According to David Wysong, O’Rourke’s former House chief of staff, no decision has been made yet. “He has been making and receiving calls with people from all over the state,” Wysong said.
“We hope that he’s going to run,” said Gilberto Hinojosa, the state chair of the Democratic Party. “We think he’ll be our strongest candidate. We think he can beat Abbott because he’s vulnerable.”
Polling reveals that Hinojosa is the blind hog who found a truffle.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s overall support is plunging, potentially leaving him vulnerable to the likes of actor Matthew McConaughey and former congressman Beto O’Rourke, @dallasnews/UT-Tyler poll finds. #txlege #GregAbbott #MatthewMcConaughey #BetoORourke https://t.co/FkgePrt0IU
— John Gravois (@Grav1) September 19, 2021
Also the Texas 2036 poll, showing widespread dissatisfaction with the state's direction.
Beto O’Rourke, the former El Paso congressman who nearly defeated Senator Ted Cruz in 2018, is inching closer to announcing a run for governor of Texas, according to three people who have spoken with him. https://t.co/06Bj7fHJye
— The New York Times (@nytimes) September 20, 2021
"Inching closer". Calves are already cramping across the Lone Star State. I saw nothing referenced anywhere about Beto's previous condition that voting rights legislation pass the Congress before he jumps in. And speaking of snark, I saw a lot more than I expected.
Rumors are his team is searching for the right location to officially launch his campaign from, one aide was quote as saying "there are a lot of tables in Texas" https://t.co/0c8xjnqres
— Michael R. Weinstein, Bookseller #EndTheOligarchy (@fToRrEeEsSt) September 19, 2021
This tweet, and the subsequent argument about whether he took O&G money or didn't, illustrates the leftist/liberal divide better than any.
"I hope he's learned from his mistakes" ๐คก๐คฃ
— Bexar County Greens ๐ป๐ (@BexarGreensTX) September 19, 2021
The good news is that this will at least quiet the talk of Joe Straus coming out of retirement.
Idk how or why ppl pissed about the abortion ban would back someone for governor who called to investigate Planned Parenthood based on those bullshit videos back in '15.
— ((( Daniel J Cohen ))) (@mrdancohen) September 18, 2021
Stiffen your spines.https://t.co/KOzFQlzcux
Redistricting is a bigger topic; the first maps for Senate Districts dropped over the weekend, and Fort Worth's purple SD-10 (held by Beverly Powell) is a goner. Republicans Donna Campbell (SD-25) and Dawn Buckingham (SD-24) would have to square off, which must be why Buckingham is running for Land Commissioner and not re-election. Expect more and worse from Joan Huffman's committee.
“We’re going to have 2 new congressional seats and it would surprise no one if they were both urban seats & very largely populated w/ Latino population, if not Dem population…As Republicans, there’s some real challenges.” @kseliger#txlege https://t.co/L2l6JNHubV
— KarinaKling (@KarinaKling) September 16, 2021
Katya Ehresman shows us how to get involved in the redistricting fight.
Tonight I talked about Texas' redistricting process to a bunch of advocates and the big question was "how can I get involved".
— Katya (@EhresmanKatya) September 16, 2021
Here's a thread of links I shared if you, too, are a Texan, an advocate, and wondering how you can get involved in this fight. #txlege ๐ฝ๐ฝ
I have a few more posts regarding the abortion law.
Among #SB8's many onerous provisions is the one that provides for liability for even abortions that are performed only while the law has been *blocked* by a judge—if that block is later vacated or reversed.
— Steve Vladeck (@steve_vladeck) September 17, 2021
That's why a TRO isn't enough; the key is complete and permanent relief.
Women can say no to sex if Roe falls, says architect of Texas abortion ban
— TimesNow (@TymesNow) September 17, 2021
๐งต/1https://t.co/2vT5RY4eup
In this @washingtonpost essay, Texas abortion provider Dr. Alan Braid shares his memories of treating patients who underwent unsafe abortions in 1972 and why he violated the state’s abortion ban by performing an abortion after six weeks on September 6. https://t.co/wYQxgcQqf9
— Dr. Daniel Grossman (@DrDGrossman) September 18, 2021
Read here at KXAN if the WaPo's paywall is a problem for you.
Some rape victims say Gov. Greg Abbott's recent comments about eliminating rape in Texas are a slap in the face as years-old rape kits sit on shelves waiting to be tested #TheLastWord #TexasThisWeek https://t.co/X85o4VELML
— KVUE News (@KVUE) September 19, 2021
Gov. Abbott (R-TX) defends no rape exemption in abortion bill: “I have processed more rape kits than any [TX] governor.” pic.twitter.com/yrw0lah2k4
— The Recount (@therecount) September 17, 2021
Obviously not the accomplishment he thinks it is.
"The Texas law increased the average one-way driving distance to an abortion clinic from 17 to 247 miles"
— David Barboza (@SOSuburbia) September 17, 2021
Meaning to have access to abortion as a Texan you need several kinds of privilege: time off work, a car or money for a flight, money for a hotel ...https://t.co/oQugr4ecIu
Last:
‘Christians who are troubled by the use of a fetal cell line for the testing of the vaccines would also have to abstain from the use of Tylenol, Pepto Bismol, Ibuprofen, and other products,’ says Dallas First Baptist’s Robert Jeffress, of #COVID19 shots. https://t.co/foGDNyP7s7
— Bob Garrett (@RobertTGarrett) September 18, 2021
Julie Cloud and David Currie at the San Antonio Report underscore that. I'm not in the habit of posting rebuttals that make sense from Pastor Jeffress; it's been a strange week just passed. After all, last Monday we were bracing for a hurricane. Have you forgotten?
Why did more than 400K people lose power during seemingly minor Hurricane Nicholas? https://t.co/y65o07hGp7
— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) September 16, 2021
Two more environmental things.
Federal regulators on Monday allowed a company to move forward with its plan to ship some of the nation’s most dangerous types of nuclear waste to a site in West Texas – even though Texas lawmakers recently blocked the plan at the state level. https://t.co/IZYQO6jG1e
— Texas Standard (@TexasStandard) September 15, 2021
The Texas Living Waters Project sees the American Rescue Plan Act as a historic opportunity to invest in our water infrastructure.
And some criminal and social justice posts.
Because TAG Houston is astroturf for high-paid consultants who bank off both parties by shitting on the poor. https://t.co/TFLAkp3m7U
— ((( Daniel J Cohen ))) (@mrdancohen) September 16, 2021
Dallas’ first freeway was built over a Freedmen’s cemetery, a cultural clear-cutting in a city built on convenience. https://t.co/zK1gq4saOd
— Texas Observer (@TexasObserver) September 17, 2021
NEW: Dallas Police confirm 6 people shot in Deep Ellum overnight around 12:45 a.m. near N. Malcolm X Blvd and Main St
— William Joy (@WilliamJoy) September 19, 2021
18-year-old Kenneth Walker died and another victim is in critical condition.
Four others, including a 15-year-old girl, were shot but expected to survive
(@wfaa) pic.twitter.com/ObstNtI9mI
The last week in TX gun violence, including a 15-yo who shot & killed his family, his dogs, himself; the 2nd full week of permitless carry in effect. #txlege #AbbottFailedTexas @MomsDemand pic.twitter.com/dzAphLZjEK
— Texas Jamie Ford ๐ป (@ThisIsItYall) September 17, 2021
Great and thorough investigation here. The never ending story of cops who stay in uniform despite multiple past troubles continues to shock but not surprise. Why can’t we fix this? #txlege https://t.co/b2yZO2pUqT
— Jay Root (@byjayroot) September 16, 2021
Want to know how f'ed up the country's mental health system is? Read this --> 'HELP ME!': A Texas man begged for aid as his mental health spiraled, but the system failed him https://t.co/Lri1IbsC8o via @houstonchron #HouNews
— Matt Schwartz (@SchwartzChron) September 17, 2021
The federal judge overseeing reforms to Texas’ foster care system says the state can only blame itself for the chronic neglect of its foster children, hundreds of whom continue to sleep in Child Protective Services offices, hotels and makeshift facilities. https://t.co/gfDohR9vGs
— Texas Standard (@TexasStandard) September 16, 2021
This CBS Sunday Morning piece ...
Ted Koppel visits Mount Airy, North Carolina - a town that has reinvented itself as Mayberry from "The Andy Griffith Show" and has become a destination for fans that attracts so many nostalgic for a show created more than 50 years ago https://t.co/vb9jZ4LyIX pic.twitter.com/fJoV49lW4N
— CBS Sunday Morning ๐ (@CBSSunday) September 18, 2021
... and Koppel's discussion with some of the tourists ...
Mt. Airy, NC is the inspiration for Mayberry in "The Andy Griffth Show." Hundreds of thousands of visitors come each year in search of the fictional town. In this Sunspot, Ted Koppel speaks with some about their views of Washington. pic.twitter.com/Hkir4cRkuI
— CBS Sunday Morning ๐ (@CBSSunday) September 19, 2021
... is the perfect lead-in to Jen Rice's thread about the eviction crisis.
since the national eviction moratorium expired and we could be facing an eviction crisis...would you like to know what happened when andy had to serve an eviction notice to frank myers, a mayberry resident who was behind on payments pic.twitter.com/we02OUcngr
— Jen Rice (@jen_rice_) September 18, 2021
A long read and worth every minute of your time.
Here's some more items to close today.
Emma Beatrice Tenayuca, Mexican American labor organizer, civil rights activist, and educator doesn’t get enough recognition for her achievements and contributions.
— Sema (@_SemaHernandez_) September 17, 2021
Tenayuca was a central figure in the radical labor movement in Texas during the 1930’s.#HispanicHeritageMonth pic.twitter.com/tWcZQTeaDr
"My dad is thriving": We're wishing the legendary Houston rapper and his son speedy recoveries after the successful transplant surgery! https://t.co/rEtzy1WoNQ
— ABC13 Houston (@abc13houston) September 16, 2021
The Great God Pan Is Dead is looking forward to fall art season.
"He said, 'If you want to play politics in Texas, you’re going to get your knuckles bloodied.' You’re going to have to get down on the mat and do some wrestling and fighting."https://t.co/D5CVQMSyBX
— Texas Standard (@TexasStandard) September 15, 2021
