Democratic senator criticizes governor (Texas)

[Nambe]

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Associated Press

Unlike George W. Bush, who united people when he was Texas governor, his successor, Gov. Rick Perry, is dividing Texans, the leader of the walkout by 11 Democratic senators said Sunday.

"The difference was Bush was the great uniter. Perry and (U.S. House Majority Tom) DeLay are the great dividers," said Sen. Leticia Van de Putte of San Antonio, chairwoman of the Senate Democratic Caucus.

Van de Putte also said the current special legislative session, which Perry called last week, is dead. She said a redistricting bill could get approved during another legislative session but listed a group of conditions that would have to be met for it to get out of the Legislature.

For instance, both the House and Senate would have to get quorums and Republicans in both chambers would have to agree on a map, she said. "There's a lot of ifs there," she said. ---

[ChoralScholar]

1. I haven't followed this story as closely as I should, but

doesn't the re-districting proposed by the repubs qualify as a racial gerrymander, and is thus illegal?

Just an honest question.

[LauraK]

2. Proportional representation elections eliminate these problems.

Baring PR elections, I agree with you.

PR Library

[searchingforlight]

4. They are Texans after all and she probably does want to get re-elected.

[tlb]

3. Surprised to see the kind words for Bush

" Unlike George W. Bush, who united people when he was Texas governor, his successor, Gov. Rick Perry, is dividing Texans, the leader of the walkout by 11 Democratic senators said Sunday.

"The difference was Bush was the great uniter. Perry and (U.S. House Majority Tom) DeLay are the great dividers," said Sen. Leticia Van de Putte of San Antonio, chairwoman of the Senate Democratic Caucus. "


That's a sound bite the White House will appreciate.

[qb]

5. At least they've been granted "Sanctuary" ; )

see pic:

[dusty64]

6. Does anyone actually believe

chimp has united ANYONE except almost the entire globe against us?

[aquart]

9. Hey! That's no small achievement.

[LiberalFighter]

10. Maybe that is why he should get the Nobel Peace award

NFW!!

[sonias]

7. I think Van De Putte is playing good PR

In Texas we have to deal with the fact that Bush is popular and was popular (not with yellow dog Dems of course) but with the general population. You have to reach over to the moderate repukes and independents and make them see that this is a divisive issue being driven by Washington. There is a growing disgust with this waste of money and we have to play our cards right. Perry and Dewhurst can fix this waste of money right now by taking redistricting off the table.

Here is an excellent editorial from a very conservative area of the
state. They call Perry at 2 year old child too, so Senator Van De Putte's comments aren't off base.

The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/073003/edi_073003010.shtml
Perry's Actions Are Disappointing
"Now, Mr. Perry, acting like a spoiled 2-year-old child, apparently is willing to carry out a threat to keep calling the Legislature into special session until it passes a congressional redistricting map that satisfies a few of Mr. Perry's political pals."

Go Senator Van Putte and Go Texas 11!

Sonia

[priller]

8. Bush was much more accommodating as Gov

but you must also understand that the Texas governor position is constitutionally weak. Bob Bullock, who was Lieutenant Governor for many years, was the real power-broker in Austin at the time. He was a Democrat but a rather conservative one. He and Bush decided to work together instead of as antagonists, and that accounts for much of the smoothness of Dubya's reign. Now that both Bush and Bullock are gone, we're left with "The Hammer" DeLay pulling all the strings, and doing his usual job of pissing everyone off. But his PAC holds the purse-strings for many of the leading Texas GOP, so they jump when he hammers.