Burnt Orange Report

The internal logic of "election stealing"

By Jim Dallas

What exactly, praytell, are Tal Heflin, Eric Opiela, and possibly Ken Mercer smoking?

It's true, you can't take the politics out of politics, but asking for election challenges is a sure fire way to make the 79th Texas Legislature just as polarized and miserable as the 78th. And even if they do win, they get... a new election. When George W. Bush is not on the ballot. In districts where they apparently already lost and which are (in sum) getting more Democratic (particularly District 149). Surely they just want to hand us a big issue to lash them with for two more years?

And remember, control of the House is not resting on these challenges. It's the difference between the Republicans having a lot of power in Austin and having... a lot of power in Austin. The law of diminishing marginal returns applies in politics.

Finally, if the Republicans want to indulge in silly, paranoid theories about election thievery, then why don't they just go ahead and challenge Ohio or Florida's electoral votes when the new Congress meets in January? We're cool with that. After all, if the election was corrupt in Alief, it could be corrupt anywhere!

Granted, there are times to be paranoid. If I were Christine Gregoire or Dino Rossi, I'd be pretty paranoid right now. We're not talking about the presidency, or a governorship. We're talking about three seats in the Lege which won't affect the balance of power.

I've never seen folks fight over a $8,000 a year job like this before, and I don't think it's because any kind of Marxian "crisis of capitalism" is forcing lowly proles like Heflin to "fight or starve." McDonald's is hiring, Mr. Chairman.

(Snark.)

But I can't possibly see any reason for Republicans, in Texas, (aside from ego) for launching a temper tantrum over this. I'm for counting every vote, not for having a new vote just because Tom Craddick didn't like the outcome.

That's the end of my rant for the day.

ADDENDUM: The incomparable Greg Wythe, my antidisestablishmentarian hero, has a list of things for YOU to do.