Walkout leader blasts Perry - Democrat Van de Putte says governor's push for remap has been divisive

Associated Press ^ | August 4, 2003 | Associated Press Staff

[MeekOneGOP]

Walkout leader blasts Perry

Senate Democrat says governor's push for remap has been divisive

08/04/2003

Associated Press

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Unlike George W. Bush, who united people when he was Texas governor, his successor, Gov. Rick Perry, is dividing Texans, the leader of the walkout by 11 Democratic senators said Sunday.

"The difference was Bush was the great uniter. Perry and [U.S. House Majority Leader Tom] DeLay are the great dividers," said Sen. Leticia Van de Putte of San Antonio, chairwoman of the Senate Democratic Caucus.

Her comments came on the sixth day of the Democratic boycott of the Texas Senate in protest over congressional redistricting. Democrats have a 17-15 edge in the Texas congressional delegation, but Republicans, led by Mr. DeLay, are pushing for a new map that would probably give the GOP the majority.

Ms. Van de Putte said that as governor, Mr. Bush made a great effort to bring minorities into the Republican Party. She said Mr. Perry, on the other hand, was threatening to lock up in the Senate chamber the Hispanic and black senators so they would be forced to vote on a redistricting map that she said would disenfranchise minorities.

Also Online

	Texas Talkback: Should the Legislature proceed with redistricting? |
	Daily developments: • Leticia Van de Putte of San Antonio, chairwoman of the Senate Democratic Caucus holed up in Albuquerque, N.M., accused Republican Gov. Rick Perry of failing to follow the path of inclusiveness set by his predecessor, George W. Bush, by acting as a "great divider." • A spokeswoman for Mr. Perry said the Senate Democrats' charges obscure "the fact that they ran away from their job and their responsibility." • A spokesman for U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, a leading proponent of redistricting, said the AWOL Democrats would do anything to avoid their constitutional responsibility.
	Maps: • Current Texas Congressional districts • House map, passed 7/29 • Senate map, propsed 7/23
	Special Session: Redistricting hearing schedule, summary, maps (from the Texas Legislative Council)
	More Politics

"What kind of image is that?" Ms. Van de Putte said. "I think the real danger here is not to Governor Perry. I think the real danger here is to the White House and the Republican efforts that would want to be so inclusive."

Perry spokeswoman Kathy Walt said Ms. Van de Putte's allegations are ludicrous and that Mr. Perry does not have the authority to lock senators in the chamber. Only the lieutenant governor can lock the senators into the chamber.

"Her accusations are intended to obscure the fact that they ran away from their job and their responsibility," Ms. Walt said. "They can't begin to represent their constituents while they are in New Mexico."

Ms. Walt said that Mr. Perry drew 35 percent of the Hispanic vote in 2002 and that his policies on education, economic development and other issues have brought more Hispanics to the Republican Party.

Ms. Van de Putte acknowledged that she believes that presidential adviser Karl Rove has been involved in the redistricting effort.

"I don't know whose puppet strings are controlling which puppet at this point in the Republican Party," she said.

She also took a personal swipe at Mr. Perry.

He's "not the brightest porch light on the block," Ms. Van de Putte said. But, "he really looks good in jeans."

Ms. Walt said Ms. Van de Putte is stooping to personal attacks to try to turn the issue away from the fact that "they ran away from their responsibilities."

Attempts to approve a redistricting bill failed during the regular legislative session and the first special session. Last week, Mr. Perry called lawmakers back for a second special session to try again.

The Democrats departed for Albuquerque before he called the session. Their absence has blocked a quorum in the Senate, preventing the lawmakers who stayed in Austin from taking up business in the chamber.

Ms. Van de Putte said that redistricting is dead this legislative session but added that it's possible that a map could get approved if another legislative session is called.

She said several issues would have to be decided, including whether Republicans can work out differences on a map and whether Democratic lawmakers decide to remain in Austin rather than break a quorum.

"There's a lot of ifs there," Ms. Van de Putte said.

The Democrats have pledged to stay out of Austin until the second 30-day special session ends at the end of the month.

Mr. Perry has declined to say how long he might continue to call 30-day special legislative sessions if redistricting fails in this one.

---

Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dallas/tsw/stories/080403dntexredist.1c178.html

[MeekOneGOP]

Ah ! The old 'RAT trick. Do something over the top, then accuse the other side of doing it !!

The 'RATS are the Class Warfare/Divide Amerika Party.

Ms. Van de Putte said that as governor, Mr. Bush made a great effort to bring minorities into the Republican Party. She said Mr. Perry, on the other hand, was threatening to lock up in the Senate chamber the Hispanic and black senators so they would be forced to vote on a redistricting map that she said would disenfranchise minorities.

"What kind of image is that?" Ms. Van de Putte said. "I think the real danger here is not to Governor Perry. I think the real danger here is to the White House and the Republican efforts that would want to be so inclusive."

Perry spokeswoman Kathy Walt said Ms. Van de Putte's allegations are ludicrous and that Mr. Perry does not have the authority to lock senators in the chamber. Only the lieutenant governor can lock the senators into the chamber.

"Her accusations are intended to obscure the fact that they ran away from their job and their responsibility," Ms. Walt said. "They can't begin to represent their constituents while they are in New Mexico."

Leticia Van de Putte, San Antonio

[MeekOneGOP]

This looks like fun . . .

[MeekOneGOP]

Photos taken from the Texas Senators of the 78th Legislature website.

The 11 Obstructors:

Gonzalo Barrientos, Austin/Rodney Ellis, Houston/Mario Gallegos Jr., Houston

Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, McAllen/Eddie Lucio Jr., Brownsville/Frank Madla Jr., San Antonio

Eliot Shapleigh, El Paso/Leticia Van de Putte, San Antonio/Royce West, Dallas

John Whitmire, Houston/Judith Zaffirini, Laredo

---

The Lone Democrat that is staying:

Kenneth Armbrister, Victoria

[David Isaac]

In the words of the immortal Bugs Bunny: "What a maroon"

There is no one who uses better, the concept of divide and conquer, than liberal Democrats. How else could they explain their choices when it comes to questions of race?

[MeekOneGOP]

Here is a list of recent articles on Redistricting:

FR Search: Keyword "Redistricting"

08-04-2003
Walkout leader blasts Perry -
Democrat Van de Putte says governor's push for remap has been divisive

08-03-2003
Each side has its spin on redistricting standoff

08-03-2003
Dewhurst's reputation depends on 11 who fled

07-31-2003
Dewhurst: I'm honoring tradition and precedent
(Article exposes ‘RAT Lies!!)
Congressional districts in Texas today are essentially those drawn by a partisan Legislature in 1991. At that time, a national publication called the Texas map the most outrageously gerrymandered redistricting effort in the nation, resulting in Democratic strength in our congressional delegation well beyond its representation among voters.

Our congressional lines are even more outdated today. When the Legislature failed to draw new lines to accommodate Texas' two new congressional seats in 2001, the job fell to a federal court. The judges made the fewest changes possible to the existing 1991 map, in essence protecting incumbents.

07-29-2003
Democrats bolt again – to New Mexico
(Senators trying to halt new special session on redistricting)

Link to pics of the 11 Democrat Senators that Obstructed Redistricting
(Post #4)

07-28-2003
Session ends as 11 Democrats slip out
(Dem's Flee state again!)

07-26-2003
GOP effort to redraw districts is crushed
[Texas redistricting]

07-24-2003
Democrats may be free to flee - constitutionally protected, says lawyer

07-24-2003
As new Texas redistricting map offered,
Dewhurst says compromise is in the air

07-23-2003
Committee passes redistricting bill (Texas)

07-23-2003
Texas Republican Senators Forge Ahead on Congressional Redistricting Plans

07-19-2003
[Texas] Senators talk of boycotting any redistricting session
Mr. Dewhurst said he would be on solid ground in working around the Senate tradition requiring a two-thirds vote to take up a bill. The late Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock, a Democrat, did the same thing in a 1992 special session on legislative redistricting, Mr. Dewhurst said.

07-18-2003
New map, same pain for Dems
(Texas Redistricting fun)

07-17-2003
New map surfacing in Texas Senate

07-16-2003
Dewhurst at crossroads on redistricting in Texas Senate

07-15-2003
Ratliff joins Democrats to oppose redistricting
The state Republican Party was quick to point out that the [2/3rd’s] rule has been abandoned on occasion – such as when the Senate took up a state senatorial redistricting plan in 1992.

07-09-2003
DROP IT -- Redistricting would benefit few Texans, harm many
(Editorial)

07-08-2003
Senators have problems with House redistricting map - Texas redistricting

07-08-2003
House passes remap
Veteran Democrats may lose seats if bill goes through Senate

Above article is worthy of showing that a picture indeed is worth a thousand words:
First the Chicken D’s run away to Ardmore, Oklahoma. That didn’t work, so here they are,
still having a fit during the Redistricting debate:

As King began his argument for the new congressional boundaries Monday afternoon, about 30 Democrats in the gallery donned white socks as hand puppets to mock King. Every time he spoke, the little white mouths flapped.

07-07-2003
TEXAS REDISTRICTING--Vote TONIGHT!

07-07-2003
Race rhetoric stokes Texas redistricting fire

07-07-2003
Tension may soar as map debate hits House floor - Texas redistricting

07-06-2003
House panel quickly passes Republican redistricting plan -
map likely to unseat six Democrats

07-04-2003
New GOP map restores (Rep. Martin Frost's) district

07-03-2003
Republicans pull proposed map - redistricting

07-03-2003
Chamber of Commerce and GI Forum Hire Temps to Testify

07-02-2003
The Great Texas Power Grab - redistricting

07-01-2003
Tx Democrats Trying Fight, Not Flight, Over Districts
(The-Terrific-Texan-Special-Session)

[MEG33]

Divisive in demospeak is not doing what the minority wishes.Bi partisan is doing as the minority wishes.

[jagrmeister]

>"Her accusations are intended to obscure the fact that they ran away from their job and their responsibility," Ms. Walt said. "They can't begin to represent their constituents while they are in New Mexico."

Well said. Democrats need to stop whining and go back to work. Their childish run from the law sets a bad example and is flat out embarassing to anyone with dignity.

[mewzilla]

I'd still like to know who's footing the bill for all this.

[sgtbono2002]

You know the Dems are desperate when they praise George Bush to hide the fact they are the ones being divisive.

[goldstategop]

The Democrats still haven't gotten used to the fact they lost statewide in Texas in 2002 and they're behaving like kids who want more than they have a right to expect.

[Bahbah]

"He's "not the brightest porch light on the block," Ms. Van de Putte said. But, 'he really looks good in jeans.'"

Consider the outcry if this was said by a male politician about a female.

[Night Hides Not]

Based on her picture in these posts, I shudder at the thought of her in jeans.

This lady might look good in a GP medium, courtesy of Omar the Tent Maker.

[jagrmeister]

It's a good question. Voters deserve better. They pay the salaries of these Texas Democrats and expect, at very least, that they show up for work like the rest of us hard-working Americans.

[Bahbah]

Good call. Great home page, BTW, and thank you for your service.

[schaketo]

The Texas Democrat Party encourages us to "thank the Texas 11"...the Texas Democrat Party Jackals who think it is better to be personally protected by New Mexico State Troopers--courtesy of the New Mexico taxpayers on the orders of Democrat Governor Bill Richardson--than to work on the legislative business of the people of Texas.
Here is the address and phone number of their current hideout:

The Marriott Albuquerque Pyramid North
5151 San Francisco Road NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109
Phone: 1 505-821-3333
Fax: 1 505-828-0230

How about everyone mail them one of the following:

Box of pampers
Jar of baby wipes
Baby rattle
Talcom powder to help with their chapped bottoms.
Cabbage patch dolls.

Make sure to send this to all your like minded friends. I’m send baby wipes myself. Have fun!

[MeekOneGOP]

Well said. Democrats need to stop whining and go back to work. Their childish run from the law sets a bad example and is flat out embarassing to anyone with dignity.

Zackley !!

Here they are with costumes on:

Surely these ‘RATS are not true Texans??

[MeekOneGOP]

I'd still like to know who's footing the bill for all this.

Well, you probably already know the 'spin'. They're saying it's out of their own pockets AND/OR their political funds. That's what has been reported. I would bet that it doesn't cost them anything out of their own pocket though !

[MeekOneGOP]

Consider the outcry if this was said by a male politician about a female.

Oh, yeah, don't you know they'd be railing about that !!

Here is from Texas Runaway, Part I. The Texas House 'RATS !

‘Democrats über alles’ = ‘Democrats over everything’

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/924411/posts?page=17#17

[MeekOneGOP]

ROFL !! Good one !!

[MeekOneGOP]

LOL !! There was a report that the Texas GOP's sent them all that you listed there (and baby pacifiers too!!)

The Texas runaway Senators are catching MORE he** over this than they will admit too !

Hey, hocndoc ! If you want, you can post your report of the meeting with Van de Puke et al on this thread since she is the one featured on this article . . .