Abbott being Abbott

[Beau Vine 54,466]

3 hours ago, Bozo_Casanova said:

For Cruz voters, being an asshole is the point. 

I hear you, see below

First, you're making a great point about his 2018 campaign going it's own way - it's why he caught fire early, but ultimately he weighed the campaign down. And now as the standard bearer he's going through a well-established process of assisted suicide facilitated by the TDP's Failure-Industrial Complex.

So - about his flaws. Beto O'Rourke DID have the opportunity to set the narrative, similar to what Obama did in 2008 and what Trump had in 2016 (not great as analogies, but handy as well known examples), and whereas Obama made his campaign about this wonderful blank slate of Hope and Change that anybody could project whatever on and Trump had this thematic call to action around Making America Great Again that has literally motivated people to organize boat parades, Beto made his campaign theme ... Beto. And so Beto spent the second half of his 2018 on this apology tour about his personal journey through a life of privilege, the luxury of his wife having the time to raise the kids, etc. It probably didn't cost him votes, but the opportunity cost was not staking out a clear thematic "why" for his coalition, or make it about their role as supporters  and the outcome for them as individuals.  He repeatedly kept his hands clean and refused to go for Cruz's throat on stage at debates. Instead, he made it about him, just as he made his presidential campaign about him. It's always been about Beto and his personal journey. 
 

People misunderstand what empathy is. Empathy is the ability to understand the feelings of another person. Penn Gillette talks about how magicians have to have the empathy to see through the eyes of another person and accept what they see is real for them. Abbott has that (or at least is well advised on how to look like he does), and Beto doesn't really.  Take the video of Beto confronting Abbott. The story played well enough, but it wasn't the BIG MOMENT that it could have been, and here's why - Beto comes from the through the video from the center, with his back to the camera, and is speaking while looking up, and Greg Abbott and Patrick don't respond. We can't hear Beto, and we can't see his face.  Instead, he is shouted down by the Uvalde mayor (framing the mayor as his opponent, not Abbott), and the last words we hear are the Mayor calling him a sick SOB while he's escorted  out. It's terrible optics.  What he should have done was come up the right hand aisle  and cheated out 1/4 turn so the cameras on the left would see him and Abbott in profile while he points his finger and the microphones could pick up what he was saying and get a good video and still image. 
And while you could say he didn't want to mug for the cameras or was being authentic, that's really the problem - he's literally crashing a press conference and SHOULD exactly mug for the cameras and sell the moment as hard as he can. If you are trying to play to an audience and won't do the basics to help them see or hear you, it's because you don't care. 

[Hank Scorpio 17,731]

The Democratic Party is still way behind Republicans in terms of organization and ground support around the state. When you haven’t won a statewide election in 30 years the statewide party machine basically ceased to exist. The trial lawyers were the only group really funding democrats in the state for a long time, at least now the grassroots fundraising has gotten going. You start with the money, then you build the infrastructure, then you find good candidates and see what happens. The biggest problem for Democrats is that they are Democrats and will continue to fuck everything up. 

Edited May 29, 2022 by Hank Scorpio

[Biff Tannen 45,750]

1 hour ago, Hank Scorpio said:

The Democratic Party is still way behind Republicans in terms of organization and ground support around the state. When you haven’t won a statewide election in 30 years the statewide party machine basically ceased to exist. The trial lawyers were the only group really funding democrats in the state for a long time, at least now the grassroots fundraising has gotten going. You start with the money, then you build the infrastructure, then you find good candidates and see what happens. The biggest problem for Democrats is that they are Democrats and will continue to fuck everything up. 

This is the least Hank Scorpio-like post on this entire site.

[chainsaw 9,878]

Dems lack a well-funded, well-oiled propaganda machine. That's why if Ann Richards ever ran today she'd post Lupe Valdez-like numbers.

[SizzleChest 8,284]

21 minutes ago, Biff Tannen said:

This is the least Hank Scorpio-like post on this entire site.

But he’s correct.

[Bama Chick 28,596]

Good. These fuckers should know no peace.

[Snake Diggity 4,627]

Abbott, Cornyn, and Cruz should not be able to show themselves anywhere in public for the rest of their lives without being loudly confronted and reminded of their part in blocking efforts to prevent this tragedy.

[mchookem 16,408]

i can only imagine how hurt, traumatized, grief-stricken and enraged those local residents likely feel. screaming and booing seems entirely appropriate. 

[Beau Vine 54,466]

1 hour ago, SizzleChest said:

But he’s correct.

That's precisely why it's the least Hank Scorpio-like post on this entire site.

[Sawbonz 27,596]

20 minutes ago, Bama Chick said:

Good. These fuckers should know no peace.
 

Should be throwing garbage at him 

[South Austin 52,629]

It’s probably blind hope that those boos are a sign that some people are starting to get it.

[Bozo_Casanova 26,579]

4 hours ago, Fudge Nuggets said:

This is a terrible post and you should feel bad for posting it.

Should he have set up some mood lighting and maybe had some dark and ominous walk up music playing in the background as well?

Yes. Fuck yes. He’s there to make a sale, and every detail counts or nothing counts.

4 hours ago, Radical Larry said:

BAH GAWD THAT’S BETO’S MUSIC!!!

Yes. You’re joking and I’m not joking. 
 

 

[gmr548 16,617]

First, you're making a great point about his 2018 campaign going it's own way - it's why he caught fire early, but ultimately he weighed the campaign down. And now as the standard bearer he's going through a well-established process of assisted suicide facilitated by the TDP's Failure-Industrial Complex.
So - about his flaws. Beto O'Rourke DID have the opportunity to set the narrative, similar to what Obama did in 2008 and what Trump had in 2016 (not great as analogies, but handy as well known examples), and whereas Obama made his campaign about this wonderful blank slate of Hope and Change that anybody could project whatever on and Trump had this thematic call to action around Making America Great Again that has literally motivated people to organize boat parades, Beto made his campaign theme ... Beto. And so Beto spent the second half of his 2018 on this apology tour about his personal journey through a life of privilege, the luxury of his wife having the time to raise the kids, etc. It probably didn't cost him votes, but the opportunity cost was not staking out a clear thematic "why" for his coalition, or make it about their role as supporters  and the outcome for them as individuals.  He repeatedly kept his hands clean and refused to go for Cruz's throat on stage at debates. Instead, he made it about him, just as he made his presidential campaign about him. It's always been about Beto and his personal journey. 
 
People misunderstand what empathy is. Empathy is the ability to understand the feelings of another person. Penn Gillette talks about how magicians have to have the empathy to see through the eyes of another person and accept what they see is real for them. Abbott has that (or at least is well advised on how to look like he does), and Beto doesn't really.  Take the video of Beto confronting Abbott. The story played well enough, but it wasn't the BIG MOMENT that it could have been, and here's why - Beto comes from the through the video from the center, with his back to the camera, and is speaking while looking up, and Greg Abbott and Patrick don't respond. We can't hear Beto, and we can't see his face.  Instead, he is shouted down by the Uvalde mayor (framing the mayor as his opponent, not Abbott), and the last words we hear are the Mayor calling him a sick SOB while he's escorted  out. It's terrible optics.  What he should have done was come up the right hand aisle  and cheated out 1/4 turn so the cameras on the left would see him and Abbott in profile while he points his finger and the microphones could pick up what he was saying and get a good video and still image. 
And while you could say he didn't want to mug for the cameras or was being authentic, that's really the problem - he's literally crashing a press conference and SHOULD exactly mug for the cameras and sell the moment as hard as he can. If you are trying to play to an audience and won't do the basics to help them see or hear you, it's because you don't care. 

We agree on TDP.

Agree to disagree on O’Rourke. Unlike solipsism, I know what empathy means. There’s definitely plenty to knock him on with both his political instincts and policy stances, but not a lack of empathy relative to Cruz, Abbott, et al. I think the examples you give are more about bad political instincts and not having the killer instinct one usually needs to win an election in this country. I think he comes across as the exact opposite - it’s clear he cares. It’s clear he understands who bears the brunt of the consequences of the problems in this state. It’s clear he feels the outrage of those who have lost family or friends to gun violence, for example. He just isn’t very good at channeling that into making a case for himself. He’s a bad debater and often misses the mark where he does go on the offensive, which wasn’t much against Cruz.

[atomheartbevo 89,827]

2 hours ago, chainsaw said:

Dems lack a well-funded, well-oiled propaganda machine. That's why if Ann Richards ever ran today she'd post Lupe Valdez-like numbers.

I don’t know, I think a corpse could do better than Lupe.

[atomheartbevo 89,827]

24 minutes ago, South Austin said:

It’s probably blind hope that those boos are a sign that some people are starting to get it.

If they are coming from brown people, they don’t count. Probably bussed across the border.  Whites?  Soros plants from California.

I wish I was kidding, but I imagine social media is full of Republicans making these comments about the booing.

[ultimaton 2,982]

26 minutes ago, atomheartbevo said:

I don’t know, I think a corpse could do better than Lupe.

Not even a fucking joke. Outside of my own research to try and get a sense of her policy positions I think the only time I even heard her name during that entire campaign was a story about her losing her goddamn gun. 

[Satchel 6,949]

6 hours ago, Bozo_Casanova said:

I don’t know what’s inside but he demonstrates empathy. Empathy is not sympathy. 

How has Abbott put himself in the shoes of those he represents when he refuses to expand basic Medicaid to the poorest among us?

[HenryJames 66,188]

Yeah, he should roll a mile in someone else’s shoes. 

[mchookem 16,408]

i do not think the word empathy means what Bozo thinks it means.

 

[Texas Flood 1,356]

2 minutes ago, mchookem said:

i do not think the word empathy means what Bozo thinks it means.

 

He's a Theatre teacher not an English teacher.

[Satchel 6,949]

Abbott doesn’t give a rat’s ass about mental health issues in Texas:

CNN's Pamela Brown reported that despite Abbott's assertion that the issue is tied to mental health, he's cut more than $117 million from the state's Health and Human Services Commission in 2021 to a little more than $93 million in 2022.

Across the two years, more than $200 million was cut from the departments funds to go towards supporting the National Guard and efforts on the border, per the outlet.

The governor's office did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, but told CNN that Abbott has spent his time in office working with legislators to support mental health initiatives in the state.

Mental Health America, a non-profit tracking mental health resources across the country, however, ranked Texas 50 out of 51 territories for mental health access in 2021. It also ranked 15 for adults and 30 for youth — indicating that it had high prevalence of mental health illnesses but limited care.

Brown addressed Texas's mental health rankings compared to several mass shootings in the state in recent years alongside loosening gun laws.

Before Uvalde, there were mass shootings at a Walmart in El Paso in 2019, Santa Fe High School in 2018, and the Texas First Baptist Church in 2017, among several others.

Abbott on Wednesday said that 18 year olds have been able to buy long guns for 60 years.

"Why is it for the majority of those 60 years, we did not have school shootings? And why is it that we do now?" Abbott said.

However, lawmakers and advocates across the country have criticized loose gun laws for mass shootings.

Post told NBC News that Texas has the highest gun per capita rate, and Abbott's efforts to curb mass shootings following the 2019 El Paso shooting only led to more bills that "involved arming the public to stop mass shooters.

[Chooky 13,319]

1 hour ago, HenryJames said:

Yeah, he should roll a mile in someone else’s shoes. 

That's a pretty mean thing to say. It won't hurt Abbott's feelings from the waist down. Maybe someday you'll be more careful with the top half of Abbott.

[Bookman 4,642]

Has Abbott called a special session to make guns easier to buy yet?

[MissingInAction 25,204]

2 minutes ago, Bookman said:

Has Abbott called a special session to make guns easier to buy yet?

What? You haven't received your state issued AR-15 in the mail yet?

[Sawbonz 27,596]

Piece of shit

 

 

[Horndog 2,243]

On 5/29/2022 at 7:51 AM, HenryJames said:

A Door 38%
Abbott 34%
O’Rourke 28%

Well, to be fair, the door was endorsed by Cruz.

[HenryJames 66,188]

 

[atomheartbevo 89,827]

17 minutes ago, HenryJames said:

 

Only reason why they are so resistant to red flag laws that bar the mentally ill from firearms is that they assume a bunch of their constituents will fail.  No other reason to be against the mentally ill having easy access to firearms.

[elfenix 34,338]

2 minutes ago, atomheartbevo said:

Only reason why they are so resistant to red flag laws that bar the mentally ill from firearms is that they assume a bunch of their constituents will fail.  No other reason to be against the mentally ill having easy access to firearms.

patchy: if you strengthen background checks then my friends won't be able to borrow my guns!

everyone: who the fuck are your friends that can't pass background checks?

[atomheartbevo 89,827]

12 minutes ago, elfenix said:

who the fuck are your friends that can't pass background checks?

The same people whose lawn mowing, house painting, or fruit or vegetable picking jobs are threatened by illegal immigrants?

[Gap03 3,337]

1 hour ago, HenryJames said:

 

The next step from the "how do you define 'assault weapon'?" crowd will definitely be "how do you define 'too insane to buy an arsenal of high-capacity semiautomatic weapons'?"

[Fudge Nuggets 19,227]

18 minutes ago, Gap03 said:

The next step from the "how do you define 'assault weapon'?" crowd will definitely be "how do you define 'too insane to buy an arsenal of high-capacity semiautomatic weapons'?"

That’s easy. If you want to buy an instrument of death and destruction you are too insane to buy an instrument of death and destruction. 

[Bozo_Casanova 26,579]

35 minutes ago, Gap03 said:

The next step from the "how do you define 'assault weapon'?" crowd will definitely be "how do you define 'too insane to buy an arsenal of high-capacity semiautomatic weapons'?"

They blew right past that years ago. The current argument is that jilted girlfriends  and angry ex-wives will call you crazy and get your guns taken away because hell hath no fury and all that. Has been for a while.

[Foosters 17,889]

23 minutes ago, Fudge Nuggets said:

That’s easy. If you want to buy an instrument of death and destruction you are too insane to buy an instrument of death and destruction. 

That's some catch, that catch-22

[Bozo_Casanova 26,579]

2 minutes ago, Foosters said:

That's some catch, that catch-22

It’s the best there is 

[atomheartbevo 89,827]

This could go in quite a few threads, but Supreme Court blocked Abbott and Paxton's social media law that would force tech companies to allow just about anything.

Because, you know, Republicans love to tell private businesses how to run their companies.

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/31/supreme-court-blocks-texas-social-media-law-tech-companies-warned-would-allow-hateful-content-to-run-rampant.html

Quote

The Supreme Court on Tuesday blocked a controversial Texas social media law from taking effect, after the tech industry and other opponents warned it could allow for hateful content to run rampant online.

The legislation would prohibit online platforms like Facebook and Twitter from moderating or removing content based on viewpoint.

A lower court initially blocked the law, but an appeals court allowed it to move forward as it deliberates on the broader case.

Quote

The decision does not rule on the merits of the law, known as HB20, but reimposes an injunction blocking it from taking effect while federal courts decide whether it can be enforced. The Supreme Court is likely to be asked to take a look at the constitutionality of the law in the future.

Quote

Two industry groups that represent tech companies including Amazon, Facebook, Google and Twitter, claimed in their emergency application with the court, “HB20 would compel platforms to disseminate all sorts of objectionable viewpoints, such as Russia’s propaganda claiming that its invasion of Ukraine is justified, ISIS propaganda claiming that extremism is warranted, neo-Nazi or KKK screeds denying or supporting the Holocaust, and encouraging children to engage in risky or unhealthy behavior like eating disorders.”

Quote

Texas’ attorney general Ken Paxton, a Republican, has said this is not the case, writing in a response to the emergency application that the law does not “prohibit the platforms from removing entire categories of content.”

“So, for example,” the response says, “the platforms can decide to eliminate pornography without violating HB 20 ... The platforms can also ban foreign government speech without violating HB 20, so they are not required to host Russia’s propaganda about Ukraine.”

 

Edited May 31, 2022 by atomheartbevo

[The Dog 44,160]

 

[miguelito 11,313]

What, no video games or porn?

[kevwun 15,928]

Police training.  Yes, lets make sure they understand they should protect a school full of children if they aren't too busy writing tickets for joints.

[gmr548 16,617]

Piece of shit
 
 

That’s a neatly packaged ad for Beto that won’t be used at all

[chainsaw 9,878]

26 minutes ago, The Dog said:

 

This is the equivalent of a border photo op.

[Sawbonz 27,596]

1 hour ago, The Dog said:

 

Hey Greg

[Mrs Whiggins 13,050]

1 hour ago, chainsaw said:

This is the equivalent of a border photo op.

Exactly. Political performative display that will be used to push agendas that have nothing to do with reducing gun violence.

The GOP speak for the 5 categories might just as easily be this:

School Safety: sell more guns, arm more people around schools (sell more guns), remove any legislation concerning guns in or near schools. Money, money, money. Money to be made.

Mental Health: continue to legislate and prohibit any discussion of diversity, race, sexual education, gender, and so on.

Social Media: the court case involving the State and the tech platforms is ongoing, and depending upon the final outcome, could get hairy.

Police Training: money, money, money.

Firearm Safety: money, money, money.

 

 

[Satchel 6,949]

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has asked state lawmakers in a new letter to find solutions to "prevent future school shootings" — but gun control isn't among the items mentioned as areas of focus.

Why it matters: Abbott's letter comes one week after a mass shooting at a Texas elementary school that killed 19 children and two teachers.

Details: On Wednesday, Abbott sent a joint letter to Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Speaker Dade Phelan asking for Texas legislative leaders to gather for a special session and develop recommendations for school safety, mental health, social media, police training and firearm safety as a way to "prevent future school shootings."

• Congress has faced pressure to act on gun control following the Uvalde school shooting, Axios' Alayna Treene reports.

What he said: "As Texans mourn the tragedy that occurred at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde last week, we as a state must reassess the twin issues of school safety and mass violence," Abbott said in the letter. 

• "As leaders, we must come together at this time to provide solutions to protect all Texans."

The big picture: Only a few Republican officials have said they are open to further restrictions on guns in the wake of Uvalde.

[chainsaw 9,878]

15 minutes ago, Satchel said:

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has asked state lawmakers in a new letter to find solutions to "prevent future school shootings" — but gun control isn't among the items mentioned as areas of focus.

Why it matters: Abbott's letter comes one week after a mass shooting at a Texas elementary school that killed 19 children and two teachers.

Details: On Wednesday, Abbott sent a joint letter to Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Speaker Dade Phelan asking for Texas legislative leaders to gather for a special session and develop recommendations for school safety, mental health, social media, police training and firearm safety as a way to "prevent future school shootings."

• Congress has faced pressure to act on gun control following the Uvalde school shooting, Axios' Alayna Treene reports.

What he said: "As Texans mourn the tragedy that occurred at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde last week, we as a state must reassess the twin issues of school safety and mass violence," Abbott said in the letter. 

• "As leaders, we must come together at this time to provide solutions to protect all Texans."

The big picture: Only a few Republican officials have said they are open to further restrictions on guns in the wake of Uvalde.

He's floundering.

[kevwun 15,928]

Abbott still thinks he can be a moderate when all he manages to do is piss off both sides.

[Satchel 6,949]

8 minutes ago, kevwun said:

Abbott still thinks he can be a moderate when all he manages to do is piss off both sides.

When was Abbott ever a moderate?

[kevwun 15,928]

Moderate in that he still makes token efforts like this or initially with covid.  If was a true believer, he would be pushing to arm 5 year olds if he bothered to do anything.  So he releases a stupid list that will fix nothing.

Edited June 1, 2022 by kevwun

[Brisketexan 105,438]

2 minutes ago, kevwun said:

So he releases a stupid list that will fix nothing.

You just captured his entire tenure as governor -- stupid shit that does nothing (with one minor modification -- he often manages to make things worse).

[mchookem 16,408]

17 minutes ago, kevwun said:

Abbott still thinks he can be a moderate when all he manages to do is piss off both sides.

 

7 minutes ago, kevwun said:

Moderate in that he still makes token efforts like this or initially with covid.  If was a true believer, he would be pushing to arm 5 year olds if he bothered to do anything.  So he releases a stupid list that will fix nothing.

absolutely. it's one of the most ridiculous aspects of his 'leadership' - how he thinks he can walk some reasonable fine line at times and ends up looking like a bigger idiot and pissing literally everyone off.

well, walk or...whatever lol

he's completely incompetent and smushy in addition to being a shitbag.