I was teaching a class on how to navigate the Bexar County Election Department website. A guy mentioned the 1962 story. I told him I was born in 1961 so I had not heard of it. Lookie here; you are educating me about that story. ☺️
Interesting read. 😁
Right now I’m more concerned with WTH is trump trying to do with the Nov. elections. 😡
I keep telling people I remember a different Texas (born here in 1962) but the reason I declared myself an independent instead of a Democrat years ago is because I also remember the infighting. I’m still not a fan of the corporate Dems or the DNC, but the modern Texas Dems give me some hope.
And, lest we forget, the 1970 race between Ralph Yarborough and Lloyd Bentsen. From the New York Times article the day after the vote:
....Some newspapers, that have consistently opposed Senator Yarborough for 20 years, urged Republicans to vote in the Democratic primary for Mr. Bentsen. In Texas, voters do not register by party.
Mr. Bentsen has been backed by the regular Democratic party leaders in Texas, including former Gov. John B. Connally Jr., who kept Senator Yarborough off the list of Texas delegates to the 1968 National Democratic Convention....
Well I am older than dirt and came to Texas (yes, NFT) becoming active for the Carter-Bentsen race for President. Leadership was all for Bentsen and so it was easy to assume a leadership role for Carter at a young age. After he won the primary I attempted to bring people together and some of the Bentsen people were aghast and let me know I was NOT in charge anymore. They would be taking over. Lol. So yes Dems do not play nice when their "authority" is questioned but not earned.
None taken. In fact I told someone commenting from out of state recently that he should keep his comments to his own state since he knows nothing about Texas. I have lived here however longer than many commenters have been alive.
Lovely article! And very timely. We need to remember there were progressives in Texas before all the NFT's (Not from Texas) showed up. As I have gotten involved in local Democratic politics, there is a tendency among them to assume there weren't any liberals/progressives here before they showed up. This is very understandable, especially since we have been suppressed since the 1990's. I love history.
Being a true nerd, I have recently been reading and restacked a Substack on the history of the Texas constitution. It was fascinating to me that even in 1876, these very same factions and competing interests were at loggerheads in the drafting of our third and current constitution. The outcome was pretty similar. Progressives had a major impact on the constitution, i.e. the homestead exemption, but they did not ultimately win power. It was the business faction who prevailed.
Speaking of Texas history, since I've noted a few comments here with birthdates in connection with this history, I was born in 1960. Not that it's a contest (LOL). I remember hearing about Sharpstown when I was a kid. That was a pretty big deal. I remember Preston Smith as governor. I remember the grown-ups talking about the Connolly-Yarbrough battle, but was too young to understand. I really appreciate the history of that.
My grandparents and parents had tickets to attend the JFK speech in Austin scheduled right after Dallas.
I was teaching a class on how to navigate the Bexar County Election Department website. A guy mentioned the 1962 story. I told him I was born in 1961 so I had not heard of it. Lookie here; you are educating me about that story. ☺️
Interesting read. 😁
Right now I’m more concerned with WTH is trump trying to do with the Nov. elections. 😡
Who can save this Country?
McDonald’s. Give him another cheeseburger!
Cholesterol, you have 1 job to do.
🤣🤣🤣
I keep telling people I remember a different Texas (born here in 1962) but the reason I declared myself an independent instead of a Democrat years ago is because I also remember the infighting. I’m still not a fan of the corporate Dems or the DNC, but the modern Texas Dems give me some hope.
Me, too!
And, lest we forget, the 1970 race between Ralph Yarborough and Lloyd Bentsen. From the New York Times article the day after the vote:
....Some newspapers, that have consistently opposed Senator Yarborough for 20 years, urged Republicans to vote in the Democratic primary for Mr. Bentsen. In Texas, voters do not register by party.
Mr. Bentsen has been backed by the regular Democratic party leaders in Texas, including former Gov. John B. Connally Jr., who kept Senator Yarborough off the list of Texas delegates to the 1968 National Democratic Convention....
https://www.nytimes.com/1970/05/03/archives/conservative-beats-yarborough-in-democratic-primary-in-texas.html
among other instances of ratfucking.
Thanks for the history lesson. A fascinating read.
Thanks for this, Michelle! Shared after 11 pm on bsky. I kind of lost the day today & really appreciated having a night post to make!
Well I am older than dirt and came to Texas (yes, NFT) becoming active for the Carter-Bentsen race for President. Leadership was all for Bentsen and so it was easy to assume a leadership role for Carter at a young age. After he won the primary I attempted to bring people together and some of the Bentsen people were aghast and let me know I was NOT in charge anymore. They would be taking over. Lol. So yes Dems do not play nice when their "authority" is questioned but not earned.
No offense Veda!❤ I've just had a few too many lectures about Texas from folks who don't know Texas. You are one of the good ones.
None taken. In fact I told someone commenting from out of state recently that he should keep his comments to his own state since he knows nothing about Texas. I have lived here however longer than many commenters have been alive.
💙
Lovely article! And very timely. We need to remember there were progressives in Texas before all the NFT's (Not from Texas) showed up. As I have gotten involved in local Democratic politics, there is a tendency among them to assume there weren't any liberals/progressives here before they showed up. This is very understandable, especially since we have been suppressed since the 1990's. I love history.
Being a true nerd, I have recently been reading and restacked a Substack on the history of the Texas constitution. It was fascinating to me that even in 1876, these very same factions and competing interests were at loggerheads in the drafting of our third and current constitution. The outcome was pretty similar. Progressives had a major impact on the constitution, i.e. the homestead exemption, but they did not ultimately win power. It was the business faction who prevailed.
Speaking of Texas history, since I've noted a few comments here with birthdates in connection with this history, I was born in 1960. Not that it's a contest (LOL). I remember hearing about Sharpstown when I was a kid. That was a pretty big deal. I remember Preston Smith as governor. I remember the grown-ups talking about the Connolly-Yarbrough battle, but was too young to understand. I really appreciate the history of that.
My grandparents and parents had tickets to attend the JFK speech in Austin scheduled right after Dallas.