#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: Legacy media start buttering up Phelan (to kill GOP legislative priorities)

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

Houston Chronicle this morning:

Dade Phelan's rep as a hard-working, straight-shooting coalition builder made him a shoo-in as Texas' next House speaker

Tommy Williams was preparing to run for the Texas Senate in 2001 after two terms in the House when a young Dade Phelan strode into his office.

Phelan handed Williams a list of almost two dozen people in his hometown of Beaumont who he thought Williams needed to win over to cinch the election. Phelan told him he could help him do it. Williams, a Republican from The Woodlands, hired him on the spot.

“Beaumont was the largest city in my Senate district,” Williams recalled. “But I wasn’t from Beaumont. I didn’t ever live there. So I told him real quickly, ‘You know what? You’re my Jefferson County campaign manager.’”

It paid off: Williams won, and Phelan became the legislative aide the senator depended on for the next five years.

Now, almost two decades later, the 45-year-old Phelan is the presumptive House Speaker, and he has hired the former state senator to lead his transition team.

A similarly bold, self-starting move, exhibiting the same networking skills, propelled Phelan to the speakership earlier this month.

DMN:

As results started rolling in on Election Day and dashing the Texas Democrats' hopes of flipping the Texas House, Rep. Dade Phelan, a three-term Republican from Beaumont, started working the phones to lock in his bid to become the next leader of the chamber.

The next morning, Phelan announced at a Capitol press conference that he had enough votes to become the next speaker of the House. He put out a list of 83 lawmakers from both parties that included most of his rivals for the speaker’s gavel, as well as a coalition of a majority of the Republican Caucus and prominent Black and Latino Democrats.

By Thursday, his final GOP rival, Rep. Geanie Morrison of Victoria, folded her campaign and left Phelan a clear path to becoming speaker.

Within three days, the 45-year-old Phelan had maneuvered his way into one of the most powerful jobs in Texas.

To be fair to the DMN, their piece isn't as revoltingly sycophantic as the Houston Chronicle piece. It's more of a straight news piece about the session. But it's still very "friendly."

The play here is obvious. The legacy media knows Phelan's going to kill the RPT legislative priorities. So they're going to give him glowing coverage.

(Obviously, this is a re-run of the playbook they used with Joe Straus.)

None of this is surprising.

But, seriously, get a room Houston Chronicle.

Bottom Line:  The specific identity of the speaker may be "new," but the playbook never changes.

#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, #SD30: Luther clearly living rent-free in Springer's head

"Blessed be God,
Who has not turned away my prayer,
Nor His mercy from me!"
Psalm 66:20

With bill filing now underway, Drew Springer has used his house seat to file two pieces of legislation related to the Governor's emergency powers.  HB 173 would create a board to oversee any emergency declarations.  HJR 15 is a constitutional amendment that would make a special session mandatory for any emergency that lasts longer than 21 days.

Reading the legislation, our first impression is how weak they are. HB 173 is a toothless joke that instituionalizes the rubber stamp treatment Abbott has gotten during COVID. The consituional amendment, while watered down, might be a decent shell bill to amend on the floor. But that's about all it's good for.

Clearly, these are acts taxpayer funded electioneering for Springer's senate campaign. File a bill that sounds great, but that doesn't actually do anything. It's an old trick. But at least you can talk about on the campaign trail.

While it's not surprising to see Springer deploy this tactic, the subject is noteworthy.

It's not a secret that challenging the Governor's COVID orders was why Shelley Luther became a thing. Springer most likely has polling data that says he needs to neutalize that advantage. So he'll file this bill, and claim to be "more effective."

Shelly Luther shouldn't have any of it. Every time Springer tries to play the "effective" card, she should point out Springer's bill doesn't do anything. Rinse, lather, repeat.

Bottom Line: They don't try to undermine your strongest issue if they're not afraid of you.

#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.

#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: 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.

Biden hands Texas GOP late gift...will they exploit it?!?

"For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart."
2 Corinthians 5:12

Wow:

“The oil industry pollutes significantly,” Biden said. “It has to be replaced by renewable energy over time. Over time.”

Not a lot to add. That remark speaks for itself. Its' negative impact on Texas is obvious.

We were actually in the process of writing a long post about whether the GOP would respond to this...when the Governor and John Cornyn released the following statement:

.@GregAbbott_TX's statement on @JoeBiden's #Debates2020 comments last night about his proposal to phase out the #oilandgas industry. #txlege pic.twitter.com/Dn4aPcphkf

— Brad Johnson (@bradj_TX) October 23, 2020

That's actually a good start. But this needs to reach saturation level. Between now and election day, Biden's remark about eliminating the energy industry as we know it has to be inescapable.

Bottom Line: They don't deserve this level of gift. But they got it. We'll see what they do with it.

#TXLEGE/#SD30: Stickland sets record straight re: Springer's #2A history

"Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me."
Nehemiah 4:18

With Drew Springer now claiming to support Constitutional Carry, it's worth reviewing the history:

Highlights:

• Despite Stickland filing the bill each of the past three sessions, Springer never once co-authored.

• RPT legislative priority for most of the past decade.

• Over the years, Stickland asked Springer to sign onto the bill at least a dozen times.

• Thousands of Springer's constituents in HD-68 signed the ConCarry petition.

• In 2015, before he wanted a promotion, Springer publicly declined to support ConCarry.

• "When Representative Springer had the chance, he let you down."

#TXLEGE/#SD30 Special: Fallon's Tantrum Against Luther

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves."
Matthew 7:15

We're not sure when this happened, but at some point in the past few days Pat Fallon got up in Shelley Luther's grill:

Thoughts:

• Clearly, Fallon's rattled.

• Fallon's body language, and constant interruptions, is never a good look for a man when talking with a woman.
• It's called browbeating.
• Even if that wasn't Fallon's intent, that's sure as heck what it looks like.

• That being said, the degree to which Luther maintains her poise is impressive.

• Fallon: "So you need to go to jail to be elected, that's your standard."
• No, Pat, that's not what she said.

• Fallon: "I'm 5% in on your race, do you want me to go all in?!?"
• OK, jock boy.
• If Fallon is acting like this much a buffoon at 5%, we'd love to see 100% buffonery.

• Fallon: "Do you understand what sarcasm is?!?"
• Translation: My attempt at gaslighting failed, so now I'm going to retreat by claiming I was never serious to begin with.
• Dear Dudes: We don't know who needs to hear this (besides Pat Fallon), but mansplaining your alleged use of "sarcasm" to a woman is bad.

• Fallon might want to reread this interview with Coach Holtz.

Bottom Line: Sometimes reactions tell you more than the initial action.

#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: Luther's first Senate candidate, in AGES, to endorse Constitutional Carry

"Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me."
Nehemiah 4:18

This is certainly interesting:

Luther also said she’d work to uphold Texans’ right to bear arms. Texas Gun Rights, which is the “largest ‘No Compromise’ gun rights group,” according to its website, endorsed her candidacy on Thursday.

“I definitely agree that Texans have the Second Amendment right to protect themselves; I agree with Constitutional carry,” Luther said. “If Texans have the legal authority to purchase a gun, then they should have the legal authority to carry it wherever they go.”

Of course, what makes this notable is that nobody has even **FILED** this bill the past two sessions. To say nothing of trying to pass it. We're just talking about filing.

Rumor has always been that about half of the Republican caucus in the Texas Senate doesn't support it (*). Thus, they really, really don't want to vote on it. We can't prove it, but that rumor is certainly consistent with their behavior.

For Shelley Luther to take this poisition, especialy when her primary opponent is this guy, is HIGHLY noteworthy.

Bottom Line: It's impossible to know how this will play out in advance, but these comments have to be considered a good sign.

-------

* - FWIW, we were told that 8 Republican Senators were no votes in 2017.

#TXLEGE, #atxcouncil: Presler's Oversimplification

"If a ruler pays attention to lies,
All his servants become wicked."
Proverbs 29:12

National activist Scott Presler was in town yesterday and made an observation that was...not incorrect:

I’ve traveled the country & Austin has one of the biggest homeless populations I’ve seen. @MayorAdler, why are you abandoning your constituents?

If you live in Austin, and are unhappy with how things are going, then ditch the democrats & switch to Republican. pic.twitter.com/QO9omhAg0l

— #ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) August 27, 2020

For the record: We are currently typing this blog post about half a mile from where this video was filmed. We can attest to its observational accuracy. Unfortunately, experience has taught us that Preseler's proposed solution isn't good enough.

1) I live a half mile from here and walk by 2-3 times per week.

2) Wish solution were as simple as @ScottPresler suggests. Unfortunately, @GregAbbott_TX and @TexasGOP only want to fundraise and tweet. Shame, because six hour #txlege special session could fix.

cc: #atxcouncil https://t.co/lrkjMIYWoo

— cahnman (@cahnman) August 27, 2020

Presler's point might be valid in places like Seattle where the D's control both the local and the state gov. That's not the case here. Austin, whatever else you want to say about it, is still part of TEXAS. TEXAS as in the GOP controls everything.

Nevertheless, scenes like the one Scott Presler detailed yesterday persist.

The truth, of course, is that the Texas GOP could address this issue in six hours if they had the political will. They don't. See here, and here, and here, and here, and here, and here, and here. Why address this issue when it's such a good fundraiser?!?

Bottom Line:  While Scott Presler's observation about our municipal government is correct, he's unfortunately overlooking that our state government is likewise failing to use the jurisdiction it already possesses.

Harris County definitely doesn't need an "extension" on mail-in ballots

"How long, O you sons of men,
Will you turn my glory to shame?
How long will you love worthlessness
And seek falsehood? Selah"
Psalm 4:2

Press Release from RPT:

“The Harris County Clerk, Chris Hollins, has sent a letter to Governor Abbott requesting an extension for the receipt of ballots for this November’s election. First of all, we should recognize the insidious conflict of interest for Mr. Hollins as he is also the treasurer of the Texas Democrat Party.

If anyone believes that Hollins’ appointment to this position, in the largest county in Texas, is not nefarious in nature, you are delusional. It was Mr. Hollins who pushed for an extension of early voting, which, sadly, was granted by Governor Abbott. We cannot allow this partisan hack, who fills a taxpayer-funded position, to continue to advance the left’s agenda which will result in election fraud by way of ballot harvesting.

Harris County, under the inept guidance of County Judge Lina Hidalgo, has already committed some $12M to mail-in ballots, quite different from absentee ballots. If the citizens of Harris County can stand in line at Walmart, Home Depot, and other places, surely they can do so on election day.

The Republican Party of Texas asks that Governor Abbott deny this absurd request by Harris County Clerk, Chris Hollins, and preclude the progressive socialist left from implementing their designs to undermine our democracy and election integrity.”

Now, first things first, RPT could probably stand to...tone down some of those adjectives. Statements like these are a great way to preach to the choir, but don't help reach beyond it. You're coming on a little too strong.

In terms of substance, however, RPT's 100% right.

We're still over two months out from the election. There's plenty of time if you're diligent. The request from Harris county is a pre-emptive excuse for failure.

So, two and a half cheers from RPT.

Even if, GOL-LY, that's a lot of adjectives.

Bottom Line: There's no reason to pre-emptively excuse failure when there's plenty of opportunity for basic competence.

#TXLEGE: Larson's ALWAYS been about Disempowering Citizens

"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

Over the weekend, Lyle Larson published an op-ed calling for an end to the two party system. There's already been a lot of keyboard strokes spilled over the topic.  PushJunction says it well:

LYLE LARSON, ostensibly a Republican, over the weekend suggested Texas should move away from a two-party system. The maneuver earned him some flack from members of his party, including Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock).

While major parties may begin to fracture organically, Larson seeding the ground is an intriguing development since, correctly viewed, he’s a Straus puppet.

Moderates/liberal members of the GOP have been systematically undermining the Republican party base for years. The establishment flourishes when there are fewer distinctions and more parity.

In terms of analysis, we don't have a lot to add.

However, some history:

•  2013 -- Larson pushes term limits for the governor...but not the legislature.
  
  
• This would have had the structural effect of empowering committee chairs (which, at the time, were appointed by Joe Straus).
  

•  2017 -- Larson tries to move primaries to January.
  

•  2017 -- Larson tries to unconstitutionally usurp Governor's appointment power.
  
  
• Note: This proposal **might** have merit as a standalone measure.  Especially after Abbott's "reopening Texas committee" debacle.  But, as the rest of this blog post makes clear, Larson's measure wasn't a standalone measure.
  
  
• Note II: Whatever the merits of the proposal, it would require a constitutional amendment.
  

• Earlier in 2020 -- Larson tries to resurrect January primaries.

Bottom Line: None of this is surprising considering who's speaking.

For the First Time in AGES, State of Texas Does Something Right

"Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;

The rod of correction will drive it far from him."
Proverbs 22:15

Some good news:

Rumors and intel flew around for days leading up to Saturday, August 1. Dozens of activists were being bused into Austin, Texas, from Portland and Seattle to do to this city what they have done to both of those. Rumors suggested they wanted to destroy Austin police headquarters, the Texas state capitol, or both.

....

[I]nformation suggested the groups intended to attack Austin police headquarters. The headquarters building has been the site of protests and often violent riots over the past two months. The activists have attempted to storm the building in the past but failed.

Saturday’s protest activity was billed as the biggest yet, at least in part due to the shooting of Garrett Foster. Foster was the man who apparently pointed his AK-47 rifle at the car window of driver Daniel Perry while protesters surrounded and pounded on his car during an unpermitted protest and illegal taking of the public street just before 10 p.m. on July 25. Perry, an Army sergeant and licensed handgun carrier, fired his weapon after Foster had used his rifle to order Perry to roll his car window down. Pointing a gun at someone can, obviously, be read as hostile action. Texas’s castle law covers drivers in vehicles defending themselves, including the use of deadly force.

APD and the Texas Department of Public Safety were ready for Saturday’s action, making this post short.

There isn't a lot more to say.

Saturday had the potential to be bad. Really bad. But it wasn't.

For those who are interested, there's plenty of video footage on social media. You're welcome to check. But the main takeaway was that, by having DPS back up APD...not much happened. A situation with a lot of ugly potential was rendered a non-story.

Also, the GOP might have just made the case (despite the underformance 95%(+) of the time) for keeping themselves in charge of the state.

Bottom Line: Saturday night could have been a lot worse.

#TXLEGE: Still more Bi-Partisan Political Malpractice

"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

Yesterday, KXAN offered a preview of the fall campaign in Texas.  In so doing, they unintentionally offered a snapshot with what's wrong with both parties.  Here's the offending section:

Outgoing Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen said “We need to do better,” when asked if Republicans are doing enough to connect with voters virtually during the pandemic.

“I would encourage all Texans to participate and not just participate by voting,” Bonnen told KXAN, noting, too, that some virtual campaigning has included negativity on social media and that people should instead participate in a positive manner. “It’s of great importance that they engage and that they be part of that discussion and that commentary so that their voice is not run over.”

Before we get to the political stuff, let us make a non-partisan point: It is disgusting and disgraceful, and insulting to any notion of honest government, for Dennis Bonnen to be quoted in this article.

However, given that Bonnen was quoted in the article is begs some follow up questions for both parties.

For the GOP:

• On what planet is this a good look?!?  Even if you don't care about Bonnen's corruption (which you obviously don't), it doesn't take a genius to see that he's a gigantic political liability.  Why is he speaking on behalf of your party?!?  Of course, we've been making this point for nearly a year.

For the Democrats:

• Given that Bonnen keeps insisting upon thrusting himself into the news, why aren't you making him a campaign issue?!?  He should be a household name by now.  That he isn't might just be the single most astounding squandered opportunity in the history of politics.

In researching this blog post, we found this gem from last November: Republicans still deserve to lose...but Democrats don't deserve to win.

Not a lot has changed since then.  Republicans are still awful (and getting worse).  But the Democrats...still...seem to dumb to take (or at least maximize) advantage.

Then again...well.

Another data point: For as much of a debacle as the GOP convention has been and remains, have the Democrats really taken advantage?!?  Besides some snarky commentary on social media?!?  Have they actually done anything?!?

Not that we can tell.

We can't believe we're saying this, but for the first time in ages we can see a plausible path for something resembling the status quo to prevail.

It's completely pathetic, but it might just be the case.

We can't believe we just typed that.

Bottom Line:  GOP keeps handing D's opportunities.  But D's keep squandering them.  It's quite something.

If Chad Prather's serious

"Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens."
Exodus 18:21

Chad Prather recently spoke with Texas Scorecard about his recently declared run for Governor in '22:


Highlights:

• If he's talking to Empower first, that's a good sign.

•  "Texas isn't the Texas that most Texans think it is."
• Ain't THAT the truth.

•  "Anti-mandatory anything."

•  Education system: "Moving kids toward a socialist worldview."

•  Lives just outside of Ft. Worth (Johnson county).

•  Says more in support of constitutional carry in one interview than Greg Abbott has ever.
• "I don't like to see Oklahoma leading the charge" on 2A issues.
•  Once again, ain't THAT the truth.

• "We are expansion, we are growth."
• Note: More of this please.

•  "We've got to stop overlegislating everything."

It's an ok start.

That being said, we're not particularly inspired.

Prather seems to demonstrate a good grasp of certain foundational principles of governance.  That's good, so far as it goes.  But we're not really hearing anything specific to Texas.  And, well, that's important.

Texas is governed by its own unique blend of crony capitalism (aka. the good ol' boy system).  That's why things are the way that they are in this state.  To govern this state effectively, you need to understand that system without getting caught up in it (which might, unfortunately, be impossible).

Also: What powers currently possessed by the Governor of Texas does Chad Prather intend to use?!?  How does he intend to use them?!?  How would Chad Prather use those powers differently than Greg Abbott?!?  Does Chad Prather even know the specific powers delegated to the Governor under the Texas constitution?!?

Don't get us wrong, we'd vote for Chad Prather in a heartbeat over anyone else likely to appear on the 2022 ballot (ie. Greg Abbott and/or George P. Bush).  But there are light years of difference between being an acceptable protest vote and actual viability.  To say nothing of governing in the event you win.

So, we'll see.

Bottom Line: Lotta unresolved questions.  Plenty of time, however, to resolve them.  Situation worth monitoring.

Everything You Need to Know about the RPT Debacle (in one tweet)

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

Ironically, the @TexasGOP voted to make election integrity it's number one priority.

There were 4077 votes and 3238 participants.

🤔#RPT2020 #rptvision2020 #txlege

— credentialed yet? (@Daniel_Greer) July 20, 2020