Senate's Prized Civility Under Fire (Texas)

The Austin American Statesman ^ | Monday August 18, 2003 | Ken Herman

[hocndoc]

I'm not quite sure how the dem's rhetoric became equal - in the eyes of the Stateman - to that of the Republicans. But, at least someone noticed that the Dems might be rude, too.

[.cnI redruM]

The Austin Anti-American Staziman should fly a little red flag on it's masthead every morning. At least with Killeen Daily Herald, you can laugh at the punctuation mistakes.

[KellyAdmirer]

The real solution for the absentees is simple: they should resign their seats since they do not want to serve. It's really not a hard decision to make.

If there has been no partisanship in the Senate and it led to this, then maybe partisanship is in order.

I hope the Senate imposes more penalties on the exiles. Force them to resign!

[MEG33]

How is it Austin became a mecca for the left(sigh)?

[.cnI redruM]

I'm not sure, but Al Quaeda should claim credit for Austin's municipal newspaper.

[hocndoc]

Surprised the Dems that the fines were indeed "enforceable." The Senators made the fines enforceable by adding the penalties, and by taking care *not* to block the Dem Senator's ability to serve their constituents as best as they can from New Mexico.
Watch the rhetoric: there is no action to prevent the Dems from coming on to the Senate floor to vote, or to fire their personal staffs, as they have accused.

The penalties are against conveniences, not necessities.

Who needs parking slots in Austin when you're out of state, any way? As for the staffers, let the Democratic Party pay for a parking garage somewhere or rent some of those buses they used to transport the paid protesters sent to the redistricting hearings in Corpus Christi and Del Rio.

Here's a companion piece from the Dallas Morning News:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/965846/posts?page=1

[Hodar]

Well, we have now created a situation where any minority party can stop the Legislative branch of gov't from voting, debating or even considering anything. All that has to happen is to have 11 members decide to take a taxpayer paid vacation instead of working.

Now, the Dems are in an uproar because the Republicans are 'thinking' of laying off the missing Democrat's taxpayer paid support staff. I mean, as a taxpayer we are paying an untold number of support staff to come to work and do absolutely nothing for the past 3 weeks, because the people they work for have deserted their posts.

Can you imagine this crap working in the private sector?

[hocndoc]

I'm afraid that the political climate of Austin is due to the UT campus and imported faculty.
Add in a few sessions each at Hippy Hollow (although there's nothing inherently leftist about nude bathing, smoking an unprocessed herb or drinking alcohol- it's the company you keep while you're doing it, and the willingness to break the law in order to do the second), and there you have it.

[El Laton Caliente]

The dem's in Texas are working as hard as possible to not be around for a generation or two. With the state now voting around 2/3 Repub you would think they could get a clue.

They have put themselves in the front of talking points in church lobbies and Sunday diner and the ice houses (Texanese for Pub/Bar/Saloon) and the analysis is not looking good for them. Throwing money at social problems, gun control, gay rights, radical feminism, etc. just doesn't sell in Texas outside of Austin (five collages and high tech) and Montrose (the homosexual district of Houston).

[hocndoc]

"We"? It's not us, it's them.

And "they" are the same ones who *have* used this same tactic in the private sector. That's why the media call the actions of the Dems a "strike" or a "walk out."

[MEG33]

Austin does have some lovely areas to "hang out"!

[Congressman Billybob]

Who gives a rat's *ss whether the atmosphere is no longer "cordial" in the Texas Senate. This is right in there with asking how "Tim McVeigh was feeling." The question is whether the people elected to govern actually do their job, and what consequences there are for those who fled the state, and their jobs.

For a better take on this, click below:

Congressman Billybob

Latest column, "Texans for Sale or Rent" posted on FR, other publication to come.

[Ann Archy]

Is there No Democrats in Texas who are mad at their Dem. Senators for RUNNING AWAY FROM A FIGHT???

Democrats are dumb....they look like imbeciles by sticking up for what would have NEVER been tolerated pre-Clintn. This is indeed the Clintonization of America.

[Dog Gone]

After this special session ends we should allow the Rats to come home triumphantly. At the moment they step off the plane, call the next session and great the triumphant Rats with some hired thugs from the Sergeant at Arms office.

[zlala]

Austin does have some lovely areas to "hang out"!

True, but some of what "hang's out" isn't so lovely.

;-)

[hocndoc]

I'm really looking forward to the end of this session.

It should be interesting. (As in the Chinese curse,"May you live in interesting times.)

[MEG33]

I know..I haven't visited in many years.

[RJL]

For generations, the 31-member chamber has prided itself on collegiality and, far more often than not, a brand of cordial bipartisanship foreign to the halls of the U.S. Congress.

Yes, the Republicans in the minority were very much gentlemen.

Now the Republicans are in the majority and the Democrats will not behave in the same civil and respectful manner.

The Democrats are showing their true character to the people. If they had any shame they would be very embarrassed.

[ravingnutter]

For generations, the 31-member chamber has prided itself on collegiality and, far more often than not, a brand of cordial bipartisanship foreign to the halls of the U.S. Congress.

Maybe because for generations, the Dems were the majority and the Pubbies don't stoop to childish temper tantrums such as what we have recently witnessed from the Dems. The voters have decided...and placed the majority with the Pubbies...the Dems need to grow up and deal with it.

[mtbopfuyn]

Austin - the mecca for all old '60s hippies.

Oh, boo hoo, Van Putte and her mama says to treat people well buloney. Obviously, mama failed to teach her duty and responsibility. How about treating the people of Texas well and showing up for work?