Posted on 09/15/2003 7:38:29 PM PDT by Libloather
Returning senators' day roils with emotion
By W. Gardner Selby
Express-News Austin Bureau
Web Posted : 09/15/2003 4:38 PM
AUSTIN — In the five minutes it took returning Democratic senators to walk to the Capitol from a nearby condominium tower today, Republican colleagues wrapped up official business and adjourned — avoiding personal confrontation on the Senate floor.
“Kind of neat, wasn't it?” a GOP leader said later.
Sen. Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, said the hasty show-and-go “eliminated the possibility of some ugly things happening. Sooner or later, all this emotion has got to diffuse itself.”
But emotion rippled the first day of a third special session called by Gov. Rick Perry to redraw congressional districts, especially among the nine Democratic senators strolling in together (Sen. Rodney Ellis of Houston was slowed by flight delays) and John Whitmire, the Houston Democrat.
Whitmire's decision to quit the New Mexico walkout earlier this month meant the GOP could count on having enough senators present to take up legislation.
In the Capitol, the latest returnees were welcomed by 40 applauding onlookers as they crossed the marble rotunda. After entering the Senate floor, they were met with cheering, whistling and stomping from the nearly full Senate gallery, which has seating for 490 and six slots for individuals in wheelchairs.
The Democratic members huddled in a circle in the middle of the floor and raised their arms together, fingers entwined. They then spoke from a table set up for media members on the floor, to the right of the raised rostrum vacated by GOP Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst.
Sen. Leticia Van de Putte of San Antonio, chairwoman of the Senate Democratic Caucus, spoke without a microphone at first, and then one was provided. It was cut off on orders of Sen. Chris Harris, R-Arlington, just before Sen. Frank Madla of San Antonio took his turn. Madla and Sens. Eddie Lucio of Brownsville and Judith Zaffirini of Laredo hollered instead.
From the gallery, some shouted: “Whitmire's a quitter. Whitmire's a sellout. Quitmire, Quitmire, Quitmire, Quitmire, Quitmire.”
Whitmire, watching his fellow Democrats, told reporters: “They ought to thank me for giving them the opportunity to do this. They'd still be in Albuquerque if it hadn't been for me.”
The nine Democratic senators then went to the rotunda, where they prayed in a circle ringed by supporters.
Van de Putte gave thanks for her nine fellow senators and for the support of her husband, six children and other backers before singing: “Nobody knows the trouble I've seen, nobody knows but Jesus. Nobody knows the trouble I've seen, Glory Hallelujah!”
Lucio, Zaffirini and Sen. Eliot Shapleigh of El Paso parked in their Capitol parking slots despite a decision by GOP senators in mid-August to yank the departed Democrats' parking privileges, among various sanctions.
An aide to Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos of Austin also braved the parking ban. A T-shirt hung in his sedan's back seat Monday showing a Democratic donkey and: “Special Session My Ass! Texas 11 2003.”
The offending vehicles were slapped with a paper warning: “If not removed immediately, appropriate measures will be taken.”
Dewhurst made two predictions—both of them yet to come true.
Dewhurst said of the Senate: “This body will come together in very, very short order. This is the Texas Senate. We're proud of our ability to be able to work together.”
And he warned that if Zaffirini parked in the Capitol drive Tuesday, her Grand Cherokee would be towed.
wselby@express-news.net
The rope-a-dopes...
What unmitigated gall!
These sick turds "pray" only to the god of big government, thanking big government for their cushy offices with all the perks.
Meanwhile, their Democrat agenda remains the same: The destruction of traditional America and its family structure by supporting homosexual "marriage" and adoption, taxpayer-funded abortion on demand for teenagers (behind their parents' backs), demonization of traditional institutions such as the Boy Scouts, and the removal of religion (read: Christianity) from public view.
"Praying in a circle" was the perfect Democrat farce. Nothing could better demonstrate the sickness of the Democrat Party.
Yikes! Viva - who? Maybe moveon.org can help...
A fifth columnist who is not serving the people of the United States, but rather another nation.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.