Texas Democrats commended in Oklahoma House resolution

AP via Salina Journal (KS) ^ | 14 May 2003 | JESSICA DICKERSON

[Let's Roll]

"Oh wait a minute!!!!, The democrats are behaving like this in Washington D.C. now too"

Why not? This is a hell of a lot cheaper and easier than campaigning and going through an election. Why bother when you can get your way without all that hassle?

That's the real danger here. This anarchy is starting to catch on. They're hoping the American people become even more disgusted with politics and stay away from the polls in even greater numbers. That way their knock and drag voters will have even more impact.

[Vince Ferrer]

I have to admit that this doesn't really outrage me. At least the Texas state government isn't getting any bigger or more intrusive. Every day the government is paralysed, yet Texans still get on with their lives, is a day more Texans realize the true value of their own individual freedom.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Of course replace the horses with donkeys.

[Diddle E. Squat]

And every day without tort reform the cost of insurance, awards, and unearned ambulance chasing fees goes higher. And every day without the spending cuts our deficit and bills go higher. And every day without education reform the NEA continues its iron grip and inefficient ways while failing to educate.

Sorry, I'm not willing to pay that price so that some textbook conservo-utopian fantasy is indulged.

[Dane]

Are people really upset over this? Or are the Dems seen as the good guys? I haven't heard much here in Florida and I was wondering how it's playing with the 'man on the street' in Texas and Oklahoma

Just my rule of thumb. If it is playing bad for the demo's you will not hear it on the top of the hour radio reports or see it played up in the newspapers. Most radio station journalists get their national news from their national affiliates, ABC I believe having the most affiliates and most local papers get their national news off the AP wire.

JMO, but the silence by the national media says to me that this is not going well for the democrats.

[ALS]

i agree

I'll have to call my son and see what he knows.

[anymouse]

You OK FReepers need to do some serious FReeping of these scofflaw legislators. If nothing else the OK GOP better use this as a campaign issue next year to replace these Rats.

[EGPWS]

RATs will always commend illegal, unseemly, deceptive, immoral, smarmy, offensive, unchivalrous, repulsive, vulgar, stupid, ignorant, selfish, arrogant,...

THOUGHTLESS, and UNCARING behavior.

[Arkinsaw]

Dontcha think it would be a good idea for the TX GOP to spend a little money making sure one of these is parked outside every Texas Democrat gathering for the next year and a half?

I don't know what the deal is with Texans these days. When I lived down there they wouldn't have put up with this crap and they CERTAINLY wouldn't have put up with Oklahoma making fun of them in this way.

Here in Arkansas, if some politician pulled an in-State political stunt on Texas soil, made the national news, and then got a humorous endorsement for it from Texans that appeared to be interference in our internal affairs that politician would be politically dead in the State of Arkansas forever. (they can do about anything here but involving Texas on their side is not one of them).

[Z-28]

"You are either with us or against us."

Arrest 'em all.

[Flyer]

I think I should change this to "Not Wanted in Texas". Let 'em stay in Oklahoma, they quit, walked off the job.

WANTED IN TEXAS

Get Your 2 Page PDF Wanted Poster here

[Cincinatus' Wife]

May 14, 2003, 7:43PM The issue isn't redistricting, it's responsibility - By STATE REP. TOM CRADDICK [Full Text] AUSTIN - - I'm both amused and perplexed by the Chronicle's newfound interest in sticking up for the rights of the minority party when it comes to redistricting. In 1991, the paper took a pass on arguing for the minority party -- Texas Republicans -- when Democrats put the screws to us. And the battle was just as bitter then as it is now.

Redistricting is always bitter and always will be. The majority wins; the minority loses. The only difference this time is that the Texas House for the first time in 130 years has a Republican majority.

I would suggest, however, that the issue this week is not redistricting; it's responsibility.

I wonder how many Chronicle readers in Southeast Texas are singing the praises -- as the paper is -- of the 50-odd Democrats who fled the state? Because they're not here, there is no quorum in the Texas House and bills cannot be heard.

While the Democrats stood on the balcony of an Ardmore, Okla., Holiday Inn and insulted Texas state troopers sent there to bring them back to Texas, 95 Republicans and Democrats were here, ready to work.

We want the fugitive legislators to return. We will welcome them back. There is still much work to be done. They are making a huge mistake. Here's why: The taxpayers of Texas are paying approximately $33,000 a day to keep the House open and ready for business. That includes the $125 per diem each of the mutineers is drawing.

While they're encamped just across the state line, bills die daily by the dozens, bills that promise some $650 million in revenues. Less revenue means that a budget already in crisis by projected revenue shortfalls will be stretched even thinner.

It also means Gov. Rick Perry will likely call us back to Austin for a special session on the budget. Returning the House and Senate to Austin costs about $1.7 million per 30-day session.

All this because Democrats are afraid to participate in the process. The Chronicle's position, in its Tuesday editorial, that it is "difficult to fault them" ... "if they believe their principles are worth fighting for," was no surprise. The paper staked out its opposition to redistricting in an April 26 editorial and again on Wednesday.

I would suggest, though, that the Chronicle has backed itself into a corner. Praising people who flee from their constitutional responsibilities, who hide out in another state and evade the law, who aren't here to greet schoolchildren and other constituents who come to call at the Capitol, is irresponsible itself. As I stated above, in 1991 the roles were reversed. Democrats had 93 seats; Republicans 57 (today, it's 88 Republicans, 62 Democrats). Gov. Ann Richards had to call a special session that summer and lawmakers drew a map that was so egregious that every single Republican member of the House voted against it. Then we went to court to fight it, and we lost again.

Maybe we Republicans should have taken a walk in 1991. Would the Chronicle have praised us, as the paper does the Democrats today?

But to my way of thinking, that's not the Texas way. Since the Alamo, Texans have defended what they stood for -- not by running away, but by fighting for a cause. It's no disgrace to stand and fight, but it is a disgrace to run and hide.

On my office wall is a framed photo of Teddy Roosevelt, along with an exhortation from the former president that I think describes the values of the Chronicle Editorial Board. Here's what T.R. said: "It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcomings, who does actually try to do the deed, who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion and spends himself in the worthy cause ... who if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly."

If I give in on this issue, what's to prevent a group of 51 from walking next week on some other issue? Giving in would set a terrible precedent for this and future Legislatures. So come on back into the arena, Democrats. You need to be here and be part of the process. [End]

[jagrmeister]

Imagine you showed up from work, felt that life was unfair, picked your things and ran across the state border? Would your employer take you back with open arms? You would lose your job, and the Chicken Democrats should as well. I think voters want people who will resolve their issues, not run from them. Texans don't run from a fight. The Chicken D's have become a national laughingstock- it is such embarassment, I can only be thankful it's happening to Democrats, not Republicans.

[fortheDeclaration]

How is it that the Democrats control the State house in Oklahoma?

I thought that was a conservative State!

I hope that the good people of Oklahoma are watching how Democrats stick together when they break the law and abuse their oaths of office!

[fortheDeclaration]

What this bring home is the fact that Democrats must be defeated in every office, local, State and National.

Lincoln wrote that when a constitutionally elected majority is not allowed to function by the minority you have anarchy.

The Deomcrats have shown that since with Florida and the attempt to steal the election with Gore, they have no concern about this nation, only their own poliical power.

[fortheDeclaration]

The Houston Chronicle is a left-wing rag.

It is so bad that it has to pay people to buy it (40$ worth of food)

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Bump!

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

The House resolution commends the courage of the Texas Democrats who "have decided to defend the rights of the minority and the more pressing needs of Texas families."

So, the DemoRats are defending "the pressing needs of Texas families" by hiding out in a hotel in Oklahoma. Whatever. They might as well live it up because they'll be out of a job real soon.

[weegee]

I know that I won't spend a dime in Oklahoma. It is bad for one state's party to set such a precedent.

[MEG33]

I gag on the Chronicle.My sense of humor about this is gone.I was having fun with the cards,milk carton thing but now I'm just angry. Not one word have I heard about Martin Frost and his assistant who stole redistricting materials in Austin. DeLay is the red flag the Dems wave.