Another special session? -( all TX D's threaten to bolt)

[Rose Siding]

snip>

Opposition unites

The possibility that Mr. Dewhurst might change the rules to reduce – from 21 to 16 – the number of votes needed to take up the bill in the chamber appeared to solidify the opposition.
Sen. Frank Madla, D-San Antonio, who for weeks has said he was undecided about whether he would allow a redistricting bill to reach the floor, was expected to announce Wednesday that he would stick with his party and vote to block the plan.

The only other fence-sitting Democratic senator, Kenneth Armbrister of Victoria, warned that if Mr. Dewhurst abandons the tradition of requiring a two-thirds vote to take up a bill, Democrats may shut down the Senate by denying a quorum. Two-thirds of senators must be present for the Senate to conduct business.

"I would lead the exodus," Mr. Armbrister said. "That's one line I won't cross."

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dallas/politics/state/stories/071603dntexremap.1d73c.html

The Texas D's have got 'em whipped :bounce:

[Richardo]

1. Sorry for the profanity; but what is it with these Republican....

...MOTHERFUCKERS and their fucking rule-changes? Are they the worst losers ever? Or just losers?

GOD DAMN THEM!!! GOD DAMN THEM!!! GOD DAMN THEM!!! :grr:

[Rose Siding]

2. Absolutely but it won't matter!

Just the threat has united all 12 Dem Senators. They'll skip town. The judge ruled this week that DPS can't be used to try to capture them like last time. I think they've done it. I think they've won.

[Richardo]

4. I also heard a Repub that was not supporting the plan - wish I could...

...remember who. (On edit: Ratliff - thanks sonias)

I'm glad the Dems have a strategy and appear that they will prevail, but I'm sick up and fed that whenever the GOP at any level is facing defeat the first thing they want to do is change the rules (i.e banning judicial filibusters).

Dumbshits better look up the word "conservative" again. They are anything but.

[AntiCoup2K4]

12. No shit! It's either banning filibusters, or impeachments over blowjobs,..

....or recalling a governor so you can replace him with either a criminal or a washed up actor..... or STEALING A FUCKING ELECTION BY ANYMEANS NECCESSARY, INCLUDING CORRUPTION OF THE SUPREME COURT.

Party of Abraham Lincoln, my hairy ass :grr:

[Frances]

11. I certainly don't think God

will bless them. Like you I am VERY angry today.

[sonias]

3. About fricking time that Madla and Armbrister found their spines

Here's another link to the Austin American Statesman story and Armbrister's quote. He and Madla did not sign the letter. So we really needed Senator Bill Ratliff to step forward.
-------------

Dewhurst at crossroads on redistricting in Senate
http://www.statesman.com/metrostate/content/metro/
mcneely/0703/071603.html
Sen. Ken Armbrister of Victoria, one of two Democrats who has refused to say he won't support some new congressional map, nonetheless
thinks enough senators would leave town to keep it from doing business if the tradition was bypassed — and Dewhurst would suffer badly.

"I don't think you'll have a quorum — and I would lead 'em," Armbrister said. "That's one line I won't cross."
-----------------------

Also if you have time and live in Texas, please call both the Governor and Lt. Governor and tell them to stop wasting our money. And you may want to call Senator Ratliff's office too and thank him for doing what's right for Texas.


Governor Rick Perry- R [phone]
Lt. Governor David Dewhurst- R [phone]
Senator Bill Ratliff- R (512) 463-01012) 463-0101

[dusty64]

5. Wasn't there three

undecided Democrats, what about the third? The repukes change the rules and laws as they see fit to cram their putrid agenda down our throats. If they don't like the vote, redo it. If they don't like election results, fix em or buy a recall. Its unbelievable that they get away with it time and time again and somehow manage to call their opponents sore losers.

[sham]

13. great op-ed piece on Ratliff

Ratliff takes a stand for rural Texans
http://www.statesman.com/editorial/content/auto/epaper/editions/wednesday/editorial_f3419f0d9657107c10a2.html

"In joining the Democrats on this issue, Ratliff was not acting out of partisan favor for either party, or even out of personal interest. Rather, he acted out of what he considered the best interests of his small city and rural constituents, who don't want to become the tail of a congressional district wagged by Dallas suburbs."

BUT...

"Dewhurst has not given up. He hopes to come up with a redistricting plan that would satisfy the concerns of Ratliff."

Here's hoping he doesn't come up with one!
TEXANS: It is absolutely imperative that we encourage Ratliff to continue his opposition to the Rethug Fascists! Please call, write, email, fax, streak through his office with body paint, whatever you are able to do to let him know how important his actions are and how much you appreciate them! I am including his info below.

Snail mail: Sen. Bill Ratliff, P.O. Box 12068, Austin, TX 78711-2068
Email: [e-mail]
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

[cap]

6. the Republicans have to gerry mander TX now...

TX is set to tip non-white minority. If the Republicans can gerry mander it like Mississippi then they can have this state for decades.

[lastliberalintexas]

7. Exactly!

We have an emerging minority population that is *gasp* actually starting to demand equal rights in this state. Can't have that, ya know, so the Party of White Christians must act now to stop such radical concepts. :eyes:

I keep telling people that Texas will be back in the D column within the next few election cycles, and it will be thanks in large part to our minority voters!

And heaven forbid that the freaking will of the voters actually comes to pass. Repeat after me- repubs are against democracy. If they lose the vote count, they try to take power any way they can- the 2000 selection, the Gray Davis recall, BBV, and the Texas and Colorado off-season gerrymandering are all examples of their disdain for representative government!

BTW- the 3rd Dem was Lucio, but he had already agreed to stand firm with the party.

[pop goes the weasel]

8. don't that beat all!

I wonder if Armbrister and Madla have been reading DU? Dang, but I'd love to see Armbrister being out in front of an issue important to his constituency for once. I almost want it to come to the point of needing a mass walk-out, just so I can see Armbrister give a speech from Ardmore. A day to tell the grandkids about, that would be.

[Proud_American]

9. No, no, no fellow DUers... haven't you learned anything?

<sarcasm>

Don't you all know by now that it's us dems who always try to change the rules in the middle of the game? It's us dems that are the sore losers? It's us dems that are the cause of all the problems in the world?

Get with the program!

</sarcasm>

[PROGRESSIVE1]

10. Damn It!

The Repugs want to change the rules as they see it fit to their own causes! They want to shut the Democrats out of the process completely. One word describes these people: FACISTS!
Texas Republicans are Facists!