Monday, October 09, 2017

The Weekly Wrangle

The Texas Progressive Alliance cannot deny that it has also called Donald Trump a moron -- among other things -- as it brings you this week's roundup.


Off the Kuff is glad to see that at least for now, your voter registration info is safe from the clutches of the Trump Commission.

Noah Horwitz, in the Houston Chronicle, asks why the flags shouldn't just be left at half-mast perpetually in this hellish new world of ours.  (And don't miss yesterday afternoon's Funny with the perfect toon tie-in.)

Cardinals fan SocraticGadfly salutes the success of the old NL Central rival Houston Astros, while offering a Redbirds post-mortem and to-do list, including wondering if Giancarlo Stanton is available and at what possible price.

Our Revolution swung through Austin, Houston, San Antonio, and Tyler with Nina Turner and Jim Hightower headlining, and PDiddie at Brains and Eggs cautioned the state's withered Democratic Party that their future lies there (and essentially nowhere else).  Update: The Progressive Wing posted Tweets and photos of the North Texas rally.

jobsanger has some sobering facts about guns in America.

Texas Vox applauds Austin for making solar power more accessible.

The Lewisville Texan Journal thinks that a nearby upscale neighborhood called Castle Hills might be a contender for Amazon's HQ2.

Neil at All People Have Value said the bottom line goal of his political activism is to be able to account for himself as we fight Trump and all these lousy people.  APHV is part of NeilAquino.com.

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More Lone Star blog posts and news!

In Texas Monthly's regular roundup of state political developments, Ken Paxton is under investigation again -- this time for bribery -- and the TexTrib sees Trump headed our way (Dallas, specifically) for a fundraiser near the end of this month.  (PoliTex says a photo with him will set you back 35 grand.)

Adventus fears that smaller communities damaged by Harvey will miss out on recovery funds.


Offcite looks at the lessons Houston can learn from suburbs that were designed with nature in mind.

Better Texas Blog insists that insurance coverage for contraception should be a health care standard.

Mean Green Cougar Red has had enough of the "search for answers" after every mass gun homicide.

The TSTA Blog compares and contrasts Don Willett and Thurgood Marshall.

In an era when 97% of of criminal cases end in a plea bargain, Grits for Breakfast wonders why an innocent person would accept one.

And the Rivard Report takes a *ahem* gander at how new laws regarding the ownership of chickens might reduce food insecurity in the Alamo City.

Wednesday, October 04, 2017

Our Revolution's Texas Tour this weekend

Attention Texas Democrats: this is your wake-up call.

Fresh on the heels of a big win in the Birmingham mayor's contest yesterday, the Bernie Sanders-backed Our Revolution folks are swinging through the Lone Star State this weekend, with Nina Turner and Jim Hightower headlining.

This is probably a progressive populist's last chance to get the party started here.  I won't be attending the H-Town get-together, so I hope someone who does will send me a report, or post some pics to social media.

Update: The Progressive Wing has dozens of Tweets, pictures, and video from the North Texas rally yesterday (scroll down into the comments).


Austin on Friday, October 6, Houston on Saturday, October 7 -- note this location has been changed from the one listed on the flyer above -- and then San Antonio that same Saturday evening, Dallas on Sunday, October 8, and Tyler on Sunday evening the 8th.  Yeah, hopefully the RGV and El Paso, maybe even the Panhandle, next time around.

Next week is the gubernatorial campaign kickoff for Tom Wakely in Blanco, Texas.  My phrase "Bernie Sanders in a cowboy hat" has been repeated twice now by those in the *ahem* mainstream media, mostly with some intended snark.  (I'm taking it as a compliment.)



I have, as regular clickers here will note, been harsh on Texas Democrats for their generational ineptitude, and Democrats generally for an unhealthy focus on Russian election influence.  More of that just this morning, and the debunking of last week's "bombshells" continues.

There's always time for a fresh start, and that's what Our Revolution and Wakely represent.  Take advantage of this one or keep doing what you've always done, Donks.  Your choice.