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Atrocities Documentation Collation (a week-ending round-up from far left Texas, part 1)

I don’t think, as a whole, we really deserve or have earned “puppy day” at the Capitol. The “good” chamber deserves a bag of angry incontinent feral cats. The “bad” chamber gets a gunnysack full of rabid nutria and raccoons. The 87th #txlege is not puppyworthy. pic.twitter.com/Xjc3qINFuE

— Retro Snacking (@Retrosnacking) May 20, 2021

This one will have to appear in segments.  We can thank our lucky stars that the House, in a fit of pique, adjourned for the weekend because the Senate is sitting on legislation approved by the lower chamber by near-unanimous consent.  (That's not to say they are all good bills.)

Melting down?

Texas House adjourns two days as payback for Senate inaction on criminal justice, Medicaid bills, according to @lmcgaughy & @MorrisReports. #txlegehttps://t.co/0bC3vVyXok

— Bob Garrett (@RobertTGarrett) May 20, 2021

Nobody is more upset with the week's developments than the women of Texas; mothers and those that would be.  By their own choice and not.

‘Laws of Texas should not enter my body, should not enter any woman’s body, should not enter any person’s body’ — This Texas lawmaker is fighting for abortion rights in her state pic.twitter.com/o5GjEQzqwE

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) May 20, 2021

In case you're not clear on what vision #txlege GOP legislators and @GregAbbott_TX have for our state, watch "The Handmaid's Tale." They think the Commanders are the heroes of the story. https://t.co/WTpUMZt8oK

— Lee Nichols (@LeeMNichols) May 19, 2021

Somewhat indifferent about the born https://t.co/0syPdoySIM pic.twitter.com/oqMiyh9MVB

— Sawyer Hackett (@SawyerHackett) May 20, 2021

"Somewhat indifferent" might be a little soft.

Texas: *Ranks number 51 in the country for Children's Healthcare*
Greg Abbott: "We care about kids [in utero. After that, fuck em].

— ꙮ ᶘ ᵒ㉨ᵒᶅ 🥀ℜ𝔲𝔰𝔱𝔶🥀ꙮ (@spooky_rusty) May 20, 2021

More on the Guvnah's really great week (for him, nobody else) in the next segment.

The man who said the #txlege “must act” … didn’t. The man who said the leaking of cancer-causing chemicals for months after the TPC Group explosions in Port Neches was “unacceptable” ... accepted it. pic.twitter.com/fCQJ8UZHnH

— One Breath Partnership (@OneBreathHOU) May 20, 2021

A lot of damage done by Speaker Forehead, but don't exhale yet; Dan Patrick's gang is still in town.

Update: After gutting penalty and enforcement provisions, Senate committee votes to advance bill to punish lobbyists accused of harassment. https://t.co/gITKSf952W #txlege #HB4661

— Lauren “Vaxxed to the Max” McGaughy 🌟 (@lmcgaughy) May 21, 2021

After a theological debate on the meaning of God's love, Texas Senate votes along party lines to ban gender-affirming care for young transgender Texans:#txlegehttps://t.co/vhPl5c6o4v via @statesman

— Chuck Lindell (@chucklindell) May 18, 2021

Texans: Please fix our failing power grid so we don't have to suffer from extended blackouts in extreme weather.

TX Lawmakers: Umm, no. But how about we bailout energy companies and pass the cost along to you? #txlegehttps://t.co/QnsqWTHBfZ

— Cassandra Hulsey (@CassandraHulse1) May 21, 2021

This is the corrupt insanity the #txlege is focused on instead of ensuring Texas has a functioning infrastructure.https://t.co/7UxtaJt8Vl

— Dallas Gal 🇺🇸🇵🇷🇸🇪🤘🏻🖖 (@dfw_gal) May 19, 2021

They don't want cities assisting their homeless.

They don't want voters making their voices heard.

They don't want teachers addressing racism in our schools.

They don't want cities controlling their own budgets.

Why is it that the #TXLege is so afraid of their own citizens?

— cody is organizing for Palestine (@codyrarn) May 19, 2021

In a legislative session that has been by far the most extreme and conservative ever, the two Republican-controlled branches and the respective factions within the TXGOP are still slinging mud -- and Mucus -- like they're all infected with COVID.

They're certainly consumed with a raging case of hate, as the masks and gloves have come off and the knives and bricks and bats come out.  At this point Lege Democrats are like the poor children in Gaza and Yemen: collateral damage.

Democrats trying to win a statewide race in Texas:
"Demographics will do it!"
No.
"Suburban voters will revolt against Republicans!"
No.
"Suburban backlash PLUS a well-timed federal indictment?"
Hmm.
"So, you're saying there's a chance." #TxLege

— Scott Braddock (@scottbraddock) May 19, 2021

As you might guess, I have a lot more than three things to say about this ... later.  But also a stand-alone environmental post, Ted Cruz and Louie Gohmert behaving badly, and some criminal and social justice items, all of which I'll try to get done today get to over the weekend.

Here's a few calm-me-downs.

The 2021 #ACLFest Lineup is here! ✨ Check out who’s playing our 20th Anniversary and score your tickets TODAY at 12pm CT. https://t.co/anCY972LIT pic.twitter.com/uGwvKjG1yq

— ACL Festival (@aclfestival) May 20, 2021

DALE HANSEN cracked open a beer with us on @Yallitics and shared stories we've never heard, including when he was recruited to run against a well-known statewide politician, the unbelievable way he got a job in Dallas, and how he handles haters.

LISTEN: https://t.co/UshYqm6xHl

— Jason Whitely (@JasonWhitely) May 20, 2021

And it's small solace, but stormy weather sometimes produces a beautiful thing, in that 'darkest before the dawn' kinda way.

Night
Meanwhile...in west Texas, storm chaser Laura Rowe captured this fantastic shot of a mature supercell thunderstorm, illuminated at varying heights from the setting sun#INDIGENOUS #TAIRP pic.twitter.com/nSrenuDegG

— Indigenous (@AmericanIndian8) May 19, 2021