John Kelso in the Austin American-Statesman - Boo Hoo Flu drives out Democrats:
Let's see. In 1979, when 12 unhappy state senators boycotted work at the Capitol and hid out in a West Austin garage apartment, they were dubbed the Killer Bees.For those of you not familiar with Texas, the DPS is the modern euphemism for the Texas Rangers.
So what do we call this latest bunch of disappearing Dems? Doggett's Dung Beetles — best I can do on short notice.
On Monday, 59 Democratic members of the Texas House of Representatives did not show up for work at the state Capitol. And now 53 of them seem to be hiding out from the law. The Department of Public Safety was sent to look for them.
Like Elvis, the Democrats have left the building. Unlike Elvis, the Democrats aren't dead. But they might as well be. Turns out the bulk of them are just across the border in Oklahoma.Time for some Okies to weigh in with comments about Baja Oklahoma.
Conjecture had these lawmakers as far away as Mexico at one point. Heck, from all the talk, you might've thought they found Dick Cheney at his undisclosed location.
Oklahoma? Of all the options these lawmakers have on places to chill, why would they pick Oklahoma? Who is the travel agent for these people? The Three Stooges?
With Louisiana and good gumbo so close by, why would anyone want to hole up in Oklahoma, especially during tornado season? At least these guys weren't stuck in a doublewide in Enid.
And how do you hide state Rep. Elliott Naishtat of Austin in Oklahoma? He'd be the only guy in the state using big words.
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You know folks at the Legislature aren't getting along real great if usually discerning people voluntarily leave an air-conditioned building in Texas to do time in Oklahoma. But it shows the Democrats have a sense of dedication and self-sacrifice — and that they don't get the Travel Channel.
