Eh. Governor's race is...pretty eh, imo. None of the candidates feels like a legitimate contender (which, to be fair, there aren't many of for the Democrats in Texas anymore).
I'm a bit disappointed that neither of the Castro brothers are getting into the race. Don't necessarily agree with them on all (or most) things, but I think they have a bit more heft to them than the current field. Similarly, I wish Wendy Davis had saved her run for this year (or, for that matter, run a state race instead of a national-Democrat race in 2014 (or even better, both)).
I appreciate the work Beto's been doing in terms of ground-level campaigning, at least. Also, his use of social media (see: the time he and Will Hurd carpooled to DC and live-streamed practically the whole trip).
I think Greg Abbott is a safer bet for re-election than Ted Cruz.
(01-04-2018 10:44 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote: [ -> ]I think Greg Abbott is a safer bet for re-election than Ted Cruz.
You're probably right. The article makes the argument that her run for Gov might lay the groundwork for one of the Castro brothers in 2022. That might end up being a competitive election, especially if the Rs nominate Dan Patrick or someone similar.
(01-05-2018 08:46 AM)JustAnotherAustinOwlStill Wrote: [ -> ] (01-04-2018 10:44 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote: [ -> ]I think Greg Abbott is a safer bet for re-election than Ted Cruz.
You're probably right. The article makes the argument that her run for Gov might lay the groundwork for one of the Castro brothers in 2022. That might end up being a competitive election, especially if the Rs nominate Dan Patrick or someone similar.
What would a Castro bro do that is different?
(01-05-2018 11:13 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote: [ -> ] (01-05-2018 08:46 AM)JustAnotherAustinOwlStill Wrote: [ -> ] (01-04-2018 10:44 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote: [ -> ]I think Greg Abbott is a safer bet for re-election than Ted Cruz.
You're probably right. The article makes the argument that her run for Gov might lay the groundwork for one of the Castro brothers in 2022. That might end up being a competitive election, especially if the Rs nominate Dan Patrick or someone similar.
What would a Castro bro do that is different?
I think the theory is that a Latino/Latina candidate might be better able to activate that community in the Democrats' favor than others (which isn't an idea without merit, given the results Tony Sanchez had with that community in 2002 compared to any/every other Dem gubernatorial candidate since).
The idea is then that Valdez would start getting them involved, setting the groundwork for one of the Castros to build on that in 2022.
(01-05-2018 12:48 PM)baker-13 Wrote: [ -> ] (01-05-2018 11:13 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote: [ -> ] (01-05-2018 08:46 AM)JustAnotherAustinOwlStill Wrote: [ -> ] (01-04-2018 10:44 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote: [ -> ]I think Greg Abbott is a safer bet for re-election than Ted Cruz.
You're probably right. The article makes the argument that her run for Gov might lay the groundwork for one of the Castro brothers in 2022. That might end up being a competitive election, especially if the Rs nominate Dan Patrick or someone similar.
What would a Castro bro do that is different?
I think the theory is that a Latino/Latina candidate might be better able to activate that community in the Democrats' favor than others (which isn't an idea without merit, given the results Tony Sanchez had with that community in 2002 compared to any/every other Dem gubernatorial candidate since).
The idea is then that Valdez would start getting them involved, setting the groundwork for one of the Castros to build on that in 2022.
But what would he/they DO, other than get more Hispanic votes?
(01-05-2018 01:06 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote: [ -> ] (01-05-2018 12:48 PM)baker-13 Wrote: [ -> ] (01-05-2018 11:13 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote: [ -> ] (01-05-2018 08:46 AM)JustAnotherAustinOwlStill Wrote: [ -> ] (01-04-2018 10:44 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote: [ -> ]I think Greg Abbott is a safer bet for re-election than Ted Cruz.
You're probably right. The article makes the argument that her run for Gov might lay the groundwork for one of the Castro brothers in 2022. That might end up being a competitive election, especially if the Rs nominate Dan Patrick or someone similar.
What would a Castro bro do that is different?
I think the theory is that a Latino/Latina candidate might be better able to activate that community in the Democrats' favor than others (which isn't an idea without merit, given the results Tony Sanchez had with that community in 2002 compared to any/every other Dem gubernatorial candidate since).
The idea is then that Valdez would start getting them involved, setting the groundwork for one of the Castros to build on that in 2022.
But what would he/they DO, other than get more Hispanic votes?
Depends on what you mean. Different from what/whom?
(01-05-2018 01:37 PM)baker-13 Wrote: [ -> ] (01-05-2018 01:06 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote: [ -> ] (01-05-2018 12:48 PM)baker-13 Wrote: [ -> ] (01-05-2018 11:13 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote: [ -> ] (01-05-2018 08:46 AM)JustAnotherAustinOwlStill Wrote: [ -> ]You're probably right. The article makes the argument that her run for Gov might lay the groundwork for one of the Castro brothers in 2022. That might end up being a competitive election, especially if the Rs nominate Dan Patrick or someone similar.
What would a Castro bro do that is different?
I think the theory is that a Latino/Latina candidate might be better able to activate that community in the Democrats' favor than others (which isn't an idea without merit, given the results Tony Sanchez had with that community in 2002 compared to any/every other Dem gubernatorial candidate since).
The idea is then that Valdez would start getting them involved, setting the groundwork for one of the Castros to build on that in 2022.
But what would he/they DO, other than get more Hispanic votes?
Depends on what you mean. Different from what/whom?
Different from the opposition, different from other Democrats. What would be their platform? "I am hispanic, vote for me if you are too"?
(01-05-2018 01:40 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote: [ -> ] (01-05-2018 01:37 PM)baker-13 Wrote: [ -> ] (01-05-2018 01:06 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote: [ -> ] (01-05-2018 12:48 PM)baker-13 Wrote: [ -> ] (01-05-2018 11:13 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote: [ -> ]What would a Castro bro do that is different?
I think the theory is that a Latino/Latina candidate might be better able to activate that community in the Democrats' favor than others (which isn't an idea without merit, given the results Tony Sanchez had with that community in 2002 compared to any/every other Dem gubernatorial candidate since).
The idea is then that Valdez would start getting them involved, setting the groundwork for one of the Castros to build on that in 2022.
But what would he/they DO, other than get more Hispanic votes?
Depends on what you mean. Different from what/whom?
Different from the opposition, different from other Democrats. What would be their platform? "I am hispanic, vote for me if you are too"?
Isn't much of the Democratic message either: "If you are (african american, hispanic, gay, etc. etc. etc.) you are going to vote for us"
or
"If you are (african american, hispanic, gay, etc. etc. etc.) and you don't vote for us you are an (Uncle Tom, etc.)"
(01-05-2018 02:01 PM)tanqtonic Wrote: [ -> ] (01-05-2018 01:40 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote: [ -> ] (01-05-2018 01:37 PM)baker-13 Wrote: [ -> ] (01-05-2018 01:06 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote: [ -> ] (01-05-2018 12:48 PM)baker-13 Wrote: [ -> ]I think the theory is that a Latino/Latina candidate might be better able to activate that community in the Democrats' favor than others (which isn't an idea without merit, given the results Tony Sanchez had with that community in 2002 compared to any/every other Dem gubernatorial candidate since).
The idea is then that Valdez would start getting them involved, setting the groundwork for one of the Castros to build on that in 2022.
But what would he/they DO, other than get more Hispanic votes?
Depends on what you mean. Different from what/whom?
Different from the opposition, different from other Democrats. What would be their platform? "I am hispanic, vote for me if you are too"?
Isn't much of the Democratic message either: "If you are (african american, hispanic, gay, etc. etc. etc.) you are going to vote for us"
or
"If you are (african american, hispanic, gay, etc. etc. etc.) and you don't vote for us you are an (Uncle Tom, etc.)"
That was David Duke's message too.
(01-05-2018 03:05 PM)georgewebb Wrote: [ -> ] (01-05-2018 02:01 PM)tanqtonic Wrote: [ -> ] (01-05-2018 01:40 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote: [ -> ] (01-05-2018 01:37 PM)baker-13 Wrote: [ -> ] (01-05-2018 01:06 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote: [ -> ]But what would he/they DO, other than get more Hispanic votes?
Depends on what you mean. Different from what/whom?
Different from the opposition, different from other Democrats. What would be their platform? "I am hispanic, vote for me if you are too"?
Isn't much of the Democratic message either: "If you are (african american, hispanic, gay, etc. etc. etc.) you are going to vote for us"
or
"If you are (african american, hispanic, gay, etc. etc. etc.) and you don't vote for us you are an (Uncle Tom, etc.)"
That was David Duke's message too.
I guess "race traitor" works for any race.
I have been thinking that the 2018 and 2020 elections were going to boil down to the Democrat's race/class emphasis versus the Republicans economic emphasis. Clearly that depends on how the economy is doing.
What planet are you guys living on? POC are not trying desperately to flee to the Republican party only to be guilted into staying by cries of "Uncle Tom" - the GOP is making it abundantly clear it doesn't want them by nominating a guy who started his campaign calling hispanics "rapists and murderers," who was the birther in chief, who called white supremacists "fine people," who impersonates Asians with broken English, who -need I go on?
(01-10-2018 11:58 AM)JustAnotherAustinOwlStill Wrote: [ -> ]What planet are you guys living on? POC are not trying desperately to flee to the Republican party only to be guilted into staying by cries of "Uncle Tom" - the GOP is making it abundantly clear it doesn't want them by nominating a guy who started his campaign calling hispanics "rapists and murderers," who was the birther in chief, who called white supremacists "fine people," who impersonates Asians with broken English, who -need I go on?
I am of partial Hispanic ancestry and he did not call me or my cousins rapists and murderers. That statement was in reference to illegals, not Hispanics. Just another example of the way the left slants the facts.
(01-10-2018 12:04 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote: [ -> ] (01-10-2018 11:58 AM)JustAnotherAustinOwlStill Wrote: [ -> ]What planet are you guys living on? POC are not trying desperately to flee to the Republican party only to be guilted into staying by cries of "Uncle Tom" - the GOP is making it abundantly clear it doesn't want them by nominating a guy who started his campaign calling hispanics "rapists and murderers," who was the birther in chief, who called white supremacists "fine people," who impersonates Asians with broken English, who -need I go on?
I am of partial Hispanic ancestry and he did not call me or my cousins rapists and murderers. That statement was in reference to illegals, not Hispanics. Just another example of the way the left slants the facts.
Another term for slanting the facts is lying.
(01-10-2018 12:09 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote: [ -> ] (01-10-2018 12:04 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote: [ -> ] (01-10-2018 11:58 AM)JustAnotherAustinOwlStill Wrote: [ -> ]What planet are you guys living on? POC are not trying desperately to flee to the Republican party only to be guilted into staying by cries of "Uncle Tom" - the GOP is making it abundantly clear it doesn't want them by nominating a guy who started his campaign calling hispanics "rapists and murderers," who was the birther in chief, who called white supremacists "fine people," who impersonates Asians with broken English, who -need I go on?
I am of partial Hispanic ancestry and he did not call me or my cousins rapists and murderers. That statement was in reference to illegals, not Hispanics. Just another example of the way the left slants the facts.
Another term for slanting the facts is lying.
Sorry, his eye rolling "and some of them I suppose, are good people" may get him off the hook in the minds of some, but his message was loud and clear. Let's wipe that comment from the record, for argument's sake. The rest of his campaign was just as bad. He was clearly aiming at voters who resent the increasing non-Anglo influence on American culture. I mean really, are you guys going to argue that Trump is in any way, shape, or form encouraging greater ethnic and religious diversity within the party? That was my primary point - Dems don't have to say to minorities "don't vote for the Republicans" - the Republicans are already saying that to them.
Really I could come up with 100 other examples, but what's the point? If the GOP thinks it's doing great minority outreach, more power to them, who am I to stop them?
I do find the willingness to parse and reparse Trump's words to put them in a better light to be an interesting contrast to the willingness to do the opposite with Hillary's. For example, here's the second part of the deplorables comment:
"But the other basket — and I know this because I see friends from all over America here — I see friends from Florida and Georgia and South Carolina and Texas — as well as, you know, New York and California — but that other basket of people are people who feel that the government has let them down, the economy has let them down, nobody cares about them, nobody worries about what happens to their lives and their futures, and they’re just desperate for change. It doesn’t really even matter where it comes from. They don’t buy everything he says, but he seems to hold out some hope that their lives will be different. They won’t wake up and see their jobs disappear, lose a kid to heroine, feel like they’re in a dead-end. Those are people we have to understand and empathize with as well. "
Her main, albeit poorly made, point was literally don't lump all Trump supporters into the "deplorables" basket. But it was interpreted as exactly the opposite.
(01-10-2018 12:47 PM)JustAnotherAustinOwlStill Wrote: [ -> ]Really I could come up with 100 other examples, but what's the point? If the GOP thinks it's doing great minority outreach, more power to them, who am I to stop them?
I do find the willingness to parse and reparse Trump's words to put them in a better light to be an interesting contrast to the willingness to do the opposite with Hillary's. For example, here's the second part of the deplorables comment:
"But the other basket — and I know this because I see friends from all over America here — I see friends from Florida and Georgia and South Carolina and Texas — as well as, you know, New York and California — but that other basket of people are people who feel that the government has let them down, the economy has let them down, nobody cares about them, nobody worries about what happens to their lives and their futures, and they’re just desperate for change. It doesn’t really even matter where it comes from. They don’t buy everything he says, but he seems to hold out some hope that their lives will be different. They won’t wake up and see their jobs disappear, lose a kid to heroine, feel like they’re in a dead-end. Those are people we have to understand and empathize with as well. "
Her main, albeit poorly made, point was literally don't lump all Trump supporters into the "deplorables" basket. But it was interpreted as exactly the opposite.
But here's the problem. She made no effort to "understand and empathize with" that other basket. So the logical progression is, she said she would make an effort to understand and empathize with the group that she was not calling deplorable, but she is making no effort to understand and empathize with me, therefore she must consider me to be in the deplorable group.
We have two political parties that are gravitating toward the point where democrats cater only to people who are not white males, and republicans cater only to people who are. Until somebody changes, I don't see how this can end well.
(01-10-2018 12:31 PM)JustAnotherAustinOwlStill Wrote: [ -> ] (01-10-2018 12:09 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote: [ -> ] (01-10-2018 12:04 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote: [ -> ] (01-10-2018 11:58 AM)JustAnotherAustinOwlStill Wrote: [ -> ]What planet are you guys living on? POC are not trying desperately to flee to the Republican party only to be guilted into staying by cries of "Uncle Tom" - the GOP is making it abundantly clear it doesn't want them by nominating a guy who started his campaign calling hispanics "rapists and murderers," who was the birther in chief, who called white supremacists "fine people," who impersonates Asians with broken English, who -need I go on?
I am of partial Hispanic ancestry and he did not call me or my cousins rapists and murderers. That statement was in reference to illegals, not Hispanics. Just another example of the way the left slants the facts.
Another term for slanting the facts is lying.
Sorry, his eye rolling "and some of them I suppose, are good people" may get him off the hook in the minds of some, but his message was loud and clear. Let's wipe that comment from the record, for argument's sake. The rest of his campaign was just as bad. He was clearly aiming at voters who resent the increasing non-Anglo influence on American culture. I mean really, are you guys going to argue that Trump is in any way, shape, or form encouraging greater ethnic and religious diversity within the party? That was my primary point - Dems don't have to say to minorities "don't vote for the Republicans" - the Republicans are already saying that to them.
BS. he was taking about illegals, both when he spoke about rapists and murderers, and when he spoke about good people. I have known many illegals in my life, and some of them are very good people, and others even you don’t want to be around. I think you are just hearing what you want to hear. Stop trying to fit all those people into one box, the very thing you accuse Trump of doing.
(01-10-2018 08:04 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote: [ -> ] (01-10-2018 12:31 PM)JustAnotherAustinOwlStill Wrote: [ -> ] (01-10-2018 12:09 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote: [ -> ] (01-10-2018 12:04 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote: [ -> ] (01-10-2018 11:58 AM)JustAnotherAustinOwlStill Wrote: [ -> ]What planet are you guys living on? POC are not trying desperately to flee to the Republican party only to be guilted into staying by cries of "Uncle Tom" - the GOP is making it abundantly clear it doesn't want them by nominating a guy who started his campaign calling hispanics "rapists and murderers," who was the birther in chief, who called white supremacists "fine people," who impersonates Asians with broken English, who -need I go on?
I am of partial Hispanic ancestry and he did not call me or my cousins rapists and murderers. That statement was in reference to illegals, not Hispanics. Just another example of the way the left slants the facts.
Another term for slanting the facts is lying.
Sorry, his eye rolling "and some of them I suppose, are good people" may get him off the hook in the minds of some, but his message was loud and clear. Let's wipe that comment from the record, for argument's sake. The rest of his campaign was just as bad. He was clearly aiming at voters who resent the increasing non-Anglo influence on American culture. I mean really, are you guys going to argue that Trump is in any way, shape, or form encouraging greater ethnic and religious diversity within the party? That was my primary point - Dems don't have to say to minorities "don't vote for the Republicans" - the Republicans are already saying that to them.
BS. he was taking about illegals, both when he spoke about rapists and murderers, and when he spoke about good people. I have known many illegals in my life, and some of them are very good people, and others even you don’t want to be around. I think you are just hearing what you want to hear. Stop trying to fit all those people into one box, the very thing you accuse Trump of doing.
Actually, if you look at the transcripts for both the original speech and his follow up double-down the next day (when he expanded it from Mexico to Latin America more generally) it's not at all clear he's talking about "illegals" as opposed to all immigrants. In any case, statistically immigrants are less likely to commit those crimes than citizens, so he's making an incorrect generalization about people from Latin America. But like I said above, there are plenty of other examples from the campaign and since. And he's been condemned for them repeatedly by members of his own party.
Another one of his tweets:
"#JebBush has to like the Mexican Illegals because of his wife."
Or this retweet:
"So true. Jeb Bush is crazy, who cares that he speaks Mexican, this is America, English !!"
Having said that, he did tweet "I love Hispanics!" with a picture of him and a Trump grill taco bowl.