[Texas_Jarhead]

alright

[mtbopfuyn]

Declare the seats vacant and call for a vote. As was stated, the majority rules.

[MeekOneGOP]

Way to go, Lieutenant Governor Dewhurst !!

Dewhurst: I'm honoring tradition and precedent

Excerpt:

When Senate Democrats fled the state, they tried to claim that Senate tradition always requires a two-thirds vote on any matter. That's partisan spin. Tradition and precedent actually dictate that the two-thirds vote should not govern in redistricting, particularly in special sessions.

In 1971, 1981 and 1992 special sessions on redistricting, Lt. Govs. Ben Barnes, Bill Hobby and Bob Bullock did not require a two-thirds vote on redistricting. In fact, the two-thirds vote was not used in at least 20 special legislative sessions in the last half-century alone.

The situation facing a 1992 redistricting special session was almost identical to that faced by the Legislature this summer. A three-judge federal court in late 1991 had drawn a state legislative map that most Senate Democrats found objectionable. The court map, one publication said, dramatically shifts the balance of power in the Senate, creating at least the opportunity for a Republican majority.

At a special session called by Gov. Ann Richards starting Jan. 2, 1992, Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock, a Democrat, publicly announced that he did not have 21 votes, or a two-thirds margin, to change the court map. So he purposefully abandoned the two-thirds tradition, establishing what we now know as the Bullock Precedent.

There were only nine Republicans in the 31-member Senate at the time, but three Democrats also preferred the court-drawn map. But none of the 12 senators refused to participate in the process. They didn't run away to New Mexico or Oklahoma. Instead, they stayed and fought for what they believed in. In the end, the majority approved its Senate map by an 18 to 12 vote, well short of the two-thirds usually required.

Interestingly enough, with Democrats in the majority, there were no editorials written in 1992 demanding that the two-thirds vote be maintained.

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[Eaker]

Ping!

[grobdriver]

One Senate tradition is showing up for work just like every hard-working Texan does every day.

Yer talking the talk - now walk the walk!

DO IT!

[Coop]

That is one powerful retort!

[grapeape]

This is what our press line needs to be:"We are doing what three Democrat Lt. Gov's done before." If they don't relent then say Hobby, Bullock, and Barnes have don't.

[Bobsat]

Excellent!

[Tex_GOP_Cruz]

Dewhurst had me worried a couple of months ago; he was not on my favorite list. But since the special sessions began, he has been an articulate defender of the Republican position. I think he was playing good cop, bad cop (now we need really bad cop). Redistricting will happen on our terms if we hold our ground. The Dems will embarrass themselves before that portion of the electorate which even remotely follows the news and which hasn't already swallowed the Kool-Aid.

The drawback in Dem tantrum part deux is that the Dems are setting a horrible precedent DENYING Texans (with likely copycats in the future) representation and embarrassing the state, even as those same cowards take one from the crybaby victimhood liberal playbook. I called John Whitmire's office yesterday, though I doubt it will do any good.

[MissAmericanPie]

Never thought I would live to see the day that a Republican would actually throw these lousy vermin off the people's back. Run the rascals out of Austin and claim the city from the janitor to State employees, they have been there far, far, far too long.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

I noticed you had some comments recently about this situation in Texas - thought you might enjoy this article.....

[hocndoc]

I'm posting this to several threads, so ignore if it's in your way:

For all, please take a look at this
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/955172/posts
Or go straight to the South Texas Republicans website and forum at
http://pub16.bravenet.com/forum/show.php?usernum=1294041878&cpv=1

Several of these Texans are going to Albuquerque over the weekend to meet with Van de Putte (and hopefully some of the other Senators). The plan is to take her copies of emails and the forum comments about her actions. Unfortunately, there are many comments on the forum in favor of the Democratic runaways.


By the way, one newsletter (The Citizens Action Network http://www.txcan.org ) is calling the Democrats the "Alba turkeys." The FreeMarket Foundation has commentary on the legal aspects of the flight of the chicken D's.
http://www.freemarket.org/portal/index.php?option=news&task=viewarticle&sid=55

In San Antonio, the Express News' columnist, Roddy Stinson is calling the whole incident "Runagate."

[Dubya]

Good post Dog Gone.