Hmm. Do you remember how Texas showed that conservative policies work — it was weathering the slump just fine, it had a balanced budget, and so on?

Oops: Legislature likely to cut deep to meet possible $25 billion budget gap.

I’d also add that the Texas economy has not, in fact, performed all that well. Here’s a comparison of the second and third most populous states:

What is true is that Texas was spared the worst of the housing crisis — thanks to unusually strict regulation.

But will anyone change their line? No, sir. This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.