Remember the Craddick 15

by: Remember the Craddick 15

Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 06:18 PM CST

15 Democrats Enable Craddick to Retain the Gavel

I want every Democratic activist to remember this list during the entire 80th Legislative Session - the 15 Democrats who enabled Tom Craddick to retain his undeserved Speakership:

Kevin Bailey
Norma Chavez
Joe Deshotel
Dawnna Dukes
Kino Flores
Helen Giddings
Ryan Guillen
Harold Dutton
Tracy King
Eddie Lucio III
Ruth Jones McClendon
Aaron Pena
Robert Puente
Patrick Rose
Sylvester Turner

Before I get into the heart of my argument, I want to give credit where credit is due.  Democratic Leaders in the House, like Representatives Thompson and Dunnam and Gallego and Coleman, did yeoman work in holding 54 of 69 Democratic votes.  Two sessions ago, Democrats couldn't get 50 votes for anything (just ask the trials).  Two months ago, no one would have believed that Tom Craddick would have to endure am unprecedented 6-hour spectacle on the first day of session to retain his gavel.  Now we're within striking distance of taking down the Speaker.

We witnessed real acts of courage from good democrats; Ritter and Eiland risking their chairmanships to do what was right, Hopson taking a principled stand at a critical moment, Martinez returning to the Democratic fold, and Raymond challenging the Speaker directly. 

Despite the great work of these great Democrats, it is impossible to ignore the fact that the 15 Craddick Democrats provided Craddick with the margin he needed to get re-elected Speaker.  These 15 Craddick enablers put their own best political interest ahead of their party and their constituents.  Had just 7 of these 15 Democrats voted their conscience, voted their convictions, or voted their constituents - instead of merely voting their own selfish best interest - we would have kicked Craddick's ass off his $1000 throne.

We should thank each and every one of the 54 Democrats who had the courage to try and make Texas a better place.  But let us never forget the Craddick 15.

"I'll Let You be in My Dream if I Can be in Yours"

by: Phillip Martin, Progress Texas

Tue Jan 09, 2007 at 08:00 AM CST

In the upcoming session, Republicans will be their own worst nightmare, while Democrats will help answer dreams for the future of Texas.

In November, I thought the levels of Republican failure had topped out. Tom Delay, once the most powerful politician in the country, was trounced by a Democrat in his home state of Texas. Delay still managed to hurt Texas, though, as his illegal redistricting map forced Texas to be as weak nationally as its ever been when Democrats took control of the U.S. Congress. The redistricting map Delay ramrodded down the throats of the Texas Legislature took out senior Democrats that could have served on powerful committees, unfortunately before it was ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Of course, that last action led to the defeat of another Texas Republican, Henry Bonilla, by Democrat Ciro Rodriguez. And Delay's poisoning strong-armed tactics seeped into his Texas counterpart, Tom Craddick. Not only did Craddick's obscene demands in the Regular Session cost him Republican incumbents in the primary and general election, but it seems it very well may also cost Craddick his speakership.

I've read that today has already been named, "Bloody Tuesday," and that the next 140 days, as the Texas Legislature meets to discuss, debate, and enact legislation that will change the future of Texas, is going to be an all-out war. But as we gavel the beginning of the new Texas Legislature, I can't help but wonder -- where are the lines drawn?

The battle lines are drawn back and forth, up and down, right and further right...across the Republican Party of Texas.

The havoc wrought by the horrid leadership of "The Terrible Toms" -- Craddick and Delay -- has undercut the leadership ability of the entire Republican Party. Exactly who do they look to for leadership -- a Governor who was elected by less than 40%, a Lieutenant Governor who is terrified of its newest member, Dan Patrick, or a Texas House that, as it is gaveled into session, does not know who its presiding officer will be.

Meanwhile, Texas Democrats are fighting to move Texas forward by advancing one basic principle: I'll let you be in my dream if I can be in yours.

What does that mean? Trust the Democrats to lead (let them be in your dream), and find solutions to the real problems facing Texas (we will be in yours).

What am I talking about? I'm talking about eliminating tuition deregulation and making college affordable for every Texas family. I'm talking about restoring health care benefits for over 200,000 Texas children. I'm talking about lower electricity rates, lower insurance rates, and a minimum wage increase that honors the hard-working people of Texas.

In the upcoming session, Republicans will be trying to elbow their egos out of Dan Patrick's shadow -- all while Democrats attempt to revamp the teacher retirement system. In the upcoming session, Republicans will argue about how little they can spend to help Texans -- all while Democrats look to invest in better opportunities for all Texans.

In the upcoming session, Republicans will be their own worst nightmare, while Democrats will help answer dreams for the future of Texas. Stick around -- it's going to be a wonderful time.