Patrick Rose: Float Like a Butterfly, Sting Like a Bee

That Patrick Rose (D-Dripping Springs) is a Craddick D, or as they sometimes say, a “Democraddick” was made more obvious this morning in an interesting article by Laylin Copelin in the Austin American-Statesman.

Twice, Copelin compared Rose to a boxer avoiding landed blows in sparring matches with his fellow members:

“Footwork is as important in politics as in boxing. And Rose, only 28 and starting his third term, has avoided tripping on the line between the inner politics of the House and expectations of his constituents in Hays, Blanco and
Caldwell counties.”

And why the analogy to boxing? Well for all of the imagery it evokes, he actually had an incident where he displayed his unique ability to duck (almost):

“Rose keeps bobbing and weaving, still on the balls of his feet. Last fall, on his way to an easy re-election, Rose had to duck a swing from his 2003 opponent, Rick Green, outside a polling place. So far, no one has landed anything but that glancing blow.”

And finally, the boxing theme re-emerges in the title of the documentary movie made about Rose and his unseating of an incumbent Republican in a “safe district”. "Last Man Standing: Politics — Texas Style".

Aside from allusions to boxing, the Copelin article is revealing in just how involved Rose was in maintaining a small democratic contingent of 15 Craddick votes, and just how dicey he thought the situation was.

"I think the race was teetering," Rose said. "It was anyone's to win."

The article is sure to inflame those who follow a trend of “uber-partisanship and polarization” as Rep. Aaron Pena refers to it. Rose is very probably number one on their '08 Primary hit list, or if not, will be shortly. But contrary to the 4 Craddick D’s that were removed from office in their primaries, because of their support for the Craddick/DeLay redistricting, Patrick Rose left the state with his Democratic colleagues to avoid a quorum on the vote for redistricting. That and his popularity in his district along with his tireless work in lowering health and homeowner’s insurance rates in Texas should make him a very difficult target to hit.