How long can the Texas Democrats hold out?

I really, really admire their courage, perseverance and conviction (paying attention Mr. Daschle?), but the question must be asked: how long can they hold out? There is no limit to Governor Goodhair's ability to call special session after special session, in effect turning the legislators into fulltime politicians. If just one Senate Democrat breaks ranks and decides to come back to Texas, Perry and Dewhurst will call the legislature into session and order a vote on some bullshit map. It could all happen within 30 minutes. Anyway, the 2nd session will be ending on the 26th and will likely segue into a third. How long can the Democrats hold out? Should they just rent some apartments in New Mexico for the next few months (It would save money)? At what point will it be too late to affect the outcome of the 2004 elections? Their hotel bills are piling up, they are away from their families and while the whole affair has energized the Democratic base in Texas--and that's good--most of the wishy washy swing voters here are not getting outraged. At best, they express soft, nominal opposition to Tom DeLay's power grab. Energizing the Democratic base in Texas is not enough to be considered a widespread backlash.

I didn't until tonight-

http://www.news8austin.com/content/top_stories/?SecID=1&ArID=80829

I'm hoping this make the Repugs look even worse, but in Texas, outside Austin, you never know how this is going to play. I wonder if the staff of the Democrats will be eligible for unemployment.

And there are protests here around the governor's mansion every weekend because everyone is furious with the GOP. Willie Nelson is sending the Texas Dems booze and money, the newspapers are writing vicious editorials about the GOP power play, and everyone I know, both Dem and GOPers, are furious at the governor. His approval rating is in the lower 30s, all as the result of the redistricting. I don't think the GOP can afford to continue this strategy. Even the fines imposed on the Dems are likely not valid given that there is no quorum, and/or no court will enforce them. Each special session lasts only 30 days, and if Perry calls another one, I've heard that the House Dems (rather than the Senate Dems) will go out (the same 52 that went out the first time). Even if they don't, I don't see the Dems backing down.

I hope this is not just wishful thinking on my part, but having lived here all my life, I really don't see them backing down at this point.

would be for both sides to agree on some non-partisan map drawing arrangement that can happen every ten years. Maybe throw the numbers into a computer and ask the comp. to create the most compact districts possible without regard to anything else.

Of course that wouldn't pass the voting rights act.

It would be hard at this point for the Dems to back down, and even harder for the repubs. The Dems would deflate their base, and the Repubs would admit that anytime the minority doesn't like something, they can win by running out of state. A compromise seems in order so everyone can save face.

a non-partisan map drawn after the repugs killed redistricting in 201 legislative session. Well, as non-partisan as it can get when it was drawn by a republican and approved by a 3 judge federal panel comprised of 2 republican appointees.

They just don't like the fact that several solidly "republican" districts voted for dems for congress.

Don't think for a minute that there's some non-partisan solution out there that the repugs will agree to.

Darth Velma

We got here by being the ones who compromise.

Now, let THEM compromise. A Republican definition of compromise: the other side totally capitulates.

This is a death struggle sweetie. The districts were redrawn according to census two years ago. THEY CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO BE REDRAWN AT WILL, do you get that?

Compromise, my ass.

God bless the Texas Dems.

BTW, Texas IS the state with the Alamo, right?

CAN YOU GUYS RECALL HIM?

Might be a good thing to give 'em a taste of their own medicine, said she from California...

To whack someone with a baseball bat if they say anything about a recall without first checking to see if the state in question even has a recall provision. ARGH!

it is getting annoying.

of people that just voted, using the map the republicans redrew using the 2000 census, that within less than 2 years, they want to reredraw? Maps that do not include "groups of intrest with one another", that leave out rural districts, that divide Mo-Pac (a main thoroughfare) in Austin into 4 separate district. Or is it changing the 2/3 vote rule so you can block all opposition to democracy and get your way whenever you want? (A rule the repukes used 10 years ago to block some Dems' redistrcting.)

now everytime someone doesn't like what a governor does, there's for sure going to be a post saying we should recall him, when 9 times out of 10, that state doesn't have a recall law. People should check whether something can be done before they call for it. After about 20 of those such posts followed by the inevitable post saying that state doesn't have recall, it's officially becoming annoying to me.

talking about the brave folks that are making a stand for the voters of Texas. As much as I hate perry, I do not believe recall votes are in the best interest of the people. There should be some provision for convicted criminals, but that is about all.

around the rally last Sat., which I signed. It was mainly for show

...that in the process the citizens of Texas and elsewhere have had it up to here
with the Republicans and decide to punish them at the polls.

That could happen even with a hopelessly gerrymandered map.

Hi bluestateguy. The repukes are really making themselves look bad here. The Dems are suing Perry for violating voting laws by dropping the 2/3 needed to take up a vote. We WILL win on this...bearfan454

am very worried about whether or not the Ds can hold out. I've heard Gov. Perry and the GOP are now trying to push back our primaries in order to have more time to get a map approved!

This whole process is just so distasteful to me -- and maybe I have a lack of faith in Texas voters, but I don't really think the GOP will get what they have coming to them. I feel like all that ppl. see are Democrats running away and shirking their responsibility.

It really is sad, the current map FAVORS republicans, yet, they want the seats now, and must draw the lines in such a manner that there is no way the incumbent Ds could win. And heck, Rep. Ralph Hall is an old DINO anyway! When he retires, that seat is probably a safe R district. Same with Chet Edwards -- that's a pretty republican seat. I would even bet my own congressman, Max Sandlin's seat would go R if he were to retire, but he's only 50, so I don't see that happening anytime soon.

Why can't the GOP just be patient? Arg!

Matthew

I live in Johnson County in Texas -- the most corrupt county in the state unless it's Gregg County. It's hopelessly Republican. These guys are so backward, they decided years ago that they would never allow a college into this county. So here we are...a stupid county! It seems irreparable.

strong support from both sides. The repukes redrew the map trying to oust him last time and spent a TON of money to get him out. Since that didn't work, they are trying again.

As long as the Democrats have enough money to stay out of the state they can stay for ever. That is what they should do. I would not give into this garbage. I will research the recall laws in Texas and see what it says. I think it is possible. But it will not be long before the state falls apart and the Governor has to give in.


:kick:
J4Clark

a few months trapped in the snow with little to eat...

I think these people can survive as long as they
don't start eating eachother.

there's some funny lines on this thread.

so probably not much more than a weekend.

<rimshot>

Texas doesn't seem to be a democracy anymore.