#TXLEGE: Murphy's elevation illustrates, once again, how incompetent the Democrats really are

"As snow in summer and rain in harvest,
So honor is not fitting for a fool."
Proverbs 26:1

Soo...this happened:

The @TXGOPCaucus has elected its officers for the 87th #txlege session. @JimMurphy133 will serve as Chair, @TomOliverson as Vice-Chair, @GoldmanCraig as Treasurer, and @CandyNobleHD89 as Secretary. The Caucus is ready to get to work. pic.twitter.com/2ZuKJsIEm5

— Texas House Republican Caucus (@TXGOPCaucus) December 5, 2020

Sigh.

Jim Murphy, of course, being this guy:

It appears that state Rep. Jim Murphy likes taxpayer-funded hats. Channel 2 Investigates identified him wearing a couple of them. One is for the 133rd District on Houston's west side, and the other remains unclear.

Employment contracts between Murphy and the Westchase District, a governmental agency and political subdivision of the state, show Murphy banking a fixed monthly fee of over $26,000 a month. That is a whopping $312,000 a year. The contract also lists him as a "consultant" even though the website for the Westchase District clearly says he's the general manager.

So what is the problem?

State law says, "No member of the Legislature may hold any other office or position of profit, except as a notary public."

In other words, a legislator cannot hold another taxpayer-funded job.

[Note: We can't post the original TV report due to formatting issues, but we strongly recommend you click through the link above and watch the whole thing (approx. 5 minutes).]

There's a lot we could say about what this means for the session. TL,DR: Nothing good. But that's all obvious.

Instead, we want to focus on how this announcement is almost forty eight hours old, yet the Democrats haven't said a peep.

For anything remotely resembling a credible opposition party, this is a softball down the middle of the plate. Yet the Democrats are standing there with the bat on their shoulder. Textbook example of why Texas Democrats aren't likely to win anything anytime soon.

Of course, none of this is new. We've been baffled, for years, at the Democrats' inability to capitalize on Jim Murphy's scandals. This should be a gimme for them.

But it won't be, 'cuz the Democrats in Texas really are **THAT** incompetent.

(On a not entirely unrelated note, this is also a great example of why they just spent $100 million on Texas house races to come up with bupkus.)

Bottom Line: To miss this obvious of an opportunity tells you what you need to know.

#TXLEGE: Phelan's Senior Staff hires tell you what you need to know

Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
1 Corinthains 15:33

Soo, this happened:

Could not be more proud to announce these individuals to positions on my senior staff. They bring the talent and experience demanded by such a pivotal moment in our history. I am grateful for the service and leadership they will provide. #txlege pic.twitter.com/b4jBJenMh2

— Dade Phelan (@DadePhelan) December 3, 2020

The list is long on so-called “capitol experience” and revolving door relationships with the lobby. Far less clear is whether any of them has ever worked a real job. It’s swampier than Cajun country.

As PushJunction points out, about half of the names on this list are direct holdovers from former speaker Dennis Bonnen.

Beyond those obvious conclusions, however, a few other stand out:

• As someone who started with Governor Abbott, went to UT-Austin, and is now back in the legislature, Jay Dyer encapsulates Texas’ failure to address either steadily rising tuition or the various leftists uprisings we see on college campuses.

• As Dennis Bonnen’s communications director, Kate Misenheimer carried water for her boss throughout last year’s quid-pro-quo controversy and viscously attacked anyone who questioned Bonnen’s carefully constructed narrative.

• Andrew Blifford was Joe Straus’ former Chief of Staff.

These are just the surface level concerns, there’s no telling what a deeper dive would uncover.

Phelan’s staffing announcements will likely reinforce the sense of pessimism with which grassroots conservatives were already viewing the legislative session.

Bottom Line: None of this is surprising, but at least it's now official.

#TXLEGE: Patrick should make school choice the precondition for any marijuana bill

Note: We had originally planned to crop this photo to only
show Patrick and Phelan, but Abbott being irrelevant in the
 background is likewise apt.

"Show us Your mercy, Lord,
And grant us Your salvation."
Psalm 85:7

The biannual boomlet of "will Texas or won't Texas legalize marijuana this session?!?" has started. This time, it's accompanied by a subplot related to the budget. Allow us to cut to the chase.

Dan Patrick is still the Lieuentant Governor.

So, no. Marijuana legalization isn't happening. LOL.

That being said, if he's smart enough to take it, there's an opportuity for Patrick.

It's not a secret that Patrick has recently taken a tactical retreat on school choice. That house hasn't left him any option. But, if the house wants to try and force Dan Patrick to do something he doesn't want...well...two can play at that game.

Besides, in the extraordinarily unlikely chance the house were to agree to it, that would be a good trade.

Bottom Line: There's nothing Patrick can lose. There's potentially something he can gain. No brainer.

#TXLEGE: Texas house rules reform coalition letter

“I said to the boastful, ‘Do not deal boastfully,’
And to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up the horn."
Psalm 75:4

There's zero chance the Texas house adopts them, but these reforms are nevertheless a good idea:

Speaker Reforms Coalition L... by Brandon Waltens

Bottom Line: If they want to have a good session, the members should adopt these reforms. They won't. The session will proceed accordingly.

#TXLEGE: LOLarson

"and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved."
2 Thessalonians 2:10

GOLD:

[T]here are no discernible reasons [for the Texas Legislature] to continue to meet once every two years, letting important state business languish while we wait for the pages of the calendar to fall.

....

The legislature should meet for 70 days every year beginning in mid-March, finishing in May.

In other words, twice as many opportunities to pass bad bills.

Of course, this sort of gamesmanship is par for Larson's course.

PushJunction has more:

LYLE LARSON is pushing for Texas to have a 70-day annual legislative session. Part of his reasoning includes lamenting that lawmakers weren’t able to follow Rahm Emanuel’s mantra, “never let a crisis go to waste,” to enact gun regulations following recent shootings.

Likewise, Larson's use of the Rahm Emmanuel playbook is nothing new.

Bottom Line: This won't go anywhere, but it's a good insight into how far too many legislators think.

#TXLEGE: Bonnen proving West's point

"The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and trust in Him.
And all the upright in heart shall glory."
Psalm 64:10

We said our piece about Allan West going after house leadership the other day. Pretty self explanatory. Didn't have much to add.

At least, we didn't until Dennis Bonnen got in on the act:

Allen West is irrelevant. He is a failed politician from Florida who is a petulant child trying to get his parents’ attention, and Speaker Phelan, Gov. Abbott and others are true Republican conservative leaders who are smarter than to listen to the noise of a child.

Seriously...Dennis Bonnen?!?

Cuz, whatever you want to say about Allan West, he wasn't forced from office in a corruption scandal.

Indeed, the fact that Dennis Bonnen remains in good stadning, while West is personan non grata, tells you everything you need to know about the culutre of the legislature.

Bottom Line: Is there a worse judge of character than Dennis Bonnen?!?

How did the Democrats not make Paxton a campaign issue?!?

"Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding,
But a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding."
Proverbs 10:13

For most of October, we ran a quiet test of Texas Democrats' political competence: Would they make Ken Paxton's various "alleged" misdeeds a campaign issue?!?

They didn't.

It's astounding when you think about it:

• Right wing, Christian conservative elected official (who you already hate) is accused of bribery and adultery a month before the election.

• His closest friends and allies have either abandoned him or have him on **VERY** thin ice

• .As an opposition party, you claim to be making your biggest push in decades.

And yet, for all that, the Democrats let Paxton slide.

It doesn't take a genius to imagine the political ads: "Texas doesn't need corrupt Republicans like Ken Paxton and Craig Goldman/Morgan Meyer/Jeff Leach/etc. vote for [Insert Democrat candidates name here]." There's got to be stock photos or b-reel footage of all of the afore mentioned officals with Paxton. It's also the perfect topic for mailers.

This is Politics 101 type stuff when a member of the other party is enmeshed in scandal.

Texas Democrats didn't do any of it.

But, you know, let's have another ten zillion ads about "pre-existing conditions" and silly hysteria about "voter supression" in Harris County.

Bottom Line: If you're curious why Texas won't go blue anytime soon, this is a pretty good example.

#TXLEGE: West's comment about Phelan is AWESOME

"The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and trust in Him.
And all the upright in heart shall glory."
Psalm 64:10

UPDATE:

This list suggests, rather strongly, that @AllenWest is doing something right.#TXLEGE https://t.co/FkzadsUGzn

— cahnman (@cahnman) November 10, 2020

-------

Original post:

Soo, this happened:

Texas will not allow the undermining of our “Texas Republic.” This is why the Republican Party of Texas is perplexed, and will not support, a potential Texas Speaker of the House who would seek affirmation from progressive socialist Democrats to attain that position. It is utterly absurd and demonstrably idiotic that any Republican would join with Democrats to lead our Republican majority (83-67) Texas State House. Does anyone believe that Texas Democrats will support the Republican Party of Texas legislative priority of election integrity?

Therefore, let me clearly state this: the Republican Party of Texas will not support, nor accept, State Rep. Dade Phelan as Speaker of the Texas House. Texas does not need a Republican political traitor, not at a time when the two diverging philosophies of governance are this lucid.

The Republican Party of Texas will not sit back idly and watch leftist Democrats be placed as Committee Chairmen who will undermine, kill, our legislative priorities, as happened in the 86th Texas legislative session.

Texas will be led by Constitutional Conservatives, not middle of the road “road kill” individuals seeking alliance with Marxist, socialist, leftists. We fought hard in the 2020 election cycle — against massive odds and leftist resources — to retain a strong legislative majority.

Duh.

This is a completely obvious statement that shouldn't be controversial in any way, shape, or form.

Nevertheless, we've seen commentary from assorted bedwetters, chumps, and GOP simps tisk tisking at West. Most of it's concern-trolling over "not wanting to alienate the speaker" or some such nonsense. Who cares?!?

The Phelan play is the Bonnen play's retarded step-cousin. The budget, COVID, and redistricting are this session's school finance/property tax reform. "We've just gotta get those done"..."so we can grow our majority." Try again in 2023.

Understand Something: Whatever your issue, whatever your cause, YOUR BILLS. ARE ALREADY. DEAD. There's nothing you can do about it. Except refuse to play that game again.

West's comments suggest he's not playing that game.

Good on him for that.

Bottom Line:  We've been trying the same thing over and over and over again.  It keeps not working.  Heaven forbid we try something different.

#TXLEGE: White Light Phelan

"Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes;
But by a man of understanding and knowledge
Right will be prolonged."
Proverbs 28:2

So it's Phelan:

The race for the next Texas House Speaker is all but over after Rep. Geanie Morrison (R-Victoria) withdrew on Thursday afternoon.

In a statement to the Texas Tribune, Morrison said, “My team and I are uniting the Republican Caucus with our support of Dade Phelan.”

Rep. Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) announced on Wednesday that he had the votes secured to become the next speaker. Morrison, however, had a last-minute push after Rep. Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin) announced his withdrawal from the race to endorse her.

But after a meeting between Republican members, Morrison decided to drop out and get behind Phelan.

So, that's that. We stand by our sentiment that the process felt weird. File that one away in case it becomes relevant later. But, for now, Phelan can't be stopped.

It's gross, but there was never any reason to expect anything different.

Given that a Phelan speakership is now overwhelmingly likely, it's worth revisiting Bryan Slaton's recent comment:

Here is the truth: If the speaker vote is nothing more than picking which group gets to be in control, while the status quo of the Texas House remains the same, then I’m not interested in joining either team, and abstaining—or voting with a “white light”—would be my only option.

Now we know.

(Not that we didn't suspect it before.)

Bottom Line: A Phelan speakership means the status quo, and there's no reason to participate in that farce.

#TXLEGE: This Phelan thing just feels weird

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world."
1 John 4:1

Apparently, Dade Phelan has majorities in both parties' caucuses to become speaker:

UPDATE: as of 12:33 - 57Rs and 49Ds in support of my candidacy for Speaker of the House! #txlege

— Dade Phelan (@DadePhelan) November 5, 2020

He's so confident that he's even announced his "transition team":

Excited to announce my dear friend and former boss, Tommy Williams, has agreed to chair my House Speaker transition team! Ready to organize the House! #txlege pic.twitter.com/CTxodF3Q6F

— Dade Phelan (@DadePhelan) November 5, 2020

Good for Phelan. We guess. But something about this just seems...off.

Usually, people who are confident they have the votes to become speaker act that way. Beating your chest about how "confident" you are suggest the opposite. But that's admittedly speculative.

PushJunction speculates further:

DADE PHELAN held a talk-at-the-press event yesterday where he announced the Speaker’s race is over. Shortly after the event, a couple of his colleagues issued public statements contradicting Phelan’s remarks.

The Phelan play is the Bonnen play, just less convincing.

At the press conference, Phelan was all by himself, didn’t take questions, and his announcement wasn’t accompanied by an outpouring of public support on social media like events to boost Bonnen.

Bottom Line: It's impossible to know what any of this means from the outside, but it's certainly odd.

#tx2020: Status Quo (in the short term)

"For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry."
Habakkuk 2:3

To summarize:

• Trump wins Texas comfortably.

• Cornyn wins even bigger.

• Partisan split of Congressional Delegation and Texas house remain identical.

• D's gain Senate seat they were widely expected to win...by narrower than expected margin.

• D's finally gain SBOE seat that was drawn to elect a Democrat ten years ago, that they'd previously blown twice.

None of this is surprising.

In terms of basic partisanship, there's a lot of reasons to be bullish if you're a Republican. Managed properly, conservatives should benefit as well. More in due time.

But Texas is going to remain an R+10 state for the forseeable future.

Bottom Line: There was never a good reason to believe otherwise, but the question has been answered.

#TXLEGE: No Good Options

"Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour."
1 John 2:18

Whole bunch of people filed for speaker in the past week.   None of them good.  You're welcome to read about the details here.

Keep your expectations low.

There's no reason to believe anything will change.

Regardless of the speaker's specific identity, ninety percent of the Texas house's legislative output will be crony capitalism and/or shady real estate deals.

Kudos to Kyle Biedermann and Bryan Slaton for trying to force a culture change. They're fighting the good fight. More power to 'em. But the OVERWHELMING majority of house members like things the way they are.

This is a contest between Giant Douche and Turd Sandwhich (where Giant Douche is passed out drunk in Charlie Geren's office).

Bottom Line: That light you see at the end of the tunnel...it's a train.

#TXLEGE: Abbott's Campaign Spending suggests GOP in good shape in Texas house

"and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times."
Matthew 16:3

Interesting:

I've got @GregAbbott_TX's campaign spending $1.8M across 20 battleground state House races on the latest TEC filings (Sept. 25-Oct. 24). The candidate breakdown: pic.twitter.com/wzcaXn7w7t

— Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) October 28, 2020

Thoughts:

• It's fascinating that he's spending more on two central Texas districts currently held by Democrats than anywhere else.  Since he's Greg Abbott, he must obviously have polling data that suggests this is a good investment.  Think our distinguished #atxcouncil's police defunding policy had anything to do with this?!?

• Steve Allison won in 2018 by close to ten points, it's hard to imagine him being in real trouble.

• Ditto Craig Goldman...although we're less confident about that one based on his actions.

• That being said, Abbott seems to have completely written off Lacey Hull and Morgan Meyer.

• The only incumbent on this list who seems any realistic shot at losing is Jeff Leach, but even that one doesn't seem like a done deal.
• Note: If Leach actually wins, it likely means R's gain seats in the chamber.

• We'll see what happens with Matt Shaheen, but we'd be surprised if any of the seats below him on this list flip.

• All of which is to suggest there will be between 80 and 86 R's in the Texas house next session.
• Note: Absent our distinguished #atxcouncil's police defunding actions, that range is probably 78 to 84.

Remember: Abbott polls EVERYTHING.

Bottom Line: While there might be some tinkering around the edges, something roughly resembling the status quo seems likely to prevail.

#TXLEGE: Miles/Murphy remain likely to get away with EVERYTHING

"It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness,
For a throne is established by righteousness."
Proverbs 16:12

Back in February, we wrote the following:

#TXLEGE: Borris Miles, Jim Murphy and Bi-Partisan POLITICAL MALPRACTICE

The gist of the piece was that, in both parties, you had legislators enmeshed in serious scandals (financial in Murphy's case, sexual in Miles' case). Yet neither party was even attempting to make an issue out the other guy's stumbles. Gift horses, mouths, etc.

Well, here we are seven month later, and...nothing's changed.

Both Borris Miles and Jim Murphy are looking at a 95%(+) liklihood of being re-elected.

But the craziest part isn't they're both likely to be re-elected, it's that in neither case did anyone even attempt to embarrass them.

Bottom Line: If you want to understand the depressing reality of why government in this state is the way that it is, this is a pretty good place to start.

#TXLEGE: Springer gaslights voters with half-truths

"The truthful lip shall be established forever,
But a lying tongue is but for a moment."
Proverbs 12:19

Drew Springer just released quite the doozy of an ad:

.@DrewSpringer up on TV in #SD30 special election #txlege pic.twitter.com/YSr6x51aPs

— Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) September 8, 2020

Obviously, this is the type of lame ad that can only come from a Murphy-Nasica focus group (ooh look...a fire truck!!!).   Nevertheless, it contains claims that sound good.  When you look closer, however, the facts quickly reveal that Springer's occupying that grey area between chutzpah and outright lying.

Specifically, Springer says two things:

1. He voted to ban taxpayer funded lobbying.
   
   
2. He voted for the (try not to laugh) Chick-fil-a bill (LOL).

Let's take these in order.

On the taxpayer funded lobbying ban, Texas Scorecard explained the full story last week:

After watering SB 29 out via the complete substitute, Springer supported efforts to remove public schools, community colleges, and other entities from the legislation. Then he broke from the majority of his own party and voted in favor of the Democrat-Ashby amendment to exempt the vast majority of Texas counties out of the bill by population—a move that would have prevented the hollowed-out ban on taxpayer-funded lobbying from applying to the entirety of his current Texas House District and 12 of SD 30’s 14 counties.

Only after the legislation was successfully gutted did he vote for the bill to pass.

Springer may have voted for the husk of a bill on final passage, but a review of the tape shows him to be one of its most active saboteurs. Drew Springer worked to water down a ban on taxpayer funded lobbying, ensuring his own constituents wouldn’t benefit from it.

We had actually forgotten, prior to writing this blog post, that Springer carved his own constituents out of the original bill.

Then there's the (LOL) Chick-fil-a bill (LOLOLOL).

We covered this one at the time:

"No significant legal harm the the LGBTQ community" is lawyer-speak for "does nothing."

This is the substantive equivalent of the SCOTUS Colorado cake-baker case: The legislature addressed the specific actions of the San Antonio city council, but did nothing to address any other sort of abuse that falls outside of that narrow set of circumstances.

Good luck trying to live out your Faith in all the other areas of life.

But at least they were able to convince Fox News they accomplished something (and that's all that really matters).

Bottom Line: Nothing of substance was accomplished, and anyone who tries to tell you otherwise is either a liar or a chump....

It's not really a secret that, since then, the so-called "Chick-fil-a bill" has become a subject of widespread ridicule.

Thus, for Drew Springer to brag about it as one of his primary legislative accomplishments is quite revealing.

Bottom Line: Technically, Springer's "correct."   He voted for both bills.  But neither of those bills did anything.  This is the game Texas legislators love to play, and it'll be interesting to see if Drew Springer gets away with it this time.

#TXLEGE: OTOH, the Brazenness is Kinda Funny

 
"He who covers his sins will not prosper,
But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy."
Proverbs 28:13

Via. Texas Scorecard:

Since March, the Texas Capitol has been closed to the public, as part of the state’s response to the Chinese coronavirus. As the upcoming legislative session draws closer on the calendar, questions have arisen over whether the Capitol will remain closed once session begins.

An anonymous survey of Texas House members reveals most lawmakers favor restricting access to the Texas Capitol building.

....

Though many House members are in favor of restrictions on citizens, the tables begin to turn when talking about themselves. Eighty-six percent favor designating certain entrances of the Texas Capitol building for members and staff only. And 76 percent favor keeping the members’ lounge open for business, serving food and drinks, with one anonymous respondent calling it “absolutely necessary.”

“The members’ lounge is a critical component to member relationships. Often, it is the only time for members to get to know each other and have good discussions,” said one respondent. “Members who are really concerned do not have to go in there, but it should be open.”

To fully understand the context, consider that:

• The members lounge is where they keep the booze.

• Charlie Geren is the chair of the house admin. committee.

Does this one really need further explanation?!?

Bottom Line:  Apparently, lobbyists funded alcohol kills COVID

#TXLEGE: News and notes from Bryan Slaton

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,"
Hebrews 12:1

There been a decent amount of keyboard strokes spilled over Bryan Slaton's recent interview over his discussion of Greg Abbott's negative coattails. That's fine. It's certainly an important topic. And we largely agree with the conclusions.

That being said, there's a lot more there that's worthy of consideration.



Highlights:

• Running the third time is VERY rare.

• Incumbents tend to have accumulated loyalty.

• Decided to run for the third time after the Bonnen/Chris McNutt incident.
• The Bonnen/Sullivan recording confirmed it.

• Dan Flynn was apparently, quite literally, spitting mad in defense of Bonnen.

• Over the course of multiple campaigns, Slaton got know his community MUCH better.

• By the third run, he'd built relationships in the community that hadn't exists five years earlier.

• "The things that helped me most were out of my control."
• Third candidate.
• Delayed runoff due to COVID.
• Abbott's self-immolation.

• Appraisals should come out before the primary.

• Re: next session -- Need a speaker who's "a leader" and "fair."
• "Let the vote happen."
• "Don't try to manipulate everything."

#TXLEGE: Poncho's "post-Addiction" letter a DAMNING indictment of the Texas house

"[F]or he who greets him shares in his evil deeds."

2 John 1:11

Poncho Nevarez wrote a piece last week about his recovery from last year's cocaine-related unpleasantness.  It's an interesting read.  We wish him the best.  We don't harbor any personal animus (at least as long as he doesn't cash out from his lege service).

But what really stood out were the following sections:

Being an elected official, and, in particular, a member of the Texas House, requires some hubris. Whether you are obliging enough to admit, it requires an outsized sense of yourself and a lack of humility. Most of us come from being big-man-on-campus types. We mask that lack of humility in the sort of confidence people generally identify with success. The job, if you are doing it at a high level, almost demands it.

....

As I made my way through my first session, I became aware that a lot of what makes a high-functioning legislator is a talent for coloring outside the lines. I had that in spades. Guys like me tend to float through a lot of things because people perceive a potential in us, and they make allowances. Bodies like the legislature reward that, especially during the session.

....

You lose a lot of control over how things go in the legislative process. I cannot stress this enough. It becomes a tornado. Out of control. For a perfectionist thriving on control it can be maddening. My lack of patience hampered me. My ego pounded me. I became unable to manage defects in my character. My path towards full-blown alcoholism and addiction was pretty well set once I lost perspective....I just kept drinking more and then later using more and more cocaine to manage what became unbearable sadness at letting the process pile drive me and trying to shield myself from the real pain of living, and of living without people whom I had loved dearly. What else could it be, right? I mean who sets out to be an alcoholic and/or an addict? Nobody. Certainly not me.

....

As I marched through session after session, I became convinced the place was not good for me. Most of us would joke about it, but for me it was the truth. Yet the shot of adrenaline it gives you sometimes and the good on good, as I call it, are like the Sirens, calling you back.

Anyone that says the place won’t change them has not been there. It will. It becomes a question to what degree and how you deal with the change. By the time the 86th Legislature came I was roiling in depression and addictions.

Wow.

That's not normal.

Obviously, when news of Poncho's arrest broke, we wrote a very unflattering analysis.  We stand by it.  We've also long suspected that there was more to this story that isn't public.

But regardless of the details of Poncho's arrest/addiction, consider what we know that's undisputed. Consider, furthermore, what Poncho himself said in the extended blockquote above. What does that say about the culture of the Texas house?!?

Nothing good.

As we wrote in Januray:

[I]f Poncho Nevarez really is the addict he now claims to be, the Texas house accommodated Poncho Nevarez's alleged addiction as long as Poncho Nevarez was useful.

Now, from Poncho Nevarez's own pen (ok, fine, keyboard), we now have confirmation that that's exactly what happened.

Keep in mind, furthermore, that all of the above is the best case scenario.  Worse are certainly plausible. But, even in a best case, the Texas house enabled an addict because he was politically useful.

To which we will add: We don't know Poncho Nevarez.  At least not well.  We've met him a couple times and have testified in front of his committee, but we don't have any personal relationship.

But Poncho Nevarez looked terrible throughout the 2017 session.  He was fat.  He was bloated. His hair was almost always a mess. He wasn't shaving regularly.  It was obvious from 100 yards away that something was wrong with that guy. And where, pray tell, were his colleagues?!?

They were enabling him.  Because he was politically useful.  No matter how many crocodile tears they may shed today.

But good deal to Poncho Nevarez; as long as he doesn't monetize his legislative service, we're cool.

We can't say the same for his enablers/crocodile tear shedders.

Bottom Line: The toxic culture of the Texas house may have ground Poncho Nevarez down in unique ways.  That certainly seems the case.  But, details notwithstanding, what happened to Poncho was one blatant manifestation of a widespread phenomenon.  It's hardly the only one.

#TXLEGE: Beckely, Bonnen, and how Texas Democrats missed another opportunity

"But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."
James 2:18

Yesterday, in our post about the bizarre beef between Dennis Bonnen and Michelle Beckley, we wrote:

[B]eing attacked by Bonnen is pretty much the best thing that could happen to Michelle Beckley

It's now been 24 hours since that post.  And 48 hours since the original kerfuffle.  Yet, except for one tweet that causally refers to Bonnen, we've yet to hear a word about this from Beckley.  At least according to her campaign website, Facebook page, or Twitter feed.

And that's revealing in and of itself.

We don't want to litigate any dispute between Bonnen and Beckley.  According to sources that reached out to us after yesterday's post, Bonnen's personal dislike for her might have reasonably decent explanation.  That's not the point.  The point is that, politically, when you're personally attacked by a corrupt speaker of the other party...it's probably a good idea to tell people.

Michelle Beckley should have been campaigning on "having been personally attacked by a corrupt Republican speaker" (or something similar) for the past year.  Having failed to do that, she could have belatedly launched that campaign after this weekend's incident.  She's done neither.  It's a textbook example of what we discussed Saturday (and in January) (and last November).

Bottom Line: Given the state/national environment, it might not matter...but if it's close.

#TXLEGE: What's Bonnen's beef with Michelle Beckley?!?

"The wise shall inherit glory,
But shame shall be the legacy of fools."
Proverbs 3:35

Going back to when we first listened to the audio recording last summer, we've always been struck by Dennis Bonnen's obsession with Michelle Beckley.  Obviously, anyone who know this author knows we don't care about PG-13 language.  Still, for a sitting speaker to get into that level of vulgarity against an irrelevant back bencher is...odd.

But then, over the weekend, this happened:

@ForHD65 Michelle, I don’t think you want anyone reminded why your actions merit the description of “vile and heinous” but since you brought it up... #txlege https://t.co/fIZcLnP3TV pic.twitter.com/7jOfI1xGGV

— Speaker Dennis Bonnen (@RepDennisBonnen) July 26, 2020

Bonnen goes on to link to this Denton Record-Chronicle piece about some extremely vague allegations that Beckley might have made some racially charged comments a few years ago.  Who knows.  Maybe.  But does anyone actually believe that Dennis Bonnen, of all people, actually cares about that?!?

Cuz' we don't.

We strongly suspect that something happened last session that isn't public knowledge.  We don't know what.  But it's the most plausible explanation for how Bonnen's behaving.

Bottom Line: There's GOT to be a backstory here.  Whatever that backstory might be, however, being attacked by Bonnen is pretty much the best thing that could happen to Michelle Beckley.  How odd.

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Note: If anybody knows any more details, do feel free to e-mail us at cahnman@hotmail.com.  Confidentiality obviously respected.  Please don't send us direct messages on Facebook or Twitter.