Sunday, March 21, 2021
Sunday "Everyday Madness" Funnies
Nick Anderson, who founded Counterpoint, was interviewed by Houstonia Magazine about his cartooning career post-newspapers: "(A)rtists from all political leanings are providing takes on today’s biggest headlines as contributors. Of the 18 satirists, ten -- like Anderson -- saw their jobs cut. It’s too soon to know if Counterpoint will hit it big (at the moment it has more than 170,000 subscribers), but if it does this could be a way to ensure that his art form doesn’t just die out."
Please support their work if you possibly can.
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Wednesday Tex-Leftist Assemblage *updates
Seriously, Offline gets in the way of Online at times, and when the plumber called to say he was free to make repairs sooner than I had anticipated, I dropped everything except the laptop and made time for him. Update: A few things once again interfered with extending this post earlier. More and latest finally appears below.
Life comes at ya fast, and who would understand that better than the newly unemployed Arthur D'Andrea.
Chair of Texas Public Utility Commission resigns two weeks after he was appointed --> https://t.co/xjcqnUgX4q pic.twitter.com/tqJKcfB9lD
— NBC DFW (@NBCDFW) March 17, 2021
He was Greg Abbott's last remaining commissioner. Now he (we) has none. You may ask yourself: "How did
In a private call last week, a top Texas regulator pledged to protect the billions of dollars made by Wall Street during the February blackouts. @lsteffy reports: https://t.co/gq8WX9ZQc1
— Texas Monthly (@TexasMonthly) March 16, 2021
Ah yes, the invisible hand of the free market. The hand that Dan Patrick has decided he would like to cut off at the wrist.
Reflecting on yesterday's swift actions by the Texas Senate: This could be the most significant thing @DanPatrick said about electricity repricing. Fewer things are more reckless than passing legislation when you can't articulate who it hurts and who it helps #TxLege https://t.co/TlcI3RAKez
— Scott Braddock (@scottbraddock) March 16, 2021
House Speaker Dade Phelan doesn't care for this much guv'ment meddlin', and declared so instantly after Patrick rammed his 'fix' through the Senate.
The House's resistance to #SB2142 becomes even clearer, as the speaker says:
— Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) March 16, 2021
“Repricing based on disagreement with PUC and ERCOT’s management decisions is an extraordinary government intervention into the free market" #txlege
https://t.co/Lavj5mgAhZ
Shortly after that, Phelan said his chamber would ignore the Senate's bill. Little Dan's reaction was predictable. But he also upped the ante, demanding Abbott pressure Phelan to take up his legislation (technically, it's not dead until Saturday).
More Patrick: "Mr. Governor, the Texas Senate has spoken, and you still have not weighed in. And we believe you still have time to correct it." #txlege https://t.co/w9zFIERv6R
— Cassi Pollock (@cassi_pollock) March 16, 2021
Update: Things were somewhat calmer in Austin today at the Big 3's breakfast.
.@rossramsey: "One way to check the political mood when the Texas Legislature is meeting is to watch the state's top three leaders — and how their Wednesday breakfasts are going." #TXlege https://t.co/0CoEftHGqm
— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) March 17, 2021
But not so much at Abbott's next stop in Dallas.
.@GovAbbott slams @POTUS over minors at the border: Biden administration 'made it clear' that unaccompanied children 'will be allowed' in https://t.co/yUd3jkz9XP #TXLege #BorderCrisis
— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) March 17, 2021
Governor Hell on Wheels. No exaggeration.
I'm leaving up these hot takes from the close Lege watchers about #SB2142.
Wow. With the state's utility regulator now w/o any appointees, Abbott will be forced into confirmation battle in Dan Patrick's Senate—something he clearly wanted to avoid. https://t.co/90DY7nGaoz
— Justin Miller (@by_jmiller) March 17, 2021
Remember: PUC chairman Arthur D'Andrea said, more or less, that he took his orders from the governor's office. If that's true, then his views and his policies as described in that call are also Abbott's.
— Forrest Wilder (@Forrest4Trees) March 17, 2021
This #TexasBlackout will go down as one of the biggest government boondoggles ever. Our whole power infrastructure was an accident waiting to happen and it did. That it happened in the energy capital of the US is just the cherry on the ๐ฉ https://t.co/kXJb5LYZ7K
— Jay Root (@byjayroot) March 16, 2021
Why would Little Gov @DanPatrick run against Gov @GregAbbott_TX when Patrick can just run Texas now? #txlege
— Scott Braddock (@scottbraddock) March 17, 2021
This post's most significant updates concern HPD honcho Art Acevedo heading east for Miami's top job, and several developments around that, including the surprise from Mimi Swartz at the end.
Farewell to @ArtAcevedo, the @KingJames of performative self-promotion https://t.co/E9RhROlqnE #Miami #HouNews
— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) March 17, 2021
GET READY FOR 500 MURDERS: @ArtAcevedo predicts grim milestone for @HoustonTX as city's homicide numbers surge, under his watch at @houstonpolice. Acevedo tells @KPRC2Mario,"I’ll be gone, and bring in the best chief, bring in any chief..." https://t.co/7lgoQPJiuu @KPRC2 #hounews
— Aaron Fernandez-Wische (@KPRC2Aaron) March 17, 2021
Nice way to say adios, Chief. Schaefer Edwards at the Houston Press delivered yet another expose' of Acevedo, including the reminder that El Jefe de Policia is a self-confessed RINO. So what I mentioned yesterday about his political future being in the Sunshine State was no joke. And what John Whitmire let slip today seems to confirm that Acevedo has been planning his escape from H-Town for a while now.
.@whitmire_john tells @mimiswartz he's exploring a run for Houston mayor, and that @ArtAcevedo had agreed not to run against him if he decided to throw his hat in. #txlege https://t.co/x9TzSNKlBp
— Jasper Scherer (@jaspscherer) March 17, 2021
First of all, a hard 'NO' on Whitmire. Second: expect a bootlicking post from Charles Kuffner tomorrow morning about what wonderful news this is. He's been thick as a brick on Acevedo for years; I have no expectation of him catching a clue now. Kuff is a big part of the reason I don't use the word 'progressive' to describe anybody but Democrats like Joe Biden.
This updated Assemblage is too late as it is, and there's a green beer with my name on it waiting, so I'll stop here and save everything I'm still holding for tomorrow. Not too early, though.
Until then, enjoy the flowers and the bagpipes.
Did Texas #bluebonnets survive the winter freeze? Check out our wildflower forecast with @WildflowerCtr at https://t.co/MHEXXNUQu0 pic.twitter.com/dtXDK9T0GK
— TX Parks & Wildlife (@TPWDnews) March 16, 2021
Piper on the roof of @theduckhouston! #StPatricksDay pic.twitter.com/kBtzqbjIgk
— Cactus Music๐ต๐ถ (@cactus_music) March 17, 2021
Monday, March 15, 2021
The Far Left (Bracketville, Texas) Wrangle *updates
Inbox: @GovAbbott heads to Houston on Monday for a presser to “discuss legislative efforts to ensure election integrity in Texas,” per his office. @TeamBettencourt and new House Elections chair @BriscoeCain will join Abbott. #txlege
— Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) March 13, 2021
They talked specifically about SB7. Here's more about the press conference this morning, the hastily-arranged protest, and the legislation.
WIPING NAMES OFF TEXAS VOTER ROLLS and tightening mail-in ballot rules are two of the things that would happen if a new bill filed by @SenBryanHughes passes in Austin. #txlege pic.twitter.com/qDEnXzjlYo
— Jason Whitely (@JasonWhitely) March 14, 2021
While the Texas governor's reported intention is to stop election fraud, he is being met with protest and accused of voter suppression. https://t.co/Brjp7n7IDN
— ABC13 Houston (@abc13houston) March 15, 2021
Just another of his Grand Diversions, one that caters to the "Stop the Steal" Caucus in the TXGOP, which he'll need next year to fend off a challenge from Sid Miller ... or Dan Patrick.
.@rossramsey: An unusual appearance by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick at a Senate hearing raised speculation about political tension between him and Gov. Greg Abbott. #TXlege https://t.co/aoxayFb2eD
— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) March 15, 2021
After the freeze, Patrick said the head of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas should go, along with Abbott’s three appointees at the PUC. All but (Arthur) D’Andrea are now gone, evidence that the lieutenant governor has taken some control of the situation.
That’s a political move, whether that was his aim or not. Patrick is exerting his powers at the expense of the governor, a member of the same party — albeit of a different wing of the GOP — who has been both an ally and an adversary since the two men were elected to their current posts in 2014.
I had discounted Patrick as a gubernatorial contender as recently as last Friday. But you just can't blow off Dan shoveling sand underneath Greg's wheels. I still think Patrick knows he really does have the best job in Austin, bar none, and also wouldn't mind having some greenhorn like Miller or Allen West in the Governor's Mansion to groom as opposed to the wily and wealthy Abbott.
Yes, it's that bad here in Deep-In-The Hearta. Somebody like that could win. I'll have more on Abbott's presser this afternoon. Update:
Abbott used the event to again blast former Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins for wanting to mail unsolicited absentee ballots to all residents so they wouldn’t risk getting COVID by voting in person pic.twitter.com/z78EX8p5lW
— Jeremy Wallace (@JeremySWallace) March 15, 2021
Texas is either at the top of the wave or the bottom of the trough as it relates to COVID:
My 5 "perfect storm" worries for Texas:
— Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD (@PeterHotez) March 9, 2021
1. "No vaccines" we still haven't picked up the pace post Ice Harvey, ranking near bottom for vaccinations.
2. No masks
3. Rising B..1.1.7 variant based on new Houston Health wastewater data.
4. Slight rise in positivity
5. Spring Break pic.twitter.com/1SKn2dzJXu
9.6% of people in Texas are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, which exceeds the percent of people who have tested positive for the virus. https://t.co/VFR9bIiX1p pic.twitter.com/c5LV53vKB9
— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) March 14, 2021
Experts say a perfect storm is brewing as Texas reopens businesses to 100%, with no masks and with five COVID-19 variants spreading. https://t.co/A4CSpSyTo9
— ABC13 Houston (@abc13houston) March 11, 2021
Starting Monday, March 15th the Texas Department of State Health Services will expand COVID-19 vaccinations to include Phase 1C, meaning Texans 50 years and older will now be eligible. https://t.co/rZQTzoCyiv
— FOX26Houston (@FOX26Houston) March 15, 2021
Where we go from here -- down or back up -- will be determined by our collective personal actions, and not by anything the state government says or does.
An arrest warrant was issued for a woman who refused to wear a mask at a Texas bank, saying to a police officer: "What are you going to do, arrest me?" https://t.co/DBO4bFgh6n
— CBS Austin (@cbsaustin) March 15, 2021
This was #Texas' first weekend without #Covid_19 limits. Here's how it went for business owners: https://t.co/UcEMJAyZwW @Noodletreetx @RielHouston @picosrestaurant
— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) March 15, 2021
And Houstonia Magazine looked back on the year in COVID.
I have a ton of criminal justice news. Here's just a smattering; more tomorrow.
Acevedo's now a big public figure bc of his grandstanding on CNN n such. Ppl were even speculating about a run for TX governor, which I always found strange considering his current and former departments have been mired in scandals https://t.co/P6UWcnKFQwhttps://t.co/rWB0FrJwWo https://t.co/Oq4szzYaHo
— Michael Barajas (@michaelsbarajas) March 15, 2021
Absolutely spot on by Barajas here. When Acevedo came to Houston from Austin, he carried the heavy baggage associated with how three APD undercover detectives infiltrated the capital city's OWS protesters, who in late 2011 staged a protest at the Port of Houston and were arrested for 'felony possession of a criminal instrument', which were "dragon sleeves" that the cops made for them. That's called entrapment. Acevedo is fairly masterful at gaslighting; he marched with BLM protesters this past year in downtown H-Town, then disappeared just as his SWAT team moved in. Art Acevedo is a bad cop pulling off a long con as a good cop. He's been doing it for at least a decade. I sure hope he doesn't run for political office in Florida as a Republican. He'll be swept in.
It's no wonder, though, that he's getting out just as Sly Turner is winding down his time as mayor. Acevedo and Turner are two bedbugs in a rug when it comes to law and order.
@SylvesterTurner criminalizes poverty and then gives more of our stimulus money to HPD to murder, harass and arrest the “criminals” he creates. Is there 1 CCM who will fight for their district? 1 who cares about us? #TurnOnTurner https://t.co/SzdDpsnUQc
— Well Read Black Girl (@WellReadBlkGrl) March 13, 2021
Just 9 months ago:
— ✨#LandBack ✨ #JusticeForBreonnaTaylor ✨ (@_SemaHernandez_) March 13, 2021
Houston City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a 2021 budget that includes a $20 million increase for the Houston Police Department.#DefundThePolice
Link: https://t.co/qmFZrgbxoW https://t.co/TqcUk6VQvb pic.twitter.com/kiPSL3rzUq
It's been 5 months since Houston mayor took CARES funding gave it to cops instead of tenants, even though he already raised police budget to $964 million. Now, he is threatening to use *new* stimulus money to enrich cops and ignore schools/housing/health. This is Houston police: https://t.co/MhwkBDQMIT
— Alec Karakatsanis (@equalityAlec) March 14, 2021
Keeps the Abbott/Adler heat off Turner, I suppose.
Think police rarely use hypnosis? Think no one's been affected?
— Lauren McGaughy ๐ (@lmcgaughy) March 12, 2021
Well, we found 50+ Texas convictions based at least in part on evidence from hypnotically "refreshed" memories.
Five were overturned. Four are on death row; 11 were executed.https://t.co/zfX6nMOjC3 #txlege
A standoff between the City of Austin and a Black revolutionary group is now over, after about three and a half weeks of the group occupying a park in East Austin in protest of a recent police shooting. https://t.co/7cJqFBCY6v
— Spectrum News 1 Texas (@SpectrumNews1TX) March 13, 2021
Tribune of the People also covered this story. And Grits for Breakfast mentions "bootlicking public officials as a barrier to police reform". Whooda thunk?
I have still more 'cops behaving badly' for tomorrow; for now we'll move along to the humanitarian crisis at the southern border.
Unaccompanied immigrant children at a Border Patrol tent facility in Donna, Texas said they're being held for as many as eight days in crowded areas without showers or the ability to call their families. https://t.co/WY3PO1KjKz
— Adolfo Flores (@aflores) March 15, 2021
El Paso Matters reports that an ICE facility there has frequently violated rules for handling sick detainees, according to legal activists. All of these wretched things have motivated some Congressional Democrats to demand the Biden administration make some changes, but so far there's only been a few milquetoast words from Homeland Security Dirctor Mayorkas. I wonder if this calamity will eventually put a dent in Biden's popularity ratings.
I'll hold other Lege news for later. Here's the environmental update.
Climate change threatens the exact kinds of problems Texas experienced during last month’s winter freeze. Texas should support solutions like energy efficiency, demand response, transmission, storage and clean energy. #txlege #txclimate https://t.co/XyLah5K8F4
— Changing TX Climate (@TX_Climate) March 12, 2021
#txlege must direct @txrrc and @TCEQ to take real action to stop flaring and venting. Methane is out of control! https://t.co/yp23JO6CQO
— The Future is Bright (@timtgibson) March 12, 2021
CNBC says that the flaring message is getting through.
For many oil producers in the Permian Basin of West Texas and New Mexico, the shutdown put upstream and downstream operations in a squeeze. Downstream, multiple refining operations flared during shutdowns, releasing air pollutants from processing units. Upstream, as oil drilling came back online, there was risk of needing to flare or halt oil production in the field until the broader energy market, including refining and utility generation, stabilized. Indeed, satellite imagery showed increased flaring at oil and gas production sites in the Permian Basin did take place, according to the Environmental Defense Fund.
But at Occidental, a choice was made to shut down some operations.
“There were a couple of plants that had difficulty coming back online,” Occidental’s CEO Vicki Hollub said during a recent CNBC Evolve event focused on energy innovation. “We could have put our production back online and just flared the gas. We chose not to do that. We left the production shut down because we didn’t want to flare.”
And the Texas Living Waters Project warned that the state's aging water infrastructure is another vulnerability highlighted by Winter Storm Uri.
Texas twisters๐ช
— Christopher Nunley, Ph.D. (@chrisnunley) March 14, 2021
Take a look at this video from Happy, Texas today! #Tornado #TXwx #Tornadoes
๐ธ: KHOU pic.twitter.com/7zAtOicNhS
I got some hoops.
There was a time when men's college basketball in the Lone Star State wasn't such a big deal. But that was before Guy V. Lewis and Billy Tubbs and Pat Foster (and a few others, like Don Haskins). Nowadays it's all about Kelvin Sampson and Shaka Smart and Scott Drew and Chris Beard (and a few others).
Texas will be well represented in NCAA Tournament:
— Joseph Duarte (@Joseph_Duarte) March 14, 2021
Houston (AAC)
Baylor (Big 12)
Texas (Big 12)
Texas Tech (Big 12)
North Texas (C-USA)
Texas Southern (SWAC)
Abilene Christian (Southland)
This is the week, the best time of the year, to take the afternoon off and day-drink, eat crawfish (or Irish stew), watch the March Madness or spring training baseball. I plan on doing some of all of that.
Just make sure you observe the holiday properly.
And to close out:
.@JulianOnderdonk died at the peak of his success in 1922 at only 40 years old. However, “the father of Texas painting" and his beautiful depictions of bluebonnets are getting a second life on Twitter. https://t.co/peUVcKG0e8
— Texas Highways Magazine (@TexasHighways) March 11, 2021
One of my all-time favorite Texas photos. The Three Stooges in Dallas for the Texas Centennial, 1936. Nyuck nyuck nyuck! pic.twitter.com/fZIsyojgjU
— Traces of Texas (@TracesofTexas) March 15, 2021
More tomorrow, hopefully not this long.