Congressional Candidate Does Something that Stands Out

"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice;
But when a wicked man rules, the people groan."
Proverbs 29:2

We've been bemoaning the lack of creative messaging in Republican campaigns for years.  Republican candidates retreat into lazy buzzwords and thus commodify themselves.  In that spirit, this ad from CD-32 candidate Genevieve Collins is a breath of fresh air:



To be clear: We've never met her.  We know nothing about Genevieve Collins beyond this ad.  Given that she running for office and has no record, she could very easily be telling us what we want to hear.

Still, it's hard to deny that this is good messaging.

She hits her main points (7th generation Texan, private sector success, pro-gun) without being obnoxious.  Far too frequently, this is far too big of a challenge for far too many.  That might be pathetic and sad, but it's reality.

So, modest kudos to Genevieve Collins...but it's still a shame she doesn't have a record.

Bottom Line: We don't trust any politician, but this certainly cuts through the clutter.

#TXLEGE: National Democrats will probably blow their chance in HD-28 Special Election

"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

Is this a joke?!?

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden is backing Eliz Markowitz in the special election runoff for state House District 28, her highest-profile endorsement yet in the battleground race.

Markowitz faces Republican businessman Gary Gates in the Jan. 28 race to replace former Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond. Democrats are working to flip the suburban Houston seat as they look to capture the House majority in November.

....

Biden, who is leading Texas presidential primary polls, is the latest White House contender to get involved in the runoff after Michael Bloomberg visited the district late last month to stump with Markowitz.

Soo, at a time when everyone is sick of national politics, the Democrats plan to win this seat is...Joe Biden and Michael Bloomberg?!?

Cuz' that strategy is doomed to failure.

Two months ago, we thought they had a legit shot in this race.  The GOP nominated a terrible candidate with a ton of baggage.  That's still the case.

Yet, two months later, all we're hearing about is...Joe Biden and Michael Bloomberg?!?

Even when they try to make an issue out of the afore mentioned baggage, this is the headline they get:

Newsflash: Nobody cares about what comes after the phrase "National Democrats target."  Whatever it is, it just sounds like a bogus political attack.  You just lost the messaging war by framing this as a political story.

Bottom Line: Had the past two months gone differently, it might have been possible.  Now, however, it's hard to see how this race deviates from long term historical averages.  Advantage, incumbent party.

#TXLEGE: Straus' Former Chief Lands (sweet) Taxpayer Funded Lobby Gig

"Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord,
But a just weight is His delight."
Proverbs 11:1

Dat revolving door tho:

Ancira and Wynn to Lead TML Advocacy Efforts

The Texas Municipal League (TML) announced today that Jesse Ancira and Monty Wynn will lead TML’s advocacy efforts. Ancira will serve the League as Senior Legislative Advisor and Wynn will assume the role of Director of Grassroots and Legislative Services.

Jesse Ancira most recently served as Chief of Staff to House Speaker Joe Straus, as well as Mayor for the City of Taylor for four of his six years on Taylor’s city council.

(h/t PushJunction...they're back!!!)

There's not much more you can say.

Obviously, anyone who was around at the time remembers Jessie Ancira.   Honestly, all you need to know was that he was Straus' chief.  For those who want to remember how vindictive Jesse Ancira was personally, however, see here.

Now he's running advocacy for the Texas Municipal League.

Bottom Line: Nice work if you can get it....

EXCLUSIVE: How Taxpayers Subsidized George P. Bush's Last Primary Campaign

"The wicked prowl on every side,
When vileness is exalted among the sons of men."
Psalm 12:8

Last October, we wrote about how J.R. Hernandez, one of George P. Bush's main political operatives, was double-dipping at taxpayer expense.

Last month, however, we had another hunch: For someone who was being paid six figures to work full time for the state...how many hours a week was he actually working?!?

So we sent an open records request to the General Land Office for J.R. Hernandez's schedule during the 2018 primary.

See it for yourself:

Jr Hernandez Schedule by Cahnman on Scribd

Takeaways:

• In a typical week, Hernandez did between 15 and 20 hours per week of work for the state.

• Hernandez got a smidge over 20 hours a couple of times, but never over 25.

• Less than five hours per week once early voting started.

Keep in mind, this was at a time when J.R. Hernandez was being paid over $130,000 to work full time for the state.

[Note: We only requested records during the primary campaign, but we suspect a similar pattern would emerge for the general.]

Bottom Line: Given that we're talking about Texas state government, perhaps this shouldn't surprise. Furthermore, given that we're talking about the Bushes, perhaps this should surprise even less. That doesn't make any of it right.

The Completely Obvious Issue Nobody's Talking About

"each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is."
1 Corinthians 3:13

Before we get too far into the offseason, one piece of leftover business from 2019 that we're shocked hasn't gotten more discussion: The Longhorns' home/road split.

In 2019, the Longhorns were:

• 6-1 in home games and glorified home games (ie. The Alamo Bowl).

• 2-4 in road and neutral site games.

If you want to know where things went wrong this past season...there you go.

For as much ink has been spilled on any number of topics, that's the main problem.  The Longhorns just came out flat for three road games (TCU, Iowa State, and Baylor).  That's not good.  But misdiagnosing the problem doesn't help anybody.

Bottom Line: Sometimes it's the simple things....

#TXLEGE: Cook Children's "hospital" has plenty of money for lawyers

"It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones."
Luke 17:2

We said our piece about the Baby Tinslee case last week.  We stand by it.  It's the most important takeaway moving forward.

Then this happens:

Today, a judge from San Antonio ruled that a North Texas hospital can stop treating an 11-month-old baby, leaving the baby’s family scrambling to save her life.

Baby Tinslee Lewis, born with congenital heart disease, is currently at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth and relies on a ventilator to live. On October 31, despite the objections of her mother, the hospital announced it would remove Tinslee’s ventilator on November 10.

As justification for this decision, the hospital did not provide any reasons relating to bodily health—only a vague “quality-of-life” argument.

The hospital’s action is legal under Texas’ controversial 10-day rule, which allows a hospital committee to end “life-sustaining care” even if the patient, or his or her surrogate, objects; the law also overrides a duly executed medical power of attorney or advance directive from the patient.

Tinslee’s life was temporarily spared when Judge Alex Kim of the 323rd District Court in Tarrant County approved a temporary restraining order filed by lawyers from Texas Right to Life on November 10—the day she was scheduled to die.

However, the hospital dispatched its lawyers to force Judge Kim into recusal, launching a series of harassing subpoenas in an attempt to frame him as being partial.

Though it’s unclear if the subpoenas worked, Judge Kim was ultimately kicked off of the case by out-of-town Judge David Peeples of Bexar County.

Seriously?!?  How much did this cost?!?  Couldn't those funds...cover treatment for an eleven month old girl!?

Money being fungible, etc.

Of course, that's what they didn't do.

Cook Children's "hospital" put the lawyers first.

Quite the statement of priorities.

Do no harm, etc.

Bottom Line: We know the first place we'd look for the funding.

#TXLEGE: What if Poncho was telling the truth about his alleged "addiction?!?"

"[F]or he who greets him shares in his evil deeds."
2 John 1:11

We said our piece about Poncho Nevarez's alleged "addictions" at the time.  We stand by it.  But we've been wrong before.

Which suggests an interesting follow up question:  What if he was telling the truth?!?  What does that say about the culture of the Texas house?!?  Specifically, the enabling.

Because Poncho Nevarez wasn't exactly persona non grata in the Texas house.

Which means that, if 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.

Which would be fitting.

Honestly, it's impossible to know for sure.  It remains the case that Poncho Nevarez's alleged "addiction" is, most likely, an ex-post facto cover story.  But "most likely" doesn't mean 100% guaranteed.

Bottom Line: It's never a good situation when you hope people are lying.