Sunday, September 12, 2021
Saturday, September 11, 2021
The 2022 dilemma for Texas Democrats
Not sure where to start, so for what few Team Blue friends I have left, I'll ease into this with some recent reporting (which, both inside and outside the state, has been terrific all year). Jim Henson, whom regular followers know conducts the polling for UT and the TexTrib, does my aggregating.
In which @gromerjeffers looks at #tx2022 while the #txlege is on a temporary hiatus (sorry abt the reminder that it's not really over).
— Jim Henson (@jamesrhenson) September 3, 2021
After summer of legislative warfare, Texas Republicans, Democrats prepare for 2022 election season https://t.co/4KsO6tebdz
In a week in which Republicans are running the table the state's political system, @davidsiders channels Beckett in a piece for @politico on the Waiting for Beto dynamic in Texas https://t.co/gA34DO3wlP #tx2022
— Jim Henson (@jamesrhenson) September 1, 2021
You could stop with those two pieces if you didn't want your sensibilities offended by what comes next. But I try as hard as I can to tell the truth here. And the truth is brutal.
Toonist Mike Fluggenock's excerpt from The Atlantic above implies what I've been saying for awhile now: there will be no Congressional relief from the ravages of SB1 (or SB8), and the litigal and judicial remedies are far away and uncertain as hell.
And with redistricting teed up, Dems in Texas are in deep doo-doo.
"Until torch-bearing Texans — by whom we mean perpetually stunned Democrats, independents, traditional Republicans and newcomers from more progressive states — rise up, the monster among us will continue to rampage," The Editorial Board writes. https://t.co/JmWicv8EIm
— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) September 6, 2021
Some of those who would be most likely to break the quarter-century losing streak at the statewide level -- Beto, a Castro -- realize these circumstances, and will not respond to the exhortations of those who wish to hang their hopes on someone, anyone, which without the FTP Act or a liberal SCOTUS would be more of an albatross around their neck than a laurel wreath on their head.
Still, it seems the best-connected TexDonks don't understand this.
I swear I’ve been a Democrat all my life and at one time I was the ED of the Texas Democratic Party but if I have to go another 48 hours without a credible candidate for Governor announcing I’ll lose my shit. I’m about to be WAY off the reservation.
— Harold Cook (@HCookAustin) September 5, 2021
Read the whole thing and weep (if you care, that is) at the elitist white privilege.
Ahhh. The generation of Democratic consultants whose message was so lost that only brute strength demographics can overcome their lack of a message. Love those guys.
— Should Of Known Better (@JasonHGTruitt) September 2, 2021
Similarly one has to wonder at what point "are you mad about how grossly and obviously inept our party is? Well you better give money to one of our candidates" stops working on people. https://t.co/yrw7tfVVju
— Anti-Heathenry Aktion (@WestTXLibsoc) September 7, 2021
There's more, and it's worse.
Real opportunity for literally any Texas Democrat to run for governor https://t.co/z4AhRDvn0r
— Evan (@evan7257) September 4, 2021
Read all the replies. It turns out that "literally" does not mean literally.
This might be less embarrassing for Evan if no Democrat was actually running for Texas governor, but there are three listed here and a few more possibles here. What Evan and Harold and others such as Charles Kuffner mean is both heavily insinuated and plainly stated: you're not worthy of consideration unless you can raise the millions of dollars necessary to hire political consultants to tell you what to do, who will earn commissions from TV, radio, and direct mail media buys, and so on and so forth.
As if this was the model of success for Texas Democrats over the past 25 years. Repeating myself again: if Greg Abbott loses in 2022, it will be in the Republican primary, and 'money raised' won't have a got damn thing to do with it.
Abbott raised $2.27M during the first special session. His largest contributors for the period were Houston foundation president Nancy Kinder ($250K), Midland investor Douglas Scharbauer ($100K) and San Antonio alcoholic beverage distributor Alan Dreeben ($75K).
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Speaker Dade Phelan, Atty. Gen. Ken Paxton, Comptroller Glenn Hegar, Land Comm. George P. Bush (running for AG against Paxton), Agriculture Comm. Sid Miller and Railroad Comm. Wayne Christian -- all also on the GOP primary ballot in 2022 -- raised $450K combined during the same period.
Former Republican Party of Texas chair Allen West raised $404K during the period, including $160K from Lake Forest, Ill. shipping supply company owner Richard Uihlein. Texans supplied 42% of West’s contribution total. In addition to Uihlein, West raised $73K from out-of-state donors.
(Since I'm on this topic -- and since Chuckles Kuffner doesn't seem to be reporting it yet -- Lee Merritt, one of the two Democrats running for the right to take on Paxton in the fall of 2022, collected more than all of the AG GOP contenders combined. So there's that.)
The Texas Special Session Financial Report is out. We killed it.
— Lee Merritt (@MerrittForTexas) September 8, 2021
We out raised every Republican candidate in the race one grassroots donor at a time.
We raised 285K (7/7/21-8/6/21)
Paxton raised 39K
Bush raised 157K
Justice Guzman 193Khttps://t.co/HsYPgxsR36 pic.twitter.com/Hp4auO739G
Still, Progress Texas keeps throwing out wish lists.
This week @edespinoza writes about three factors impacting the Texas Democratic race for Governor - and offers a list of potential candidates. #txlege https://t.co/UF3yIXSKnh
— Progress Texas (@ProgressTX) August 29, 2021
I simply don't think anyone who broke quorum and then slinked back to the Capitol -- that excuses Gilberto Hinojosa's daughter -- is going to be running for a promotion to the Mansion. I could of course be mistaken.
I want to see the names of every person running against each of the Tx Democrats that got cold-feet and returned, allowing all this insidious legislation to move through #txlegehttps://t.co/4R85tl3UCZ
— Do No Harm & Take No Shit (@ItsAllAbsurd) September 10, 2021
There's a link in that story with a list, Do.
Remember: Kuff is the one who said this was always going to happen, so I suppose he's not as upset about it as others. The Vote Blue No Matter Poo crew is like that.
People rightfully bitch about Eddie Lucio on this bird app but don't sleep on @RyanGuillen voting with the GOP on the abortion bill. He's been in office for almost 20 yrs & like many RGV Dems, has gotten way too comfy in his seat. The Valley needs more women in office. #txlege https://t.co/YJIU7BBYEn
— Denise ABORTION IS LEGAL Flores (@TheDeniseFlores) September 7, 2021
When #txlege OK'd @GregAbbott_TX’s plan to hugely boost border security $, only 6% of House Democrats went along. But 38% of Senate Democrats did, incl'g @TxChuy, whose home county nixed Abbott nudge to declare a disaster. Here, Hinojosa explains his votehttps://t.co/NKh17f1aQH
— Bob Garrett (@RobertTGarrett) September 3, 2021
“You must vote for Democrats so if a Supreme Court justice dies they can appoint another to grow old in there and hopefully die with a Democrat as president” doesn’t seem to me a winning strategy.
— Jack'sHouseOfPancakes (@RegimeChangeInc) September 5, 2021
I. Am. Not. Falling. For the Banana. In the Tailpipe. Trick. Again.
Why would someone who is a constant gardner not want to consider green party? I'm a native Texan, healthcare worker.. yes I help care for patients with covid! A mother, artist and activist. Please know that the democratic establishment has encouraged the party to move right. pic.twitter.com/8QQ2uEmL6U
— DelilahForTexas💚☮🌻🌎 (@DelilahforTexas) September 4, 2021
A third party cannot win as long as you continue to not vote for them.
— The_Pale_H0rse☭ 👻🎃💀 (@The_Pale_H0rse) August 29, 2021
That's it. That is what's stopping it.
Stop buying the, "but we'll lose" bull and stand for something you want and be counted for it. If you forgo your principles for the sake of winning you already lost.
Thursday, September 09, 2021
The Thursday Wrangle from Far Left Texas
JUST IN: Gov. Abbott calls third special session. Some items on the agenda: Redistricting, transgender sports, and local governments' vaccine mandates https://t.co/Hqj8qojjQa
— CBS Austin (@cbsaustin) September 7, 2021
The real threat. #GregAbbott #Abbott #texas #TexasWarOnWomen #WomensHealth #WomensRights #RoevWade #AbortionBan #abortionrights @MaggieJordanACN @1mimi4ever @AprilDRyan @laloalcaraz @ElayneBoosler @co_rapunzel4 pic.twitter.com/MMIzyZAAGG
— Ed Hall (@halltoons) September 8, 2021
People keep asking me: "Why do you call him Governor Fish Lips?"
Gov. Greg Abbott said Texans have ‘at least’ six weeks to get an abortion. It’s more like 10 days. https://t.co/byes3x8xeK
— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) September 8, 2021
SB8 -- the Texas abortion ban -- has been the hottest topic of the week, with more than enough media coverage to link to. So I selected only a few of the secondary headlines, in case they got buried in your news review.
Why companies with #Texas ties have been relatively quiet on state's #abortion ban, in contrast to public objection to controversial election law@washingtonpost
— ChickenFriedPolitics (@ChkFriPolitics) September 5, 2021
-Southern politics are on the menu at ChickenFriedPolitics.com-https://t.co/2hqa3xrtw5
A 13-year-old learned she was pregnant after being raped by her grandfather. She can no longer get an abortion in Texas. @jblackmanChron @taygoldenstein @_yichinlee @egconley https://t.co/6Uo3NprGrM
— Gabrielle Banks (@GabMoBanks) September 5, 2021
50% supported and 44% opposed a ban on abortion “once a fetal heartbeat is detected.” But when the pollster then said it happens “around six weeks into pregnancy and before most women know they are pregnant,” the numbers flip: 56% oppose and 38% support. https://t.co/d0ECIt3ERn
— Scott Braddock (@scottbraddock) September 7, 2021
FWIW, in 2019, there were about 14,700 *reported* rapes in Texas, according to state police stats.
— Jolie McCullough (@jsmccullou) September 7, 2021
Recent DOJ surveys have found 2/3 to 4/5 of rapes go unreported. https://t.co/A7GxibK7LS
It is beyond parody that the company now hosting the Texas anti-abortion bounty site, run by a guy literally named Rob Monster, is a last stop of resort for Neo-Nazi content pic.twitter.com/864AJusma8
— steven monacelli (@stevanzetti) September 4, 2021
Only rapists who are arrested, tried, & convicted in the 6 week window when abortion is legal are unable to sue the victim. The rest CAN SUE FOR $10,000 bounty. #txlege #AbbottFailedTexasAgain #TexasAbortionLaw #TexasHatesWomen https://t.co/KTd3wbucrl
— C. Denby Swanson (@cdenbyswanson) September 9, 2021
I'm leaving a lot out: the DOJ's announcement this morning, Mimi Swartz at Texas Monthly identifying the legal mind behind the bill, AOC's description of Abbott's ignorance. Here's Amanda Marcotte from Salon about that.
Greg Abbott is not ignorant — he's a liar: Why the difference matters for the future of democracy https://t.co/yL5wrtjsl1
— Salon (@Salon) September 8, 2021
Marcotte has it exactly right. More Texas politics in the next post, under construction; wrapping up the Lege-between-specials business with a few more items before moving on to the rest.
Texans only give the #txlege 28% approval rating as special session wraps up https://t.co/b3HzB7TQYE via @maggie_glynn1
— Jim Henson (@jamesrhenson) September 5, 2021
Doctors with the @cmteetoprotect says Texas leaders failed to stop COVID-19 from spreading. | via @TPRNews https://t.co/9HHkca7a5C pic.twitter.com/CT27O5VdBU
— KUT Austin (@KUT) September 4, 2021
The lawsuit is for "gross negligence and wrongful death"https://t.co/HxP0RvAiRd
— KXAN News (@KXAN_News) September 8, 2021
.@rossramsey writes: Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed legislation designed to protect dogs earlier this year.
— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) September 8, 2021
Now he's asking the Legislature to fix it — before next year’s elections. #TXlege #TX2022 https://t.co/PHWdMNc18j
Another fix-what-I-vetoed.
I thought I was caught up on environmental and criminal and social justice posts this week, but I wasn't. So here's more of that news.
The Texas legislature has moved to block a company’s plan to ship highly radioactive nuclear waste to West Texas, but federal regulators could still allow the plan to move forward as early as this month. #txlege
— Marfa Public Radio (@MarfaRadio) September 9, 2021
via @travisbubenik https://t.co/DYjoF8wjv7
Elon Musk's plans to dig a tunnel through the RGV's sensitive, diverse coastal habitat is absolutely horrible and destructive! https://t.co/kIePEEgyDY
— Bekah Hinojosa (@beksbot) August 23, 2021
More Musk further down. And a story I've been tardy on: meet the new Downwinders at Risk.
ICYMI: “The legacy of racist zoning perpetuates unless you fundamentally redraw the map through these land use plans" https://t.co/dZsVBxop6o
— InclusiveCommunities (@ICPDallas) August 23, 2021
That's my segue.
If you're looking for a pretty accessible, easy to read primer on environmental justice / environmental history in Texas (San Antonio specifically!) I would def recommend West Side Rising, which I reviewed here for @TexasObserver: https://t.co/GNUJsuh70c
— Amal Ahmed (@amalahmed214) September 8, 2021
The U.S. Supreme Court halted Wednesday’s scheduled execution of Texas death row inmate John Ramirez. It’s the third time in recent years that justices delayed an execution over the state prison system’s rules for religious advisers in the death chamber. https://t.co/eNHvDAVBFm
— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) September 9, 2021
A complaint to the federal Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights argues UT-Austin is creating a "hostile environment" for Black students by continuing to play the “The Eyes of Texas,” which was likely first performed at minstrel shows. https://t.co/Zeh83vX7ax
— Texas Standard (@TexasStandard) September 9, 2021
In Reality Check, a limited series produced in partnership w/ @HoustonPubMedia, we look at what being asset limited, income constrained, employed means, the true number of families struggling in our area & explore how we can help break the cycle. More at: https://t.co/a6p6Nal8xh. pic.twitter.com/c74bWF1wsg
— UnitedWayHouston (@HouUnitedWay) September 9, 2021
At least 53 Texas workers have died of heat in the last decade, an investigation by @columbiajourn Investigation and The Texas Newsroom shows that’s nearly twice as many deaths as in the 2000s. Many of the dead were workers of color.https://t.co/Kl1FfxRnrz
— Houston Public Media (@HoustonPubMedia) September 7, 2021
Surveillance footage reveals police assaulting an unarmed man on his own property. While the video is shocking on its own, what’s even more shocking is the fact that the state of Texas is currently threatening the victim with 10 years in prison. https://t.co/MkxFyYx460
— The Real News (@TheRealNews) September 5, 2021
Elizabeth Rossi of Civil Rights Corps and Amanda Woog of the Texas Fair Defense Project, writing at Grits for Breakfast, excoriate Harris County DA Kim Ogg and the Houston Chronicle Editorial Board for lining up behind the "tuff-on-crimers". And Law and Crime tells us about a Trump-appointed federal judge in Texas who has appointed himself the Emperor of ICE.
A couple of state policy developments worth noting:
NEW:
— Jason Whitely (@JasonWhitely) September 7, 2021
The CEO of @TexasCentral says the bipartisan #Infrastructurebill is key to building the bullet train between Dallas and Houston.
Carlos Aguilar revealed a lot more in the @Yallitics episode that just dropped.https://t.co/cl6FTqPWqd
Elon Musk is about to become a Texas power broker—literally.
— Texas Monthly (@TexasMonthly) August 30, 2021
The entrepreneur has established a new subsidiary of Tesla that filed in mid-August with the Public Utility Commission of Texas to sell electricity on the retail market. https://t.co/uZIdFWwNx3
If you still want to understand why Musk can pick up the phone, call Abbott, and say, "stop whatever it is you're doing and come out here and eat my ass", this time-lapse drone video of Musk's truck factory on the east side of Austin -- still under construction but nearing completion -- is nothing short of mind-blowing.
Wrapping today with these.
The Certified Lover Boy himself showing love to the city 🤘🏾💜
— HTX Hip-Hop Museum (@HTXHipHopMuseum) September 3, 2021
• Drake shows appreciation to OG Ron C, Texas Southern University and Swishahouse in his new song “TSU”
• Drake samples “Get Throwed” by Bun B in the first half of “In 2 Deep” pic.twitter.com/RX9M5CrHIa
Traces of Texas reader Terrance Devlin was born in Texas & raised here until he was 14, when he moved to Arkansas. He went to college at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and just sent me these photos of old Texas-Arkansas programs, saying "Let the Hate Flow!!!" Indeed. pic.twitter.com/P6CCv1vKJv
— Traces of Texas (@TracesofTexas) September 8, 2021