Texas Republicans In Total Chaos
Battle Lines Drawn: The fragmentation of the Texas Republican Party.
Yesterday, in a move that shocked absolutely no one who’s been paying attention, the Republican Party of Texas voted to censure their speaker, Dade Phelan.
Why, you ask? Well, like everything else the Republicans do, it’s all about lies, conspiracy theories, and a dash of racism. So, grab your popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the show. The Texas GOP is serving up drama, and trust me, you don’t want to miss it.
The censure was based on five points:
“Dade Phelan promoted illegal Articles of impeachment.”
“Because of the expense of the impeachment trial.”
“Dade Phelan appointed Democratic Committee chairs, even though they believe Black lives matter.”
“Speaker Phelan killed HB20.”
“Speaker Phelan killed school vouchers.”
If you’re interested, here’s the entire 35-minute segment.
We’ll discuss all five points, but if you don’t want to watch the full 35-minute video (I don’t blame you), you still have to see this short two-minute clip when a “life-long friend” of Dade Phelan publicly stabs him in the back.
Yikes! With friends like these, who needs enemies?
The most hilarious aspect of this censure is that the main premise is that Ken Paxton’s impeachment was unwarranted and illegitimate. However, Paxton fessed up to the corruption for which he was impeached last month.
So, Paxton admits to their crimes, and Paxton’s supporters refuse to acknowledge their guy is a crook. That makes their first and second points void.
Their third point, about the Democratic chairs, has been discussed and regurgitated too many times over the last four years. It was the now-disgraced Rep Bryan Slaton’s idea to ban Democratic chairs. The far right picked it up. Now it’s a thing. However, committee chairs have been given to representatives based on seniority, not party affiliation, for decades.
Conservatives seemingly no longer want to conserve the long-standing traditions in the House and change all the rules because of their stupid fucking culture wars. Considering Texas is a purple state, doing this would blow up in the GOP’s face. The grown-ups know this.
You can leave it up to the GOP to add racism in there somewhere, even though the person they are censuring is white. They made sure to point to how one of the committee chairs was Representative Joe Moody (D-El Paso) and used a picture of him wearing a “Black Lives Matter” t-shirt. As if to say they let someone who wasn’t a white supremacist be a chair of a committee. How dare Dade?
And their last two points may be the most hypocritical. It was regarding legislation that died in the House because it broke the rules. They were killed with “points of order” for not following the rules in the House’s handbook that the House agreed upon and voted on at the beginning of the session.
Republicans expected Speaker Phelan to allow the legislation through, even though it broke the rules, which would equate to him breaking the rules, but points one and three of the GOP censured were based on Phelan breaking the rules. Republican logic.
The resolution passed 55-4.
Dade Phelan’s camp responded.
Caitt Whitman is Dade Phelan’s Communication Director. Here was the statement she put out:
Basically, Republican Dade Phelan’s statement was the Texas Republican Party are neo-Nazis, anti-semitic, and rapist-apologists. Therefore, they have no moral authority and don’t represent all Republicans.
Speaker Phelan oversaw two of the most conservative Texas Legislative sessions in modern times, and it is still not good enough for the Texas GOP SREC. They’re hosting a masterclass titled “Cannibalism in Politics: How to Devour Your Allies and Sink Your Own Ship.” It’s a step-by-step guide for dismantling their party’s unity and ensuring a spectacular face-plant on the political stage.
Governor Greg Abbott has been frantically sending Republicans cease-and-desist orders.
Oh, yes. Republican Representatives who have been in the Texas House for years and years and previously received endorsements from Greg Abbott are now receiving cease-and-desist letters from the Governor urging them to erase all evidence that those endorsements ever took place.
So far, those Republicans include:
Representative Travis Clardy (R-HD11)
Representative Drew Darby (R-HD72)
ex-Representative Kyle Biedermann (R-HD19)
That wasn’t all. Abbott also took to Twitter to call Darby and Representative Gary VanDeaver (R-HD01) names.
And you know that Lt. Governor Dan Patrick couldn’t miss the opportunity to get in on the action.
Meanwhile, Tony Tinderholt challenges all his Republican colleagues to duels and debates.
In the grand political circus that is the Texas GOP, the latest act has been nothing short of a blockbuster—complete with backstabbing and a sprinkle of irony so thick, you could cut it with a knife. At the core of this is a party at war with itself, showcasing its uncanny ability to mix the unserious with the surreal.
Remember, these people vote, which is why you should, too.
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Vote with the sheep-herd or get excommunicated for not being a real sheep.
they do, they don't?....how is it even a question? ............I for one want to know if my SR is an anti-semite or even self loathing Jew hater-lite.....FWR/KERA didn't ask the question