Texas Reaches Redistricting Agreement

[Rose Siding]

AUSTIN -- Texas House and Senate negotiators reached a congressional redistricting agreement in principle Wednesday, settling a dispute among Republican lawmakers, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said.

After days of closed-door meetings, legislators finally reached a deal after U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay came to the Capitol and met with state officials for three straight days this week. The final sticking point was over how to draw districts in West Texas.

"It is my hope that we can have a final map that we can show you tomorrow morning," Dewhurst said.

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-tx-xgr-texas-redistricting,0,3763686.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[goobergunch]

1. FUCK

This has got to be one of the worst weeks for Democrats ever.

EDIT: I felt 5 f-words was a little excessive.

[impeach the gop]

3. I'll cry in my beer to that

:-(

[arcane1]

2. DeLay, of course

:grr:

[Jazzgirl]

26. Delay came to Texas

to settle the whole mess 'cuz it couldn't be settled without him. After he hammered out the terms (11 more Repub districts) it was supposedly done! I hope not.

Jazzgirl

[goobergunch]

4. Does nobody %#@*#@ care? KICK

:kick:

[NewYorkerfromMass]

9. I do. I am pissed.

no. make that: I AM FUCKING PISSED OFF TO ALL G*DAMNED HELL!!!...:mad:

[benfranklin1776]

22. As am I. The most blatant example of gerrymandering ever.

Let the Court challenges begin. Time to also remind people clearly and directly this is yet another example of the Rethugs blatant disrespect of the democratic process. The redistricting was already complete as the constitution required but these SOB's said to hell with the constitution, Roachbrain Delay said he wanted more seats and ordered his underlings to comply so they marched in brain dead lockstep to comply with his dictates.

[SammyWinstonJack]

23. The MePublicans will stop at nothing

to take control of EVERYTHING! Why the HELL can't people see that? I can't believe this is acceptable to the majority in this Country! Oh what am I saying? The dirty tactics used by the MePulicans which lead to the Selection of the idiot Boy King, should make it very CLEAR that it is acceptable to the majority. This Country is being taken over by a small minority and the majority are becoming apathetic, allowing it to happen. As long as they think they aren't being affected, they don't care.

It was stated here yesterday that Americans, not all, but most perhaps, are stupid. That was countered by, not so much stupid as misinformed. If that is true, I would ask why? Some DU members offered that not everyone has the time to spend surfing the net, reading sites such as DU. That they get their news from sound-bytes offered up by the very biased Media. True enough, however, I don't think it so much a lack of time as much as it is the desire not to be informed. A little less time spent in chat rooms, playing on games and downloading music, and a little more time spent on educating one's self would greatly benefit all of us.

A willingness to believe what one is being told without bothering to find out if they are being lied too, or not, hurts everyone, with regards to the politics and policies of this Country.


Sorry for the rant. I just wish so many weren't so gullible, or worse yet, apathetic.

[goforit]

5. Well I do think you all know what plan C is!!!!!

Just go for it!!!

[lovedems]

6. My heart bleeds for you Texas!

Two big disappointments in one day...what a bummer. If the rethugs can't win fair and square, they will just steal an election right out from under the democrats nose. This sucks.

[qanda]

7. Not a good week for the Democracy!

Honestly, I'm beginning to think that America really is a failed experiment. When does the revolution begin? Or do people consider the revolution to be putting Arnold, the groper, in as the governor of our largest state?

[SammyWinstonJack]

8. Can I just say this?

I hate Republicans! :mad: :grr: :argh:

[Rose Siding]

12. Sing it!

http://www.ericblumrich.com/ihr.html

[mbperrin]

10. Relax, folks,

they said they had an agreement in PRINCIPLE. Delay has principles? Hardy har har.

And they HOPE to have something to show in the morning?
They heartily underestimate what a complete dumfuk Tom Craddick is!

I'm right here in west Texas, and these idiots could break a bowling ball in a plowed field!

[Unforgiven]

11. Ah Hell

Ah Hell, this is just window dressing who needs redistricting when you have Blackbox voting! As the RepubliCONS are already aware the world is their oyster and this country merely a stepping stone.

[bearfan454]

13. These guys are still arguing I thought.

In principle doesn't mean it is over.

[dusty64]

14. Any news on lawsuits?

This IS all plainly illegal.

[judgegina]

15. It's not over yet.

Just finished watching the local 10pm Austin news. It appears that Lite Gov. Dewhurst was premature in announcing that an agreement had been reached in priniciple. Speaker Craddick, a total bastard, says he doesn't know what "an agreement in principle" means. Expect more fireworks tomorrow.

[Lexingtonian]

19. Bismark said

something like: "To say that you agree in principle means that you are unwilling to do anything in practice."

Most of the argument is about whether Craddick gets his own district (centered on Midland) and who is going to be the unwilling victim. The idea originally was that Charlie Stenholm (Democrat) was going to be it but all the rural folk and politicians of his district and some around it got pissed off at all the seniority on the Ag Committee, constituent service, proper representation of their views (Blue Dog conservative on social issues, pro-consumer/worker), and sensible responsiveness to the district they were going to lose. (Republicans tend, curiously enough, not to be good at these things- and these rural counties have taken notice.) OTOH, DeLay doesn't want to lose the rookie Neugebauer (R) who is the most convenient choice and to appearances the sort of thoughtless line-toeing drone DeLay prefers.

Other rumblings are that they've screwed around with Martin Frost's district because they hate him, which is because he's smart and ruthless and has, taking joy in the task, managed to screw over DeLay and Texas Republicans a couple of times. (He got the marvel of Texas's 2002 redistricting through, for example.)

It's no secret that DeLay wants new districts purely for people who will vote for him for Speaker over, say, Hastert. It's no secret that Craddick wants a safe House seat. The problem is that rural Texas Republicans think they're really going to get screwed if they let them have this. Knocking off a few Blue Dogs in East Texas of which only one seems to do or say anything noteworthy (Sandlin) is one thing. Screwing an urban Democrat like Frost doesn't much concern them. But bumping off a guy who actually does hard work for them in Washington like Charlie Stenholm while their economic sector is in slow decline, that isn't just a politicians' game to them.

[Qutzupalotl]

16. That's their idea of reaching out

Republicans are in agreement with Republicans

[bluestateguy]

17. There is still time to stop the Grand Old White People's Party

A last minute exodus from Texas on the part of 51 Representatives would do it. We may have to sacrifice our early primary, but this is more important.

[TryingToWarnYou]

18. Well, I live in Texas

and Delay needs to go the fuck back to Washington and stay the hell out of Texas' business. I sure as hell did not elect him to do anything here.

[SammyWinstonJack]

20. Neither did I!

:grr: He is a self-serving a$$hole! But aren't all repugs?

[ibegurpard]

21. So who in Texas is ready to take this court the second the ink dries?

n/t

[Mikhale]

24. Free To A Good Home

Progressive Texan with a pug nose. (Will vote for food!) Actually, it's funny: I'm rewarded with the (incumbent) libertarian (sic!) Republican. And this district would allow the only Democratic state senator who DIDN'T go to Albequerque (sp.) to win the Democratic primary for the Congressional seat. Now seriously, folks, who should I support?
To see the map go to
www.capitol.state.tx.us
and click on 'redistricting services'before following the prompt.
The funnier part is that the key to getting the Repugs to agree was the threat to not let them use their free tickets to the UT/Oklahoma football game this Saturday in Dallas. The funniest part may be... well. this is Texas; there's no predicting what may happen tomorrow.

[muckadoo]

25. It hard to complain too much

Districts are either made to benefit the Democrats or made to benefit the Republicans based on whoever is in charge. Hardly anyone in house of Reps has to fight hard to keep their seat. It's become pretty undemocratic.

[mbperrin]

27. Bitch like hell!

The current map was developed under Repug Gov Goodhair Perry when he didn't think it was important and let it be written by a court instead!

By dumping off senior Congressmen, Texas loses seniority in the House on many committees, sending most of the new power to California and Illinois, who have plenty of senior members just waiting to get their hands on those levers!

Stupid bastards don't seem to realize they're eviscerating the state's influence at the national level!

Ah well, maybe there really is a burning hell in the afterlife----

[Nevernose]

28. Anybody know what the what the propsed map LOOKS like?

Anybody have a link? A relative in East Texas told me that his district, at least in one early Repuke proposal, had been redrawn in a truly bizarre fashion, stretching from Texarkana to Wichita Falls, then south into NE Dallas. I sure would love to see thisand the rest of the state.