I occasionally join in the ghost dance that is the Texas Democratic Party primary, but it’s usually an exercise in pointlessness, akin to the efforts of many late nineteenth century Native Americans who hoped they could dance the white man into oblivion.
These days the Democratic Party primaries exist only to choose the guy who will lose by a margin that looks more like a close football game rather than a blowout in basketball. Instead, I tend to vote in the Republican primaries because I live in Texas and the reality of the situation is that that’s were the actual decisions are made. I don’t like it, but there it is.
This year, however, I am not voting in any primaries. Texas has a most undemocratic system designed to prevent independents from reaching the ballot: independent candidates must collect nearly 50,000 signatures from people who did not vote in the primaries, and they only have sixty days to do it.
When I think of this year’s primaries I see no way Rick “What Do You Mean Fix It?” Perry can lose on the Republican side and no difference between Bob “Who?” Gammage and Chris “Who #2?” Bell, either of whom would probably lose a head-to-head race against Perry. I think any of the two Democrats or the two independents – Kinky “Why the Hell Not?” Friedman or Carole “One Tough Grandma” Strayhorn – would be a better governor than Perry and should an independent win, I think it would be good for Texas politics.
One way or another, Rick Perry should be ousted. He has been an ineffective leader, unable to tackle the state’s most serious problem: education funding. He managed to accomplish mid-decade redistricting for Tom Delay, but has shown no leadership when it comes to real problems. He is incompetent and ineffective and he needs to go.
Strayhorn is conservative, but serious (I think) about the problems facing public schools. Friedman is probably more conservative than he appears, but in the honest libertarian way. With a four-way race including three conservative candidates, Perry’s chances likely – hopefully – diminish. With two independent candidates siphoning away his votes, a Democrat could win (the best situation) or an independent could win (the second and third best situations).
I don’t know which candidate I’ll vote for in November, but in the coming weeks I will sign one of the two petitions.
James Brush is a teacher and writer who lives in Austin, TX. He tries to get outside as much as possible.
And please don’t forget the Green Party petition — you can sign a petition for one candidate plus one party.
they may make it hard on the voters, but darn it! the voters in Texas are a dedicated bunch! I hear tell that they were even known to get out of their graves to vote when LBJ was involved!
Thats civic responsibility at its highest
MiGrant, I didn’t realize you could do that. I should look into it. The more the merrier.
Mallory, You heard right. LBJ was pretty popular down here in his day.
Hey Coyote,
Democrats are sort of an endangered species in Texas, aren’t they.
I don’t know how I didn’t have you in my blogroll until now, but I rectified that tonight. great site, if I haven’t mentioned it recently.
They certainly are endangered and thanks for adding me to your list, your fine blog is on mine as well. Thanks, also for your comments about my site.