“I am the least of all your pilgrims here, but I am most in need of hope.” – Tom Russell The border has a big problem. And it’s not immigration. It’s the governor of Texas. Yes, immigration is a challenge, and it’s about to get more difficult. But the governor of this state is only making border issues profoundly more complicated with his disingenuousness and performative bullshit as he wastes billions in taxpayer dollars. Greg Abbott’s hollow man gestures are designed only to draw attention to his political aspirations and have zero intent on managing a crisis. While he blames the president for a problem that has existed for decades, he tosses gasoline on a cultural and economic fire that is beginning to burn his state.
Jim, I am shocked — SHOCKED — by the accusation you make in this essay: Greg Abbott, solely for the purpose of scoring political points, cripples the economic lifeline of Texas's relationship with its largest trading partner. You go on to suggest that Abbott's birdbrained proposal is some kind of retaliation for the Biden Administration's announcement it will eliminate Title 42 in May. Shame on you!
Now, certainly the slowdown in commercial traffic crossing the border will have un(?)intended economic effects and raise the price of Mexican-grown produce and other goods. But I have another theory for this otherwise-inexplicable order.
We have watched as the Governor, with the connivance of the Legislature, has diverted literally billions of taxpayer dollars to so-called border security and enforcement. First came the "surge" of Department of Public Safety personnel and resources to the border, ostensibly to interdict drugs and apprehend undocumented aliens. That has cost taxpayers $500 million or more every two years. However, DPS declined to identify the metrics for success of its surge, or to honestly report them to the Lege. For most Texans, the surge become bullshit traffic stops by bored DPS trainees forced to do their apprenticeship in a border county. Other than enhancing the power and prestige of DPS honcho Steve McCraw, the border surge has been a big bust.
Although it would not seem possible, Operation Lone Star has been even more wasteful and ineffective, with the added bonus of mental health issues for the pawns dragooned into service.
There has been compelling reporting of these catastrophes from The Texas Tribune, Pro Publica, and other news organizations. exposing the surge and Operation Lone Star for the cynical political stunts they are. With his pants pulled down around his ankles about his craven and cynical maneuvering, Abbott decided to muddy the waters further by pretending that enhanced DPS commercial vehince inspections had a legitimate law enforcement purpose. I imagine that, after months of interminable commercial traffic delays costing Texas businesses millions or even billions, Abbott will be evasive about what good the whole stupid thing did.
Jim, I am shocked — SHOCKED — by the accusation you make in this essay: Greg Abbott, solely for the purpose of scoring political points, cripples the economic lifeline of Texas's relationship with its largest trading partner. You go on to suggest that Abbott's birdbrained proposal is some kind of retaliation for the Biden Administration's announcement it will eliminate Title 42 in May. Shame on you!
Now, certainly the slowdown in commercial traffic crossing the border will have un(?)intended economic effects and raise the price of Mexican-grown produce and other goods. But I have another theory for this otherwise-inexplicable order.
We have watched as the Governor, with the connivance of the Legislature, has diverted literally billions of taxpayer dollars to so-called border security and enforcement. First came the "surge" of Department of Public Safety personnel and resources to the border, ostensibly to interdict drugs and apprehend undocumented aliens. That has cost taxpayers $500 million or more every two years. However, DPS declined to identify the metrics for success of its surge, or to honestly report them to the Lege. For most Texans, the surge become bullshit traffic stops by bored DPS trainees forced to do their apprenticeship in a border county. Other than enhancing the power and prestige of DPS honcho Steve McCraw, the border surge has been a big bust.
Although it would not seem possible, Operation Lone Star has been even more wasteful and ineffective, with the added bonus of mental health issues for the pawns dragooned into service.
There has been compelling reporting of these catastrophes from The Texas Tribune, Pro Publica, and other news organizations. exposing the surge and Operation Lone Star for the cynical political stunts they are. With his pants pulled down around his ankles about his craven and cynical maneuvering, Abbott decided to muddy the waters further by pretending that enhanced DPS commercial vehince inspections had a legitimate law enforcement purpose. I imagine that, after months of interminable commercial traffic delays costing Texas businesses millions or even billions, Abbott will be evasive about what good the whole stupid thing did.
I hope we voters respond accordingly.
What is wrong with the people of Texas that they keep electing right wing Bozos like Bush, Perry and Abbott???
This is right on the money!