Sunday, January 17, 2021
Sunday 'Capitol Punishment' Funnies
Thursday, January 14, 2021
Thursday Lone Star Leftist Round-Up
When I saw the #Texas flag in this 📸 I feared this complex state would be unfairly judged.
— Zach Despart🖊️ (@zachdespart) January 13, 2021
But also:
- Only our AG *hasn't* condemned the riot https://t.co/UI7ByggO9w
- A Houston cop joined the mob https://t.co/uvn475Yp9x
- A Grapevine man was Zip Tie Guy https://t.co/l2EG88e5bP pic.twitter.com/1nPwNeRFnJ
Not as small a Round-up as I wished, given that the topic of shithole state insurrectionists is ... worn thin with me.
AG Ken Paxton declines to join 50 attorneys general in condemning Capitol riot https://t.co/aXT6nN5maQ
— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) January 13, 2021
Texas’ solicitor general who did not join embattled Attorney General Ken Paxton’s failed efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election is resigning, a person with knowledge of the move told @AP.
— Jake Bleiberg (@JZBleiberg) January 13, 2021
W/ @pauljweber https://t.co/GqhLZpUO2s
They gathered outside his office on West 15th Street, demanding that if Paxton doesn’t resign, he should be impeached under Article 15 of the Texas Constitution.https://t.co/mxoH7ztwye
— KXAN News (@KXAN_News) January 12, 2021
FWIW Texas AG Ken Paxton blocks journalists and constituents on Twitter.
— Lauren McGaughy 🌟 (@lmcgaughy) January 10, 2021
His former spox (while still working for the state) publicly joked about withholding public records from individuals he didn’t like.
His comms office hasn’t answered my questions for months. https://t.co/9CwFvx8X34
.@JaworskiForTX, Dem who's already declared against @KenPaxtonTX for 2022, announces he's raised $331K so far. He filed treasurer appointment July 5, tells me most was raised Aug. 1-Dec. 31.
— Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) January 13, 2021
Ted Coupz, briefly.
Sen. @tedcruz's communications director has resigned, and reports say it was in response to the senator’s efforts to overturn the election results https://t.co/RVZJZl93dB
— KVUE News (@KVUE) January 13, 2021
Trump in South Texas. As updated in the Monday Wrangle ...
Trump visited Texas today, but none of our state’s top Republican leadership—Governor Greg Abbott, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, Sen. John Cornyn, Sen. Ted Cruz—made a single mention of it on Twitter.
— Pamela Colloff (@pamelacolloff) January 12, 2021
Abbott’s last three tweets are about snow. https://t.co/dAoEQwUlwx
"We can't let the next administration even think about taking it down," Trump says about his border wall. Also makes rare direct acknowledgement of Biden's win, saying 25th Amendment "is of zero risk to me, but will come back to haunt Joe Biden and the Biden administration" pic.twitter.com/1DootBW2JQ
— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 12, 2021
True to form, America still wants it both ways. Just yards from workers picking crops, #trump boasts about his wall. #texas #alamo pic.twitter.com/664U3NKcMs
— Alfredo Corchado (@ajcorchado) January 12, 2021
Meanwhile back in DC:
It is fitting that Louie Gohmert voted AGAINST making lynching a federal crime in February and then proceeded to help incite an attempted lynching of elected officials at the US Capitol. 1/https://t.co/Wzp3LG0AbL
— Jennifer Cohn ✍🏻 📢 (@jennycohn1) January 13, 2021
Was perusing Politwoops and noticed...
— Jacob Rubashkin (@JacobRubashkin) January 11, 2021
On Jan. 3, GOP Rep. Pete Sessions tweeted that he had a great meeting with "folks from 'Stop the Steal'" and that he "encouraged them to keep fighting."
Tweet was deleted 4 days later, on Jan. 7, after insurrectionists stormed the Capitol. pic.twitter.com/HeZgyXHjQU
U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw writes a letter with fellow Texan US Rep. Chip Roy and Mace of SC and Curtis of Utah that condemns the president's "words and actions" but ultimately votes against impeachment.
— Abby Livingston (@TexasTribAbby) January 13, 2021
Rep. Chip Roy, who vowed not to comply with new metal detectors, just walked onto House floor
— Steven Nelson (@stevennelson10) January 13, 2021
Machine beeped and flashed red. He kept walking
And at the Lege ...
The Texas Senate has changed its rules so Republicans can continue deciding which bills are brought up for consideration without input from Democrats.
— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) January 14, 2021
This is the second time the Senate has changed its rules this way under Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. #txlege https://t.co/j6S4BWjfHb
And here is a Facebook video of state Sen. @DrBuckinghamTX NOT wearing a face mask today at the Texas Capitol despite telling visitors they MUST “at all times.” #txlege #tcot https://t.co/EA4XtiqgXw 2/2 https://t.co/7KQZqfIKTY pic.twitter.com/QOkkEQv9rU
— Jay Root (@byjayroot) January 12, 2021
Aspiring warlord aligns with local militia https://t.co/sdXBABgUZS
— Evan (@evan7257) January 12, 2021
Outside the Texas Capitol, members of a group called the Southern Patriot Council said they believe Joe Biden's election as president was illegal. One member, who would only identify himself to Texas Public Radio as "General E" predicted states would pass laws to stop protests like theirs.
"You won't be able to assemble anymore," he said. "So the bottom line is, assemble now while you can, because they are attempting to make it illegal for us to do that."
Last session, amid a measles outbreak in Texas, Republican state lawmakers wanted to make it even easier to opt out of vaccinations https://t.co/a4X8PYRAPG
— Sophie Novack (@SophieNovack) January 12, 2021
This session, 10+ months into the COVID-19 pandemic: https://t.co/DLfd7X69xU
See you this summer, #txlege. https://t.co/XBI9kkoDNG
— Alexa Ura (@alexazura) January 11, 2021
Houstonians didn't want to be left out.
Great work by @nkhensley to get an interview with the Houston police officer accused of taking part in the mob attack on the U.S. Capitol. https://t.co/Z5HMnzDaZL
— Juan Lozano (@juanlozano70) January 13, 2021
#BREAKING: Houston megachurch pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell sentenced to prison for his role in multimillion scheme
— KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) January 14, 2021
https://t.co/JqlUKFOdqX #khou #hounews pic.twitter.com/3HLoKM0ES4
Cities actively oppose #transprency. Houston asked the TX OAG to deny a request in the Harding St. raid because disclosure would damage their legal position. Can’t make this shit up folks. https://t.co/oUp5qYDtFz
— Kevin Buckler (@kevin_buckler) January 11, 2021
I'm throwing James Harden under this bus also. So is Judge Hidalgo and his former Rockets teammates. That's no way to open a restaurant, Mr. Beard.
https://t.co/1Du4LvFmiz pic.twitter.com/vbVsuq1wfB
— Lina Hidalgo (@LinaHidalgoTX) January 13, 2021
DeMarcus Cousins: “Me personally,I don’t feel betrayed at all. My interest was playing with John Wall, to be brutally honest..The disrespect (from James Harden) started way before any interview.Just the approach to training camp.Showing up the way he did.The antics off the court” pic.twitter.com/3XjqnqiLGN
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) January 13, 2021
Criminal and social justice news, first from (the real) Alamo City.
In September, San Antonio police officers shot and killed Darrell Zemault Sr. Bystander videos show that officers waited a full minute before administering care. https://t.co/u4NDsGm5xd
— Texas Observer (@TexasObserver) January 13, 2021
The San Antonio Current finds numerous "alternative facts" on the Texas police union's anti-reform website. KXAN reports on a wrongful death lawsuit filed against the City of Austin regarding a teenager’s suicide in the back of an APD patrol car. Grits for Breakfast rounds up more like these stories from a week ago and today. It's almost like a virus that's out of control.
A couple of environmental updates.
Four of the state's environmental groups -- the Environmental Integrity Project, Sierra Club, Environment Texas, and the Port Arthur Community Action Network -- sued the EPA last week, alleging that the agency stood by while Texas failed to enforce the nation’s federal environmental laws and adequately control air pollution in the state. DeSmogBlog reports, with the assistance of some of Texas' foremost environmental activists: Sharon Wilson, Bryan Parras, and Hilton Kelley.
Texas Standard brings the news that an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board revealed that a gas leak from a pipeline damaged during replacement work performed over 20 years ago likely caused an explosion that killed a 12 year-old girl in Northwest Dallas in 2018.
Finally, we'll roll into the weekend with Comrade Fidel's Bayou City barbecue tasting event, over 60 years ago.
Of all the curiosities and historical incongruities in Texas history --- and there are many ---- there are perhaps none more curious, in light of subsequent events. than Fidel Castro coming to Houston in 1959, eating BBQ, being given a cowboy hat and being treated like a prince. pic.twitter.com/9JqNrgTfV8
— Traces of Texas (@TracesofTexas) January 5, 2021
Monday, January 11, 2021
The Far Left Texas Wrangle *updates
This snow in Texas is incredible!!! pic.twitter.com/gLuNB8mQbJ
— Katya (@EhresmanKatya) January 10, 2021
I am going to make an effort to keep the focus forward, as the Lege gavels in tomorrow and the Traitor-in-Chief visits South Texas to celebrate something.
Trump wants to chant, "Remember the Alamo!"
— Anna Núñez (@nunez_anna) January 11, 2021
Trump plans to visit Alamo, Texas — the small border town in #HidalgoCounty, not historical site — Tuesday "to mark the completion of more than 400 miles of border wall ... broken #immigration system”#TXlegehttps://t.co/w0oQU2gLGM
.@GregAbbott_TX, @DanPatrick not expected to join Trump at border tomorrow — both will be in Austin for opening day of #txlege https://t.co/8ysWTMXMf9
— Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) January 11, 2021
Something tells me our junior senator will be greeting him. Update:
Trump visited Texas today, but none of our state’s top Republican leadership—Governor Greg Abbott, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, Sen. John Cornyn, Sen. Ted Cruz—made a single mention of it on Twitter.
— Pamela Colloff (@pamelacolloff) January 12, 2021
Abbott’s last three tweets are about snow. https://t.co/dAoEQwUlwx
(Original:)
San Antonio Express News editorial board says Ted Cruz should be expelled from the Senate. Yesterday, Houston Chronicle called for him to resign. #txlege https://t.co/zlAf8bjNte
— Jennifer Harris (@jwharris) January 9, 2021
So we’ve established walls don’t work, right? pic.twitter.com/rWklmvfwNN
— RAICES (@RAICESTEXAS) January 6, 2021
More about last week's sedition in an extended version of "Texans Behaving Badly", downpost. Returning to the Lege, one seat needs to be filled in the first election of 2021; TXElects.
HD68 special: Early voting begins (Monday) for the January 23 special election to fill the unexpired House term of Sen. Drew Springer (R-Muenster). Five candidates are on the ballot:
- John Berry (R), Jacksboro financial planner and former Jack County Commissioner
- Jason Brinkley (R), Gainesville attorney and Cooke County Judge
- Craig Carter (R), Nocona boot manufacturer who has twice unsuccessfully run for SD30
- Charles Gregory (D), Childress retired postal employee; and
- David Spiller (R), Jacksboro attorney and Jacksboro ISD board member.
The Texas Legislature begins in two days, and this session is going to be one of the most important legislative sessions in history.
— Progress Texas (@ProgressTX) January 10, 2021
Take a look at the good, bad, and ugly bills we’re watching for you this year ⬇️ #txlegehttps://t.co/WDd38WXbMM
Later this morning, Comptroller Glenn Hegar will release his estimate of the state's revenue for the next two years. Raise Your Hand Texas, advocates for public education, runs it down from their "Across the Lawn" newsletter.
The state’s current budget is already facing a $4.6 billion shortfall due to the recession caused by the pandemic and downturn in oil prices. Legislators will likely use a mix of the Rainy Day Fund, which has $8.8 billion on hand, and federal stimulus dollars to fill that hole ... What worries most budget writers, legislative members, and advocates is the estimate may be similar to 2011, when the state faced a $27 billion shortfall and cut $5.4 billion from public education.
Read on at that link about the $900 billion stimulus Congress just passed, the $5.2 billion it contains for Texas schools, and the chances that the state's teachers and children won't see any of that money invested in education because of the games the Lege is likely to play.
Update:
Texas will end biennium facing ~$1 billion shortfall. Significantly less than forecast this summer.
— Mark Wiggins (@MarkWigginsTX) January 11, 2021
$112.53 billion available for 2022-23 biennium, slight decrease from past session. #txlege #bre #txed pic.twitter.com/OdZRTGAC0k
Glad to see TX leaders plan to keep the commitment they made to education funding last #TXlege session.
— Texans Care for Children (@putkids1st) January 11, 2021
"But Phelan said he does not expect the House to shortchange public schools, which since last year have been making accommodations for remote learning" https://t.co/jnOGjRmfiB
A big "thanks" to those who caught our FB Live event for your great Qs - keep 'em coming. Bonus content I was trying to provide, below.#txlege has options to deal with General Revenue shortfall:
— 🧮 Eva DeLuna 📊 (@DeLunaEva) January 11, 2021
1) Economic Stabilization Fund
2) Federal aid to states
3) "smoke & mirrors" pic.twitter.com/COqwgsIqWb
Speaker-to-be Phelan is already pouring cold water on the possibility of casino gambling becoming a tax revenue stream for the state.
Presumptive Texas House Speaker @DadePhelan not sounding enthusiastic about Adelson-backed push to legalize gambling this session https://t.co/9GgbrH64Mf #txlege pic.twitter.com/TCEvf07FT0
— Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) January 10, 2021
Update: The death of GOP megadonor Sheldon Adelson -- announced Tuesday morning; he was investing heavily in a lobbying effort for casinos in the Lone Star State -- further clouds the possibility of that legislation being approved. Let's look at the state's worsening COVID crisis next.
1 in 5 hospital beds in Texas are occupied by COVID-19 patients. https://t.co/OZsU54r0DE
— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) January 11, 2021
3. How to get a #COVID19 vaccine in #Texas the week of Jan. 11.
— Texas DSHS (@TexasDSHS) January 10, 2021
Find, contact or sign up online with a vaccination hub: https://t.co/JNuCjQ2CZE
Use #COVID19TX vaccine provider map: https://t.co/j9iRd1YAkn
More #COVID19TX vaccine info: https://t.co/9V7Jj46PZW
#HealthyTexas pic.twitter.com/mS6p9lYWEm
Joe Deshotel for The Texas Signal does not want COVID-19 to be used as an excuse to shut the public out of the legislative process. And RG Ratcliffe, writing at Texas Monthly, puts the blame for the state's vaccine rollout chaos on Greg Abbott.
So will things get better or worse before they improve? Magic 8 Ball says, "Ask again later/Better not tell you now/Don't count on it/Outlook not so good".
As much of a selection of "Texans Behaving Badly" as I could tolerate.
"Senators who voted to certify the facts delivered the truth — something Americans haven’t been getting from a political climber whose own insatiable hunger for power led him to ride Trump’s bus to Crazy Town," the Editorial Board writes. https://t.co/jIXpouLRux
— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) January 9, 2021
ICYMI: Sen @tedcruz backs way the hell up after his self-serving stunt at the Capitol this week, though he accepts no responsibility for the natural consequence of his actions https://t.co/WmbYQX3Y05 #TxLege
— Scott Braddock (@scottbraddock) January 8, 2021
Ken Paxton, like other Republicans in Texas and across the nation, whipped up thousands of Trump supporters into a frenzy, claiming falsely that the election had been stolen from them. When the frenzy reached its violent conclusion, he blamed someone else. https://t.co/bIwsO47vCJ
— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) January 10, 2021
From Texas AG Paxton, who spoke at Trump rally that led to Capitol riot: pic.twitter.com/FOLYp5IDtD
— Ken Herman (@kherman) January 7, 2021
“Paxton’s actions would be shameful for any elected official, but are especially so for the top law enforcement officer of the state.”https://t.co/tZFcF4WTY1
— Dallas Observer (@Dallas_Observer) January 11, 2021
Kuff demands swift prosecution and punishment of everyone involved in the violent assault on the Capitol, and points to Cruz and Paxton as the top two priorities for those who value democracy.
A retired Air Force officer who lives in Dallas breached the Senate and Nancy Pelosi’s office, wearing a helmet, body armor and carrying zip-tie handcuffs.
— Kolten Parker (@KoltenParker) January 9, 2021
He tells @NewYorker he found them on the ground. https://t.co/tyk8C0OQJU
Larry R. Brock is from Grapevine, actually. His 'uniform' had a vinyl sticker of the Texas flag overlaid on the skull of The Punisher, the Marvel comic book character. His ex-wife recognized him from the photos and turned him in.
NEW: FBI has interviewed Midland, TX residents about Jenny Cudd — a florist who claims to have broken down Nancy Pelosi’s door during the Capitol riot. One woman told me she called Midland police weeks ago to report Cudd’s erratic & threatening behavior. https://t.co/YWbzgUW9dD
— Amy Brittain (@AmyJBrittain) January 11, 2021
Cudd ran for mayor of Midland last year.
.@FBI Texas real estate broker, JENNA RYAN flew to coup via private jet, posted photos & videos of her next to shattered windows at the Capitol & tweeted
— Nancy Lee Grahn (@NancyLeeGrahn) January 8, 2021
'We the people are pissed off. God wanted us here today. We just stormed the capital. It was one of the best days of my life" pic.twitter.com/dgxycn5z6G
1/ Jan 5, five domestic terrorists chartered a private jet from Denton, TX to DC to participate in a failed coup and overthrow of democracy in the U.S. 2 of those terrorists have already FAFO, lets help another.
— Antifascist Trash Panda ↙️↙️↙️🦝 (@trashpandaAFA) January 8, 2021
Meet Ty Basye, 32, of Lubbock/Sweetwater, TX. pic.twitter.com/kO9GqkHVBs
#Texas attorney fired after posting videos from inside Capitol chaos https://t.co/7ro3YQz5hG #txlege #tcot
— Jay Root (@byjayroot) January 7, 2021
Hood County, Texas, has sworn in new Peace Justice Dub Gillum, a retired @TXDPS deputy who promoted QAnon on Facebook and called for a military coup to overturn the election (his pic) pic.twitter.com/rgO2j720mB
— Bud Kennedy / #ReadLocal (@BudKennedy) January 8, 2021
Tea Party founder Julie McCarty wrote: "I’m ok with our Congressmen feeling a little fear of the people!”’ https://t.co/6JYO1xIt3A
— Bud Kennedy / #ReadLocal (@BudKennedy) January 8, 2021
That's all I can manage.
‘I Can’t Do This Anymore,’ Think 320 Million Americans Quietly Going About Day https://t.co/0hlxwteuOA pic.twitter.com/xyRCHaj14z
— The Onion (@TheOnion) January 7, 2021
Sunday, January 10, 2021
"Death to America" Toons
Please read this essay by Jack Reilly about the slow demise of political cartooning. And support the craft if you can.