Texas Headed Towards Swing State Status in 2012

A little late... (4.00 / 2)

They should have been targeting Texas in 2008. The Hispanic vote would have made a difference in quite a few races despite some saying it wouldn't have. Having worked with Hispanic organizations, including LULAC, for over ten years, I share the concern of quite a few Hispanics with regard to the total disregard of the Hispanic community by the Texas Democratic Party. Even Gerald Birnberg, chair of the Harris County Democratic Party, admitted the Harris County Democratic Party could have been more aggressive in its efforts to get Hispanics to the polls. Through the years, large segments of the Hispanic community have voted Republican. One reason why might be that through the years, the Republican Party made an effort to get the Hispanics to the polls. And occasionally not only made promises but kept them. I worked with one community organization whose board and advisory board was filled with Republicans. The boards were filled with Democrats at one point not long ago and the organization fell apart.  Says a lot.  

---

by: Baby Snooks @ Tue Nov 11, 2008 at 00:08:57 AM UTC

Hispanic vote ? (0.00 / 0)

You can twist perception, Baby Snooks, reality won't budge.
Hispanics don't vote. Save your rant.

---

by: Bluefish @ Tue Nov 11, 2008 at 01:42:46 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

maybe they would (0.00 / 0)

be more compelled to vote if politicians actually delivered to their communities?

I live in a hispanic community, worked for the Obama campaign in a hispanic community, and I am a hispanic. The sentiments among the community I live and work in is that, polticians make all these promises and never keep them; If you look at the poorest areas of TX most of them are along the border. Things never seem to change where I come from. We sink deeper and deeper into poverty.

Most have lost confidence in politicians. We need to change that. The only way for that change to happen is for politicians to start making good on their promises and start delivering materialistic change to these communities.

Why go out and vote when you know it isn't going to change anything for you?  

---

by: alyssa chaos @ Tue Nov 11, 2008 at 02:33:38 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hopefully Obama will change things... (0.00 / 0)

It will depend on the priorities of the Hispanic members of Congress. Who like the Clintons should have been pounding the pavement in Texas. And the dirt roads. And not just for Obama. For Noriega. Reality is a Hispanic senator from Texas scared some Texas Democrats.  His priorities are not their priorities. Their priorities are found on the well-paved streets. His priorities are found on the dirt roads.

But you are right. Most people have stopped voting because they know nothing is going to change with most politicians. Many of them on the well-paved streets as well as the dirt roads. But then Obama is not most politicians. Which the Clintons will discover as they continue to fill his White House with their advisors. It will still be his White House. Not theirs.  

Few people know the real poverty that exists along the border. But it's not just along the border. It's everywhere. Even in Houston. Many Democrats have become quite adept at "out of sight, out of mind." Particularly with regard to Hispanics. The forgotten minority in Texas.

---

by: Baby Snooks @ Tue Nov 11, 2008 at 11:21:39 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Steps, incremental steps (0.00 / 0)

I'm often amazed how people's expectations exceed the reality of the situation. Yes, we could have seen a greater outreach into the Hispanic community during the 2008 election. Resources were limited and decisions were made. That's hindsight and armchair quarterbacking at this point.

I would suggest 2010 is a great time to move this initiative forward and test the waters for a 2012 swing state status. We know where the opportunities are and where the key areas should be to target. We have a strong database of voters from the incredible turnout for the 2008 primary. 2010 would be a great time to incrementally test a strong Hispanic push in support of our statewide races. Data from that election could provide the catalyst for our national campaigns to refocus on Texas as a swing state. Somehow we have to prove that we are not a give Red state.

---

by: RBearSAT @ Tue Nov 11, 2008 at 01:29:19 AM UTC

Swing voters in a swing state... (0.00 / 0)

The problem is that by 2010 many Hispanics in Texas will have decided to vote Republican if they have not decided to become Republican. Simply because the Texas Democratic Party ignored them in 2008. And don't think for one moment that the Republican Party isn't already courting them. And being told "told you so" by some of the Hispanic leaders who remained Republican when many Hispanics decided to become Democrats. Limited resources? Please. Garnet Coleman gave almost $25,000 to Hubert Vo who really has no place in public office at this point in the last 30 days of the election cycle. How much did he give to Rick Noriega or any of the Hispanic candidates for the state legislature?  

How much really was poured into the Hispanic races?  Bill Clinton came to Houston to raise funds for Chris Bell, the candidate for a state legislative race. But not for Rick Noriega, the candidate for the US senatorial race?  Maybe Arthur Schechter likes John Cornyn. Or maybe Rick Noriega didn't feel like selling himself to Arthur Schechter.

There has always been bad blood between the Hispanic community and the Democratic Party. This has not helped. At all.  

---

by: Baby Snooks @ Tue Nov 11, 2008 at 02:05:10 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Unbelievable (0.00 / 0)

Arthur Schechter sent out a fundraising email for Rick Noriega. Check it out.

---

by: David Mauro @ Tue Nov 11, 2008 at 02:12:47 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

OMG (0.00 / 0)

How much did he pay for postage versus whatever he paid Bill Clinton?  

---

by: Baby Snooks @ Tue Nov 11, 2008 at 10:52:54 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I have no idea (0.00 / 0)

and its irrelevant.

My point is that you are attacking these people for not helping Noriega when they most certainly did.

Schechter contributed to the campaign and when Noriega asked him he allowed the campaign to use his name to fundraise.

---

by: David Mauro @ Tue Nov 11, 2008 at 19:16:32 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

He did? (0.00 / 0)

Unless Arthur Schechter contributed during the last 30 days of the campaign, he in fact did not.

Maybe he figured he didn't have to with all the money Garnet Coleman is contributing to various campaigns. According to the TEC filings, he's become a literal ATM machine for candidates. Wonder where all the money is coming from?  Maybe Arthur Schechter donates to him and then he donates to the different candidates.

---

by: Baby Snooks @ Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 00:26:46 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Rick Noriega (0.00 / 0)

Rick was a lost cause from the beginning. The experts knew
this. Maybe you never heard one of his speeches, they weren't real inspirational.

---

by: Bluefish @ Tue Nov 11, 2008 at 11:27:32 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

So who is Markos going to pick (0.00 / 0)

for us to run for Governor?

I don't think Bill White is progressive enough (for him or me, for that matter), and I'm guessing The Great Orange Satan isn't a Kinky kinda guy...

---

by: PDiddie @ Tue Nov 11, 2008 at 01:59:19 AM UTC

Or in two years, popular enough... (0.00 / 0)

Bill White panders to too many and often not wisely. First to the Vinson and Elkins "elite" who opposed a hirise. Then to the poor who were about to be evicted from an apartment complex that the owners had collected rent from but not paid the mortgage with. Not knowing that the complex the city was taking over, already basically condemned by HUD because of health and safety code violations, was a member of Houston Apartment Association which of course believes health and safety codes, along with the Texas Property Code, don't apply to its members. Which of course puts Bill White in a very uncomfortable position. Which he was already in with regard to his pandering to Hubert Vo. What defines a slum landlord in Houston?  How much the slum landlord has given to Bill White or how connected the slum landlord is to Bill White. Bill White unwittingly busted the wrong slum landlord when he decided the city would take over La Casita Apartments. But it sounded like good public relations. Particularly after Hubert Vo was re-relected. OF course it didn't turn out to be good public relations for Houston Apartment Association. Most expect the city will drop its plans to take over La Casita and the owners will play "loopholes" for a couple of years before they finally manage to sell the property to someone else who can play "loopholes" while collecting rent on uninhabitable apartments. With the blessing of Houston Apartment Association. As Houston Apartment Association made clear after Hurrican Ike, if your apartment is uninhabitable you have to give the landlord time to make repairs. And you still have to pay rent. Even if you really can't live there. And the city gives the landlords plenty of time. Usually several years.

But Uncle Buddy likes Bill White. No doubt everyone will be invited to a "pass the hat" with Bill Clinton at the Schechters in 2010.

---

by: Baby Snooks @ Tue Nov 11, 2008 at 11:39:11 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

The numbers (0.00 / 0)

McCain and Cornyn both won Texas by over 10% in a year where Obama won nationally by 7% and Democrats did very well in other states.  It's premature to say that Texas is gonna be a true swing state any time soon.  I do think demographic trends are working in our favor especially if Republicans do their best to alienate Hispanics again on immigration,  And we shouldn't let up the fight locally, especially for legislative seats.  I'm just not that optimistic about Texas going Democratic for President (unless the race is just a really huge blowout) or electing one to statewide office any time soon.

"I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually."- James A. Baldwin

---

by: Timothy @ Tue Nov 11, 2008 at 03:43:01 AM UTC

I think (0.00 / 0)

we have better than a 50-50 chance of winning a statewide race in 2010 but you're right, we can't be over optimistic.

---

by: David Mauro @ Tue Nov 11, 2008 at 05:51:02 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I agree (0.00 / 0)

We've got a good shot at winning a statewide race in 2010, particularly if there are a number of open seats due to current office-holders seeking new positions.  Diana Maldonado and Richard Morrison have shown us how Dems can win in the suburban counties like Williamson and Fort Bend that will be key battlegrounds in 2010.

One of the biggest hurdles we've been facing is the "conventional wisdom" among the Old Guard prognosticators that the Dems can't win.  Witness Masset's commentary today on Quorum Report about how we can't win in 2010 because we won't have the "benefit" of Obama's grassroots organizing.  

Our grassroots are homegrown, and while Obama inspired a lot of enthusiastic voters and volunteers, we built the organization ourselves.  We'll do it again for 2010.

---

by: Jeb @ Tue Nov 11, 2008 at 19:35:17 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I don't (0.00 / 0)

The last two cycles we've had good candidates in years that were very good for Democrats and the Republicans still won with >10% of the vote.  They were under-funded, but that funding isn't likely gonna make up a >10% deficit.

"I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually."- James A. Baldwin

---

by: Timothy @ Tue Nov 11, 2008 at 07:03:31 AM UTC