Mary Mostert
Texas Democrats’ “childish behavior” may get Republicans elected in 2004
By Mary Mostert
Occasionally a political news story pops up that is so ridiculous that it is hard to write a serious analysis of it. The fifty-one Democrats in the Texas House of Representatives who ran away from the capitol across the border to Ardmore, Oklahoma to avoid debate on redistricting is just such a story. Section 10 of Article 3 of the Texas State Constitution states: “Two-thirds of each House shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner and under such penalties as each House may provide.” In other words, the CONSTITUTION of the State of Texas says that those 51 Democrats are in violation of Texas Law and the clear intent of the Texas Constitution.
The purpose of these shenanigans is pretty much the same that of U.S. Senate Democrats in Washington who are blocking President Bush’s nominees — to thwart the rule of the elected Republican majority. By blocking the people’s business in the Senate in Texas and in Washington, the minority Democrats can continue to run the show.
The Democrats in Texas had controlled the State’s Senate and Assembly for 130 years, but lost control to Republicans in the 2002 election. The State was supposed to draw new districts for the members of Congress after the 2000 Census, but the Assembly could not agree on the maps. The Republicans said they wanted to undo 130 years of Democrat gerrymandering that kept the Congressional seats safely in Democrat hands for 20 years after the State consistently elected Republicans in state-wide elections, such as governor, senate, etc.
Since the legislature could not agree, three Federal District Court judges drew a new map that protected incumbents, and added two new districts required for the increase in Texas’ population. The November 2001 Court drawn map was viewed in both Republican and Democratic circles as a huge victory for the Democrats and one which, in the words of Texas Republican Rep. Joe Barton, “means we lost seven seats at the national level…and that's the majority in Congress. I would say the Democratic delegation won.”
The Democrats won all 17 seats they held in the 107th Congress and the Republicans won all 13e seats they held in the 107th Congress, plus the two newly formed districts, changing the Democrat controlled Texas delegation from 17-13 Republicans to 17-15 in the 108th Congress. All state-wide contests were won by Republicans.
An exasperated House Majority Leader in the Texas House, Republican Tom Craddick, complained, “It is a state's right to redistrict. We weren't allowed that right the last session of the Legislature by a Democrat-controlled speaker and a Democratic-controlled Legislature.”
On Monday, Governor Rick Perry, a Republican, sent the Texas Rangers to Ardmore to arrest and escort the runaway Democrats back to Austin, as allowed in the Texas Constitution. However, Governor Brad Henry, the Democrat governor of Oklahoma, who realizes the possible impact of a fair re-districting in Texas in the 2004 Presidential Election, blocked the Rangers, saying the Texas Rangers had no jurisdiction outside of Texas. The Democrats ignored the Rangers pleas to return voluntarily. One Democrat, Rep. Helen Gidding, was found hiding out in an apartment near the Capitol in Austin and was escorted back by the police. The deadline for action on both the redistricting and about 200 other bills, including the State’s budget bill is Thursday.
By breaking the law and sneaking out of State, the Texas Democrats believe they can prevent the Republicans from implementing their programs for the State. By filibustering against Bush nominees, the U.S. Senate Democrats believe they can effectively block Republican President George W. Bush.
In the end, the final say on this issue, and the childish behavior of the Democrats who don’t seem to be able to gracefully accept the decision of the voters, will be in the hands of voters next year. In reading the Texas papers it appears to me that the voters are paying attention to this absurd scenario and quite a number of them are complaining about the behavior of their representatives with such statements as:
“They are behaving like spoiled brats who should have their rear-ends spanked by their constituents.”
“The Democrats who are missing in action have fumbled their responsibility and have shown disrespect for our system of government. It is self-centered, small-minded and arrogant for them to think their way should prevail when they are in the minority.”
“Cowardly Democrats running from their responsibilities is not just underhanded and childish, it is an affront to the political process. They represent the minority, and this is what they call representing the interests of their constituents? Ridiculous. In effect, they've decided if they can't have what they want, no one gets anything.”
“If the Democrats had not benefited from decades of gerrymandering, their hiatus to Ardmore, Okla., would not be hypocritical. But that is not the case.”
One thing the actions of the 51 Democrats have accomplished is to get the attention of the people of Texas. What they have done is so…1960s! I’m sure some of those runaway Texas legislators were picketing and shouting down speakers they didn’t like during the Vietnam War.
But the Vietnam War has been over for almost 30 years. While picketing and sneaking off to Canada and disrupting meetings may still seem the “cool” thing to baby-boomers, to many young voters, their behavior is simply silly. In fact, it is so immature many of those younger voters don’t even bother to vote.
However, if the Democrats keep up this contentious and non-productive behavior, they may very well experience their worst defeat in the last 100 years — especially if the under 30 generation get to the polling booths on election day.
© Mary Mostert
Occasionally a political news story pops up that is so ridiculous that it is hard to write a serious analysis of it. The fifty-one Democrats in the Texas House of Representatives who ran away from the capitol across the border to Ardmore, Oklahoma to avoid debate on redistricting is just such a story. Section 10 of Article 3 of the Texas State Constitution states: “Two-thirds of each House shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner and under such penalties as each House may provide.” In other words, the CONSTITUTION of the State of Texas says that those 51 Democrats are in violation of Texas Law and the clear intent of the Texas Constitution.
The purpose of these shenanigans is pretty much the same that of U.S. Senate Democrats in Washington who are blocking President Bush’s nominees — to thwart the rule of the elected Republican majority. By blocking the people’s business in the Senate in Texas and in Washington, the minority Democrats can continue to run the show.
The Democrats in Texas had controlled the State’s Senate and Assembly for 130 years, but lost control to Republicans in the 2002 election. The State was supposed to draw new districts for the members of Congress after the 2000 Census, but the Assembly could not agree on the maps. The Republicans said they wanted to undo 130 years of Democrat gerrymandering that kept the Congressional seats safely in Democrat hands for 20 years after the State consistently elected Republicans in state-wide elections, such as governor, senate, etc.
Since the legislature could not agree, three Federal District Court judges drew a new map that protected incumbents, and added two new districts required for the increase in Texas’ population. The November 2001 Court drawn map was viewed in both Republican and Democratic circles as a huge victory for the Democrats and one which, in the words of Texas Republican Rep. Joe Barton, “means we lost seven seats at the national level…and that's the majority in Congress. I would say the Democratic delegation won.”
The Democrats won all 17 seats they held in the 107th Congress and the Republicans won all 13e seats they held in the 107th Congress, plus the two newly formed districts, changing the Democrat controlled Texas delegation from 17-13 Republicans to 17-15 in the 108th Congress. All state-wide contests were won by Republicans.
An exasperated House Majority Leader in the Texas House, Republican Tom Craddick, complained, “It is a state's right to redistrict. We weren't allowed that right the last session of the Legislature by a Democrat-controlled speaker and a Democratic-controlled Legislature.”
On Monday, Governor Rick Perry, a Republican, sent the Texas Rangers to Ardmore to arrest and escort the runaway Democrats back to Austin, as allowed in the Texas Constitution. However, Governor Brad Henry, the Democrat governor of Oklahoma, who realizes the possible impact of a fair re-districting in Texas in the 2004 Presidential Election, blocked the Rangers, saying the Texas Rangers had no jurisdiction outside of Texas. The Democrats ignored the Rangers pleas to return voluntarily. One Democrat, Rep. Helen Gidding, was found hiding out in an apartment near the Capitol in Austin and was escorted back by the police. The deadline for action on both the redistricting and about 200 other bills, including the State’s budget bill is Thursday.
By breaking the law and sneaking out of State, the Texas Democrats believe they can prevent the Republicans from implementing their programs for the State. By filibustering against Bush nominees, the U.S. Senate Democrats believe they can effectively block Republican President George W. Bush.
In the end, the final say on this issue, and the childish behavior of the Democrats who don’t seem to be able to gracefully accept the decision of the voters, will be in the hands of voters next year. In reading the Texas papers it appears to me that the voters are paying attention to this absurd scenario and quite a number of them are complaining about the behavior of their representatives with such statements as:
“They are behaving like spoiled brats who should have their rear-ends spanked by their constituents.”
“The Democrats who are missing in action have fumbled their responsibility and have shown disrespect for our system of government. It is self-centered, small-minded and arrogant for them to think their way should prevail when they are in the minority.”
“Cowardly Democrats running from their responsibilities is not just underhanded and childish, it is an affront to the political process. They represent the minority, and this is what they call representing the interests of their constituents? Ridiculous. In effect, they've decided if they can't have what they want, no one gets anything.”
“If the Democrats had not benefited from decades of gerrymandering, their hiatus to Ardmore, Okla., would not be hypocritical. But that is not the case.”
One thing the actions of the 51 Democrats have accomplished is to get the attention of the people of Texas. What they have done is so…1960s! I’m sure some of those runaway Texas legislators were picketing and shouting down speakers they didn’t like during the Vietnam War.
But the Vietnam War has been over for almost 30 years. While picketing and sneaking off to Canada and disrupting meetings may still seem the “cool” thing to baby-boomers, to many young voters, their behavior is simply silly. In fact, it is so immature many of those younger voters don’t even bother to vote.
However, if the Democrats keep up this contentious and non-productive behavior, they may very well experience their worst defeat in the last 100 years — especially if the under 30 generation get to the polling booths on election day.
© Mary Mostert
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