Texas Monthly's "Bum Steer" Awards Go to Perry, DeLay, Dewhurst, and Craddick

Texas Monthly Magazine | January 2004 | Texas Monthly Editorial Board

[Theodore R.]

Happy new Steer. The January TEXAS MONTHLY contains the thirtieth installment of our Bum Steer Awards, which, er, celebrate notable acts of buffoonery in the previous twelve months. As always, we couldn't do it without you—and by "you" I mean the stupid crooks, lunkheaded politicians, vapid actresses, and other dim bulbs in the state chandelier whose exploits elate us so. This year, the faulty filament faction includes lifetime Mensa member Jessica Simpson, acquitted people person Robert Durst, Paris High School's Farmland Uber Alles marching band, and at the head of the crass, the Perrymanderers who didn't DeLay their plans to reshuffle our congressional deck. Yes, although you couldn't tell it from any of our recent issues, we did not think kindly of Republican efforts in Austin and Washington to shoehorn redistricting onto a legislative calendar with barely enough room for bills that positively affected the lives of Texans who aren't Republican politicians; apparently, getting rid of Martin Frost was more important than getting rid of Robin Hood. And so, with no disrespect to the also-rans, we're proud to present our Bum Steer of the Year Award to Congressman Tom DeLay, Governor Rick Perry, Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst, and Speaker Tom Craddick. Don't spend it all in one place, fellas

[Theodore R.]

Could "Texas Monthly" be an appendage of the Democrat Party?

[Servant of the 9]

Could "Texas Monthly" be an appendage of the Democrat Party?

No, it is an entirely seperate operation that just happens to be made up of the same people.

So9

[NYCVirago]

Disgraceful. How about the Texas Dims who fled? They're the biggest Bum Steers of all.

[Timocrat]

This whining about Gerrymandering by the Democrats and their allies is so bogus. In 1992 after the last census numbers had been used for re-districting the Dems got 51% of the votes for the two main parties and got 70% of the representatives in the US house. In the year 2000 with 49% of the votes for the two main parties they got 57% of the US house seats. In 2002 with 45% of the votes for the two main parties they got 53% of the US house seats. If the projected numbers of 21 Republican to 11 Democrat seats in the house comes about it will be a replay of the 1992 results except it will be Republicans instead of Democrats and the Republicans will probably have much more of the popular vote than the Dems did in 1990.

Wonder if the Dems in the Texas house won the Bum Steer award in 1992

What goes around.........

Having said all that the present system is stupid. A non partisan commission should do the re-districting based on geographical areas with common economic interests.

[Paleo Conservative]

Having said all that the present system is stupid. A non partisan commission should do the re-districting based on geographical areas with common economic interests.

But why should Republicans in Texas favor such a reform unless that reform applies to all states? I don't see the DemocRATS in CA or NY giving up their partisan advantage.

[Timocrat]

The House of Representatives is meant to be a reflection of the popular vote, so if you believe in a representative form of Govt then an attempt should be made to have the number of representatives reflect that vote. The fact that Gerrymandering goes on in other states should not prevent us from trying to do the right thing here in Texas.

Remember what goes around comes around.

[Paleo Conservative]

I agree. I don't like Gerrymandered districts, because they lock in incumbents of both parties. I am trying to imply that there needs to be a constitutional amendment forcing all states to draw competitive districts.

[Let's Roll]

And Molly Ivins - as often as she's wrong and as much as she talks - surely she must qualify in some category.