Posted on 01/11/2010 7:09:01 AM PST by deport
The Houston political landscape has changed significantly since Sheila Jackson Lee last had a serious race for Congress — her first, in fact, back in 1994.
The district looks different: Its 228 square miles, mostly in the center of Houston, were reshaped in 2003 at the behest of Texas Republicans.
Its voters are different: African-Americans account for 40 percent of the eight-term Democrat's estimated 652,000 constituents now, compared with 51 percent 16 years ago. Hispanics have doubled their share of the population to 36 percent. And the political power centers have shifted from the inner city churches to the neighborhoods like Windsor Village that ring Houston's central core.
What's more, the way candidates reach voters is different: When Jackson Lee first ran for Congress, she appeared with African-American ministers. On the day Houston City Councilman Jarvis Johnson declared his intent to replace Jackson Lee, his first interview was a roundtable with liberal Houston bloggers........
..... The winner of her Democratic contest with Johnson and Houston lawyer Sean Roberts is all but guaranteed to claim the House seat in November, given the heavily Democratic tilt of the district.
The sour mood of voters is not the only parallel between the 18th Congressional District races of 1994 and 2010. So is the generational difference between the 60-year-old incumbent and her two 38-year-old foes. Johnson, the better-known challenger, boasts of his Internet savvy; the veteran lawmaker hasn't updated her Twitter account since Oct. 22.
Jackson Lee, like much of the Texas political establishment, sided with Hillary Clinton in the 2008 Democratic presidential contest. Johnson and Roberts were early supporters of Barack Obama, then a long shot.
end snips
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
Take her down!
I think this will be the perfect opportunity for Sheila to personally go to Mars and look for that American flag.
That seat will always go to a leftist. But I’d love to see the voters at least elect someone who does not flat-out embarrass their district every time she opens her mouth.
The Dems. got tired of Cynthia Mc Kinney and threw her under the bus. The same fate may await Jackson-Lee.
There is no party registration in Texas. Anybody can vote in the Dem primary. Sheila has some entertainment value, but the act is getting old. On the other hand, a new liberal might be more effective. So, perhaps we should be careful about what we wish for.
This would be another good opportunity for a mini “operation chaos” to take out Jackson-Lee.
IMO that won’t happen this election as Texas has a primary that involves many statewide offices. That said I guess the GOP primary voters within that district could cross over and not really impact a statewide race but I don’t believe it will happen.
On the other hand, a new liberal might be more effective. So, perhaps we should be careful about what we wish for.
I think you are spot on as to the potential effectiveness between Lee and Johnson.
Let me call it now - if Jackson Lee is defeated, it’s because of racism, even if her opponent is black.
That wasn’t Shelia Jackon Lee. That was Barbara Lee from California.
My poor sister, who is more conservative than me, is in this nut-job’s district. Given the choice between a certified nut-job and ObaMao rubberstamp, I’d go with the certified nut-job. at least, there is some entertainment value.
Sheila votes for and promotes every racist and communist proposal that comes up. She also sponsors them. The only way a new liberal might be more effective is in being less of a buffoon.
But she's in fact a very poisonous person.
I'll vote in the 'rat primary for anybody who looks like they can take her out. It's time for Queen Sheila to be deposed.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.