You've heard of "Shrub" and "Goodhair" (thx Molly IVINS). Now meet "Drug Store Cowboy"

[UTUSN]

Last edited Fri Feb 26, 2021, 06:08 PM - Edit history (1)

Drug Store Cowboy, a.k.a. “Gregg ABBOTT” or “Governor”

“ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_Texas_gubernatorial_election 1994 Texas gubernatorial election - …. Before the election, Richards had a high approval rating due to the strength of the state economy. However, Bush's campaigning on cultural and religious issues resonated with many Texan voters, and the race was considered a tossup on election day.”

And then, as The University of YouTube might call it, came the Bronze Age Collapse for the decades of Democratic rule in Texas. This collapse happened from a combination of things – the “Weak Governor” system, wherein the Governorship is a figurehead with the Lieutenant Governor being dominant in running the Legislature and being the attack dog; the collapse and defection to the Fatcats of the last young generation of Democratic leaders (think, Ben BARNES) ; the soft underbelly of Hispanic non-voters or voters-against-their-own-interests; the active but can’t-do-it-by-themselves Black voters; the myth of Tough Talk Texas “rugged individualism” and the Easy Pickings of Repukes who discovered The Secret to power in Texas; and an ever smaller but engrained apartheid ruling structure. In Texas even a civic minded project like anti-littering is masked threateningly as “Don’t mess with Texas.”

The secret for Repukes in Texas started with Poppy BUSH, the managerial secret of keeping a low profile (see, “Dark Legacy I & II” ), claiming to stay out of the loop, and creating an image of being inoffensive and replacing outer substance with smiling – lots of smiling. Why would the heir of Eastern Power set up in backward Texas?! Poppy of the hidden hand discovered the easy pickings that is Texas, the hot knife in butter.

But Poppy used the Texas low profile as a cover. George W. used the low profile as a claim to higher power and set the template for Repuke governors in Texas – big talk, “tough” talk, suck off of the Fatcats and screw the most vulnerable – swagger but with a cute, fratboy air of playfulness and humility and above all SMILE. Photo ops with mariachis after refusing Medicaid dollars.

So there were Shub (George W., thanks to Molly IVINS) and Goodhair (Rick PERRY) – two of the luckiest little a-holes ever. And now one Greg ABBOTT, who has been difficult to nickname. Until now. How do you make fun of somebody in a wheelchair with a half-Hispanic wife – a Gold Card of insulation, firewall.

Well, Repukes are always hoping for a Great White Hope, and currently in Texas in the aftermath of a humongous disaster, they think they found the Hope in ABBOTT, who is at the epicenter of all the characteristics – tough talk against the electric grid villains but who will not endanger the inherent structure of the Texas-only grid. Yes, after his first five years of weak governorship – nondescript, no distinguishing characteristics, tough talk but smilingly inoffensive on the outside – he “addressed the people of the State” firing up his wingnuts with brimstone on the grid villains – “ https://www.kxxv.com/hometown/texas/many-of-you-are-angry-im-angry-too-abbott-addresses-power-outages-states-winter-storm-response 'Many of you are angry... I'm angry too': Abbott addresses power outages, state's winter storm response”.

So there you have him, “tough” but safely so on a safe issue, and promising Judgment Day but not in a meaningful way (e.g., ditching the lone Texas grid).

So what do you call Greg ABBOTT – that mixture of bluster and namby-pambyism? I humbly offer:

Drug Store Cowboy

[The Roux Comes First]

1. "Rhinestone" Could Work There, Too

But thanks for helping us with the history and the nod to the fabulous and ever-so-missed Molly Ivins!

[UTUSN]

4. Agree that it also works, but adding some rhinestone abrasion!1

[SleeplessinSoCal]

2. I just want to say that I was working in Dallas during the election..

I neglected to get an absentee ballot for NY election. Cuomo (Mario) stunningly lost too. Co-workers in Dallas were stunned that Richards lost.

I was also reading "Rush Limbaugh is a Big, Fat Idiot", The combo of the three got me off the fence. I registered as a Democrat.

[UTUSN]

3. You were on the fence? - intriguing. Please explain if you wish! Tia

[SleeplessinSoCal]

5. I get around. I was living in London during Watergate.

It was presented more as an attack on the presidency by the BBC. So I registered as an Independent and voted for Carter.

[UTUSN]

6. You/family weren't political in roots? You came at it from "objective" issues?

[SleeplessinSoCal]

7. My dad died when I was young. my mother became a Republican with Reagan

My dad liked taking the opposite side of any political argument. So i started out like him accidentally.

[UTUSN]

8. Got it. Thanks and welcome home (before RAYGUN)!