Supreme Court rules against Republicans (Texas)

[Nambe]

Associated Press (free reg. req.)

The partisan fight over redistricting erupted on two fronts Monday, as Texas Democrats sued to block the Republicans' effort to redraw the state's political map and the Texas Supreme Court refused to order Democrats to end their Senate boycott.

Democrats reacted with glee to the high court's ruling.

"We believe strongly that the Supreme Court has no jurisdiction with respect to Senate turf," said Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, D-El Paso.

Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, both Republicans, had asked the Supreme Court to order 11 Senate Democrats back from self-imposed exile in New Mexico. The Democrats' absence prevented the Senate from considering a GOP plan to redraw the state's congressional districts.

Even before the Supreme Court ruling, the Senate Democrats moved ahead with a lawsuit in federal district court in Laredo, accusing GOP leaders of pushing their plan through the Legislature without adequately considering the views of more than 6,000 people who attended public hearings this summer. ---

[muchacho]

1. whaaaaa!

When denied ther way the reps were heard to whine "But...but...but...you gave us a president. Just do what we say!"

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. Those scumbags in Texas...

Are gonna end up with far more than a bloody nose. It is gonna be mangled into a fine puree' and will ultimately lead to a magnitude of damage that the dems could only dream of inflicting on them.

Prediction: They will rue the day that they ever thought of doing what they have done in Tejas and Cali.

Remember: After Hubris, Nemesis.

[jono]

3. Here's another link

that doesn't require registering.

http://www.nbc5i.com/news/2396993/detail.html

[DUreader]

4. Repub. supremes doing the correct thing?

?

[mjb4]

5. We should all be concerned about

the Repukes response to anything they don't like is to take it to a vote ( they know the votes are rigged in their favor) or call on the Supreme court (they helped us out once, why not again). It is called smoke and mirrors. As long as it passes the smell test, we are fine...

[sonias]

6. Here's another link

Texas Supreme Court dismisses Republican's lawsuit
http://www.statesman.com/legislature/content/coxnet/texas/legislature/0803/0811replawsuit.html
The Texas Supreme Court has turned down a request by Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst that the court order 11 Democratic Senators to return to Texas from New Mexico.

Without comment or explanation, the state's highest civil court denied a request for a writ of mandamus, essentially an emergency order from the court that would have declared that the absent senators are violating the state constitution and can be required to return to the Capitol.
-----------------------

The amazing thing here is that we are talking about a court that is 100% repuke controlled. All nine members are repuke including the infamous Pricilla Owens.

Sonia

[sandlapper]

7. Properly so --

The Texas Constitution gives the Legislature power to compel attendance of absent members. Perry and Dewhurst in their role as Governor and Lieutenant-Governor don't have any authority to ask the Texas Supreme Court to act extra-judicially. If Dewhurst has the b***s he can seek his Writ of Mandamus from the Senate. My own personal view is that neither Perry nor Dewhurst or the mealy-mouthed Rwimps in the Senate have the nads for a fight and they'll slink back in their holes on redistricting whimpering to DeLay to lay off on the hammering.

[joeybee12]

8. The Texas Supreme Court obviously had no jurisdiction

Maybe one of those 9 can give a brief little primer to the Rehnquist Five who so desperately need some "learnings" in the law.

[LauraK]

9. I didn't think they had that power.

Why don't they use it?

[GOPisEvil]

13. The Repukes are taking a different tack...

http://www.statesman.com/legislature/content/coxnet/texas/legislature/0803/0812redistrict.html

Let's just fine them into submission. :eyes:

[sonias]

15. rupukes will do anything to win of course

Lying and cheating, and voter fraud doesn't faze them one bit. The article GOPisEvil linked to above has this headline -
"AWOL senators face fines
After court rejects lawsuit to compel 11 to return, Dewhurst says Senate will act"

It was the front page headline of our local rag in Austin. The use of AWOL alone makes me pissed at the Austin American Statesman. That's biased language.

I'm hoping that the lawyer that was quoted has some better insight into the repuke ploy.
(snip)
Austin lawyer Renea Hicks, who represents the 11 boycotting senators, disagreed that fines can be assessed.

"There's got to be a Senate rule to fine them," Hicks said. "They just can't make the rules up as they go along. I don't understand how the Senate can be so lawless as not to follow their rules."
(/snip)

Hold your ground Dems! Whatever it takes, hang in there. I just hope one day that the tables will turn and Texas will become a Democrat controlled state, and it could happen if we could just wake up the minority vote and get them energized enough to vote. Then all these stupid tricks they are setting up to solidify control for them could be used against them. That would be so sweet. I hope to live to see the day that they get theirs.

Sonia

[ElsewheresDaughter]

10. thank God

[goforit]

11. Whooo hooo Texans!!!!....Bear down and block those SOBs!!!!

:wow::bounce::wow:

[VolcanoJen]

12. Kick!

:dem:

[libtexan]

14. Perry's nose

has just been pushed a little further into the large pile of excrement the Mepublicans have created.