Houston election signals key trend (*BARF ALERT*)

Politico ^ | 12/16/2009 | Jonathan Martin & Ben Smith

[markomalley]

The landmark election Saturday of America's first big-city lesbian mayor in Houston represents more than just a milestone in identity politics.

It also signals an unmistakable evolutionary step in national politics, one that provides further evidence of a trend that helped make Barack Obama president: growth-oriented communities like the Texas metropolis, rather than aging big cities or nostalgia-inducing small towns, are setting the course of the country's political direction.

Houston is one of a set of fast-growing cities and expanding suburbs whose changing face and increasingly post-racial politics helped make Barack Obama president. Their politics are defined by some of the same trends—notably, growing Hispanic and Asian populations and the rise of the service sector—that are shaping the nation as a whole.

[markomalley]

So I guess you two like egg on your faces. We'll find out come 2010, won't we?

[silverleaf]

16% of the electorate even bothered to vote

that means 84% chose “none of the above”

[stevie_d_64]

Yet the “undervote” of that 16% is very telling as well...

And last I looked, Harris County (Houston) didn’t go to Obama...

So yeah, whomever wrote this is full of it...

I do not believe Annise Parker will suddenly allow gay and lesbian cerimonies to be conducted on the steps of city hall...She has enough problems to deal with...

Yet, I do know that the city counsel (FWIW) got a few more conservative seats in that chamber...So that is something positive...

[I cannot think of a name]

“The landmark election Saturday of America's first big-city lesbian mayor in Houston represents more than just a milestone in identity politics.”

Don't get your panties in a wad there buckaroo. Houston has a history of electing whack job mayors. Probably has something to do with the number of votes that can be easily “bought” in the inner city area.

[Flavious_Maximus]

Jonathan Martin & Ben Smith are homosexual lovers so take their “reporting” with a grain of salt.

Here is the real reason that she got in. Houston voters had a choice between a dangerous communist maniac or a bull dyke on steroids.

Who would you vote for? Decisions, decisions.

[I cannot think of a name]

I kind of wish they'd reelect Dustin Hoffman.

He wasn't very good as mayor but there was a lot of comic relief.

[liberlog]

If I could state the choice slightly differently, I would say that Parker came across as the nerdy, but honest and fiscally conservative, policy wonk and that Locke came across as the lawyer, lobbyist tool of special interests, especially developers and big business. If there is any lesson in this for Republicans, it is that the party needs to remember the difference between supporting free markets and supporting big business. People are tired of big government, big unions and big business. The “trend” in Houston as well as elsewhere is for libertarian approaches to our problems.

[deport]

And last I looked, Harris County (Houston) didn’t go to Obama...

---

According to this info from Harris County Obama won Harris County by about 19,000 votes.... Not sure about Houston as I believe the county includes a few more precincts [874] than just the city [734]....

http://www.harrisvotes.com/HISTORY/110408/Cumulative/cumulative.pdf

[freekitty]

Houston does have that rep. If Parker is on the up and up about fairness; then why is she allowing the fact she is gay be broadcast throughout the world?

I am embarrassed; not in the fact she is gay; but she would let the perversion be her defining light.

[fortheDeclaration]

Houston also has term limits.

[Chuckster]

Houston has a history of electing whack job mayors.

Houston is named after a world class whack job. I would expect nothing less.

d;^)

[csivils]

Houston is very careful to keep conservative districts zone as OUTSIDE the city.

[stevie_d_64]

Really...Well, muh bad...19,000 votes huh???

Well, I guess I have to ask those 19,000 idiots how that hope and change is working out for them...

Right???

[stevie_d_64]

Well, from what I recall...And it was not something I actively sought for clarification or explaination...

She did not bring up her sexual orientation that I could see...It was her opposition that did so, and their mouthpieces that made it something...

I am not at all championing for her in that regard, but she is a ball-buster (pardon the pun) and has made quite a few political enemies,even within her own political affiliation...As long as she doesn’t allow her preferences tobe used against her and the city for that matter, we’ll just be getting a continuation of what we’ve had in this city for many years...And thats a heavy favored mayors office that is democrat and liberal to boot...

Just my opinion...

[WOSG]

There were two LIBERALS running, and so conservatives didnt even bother to VOTE seeing as they didnt have a choice.
We see this in Austin as well. 5% of the electorate chooses the city council clowns. Sad but true, this locks in the power of the liberals in the cities.

The fact that they both represented themselves to be more conservative than they were ... well, a small silver lining.

“People are tired of big government, big unions and big business.” - That’s not how the media will write the story - they write it how anyone who holds on to traditional values is an old-hat bigot etc.

[WOSG]

Sam Houston was a great American and a great Texan.

We could use more like him right about now.

[I cannot think of a name]

Actually, to a degree, you are both correct.

Houston is one of those people I never get tired of reading about, simply because he is such a paradox. He had periods of bravery that would make Audie Murphy jealous. He had periods where he appeared to be a complete wuss. He was at times a brilliant leader and statesman, other times a knot-head.

He's one of those rare people that the more you find out about him, the less you feel like you know or understand him. I would love to have met in person - if nothing else just to see which one was actually him.

[freekitty]

That’s odd. Everytime you heard her name; lesbian or gay was attached and it wasn’t her opposition only.

She ran on that as well as other things which I don’t really remember as lesbian was sticking out all over the place and I didn’t see her trying to stop it.

I am sure she also knew that she had a good chance of winning the lower the turnout and Houston politics did their part by making sure the voters had nothing to vote for. I would imagine that was her strategy.

[a fool in paradise]

It also signals an unmistakable evolutionary step in national politics, one that provides further evidence of a trend that helped make Barack Obama president: growth-oriented communities like the Texas metropolis, rather than aging big cities or nostalgia-inducing small towns, are setting the course of the country's political direction.

Conservatives who stayed home (7% total voter turnout) sent a message that they "can't be bothered".

Even going to the poll and only voting for one or more of the other offices would have sent a message of non-approval.

But none of this really matters to Houston voters. Gotta go Christmas shopping or watch the game on tv. "Why it was in the 40s outside!"

[a fool in paradise]

“seeing as they didnt have a choice”

You always have a choice.

Conservatives stayed home during the general election as well.

3 Democrats, 1 Republican, 1 Independent

And the Republican came in 4th.

Stay home and you get what you deserve, the expansion of Big-City liberalism.

Same sex partner benefits for city employees will be coming as will irrelevant “green energy” solutions (and I suspect a whole new fleet of city owned cars, trucks, and other vehicles).