Odds and ends and why I’m not concerned about Texas turning blue

If you pay attention to the media, both in Texas and beyond, you’d think that the Lone Star State is on the verge of becoming a Democratic stronghold. I beg to differ but instead of writing a long, boring post about it, I’ll simply point to a few news items and let you figure it out for yourself.

Sanctuary city law

When Gov. Greg Abbott signed SB4 into law, he virtually assured his reelection and keeping Texas red. Sure, if you read “news” articles or opinion pieces (one and the same nowadays), you probably think that I’m 180 degrees wrong on that one. But if you talk to the average working Texan, you’ll understand what I’m saying. Try it for yourself. Get outside of your bubble, talk to people that aren’t like you and skip the intercessory media. If you think I’m wrong, you’re in for a surprise.

It is telling that the media was more upset about the method of the signing versus the bill itself. How dare Gov. Abbott have a signing ceremony on Facebook Live, bypassing reporters? Meanwhile, voters are more concerned with this:

“Today’s report from DHS is deeply disturbing and highlights the urgent need for a statewide sanctuary city ban in Texas,” Abbott said in a statement. “The Travis County Sheriff’s decision to deny ICE detainer requests and release back into our communities criminals charged with heinous crimes – including sexual offenses against children, domestic violence and kidnapping – is dangerous and should be criminal in itself.”

(click here to read the entire article on TexasTribune.org)

The so-called bathroom bill

Regardless of the outcome of SB6, sometimes described as a privacy protection act and sometimes described as a bathroom bill, the lines between the two parties are clear. Republicans want to protect women and children from the possibility, however remote, of a pervert committing a sexual crime and then using a local ordinance as a positive defense. Democrats and the “business lobby” have been reduced to name calling and threats in their quest to provide that positive defense for a perverted criminal. Notice that I didn’t say transgender, I said perverted criminal. Cross dressers have been cross dressing and using opposite sex facilities for thousands of years. Only today, in our “enlightened” society, do Democrats want to take away the privacy rights of some to give a positive defense to a few perverted criminals.

Other than name calling, Democrats (and others), are the textbook definition of putting the almighty dollar ahead of the privacy and safety of vulnerable women and children. For instance, Dr. Mark Jones has penned an op-ed in Fortune, telling us that we could face disastrous financial results of we protect vulnerable Texans. I like Dr. Jones and he certainly knows more about the minutia of political statistics than I do. But I will point out that when voters in the City of Houston overwhelmingly rejected a local ordinance providing a positive defense for perverted criminals, professionals like Dr. Jones warned us of dire financial consequences. The Super Bowl will move. The NCAA will move the Final Four out of Houston! Convention business will evaporate.

Of course, none of that happened. This years Super Bowl was awesome, with unanimous praise for Houston. The 2016 Final Four in Houston set attendance records. Houston’s convention business is stronger than ever.

You can only cry wolf so many times before people tune out.

But let’s for one moment take Dr. Jones at his word and allow that every single thing he claims will happen does happen. What then?

I think that Texans still have a strong enough moral compass to do the right thing even if the almighty dollar takes a backseat.

The Democrats that are running don’t reflect Texas values

I know, by now you’re thinking, dude, stop moralizing. We get it, you think Republicans are morally superior. Well, no, actually, I don’t. That’s a Democrat trait to accuse people of that – read this and you’ll understand why I say that. Obviously Republicans aren’t morally superior, we are as broken as everyone else in this world. No, the problem isn’t that one side or the other is morally superior, the problem is that one side, the Democratic side, thinks that the government is the solution.

Case in point. I received a campaign email this morning from Mike Collier, a Texas Democrat running for Lt. Governor. This is what he has to say:

As parents, Suzanne and I know how lucky we are.

Our two sons did well in public school and went on to study at UT (Hook ‘em!). Suzanne always read to them when they were little, and that gave them a great start.

We did everything we could to ensure they had a chance in life. And we want every parent in Texas to know they can do the same.

But many Texas families are struggling – working long hours to make ends meet – and they don’t have time to read to their young children.

That’s why Texas should prioritize Pre-K.  We can ensure a brighter future for every child, giving them tools they need to succeed. They have the chance to learn, to become the people their mothers and fathers dream of.

What Collier is saying is that the government should be raising children because parents can’t be bothered. That is the textbook definition of a Democrat. Republicans would say, look, take 15 minutes out of your day to read to your child. If you can’t do that, your priorities are way out of whack. I think vast majority of Texans would agree with me on that.

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So fellow Republicans, fear not, you are not alone and you are not going to see your dreams for your children go down the tube in 2018. Look past the personal attacks on your beliefs, stand strong in them and withstand the bullying from so-called intellectuals. It will be challenging but worth it in the end.

But you cannot be complacent. You must demand that the Republicans that you elect hold fast as well. And if they don’t, you need to be part of the solution and replace them. Because if you don’t, there might come a time with the Democrats do.

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