Folks will probably think I’ve been snacking on the crazy cake, but I’ve got a strong feeling that Texas goes blue this year. Here are some select quotes from delegates to this year’s Texas GOP convention:
- But, Etzel said, “I don’t think anybody is all that enthusiastic” about McCain’s candidacy. “McCain is not a very enthusiastic type of guy.”
- “The contrast between John McCain and Barack Obama is so stark,” [Bryant] said, a hint of worry in her voice. “Obama is a charismatic speaker, and John McCain isn’t.”
- Banville called McCain weak, saying, “I don’t see how he has a chance at all unless people vote only because they don’t like black people.”
- “I resent the fact that we were forced into him to represent us,” Martinez said, a reference to the GOP nomination contest all but ending before Texas voted. “I had nothing to do with his picking.”
The fact that there were 4-5 times more people at the state Democratic convention leads me to presume a similar ratio of participation in November. I’ve read many emails and blogs from delegates from all around the state who were shocked and surprised to find other Dems in their crimson Red counties — these folks are organizing and reaching an unprecedented number of folks in rural parts of the state.
It also appears that the conservative religious and evangelical voters bloc the GOP had been able to count upon since the glory days of Reagan has melted away in the ocean of Obamacans. It appears that economy and war issues will trump abortion politics this year, bringing over Catholics, evangelicals, black conservatives, and other issue conservatives who feel that the current administration can do no right.
Finally, looking at this electoral college map, it’s obvious that, although Texas didn’t go for Clinton in ‘92, that race was very much closer than the GOP would like. Clinton did not have anything like the machine that Obama has created, and didn’t spend any attention on Texas, and still nearly won Texas. Obama may not be focusing on Texas, but his 50-state strategy means that he’ll have an active center here in this state to coordinate the organization of long dormant county clubs. Add to this the monumental work the Clinton team did this year in Texas and I think the Democratic party has never had better grassroots organizations, nor has it activated so many communities before.
In sincerely believe that the Democrats, Obama, Clinton, Edwards, and all of their activist faithful across the nation have effectively redrawn the political map of the country, and that we’ll see the surprising results in November.
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3 Responses:
June 15th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
I had lunch with another liberal friend today and reminded her that the problem of Obama winning may hinge on having an honest election rather on who is better at electioneering and how sick the country is of Republicommie BS..
I think what we have to watch for is who the VP candidates are, especially McCain’s. His health is generally poorer than Obama’s and his choosing a Religious Reicher as his running-mate would not be good. Amendment 25, sec. 3 & 4 covers presidential succession if the President is incapacitated rather than dieing. Literary pun somewhat intended, but if McCain gets elected w/ a RRer as his veep, and then has a health crisis, would could end up with a de facto coup d’etat. Then who’s minding the strawberries?
June 15th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
BEOWULF–
You speak of McCain as if he might be somehow not a continuation of the last eight years of the fox guarding the henhouse. What would it matter if he VP choice was Satan? Would it really be worse than whatever McCain would willingly do?
June 15th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Perhaps I’m being excessively maccheavelian.What I was pointing out that, in this election more than those in the immediaty past, the VP candidate is going to be important. McCain’s running-mate is, perhaps,more important than Obama’s because of McCain’s health issues. Wilson was incapacitated by a stroke and his VP had to fill out the last few months of the term. McCain has known heart problems, and I would be very worried if he picked some Religious Reicher for his VP and then manage to win the election.
I think it would be suicidal for Obama to pick Hillary for his running-mate. Too many people detest her and/or Bill. I don’t think that the Clintonistas will vote for McCain, but they could stay home , which could be a problem if the election is closer than is presently viewed.
Last week my lunch friend was really incensed that Hillary didn’t get the nomination, and totally missed the historical milestone of having the Dem choice being between a woman abd an Afro-American. She’ll vote for Obama, of course, but she is still not happy.
As far as McCain continuing the Bushleager’s programs, he will no doubt do that, unless the Dems control at least one house of Congress, and have a lot more backbone to oppose stupiy fascist legislation emanating from the White House than they have recently. Their record during the Bush administration has been — poor, to put it politely.