MON brief 1.10.22
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Today’s Stories
FOREIGN SPIES should not be subsidized by taxpayers to attend Texas universities as they work to undermine the U.S. Unfortunately if the recent past is a guide, adversarial intelligence assets are embedded at state schools.
Zudong Cheng, a Texas A&M researcher, was arrested in 2020 for lying about ties to the Chinese government. Considering Texas A&M now oversees the nation’s nuclear laboratory at Los Alamos (thanks to an Aggie U.S. energy secretary), this is of more than a passing concern.
In 2019, UT-Austin came under scrutiny for accepting financial contributions from sources with alleged ties to the CCP.
(Aside: Greg Abbott appoints University Boards of Regents.)
With the context in place, however, inartfully, the issue was broached, accusing GOP Texas House challengers Shelley Luther and Mitchell Ryan of racism for pointing out the need to protect Texas from Chinese espionage won’t age well.
Leading the wolf crying was Gene Wu. A Democrat from Houston, best known for publicly wishing for President Trump to die from COVID, Wu leveled charges of racism at Luther and Ryan.
This is a political win for Luther and Ryan in GOP primary elections. Being attacked by one of, if not the most obnoxious Democrat in the Texas House sets up an obvious contrast with the “go-along/get-along” incumbents (Reggie Smith and Giovanni Capriglione, respectively).
But the “political” angle is the least interesting aspect of this spat.
Left-leaning author Robert Bryce has documented how large segments of the elite population of Saudi Arabia were educated at UT-Austin. While it’s not the Chinese Communists, Bryce nevertheless illustrates that these policies can have negative consequences, Wu’s crocodile tears notwithstanding.
One suggestion for Luther/Ryan et al.: The root issue is lack of oversight by the Board; Chinese espionage is an outgrowth of that. Fix the Board of Regents, and many other things fall into line.
Speaking of crocodile tears and manufactured outrage, the following is a doozy. (AC)
MICHAEL QUINN SULLIVAN, likewise over the weekend, kicked off a [REDACTED]storm with this tweet.
Disclaimer: Everyone knows a dedicated, hardworking teacher in their family or circle of friends. Sullivan wasn’t talking about them. Obviously. But any honest assessment of that dedicated teacher’s co-workers will illustrate Sullivan’s point.
The overwrought reaction to a minor comment suggests weakness.
As has been amply discussed, the pandemic invited scrutiny on the education system that had not previously existed. Those who had profited from that status quo continue to react poorly.
Meanwhile, the pro-appeasement Lincoln project wing of the Texas GOP weighed in:
That others chose to passively-aggressively tsk-tsk Sullivan, rather than drive a stake through the heart of the education establishment, encapsulates everything wrong w/ those two.
See next item for why it’s also a misreading of the political moment. (AC)
ROUND ROCK ISD has placed embattled superintendent Hafedh Azaiez on paid leave following months of parental agitation. A detailed chronology of the saga is available here.
This is the first time the board has backed down. It’s an encouraging sign but still preliminary.
Maintain pressure.
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