I don't usually participate in 'political' threads; but, since InOBU started this one, and I am a native Texan, I do have a couple of things to add here.

What Natalie said was a very bad PR move for her group. Even though I'm not a big 'Chicks' fan, I've always been interested in their career, and have been happy to see them reach such a level of success. I doubt seriously that her statement on stage will have any lasting effect on the group's career -- tempest in a teacup and all that.

Besides, the premise of her statement was wrong. President Bush is not a Texan. He wasn't born here, his family is not from Texas, he didn't go to school here (for the most part), and he can drop that 'faux-bubba' accent whenever it pleases him.

Basically, he's a Connecticut yankee in the stockyards. As far as I'm concerned, he's an insult to Texans in general -- even the ones that voted for him.

That's not to say that Texas isn't proud of some of its 'adoptees'. The caveat being, however, is that when they promote themselves in public, they always say something like, 'Even though I'm originally from (fill in the blank), I'm proud to call Texas my home now.' And they never claim to be a 'Texan' nor do they claim to speak for Texas or Texans.

Whew, I feel better now, having got that off my chest.

Parsimonious debate can now resume. Enjoy yourselves ;-)

All the best, Áine