Ten years ago today in Texas...

[Freddie Stubbs]

the voters elected Democrats to state-wide office. Despite the anti-Democratic tide which swept in a Republican Congress, voters in Texas still elected Democrats to state-wide office. Despite electing George W. Bush as Governor, they still elected Democrats to state-wide office.

Ten years ago today voters in Texas elected Democrats to the offices of Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, Treasurer, Land Office Commissioner, Supreme Court, and Court of Criminal Appeals.

Six years ago I had the honor of living in Texas. I saw the last of the state-wide elected Democrats swept from office.

It has been ten years since a Democrat has won a state-wide election in Texas. How long will it be until it happens again?

[fujiyama]

1. 10 years ago

the worst president in the history of this nation got his first step to power.

Maybe '94 was the begining of the end of this democracy...or at least the begining of the neo con march to power - considering that was the year of Gingrich's "Contract with America".

[bunkerbuster1]

2. Four years after 1994

the reThugs had their asses handed to them in the mid-terms, even after they'd tried to take down Clinton.

Courage.

[fujiyama]

3. True

But we haven't got back control of the House since...or even the political agenda of the country. Even inspite of getting reelected, there was little Clinton could accomplish with the house and senate in republican hands.

We've gotta keep working to get some reps and senators out (like DeLay...he got 55% this year which is less than usual) and Santorum as well.

[Freddie Stubbs]

4. Not in Texas

Bush was reelected in a landslide and Republicans won every single state-wide office in Texas. In the county that I was living in, the GOP gained control of the County Courthouse for the first time ever.

[bunkerbuster1]

5. Well... being that I live in GA, there's a simple 'splanation.

y'see, once upon a time in the old Confederacy, the right-wing goons in GA usually called themselves "Democrats."

Now, they usually call themselves "Republicans."

We progressives have to stop beating ourselves up over the right-wing goons who've switched labels. I've already seen dozens of stories here in metroLanta claiming that there's a sea change in state politics, now that the "Republicans" control both the Goobernatorial and legislative branches. It's BS of course, but that's what people wnt to believe.

The truth is that it is now run by assholes, and used to be run by assholes. But the demographics are there to change it. Many people are moving here from the North. Many Hispanics are establishing citizenship and will be enfranchised voters. We have to consider the future, and not beat ourselves up too much over the past. Remember it, learn from it, but don't get discouraged.