Remap could create an endangered species - Texas' white Democratic Reps struggle for survival

The Dallas Morning News ^ | January 8, 2004 | By ROBERT T. GARRETT / The Dallas Morning News

[MeekOneGOP]

The Texas Dodocrat:

[MeekOneGOP]

Here's what I was working on ...

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[Conspiracy Guy]

Beautiful! Kudos Or maybe Dodoes!

CG

[GOP Jedi]

I'd feel a bit more sympathy for the Dems' positions if not for the sure conviction that, if the roles were reversed, they'd do exactly the same thing without batting an eyelash.

[07055]

At its extreme, scholars said, the trend could have long-lasting and polarizing effects on the electorate in Texas – casting the Democratic Party as the party of blacks and Hispanics, while reinforcing the GOP's image as the party of whites.

The truth hurts?

[MeekOneGOP]

LOL ! Thanks !

[Conspiracy Guy]

You da man!

[stands2reason]

He and SMU's Dr. Jillson predicted that Mr. Frost and Mr. Stenholm, both 25-year veterans, may survive, along with one or two others with strong name recognition.

LOL!!!

[JohnnyZ]

Blue Dog Democrats

There were 37 Blue Dog Democrats when the 108th Congress convened. Some of them are actually quite liberal, but we'll let them self-style as centrists.

Of the 37, one (Ralph Hall) has become a Republican. Four are retiring: Chris John and Brad Carson to run for Senate, plus Ken Lucas and Jim Turner. Two others (Stenholm and Sandlin) are highly endangered, while five more (Dennis Moore, Rodney Alexander, Jim Matheson, Baron Hill, and Earl Pomeroy) are very vulnerable. Allen Boyd is facing the race of his life against Bev Kilmer in Tallahassee, and several other Blue Dogs may draw strong challengers.

Bottom line is that 13 Blue Dogs, over a third of the caucus, are on the outs or on the ropes in 2004.

[Dog Gone]

Great graphic!

These so-called political experts are smoking crack if they think Martin Frost has even the slightest chance of being re-elected under the new map.

[Visalia]

I'd feel a bit more sympathy for the Dems' positions if not for the sure conviction that, if the roles were reversed, they'd do exactly the same thing without batting an eyelash.

The commie Dems did it in California.

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks ! Sounds good to me ...

[MeekOneGOP]

Thank you !

LOL ! Yep ! They're smokin' something alright ! ...

[FreedomSurge]

But unless courts stop the highly partisan remapping, legislatures will continue "to balkanize American politics along [ethnic] lines," Dr. Buchanan said

The voting rights act required that the districts be drawn so as the maximize minority representation. Don't blame the Republicans.

[Dog Gone]

I have a completely different take from these liberal experts regarding hispanic voters. Under the new map, many will now be represented by popular Republicans. They might get used to it and begin to like it.

[Holden Magroin]

This guy Cal Jillson is a joke. Evidently, he's trying to be the liberal media's go-to guy on Texas. In 2002, he ran his mouth on TV, saying that Tony Sanchez and Ron Kirk would win. The guy needs a new profession, because he clearly sucks at the one he has.

[hocndoc]

Thanks for the ping.

But, I can't believe that the DMN is mourning the dearth/death of white Democratic politicians. Unless they are afraid they're not going to be able to identify with their Representatives anymore.

But, I feel like shouting, so I will:

THE LINES WERE REDRAWN ALONG ***POLITICAL**** LINES.

The new maps group the Dems in some districts, and the Republicans in others, and then there are the districts in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio which are stable because the courts said they had to be, to protect traditional racial groupings.

But, the only racial groupings that are there and that are legal are the court-ordered ones.

Good grief.

[Rimfire Rob]

I for one am thrilled to finally see the green-light on redistricting. However, I have mixed emotions about the demise of Martin Frost in the 24th. Frost has always driven me crazy with his liberal hand wringing and pandering to minorities, but there's another side to him I can't ignore. Frost if you'll recall authored and passed the Amber Hagerman bill, a brilliant piece of legislation that's been credited with saving dozens of abducted children. Last April, Bush signed the Amber Alert system into law which extended the plan beyond Texas borders with phenomenal results so far. Frost is also for 2nd amendment rights and the death penalty. All in all, not a bad record for a Dumocrat.