The Official Texas Hispanic Caucus is in the house!

Lights on. Stage set. long lines. No fancy meals. Just a quick bite until the next caucus. The charismatic feel, present. The voices, roaring. The dividing lines, clear. Are we going to leave here united? Perhaps. For the Hispanic caucus, the proverbial question demands an answer. Why are there so many different Hispanic groups? Some new folks find it confusing. I have been involved in some form or fashion for more than twenty years and it is barely making sense to me. The question, is a legitimate question. It’s also a question with a complicated answer. For some people it’s very frustrating. The Black caucus, well… candidates will have to earn their vote. The yellow democrat defected to the other side and a semblance lingers. Those straight dem voters … took asylum in Republican land. They assimilated and took over the Party. And here we are.

The Venue

The venue itself, well…it’s bigger than the last one. I remember this convention when it was still the Bayfront Plaza convention center. It’s typical for a convention center with overpriced foods and beverages. The location is beautiful. There may not be a perfect convention center. I don’t know. I do know that there is never enough seating. I had to cop a squat on the hard floor. At sixty-six sitting on the floor can leave lasting pain. Either way the pain from sitting on the floor is enough for me to say “This pain is not worth it. I know democrats don’t stand a chance.” But, no. I took it slow and got back on my feet. On to the next caucus. So, I ask myself a few hard questions. “What will it take for the Texas political landscape to change?” Well, when I hear someone confess their dissatisfaction with the results of a race, to me, it is a stronger indicator of future loss. And then confess their need to be wooed for their support and vote, again - a stronger indicator of future loss.

In today’s economy, everyone needs to make a buck. Convention vendors are always pricey. The various campaigns sell their paraphernalia at high prices. They need to raise funds, undeniable. The social media influencers have to add to their number of followers. They have to keep the intrigued-intrigued with their ability to understand political speak. Everyone has an agenda. Still, the political changes that we want to see, that we need, have yet to be realized. Why? Clearly, part of the problem is insufficient funds. And, the bigger problem is the lack of a message that resonates across cultures, or political differences. And there is a reason for that too.

Question number two. Is there enough traction to actually make that blue wave slam the GOP in the upcoming elections? I could be the cheerleader and say…”Yes, we can!” But, there’s enough cheerleaders. The way I see it, it’s not cheer teams that win NFL Championships. It’s the players on the field. I am not about to hype myself up only to face another defeat with yet another “We almost had them.”, or “We will get them next time!” I have heard those words for the last twenty-some years. I do what I can for the grassroots effort, and remain cautiously optimistic.

I have seen new leadership come and go and still here we are. Could a different Party Chair make a difference? Well, the harvest is plentiful but the workers few.

The Results

Late, Saturday we finally got to read the results of the previous vote, we can only hope that we voted for individuals who will bring their best untried strategies. We know the usual business has not been effective at securing any statewide elections.