Having lived in Texas many years, I’ve witnessed the “ race to the bottom” that Texas state government embodies for many years. We Texans have confused radical governance centered on low taxes and eradicating government’s role of pursuing the common good for all ((not just rich white guys) as good governance. Kent Paxton merely surfaces the depth of the absence of moral conscience prevalent in Texas politics today.
The silver lining behind this cloud is that Talarico is more likely to defeat Paxton than Cornyn; especially after the GOP Senate leader Thom Tillis said, before the primary:
“To call Paxton ethically challenged is to call Jeffrey Dahmer suffering from an eating disorder. This guy is an empty suit and will do us no service by being in the U.S. Congress."
“To call Paxton ethically challenged is to call Jeffrey Dahmer suffering from an eating disorder. This guy is an empty suit and will do us no service by being in the U.S. Congress."---of course he is, why else would Beloved Leader endorse him? Birds of a feather and all of that!
Paxton is the beneficiary of a weird perversion of Christianity in which one can commit the most heinous acts against others, then simply “confess” and be completely forgiven. It is as if what Christ actually says to do in the Bible is utterly meaningless. And the reprobate is then embraced over and over again in the image of the prodigal son, who never learns from his mistakes and is never truly repentant. Paxton is odious and reprehensible, and those supporting him should be ashamed of themselves
Do not forget Governor Ann Richards. She was a quintessential Texas woman and she could have been president. I am a native Texan and it breaks my heart to see what has happened to our great state. We must take it back.
It is a moral test. I expect us to fail it. I am a lifelong Texan, 73 years old. I have been a Jimmy Carter Democrat, in temperament and philosophy, since 1976. I admit I have voted for more than a few Republicans in my time, however, sad to admit. I did always despise Reagan if that counts for anything. He was a fraud and a racist, or at least racist adjacent and he hated that government helped people.
I will never vote again for any Republican, ever, even actual personal friends of mine……..never.
Our state, and much of our country, is morally bankrupt. And guess who is leading the way in that moral bankruptcy? It is not Trump and his band of thugs and criminals and perverts. It is all the “good Christian people” who have abandoned EVERYTHING they claim to believe. And my fellow Baptists like Franklin Graham, Robert Jeffress and Jack Graham(who ALL spoke at the “Christian” atrocity last week in Washington) are the worst. Absolutely an abomination……
I expect the “Moral Majority” to gleefully(and prayerfully of course!!) elect Ken Paxton. I truly do. The rot/cult/brainwashing/insanity is that wide and that deep here. And they would all tell you to your face they are the “Godly” ones.
I pray I am wrong, but I live with this s_____every single day. I don’t even drink, but the insanity of the past ten years gets worse not better in my world. It could drive a man to drink, or worse.
I am still terrified of the MILLIONS of people totally untethered from any reality except that of Fox News and/or DJT…..it is insane……and they STILL are happy to tell you what “fine Christian people” they are……
Praying for a miracle here. Talarico is an amazing young man, and I believe he is the real deal, but man is he young. It will be insane what they throw at him……….
I just learned that Paxton was caught on video stealing a $1,000 pen! This is a MAGAt clown who is supposedly worth over $12 million on his salary as the Texas AG? I live in Arizona and set up a monthly donation for his Democratic opponent because I was born in Texas and actually am ashamed to admit it to anyone because right now Texas is a cesspool with Abbott and Paxton! Paxton wants to be another Trump and it is time to stop his political thievery!!!
Another great post, Steve, and as always you say it all so well. Last night I had to turn off the news. Personally, I find the competition of "MAGA vs. MAGA 'Light" boring. Was this MAGA candidate's opponent so much better? Hopefully, James Talarico will kick his ass in the General and this new loser will go away, at least until Trump finds a place for him somewhere else.
It isn't just Texas as white men throughout the South seem to be in the same state of denial which does not allow them to accept the loss of the "war between the states" which assured the formerly enslaved people had the full rights of citizenship.
This is the same bone of contention which lies at the heart of Republican politics today. They have never been willing to accept black and brown skinned American as citizens let alone as equals.
Yep ..if they elect him it will confirm what we have become. I have Rick Scott in my state another despicable person. Uvalde was an eye openner .. All those children murdered while the tough
guy police stayed in the hallway .. All those law enforement should have moved away and changed there names out of shame.. Yes, I loved Audie Murphy. The medal of honor because he went to hell and back.. I wish you were here right now Audie ..lost in america
'This is one of the defining pathologies of Trump-era America: corruption is no longer disqualifying. It’s the attraction.' There you have it Steve. Perversion is the twiested driver in this megalomania of insanity that has become the 'murkan politic. I have lived next door to this state for 53 years. Here, we have a saying -- there are people from Texas, and then there are Texans. Night vs Day. Many really fine folks live there. Many others, we call Texans, also live there, but continuously slap their slop all over our state with the same attitude of self-righteous bigotry this halfling Paxton exudes daily, if not hourly. True. Texas is on the line as it faces a 'show and tell' moment. As they often say along the Highlands boundary line between NM and Texas - All hat, no cattle. Double dealing has become a way of life in the lonely state with now, few real stars.
November is going to tell us a lot about our country and it won’t just be in Texas, although that race will indeed be a tell. In spite of the insipid MSM, and their boxcars of lipstick to slather on their pigs, reading these Substacks I find encouraging, if I was to ask any of my neighbors to borrow a lawnmower, I have no doubt they would willingly lend it to me without asking who I voted for, broken down on the side of the road and they would stop to help, that’s who America is at heart. The insipid orange turd doesn’t speak to or for that version of America, his whole life has been spent in avoidance of engagement with the average American, that’s why he spends all of his time at his various “clubs” which are designed to filter out all but the wealthiest. Maybe not to most of us who read these essays, but to much of our fellow citizens the price of gas is the big tell tale, it’s not going to be coming down significantly before the election, too much infrastructure has been destroyed to just turn the pumps back on. Attacking Iran was a colossal mistake, one that anyone with an ounce of sense would have avoided. The long term effects of the choices he has made are going to play out well into next year and beyond, even if he was to reverse course today which we know he will never do, not willingly. The Iranians are different than the contractors he has spent his life cheating, they know how to fight back and they have got his balls in a vise, which is why he’s squealing like a pig. So we’ll see won’t we, whether our country is finally fed up with his antics and the immense harm he has brought to us. I still live in hope 🙏
Dick, I really enjoy your "pig" references, particularly the "slathering." This brings me joy in the morning. There is no way now to fight these cosmic misdeeds. I look forward to your future metaphors.
Thank you Steve for listing the remarkable achievements of the many previous honorable politicians from Texas, we can recognize and respect their accomplishments and dedication to improving our country and our democracy. Tragically, another win for Trump/MAGA with Ken Paxton. Hard to believe he won’t win, especially since the Democrat is a vegan (pardon the sarcasm and despair).
I’m sure he will be at the white trash cage fighting birthday party as well …at OUR White House. Can you believe this has happened to our country? So horrific and embarrassing because ignorant fools voted for a demented criminal sociopath who wants nothing but money and power for himself and his sycophants. You will pay for this believe me. You already are!
I can already hear the “I had to hold my nose and vote for Paxton because there’s no way I am voting for a liberal”. In my book, they are even worse than the ones voting for him because they actually like him.
Sadly it confirms that far too many hold grievances and retribution as a badge of membership in an historically anti-social cult. The virus is widespread in Texas and in the local political machinery that wins elections. There is literally a religious belief that Democrats are evil.
Another disgraceful dude who makes DJT happy. I hope the good people of Texas, it's a large state so I'm hoping there's a chance, will deny this charlatan and send him to the depths of depravity where he lives.
Having lived in Texas many years, I’ve witnessed the “ race to the bottom” that Texas state government embodies for many years. We Texans have confused radical governance centered on low taxes and eradicating government’s role of pursuing the common good for all ((not just rich white guys) as good governance. Kent Paxton merely surfaces the depth of the absence of moral conscience prevalent in Texas politics today.
The silver lining behind this cloud is that Talarico is more likely to defeat Paxton than Cornyn; especially after the GOP Senate leader Thom Tillis said, before the primary:
“To call Paxton ethically challenged is to call Jeffrey Dahmer suffering from an eating disorder. This guy is an empty suit and will do us no service by being in the U.S. Congress."
https://crooksandliars.com/2026/05/tillis-paxton-dahmer
The Democrats will use Tillis' comparison to great advantage, especially as the campaign reveals details of his scandal-ridden past
“To call Paxton ethically challenged is to call Jeffrey Dahmer suffering from an eating disorder. This guy is an empty suit and will do us no service by being in the U.S. Congress."---of course he is, why else would Beloved Leader endorse him? Birds of a feather and all of that!
Great analogy to describe Paxton's unethical behavior.
Paxton is the beneficiary of a weird perversion of Christianity in which one can commit the most heinous acts against others, then simply “confess” and be completely forgiven. It is as if what Christ actually says to do in the Bible is utterly meaningless. And the reprobate is then embraced over and over again in the image of the prodigal son, who never learns from his mistakes and is never truly repentant. Paxton is odious and reprehensible, and those supporting him should be ashamed of themselves
Do not forget Governor Ann Richards. She was a quintessential Texas woman and she could have been president. I am a native Texan and it breaks my heart to see what has happened to our great state. We must take it back.
Same in Tennessee!
Disgraceful idiots who belong to the KKK. 😱
We HAVE to take it back!
It is a moral test. I expect us to fail it. I am a lifelong Texan, 73 years old. I have been a Jimmy Carter Democrat, in temperament and philosophy, since 1976. I admit I have voted for more than a few Republicans in my time, however, sad to admit. I did always despise Reagan if that counts for anything. He was a fraud and a racist, or at least racist adjacent and he hated that government helped people.
I will never vote again for any Republican, ever, even actual personal friends of mine……..never.
Our state, and much of our country, is morally bankrupt. And guess who is leading the way in that moral bankruptcy? It is not Trump and his band of thugs and criminals and perverts. It is all the “good Christian people” who have abandoned EVERYTHING they claim to believe. And my fellow Baptists like Franklin Graham, Robert Jeffress and Jack Graham(who ALL spoke at the “Christian” atrocity last week in Washington) are the worst. Absolutely an abomination……
I expect the “Moral Majority” to gleefully(and prayerfully of course!!) elect Ken Paxton. I truly do. The rot/cult/brainwashing/insanity is that wide and that deep here. And they would all tell you to your face they are the “Godly” ones.
I pray I am wrong, but I live with this s_____every single day. I don’t even drink, but the insanity of the past ten years gets worse not better in my world. It could drive a man to drink, or worse.
I am still terrified of the MILLIONS of people totally untethered from any reality except that of Fox News and/or DJT…..it is insane……and they STILL are happy to tell you what “fine Christian people” they are……
Praying for a miracle here. Talarico is an amazing young man, and I believe he is the real deal, but man is he young. It will be insane what they throw at him……….
Let them! I have a feeling he can take it. One big plus is he is not an idiot. Very competent unlike any of them.
I just learned that Paxton was caught on video stealing a $1,000 pen! This is a MAGAt clown who is supposedly worth over $12 million on his salary as the Texas AG? I live in Arizona and set up a monthly donation for his Democratic opponent because I was born in Texas and actually am ashamed to admit it to anyone because right now Texas is a cesspool with Abbott and Paxton! Paxton wants to be another Trump and it is time to stop his political thievery!!!
Another great post, Steve, and as always you say it all so well. Last night I had to turn off the news. Personally, I find the competition of "MAGA vs. MAGA 'Light" boring. Was this MAGA candidate's opponent so much better? Hopefully, James Talarico will kick his ass in the General and this new loser will go away, at least until Trump finds a place for him somewhere else.
It isn't just Texas as white men throughout the South seem to be in the same state of denial which does not allow them to accept the loss of the "war between the states" which assured the formerly enslaved people had the full rights of citizenship.
This is the same bone of contention which lies at the heart of Republican politics today. They have never been willing to accept black and brown skinned American as citizens let alone as equals.
Yep ..if they elect him it will confirm what we have become. I have Rick Scott in my state another despicable person. Uvalde was an eye openner .. All those children murdered while the tough
guy police stayed in the hallway .. All those law enforement should have moved away and changed there names out of shame.. Yes, I loved Audie Murphy. The medal of honor because he went to hell and back.. I wish you were here right now Audie ..lost in america
'This is one of the defining pathologies of Trump-era America: corruption is no longer disqualifying. It’s the attraction.' There you have it Steve. Perversion is the twiested driver in this megalomania of insanity that has become the 'murkan politic. I have lived next door to this state for 53 years. Here, we have a saying -- there are people from Texas, and then there are Texans. Night vs Day. Many really fine folks live there. Many others, we call Texans, also live there, but continuously slap their slop all over our state with the same attitude of self-righteous bigotry this halfling Paxton exudes daily, if not hourly. True. Texas is on the line as it faces a 'show and tell' moment. As they often say along the Highlands boundary line between NM and Texas - All hat, no cattle. Double dealing has become a way of life in the lonely state with now, few real stars.
Mick, your prose is magnificent. It eases me to know your intelligence is out there. Thank you.
November is going to tell us a lot about our country and it won’t just be in Texas, although that race will indeed be a tell. In spite of the insipid MSM, and their boxcars of lipstick to slather on their pigs, reading these Substacks I find encouraging, if I was to ask any of my neighbors to borrow a lawnmower, I have no doubt they would willingly lend it to me without asking who I voted for, broken down on the side of the road and they would stop to help, that’s who America is at heart. The insipid orange turd doesn’t speak to or for that version of America, his whole life has been spent in avoidance of engagement with the average American, that’s why he spends all of his time at his various “clubs” which are designed to filter out all but the wealthiest. Maybe not to most of us who read these essays, but to much of our fellow citizens the price of gas is the big tell tale, it’s not going to be coming down significantly before the election, too much infrastructure has been destroyed to just turn the pumps back on. Attacking Iran was a colossal mistake, one that anyone with an ounce of sense would have avoided. The long term effects of the choices he has made are going to play out well into next year and beyond, even if he was to reverse course today which we know he will never do, not willingly. The Iranians are different than the contractors he has spent his life cheating, they know how to fight back and they have got his balls in a vise, which is why he’s squealing like a pig. So we’ll see won’t we, whether our country is finally fed up with his antics and the immense harm he has brought to us. I still live in hope 🙏
Dick, I really enjoy your "pig" references, particularly the "slathering." This brings me joy in the morning. There is no way now to fight these cosmic misdeeds. I look forward to your future metaphors.
Thank you Steve for listing the remarkable achievements of the many previous honorable politicians from Texas, we can recognize and respect their accomplishments and dedication to improving our country and our democracy. Tragically, another win for Trump/MAGA with Ken Paxton. Hard to believe he won’t win, especially since the Democrat is a vegan (pardon the sarcasm and despair).
That “vegan” will kick Paxton’s ass.
I agree! 😂😂😂
Paxton is pure white trash just like Trump.
I’m sure he will be at the white trash cage fighting birthday party as well …at OUR White House. Can you believe this has happened to our country? So horrific and embarrassing because ignorant fools voted for a demented criminal sociopath who wants nothing but money and power for himself and his sycophants. You will pay for this believe me. You already are!
I can already hear the “I had to hold my nose and vote for Paxton because there’s no way I am voting for a liberal”. In my book, they are even worse than the ones voting for him because they actually like him.
Sadly it confirms that far too many hold grievances and retribution as a badge of membership in an historically anti-social cult. The virus is widespread in Texas and in the local political machinery that wins elections. There is literally a religious belief that Democrats are evil.
We can only hope that vast swaths of the "I can never vote for a Socialist/Democrat" voters just stay home, plug their ears, close their eyes...
Another disgraceful dude who makes DJT happy. I hope the good people of Texas, it's a large state so I'm hoping there's a chance, will deny this charlatan and send him to the depths of depravity where he lives.