Lines in the Sand: Congressional Redistricting in Texas and the Downfall of Tom DeLayThe events of 2003 in Texas were important to the political history of this country. Congressman Tom DeLay led a Republican effort to gerrymander the state’s thirty-two congressional districts to defeat all ten of the Anglo Democratic incumbents and to elect more Republicans; Democratic state lawmakers fled the state in an effort to defeat the plan. The Lone Star State uproar attracted attention worldwide. The Republicans won this showdown, gaining six additional seats from Texas and protecting the one endangered Republican incumbent. Some of the methods used by DeLay to achieve this result, however, led to his criminal indictment and ultimately to his downfall. With its eye-opening research, readable style, and insightful commentary, Lines in the Sand provides a front-line account of what happened in 2003, often through the personal stories of members of both parties and of the minority activist groups caught in a political vortex. Law professor Steve Bickerstaff provides much-needed historical perspective and also probes the aftermath of the 2003 redistricting, including the criminal prosecutions of DeLay and his associates and the events that led to DeLay’s eventual resignation from the U.S. House of Representatives. As a result, Bickerstaff graphically shows a dark underside of American politics—the ruthless use of public institutional power for partisan gain. |
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Contents
1 | |
15 | |
Racial and Ethnic Politics | 32 |
Electing the Right Republicans The Republican Strategy for the 2002 Election | 46 |
As Partisan as the Law Allows Republican Strategy in 2003 | 84 |
Playing Defense Democratic Strategy 20012003 | 109 |
You Gotta Be Kidding The 2003 Regular Session | 121 |
No Better Option The Democrats Break the Quorum in the House of Representatives | 133 |
The Dilemma for Racial and EthnicMinority Lawmakers and Advocacy Organizations | 274 |
The Role of Congressman Tom DeLay Republican Activists and Donors and the White House | 285 |
The Legal Implications of the 2003 Redistricting | 314 |
Criminal Investigations and Indictments | 326 |
The Fall of Congressman DeLay | 370 |
Conclusion | 379 |
Afterword | 385 |
Maps Photos and Resources | 391 |
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2003 redistricting African American Anglo Democratic attorney Austin American-Statesman Bush Colyandro committee Congress congressional delegation congressional districts Congressman DeLay contributions corporate funds criminal Dallas Morning defeat DeGuerin DeLay’s Democratic incumbents Democratic Party Democratic senators Dewhurst District 23 Dunnam Earle filed find fines firm first five gerrymander Governor Perry Harris County Hispanic Hispanic voters Houston Chronicle Ibid indictment influence interview issues Jim Ellis John Colyandro Judge July Justice Karl Rove legislative lieutenant governor majority leader office officers officials percent persons Pete Laney political population president primary prosecutors quorum racial Ratliff redistricting bill redrawing reelection Representative Republican candidates Republican majority Republican Party Republican redistricting Republican senators RNSEC Rove seats significant Speaker Craddick special session specific state’s statewide strategy Texans Texas House Texas legislature Texas redistricting tion Tom Craddick Tom DeLay Travis County trict TRMPAC two-thirds vote requirement Voting Rights Act voting strength walkout West Texas Whitmire
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Page 1 - An eel in the fundamental mud upon which the superstructure of organized society is reared. When he wriggles he mistakes the agitation of his tail for the trembling of the edifice. As compared with the statesman, he suffers the disadvantage of being alive.