BevoAbyss

No doubt, a true statement. I’m sure most are all over the football board with the blind SEC love on display there 24/7. Probably McCombs grads and frat boy fascists.

Regarding Longhornlove and 50-60% of America: Just as Christian fascism is overrunning science, conspiracy theory and social media are overrunning sanity and secular education. Resulting in millions upon millions of fact-twisting, fallacy-ridden, fake “experts.” The cult of the idiot and amateur, 150 million strong. It remains to be seen whether America (or the world) survives this toxic mix.

Well, the hipster UT prof that authored that CNN editorial sure knows where his bread is buttered. Just another middle-of-the-road professor. Citing W as some kind of intellectual role model is laughable, not to mention lauding Civitas (et al). His editorial seems reasonable and well-intentioned, until you read deeper and realize it is grounded in philosophical appeasement. The "Mack Brown Distinguished Chair” out front was the warning… Scares ya to death!

Damn straight. And within the police/military/national guard, you can bet there are tons of Oakley-wearing goateed goons licking their chops at a chance to bash the heads of liberal UT students. Nothing more symbolic than MAGA goons cracking skulls on the campus of the state’s flagship university.

What’s happening on UT campus is exactly what fascism looks like and does. And I guarantee, not a single newspaper or media outlet in Texas will call it what it is: fucking fascism.

The Republican "small government-state’s rights” has always been a patriotic propaganda smoke screen to keep White Christians/Capitalists in power … and to resist progress … to resist equal rights … to resist protecting the environment ... to resist the very existence of modernity and the 20th and 21st centuries. They’ve veered at least since Eisenhower’s military-industrial complex >>> more with Nixon-Kissinger war crimes (etc) >>> a bit more with Reagan regime >>> then the Bushes, ramping up with W’s neofascist Patriot Act/Homeland Security and theocratic faith-based initiatives >>> full on fascist theocracy with MAGA Trump. And we see this smokescreen and Republican fascism playing out on UT campus right now.

Well, some people have limited child births in their own lives. I know middle-aged couples and people who have no children by choice. I have no children. I made the decision long ago that getting married and raising a family was not in my skill set. No way! And it has not limited my social life at all, as I discovered there are many attractive/educated/intelligent women who are cool with the no marriage/kids scenario. I have always been right up front about it. Plus, having no kids has massive ecological benefits long-term, adding zero consumers on the planet. I have made a lot of dumb decisions in my life. But not this one. Best decision I ever made. Except for attending UT, that is.

I think it was George Orwell or Hannah Arendt who said effective propaganda creates true believers who trust their fantasies rather than facts. And that’s where 50-60% of this country is today.

Guess what? Your clients are fascists (or fascist adjacent). And, yes, they are brainwashed… so maybe they are not that “super smart" after all.

Friends, I slept so well last night. As with many of you, this photo from Wednesday bothered me immensely. As did the events at UT. Not anymore! Why? Last night, I read the words of a very wise Surly poster. This poster reads history books for a hobby, minored in Anthropology, sailed the seas with the Navy ... and he has assured us all that Wednesday's police parade on the UT campus is no big deal. Just Hartzell making sure UT does not become Columbia in NYC. In fact, this dude's knowledge of history is so deep and vast that he knows there are no definitions of fascism that fit what has been emerging in the US for at least 20 years ... accelerating the past 8 years... and bursting on to the UT campus. There are no historical descriptions anywhere of fascism that mirror GQP-MAGA, Trumpers, or Abbott and cronies. No need to look up "fascism" in Merriam-Webster or Oxford Dictionary or Encyclopedia Brittanica or Wikipedia. Nope, nothing to worry about. We can all sleep easy. America is in good hands. Nothing is changing in our world.

Seeing fascist stormtroopers marauding through leftist-liberal UT is a GQP, MAGA, and Aggy wet dream ... full-on come to life. And we have a President who willfully supported and enabled this. Wow, just wow. The more I think about it, the more I realize Hartzell has gotta go. And take a risk with the next person. Time's up for appeasement ... across the board.

Lots of good, thoughtful takes here about Hartzell's role. Hartzell has a tough job, but he fucked up big time and it is clear he is full-on MAGA, MAGA-adjacent, or a lackey holding on to his job. What happened at UT is clearly fascism in action, with an entire generation living in normalized fascism, a malignancy spreading throughout culture. Sydney Carton wisely mentioned the "Milgram Studies" and is correct: Almost nothing has been learned from the famed studies. Give people the monopoly power of violence over other people, and they will deploy that violence, ruthlessly. Social media only amplifies the Milgram insights and desire for violence. As we saw on the UT Campus: the police, DPS, law enforcement, and military are likely filled with Milgram-MAGA fascists -- ready, able, and more than willing to impose the GQP-MAGA regime.

Apologies for the large font on my post above. Not intentional. My bad. I should not be posting before morning caffeine has kicked in! (And I am sure some wish I was not posting any time of the day.)

About Hartzell, MAGA-GQP, and any fascists at the top of UT. Take this as you like.... About 18 months ago, I had a phone conversation with a long-time friend from my UT days. Also a UT alum, my friend has a fairly prominent position on the 40. First time we had spoken in several years, as we were discussing the passing of aging family members. My friend is 100% not MAGA, not Trumper. As our conversation evolved onto other topics, we briefly discussed the SEC move. I said I thought the move was an "Abbott-MAGA-BOR-BMD fascist move to align UT with the SEC confederacy conference" and I said that Hartzell and CDC were either on-board willingly or had no choice. My talkative friend got quiet and said something to the effect of "yeah, well, football." I then asked my friend if there were any known MAGAs at the top of the university or among BOR-BMD. My friend replied, "Well, there are rumors." But would not speculate further. I specifically asked about Hartzell and my friend said "I do not know." Seemed kinda uncomfortable with the discussion and was ready to drop the topic. I know my friend, the good-hearted optimist who focuses on positives. So we discussed new Mexican restaurants to visit next time i pass through Austin (once every 5-6 years) .... --------------- In my view, what happened at our university Wednesday was a display of what was obviously signaled and symbolized the day UT joined the SEC. Abbott-led MAGA-fascists have infiltrated the top levels of UT-Austin, BOR, and BMD. Wednesday's display of naked fascism and skull-cracking on campus only further confirms this. It's a f*cking disgrace and must be vigorously denounced within UT by those with the power to do so. That means tenured faculty at least. The faculty council letter to Hartzell seemed like too much weak sauce, at least to me. Whether Hartzell is fully on-board ... or MAGA-GQP adjacent ... or just following orders remains to be uncovered ... if ever. And other posters are correct: If Hartzell goes down, Abbott will make sure the next president is fully on-board.

Born and raised in Texas, with a mom who grew up on farm/ranch. That meant meals with meat! Grew up having BBQ on many Friday nights, as my young parents loved to chill out at a "BBQ joint" with a jukebox, great BBQ, and good fresh iced tea. As for Saturdays in the burbs, my das grilled T-Bone Steaks most of the time. Many, my dad loved to grill, chill, have a drink (tea or mixed drink), and smoke his pipe! By the time I was 15 or so, my dad sometimes let me have a mixed drink: usually gin & tonic or a margarita. Depended on good grades! Sundays, my mom loved making a Pot Roast that would last for several meals, including roast sandwiches to take to school. When I went to UT, my meat cravings were satisfied by fajitas at Chuy's by the river and Trudy's North Star, near campus. Over the years, I have reduced my red meat consumption dramatically, but it has not been easy. Chicken, seafood. And "Beyond Burgers" has really helped! But, my brother and I were spoiled by the Texas middle class meat utopia!

Though the reporters are kept anonymous, I bet the story is true. Would. Not. Surprise. Me. It always boggles my mind how the liberal intelligentsia worship the holy New York Times. When, in fact, its underlying ideology has long been to justify the US as the Judeo-Christian-Capitalist-Technology world empire builder and dominator. In the Cold War, in the Terror War, and in the emerging New Fascist Era. No doubt, it's cultural journalism is pretty much top shelf, but even that still bends the knee to the ideological narrative. The New York Times pretends to liberal and enlightened, but it is far from it.

Ocean acidification, coral bleaching, massive over-fishing, dredging the sea floors. and plastic garbage all throughout the oceans. We are f*cking up the oceans big time, the ultimate life support system on Planet Earth Take a few moments and watch the TED Talk by Sylvia Earle, the legendary and pioneering oceanographer. Earle is pure greatness! Some incredible imagery in the video, a talk mixed with dread and hope for the future.

About rafting in the Rio Grande: -- I first rafted Santa Elena Canyon in 1993 and 1996. Both times, the river had shallow parts where we had to drag the raft around boulders and over rocks. The river levels do fluctuate, but there is no doubt the river is more shallow or dried up for longer periods of time. The dams in New Mexico are a key source of the problem, as well as overpopulation, drought, and agricultural excess. -- As the Canyon got deeper ... and water got deeper ... you could hear the sandy water quietly grinding like sandpaper carving the canyon walls. It was unreal. Will never forget it. -- The "beaches" inside the Canyon (as it snaked along) were 100% pristine. And no doubt the Canyon Walls are spectacular, rising over 1000 feet. -- At night, you could see the flashes of lightning bugs galore... and hear bat wings flapping as they zoomed in for the late-night snacks. But, the most epic experience was seeing the Milky Way rise above the towering Canyon walls, shrouded in complete and total darkness. It was like a wide ribbon of glowing stars/stardust astride the Canyon walls, which were pitch black. Majestic, magnificent, mind-blowing. -- My girlfriend and I were just in complete and total awe. Overwhelmed at times. She even shed a tear or two. A truly sublime experience. -- For a good couple of hours, we just laid on the beach looking up and sipping some tequila. It was ever more mesmerizing as our eyes adjusted to the darkness. (I think it is called the "scotopic" part of human vision.) The Milky Way seemed like it was in 3D. -- Friends, if you have never rafted the Santa Elena Canyon, put it on your bucket list. And do an overnighter to see the Milky Way. You will never forget it.

Guess what? You know a bunch of fascists or fascist enablers on this very board in IRL. And, if they're not smart enough to realize that, then they are not very smart. And they're in denial of the all-too-real implications of their regressive beliefs. Yes, the media and education systems are failing them, but they are also failing themselves and the rest of us. Time's up for giving such people a free pass or any excuses. F*ck that BS.

In a sane America, Trump should have been in jail by the end of 2021 for: 1) His role in the insurrection and/or 2) His role in trying to overturn the Georgia election (it's recorded!) and/or 3) His role in enabling hundreds of thousands of Covid deaths. (Sure seems like involuntary manslaughter or criminal negligence, according to various definitions of the concepts). And yet, here we are, three years later and a Democrat Attorney General is twiddling his thumbs... in the face of a fascist takeover by an insurrectionist who enabled hundreds of thousands of deaths. No need to hurry....nothing at stake.

The Christians have been "insecure about their demographics" for 2000 years! That's why they have colonized all over the planet and wiped out opposition when they have political power. But, the prime reason for being anti-abortion, anti-birth control, and wanting more babies in America boils down to one core reason: to control and dominate women. -- For patriarchal insecure men/women to control and feel superior to women, especially the "educated" independent women. -- To roll back "Women's Lib" ... to minimize/marginalize any independence (economic and/or intellectual) or free spirit among women. -- To narrow the range of choices for women to live their lives. -- And for general meanness and cruelty. (And hatred of their own selves and lives.) Bottom lime, they are rolling the clock back for women. 1864 Arizona is the way station on the way back 16th Century Medievalism. Margaret Atwood saw it coming in Reagan era with Handmaid's Tale.

What we must realize for MAGA-GQP-Creationists-Fundamentalists-Evangelicals is the following: -- The Ten Commandments overrules the Bill of Rights. -- The Bible overrules the Constitution. -- Sunday School overrules Law School. There is no rational or reasonable philosophy of law at issue. Just reinterpretations of the law to fit their scriptures and the theocratic ideology they are imposing on society. So do not expect sanity in any legal rulings forthcoming, as shown by Alito's medievalism in the Dobbs opinion overturning Roe. Of course, some Surly lawyers will tell us the processes of the legal system just take time to play out...

Just dropped to offer a reminder: Texas is a Christian-fascist ruled state. The rulers are Christians doing what Christians have done for centuries--when they have political power. Impose domination, pain, cruelty, misery, terror, and death upon women, POC, LGTQIA, and all who are not Christians or believers in their God. History is clear on that. Let's not pretend otherwise. Time's up for Sunday School beliefs. Especially when women seeking reproductive care are fleeing for their lives and razor wire is at the Rio Grande.

Thanks for this research. Yes, the BOR and BMD have aligned UT with the most racist part of America. Anyone who thinks the SEC moves was only about Big Boy Football and ESPN$$$$ is incredibly naive. Incredibly! I'll say it yet again, the SEC move was a post-BLM move to align the University of Texas with MAGA-fascism-Christian rule. Approved by Abbott to BOR to BMD, far above Del Conte and Hartzelll. End of Story.

By the time MAGA-GQP are through rewriting history, the historical markers and textbooks will say: -- Christian Texans won the Battle of the Alamo and then the went on to wipeout the woke socialist army of Santa Ana at San Jacinto. -- No humans inhabited the lands of "Texas" until God instructed Christians and capitalists to create the Republic of Texas and make sure no people of color or socialists tried to steal any of the Lone State State. -- Bible passages instructed where to drill the Spindletop and the Permian Basin was created by God for Texans 6,000 years ago. -- Jesus told LBJ to make sure NASA put Mission Control in Houston so no commie pinkos could infiltrate it for the Soviets. The task will be epic, but Abbott, Paxton, MAGA, and the Real Texans will save True Texas history!