Texas Duers... a question regarding public tone towards redistricting

Now that the senate Ds are back, and the repubs pushed their plan, and the whole mess is before the court...

Has the story died down in the press?
When the story comes up what is the general tone in the press?

On the ground (at home, at work, at play, at church, etc.) - how do people view the whole thing now that it isn't front page news? Do they lean one direction or the other? How do non-democrats but non-rightwingers (independents, moderate republicans) - that Perry and the statehouse have the authority to do this or that it was a powerplay?

What is the general sentiment where you are?

thanks.

http://www.savetexasreps.com/

Just noticed there is a Vigil for Justice Wed. in Austin.
"A Vigil for Justice"

Wednesday, December 10, 5:00 to 6:30 p.m.

From the Capitol to the Courthouse

Schedule

Assemble 5:00 p.m., South Steps of the Capitol. (Free parking at garage at San Jacinto and 12th)

Depart walking at 5:30 p.m. down sidewalk of Congress Avenue to Federal Courthouse on 8th St.

Gather by 6:00 p.m. outside Federal Courthouse on 8th St. for fellowship, lighting of candles and song.

Disperse peacefully at about 6:30

In my area, the topic seemes to have died in the local media, but when it is broached in conversation, the heat immediately goes up exponentially, usually as an attack on the obstructionist democrats and their infantile behavior. But, I live in freeperville and am not a bit surprised by the local response. In my own, small circle of friends, we are still hoping that the courts will find a way to derail the redistricting plan, but have little real hope of that happening.

From the outside, it was hard to get a sense of how the story actually 'played' - and the longer impression that it left.

In your area it sounds that the repub 'story' ("obstructionist democrats") won the lasting impression battle.

Need it go without saying, that I am behind you and your friends 100%.

I heard very little chatter about it. Folks in this Republican area of North Central Texas didn't care then and they don't care now, except for thinking badly about Democrats, as they have for the past decade. Have I told you how much I hate living here?

the whole redistricting debacle was devastating to the bipartisanship and statesmanship tradition of the Texas Senate--if not the House of Representatives. I saw an editorial cartoon yesterday, in fact, here in San Antonio which focused on that subject. At the time the newspaper articles and editorials I read were pretty unanimous in their opinions against redistricting and the numerous special sessions. There seemed to be disbelief that Dewhurst (Lt. Gov) would let himself be used by DeLay to ram the redistricting down the throats of the senators and public and ruin the traditions of the Senate.
I never hear any talk from people "on the ground" about it. Even when it was going on, I didn't hear much discussion of it. I think people know it was a powerplay, but they just kind of accept it, sort of like the general public accepted the recount outcome/Supreme Court decision in Florida. I think most people don't really understand the divisions of towns and even streets in the redistricting plan. They don't understand how rural areas are going to be hurt by it, losing their long-time representation in Congress. The press, at the time, focused more on the story of the departed Dems than on why they were gone.
Anyway, from where I am in San Antonio it appears that the big coverage today is really about what has been lost in the Texas Senate and House of Representatives and whether those bodies will recover.

both interms of coverage and the lasting impression. So the focus isn't just the powerplay (on either side - as each side attempted to frame it) but the end result of the lack of civic bipartisanship.

For what it is worth, while I knew folks three years ago who were rather complacent about the "how" the final end of the election played out... (slightly bothered, but overall acceptance), a number of those folks have moved more into the 'bothered' column as they have grown increasingly uneasy with what has been playing out in DC. Almost as if the quietly did a reassessment (as in, there has been no big... sudden burst of anger about it - but they will refer to it now, when they didn't back then.) I say that to offer hope that some who were bothered (be it by the rancour fostered, and what was lost), but rather complacent, might reassess and become more bothered overtime if the Texas Statehouse becomes as arrogant and fast moving (in terms of eroding long standing institutions), overtime. It doesn't stem the damage that can happen in the here and now, but it has the potential to move people into action in the future.

By the way :hi: welcome to DU and thanks for responding!

Most of the people in my area either didnt know what it was really about, or really cared since our district didnt see much change. A few people even liked the changes our district got.

during the upcoming primaries and elections. It will be interesting to learn how the various candidates play the theme (if at all) and how folks respond to it.

The different responses are interesting, and I assume reflect regional/area perceptions.

I believe that as this hit the height of partisanship, that how this continues to be played out - and read by voters - is a lesson to us all.

Now to those texans who were previously involved in the democratic party - in the elections this fall - has there been any difference among those who volunteer? (Deflation, or increase in participation, or no difference at all?)

I went to Austin the day the D's came back. The cowardly republicans with the help from the lone traitor d wouldn't allow the Killer D's on the Floor, and they closed up shop after seeing the whole army of pissed off citizens up above them. Adjouned in 5 mins tops the slime balls made the Killer D's the bad guys for not showing up and leaving town, all sudden, Killer D's with army of pissed off citezens came and the republicans didn't like being outted for their cheating the people of the right to representation. They left the floor, tails tween legs, we hissed and hollered, and republicans left floor, in comes hero Killer D's talking to us and solidarity began to put the pukes into a fearful desperate foul mood, they were so scared of the people and the truth, they shut off the mikes while the D's were talking to us, and good thing we're LOUD, as well as PROUD, that trick didn't work, so the pukes LOCKED us in the chamber, and that caused some people out in the hallway that were trying to get back to their seats to hear the HEROS' the Killer D's talking about what we do next, LOCKED OUT of chambers, (divide and conquer) No Problem for us, we had a smart lady that just happens to have cell phone calling fire dept. FORCED repukes to unlock the PEOPLES door, since it does belong to we the people after all. That didn't get any press either. We have to make our own noise. We have no one to blame but ourselves if we let this die.

I was never so proud to be apart of something so right, to be able to make the pukes piss all over themselves in absolute FEAR. We all gathered in rotunda, held hands, and prayed together in solidarity. We prayed the Lord watch over us, and keep us strong, and not let us be tempted to what most of us were real close to doing, like squashing tom the bugman delays " bug thugs" into mush all gooy and icky on the floor.
But the Lord kept us from being bad peoples. And we never showed any fear, even when they tried to break up our prayer.

Courts got outcome of this coup in their hands. Texas judicial system, is inclined to skip justice and settle for the payolla.

Slience ain't golden. It's deadly

the media. I hope it rejuvinated, rather than discouraged Texas democrats.

not much noise regarding redistricting right now - the press is busy discussing the fact that somehow the pubs are going to have to come up with a way to fund their programs in the spring (probably another special session). They're faced with some really ugly prospects (we can't cut much more, we're already 50th on so many per capita spending lists there just isnt much left to cut) so they're considering things like statewide property taxes, increased business taxes, and pushing a state income tax. (we can't have a state income tax unless the voters in the state override their previous state consititutional amendment prohibiting such). Next year is going to be really hard for the presiding pubs - and will create an opportunity in the fall.

Right now, everyone is just waiting to see where the hell the precinct lines are. The austinites I know are livid - and i've gotta tell you for a group that is used to voting a lot, i didnt think anything would energize them like this (unless another dickwad wanted to build another golfcourse over the aquifer again). Delay really kicked the fireant mound on this one - and Travis and Tarrant counties could erupt come general election time.

I understand that electronic voting is all over Texas.

have to pay the piper for their policies. This sounds like it will make what the Repub governor in Alabama face look like a angel food cake walk. Glad the reaction in Austin was to kick up the energy. Now if that would just spread to some of the areas represented by some of the other Duers posting...

Keep us informed!

The Freeps around here were vocally excited by it during the commotion, lots of nasty letters written condemning the D's for leaving the state. They don't care here if it is lawful, as long as God's Party gets to control everything. But it's quiet right now.

(by the gop) for the reasons that TexanPatriot points out. Hard to keep that quiet in the state's capital - but it might stay quiet elsewhere unless folks start bringing up the whole statehouse thing.

I would be interested in hearing from any Houston folks - did anything about the statehouse play into the Mayor's race?

we are both in the same area, roughly? I seem to remember getting messages from you on an earlier thread. I am in College Station (otherwise known as freeperville,TX).:hi:

about thirty minutes away, so he keeps me informed about CS news.

BTW, my dh is a liberal Tx Ag. VERY Freeper-ish there. Visited TAMU sports message board there one day and one character was advocating that we just go to Iraq and outright steal the oil, make no pretense about it. His philosophy was that if you can take it, then it's yours by rights anyway.

I'm further south, in Victoria. Very freeper here. In one election in my preceinct, my husband and I and two others were the only Dem votes out of 500 cast (1994 midterm).

Are you nervous about putting bumper stickers on your car up there? I've been worried about being harassed and possible vandalism. Not that I've seen it, but I have a hard time believing it doesn't happen. :hug: :hi:
:kick:

It has been intimated to me that the presence of such stickers may influence my re-hire at the university. Since I am vulnerable, I cannot take many chances. Sad state of affairs.

My husband and I are in a rural community about 35 miles from Bryan/CS. It gets pretty lonely around here sometimes, doesn't it?

Not many opportunities at friendly conversation around here. I am lucky that I have my friends at KEOS, they are great!

I was a student at A&M in the early 1990s and I never really saw that much of a wingnut presence there at the time...mainly because there was nothing in B/CS to agitate them back then (the last year of GHWB and the first three years of Bill Clinton).

My girlfriend at the time left school for four years the year I left (we left for different reasons) and then came back in 1999 to finish her bachelor's. She said it was completely different, insanely in-your-face-conservative by 1999. Since I'd put her on to the Taliban and their antics in Afghanistan during the 1990s, she started refering to the tone of the campus and community as "Brazos Taliban."

From everything I've heard in the news it sounds like that's exactly what has happened.

So sad; I really loved my years at A&M. Granted I didn't run with a very politically-oriented crowd, but I never saw anything or heard of anything like what my ex told me about in the late 1990s and early 2000s while she was finishing her degree.

Eat some Freebird's for me if you get the chance!

used to shoot competition with the cadets (early 1960s). I arrived here in 1998, and know exactly what your ex-girlfriend is talking about. The atmosphere around here is just hateful most of the time; reminds me so much of the late 50s and early 60s, in terms of racism, homophobua, sexism, etc. By the way, Freebirds is Wooonnnderful! Love it and go there as often as I can. Thanks for the note.

except the few partisans on each side.

My district is redrawn and the candidates are running as if the plan will be approved by the courts. I guess that's just sensible planning if you're running.

To me the most important result was the retirement of State Senator Jack Ratcliff, a moderate Republican who was against the whole mess. He was one of the very few moderates left.

Also, our local paper had a story recently that due to the redistricting and retirements, there will be zero Democratic Anglo women in the state legislature next year out of 160 or so legislators. There were eight now or a few years ago, or I forget when the story said.

and could very well be a point the Dems could capitalize on.

before the elections are held? Am I missing something?

there wouldn't even be one running, or not in a competitive district anyway.

The Dallas Morning News does keep us up to date on it. In my opinion, it's a fair paper. The letters to the editor or more in the vein of the left.

However, as far as "sentiment" goes, no one seems to care. My dad (I'm 22)calls the D's a bunch of "pussies." When I explained to him how they stopped enforcing the majority vote to bring a bill to the table he did quiet down.

I work at an alternative paper in Dallas. Most people there don't care or have no opinion.

Strange. I often feel like I'm the only one who knows anything.

Rock.

I can't figure out if everyone is too busy trying to make ends meet, or if the population has been so incredibly dumbed-down that they can't see what is happening to them during the course of events.

It's just one of those things. To be quite honest, I don't know if they "ever" cared. They pretend to by using phrases like "I just agreed more with Bush's platform" or "Sadaam had to go! He was terrible!" That's all I ever really get.

now that is depressing. Everywhere I have lived the alternative papers are inherently political and folks are aware of issues - at least on the local level.

that it would be the case. However, in an effort to appeal to younger readers and satisfy advertisers, the edit dept. will usually shy away from most political topics.

edited history of Saddam's rise to power. Welcome to DU btw.

Got my bumper sticker and everything.

Rock.

never cared about redistrictig one way r the other for the last 200 years. That's like asking whether Roger Clemens is using his two-seamer or three-seemer. If he strikes'em out who cares.

The DMN (Dallas Morning News) runs an article every now and then about the current state of redistricting, but besides that none of the television media outlets in the DFW area report on it any longer. There's always an ambulance to chase, a wreck to dramatize, or a shooting to report...pretty much like local media outlets across the nation, from what I understand.

I live in one of the most conservative counties in Texas (which is kind of like saying I live in one of the coldest parts of Antarctica) and I can tell you that around here no one gave two cents for the Democrats' actions in the first place. People here go in for that selective Christian idea of "might makes right," and for the most part they saw nothing wrong with the Republican legislature waiting until this session, until they had an overwhelming majority, to hammer the remaining Democrats in the state into a more acceptable institution.

I'm not exactly sure how the kick ass Dems are going to respond, but I told a "not voting" Austinite about the situation and she is pissed. I know...she should have been aware at the time. It's my fautlt...I assumed she whould know being my best friend, but apparently my initial message didnt' get through to her. :(

It's generally out of the news now. The local news is back to their old tricks again: covering crime stories and feel good stories of no news value.

The wishy washy voters opposed re-redictricting, but most of them also opposed the 2 Democratic walkouts as well. They were persuaded by that ridiculous argument that the Democrats should "stay and fight", showing that they obviously know nothing about how legislative bodies work or how determined Hot Tub Tom DeLay is to push this plan through.

That's where the political energy and effort is going. There is no need for a PR campaign for either side, so we're not seeing one.

Texas is pretty two-tiered, overtly partitioned into the Powerless many and the Powerful few, with some politically involved people suspended between the two. Only the latter- folks like us- and a subset of the Powerful few seem to care much about the outcome of this affair.