State GOP fears grouchy voters won't go to polls (Texas)

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Source: Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau

AUSTIN — After a decade of political dominance, the Texas GOP is opening its party convention in Houston this week with a troubling prospect: Grumpy Republicans may not turn out to vote this fall.

Many of the grass-roots Texas Republicans see presumptive presidential nominee John McCain as not conservative enough. Others still support presidential candidate Ron Paul. Some are unhappy over immigration, high federal spending, a sagging national economy and rising gasoline prices.

"A lot of them, and rightly so in many cases, are mad. They're concerned," said Roger Williams, chairman of the Texas GOP's voter turnout efforts this year. "What we've got to do is alleviate those concerns and get them to vote."

"We're the underdogs, and anybody who tells you we're not hasn't been out and about," Williams said.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/politics/5826424.html

---

When they feel they have to rally their Texas base, things aren't good in the land of the GOP. :rofl:

"Grouchy Republicans" I wonder what brilliant mind came up with that term? I'd be seriously upset if my party were to disregard my legitimate concerns by simply saying I was "grouchy."

[tridim]

1. Sounds like there are some bitter voters in Texas. nt

[Kierkegaard]

4. You took the words right out of my mouth.

[Vincardog]

2. LWt them eat their W04 stickers

[blayne]

26. They are everywhere. It's just awful.

I have been looking everywhere for a Texas Democrat bumper sticker. I am happy to say that Obama's stickers are starting to pop up everywhere. I'm not as optimistic as some that we can turn the state blue, but it will be fun trying. If it were to ever happen, it would be this year. I have talked with several republicans who still think Bush is doing a great job, but they don't want to vote for McCain and are considering crossing over to Obama.

[tanyev]

35. Hey, McKinney--I'm in Plano!

:hi:

Yep, still see plenty of W'04 stickers, but I've seen several Obama stickers in the last few days and still not one McCain sticker. 'Tis quite amusing.

[snooper2]

44. East Plano here...

I see Collin County Democratic stickers all the time..

still a bunch of faded W-04 stickers out there...but I usually just laugh at those people...

[blayne]

50. I always get a laugh out of them as well.

[blayne]

51. Hey Tanyev. I hope you enjoyed the rain yesterday.

:hi:

[w8liftinglady]

45. hehe..I was in Plano yesterday...wish you could have seen my car!

I have a literal plethora of progressive bumper stickers.They LOVE them in Ellis County!

[blayne]

52. I would have liked to have seen that.

Hope you enjoyed the great weather and the rain yesterday. :hi:

[yellowdogintexas]

27. good one, \Vincardog.

with ranch dressing?

[justinsb]

3. Nah...

Saying "Republicans" are "Grumpy"

is like saying water is wet or "hey that rock is very hard". The party, after all, was founded on the principle that neighborhood kids should keep their (base, foot, soccer, basket..) balls out of the lawns of decent law abiding people.

[UncleTomsEvilBrother]

5. Let's hope...

....Bob Barr is reading this story.

[Lochloosa]

41. How are things in Tally? My hometown.

[tblue37]

6. Not grouchy--bitter. n/t

[DUlover2909]

7. I'm in Texas and I've been thinking it might be winnable this year.

Nick Lampson is my Congressman and I think he'll keep his seat. I think Rick Noriega has a good chance of beating John Cornyn, and don't forget there are a whole lot of African Americans all over the state including the less urban areas. Obama has a chance of stealing Texas from McCain for many reasons. The disgruntled repukes, Bob Barr and Ron Paul supporters, and the thousands of Bush haters here that call themselves Republicans might just sit it out or vote Obama. This and every state is almost evenly divided and only tips toward Republicans by a few points. That could switch this year.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

10. If they can't rally their people to the polls

It really helps us in regards to seating Noriega. He's currently only polling at 4% behind Cornyn, which makes it doable even if they do manage to motivate their base.

If we work very hard this year in Texas we may just have a chance at doing something great. Kicking Cornyn to the curb!

[w8liftinglady]

47. I am strongly backing Noriega..unfortunately,Otto has no chance of beating Barton

...unless the repubs stay home.

[berni_mccoy]

8. Repubs are not Underdogs. They are bullies waking up to reality.

[ingac70]

9. If the Democrats win Texas this year...

I will literally shit my pants in shock.

[Ishoutandscream2]

11. You don't have to that. Really

But it would be a shocker. And this Texan could hold his head up high, walking amongst all the Bushbots in my community. I would love to be able to do that.

[ingac70]

14. I wish Obama...

would trounce McCain in every state in the nation. I'd love to rub it in to the Repukes in my state (TN) after the way they have behaved the last 7 years.

[tnlurker]

23. I would like to see Marsha, Marsha, Marsha

Go down in flames with McCain here in TN this year.

[ingac70]

34. I'm with you on that one...

but I don't think that will happen.

[cap]

20. you would deserve to hold your head high

after all your hard work. :)

[Ilsa]

18. Well, there is some possibility that we could throw Cornyn out

and elect Rick Noriega in his place. That would be fabulous!

[ingac70]

19. That would be awesome!

Cornyn is a scumbag.

[w8liftinglady]

49. Oh,PLEASE...I'd love to see that sniveling bastard out.

[LiberalFighter]

12. Was one of those grouch Republicans responsible for the fire at the capitol?

[Cathryn]

Want some cheese with that "whine"?

Waahhhhh.....

Not everyone here in TX is a right-wing nut job. Trust me. I attended the Obama rally on Feb. 20th and there were over 17 thousand in attendance for his speech! It was a beautiful thing, let me tell you! So much peace and good-will was had between everyone there and believe me, I had a chance to notice considering I was in line for about 3 hours to get inside.

It's about damn time that the GOP here in Texas had some hard times. I'm always embarrassed when people find out I'm from the state that W. "governed" and I use that term loosely.

[Hawkeye-X]

17. Wow.. I almost alerted... but instead I want to welcome you to DU!

:hi:

Hawkeye-X

[benh57]

37. Shush

Most annoying thing on DU: being welcomed after your first 50 (100, 200?) posts.

Seriously, it's really annoying and makes me not want to post. It devalues one's input.

[Cathryn]

13. Texas COULD turn blue this year!

And I will go out in my front yard and yell for the whole world to hear that George W. is NO LONGER PRESIDENT!!!!

[yellowdogintexas]

29. one thing for certain: if Texas goes blue, we are looking at an election

like 1972 except the opposite result. I say this because if we carry Texas we are gonna carry a lot more states nobody thought we would carry .

McSame only carrying Arizona and maybe Utah?

that would be absolutely awesome

[mcg]

40. There's a chance he might not carry Arizona, consider this ...

Michelle Obama Outdraws Bush and McCain — In McCain’s Home State
http://firedoglake.com/2008/05/29/michelle-obama-outdraws-bush-and-mccain-in-mccains-home-state

and I think I read that a poll showed Obama gaining on McCain in Arizona, still not very close, but a big gain for Obama.

Immigration is a big issue in Arizona, many conservatives don't like McCain's position at all.

[sakabatou]

15. Someone! Call a

WHAAAAAAAAAAmbulence!

[Skittles]

36. ARRIVING!!!

[Ilsa]

16. It's hysterical here in south Texas. Republicans are whining that

their "Republican Party news" is being ignored by the media.

http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/840/story/257703.html

Local media should cover Republican news

June 05, 2008 - 12:15 p.m.
Editor, the Advocate:

On June 4, a Harris County judge ordered the Republican Party of Texas to follow the rules at the State Republican Convention in Houston (June 12-14) by issuing a temporary restraining order.

The lawsuit was filed by a group of Republican activists from around the state who recognize that the party’s leadership does not follow the rules, and uses their control to shut out the people who they think do not matter.

This victory was heard and celebrated throughout the state by a large number of Republicans who want their party back.

Major landmark moves have been made in the past days, and, if you live in Victoria, you wouldn’t know about it unless you attended the training the other night, or read my blog on the Victoria Advocate. SNIP

~~~~~~

Actually, we've had alot of GOP news lately. Almost all of our elected officials are Republican, and most of them are under indictment.

[liberal N proud]

21. They have been trying to disenfranchise voters for years

Maybe this time it will work in a backfire mode.

[TommyO]

22. Not only will some stay away from the polls

but others will go to their polling places, and vote blue! It's a shame that it took severely damaging this country for the GOP to be tarnished.

[catrose]

24. so somebody explain

how a party that has controlled all three branches of government (and still does in Texas) is the underdog.

I live in the most liberal town in Texas, and all the newspaper gives us is Republican news.

[and-justice-for-all]

25. Oh they will goto the polls...

but they are not going to be voting for repigs!

November 2008, an end of an error.

[ConanTheDestroyer]

28. Don't bag on Texas...

I too am from Texas. I live in suburbia where housing is affordable and stay at home mom's drive dinosaur SUV's in a fashion that emulates their favorite NASCAR driver. Gas prices be damned, we ain't getting rid of our trucks. There are quite a few W04 stickers and for the life of me and cannot see what further evidence is needed that the decider is completely incompetent. Having said, there are also more people than you would think that do think he is a "moran". I am not sure if he was popular as Governor. My only memory of that was when Anne Richards gave the zinger about him being born with a silver foot in his mouth. And howdy. I believe the smear campaign on her was she was a lesbian. We all know there is no room for lesbians in politics. God hates them. I dismissed him as dip-shit then. How telling that such a man could achieve what he has achieved. I am not debating the means, just the results. How irresponsible to let an average man, that is giving him too much credit, of exceptional ilk obtain so much power? To let this same man and his handlers disassemble all the checks and balances and remove over site is inexcusable. Every person sitting in Congress that voted with these psychos should be removed. All members of congress the refused to get involved and that removed impeachment from the table need to be removed. Congress needs new blood and fresh ideas as does government on whole. I am off point and this turned into a rant.

My point was that Texans care about a few simple things, the economy, guns and immigration and probably not in that order. I think the economy is going to the main issue of the election. Texans can appreciate Obama's oratory skills. Anything is better than some bumbling buffoon. We have done that, republicans are dumb-asses,we get it. Obama can when Texas.

[dave123williams]

30. You have to understand; they get confused when their Stepford lives stop making sense.

[BryMan]

31. One problem with that.

When things just don't make sense to alot of the stepford types they get out of control dangerous. Already a cult like group, simply remove everything that makes them comfterble then they go insane waving guns, and shooting at anything that doesn't look familiar. Beware non-beehived non-SUV driving assholes LOL.

[w8liftinglady]

48. do you live in my neighborhood?..Billy Bob..is that you?

you described 90% of my county's residents.Lower middle-class rednecks who religiously worship GWB ...well,just cuz.

[stubtoe]

32. Oh good. Now the MSM will be all abuzz about the "terrible rupture" in the Republican Party

for a change ... and if they can come together again by Election Day ... yeah right.

[davidinalameda]

33. don't they have a grouchy repug running for president

[rainbow4321]

38. "Texas by the Numbers" video....wooo--hooo!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czK-1wA0aNo

[mcg]

39. They're realizing they've be CONned.

"Some are unhappy over immigration, high federal spending, a sagging national economy and rising gasoline prices."

Bush, McCain, and their ilk are only "conservative" in a bad way. They have not adhered to conservative principles like balancing the budget, fiscal responsibility, government efficiency, personal responsibility, individual liberties, and not meddling unnecessarily into the affairs of other countries. You would think that CONSERVing our natural resources would be a CONSERVative principal, but the republicans have a horrible record on environmental issues, including McCain. You would like that protecting the jobs of American citizens would be a conservative principal, but McCain is beholden to his lobbyist buddies (I believe I read that one is a lobbyist for companies that hire illegal immigrants).

The republicans have been doing a con job for many years, they don't deliver on their promises. Tax cuts? They haven't *given* tax cuts, they are just *loans*. We as a nation are going far deeper into DEBT.

[hadrons]

42. its interesting how the pols and policies they support are making them "grumpy"

The mental gymnastics these people are doing not to connect the dots would impress Mary-Lou and Olga

[DainBramaged]

43. Good, know they know what it's like to be a Democrat and deal with grouchy voters

who don't know how to get focused and get their party elected.

[w8liftinglady]

46. I have gotten 30 coworkers to register to vote...for Obama!

In Ellis County..nonetheless.