I'm really not surprised to see the Texas GOP Party Platform. I live in Florida, I've seen what Jeb has done with the state.

Jeb said this in his inagural speech in 2003:

"There would be no greater tribute to our maturity as a society than if we can make these buildings around us empty of workers; silent monuments to the time when government played a larger role than it deserved or could adequately fill."

askye, honey, I'm so sorry you have to live there. Move here!

I mean, not that California's current state government is a marked improvement, but the Bay Area has a remarkable talent for sticking its fingers in its ears and chanting LalalalaIcan'thearyou in the general direction of Sacramento. Plus, the city governments of San Francisco and Berkeley? Still completely awful, but at least in a blundering, madcap. mostly harmless sort of way.

There would be no greater tribute to our maturity as a society than if we can make these buildings around us empty of workers

A sentence I never expected anybody to say -- I mean anybody who wants to be re-elected. (I know he is actually referring only to government workers, but, generally speaking, a politician who talks about losing jobs on purpose is not a politician for long.)

Also, that's a misuse of a semi-colon. Clearly, that's one job the Florida government shouldn't get rid of -- copyeditor.

that no one from Texas will be determining policy for the country anytime soon....

Unless it was Heather. I'd be ok with that.

generally speaking, a politician who talks about losing jobs on purpose is not a politician for long

Unless they talk about government employees losing their jobs.

Subtitle: Electric Bugaloo, or We've got Tazers Now, Weeeee!

Or to paraphrase Angelus: "The last time we tortured people, we didn't even have chainsaws!"

Government employees vote too. Cops and firefighters and librarians and teachers and soldiers and park rangers are (mostly) government employees.

Conservatives like to pretend that "government" is made up of maladjusted actuaries, freeloading secretaries and people researching the sexual habits of the tree frog. While I have known all of these types, I'm also a fan of, like, the National Cancer Institute, Yellowstone National Park, interstate highways, and the FBI.

Mmmm. FBI.

Or to paraphrase Angelus: "The last time we tortured people, we didn't even have chainsaws!"

I so want to see this hanging up in some cubicle in the Vatican.

Conservatives like to pretend that "government" is made up of maladjusted actuaries, freeloading secretaries and people researching the sexual habits of the tree frog.

And not the folks who search your luggage and read your email to make sure you're not a terrorist.

But that Texas GOP platform is just insane:

"The Republican Party of Texas affirms that the United States of America is a Christian nation."

"Our Party pledges to exert its influence to restore the original intent of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and dispel the myth of the separation of Church and State."

“We oppose any criminal or civil penalties against those who oppose homosexuality out of faith, conviction, or belief in traditional values.”

"We oppose conservation easements on our natural resources administered by organizations unaccountable to tax payers and voters."

"The Party urges Congress to repeal government-sponsored programs that deal with early childhood development, and phase them out as soon as possible."

and it just goes on and on