Boo Hoo Flu drives out Democrats

Let's see. In 1979, when 12 unhappy state senators boycotted work at the Capitol and hid out in a West Austin garage apartment, they were dubbed the Killer Bees.

So what do we call this latest bunch of disappearing Dems? Doggett's Dung Beetles — best I can do on short notice.

On Monday, 59 Democratic members of the Texas House of Representatives did not show up for work at the state Capitol. And now 53 of them seem to be hiding out from the law. The Department of Public Safety was sent to look for them.

The Democrats are so angry about the Republicans' redistricting map that they decided to bring House business to its knees by staying away. Without a quorum, all the Republicans can do is sit around swapping stories about how you can't find good help these days.

Like Elvis, the Democrats have left the building. Unlike Elvis, the Democrats aren't dead. But they might as well be. Turns out the bulk of them are just across the border in Oklahoma.

Conjecture had these lawmakers as far away as Mexico at one point. Heck, from all the talk, you might've thought they found Dick Cheney at his undisclosed location.

Oklahoma? Of all the options these lawmakers have on places to chill, why would they pick Oklahoma? Who is the travel agent for these people? The Three Stooges?

The ever left leaning, out of touch San Antonio Express news editorial board takes up there cause with this crap.

Editorial: Texas 'House Flies' have reason to bolt

San Antonio Express-News

Web Posted : 05/13/2003 12:00 AM

For more than 130 years, Texas House Republicans have wandered in the political wilderness. When, in 2003, they passed over into the Promised Land, taking control of the House, there was jubilation among them.
Alas, the new occupants could not contain themselves from gorging on the milk and honey of political empowerment.

The Gingrichian hubris of the Republican-led House prompted Monday's revenge of the "House Flies."

Fifty-three House Democrats, including seven San Antonians, fled the House chamber as a tactic to break quorum. The 150-member House needs 100 members present to conduct business.

The flyaway tactic is unfortunate but understandable. Under the leadership of soft-spoken but rigidly partisan Speaker Tom Craddick, R-Midland, the House has pushed through a variety of measures that have more to do with the enthusiasms of ideologues than with the good of the state.

A totally inadequate state budget is the most egregious sin. Coming in a close second is a blatantly partisan congressional redistricting scheme.

It noses out a raft of social measures that divide and distract from more serious business in this time of deep budget angst.

The redistricting scheme, concocted by White House political guru Karl Rove and U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, was the tipping point for the Democrats.

Thursday is the final day the House can consider measures that have not had a preliminary vote, so if the elusive Democrats stay gone for the week, the redistricting bill is dead — for a little while.

As Craddick pointed out, he and his Republican minions will come right back to it as soon as Gov. Rick Perry calls a special session, probably immediately after the Legislature adjourns.

The House Flies no doubt hope that history repeats itself. In 1979, a gaggle of 12 Democrats hid out in a West Austin garage apartment to deny then-Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby a quorum and prevent the Senate from voting on a bill to change dates for the state's primaries. The so-called Killer Bees' tactic led to the bill's demise.

That was an intraparty squabble. The pesky House Flies, who reportedly have fled the state to avoid the long arm of the Texas Rangers, can't expect the same reasonableness from the Craddick-led Republicans. That's regrettable

can they actually get away with this?

Remains to be seen. Gore didn't get away with it because of a few Sore-Loserman signs.

These are the Deadbeat Dems. Taco Bell Democrats.

I am already wondering how much this is costing Texans. I am wondering how many DPS officers and Texas Rangers are being pulled away from their duties for this political stunt. I am wondering if the people of Texas will let them get away with an assault on the democratic process itself. I am wondering if these legislators teach their kids that if they lose a game they should cry and stomp off.

Hopefully Texas Freepers will ask these questions and many more in the coming days. They'll get away with it if they don't pay the price. If they don't pay the price it will encourage others to break the democratic system for partisan gain. Our inability to "go nuclear" on the unprecendented filibustering of judicial nominees at the national level has encouraged this behavior.

This is a step worse than filibustering. At least filibustering is within the process even if its stretching that process to avoid their Constitutional duties. THIS on the other hand is another escalation. Its an attack outside the system, an attempt to break the system and throw it into chaos for their narrow interests.

It needs to be fought hard.

When we look back over the last few years we see a very disturbing pattern developing.

An assault on the system in the election whereby they attempted throw the election into disorder running roughshod over the Electoral College system, the legislature of Florida, various local election boards.

An assault on the election laws of New Jersey in a successful attempt to stack the deck against a Republican opponent because they were losing.

Continued attacks against the legitimacy of the Supreme Court and in particular a public campaign to question the legitimacy of one of the Supreme Court Justices.

Continuing efforts to prevent the Senate of the United States from performing its Constitutional duties by manipulation of the rules of that body.

Subterfuge in the death of a Hawaii candidate in an effort to avoid legal deadlines and prevent an unfavorable election situation for their party.

Somewhere, we have to stop treating these as single incidents and concentrate on them as an ongoing pattern of assault against the system as a whole.

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