"The last few weeks here, in Berlin, I have been going out around 9 pm to my local Kneipe (tavern) for beer and a late supper (around 10:30 or 11:00), where I am a Stammkunde (regular customer). Usually I wind up talking with other customers from many different European countries.
Without my bringing it up, the conversation often turns to the USA, since most of the people I talk to have visited the US at least as tourists, and they are informed about the political and social mess we now have. And most of the time they use Texas as an example of whatever point they want to make about how strange and weird it all is."
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One thing that really makes Texas appear weird, Denny, is Republican State Senator Dan Patrick, who won this year's primary election for Republican candidate for Lt. Governor of Texas. When he was a popular sportscaster in Houston, he was full of stunts that should be spread all over the media. Like the time he let two cheerleaders paint him before a Houston Oilers game. Oh, yes, he also had an on-air vasectomy!
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| (media.nbcdfw.com) |
Funny how Texas voters didn't allow all the crazy antics as well as the mental health issues of Dan Patrick to stop them from electing him to the State Senate. He was elected even though records showed he not only suffered severe depression when he was younger, but even attempted suicide. The "crazy antics" indicated to me that he was still suffering from some kind of mental aberration. As a Texas State Senator, Patrick has racked up a lot of support for anti-abortionists (he sponsored a bill that required women to have a sonogram when seeking an abortion), and showed his bigoted side against Muslims and undocumented Mexicans.
Times sure have changed. George McGovern suffered one of the worst defeats in history in 1972, after naming Thomas Eagleton as his vice-presidential running mate, when it was discovered that Eagleton had been treated for depression. Even though he was replaced after 17-days with Sargent Shriver, the first choice of Eagleton as McGovern's running mate was said to have doomed McGovern's campaign. Much as McCain's choice of Sarah Palin tanked him.
Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson has stated that Patrick—who had consistently used extreme language about Texas’s “illegal invasion” and the wave of violent crime and “third-world diseases” that migrants were bringing to the state—had hired undocumented immigrants himself to work at his chain of sports bars in the 1980s. (Emphasis mine.)
Surely in the upcoming election he will not be allowed to take over the important role of Lieutenant Governor. Texas Democrats are pinning their hopes of turning Texas "purple" on the Democratic candidate, State Senator Leticia Van de Putte. Of course, electing State Senator Wendy Davis Governor would put us over the top!
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We can't leave out Governor Rick Perry when we speak of how others view Texas as "weird". He has been all over the news recently due to the criminal indictment brought against him last month. Most people like to believe this is all about the Travis County DA, who was convicted (and served jail time) for a DWI, and refused Perry's request that she resign. He threatened to defund the Public Integrity Unit, which falls under the Travis County DA's office, if the DA didn't resign. (He defunded the unit.) This Unit "polices corruption in state government. Practically speaking, this anti-corruption unit is one of the few checks on the power and influence Perry has accumulated over 14 years in office." The Texas Observer has an excellent article that explains in detail the criminal charges against Perry. It goes on to say, "Although the indictment doesn't mention it, the Public Integrity Unit is investigating a scandal involving the $3 billion Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, a fund close to the governor’s office that suffered from cronyism and lax oversight."..Forrest Wilder
Perry went on MSNBC earlier this week, and declared he has been preparing to run for President again. It's hard to believe, but his popularity has not waned since his indictment.
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"He is a comet streaking across the national skies, but comets either burn out or they fall to earth and kill all the dinosaurs. One or the other will happen to Ted Cruz." -- Cal Jillson, Political Science professor, Southern Methodist University
It would take too much time in this post to discuss Senator Ted Cruz. When he comes up for reelection, I'm sure he will have provided even more fodder for our Texas critics. It looks pretty certain that he will try to make a run for the Presidential nomination. There's a good article about his appearance and speech at a Christian conference made up of mostly Arab Christians in D.C. recently In Defense of Christians. His lack of sensitivity to those attending the conference was apparent, as he put making points politically ahead of the needs of Christians in the Middle East. He was booed off the stage. Another blow to Texas credibility.
U.S. Senator John Cornyn has pretty much kept a low profile lately. Guess he figures he's a shoo-in. I may just skip that item on my ballot, as none of his opposing candidates impress me either. Contender Alameel has been described as a Democrat in name only (DINO), supporting anti-choice legislation, and bankrolling Republican candidates with that agenda. He also unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2012, and at that time he said of himself that he was not a "typical" Democrat, that he was "conservative" in many ways.
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(The Texas Tribune)
I made my feelings about State Senator Wendy Davis and her run for Governor in my post There's Hope For Texas Yet, but I have yet to say much about her opponent, Attorney General Greg Abbott. That will be forthcoming. I cannot help but think that endorsing David Alameel for the U.S. Senate will be detrimental to Wendy Davis's campaign. The anti-choice issue is a vote-changer for me, but maybe Alameel's extreme wealth is helping her campaign. Maybe? Reportedly, she did well against Abbott in their recent debates. One headline read "Wendy Davis knocks it out of the park in debate with Greg Abbott". Read about it here: Latest Gov. Debate
Peace, and get out the vote,
Marilyn
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Does anyone wonder why Texas is considered "crazy or weird"? If we don't make significant changes in this year's elected officials, we might just get crazier or weirder.Peace, and get out the vote,
Marilyn
Good old Texas politics as usual. Hopefully there will be some changes with the elections in November.
ReplyDeleteToo bad we don't have more like you still living in Texas!
DeleteWe're working hard to bring about a saner political scene here. One where money and the powerful corporations don't trample the needs of the people.
This year will likely still be a red year in Texas. Unfortunately, Dem turnout in off-year elections is usually abysmal. I had hoped that Davis' campaign would galvanize younger, more progressive (and pro-choice) voters. Polls are showing otherwise. With Hillary at the top of the ballot in 2016, maybe purple will have a chance.
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