THU brief 11.18.21 (delayed)
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Today’s Stories
SOUTH TEXAS continues to produce interesting political plotlines.
Plenty of keyboard strokes have been and will continue to be, spilled on the migration of conservative-leaning South Texas Hispanics (not “Latinx”) into the GOP. Three stories from this week, however, suggest Democrats are determined to accelerate the process.
The issues of abortion, border chaos, and hostility to fossil fuels represent the core of this drive.
Abortion - With the retirement of State Sen. Eddie Lucio, a pro-crony capitalism Democrat with a socially conservative streak, Democrats face a primary for the now-open seat.
Alex Dominguez, a second-term Democrat state representative, has announced his intention to seek a promotion. That’s all well and good. But Dominguez’s choice for campaign treasurer in a region where even the Democrats are pro-life is revealing.It's time for a new voice in #SD27, one that reflects the educational, economic and healthcare (including reproductive) needs of the community. That new voice is @RepDominguez. I'm proud to serve as his treasurer and look forward to helping him win this seat! #txlegeNew: @RepDominguez is officially in for the race to succeed @SenatorLucio https://t.co/fIMZ09S5nS #SD27 #txlegePatrick Svitek @PatrickSvitek
What makes Davis an especially head-scratching choice is having the hindsight of her weakness in the region in 2014, a harbinger of Democrat decline.Border Chaos - Geographically overlapping Texas Senate district 27 (described above) is U.S. House District 28, currently represented by Democrat Henry Cuellar.
Cuellar is now calling for the Biden administration to replace Kamala Harris as the head of its border policy. In addition to the substantive policy dig, Cuellar’s comment suggests that the Vice President’s political “brand” is toxic in his district.When border chaos is dragging down Democrats nationally, it should surprise nobody that the region most directly impacted by their policies is leading the way.
Texans and Americans are beginning to reasonably equate overdose deaths with cartels smuggling illegal Chinese fentanyl over the border. This reality helps debunk the popular talking point and metric that deaths near the border are a metric for concern.
Fossil Fuel Hostility - Among the grievances South Texas progressives hold against Lucio, deriding his support for a Liquified Natural Gas terminal in Brownsville is the most politically counterproductive.
It’s not a secret that the slow trickle away from the Democrats became a gusher (pun intended) when they attacked hydraulic fracturing (aka. “fracking”) during the 2020 campaign.
In a region known for endemic poverty, it doesn’t take a genius to see why attacks on an industry that frequently pays six figures are politically toxic. Yet Democrats in the region appear poised to amplify the mistakes of their national brethren. - (AC)
EDUCATION continues to be a concern of Texans and Representatives of the state at the federal level. Here are today’s links
Along with nine GOP colleagues from Texas, Chip Roy called for the Texas Association of School Boards to exit their national parent organization.
Tyler ISD parents have identified pornographic content in school libraries.
The ignorati have tried to equate the educating of children to performing surgery. The elites do not want parents interfering in the education of kids.
THE MEDIA is busying itself with hyping O’Rourke.
Multiple outlets lauded a reported $2 million haul in the two days following his announced run for governor.
An alternative headline conveying his situation might read, “Only $53 Million to Go.” A few news outlets lead with the cash disparity in a hypothetical O’Rourke vs. Abbott matchup, while others included the context inline. This can serve as a hedge on the hype or goad further giving.
Further historical context on the haul, O’Rourke, in his 2020 presidential bid challenge, raised three times as much in 24 hours.
Hey, Alexa, play Celine Dion The Grift Will Go On.
Coverage in the press will be used to rile up the GOP base ahead of 2022.
One other note, O’Rourke is working hard to sound reasonable. It’s probably too late for this tact. He’s a known entity O’Rourke 2018 and Obama 2008 only works once.
Related: Abbott group goes TEC complaint route
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