Texas Don't Hold-'Em

As you likely recall from their primary the other week, Texas screwed around with it countywide voting rule – where people would vote at any polling place in the county where they’re registered.  Instead, they changed it to being only able to vote at your local polling place.  Then, to confuse voters more, the state’s official website didn’t mention this change.  And then to completely exacerbate the situation, the state’s Attorney General Ken Paxton (who was on the ballot running for the MAGOP nomination for U.S. Senator) decided to get involved and blocked leaving open long lines of voters who were confused by it all.

As this article by NBC News explains, MAGOP officials in Texas are aware of how outraged the public is (and in large part at Ken Paxton) that the state legislature they control are switching the polling place rule back to how it was – but mostly likely only for the upcoming MAGOP run-off between Paxton and U.S. Senator John Cornyn.

What a party they are.  Changing it for this, but maybe going back to the old way next. 

Of course, the old rule should be what it is, but it’s fascinating that the party is so concerned by how much the public hates the switch.  Hates it so much that the MAGOP party is probably concerned it could hurt them in the primary.  Yet bizarrely, they’re okay with moving back something so hated that it could hurt them!

By the way, with such a high Hispanic population, I read at length how concerned people are in Texas about what about Trump might do ordering ICE to the state before the Mid-Terms.  What I wonder, though – and it’s just pondering without knowing anything – is how much concerns about what might happen with ICE in Texas is likely, and how much is based on fear.  The good thing about it being based on fear (if it is just that…), is that it’s getting everyone on alert and preparing.   

Most of all, though, there is finally one thing I agree with Gov. Abbott about – which is that the article says if Trump does try to bring ICE in before the Midterms, “Abbott doesn’t think it will work and will backfire.”  I absolutely agree.  I think it would massively backfire.  I can’t even imagine the level of outrage, not just in Texas but wherever they try it – and even nationally in places where they don’t try it.

But best of all from articles like this is that it’s great for putting everyone on high alert.  I have no doubt that if even I am aware of all this, that Democrats in high places are already working on their push back and might even have their court challenges written and waiting to go.

All this said, there was one initial reaction I had to the article before I even got to the news --

It’s that Allen West is the MAGOP Party Chairman in Texas???!!!!  Oh, my God, well, that explains a lot.  He was the loony who was a member of Congress from Florida for just one term.  And I was just floored laughing with gnashing teeth at his comment about Texas’s change in voting in the primary that was an unmitigated disaster and arguing why it should be changed back for the run-off.  “There comes a time,” he said, “to know when to claim success and not go a bridge too far.”  Claim success!!!  For what was a total, hate-filled debacle. 

But then, this seems to be the best MAGOP strategy these days, like what some are saying Trump should do with the morass he’s gotten into in Iran.

Claim victory and change what you’re doing as fast as you possibly can.