Most disturbing is the fugitives' rejection of democratic principles and the Texas legislative procedures. Every state in the country goes through redistricting, necessarily resulting in disappointed voters. (I was redistricted to Barney Frank without my state republican party fleeing over the border.) Why can't the Texas democrats let the democratic process play itself out, like every other state in the union?
Several reasons, Bill. First, the state, as is the usual practice, redistricted after the 2000 census and the redistricting plan issues had to be settled in court. They were and the district lines now in place were the result of that decision. Second, the Reps thought that since they now control both houses of the Texas legislature, they would take another run at redistricting (the DeLay plan). Not in the cycle; just take advantage out of the mandated cycle. Third, to do that is certainly more than unusual. Someone wrote the other day that an attempt was made in Colorado sometime back and the courts ruled it out of order. It could be illegal. Who knows. But it's certainly not according to the rules of the game. If one side starts violating those rules when they get power, the other retaliates and we no longer have rule based democratic system, just majorities running amuck. I don't think you want that. |
