Texas Repubs have just released their platform. It's as insane as you'd expect it to be. Just a few of the platform’s planks: that the Bible should be taught in public schools, with chaplains on hand “to counsel and give guidance from a traditional biblical perspective based on Judeo-Christian principles.” That noncitizens who are legal residents of this country should be deported if they are arrested for participating in a protest that turns violent. That name changes to military bases should be reversed to “publicly honor the southern heroes.” That doctors who perform abortions should be charged with homicide. That the United States should withdraw from the United Nations and that the international organization should be removed from U.S. soil. Then there is this audaciously undemocratic provision: To be elected to state office, a candidate must win not only a majority of votes, but also more than half of Texas’s 254 counties. Let me translate what that means. Democrats in Texas are concentrated in a few urban areas, while Republicans are spread across the map. This system would effectively mean Democrats — who, as it is, haven’t won a statewide office since 1994 — would be shut out forever. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/06/03/texas-republican-party-new-platform/
Crazy, but SOP. Not the first time. From two years ago with links to prior versions at link Back in the Golden Age of blogging the Texas Republican Party platform was a regular object of ridicule, one that I'd write about every couple of years. It was always a hoot. Take back the Panama Canal! Return to the gold standard! Abolish the federal income tax! Today the Texas GOP platform is back in the news because they're reminding everyone that Texas retains the right to secede from the Union. Here’s a walk down memory lane with the platform of the Texas state GOP - Kevin Drum
The provision that to win statewide office a candidate would have to win a majority of the counties in Texas, gives Loving County, population 64, as much power as Harris County, population 4.7 million. Republicans have no interest in democracy (or for you right-wingers, republic). They want a Republican dictatorship.
Does the plan include setting up forced Lobotomization centers for anyone left in that state with functioning brains?
One wonders how supposedly intelligent fellow citizens can be so utterly and unabashedly draconian. Their proposals show the exact opposite of what they intended - that, in fact, they have no moral compass.
Good for Texas and I hope more states follow. The rural part of our country deserves every bit the same authority and representation as the bigger cities. Texas has seen what's happened in states like New York, Illinois and Virginia. Statewide office in New York, you never have to campaign outside of New York City and Long Island to win. Being the Governor of New York might as well just be the Governor of New York City. New York City and Long Island should really be separated from the rest of the state and created as a 51st state. Statewide office in Illinois, you never have to leave Chicago. Screw the rest of the state. The people in Central or Southern Illinois, you aren't even needed. Statewide office in Virginia is determined and controlled by NOVA and DC. I know this from experience living in Virginia. You live along the I-81 corridor (Roanoke, Blacksburg, Lexington, Bristol, Staunton, Harrisonburg, Winchester), you are invisible to Richmond. Even Richmond itself is just largely a proxy to NOVA when it comes to Virginia state government. Sorry that Texas wants to make sure all of Texas has a fair say and isn't just dominated by Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio. That's what you all don't get, what you are arguing for is exactly what the Founders of this Country were fighting against. A few big cities imposing their views, their very will, on the rest of the country. The Electoral College was created so that it wouldn't just be New York City and Philly controlling the rest of the original 13 colonies. The farming community should have every bit the influence the financial community has. The ranching community should have every bit the influence the education community has. Population IMO is meaningless and should not be able alone to determine the election. In fact I believe the farming community should get 5 votes for every 1 vote every other community gets. Just as a reminder that those big cities would starve in a week without the food the farming community generates. Sorry that some of us think Presidential candidates should have to go to all 50 states (or at least as many as possible) to campaign for a presidential election. Sorry not sorry that some of us don't want to see Presidential Elections where the candidates never have to leave New York City, DC, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Miami, Atlanta, Philly and Boston to campaign because they know all they have to do is win those areas to win the Election. Forget the entire middle of the country and the other 38 states that are part of the U.S., no need to bother even trying to get their votes. Going back to the state level, Texas sees what's coming. New York City controls New York State. Chicago controls Illinois. Los Angeles and San Francisco control California. DC controls Virginia. And now Atlanta more and more is starting to control Georgia. Texas smartly isn't going to let the triangle of Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio control all of Texas.
You logged into the wrong account bro, or maybe you will be joining your 'son' in a Trump induced coma
This feels cut and pasted and does not reflect reality in state governance and also advocates a plainly unconstitutional vision of governance, as ruled in Baker v. carr
So I assume you were just making it up when you said your son attempted suicide? If so, to put it as neutral as I can, that is unhinged.
Last time I checked the state has the final authority for how to determine how state positions are filled. A statewide candidate should have to win the majority of the counties in their state. A statewide candidate shouldn't just be able to win Atlanta for example and because of that win the rest of the state. Likewise a statewide candidate shouldn't just be able to win Austin and Houston and because of that win the rest of the state. Do you really want a good amount of the country controlled by just a few cities?
Oh no. He's still in a coma. I'm actually by his bedside currently. He had a living will and in the living will he specifically mentioned this site and asked that someone in the family take his place to fight against the evil on here. I'm doing that for now. Heck who do you think taught him his politics?
This has nothing to do with redistricting. This is about properly ensuring that all counties in a state have a say. It's your side that wants to disenfranchise any American who doesn't live in one of the major cities from having any real say in terms of who represents us in our Government.
