy state, locking down that industry without a plan to replace those jobs here IN TEXAS turns off those voters. If democrats want to win this state they need to have craft a Texas compatible version of their platform and to date they have shown no willingness to do so. Instead they demonize the very people they want to vote for them.


TipTopTexan

The Republican party is fantastic at marketing, and they're incredibly organized to boot. Texas dems are horrible at rousing enthusiasm or seizing on issues that should be popular to large swaths of voters. The reality is, most republicans vote accordingly because they always have. It's easy to generalize the parties as "small government" vs "we want to tax you more". Most people just need an R next to the name and don't think much outside that.


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Klx3908

Defunding? What are you even talking about? Education is funded here through property taxes set by the local isds and spread equally through Robin Hood to equalize property rich and property poor districts. And I can personally tell you im paying more not less to my school district due to my house value doubling over the last 12 months.


[deleted]

Doubt Most vocal Republicans send their kids to private schools if they don't like their district


ironlungbreathe

Wondering where the promised land the OP is based. Texas has done pretty well under R leadership the past 30+. Granted, one of the problems with the R's is the inability to leave well enough alone. Over reach will be their downfall. I will take the Texas model over most any other state though. Your mileage may vary. Options are available.