Guest Column: Why Republicans Should Support a Democrat

[sonias]

Texas Tribune 8/14/12

Guest Column: Why Republicans Should Support a Democrat

When David Dewhurst is not conservative enough for Republican primary voters, then Republican primary voters are no longer conservatives — they’re cannibals. I say this not as a Democrat (though I am one), but rather as a political strategist who is seeing a very changed landscape from the one we’ve grown accustomed to. Without the moderating influence of a healthy political minority, the political majority can chase its imagination down any number of rabbit holes. Don’t believe me? Just ask David Dewhurst, Jeff Wentworth, or even Kay Bailey Hutchison.

The Texas Senate District 10 race is arguably the most important race in this state this coming November. As it stands today, two thirds of the Texas House of Representatives is controlled by the Republican majority. With the recent additions to the Tea Party wing coming from Ted Cruz’s coattails, the House is likely to produce an extreme social agenda that will either delight or terrify, depending on your politics.

The Texas Senate is no bastion of liberalism and it isn’t moderate by any measure. And yet, for some reason, Lt. Gov. Dewhurst was just accused of being somewhere to the left of John Kerry. So the upper chamber of our state Legislature — ordinarily tasked with reigning in the impulses of the lower house — will shift further to the right should SD-10 flip, replacing Davis with Republican Mark Shelton as the senator from Fort Worth.

What makes this more than just another numerical win is what happens when there is virtually a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House. Republican leadership will lose control of the agenda and the only bills moving forward through the 83rd Session will be those favored by social conservatives. Issues near and dear to any other type of conservative or Republican will bow before those dictated by the newly energized, newly elected, Tea Party wing. Sounds like Shangri-La for the Republicans, yes? Well, not necessarily.

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Mustafa Tameez is the founder and Managing Director of Outreach Strategists, a Houston-based Public Affairs and Communications firm.

I would hope that Republican voters in SD10 and equally importantly our U.S. Senate race in the fall will cross over and vote for the better choice against the extremism taking over their party.

[Melissa G]

1. From your keyboard

to G~d's ears as some of my Jewish friends might say.

Thanks for posting!

[Vogon_Glory]

2. Mister Micawber Isn't Running the Texas GOP

Charles Dickens had a character named Micawber who was an optimist in all but the most dire situations. Mr. Micawber was convinced that something would turn up and make things good.

I've got news for moderate Texas Republicans. Mr. Micawber is DEAD. The hard-right Tea Party ultras have your party by the throat and it looks like they're going to keep it. There is NO reason to believe that the hard right will see the sweet light of reason and NO reason to believe that they won't make you eat dirt unless you carefully toe their line and bob your head on cue. THEIR cue, NOT yours.

If you want anything other than what the hard right wants for the Lone Star State, you are either going to have to withhold your vote from the reactionaries now firmly in control of your party or seriously contemplate turning Democrat. There is NO way for you to remain a Republican and either toe the Tea Party line or keep your self-respect. The choice is yours.