Tuesday, March 01, 2022

The Fat Tuesday Wrangle from Far Left Texas

I intended to go longer and meaner on the Tex Donks, and post much earlier, but life got in the way (i.e. Mardi Gras, RodeoHouston, taxes, and a lot of other stuff).  So here's a short, relatively nice -- for me -- take on today.  As stated previously, I'm sitting this primary out, for the first time in 45 years, in order to be able to participate in the Texas Green Party's convention process.  If you're a disillusioned progressive, consider joining me later this month.


I don't like Quitmire for a bevy of reasons, and my grudges include his abandoning the quorum-breakers 20 years ago, his calling my side of town a dump when he killed UT's medical school, and his belief in the divine right of prospective H-Town mayors.  So I would really like to see Molly Cook pull off the upset today. 


Not the kind of insider dope you'll ever read on Off The KuffGarcia has been a longtime friend to local bloggers, and despite his nationally-ranked status as a giver to the Democratic Party establishment, could earn this one's seal of approval if he throws in his hat against the Dean in '23.


I am frankly not thrilled with either Cisneros nor Casar because of their groveling before the Israeli lobby.  AOC's visit to San Antonio to boost them may have, as the gaggle of state media insiders solemnly and collectively speculated, hurt Texas Democrats generally a bit more than it helped, especially in the RGV.  But it's also true that in a midterm when Dems in DC are going to be hosed, these two going to Congress theoretically strengthens a Progressive Caucus that to this point has been long on performative action and short to nonexistent on results.  Cisneros only lost to Cuellar by four points two years ago, and his Blue Dog base may be voting in the GOP primary this go-round even if they would be inclined to ignore his oil-soaked, FBI-investigated baggage.  But he could easily force a runoff because Tannya Benavides is going to draw some measure of Cisneros support away.

So if I check in on election results between slurps of turtle soup from Brennan's tonight, it will be about these two races, SD-15 and CD-28.

But I'll also be interested to see who prevails in the Congressional 21st ...



... and the 15th.  Harris County judicial races can wait until tomorrow morning.


We're about to find out if the local Donks are regressing to Kim Ogg's "lawn order" position or whether bail reform will progress.  My hopes for the latter are not high given the conservative Republican squealing.  Be sure and vote for Franklin Bynum if you're casting a ballot today.


Lina Hidalgo might have to fight through a runoff, and she'll still be a top target for the Rethugs in November whether she does or not.  She's done a fine job overall, but I have enough gripes that I could undervote her race in the fall.


Just a sidebar.  Certainly not as interesting as both attorney general primaries, but worth noting. Reverend Al might draw a conservative challenger in 2024, and with Trump potentially on the ballot, could be endangered.

That's all for now but I might update here later.

Monday, February 28, 2022

It's Almost Over: Texas GOP Behaving Badly as Primary Season Closes


Once again we begin with the very worst Republicans in all of these somewhat less-United States as our beloved Texas reaches the conclusion of its screechy and vitriolic primary season.  It'll mostly be over in less than 36 hours.


Ya don't say.


K-Pax skipped this affair.


We'll get back to General Lazy Eye in a moment.


Good on Texas teachers -- and everyone else -- mobilizing against this travesty.  More social justice/injustice news was posted over the weekend.


I'll have my TexDems post -- the ones to vote for (if you're voting) and the ones not to vote for -- separately.  Lots of Democrats seem to be taking a pass on their ballot this spring; I am one.  I'll have more on that topic also.


Candidly I have just the slightest degree of higher confidence in Dr. Jones' numbers than I do Kuffner's (too many manipulations, Chuckles).

More on the way as mentioned above, plus an environmental round-up.  Here's a few calm-me-downs, starting with some Texas political history.


A Houston music scene mainstay who could sing jazz, blues, soul and gospel with equal fervor and sensitivity, Yvonne Washington was a Bayou City ambassador who took her voice all around the world, entertaining audiences from President George Bush and first lady Barbara Bush at home to jazz fans in Shanghai. Washington died on Feb. 23 at age 72 after a short illness.