May 13, 2003

If You Can't Win, Run

Democrats do seem to find ways of blocking legislatures from doing their business. In the U.S. Senate, Democrats have been fillibustering the nominations of judicial appointments. Now, in Texas, Democrats have abandoned their state, bunkered down across the border in Oklahoma (their Alamo), and are playing a game of chicken with state Republicans over a redistricting bill. In both cases, the Democrats don't have the votes to stop the Republicans. Instead, they obstruct.

It's funny that of all the issues important to Texas Democrats (health care, education, the environment) they decided to revolt against their very government over redistricting. Redistricting happens every ten years and the party in power usually gets its way (unless the state uses some kind of independent board). In order to get your legislation passed you need more of your party elected. That didn't happen. The Democrats could have accepted their political fate and prepared for new political battles leading up to the next round of elections. They didn't do that and decided the best strategy is to shut down the Texas legislature. Real smart. I'm sure the average Texan will understand the Democrats' principle of "proper" redistricting as a swell reason to stop the political process.

I could respect these Democrats if their chicken run was for something more than preventing their political power from slipping further in a growing conservative state. These people look like spoiled children who when losing a game of checkers tosses the board in the air and pouts. And it makes those Dems who stayed look like statemen.

Bill Hobbs has declared Texas Democrats AWOL and says they're thwarting democracy. Ironic, since it's the Democrats who are doing the thwarting. Then there's thorswitch who is defending the Dems (here, here, and here

Since this game of chicken will be over in a few weeks at the most it doesn't pay to ask how long those legislators could stay in Oklahoma before they would be considered official Okies. But it's out there if anyone knows.

"Texas Democrats Flee State, Paralyze Legislature"