I understand you guys have held the state House of Representatives for a long time. I understand that it must be tough for you guys to come to grips with losing control of the House to the Republicans for the first time since reconstruction. Really, I feel your pain.
But, come on guys. You’re being ridiculous. I mean really – fleeing to Oklahoma? It’s bad enough that 53 of you – all but three of the remaining House Democrats – decided not to show up for work, requiring that warrants for your arrest. It’s bad enough that the Texas Rangers are hunting you down, so you had to flee the state.
But Oklahoma? For all that is good and holy, why? You guys are Texans first, Democrats second. And no self-respecting Texan would ever dare hole up in Oklahoma. Why not New Orleans? Why not Santa Fe? Hell, go camping in the Ozarks – I’m sure our former president could hook you guys up pretty nicely.
Electing Oklahoma as your hideout is an act of treason against the state of Texas. You might as well say pork is real barbeque, or that there exists a beer finer than Shiner Bock. Partisan bickering is one thing, but some things are sacred. That Oklahoma is the sworn enemy of the state of Texas is one of those things. Bad call, guys – even Molly Ivins wouldn’t approve of that choice. Like Fredo, you are now dead to me.
Quick, someone call Walker, Texas Ranger to get them back! He has no respect for jurisdictions and he’d be all Chuck Norris style on them!
Actually, as a Texas expat also, this may be the coolest thing to go on in Texas in long time.
Since Dewey neglected to mention it: [ul][]The parliamentary reason for the Dems’ walkout is to prevent the Texas House from having the quorum of members necessary to pass legislation.[]The reason the Dems’ went to Oklahoma is because the Speaker of the House has instructed the Texas Rangers to locate and arrest the missing representatives so that that they may be forced to return to the floor of the House. The Texas Rangers have no power or authority to arrest anyone outside of Texas.The political reason the Dems walked out is because Dick Armey convinced the Republicans in the Texas Legislature to redraw the state’s congressional districts to create more Republican and fewer Democratic seats in Congress. Thus, the ugly partisan battle that takes place in every state every ten years for redistricting now threatens to take place every two years.[/ul]Well done, guys. Of such legends are Texas politics made.
minty: are you seriously defending their decision to go to Oklahoma? If you want to defend the walkout, fine, but Oklahoma? What kind of a Texan are you? Really, some things are not to be tolerated…
I’m flabbergasted. I would hope your partisanship would show some limits…
The reasoning is that the Pubbies figure they can get more safe Republican seats now if they redraw the boundaries that were drawn only two years ago and that would not otherwise be redrawn until after the next national census in 2010, the purpose of which is to apportion Congressional seats among the various states according to the populations.
Maybe. Even if they do, I’m not sure that justifies shutting down the lege entirely – surely the opposition can defeat or delay this particular matter without abdicating their responsibility to govern on other matters.
And it sure as hell doesn’t justify holing up in Oklahoma. Sheesh.
How typically Republican. Sure, they could have gone to booze it up in New Orleans. They could have taken a field trip to the Clinton Library. They could have hid out in Carlsbad Caverns.
But no. These noble legislators, guided solely by their sense of public service, chose to bring the light of civilization unto the darkness of Oklahoma. Through their sacrifice, there is hope that all that is sacred and true–the Spoetzel Brewery, beef brisket, Ladybird Johnson, the very core of Western Civilization–will one day raise up the state of Oklahoma from the depths of its despair to the tremendous heights of everlasting glory.
minty - if I read between the lines correctly DCU is sorta conceeding the point you’re making, but poking fun at them for selecting Oklahoma for their haven.
And I gots to agree. dammit, show a little class, after all, New Orleans ain’t that far, neither.
They went to Oklahoma because that IS the last place they were expected to go. Typically, they would have crossed the Rio into Mexico like all good Tejas outlaws. But, they knew the Rangers would be there waiting.
Besides they are politicians and are not expected to be quite as brave as us regular outlaws…
