New Mexico AG has fun at Texas' expense

Ha ha! Texas governor Rick Perry, desperate to drag hiding Democrats back into Austin to pass DeLay and Rove's re-redistricting plan, asked New Mexico for permission to send in Texas rangers to arrest those Dems hiding in that state.

NM's attorney general, Dem Patricia Madrid, slapped Perry around something good:

Her comments came after Gov. Rick Perry's office asked New Mexico whether it would allow Texas officials to make arrests in that state. Madrid said the question is being researched. But she wasn't taking it all serious.

"Some are speculating this request from the Texas Governor's office concerns an effort to locate missing Texas House Democrats," Madrid wrote. "If so, Texas should understand that since ski season is over, the Santa Fe Opera has not begun and President Bush was just in town, I don't think they are in Santa Fe now. Nevertheless, I have put out an all-points bulletin for law enforcement to be on the look out for politicians in favor of health care for the needy and against tax cuts for the wealthy."

Don't tell my wife, but I think I'm in love.

Update: Hmmm, the rebel Dems have been found in Oklahoma, and are surrounded by Texas troopers. However, they don't have the authority to make arrests in that state, and Oklahoma's (Dem) governor is refusing to help. So now Texas Republicans are trying to bring the Feds in to do their dirty work.

So let's think about it -- Texas Gov. Perry wants Bush to arrest Texas Democrats and drag them back to Texas to make quorum. The Feds entry into this battle would be a HUGE escalation of the conflict. But given that Rove is the architect behind this whole mess, it makes things that much more interesting.

Political theater indeed!

Posted May 12, 2003 07:11 PM | Comments (67)