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  • I think that it’s now safe to say that we Texans now live in a failed state.  30 years of GOP rule, setting our own standard, living the “Texas Dream,” which they’ve bragged about relentlessly…and let’s see where we are:

    A majority of the state in complete failure, unable to deliver the most BASIC of services (things that are called “utilities,” not “luxuries,” for a reason).  No power.  No water.  No means of clearing roads (that one, I can’t fault the state so much….but it wouldn’t be as big a crisis if people weren’t stuck in their homes with no power and water).  So citizens are stuck in their homes, some of them dying there. 

    Water resource planning?  After pretending for decades that a drought would never happen again, and not doing ANYTHING to develop resources in the state water plan (a document actually developed using science and mathematical projections), we had several locations, including actual cities, down to a few days of water supply.  We’ve finally gotten on our horse a bit, but it may be too late if the next drought comes anytime soon.  

    State rank in key categories:

    Education – 34

    Health Care - 37

    Infrastructure - 33

    Opportunity - 39

    Environment - 44

    Infrastructure - 33 

    In overall quality of life ranking by US News, we are now #38, down from #36 just two years ago.  At that rate, we’ll be in the bottom 3 within ten years.

    We are SUPER independent, and FUCK the feds….but we have requested federal disaster assistance more than any other state in the past decade or so.

    But hey, our economy is ranked #15!

    That’s right, we have a “roaring economy” and the “Texas Miracle!”  But we can’t deliver the basics for our citizens.  The economy is VERY efficient at funneling bazillions to the very few…..with little of it “trickling down” to most Texans.  Yeah, the people on this board generally do fine, but face the facts – we’re the top 10% or so.  We are educated, older, and fortunate.

    Our federal system allows for state-by-state experiments.  Texas is the poster child for near anarcho-capitalism and zero regulation or oversight.  We have tested that approach, for over a generation now (30 years of Republican rule).  That approach is a failure.  The evidence is undeniable, and overwhelming.  It doesn’t matter how many River Oaks millionaires you produce if the rest of your people are dying in their homes.  Shit, some of those River Oaks millionaires might be freezing to death today, too.

    The kids of a middle class family can hardly afford to go to a good state school.  Their prospects for employment are mediocre.  Their prospects of suffering crippling medical debt at some point are significant.  Their chances of not having basic utilities needed for life safety at some point – all but certain.  Their chances of becoming ill or dying from a pollution-caused illness are material.

    What’s the result?  Our leaders have sold Texas as a paradise – move here!  Bring your business here!  And some businesses have done so, adding opportunity…..but providing little to no tax support for the infrastructure we all depend on.  To the contrary, over the past few years, I know more and more people – educated people, people who can do their jobs elsewhere, who are looking to bail on this state.  It’s people with young kids, who want them to grow up in a better place.  It’s people in their working years, who simply want a better path.  It’s retirees, who want a safe and secure place to live.

    We have consumed our seed stock.  We have burned through our reserves.  We are now consuming ourselves.  The ability to pitch Texas as the land of opportunity is done.  Seeing what we have become, the tentative thought/plan my wife and I had of wrapping up our careers here and then getting the hell out of Dodge is becoming much more concrete.  My children are already unlikely to make their future in this state.  Now we are, too.

    But the response from the Republican leadership and their sycophants – “how are you gonna pay for it?  Taxes?  That’s socialism!  You want that stuff, you have to pay for it!”

    Fuck yes I do, and I’m okay with that.  I want groceries…so I have to pay HEB.  I want a car…so I have to pay Ford.  I want clothes…..so I have to pay Dillards.  I want my population educated….so I have to pay the school district.  I want electricity, with enough capacity to keep us running when we need it…..so I have to pay my bill, maybe with a capacity surcharge.  I want water to come out of the taps….so I have to pay for development of resources and maintenance of infrastructure.  I want roads….so I pay taxes to build and maintain them.  YES, I have to pay for all of those things, and “nothing is free” – no fucking shit.  So, let’s pay for it.  We have the #15 economy….we HAVE the funds in this state.  An economy with the flow of funds that ours has can produce and maintain all of those results.  But we have chosen a different path; funnel all the dollars to the top, and spend next to nothing for the public good.  We have privatized profit….we have socialized the costs.  And we are dying because of it.

    My fellow Texans are dying in their homes….and there’s nothing I can do about it today.  And I am enraged.

    I love Texas.  I am 6th generation here.  My ancestors have Texas historical markers on their graves.  We helped make this state, and this state helped make us.  It educated us (back when college was affordable).  But it’s time to face the fact – this state is a failure, and on its current path, with its current leadership and philosophy, it will only get worse.  This state has a terrible future, unless we dramatically change our path.   Chances of that happening?  0.0% -- because we’ll continue to vote for the guys who make our leadership priorities bathroom bills, and transgender sports, and requiring the national anthem be played at certain events.  Any bill that has been proposed to improve emergency preparedness of gov’t entities has been crushed by the Republicans controlling the lege….but we will definitely stick with those guys.  No taxes.  No government functionality.

    What we are seeing happening right now is our system working EXACTLY AS IT WAS DESIGNED AND INTENDED TO WORK.  And we will, I guarantee it, collectively decide to stick with that.  This state is in free-fall, and anyone with eyes can see it.  And anyone with a brain is starting to think of ways to make their life elsewhere.  It breaks my goddamned heart to see us commit collective suicide, but here we are.

     

     


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    Ag with kids

    Posted

    1 minute ago, Im_smarter_then_you said:

    Texas, Ohio, North Carolina , Pennsylvania, Wisconsin aren’t that sparse

    Ok?  And?  Your map is showing that Red states are less gerrymandered than Blue states...

     

     

    Hint:  Green is Very gerrymandered...Red is less gerrymandered.

     

    Eight of those states in your pic are Red states.

     

    And I will disagree with Maryland since they're 7-1 Democrat (88%)...

    Im_smarter_then_you

    Posted (edited)

    7 minutes ago, Ag with kids said:

    Ok?  And?  Your map is showing that Red states are less gerrymandered than Blue states...

     

     

    Hint:  Green is Very gerrymandered...Red is less gerrymandered.

     

    Eight of those states in your pic are Red states.

     

    And I will disagree with Maryland since they're 7-1 Democrat (88%)...

    Is this also a joke? The red are the most gerrymandered and as you pointed out, 8 of those are red states.

     

    From the article: Much of the worst gerrymandering was concentrated in parts of the Southern and Northeastern United States. The 11 worst offenders were North Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Louisiana, Arkansas, Utah, Texas, Ohio, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

     

    Don't really need an article as this is pretty common knowledge

    Edited by Im_smarter_then_you
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    Im_smarter_then_you

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Ag with kids said:

    You realize that most of those "gerrymandered" states only have 1 to 2 representatives, right?  And that goes to both the right and the left.

     

    Vermont is not gerrymandered because it's 100% Democrat.  It only has 1 representative.  It's either 100% Democrat or 100% Republican.  Since most of their citizens lean Democratic, their  Representation is 1-0 Dem.

     

    Similarly, North Dakota only has 1 representative is not gerrymandered because it's 100% Republican.  It only has 1 representative.  It's either 100% Democrat or 100% Republican.  Since most of their citizens lean Republican, their  Representation is 1-0 Rep.

     

    It's not rocket surgery...

    Holy shit, just realized, you thought the graphic implicated ND as the most gerrymandered?  No, it's not.  It's saying the states that are red are most gerrymandered.  😁  Poor aggy.  Thought you were trolling.  Turns out you're just old and dumb.  And aggy  Ok redundant

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    tx 3 putt

    Posted

    The Governor of Texas is a Republican.

    The Attorney General of Texas is a Republican.

    The Texas House is controlled by Republicans.

    The Texas Senate is controlled by Republicans.

    ALL NINE JUSTICES on the Texas Supreme Court are Republicans.

    Governor Hot Wheels wants to blame Democrats for the economy and every other problem in Texas.

     

    Question Mark What GIF by MOODMAN
     

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    ChiTownDoc

    Posted

    5 hours ago, tx 3 putt said:

     

    lol.  GL bitch.  She better hope Trump deports her at this point…

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    HenryJames

    Posted

    5 hours ago, tx 3 putt said:

     

    10 Things You've Never Noticed From Idiocracy

    • Haha 2
    BurntOrange&White

    Posted

    Is Texas too far gerrymandered to pull off something like republicans did in the 90s with flipping a bunch of seats?

    Willfully Horn

    Posted

    28 minutes ago, BurntOrange&White said:

    Is Texas too far gerrymandered to pull off something like republicans did in the 90s with flipping a bunch of seats?

    I’ve read speculation that the new map has ten light pink, and fewer deep red, districts, so yes, it’s not out of the realm of possibility.

    South Austin

    Posted

    6 minutes ago, Willfully Horn said:

    I’ve read speculation that the new map has ten light pink, and fewer deep red, districts, so yes, it’s not out of the realm of possibility.

    Still, that realm is very small.

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    Fudge Nuggets

    Posted

    10 hours ago, Ag with kids said:

    Ok?  And?  Your map is showing that Red states are less gerrymandered than Blue states...

     

     

    Hint:  Green is Very gerrymandered...Red is less gerrymandered.

     

    Eight of those states in your pic are Red states.

     

    And I will disagree with Maryland since they're 7-1 Democrat (88%)...

    Dumbass aggy.

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    Foosters

    Posted

    9 hours ago, tx 3 putt said:

     

    Do you want a fatwa, because that's how you get a fatwa.

    • Haha 1
    wild_turkey

    Posted

    I also have 22 grandkids...

    Your carbon footprint is enormous. Why does anyone have 9 kids?
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    Vegas64

    Posted

    22 minutes ago, wild_turkey said:


    Your carbon footprint is enormous. Why does anyone have 9 kids?

    To make up for the DINKS and those who have 0 or 1, for negative growth rate with an eye to future GDP growth for the unquenchable thirst of late stage capitalism?

    Gap03

    Posted (edited)

    26 minutes ago, Pescado_Rojo said:

    Because 7 of them are likely to die from easily preventable diseases or child labor accidents? 

    If Ag with Kids and his ilk have their way, that's definitely the way shit will go down - a return to the good ol' days ...

    Oregon-Trail.jpg

    Edited by Gap03
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    Longhorn_Fan68

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Willfully Horn said:

    I’ve read speculation that the new map has ten light pink, and fewer deep red, districts, so yes, it’s not out of the realm of possibility.

     

    1 hour ago, South Austin said:

    Still, that realm is very small.

    yes, that's why the pink area is so highly sought after

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    Brisketexan

    Posted

    1 hour ago, South Austin said:

    Still, that realm is very small.

    5d57ad6a-dec0-429c-8199-daed1cde0c44_tex

    7 minutes ago, HenryJames said:

     

    "And we have voices too."  Dude. Clock is running on that.  The regime has declared its intent to revoke the broadcast licenses of all networks that do not praise the regime.  The regime literally just declared the opposition political party to be a terrorist group.  The 1st Amendment is dead.

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    Bozo_Casanova

    Posted

    14 hours ago, Ag with kids said:

    Why would this be a joke?

     

    Democrat run states are more gerrymandered than Republican run states.

    Come on man. It’s one thing to maintain an indefensible position. It’s another to believe in things that are demonstrably untrue. 
    Do better. 
     

    13 hours ago, mchookem said:

    wtf aren't sequential replies supposed to merge themselves?

    image.png.4b810a2266f0fa7ad63d523608702215.png

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    chainsaw

    Posted

    Just now, Bozo_Casanova said:

    Come on man. It’s one thing to maintain an indefensible position. It’s another to believe in things that are demonstrably untrue. 
    Do better. 
     

    He's an Ag.

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    babysdaddy

    Posted

    12 hours ago, tx 3 putt said:

     

    Didn't she already lose in Nebraska or Kansas?  Fucking wacko

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    Kyrie Eleison

    Posted

    1 hour ago, babysdaddy said:

    Didn't she already lose in Nebraska or Kansas?  Fucking wacko

    Missouri...but all the folks who are dregs and sewer dwellers in other states...even the shitholiest of shithole states...manage to find new life in Texas Republican politics.

    for example, Dan Patrick fucked a newt back in Baltimore and look where he is now...

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    Evil Bill Obrien

    Posted

    4 hours ago, Pescado_Rojo said:

    Because 7 of them are likely to die from easily preventable diseases or child labor accidents? 

    Children do yearn for the mines after all...

    image.thumb.png.0680a7aaa7078f31f89622e4e158b28e.png

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    Evil Bill Obrien

    Posted

    On 8/25/2025 at 11:44 PM, tx 3 putt said:

    The Governor of Texas is a Republican.

    The Attorney General of Texas is a Republican.

    The Texas House is controlled by Republicans.

    The Texas Senate is controlled by Republicans.

    ALL NINE JUSTICES on the Texas Supreme Court are Republicans.

    Governor Hot Wheels wants to blame Democrats for the economy and every other problem in Texas.

     

    Question Mark What GIF by MOODMAN
     

     

    Texas Republicans whenever they cause all the problems:

    Hot Dog Man GIF

     

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    Hookah Horns

    Posted (edited)

    22 hours ago, Brisketexan said:

    5d57ad6a-dec0-429c-8199-daed1cde0c44_tex

    "And we have voices too."  Dude. Clock is running on that.  The regime has declared its intent to revoke the broadcast licenses of all networks that do not praise the regime.  The regime literally just declared the opposition political party to be a terrorist group.  The 1st Amendment is dead.

    That's just the first step. Critics will start getting disappeared soon. Hell, by the time this reign of terror is over, most on this board might be rounded up for our posts here.

    Edited by Hookah Horns
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    TheStoicPaisano

    Posted

    For none Twitterers…Teixeira running to replace Chip Roy.

    C-Man

    Posted

    That's just the first step. Critics will start getting disappeared soon. Hell, by the time this reign of terror is over, most on this board might be rounded up for our posts here.

    giphy.gif
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    Evil Bill Obrien

    Posted

    23 minutes ago, C-Man said:

    77a4b8b3bd31e47256324872d430864e.jpg

    Are we ever going to get this moment from Texas Republicans when they finally realize they are out of people to blame for all the issues because they have been in power in Austin for so long?

    Baddie GIF by Giphy QA

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    Longhorn_Fan68

    Posted

    7 minutes ago, Evil Bill Obrien said:

    Are we ever going to get this moment from Texas Republicans when they finally realize they are out of people to blame for all the issues because they have been in power in Austin for so long?

    Baddie GIF by Giphy QA

    Serious Cary Elwes GIF

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    LCHorn

    Posted

    8 minutes ago, Evil Bill Obrien said:

    Are we ever going to get this moment from Texas Republicans when they finally realize they are out of people to blame for all the issues because they have been in power in Austin for so long?

    Baddie GIF by Giphy QA

    Look, anyone that is subscribing to Ken Paxton’s Twitter feed is sufficiently divorced from reality that they will never, ever blame a Republican.  

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    Brisketexan

    Posted

    21 minutes ago, LCHorn said:

    Look, anyone that is subscribing to Ken Paxton’s Twitter feed is sufficiently divorced from reality that they will never, ever blame a Republican.  

    Yeah.  No matter how long I live, I'll never see things Paxton's way.

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    C-Man

    Posted

    21 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

    Yeah.  No matter how long I live, I'll never see things Paxton's way.

    what-are-you-looking-at-lazy-eye.gif

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    Brisketexan

    Posted

    4 hours ago, C-Man said:

    77a4b8b3bd31e47256324872d430864e.jpg

    Oh, also....this is exactly the playbook of how hard-right fascism goes.

    The judges on the 15th court aren't liberal, by any measure.  They have very solid conservative and GOP bona fides.

    But that's not the point.  It's not about political or legal philosophy or leanings.  We have crossed that rubicon.  See, all three of those justices, while they may be conservative, also believe in The Rule of Law.  They actually believe that the role of a judge is to call balls and strikes according to what the law says and provides.  Sure, they have leans, and may even get it blatantly wrong sometimes because of those leans, but their foundational approach is one that is inextricably bound to a belief that our system is one of The Rule of Law.

    That is no longer true.  Our system is an authoritarian system which expects and demands only one guiding principle: loyalty to the authoritarian.  That means Trump, and his anointed lieutenants, like Paxton.  

    And the second part of that is where it gets gruesome.  All authoritarian states - fascist, communist, what have you - have this in common: whether you are sufficiently loyal is both a creature of the whims of the leader, and is easily cratered by doubts planted by rivals and such in the leader's ear.  You've all seen the meme:

    ei4apkrrxfla1.jpg

    Every single "conservative" who is at all aligned with the Regime or its minions -- and by the way, they ALL are now, there are no "conservatives" who are not at least nominally aligned with Trumpism -- is Nikolai Yeshov in that photo.  The only question is WHEN they will find themselves out of favor and pushed out of leadership (or worse....remember, worse is coming), not if.

    There are only two groups of people right now.  Those who will be stabbed by the regime despite their attempted service to it, and those who the regime will try to stab because they are actively fighting against it.  Either way, the regime is coming to stab you.  Wouldn't you rather die on your feet than live on your knees?  Of course, all GOP leaders and supporters have already answered that question, and strapped on their kneepads.

     

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    Hefeweizen

    Posted

    I think if the Epstein files were released maybe we could see some of the republicans stand up for kids.  Maybe even see straight for once.

     

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    Irwin F Fletcher

    Posted

    31 minutes ago, Hefeweizen said:

    I think if the Epstein files were released maybe we could see some of the republicans stand up for kids.  Maybe even see straight for once.

     

    Ha! It would not matter one bit. No one who this far down the road with Trump is turning back. 

    My advice, accept our new reality and prepare for hard times.

     

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    UpperWestside

    Posted

    3 minutes ago, YChang said:

    Also fuck Mark Teixeira

    100 percent. Just another worthless person with zero knowledge of history touting the fascist line of America First. He deserves a baseball bat to the face every time he carries water for TFG and the cult.

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    UpperWestside

    Posted

    23 minutes ago, Irwin F Fletcher said:

    Ha! It would not matter one bit. No one who this far down the road with Trump is turning back. 

    My advice, accept our new reality and prepare for hard times.

     

    I just talked with a friend an hour ago back in NYC. He knows gay marriage is going to get overturned. He’s got an eye on Canada if he has to leave. This is where we are as a country. Hurting people for the sole reason of doing it. 

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    Brisketexan

    Posted

    Imagine believing this
     

    They believe many things even dumber and more easily falsifiable than that. Because we are not even Idiocracy; an Idiocracy would thoroughly outsmart us.
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    tx 3 putt

    Posted

    2 hours ago, Brisketexan said:


    They believe many things even dumber and more easily falsifiable than that. Because we are not even Idiocracy; an Idiocracy would thoroughly outsmart us.

     

    IMG_4994.jpeg

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    Evil Bill Obrien

    Posted

    9 hours ago, Bozo_Casanova said:

    Imagine believing this

     

    I'm sure there are a few bad actors out there in rural/suburban counties/cities/school districts that aren't spending as wisely as possible but by and large shit just costs more and these smooth brained people like Huffines want to act like you just build the road or the school and theres zero upkeep and maintenance/repair costs later that can increase over time depending on prevailing economic conditions...

    If they were really serious about getting rid of property taxes they wouldn't have passed the constitutional amendment a few years back making it even harder to install an income tax. Since that tool is off the table get ready for our political heroes to crank up sales tax if they actually want to make a serious effort to get rid of property taxes.

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    TwiceHorn

    Posted

    6 minutes ago, Evil Bill Obrien said:

    I'm sure there are a few bad actors out there in rural/suburban counties/cities/school districts that aren't spending as wisely as possible but by and large shit just costs more and these smooth brained people like Huffines want to act like you just build the road or the school and theres zero upkeep and maintenance/repair costs later that can increase over time depending on prevailing economic conditions...

    If they were really serious about getting rid of property taxes they wouldn't have passed the constitutional amendment a few years back making it even harder to install an income tax. Since that tool is off the table get ready for our political heroes to crank up sales tax if they actually want to make a serious effort to get rid of property taxes.

    This while at the same time screaming for local control of schools and vilifying the DoEd.  And ignoring the fact that school boards have been intentionally filled with MAGAts everywhere they could get away with it.

    • Like 1
    BrazilHorn

    Posted

    40 minutes ago, Evil Bill Obrien said:

    I'm sure there are a few bad actors out there in rural/suburban counties/cities/school districts that aren't spending as wisely as possible but by and large shit just costs more and these smooth brained people like Huffines want to act like you just build the road or the school and theres zero upkeep and maintenance/repair costs later that can increase over time depending on prevailing economic conditions...

    If they were really serious about getting rid of property taxes they wouldn't have passed the constitutional amendment a few years back making it even harder to install an income tax. Since that tool is off the table get ready for our political heroes to crank up sales tax if they actually want to make a serious effort to get rid of property taxes.

    The rural areas are getting that sweet recapture money. It’s Austin that gets fucked every year and gives like 4x the next biggest city to recapture, then has budget shortfall and has to raise rates, issue bonds etc et

    Not sure Austin is voting for this dude. 

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    mdmost

    Posted

    Always easier to blame big liberal cities for all that ails your state versus the people who've been in charge for 30 years. 

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    Evil Bill Obrien

    Posted (edited)

    1 hour ago, TwiceHorn said:

    This while at the same time screaming for local control of schools and vilifying the DoEd.  And ignoring the fact that school boards have been intentionally filled with MAGAts everywhere they could get away with it.

    statewide republicans next hat trick is going to be figuring out how to hand wave away the MAGAts at all the school boards who are going to be crying poor because they need more money for bibles but can't raise taxes...

     

    31 minutes ago, mdmost said:

    Always easier to blame big liberal cities for all that ails your state versus the people who've been in charge for 30 years. 

    The big liberal cities that are the source of all the job growth, economic development, and prosperity that Gov broke legs loves to brag about? 

    No Way Wow GIF

    So infuriating that dipshit hayseeds out in the sticks who vote R no matter what eat that shit up...

    Edited by Evil Bill Obrien
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