Mike Siegel Profile picture
Dec 24, 2018 6 tweets 2 min read Read on X
Merry Christmas from Big Bend National Park!

This is one of Texas's jewels, with mountain ranges, natural hot springs, and the Rio Grande on our southern border. Being here during a shutdown—triggered by a demand for Border Wall spending—gives us a lot to think about. (1/6) Image
Minimal park security, no sanitation services, closed visitor centers and stores, not even rangers to accept park fees. Visitors from around the world are here, mystified that the government of such a powerful country can simply stop functioning. #GovernmentShutdown (2/6)
And the inconveniences for visitors are nothing compared to our government workers who are missing paychecks during the holiday season. #GovernmentShutdown (3/6)
We had plans to visit Las Boquillas, a small Mexican town across the river where kids can ride a donkey, and you can eat delicious food and purchase local artifacts. The Port of Entry is closed, disappointing us and surely depriving that community of essential tourism. (4/6)
Looking at the beautiful river, I’m struck by how absurd the Wall idea is. Where would you build it? What good will it accomplish? Border Patrol has a major presence here, unaffected by the shutdown. (5/6)
I have faith that wiser minds will prevail, that we won’t stake our reputation on a failed medieval security tactic. For now, I’m thankful for Big Bend, and for all of the human beings bringing the holiday spirit, regardless of what is happening in DC. (6/6)

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
 

Keep Current with Mike Siegel

Mike Siegel Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @MikeSiegelTX

Aug 24, 2021
Today I accused a Texas Attorney General of “laundering disinformation” during a trial in Austin.

It was kind of awkward. Lawyers aren’t supposed to attack other lawyers.

But I couldn’t believe the argument he was making to defend Abbott’s deadly anti-mask order.
My clients are parents of immunocompromised kids who attend public schools in Travis County.

They are concerned their kids could get sick, or worse, if forced to attend school in a maskless setting.

The AG argued they have no right to be in court — that they have “no standing.”
One argument in particular set me off: that parents can’t challenge Abbott’s no-mask order because they can just send their kids to school with masks on.

And that my clients are trying to “impose their parental choice on other parents.”

Y’ALL. TEXAS IS ARGUING THIS IN COURT.
Read 6 tweets
Jan 11, 2021
WHERE WERE YOUR POLICE ON JANUARY 6?

Cops from around the country backed the attempted coup.

Now’s the time for a national reckoning with “Blue Lives Matter” and its authoritarian, anti-democratic underpinnings.

A thread of officers ID'd so far (let me know if you find more):
PHILADELPHIA

At least one active Detective participated. The officer still has a job but has been “reassigned”
6abc.com/philadelphia-p…
PITTSBURGH

Area officer under investigation for participating pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2021/01/07/zel…
Read 11 tweets
Dec 23, 2020
CAN TEXAS BECOME A PROGRESSIVE STATE?

We are six candidates who put our lives on the line to flip local & statewide seats.

None of us won. But we exceed expectations & out-performed moderates in similar races.

To pave the way for future wins, here’s what we’d like to share:
PREPARE FOR THE LONG HAUL

When @CristinaforTX ran for US Senate, she saw the gaps in Texas political institutions. While the GOP has built power over 3 decades, Democrats have been energized for 3 years.

Let’s celebrate our progress, but be realistic about where we are at.
SHARE A POPULIST MESSAGE & BUILD A MULTIRACIAL COALITION

Progressives can tap the populist spirit in Texas politics with a strong economic message.

Washington decision-makers may not see this, but Texas could inspire the nation on issues from climate to jobs and justice.
Read 19 tweets
Dec 3, 2020
AUSTIN VOTERS!

Did you know our work in 2020 is not yet done?

We've got critical school board and city council races in the runoff election...that started today!

I'm supporting four candidates who are best positioned to advance progressive politics. My two cents below.
For City Council, I'm supporting @ALTERforATX & @JimmyFlannigan, who have led on public safety, transit, and more.

They're facing Trump-style opponents, as @theappeal describes. We need to reward the courage showed by Alter and Flannigan on police reform. theappeal.org/austin-city-co…
As a former Austin City Attorney, I have special love for Jimmy and Alison for supporting the battle against SB4.

I was honored to be Austin's lawyer fighting this hateful "show me your papers" law. And it meant so much to have local leaders behind me. austinchronicle.com/daily/news/201…
Read 6 tweets
Sep 29, 2020
Michael McCaul is one of the wealthiest members of Congress.

He’s also one of the most corrupt.

A THREAD:
McCaul’s personal wealth has increased over 940% while in public office. #TX10
McCaul voted to deregulate big banks while he had millions invested in companies like CitiGroup, Bank of America, and J.P. Morgan Chase.
Read 8 tweets
Sep 16, 2020
It’s 2020, and Waller County Republicans are still suppressing the votes of Black students at @PVAMU in #TX10.

A THREAD:
Prairie View A&M is Texas’ second oldest institution of higher learning, an HBCU built on top of a slave plantation.

Since the 1970’s, students have fought for voting rights against a Republican-conrolled county government seeking to deny the franchise.
In 1979, Prairie View students won a landmark Supreme Court battle giving students everywhere the right to register and vote wherever they attend college.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symm_v._U…
Read 8 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!


This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Don't want to be a Premium member but still want to support us?

Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal

Or Donate anonymously using crypto!

Ethereum

0xfe58350B80634f60Fa6Dc149a72b4DFbc17D341E copy

Bitcoin

3ATGMxNzCUFzxpMCHL5sWSt4DVtS8UqXpi copy

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us!

:(