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dy156 · 06-25-2004, 08:29 AM

I hope this isn't too off-topic, but I wanted to reply regarding Bush as Gov. of Texas. Many people in Austin and around the state recall his terms so fondly because he got along so well with the Democratic legislature, and the very powerful Democrat Lt. Gov., in particular.

Yes, the environmental numbers were worse following his terms, but that had very little to do with his enviromental policies, but could be directly attributed to the growth in population and industry in Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio that occurred during his years as governor. Yes, he was good for business, but that brought jobs and money to people, and tax dollars for our schools.

My wife is a teacher, and most teachers were strongly against his education reforms, but that was, in my opinion, because teachers were afraid of accountability. Yes, they "teach to the test" now, but the test ensures that every kid can read before they're promoted. (Hence, "no child left behind") His top 10% rule for state schools, while also criticized by above average kids and parents in nice suburbs, is a very logical, so-far successful, and objective alternative to affirmative action in admissions that continues to this day. He knew he could count on the votes of these same above average suburban kids' parents, and rather than pander to them, did something unpopular among his base of supporters that was good for minorities and rural kids.

Not only was he successful in preventing a proposed state income tax -see the growth in pop. and jobs- but his proposed property tax reform would have made the state's tax collection far more fair (though unpopular), and he fought a good fight only to have it defeated in the legislature.

He took criticism for vetoeing hate crime legislation when he ran against Gore, but, perhaps coached improperly for the debates, did not do as good a job of explaining why then as he did at the time. (remember the goofy comments about how we killed the guys that dragged James Byrd to death?) He artfully dodged a debate about minority interests and explained that if you murder someone or beat someone up, it's wrong and already against the law. To have prosecutors become mind readers won't do any good, and the punishments in Texas for violently breaking the law are plenty adequate.

Remnants of his ideas on normalizing and legitimizing the mexican emigration problem were, for the most part, killed with the heightened security after 9/11, but it was another shining example of good policy that was a little bit counter to traditional conservative thinking. I regret that it never came to fruition. Ironically, he had probably more foriegn policy experience than any other governor, and his relations with Mexico were better then than they are now.

Just ask anyone involved in Texas politics, and you'll hear much the same thing. How good Bush was back then, how bad the current TX gov. is, (though both Republican, Bush never really got along with him and when he was running for Lt. Gov., did not endorse him until embarassingly late in the campaign.) and finally how Bush the pres. is very different from Bush the Gov.
Just writing this has reminded me how disappointed I have been at times with Bush, but I will still support him as the lesser of two evils.

To the angry anti-Bush crowd:
Please don't let your current anger at the president allow you to spin his entire record as negative, when you are really just upset by his recent actions, because you will lose some credibility with me and many Texans that wonder what Washington does to some people.

Now back on topic, internet domain squatters are irritating, I agree.

06-25-2004, 08:29 AM	#29 (permalink)
dy156 cookie Location: in the backwoods	I hope this isn't too off-topic, but I wanted to reply regarding Bush as Gov. of Texas. Many people in Austin and around the state recall his terms so fondly because he got along so well with the Democratic legislature, and the very powerful Democrat Lt. Gov., in particular. Yes, the environmental numbers were worse following his terms, but that had very little to do with his enviromental policies, but could be directly attributed to the growth in population and industry in Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio that occurred during his years as governor. Yes, he was good for business, but that brought jobs and money to people, and tax dollars for our schools. My wife is a teacher, and most teachers were strongly against his education reforms, but that was, in my opinion, because teachers were afraid of accountability. Yes, they "teach to the test" now, but the test ensures that every kid can read before they're promoted. (Hence, "no child left behind") His top 10% rule for state schools, while also criticized by above average kids and parents in nice suburbs, is a very logical, so-far successful, and objective alternative to affirmative action in admissions that continues to this day. He knew he could count on the votes of these same above average suburban kids' parents, and rather than pander to them, did something unpopular among his base of supporters that was good for minorities and rural kids. Not only was he successful in preventing a proposed state income tax -see the growth in pop. and jobs- but his proposed property tax reform would have made the state's tax collection far more fair (though unpopular), and he fought a good fight only to have it defeated in the legislature. He took criticism for vetoeing hate crime legislation when he ran against Gore, but, perhaps coached improperly for the debates, did not do as good a job of explaining why then as he did at the time. (remember the goofy comments about how we killed the guys that dragged James Byrd to death?) He artfully dodged a debate about minority interests and explained that if you murder someone or beat someone up, it's wrong and already against the law. To have prosecutors become mind readers won't do any good, and the punishments in Texas for violently breaking the law are plenty adequate. Remnants of his ideas on normalizing and legitimizing the mexican emigration problem were, for the most part, killed with the heightened security after 9/11, but it was another shining example of good policy that was a little bit counter to traditional conservative thinking. I regret that it never came to fruition. Ironically, he had probably more foriegn policy experience than any other governor, and his relations with Mexico were better then than they are now. Just ask anyone involved in Texas politics, and you'll hear much the same thing. How good Bush was back then, how bad the current TX gov. is, (though both Republican, Bush never really got along with him and when he was running for Lt. Gov., did not endorse him until embarassingly late in the campaign.) and finally how Bush the pres. is very different from Bush the Gov. Just writing this has reminded me how disappointed I have been at times with Bush, but I will still support him as the lesser of two evils. To the angry anti-Bush crowd: Please don't let your current anger at the president allow you to spin his entire record as negative, when you are really just upset by his recent actions, because you will lose some credibility with me and many Texans that wonder what Washington does to some people. Now back on topic, internet domain squatters are irritating, I agree.