Austinist: TX Leg: House Ends Session with Failed Coup

Scooby

Wed, 30 May 2007 08:21:32 -0600

The more that can be done to keep the legislature "hamstrung", the better. They rarely do anything positive, and when they do, it is accompanied by plenty of negative. Everyone hates the lege (and Congress), but loves their own representative. The latter is the reason why the former will never change.

jen

Tue, 29 May 2007 19:25:19 -0600

What a waste of time. Texans everywhere lose because of this peacock infighting over power. There are bigger things that need fixing in this state.

Glen Ford

Tue, 29 May 2007 18:24:23 -0600

I think you miss the point. Certainly Craddick's opponents wanted to unseat him immediately, but the walkout and the other turmoil of the last few days in the session were protests. Protests against the war haven't stopped it, but you can't say that the protesters "failed". The walkout was (apparently) an unplanned act of civil disobedience, if you will; thus "success" doesn't come into the equation. Plus, as political theater you couldn't beat it... the entertainment value is success enough for me. :-) I wish I'd been there to see it.

slickshusez

Tue, 29 May 2007 16:47:47 -0600

I disagree -- you fail to recognize the abuse of the office, twisting the rules to deny our elected representatives to pass judgment on their speaker, to the point of dismissing the House parlimentarians in a Nixonian purge. All of this because Craddick simply didn't have the votes to sustain his position. In so doing, the Speaker has set a precedent that make even his strongest supporters cringe. He and his shrinking band of supporters put their hold on power above the institution they profess to love. This is the lasting legacy of the 80th Legislature and the Craddick era.