How tired are you of the Texas bashing?

[elfwitch]

I admit our state has more than a few problems. A lot of those were amplified when Chimpy was governor and have been made worse with Perry. BUT...

As bad as the politics are and when that situation is multiplied by the all hat and no cowboy factor, is this really such a bad place?

Do we really deserve to bad rap we've gotten because the A-holes have taken over? Haven't they really taken over everywhere? It's not just here.

Just a little tired of having to defend my entire home state to people who think we are all a bunch of mouth breathing low-life hicks.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

1. Yes, you deserve it

Not you specifically, but unfortunately, your brethren vote for these scumbags, and thus, can't have much for morals themselves.

On edit: I would also like to say you're one of my favorite DUers, and living breathing proof that no stereotype holds true for everyone.

[elfwitch]

16. Honey I am the living embodiment of...

not being a stereotype.

[texastoast]

26. In case you haven't seen my posts in GD

Texas is only a recently neocon state. Twenty-five years ago (before the influx of out-of-staters--we wuz invaded!!), George Bush wouldn't have had the slightest chance of winning an election, even if only 30% of the population turned out to vote.

Not one freaking real Texan ever, ever believed that shrubito had a snowball's chance against Ann Richards. Everyone in Texas who knew him also knew how stupid and inept loser-boy was (see his "management" of the Texas Rangers). So, in their arrogance, they kept their lazy butts at home and didn't go to the polls. Big mistake.

One that our "brethren" will not again make.

As an aside, this particular oilfield chick doesn't fit your stereotype mold at all. And neither do most Texans. We don't ride horses to school, in case you were wondering.

[CoolOnion]

39. You do, too.

In 2000, I couldn't believe that friends in California, Chicago, Philly, and New York were going to actually cast their votes for our idiot Governor Bush! They kept telling me about the "Texas miracle" in our schools, and I kept saying, "Hey, I live here and he's LYING!"

They wanted out from under the Clinton scandal so bad they didn't trust Gore! They wanted someone with "family values."

I tried to point out the many dirty tricks used against John McCain were the the same ones used against Ann Richards to win the Governorship.

I tried to tell them that Bush was a lousy Governor, who tried to turn West Texas into a toxic waste dump, that he never visited the schools here until he was running for President, that he changed his driver's license number to cover up God-only-knows what.

They didn't listen. They called me "liberal," "alarmist," "fanatic," and voted for him. Watching otherwise intelligent people cast their votes for that man was like watching a train wreck in slow motion.

So my point is, one doesn't have to be from Texas to be STUPID!

This time, my friends are telling me, "Gee, I should have paid closer attention to what you were telling us."

Let's just hope most people in this country learned a lesson and will vote him out of office!

[fudge stripe cookays]

43. Touche!

Thanks Cool Onion!

FSC

[bluestateguy]

2. I have lived in Texas for about 6 years

and I think most of the bashing is justified. When Texas starts electing some good people, I will stand up in her defense.

[CoolOnion]

34. Get to work, BlueStateGuy

We ARE a blue state--as soon as we GOTV, you'll see what I mean!

[Sebum]

44. homophobia (-)is still rampant . But, lots of friendly people (+)

[TX-RAT]

3. It gets old

[4MoreYearsOfHell]

4. Any chance of Texas

going blue this year? Haven't people had enough?

[struggle4progress]

24. As Ah fahmahTahxian mahself, ...

Ah's got sum doubts bouts them all goin blue-sah therah anytahm sooon.

Most of my ancient experience was metro-DFW, which seemed controlled by rich Rs apparently using a Nixonian strategy of beaming brain-waves ("your vote won't matter anyway--cause if it did, you would be whacked") at everybody else. Almost all of the rest of my ancient experience was in Austin, which (as a city) resembled an attempt to crazy-glue a Bible tract into the hand of a stoned country-muzak fan driving a lobbyist downtown, with a bumper-sticker like: "An armed society is one where nobody talks about voting."

<edit: added second paragragh to further confuse readers>

[JayS]

30. I guess it depends on who is the candidate for the Democratic...

...Party. Don't they have some guy named Terry, or Sperry, or Berry. Something like that?

I don't watch television so I don't know if Kerry has run any ads on TV and I have not heard any on the radio. Yesterday evening I thought I would count how many Kerry bumper stickers I could find. I stopped at zero. Lots of Dean stickers though.

[curlyred]

5. it's just like anywhere else

we've elected a republican state government in Colorado, too, so I guess we deserve the same treatment, huh?

It's not Texas I have a problem with, only a few Texans. Kinda like Christ and the christians. No problem with Christ, just a few christians. :)

[atreides1]

6. Is It Deserved

Yes, it is. It's the people of Texas who keep voting for men like Tom Delay and Rick Perry.

Okay so you're probably not one of those but the majority keep doing it. I mean what is the attraction that Delay posesses, I don't see it,
and I don't understand why a group of people who are so proud of their history as fighters keep re-electing the Bug Killer. Especially
after his lame excuse about the military being full of minorities, and
he couldn't enlist.

This can only mean one of two things, either a lot of people in Texas are stupid, or the stories about Texans being fighters are myth.

Delay was, is, and always will be a coward. And this is just one man,
what about some of the others, who kick at rocks while Delay helped the state Republicans push through the district changes, what did they do, nothing.

Most Texans seem to be proud of Delay and all that he's done, so for those that are, I guess the stupid theory applies.

[XNASA]

7. Well, I'll tell ya......................

I lived in Texas myself for quite some time. Six years. Now I'm back in Sweet Home Chicago. And I'm very happy to be back in a liberal environment.

I had a lot of great friends in Texas. Of course, about half of them were from other parts of the country, but still, we were all Texans at the time.

But the deal is, Texas gives as good as it gets. The average Texan is blind to events, not just in the rest of the world, but to the rest of the country as well. To the average Texan, nothing else matters but Texas.

And that's the root of it all.

And actually, the Texans who you refer to as hicks were very salt of the earth types. At least in my experience. I never had any problems dealing with genuine Texans, people who's families had been in Texas for generations. I got on with them quite well. They always seemed plain spoken and honest. But the damn first or second generation suburbanites were jerks. That probably goes for anywhere, but there are a "lot" of first and second generation suburbanites in Texas.

[CoolOnion]

35. Thanks for the affirmation, XNASA

When I was growing up, Texans were liberal & just about everybody I knew was from here. My parents were involved in charitable work, and, yes, they knew what was going on in the rest of the world--not just in Texas.

Now, just about everybody is from somewhere else. Everybody's working so hard keep up payments on their SUVs and "McMansions", and they don't want to get involved with ANYTHING! They spend weekends sitting in front of the TV, drinking beer, indulging in fake Texas "culture" and support Bush/Cheney.

Now, we're a red state! C'mon, people, get out the vote this time, turn this red state back to it's natural blue color--then don't get complacent! Stay involved!

[pscot]

8. What you all do to yourselves

is not what concerns the rest of us. It's what you do to the nation and the world at large by unleashing * and the exTerminator on those of us who still believe in responsible taxation, environmental protection and the Social Contract. Of course we realize that not all Texans are at fault, but the mouth-breathing fundies seem to be in charge down there and you can't really expect the rest of us to just shrug it off. Texas is the dark tower, Mordor, the source of much that's evil in this otherwise green and pleasant land. I It's a hard place to like or forgive.

[drfemoe]

9. Bible Belt

A lot of the political problems started when the religious right took over the republican party.

I was living in another state when the faux Texan was elected governor. Sorry. I was only gone for four years!

I think it's ridiculous for so called progressives to "blame" Democrats from any state for the repulsive repukes from their state.
Those are minds I am not very interested in hearing from.

[fudge stripe cookays]

10. Thank you!

It's a helluva lot worse in Kansas, believe me.

I have a friend who moved up there from Texas, and she's convinced she's in hell!

They don't even have any vegetarian supermarkets up there. Progrssive values? What are those? No, everyone and their brother has a "Pro-Life" sign stuck in their front yard. Wichita is a just hotbed of progressive values, isn't it?

Anybody who claims that Texas sucks has never seen Austin. They've never heard of Ann Richards, or Molly Ivins, or Jim Hightower. We do have a proud Democratic tradition here, but it was co-opted when Phil Gramm switched parties.

We're in the middle of a huge power struggle to regain our government, just like everyone else.

So there.

[CoolOnion]

36. We should read "What's the Matter with Kansas"

The author was on Bill Moyers' NOW and the book describes how extreme religious-right-wingers in the Republican Party got organized and took over the whole state. We need to take a good hard look at our organization, identify the MAJORITY of eligible voters in Texas who are not voting, and get them on our side & out to the polls!

By the way, Bill Moyers can go on your list of "real" Texans.

[Gothmog]

11. It gets old

Texas deserves some grief for Tom Delay, Rick Perry, John Cornyn and Bush. However, we have some good Democrats here who are working to change things. Texas will be a Red state this year but there is some hope for the future.

[argyl]

12. I'm really tired of it.It's even rearing its head on our new forum.

Can't be content to bash us in General Discussion or The Lounge.One more time from Texas,the land of the knuckledraggers,to all you lovely liberals elsewhere,"Smirk ain't from Texas,he's from New England,as are his ancestors".
We do count Molly Ivins and Jim Hightower as our own,however.
What other state has musicians that have shown the courage of Steve Earle,Willie Nelson,Michelle Shocked,or the Dixie Chicks?
If you people don't like us,then,"Fuck all ya'll".

[2bfree]

13. Amen Argy!

I was really hoping that the new Texas board would a place that Texans could come to and state proudly were we live without the bashing we get on the rest of the board. I agree we have some bad people here and that the state is leaning the right these days but I don't think that means that the whole state is bad. I think the state is beautiful (not just brown like I keep reading from others), we have a diverse population and we have great beer and bands!

[JayS]

29. In my part of Texas the expression is...

...Y'all F**K OFF now, ya hear? :)

[NoPasaran]

14. Not a bit

To all you whiny Yankees I say

Bring

It

On

[Maestro]

15. Oh geez. What sweeping generalizations

We voted these guys into power? Whatever, dream on. Texas' problem and the reason why the repubes have power now is simply voter apathy. The "get the vote out" failed the democratic party and has failed the democratic party since Bush got his grubby hands on the governership. Cornyn, Perry and the other freepers in power now are riding some mighty long coattails extended to them by Dubya. If the majority of people actually voted in Texas the dems would be back in power. This however is going to be tough since the latest gerrymandering of the repubes has weakened traditionally democratic areas.

We have a lot that is to be celebrated. We are fine state with many outstanding individuals. To ignore this is just plain ignorant. It's like saying all those from Massachussetts are ass-backwards because Romney is governor or those from Colorado are idiots because Ashcroft is from there. Hey and let's not forget the freaks from Montana (or is it Wyoming?) where Cheney hails from. Am I correct in my assumptions, no and neither are those that bash Texas just because of a carpet bagging family that usurped power in my state. We are fighting hard, believe me, to get this state back. It will probably stay freeper land for a while longer but change is coming.

[lastliberalintexas]

42. Bingo!

There IS something that we deserve to be bashed for- our turnout rate. We are 48th in the nation in percentage of eligible voters who are actually registered and 49th in turnout (or vice versa- when you're that low it really doesn't matter which number is which!). Otherwise, Texas is just like many other states where the battles are raging.


There is a chance, slight though it is, that Wisconsin will go repub this year. Will we start to see Wisconsin bashing threads?


And btw Maestro, Wyoming is where Cheney was born and reared. It was also the reddest state in the nation in 2000. And the Bush family originally hailed from Ohio, so let's make the Ohians defend themselves for a change! :)

[sendero]

17. Texas is a good target...

.... but I don't take it personally. I'm a Texan, - but I could move to Oklahoma tomorrow and I'd be an Oklahoman. It really doesn't mean much.

Texas has a lot going for it. And despite the unfortunate selection of leaders the people have chosen over the last few years, Texas is overall a friendly, good place.

So bash away - it doesn't bother me because I'm not a part of that problem. :)

[montieg]

18. Texas used to be

a damn good place. Then, in the early 70's Re-pubes started moving here en masse and since then the place has gone to hell... elected a bunch of idiots who think they're rich enough to be Re-pubes and fooled a bunch more good, common folks who simply can't see through the bushit--bushwa--whatever. One of the idiots they elected, like argyl says, AINT no Texan. He and his daddy and mama and all his corrupt brothers are from Kennebunkport, Maine. They may say they're Texan, but just look where they all went to school and college. You think monkeyshines would have lasted a single day in Odessa High School?? Fat chance! He was a cheerleader at Andover Academy in Maryland. Nuff said.

[newyawker99]

23. Hi montieg!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[texastoast]

27. You go

And you are right. shrubito wouldn't have made a day at OHS. Maybe Permian with all the bronco-killer wimps . . .

[bookman]

19. With apologies to Natilie...

..I, too, am ashamed our president is from Texas.

[texas1928]

20. Hey, it is not my fault the idiot is in office

I did not vote for him. AND I AM FROM TEXAS!

[argyl]

21. I voted against him three times.Onlt a Texan can make that claim.

xx

[montieg]

22. You damn skippy

and I'm plenty proud of it!

[CoolOnion]

37. Me, too! You know what they say...

..."third time's a charm." Keep your fingers crossed!

[NoPasaran]

38. I've now voted against him FOUR times!

Isn't early voting great?

[CoolOnion]

40. Ohhh...you're right, it's FOUR...

...I forgot for a sec that he was elected Governor twice. Good lord. Okay, so maybe the FOURTH time's a charm, in his case. Damn, it's hard to get rid of that guy!

[Barbara917]

25. Really tired after reading this article in WaPo

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A41964-2004Apr25?language=printer

SUGAR LAND, Tex. -- This is the home of Britton Stein, who describes George W. Bush as "a man, a man's man, a manly man," and Al Gore as "a ranting and raving little whiny baby."

Forty-nine years old, Stein is a husband, a father, a landscaper and a Republican. He lives in a house that has six guns in the closets and 21 crosses in the main hallway. His wife cuts his hair with electric clippers. His three daughters aren't embarrassed when he kisses them on their cheeks. He loves his family, hamburgers and his dog. He believes in God, prays daily and goes to church weekly. He has a jumbo smoker in his back yard and a 40-foot tree he has climbed to hang Christmas lights. He has a pickup truck that he has filled with water for the Fourth of July parade, driving splashing kids around a community where Boy Scouts plant American flags in the yards. His truck is a Chevy. His beer is Bud Light. His savior is Jesus Christ. His neighbors include Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Tex.), the House majority leader, who says of Sugar Land, "I think it is America."

You will have to read the entire article to see how grossly the writer characaturizes the stereotype. Yes. I have met people like this living here. But a Northeastern liberal on another discussion board who brought this article to my attention clearly bought into the whole stereotype as indicative of conservatives in Texas and took the precinct voting record of 75%-25% as representative of whole state.

:(

[johncoby2]

28. What's your point?

"Just a little tired of having to defend my entire home state to people who think we are all a bunch of mouth breathing low-life hicks."

Now eyes takes ception to dem dar words. And if I coulds get my ass out a da couch, I woods open a can of whup ass on yous.



Hey...Texas IS a bunch of hill billies if you look at what has happened this past year:

We are some purtneer dumbasses.

[Skittles]

31. never get tired of it at all

Texas f***ing deserves it and don't bash me, I have lived here almost 30 years.

[Hog lover]

32. Kwitcher whinin' - you ain't got it bad at all - here in Arkansaw,

we'uns are really the ones got it bad, bein' as how we is barefoot adn pregnant and all.

[CoolOnion]

33. I'm sick of it!

I grew up in Fort Worth, & my childhood revolved around the art museums and the Van Cliburn competition. I'm sick of that fake Bush and his lowlife family, putting on cowboy hats, swaggering around telling the world "all Texans walk like that."

Throw the bum out and don't send him back here! Send him to Mars! Awhile back he started talking about establishing a Mars colony, so send let's send him!

If you want to meet some real Texans, read the words of Jim Hightower, Molly Ivins, and Ann Richards!

[Vogon_Glory]

41. One of the Reasons I Gave So Much to the Demos This Year

One of the reasons I gave so much to the Democratic Party this year is because I feel like I've had to skulk around and not flaunt my state of origin. I don't see why I should have to conceal the fact that I was born in and grew up in the same place the Bungler grew up in.

I want to be able to be out in the open with the fact that I'm proud to be Texas-born and I don't think I can do it until Gee Dubya is sacked.

:kick:

[Tims]

45. Texas has weathered the economic storms

better than most states. People still flock here because of jobs and a low cost of living. For too many Texans, its easy to ignore the economic crisis that Bush has put us in because it has effected us less. Prosperity = Apathy. They also believe that the general prosperity of Texas can be linked to the pro-business republicans. People begin to believe the Republican mantra of "elect a Democrat and lose your job".

If Texas ever feels a real economic setback as we did in the late 80's, then all bets are off.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

46. Sadly we do deserve it to an extent

(BTW, I just found this forum and am so glad to know we have our own little niche!)

Let's be honest no matter how much it hurts. Texas is full of voting zombies. I know that there are MANY progressive thinkers in Texas, but the number of lazy voters amazes me. Most don't show up at the polls, then the majorities that do are programmed by the likes of the NRA and Pro-Lifers. We (that means us Democrats) need to get out there and educate. When I started my personal campaign in the VERY unenlightened (<--PC word for Redneck) area where I reside against the stupidity, I was shocked by how misinformed they really were. If it wasn't in the church bulletin, local paper or the NRA magazine, they were clueless. What influence the MSM had on them was all pro Bush (That I won't let my state take the blame for). I have had better luck with the aging Texans and the young first time voters. The old were willing to listen and understood the concept of corruption; the young were starving for some explanations other than mom and dad's. I also ran across quite a few thinking republicans that were just as sick of Bush as I was.

For the record, I voted for Clinton, Ann Richards and Al Gore. Not once have I cast a vote for a Bush!



edit: spelling

[TexasProgressive]

47. Tired, yes. But I'm not surprised at it.

I was born and raised in Denton, Texas. I've lived in a lot of other places, in the US and abroad. This is home, and I'm glad to be back, even though this isn't the most welcoming place for a gay man.

Bottom line is this. We gave the country Tom Delay, Dubya, Phil Gramm, Dick Armey.

Hell. The WORST of the GOP come from Texas. So you can't blame 'em for bashing us.

[TexasLady]

48. I doubt many of us take it personally..

we've got mountains, rivers, sandy beaches, flatlands, hills, and barbecues in January. Lots of great things to be proud of, just not many of the politicians..

My family has been here since the late 1800's, and of course Im proud of that. Plenty of us are ashamed of what our state has produced..even if these"Texans" ain't REAL Texans.

We do our part, put up with the fundie Baptists pro-lifers and the RW BS.Why? Because we all must find something really good about this state, and its like anyone living anywhere they call home. Guess we just have to put up with it until fellow Texans come to their senses.

[prayin4rain]

49. We need support not bashing.

[damntexdem]

50. Oh, I'm a little tired of Texas bashing, but ...

I'm sure I can keep doing it at least a little longer.