This is how you do it, baby

Rather than restrict voting, Texas Dems walk

This may seem like ancient history now, but on Sunday night, before the GOP-led Texas legislature could pass a sweeping voter suppression bill, the Texas Democrats walked out of the chambers, which denied that body a 100-member quorum.

This is only the fourth time Texas legislators have walked out to stymie a particular legislative move. The most recent time was in 2003, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, when some 50 Democrats went to an Oklahoma Holiday Inn to protest a redistricting effort.

That redistricting plan — gerrymandering, I believe it’s called — was the brain child of crooked-as-a-dog's-hind-leg Tom DeLay (remember him?). The plan made it all the way to the Supreme Court, which in 2006 split the baby in half and ruled that part of the redistricting was strictly an attempt to deny the voting rights of Hispanic/Latino citizens, and part of the plan OK, but only up to a point.

For his part, Pres. Joe Biden has called Texas’ 2021 steaming piece of legislation an “assault on democracy.” Texas is just following their fellow legislators who, in 13 other states, have passed 22 laws that make voting more difficult after the resounding defeat of the other guy.

As you might imagine, today’s if-you-can’t-beat-’em-cheat'-’em Texas Republicans, led by Gov. Greg Abbott, aren’t taking this latest protest lying down. Abbott has called a special session, and Texas legislative special sessions tend to be shit storms.

But honestly? I draw strength from this. There comes a point when talking goes nowhere and it’s time for action. And if that’s walking out, so be it. I hope the U.S. Congress takes note. Create a Jan. 6th commission. Let the Republicans hide under their desks. All this talk about bipartisanship is fine, so long as we’re all playing nice. Grow some hair, Democrats. Do what the Texans do.