Deep in the heart of ... Oklahoma?

The Modesto Bee ^ | 5/14/2003 | Cal Thomas

[Utah Girl]

Fearful that the Republican majority would push through a redistricting plan that might create between five and seven new Republican-controlled seats in the state's congressional delegation, all but one of the Democratic members of the Texas legislature fled under cover of darkness to Oklahoma.

[Utah Girl]

Well said.

[hadaclueonce]

we want them to stay in Oklahoma....

[Utah Girl]

It's just unbelievable what they are doing. And I think the media and the dems will try and spin this so that it will be the Republicans' fault, but I don't think so on this one. How childish to pull this kind of a stunt.

[Randjuke]

Democrats seem to have lost firm convictions about anything and simply pander to the special interest groups who promise them votes.

This about sums it up...

[jonascord]

Heavens, no! We don't want them here! Brad Henry, our home town boy, convinced everyone he was for local control and reducing the budget. But no one ever asked him if he voted for clinton, or believes in government as controller. So, we have the lowest swine bred as governor. I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop

[hadaclueonce]

can we not keep them from coming back to Texas? Heck, I will drive to the border and make a road block.

[Brett66]

We want them to go back to Texas. Ok, maybe we can compromise, let's send them to Cuba.

[hadaclueonce]

how about Canada, I want them to suffer..

[Kuksool]

{How childish to pull this kind of a stunt.}

Immature? Yes! However, the TX RATS who fled the state represent Hispanic/African-American majority districts. Those cowardly RATS are in safe seats. They won't suffer any political fallout. The GOP ought to block funds to RAT districts for this act of treachery.

[red-dawg]

I wonder how many of these Rats submit their hotel bills for reimbursment from the state.

[savedbygrace]

I'd love to see a pix of one of them reading a book by the pool. "Expense Reports for Dummies," written by Jaysen Blair.

[Becki]

how about Canada, I want them to suffer..

They should get along well in Canada these days.

Becki

[friendly]

I have read that the Texan criminal politicians (their flight is against the law of course) are operating on direct orders from Hillary Clinton via her winged monkey, Terry McAuliffe, head of the DNC.

[canuck_conservative]

No thanks, Canada doesn't want or need your cowards.

We have plenty already in Quebec.

[DPB101]

Local paper in Ardmore, where the RATS are holed-up, leads with the Texas Democrats but has this for the #2 news story: "Call of domestic dispute leads to meth lab discovery"

http://www.ardmoreite.com/

[Utah Girl]

I've heard that also. Really disgusting, that an elected official would choose to use power and money to tell other elected officials to break the law. The voters wishes are being ignored here, just so she can get more power.

[red-dawg]

We know they just went there for the towels and the shower goodies.

[Joee]

Bet a lot of business is being conducted at the hotel bar. Wanna bet????

[dogbyte12]

I have actually changed my mind. I think the democrats are right here. I am not a partisan. I believe in conservative government... not republicanism.

Tom Delay is attempting to do something that is just a bad mistake. It has been over 50 years since any state has overturned the original post census redistricting, unless under court order for racial issues.

That was Washington State in the 1950's. At the time it was considered radical and an isolated incident. It is 2003 now. The democrats were in charge in Texas in 2001, and they redistricted. That is the way it goes. Every state has lived under those unspoken rules for the past century, with that notable exception of Washington State in the 1950's.

It has been a precedent, but not a law. Tom Delay has decided, that now that Republicans are in charge... post redistricting, the Texas republicans should redraw the maps again.

The other foot principle applies here. What would you all like republicans to do, if democrats won a state 2 years after redistricting, and tried to pull this crap? Would you tell the republican legislators it was their civic duty to show up for a session, and get the census plan redone against precedent of the entire nation?

Honestly now. I often use the Hillary rule when I think about these things. If Hillary was doing this in NY, instead of Tom Delay in Texas, I would be pissed off to no end. No double standards. This stinks. Period.

[Wild Irish Rogue]

Can you imagine if Rudy Guilani had run away to New Jersey and was hiding out,when 9/11 happened ? Can you imagine if Democrats ran the war on terror or the war on Iraq? The operative word would be retreat. Democrats from every level are screaming-we are incompetent,we are immature,we are incapable.Who is helping the Democrats with strategy-Michael Jackson?