Texas GOP On Wrong Side of the Law and Abbott Can't Recall

[TexasTowelie]

By Carol Morgan

Greg Abbott’s long-running game of whack-a-mole continues. The two recent Texas court rulings on HB2 and the constitutionality of educational funding (the ones that Abbott fought against and lost) prove that the Texas GOP, and its 2014 slate of candidates, are on the wrong side of the law.

Perhaps the Texas GOP's new campaign tune should be "I Fought the Law and the Law Won."

How can we be expected to vote for an entire party who is, not only on the wrong side of the law, but aided and abetted these unconstitutional laws to be put into practice. Why?

It’s politically damaging and embarrassing to go back in time and examine the GOP candidates’ past statements in regard to these two cases.

Glenn Hegar was actually caught on video saying he was “proud” that the Legislature didn’t reinstate the funds cut to public education.

Dan Patrick committed a double do-do on the ruling, claiming he “led the charge” to reinstate educational funding, when, in fact, he did not. Patrick’s opponent, Leticia Van de Putte, wasn’t happy with his revisionist history and she gave him a well-deserved dressing-down.

AG candidate Ken Paxton’s response? Meaningless GOP talking points through a faceless campaign spokesperson: “duty, blah-blah, responsibility, blah, children of Texas, blah”.

So now, the case will be kicked down the road to the Texas Supreme Court and educational funding will be on the front burner of the Legislature. In the meantime, voters better take good notes, because whatever statements are made by the GOP candidates, past or present, they’ll be sure to lie about it afterward.

I’m tickled to death about Judge Dietz’ ruling, but I’m more delighted by how he spanked the religious right-wing-gimme-a-voucher-or-I’ll-sue fanatics (don’t forget Dan Patrick’s a member of that club). You can read all the juicy details of Dietz’ take-down on Texas Freedom Network. Shorter version? Judge Dietz ripped the Righties a new one, reminiscent of Mr. T: Don’t waste my time, fool! And he did all in legalese.

In the meantime, most media will continue to comment on trivial things like the President’s tan suit and rant-rave on his lack of strategy for dealing with ISIS.

No strategy? No strategy? Think people, think! I know it hurts terribly…but think.

Of course, the President has a strategy, but do you think he’s going to announce it on national television with names, dates and choice of weapons, like some sort of children's play-date?

Did Truman inform us in advance of the bombing of Nagasaki? We’ll know the President’s strategy the morning after it happens, and that’s the way it should be. Stifle please…

And Labor Day…some of us worked and some didn’t. I did, but it was my choice. If you have that choice, thank a Union. And if your children aren’t forced to work in a coal mine, a factory, or textile mill, you can thank a Union for that too!

Once upon a time, robber barons and politicians feared the collective strength of the American worker. We need to make that happen again. The Right Wing carefully orchestrated the image of the "union thug" through relentless propaganda, until the middle class believed their lies. How soon we forget history...

Speaking of forgetting, a funny thing happened in a Houston raid on a voter registration drive in North Houston. With guns brandished and in bullet proof vests, officers stormed Houston Votes, a Democratic-leaning voter registration drive.

The fracas resulted in the organization’s suspension, but more importantly (for Republicans’ sake) voter registrations and records were destroyed.

The raid was initiated by Greg Abbott’s office. Yet, when asked for a comment, Mr. Abbott “can’t recall” being briefed on this raid.

Where have I heard that phrase "I do not recall" before? Back in 2007, when Alberto Gonzales testified before Congress, he used the phrase 71 times.

It’s strange how suspected criminals have such poor memories.

And more forgetting…Today was Ann Richards’ birthday. Happy birthday, darlin’. You’re sorely missed, but fortunately, we still have your words, valuable for everyone, but especially, for Democrats.

When asked what she'd do differently, she replied, “I would probably have raised more hell.”

So noted, darlin’. And that’s exactly what Democrats plan to do for the next 64 days.

Early voting resumes tomorrow, don’t forget to vote for Greg Wortham for SD28--the only REAL candidate. Listen/watch Greg in action, at the Candidate Forum on September 2, at 6:30, on the LCU Campus in the Baker Conference Building.

http://lubbockonline.com/interact/blog-post/carol-morgan/2014-09-01/texas-gop-wrong-side-law-and-abbott-cant-recall#.VAUmJGNgD2Q

Posted in its entirety by permission.

Cross-posted in the Texas Group.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Carol Morgan is a career/college counselor, writer, speaker, former Democratic candidate for the Texas House and the award-winning author of Of Tapestry, Time and Tears, a historical fiction about the 1947 Partition of India. Read her work at the Houston Press and MetroLeader News Service. Email Carol at [e-mail] , follow her on Twitter and on Facebook or visit her writer’s blog at www.carolmorgan.org