It's that time of year...politics is getting boring, and ugly, and ridiculous. These people have only been running for what - two years? (Or four, or eight, or whatever in the case of some of them who loose and try again.) As the conventions approach and there's really nothing left to discuss as far as who the candidates will be, there seems to be nothing worth reading, or talking about, or discussing for the millionth time. We should just have the election now and get it over with.
This week was the Texas primaries - finally! For while Texans gripe and complain that on account of their primary being so late they have no voice, it's their own confounded fault. You've probably heard around about the problems Texas had redistricting. Because, apparently, they can't draw a line. You would think that would be simple enough. William Barret Travis did it at their all-hallowed Alamo. Oh, but that's right: William Barret Travis was from South Carolina. Now there's a state that can draw a line - and call it the Stars and Bars.
Truly, Texas didn't have a whole lot to say this past week. The one important seat (Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson's in Washington) goes to a run-off for both the Republicans and Democrats. (My choice came in on a low 4th, but I cast my vote so I can complain if I want.) My local state Congressman sent me a lovely e-mail saying how grateful she was for my support. I thought about sending her one back and informing her I didn't support her at all. In fact, I did my level best to get her out of Congress for one simple fact: she doesn't do her job. Don't call yourself a representative if you don't intend to represent your constituents. On a county level, the guy that lost tax assessor still hasn't bothered to publicly congratulate his winning opponent. Apparently, he didn't play baseball as a kid and so was taught to shake the other team's hands and say, "Good game."
In the county in which I live, Texans proved to be Texans. The incumbent sheriff lost, very likely for one simple reason: his parents didn't name him Davy Crockett or Sam Houston. The guy who did win was named William Barret Travis, after his all-hallowed ancestor. Of course, he probably doesn't know either that his great-great-great-whatever was actually from South Carolina (where he learned to draw lines). For Texans at the voting booths are easy to predict: they vote for Texans. Because, you know, Texas is the greatest state in the Union. They have the best economy, the most jobs, the lowest percentage of unemployment and how many times can Governor Rick Perry open his big mouth and say Texas does not need federal funds?
But let's get a few things straight. Unemployment is low because the millions of illegal immigrants that Texas politicians do nothing about (unless you count funding their medical, educational and everything inbetween "needs") are willing to stand on certain corners in town and be hired to do just about anything for the day. And in a state where landscaping is more important than water to drink or building more restaurants in greater demand than preserving whales; they can work every day of the week and then throw their money back into the economy (a.k.a. eating out every night). And Rick Perry is getting federal funding by sending his state's national guard into the fiercest areas of Afghanistan while the Texas border is a local war zone he ignores. Why? Well, if you're going to let them come over the border, you have to pay for their education and straight teeth, right? That's what wins votes - even illegal ones. Exactly.
So, welcome to Texas politics. Or anywhere politics. It's going to be a long five months until November...
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