The Republican party platform is divorced from reality. Texas is a huge state with a huge economy, and Republicans are talking about converting gay citizens to being straight–one of the most backward ideas I can imagine–and taking a hard line on immigration. Both issues will set the party back and embolden their opponents.
The platform ignores the legitimate needs of the state (water, transportation, public and higher education, health care). Worse, it sends a signal around the country that the state’s leadership is focused inward on its own divisions instead of outward on strengthening the state’s economy. I’m not surprised. But if the grownups fail to get a grasp on what is happening to the Republican party, they are going to see it all go down the drain. We can expect another primary season that pits Republicans versus other Republicans, a waste of time and energy that only serves to narrow the appeal of the party.
