Texas Governor Calls 3rd Special Session

[Imalittleteapot]

Here we go again. Didn't take Perry long.
<snip>
The governor's announcement came after 10 Senate Democrats who have been in New Mexico boycotting the Legislature relented and announced that they would return to Texas and take part in an expected third special session.
<snip>

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=519&e=5&u=/ap/20030909/ap_on_re_us/texas_redistricting_7

[toopers]

1. You knew it would happen.

He could have waited until after the hearing though.

[Hawkeye-X]

3. Well, let's hope the Colorado Supreme Court will find in Dem's favor

to point out that Perry's waste of money is going to cost him and his Repukes everything in 2004 and 2006.

Hawkeye-X

[Trek234]

13. Yes let's hope so

But what does that have to do with Texas?

State level courts don't usually transfer well with precedent out of state.

[Hawkeye-X]

14. It will.

If the CSSC finds for the Dems (they had an oral argument on this subject yesterday), the local rag today said that the repukes will take it to the USSC, which would become the law of land, once the USSC realizes that they APPROVED the district judge's map that leaned Democratic in the state of Colorado in 2001, then the Repuke's gerrymandering will end, and thus, forcing Texas to give up as well.

Hawkeye-X

[tom_paine]

18. I don't think precedent has much to do with the Judicial Arm of the Coup.

Not much at all.

The Felonious Five now knows that Busheviks can get away with anything.

ANYTHING.

Their "decision" in favor of Perry and the Texas Totalitarians will scarcely provoke notice.

[Hawkeye-X]

19. Actually it will.

When it involves politics. Since Bush v. Gore, the USSC has to rebuild its credibility and they have to do it with the right cases. Such cases like this that is happening here in Colorado and Texas.

May I remind you that one of their biggest decision to date was the sodomy law in Texas that they overturned? It was a huge victory and gave some credibility back to the USSC. Of course, Renhquist, Scalia and Thomas were slapped silly after Kennedy and O'Connor voted with the majority.

Hawkeye-X

[tom_paine]

26. I hope you're right, Hawkeye

My gut still tells me that, when push comes to shove, the Judicial Arm of the Coup will do the Only Duty They Care About, which is Duty to the Imperial Family.

But I would love to be proven wrong.

[ixion]

2. this just plain sucks...

I'm really pissed that they are getting away with this hogwash. :grr:

[Aristus]

4. Shoot. What do we do now?

What CAN we do to stop the rethugs this time?

[karlschneider]

6. You answered your own question.

:D

[Hawkeye-X]

7. Every Dems should attend the Capitol in Austin

and shout that Repukes are hypocrites and a waste of money. Demand the resignation of every single Repukes that were involved in this crap, including Rove and DeLay.

Hawkeye-X

[Zhade]

5. DAMMIT!

Why are they folding?! Their collective courage was something to be proud of - why in the world are they walking into this trap?

[sham]

16. one Senator had already thrown in the towel.

Can't remember his name, he's from the Houston area. That one Senator coming back gives the Senate enough members present to vote. If the other 10 had stayed out of state during the 3rd special session, they would have looked like fools.

I'm really proud of them for holding out as long as they did, but it all seems so hopeless now. The people of Texas are f*cked now, thanks to Gov. Goodhair and his dirty little buddy Tom DeLay. And the people will eat it up. They like being spoonfed shit, apparently. I have very little faith in the courts to intervene at this point.

I almost feel like f*cking crying. :grr: Good thing our Dems are on TV tonight. They will make me feel better.

[Richardo]

20. Whitmire - said they did not have an "exit strategy"...

...and had personal biz to take care of back here in Houston.

[Zhade]

31. Yeah - stashing whatever he got paid to flip. NT

[VaLabor]

8. Be smart.

The Dems need to do this:

If you're not going to leave the state, stay there but force the Repugs to arrest you and hawl you in shackles to the Senate building.

That will dramatize the situation more than running out of the state would, anyway. Moreover, they should publicly try to cut a deal where they will agree to come to the session voluntarily, if a vote is placed on a health care bill for Texas children first before any vote on redistricting.

[kainah]

21. Good strategy, VALabor

Anything the TX Dems can do now that adds to the rethug's discomfort is a valuable strategy.

But, for all you Texans, what happened to the repug senator who voted against this proposal once? I've never heard how they got him back in line. Just regular old DeLay strong-arming?

[Nottingham]

9. Delay wins! Its so Disheartening!

I'm not suprised by it though!

They gave it a good fight though!

:bounce:

[CBHagman]

28. Oh, DeLay's not going to win.

No matter what that guy pulls off in this life, he has COMEUPPANCE written all over him. He's rottener than Newt Gingrich, if that's possible, and remember how Newt went out.

Pride goeth before a fall and all that.

[dusty64]

36. If I could only believe

that, I really hope you're right. Think I detest delay most of all.

[Rose Siding]

10. Does it have to pass BOTH houses this session?

Maybe the House Dems have a plan :shrug:

[NekoChris]

11. They do

One of them has been cybernetically enhanced and can now turn his arms into flamethrowers. Another has developed psychic powers. There are rumors that one of them has learned the fighting art of Hoktou No Ken and can cause a man to explode in one punch.


THEY ARE A FEARSOME FORCE OF DEMOCRATIC RECKONING.

...

Or maybe they have a cunning, but less flamboyant, political strategy ready that involves Dance Dance Revolution.

I dunno.

I wish them the best tho!

[Hawkeye-X]

12. Force every Repuke to beat the top Dance Dance Revolution master

before getting their crap legislation passed.

So ordered!

Hawkeye-X

[Zhade]

32. Best. Post. Ever.

You turn Dems into fighters of awesome power and mention DDR.

That's it. You win my coveted "Most Awesomest Post By A Guy Who Uses Neko In His Screen Name" prize.*

*Cash value of prize: 1/100th of one cent.

[Flying_Pig]

15. The fascist bastards!!!

They never give up. This is the kind of crap we can expect, day in, day out, up to, and through the election. These people have completely forsaken democracy in their sick quest for power. They want a "one party" nation, and nothing less will do. I've got news for them though, ...true patriots aren't going to stand for it, and we will hang you from the political gallows pole before we are done!! If these kinds of actions don't galvanize Democrats, nothing will.

Time to go to www.MoveOn.org and make yet another donation to the "Fighting Dems" in Texas....!

:mad:
Grrr!!

[CookieD]

17. Rick Perry is an ass monkey

All I can say is that I hope this gets sustained, national coverage. We're about to lose 5 or so members of congress to the repugs and NO ONE in the so-called mainstream press seems to care.

[kainah]

24. Great picture, cookiedem

My favorite pictures are always the incongruous ones -- and, somehow, that is definitely NOT the sign I would expect that woman to be holding.

[dusty64]

37. I love that too,

helps to take this news a little better.

[dArKeR]

30. What a cool tough lady!

[goobergunch]

22. We haven't lost yet

The two houses still have to agree on a plan. Since from what I've heard the House Speaker and the Senate President Pro Tem don't get along, that may not happen by the January filing deadline.

[alarimer]

23. Lawsuit?

Is it possible for them to sue under the Voting Rights Act if this plan goes into effect? Couldn't that at least delay (no pun intended) it going into effect in time for next years primaries? I was just wondering about this. I am completely sickened by this. Another Republican theft. We need to hold these bastard accountable. The Dems did all they could; I don't blame them for coming back. They have regular jobs to do too.

[bluestateguy]

25. Why can't the 51 House Democrats flee

This is not rocket science here.

[CookieD]

27. Read Ass Monkey Perry's "Official Proclamation"

This is over on Democrats.us - where I also heisted my signature photo :) ...

TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME:

WHEREAS, federal law requires state legislatures to redraw congressional
district lines after each decennial census; and

WHEREAS, the Texas legislature has not drawn new district lines to reflect the
changes in Texas population since the results of the last census were released; and

WHEREAS, the people have placed the power to call and convene the legislature
into special session in the hands of the Chief Executive Office of the State; and



http://www.democrats.us/beta/forum/view_topic.php?id=35&forum_id=3

[Hawkeye-X]

29. You know what would rock even harder?

if all 11 Senate Dems (including Whitemore in gags) and 51 Dems flee out of state YET again, pointing out that neither of the Dems does not want to be involved in this FARCE.

HawkeyeX

[kimchi]

33. Have they done ANY work at all this session?

[Rex]

34. I wish something bad would happen to Rick Perry.

That's not a threat, just a wish.

[mbperrin]

35. The Texas House chamber

and the Texas Senate chamber are each about 2000 square feet; if we could get could 4000 Texas citizens to rush both chambers and occupy every square inch, the legislators couldn't get in - they also can't change venues without a vote, and no vote, no change.

I think it would be tough to haul out 4000 people in handcuffs, especially if we could get faces like the nice lady holding the sign earlier in the thread>

Whaddya think?

[Avalon Sparks]

41. Actually the potential is there for his downfall~

From what I understand from a credible source, Perry's into sexual encounters, with prostitutes, or overly friendly women in a big way. All someone needs to do is bust him with a few photos....

[sonias]

38. The sell out was John Whitmire

Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston. He folded over money. He works with Locke Liddell & Sapp. They make too much money and he was in danger of losing his share.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/2085208
Whitmire returns; now his motives are under scrutiny
"According to Texas Lawyer magazine, Locke Liddell earned more money for lobbying than any other law firm during the 2003 Legislature -- somewhere between $1.755 million and $3.155 million."

On the question above about the republican that signed onto the letter not supporting redistricting, that was Senator Bill Ratliff- R-Mount Pleasant
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist1/dist1.htm

He's actually a moderate repuke and very set on civility and tradition. He also did not sign onto the fines the repukes put on the Democrats while they were gone. Said he would have no part of that pettiness. My guess is that he's going to vote against the plan, since his rural community is against the plan. Whether he breaks the quorum with the Dems remains to be seen. He would make the 11th member needed with the 10 solid Dems. He would face arrest like the others however if he doesn't show up for work on the first day..

It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Whitmire will go down as the biggest traitor to our TX Democrat party ever. We have to keep our faith in the courts starting with the case in CO. Finally whatever map gets shoved down our throats will be challenged and the lawyers for the Dems keep saying the Voting Rights Acts violations will get it tossed. Lets hope that is the case. We need to get some breaks coming our way.

I salute the 10 who stood their ground!!

Sonia

[okieinpain]

39. oh screw texas. nothing but a bunch of yahoos anyway...

I say if they like getting screwed over, why get in the way.

[sham]

42. nice.

Why not screw California and Florida while we're at it? In fact, let's give up on the Democratic Party and screw the rest of the country too. We all put up with the Unelected Fraud. Everything that is screwed up in this country is our fault, so screw us all!

[Guaranteed]

40. FUCK YOU WHITMIRE. n/t