One of self-exiled Texas Democrats returned home...

[Rose Siding]

One of self-exiled Texas Democrats returned home from New Mexico for weekend, wants exit plan

At least one of the Democratic Texas state senators who went to New Mexico to boycott a special session and block a vote on congressional redistricting spent the Labor Day weekend home in Houston and was considering seeking a way out of the group exile.

"After being in my district for five days, I have concluded my constituents are opposed to redistricting, but they also believe the fight should be on the Senate floor," said Sen. John Whitmire.

He said he was returning Tuesday to Albuquerque, N.M., where he would "discuss with my colleagues that we need an exit plan and we need it now."

snip>

A return by just one senator would give the 31-member Senate enough people to conduct business if a third special session is called.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/09/02/national1259EDT0584.DTL

Ruh Roh... :-(

[goobergunch]

1. Here's an exit plan

Impeach David Dewhurst.

If we lose 5+ House seats because of this, John Whitmire shall be branded as a DINO in my book forevermore.

:grr:

EDIT: changed "5" to "5+"

[spotbird]

2. Someone let him know

the ad campaign starts soon. His supporters will learn why the Democrats are doing this. Caving now won't change any minds so he may as well stick it out.

[Nottingham]

3. Can we say the Pressure is ON!

As the clock ticks closer to the finale ....you can tell the Pressure cooker is gstting hotter and hotter

I have no doubts that Tom Delay is behind this

[Rose Siding]

4. This guy is caving-

He went to NM to tell the others today and is returning to TX again

Democratic senator returning home

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – In a sign the Democrats’ boycott over a new congressional map may be weakening, a state senator said Tuesday he’s probably returning to Texas, although he promised to discuss strategy one more time with 10 colleagues before making a final decision.

“I’m going home,” said Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, carrying his bags as he arrived back at the Democrats’ hotel in Albuquerque after spending Labor Day weekend in Houston.

“I just don’t understand the rationale of staying in New Mexico when we’re not in session,” he said.

snip>

Mr. Whitmire said last week he was getting increasingly anxious and wanted an end strategy.

Leaders of the Democratic pack who left Austin to block congressional redistricting insisted last week that the whole group is committed to staying another month, until Republicans meet their demands or until the threat of arrest is gone.

snip>

However, Mr. Whitmire said Tuesday that his visits with constituents over the weekend and his growing alarm over damage to the Senate’s traditions of compromise and bipartisanship have persuaded him that Democratic senators need to bring the fight back to Austin.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dallas/politics/state/stories/090203dntexredist.c58.html

He says he's not a "lone ranger" and that others want to "give up" too.

[goobergunch]

5. Lock him in his room!

:evilgrin:

[last_texas_dem]

9. "Damaging traditions of compromise and bipartisanship"...

Uh, excuse me, Whitmire, you genius... those "traditions" have already been permanently damaged by Craddick, Delay, and Perry, and you caving so that they can possibly get their way in no way helps to enhance the "bipartisan" tradition.

Maybe I'm being harsh, but screw you, sellout!

[RTC]

6. An outsider might come to think that Texas state Senators....

...have nothing on the French when it comes to retreating.

[Rose Siding]

7. Unless they can read

and have paid any attention at all to the brave defiance of the Dems in the TX legislature that have been willing to take a stand for the principles of democracy.

What (in *fact*) they have on the French, is a funeral 3 years sooner, most likely due to superior provisions for health care and, hopefully, red wine?

Read a LITTLE history about the French. From books instead of from repub talking points.

[Gore1FL]

12. The french only ever retreated

When they were overrun. They held until they couldn't hold any more. This guy is quitting in the face of victory.

[zekeson]

8. Thats a tough call

Gotta remember these guys are humans. They have lives. Wives, kids in school, and jobs. The lege job is only a part-time, every two years thing. Doesn't pay incredibly well and most folks still work the day job. Would your employer allow you to be gone for months at a time and still hold your job? If you are a business owner could you afford to watch your business go down the tubes becuase you aren't there to run it? It places a huge burdon on families, too.

I don't know, I have wondered how they have held out this long. On the other hand, this is pretty freaking important and I do hope they canfind ways to stay the course.

[mbperrin]

10. Well hell

Whitmire, why should he give a shit if everybody else in Texas is just like me? I have no representation - not one single officeholder in my area, state, local or federal has ever received a vote from me.

I guarantee it's a little lonely when your repub Congressman tells you that you're being foolish for wanting to look into phony intelligence that started the Iraq war.

It'll be lonelier yet as they sack up what's left of job security, overtime pay, health plans, safety regs, workplace rules, schools, retirements, and the whole rest of it!

So WTF, come on back! After all, * can't stay away from Crawford for very long, either!

Wanna know why Dems are becoming scarcer? Too many are weak.

I vote. I care. I donate. I work. So far, all for shit.

[tygerr21]

11. Funny

The Dems think they are weak, the Republicans think they are weak also, who is right?

[newyawker99]

16. Hi tygerr21!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[tlb]

13. Unsurprising.

"After being in my district for five days, I have concluded my constituents are opposed to redistricting, but they also believe the fight should be on the Senate floor," said Sen. John Whitmire. "


Hard to argue with that. Nobody votes for a representative on the basis of how far away from their work they can get.

[VolcanoJen]

14. Kick

:dem:

[Devils Advocate NZ]

15. Holy shit! Check this out...

I was going to post a copy here of what I posted on the other thread about this (it's now locked) which basically said that it has to be hard staying away from home for so long, and that this guy should not be too harshly judged.

But before I did repost it here, I decided to do a little google on Whitmire to find out a bit more about him (I guess to show he is a person just like us, and he can't be expected to fight forever) when I came across this:

And speaking of the new Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst did show up for a fund raiser for the new Dean of the Texas Senate, John Whitmire. Dewhurst went out of his way to talk about a nonpartisan approach to running the Texas Senate and his remarks were well received by the large audience and by Senator Whitmire.

Senator Whitmire, a Democrat, is with the law firm of Locke Liddell and Sapp a firm which picked most of the statewide Republicans too win and therefore has become a very hot lobbying firm in Austin. It was well regarded anyway but its relationships with the Gov., Lt. Gov., Speaker and AG will mean that it moves up in the list of well-connected law firms.
http://www.political.com/gossip-arc/0537.html

Now, I am not saying this guy is a plant, or has been bribed somehow, but it is just a little convenient that he should be the first one to break ranks when you consider this little piece of info!

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[goobergunch]

18. I'm assuming you have been tombstoned, godeango. (n/t)

[trapper914]

20. I hope he hasn't been tombstoned

I love when right wingers post their lying crap in here. (read mockingly) Sure you converted two people to the Rethug party by showing them this website. (mock off)

Just because Hannity or Coulter tell you a lie and you believe it, doesn't mean we'll fall for it in here.

Edited for typo

[Nottingham]

19. Baawaahaa! We Haven't Lost! Because even if One Dem turns

or is bought out! There are some Republicans who have consciouss so they will leave town with the Dems and that isn't a Quorum still!

:bounce:

There is More Here than meets even Right Wing Hitler Fascists eyes

:nuke: