I am now thinking 2014 and 2016 is all about Texas...

[CapnSteve]

Stay with me:

1) Texas is a big state: lots of electoral votes, big congressional delegation.
2) If Texas flips blue, no Republican presidential candidate has a chance to be elected.
3) It Texas flips blue, Democratic majority in Congress is guaranteed.
4) Texas is not "bright red"; it was a blue state when I moved here thirty years ago.
5) Even with gerrymandering and all the dirty tricks, Texas is still has a liberal majority.
6) Changing demographics are making Texas even more liberal.
7) The more over-reach by our current crop of Republican dimwits (I am looking at you, Ted Cruz!), the more reasonable Texans come over to our side...

Here's hoping that the DLC goes "all in" to flip Texas blue! We need as much help as possible!


Cap'n Steve

[TBF]

1. We are already turning the suburbs in Houston -

and some of these have been deep red. People moving in, demographics changing, registering folks to vote. Lots of labor working in the refineries here - great place to organize.

I'm not sure we can do it in 2014/16 - but up and comers like Wendy and the Castro twins are making me feel more positive and demographics are in our favor in the next 10-15 years.

I'd like to see the party put some $$$ into this state.

[Gothmog]

13. Fort Bend County is going to turn blue

I am active with the Fort Bend County Democrats. Fort Bend is a Houston suburb and we are working hard to turn Fort Bend blue. If Fort Bend County turns blue, then the rest of the state will follow

BTW, Fort Bend is the former home of Tom DeLay who used to tell people that Fort Bend would never turn blue

[The Magistrate]

2. I Agree, Captain

Texas is a most promising battlefield, and surface appearances to the contrary, it can be won. And if it is, as you point out, the thing is over....

[gopiscrap]

3. alright that would be great

[gopiscrap]

4. welcome to DU

[blogslut]

5. The DLC no longer exists

And when they did, at least for the last 20 years, they paid nary attention to Texas. We got no love from the DCCC or the DSCC either. It wasn't until Howard Dean became chair of the Democratic Party that Texas became relevant to national Democrats.

Now, our majority/minority populace is too real to ignore. The sleeping giant woke up in 2004 and it took eight years just for our feet to find the floor, but we did it all by our selves.

It's great that the national party has decided we are "worth their time" but Texas is going to get out into the blue with or without assistance. Giants move slow but once they get momentum, well...

[justabob]

8. right

And when they did, at least for the last 20 years, they paid nary attention to Texas. We got no love from the DCCC or the DSCC either. It wasn't until Howard Dean became chair of the Democratic Party that Texas became relevant to national Democrats.

This is so true. There were not even D choices on the ballot for half the offices/judges until Dean came along. I was so happy to have a choice besides R and L. We had a couple of good election cycles, and now that Dean is gone, there are races going uncontested again. It is so frustrating!! If we had kept up the progress Dean got going, the *last* election would have been a lot closer and 2014 would be the turning point. It can still be done for 2014, but it is going to take more intense effort. As you say, Texas will get there eventually either way, but if we could get a little party love down here, it would go a lot faster.

[CapnSteve]

10. Whoops. Not keeping up with the acronym salad...

...the point is, we need national attention and $$$. Anyone, and I mean anyone, could beat Steve Stockman in TX district 36, for example. The guy is a complete loon (and an asshole to boot).

[blogslut]

11. I agree. We can use national attention.

Hopefully, we'll get it.

My state and national republican critters have run virtually unopposed for freaking ever. The closest we get to an opposing candidate is some libertarian. This last gubernatorial election broke my heart. I wasn't thrilled with Bill White but at least he had his own money and actually spent it all over the state. We almost had it four years previous with Chris Bell if it hadn't been for that con man Dick Friedman. My hope for 2014 is that Greg Abbot continues to be an ass so Wendy can wipe the floor with him. And that John Cornyn gets primaried out of running to some tea party nimrod so we then we get Hank Gilbert or a Castro brother for US Senator.

I hold no hope for my particular district for 2014 because it is the most republican district in the entire United States.

[longship]

6. Well, Texas certainly would help immensely.

And it would definitely stick a fork in Tom Delay's strategy.

But what we really ought to do is replicate that strategy all over the country. We need to take over the Democratic Party precinct by precinct just like the Religious Right and Christian Coalition did to the GOP in the 80's, and for which the US has suffered so badly.

That's how it's done.

[bigwillq]

7. Wasn't that what the 50 state strategy was kind of like

and we got stuck with a lot of Yellow Dogs?

edited

I put down Blue Dogs! LOL Where is my mind at?

[longship]

9. We'll take all the yellow dogs we can get.

I'd rather vote for a yellow dog than a Republican.

[warrior1]

12. dear dog I hope so

for my home state.