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Today's stories
TX GOP CONVENTION issues continue to mount, and at this point, it's difficult to see how this won't be an abject failure.
Credential nightmare: There are multiple reports of hundreds of delegates not being credentialed, a day's old problem.
Chairman James Dickey sent an email this morning that he would gavel the convention open and then immediately stand at ease until these issues are resolved. That was over 5 hours ago.
Technology issues: since the convention was moved online, delegates have been faced with technical problems with Zoom and the aforementioned credentialing system. More likely loom, which could undermine the entire endeavor.
Silencing delegates: reports of leadership ordering silence at remote locations have been received. Surrogates for Chairman Dickey have refused to answer when questioned about silence orders from the top but have condemned them nonetheless.
Priority: As a matter of process, there is still no clarity on how delegates will be seated, counted, and missing seats filled by alternates.
Favoritism: Without the ability to campaign in-person, contact information for delegates and alternates is the only way to run for election. This information is known to have been withheld from some while it's been given to others, which smacks of favoritism and corruption.
The convention is skating on thin ice when it comes to abiding by the rules.
During a special meeting of the SREC, in the runup to the convention, it was posited by Dickey that a hybrid convention would disenfranchise delegates and be against Roberts Rules of Order.
Now, Dickey is running a hybrid convention. Testimony given to committees in the runup to today has been in-person after the party canceled its in-person convention on Monday.
GOVERNMENT EDUCATION is in limbo. Students, parents, teachers (ranked in order of importance) are currently facing uncertainty when it comes to the quickly approaching academic year, including on the topic of testing.
There are probably novel constitutional issues with the TEA funding inadequate instruction, we'll see.
ELECTIONS are still in flux. The race to replace retiring Congressman Will Hurd is too close to call, with a seven vote margin and hundreds more still to be returned and counted, it’s premature for Tony Gonzales to claim victory. Conversely, it’s prudent and respectful for Raul Reyes to wait for all votes to be counted.
COVID19 deaths in Dallas County yesterday totaled eight; every one of them is a tragic loss. Here's who passed according to Dallas Morning News:
Of the eight deaths Wednesday, five were Dallas residents: two men in their 60s, a woman in her 70s and two men, in their 80s and 90s, who lived in long-term care facilities.
We’re watching a bad re-run. COVID19, from the start in the U.S., has spread and killed in assisted living facilities. Instead of going on tyrannical tears, elected officials ought to focus resources and attention on protecting already quarantine elderly neighbors.
Hit the links
White House moves COVID19 oversight to CDC bosses
Trump replaces campaign manager
Spanish renewable giant Iberdrola enters Texas with a thud
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