What Will Texas Be Like When It Turns Blue?

[Vogon_Glory]

An earlier thread described the senior Republican senator from Texas' efforts to paint a dystopic picture of Texas should those nasty ol' Democrats take control of the Legislature and Texas' Executive Branch. I believe that Cornyn's (or his hack speech writer's) efforts are so much BS, of course, but it made me think. We Texas Democrats have been on the defensive for so long and have fought so hard just to keep the ground we still hold that we haven't really made time to describe what a Blue Texas would be like.

Maybe that time has come. Here is as good a place as any to start.

Please feel free to join in.

[fitman]

1. When Texas turns blue

I'm gonna laugh at all the rw's who moved their to escape "persecution" in their liberal home states..guys like Beck etc.

I can't wait to see it happen..I've read it could happen as soon as 2016 but I'm thinking a few years later.

[CanonRay]

2. I'm hopeful but not convinced it is iminent, not just inevitable.

I want to see if Hispanics are really, truly going to turn out. In the Rio Grande Valley, the Obama turnout in 2012 was pathetic.

[Rstrstx]

9. To be fair...

A lot of the people in the RGV aren't qualified to vote, they're either not citizens or are too young. But yes, an increase in participation in the RGV could put many tens of thousands more votes in the D column, and that's today, not in 2020 or 2024. A real concerted GOTV effort would be needed here and it may happen if Davis stays competitive with Abbott in the polls. The single biggest issue to bring them out of the woodwork down here would be the ACA Medicaid expansion.

[CanonRay]

12. What's really weird about the RGV

is it is one of the most politically active places I've ever been. When there's an election, the people have signs in every yard, and stand on the corners by the dozens every single day for weeks before the vote. It is absolutely crazy. However, all this activity is directed down ballot! Judges, the sheriff, town clerk, school board, etc. Not a damn thing for Governor, or President. It's the exact opposite of everywhere else I've ever been. We need to somehow get that energy directed upwards.

We spent some winters near McAllen in Hidalgo County, so I've very familiar with the area.

[BlueToTheBone]

3. Ann Richards should come to mind.

She left office with money in the bank and a great economy. KKKarl Rove and friends ruined the state for *.

[Sedona]

4. The next California

A diverse population, lots of room, wonderful climate, plenty of agriculture, beautiful mountains and beaches and a shit ton of oil.

The only thing missing now is a reasonable government.

[Vogon_Glory]

5. A Few Of My Predictions

A few of my predictions:

Funding to women's clinics cut out by Rick Perry and the Republicans will be restored, and women and infants will again have access to low-cost healthcare.

Worker safety will be improved as the state agencies charged with safety inspections gain funding and agents so they can again do their jobs.

State highways will be in better repair than they are now.

The state of Texas will help fund mass-transit projects in major Texas cities and Texas will help fund long-distance passenger train service to service the rural areas of the state ignored by the airlines and increasingly abandoned by intercity bus companies.

Texas state parks will again be adequately funded, and the facilities that Republican governors allowed to slide into ruin will be repaired.

[AAO]

6. Depends on how violently the reds react.

[BabbaTam]

7. Blue Texas

It will be a place where I can live and not be ashamed of the nut jobs that make us all look like a bunch of knuckle dragging idiots! It will be a place where the stupid and fearful will not rule progressive thought and action. It will be a place where Austin will not be known as "The People's Republic of Austin". It will be looking forward and not backward. It will not sully the nations schoolbooks with ignorance. It will be hopeful!

[onestepforward]

8. I know I'm dreaming big,

but I see a state with a healthy union membership and better wages, quality schools that teach solid science and sex education. Women's reproductive choices would be fully renewed, along with Planned Parenthood funding.

Texas is the leader for wind energy and I would like to see us be the leader for other renewable energy, like solar. It would be really great to lead in technology, utilizing our colleges, for ourselves and to export manufactured goods around the world. I can imagine all types of renewable energy equipment with "Made in Texas" stamped on it. I always this would be a great opportunity for quality, high-paying jobs of the future.

We would have better water management and cleaner air through tougher regulations.

I could go on an on. I love my state and I know we can do so much better by moving forward.

[Gothmog]

10. First, lets turn purple

If the GOP has to fight to win Texas' electoral votes, then the GOP will not be able to focus on other states. I loved it in 2008 when both the Obama and the Clinton campaigns focused on Texas. It was a great deal of fun to see a real race. I think that we can get there again with Senator Davis vs. Greg Abbott. Abbott is not that strong of a campaigner and is not that bright.

As for actual results, I would love to go back to the days where the crazy people like the tea party are not in control. Right now, the tea party is control of the Texas GOP which is why they are doing so many stupid things. I would love to see funding for education restored and for the State of Texas to actually care about the environment.

[Vogon_Glory]

13. Of Course We First Have To Turn Texas Purple First, BUT

Of course we first have to turn Texas purple first before we can have a blue Texas, but I genuinely believe that we need a genuine--and public--narrative of what we Texas Democrats want and what a Democratic-controlled Texas would be like.

There already is a narrative out there of what Texas would be like if the Democratic Party regained control of the state legislature and the state executive branch--it's the narrative being told by the Texas Tea-publican Party, people like Dan Patrick, and the shills working for right-wing radio talk shows. That narrative is flowing like the lower Trinity at flood conditions and features things like mandatory abortions, "Evil Nancy Pelosi," gun confiscation, and so-called "good Christians" being discriminated against because they can't be the bigots they want to be.

We need a counter-vision, both for ourselves, and for the people we want to inspire to vote Democratic. I don't think we've got one.

[Javaman]

11. not much different than now, because while the Gov might be a Dem...

the Governorship of Texas has always been an inherently weak political seat as per the Texas Constitution.

It's the LT Gov and the legislature that has the power.

if those two things change to blue then we are talking real change until that, not so much.