Texas Democrat switches parties

EmperorSolo51 · Post by **EmperorSolo51** » 2004-01-03 03:31pm

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/01/ ... index.html

Texas Democrat Ralph Hall has announced that he has switched parties from the Democrats to the Republicans. Officially he did this so he could have a chance at winning re-election becuase of the new redistricting plan set forth by the GOP-dominated state legislature. I suspect he also did this because he wants cut ties with Democrats who are now moving towards the left and are allienating the conservative democrats in the south. I also think that we could see more and more Southern Democrats either switch parties or not run at all in 2004 if it becomes more apparrent that Dean wins the nominee. Already 5 southern Democrats have announced that they will not run in 2004.

Before the defection, there were 228 Republicans, 205 Democrats, 1 Socialist, and 1 Vacancy in the HoR. There will be another vacancy on January 20.

Andrew J. · Post by **Andrew J.** » 2004-01-03 05:23pm

Hold on...there are Democrats in Texas?

EmperorSolo51 · Post by **EmperorSolo51** » 2004-01-03 05:26pm

Andrew J. wrote:Hold on...there are Democrats in Texas?

Yes, there are. They are remnants of the old southern guard of the Democratic Party which used to run the deep south, including Texas. These southern Democrats like Hall were very conservative.

Andrew J. · Post by **Andrew J.** » 2004-01-03 05:51pm

EmperorSolo51 wrote:
Andrew J. wrote:Hold on...there are Democrats in Texas?
Yes, there are. They are remnants of the old southern guard of the Democratic Party which used to run the deep south, including Texas. These southern Democrats like Hall were very conservative.

Oh.

Well, they're better off being in the GOP anyway. At least it's honest.

Wicked Pilot · Post by **Wicked Pilot** » 2004-01-03 09:25pm

The only difference between Democrats and Republicans in the state of Texas is the color of their cowboy hats.

The Cleric · Post by **The Cleric** » 2004-01-03 09:40pm

What, white and bleached bone?

Captain Cyran · Post by **Captain Cyran** » 2004-01-03 09:46pm

Andrew J. wrote:Hold on...there are Democrats in Texas?

Damn, someone beat me to it.

Anarchist Bunny · Post by **Anarchist Bunny** » 2004-01-03 09:50pm

Democrats had majority in the Texas Supreme Court til the redistricting fiasco, still do til the next election if something doesn't get messed up.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2004-01-03 10:55pm

I suppose he's doing this for one of two reasons.

A) His views are closer to those of the Republican Party, and thus he feels that the GOP better suits his vision for the future of his nation

or, more likely,

B) He's whoring votes.

Mayabird · Post by **Mayabird** » 2004-01-04 06:07pm

Captain_Cyran wrote:
Andrew J. wrote:Hold on...there are Democrats in Texas?
Damn, someone beat me to it.

Not only that, but...there's a Socialist in Texas!

EmperorSolo51 · Post by **EmperorSolo51** » 2004-01-04 06:17pm

Mayabird wrote:
Captain_Cyran wrote:
Andrew J. wrote:Hold on...there are Democrats in Texas?
Damn, someone beat me to it.
Not only that, but...there's a Socialist in Texas!

No, I was talking about the US House of Representatives. The Socialist I am refering to is Bernie Sanders from Vermont.

Mayabird · Post by **Mayabird** » 2004-01-04 06:26pm

EmperorSolo51 wrote: No, I was talking about the US House of Representatives. The Socialist I am refering to is Bernie Sanders from Vermont.

::slaps self in face for thinking it was Texas House of Reps::

The Aliens · Post by **The Aliens** » 2004-01-04 06:38pm

Hehe, Socialism in Texas- what a funny dream.

StimNeuro · Post by **StimNeuro** » 2004-01-04 06:51pm

Andrew J. wrote: Oh.

Well, they're better off being in the GOP anyway. At least it's honest.

It might be honest, but it will still hurt him in the election, if only slightly. When someone switches parties, what usually happens is that the voting populace of their former party hates them and definately votes against them, while their new party doesn't quite trust him and whoever runs against him in the primaries will have a good shot.

Peregrin Toker · Post by **Peregrin Toker** » 2004-01-05 11:18am

EmperorSolo51 wrote: No, I was talking about the US House of Representatives. The Socialist I am refering to is Bernie Sanders from Vermont.

The American Socialist Party? I've never heard of'em before. (I thought the only left-of-center parties with something to say in American politics were the Democrats and the Greens) Who are they?

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-01-05 02:17pm

Peregrin Toker wrote:
EmperorSolo51 wrote: No, I was talking about the US House of Representatives. The Socialist I am refering to is Bernie Sanders from Vermont.
The American Socialist Party? I've never heard of'em before. (I thought the only left-of-center parties with something to say in American politics were the Democrats and the Greens) Who are they?

A Socialist party that's American, more or less.

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2004-01-05 02:28pm

Joe wrote:
Peregrin Toker wrote:
EmperorSolo51 wrote: No, I was talking about the US House of Representatives. The Socialist I am refering to is Bernie Sanders from Vermont.
The American Socialist Party? I've never heard of'em before. (I thought the only left-of-center parties with something to say in American politics were the Democrats and the Greens) Who are they?
A Socialist party that's American, more or less.

One could also argue that The Progressive Caucus (a group of the farthest left leaning elected members in the Democratic Party) is somewhat of a socialist party.