Joe's had better days. So has the Texas GOP.

At what point does a political party descend from mere tragic extremism into dangerous farce?

For the Texas GOP, it appears that point was reached this week, when the party released its official election platform.

Candidates for the party must now defend plans to reintroduce laws banning sodomy - defined as oral or anal sex. The platform also insists on legislation to make gay marriage a felony.

Nevermind that in 2003, the United States Supreme Court struck down a similar anti-sodomy law in the case of Lawrence vs. Texas, declaring it to be inconsistent with constitutionally protected guarantees of privacy. The Court held that persons were "free as adults to engage in private conduct in the exercise of their liberty..." Such radical thinking, evidently, is so utterly blasphemous for conservatives that this requires a new law immediately.

But the state platform goes even further, with the following unfathomable comments about homosexuality:

"We believe that the practice of homosexuality tears at the fabric of society, contributes to the breakdown of the family unit, and leads to the spread of dangerous, communicable diseases. Homosexual behavior is contrary to the fundamental, unchanging truths that have been ordained by God, recognized by our country's founders, and shared by the majority of Texans. Homosexuality must not be presented as an acceptable "alternative" lifestyle in our public education and policy, nor should "family" be redefined to include homosexual "couples.""

And if that weren't enough, the platform also contains the following gems:

• Restrict citizenship to children born in the United States whose parents are citizens;
• Impose a jail sentence on any illegal immigrant in the state;
• Legalize corporal punishment in public schools;
• Mandate that evolution and global warming be "taught as challengeable scientific theory";
• And demand that Congress evict the United Nations from U.S. soil and end American membership in the global body.

Texas has already had enough bad publicity recently, with Rep. Joe Barton's widely ridiculed apology to British Petroleum for the "shakedown" by President Obama, who insisted funds be set aside for restitution to victims of the oil spill. But while Barton could be written off as a sole buffoon, the party platform suggests something far worse is going on in the Lone Star State.

It's almost as if the state GOP wants to make itself a target for Democrats and poison the national party's image in the process. All of this is happening at at time, ironically enough, when the GOP in other states is making remarkable progress expanding its diversity of candidates. Think of the Indian-American nominee for governor in South Carolina, Nikki Haley, or several recent Africa-American nominees for congressional elections this November.

In addition, the party has several rising stars across the country, including Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, also of Indian descent, who are capable of appealing to a wide range of voters and need not resort to demagoguery to win elections.

The future of the GOP remains bright - in some states.

Texas is a state on the rise. Its economy, including its technology sector, are rapidly taking off. America's top five job-creating cities in are in Texas. It is a vibrant, incredible place. And as the second most populous state in the Union, it holds tremendous influence.

Texas, and its people, deserve better from the local GOP. With a recent poll showing incumbent Republican Governor Rick Perry may lose re-election, it is not hard to understand why. It is time for the party to emulate the very state it wishes to govern, and show some signs of growth and maturity.