View Full Version : Texas State Legislature: A Bunch of Lame Frauds
Ergeheilalt
10-05-2007, 05:01 PM
http://www.spikedhumor.com/articles/127666/Texas_Legislation.html
Jesus Christ. That is seriously ridiculous. I cannot believe that this sort of thing is allowed and tolerated - even if it's merely "out of necessity". It leaves the door open for a lot of corrupt monkey fuckers to shit on the system they've sworn to uphold. Bad Texas, bad!
Out of necessity, my ass.
Sit at your fucking desks, you pieces of shit.
Ancalagon
10-05-2007, 06:32 PM
that's just... lame. What kind of bogus democracy is this?!?
Bagpuss
10-05-2007, 06:46 PM
That's shocking, although I would not be surprised to find it common practice elsewhere.
In Parliament in the UK MPs fly back from official visits, cut short holidays and are dragged in off their sick beds for crucial votes that may go either way, but for most votes it's just who ever is actually there that day. Mind you who to knows what goes on at council level.
Bagpuss
10-05-2007, 06:47 PM
Out of necessity, my ass.
Sit at your fucking desks, you pieces of shit.
Or just don't vote if you aren't there. Republicans voting for Democrats and visa versa seems a really weird.
Sobek
10-05-2007, 08:10 PM
Or just don't vote if you aren't there. Republicans voting for Democrats and visa versa seems a really weird.
I wonder if they are doing on agreed upon terms ("Hey, I need to piss, could you hit 'no' for me? Yeah, I know you're voting 'yes', but do a brother a favor.") or just scrambling to hit the buttons.
I have less problem with the former -- especially if the other legislator is really just in the can. My bet is that most of the time, it's just a big game of Whack-a-Mole.
Dacke
10-06-2007, 03:26 AM
In the Swedish parliament, voting is pretty much always done along party lines - the parties have a much stronger position compared to the actual MPs than in the US. This means that pretty much all votes in parliament are already foregone conclusions. This has lead to MPs often getting "exchanged out" if they need to be somewhere else during the vote - for example, if the Social Democrats are voting no on a bill and the Moderates are voting yes, they might agree that X number of MPs belonging to both parties will be absent. However, I don't think the Swedish MPs are actually casting votes for one another like that.
Bagpuss
10-06-2007, 11:48 AM
They do the same in the commons. The both agree to be away.
Ancalagon
10-07-2007, 03:08 AM
They do the same in the commons. The both agree to be away.
See, that's more palatable that people just pressing buttons willy nilly - there's decorum, there's a procedure.
Varaj
10-07-2007, 08:25 AM
See, that's more palatable that people just pressing buttons willy nilly - there's decorum, there's a procedure.
I doubt it is willy nilly. It is more likely Bob goes: "hey Joe I'm heading to lunch can you vote yes on vote 2 and vote no on vote 3 for me?" "Sure Bob but while I'm at the doctor can you vote yes on the next for 4 votes for me?"
I don't see a problem with really.
Ergeheilalt
10-07-2007, 10:53 AM
I don't see a problem with really.
But there is no ruling about it.* That's perfectly acceptable if they were honest with their votes and a record was kept.
Unfortunately, in that video you see multiple reps diving for the buttons of absent reps. It seems like a free for all for votes.
*Actually, there is and it says it's illegal or unethical.
Varaj
10-07-2007, 03:24 PM
But there is no ruling about it.* That's perfectly acceptable if they were honest with their votes and a record was kept.
Unfortunately, in that video you see multiple reps diving for the buttons of absent reps. It seems like a free for all for votes.
*Actually, there is and it says it's illegal or unethical.
I really have a hard time seeing any politician sitting still if the votes were cast the way they didn't want them to be cast. Just t.v. time alone their party if those votes were actually stolen and mis voted would be huge. That alone leads me to conclude that it is an absentee voting system. Combine that with the ladies comments and the videos and it looks like bad reporting trying to create a story that isn't there.
...I don't see a problem with really.
I do, but mainly because it's already against the rules (and because the same thing isn't allowed during the general election).
Varaj
10-07-2007, 05:56 PM
I do, but mainly because it's already against the rules (and because the same thing isn't allowed during the general election).
The rules are flexible enough that it is allowed. /shrug/
Not sure that it matters for general election since that is apples and carrots (not even close enough to be apples and oranges)
Sobek
10-07-2007, 05:57 PM
Pondering this, I think it'd be a good idea to let the practice continue, but encourage legislators to carry knives and billy clubs to session.
The rules are flexible enough that it is allowed. /shrug/
Not sure that it matters for general election since that is apples and carrots (not even close enough to be apples and oranges)
It's still a form of unapproved absentee balloting, and a horrible double standard (which I suppose is what gets my dander up).
Still, if Texans aren't upset enough about this to take their reps to task over it, all it is for me is a sad commentary on the acceptance of representative hypocrisy.
Varaj
10-07-2007, 06:07 PM
It's still a form of unapproved absentee balloting, and a horrible double standard (which I suppose is what gets my dander up).
Still, if Texans aren't upset enough about this to take their reps to task over it, all it is for me is a sad commentary on the acceptance of representative hypocrisy.
That's cool. I don't see it that way but I can understand your view point.
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