Frost-Sessions race embodies animosities generated by redistricting

More at stake in contest between Texas representatives than a single seat in U.S. House

Frost-Sessions race embodies animosities generated by redistricting

By Chuck Lindell

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Saturday, May 15, 2004

WASHINGTON -- It is no secret that Republicans despise U.S. Rep. Martin Frost, the Democrat from Dallas whose wonkish demeanor belies a barbed partisan tongue and a pull-no-punches approach to politics.

So when Frost, whose home district was gleefully carved into five pieces during last year's redistricting fracas, chose to oppose an up-and-coming incumbent Republican, the GOP alarms began sounding nationwide.

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And in a departure from the usual rules of political engagement, Rules Committee Chairman David Dreier, R-Calif., has campaigned for Sessions and against Frost, who serves as the ranking Democrat on the Rules Committee. Sessions also sits on the exclusive committee, which determines how bills will be considered by the entire House.

"Normally, a committee chair doesn't work against his ranking member, or vice versa," said Frost, 62. "But I guess tradition and rules don't mean anything to Republicans."

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http://www.statesman.com/news/content/auto/epaper/editions/saturday/news_045a1c7760c5502e0031.html#

in South Dakota. The heads of the 2 parties in the Senate have never campaigned against each other before.

The Republicans are all about keeping power for themselves. They don't care anything about what's good for the country.

at a town hall in North Dallas.

He was expecting a GOP friendly crowd but got an angry unemployed telecom worker crowd instead.

(FYI, Dallas lost 112,000 telecom jobs between 2001 and 2002. Many of these people are still unemployed or underemployed. Sessions did nothing to help.)

The mood of the crowd was angry and surly.

By the end of the event Sessions looked dejected and beat.

I really hope that Martin Frost wins. Delay really hates Rep. Frost and part of the redistricting plan was designed to get rid of Rep Frost. It looks like Sessions is falling apart and that Rep. Frost may have a chance.