1. southerntragedy on January 9th, 2007 at 5:39 pm
   

   NOOOOOOO…first?
2. DeepPurple on January 9th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
   

   As to your most recent poll?

   It sounds like an indictment against them all. I didn’t vote for ANY OF THEM.

   Bully for me, I suppose.
3. Shannon on January 9th, 2007 at 6:47 pm
   

   I am soooooo excited that the entire leadership is back.
4. marksolot on January 9th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
   

   Nothing has changed from the time it was Booze, Blondes, and Beef-Steak at the ‘ol Driskill Hotel. Except now they serve RINO.

   A shame but no surprise.
5. EricPJohnson on January 9th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
   

   Looks like Dan did not convince his fellow senators of the 2/3rds bill
6. Adee on January 9th, 2007 at 8:31 pm
   

   They’ve all been put on notice it will not be business as usual this time around even if they win at the rules for each chamber. A pair of radio stations will come in handy….
7. EricPJohnson on January 9th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
   

   #6

   I respectfully disagree, its extremely rare for someone to lose a motion 30 - 1

   A few more of these type votes and well, ratings may go up, but so will your property taxes
8. glynne on January 9th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
   

   Oh what a relief! There for a second I thought things were going to change in Austin. Good to hear the power brokers that brings us higher taxes, regulations and other big government stuff are still in power.

   /sarc
9. bigjolly on January 9th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
   

   #7 Eric

   Do you know the results of the last 10, 20, 30 rosebush votes? I searched but couldn’t find any 30-1 votes.
10. Neocon on January 9th, 2007 at 9:50 pm
    

    bigjolly

    that is because they were all voted unanimously. Thank God for Dan Patrick. His speech was exceptional.

    Eric

    At least Dan did what he said he would do. Too bad you and fellow republicans/democrats want business as usual. That is exactly what you got!
11. bigjolly on January 9th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
    

    #10

    
12. EricPJohnson on January 9th, 2007 at 9:58 pm
    

    Neo

    The goalwas for Dan to get results

    30 - 1 hardly falls into that category

    I want Dan to succeed, I want YOU to get lower taxes, less spending in Texas

    But when you take the BIG risk of alienating both sides of the asle…..
13. bigjolly on January 9th, 2007 at 10:03 pm
    

    #12 Eric,

    You know, I had a boss one time that told me if you want to get some attention, every once in a while ya gotta break a window.

    He was right. Served me well through the years.

    Dan must’ve heard the same lesson.
14. EricPJohnson on January 9th, 2007 at 10:25 pm
    

    13

    I’m not going to be so crass as to lump LST commentators into neat little condensending categories as Texas Monthly did in its otherwise searching portrayal of Dan (if they only would take the time and do Whitmire and Ellis)

    but 30 - 1 surprized me Dan had 7 months to lobby just two or three protest votes this is very very telling of what they think of his ideals and those who back them.

    Personally I am insulted and extremely dissapointed in my fellow Republican senators to take their personal animosity towards Dan (well deserved but Dans intentions were good) by siding with the Democrats
15. Yellowdogdem on January 9th, 2007 at 11:04 pm
    

    Congrats to Dan on his success on the blocker bill.
16. EricPJohnson on January 9th, 2007 at 11:32 pm
    

    15

    Interesting that you would mention that

    The blocker rule was used by Democrats to control any conservative agenda for decades - oh the Dem Lt governors would waive it in the interests of “the people” when they needed to pass their side of the issues. So in other words you only needed 16 votes to pass democrat issues but 22 votes to pass Republican ones.

    Under the Republicans, well a blocker rule is a rule, not an exception tool

    To disallow a up or down vote is against the principles this country was founded on - it is the essence of freedom, free speech and democracy.

    Dan may not be appearing to be an effective messenger but his message was correct, now, I’m afraid, we are going to have to find someone else to take up the cause and get better results but at a loss of 4 years

    What a waste
17. tom pogo on January 10th, 2007 at 1:09 am
    

    I thought that Senator Royce West and Senator Eddie Lucio made very good speeches in support of the 2/3 rule. Senator West stated that he learned as a freshman senator that his way was not the only way. He explained that the 2/3 rule preserves the rights of the minority and makes each senator more influential. Senator Lucio discussed how the rule helped to protect the interests of rural Texas noting that by uniting 16 senators from the Houston, Dallas and San Antonio areas policy could be made for all of Texas (rural and otherwise).

    I hope that Senator Patrick will learn from this defeat. If you want to get something done in a legislative body, then you have to compromise and be willing to work with people rather than inflaming them. It is easy for non-legislators to take hard-line black and white stances; but that does not work when you are trying to accomplish something in a legislative body. We need him to be effective in helping to raise the spending limit so that the state can pay for the school property tax relief passed last year.

    If he does not learn to work with others, then I do not think that he will be a very effective voice for conservatives or other Texans.

    What an opportunity.

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