Governor stays out of redistrict row

[Nottingham]

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/2132259

Governor stays out of redistrict row
Not concerned with plan's details
By R.G. RATCLIFFE
Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau


AUSTIN -- Gov. Rick Perry on Wednesday sought to distance himself from the GOP redistricting infighting over West Texas, saying a statewide plan to elect more Republicans to Congress is his top priority.

"Where the lines are drawn are less important to me than the fact that they do, indeed, get drawn," Perry said.

The inability of House and Senate Republicans to agree on a redistricting bill is threatening to cause a delay in next year's primaries -- possibly pushing Texas out of the process of selecting the Democratic presidential nominee.

With House and Senate negotiators apparently stalled on how to draw a congressional district for Speaker Tom Craddick's hometown of Midland, passage of a redistricting bill seems endangered.

more....

Looks like Republicans are fighting themselves and so redistricting may not happen on time after all! :bounce:

[neverforget]

1. We can only hope that their arrogance is their downfall.

[Nottingham]

2. It is really looking that it is going to be their downfall

Somebody has gotten to greedy!

:bounce:

[E_Zapata]

7. Arrogance? How about calling it what it is? ILLEGAL political activities

eergggghhh

(Oh, I am not grinching at you - I am just exasperated by well, you called it, the arrogance. But we are talking about illegal political activities. Or it was when we had a supreme court and a supreme court with precedential opinions, which have been apparently shredded)

[Castilleja]

3. Uggh, Rick Perry

what a weener. Doesn't care what the outcome is, just that he gets his way.

[Mikhale]

4. Only a few hundred thousand Rethugs

will vote state-wide in their primary next March 2, or 9 or 30(?)in Texas. Given such comparatively light turnout and the ideology of those dominant, die-hard Rethug voters in an otherwise uneventful primary, they will probably nominate 32 mutant DeLayliens if redistricting goes through. They may be in for a few surprises in Nov. 2004. There won't be any really interesting state-wide challenges in Texas (no Senate, Governor, or et al., seat up; just a Railroad Commission post and some judgeships, I think). Metaphorically speaking, mouth-breather blood may flow. Happiness may be a function of how much you like conservative, Democratic Texas Congressmen.

[goforit]

5. The republicans just have to stop playing butt-boy to T. DeLay!!!

Don't these people have any self respect?

I would think they would have alittle more intelligence than this!!!

Are they scared of this fascist bully?

[E_Zapata]

6. What a sick, twisted world we live in

10 years ago it would have been the end of a politician's career if he said in front of god and everyone that he was actually aspiring to stack the seats with one party's members.

Districts are based solely on population numbers. Period. The intent has NOTHING to do with how many in either party will get seats. If that is the intent, then we had better start redistricting across the board to account for the 10 parties or so that exist in this country.

Sickening.

[Nottingham]

8. It is pretty amazing what they are trying to do!

:bounce:

[sham]

9. The Democrats in this state are looking smarter and smarter.

Thanks, Thugs! We knew this was a farce, and now you're proving our point. :thumbsup:

[bluestateguy]

10. There is still time to stop this

Although it may cost us the ability to have a meaningful presidential primary. The Goopers own greed may do them in and their internal bickering could revitalize Democratic unity. Perhaps they could muster the (51 House) votes to skip town again if there is a 4th session.

[lindashaw]

11. And here I was, contacting former Dem representative in Ft. Worth,

to try and get something going for the primary. No wonder I can't find any enthusiasm. My state is saaaad.