In Texas, they're not even pretending anymore.
Sausage Making
Comments to "Sausage Making":
I'd be delighted if all the constituents demanded all their sorry asses out of office. I'm sure,though, nothing will happen.
I haven't looked at this yet. The anticipation is dreadful.
I bet something about "integrity" comes out of that smarmy bitch legislator's cock-holster at least once an hour.
smartass sob | September 27, 2007, 11:10pm | #
I live in Texas. Goddamn, but that's outrageous!I'm sure the districts are already so gerry-mandered there's really no harm do to the "one person one vote" principal.
OK, not as dramatic as a SWAT raid. But man, not getting enough bathroom breaks is an unconvincing and excuse for an apparent total disregard for "integrity."
M | September 27, 2007, 11:17pm | #
If, as the lady says, they don't take meal breaks or bathroom breaks, where the Hell are they?The Wine Commonsewer | September 27, 2007, 11:23pm | #
That's really funny stuff. Wait. It's not funny at all.Dan | September 27, 2007, 11:36pm | #
Unbelievable. Is this as commonplace in other states?matthew hogan | September 27, 2007, 11:39pm | #
Actually it's sort of old news. I remember two decades or more ago in Texas, I think that far back, where it turned out a legislator had died one day, but over the remainder of the day he had died or more, he had cast votes. Turned out it was this type of stuff seen here, and everybody shrugged it off with only mild embarassment.Funny that they're trying to prevent people from driving others' votes to the ballot, but they don't hold themselves to the same standard. We don't know the whole story, but on the surface it seems very inappropriate.
Nigel Watt | September 28, 2007, 12:09am | #
Hey, maybe if they enforced that rule we Texans wouldn't be burdened with so many dumb laws.But these are all duly elected representatives. The people voted for them, therefor it must be OK. Right joe?
If they are so busy voting that they can't take bathroom breaks or lunch, then are they even reading the bills? My guess is 'no'.
Dan -- No, not commonplace. I work in a state legislature, and I must say if this type of behavior took place (and it wouldn't be hard to spot), there would be a major blow-up.
A Fake Dan T. | September 28, 2007, 12:56am | #
If their constituents don't like their representative being voted for, they can move to another district.Stephen Smith | September 28, 2007, 1:04am | #
BP – are you kidding? They just showed one fucking clip in which so many people were voting for other people that at first you thought, "Oh, okay, those people must be staffers voting for their boss." But then they do the play-by-play thing with arrow overlays, and they point out tons of violations IN THE SAME FRAME. They go back in the video and REWIND so they can point out ANOTHER case of this happening! And then they interview some old people who say, "This is absurd! It's so obvious!" How can you not say that this behavior doesn't happen???Bee | September 28, 2007, 1:31am | #
Stephen, BP wasn't saying it doesn't happen. She said she hasn't observed it in the state legislature where she works. Which is good.Where do you work, BP?
Wow, that chick in the clip is annoying.
NotThatDavid | September 28, 2007, 1:41am | #
I think he means it's not commonplace from state to state. Obviously it's the norm in Texas, and I wish I were more surprised.mediageek | September 28, 2007, 2:11am | #
I've heard about this happening in California. I believe the term used was "Ghost Voting."I would be unsurprised to see that it happens in other states.
Sad to think that our laws are being determined by a bunch of people playing whack-a-mole on fancy desks.
Sparky | September 28, 2007, 2:30am | #
"But these are all duly elected representatives. The people voted for them, therefor it must be OK. Right joe?"Yeah, because everything joe says here makes it totally clear that he thinks anything done by "duly elected representatives" is completely kosher under any circumstances.
In other news, U R A dipshit.
Cracker's Boy | September 28, 2007, 6:13am | #
Personally, I would say that joe's contribution would be "as you can see, the Republicans are more guilty than the Democrats are of voting inappropriately", or something to that effect. joe is honorable, if somewhat single minded and predictable; "not that there's anything wrong with that" or as we say here in the South, "bless his heart".CB
Lost_In_Translation | September 28, 2007, 8:01am | #
While I understand what they're doing (legislators went out to grab lunch and so their colleagues are told to vote for them), its called a quorum people. If you don't have it, don't vote. I really don't care how busy you think you are, we could all take a break from your law passing and maybe then you'd focus on just the important issues. I swear, democracy has gotten so lazy, its insaneWarren | September 28, 2007, 9:21am | #
In other news, U R A dipshit.You are not the first to say so. So I'm sure you're right about that.
Still, I've seen joe argue that because we elected them it's perfectly alright for politicians to steal our property, indoctrinate our children, deprive us of medicine, etc. But you're right, those things are of a different nature than violating house rules. My point is that, the resulting legislation passed by such bodies is not divorced from the way it gets passed.
JW | September 28, 2007, 10:04am | #
Christ, why not get it over with and just have them text their vote in. What a farce.Did anyone else think that someone just gave Bob Barker a guess of the item's price every time you heard the bell in the video?
My favorite was the guy who went first for a different guy's button but got aced out, then by the time he came back to his own he got aced out there, too. He seemed pretty indifferent about it.
Stephen the Goldberger | September 28, 2007, 10:37am | #
JESUS CHRIST THIS IS FUCKING RIDICULOUS.stephen's huxley | September 28, 2007, 10:47am | #
i second stephen the goldberger's statementJammer | September 28, 2007, 10:51am | #
Well, I should be outraged (I live in Texas) but frankly, with the BS the leg manages to pull in its 180 days every two years, I find this practice pretty small beer. I think its pretty obvious that members have told people how to vote for them on certain issues, otherwise we'd hear a lot more screaming about fraud from the people not on the floor.I'm kinda interested in what they were voting on, too. Was it school finance, or if they should declare next Tuesday "Gila Monster Day"?
Lamar | September 28, 2007, 10:54am | #
This is a non-story. Is there even a shred of evidence that suggests that those people aren't voting the way the absent person wanted? I don't mean that anybody is guessing, I mean that the vote of the absent person is known to the person actually pushing the button? That's the problem with local news. They are absolutely atrocious when not reporting on local robberies. Then they interview a bunch of idiot yokels.There's a giant different between pushing the button for your buddy (carrying out his vote) and appropriating his vote (using his vote for your own purposes).
Stephen the Goldberger | September 28, 2007, 10:57am | #
My favorite was the guy who went first for a different guy's button but got aced out, then by the time he came back to his own he got aced out there, too. He seemed pretty indifferent about it.they probably had the same vote, i'd like to see two people voting differently battling it out among the absent votes.
This is a non-story. Is there even a shred of evidence that suggests that those people aren't voting the way the absent person wanted?
True, If I found out when i was absent someone used my desk to vote for something without my knowledge I'd be really pissed. Perhaps my cynicism prevents me from wholly rejecting this story.
And noe we know why cameras in the legislature is a bad idea. /snark
Lost_In_Translation | September 28, 2007, 11:17am | #
When democracy has gotten this lazy, the terrorists have won...Hayekian Dreamer | September 28, 2007, 11:24am | #
This is a non-story. Is there even a shred of evidence that suggests that those people aren't voting the way the absent person wanted? I don't mean that anybody is guessing, I mean that the vote of the absent person is known to the person actually pushing the button? That's the problem with local news. They are absolutely atrocious when not reporting on local robberies. Then they interview a bunch of idiot yokels.There's a giant different between pushing the button for your buddy (carrying out his vote) and appropriating his vote (using his vote for your own purposes).
But officer, what do you mean? I know exactly how my neighbor would vote, she's just busy helping her dear mother who came down with the flu! I'm just doing what she told me, casting a ballot for her and myself. Oh, and of course my cousin Flo, she's out of town this week with her husband. And come to think of it her Husband should do his duty and vote as well, let me go in there and make him a responsible citizen...
Other Matt | September 28, 2007, 11:32am | #
Who wants to start a pool as to how long it will be before video is banned in the TX state assembly?The problem is that they have a rule against it. I guess they can change the rule, but damn, it's right there.
Warren | September 28, 2007, 11:43am | #
The problem is that they have a rule against it. I guess they can change the rule, but damn, it's right there.That's not a problem. The rule says violators are subject to discipline deemed appropriate by the house. The house has decided not to discipline itself.
NoStar | September 28, 2007, 12:06pm | #
< Blazing Saddles>"Gentleman, we must protect our phony-baloney jobs!"< /Blazing Saddles>In the name of Homeland Security, the balconey needs to be closed during the voting. That will solve the problem. The problem , of course, is having multiple votes being detected by the public and media.
TrickyVic | September 28, 2007, 12:41pm | #
"""This is a non-story. Is there even a shred of evidence that suggests that those people aren't voting the way the absent person wanted?"""Elected officials get paid to represent their people by how they vote. I get what your saying but it's Congressman's job. He get's paid to vote. If he's not voting, he's not earning his salary.
Xmas | September 28, 2007, 12:52pm | #
Obviously, the best solution to this problem is to simply not pass so many laws.Really, how many laws need to get passed in a year?
pinko | September 28, 2007, 1:04pm | #
Okay, there is a story hidden in here. The woman who spearheaded the campaign to make it more difficult for people to vote is indulging in the very behavior she is legislating against. Not only that, she seems to be going further than simply protecting the integrity of one vote per person, she is actually trying to disenfranchise some people. She needs to be strung up.Oh, and for Warren and with apologies to Joe, I should point out that this sort of chickenshit disenfranchisement is a pretty significant pillar of the Republican party these days, as it was in Democratic Party decades ago, so yes it does have a partisan flavor. Is that so hard to follow?
Seems that a 'something you have' type security is needed. A keycard should be required for the voting system to be active at a given desk. And a $10,000 fine for losing your keycard. Then allow residents of TX need to be allowed access to the Legislature floor to walk around and take unattended keycards. Lawmakers apparently can't be allowed to practice ethical governing.
wsdave | September 28, 2007, 1:50pm | #
Anyone have the youtube address? I want to send it to a friend, but can't find it by searching.Lost_In_Translation | September 28, 2007, 2:04pm | #
http://youtube.com/watch?v=eG6X-xtVaskLamar | September 28, 2007, 2:12pm | #
"He get's paid to vote."You're absolutely correct. And if he's in the john, he has his buddy physically push the button. The act of voting isn't really about the actual pushing of the button.
Hayekian Dreamer | September 28, 2007, 2:41pm | #
So why can't ordinary citizens do the same thing Lamar? I'm not talking just about absentee voting, why can't voters physically walk into a booth and vote in their absent neighbor's place?Terry | September 28, 2007, 2:49pm | #
Ho, hum well another case for the Libertarian militia, but who will rise to the occasion?Nada, no one, zip, zilich,etc...
America is disolving before our eyes and we do nothing.
The ninth circle of hell well soon transfer to a new location, the United States of America, all fifty states and terroities.
To quote Jack Nicholson in "Born to Be Wild",
"This use to be a hell of a good country."
Shame.
Lamar | September 28, 2007, 3:57pm | #
"why can't voters physically walk into a booth and vote in their absent neighbor's place?"I s'pose 'cause one's a private vote and the other's public?
Hayekian Dreamer | September 28, 2007, 4:18pm | #
But that's precisely the point, isn't it? We know where individual legislators stand on various issues because THEY publicly vote. Except that they don't really, other legislators vote for them! Imagine if John Kerry was in the texas legislator, he could LITERALLY have voted for a bill before he voted against it. It's chaos, it's anarchy, and it destroys the notion that legislators have a responsibility to show up and actually give a damn.Matt | September 28, 2007, 5:05pm | #
I vote twice for giving Texas back to Mexico.Raises the USA's average IQ.
Lowers Mexico's average IQ.
Gives Texans someone to feel superior to.
Gives Mexicans someone to steal from.
Neil | September 28, 2007, 6:32pm | #
It's shameful because we see how our democracy actually works, rather than how it is intended. We would hope that our representatives actually engage in meaningful debate on the issues/bills, then cast their/our vote for them on the merits. Instead, their staff, or their party leader, or well-connected lobbyists tell them, "just push as many AYE buttons as you can when this bill comes up, and NAY buttons when this other bill comes up."bacterialalbatross | September 28, 2007, 6:48pm | #
Texas. And people are acting suprised?john | September 28, 2007, 7:13pm | #
This makes me sick. They look like little kids.How is this democracy? How can they do this without remorse?
Colonel_Angus | September 28, 2007, 10:14pm | #
Disgusting. Lamar, you think they all have agreements with each other? There is no way in hell they knew how the absent person was going to vote. That one old wrinkled fuck was about to vote on his own desk when the douche in front of him turned around and hit it. Fucking treason.Jim Walsh | September 28, 2007, 10:25pm | #
I can't wait to hear the talk community in the Lone Star State jump on this puppy and rouse the masses to a righteous frenzy.I'm just kidding, of course; since it doesn't involve bashing immy-grants and/or unconditional support of our efforts in Eye-Raq, well, I guess it just isn't a sexy topic...
Scooby | September 29, 2007, 12:49pm | #
Yes, Jim. We got the righteous outrage out of our systems long ago (please notice the posting date of the youtube video). The lege has been out of session for 4 months and now, thankfully, not able to do any more damage for the next year and a half.I for one, expect this kind of blatant dishonesty from our fearless leaders. Am I supposed to get apoplectic over yet another example? We can't prevent this by voting them out, because their successors would be the same sort of dishonest sacks of shit.
OMG.....are these the guys (and gals) who rule the world?????????????? Please DO something!!!!!!!!!!!
jonah | September 29, 2007, 11:39pm | #
I was going to say something clever about this but forgot, so this is what y'all get. Man, anything involving the Lege drives all the clever replies right out of your head,So Why Didn't Rick "Good Hair" just tell his cronies to do this when he forcibly gerrymandered the state 9 years early? Instead we got "Killer Bees, the Second Season", Homeland Insecurity tracking down the Last True Patriots in Texas (who had to go to Oklahoma for the duration) and Gov. GoodHair telling us that the Democrats were to blame because HE was somehow forced to put gerryman... oops I mean "redistricting" on the agenda ahead of any really constitutionally (Texas and US) mandated issues like school, health care and road funding? Avoid it all, have the absent Democrats "vote" through psychic channeling by their Repub colleagues and just say it was an extended potty break.
Lysander Spooner | September 30, 2007, 6:51am | #
it's anarchyDon't. I. Wish.
Lamar | October 1, 2007, 8:17pm | #
,i>"Lamar, you think they all have agreements with each other?"For the most part, yes. The ugly part isn't the chaos of the actual voting. The ugly part is that they probably traded votes on somethings for return votes on other things. I have no illusions that Senator A carefully considered the bill and communicated a plan to Senator B to vote for him if he happened to be in the john crapper. I think Senator B has a deal with certain Senator's around him to vote a certain way.
Glad I don't live in the USA | October 9, 2007, 6:49am | #
HOLY FUCK!If I were a voter here I'd demand them out, or otherwise punished.