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Posts posted by pyrohornIII
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14 hours ago, South Austin said:
How's yours coming along? At the 10,000 word mark yet?
Just don't forget to thank them for their attention to this important matter.
13 hours ago, Nivek said:
Obviously the solution is more tax cuts for the rich, and more tariffs.Govt takes from the middle and lower class, gives to billionaires. Billionaires own the banks that foreclose on the homes lost due to the depression and then turns them into rentals with super tricky leases and high security deposits. At what point do they realize they are killing the gold egg laying goose? I swear it's not the money that counts anymore. These fuckers keep score by how many lives they can fuck over. And get style points for creative cruelty.
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I finally got around to watching American Thunder. It was solid. Taking NASCAR to LeMans. Learned a lot about both sports in one doc.
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5 hours ago, Tuco said:
Sure. But at the end of the day, their power is extremely limited. They are basically a lobby, but ultimately the candidates decide to run or not. The Party can help open some doors and make introductions, but Allred already has those. What rules do you think they can bend that significantly impacts a candidate's campaign? Who goes on a slate card? Who gets to speak at a meeting? I appreciate the blood-soaked feuds that go into that kind of shit that ultimately matters very little. One tweet from AOC drives more campaign cash than most state parties.
The intraparty squabbling is annoying as shit, full of flawed people who get off on the little modicum of power they've scratched out. But you can get that same dynamic at any college student government. When you step back a couple of steps, it's more funny than sad.
Allred got the jump on things last go around because the only other candidate that actually stood a chance was Roland Gutierrez. And due to all the special sessions, Roland couldn't do any campaigning and fell behind in fundraising. Gutierrez was the favorite by far of the folks on the ground, the local organizers. Allred was the opposite. He did very little when it came to campaigning in public. What he did do a lot of was coming into counties and being hosted by the local big money donors, regardless of party. The DNC stood by and let Schumer, Jeffries, and others tap Allred as their choice and had already funneled a large chunk of change into his campaign through the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Like millions of dollars. All that came in before Roland even announced. Big money old established donors, particularly in Dallas, jumped onto that bandwagon and never got off.
The problem we had in 24 and apparently will have in 26 is that DC is picking our candidates for us, at least at the senate level. They silently endorse their choice with dumping money into their coffers. Then turn around and lecture us on the state level how we should not put our thumbs on the scales by endorsing or denouncing any candidates. It's bullshit, but that is what we face. I somewhat understand it, but at the same time how do you ever build a bench, much less put together a good slate that actually has a chance at winning anything. If Allred wins the primary again, then once again we are faced with trying to whip up enthusiasm to go to the polls for the rest of the races, while the top spot is held by a full on dud.
Of course this would be a moot point if voters actually cared enough to educate themselves on candidates. But in their defense, I applaud them for even going to the polls after the endless barrage of fundraising texts and calls they get daily.
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9 minutes ago, Hank Kingsley said:
Dems could run a Bill Clinton Dem again, the right would call him a commie socialist, and "centrists" would be very concerned how far left he is. People's brains are cooked. Again, the game is rigged. Have to excite the youths and people who don't typically vote and stop trying to appease the middle.
That's apparently where Mamdani has succeeded and has all those consultants, pollsters and talking heads thinking up in arms.
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46 minutes ago, Biff Tannen said:
From my centrist buddy who votes Dem as of the last decade, but seems to hate doing it.
QuoteWill be interesting to see what happens in the mid terms. As an outsider, sure seems the liberals are shifting left rather than acknowledging the hard truths of why they are losing elections to these asshats.
In my lifetime I have seen civil rights, voting rights, women's rights and societal safety nets put in place over time that seemed to be a natural progression to a better society and a more just nation model. Many of these we felt basically sacrosant, achievements hard fought for and enshrined. I felt that the rest of the country was proud of our place in the world, leading by example when it came to self governance. But little by little these things came under attack, and the whole Overton Window started creeping to the right. Most didn't seem to pay attention to it too much, expecting some sort of morals check to come into play as it normally has. But when Roe v. Wade was overturned things changed. While the Dem party felt all the advances of the Great Society were firmly entrenched, they took for granted a loyal base, quit fighting for them altogether and started trying to defend every single small faction which in turn made them appear to be a narrow focused, elitist party.
Our own TDP has recognized this and if you listen to the messages coming out of the new leadership you see them fighting to regain the trust of the working class, while also protecting the human rights of all, including the smaller factions that are under constant siege. It is yet to be seen if this is possible, but certainly the old guard, comfortable Dems make it harder than it should be.
TL;DR: The Dems became complacent and fell asleep at the switch, underestimating the stupidity of many of the electorate. While they were self assured all the social advances were impregnable, they weren't and now so many of those advances they are trying to save and restore are considered "too leftist." The party in Texas is trying to self correct, but is it too little too late? It's a big ass ship and it's going to take time to alter course.
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I'm interested in y'all's comments on this? How widespread is this sentiment in your opinions? How large a part of it is responsible for the disconnect between the working class and the party?
Frankly at the heart of democracy is disagreement on many levels, but that works to move things along slowly towards a better society. But I personally feel the scam of superdelegates to put Hillary in over Bernie was the point where people started shaping up this idea and reinforcing it with example after example.
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Reagan went from being a B grade actor to governor of California with less experience. At least Mamdani has held a state rep position.
Ross Perot and Trump are others who ran for significant offices with little to no governing experience.
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I like Cole. I also like Benjamin Flores. I have met him on several occasions and he is the real deal. If you notice his URL, his domain name is 4Texas, not 4BayCity, so he was thinking ahead. Both of these guys are new to state level politics and as FDR and others said, new guys haven't made any mistakes yet they can be dogged for.
We have a young progressive running for Ag Commisioner in Clayton Tucker. Clayton is a populist and he has a lot of similar qualities to Bobby Cole. He reminds me of Hightower with less of the homespun homilies. Here's a good interview he did with ProgressTexas once he announced. Clayton Tucker takes on Sid Miller interview.
What Texas needs is a slate of strong candidates who bring different factions out to vote. We need to choose the most electable in the primaries, and not individually, but as a team. Problem is that the TDP has a hands off policy in crafting a slate, letting the primaries decide. But as we saw in the last senate race, DC has no such qualms in putting their thumbs on the scales. That whole "let the voters decide" depends on an electorate that is much more engaged and willing to be educated than what we currently have, or probably will ever have, especially on the nuances of assembling a slate. We have to find ways to make it effortless to self educate and spread the word. Give people an easy means to research and feel strong for having learned.
I got some time with Beto in Amarillo and was impressed with how he has been sharpening his game. Much better at speaking and not coming off as canned in responses. How to overcome the three losses already is the hurdle. Unfortunately people do not seem to take into account the strength of the blind loyalty to the (R) in this state. I explain it like David and Goliath. We have no proof, but the odds are that David didn't bring down the behemoth with his first stone. It took a few practice lobs to get it right. Time to land the big one this time. He is forward thinking when it comes to strategy and effectiveness as to turning out vote. While he believes in data, he also makes sure people feel they are more than a number.
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On 6/22/2025 at 10:22 AM, Nivek said:
Overlords might be better understood by the stupids.
Last night, I saw in the local NEWS a democratic party member was being investigated for corruption and so he switched parties. The democratic party member crushed it talking about it. The republican could only say, “well we are in power and we welcome him”Yeah, that is Jennifer Cantu. She's got her head on right. Ft Bend has a couple of messes to deal with, but a lot of capable people are rising to the challenge.
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On 6/18/2025 at 11:34 AM, chainsaw said:Beto + Bernie + Kendall Scudder doing some anti-oligarch townhalls across Texas. Very positive signs so far from Tex Dems' new leadership.
Kendall has been spreading the anti oligarch message since he stepped into the chair. In Texas it resounds past the tech bros, spotlighing the billionaires in this state (& out of staters) who funded the war on public education, among other things. He keeps reminding people that this is a fight between the top and bottom, not right or left.
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As of Q4 2023, Texas’ Gross State Product (GSP) was about $2.664 trillion reddit.com+4en.wikipedia.org+4en.wikipedia.org+4.
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The billionaires’ combined wealth (~$966 billion) thus represents roughly 36% of the entire state’s annual GSP.
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According to Every Texan, in 2023, just 66 of those billionaires controlled more wealth than 70% of all Texans combined
Whatever they say about the other cultural issues, that is basically cover smoke for the movement toward Oligarchy. I'm headed to Amarillo tomorrow for the Sunday event. This is from McAllen
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5 minutes ago, Hagbard Celine said:
immigrants, the social safety net (veterans, medicaid, medicare), labor, small business?
and do all that while working towards reducing the wealth inequality that is being widened at the expense of all those things you listed.
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7 hours ago, Bozo_Casanova said:
@pyrohornIII - how should we feel about this?
Kolby is a pretty good guy. He was very strong in rebuilding the Texas Young Dems. I tend to not judge the book by its cover, but I do understand the initial reactions, because it took me a couple of years to just accept that's who he is and how he likes to represent. He is only serving to finish out the term since that seat was vacated by the election of Kendall Scudder to state chair. Some of us (including Kolby) had hoped another person would pick up the challenge and run, but she backed out in the last 24 hours. I do not know how successful he will be, but he's bright and a good politician. I look for him to assemble a variety of folks to help him as a sort of advisory panel for the position.
However that first impression means a lot, and his impression is strong, one way or the other. We are definitely a party that has a lot of factions under the tent. TIme will tell. But hey, if any of you want to talk to Kolby, he'd be glad to take your call, or give you one.
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I know y'all are smart mother fuckers, so I will probably catch a lot of shit for posting this, but I'd rather err on the side of caution.
Since there is a good chance there will be MAGA types infiltratiing the crowd and trying to instigate shit, just sit down where you are, probably on your hands is best.
Also remember streets are not sidewalks, except in cross walk situations.
either go in group of three, or find one to join in once you get there. exchange emergency contact info with the other two in case you get picked up. Large groups have more trouble keeping up with each other.
If you can afford a burner phone, that's a lot better play than taking your regular one.
If you still have an old digital camera, consider using that to record pics and vids with. Use SD cards for storage.
Know the route if it's a march, or the boundaries of the public space that the permit was written for, and when the event is scheduled to end. Once that time is reached start looking for a way out to your car or a rendezvous point. Don't get taken in by any last moment swells of enthusiasm to go beyond the permitted time. There should be organizer reps who have this event info, probably wearing something that identifies them, like traffic vests.
Here's a good list from AI:
Attending a No Kings protest in Texas (or any protest challenging authoritarianism or government overreach) requires a blend of preparedness, caution, and strategy — especially in a state where law enforcement and counterprotesters may be more aggressive. Here’s a smart, safety-first guide:
✅ What to Do Before the Protest
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Know the Law
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Texas allows peaceful protest on public property (sidewalks, parks).
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You can film police — from a safe distance — and they cannot demand you delete footage.
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Be aware of anti-mask laws (e.g., in Austin, face coverings might draw attention).
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Tell Someone
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Let a trusted friend or family member know your plans, location, and expected return time.
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Share your emergency contact info.
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Write Down Key Info
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On your arm or in your pocket: lawyer’s number, bail fund, emergency contact.
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Your phone might get taken or shut off.
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🎒 What to Bring
Item Why It Matters Water bottle Stay hydrated, esp. in Texas heat. Snacks / protein bar Long days, few breaks. Goggles / swim glasses Tear gas protection (if needed). Bandana or mask To reduce ID risk, dust, gas — but check local laws. ID (optional) Up to you — carrying may help in arrest, but also makes you easier to ID. Cash In case cards/phones don’t work or are confiscated. Mini first aid kit Blisters, minor cuts, pepper spray recovery. Portable charger Keep your phone alive. Notepad & pen Record badge numbers or events if phones are off. Earplugs Sirens, LRADs (less likely, but good to have).
👕 What to Wear
Wear Avoid Comfortable dark clothing Logos, political branding (can make you a target) Sturdy, closed-toe shoes Sandals, flip-flops Layers, if weather shifts Jewelry, loose straps Hat + sunscreen Anything ID’ing your group or location (unless strategic) Tip: Dress to blend in, not stand out. Dark neutral colors help with anonymity if needed.
⚠️ Precautions & Protest Etiquette
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Stick with a buddy or group
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Use the "3-person rule" — don’t go alone, and make a communication plan.
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Document safely
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Film police and abuse, but not other protestors’ faces unless they consent.
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Keep moving
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Standing in one place too long can lead to kettling or being boxed in.
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Don’t engage with counterprotesters
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Walk away. De-escalation is better than argument — they may be baiting you.
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Know the exit routes
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Before things get tense, have a few escape routes planned.
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Stay sober and aware
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Being under the influence makes you vulnerable — stay sharp.
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🚨 If Arrested
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Do not resist, even if unlawful.
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Ask: “Am I being detained?” If not, walk away.
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Say: “I want to remain silent. I want a lawyer.”
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Don’t sign anything or explain without representation.
🛡️ Extra Smart Tips
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Turn off Face/Touch ID on your phone (use a passcode instead).
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Disable location tracking and Bluetooth before arriving.
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Use encrypted messaging (e.g., Signal) for planning and check-ins.
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Download offline maps of the area.
I am so enthused to see so many here standing up to throw down. There are going to be more battles after this, so please be safe!
I'll be at the one in Denton, all things go as planned. Here's a link to find one near you.
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https://www.chron.com/politics/article/talarico-texas-senate-cornyn-20364506.php
Texas progressive hints he may take on Cornyn in Texas Senate showdown
The Austin democrat is known for his outspoken advocacy for public education and his deep Christian faith.
By Faith Bugenhagen,Trending News ReporterJune 6, 2025I'd go with him over Beto or Allred with no doubts. That still leaves the Abbott race, since JT had originally been thinking of the governorship.
There is always so much talk about 3 time losers, etc. But what is never taken into account is the uneven playing field gerrymandering gives these Dem candidates to begin with. Granted that doesn't come into play on statewide races, but there's a whole lot of people who don't understand that.
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51 minutes ago, HuntinHorn said:
I know they felt they had to even things out somehow, but there is no way that Mihyia Davis is better than Kayden when you consider fielding, hitting and base running. The only thing she might can measure equal to is the competitive fire in her belly. That she had in abundance, but I doubt anymore that KH did.
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On 5/24/2025 at 5:10 PM, Bozo_Casanova said:
Speaking of which, did y'all know they might push Colin Allred to run for Senate against Paxton?
It’s the political equivalent of point shaving.While there are some who are behind another Allred run, I say the majority are gunshy of it at this point. He burned a lot of bridges trying to play the bi-partisan game. Beto has been rattling his sabre some. We shall see. I'd personally like to see Crockett take a swing at it.
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I'd put this guy up against any of them!
Also probably should do one for sportscasters and journalists
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On 5/14/2025 at 3:56 PM, Satchel said:
All he has to do is give Trump a big bag in appreciation for allowing him to serve on his commission, tell him how smart he is and how good his hair and make up look, and pressure will be placed on ESPN to include Tech. Easy peasy.
Reminds me of how Baylor was allowed into the Big 12. Different political players, different bagmen.
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On 5/14/2025 at 8:52 PM, Brian Fantana said:
I feel like I'm taking crazy pills. Like, I cannot fucking stand Tulsi, but the revisionist history comparing her to some random DNC chair you've never heard of is insane.
She was the first woman combat veteran to run for President and was initially seen/presented herself as a progressive, anti-war, populist candidate. She got the most online engagement of any candidate in the debates she participated in. She was even presenting herself as anti-cop by going after Kamala Harris' record as a prosecutor (which, truth be told, is probably the most commendable thing she ever did).
Obviously her carefully crafted image turned out to be bullshit. She's nothing more than a political opportunist, and she's a weird cult member who is likely some level of Russian asset, but she had a fair amount of momentum in the very beginning before the greater Democrat apparatus quickly turned against her after Hillary Clinton started shitting on her, and even then a bunch of prominent Democrats were defending her all over mainstream news. She was also getting glazed up a bunch by Joe Rogan which only helped her popularity.
I think he was comparing her to Sinema and Manchin, not the new DNC Chair Martin.
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So I was talking the Kendall Scudder, the new state chair for Texas Dems. You might have seen some vids of him sprinkled about the CR. I asked him if he would be willing to sit for a Zoom type meeting for the Surlyites who would be interested in attending. He's on board.
I figure this is your chance to hear what the state party is trying to do to rebuild and win, as well as put your own two cents in, directly to the man himself. While Texas is not a huge player on the national scene, we are going to be. He explains all that much better than I can. And I am glad he is looking to engage with people outside our regular blue bubbles of activists and wonks.
I can host the Zoom and you folks can attend anonymously, but I think in all fairness we should use our screennames here as our identifiers there, so I can monitor for trolls and boot them.
If there's enough interest, we'll drop a poll as to best time and make it happen. It won't be until mid July though, I imagine, due to his schedule is really packed, and he and his wife are expecting their first child in early July. So for the months of July and August he'll be doing a lot of virtual meetings.
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Political Cartoons - The Politics Thread.
in Cloak Room
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more like AMerica First