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TexBytes 09.21: Chubby Friends June 22nd, 2009
Biased?  Our media?   Nobody believes that—except Texans who hoped for an explosion of righteous indignation after Democratic House members “chubbed” 229 bills in order to stop consideration of just one bill they didn’t like.

For five days they talked and walked sooooooo slowly through the Local and Consent Calendar that House business stopped dead.  Five state agencies were awaiting reauthorization in order to keep going. Too bad.

The Democrats figured nothing mattered more than blocking a bill that required Texas voters to their ID before voting.  So on they talked.
Yet no expressions of outrage from the journalistic big guys, no flaming editorials.

Things were different in 1997.  A well-regarded Republican legislator, Rep. Arlene Wohlgemuth of Burleson, was dismayed by Democratic attempts to smother a bill requiring parental notification when minor children sought abortions.  She raised points of order that killed 52 bills in one day—not a whole week, mind you, just one day.

In editorials and other commentary, liberals went after Wohlgemuth with branding irons.   Texas Monthly, which had twice named her one of the 10 best legislators, now called her “The Worst of the Worst.”  A garish Fort Worth Star-Telegram cartoon depicted her as Mrs. Dracula.  Molly Ivins predictably drew a bead on “Shiite Republicans” and “the spirit of Holy War.”  Rep. Dan Kubiak dubbed Wohlgemuth’s feat “the Memorial Day Massacre.”

Funny how the killing of 52 bills in one day equates to “massacre”; but the slaughter of 229 in a week is . . . what?   Which raises the question about why the difference: Is it the times that are different?  After all, Wohlgemuth’s Memorial Day massacre was 12 years ago.  Maybe we have a lazier media that didn’t notice—or care.

Or is it that the political parties are reversed this time?  Would the media outrage have found its voice if it were the Republicans doing the chubbing?   Have the media and the House Democrats simply become “chubby” friends?


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Posted in  Government  || 0 Comments »
Author: TexBytes || Location: Lewisville, Texas, USA

 

  
 
June 22nd, 2009

TexBytes 09.21: Chubby Friends

Posted in  Government 
Author: TexBytes || Location: Lewisville, Texas, USA

Biased?  Our media?   Nobody believes that—except Texans who hoped for an explosion of righteous indignation after Democratic House members “chubbed” 229 bills in order to stop consideration of just one bill they didn’t like.

For five days they talked and walked sooooooo slowly through the Local and Consent Calendar that House business stopped dead.  Five state agencies were awaiting reauthorization in order to keep going. Too bad.

The Democrats figured nothing mattered more than blocking a bill that required Texas voters to their ID before voting.  So on they talked.
Yet no expressions of outrage from the journalistic big guys, no flaming editorials.

Things were different in 1997.  A well-regarded Republican legislator, Rep. Arlene Wohlgemuth of Burleson, was dismayed by Democratic attempts to smother a bill requiring parental notification when minor children sought abortions.  She raised points of order that killed 52 bills in one day—not a whole week, mind you, just one day.

In editorials and other commentary, liberals went after Wohlgemuth with branding irons.   Texas Monthly, which had twice named her one of the 10 best legislators, now called her “The Worst of the Worst.”  A garish Fort Worth Star-Telegram cartoon depicted her as Mrs. Dracula.  Molly Ivins predictably drew a bead on “Shiite Republicans” and “the spirit of Holy War.”  Rep. Dan Kubiak dubbed Wohlgemuth’s feat “the Memorial Day Massacre.”

Funny how the killing of 52 bills in one day equates to “massacre”; but the slaughter of 229 in a week is . . . what?   Which raises the question about why the difference: Is it the times that are different?  After all, Wohlgemuth’s Memorial Day massacre was 12 years ago.  Maybe we have a lazier media that didn’t notice—or care.

Or is it that the political parties are reversed this time?  Would the media outrage have found its voice if it were the Republicans doing the chubbing?   Have the media and the House Democrats simply become “chubby” friends?