A Dark Night, with Some Bright Spots in Texas
As we all know, Cruz beat Beto last night in a tighter race than anyone could have imagined a year ago. In his victory shout, Cruz actually offered a fragment of an olive branch to Beto supporters saying, “I want to also say millions across this state were inspired by his campaign. They didn’t prevail and I am grateful the people of Texas chose a different path. But let me say to all of those who worked on his campaign, all of those who were inspired that I am your Senator as well. My responsibility is to represent every Texan.” Questions for Raphael – does this mean you’re going to stop trying to destroy health insurance and public schools in Texas? I doubt it. Are you going to stop demagoguing and spending all of your time running for president in Iowa? No way.
In more dark news, Kim Olson lost to the worst human being in Texas, Sid Miller, and all other statewide offices were kept in the death grip of deplorables. It’s so depressing. I’m reading that turnout was even larger than in 2014 AND 2016, but straight party voting was the kiss of death to really good statewide candidates on the Dem side.
One really bright spot, though, was that “Liberal Lizzie Fletcher” decisively beat John Culberson. Lizzie is a real breath of fresh air, and the message was clear that Houstonians are sick and tired of being unrepresented by an unresponsive, out of touch career politician. Don’t let the door hit you on the ass on your way out the door, John.
Dems also had strong showings in Dallas and Tarrant Counties as well as in Harris and Fort Bend. At a minimum, the Dems wrested control of the House of Representatives from Republicans, so at least one part of the legislative branch will begin doing its job holding His Orangeness in check. That should prove to be ugly, but I’m looking forward to the entertainment value.
All in all, though, I am personally sick to death of Texas being controlled by stupid people. I’m sick and tired of the Texas Democratic Party being the millstone around great candidates necks instead of the wind at their backs. I’m tired of poor turnout that simply hands races to the Repubs. Yeah, I’m still in the ditch, but I’m still here.
Beto ran a great campaign but Collin County and Montgomery County pushed Cruz over and they aren’t rural, they’re rich! Thankfully the two elected officials who went against the votes of the people, Culberson (trains) and Emmet (Astrodome) are out. Maybe Houstonions can’t change Texas but hopefully we can make our little patch of ground better!
1So last night Sen. Warren won walking away, and Rep. Kennedy was unopposed. I am still grateful for the chance to vote for them.
I am also grateful that historical numbers of articulate, intelligent, and *interesting* women ran for office. And many won! The institutional restrictions of gerrymandering did their jobs, and yet they won.
Persist. Persist to win…
2El Jefe, I just got up but last night I heard that we took somewhere between 11 and 15 Texas House seats back. We took 2 state senate seats, too. 2020 is a redistricting year so those seats really matter.
3This is a marathon, not a sprint. We have to convince more voters that Republicans are playing them for suckers. It’ll take some time to overcome hate radio, Sinclair Broadcasting, and Fox Propaganda Network – but it can and must be done.
4There were bright spots for Texas downballot. This hasn’t got much attention in the national press, but it’s amazingly good.
From the Texas Tribune:
“Texas Democrats were poised to flip four major appeals courts, taking back majorities in the judicial districts that serve Austin, Dallas and Houston. The 5th Court of Appeals, based in Dallas, has not elected a Democrat since 1992; on Tuesday, the 13-member court was set to elect eight Democrats, including a Democratic chief justice.”
https://www.texastribune.org/2018/11/07/blue-wave-texas-democrats-beto-orourke-midterms-2018/
5Ms. Juanita Jean Herownself and El Jefe, drink up from a glass half full and please accept our thanks for a job well done. True, Teddie Cooze isn’t gone and Old Scratch still holds the Senate gavel. FL, GA, TN and MO are still slave states and our delightful little sliver of NW NV still has Mark Amodei. All that sucks. But there are more Democratic governors, more Democratic state legislators, and Pete Sessions is gone.
Make that a glass 3/4 full. Democrats took the House and Lyin’ Ryan is gone. May that sniveling quisling remain in his Jonestown equivalent home area.
Actually, let’s fill those glasses and drink to two years of Democrats legislating from the House and giving hemorrhaging ulcers of rage to Orange Foolius and Old Scratch as our parting gift to them.
6…. and as someone working the polls yesterday – I can’t tell you how happy that Stan Stanart was told to hit the road!!! I’m not saying anything is illegal right now – but glad to know that Harris County will be a ROARING force in the upcoming elections.
7Here in New Jersey, my district kicked out Leonard Lance the congress critter who voted 60 times to repeal the ACA, deny people with preexisting conditions coverage, and voted also to defund Planned Parenthood. I am happy to welcome a new representative, Tom Malinowski. It has been a long time coming but at last it’s here. So long Lance you won’t be missed.
8What you have done in Texas is amazing. A BIG step forward. Things are moving. Not as fast as we need and want them to but real progress. All the way from Vermont I feel the winds of change. Be proud. I’m grateful for all your work.
9New York will be FAR more Democratic than it’s been in ages:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/07/nyregion/democrats-ny-albany-cuomo-senate.html?
Brad Hoylman, quoted in the article, represents my district.
10Trump’s life is about to change radically.
11Having only lived in blue states I’ve taken much for granted. I actually flew to the US to vote in person even though it wasn’t necessary, though I know it is because 200,000 out of the 7,000,000 registered voters who didn’t in Texas thought that and blew off the Senate. I can’t imagine living in a place where people vote with fear and prejudice as their guide.
Seeing how close the election results are this year should slap some sense into the ones who say they’re only one vote and it doesn’t matter that they can’t get off their big grey butt once every two years to do the only thing to change what they still want to complain about.
Tens and hundreds of votes would have made all the difference in the direction of this country this year. I won’t let any lazy ass forget it.
12Elise Stefanik won in my district. Can’t stand her.
13I’m sorry it was a rough night in Texas, especially for Beto O’Rourke, although there seems to have been better news in some of the down-ballot races. Texas deserves better than what they did to themselves this time. May they be wiser in 2020. Don’t lose hope.
On the whole, though, Democrats nationwide did what they needed to do. We’re going to take over the House in January, when we will finally subpoena Trump’s tax returns, and see what he’s been hiding. Our sorry excuse for a president will have a much harder time in the next two years than he has had in the last two.
14There WERE bright spots in last evening’s otherwise depressing election. (If he were alive, my sainted father would not very gently remind me that here in the Chicken Fried Kingdom voters vote conservative even when a liberal leaning son becomes potus.) Dallas County retired Congress-thug Sessions and the CFK nearly retired the most hated Canadian Cuban in America.
But none of that makes me happy to be so trapped here in Texas. I hate cons and their hopes and dreams.
15Here on the left coast….Sickened that Devin Nunes did not get kicked to the curb in his central CA district. Vile jackal Dana Rohrabacher’s race is reported as “too close to call”. Cannot find results for Darrell Issa.
FYI: Mitch McConnell’s forgotten his oath to the Constitution & that he represents the people….he said “oversight of Trump is presidential harassment”
16About 15.8 million are registered to vote in Texas. About 6.73 million voted for U.S. Senator, further confirming that Texas is a low-turnout state. Probably more than usual but still shamefully low. Getting folks to vote should be a primary focus of Democrats in 2020.
17I wonder how many people today are saying, gee, I guess I should have voted yesterday. Maybe my vote could have made a difference after all.
Their non-vote is really a vote, whether they think so or not.
Here in New Hampsha, the good guys’n’gals flipped both Houses as well as the Executive Council (don’t ask, but it does play an important role in confirming/rejecting the Gov’s appointments to Cabinet and Judicial positions), so there will be some creative be-deviling of our Big Red Governor. Plus, kept both our Congress-critters blue. All that, and the Red Sox too. Not bad overall…..
18Susan on the Left Coast – cheer up! The Jackal lost and Issa did not run for reelection. The districts flipped!
19Susan, Darrel Issa quit rather than endure the humiliation of rejection. Last election was too close to hurting his bully “Step away from the car! Stand back!” ego.
20But inside he still knows he’s a loser.
Susan on the Left Coast: with about 2/3 precincts reported,
21Democrat Mike Levin 52.4%, Republican Diane Harkey 47.6%
for the CA 49th Congressional District seat vacated by Darrell Issa.
SusanOLC, just looked it up.With 100% of the votes counted Putin’s pocket p**** Dana Rohrabacher is now history. The Orange Curtain is falling!
22“The defeat of Dana Rohrabacher is being celebrated all over the world. It’s even trending in London” <– news not from our state results tally though.
Session's resignation today was described as a 'clever massacre by Trump" The temp AG, Matt Whittaker is described as a Trump puppet.
23Thanks for the updates everyone!!! Issa’s district is populated by many bible belt red state refugees so it’s not a surprise an (R) will be repping them in DC. Silver lining: Am happy dancing knowing Adam Schiff is the ever loving gob stopping bone spur in Mango Mussolini’s foot for the next couple years!
24oh wait!!! I read that wrongly (is that a word “wrongly”?) Issa’s district won by a Dem??!!! Whoooo hooooooooooo! omg…that’s amazing news!!
25In Ohio, the ferris wheel of leadership has just rotated to another set of bad actors. Kasich has national aspirations which impacts his thinking and actions. These other guys don’t. They didn’t do their jobs in their former positions which is why our charter schools were able to to steal tens of millions of dollars from taxpayers and public schools. Voter IDs and constant reductions to the number of voting days take their toll. Moreover, the State House rules the roost and essentially eliminates local governance. Municipalities can no longer stop the drillers, the frackers. Forget about common sense gun legislation. Education funding, despite being declared unconstitutional, continues to screw communities who have mixes of commercial and residential properties that were not contemplated by the wise men in Columbus. Pay to play is still in play. Corruption at the state level vies with OSU football for national recognition. This old-timer is going to take a nap.
26Well, at least Pete Sessions went down!
27Hell hath frozen over?? I call dibs on the blue ice skates!
Fox News legal analyst Andrew Napolitano live on TV said “Trump could be breaking the law with his new appointee. Says he: “Under the law, the person running the Department of Justice must have been approved by the United States Senate for some previous position. Even on an interim post,” He continued… that next in line is Rosenstein.
“Whitaker was not confirmed by the United States Senate for a leadership position at the Justice Department. The White House will have to work this out. Who has been confirmed and who’s next in line? Deputy attorney general Rosenstein,” he said.
28Read 28 U.S. Code § 508. Under non DOJ federal vacancy act, Whitaker could not move from Chief of Staff of HUD to Acting Secretary. He’s not a lawful AG.
NBC and Bloomberg news reporting that Whitaker will not be overseeing Mueller probe. Several big wigs & politicians stating that Whitaker would have to recuse himself due to his past behavior & attacks against Mueller. (Whitaker has been reported as entering the White House today)
29As for appointment power we will soon discover that according to demented donnies sock puppet majority on the supreme star chamber that he can NOT be restricted by any silly thing such as laws.
30First they declare mueller investigation illegal and that demented donnie can Not be held responsible for any criminal acts.
Next they declare all independent commissions on redistricting illegal in red states and required as long as blue state has any control.
Remember they threw out Arizona’s election laws with a panel that was more successful in hiding how batshit crazy they are. So why not throw out any laws that restrict thuglicans from rigging the elections.
if the thugs call a lame duck sesion look for them to pass a raft of laws restricting and limiting authority and power of the house.
They will decide, as they did on Shelby county, that laws and the constititional clauses have been misread for over 200 years and that they were only passed because of improper political considerations by legislature.
So next they change succession order to side step any remote possibility of d house speaker acceding to executive branch in case that demented donnie drops from an aunuryism and pence is caught in bed with a live boy.
Oh and look for them to pass a budget in lame duck session, with surrendercrat shumer assistence, enshrining a wall funding and thuglican rule.
Sorry folks we ain’t seen nothing yet.
doddering don’s trainwreck of news conference this morning wasn’t an act of fear but rather him feeling his oats and cutting loose now that he know he is immune from any consequences.