More Praise for Chet Edwards

Chet Edwards, Veep (3.00 / 1)

Chet Edwards voting record on environmental issues earned him a favorable rating of only 17% in 2006, according to the League of Conservation Voters. His record on civil liberties issues was only 55% favorable to the ACLU's position that same year. His National Journal rating on economic issues was 55% liberal and and 45% conservative, and on social issues it was 56% liberal 43% conservative. He voted with a majority of House Republicans and a small minority of House  Republicans in favor drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge, in favor of bulding the border fence, in favor of the Bush Administration's detainee tribunals and opposed withdrawal from Iraq. (Source: Page 1582 of The Almanac of American Politics, 2008 editon, published by National Journal).
 During the December 1989 third special session which Gov. Bill Clements called to enact the workers' compensation measure supported by all of the usual special interests---Texas Association of Business, Texans for Lawsuit Reform, the major oil companies, the liability insurance companies, and all elements of the business lobby---and opposed by a majority of Democrats in both the House and Senate,the Texas AFL-CIO, Texas Trial Lawyers Association,public health advocacy groups and low income workers and minority organizations ---Edwards was one of three Democrats (the others were Chet Brooks and Judith Zaffirini)to break from the group of 12 Demoratic senators which had blocked the Clements-Hobby-Lewis steamroller during the regular session and two called session. My boss at the time, Senator Carlos Truan, rose on the Senate floor and called them "the three flakes."
Since the passage of that horrendous bill everyone seriously injured on the job in Texas will find the deck stacked heavily against them. They can expect not a workers comp model which Texas adapted from the model that the LaFollote Progressives enacted in Wisconsin in the early years of the 20th Century, but one designed by the TAB and the insurance industry.
Edwards for VP? On the Democratic ticket? Gimme a break!  

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by: Dave Shapiro @ Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 23:07:55 PM UTC

Chet Edwards, Veep (1.00 / 1)

Chet Edwards voting record on environmental issues earned him a favorable rating of only 17% in 2006, according to the League of Conservation Voters. His record on civil liberties issues was only 55% favorable to the ACLU's position that same year. His National Journal rating on economic issues was 55% liberal and and 45% conservative, and on social issues it was 56% liberal 43% conservative. He voted with a majority of House Republicans and a small minority of House  Republicans in favor drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge, in favor of bulding the border fence, in favor of the Bush Administration's detainee tribunals and opposed withdrawal from Iraq. (Source: Page 1582 of The Almanac of American Politics, 2008 editon, published by National Journal).
 During the December 1989 third special session which Gov. Bill Clements called to enact the workers' compensation measure supported by all of the usual special interests---Texas Association of Business, Texans for Lawsuit Reform, the major oil companies, the liability insurance companies, and all elements of the business lobby---and opposed by a majority of Democrats in both the House and Senate,the Texas AFL-CIO, Texas Trial Lawyers Association,public health advocacy groups and low income workers and minority organizations ---Edwards was one of three Democrats (the others were Chet Brooks and Judith Zaffirini)to break from the group of 12 Demoratic senators which had blocked the Clements-Hobby-Lewis steamroller during the regular session and two called session. My boss at the time, Senator Carlos Truan, rose on the Senate floor and called them "the three flakes."
Since the passage of that horrendous bill everyone seriously injured on the job in Texas will find the deck stacked heavily against them. They can expect not a workers comp model which Texas adapted from the model that the LaFollote Progressives enacted in Wisconsin in the early years of the 20th Century, but one designed by the TAB and the insurance industry.
Edwards for VP? On the Democratic ticket? Gimme a break!  

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by: Dave Shapiro @ Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 23:07:58 PM UTC

Chet Edwards (4.00 / 2)

I'm not impressed by Charles Stenholm's endorsement.  He is even more conservative than Chet Edwards.  And did you notice Stenholm's back-handed remark about Obama's short list of VP possibilities?  

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by: txnson @ Tue Aug 12, 2008 at 02:57:06 AM UTC

agreed (3.00 / 1)

Stenholm voted to impeach Clinton

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by: v2aggie2 @ Tue Aug 12, 2008 at 06:39:02 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Why does this (2.00 / 1)

blog continue to praise Chet Edwards? He's obviously NOT a progressive.

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by: gregturet @ Tue Aug 12, 2008 at 14:09:28 PM UTC

Many posts have just been giving him the buzz (5.00 / 1)

This post is one of them.  I give very little of my opinion of him here.

We focus a lot on Chet Edwards because he is a Democrat in Texas who is actually receiving attention (even if only minute) from some top Democrats as a veep candidate.  This blog follows Texas politics, particularly on the Democratic side of the aisle.  This was the reason I blogged about Edwards originally.

This blog is written by Texans who are Democrats.  We stand on the more progressive side of the spectrum.  That said, we understand electoral politics and respect politicians who have to actually REPRESENT their constituents in a different manner than we prefer.  Chet Edwards represents a bunch of Republicans -- it is his job description to do as they ask sometimes.

On a personal level, I like Chet Edwards -- possibly more than any writer here.  I have high respect for a man who is obviously a Democrat that can convince such a conservative district to reelect him so often.  Chet Edwards, in my mind, is not a progressive, but he doesn't have to be to gain my high respect.  He's a solid Democrat, and to me; that's good enough for the Democratic ticket -- it's good enough to consider a higher office.

I hope that answers your question.  The majority of the Chet posts have been mine, anyways.

"Let us tenderly and kindly cherish therefore, the means of knowledge. Let us dare to read, think, speak, and write."  -  John Adams

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by: Michael Hurta @ Tue Aug 12, 2008 at 15:52:39 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yea I get it (0.00 / 0)

I guess I just wish we were talking about someone like Lloyd Doggett.

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by: gregturet @ Wed Aug 13, 2008 at 04:31:38 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

What Washington Has Been Missing (0.00 / 0)

D.C. has been hammered with partisanship because gerrymandering has left most districts are either extremely conservative or extremely liberal. However, Chet's district is full of both sides of the spectrum, and he has been forced to cater to his constituencies' concerns which has allowed him to be re-elected even through many hard fought fights. Chet effectively works with both parties to pass legislation with results -- something all members of the House and Senate should aim towards.  

This would put him in an ideal place to serve as Obama's running mate not only as an instrument of change but as a well-respected nine-term southern moderate with good relationships in both parties that could be instrumental in helping a President Obama pass major legislation in the 111th Congress.

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by: stephanie.formas @ Tue Aug 12, 2008 at 21:25:34 PM UTC