“The king reigns but does not govern.” - Louis Adolphe Thiers Texas no longer has a governor. Greg Abbott has become a king. His ordination was subtle, but just as powerful as if he were given a crown and throne on which to sit and issue edicts. Accountability is of no interest to King Greg unless you are a lobbyist with a checkbook or an arch-conservative voter in the GOP primary. Abbott decides, unilaterally, what he wants to do, and then simply does it. You can call it an executive order, if you wish, but mostly his activity has become comparable to a king.
Thanks for this edition. As always, I enjoyed the quality of the writing and the thoroughness of the research. Unfortunately, the topic of “King” Greg Abbott and his depredations upon the people he was elected to serve is seriously depressing to me. As is happening across the country, the once-proud Grand Old Party in Texas has been seized by a tiny and bat-shit crazy minority. Abbott and his puppeteer, Dave Carney, know the magic words — immigration, transgender, CRT — that will drive them into a frenzy which they hope (hope!) will be enough to fend off primary challenges from the equally bat-shit Allen West and Don Huffines. Beto O’Rourke and the roughly half of Texans who vote Democratic are but an afterthought.
An untold part of this story is how, over the last thirty years, the Texas Legislature has abdicated its responsibility as an independent branch of government. You remember a time when House and Senate members OF THE GOVERNOR’S PARTY felt free to tell him (or, briefly, her) to pound sand if they did not agree with the gubernatorial lead on a particular issue. Such independent thinking is, alas, unimaginable now,
If things don't change there may be a guillotine on the south lawn of the Capitol. It certainly is a deserved addition. Oh, we'll need a ramp in order to comply with ADA regulations.
Thanks for this edition. As always, I enjoyed the quality of the writing and the thoroughness of the research. Unfortunately, the topic of “King” Greg Abbott and his depredations upon the people he was elected to serve is seriously depressing to me. As is happening across the country, the once-proud Grand Old Party in Texas has been seized by a tiny and bat-shit crazy minority. Abbott and his puppeteer, Dave Carney, know the magic words — immigration, transgender, CRT — that will drive them into a frenzy which they hope (hope!) will be enough to fend off primary challenges from the equally bat-shit Allen West and Don Huffines. Beto O’Rourke and the roughly half of Texans who vote Democratic are but an afterthought.
An untold part of this story is how, over the last thirty years, the Texas Legislature has abdicated its responsibility as an independent branch of government. You remember a time when House and Senate members OF THE GOVERNOR’S PARTY felt free to tell him (or, briefly, her) to pound sand if they did not agree with the gubernatorial lead on a particular issue. Such independent thinking is, alas, unimaginable now,
If things don't change there may be a guillotine on the south lawn of the Capitol. It certainly is a deserved addition. Oh, we'll need a ramp in order to comply with ADA regulations.