Texas Gov. Signs 'Merry Christmas' Bill Into Law

[Altair]

Randall, Lyric--I pity you.


http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2013/06/14/us/ap-us-perry-christmas.html?ref=us&_r=2&

"[Texas Governor Rick] Perry...invited to the signing ceremony cheerleaders from Kountze High School in East Texas. They were briefly barred by their school district from displaying banners with bible verses at football games. Perry decried the ban and a judge eventually ruled it violated students' free speech rights.

"The governor said the law was for believers such as the Kountze cheerleaders, who wore red "I cheer for Christ" T-shirts."

Leave it to Texas to land a blow against the so-called "War on Christmas"--in June!

[RandallS]

Randall, Lyric--I pity you.

It's a stupid "tea party pleaser" law that makes legal what was already legal.  Nothing the law authorizes was ever illegal or needed a law to authorize. It just makes the people who believe Christmas is under attack feel good.

[Melamphoros]

Leave it to Texas to land a blow against the so-called "War on Christmas"--in June!

 
I would move Texas up a notch on my "Places To Not Even Visit" list, but it's already at the top.

[Cabal]

I would move Texas up a notch on my "Places To Not Even Visit" list, but it's already at the top.

 
Love Texas, just not the politics!

[Finn]

Love Texas, just not the politics!

 
Hear, hear!

It always pains me to see these sorts of articles showcasing Teh Particular Stupid Texas Harbors.

[Altair]

Love Texas, just not the politics!

But hang on--the politics doesn't come out of nowhere. A majority of the voting public in TX must harbor these antediluvian views, because governors and the preponderance of state legislators keep promulgating yee-haw bullshit (from this "Merry Xmas bill" to the death penalty to school textbooks to rampant deregulation) to pander to that public to get re-elected. Or am I missing something?

So what exactly do you love about Texas?

[Darkhawk]

But hang on--the politics doesn't come out of nowhere. A majority of the voting public in TX must harbor these antediluvian views,

 
Not necessarily; consider the polls demonstrating majorities in favor of stuff like universal health care, stricter gun control laws, and some other stuff that I can't recall.

The politicians can't actually be trusted to represent the views of their constituents, because they're largely corporate subsidiaries.

[RandallS]

But hang on--the politics doesn't come out of nowhere. A majority of the voting public in TX must harbor these antediluvian views, because governors and the preponderance of state legislators keep promulgating yee-haw bullshit (from this "Merry Xmas bill" to the death penalty to school textbooks to rampant deregulation) to pander to that public to get re-elected. Or am I missing something?

Gerrymandering.  Where possible, democrats are put in districts where they are just enough of a minority to ensure the republican slight majority will win. There are some districts where there are democratic majorities but they put as few Republicans in those districts as they can legally get by with.

That and the far, far right controls the Texas Republican party. Republicans have to trend toward the far, far right in primaries or they do not get any support from the Texas Republican party.  Also many convention votes are assigned in caucases the night of the primary election -- which only tend to be attended by the hardcore.

[Cabal]

But hang on--the politics doesn't come out of nowhere. A majority of the voting public in TX must harbor these antediluvian views, because governors and the preponderance of state legislators keep promulgating yee-haw bullshit (from this "Merry Xmas bill" to the death penalty to school textbooks to rampant deregulation) to pander to that public to get re-elected. Or am I missing something?

So what exactly do you love about Texas?

 The people, food, the jobs, I'm a bit of a cowboy so I fit in well! My whole family is here!

[mandrina]

The people, food, the jobs, I'm a bit of a cowboy so I fit in well! My whole family is here!

 
honestly, we want to move back to illinois, specifically smaller town, but the main family job is here.

[Cabal]

honestly, we want to move back to illinois, specifically smaller town, but the main family job is here.

 
I would love to move to the north east, but the wife won't hear of it!

[Melamphoros]

I would love to move to the north east, but the wife won't hear of it!

 
But the Northeast has much nicer weather!

[Cabal]

But the Northeast has much nicer weather!

 
I know, it would be nice to have some other seasons other than summer!

[MadZealot]

I know, it would be nice to have some other seasons other than summer!

 
Same where I live in inland So Cal, and I like it.  And trust me, TX is a way better place to be than CA in its current state.  (Current state... get it?)

[RandallS]

honestly, we want to move back to illinois, specifically smaller town, but the main family job is here.

I miss San Antonio. The Waco area with only 200,000 or so people seems like a small town after spending over half your life in San Antonio. Far less racism in San Antonio as well.