Voter IDiocy in Texas

Update: The term “Voter IDiocy” seems to be from Texas blogger Eye on Williamson

I didn’t need to read this McClatchy piece to know Rove’s brownshirts were behind voter suppression efforts here in Texas and elsewhere:

Voter Turnout Limits Said to Be White House Goal
For six years, the Bush administration, aided by Justice Department political appointees, has pursued an aggressive legal effort to restrict voter turnout in key battleground states in ways that favor Republican political candidates, according to former department lawyers and public records and documents.

I think we need wake-up calls, ya know? Think we’ve got these Republicans on the run because of some low poll numbers? Guess again. The Democrats should fear becoming careless, because more than goalposts are being moved around here. These guys are trying to fix the game, pee in your gatorade and announce victory before you figure out they’ve towed your car away. It’s happening:

Facing nationwide voter registration drives by Democratic-leaning groups, the administration alleged widespread election fraud and endorsed proposals for tougher state and federal voter identification laws. Presidential political advisor Karl Rove alluded to the strategy in April 2006 when he railed about voter fraud in a speech to the Republican National Lawyers Association.

Arizona has passed the most onerous voter ID laws in the nation, and the Texas Leg has spawned bills emulating them even though there hasn’t been any final ruling on their constitutionality (the Supreme Court did turn down attempts at injunctive relief while awaiting final trial, though). The fighting Texas State Senate Democrats can barely hang on. They are one vote away from having not even the one-third minority to lay down a procedural block. That one vote is having problems of his own, but with the efforts he is making I’d say he’s my kinda guy…

Sen. Mario Gallegos, D-Houston, who continues to recuperate from a liver transplant and is only attending legislative sessions part-time, said today that he has asked Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst to give him 24 hours notice before attempting to pass the controversial voter ID legislation.

In January, Dewhurst agreed in writing to give Gallegos 24 hours’ notice “one time for a vote on a single piece of legislation.”

Is he my hero or what? He knows where our priorities are. As I colorfully noted a few days ago, the Rove inspired voter ID laws have cleared the Texas House. The Senate is now hanging by a thread on this ever so important issue…a one-vote Senate margin is what we’ve got, and he has to limp there from his sickbed. I won’t be surprised if Lt. Gov Dewhurst holds the vote in Senator Gallegos’ absence, a prepared lie already in his pocket. Turdblossom’s marching orders are likely in effect. The foundation:

But Dewhurst also told Gallegos, “I did not promise, and obviously, I cannot in good conscience promise to hold all votes during your absence.”

Good to know Rove pulled out long enough to let Dewhurst talk.

Since our Presidential eyesore is from Texas and we’re all suffering from outrage fatigue anyway, it’s understandable this gets so little attention in the big press. We need to fight our own fights here in Texas, and trust me, I’ve given my state rep’s office a tongue lashing over this one. The implications are not trivial. Texas may be a red state, but even here Bush’s approval ratings are hanging at %50 and there are opportunities to take out Republicans in the next election. There are capable activists here in Texas who can fight the good fight – but the margins will be slim and institutional barriers like voter ID rules will block new voter participation more so than hinder those already registered. Any significant shift in voter demographics is going to need fresh blood to take shape. We’re gonna need new voters. And the nation needs Texas to shift.

Hell, they’ll probably just attach the language to another bill this session if the current ID bills fall somehow…still, we can’t just roll over.

This is a great video about the Texas voter ID debate. One of the speakers is my state rep, (R) Dwayne Bohac – talking about another bill, he states he will err “on the side of individual civil liberty”, but, as you might guess, he voted for the ID bill he co-authored. I guess “liberty” has no problem with barriers to a fundamental constitutional right.