Tuesday, November 3, 2009

'We are on a winning wave'

That quote is from recently elected Texas Republican Party Chairman Cathie Adams, who announced today that numerous county-level officials in their state will be switching this week from Democrat to Republican.

A veteran grassroots conservative activist, Adams described what appears to a strong shift toward the GOP in Texas. "Being an Obama Democrat is not such a popular label anymore," Adams said during a conference call with bloggers.

Texas GOP communications director Bryan Preston said polls indicate that 80 percent of Texas voters disapprove of the Obama administration's policies. Preston noted that many conservatives from Texas have served as volunteers in key campaigns elsewhere this fall, including the Virginia gubernatorial contest.

The new party chairman credited the Tea Party movement with helping raise awareness and involvement among conservative voters.

"These are people who are thinking for themselves," Adams said, describing her encounters with Texans at Tea Party events. She said the Obama administration's policies have awakened many conservative voters to the importance of being more active in the political process.

"People got complacent" in recent years, but now are "chomping at the bit" to become involved.

UPDATE: Press release from Texas GOP:
Texas Democrats Set to Switch to Republican All Over the State
The Republican Party of Texas is pleased to welcome several Democratic officeholders who have decided to switch parties and become Republicans. At noon today in Palo Pinto County, Precinct 5 Justice of the Peace Bobby Hart switched his party affiliation and became a Republican. Three others Palo Pinto County officials indicated an interest in switching parties. Hart joins the ranks of the party that enjoys majorities in both houses of the Texas Legislature and holds all statewide elected offices.
"Democrats like Judge Hart are joining a winning wave across this state and across this country,” said Republican Party of Texas Chairman Cathie Adams. “Americans are fed up with the Washington Democrats’ failing leftwing policies and government power grabs. We welcome these newly minted Republicans and anyone else who will stand with us for more freedom, lower taxes and smaller government.”
In addition to the Palo Pinto County switch, the Republican Party of Texas has learned that two Democratic officeholders in McCulloch County will soon become Republicans, and several more in other counties all over the Lone Star State are also poised to make the switch, some as soon as this week. They tend to cite disaffection with the national Democrats' economic policies, and agreement with the Republican Party's stances on smaller government and individual freedom as the reasons for switching.
All tolled, dozens of Democrats across Texas are known to be considering switching or are already in the process of doing so. There is no similar movement of Texas Republican officeholders leaving the party.
That's the way a wave rolls.

5 comments:

  1. I believe the correct quote should be "champing at the bit"....

    Ad rem

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  2. All the chatter about Texas turning purple during last year's election always tickled my funny bone. Certainly, GOP and conservative Texans didn't have much fondness for Sen. McCain, and that may have caused a few of them to abstain from voting, but stratch any one of them and they're red all the way. Texans hold fast to the conservative principles, but they just need a candidate to carry that message and they'll rally behind him/her.
    Anecdotally, saw several "Sarah Palin 2012" stickers on some F-250s down here in Tejas. Don't know if she's running, but this early out she seems to be the horse people are betting on.

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  3. TexMex

    F-250s sell well, but if they make Sarah Palin bumper stickers standard equipment, they will sell better.

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  4. As TexMex stated....also, Conservative is pretty much the thinking in Texas, at least anywhere outside the inner cities, which we have. Interesting about Palo Pinto County. Ever been there? I think the Demo holdovers hadn't yet realized that Lady Bird was no longer the first lady......Kinda small population, more armadilloes, deer and turkey than humans. Very laid back lifestyle. Very conservative folks there. Don't let that adjective get carried away. Great people, very warm, caring, know how to two-step too.

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  5. Robert17,

    This comes to you from beautiful rural Palo Pinto County. Bobby Hart is JP of the District next to mine. I'll have to stop by tomorrow and congratulate him.

    Today was election day here, too. How did you vote on Prop. 11?

    Regards,
    Ric

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