Texas Killer D's

Christian Science Monitor -- Not only does the walkout show the lengths Texans go to when they feel they're up against a wall; it may also mark the beginning of partisan politics in the Lone Star's legislature - something that's been relatively absent until now. "Democrats see this as the Alamo," says Gary Keith, a lecturer in government at the University of Texas at Austin. "They are drawing the line in the sand."

Austin American-Statesmen -- Democrats to return to Capitol Friday

The 51 Texas House Democrats say they will return to the Capitol on Friday and said they will be ready to continue work.

The House's proposal to redraw congressional boundaries — the final straw that sparked the Democrats' refusal to show up — will die Thursday night unless at least 100 of the 150 members show up to debate it. That doesn't seem likely, but a state senator already is trying to put a Senate version of the plan into play, although he faces tough odds.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram (in San Jose Mercury News) -- DeLay: Battle over Texas redistricting plan will continue

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, demonized by Democrats for his role in the standoff in the Texas Legislature, didn't get a reputation as the U.S. House's fiercest infighter for nothing.

So it surprised no one Tuesday when DeLay reacted to the latest political brouhaha by offering up more fighting words.

"You ought to stand and fight for what you believe in, not turn and run," he told reporters, referring to the 51 Texas legislators who are holed up in Ardmore, Okla. He called them "fugitive Democrats."

Last week, as part of his campaign to get the bill on the Texas House floor, DeLay took an unheard-of step for a majority leader and left the U.S. Capitol for two days, missing 15 roll-call votes.

"To me, it looks like political tone-deafness," said Bruce Buchanan, a professor of government and longtime observer of Texas politics at the University of Texas at Austin. "It's reminiscent of the overkill of the Gingrich era." Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., who was forced out in 1998, polarized Congress and sometimes the nation, especially with the partial shutdown of the federal government in 1995.

DeLay shows no sign of backing down, even if his redistricting plan dies in the legislative session that ends June 2. He said Gov. Rick Perry is preparing for a special session, and the majority leader expects redistricting to be part of it.

"We've come too far," spokesman Jonathan Grella said. "We want this to cross the goal line."

Houston Chronicle -- Congressional Democrats Blast DeLay

"Not since Richard Nixon have we seen such a federal power grab," said U.S. Rep. Gene Green, D-Houston.

Democrats used their morning speeches on the House floor to accuse DeLay, state House Speaker Tom Craddick and other Texas Republicans of wreaking havoc on Texas' bipartisan spirit.

The Democrats' comments were made during what are called minute speeches, when U.S. House members are given a minute before House business to make speeches on the subject of their choosing.

"Throughout his campaign, Mr. Bush professed to be a uniter, not a divider. If that quickly abandoned moniker is ever to achieve any meaning perhaps home in Texas is the best place to practice what he preached," said Doggett.

Doggett then directed his comments to Bush. "Mr. President tell Tom DeLay to redraw his redistricting plan that slices and dices Texas," he said. But he was cut off by the Republican congressman presiding over the U.S. House with a reminder that comments must be directed at the "speaker," not others.

Rep. Sam Johnson, R-Plano, reminded the chamber that Armed Forces Day is this weekend. He called the absent Democrats "deserters, guys that are afraid to stand and fight like our armed services do."

U.S. Rep. John Culberson, R-Katy, said the Democrats had "resorted to the political equivalent of suicide bombing in blowing up the entire legislative process rather than debating as they should on the floor."

That comparison drew angry response from Green, who said such a comparison was outrageous.

Colorado Rep. Diana DeGette, also a Democrat, joined her Texas colleagues in lauding the Texas state Democrats for resisting the Republican proposal.

"As a member of Congress from a state where last week the legislature controlled by the Republican Party ... completely changed the congressional boundaries in Colorado, I think there are no more courageous people in this country right now than the 53 state legislators who went to Ardmore, Okla.," said DeGette.

SF Chronicle (AP) -- Some lawmakers briefly worried their plan was foiled Wednesday morning, when they were awakened by pounding on their doors. But it wasn't the law, just the weather: A tornado warning forced them into a dingy basement to wait out a twister that ultimately did not materialize.

"At first I thought, `How in the world did (U.S. Attorney General John) Ashcroft come up with a reason to get the FBI banging on our door?"' said Rep. Jim Dunnam, laughing.

"If they (House Democrats) believe their principles are worth fighting for, and they have only one means to fight for them, it's difficult to fault them for it," the Houston Chronicle said in an editorial.

The Times (UK) -- The force seems to be with the fugitives. Texas newspapers, including those typically supportive of the Republican Party, lent their support.

The redistricting proposal is widely seen as a brazen piece of gerrymandering, linking far-flung regions of the state.

THE INTERACTIVE ZOOMABLE MAP Take a look at District 15 that starts at the border and snakes up to Austin. Look at all the districts that start in Houston and Austin and then snake out to the Republican countryside. District 9 is Southeast Border but snakes around to pick up west Houston. District 10 is a two- headed twisty snake - one head sticking a tongue in Austin, the other head in Houston