The math of politics in Texas

The Speaker of the House in Texas maybe more powerful than the Governor, so how about this beautiful piece of logic in my wonderful State:

Tom Craddick(R) says he has got a solid 72 votes from representatives so that he will retain the Speaker of the House. His office has called to confirm these 72 votes out of the 149 available. Now his opposition, Democrat Brian McCall says he has 73 solid votes. Craddick says McCall's are not as solid as his, so he expects a few more to jump on board and win. McCall has not double checked his backers apparently. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, another Republican, Jim Pitts jumps in and claims he has 83 solid votes.

Now folks if I add all these votes up, it comes out to more than 149. So very clearly some representatives have been telling these three competitors what they want to hear. Now I find out that Craddick has counted Pitts as a solid vote for him, and in order to be accurate, he will have to scratch Pitts off his list.

No sh it Sherlock... Ya think so? Craddick is quite the thinker.

What in the name of Thor is going on in my State...
I wonder if others on this board have State governments with as much brain power as my great State.

[GenuineRisk]

13 August 1995, New York Times, pg. E6:
Much of American education still seems to follow the thinking of a Texas Governor, James “Pa” Ferguson, who in 1917 vetoed a bill to finance the teaching of foreign languages in classrooms. He explained: “If English was good enough for Jesus, it’s good enough for the schoolchildren of Texas.”

In all fairness, I think this quote is probably apocryphal. (Did I spell that right?) But it's funny, no?

[timmgirvan]

That's good,GR! But don't vorry about California...we have the Terminator!

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by timmgirvan

That's good,GR! But don't vorry about California...we have the Terminator!

Tee hee. I have to tell you, we were all scratching our heads here on the East Coast over that one. But, since almost 70 percent of California voters turned out, I figured, well, democracy at work. I may have disagreed with what California said, but they said it loud.

At least California didn't elect a professional wrestler, like some states I could think of.

Or Gopher.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

Tee hee. I have to tell you, we were all scratching our heads here on the East Coast over that one. But, since almost 70 percent of California voters turned out, I figured, well, democracy at work. I may have disagreed with what California said, but they said it loud.

At least California didn't elect a professional wrestler, like some states I could think of.

Or Gopher.

Hey, careful....Jesse the Body would wipe the floor with Arnold!

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

Tee hee. I have to tell you, we were all scratching our heads here on the East Coast over that one.

Don't worry, it wasn't just you out East. I was up in Oregon during the whole thing, which coincidentally (and a little frighteningly) borders California to the North.

Even WE had no idea what was happening, or how it possibly could have happened!