AltWeeklies Wire
The Winnebago Vote: How 12,000 RVers Tilt East Texas Electionsnew
A mail-forwarding business near Livingston allows these RVers to claim legal residency in Texas, while many have never been to Livingston, or even Texas, and own property in other states. Together these 12,000 overwhelmingly Republican voters have helped erode what was once a stronghold of yellow dog Democrats.
The Texas Observer |
Forrest Wilder |
10-08-2008 |
Politics
A Tale of Two Cities: The RNC You Saw and the One You Didn'tnew
There was carefully crafted show inside the Excel Energy Center, and a street-level populist protest in which hundreds were tear-gassed and arrested, including prominent journalists. In the arena, the nomination of Sarah Palin palpably energized the Republican delegates, but events away from the arena were more revealing.
The Texas Observer |
Elizabeth DiNovella |
09-24-2008 |
Politics
The Bushies Return to Texasnew
Perhaps it's not surprising that more than a few members of Bush's Texas contingent have been making their ways back home. After all, it is still Republican country. However, like the rest of the nation, Texans aren't particularly high on Bush right now -- and that includes even those in the state's Republican Party.
The Texas Observer |
Anthony Zurcher |
09-24-2008 |
Politics
How Will W's Library Shape His Legacy?new
It's somewhat ironic that the Bush administration would create the first presidential library with a policy think tank attached. That has led some critics to wonder if the think tank will engage in genuine policy innovation or mainly try to shape Bush's legacy.
The Texas Observer |
Forrest Wilder |
09-24-2008 |
Politics
DNC Report: Seeking Higher Ground in Denvernew
As the Democratic National Convention approached, questions fluttered like flags in Denver's thin air. Would aggrieved Hillary fans buy into party unity? Could the Clintons endorse Obama with conviction? Would Obama's acceptance speech be regarded as a gesture of openness, or give Republicans a chance to paint him as an egoist?
The Texas Observer |
Brad Tyer |
09-10-2008 |
Politics
LBJ, The Texas Observer & Menew
The Texas Observer cut its teeth on LBJ and the politics of the late 1950s. In his drive to accrue power at the state and national levels, Johnson played on both sides of major issues and Ronnie was there to hold him accountable.
The Texas Observer |
Ronnie Dugger |
08-27-2008 |
Politics
Four Congressional Races Will Test the Democratic Resurgence in Texasnew
In a year where Republican is a four letter word, we explain the vulnerabilities of candidates in four key congressional districts in Texas -- and how the impending elections will provide a litmus test for the strength of Democratic resurgence.
The Texas Observer |
Staff |
08-27-2008 |
Politics
The Gospel According to John Cornynnew
Nearly 40 percent of Texans wouldn't know their junior senator if he fell on them. But Cornyn's dull exterior masks one of the most conservative records in the U.S. Senate.
The Texas Observer |
Dave Mann |
08-13-2008 |
Politics
Texas Republicans Sport Stiff Upper Lips at Their State Sonventionnew
Discord and infighting set the tone of the Republican convention in Houston, which saw a smaller and more subdued turnout than in recent years. The GOP event included many who felt betrayed by broken promises and false conservatism from current state and national leadership.
The Texas Observer |
Dave Mann and Forrest Wilder |
07-02-2008 |
Politics
At Their State Convention, Texas Dems Looked Like a Party on the Risenew
You couldn't look at the packed main hall of the Austin Convention Center -- where Democratic delegates, alternates, and guests filled nearly 15,000 chairs -- without thinking that perhaps Republican dominance of Texas politics was beginning to end.
The Texas Observer |
Dave Mann |
07-02-2008 |
Politics
John McCain's Phil Gramm Gamblenew
In Gramm, McCain has chosen for a campaign co-chair and adviser a former senator who espouses free market, conservative principles, but whose actions in public office served wealthy contributors and even himself, leading to economic crises like the credit crunch and skyrocketing fuel costs.
The Texas Observer |
Patricia Kilday Hart |
06-03-2008 |
Politics
Choice Words: How We Talk When We Talk About Politicsnew
We asked 2,500 Texas Democratic primary voters participants two open-ended questions about their preferences. By analyzing the words people used to answer the questions, we were able to see how supporters of the different candidates are psychologically different. We also see the similiarities between the rhetoric of the campaigns and the language of their supporters.
The Texas Observer |
James W. Pennebaker |
05-30-2008 |
Politics
How McCain Supporters Skewed the Texas Democratic Party Resultsnew
McCain supporters, our poll reveals, made up 9.4 percent of the total vote in the primary. Clinton's margin of victory was only 3.5 percent. We can't say that the McCain ringers in the Democratic primary changed the outcome, because we don't know for whom they actually voted in March. But it is clearly possible.
The Texas Observer |
Leland Beatty |
05-30-2008 |
Politics
The U.S. Supreme Court Gives New Life to the Texas GOP's Effort to Pass Voter ID Billnew
Both sides of the debate have reason to tread carefully in the upcoming legislative battles. Although the Court gave Indiana -- and any state wishing to follow its lead -- the go-ahead to enact stringent voter identification laws, the Court left open the possibility of legal challenges to such measures once their actual effect on the voting public can be assessed.
The Texas Observer |
Anthony Zurcher |
05-21-2008 |
Politics
Texas Democrats Endure Another Round of Caucus Chaosnew
With record-breaking Democratic turnout have come unprecedented headaches. The struggle to manage that surge was once again on display on March 29 at 279 county and senatorial district conventions. It was the second step in Texas' three-part caucus to determine how 67 delegates will be apportioned between Democratic presidential aspirants Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
The Texas Observer |
Staff |
04-23-2008 |
Politics
