Saturday, September 19, 2020
Friday, September 18, 2020
Friday Lone Star Lefty Round-up
Keep your eyes on the Gulf again.
Tropical Depression Twenty-Two in the Gulf of Mexico Forecast to Become Tropical Storm Beta; Flood Danger Into Next Week | The Weather Channel https://t.co/pPu7UUiLRn
— MSN Weather (@msnweather) September 18, 2020
Governor Abbott has folded to the disaster capitalists who are the base of his financial support and opened up the state's businesses for more COVID spreading.
New: @govabbott announced that most of Texas will be able to loosen some coronavirus restrictions, including letting many businesses increase their capacity to 75%, as soon as Monday. https://t.co/xq0qqNwLTP
— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) September 17, 2020
Including assisted living facilities.
New from me: Gov. Abbott announced expanded visitation for long-term care facilities beginning Sept. 24. Facilities were previously required to be entirely free of COVID-19 before visitors were allowed. https://t.co/UMht87AAZE
— Shawn Mulcahy (@shawndmulcahy) September 17, 2020
But not the bars. Vox caught up with an Austin liquor store owner who described how his business has continually made adjustments through the six-month-long pandemic.
Teachers and students are adjusting as well.
There are:
— Emma Platoff (@emmaplatoff) September 17, 2020
-5.5 million Texas public school students
-1.1 million learning in person (so far)
-at least 2,344 coronavirus cases — a rate of about 0.21%.
w/ @AliyyaSwaby: https://t.co/z3i7M73anI
With just a few of the most recent election headlines ...
GOP Texas congressman essentially running against @GregAbbott_TX #TxLege https://t.co/Q12scRcF9m
— Scott Braddock (@scottbraddock) September 18, 2020
Fortunately, all vote-by-mail applications have already been delivered to Harris County voters aged 65 and above. My office is prepared to send applications and educational materials to remaining registered voters at the conclusion of this baseless litigation. https://t.co/nxUdVso9ZI
— Chris Hollins (@CGHollins) September 15, 2020
Stay tuned! We're setting up a special Zoom forum w/@AngelaNWalker & our Texas candidates for this Friday evening. More details tomorrow! @dbcgreentx @qweekat @Wakely2020 @Dr_RREAL @Viapadron @brodymulligan @HalRidleyJr #Greentwitter #GreenParty #NotMeUs #LeftUnity @GreenPartyUS
— Green Party of Texas (@TXGreens) September 16, 2020
Here are those details (Facebook Live, tonight at 7 p.m. CT).
The census count ends Sept. 30, and local officials are trying to get the word out especially in rural areas with low internet connectivity. https://t.co/Fp55tiXkRq
— Texas Standard (@TexasStandard) September 17, 2020
(Remember: in last Saturday's weekender, Senator Lucio tweeted about the Pharr-B-Q. tomorrow.)
The Alamo is in the midst of a $450 million redevelopment. And some elements – like moving its 56-foot-tall cenotaph – aren’t without controversy.
— Texas Standard (@TexasStandard) September 14, 2020
https://t.co/4WUnHGGqPE
Last month the San Antonio Report posted some renderings of the restored battlefield and the relocated Cenotaph.
The facility’s footprint amounts to 7.9 million square feet — or the equivalent of about 138 football fields.
— Austin Statesman (@statesman) September 17, 2020
The site plan, however, might be as notable for what it leaves out https://t.co/7wanYsxr7G
Ralph Bivens for the Texas Realty News Report snarks on Tesla's choice of a rural outpost for its truck factory, making the case that Houston would have been smarter.
Speaking of stupid:
Cornyn stands against tribal gaming bill backed by East Texas Republicans https://t.co/VIZGm5L0t0 #hounews
— Matt Schwartz (@SchwartzChron) September 16, 2020
Texas Democrats just don't get it. https://t.co/uUK16RlidQ
— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) September 17, 2020
A short wrap-up this Friday. Here's a few social justice posts.
Activists call for more mental health training and police reforms in the wake of the Chavez killing.https://t.co/KWOczlH8Qj
— Houston Press (@HoustonPress) September 16, 2020
Blue Bell Creameries must pay $17 million in criminal penalties for listeria outbreak https://t.co/ROR8K2EoMq via @CourthouseNews
— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) September 17, 2020
How Hate Has Bubbled To The Surface In This Small Texas Town #IStandWithProGainesville #GainesvilleTX #EndWhiteSupremacy https://t.co/7M0DDMKgy4
— Shell_Seas (@LivingBlueTX) September 17, 2020
For the first time in the history of Austin, Asian American residents now outnumber Black people in the city, according to the latest information from the U.S. Census Bureau.https://t.co/dJUaMlmgqS
— Austin Statesman (@statesman) September 17, 2020
The Underground Railroad to Mexico. Across Texas and parts of Louisiana, scholars are working to piece together a puzzle of a largely forgotten piece of American history: a network that helped thousands of Black slaves escape to south of the border. https://t.co/M3S2Yo6hUM
— Russell Contreras (@RussContreras) September 16, 2020
Thursday, September 17, 2020
White House Update: Greens and Blues see red (w/*updates)
Donks win some (Wisconsin, *Pennsylvania), Sunflowers fight back (Texas).
Share to let #Texas know Greens are on the ballot in 2020!#GreenParty #GreenNewDeal #Medicare4All #UBI #Peace #LeftUnity #NotMeUs #HawkinsWalker2020 @GreenPartyUS @HowieHawkins @AngelaNWalker @dbcgreentx @qweekat @Wakely2020 @HalRidleyJr @brodymulligan @Dr_RREAL @Viapadron pic.twitter.com/Q76MgIFArn
— Green Party of Texas (@TXGreens) September 16, 2020
Plenty blogged already about that legal case.
Dissent (4-3) This lawsuit isn't about Green Party sleeping on its rights. It is about the treatment independent candidates from a small party received from the Commission, who repeatedly refused to follow the law. The public needs to hear about the unlawful Commission actions https://t.co/R035chyMkl
— Howie Hawkins (@HowieHawkins) September 15, 2020
Screenshot from Howie and Angela's campaign page.
— Stephanie 🌻 Voltolin (@SAVoltolin) September 16, 2020
Writing them in will count in Wisconsin. They have qualified.
You can still vote for them and have it count in every state except Nevada, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. pic.twitter.com/Bry3Ppsknl
There's been a lot of the geek fighting Twitter is famous for, so I'll just post some of my favorites.
You can't make this up: Wisconsin Democrats just justified blocking the Green Party from the ballot by saying that allowing them on would delay printing & mailing. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania Democrats are delaying printing & mailing in order to block the Green Party from the ballot.
— Ben Spielberg (@BenSpielberg) September 16, 2020
Dems: Trump is killing democracy.
— 🔻NeverBiden's🦵H🅰️iry🦵Leg 🚩🏴 (@BernieToVest) September 15, 2020
Also Dems: We blocked green party ballot access! Now you have no choice but to vote for us.
🥴
I'm making a list of Green Party voters in Wisconsin who plan to vote for @joebiden now that the Democratic Party got the Greens kicked off the ballot.
— Benigma - Has The Same Toilet As Kanye (@benigma2017) September 15, 2020
I don't have a pen or paper but I think I'll be able to remember zero names in my head.
If you’re worried about spoilers you should vocally advocate for ranked choice voting, NOT kicking the Green Party off of the ballot in various states.
— The Humanist Report🌹 (@HumanistReport) September 15, 2020
Getting folks to vote is tough enough, but now Green Party voters may not vote at all, which will hurt downballot Dems.
Dem establishment will give you hot sauce, kente cloths, converse, timbs, hip hop concerts, a kneel or two, & some Mexican music,
— Anthony V. Clark (@anthonyvclark20) September 16, 2020
Dem establishment will not give you med 4 all, green new deal, defund police, housing as a human right, tax rich, legalized weed, abolish ice
"The Green Party is getting assistance from Republicans" claim the Democrats who featured 100 Republicans at their national convention a month ago
— #BernieWouldHaveWon (@Fishbones2017) September 15, 2020
I suppose that's enough blinding hypocrisy for one week.
-- While the Democrats and the Greens fought it out in court, Kanye also had to do battle for ballot access. The stress is getting to him though, and he's ... well ...
Trust me ... I WONT STOP pic.twitter.com/RmVkqrSa4F
— ye (@kanyewest) September 16, 2020
I was going to put "seeing yellow" in the headline, but it looks like he's properly hydrated, as it's more straw-colored. I would like to know if he was holding his own phone for this video. His hand -- if it's his -- is remarkably steady.
-- What's Sleepy Old Joe been up to? Latinx outreach.
After being introduced by Luis Fonsi, Joe Biden pulled out his phone and started playing Despacito ahead of his remarks kicking off Hispanic Heritage Month in Kissimmee, FL. pic.twitter.com/7R6hUZgLW1
— Sarah Mucha (@sarahmucha) September 16, 2020
Keep in mind that he hired all these new people with Latin surnames after being criticized for failing with the Browns, and this is what they came up with.
Why did Joe Biden come out and play a song from his phone about breathing on your neck slowly and murmuring in your ear please explain who how what the f*ck
— Every cliché plane is an adjective (@KindAndUnblind) September 16, 2020
I don't know. I don't know what this is, either.
Joe Biden: "Cause if you could take care, if you were a quartermaster, you can sure in hell take care running a, you know, a department store—thing, you know, where, in the second floor of the ladies department or whatever...you know what I mean?" pic.twitter.com/scBJ610bog
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) September 16, 2020
I was the quartermaster for my Scout troop at summer camp in 1969. I think that's the last time I've heard the word spoken. Ladies' department managers have lived a little longer than quartermasters, but they're going the way of department stores and dinosaurs also. Maybe Joe should go down to the Bijou and watch a newsreel, catch up on current events.
*Update: Biden's drive-in town hall on Thursday evening went well for him, although Politico thinks it was a softball session. Personally I wasn't thrilled, or surprised, at his support for fracking.
Joe Biden: "there is no rationale to eliminate, right now, fracking"
— Nigel Clarke (@Nigel_OnTheRoad) September 18, 2020
Blue MAGA: pic.twitter.com/0eaw9Mxnie
"Biden does not foresee major cuts to the Pentagon budget. In fact, he said defense spending could increase in a Biden Administration."https://t.co/wUhzmwUw6I
— Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) September 11, 2020
"Nothing will fundamentally change", except Kamala's shoes.
Seriously, she's standing in a post apocalyptic wasteland, and we're talking about her BOOTS?! pic.twitter.com/DhFULizGJr
— Jake (Cthulhu Evangelist) 🌻🦇🌹 (@jake0149) September 17, 2020
-- So let's mention Trump's town hall, where he got told to shut up by the Black woman, confused herd immunity with herd mentality, and a few other lies and ignorant comments.
*Update: Cash strapped Trump campaign awaits bailout from big donors
-- Just listen to this man.
President #DonaldTrump's lying, and his blatant denial of science, is becoming even more pronounced. I contribute his hubris to the fact that #democrats have been unable to hold him accountable and #Republicans have refused to even try.
— Mark Charles 2020 (@wirelesshogan) September 17, 2020
Who needs a yard sign?
#Election2020
— Mark Charles 2020 (@wirelesshogan) September 16, 2020
You can vote for @realDonaldTrump b/c you're angry
(at #DEMS & #JoeBiden)
You can vote for @JoeBiden b/c you're afraid
(of #DonaldTrump & #GOP)
You can vote for #MarkCharles2020 b/c you have courage
(to build a nation where We the People truly means #AllThePeople)
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
The Taco Tuesday Wrangle *w/TX Green Party update*
Texas Supreme Court rules 3 Green Party candidates should be added back to November ballot https://t.co/of3XFPggzV via @Progrexas
— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) September 16, 2020
TXElects:
The Texas Supreme Court vacated a Third Court of Appeals decision removing three Green Party candidates from the ballot and ordered a halt to the Harris County Clerk’s plan to mail absentee ballot applications to all registered voters.
In the Green Party suit, the Court directed the Secretary of State to “immediately take all necessary actions to ensure these candidates appear” on the ballot.
U.S. Senate nominee David Collins, RRC nominee kat gruene and CD21 nominee Tom Wakely were ruled ineligible because they did not pay newly required filing fees that historically applied only to candidates nominated in primary elections, ostensibly to pay for the costs of those elections. The Fourteenth Court of Appeals recently ruled upheld the fees. A federal challenge is awaiting a bench trial.
As regular Brainers know, I usually post these on Monday morning, but I had a lengthy one up on Saturday evening, so there just wasn't enough to run yesterday. Grab yourself some la comida Mexicana and get ready to read the latest -- as in 49 days away from Election Day -- updates on the Great State's ballot issues, contested races heating up, and much more.
Here’s your Texas 2020 November ballot https://t.co/wEyjTnHhPX via @TexasTribune
— Alexandra Samuels (@AlexSamuelsx5) September 15, 2020
Opening with this, about the state's mishandling of the pandemic.
The daunting task of reporting coronavirus cases and deaths in real time has strained public health departments across the country. But none have shown more repeated cracks than Texas https://t.co/mQKNox7pU1
— Scott Braddock (@scottbraddock) September 13, 2020
More Covid is down-post. Let's get to the latest on the election season.
The long-dominant Texas GOP has been forced into a defensive posture this election cycle. The prospect of Trump’s coattails dragging—instead of lifting—GOP prospects down the ballot are very real.https://t.co/e5eOiWtiKD
— Texas Observer (@TexasObserver) September 14, 2020
.@rossramsey: “With voters making their decisions about what to do when the polls open in October — just a month from now — politicians aren’t talking about solving problems. They’re all about their disagreements.” https://t.co/VzIWjj49RI
— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) September 14, 2020
OK, so you can't vote by mail. Mask up. America's calling.https://t.co/O0wF5GEd4O
— Dallas Observer (@Dallas_Observer) September 15, 2020
Kuff was on top of the vote by mail rulings, good and bad. Socratic Gadfly says that the wingnuttery was thick at an SD30 special election GOP candidate forum.
For a smattering of Trump v. Biden news:
Race for the White House Update: Widespread Non-Panic https://t.co/D7FhisCnE5 #NeverForget #TrumpLies #Bidentherapist #FridayThoughts #AmericanNeedsBiden to step down because #BernieBeatsTrump #AllBuildingsMatter #911Remembered as the day #Islamophobia took over America pic.twitter.com/9a5AC5k08a
— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) September 11, 2020
New: @JoeBiden campaign expands Texas staff https://t.co/DsyuOsPsSi
— Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) September 14, 2020
Polling analyst explains why Biden actually has a shot at winning Texas https://t.co/y1B1Cn5Sdd #TX2020
— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) September 14, 2020
Unfortunately Tr*mp supporters will be getting media attention in #laredo but please don’t forget we stand united with our vets, community and environment to stop the wall. #DumpTrump2020 #FBsawitfirst pic.twitter.com/jtzrg38T18
— BrattyV (@tsunderebebita) September 12, 2020
Rick Perry and his staff at the Energy Department worked to advance energy deals that were potentially worth billions of dollars to Perry’s friends and political donors, a six-month investigation by reporters from Time, WNYC and ProPublica shows. https://t.co/wH063bpJ46
— ProPublica (@propublica) September 13, 2020
Greg Abbott and The Law have had a long, strong relationship, and Texans are finally beginning to understand how bad that has been for many of them.
NEW - Our @JeremiSuri chastises Gov. @GovAbbott's “Back the Blue” manifesto as straight out of the Jim Crow playbook and calls upon him to make our police better, with protection and dignity for all of our diverse citizens.https://t.co/qiIFpA10fp
— urbānitūs (@UrbanitusAustin) September 10, 2020
Dos Centavos posted about the long-awaited video release of the HPD killing of Nicolas Chavez and the firing of those involved, wondering what comes next. Grits for Breakfast tried to make sense out of Greg Abbott's muddled messages on police funding. Chris Hooks at Texas Monthly makes the same effort, with the same result.
Governor Abbott should be holding Texas police forces accountable. No police violence should go without direct and swift consequences- including defunding their police departments and reallocating those funds to sorely needed social services. #TXLegehttps://t.co/IkQXW02Zf5
— Planned Parenthood Texas Votes (@PPTXVotes) September 11, 2020
Bud Kennedy at the Startlegram thinks Abbott's 'Back the Blue' pandering should be a winner in the 'burbs with the moms. ShellSeas at Living Blue in TX blogs about Abbott's long history of supporting racial injustice by using the cops as his tool. And following up on Dallas police chief Renee Hall's resignation and Mayor Eric Johnson's squabbling with city council ...
#NEW @ChiefHallDPD seeks to reassure residents after @GovAbbott ripped @CityOfDallas council members for cutting @DallasPD overtime budget by $7 million. https://t.co/bqdxo22nmM @CBSDFW
— Jack Fink (@cbs11jack) September 15, 2020
The Dallas City Council isn't defunding the police department—far from it. It's also not voting with the mayor as he attempts to pressure his colleagues into supporting cuts to city staff salaries. He's 0-2. Will he go for 3? https://t.co/F0M216VT3H
— D Magazine (@DMagazine) September 10, 2020
Grits seems more than a little perplexed about why Hall is out while Austin's Brian Manley is still employed. I have still more "Cops Behaving Badly".
A North Texas sheriff's deputy is being held on more than $1 million bond after being arrested and charged with the murder of his girlfriend. https://t.co/gehENHr7mJ pic.twitter.com/lBPv4zjxPS
— CBSDFW (@CBSDFW) September 14, 2020
A Baytown police officer has been charged with aggravated assault in the 2019 shooting death of Pamela Turner. https://t.co/Zi45uLKrzx
— Houston Public Media (@HoustonPubMedia) September 14, 2020
Arrest Affidavit: The man is accused of deleting “porn videos and pictures of his girlfriend” from his cellphone and was under investigation on “sexual misconduct allegations.” https://t.co/Wq2Qg8HUZ0
— KWTX News 10 (@kwtx) September 12, 2020
Pretty remarkable to keep hearing this line from officials in a county where Black people in mental health crisis are still shot to death by deputies or allowed to waste away in the county jail https://t.co/2UL5XLH1KOhttps://t.co/UU1Y1FSYLhhttps://t.co/ikDXfL8MrZ pic.twitter.com/x2VqlLlGOv
— Michael Barajas (@michaelsbarajas) September 14, 2020
Because Ken Paxton is the top LEO in the state, he gets included.
The back and forth between Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and the City of San Antonio over the barring of a Chick-fil-A restaurant inside San Antonio Int'l Airport continues. https://t.co/8a7S4qk0k3 pic.twitter.com/o4FHZ0fS6L
— CBSDFW (@CBSDFW) September 14, 2020
A ruling from @TXAG allows the city of El Paso to withhold information from the public about facilities with COVID-19 outbreaks. An expert on transparency said the ruling is flawed and bad public health policy. https://t.co/9qEhGlYPca
— El Paso Matters (@elpasomatters) September 2, 2020
*whew* That's a lot of dirty pigs for one week. Let's move on; Texas schools opened, and not all of them for remote learning.
In the #Austin area, @txstateteachers said #PflugervilleISD and #AustinISD received the most complaints #Texas #TXschools #COVID19 #coronavirus https://t.co/7eJPuVyvIY
— KVUE News (@KVUE) September 15, 2020
Some 30 million Mexican public school students are now learning from home. But only 53 percent of households have internet access. So the Mexican government developed a distance-learning program through television and radio.https://t.co/0SB4obIGM6
— Texas Observer (@TexasObserver) September 14, 2020
Jef Rouner for the Houston Press experienced a range of emotions on the first day of school.
Some social justice stories:
Over 60% of Houston households have had serious financial problems since the start of the pandemic.
— Texas Standard (@TexasStandard) September 14, 2020
It's disproportionately affecting Black and Latino residents by huge margins. Around 80% of those households said they’re struggling. https://t.co/WaNwgW3pnq
#ICYMI: Harris County declared racism a public health crisis. Now it must take action. #HOUNews https://t.co/N40HHEWXmH
— Howard Henderson (@hhendersonphd) September 12, 2020
Zyklon B was first used in El Paso, Texas, on Mexicans. A Nazi chemist published a journal about it in 1937, Hitler praised it and used the chemical weapon for his gas chambers. pic.twitter.com/qdW7qY4WPu https://t.co/x3lqa5yVOq
— 𝑨𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒂 (@A1icia_DeLeon) September 13, 2020
Dee Dee Watters, writing at the HouChron, insists that we include Black trans women when we say "Black Lives Matter".
Meanwhile, as we decide whether we will vote by mail or in person, here's some reporting that suggests that waiting in line during EV or on Election Day might be best:
"The data here, covering more than 28 million pieces of first-class letters tracked by SnailWorks, shows how on-time delivery declined noticeably in July after the arrival of Louis DeJoy, the Trump-aligned postmaster general" https://t.co/vDd8kgJGTF
— Mark Elliott (@markmobility) September 14, 2020
Grace Keyes at the San Antonio Report warns us to not take the US Postal Service for granted.
And let me close this out today with these.
September 15th watch the documentary! https://t.co/GQGWt26QRV
— Texas Gentleman (@txbornguy) September 11, 2020
And they're off! The Zoo, @TPWDnews and our Texas zoo partners released 155 Texas horned lizards into their native range. 100 of those hatched here! This is the first of two releases. Stay tuned, as we’re set to release a record number back into the wild in a few weeks! pic.twitter.com/XCV1sLcpoy
— Fort Worth Zoo (@FortWorthZoo) September 11, 2020