GOP has yet to reap redistricting bonanza (Texas)

Caller-Times ^ | March 13, 2004

[HostileTerritory]

If that's the case, 60% of the vote should get us about 72% of the seats in '04.

[SwinneySwitch]

"...because of DeLay's error I will have to live in Doggett's district for the next 20 years."

Look at the bright side Doggett is having to spend some of his $2.5 million Rats nest and is running for his life!

Don't count Becky out till the election is over.

Another bright point, Doggett might not even live for another 20 years.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Rep. Chris Bell, a moderate white Democrat who was redistricted into a new, predominantly black district, lost in his bid to return to the House.

a moderate white dim?

Bell was one of the most liberal white dims in congress. The guy who ran against him opposed redistricting, but not enough not to take advantage of it.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

If that's the case, 60% of the vote should get us about 72% of the seats in '04.

I can live with that, given that 60% of the vote got us 45% of the seats for the last 10 years.

[SwinneySwitch]

Caller-Times, Letters to the editor, 3-23-04

(The only letter they've printed on this editorial)

Mark of infamy

The editorial on primary results ("GOP has yet to reap redistricting bonanza," March 13) should send a message to the state's so-called leaders in Austin.

There's winning and losing, then there's "winning ugly." With high-handed redistricting of Texas from his office as U.S. House majority leader, former exterminator Tom DeLay asserted he did not have an ethical problem with how "ugly" his victory was.

DeLay is leaving his mark on and his legacy in Texas: "stain," a mark, and "infamy," a legacy, no?

Wayne Hankins

(Rockport)

[SwinneySwitch]

Caller-Times Letters to the editor, March 27, 2004.

(Second letter they've printed on this editorial)

Issue taken

In your March 13 editorial, you overlooked the obvious fact that conservative Democrat congressman Ralph Hall switched parties before the primary, making the count 16-16, and then ran as a Republican and won his primary race.

U.S. Congressional District 25 does not take in Brownsville.

Defeated incumbent congressman Chris Bell is not a moderate white Democrat but a liberal white Democrat.

Defeated Democrat state senator Ron Wilson is really a state representative. (The clue should have been that he aligned himself with House Speaker Craddick.)

If your readers shred this editorial it should make good fertilizer for their roses.

Jim Vass

(Dinero)