I fell behind this week, and there's just too much for one post, so I'm breaking it down into a few. Opening with the duopoly's baddest actors, and when the fish rots, it begins at the top.
Commuters in Dallas-Fort Worth can catch a glimpse of the signs, which feature a beaming Greg Abbott holding a flaming stack of cash.
— Dallas Observer (@Dallas_Observer) February 8, 2022
“STOP WASTING TAXPAYER MONEY,” they read. “GOV. ABBOTT, END THE SHAM AUDIT.”https://t.co/DdPxgkBUcH
In Texas' case, such a statewide probe may be costly, with one estimate saying it could amount to some $250 million in taxpayer money. In November, $4 million was drained from the state prison system to help fund county election audits.
Maybe someone on the the call tonight will ask the SoS about this.
Save the Date! Senator @BorrisLMiles will be hosting a Virtual Town Hall on THURSDAY w/@TXsecofstate John Scott to discuss the new voting laws and how they will impact this year's election cycle. Panel @whitmire_john @CarolforTexas @iamodus_ @Cissymg @CGHollins @TxBlackDemocrat pic.twitter.com/WDr5OwOGEo
— Texas State Senator Borris L. Miles (@BorrisLMiles) February 7, 2022
John Whitmire and Chris Hollins together might make for some fireworks, or they may just stick to the topic and stick it to John Scott. ICYMI:
BREAKING: Chris Hollins, the man who brought drive-thru voting to Texas, is running for Houston mayor in 2023 https://t.co/jXRldsLbci @TexasTribune #txlege
— Joshua Fechter ๐ (@JoshuaFechter) February 7, 2022
And in case you don't follow nonsequiteuse, she has crawled up Dean Quitmire's ass, pitched a tent, started a camp fire, and is roasting weenies for Molly Cook and her entire crew.
Might I add that you’ll find a monthly $970 BMW payment in his campaign finance report, too, and tickets to Rockets, Astros, and Texans games. But NO field spend and very little support of other candidates (save for the ones he wants endorsements from).
— Julie Oliver (@JulieOliverTX) February 8, 2022
Passive-aggressively vicious. I love it.
This research is embarrassing the HouChron editorial board, but not nearly as much as their endorsement of the fellow who refused to talk to them.
"Leave it blank" is often the best option for voters...and editorial boards. https://t.co/Vf7DnJ5mYc
— Jay Malone (@mayjalone) February 9, 2022
Both the Whitmire and the Wesley Snipes Hunt endorsement are sell-outs to perceived future authority. It's about the weakest, most disgraceful action they could have taken.
.@KimOggforDA blames rising crime on #Houston judges. 14 of her prosecutors are vying to unseat them. https://t.co/t7JnwoUNmj #HouNews #HarrisCounty #TXLege #TX2022
— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) February 9, 2022
With Democrats like Ogg and Whitmire, who needs Republicans? If you're a tuff-on-crime liberal, go vote the HGLBTQ slate. Let Judge Bynum explain if you're not getting it.
Everyone should understand that the Democratic primary challengers, mainly prosecutors, are part of the play to roll back reform. No one will say their goal is to go back to jailing the poor—but that’s exactly what they’re trying to do https://t.co/HEfAjPKlea
— Franklin Bynum ๐น (@franklinbynum) January 26, 2022
This comes as some bail bond companies are reportedly asking for as little as 1% for violent offenders to be released from jail. https://t.co/yw8NoB411E
— ABC13 Houston (@abc13houston) February 9, 2022
Of course Texas Republicans have completely lost their shit, and Texas Democrats see more advantage in trying to recruit their dropouts than they do running on actual progressive policies.
Here let me fix that “I, Dan Patrick,wasted tax payer dollars on legislation that wasn’t really an issue instead of fixing Real issues” https://t.co/IOKjUCDyqx
— Michelle Beckley (@BeckleyforTX) February 8, 2022
This is going to end badly. https://t.co/0RAcYI546E #TXLege
— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) February 7, 2022
Democrat @BetoORourke is set to speak in Austin momentarily, and @GregAbbott_TX’s campaign was on the ground distributing these *empty* pill bottles…before being escorted from the event. pic.twitter.com/1lM8hTTBni
— Madlin Mekelburg (@madlinbmek) February 10, 2022
From Statesman columnist @bgrumet: "@TXAG Ken Paxton is using the powers of his office to treat a good-faith mishap as a crime, after coming under political pressure from his own base to file charges." https://t.co/US2A9YUN9B
— Austin Statesman (@statesman) February 6, 2022
Both Andrea and Kuffner climbed over the paywall to bring you the details.
A new PAC, Texans for Excellent Education, is getting involved in @TXSBOE races, railing against CRT & “the Transgender agenda.” It formed in late Jan. & hasn’t had to disclose $$ yet, but prolific TX GOP donor & ex-congressional candidate Kathaleen Wall is involved, per TEC doc.
— Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) February 9, 2022
The Drama in This Crazy Texas Primary Explains Trump’s GOP https://t.co/9OvmahXMlu #txlege
— Teddy Wilson (@reportbywilson) February 9, 2022
Who is supporting Shelley Luther in her bid for the Texas House? It's really just the Defending Texas Liberty PAC. She's raised $114k. $85k comes from the aforementioned PAC. Who are the donors to that PAC? Tim Dunn (giving $2.3m) and Farris Wilks (giving $2.1m). pic.twitter.com/Yn204aTWLf
— Christopher Tackett (@cjtackett) February 9, 2022
Your reminder that these theocratic oligarchic extremists, Dunn & the Wilks, are the Worst People in Texas. The safe bet is that the candidate they promote is the nastiest little lapdog you can imagine, who would serve only the interests of these reactionaries. https://t.co/DxHxWS049G
— Prosecute, then Heal (@Tryagain5555) February 8, 2022
In @Reuters exclusive, #txlege SD 11 candidate Bianca Gracia, who heads Latinos for Trump, was at meeting being investigated by the FBI the day before Jan 6th with leaders of Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers. https://t.co/5slN2EKzt8
— Bonnie Bruce, vaccinated (@BonnieBruce) February 8, 2022
And if it's Christian conservative sex scandals you're into, Shell Seas has your ticket.
Sexually repressed Republicans in the Texas House have been busy this year. When they aren't taking away your rights or pocketing big oil money, they appear to have nothing else to do than screw each other's brains out. #txlege https://t.co/dyNiy4hHq1
— Shell_Seas (@LivingBlueTX) February 10, 2022
Unfortunately for them, there's a lot of things that might be considered similar going on with the Donks in their primary fights.
I wish every time a Democrat claimed to be a progressive, they’d have to differentiate that from being a liberal.
— Andrea (@nonsequiteuse) January 24, 2022
A new coalition that wants to install "better" Democrats in the Texas Legislature is endorsing primary opponents to two House members who were central in intraparty disputes last year.#TXlege https://t.co/NRUYppIezf
— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) February 7, 2022
The (Texans for Better Democrats Coalition) is made up of three progressive groups tied to organized labor: the Texas Organizing Project, Communications Workers of America, and Working Families Party. They are prepared to spend about $250,000 across the three primaries, funding field and mail programs in each one, said Pedro Lira, co-director of the Texas WFP.
"As socialists and internationalists, we recognize that Israel is an apartheid state": @Austin_DSA will no longer be working to elect @GregCasar https://t.co/EhoVVUX5Ry #TX2022 #TX35 #ATX
— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) February 7, 2022
Funny how we live in a country where you can be called "progressive" and still support the apartheid state of Israel. Almost as funny as calling oneself a "socialist" and still supporting candidates in the capitalist Democrat party.
— Bexar County Greens ๐ป๐ (@BexarGreensTX) February 10, 2022
New: @AOC isn’t just visiting San Antonio in Texas this weekend. She’s heading to Austin on Sunday for a pro-Green New Deal rally with DSA there and allied groups. https://t.co/QZbzVbBsjn
— Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) February 9, 2022
Still don't understand why I call centrist Dems shitlibs? Read the replies here.
In the most recent, and very interesting, UT Tyler/Dallas Morning News poll, Texas voters seem to favor progressive policies but more conservative candidates. #txlege #publicpolicy #politics #election #Texas https://t.co/e3peO7vMXb
— PLCTexas (@PLC_Texas) February 9, 2022
On most issues, with the exception of the Biden administration’s border and immigration policy, majorities of the poll’s registered voters expressed preferences for policies that are to the left of those endorsed by Texas’s current leaders.
Frankly, that's schizophrenic.
Stace at Dos Centavos asks why two Latino GOPers are pretending to run for head immigration agent and why local Latino Dems haven't said anything about it. And SocraticGadfly takes a critical look at "gotcha" social media about the not-so-great freeze, the subject of the next Wrangle.