LOOSELY TRANSLATED WE NEED A THIRD PARTY Rocket River BTW - think Hussien would put a gun to someone's head and 'force' them to do their jobs. . . . . I mean . .according to the press .. it sounds like that is EXACTLY how he ran his news organizations
why would you assume a third party would make a difference? why would you assume that the members of the third party wouldn't do the same types of things?
By both sides, as usual. Nearly as goofy as spending 1.7 million on a special session when you KNOW that the other side is going to break quorum. As do Dems. I just think that it is much more egregious to try to redistrict now, once the Reps gained control of both houses, outside the normal redistricting schedule. The Reps caused this mess and the Dems are doing what they have to to make their voices heard, even if it is from Albequeque.
Not if the third party were interested in creating the best possible government rather than doing what is best for the far left or far right. I have started a project along these lines, y'all can take a look at http://www.andymoon.com/middleparty/ if you care to.
A third party could energize the populace if the general public thought that the party would represent them and not the special interests represented by the Dems and Reps.
that's great and all...but every human institution is ultimately corrupted. particularly when those institutions are created for the purpose of positioning political power.
1. So we won't have a special session because we know the other side will break quorum and flee to another state??? huh?? it's an elected legislature in a representative democracy, andy. sure there are filibusters and other procedural games...but leaving the state?? that's wholly different. and i know you know that. 2. even if the republicans are wrong...it doesn't make leaving the state to bust quorum acceptable. it doesn't make it right. the dems will pay a political price for this, one way or the other.
At least this one isn't corrupted yet. Why not strive to create a political party that is responsive to the people rather than the whims of the powerful few?
No, I don't know that. Quorum is a concept that was inserted into the constitution so that a majority of less than 2/3 cannot ram anything they want down the minorities throats. It IS just another procedural game, one that the Reps would use if put into a similar situation. As will the Reps. From what I see, the Reps are going to pay a much bigger price. I know several Reps and Inds that voted Rep last time, but are changing sides because of this (and other) Rep blunders.
i doubt seriously that this will be remembered as the republicans fault...particularly in a pretty conservative state. andymoon -- 1. seriously? you think quorum is a political game? are you kidding? 2. by the way..the reps and the dems have all previously been in similar situation. this is the first time they've just decided to leave the state. 3. again...objectivity is a good thing. neither party is perfect..they both have their flaws. but this is just flat ridiculous. when votes don't go you way, you can't simply run away...that's hijacking democracy and the beginning of a very scary slippery slope precedent.
Responsive to the people - would that include fleeing the state and ignoring the constitutional duty to your constituents? Powerful few - hmmm, sort of like a small group of egomaniacs who find it their civic calling to violate all sense of trust and responsibility and run for the border (after alerting the press for a photo op or two) instead of facing the well-established democratic process like the representatives their title alleges to be? I also don't understand how the Republicans (I'm sorry, Tom Delay) can be held at fault for not properly anticipating the reprehensible, unconstitutional actions by the chicken democrats. If facts were presented as facts by the media and not slanted in attempts to demonize certain individuals, even the most slimy liberal could not persuade a voter otherwise. I agree wholeheartedly that representatives today have no concept of what their job is supposed to comprise - bringing a voice to their constituents needs, not imposing their own grandiose schemes on the state. This is like listening to a debate between candidates who drop utopian ideals and heavenly idealistic plans on an audience who may just want a straight answer and some accountability out of their representatives.
i think you have an equal chance of "uncorrupting" one of the existant parties as you do creating one that won't become corrupted. i'd put the chances of both, equally, at zero.
The Republicans have NEVER fled the state and thumbed their noses at their constitutional duties to bust a quorum. The Democrats have chosen 'procedural games' over their own duties and responsibilities because they are in fear for their political lives, and that is a disgraceful fact.
Every class I ever took in government along with every political person I have talked to about this has indicated such, yes. Please name the time the Dems tried to gerrymander in a special session in which they suspended the blocker bill tradition to bypass the 2/3 rule. If the Reps were faced with a similar situation, they would do the same thing. You can believe otherwise, but you will be wearing blinders. One thing we agree on is that neither party is perfect. I have many of the same problems with both parties, but the Dems are taking advantage of the rules of politics in Texas. Accept it. Every time the Reps want to scare people, whether it is about prohibition or anything else, they claim that it is a "slippery slope." If the Reps weren't going over the top on this redistricting issue, the Dems wouldn't have to go over the top in their response. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
Did you bother to read my post at the top of this page? If Perry had chosen to fight this fight when it SHOULD have been fought, we wouldn't be having this discussion. As for the Democratic Senators "fearing for their political lives", that's ludicrous. It isn't THEIR districts on the line... they have put their own political futures at risk because they believe it's the right thing to do. The State of Texas is in crisis, and Perry/DeLay choose to have this conflict now. They are the ones putting their own interests before that of the people of this state. In my opinion.
It is a fact, yes, but it is only disgraceful to the ones who have been one-upped by superior politicking. Once again THEY ARE DOING THEIR DUTY BY LEAVING THE STATE. They are representing their constituents who would otherwise be without a voice in the redistricting process. I am no Democrat, but I still applaud them for standing up for what they believe is right.
