In a few more weeks, it won't matter that Governor Abbott issues illegal and unconstitutional orders.
By Sept. 20, Abbott will have successfully eliminated the LEGISLATIVE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT, and there will be no checks on what he can do.
He will be King.
This is a crisis entirely of Gov. Abbott's making:
Abbott vetoed the budget.
Abbott called the special session.
Abbott put items on the call.
Abbott directed Republicans to act.
Abbott refuses to negotiate.
But, it's Abbott who stands to win no matter what.
He becomes King.
This play is exactly what Donald Trump would have done.
It doesn't matter how it will harm the state.
It doesn't matter how will harm Texans.
As long as he wins and gets more power, that's all that matters.
I can remember when Texas Republicans used to rail against TYRANTS.
But now, after only 4 years of Trump, Texas Republicans now oppose local control, they willingly allow themselves to be used as hostages, and they allowed the governor to usurp their power without even a peep.
All the libertarians who scream and shout about the power of the executive... where are you?
All the people who yell about how much they love the Constitution... where are you?
Governor Abbott is taking an unprecedented LEAP in POWER and AUTHORITY.
Why are you so quiet?
If a Governor can hold the Legislature hostage by vetoing their budget if they don't do exactly what he wants...
Why even have the Legislature?
That's the point.
All hail King Abbott.
Apologies. Typo.
The drop-dead date is AUGUST 20. (not Sept).
It's the date that the comptroller HAS to have the money in order to cut checks... even before the Sept 1 rollover into the next fiscal cycle.
Lastly, I'll end on the same reminder that I always do... be careful what you wish for; you might just get it.
One day, a Democrat will hold the governor's office. What powers that governor has will depend on what we do today.
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All of us had been fully vaccinated since March. We got complacent because we felt safe. We had no positives for months, and we got sloppy.
Being vaccinated doesn't ALWAYS stop you from spreading the virus.
ALWAYS MASK UP INDOORS!
Every member who tested positive had only mild (sniffles) or no symptoms.
This is because we've all been vaccinated and our bodies already had the anti-bodies ready to combat an infection.
But having antibodies doesn't stop you from shedding viruses until they done their job.
The lesson here is that:
🔵 Delta is more contagious & spreading fast
🔵 Vaccine will stop infection for ~90%
🔵 10% who get it will have mild symptoms
🔵 If vaccinated, still need to mask up indoors in case you're an ASYMPTOMATIC spreader
🔵 GET TESTED IMMEDIATE if any signs
We are prepared for masking and distancing mandates and guidelines.
I hope you are too.
I assume that everyone "whistling past the graveyard" and laughing about Democratic members testing positive have already been fully vaccinated and have no complaints about mandatory masking provisions again.
Otherwise, it seems kinda like begging Karma to visit.
Being fully vaccinated would at least make the symptoms mild and not likely fatal.
Let not be shy about it. The Republicans' push on "Critical Race Theory" is about creating a government Thought Police.
The point is to have schools limit what kids can learn, and what we can talk about.
If they can BAN certain thoughts and ideas society, then they can win.
There's a reason why when they talk about it to their followers, they says it's about defending against "anti-Whiteness."
But, in actual legislation that they pass into law, the bills are about what schools can teach... affecting teaching about Slavery and the Holocaust.
Actually read the (now deleted) screen capture.
This tells you everything you need to know about their true motivations.
Their theory is: If Black and Brown kids can't learn about the atrocities of the past. If they can't learn about their ROOTS. Then they won't demand change.
Blue Lives Matter --- unless we want guns everywhere
Private Property Rights --- unless we want a wall
Personal Autonomy --- unless it's women
Local Control --- unless it's big cities
Justice --- unless it's Black people
Stay Out of Bedrooms --- unless your gay
Stay out of doctor's offices --- unless your trans
Let Teachers Teach --- unless its something that makes us mildly uncomfortable, like race and slavery
Small Government --- unless it's creating a massive police state
Before you cry and moan about the Black people bit... the bills that tired to delete "Confederate Heroes Day" in Texas went no where.
The bill to actually allow ethnic studies count for school credit... dead.
While #FlyingTed was doing his walk of shame through IAH Airport, we delivered over 800 Asian lunch boxes and about 1500 street tacos to needy families in SW Houston who haven't had a hot meal in days.
The wonderful @SandraRdgz27 helped coordinate deliveries and rounded up volunteers to pick up and drop off a ton of food.
(No comments about how we stacked these, we did the best we could.)
Judge @israelgarcia4jp took 300 box lunches to Pelican Pointe apartments.
Many residents there not only had to deal with the cold, but they had a massive fire that took out a unit a few days ago.
Kids there were coming up to me saying it was the best food they've ever had. 🥲