So the special sessions are over, the finger pointing and name calling has escalated, and just like in 2003 there's a whiff of rumors for a new Speaker floating through the air. Ross Ramsey, Paul Burka, & Mike Hailey, all guys I would consider in tune with the goings-on of the Capitol, have used their podiums to hint at a possible change of speakership. One thing to point out is that you had very similar rumors after redistricting. However, a few more people this year cast no votes for Craddick for speaker, and a lot more people (Republicans specifically) went ahead & bucked the leadership, more & more frequently as the specials progressed. Political capital is being burnt up, and frustration is building. Will the Dems be able to knock out the Craddick D's in the primaries, or will Leiniger et al roll over those dissenting R's in their primaries? Is there enough muscle to flip speakers?
Here's a taste of the rabble-rousing that has been thrown out there.
Burka:
There might be as many as 20 to 25 Republicans who, in a secret ballot, would be willing to join the 62 Democrats in replacing Craddick with a new Republican Speaker.
Ramsey (subscription required):
But the Republicans are in charge now, and legislative Democrats quietly revel in their troubles. And they have been encouraging any signs of rebellion among their Republican colleagues, suggesting the Democrats would join up with a Republican speaker candidate who can bring along enough votes from the GOP to create, with the Democrats, a new majority.
Hailey (subscription required):
In addition to the Republicans who initially opposed Craddick's promotion to the House's top job, the insurgents would supposedly include two members of the GOP's big sophomore class, one freshman lawmaker and another veteran Republican who might have cause for a unique individual beef with the incumbent speaker. That would give the Democrats - if they all stuck together - and their Republican allies a hypothetical one-vote cushion with more than 75 votes including the candidate who is chosen to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Democratic State Rep. Joe Moreno of Houston in May.
Just something to think about during this week's lull in interesting political headlines.
I actually did raise this issue way back in June, and it got picked up by a lot of the major papers about three weeks later after Rep. Dunnam started talking about it in the press conference. (Go to www.burntorangereport.com, and search for the post titled "Is Perry in Violation of Texas Election Code"). Unfortunately, as a blogger, I'm not a very prominent D...
I vaguely remeber that now. And, I did see SOME coverage over it here and there; but, the level of complete and utter disgust should have really hit the roof. Being a non-prominent D, like yourself, I just get sick of seeing our people in the Dome not exploit the expolitable.
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By the way, did any of those prominent D's think to raise a shit storm over Jesus Perry not calling a special election for Moreno's district? Did we forget that one vote DOES make a difference, and that the Constitution requires it!? (Reference your friendly Special Session Journals and online Texas State Constitutions.) If Ds want to be muckrakers, do it completely, or not at all!