Democrat Are Running Texas - Stupid Shit Republicans Say

The far-right's misinformation and manipulation are a fabrication of reality.

The Texas Scorecard, a far-right propaganda outlet funded by West Texas billionaires Tim Dunn and Ferris Wilks, just published a documentary (or maybe a mockumentary) about how Democrats obviously run the Texas House because… Ken Paxton.

Here is the video, but fair warning, it’s absolutely absurd. I watched it to save you time. I’ll break down the entire thing below.

The video repeatedly claims that Democrats control the Texas House. This assertion contradicts the well-established fact that Republicans hold a majority of seats in the House and have for over two decades. In the 2022 election, Republicans secured 85 out of the 150 seats, while Democrats held 64. The assertion that Democrats control the House is not accurate. It’s laughable.

Let’s talk about all of the recent legislation Republicans passed under so-called Democratic leadership:

• A ban on sanctuary cities.

• Billions for border security.

• A ban on abortions.

• Unlicensed carry of handguns.

• A ban on so-called CRT.

• A ban on so-called DEI.

• A book ban.

And that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Now, here are some of the things which have not passed under the alleged leadership of Democrats:

• Expansion of Medicaid.

• Universal free lunches for school-age kids.

• Increase the minimum wage.

• A fracking ban.

• Teacher pay raises.

• Properly funding education.

• An action plan to reduce carbon emissions.

• A wealth tax.

You get the idea. To assert that Democrats have had any control over the impact of the lives and well-being of Texans is far-fetched and nonsensical.

It’s alleged that Tim Dunn spent millions on the production of this propaganda garbage. Why?

The video extensively addresses the impeachment proceedings initiated against Attorney General Ken Paxton and focuses on criticizing the process and implying that it was politically motivated. They even went so far as to mention how Democrats have been calling for Paxton’s impeachment ever since January 7, 2021.

They claimed those calls were about the lawsuits Paxton filed with Trump. However, they fail to mention that Ken Paxton and his wife, Angela, were both in Washington, DC, on January 6 and played a pivotal role in that day’s events.

Regardless, it’s important to underscore that impeachment is a fundamental legal and constitutional process governed by well-established rules and procedures. This process is designed to hold public officials accountable for alleged misconduct and abuses of power.

Tim Dunn’s crew, including Paxton, has been claiming there is no evidence to impeach. Ironically, the House Impeachment Managers uploaded over 3,000 pages of exhibits (a.k.a. evidence) to the Senate website.

Of course, there’s evidence from Republicans, by Republicans, and because of Republicans. Ken Paxton is so profoundly corrupt that the party of insurrection and election denial now claims it’s too much.

No substantial evidence demonstrates a deliberate manipulation of the process for partisan gain.

The Scorecard also spent time talking about the election of Dade Phelan to Speaker of the House. They were concerned over the selection of the Speaker and hinted that Democrats wield disproportionate influence over this process.

In actuality, the Speaker of the House is chosen through a democratic and transparent procedure where all members of the House, including Republicans and Democrats, have a say. This process involves House members voting for their preferred candidate, and the candidate with the majority votes secures the position. It’s as simple as that. And with Republicans in the majority, they decided who the Speaker was.

While discussions, negotiations, and preferences might come up within the Republican caucus concerning the choice of the Speaker, it’s important to note that the ultimate decision is made collectively by the entire body of House members. The notion that Democrats solely dictate the outcome overlooks the participatory nature of the Speaker selection process, which is intended to reflect the will of the House members as a whole, regardless of their party affiliation.

Besides, if Democrats were in control, they would have picked someone like Joe Moody or Ann Johnson. Not Dade Phelan, the representative over Vidor, TX.

The Scorecard rails against bipartisanship.

The last thing these people ever want is to live in a peaceful and harmonious society. They want war. They want blood. The hate oozes from their polarizing rhetoric, and they intend to drive a wedge between different GOP factions, sowing seeds of discord to get what they want.

The video emphasizes instances where Republicans collaborate with Democrats on specific legislation. This is regular bipartisan cooperation within the legislative process, especially in the Texas House, where 90% of the bills are bipartisan. That doesn't equate to one party having overall control or dominance. Cooperation and negotiation across party lines are necessary in the legislative process. The video selectively presents cases of bipartisanship to create a skewed impression of control. It completely misrepresents the entire political landscape.

Why did the Texas Scorecard produce this propaganda piece?

Obviously, they have a political agenda. Misinformation is a huge contributor to the polarization of society. This polarization can mobilize their base and create an "us vs. them" mentality. They want to manipulate the public perception of the Texas House because they want it to move further right. (Is that even possible?)

With help from the ultra-right Supreme Court, the far right plans to turn our society into a crossover episode of The Handmaid’s Tale and Roots. Their end goals are pretty fucking terrifying if you’re a woman, a person of color, a member of the LGBTQ community, a poor person, or just a human with a soul.

By intentionally distorting facts and presenting a skewed version of reality to the low-informed voter subscribing to their podcasts and newsletters, the Scorecard shapes the narrative to primary their “Dirty Dozen” hitlist.

These are who are the supposed “Democratic enablers.” With another instance of irony, several are responsible for some of the most fascist Conservative legislation we’ve seen in the last few years.

This manipulation will lead to their misinformed electorate making decisions based on false premises. And you can count on the West Texas billionaire, he who must not be named, spending a ton of cash against the so-called “Dirty Dozen’s” elections.

What a GREAT opportunity for a solid Democrat to run against them and hit them from the other side.

The Scorecard wasn’t the only one saying stupid shit this week.

Ex-State Senator, Don Huffines, has been hitting the media circuit this week to talk about how Texas is turning blue. But not for the reasons you think. Basically, he’s been spewing white replacement theory. Listen with caution.

This guy is from Dallas. I’m from Dallas. Dallas has been a diverse city for as long as I have been alive. So, I don’t know what the hell he’s talking about. Nonsense, white replacement theory nonsense.

It’s possible Huffines is doing everything he can to stay relevant. He lost in his bid against Abbott, and every down-ballot candidate he supported in the last two elections lost. When he ran against Abbott, it should be noted that his biggest donor was the Defend Liberty PAC, which Tim Dunn and Ferris Wilks funded.

Lean back and enjoy the show.

This civil war within the Republican Party of Texas will help Democrats in the 2024 election. Smart candidates will use this as ammo against both Republican factions. Enough middle-of-the-road voters will get fed up and vote blue.

Always remember, as citizens, it's our responsibility to seek accurate information and understand the political processes that govern our society. Republicans’ perpetuation of lying and spreading misinformation will backfire on them. In an age of readily available information, relying on falsehoods only weakens their credibility and alienates those who value honesty and integrity.

Although Texas isn’t blue yet, it will be, and it scares the shit out of them.