What the HELL IS GOING ON IN TEXAS? (sounds BIG!)

[skids]

Most people probably missed this. I'm a junky so I read DU off "latest"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=180x17520

This giddy post, and another one equally flustered on KoS...

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/7/26/201714/843

...something so big is going on down there that those who know enough about it to know how big it is are so beside themselves that they can't pull together a coherent detailed report.

Well, hell, y'all take your time guys, but eventually, someone please fill us all in. :evilgrin:

[Carolab]

1. Oh man, if there's trouble in Texas, there's trouble EVERYWHERE.

The Republicans are running scared.

[aquart]

2. Quick! Buy stock in Maalox!

[FreedomAngel82]

14. Good sign!

Could this be the end of them for a while so we can clean up everywhere? Can Texas slowly go towards blue again? I would love that. It's one of my dreams to see one election where Texas goes blue. I think a lot of crap is going wrong for them. I hope and pray that's true.

[Bossy Monkey]

3. Seems pretty straightforward to me. In a nutshell, the current bogus

governor of Texas isn't going to have to worry about any future national political career. Here's the AP story, via Houston Chronicle:
House rejects school finance, tax bills
Associated Press
AUSTIN - You might call it chaos. Confusion. Fatigue.

Certainly you can call it a stalled special legislative session after the Texas House voted down its own multibillion-dollar school funding bill and property tax relief measure today.

The moves appeared to spell trouble for the latest 30-day special legislative session called by Republican Gov. Rick Perry to change the Texas school funding system and reduce property taxes. But other bills on those subjects still could be considered.

GOP House Speaker Tom Craddick said the session isn't necessarily doomed, but he did say legislators — who have spent two regular sessions and three special sessions tackling school finance — are tired.

(There's more, basically saying it's a total loss for Perry)
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/3281873

[skids]

4. OK, that explains the legislation...

...anyone got any roundup of the indictments?

[Bossy Monkey]

13. Indictments apparently have been going on since last year

Most recent story was 7/12, but apparently that went down the memory hole. Just saying that the judge had upheld the indictments. This seems to be the most comprehensive story:

Prosecutor Balks When Asked If DeLay Is Target of Tex. Probe

By Mike Allen and Sylvia Moreno
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, March 6, 2005; Page A04

A Texas prosecutor who gained the indictments of three associates of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) says that his investigation of illegal corporate campaign contributions and money laundering will continue and that "we're following the truth . . . wherever that leads."

But in an interview that will be aired tonight on CBS's "60 Minutes," Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle repeatedly skirted questions about whether DeLay might face prosecution. And during a related civil trial in Austin last week, DeLay's name repeatedly came up, but no evidence was presented that the veteran GOP leader had done anything wrong.

CBS's 12-minute segment, called "The D.A. and Tom DeLay," has been anxiously awaited by Republicans since correspondent Lesley Stahl asked DeLay questions about the investigation during a Capitol Hill news conference in January on tsunami relief.

DeLay and his GOP colleagues are trying to keep the focus on Social Security and the rest of President Bush's agenda for a second term. But DeLay has been unable to escape relentless media attention to his ethics problems and the Texas criminal and civil cases alleging wrongdoing by a political action committee he helped to create.
(more)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10393-2005Mar5.html

[Why Syzygy]

10. Perry,

DeLay, bushco (get him out of north central TEXAS!) go back to Connecticut*, Rovegate, Kenny Boy . the whole lot . trash and beans.

We don't want 'em. We don't need 'em.

Give me my Ann Richards.

*I feel dirtied every time he steps foot into my state.


The tax bill was intended to cut school property taxes and replace them with an array of consumer and business taxes. It in large part reflected a proposal Perry made earlier this summer when he initially called legislators back to Austin.

"This was the governor's plan. We worked on it, massaged it as much as we could. To be quite frank, we didn't get there," said Rep. Jim Keffer, a Republican from Eastland who sponsored the tax bill but urged fellow House members to vote against it.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/3281873

[FreedomAngel82]

15. That is just so disgusting

[burrowowl]

12. Or leave every Child

behind, since at least GW!

[Erika]

5. This country is 100% messed up

No leadership, no hope, no plan from W. The message resonates everywhere - especially in Texas.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

6. I think the Rovinator will have to go there and

twist some titties in the next day or so.

[Erika]

7. He's got his own wringer to worry about n/t

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

8. Yeah, but that's his power base

They can't ignore Texas politics. No way.

[MazeRat7]

9. They effectively scuttled the special session because...

things weren't working out in the best interest of key RNCult contributors. Specifically, bipartisan amendments were approved that were a bit to favorable to the "middle class". So rather than have the bill pass with the amendments... they decided to bail.

Thats is in a nut shell anyway. What can I say...that is Texas politics. The interesting part is the basic revolt against the states leadership. I can hardly wait to see Molly's take, since after all watching this crew is one of her favorite pastimes.

MZr7

[lovuian]

11. The beautiful thing is to see the Republicans destroy themselves

Ahhh feels good today!!! Thanks!!!

[jsamuel]

16. Actually I think some of them are saving themselves...