An AP reporter pulled me over at the end of the last legislative session and asked me this question: As a Democrat, who are your heroes for this legislative session? I knew she was looking for balance and wanted my answer to rattle off the names of Democratic legislators who showed great courage or leadership for the session.
My answer was met with curious laughter. I had answered that my heroes for the session were moderate Republicans, like Casteel, Griggs, and Strauss. Its easy to tow the party line, I answered, but it takes true courage to tell your party that its wishes do not reflect the wishes of the people. Time after time, a number of independent "Texans" stood tall to tell their party that their objective did not serve the interest of their constituents or the future of their state.
If one looks back on my posts it won't be hard to find the journal entries marking their acts of bravery. This story by the San Antonio Express saddens me. The story is about the internal turmoil in the Republican ranks. Conservatives cannibalizing their moderates for the stands they took in defense of their district, in defense of their state. Sure, you say, why should a Democrat be concerned with the internal strife of the Republican party. You should be rejoicing, you say!
Yes, I can see that my Democratic credentials may lead you to that conclusion. Note this however, each day when I rise I do so as an individual with a moral directive to love my neighbor. As a legislative leader I extend that directive to protect the interests of my community and my state. One is not elected to office to follow the wishes of party leaders in Washington because it advances the notions of some think tank or political guru. In a representative Democracy, one is elected to represent the interests of the people from your home community first. These moderate Republicans did just that and now the "big boys" in the smoke filled rooms aim to destroy them for having the independence for taking the novel course of actually representing the people who elected them.
And where does this put many members of the growing Hispanic community, whose social conservatism yet otherwise moderate to conservative leanings may have found a home in the Texas Republican Party? Look to my good friend Rep. Elvira Reyna, who faces a primary opponent, for that answer. No, from my point of view a political party looses its way when the dogma of a few outweighs the voices of the many constituents you are supposed to represent.
My hat is off to my good friend Rep. Joe Strauss
and the other moderates for having the courage to stand for the Texans in their community. This state is clearly better off because of the courage they exhibited last session.
So as the hacks seek to replace these Republican "representatives" with cookie cutter clones willing to follow the orders of a powerful few, an opportunity arises that marks the beginning of their undoing.
11 comments:
I hope you realize that the democrats aren't immune to cannibalism either. Look what happened in the last election cycle to your fellow House democrats. The TDP and the trial lawyers went after Ron Wilson, Jaime Capello, Roberto Gutierrez and Glenn Lewis. I believe these men stood to represent their districts, don't you think so?
Ron Wilson certainly didn't represent his district, which is why he got taken out. Can't speak for the others, but sometimes a little cleanup work is necessary. It's all a matter of what the motivation is.
-- Charles Kuffner
Thanks for sharing your traffic stats with the people. We've moved you into the ranks of "The Best" with John Conyers. Good work.
lawmakers.blogspot.com
.
And what is that motivation Mr. Kuffner? And is it in the best interest of the constituency? Perhaps you can personally speak about Rep. Wilson, but I seriously doubt you can conjure up a reasonable excuse why the other Reps. got defeated.
Jaime Capelo and Roberto Gutierrez were tort reform casualties, taken out when they voted against the best interests of their constituencies. Abel Herrero and Veronica Gonzalez are excellent legislators who serve their districts very well.
I appreciate your support of the moderate R's. These folks truly want to do what's best...too bad we lost Griggs. Hopefully, we won't lose anymore this election cycle.
I don't know much about Capello's district, but as a constituent in HD 41, Prop. 12 (tort reform) passed overwhelmingly by 60%. Mr. Gutierrez voted for tort reform because it was a vote for his constituency.
The elections in September 2003 were a victory for Republicans. I don't suppose you are taking into account the voting trends of Democrats in off year, unscheduled elections. You can't attribute a political victory for Republicans to a support for tort reform because Gutierrez was quickly ousted in the primary by the voters.
Unscheduled election? You must be writing straight off the talking points memo of the democratic party. The Dems had every bit of a chance to defeat Prop. 12 as the Repubs had to same change to pass it. I'll agree that Gutierrez was ousted during the primary, but that was a Democratic Primary. If he would have switched parties, this wouldn't even be a discussion.
La Paz!
After illegal campaign contributions were used to flip the Texas House from a majority of Democrats to Republicans, the Republicans began to swiflty dismantle progress and install corporate welfare in Texas government. First there was tort reform, then redistricting, and just for kicks, hundreds of thousands of kids lost their health care benefits.
Texans are at the mercy of the Republican lobby, who show no mercy when there's a profit to be made.
Tort reform is actually a conflicting issue.People gotta know more about it.its has got its own impact.i read about it in the website of the Co-Founder and Chairman of the Texans for Lawsuit Reform (TLR).The TLR ia n organisation dedicated to bring back fairness and balance to the Texas civil justice sysytem.Texas tort reforms have strengthened the state’s economy in a variety of ways and are improving the quality of life for every Texan.
Improved patient access to health care and lower insurance costs for doctors, hospitals and nursing homes is becoming a reality in Texas due to tort reform. Texas tort reforms have strengthened the state’s economy in a variety of ways and are improving the quality of life for every Texan.
A fair and predictable civil justice system is key to our state’s strong economic competitiveness. Texas reforms have already started to bring about lower prices, higher job creation, better wages, and more product innovation throughout the state.
Texas ranked highest (best) in categories of the study that measured declining financial losses linked to non-meritorious lawsuits
Non-meritorious health care lawsuits have been cut in half and hospital savings are being plowed into a variety of health care service enhancements ranging from the development of electronic medical records systems to the recruitment of more specialist physicians.
Read more at this site from where I could get some information on Tort Reform . Ull also love to read it.
http://www.dickweekley.com
Post a Comment