The special session was opposed by 80% of constituents, not necessarily the bill itself (although, as noted, 63% of Texans think we have enough restrictions anyway).
They aren’t regularly voting to things opposed by constituents. And even if you do, you can regularly vote for unpopular things as long as you vote for the right sort of popular things just enough to keep your constituents happy.
Yes, Texas is gerrymandered to hell and back. The last redistricting was actually pretty extreme. It’s a good thing (for Texas Republicans anyway) that the Voting Rights Act decision came down. They were running seriously afoul of it this last time.
those who seem to think a “mob” ruled here must not really understand what happened. or know what gerrymandered means. or be paying attention in any way whatsoever.
I’m against filibuster in general, but it’s within the rules. Davis followed the rules and was shut down anyway by republicans that violated the rules.
I’m against a “mob” shouting down the legislature so they cant conduct business, but when the legislature is not willing follow their own rules or the laws of the state then the people stepping in and disrupting the proceedings is entirely appropriate. If Texas had a functioning government and a functioning court system there would be official channels that this could be addressed through. We don’t, IMHO, and it is going to take some rebellion to stop them. I was sad to see it come to that last night. I was proud that someone stood up and did the right thing given a terrible situation.
And of course the good Republicans of Texas who love life so much they must force women into unwanted pregnancies are about to execute their 500th person:
OK, Texans. Now you’ve seen what the legislature can do and will keep doing.
People are complaining that their will is being subverted by gerrymandering.
If the governor weren’t willing to call the special sessions, if the governor weren’t willing to sign the legislation (including the redistricting legislation), there would be a whole different ball game. You can’t complain that the governor’s election district is being gerrymandered.
If you feel the Texas government isn’t representing the will of the people and you are powerless to change the legislature, why are people like George W Bush and Rick Perry getting elected governor? And, more importantly, what are you doing to change it?
So strange that in the modern day legislation can hinge on whether a woman can physically stand for several hours in a row. May as well switch to gladiatorial combat: faster and more entertaining!
Frankly, I approve of it. The procedural filibuster is an embarrassment. The rules Texas has for a filibuster are excellent - it’s their inability to abide by those rules that is atrocious.
I agree – this is a most curious contradiction. Killing a human being is a terrible thing for a government to do, and it’s especially disturbing to see the claim that Texas values “all life” juxtaposed with their abysmal record on executions.
I favor the Texas move on abortion. I strongly despise the Texas position on capital punishment.
I’m regarded here as a reliable Republican, but the death penalty makes it nearly impossible for me to find a politician that represents ALL my feelings. Very few in the political arena oppose both abortion and the death penalty; to my way of thinking, the two positions require each other.
Well, some of us vote against him, in both the primary and general elections. And don’t forget that while Rick Perry won with a solid 55% of the vote in the 2010 gubernatorial election (incumbency, Obama winning, and his own run up to a Presidential run really did help him here), he only won re-election in 2006 with just UNDER 40% of the vote.
Now here’s where your argument goes really wonky. Most voters aren’t single issue voters. Is this single issue - whether or not this special session is called - such a mind-blowingly important issue that it should outrageously incense not only people who usually disagree with our current state government but also people who, on average, agree with it?
Because that’s what you are claiming, namely, that this single issue is so important, it should override every other political position people hold in Texas. And that’s both stupid and unfair.
Further, candidates aren’t elected in a vacuum. Rick Perry is generally unpopular among several groups, including many Republican ones. But that doesn’t matter. The ONLY thing that matters is if he can win the Republican primary. He doesn’t even have to be generally popular - just popular enough (or at least acceptable enough) to win over a sufficient number of Texas Republicans. And once you’ve won the primary (which Perry, with his political machine, controls handily in Texas), it’s not a terribly difficult thing to go on to win the statewide general gubernatorial race. Any Republican is going to do generally well against any Democrat. It doesn’t matter what the positions are. Brand identity is like that.
How else did he help himself? By refusing or limiting debate with his Democratic gubernatorial opponents (or his Republican ones, to be honest). He knows he’s not a good debater. Comes of being the opposite of intellectually curious. Fortunately, he couldn’t force those kinds of conditions on the national stage. He gives a good speech but can’t improvise to save his life. That’s bittersweet for Texas. Would have gotten him out of our hair but then we’d subject the rest of you to his inanity.
A legislator or even the governor can faithfully represent the general will of the people 90% of the time and butt-fumble the other 10%. Most times, we (I do, but I mean the general Texas “we”) don’t strongly care if they support or oppose some legislation about setting up toll roads across West Texas.
But a legislator CAN vote unpopular positions enough times that people get buyer’s remorse. And, despite gerrymandering, that’s happening in a few districts. But it takes time to vote people out.
That said, it is possible for a legislator to do the right thing by taking a deeply unpopular stand on a controversial issue, like civil rights legislation or whatnot. But they should realize the price for that may be they get voted out of office at the next opportunity. That’s a potential price for standing by your principles and one you should, in theory, be willing to pay for doing the right thing. Seems like these jackasses want to be lauded for it and re-elected, instead.
Actually, it’s more like they take the attitude that “real” Texans are on board with them. Of course, by definition, “real” Texans are the ones who agree with them. Tautological, but it’s an attitude we’ve seen at the national level, too.
Bricker I have never understood how someone can be pro-life and pro capital punishment. While I disagree with you about abortion, I applaud your consistency.
I am so frustrated by my State Government(Texas) but I have some solace, the demographics are changing rapidly.
I predict that the Republican lock on power in Texas will be broken by 2020 if not earlier
ISTM for many, neither position is fundamentally about the sanctity of life, but of power. Anti-abortionism is about maintaining power over women in our society. Death penalty support is about maintaining power over “bad guys” in our society. It’s an attitude of needing to see oneself as superior, morally or developmentally etc. over somebody, and having those somebodies be forced to acknowledge it.
I think that’s far too nuanced or subliminal. I think for most pro-lifers who are pro-death penalty, it’s the difference between innocent life and non-innocent life. At least that’s how it with the slew of people I know (men and women) who hold those two positions. I don’t think it’s really that difficult to reconcile.
Okay, except that it defines the pregnancy of a woman who doesn’t want the baby as being “non-innocent” on *her *part. She made the choice to allow herself to be defiled and must be corrected, by making her finish what she started. Even the fetus isn’t innocent if it’s the result of rape or incest; then it deserves the death penalty.
All the new Hispanic voters can’t be drawn into one district. Sure, the areas around the Border have been Tejano forever–well, they were New Spain before there* was* a Texas. But, in the rest of the state, they live among us. Gerrymandering sucks but it isn’t a reason to give up. Our cities are already mostly Democratic.
Ready for some Ricky Perry loathsomeness? He’s speaking at the National Right to Life Conference in Dallas today. There’s a video but I haven’t seen it; I’m eating lunch & want to keep it down. An quotation:
Of course he’s courting that vote. He may well ditch the governorship at long last & make another run for the Presidential nomination. I’m sure he’s disappointed that he doesn’t have his new law to crow about.
Rumor says he’ll let his Lt Gov make a run for his office. Constitutionally, that office is more powerful than Governor. However, Perry has been setting up a really obscene crony system, giving him more power. And more money–he may be set for life, now.
In the last election, Perry refused to debate his opponent, my former Mayor, Bill White, until White released all his income tax returns. The real reason: White is smart. (He’s also taller than Perry, who is one of those short guys who has a problem about his height.) White has been a successful businessman. After Perry’s grades at A&M weren’t good enough for vet school, he spent some time in the Air Force–probably due to his ROTC commitment. Then he went home & “helped” his daddy on the farm–until he got a chance to run for Congress. (As a Democrat–it is a Democratic area; he switched parties to get better appointments, not because of “belief.”) Perry has never run a business–or even had a career outside of politics…
In the 2006 election, he won with 39% of the vote. That year, four major candidates split the vote. Sorry, Kinky; you’re a good writer but many of us didn’t appreciate your joke candidacy…
While I may disagree with where you stand, I have tremendous respect for your lack of contradiction and hypocrisy in belief. Seriously, good on you.
And while I am horrified at Perry’s last little idiocy that you quoted, him saying that an unwed teen mother can grow up to be a Senator might actually be the most feminist thing he’s ever said. So, I’m conflicted.
