Blood in the Water

LYM (0.00 / 0)

All we need now is someone representing the Larouche Youth Movement and we're set.

www.stonewalldemocratsofdentoncounty.org

---

by: John McClelland @ Thu Dec 28, 2006 at 14:37:10 PM CST

The secret ballot is the key (0.00 / 0)

It would be actually even more telling if we could see pledges for a secret ballot vote.  Members (and the blogging public) might be well served to hammer on the need, popularity and liklihood of a secret ballot vote first thing out of the blocks on the 9th.  If those numbers look good enough, then Craddick is done. 

Anyone seen a poll for that vote?

---

by: godmother @ Thu Dec 28, 2006 at 14:46:54 PM CST

Why Are We Counting On Republican Votes To Gain Power (1.00 / 3)

I'm not sure why Burnt Orange and other normally smart Texas bloggers are counting on Republican votes to win power for Democrats or for any other purpose. We seem stuck in a minority frame of mind. Thank you.

http://texasliberal....

---

by: neilaquino @ Thu Dec 28, 2006 at 15:04:37 PM CST

You've done a great job... (0.00 / 0)

Promoting your own blog in our comments.

Now, a very great man once said that some people rob you with a fountain pen.

---

by: Phillip Martin @ Thu Dec 28, 2006 at 15:07:19 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Getting rid of Craddick (5.00 / 1)

isn't about winning power for Democrats. I hate to be overstate the obvious here, but it's about winning better government for all of us, Democrats and Republicans alike.

---

by: davew @ Thu Dec 28, 2006 at 15:20:57 PM CST

[ Parent ]

The Masterful Willie Brown (0.00 / 0)

Neil,  I would recommend broadening your perspective of state legislative power politics by reading up on legendary California Democrat Willie Brown's maneuvers to retain leadership of the California State Assembly even after a Republican majority was elected.

Democrats in the state legislature, whether as a minority or majority, have one goal above all when it comes to the Speaker - to ensure the best possible leadership of the State House for the people of Texas and the best possible environment for progressive legislation.  That means electing the best Democrat as speaker when we have the ability to do so, and electing the most fair-minded, intelligent, capable, and reasonable Republican when we do not.  Texas state government (and the federal government for that matter) does not operate as a parliamentary system; the minority is not merely the loyal opposition, voicing alternatives or criticizing the leadership, but can and does regularly participate in the business of government and policymaking.  Just ask Representative Maxey, who passed laws requiring immediate and retroactive compliance with the ADA for any state lottery vendor and requiring interpretation services for the deaf by certain state agencies with the cooperation and support of Republicans.

You're young, like me, and our perspectives have been largely shaped by the heavy handed ways in which movement conservatives have run the US House of Representatives.  It's understandable that you would be skeptical of any type of bipartisanship, as it has been used cynically by many national Republican leaders to deceive or bludgeon Democrats.  But don't forget that it doesn't always work this way, especially at the state level, and that it wasn't always that way at the federal level, nor does it have to be.  All or nothing politics may make us happy when we're in the majority, but it also leaves our achievements on shaky ground as soon as political fortunes changes.  Read Norm Ornstein and Thomas Mann's book Broken Branch for a vision of how it was and how it still can be.

"In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican." - H.L. Mencken

---

by: PI Lawyer @ Thu Dec 28, 2006 at 16:38:19 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Speaker Post Belongs To The Majority (0.00 / 0)

Sadly, I'm not so young any more.

I've got no problem with members working across the aisle on specific bills. But posts such Speaker and Committee chairs belong to the majority.

What would we be saying if Democrats more to the right were working with Republicans to defeat Ms. Pelosi up in Washington? 

Wille Brown took a lot of corporate money.

Thank you.

 

---

by: neilaquino @ Fri Dec 29, 2006 at 00:27:48 AM CST

[ Parent ]

A Blogger Rejecting Self-Promotion? (0.00 / 0)

Let me it right--A blogger finds it wrong to engage in self-promotion? Maybe taking all the ads you took during the election for Democratic candidates suggests that you are something less than a free and authentic voice yourself. Thank you. 

---

by: neilaquino @ Thu Dec 28, 2006 at 15:17:02 PM CST

Nope (0.00 / 0)

Let's engage in this discussion:

You've said that Democrats should entirely sit out this entire Speaker's race and not do anything, and that only the majority party should govern. Why do you believe that?

Now, a very great man once said that some people rob you with a fountain pen.

---

by: Phillip Martin @ Thu Dec 28, 2006 at 15:34:47 PM CST

[ Parent ]

The only people who believe that are either Republicans or horribly, horribly (0.00 / 0)

misguided.

---

by: StopCraddick @ Thu Dec 28, 2006 at 15:44:47 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Republicans Only (0.00 / 0)

1. The people elected a Republican majority.

2. I don't want to share power with Republicans when Democrats take over the House.

3.Nothing stops Republicans and Democrats from working across the aisle on specific bills.

4. Bipartisanship is often cover for an eternal party of "insiders" working to the exclusion of "outsiders" or reformers. 

5.It's late, I've been at work and that is all I can muster at this hour. Thank you for engaging me.

---

by: neilaquino @ Fri Dec 29, 2006 at 00:34:12 AM CST

[ Parent ]

SHAME ON Kino Flores, Sylvester Turner, Patrick Rose, Aaron Pena, Tracy King (0.00 / 0)

Harold Dutton, Robert Puente, Kevin Bailey, Richard Raymond, Armando Martinez, Norma Chavez, Dawnna Dukes, Helen Giddings, Joe Deshotel, Chuck Hopson, Ruth McClendon, and Ryan Guillen.

Any fellow Democrats who have any fondness for these representatives should call or write (or both) to remind these potential Craddickheads that there will DEFINITELY be a reckoning after this vote.

Those Latino representatives who would even think of supporting Craddick should be ashamed after CRADDICK ORCHESTRATED A BLATANT VOTING RIGHTS ACT VIOLATION WITH THE PREMEDITATED GOAL OF DILUTING THE TEXAS LATINO VOTE! SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!

---

by: StopCraddick @ Thu Dec 28, 2006 at 16:01:11 PM CST

Just as a heads up... (0.00 / 0)

Some members could be holding their votes not with any intention of voting for Craddick, but just to make sure Craddick has "soft" support...

Now, a very great man once said that some people rob you with a fountain pen.

---

by: Phillip Martin @ Thu Dec 28, 2006 at 16:10:26 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Pitts as Speaker means gas masks for everyone (0.00 / 0)

Consider the impact Pitts would have on any hopes of passing air quality legislation this session.

He represents Midlothian, home to three - count 'em - three cement plants that produce half of all the industrial pollution in DFW. And he protects these lovlies like a Mother Bear.

Like Craddick, he'd be industry's gatekeeper, preventing any votes on challenges to his friends.

On the other hand, McCall represents an area hard hit by pollution from those same cement plants, as well as the proposed coal plants. His out-going Republican Collin County Judge was one of the most respected voices for air quality in North Texas.

No matter how badly you want Craddick to lose, if you breath air, you'd better be praying for McCall to win this fight.

---

by: stacksucker @ Thu Dec 28, 2006 at 16:41:19 PM CST

Is it too late (0.00 / 0)

to change my mind in the poll?

---

by: davew @ Thu Dec 28, 2006 at 21:00:24 PM CST