Not much changed here in Idaho

[VR43000GT]

Originally Posted by ericn1300

Both of the political machines are good at brain washing, of course the people who voted straight party lines “ thought that is what was right”. Do you think that is right SL3000gt?

In what way? I guess if you were to pay no attention to the candidate/s or what they had to say, and took in the fact that they may be some outlandish radical, then yes. But I feel that most of those people probably followed the election at least partialy to stay somewhat informed. Regardless of how you vote.

Originally Posted by 2strokebloke

I guess you must have missed the part where I didn't claim to not be making a generalization.

Funny, I missed the part where I said it was you that said it.
I'm still on the subject of your friend.

[Nicole8188]

My family all voted for John McCain because he's white. (Except my mom...she voted for Cynthia McKinney because I jokingly told her to...HAHA! Pot and abortions, that's what I believe in!) Anyway, they all normally vote democrat and none of them have any republican ideals. Anyway, Florida went to Obama. I'm just glad we didn't fuck it up this year.

[Toksin]

No offense Nicole but your family sound like a bunch of twits :P

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by Toksin

No offense Nicole but your family sound like a bunch of twits :P

Why does that make her family sound like a bunch of twits?

They are not alone since over 57 million Americans voted for McCain and the Republican Party and to say they are twits is misplaced and childish.

That would be like saying there are a bunch of twits living in New Zealand because they just elected the conservative National Party into power and a new conservative Prime Minster - John Key.

What is interesting to note about the New Zealand election is it is nearly a mirror image of the U.S. election except the parties are flip flopped and of course, smaller in magnitude. There was even a "Morgan the Plumber". See below.

Back to the topic of the thread nothing changed in Texas. Republican and Red as usual. One thing I'd like to point out Texas does not have the economic issues like other states that decided the election so why change a good thing. The President has very little or nothing to do with local or state economies.

Ex-Trader Key Voted New Zealand Premier; Clark Quits (Update1)
By Tracy Withers

Nov. 8 (Bloomberg) -- New Zealand's National Party defeated the ruling Labour Party in today's election, with former Merrill Lynch & Co. trader John Key ending Helen Clark's nine-year tenure as prime minister after the economy fell into recession.

Clark, 58, announced in Auckland tonight she would quit as Labour leader by the end of the year.

``As is obvious to all, tonight has not been our night,'' Clark told supporters as she conceded defeat shortly before midnight. ``I accept responsibility for the result.''

Key, 47, campaigned under the slogan ``Choosing a Brighter Future,'' and pledged tax cuts to help revive a $130 billion economy mired in recession. His center-right party was rated the better manager of the economy by half of the 700 voters surveyed this month by the New Zealand Herald, helping him boost his vote in today's election. Labour's support fell 7 percentage points.

Key's Nationals won about 45.5 percent of the vote, according to the Chief Electoral Office Web site. Labour had 33.8 percent of the votes counted. The final numbers may change after absentee votes are included in coming days.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...Cbw&refer=home

Morgan the Plumber hits New Zealand election trail

WELLINGTON — Prime Minister Helen Clark found New Zealand's "Joe the Plumber" on the campaign trail Friday.
http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2008/1...election-trail

BTW - Since Obama was elected President the U.S. has technically transcended the race issue so it is no longer an issue to complain about.

[blazee]

Originally Posted by Toksin

No offense Nicole but your family sound like a bunch of twits :P

I would have probably said bigots, but twit works.

Don't take that the wrong way Nicole. I have family that wanted McCain to win simply because he was white, too. Sadly, they are completely unaware of their ignorance and prejudices.

[blazee]

Originally Posted by BNaylor

Why does that make her family sound like a bunch of twits?
They are not alone since over 57 million Americans voted for McCain and the Republican Party and to say they are twits is misplaced and childish.

They voted against their party and beliefs, and voted for McCain simply because he was white. You don't see a problem with that? Are you saying that 57 million did the same thing?

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by blazee

Are you saying that 57 million did the same thing?

I sure hope not. Most of them probably voted along along party lines and based on their social values and political views.

IMO what is more surprising or really no surprise for many was the black vote which shows a real problem if people desire to talk about the race card in the election. According to post election data at least 85% of eligible black voters voted for Obama. Now to set the record straight Obama is half white which makes him multi-racial. His mother was white and born in Kansas. Stanley Ann Dunham. See pic. It goes to show how misinformed or ignorant Americans are if they did vote based on race.

[ericn1300]

Originally Posted by BNaylor

Back to the topic of the thread nothing changed in Texas. Republican and Red as usual. One thing I'd like to point out Texas does not have the economic issues like other states that decided the election so why change a good thing.

I wouldn't be bragging about that since Texas' gains are at the expense of the rest of the country. It's all about oil. Take that out of the picture and what is so special about Texas? Quote: “Recent decreases in oil prices have not yet affected the Texas oil and natural gas industry's ability to create jobs” http://recenter.tamu.edu/pdf/1862.pdf

Quote: “Texas' manufacturing industry continues to lose jobs. The industry lost 7,500 from September 2007 to September 2008.” http://recenter.tamu.edu/pdf/1862.pdf

For a red state Texas doesn't seem to be acting very conservative. Quote: “The state's government sector added 26,900 jobs from September 2007 to September 2008” http://recenter.tamu.edu/pdf/1862.pdf

Losing your manufacturing jobs while increasing your size of government seems to me to be counterproductive when combined with the decrease of revenue from oil and gas. Your bubble will burst too, enjoy the good times for now.

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by ericn1300

I wouldn't be bragging about that since Texas' gains are at the expense of the rest of the country. It's all about oil. Take that out of the picture and what is so special about Texas? Quote: “Recent decreases in oil prices have not yet affected the Texas oil and natural gas industry's ability to create jobs” http://recenter.tamu.edu/pdf/1862.pdf

Nice internet research but it sounds like you have no practical or formal educational knowledge in Texas economics. Yeah, life must be a real bitch living in a Red state like Idaho. I can see why one can be so bitter. Texas could secede from the Union and be its own country if necessary. As a matter of fact probably the only state that could do so successfully. As anyone can see overall the data looks very good considering the source which is an excellent, well known conservative institution/college. Both my brother in law and sister are Texas A&M graduates. Look at the good data that overwhelms the bad. No wonder many people are still moving to Texas to work and live which will increase our population base and the electoral vote count from 34 one day.

Originally Posted by ericn1300

Quote: “Texas' manufacturing industry continues to lose jobs. The industry lost 7,500 from September 2007 to September 2008.” http://recenter.tamu.edu/pdf/1862.pdf

Yeah I guess that is the "sucking sound" Perot was talking about due to NAFTA signed into law by Bill Clinton. However the data fails to show or discuss the Maquiladora or Twin Plant concept. Many Texans work across the border in Mexico for American companies and the money earned comes right back to Texas. Also, a good percentage the oil industry from Texas works overseas in the oil producing countries that we depend on. On a lesser note but valid since the Mexican workers are employed by American companies that gives them more disposable income that they spend shopping in Texas border cities and they love Walmart.

Other offsets are the tourism industry and the military-industrial complex which has a strong presence in the state.

Originally Posted by ericn1300

For a red state Texas doesn't seem to be acting very conservative. Quote: “The state's government sector added 26,900 jobs from September 2007 to September 2008” http://recenter.tamu.edu/pdf/1862.pdf

Losing your manufacturing jobs while increasing your size of government seems to me to be counterproductive when combined with the decrease of revenue from oil and gas. Your bubble will burst too, enjoy the good times for now.

You forget that Texas has a long border with Mexico approximately 1200 miles. Many of the new governmental jobs are related to border security and address the immigration issue. Half of my wife's family works for the Border Patrol, Customs or INS. Also, the massive expansion and reorganization of Ft Hood and Ft Bliss which contributes to the tune of a strong national defense that the Democrats have a poor track record in.

I recall in a prior discussion we had about Texas you were the one that claimed Texas would be Blue in 2008 but that failed to materialize. Back to the drawing board.

BTW - Instead of living in misery or getting or being disenfranchised since you claim to have conservative roots move to Texas.

[ericn1300]

Originally Posted by BNaylor

Yeah, life must be a real bitch living in a Red state like Idaho. I can see why one can be so bitter.

Didn't Obama get beat up for saying the very same thing? Qoute: And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations." http://corner.nationalreview.com/pos...k1YmU3ZTIxOTI=

Are you guy's related, or are you just stealing his stuff?

Originally Posted by BNaylor

Nice internet research but it sounds like you have no practical or formal educational knowledge in Texas economics

I put up a Texas A&M economic summary that I admit was internet research but what do you have to base your comments on New Zealand's elections? Maybe some “ practical or formal educational knowledge”?

[2strokebloke]

Originally Posted by BNaylor

Texas could secede from the Union and be its own country if necessary. As a matter of fact probably the only state that could do so successfully.

I don't think anybody in the Union would care much either.

Many Texans work across the border in Mexico for American companies and the money earned comes right back to Texas.

It's still nothing compared to American jobs lost to such practices. I guess it's still better than losing all jobs to say a plant in communist China.

But then again, lucky you - a lot of the pollution from those dirty Mexican factories blows right back in to Texas. Not to mention what they're doing to your ground water along the border...

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by ericn1300

Didn't Obama get beat up for saying the very same thing? Qoute: And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations." http://corner.nationalreview.com/pos...k1YmU3ZTIxOTI=

Are you guy's related, or are you just stealing his stuff?

He was talking about Pennsylvania. Whatever I say is my own work so hard to get beat up for what I said and I wasn't running for President.

Originally Posted by ericn1300

I put up a Texas A&M economic summary that I admit was internet research but what do you have to base your comments on New Zealand's elections? Maybe some “ practical or formal educational knowledge”?

Yeah but you did not expect a good counter argument to your speculation. Nope. It was in the newspapers and reliable sources so it is general knowledge.

Actually I was just trying to be nice to Toksin and show that we Americans are interested in other countries like New Zealand. ....

[ericn1300]

Originally Posted by BNaylor

Actually I was just trying to be nice to Toksin and show that we Americans are interested in other countries like New Zealand.

More like sucking up to be Secratary of State when Texas succededs

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by 2strokebloke

I don't think anybody in the Union would care much either.

Nice to have the blessings of fellow Americans.

Originally Posted by 2strokebloke

I guess it's still better than losing all jobs to say a plant in communist China.

Bingo! Better than nothing and jobs going overseas.

Originally Posted by 2strokebloke

But then again, lucky you - a lot of the pollution from those dirty Mexican factories blows right back in to Texas. Not to mention what they're doing to your ground water along the border...

The primary pollution in my area of West Texas comes from U.S. plants like ASARCO, the oil refineries and automobiles. Obviously we share the same air. What ground water? The rains evaporates before it gets a chance to get to the ground water plus you have to drill hundreds of feet. But since we Texans are resourceful we looked into that and other environmental issues. See link. Plus those Mexican factories and manufacturing plants are not as dirty as you think.

Water - Setting the Stage for the Future

Originally Posted by ericn1300

More like sucking up to be Secratary of State when Texas succededs

That is secedes.

Not a bad idea but I'll be fully retired in 8 years and will probably enjoy a nice vacation in New Zealand and traveling around the U.S. and world. Screw politics.

[Nicole8188]

It's ok...my family realize they're racist. They're ok with it. What bothers them more than the fact that he's black is the fact that he barely mentions his mom was white.