#TXLEGE: Patrick escalates JUVENILE Conflict with Seliger

"Can a man take fire to his bosom,
And his clothes not be burned?"
Proverbs 6:27

We said what we said on Saturday.

Today we're here:

State Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, was just trying to head to a meeting with other Republican members of the Senate when Lt. Gov Dan Patrick stood at this door and told him: “I didn’t invite you to this meeting.” pic.twitter.com/UzSKDU0OtF

— Jeremy Wallace (@JeremySWallace) January 22, 2019

Which begs the natural follow up question:

#TXLEGE: Annnd this is supposed to advance a conservative agenda...how exactly?!? https://t.co/XWDcGCuSAG

— cahnman (@cahnman) January 22, 2019

Followed by this:

PR 01 22 2019 Lt. Gov. Patrick Statement on Senator Seliger Comments by Cahnman on Scribd

Followed by this:

Shorter Seliger: I should’ve told Dan Patrick to kiss my ass instead. https://t.co/DzLMe9QgMl

— Emily Ramshaw (@eramshaw) January 22, 2019

And this:


via GIPHY


It would have been one thing if Patrick and Seliger had had a falling out over a policy issue. Instead, it's over personality.  And the worst part is that Patrick both started and escalated it.

Historically, Dan Patrick has been pretty good at managing the more moderate members of both the R and the D caucuses.  The key is that you allow the moderates in question to pass a lot of small, relatively, inconsequential bills.  Then the moderate either supports Patrick, or stays out of the way, on Patrick's major priorities.  Case in point: Kevin Elitife two sessions ago.

But for some reason, even though it's the obvious play to make with Seliger, Patrick chooses this route.

It's mystifying.

That being said, even at this late date, 3 facts remain the case:

• Dan Patrick needs Kel Seliger more than Kel Seliger needs Dan Patrick.

• Kel Seliger still needs Dan Patrick badly enough that it's in Kel Seliger's interest to find a way to stay on the reservation.

• The price of keeping Kel Seliger on the reservation goes up each time you have one of these public blowups.

Unfortunately, it remains an open question whether anyone in a position of authority recognizes the afore mentioned facts.

Bottom Line:  These are unforced errors.  They need to end.  Right now.