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diva77

(7,604 posts)
17. and Karl Rove had a huge role in turning blue states into red states; started with Texas
Sun Jun 11, 2017, 12:50 PM
Jun 2017

Last edited Tue Jun 13, 2017, 11:17 PM - Edit history (1)

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/architect/texas/realignment.html

How Texas Became a Red State - Karl Rove, the Architect
sam gwynne
Executive editor, Texas Monthly
read the full interview

snip...What did Karl Rove do to be the Karl Rove that we all talk about?

… His Texas career per se started in '79 when he went to work for then-Gov. Bill Clements. This is an interesting moment, because Texas, if you look at Texas history, this place has been Democratic since the Civil War. The party of Lincoln was not the party that was popular anywhere in the South, including Texas. And so for all these years, you had Democratic dominance in the state of Texas.

In fact, when Karl first came to the state, and in 1977 or '78, of the statewide offices held, I think one of 29 was held by a Republican. Of the entire 181-member Texas House and Senate, only 21 seats were held by Republicans. You basically had a complete domination of the state by Democrats forever.

… Complete, almost 100 percent needle swing to the Republicans. In the House and the Senate, from 21 out of 181 to now in the 110 range, something like that -- a complete shift. Eventually the congressional delegations, the senatorial, everything switched.

And this happened on Karl's shift, and he was involved in an enormous amount of it. If you look at the statewide races -- being the Senate race, governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, land commissioner, Supreme Court justices, all those folks -- he was involved in almost every single one of them. So in a way, you can see this great tectonic shift in American politics, and maybe the greatest of an age, because, taken as a region anyway, Texas with all of its electoral votes in effect swings entirely Republican over a period of 22 years, and one man is really at the core of it...

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to explain Dubya's rise to power, along with the huge shift from Democratic to Repug in all levels of government, from elections officials on up to the Presidency -- one has to look at Karl Rove to discover who is behind the dirty work



Welcome to DU All-In. kairos12 Jun 2017 #1
Yep - Dubya skedaddled out of Washington as fast as possible FakeNoose Jun 2017 #2
yup bora13 Jun 2017 #21
Trust Roy Rolling Jun 2017 #69
And Media, Corporate Eduardo, did everything possible to be sure the Puke talking points BlancheSplanchnik Jun 2017 #34
Absolutely not fooled Jun 2017 #36
Decades of psychopaths. BlancheSplanchnik Jun 2017 #43
Nice! Maynar Jun 2017 #80
K & R ......for visibility..nt Wounded Bear Jun 2017 #3
Who Will Have To Clean Up Trump's Mess? All-In Jun 2017 #4
I have been thinking the same thing. Blue_true Jun 2017 #48
A woman Iplayoneontv Jun 2017 #66
Great post that sums it cilla4progress Jun 2017 #5
Welcome to DU All-in. Greybnk48 Jun 2017 #6
+100 narnian60 Jun 2017 #23
Can someone send that to Sanders. Historic NY Jun 2017 #7
He isn't likely to pay it much attention DFW Jun 2017 #18
I gotta say, I'm partial to the 'underwear on the outside' bit. A HERETIC I AM Jun 2017 #47
Yeah, but YOU can do that DFW Jun 2017 #54
Well.... A HERETIC I AM Jun 2017 #59
Notice you never hear any bitching about the Recovery Act anymore Thrill Jun 2017 #8
If memory serves me correctly burnbaby Jun 2017 #9
They had the filibuster, and they used it more than any minority in history. n/t pnwmom Jun 2017 #10
Pukes complaining about a democratic congress that gets nothing done never remember BlancheSplanchnik Jun 2017 #35
A fact that Obama critics on the left conveniently ignore. Blue_true Jun 2017 #49
We only held the 60 for a few months, and Joe Lieberman, non-Democrat, pnwmom Jun 2017 #52
Yes, and now... jazzcat23 Jun 2017 #74
Do you have easy to find link to evidence duhneece Jun 2017 #88
Evidence of what? Something like this? pnwmom Jun 2017 #89
I was expecting either a hard-to read but quite credible duhneece Jun 2017 #92
You're welcome! pnwmom Jun 2017 #93
Amen. shockey80 Jun 2017 #11
I Have Friends That Still Believe Trump - Crazy Right? All-In Jun 2017 #25
That's a good response. I'm gonna use that. BlancheSplanchnik Jun 2017 #42
Great: CON servative nt duhneece Jun 2017 #87
I stand with you! lastlib Jun 2017 #12
Republicans don't like to feel uncomfortable, BarbD Jun 2017 #13
Welcome, and nice post. PatrickforO Jun 2017 #14
the mainstream media is also hugely responsible for the state of the country. Akamai Jun 2017 #15
THIS! U.S. Media, by and large, take the, "if a tree falls in the woods with no one around, BlueCaliDem Jun 2017 #31
I couldn't agree with you more! Great points you're making. Akamai Jun 2017 #68
History Lesson bpj62 Jun 2017 #16
and Karl Rove had a huge role in turning blue states into red states; started with Texas diva77 Jun 2017 #17
Maybe you're giving him too much credit FakeNoose Jun 2017 #57
As one of my friends said so profoundly ---- mdbl Jun 2017 #81
My business did shut it's doors so I know how you feel. appleannie1943 Jun 2017 #19
Small business owners and startups do better under Democrats. Blue_true Jun 2017 #50
Welcome to DU LittleGirl Jun 2017 #20
It is why after years of it, I'm not enthusiastic about those that supposedly "see the light"... rwsanders Jun 2017 #22
In addition, the 1% club needed a repeat of the 2008-2015 CYCLE MedusaX Jun 2017 #24
Speaking of National Debt, I've never heard the Republican Plan to pay off the Iraq War No Vested Interest Jun 2017 #26
7 Trillion By 2050 Iraq War Costs All-In Jun 2017 #29
And that's just the monetary end of it. Think of all the related costs- No Vested Interest Jun 2017 #30
As I recall, the oil was going to pay for the war. dchill Jun 2017 #53
Regardless of Cheney's wish/bluster, the Republicans are responsible for making sure the cost No Vested Interest Jun 2017 #55
And they will avoid that responsibility... dchill Jun 2017 #56
Republicans are very good at avoiding responsibility for their damage to our society. No Vested Interest Jun 2017 #58
True... jazzcat23 Jun 2017 #75
You're correct. All the more reason to hit them with that question in pre-election debates No Vested Interest Jun 2017 #79
Welcome to DU too & thanks for the reminder. MasonDreams Jun 2017 #27
It Seems Like A Few People Agree With Me All-In Jun 2017 #28
OK, I'll take that challenge. BlancheSplanchnik Jun 2017 #38
Country "Music" is crap. Dawson Leery Jun 2017 #40
You can say that again. 🤢 BlancheSplanchnik Jun 2017 #44
Their team lost the Stanley Cup. Dawson Leery Jun 2017 #90
Whose team? BlancheSplanchnik Jun 2017 #91
ROFLMAO! love_katz Jun 2017 #70
Great post All-In, this needs repeating every fracking day !! Pluvious Jun 2017 #32
Republicans Oden Jun 2017 #33
They are stinking traitors that did their worst to destroy President Obama workinclasszero Jun 2017 #37
My new friend. All-In Jun 2017 #61
No you called it right friend workinclasszero Jun 2017 #67
K & R Duppers Jun 2017 #39
and the teevee gnewz ignored their sedition. so they are out as well. pansypoo53219 Jun 2017 #41
Welcome, All In, and Great Post! bearssoapbox Jun 2017 #45
Agreed. lancelyons Jun 2017 #46
Welcome to du All-In Heartstrings Jun 2017 #51
Great post! Welcome to DU - n/t moonscape Jun 2017 #60
Right there with you. Small business owners with any sense hate Republicans with an acid rage. byronius Jun 2017 #62
Good. Iplayoneontv Jun 2017 #63
So do I, hate republicans, all republicans, no exceptions. SammyWinstonJack Jun 2017 #64
Republicans didn't and don't care that Bill Clinton gave us a surplus. WinkyDink Jun 2017 #65
Nice post, All-In. Glad to have you with us. VOX Jun 2017 #71
Agreed guss Jun 2017 #72
I can't believe the Rs are still getting away w/ the claim that Dark n Stormy Knight Jun 2017 #73
I usually tell them jazzcat23 Jun 2017 #76
Doesn't matter, really. Facts don't influence most RWers. Dark n Stormy Knight Jun 2017 #77
2007? C Moon Jun 2017 #78
Tell us how you really feel Dorn Jun 2017 #82
100% true, but the part that is most disheartening Cosmocat Jun 2017 #83
+++++++++++ HAB911 Jun 2017 #84
I used to think it was just opinion difference treestar Jun 2017 #85
You could write volumes about the destructiveness of the Republican party. usaf-vet Jun 2017 #86
Look up GhostofFDR Jun 2017 #94
It's sad that you "hate" family members, and think they are "traitors" frankieallen Jun 2017 #95
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