Texas Dems Benched for the 2004 Elections?

[Dover]

Texas won't be in on 2004 election fun

Editorial Board

AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN

Sunday, January 4, 2004

This year, much of the United States will get excited about a presidential election during a time of war, featuring a strong-willed, daring and polarizing president, George W. Bush, against a Democrat yet to be named but sure to be highly critical of the current administration.

But not in Texas.

For all its importance in electing presidents, Texas is now so dependably Republican that it's left on the sidelines through most of the campaign for the November vote. As much as he needs Texas' 34 electoral votes to win re-election, President Bush can -- quite reasonably -- take this state's vote for granted in 2004. No Democratic presidential has won a majority of Texas voters since Jimmy Carter in 1976.

Even the Democratic presidential primary campaign may well prove anticlimactic in Texas. After the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary this month, the Democratic candidates who survive will campaign through other states' primaries in February. By the time Texas holds it March 9 primary, the Democratic nominee may be all but official, or the race narrowed to only two or three candidates.

So, once again, Texas will watch the presidential campaigns from afar. Candidates from both parties will make a few token public appearances in Texas -- a wave to voters during trips whose principal purpose will be to raise campaign contributions for spending in "battleground" states, where voters cannot be taken for granted.

Statewide, this is a light election year, with only seven seats up for election: one on the Texas Railroad Commission and three each on the Texas Supreme Court and the Court of Criminal Appeals. If the past several statewide elections are any guide, winning the GOP primary on March 9 will be tantamount to election in November -- especially this year, when the biggest Republican of all, Bush, will lead the ballot. The Democrats aren't even challenging in several statewide races. The Democrats have fallen, and they still can't get up.

Filing for the March 9 primary ended Friday, with the grand exception of the congressional districts, because of the newly adopted district lines and the subsequent court fight. Congressional primary candidates have another window, Jan. 11-16, to file.

Whatever political fireworks go off in Texas this year are likely to come in some of the new congressional districts, especially where Democratic incumbents find themselves with new constituents and new challengers -- in some cases from their own party....cont'd

http://www.statesman.com/opinion/content/auto/epaper/editions/sunday/editorial_f36fa69ca54c40af00f6.html

[SheilaT]

1. Here's one non-Texan

who hopes that the Republicans are proven wrong and the state goes Democratic. Or at least near enough that Bush has to campaign there.

[Bronco69]

2. I'm a Texan and I'll be at the polls

first thing when they open. He might win the state but I'll be damned if I'll sit idly by and just watch.

[reprehensor]

3. Yeah, Baby!

My wife and I are with you on that one. We are gonna work to get people registered to vote who haven't even thought about it before. But it's OK if Dubya thinks he's got the state in his pocket.

Might be a little November suprise for him.

Heh.

[deminflorida]

4. Well I live in Florida and was born in Alabama....

But nobody tells an independent Texan how to think....

eventually the GOP domination of Texas will backfire...

[Ilsa]

5. I'll be working the phones to get out the Dem vote also.

Even if * takes TX, I want him and Rove sweating it at the last minute. I hope all the Repukes stay home.

Besides, giving up on Texas means I can work remotely for Clark (or ABB) in NH, OK, etc!

[Rose Siding]

6. I don't accept the premise that nothing ever changes.

But...once everyone is convinced that the future has been read, the war lost before the battle, then just let the repub owned, voter machine companies tell us who we picked on the day that was supposed to be an election.

The demographics in TX are changing and maybe the repubs will be caught snoozing.

[Fleshdancer]

7. I'll do my part by voting Democratic

I'm also working on convincing all my apolitical friends why they need to vote too. My husband will be voting with me and my Mom never needs convincing. We will all be supporting the Democratic nominee.

[Dover]

8. Summary of the Rep. takeover in Tx.

GOP takeover in 2003 brings dramatic changes, painful divisions

By Dave McNeely

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Sunday, January 4, 2004

"You know, people gather at a car wreck."

Sen. Bill Ratliff, R-Mount Pleasant, meant that comment humorously. And indeed, it brought a laugh from the more than 100 current and former legislators, lobbyists, staff members, family members and friends gathered in the Senate chamber.

Ratliff had been asked how he felt that so many folks would turn out just to hear him announce that he's quitting the Senate, with three years left on his term.

Ratliff, now 67, admitted to some burnout after almost 15 years in the Senate. He likes spending time with his wife. He wants to lower his golf handicap.

But the early retirement of the man considered the conscience of the Senate nonetheless put an exclamation point behind the theme of the past year in Texas politics and government: the death of bipartisanship and a strong shift in the direction of state government. Some longtime observers think that's at least a car wreck.

The change was the culmination of a long push by Republicans, with longtime state Rep. Tom Craddick of Midland as one of the principal architects.

Craddick was first elected to the House in 1968, becoming one of just nine Republicans among its 150 members. But with considerable help from the coattails of men named Bush and from former House colleagues who have moved into powerful positions, Craddick became speaker last year and finally accom- plished the first GOP takeover of the House in 130 years.

The former House buddies who helped push things along include U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, Gov. Rick Perry, Perry's chief of staff Mike Toomey and Texas Association of Business head Bill Hammond.

The results of the now complete Republican domination of Texas government have been dramatic, and Ratliff's retirement is just one of them....>>cont'd

http://www.statesman.com/metrostate/content/auto/epaper/editions/sunday/metro_state_f37fab16a54c025e005f.html