Posted on 03/12/2002 9:30:32 PM PST by Illbay
In the first place immigration is for many reasons not that big a deal in Texas.
Second, the GOP is now very much entrenched here, and it's going to take more than a few disgruntled tin-foil hatters to keep those folks from being mobilized. This just isn't much of a campaign issue in Texas.
Sanchez may draw off some of the hispanic vote, but I really don't think he has much of a chance at winning.
It's important to note that in the last election, GWB was reelected by a LANDSLIDE over the Dem challenger. That means a lot when you realize that Texas rarely reelects a governor; our distrust of politicians usually limits a governor to one four year term.
It is very popular to be a Republican in Texas just now.
For instance, although you have a handful of radical hotheads most Hispanics that live here tend to be conservative, and a sizeable minority of them vote that way.
Second, there is not NEARLY the animosity between Latino and Anglo in Texas that they have in California. I'm not sure why, maybe it's because we fought a war to decide things, but everyone pretty much behaves.
Californians seem to enjoy exporting their misery, but as you say Texas need learn NOTHING from anyone in California about how to keep a conservative supermajority.
Did this dip change his last name to WorldPeace? Anyone know the story on this guy?
He must have at least two sets of ads then ---the ads here made him look like an extreme socialist. He was promising free heath care and college to all ---saying that "no one is second class" and everyone is entitled to everything. He's also promised to make Spanish as important as English. He's extremely pro-Affirmative Action (not for whites even if they're a minority though).
Sanchez said Morales was insulting people whose preferred language is Spanish.
Preferred language in the U.S. where English is the native tongue? Psst. Sanchez, your statements are most contracdictory as 'everybody' you hope to represent does not speak Spanish. Let's hope the "English Only" crowd are just as insulted and defeat him royally.
I agree. This I personally hoped Morales would win for selfish reasons, he would have been a slam dunk loss against Perry. However I knew that Sanchez would win. He ran a better race, he had better ads and he just looks better as a candidate.
Now, that said, Perry is going to be very, VERY difficult to defeat. As you mention, this state has gone Republican, with a few liberal enclaves left. Austin being one of them.
I have seen Perry give a magnificent speech. I know he is capable of running a good campaign. He has been virtually invisible so far, but there was no need for him to spend money. He had no opponent.
I'm certain he will prevail, but Sanchez will run a tough race unless somehow he stumbles and that certainly is a possibility.
My $.02 worth.
I don't like it either.
Sanchez supported GW, something I haven't seen mentioned here at all. He ran a good campaign. I just can't stand the policy of racial profiling and demonization of people.
I am not so jaded or cynical that I can't believe that we can't assess a person for their ideas and character and make an informed decision no matter their heritage or party. Sheesh!
Re Kirk, I really don't know much about him but his ads shown here in Austin were well done. If all you know about a candidate is from television advertising, I can understand why he did well. (A sad commentary I know.)
I don't think Bentsen could have defeated Cornyn, but he certainly had a better shot than either of the two losers who have to go through a runoff next month. That victory in the Senate is going to be a cakewalk.
The only race which will be close is for Lt. Governor, and I'm less confident of that. John Sharp is a charismatic Democrat.
The hate crimes legislation that Perry signed over the objection of most conservatives is actually a very weak bill. It allows the punishment for a crime to be increased somewhat for some crimes, but it doesn't create a new "hate crime." With the sentencing discretion already given to judges, it's arguable that it doesn't have any effect at all. I don't like it out of principle, but it was like most liberal measures. It made them feel good without actually doing anything.
Conservatives in Texas have their work cut out for them. Undoubtedly, Sanchez will attract a lot of hispanic votes in the Valley. But the legislature will be solidly Republican and we'll be sending more Republicans to Congress. The gloom and doomers just don't understand Texas.
Low turn-out. Turnout was something like 28% in the 1998 election. I imagine it was even lower for Hispanics. More Hispanics turned out in 2000, and fewer voted for Bush.
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