Posted on 05/27/2003 2:56:44 PM PDT by GiovannaNicoletta
There was collateral damage from this last weekend.
A Republican insisted on adding this license plate to a larger bill creating a significant number of non-controversial specialty license plates.
It apparently had the votes to pass, but rather than allow it, Democrats raised a point of order (something about a committee hearing notification not provided 2 hours in advance, as required), and killed the entire bill.
The liberal newspaper editorial boards and partisan Democrats are the the only ones supporting the walkout.
Almost everyone else thinks it was a juvenile act. Those Democrats from the rural/conservative swing districts are going to have a difficult time in November.
I've been considering a look at the voter demographics for the Democrats that ran crying to Mommy in Oklahoma. Maybe that will be my project tonight.
They only need 12 dems to get a quorum--there are 88 Pubbies. They ought to keep close track of 15 or so, and if it looks like they are trying to hightail it again, bring 'em in. Too bad the Texas law enforcement doesn't have Echelon.
I thought it was pretty obvious. Voters hate this sort of stuff. This is going to burn the Dems badly. I really don't know what they were thinking. And I can't see how their helped by whining that somebody was trying to find them.
A dead cat plummets, but it will rise momentarily when it bounces off the bottom. Nonetheless, it's still a dead cat. And it will eventually fall flat to the ground, where it will ultimately stay.
These Ds won a small battle. However, they're gonna lose the war.
The Dems Who Fled
Excerpt:
Failure to reach agreement on any of those fronts could prompt Gov. Rick Perry to call a special session this summer, to which Perry would probably add redistricting to the agenda. This would hurt Democrats because they would have another issue to keep them in Austin, the Republicans would have time to get the redistricting process and plan right, and the Democrats would lose their biggest stopper the senate's two-thirds rule. In a regular session, two-thirds of the senate must agree to bring a bill to the floor, meaning that even if the Republicans all voted together, they would have to pick up at least two Democrats. In a special, that drops to a simple majority, which allows the Republicans to pass a plan even if they lose every Democrat and three Republicans.
Initial polling shows Texans reacting very negatively to the walkout. Add in some of the bills that died from the walkout tougher penalties on child pornographers, allowing students who are victims of violence to change schools, automatic expulsion of students who assault teachers, increasing the school property-tax exemption for the elderly and disabled, the creation of "Choose Life" license plates and all of a sudden Republican challengers to the rural Democrats have some hot-button campaign ads. With Bush atop the ticket, Republicans could bolster their majority by several seats and make future Democratic walkouts vastly more difficult to pull off.
Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my Texas ping list!. . .don't be shy.
No, you don't HAVE to be a Texan to get on this list!
Full Texas Ping List . . .
In my opinion, that ensures that we'll bring up redistricting in special session, and it explains why Republicans have been so quiet about it since Ardmore.
Name, City | R | D |
Patrick Rose, Dripping Springs | 49.5% | 50.5% |
John Mabry, Waco | 48.6% | 51.4% |
Gabi Canales, Alice | 47.7% | 52.3% |
Dan Ellis, Livingston | 46.9% | 53.1% |
Jaime Capelo, Corpus Christi | 46.2% | 53.8% |
Scott Hochberg, Houston | 45.2% | 54.8% |
Timoteo Garza, Eagle Pass | 44.2% | 55.8% |
Robby Cook, Eagle Lake | 42.6% | 57.4% |
Jim Dunnam, Waco | 39.8% | 60.2% |
Joaquin Castro, San Antonio | 39.7% | 60.3% |
Jim McReynolds, Lufkin | 38.9% | 61.1% |
Juan Escobar, Kingsville | 38.4% | 61.6% |
Barry Telford, Dekalb | 38.0% | 62.0% |
Dora Olivo, Rosenberg | 37.3% | 62.7% |
Mike Villarreal, San Antonio | 35.9% | 64.1% |
Pete Laney, Hale Center | 35.4% | 64.6% |
Jim Solis, Harlingen | 32.0% | 68.0% |
Allan Ritter, Nederland | 30.3% | 69.7% |
Steve Wolens, Dallas | 29.8% | 70.2% |
Pete Gallego, Alpine | 29.0% | 71.0% |
Lon Burnam, Fort Worth | 27.8% | 72.2% |
Kevin Bailey, Houston | 26.4% | 73.6% |
Roberto Alonzo, Dallas | 26.0% | 74.0% |
Elliot Naishtat, Austin | 24.9% | 75.1% |
Norma Chavez, El Paso | 0.0% | 100.0% |
Garnet Coleman, Houston | 0.0% | 100.0% |
Yvonne Davis, Duncanville | 0.0% | 100.0% |
Joe Deshotel, Beaumont | 0.0% | 100.0% |
Dawnna Dukes, Austin | 0.0% | 100.0% |
Craig Eiland, Galveston | 0.0% | 100.0% |
David Farabee, Wichita Falls | 0.0% | 100.0% |
Jessica Farrar, Houston | 0.0% | 100.0% |
Kino Flores, Mission | 0.0% | 100.0% |
Ryan Guillen, Rio Grande City | 0.0% | 100.0% |
Terri Hodge, Dallas | 0.0% | 100.0% |
Mark Homer, Paris | 0.0% | 100.0% |
Chuck Hopson, Jacksonville | 0.0% | 100.0% |
Jesse Jones, Dallas | 0.0% | 100.0% |
Glenn Lewis, Fort Worth | 0.0% | 100.0% |
Ruth McClendon, San Antonio | 0.0% | 100.0% |
Trey Martinez Fischer, San Antonio | 0.0% | 100.0% |
Jose Menendez, San Antonio | 0.0% | 100.0% |
Joe Moreno, Houston | 0.0% | 100.0% |
Paul Moreno, El Paso | 0.0% | 100.0% |
Rick Noriega, Houston | 0.0% | 100.0% |
Rene Oliveira, Brownsville | 0.0% | 100.0% |
Aaron Pena, Edinburg | 0.0% | 100.0% |
Joe Pickett, El Paso | 0.0% | 100.0% |
Robert Puente, San Antonio | 0.0% | 100.0% |
Chente Quintanilla, Tornillo | 0.0% | 100.0% |
Richard Raymond, Laredo | 0.0% | 100.0% |
Eddie Rodriguez, Austin | 0.0% | 100.0% |
Senfronia Thompson, Houston | 0.0% | 100.0% |
Carlos Uresti, San Antonio | 0.0% | 100.0% |
Miguel D. Wise, Weslaco | 0.0% | 100.0% |
I will note that Rose (Dripping Springs) just barely beat the incumbent last November. I can't believe he was dumb enough to walk out -- he will almost certainly lose next election if an opponent runs a decent campaign.
More to follow in a moment.
They have 10 million illegal alien voters on their side. And it's the Republican leadership who's helping to add more.
Either the Republicans change, or it's no longer the United States.
Name, City | R | D |
John Mabry, Waco | 64.8% | 35.2% |
Chuck Hopson, Jacksonville | 63.6% | 36.4% |
David Farabee, Wichita Falls | 63.0% | 37.0% |
Pete Laney, Hale Center | 61.9% | 38.1% |
Mark Homer, Paris | 58.6% | 41.4% |
Robby Cook, Eagle Lake | 58.4% | 41.6% |
Dan Ellis, Livingston | 58.1% | 41.9% |
Allan Ritter, Nederland | 56.8% | 43.2% |
Jim McReynolds, Lufkin | 55.4% | 44.6% |
Patrick Rose, Dripping Springs | 54.8% | 45.2% |
Barry Telford, Dekalb | 53.3% | 46.7% |
Craig Eiland, Galveston | 49.7% | 50.3% |
Scott Hochberg, Houston | 47.7% | 52.3% |
Pete Gallego, Alpine | 47.1% | 52.9% |
Gabi Canales, Alice | 45.8% | 54.2% |
Joaquin Castro, San Antonio | 45.3% | 54.7% |
Jim Dunnam, Waco | 45.0% | 55.0% |
Carlos Uresti, San Antonio | 44.9% | 55.1% |
Jaime Capelo, Corpus Christi | 42.6% | 57.4% |
Mike Villarreal, San Antonio | 42.2% | 57.8% |
Timoteo Garza, Eagle Pass | 41.3% | 58.7% |
Jose Menendez, San Antonio | 41.2% | 58.8% |
Trey Martinez Fischer, San Antonio | 40.2% | 59.8% |
Robert Puente, San Antonio | 39.5% | 60.5% |
Dora Olivo, Rosenberg | 39.3% | 60.7% |
Jessica Farrar, Houston | 36.8% | 63.2% |
Juan Escobar, Kingsville | 34.9% | 65.1% |
Ruth McClendon, San Antonio | 34.6% | 65.4% |
Rick Noriega, Houston | 34.0% | 66.0% |
Kevin Bailey, Houston | 33.9% | 66.1% |
Jim Solis, Harlingen | 32.9% | 67.1% |
Steve Wolens, Dallas | 32.9% | 67.1% |
Joe Moreno, Houston | 30.8% | 69.2% |
Joe Pickett, El Paso | 30.5% | 69.5% |
Lon Burnam, Fort Worth | 30.1% | 69.9% |
Yvonne Davis, Duncanville | 28.5% | 71.5% |
Elliot Naishtat, Austin | 27.8% | 72.2% |
Roberto Alonzo, Dallas | 27.3% | 72.7% |
Chente Quintanilla, Tornillo | 27.1% | 72.9% |
Rene Oliveira, Brownsville | 27.0% | 73.0% |
Miguel D. Wise, Weslaco | 26.2% | 73.8% |
Dawnna Dukes, Austin | 25.2% | 74.8% |
Eddie Rodriguez, Austin | 23.6% | 76.4% |
Senfronia Thompson, Houston | 23.0% | 77.0% |
Kino Flores, Mission | 22.4% | 77.6% |
Joe Deshotel, Beaumont | 21.7% | 78.3% |
Paul Moreno, El Paso | 21.6% | 78.4% |
Glenn Lewis, Fort Worth | 21.1% | 78.9% |
Terri Hodge, Dallas | 20.0% | 80.0% |
Garnet Coleman, Houston | 17.3% | 82.7% |
Aaron Pena, Edinburg | 16.9% | 83.1% |
Norma Chavez, El Paso | 14.7% | 85.3% |
Richard Raymond, Laredo | 14.7% | 85.3% |
Jesse Jones, Dallas | 13.9% | 86.1% |
Ryan Guillen, Rio Grande City | 10.4% | 89.6% |
When we consider the vote for a statewide office, things look much better. There are at least 11 Texas House members that are vulnerable, based on last November's voting patterns.
One of the reasons for the significant change is that some of these House members were running unopposed, even though their district was voting majority Republican. I hope the Republican party is paying attention and recruits quality candidates for these districts.
One more post to follow.
Name, City | R | D |
John Mabry, Waco | 71.0% | 29.0% |
David Farabee, Wichita Falls | 67.3% | 32.7% |
Robby Cook, Eagle Lake | 66.4% | 33.6% |
Pete Laney, Hale Center | 66.0% | 34.0% |
Chuck Hopson, Jacksonville | 64.5% | 35.5% |
Mark Homer, Paris | 61.9% | 38.1% |
Dan Ellis, Livingston | 61.5% | 38.5% |
Patrick Rose, Dripping Springs | 60.5% | 39.5% |
Allan Ritter, Nederland | 58.0% | 42.0% |
Jim McReynolds, Lufkin | 57.6% | 42.4% |
Craig Eiland, Galveston | 52.2% | 47.8% |
Gabi Canales, Alice | 52.1% | 47.9% |
Barry Telford, Dekalb | 51.3% | 48.7% |
Scott Hochberg, Houston | 50.7% | 49.3% |
Jim Dunnam, Waco | 50.4% | 49.6% |
Jaime Capelo, Corpus Christi | 48.9% | 51.1% |
Pete Gallego, Alpine | 46.1% | 53.9% |
Joaquin Castro, San Antonio | 45.9% | 54.1% |
Carlos Uresti, San Antonio | 45.4% | 54.6% |
Mike Villarreal, San Antonio | 42.7% | 57.3% |
Dora Olivo, Rosenberg | 42.4% | 57.6% |
Jose Menendez, San Antonio | 41.9% | 58.1% |
Timoteo Garza, Eagle Pass | 41.7% | 58.3% |
Trey Martinez Fischer, San Antonio | 40.9% | 59.1% |
Robert Puente, San Antonio | 40.2% | 59.8% |
Juan Escobar, Kingsville | 39.1% | 60.9% |
Jim Solis, Harlingen | 38.8% | 61.2% |
Joe Pickett, El Paso | 38.8% | 61.2% |
Jessica Farrar, Houston | 37.4% | 62.6% |
Ruth McClendon, San Antonio | 37.2% | 62.8% |
Elliot Naishtat, Austin | 35.3% | 64.7% |
Steve Wolens, Dallas | 34.0% | 66.0% |
Kevin Bailey, Houston | 31.9% | 68.1% |
Chente Quintanilla, Tornillo | 31.7% | 68.3% |
Dawnna Dukes, Austin | 31.6% | 68.4% |
Rick Noriega, Houston | 31.2% | 68.8% |
Yvonne Davis, Duncanville | 30.9% | 69.1% |
Rene Oliveira, Brownsville | 30.5% | 69.5% |
Miguel D. Wise, Weslaco | 29.9% | 70.1% |
Lon Burnam, Fort Worth | 29.6% | 70.4% |
Joe Moreno, Houston | 29.5% | 70.5% |
Eddie Rodriguez, Austin | 28.1% | 71.9% |
Roberto Alonzo, Dallas | 26.1% | 73.9% |
Paul Moreno, El Paso | 26.0% | 74.0% |
Kino Flores, Mission | 25.3% | 74.7% |
Senfronia Thompson, Houston | 25.2% | 74.8% |
Glenn Lewis, Fort Worth | 25.1% | 74.9% |
Joe Deshotel, Beaumont | 23.0% | 77.0% |
Terri Hodge, Dallas | 21.7% | 78.3% |
Garnet Coleman, Houston | 20.8% | 79.2% |
Aaron Pena, Edinburg | 19.5% | 80.5% |
Norma Chavez, El Paso | 17.9% | 82.1% |
Jesse Jones, Dallas | 15.2% | 84.8% |
Richard Raymond, Laredo | 11.1% | 88.9% |
Ryan Guillen, Rio Grande City | 9.8% | 90.2% |
Using this methodology, there are at least 15 districts in which Texas House members are vulnerable.
The Texas House is currently split 88 Republicans and 62 Democrats. If the Republicans were to defeat 12 Democrat incumbents and hold on to their current 88, that would give them 100 Republicans.
That's a quorum, and the Democrats could no longer run home to Mommy in Oklahoma to obstruct legislation.
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