The campaign texts have already started. I told Kristen to tell Beto to move to New Mexico. God he sucks so much.
But the answer is not too complicated in Texas. Our politicians will cut off our noses (or more acurately, the noses of the working poor) to spite our faces. Even though about 80% of all states have opted into Medicaid expansion, including many republican states; even though all states that have put Medicaid expansion on the popular ballot have passed it; even though polling among all voters show it to be popular in Texas; even though multiple economic studies in republican states have shown the 90% fed cost sharing to improve overall economic health due to less use of inefficient emergency room care in lieu of normal visits; even though current bills in Texas have a sunset provision if the federal government ever backs out of their 90% promise; even with all that, Lt. Gov. Patick and SoH Phelan don't want it getting out of committee because the far right controls the party and thus the state. Instead, we choose to beg the national government for emergency room Medicaid handouts called 1115 waivers that were meant to be temporary transition funds that the Trump admin probably illegally extended for 10 years (1 year programs), just so we can remain inefficient. Pre fed funds from covid, our rural hospitals lead the nation in closure rate for a decade, and will be facing insolvency once again without Medicaid expansion. F the working poor (including in the rural areas) because we hate Obama. Go Texas.
Our politicians will cut their noses off while they’re up trumps ass so they can forever be a brown noser.
He couldn't be Cruz who is even more unpopular than Abbott and he did this before the taking your guns rhetoric. He has not chance in hell unless the demographics here have changed a lot.
im wondering how things would work if he did win. the house and senate are republican...attorney general and also the most powerful politican in the state, the lt. gov. maybe he should have run for lieutenant governor? he would probably have a better shot and he definitely would wield more power. maybe mcconaughey/wooderson/rad thibedaux should go up against danny goeb-patrick.
If he wins, first off, it would be like the first statewide democratic win since 94, so it would have to be a wave. Man, statewide Dems and Rockets Championships - which will happen again first, lol? So in a wave, because of the gerrymandering, Republicans can still hold on to majorities in the a state house and state senate while losing the popular vote. The new Governor, Lt. Governor, and AG would be Democratic in that scenario. The Speaker of the House would still be Phelan, so we'd have divided government. Because the Lt. Governor controls all committee chair appointments for the senate, that's what's most important. From a Legislative standpoint, ruling by executive order would happen when bills don't pass. Hell, that'd happen anyways, particularly during emergency times. Best bet is that Republicans sweep statewide again.
It's just so stupid. The state government is choosing (and simultaneously preventing a public vote) for Texan federal taxpayer dollars to go into paying for the healthcare of Arkansans, Louisianans, Indianans, Californians, Nevadans... the whole freaking country. You're welcome, working poor of every other state. We like to give you our money because we hate Obama. So stupid. It's somewhat similar to gambling. You're welcome Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico corporations, Indian tribes and politicians. We Texans keep your pockets full of our gambling dollars because our corrupt state politicians would rather pretend to be holy, take money from those entities, and prevent a statewide citizen vote.
You just don't know what Freedom tastes like. As hint for the Communists, it's a mix between slow roast BBQ and a winning late game touchdown.
I have very mixed opinions about McConaughey not running. While I'm not a fan of celebrity candidates who have no experience in government running I'm not sure there is a non-Republican name in Texas that could win. Unfortunately in this culture celebrity matters more than experience or competency. From recent elections "experience" and "competency" are often drags on a candidate.
Whoever ends up running against Abbott is that Abbott and Texas Republicans are more interested in fighting non-existent voting fraud and cultural issues than they are doing things like providing medical care and building infrastructure. They are only interested in winning through narrow means rather than helping all Texans. This really needs to be the message for all Democrats.
