Sunday, September 05, 2021
Saturday, September 04, 2021
87(3): Redistricting, aka gerrymandering
Slated, but perhaps not to be.
Texas redistricting is barely underway, but we've got our first lawsuit.
— Alexa Ura (@alexazura) September 1, 2021
Two Senate Democrats are challenging #txlege's constitutional authority to redraw House & Senate seats in a special session this fall: https://t.co/hpOtkWF4Kj
ICYMI: Texas state senators file suit arguing federal judge must draw political maps for 2022 https://t.co/8acotwwTZc #txlege
— Taylor Goldenstein (@taygoldenstein) September 1, 2021
The lawsuit from @SenatorEckhardt and @RolandForTexas argues Texas' constitution requires lawmakers meet in a regular session to redraw legislative boundaries, not a special session.
— KUT Austin (@KUT) September 1, 2021
The next regular session isn't until 2023. | @England_Weber https://t.co/IPGvmRoHaI
Scott Braddock quotes the relevant passage from the state's constitution, and Alexa Ura reports that the 5th Circuit has already appointed a three-judge panel -- one Reagan appointee, one Obama, and one Trump -- to hear the case.
Don't be surprised by the eventual lede: "In a 2-1 decision ..." Also from Braddock:
It's of note that GOP former Texas Supreme Court Justice Wallace Jefferson is on the Democrats' legal team, arguing the Texas Constitution forbids redistricting this year #txlege https://t.co/I2SD6n3Vnv
— Scott Braddock (@scottbraddock) September 1, 2021
Redistricting was done in 2003 in special session after now-Senate Dean John Whitmire reglued that year's Democratic quorum break by coming back from Oklahoma. In 2011 the process also began in special session after the 2010 census data came in (thanks, Ballotpedia) and litigation continued through 2014.
So this seems like a novel legal argument. I would think that precedent would be of considerable weight to the judges at every level where the case receives a hearing (though IANAL, and predicting court decisions in this arena is a bigger fool's errand than usual). So like you, I'll watch and wait and see what happens.
Probably over the next few years.
Friday, September 03, 2021
Deep in The Heart of Gilead
Cartoon for @TorontoStar #margaretatwood #TheHandmaidsTale #handmaidstale #TexasTaliban #TexasAbortionLaw pic.twitter.com/MiIvCLKWox
— Michael de Adder (@deAdder) September 3, 2021
Perhaps I should start at the beginning.
A new Texas abortion law allows private citizens to sue abortion providers and anyone else who helps a woman obtain an abortion — including those who give a woman a ride to a clinic or provide financial assistance in obtaining an abortion. https://t.co/P4HpA4XY0X
— NPR Politics (@nprpolitics) September 2, 2021
๐จ “The Supreme Court refused just before midnight on Wednesday to block a Texas law prohibiting most abortions, less than a day after it took effect and became the most restrictive abortion measure in the nation.” https://t.co/EgbjpOBkCW #BansOffOurBodies #SCOTUS
— NARAL (@NARAL) September 2, 2021
Meanwhile…
— Alana Rocha (@viaAlana) September 2, 2021
As the abortion ban goes into effect, Texas leaders are poised to double down w/ separate restrictions on abortion-inducing medications. #txlege https://t.co/ln9Z0sQ8Da via @19thnews
When life imitates art. #txlege pic.twitter.com/CZ1wNCVv7Z
— Shell_Seas (@LivingBlueTX) September 2, 2021
I hate to burst Michelle's bubble, but electing more Democrats is simply not going to fix this problem, especially now that it's metastized to this point.
The GOP has spent years...trying to force a far-right ideology on a public that keeps rejecting it at the ballot box.
— Holland Taylor (@HollandTaylor) September 1, 2021
The "soft" overturn of Roe v. Wade exposes how far-right John Roberts has let the Supreme Court go https://t.co/eicP1SfrFu
And here is where it all went off the rails for orthodox Democrats.
folks, gives me no pleasure to announce that celeb shitlibs are back on their bullshit pic.twitter.com/TXF4T2yd17
— beth, an alien ๐ฝ (@bourgeoisalien) September 2, 2021
In 2016 I warned that this kind of rhetoric does nothing to budge voters.
— Briahna Joy Gray (@briebriejoy) September 1, 2021
I was right.
If Democrats want a different outcome, they should 1) run better candidates, & 2) critique aging liberal justices who hubristically refuse to step down before it's too late. https://t.co/xgPN4rWnTf
It’s Liberal twitter’s greatest hits on the trends today.
— BERSERK (@srslyberserk) September 1, 2021
Featuring Ralph Nader tanked Al Gore, Jill Stein Loves Putin, and Bernie Sanders Ruins Everything.
It also features bonus tracks like We can push Biden left and Get Ready to blame the everyone else when we lose in 22.
This is what you voted for, so I'll hear zero complaints from you today or any other day.
— JillKlausen (@_AbolishPolice_) September 2, 2021
Hillary Clinton: I Could Compromise (with Republicans) on Abortion If It Included Exceptions For Mother's Healthhttps://t.co/mkWAcciel5
Democrats have been screaming and crying about Ralph Nader and Jill Stein for 20+ years yet they STILL refuse to simply pass #RankedChoiceVoting and solve the “spoiler” problem. Democrats: you are in power. Pass Ranked Choice Voting now or you don’t get to complain ever again. https://t.co/FJY4A05VNu
— Dave Schwab ๐ป (@FreeDaveSchwab) September 1, 2021
Libs are having a completely normal one I see. Years after, they still can't look inward to figure things out. In a way I want to feel sorry for them but I also want laugh for a long time. pic.twitter.com/qrfyySrOdG
— Leftward Swing๐น๐ป๐ด☠️⛑️๐ (@LeftwardSwing) September 1, 2021
I finally got so sick of arguing with the vote blue no matter who liberals, I started looking them dead in the eye, and telling them with all seriousness to stop splitting the green vote
— holdens-rhm (@jonna_love85) September 1, 2021
The year is 2021, if you have the time to relitigate the 2016 election instead of focusing your energy on #ClimateCrisis #VotingRights and #HumanRights . . . YOU ARE NOT PART OF THE SOLUTION.
— Sema (@_SemaHernandez_) September 1, 2021
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk Wednesday.
I just wish they could focus on their real enemies.
Now that Brett Kavanaugh just voted to virtually end Roe v. Wade, here are all of the times that Susan Collins said Brett Kavanaugh won’t overturn Roe v. Wade. pic.twitter.com/ShHiEn7Hcm
— No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen (@NoLieWithBTC) September 2, 2021
.@ATT is the top corporate donor to the #TXLege co-authors of the #RoeVWade ban https://t.co/NeWQAG4AQL #CancelATT #BansOffOurBodies
— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) September 2, 2021
1. The chief sponsor of Texas' draconian abortion ban, which the SCOTUS left in place, is @SenBryanHughes.
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) September 2, 2021
Here are some of Hughes corporate donors over the last 3 years:@ATT (17.5K)@GetSpectrum (17.5K)@WeAreFarmers (10K)@Comcast (5.5K)@CVSHealth (4K)@Deloitte (3K)
at six weeks gestation, you still have an embryo. it's not considered a fetus until 8 weeks.
— Sine Big Pants Report (@WithoutReports) September 2, 2021
the heart doesn't develop until 9 weeks.
and @ShelbySlawson is not a doctor so she shouldn't be messing in TX women's healthcare. #BringBackSheffield #txlege https://t.co/NWi8bdBPRU
I remember just like it was 13 days ago when Gov. Abbott received Regeneron, a treatment developed with fetal stem cells coming from abortions.
— Iso (@Weber91870260) September 1, 2021
The topic is so tired but shitlibs are so stupid. I can never again be in a political party full of people completely unwilling to own their failures, and worse, do absolutely nothing about them.
It makes no sense to keep yelling that the 2016 election is responsible for all our woes as we watch Democrats have complete control of govt & use the filibuster as an excuse to not pass the most vital legislation.
— Vaccinated๐Masked๐ทPraying for the World๐๐พ✝️ (@BreeNewsome) September 1, 2021
This just has to be said over and over again: Democrats have the power right now to do something about the Texas abortion ban, and every other far-right power grab. They are not helpless bystanders. https://t.co/gGQoC4Hh4W
— Jack Mirkinson (@jackmirkinson) September 1, 2021
Joe Biden can restore constitutional rights to women in Texas, b/c the conservatives' clever plan to evade constitutional review can be flummoxed by Federal Privacy Providers.
— Elie Mystal (@ElieNYC) September 2, 2021
If Biden has the guts to defend women's rights, that is.
My latest in @thenationhttps://t.co/urkZfn2fv1
As the @TexasGOP advanced #SB8, DC Democrats stalled #RoeVWade protections in a committee https://t.co/0vxOoVUhOq #TXLege
— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) September 2, 2021
48 Democratic senators have signed onto this bill. The only holdouts: Joe Manchin and Bob Casey https://t.co/CHapZSQOCd
— Andrew Perez (@andrewperezdc) September 2, 2021
Let me be fair; there are lots of people ready to make good trouble and break this law.
Lots of women are going to need support starting tomorrow onward. (The new law bans all abortion once fetal cardiac activity is detected (about 6 weeks along). Thanks to @sovietcyka for being a helping hand. https://t.co/u8Aet6rwr8
— Puro Pinche is Fully Vaxxed ๐ (@PuroPincheSA) September 1, 2021
I will buy your plane ticket out of Texas, pick you up from the airport and give you a place to stay in my home to recover if you are in need of an abortion.
— ๐ฝ๐ฝ Erica, The White Trash Socialist ๐ฝ๐ฝ™️ (@herosnvrdie69) September 1, 2021
Starting tomorrow, I am officially in the business of defend folks sued for having or providing an abortion. If you’ve been sued by some busybody, it’s time to call me.
— Sabretooth Nietzsche (@FeralNietzsche) September 1, 2021
Life Update:
— M. (@mollyiscontent) September 3, 2021
Today, I, a recovering Catholic living in Texas, have once again found religion @satanic_temple_ ๐ค
Thanks @TexasGOP @GovAbbott @KenPaxtonTX @DanPatrick! #txlege #christofascism #AbortionBan #AbortionIsHealthcare #religiousliberty #TST https://t.co/e0SEC7TA2q pic.twitter.com/uYPeRGLwoW
And on that note, I'll wrap here with the cartoons.
— chris britt (@chrisbritt01) September 2, 2021
#TexasGOP pic.twitter.com/6idhxj4j7r
— Jo๐ณ️๐๐๐๐๐ณ️⚧️ (@Jo_IsABitch) September 1, 2021
Gov. Abbott, AG Paxton, Lt. Gov. Patrick, Sen. Ted Cruz, et al. (4) pic.twitter.com/Bgwqvyxng0
— TX Kids Can’t Wait (@TXKidsCantWait) September 2, 2021
Today’s syndicate cartoon. #texas #roevswade #TexasAbortionBan #WomensHealth @AprilDRyan @jimmykimmel @Acosta @laloalcaraz @MaggieJordanACN @1mimi4ever @ElayneBoosler @Yamiche @co_rapunzel4 pic.twitter.com/xRHh7nHQJH
— Ed Hall (@halltoons) September 1, 2021
To: Texas GOP From: Texas Women Voters #TexasDeservesBetter #FireAbbottSaveTexas pic.twitter.com/UuCgxJMd9y
— PatrickTheMexicanCat (@MiaoPatrick) September 2, 2021
#TexasTaliban #TexasHatesWomen #TexasDeservesBetter #TexasShariaLaw #GregAbbottHatesWomen#GregAbbott #Texas#RoeVWade #Privacy pic.twitter.com/40gXw24Iib
— Rev. Louis Cifer PhD (@Lu666Cifer) September 2, 2021
“Under His Eye” = “The Eyes of Texas” pic.twitter.com/xD9PNoEeNF
— Pat Bagley (@Patbagley) September 1, 2021
The Sine MF'n Die Wrangle from Far Left Texas
The Quorum, by @Nick_Anderson_ https://t.co/AvuAAJ29D1 #TXLege #TexasDeservesBetter
— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) September 1, 2021
Iterum #sinedie sed revertentur
— Alana Rocha (@viaAlana) September 3, 2021
Translation: again without day, but they’ll be back
In lay terms: #txlege stands adjourned [for now]https://t.co/qmK3kenBk2
The carnage will continue -- redistricting lies ahead -- sometime after the long weekend, subject to Governor Helen Wheels' next summons.
.@DanPatrick calls on @GovAbbott to give the Legislature another shot at passing a bill that would restrict which teams transgender student athletes could join, one of the few conservative priorities that didn’t make it across the finish line this session. #txlege pic.twitter.com/0WfwJmCPnn
— Jasper Scherer (@jaspscherer) September 3, 2021
And TXElects, with a spot of good news (subject to the call in the third special session).
SB 97 by Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) would have required various “audits” and “reviews” of, and “explanations” from, county election officials. It passed the Senate today on a 17-14 vote but did not make it over to the House for further action. At least one Republican voted against it.
It's apropos that statehouse Dems managed to screw up one last time before the end came.
On critical race theory, there appeared to be a sustainable point of order but Democrats were divided amongst themselves about whether to try to kill it and win the day or surrender and at least temporarily end the punishment of this cruel summer https://t.co/80ZOJObiZh #TxLege
— Scott Braddock (@scottbraddock) September 3, 2021
Recriminations both accurately and falsely ascribed with respect to the origins of SB8 are still circulating, so I'll post that separately. Let's survey the rest of the damage left behind by Hurricane IDontGiveaDamn, aka the Texas GOP.
ICYMI ...
These 16 Texas laws went into effect today https://t.co/AUr92DWvuu
— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) September 2, 2021
House Bill 1925 makes camping in an unapproved public place a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500. https://t.co/r2tJh121Tg
— FOX 4 NEWS (@FOX4) September 2, 2021
One law going into effect bans government contracts with companies that “discriminate against the firearm or ammunition industries,” while another effectively makes gun stores essential businesses that can't be shut down in a disaster. | via @keranews https://t.co/JRoebqaurS
— KUT Austin (@KUT) September 1, 2021
#HB3979 goes into effect today, just as the #txlege Senate brings #SB3 to the floor tomorrow.
— IDRAEdPolicyFellows (@IDRAeduFellows) September 1, 2021
These bills attempt to hide our children from the truth of history and will harm the future of Texas. #StopSB3https://t.co/b9qVAgteN8
Why all the legislative gymnastics to pass another bill on critical race theory? It probably has something to do with the Chairman of a group that put at least $11 million into defending the GOP majority making it a personal mission to ban CRT https://t.co/1HpFacPTjb #txlege
— Scott Braddock (@scottbraddock) September 1, 2021
And the bail reform bill got a lot of concerned attention from the people whose opinions I respect on criminal justice issues.
This article uses the phrase "bail reform" in the wake of the Legislature passing new restrictions on pretrial release for poor people, but once again, the bill passed at the #txlege wouldn't affect this case. At all. The whole frame is misleading. https://t.co/HYKfym3A3S
— Grits for Breakfast (@Grits4Breakfast) August 31, 2021
Harris County isn’t giving defense attorneys body cam footage for 6 months, yet the #txlege wants to make it harder for people to make bail. Innocent people will be in jail for 1/2 year because attorneys don’t have access to evidence. That is not justice. https://t.co/UjcGGFgISy
— Elsa Alcala (@TexasElsa) August 28, 2021
Ross Ramsey of the TexTrib and Matt Davies of Newsday, in cartoon form, provide the summary of the week's events.
https://t.co/AbvotV7qZk pic.twitter.com/JkBZcWNt4g
— Matt Davies (@MatttDavies) September 1, 2021
Here in Texas, it’s now legal to carry a gun with no license or training and enforcement of anti-abortion laws has been crowdsourced to citizen bounty hunters who can get up to $10k for turning in anyone they catch helping women obtain abortions. #txlege https://t.co/iJ5pDplp5D
— Ross Ramsey (@rossramsey) September 2, 2021
I'll also address the coming redistricting fight already under way in a forthcoming post. Lots more ahead, so I'll close with some laugh-to-keep-from-crying.
New law requires Texans to have counseling, 24-hour waiting period before being allowed to vote https://t.co/L6uRnkD7wT #TXLege
— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) September 2, 2021
https://t.co/MMLMwbQU9i pic.twitter.com/5HdeZX0MX7
— Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein) September 1, 2021
Abortions and BBQ https://t.co/UwXVbnHG3T
— Clay Jones (@claytoonz) September 3, 2021