If you pay attention to the media, both in Texas and beyond, you’d think that the Lone Star State is on the verge of becoming a Democratic stronghold. I beg to differ but instead of writing a long, boring post about it, I’ll simply point to a few news items and let you figure it out for yourself.
Sanctuary city law
When Gov. Greg Abbott signed SB4 into law, he virtually assured his reelection and keeping Texas red. Sure, if you read “news” articles or opinion pieces (one and the same nowadays), you probably think that I’m 180 degrees wrong on that one. But if you talk to the average working Texan, you’ll understand what I’m saying. Try it for yourself. Get outside of your bubble, talk to people that aren’t like you and skip the intercessory media. If you think I’m wrong, you’re in for a surprise.
It is telling that the media was more upset about the method of the signing versus the bill itself. How dare Gov. Abbott have a signing ceremony on Facebook Live, bypassing reporters? Meanwhile, voters are more concerned with this:
“Today’s report from DHS is deeply disturbing and highlights the urgent need for a statewide sanctuary city ban in Texas,” Abbott said in a statement. “The Travis County Sheriff’s decision to deny ICE detainer requests and release back into our communities criminals charged with heinous crimes – including sexual offenses against children, domestic violence and kidnapping – is dangerous and should be criminal in itself.”
The so-called bathroom bill
Regardless of the outcome of SB6, sometimes described as a privacy protection act and sometimes described as a bathroom bill, the lines between the two parties are clear. Republicans want to protect women and children from the possibility, however remote, of a pervert committing a sexual crime and then using a local ordinance as a positive defense. Democrats and the “business lobby” have been reduced to name calling and threats in their quest to provide that positive defense for a perverted criminal. Notice that I didn’t say transgender, I said perverted criminal. Cross dressers have been cross dressing and using opposite sex facilities for thousands of years. Only today, in our “enlightened” society, do Democrats want to take away the privacy rights of some to give a positive defense to a few perverted criminals.
Other than name calling, Democrats (and others), are the textbook definition of putting the almighty dollar ahead of the privacy and safety of vulnerable women and children. For instance, Dr. Mark Jones has penned an op-ed in Fortune, telling us that we could face disastrous financial results of we protect vulnerable Texans. I like Dr. Jones and he certainly knows more about the minutia of political statistics than I do. But I will point out that when voters in the City of Houston overwhelmingly rejected a local ordinance providing a positive defense for perverted criminals, professionals like Dr. Jones warned us of dire financial consequences. The Super Bowl will move. The NCAA will move the Final Four out of Houston! Convention business will evaporate.
Of course, none of that happened. This years Super Bowl was awesome, with unanimous praise for Houston. The 2016 Final Four in Houston set attendance records. Houston’s convention business is stronger than ever.
You can only cry wolf so many times before people tune out.
But let’s for one moment take Dr. Jones at his word and allow that every single thing he claims will happen does happen. What then?
I think that Texans still have a strong enough moral compass to do the right thing even if the almighty dollar takes a backseat.
The Democrats that are running don’t reflect Texas values
I know, by now you’re thinking, dude, stop moralizing. We get it, you think Republicans are morally superior. Well, no, actually, I don’t. That’s a Democrat trait to accuse people of that – read this and you’ll understand why I say that. Obviously Republicans aren’t morally superior, we are as broken as everyone else in this world. No, the problem isn’t that one side or the other is morally superior, the problem is that one side, the Democratic side, thinks that the government is the solution.
Case in point. I received a campaign email this morning from Mike Collier, a Texas Democrat running for Lt. Governor. This is what he has to say:
As parents, Suzanne and I know how lucky we are.
Our two sons did well in public school and went on to study at UT (Hook ‘em!). Suzanne always read to them when they were little, and that gave them a great start.
We did everything we could to ensure they had a chance in life. And we want every parent in Texas to know they can do the same.
But many Texas families are struggling – working long hours to make ends meet – and they don’t have time to read to their young children.
That’s why Texas should prioritize Pre-K. We can ensure a brighter future for every child, giving them tools they need to succeed. They have the chance to learn, to become the people their mothers and fathers dream of.
What Collier is saying is that the government should be raising children because parents can’t be bothered. That is the textbook definition of a Democrat. Republicans would say, look, take 15 minutes out of your day to read to your child. If you can’t do that, your priorities are way out of whack. I think vast majority of Texans would agree with me on that.
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So fellow Republicans, fear not, you are not alone and you are not going to see your dreams for your children go down the tube in 2018. Look past the personal attacks on your beliefs, stand strong in them and withstand the bullying from so-called intellectuals. It will be challenging but worth it in the end.
But you cannot be complacent. You must demand that the Republicans that you elect hold fast as well. And if they don’t, you need to be part of the solution and replace them. Because if you don’t, there might come a time with the Democrats do.
If one thinks that unfettered capitalism is so wonderful, I suggest one read some history about the late 1800s and early 1900s.
I am sometime accused in this and other posts of including all, I wonder why I do that?
But if one looks at who the voters voted in regards to HERO one would realize that there were a lot of Democrats that voted against it.
It is too early but I would not be surprised to find that come next January 2019 that not a single Republican judge will be seating on a bench in Harris County.
Claiming you are transgendered will never be a positive defense for a sex related crime. That’s sloppy thinking.
You don’t know any really poor people do you? Otherwise, you wouldn’t make the specious claim about “taking 15 minutes out of your day”. First, it takes more than 15 minutes to read to your kid, second, if you work two jobs, or have to work odd shifts, you may not have a chance to do even the 15 minutes while your kids are actually awake. And that’s not due to priorities being out of whack, it’s the raw truth for folks on the bottom half of the socio-economic scale, many of whom work for jerks who think nothing of making someone work overtime off the clock, or odd hours, etc. And with jobs hard to come by for those folks, they are far less likely than others to quit a job they already have on the off chance that there’s a better opportunity elsewhere.
Ross, forgive me, but that is so much utter crap. You make time for the priorities in your life. I’ve been really poor. I’ve had to work 2 jobs to keep the bills paid. I’ve worked some of the oddest shifts you can imagine. But, I could always find time to spend some time reading to my daughter – even if I had to forgo some sleep. And, 15 minutes is plenty of time to grab a book and read a chapter – frankly, with a young kid, that’s about all their attention span will allow.
BTW – if jobs are so difficult to come by, and son’t pay well enough, perhaps we need to reduce the competition a bit by limiting immigration. . . . . .
Agree Fat Albert, we should limit immigration both the legal and illegal kind, way too many H2B, H1-B, H2A visas being issued. So why didn’t the Republicans pass a strong requirement for hiring? Why are there so many undocumented folks working on State projects. We going to blame the Democrats?
How nice for you, Fat. I guess if the poor tried really, really, hard, they could be just like you. I really don’t understand the “Conservative” objection to providing people with the tools they need to become productive citizens. I am not talking about handouts, I am talking about properly funded schools, access to health care, etc.
Neither, the biggest supporters of immigration and increasing the number of special visas are the same rich folks “Conservatives” worship. The main driver behind the special visas are a desire to cut costs, not because of any real shortages of qualified applicants.
Ross: “if the poor tried really, really, hard,” Bingo! From your pen to God’s ears! Yeah dude, I worked my ass off. There were a few years when I never got more than 5 – 6 hours of sleep a night. So what? That’s what’s SUPPOSED to happen, or, perhaps you’re saying that we shouldn’t expect people to bust their ass to get ahead.
By the way, I don’t object to offering people a leg up, and providing them the tools they need to become successful. I do object to using a coercive Federal (or State) Government to do so. Mostly because they do a wretchedly bad job. We’ve been trying this for more than 50 years and the results keep getting worse. Perhaps we should try a solution that doesn’t involve a dysfunctional government.
Neither – you’re correct, Republicans and Democrats bear equal blame in our immigration mess. Neither party seems inclined to either accept responsibility or clean up the mess. I’m not a fan of the Republican party. The best that can be said of Republicans is that they are marginally more rational than Democrats. Usually. . .
I recall in 1982 when I first arrived in Houston, Harris County did not have a single Republican judge. Then there was the Reagan revolution, and the DemonRats were all swept out.
Harris County has had more than it’s share of illegal aliens, who likely have voted one or more times for DemonRat candidates, as well as hoards of new residents who have escaped Communist-infested states, yet when they arrive, they want to make Houston just like San Fransicko, or New York, or Ho Chi Minh City.
My precinct has turned from Republican to DemonRat over the past decade after four additional large apartment complexes were developed. When I moved into the Precinct in 1986, there was a single Section 8 apartment complex, now, there are thousands of taxpayer-subsidized voters who are riding in that over-loaded wagon the producers are forced to pull.
As long as DemonRat children are taught that the government is Santa Claus, Houston will remain the mess that it is.
If Karl Marx were alive today, he might have coined the phrase ” The road to Hell is paved with boondoggle rail!”
SHEEP AND GOATS
“They are fools!” Professor Johnson said out loud to the full length mirror on the wall. “And I do not suffer fools gladly.”
“Here are your letters,” the gray haired assistant said as she walked into his study and handed him several envelopes. Each envelope contained a check made out to The New Church of Charles Darwin. “I will make sure they all got a copy of On the Origin of Species by Natural Selection.”
Professor Johnson took the letters, laid them on his table and looked at his assistant. “Why can’t everyone see the truth about nature and life force?”
“Some folks just don’t want to see the truth,” she said. “They are brainwashed. They believe what they are told. They are like sheep and that is not a bad thing, it just is what it is. They need a good shepherd; they need you, Professor Johnson.”
“Charles Darwin is my shepherd,” he said turning to face her.” He taught me about life force.”
“And about nature for goodness sake,” she said.
“Right,” he said, squinting slightly. He then leaned over; clicked on his computer and turned the volume up. His lecture from earlier that day came on the screen…
Today I want you to tell you a story that Charles Darwin told. It is wonderful to study the teachings of Charles Darwin. There are several things that stand out about his lessons. Firstly, his teaching was always simple. He said profound things in a simple way. Secondly, he always taught with authority. He spoke as one having authority. You never had any doubts about where Charles Darwin stood on any issue. Thirdly, he never told a story where he didn’t use illustrations. He always told a simple story to illustrate some profound truth using illustrations. During his time Charles Darwin was like a sheep among Christian wolves. He taught that rather than God, nature and life force determine the success of living things. His opinions were at variance with church doctrine. What could be more dangerous than a heretic sheep in a pack of Christian wolves? This is the position Darwin found himself in. And that’s exactly the position that The New Church of Charles Darwin is in today. We are in the midst of masses of illogical non believing Christians. Members of The New Church of Charles Darwin are like sheep among Christian wolves. Charles Darwin told a story about a sheep and a goat. A man had a sheep which had wandered away and gotten lost. This man goes throughout the countryside over the mountains, in the valleys, in the woods, searching for his lost sheep. Finally, this man found his sheep and took him back to his house. Sheep can get lost easier than any animal. But a goat is different. This same man had a wild mountain goat show up at his house. And try as he might, he couldn’t get rid of that goat. The goat ate up everything. He ate up the flowers in the garden, and he ate up all the sheep food. And he smelled bad. This goat smelled awful. Some people are like goats. Have you ever noticed? They smell bad and nobody wants to be around them. Ha ha. Charles Darwin named this goat Lenin. He couldn’t get rid of Lenin. He couldn’t sell him, nobody wanted him. He decided that the only way he could get rid of Lenin was to get him lost. So he put Lenin in his truck and took him to a wooded area about three miles away, and turned him loose. And he said goodbye Lenin. I have gotten rid of you. He went to the grocery store and bought some groceries. When he got back to his house about an hour and a half later, there stood Lenin. He couldn’t get rid of the goat. These two creatures evolved from a common ancestor, but they evolved differently. A sheep is totally different than a goat. Sheep just naturally seem to get lost. You can’t lose a goat. The New Church of Charles Darwin teaches that Christians have lost their way. Like sheep, Christians have gone astray, the wrong way. Many people are lost from Charles Darwin’s teachings about nature and life force. They have wandered away. Their minds have been blinded to nature and life force by religious fanatics who believe in Christianity. These people are logically and factually lost. They have separated themselves from the teachings of Charles Darwin. But I bring good news. The New Church of Charles Darwin is here to help folks understand that any Christian that doesn’t believe in nature and life force is a fool. More than that; any Christian that puts Christianity ahead of nature and life force has gone astray. He is like a sheep that has gone astray…. Sometimes I wonder if what Charles Darwin meant was that there are billions of stars and planets out there out in space, and that this earth may be the only planet in the universe that is lost from the knowledge of nature and life force.
The computer screen went dark.
“What is success?” Professor Johnson turned to face the mirror and stood erect. His eyes were moist “It is to spread the message of Charles Darwin to the sheep that will believe in our message and endure the goats that won’t.”
The gray haired lady smiled and openly weeping, gazed up at him. “To know the beauty that is nature and life force. This is to have succeeded! Oh sing it Professor, sing Just As I Am,,sing it for me!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KusMlGyIhyk