DOGGETT SAYS NEW (TEXAS) CD 25 WAS DESIGNED TO FAIL

Quorum Report ^ | December 26, 2003 | Harvey Kronberg

[SwinneySwitch]

Defends voting record on border, trade, issues With a decision about its legality due to arrive any day now, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) says the new Congressional District 25 was "designed to fail" its constituents.

Doggett has said he will run in the 350-mile long, Mexico-to-Austin, seat if a three-judge federal panel approves the new lines.

In his final arguments in the redistricting trial that concluded in Austin Tuesday, attorney Paul Smith, representing Congressional Democrats, urged the court to strike down CD 25 because Republicans used an "excessive use of race" when drawing its boundaries.

Testifying in favor of the new lines, State Rep. Phil King (R-Weatherford), one of the key GOP map-drawers, defended CD 25, saying it was designed to create an additional Hispanic seat in fast-growing South Texas.

In an end-of-year interview with Border Buzz, Doggett said he joined fellow Congressional Democrats in denouncing the new map as "outrageous." He said Republicans deliberately set out to "destroy" his district by splitting Travis County three ways.

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[SwinneySwitch]

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) says the new Congressional District 25 was "designed to fail" its constituents.

Does Doggett think he'll win or lose?

[San Jacinto]

It's hard to imagine that Doggett thinks he can win the new district, although he has been trying to get endorsements from Hispanic mayors, commissioners and such down in the Valley.

What's so interesting is the Dem's argument that creating a district where Hispanics predominate is unconstitutional against Hispanics because it deprives them of their right to be represented by a White Democrat.

[Cicero]

because Republicans used an "excessive use of race" when drawing its boundaries.

Affirmative action is good when it helps the Democrats, but bad if it discommodes them? Doggett will have a very hard time arguing that a seat should be reserved for a white Democrat rather than a Hispanic Democrat. This flies in the face of any court decision in the past 50 years. Either there should be no racial preference or (regretably) there should be a minority preference. Those are the two main precedents.

[Tall_Texan]

...urged the court to strike down CD 25 because Republicans used an "excessive use of race" when drawing its boundaries.

Sweet! It was the libs who started all this minority voting district B.S. and now they accuse Republicans of doing too much of it??? BWAHAHAHA! Yeah, bring that argument into court! Please claim to the judge that the Republicans are racist by setting up more minority districts.

Despite all the hurdles this has cleared, I'm still not convinced it will happen. The libs will turn to the restraining order if they can't get their way. They'll shop for a liberal judge who will stop the new lines in their tracks and bottle it up for a few years. This is bloodsport to the Dems and they will not accept it no matter how many judges tell them otherwise.

[HostileTerritory]

Hispanics in the Valley vote in very low numbers, people in Austin vote at much higher levels.

[Trajan88]

Hey Lloyd... don't let the door knob hit you in the a$$ on the way out of Congress, you bleeding heart cry baby.

By the way, why don't you and your gerrymander-loving friend from the North (Marty Frost) go buy a bucket of Windex; you dudes are going to need it (to soothe the pain) when the Judges come down.

Trajan88

[Blue Screen of Death]

"excessive use of race"

What race? Hispanic is not a race, it is an ethnicity. Hispanics can be, and are, of many different races.

[Toonces T. Cat]

Lloyd Doggett is toast! I live in the new district and he has been down here glad-handing for votes. I recently attended a University Christmas function...yes, I am happy to say that we still have Christmas partys down here...and Lloyd showed up to do the grip and grin.

Let me say this unequivocally...He was greeted with the same degree of warmth that one would receive rectal cancer. This is probably one of the most heavily democrat districts on Earth, but these folks are socially very conservative. You can get elected down here and be for every government give-away ever created, but be pro-abortion and the Arch Diocese of Brownsville will turn on you like a rabid dog and you are finished.

The locals are already grooming a local judge, Leticia Hinojosa, for the slot. I have no doubt that she will walk away with both the nomination and the election.

Sadly, no republican will ever be elected down here in my lifetime.

-Toonces

[DJtex]

Actually, this district is the Republican's cleverest move. CD 25 wipes out another white Democrat, but does not sieze it for Republicans. It's extremely likely that this seat will net the Democrats (+1) Minority representative in Congress. The Voting Rights Act is quite straight-forward--does it increase or decrease minority representation?

Tom DeLay did press Republican advantage to the limit--but quite scientifically. This new map will stand up in court--IMHO.

[Cicero]

Oh, I very much agree. Not only that, but a Hispanic Democrat may very well end up being a bit more conservative than a white Democrat, especially on the social issues.

[Reagan Renaissance]

There are precious few to the left of Doggett. He would felt perfectly at home in the Kremlin with either Stalin or Lenin.

[SwinneySwitch]

"There are precious few to the left of Doggett. He would felt perfectly at home in the Kremlin with either Stalin or Lenin."

ACU Ratings for Representative Doggett:
Year 2002 - 4
Year 2001 - 4
Lifetime - 7

3 other Texas US Reps. have lower ACU lifetime ratings!

Charles Gonzales - 3
Shelia Jackson Lee - 6
E. Bernice Johnson - 6

They're all to the left of Stalin and Lenin!

[jf55510]

Personally, I think that Doggett will win the seat, just because he has so much more money than any other opponent. But I hope that he wins the election because he can do less damage in Congress than he can as the Travis County DA. Since the Travis County DA is overlord of the government and elected officals (the Travis Co DA cost the Repubs one State House seat last year) that is a prime place for someone to get some revenge on the State Republicans.