Burnt Orange Report

Houston Chronicle to Heflin: "Graciously concede"

By Byron LaMasters

From their editorial today:

Vo embodies Houston's open and constantly changing society. A native of Vietnam, Vo gained his education in Houston and made the most of his business opportunities. Vo's grass-roots campaign imparts the lesson that in evolving suburban districts, Republicans cannot take victory for granted.

Heflin's supporters say he has not decided whether to ask for a recount. A recount holds little promise. The electronic voting machines and hand canvassing of absentee and provisional ballots are under the purview of Harris County Clerk Beverly Kaufman, a Republican whose office is a stranger to scandal.

Heflin could also protest the election in the Republican-dominated Texas House. The House could either seat Vo or order a new election.

Heflin has another alternative; he could graciously concede. Last week Sen. John Kerry provided an excellent example of how it is done.

Update: Another interesting read on the race from the Houston Chronicle: Heflin: an inept thief:

If I'm Talmadge Heflin, I'm wondering what this country is coming to.

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If you can't buy an election with the lobby's money, you ought to be able to steal it with the help of courthouse friends.

That's one of the problems with being a Republican.

They haven't learned how to steal elections — at least not west of Florida.

[...]

Heflin has predictably turned to a lawyer for help.

And not just any lawyer. Andy Taylor represents the Texas Association of Businesses, which touched off a controversy that has resulted in indictments when it boasted of electing the current Republican majority in the Legislature.

Taylor also was hired by the Texas attorney general to represent the state of Texas defending its redistricting schemes. His firm charged $735,398 for the work, billing Taylor's time at $400 an hour.

Now Taylor is talking about asking the state House of Representatives to overturn Vo's victory and seat Heflin.

I don't think it will happen because in the wake of the bitterness of mid-decade redistricting, Republican leaders won't poison the air by engaging in another naked power grab.

Unless Tom DeLay tells them to.