Chaos In Texas House Over Speaker Fight

Embattled GOP Leader Faces Skirmishes From "Insurgents" Within Own Party To Remove Him From Post

(CBS/AP)  Tensions in the Texas House boiled over in a parliamentary showdown between Republican House Speaker Tom Craddick and some GOP and Democratic insurgents.

It was a moment that has been building for weeks, with House members defiantly challenging the leader they put in power. Dissatisfaction has been building and on Friday night frustration turned into anger.

Craddick survived a five-hour rebellion on the House floor that included a bold attempt to boot him from office, the physical restraint of insurgent lawmakers trying to overtake the speaker's podium, and the House parliamentarian nearly pushed to tears before resigning.

With his political career in jeopardy, Craddick charged through a House rebellion that lasted into early Saturday, refusing to give up his leadership post and putting on display the bare-knuckle tenacity that boosted him to power.

CBS Station KEYE correspondent Keith Elkins reports that anti-Craddick forces (known as "the insurgents") have whispered that there would be a move for a member vote to have the Speaker removed. That move came this week — or would have if the Speaker had allowed them to be heard.

Republican Rep. Fred Hill, who has filed his candidacy to replace Craddick, made a parliamentary request that would allow the 150-member chamber to vote to oust Craddick.

Craddick refused to recognize Hill to make the motion.

Hill next asked to allow the House to vote to appeal the speaker, which would have required a two-thirds vote of the body.

"The speaker's discretion to recognize a member on a motion on any matter is unappealable," Craddick said.

By the time the House adjourned shortly before 1:30 a.m., Craddick had beaten back his opponents — but not before a series of raucous scenes unfolded in the chamber.

Earlier in the evening, the House melted down when Craddick announced a two-hour break to escape pointed questions about his leadership.

The 150-member chamber broke out in a cacophony of boos as lawmakers swept to the front of the chamber and Craddick, often called the most powerful man in state government, hustled back to his office suite.

Democrats trying to overtake the speaker's podium were physically restrained by House sergeants-at-arms as they tried to grab the microphone.

"It is clearly an abuse of power and of office," Republican Rep. Todd Smith of Bedford said later.

Denise Davis, the House parliamentarian, resigned over the incident, according to a statement from Craddick. His spokeswoman later confirmed that assistant parliamentarian Christopher Griesel had resigned as well.

Craddick's two-year term does not expire until the next legislative session convenes in January 2009, but discontent in the chamber is fueling a plot to force him out before the current 140-day session ends Monday. The oilfield mud salesman from Midland is the longest-serving member of the House.

With three days left in the legislative session, lawmakers have spent the week hurdling through remaining legislation and much was left to be completed before Monday, including the $153 billion state budget.

Democrats and Republicans complain that Craddick has ruled the House with an iron fist. They say his win-at-all-costs style often forces legislators to vote against the best interests of their own districts.

Craddick was re-elected to his third term as House speaker in January, fending off another challenge. But strife has continued to hover over the House during the session.

In the last week, four Republicans, including Hill, have filed their candidacies to be speaker if Craddick is ousted.

Former state Rep. Terry Keel, a Craddick ally who stepped down to run an unsuccessful campaign for the Court of Criminal Appeals, was serving as parliamentarian when the House returned from the two-hour recess. Former Rep. Ron Wilson, a Houston music executive who was known for his expert understanding of the rules, was serving as assistant parliamentarian.

Insurgents quickly questioned Wilson's independence and some of his work as an attorney. Craddick parroted Keel's responses to every question.

"Will you recognize any member of this chamber for a motion to elect an impartial parliamentarian?" Dunnam asked.

When Craddick said that would be against the rules, Dunnam said, "We're gonna follow House rules? When?" to a burst of applause from a packed House gallery and lawmakers who oppose Craddick.

[creeper00]

Molly Ivins would've loved it. RIP, Molly.

[realpatriot1]

George Bush must be loving it too. This is how he wants America to work with him in charge.

[missingamerica]

It is unfortunate that Texas appears to develop so many politicians with the mentality of banana republic dictators - evidenced by the large number of them who act as if they are above the law once they sweet talk and obfuscate their way into power.

There doesn't appear to be much, if any, difference between Tom Craddick, Idi Amin, George Bush, Tom DeLay, or Papa Doc.

Beyond restrictions on the outright use of violence, anyway.

So far.

[bareemperor]

As it goes in Texas, so will it go when Bu$h is asked to resign over his disgusting time in office...

[antoniof123]

The Republicans need to be punished they just don't get what it is all about. I hope Texas has the brains to take them out they are destroying the country with there hate and lies.

[gabulldog66]

Lot of words for people who probably don't vote.

[homespunlady]

Obviously refusing to allow anyone but toady allies to speak is indicative of the seriousness of the potential charges. Is Craddick a MONARCH?

[feelfree1]

Re: "Embattled GOP Leader Faces Skirmishes From 'Insurgents Within Own Party To Remove Him From Post"

If I were an unnamed official, speaking on a condition of anonymity, I would have to conclude that it is 'believed' that these %u2018insurgents%u2019 are 'linked' to 'al-Qaeda'. This attack has all of the 'hallmarks' and 'fingerprints' of such an attack.

For all of you out there who may have doubted that %u2018they%u2019 would follow us home, forcing us to fight them 'over here', I'll bet that you are feeling mighty silly now!

[agnim]

"Is Craddick a MONARCH?
Posted by homespunlady at 01:32 PM : May 26, 2007"
The tin horn dictator is earl of Craddik, emphasis on the dik part. LOL

[randalds]

George Bush must be loving it too. This is how he wants America to work with him in charge.
Posted by realpatriot1 at 09:23 AM : May 26, 2007

Amen. It's this kind of scummy bottom of the barrel politics that Bush likes. Acting as if he's a king and even going so far as to hold our troops hostage to get his way. The one who shouted "This is America. We don't do things like this here" USED to be right, but now under the control of the neocons who believe their "leaders" to be all powerful this is, sadly, how we do things in America now.

I want my country back for these usurpers!

[vancouverboo]

Texas: Rich and Stupid, Thieves and Liars.

The home of our president.

[mikealford3]

"showdown between Republican House Speaker Tom Craddick and some GOP and Democratic insurgents."

I all this time I thought the "insurgents" were in Iraq. No wonder we can't get anything done, we don't know who the heck we are fighting.

[cfin5]

Mr. Craddick is the HOUSE SPEAKER, the others are not. If you can not participate according to the RULES, put your thumb in your mouth and then go home.......and don't let the screen door smack your behind on the way out either. We must live by the rules and not our popular feelings at the time. That creates anarchy.

[snowbrd7]

Ya know this happened once in my condo assoc. The president was so obsessed with the rules of conduct that we could never get anything done. Every single meeting was the same as the last while the whole complex was falling apart. Everytime we'd try to bring something up he'd deny the motion because we weren't doing it "right" and then we'd have to wait 'till the next month to try to bring up the issue again trying to do it in the correct manner to satisfy the little dictator. This went on for years.

[bobnjersey]

[Mr. Craddick is the HOUSE SPEAKER, the others are not. If you can not participate according to the RULES, put your thumb in your mouth and then go home.......and don't let the screen door smack your behind on the way out either. We must live by the rules and not our popular feelings at the time. That creates anarchy.]
[Posted by cfin5 at 04:58 PM : May 26, 2007]

i'll bet the members wish they had 'signing statements' ... then they could make their own rules?

[troyboi22]

***,

Molly Ivins would have squealed with joy over this whole scene. God!! i can here her now.

[troyboi22]

***,

Molly Ivins would have squealed with joy over this whole scene. God!! i can here her now.

[misha131]

I suggest many of you read other accounts of the events that transpired this evening. The Parliamentarian and Assistant Parliamentarian resigned over this situation. The reason for the resignations because they had informed the Speaker of the House he had to (no option) recognise any member desiring to make the privelege motion that would have led to his removal. His refusal to recognise any member to make the motion is a violation of the controlling rules of parliamentary procedure.

[wiredwilly]

Now Republicans and Democrats are " insurgents " ?
Seems to me Texas needs a little more Thomas Jefferson and a little less Adolph Hitler.

[cfin5]

bobnjersey.... Not sure what "signing statements" means. But it sounds like holding a politician to his promises leagally after they get elected. If so, that rocks! These guys get in office and after one or two years in Washington (elsewhere) you don't know them anymore. So unfair to the voters!

[stanimal7]

Not allowing any of the house members to speak if they disagree with you is not only unAmerican, it smacks of dictatorship. Americans have had enough of this kind of high=handed imperialism from the cadre of Republicans that are trying to usurp all power in the United States. It's time to take back our country and vote them all out of office. They are traitors to the Constitution they swore to uphold.

[vincan-2009]

Signing statements are what Bush signs after he signs a bill into law. In the signing statement he states that he will not follow or obey the law he has just signed. This will also become an issue for the president to explain.

As for the Texas situation it is coming down just like the whitehouse. The crooked republicans are in a corner and the hopefully honest republicans and democrats are tired of the crooks getting away with everything.

[cantshutup]

INSURGENTS???? ***??? I think that term is highly inappropriate and that speaker in texass SHOULD have been successfully PHYSICALLY REMOVED and that's how we ought to go about it in the white house too!!!

[lochlan-2009]

These people are killing each other for a seat on the gravy train. The corrupt have seen there is no organised resistance from society that can't be thwarted with a little bit of modern technology and police force, and they are ripping at each others throats to get their own little piece of the "free" country.

[libsarenuts]

You people on the left, of nearly everything, crack me up more each day. Whining and ******** about anything Republican. Here's the deal, Bush is still president...and there is nothing you or your do nothing congress can do about it.
Also, if Craddick was doing something illegal he would not be allowed to stay up there. The same goes for George W. You and the left stream media have been trying to derail out government for 6 years. Thank God (you've heard of him, right?)you are not running things. HAHA

[libsarenuts]

The real fight is still coming.

[randalds]

Yep in 2008 when the people of this country dump the Republican party for good. It's a good laugh now, seeing all the rats leave the sinking ship...
Posted by tribe at 10:31 PM : May 26, 2007

Here's hoping they all drown when they hit the water. Must be hard for them to swim with all of the Bullsh*it still inside of them.

[randalds]

Mr. Craddick is the HOUSE SPEAKER, the others are not. If you can not participate according to the RULES, put your thumb in your mouth and then go home.......and don't let the screen door smack your behind on the way out either. We must live by the rules and not our popular feelings at the time. That creates anarchy.
Posted by cfin5 at 04:58 PM : May 26, 2007

So then you'd have no objections then if Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi decides that no republican is ever allowed to speak in Congress again? Sounds good to me! BTW, you really have no idea how Parliamentary rules work, do you? Ya ought ta do some readin'!

[rharrin1]

If you can't find a rope get a gun and shoot the SOB after all Texas law permits it as in cheney sniping the ole boy.

[fizzal-2009]

sounds like they should install seat belts on all the chairs and with a 153 billion dollar budjet nobody seems too have the money too send a bill too wherever them alliens are comming from for their benifits.

[undermyboot]

What a SURPRISE! A dictator Republican who thinks he is above the law! Representative government? Got to put a stop to that! What is this- El Salvador? Let's cut off the cancer on America that is Texas. Give'm back to Mexico. LMFAO

[cfin5]

randalDS....... I know enough of parliamentary RULES to understand that a house speaker can and does excercise tactics to his/her advantage from time to time according to their own rules. I am not confused concerning the attempted "USURPATION" of the speaker's podium by the dumbern'rats and neither was the House sergeants-at-arms.......Mr. Craddick did not just waltz in their and USURP the the speakers chair for three terms also. If those representatives have not figured out what kind of person the speaker is by now after they put him there three times then they never will........You need to add "understanding" to the knowledge you think you have by reading to much.

[lastdance2]

Democratic Insurgents ? ? ?

CBS News : Seems a bit - bias and prejudice
this weekend.

Well .... Thats what you get -
When trying to take - A well deserved and earned -
Long weekend off.

Then leaving behind the "Low Seniority"
to hold down the fort.

Where do you think that writer
is going to be working - come Tuesday morning ? ? ?

Lastdance

[likeitis5050]

Yeeeeehaaaaaaaaaa!!! Wild wild west down South...sounds just like the White House type politics we've had to contend with for going on 8 years! If it ain't good for the leader...well, it just ain't good for anyone and the decision is the same...STAY THE COURSE!!! It all makes sense now. I wonder if they were warned like the 50.9999% who voted for Bush....TWICE!!!! We'll see how well they learned their lesson come 2008. Pssst...I hear Bush might make a move to be elected again based on the fact he was awarded the presidency by the Supreme Court there by scooting past the 2 term provision....think it's true or just a hoax?


answer: it's a hoax...for now.

[Keypinitreel1]

Texas has the most corrupt political landscape of any state in the union.

I live here..and can tell you first hand... with voting machines going down during elections and gerrymandering...

There are a lot of reasons that this state which holds a majority minority population can not put a democrat in the senate and has such a strong conservative slant.

George Bush got his start here.... what do you expect. There are more just like him in the wings ...right here.

[Keypinitreel1]

If Democrats and Independents...really want to make waves.. they would focus more on Texas. They have New York,Illinois and California... Texas is a Democrat stronghold waiting to happen... If Texas Turns Blue we would never have to worry about the Likes of George Bush again.

[y2k4life1]

Embattled GOP Leader Faces Skirmishes From "Insurgents" Within Own Party To Remove Him From Post

Are we not all Americans regardless of race, belief and/or if you are a democrate, republican, green party, purple party.

We are all Americans, Once someone and of all things CBS start to label fellow americans as "Insurgents" I think I have some radical group on our soil that don't want to be Americans a blow us up.

CBS please respect your fellow American unless you guys and gals are the realy "Insurgents" starting some riot.

Here if you go to google and do a define: insurgents or go to wikipedia

An insurgency is an armed rebellion by any irregular armed force that rises up against an established authority, government, or administration. Those carrying out an insurgency are insurgents . Insurgents conduct sabotage and harassment. Insurgents usually are in opposition to a civil authority or government primarily in the hope of improving their condition.

CBS where is the Armed force you idiots watch you words, to be in such a position and treat your fellow Americans like that. Where is your dignity? Are you not Americans?
I'm not saying you wrong but could you not use better word, not that "Insurgents" and "insurgency" takes on such a conitation as suicide bombers? Funny why even put it in quotes to get a rise from it?

[brianbwb-2009]

Journalists are supposed to be unbiased sources of information, except when editorializing a subject. They are supposed to understand the English language and the definitions of the words they use to provide the information. When a non-military political disagreement becomes an "insurgency", or a rocket fired into a US military base becomes "terrorism", the credibility of the journalist is immediately nullified, as the report then becomes an "untruth" i.e., a lie.

Mr. Bush calls the resistance to US occupation in Afghanistan and Iraq terrorism when, by definition this is an intentional lie. When the journalists trumpet his pronouncements without question, they become complicit in the lie.
Palestinian resistance to Israeli occupation is also not "terrorism" if and when the attacks are against military targets.

Please, to all pro journalists, stop allowing the misuse of language by those with agendas to pass unquestioned into your stories as if they were truth, they are not. One can see by the blogs all over the news organizations that many believe the lies of those in power, because the truth is not brought out by the press. Is there not something in the code of responsible journalism against this?

[mcvet]

I find it very funny that so many in todays world find this to be something different. Any child of the 60's knows what Southern Fascism is all about and Texas is a very good example. Majority Rule is something Southern Fascist have never understood so they set out to create their Own "Majority" and anyone who doesn't want to be part of it is intimidated and battered into compliance. Hitler and the Third Reich have NOTHING and I do mean NOTHING on Southern Fascist. They are the best ever at being "Superior". Sieg Heil Y'all.

[howardbeale2]

This is a poorly written, misleading article overall. Please hire some editors to review articles for clarity and bias before they are submitted to the public. Is that too difficult for mainstream news to do anymore?

[howardbeale2]

This is a poorly written, misleading article overall. Please hire some editors to review articles for clarity and bias before they are submitted to the public. Is that too difficult for mainstream news to do anymore?

[forthepeopl1]

JULY 21 2007 IS WHEN AMERICANS WILL BE FREE AGAIN

EVERYONE THAT WANTS TO HELP WITH THIS SHOULD BE TALKING TO ALL MEDIA OUTLETS AND TELLING THEM THAT AMERICANS ARE READY TO TAKE WASHINGTON ON AND ITS NOT A FEW AMERICANS ITMILLIONS OF AMERICANS THAT WILL TAKE BACK THERE COUNTRY..

I AM WILLING TO GIVE MY BLOOD FOR ALL AMERICANS TO GET OUR COUNTRY BACK TO WHAT OUR FORFATHERS WANTED.

AM A VET AND AM READY TO TAKE CHARGE OF THIS AMERICAN BOYCOT/COOP IF WE THE PEOPLE DONT DO THIS NOW WE WILL BE GIVENING UP ON OUR CONSTITUTION AND WHAT ALL OUR VET HAVE DIED FOR..

DAVID A BELANGER,VET US ARMY,[e-mail]

ok so wants to join in on this great american REVOLUTION


they cant kill millions of americans at once so if we charge them all at once we will win and take them out and hang them all..

just like in the old days of the west...hang them from the trees in front of the whitehouse and see how many start telling the truth about what they have done to all us americans..


if the american NOW dont stand up and start a NATIONAL REVOUTION ON THIS WASHINGTON BULL S/H/I/T/ THEN we as TRUE AMERICANS can say nothing!!!

its time to take all this *** and take our government back now..

they are the ones that started this and we will finnish it now..we the people will take our country back and everyone in washington can sit there and thinks we the people are ok with what they are doing..go ahead and let them think that we are comming to take them out

[agnim]

"I all this time I thought the "insurgents" were in Iraq. No wonder we can't get anything done, we don't know who the heck we are fighting.
Posted by mikealford3 at 04:48 PM : May 26, 2007"

LOL

Can you imagine, adopting the name given to the enemies. Confusion reigns. LOL

[toldyouso21]

Soon, Bush may face the same type of insurgency within his own ranks--when the Sharks in the GOP smell their own blood in the water and realize they have been feeding on themselves.

[gerbziler]

To: forthepeopl1

"ITMILLIONS"

"TAKE BACK THERE COUNTRY"

"WHAT OUR FORFATHERS WANTED"

"AM READY TO TAKE CHARGE OF THIS AMERICAN BOYCOT/COOP"

"WE WILL BE GIVENING UP ON OUR CONSTITUTION AND WHAT ALL OUR VET HAVE DIED FOR.."

"ok so wants to join in on this great american REVOLUTION "

"if the american NOW dont stand up"

"we will finnish it now.."

"everyone in washington can sit there and thinks"

1. From the ridiculous English mistakes you made, you can not possibly be an american. In fact, you sound very much like you are from the middle-east. You are fooling no one but yourself.

2. If anyone, whether an american or a two-bit nut-case foreign terrorist like yourself, tries to start a "COOP", I, along with about 50 million other americans, will personally blow their worthless heads off.

[homespunlady]

Does this prove Bushit rolls downhill or does it mean since Bush claims Texas rather than his Northeastern Nazi banker Prescott Bush roots that corruption rises to the top.
Either way this type of ignoring Parliamentary procedure is despicable.
Obviously if tis man DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO BE CONDEMNED FOR he wouldn't have BROKEN THE RULES.
You don't have BOTH the Parliamentarian and the backup Parliamentarian QUIT unless they have been rendered USELESS DUE TO THE RULES BEING TOTALLY TOSSED OUT by the Speaker!!!

[toldyouso21]

This is really scary. We are falling apart, but like a rotted out raft in the middle of an ocean, we are loathe to believe it until the entire thing just collapses around us.

Texas--the home of Bush and the start of his political career--notoriously known for their gerrymandering for votes. Now this. And what will we do if such craziness erupts in Washington?

Picture this: The Democrats trying to initiate a vote on something, and Bush and the GOP ignoring the rules and having the GOP laden DOJ, hold them all back.....mayhem. The only reason that rules ever work---is that reasonable people adhere to them.

We have entered the age of little to no reason.