US: A bunch of 51 Texas fugitives from the law arrived at the Holiday Inn in Ardmore, Oklahoma, on Monday evening. Some came along Interstate 35 by bus, others in cars, and one in his private aircraft. For the last two days, they have been hanging out by the pool, talking incessantly on mobile phones.
Back in Texas, their hideout was discovered when a reporter traced the aircraft. Four Texas Rangers arrived at the Holiday Inn to escort them back to the Lone Star State, but they refused to leave, and the Rangers departed, having no jurisdiction in Oklahoma.
The runaways are all Democratic members of the Texas legislature in Austin, where they hold 62 of the 150 House seats. They are refusing to attend the House to prevent a quorum, in the hopes of killing a redistricting bill that would give the Republicans half a dozen more Texas seats in the US Congress.
Using his powers under Texas law, Republican Speaker Tom Craddick ordered them arrested and brought forcibly to the chamber. State Troopers began going from door to door but most Democrats had fled across the border to friendly, Democrat-controlled Oklahoma. By staying there until tomorrow, all outstanding bills will likely fail.
The comic opera in President George Bush's home state has national implications. The redistricting measure was engineered from the US Congress in Washington by House majority leader, Mr Tom DeLay, with Mr Bush's approval.
Democrats in Texas believe that, if successful, it will be applied across America, and solidify the Republican hold on the US Congress.
"We have a message for DeLay: don't mess with Texas," said Democrat Mr Jim Dunman.
Mr DeLay's reply was to try to get FBI agents to escort the Democrats to the Texas border, but a US Justice spokesman said he knew of no role for the department.
The tactic of flight by Democrats, who controlled Texas for 130 years until last November, was used before, in 1979, when 12 state senators hid for five days in an Austin apartment to kill an election bill.
State Troopers found one Democrat at home on Tuesday and hauled her off to the legislature, but it turned out she was on her way there anyway and Speaker Craddick apologised.
The Republicans have issued a deck of cards featuring "wanted" Democrats like fugitive Iraqi leaders, and Republican Governor Rick Perry compared their behaviour to a "pouting child" who "stomps off the field". The Speaker yesterday called them "Chicken Ds" and according to the Houston Chronicle, two women dressed as chickens are picketing the Capitol in Austin.
In Ardmore, supporters have been calling with fruit baskets for the hold-out Democrats, who now refer to themselves as the "Killer Ds".