Good Riddance to Ryan Sitton

"He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will be destroyed."
Proverbs 13:20

Government-mandated production limits are dead in Texas (for the time being), but gol-ly did some true colors get revealed:

But the discussion about prorationing amounted to hardly anything other than politics, Sitton said. Before Tuesday's meeting, Sitton wrote a post on his personal website titled "Politics win, Texans lose." He expressed similar sentiments on Twitter.

"I wish I could explain why so many Texans will lose their jobs while oil production drops in the US worse than anywhere else," Sitton tweeted, "but politics beats data, so there are no answers. Just 'free market.'"

Sitton's full piece is here.  We recommend you read the whole thing.  Relevant sample:

Instead, the discussion at the RRC devolved into a philosophical “free market” discussion versus a fact-based, data-driven discussion. I worked to focus on the data, follow the law, and quantify the reality of hundreds of thousands of Texas energy workers losing their jobs and businesses. Political groups, representing oil interests from all over the world worked to keep the debate from even happening.

The whole thing sounds like Franklin Roosevelt, circa 1935.

But here's the funny thing: We've never actually supported Sitton.  He was the establishment guy in 2014.  We voted for Mark Miller that fall.  While we certainly did intend to vote for him this fall, that became moot after he lost his primary.

Apparently, he didn't lose that primary a moment too soon.

Adios muchacho.

Bottom Line:  Honestly, it's astonishing we even had to have this conversation.  Government mandated crude oil production caps help nothing.  But at least the elected official who pushed this policy will be out of office soon.

Ladies and Gentelmen, your #HAILSATAN Texas Democrats!!! (Complete with Eugenics booth....)

"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"
Isaiah 5:20

Dallas, TX -- Earlier today, this website visited the Texas Democrat convention in Dallas.  We heard Wendy Davis speak several times.  The experience reminded us that this was the crowd that chanted "hail satan" last summer at the Capitol.

First things first, the crowd was about one-third the size of the crowd at the Republican convention earlier this month; we find this ironic considering how many angels fell from heaven.

Planned Parenthood was there.  They were giving away free condoms!  One of the Planned Parenthood volunteers encouraged this author to "take 3 [condoms], you might have a good convention."

Post by Adam Cahnman.

Because, obviously, #HailSatan!!!

But if you're going to encourage promiscuity, then you clearly need to have a Eugenics booth; fortunately, the #HailSatan Texas Democrats have that covered:

Post by Adam Cahnman.

Post by Adam Cahnman.

Post by Adam Cahnman.

Post by Adam Cahnman.

Post by Adam Cahnman.

Post by Adam Cahnman.

Post by Adam Cahnman.

Because, obviously, #HAILSATAN!!!

Next we had the Storm Troopers of Fascist Gynocracy, Mom's Demand Franzia; your humble correspondent had fun with them:



Because there's no more worthwhile cause than bullying law-abiding firearms owners and, of course #HAILSATAN!!!

A few more observations:

• We overheard the Democrat candidate for Railroad Commission refer to his "Tea Party opponent."  He said that in reference to Ryan Friggin' Sitton.  Now THAT'S funny!!!

• That this vile crowd is Joe Straus' base tells you everything you need to know about Joe Straus.

• Finally, one small kudos: Congressman Al Green gave a rousing defense of Israel that, for a second, made us think we had been teleported to John Hagee's church.  We couldn't have agreed more.  Credit where it's due.

Given the opportunity to present the face of their choosing to the world, the #HAILSATAN Texas Democrats chose to present themselves as the party of promiscuity, genocide, and bullying innocent gun owners...

...but, you know, #HAILSATAN....

...vote for Wendy!!!

Double Check Your Ballot: A Cautionary Tale

The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting,
But diligence is man’s precious possession.
Proverbs 12:27

We voted this morning in East Austin; disaster nearly struck:

We almost voted for Ryan Sitton.

The names on the ballot were listed in all listed in alphabetical order.  In the other three races, we voted for the guy listed second (*).  We continued that pattern in the last race.

But here's the thing: alphabetically, Sitton comes after Christian.

Fortunately, we caught the mistake and fixed it before casting our ballot; but it was a dangerous, sloppy mistake.

Learn from our mistake, don't repeat it.

We've worked too hard and come too far: double check your ballots.

-----

* - If you know how to read between the lines, there's also a big fat hint about how we voted in the Lite Guv race in that statement.

Conflicting Interests and Texas Railroad Commission Candidates

"Diverse weights are an abomination to the Lord,
And dishonest scales are not good."
Proverbs 20:23

Gadzooks, from Tuesday's Houston Chronicle:

AUSTIN - A Republican candidate seeking a post that regulates the state's oil and gas industry said he won't cut ties to his energy business if elected to the Texas Railroad Commission - a state board that historically has had a poor track record disentangling itself from industry interests.

Ryan Sitton is co-founder and chief executive officer of PinnacleAIS, which advises companies about maintenance of equipment used in oil and gas operations.

Sitton said he will maintain an ownership stake in Pinnacle­AIS if he becomes a commission board member - a declaration that raised questions by his GOP and Democratic opponent, ethics experts and tea party Republicans.

....

Financial entanglements between state oil and gas regulators and those they regulate aren't anything new, but they're still egregious, said Craig McDonald, director of Texans for Public Justice.

"Time and time again, you see that much of their money comes from the very companies that they regulate," McDonald said.

....

As a commissioner, Sitton would receive $175,300 annually in addition to income from PinnacleAIS.

Sitton's position could hurt his effort to court tea party voters who are skeptical of officials with feet in both the regulatory and business camps, said Mark Jones, political scientist at Rice University.

"That seems like a profound strategy error," Jones said. "Whether or not you're going to do it, you certainly don't say it."

Read the whole thing here.