Shell_Seas
Shell_Seas's JournalThe Battle for TX15: Why Michelle Vallejo Represents Change
With a comprehensive platform and national support, Michelle Vallejo has her eyes on a big win in November.
https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/the-battle-for-tx15-why-michelle
In 2022, only 27% of Texas Congressional District 15 (TX15) voters reached the polls. Because of that poor showing, Greg Abbotts hand-picked candidate, Monica De La Cruz, won the 2022 race against Democrat Michelle Vallejo.
Here is Greg Abbott bragging about Monica De La Cruzs win:
Its funny because its almost like that crowd is unfamiliar with Conservatives long history of racism in South Texas, which stretches back through the 1800s. Regardless, Monica De La Cruz did not fire Nancy Pelosi as Abbott promised his supporters she would. In fact, De La Cruz hasnt done much of anything for the people of South Texas during her short stint.
Do You Trust Republicans To Usher Us Into The Era Of AI?
From Automation to Legislation: The Role of Politics in the Age of AI
https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/do-you-trust-republicans-to-usher
The Texas House Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence & Emerging Technologies held its first hearing yesterday. I havent had a chance to watch it in its entirety yet, but based on some of the early statements, Republicans are all too anxious to plunge us into a robot dystopia.
Economic inequality is higher in Texas than in most other states, with the wealthiest 5% of households having an average income 14.3 times larger than the bottom 20%. Its important to remember how Republicans will prioritize corporate gains in the era of AI. In that context, look at this staggering data:
In 2023, over one-third (37%) of business leaders say AI replaced workers.
Survey: 44% of companies say AI will likely replace employees next year.
The IMF head says AI will affect 40% of jobs and worsen inequality.
AI could affect up to 80 percent of the US workforce: research.
Greg Abbott And The Far-Right Ideology Of Fascism
How State Power is used to suppress voices in Texas and the alarming rise of fascist practices under Governor Abbott.
https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/greg-abbott-and-the-far-right-ideology
Last week, Governor Greg Abbott sent state troopers to UT Austin to brutalize and mass arrest peacefully protesting students, violating their First Amendment rights. Since then, I have highlighted Abbotts behavior as fascism. And it is fascism for several reasons.
One of the hallmark characteristics of fascism is the suppression of opposition or suppression of dissent through the use of force. Abbott sent DPS to UT Austin to brutalize and disrupt a protest because he disagreed with the ideology.
Fascism strips away freedoms, like freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. Abbott intended to remove the protestors rights of speech and assembly.
Using DPS, which are state troopers, to inflict Abbotts political goals on the students shows us how Abbott uses a state apparatus to suppress opposition.
The Governors decision to employ DPS shows that state power in Texas is concentrated on Abbott, and he feels empowered to use that power, regardless of any legal or ethical matters.
The Police State Of Texas
Greg Abbott's embrace of authoritarianism paints a picture where no one in Texas is safe.
https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/the-police-state-of-texas
By now, Im sure youve heard about what happened yesterday on the UT Austin campus. There are plenty of clips of police brutality floating around, including their brutalization and arrest of the Austin Fox affiliates reporters. So, Ill spare you the trauma of reposting them, but we all must understand what happened yesterday and why.
First, its essential to know that the protest being held at UT Austin was to feature speakers and would have included a pizza party and arts and crafts tables.
This Month, Two Hispanic Republicans Blast The GOP's Racism
Unmasking the Elephant in the room as Hispanic leaders confront the GOP's dark side.
https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/this-month-two-hispanic-republicans
Two Hispanic Republican figures have recently cast a stark light on the partys issues with racism. Their public critiques have echoed what many outside the GOP have asserted for yearsthe GOP is the party of white supremacy.
For Democrats and numerous observers across the political spectrum, the accusations of racism within the Republican Party are not revelatory; they are confirmations of a troubling pattern many have witnessed and opposed for decades. That members from within the GOP are now giving voice to these concerns lends a notable credibility to the issueits a moment of truth-telling from insiders who can no longer reconcile their identity with the dissonance of their partys rhetoric and actions.
Over the weekend, Congressman Tony Gonzales (R) took to CNN to lambast his Republican co-workers and his Republican opponent as Neo-Nazis and Klansmen.
David Lowe Made Veiled Threats On My Life, Now He's Running For The Legislature
From violent rhetoric to Nazi-aligned campaign backing, as a legislator, Lowe would be a threat to our communities.
https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/david-lowe-made-veiled-threats-on
Over a year ago, a Republican contacted me and wanted to tell me all about Jonathan Sticklands gay sister. Of course, I thought it was interesting, considering the frequency with which Stickland used genocidal language toward the LGBTQ community.
I was given Sticklands sisters TikTok account. She is very out of the closet and proud of it. I sent her one comment, which was something about how I wanted to ask her a question about her brother. She responded immediately, Im not in politics; talk to my brother about any question you have.
Fine. Im a nice person. I said okay, and that was the end of it. Of course, if she had been willing to talk to me, I would have asked her how she reckons with her relationship with her brother, knowing that her brother believes her to be an abomination and wants her dead. But I never got that chance.
A few days later, Jonathan Stickland tagged me on Twitter and said, Family was off limits. His Family wasnt even political.
How Important Is Harris County In The 2024 Election?
The Battle for Texas: Why Harris County Is Ground Zero
https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/how-important-is-harris-county-in
Looking at Texas politics like a chessboard, Harris County is the queen pieceversatile, powerful, and pivotal in flipping the Lone Star State. As we are gearing up for the 2024 elections, all eyes are on Harris County, like a bright blue beacon in a sea of red.
Not only does Harris County account for a staggering 14+% of Texas total vote, but it also accounts for an impressive 17.5% of the Democratic vote in Texas. With each passing election, Harris County only gets bigger and bluer. In 2024, Harris County will have one of the most significant impacts in Texas.
Harris County is the largest county in the state and the third largest in America. The city of Houston comprises about half of Harris Countys population. The rest of the population lives in mid-sized cities like Pasadena or smaller towns like Baytown.
Harris County is a majority-minority County, with Latinos making up the majority of the population. Harris County in 2020 was 12 points less White, four points more Latino, seven points more Black, and 2 points more Asian than Texas. Almost 70% of the population is non-White.
Billionaire Republican vs. Billionaire Republican
Divide and Conquer: How the latest GOP propaganda is shaping the Republican agenda.
https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/billionaire-republican-vs-billionaire
Fuck, I love the GOP Civil War. Its like watching reality TV but with oil, guns, and a few sidekicks named Cletus.
In this latest episode of Republican-on-Republican violence, two of the most prominent oligarchs in Texas square off for a head-to-head match. Before we get into it, we need a little context.
Tim Dunn - Net Worth $2.2 billion.
Richard (Dick) Weekley - Net Worth over $1 billion
Tim Dunn - Amount spent on Texas politics since 2015 - $21,476,061
Dick Weekley - Amount spent on Texas politics since 2015 - $15,640,652
Dunn and Weekley are billionaires and have spent millions of dollars in Texas politics over the last decade. They are the same, two fat cows, each thinking they own Texas. They certainly own the Republican Party of Texas and have for many years.
Scott Braddock Mulls Over Dems Flipping Nine House Seats - Do I Agree?
Analyzing the Odds: Can Texas Democrats Make a Legislative Breakthrough in 2024?
https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/scott-braddock-mulls-over-dems-flipping
Last weeks episode of Texas Take with Scott Braddock and Jeremy Wallace got into the nitty-gritty of what we might see regarding Democratic performance in the Texas House in the November election.
(You can listen to the full episode here.)
As Texas Democrats, we reach for hope as we trudge through each election cycle. There are many legitimate reasons to be optimistic. Last weeks episode of Texas Take mostly validated what Ive been saying for months, but I want to talk specifically about the points Braddock made and shine more light on some of the races Democrats need to focus on for the Texas House.
The most important thing to remember in the fight for sanity in Texas is that if the Texas House flips, we end the Republican agenda. We need to flip 12 seats to flip the House. Could we do it this election? Anything is possible, but we might also come under that number, giving Republicans a razor-thin majority.
Some Of The Most Important Texas Elections in 2024
Curriculum and Control: The Fight for Texas' Classrooms
https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/some-of-the-most-important-texas
The Republican war on education started in 1983 under the Ronald Reagan presidency. Reagan used education as a political strategy to erode the foundation of public education. Then, George Dubya Bush further pushed the Reagan agenda with No Child Left Behind. The trajectory of educational policy under Republican leadership created a culture of teaching to the test and neglecting the needs of individual students.
With Texas under Republican rule for the last three decades, education has been one area that has consistently struggled. Whether its Republicans refusing to fund education and give teachers a pay raise or attacking science and history, the overall goal of our right-wing counterparts has seemed to be to keep them dumb and keep them voting red.
After all of these years, their strategy is finally paying off.
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Member since: Thu Aug 11, 2016, 03:03 PMNumber of posts: 3,336