“Remember you are made from dust, and to dust you shall return.” Methodist Liturgy
Either uplifting or pretty much of a bummer – depending on your perspective.
Quote for the Day – Ash Wednesday
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Today in Texas History – March 1
From the Annals of Granite – In 1978, the Nature Conservancy bought Enchanted Rock for $1.3 million. The NC saved the property from a planned development and then deeded the natural treasure to the State six days later. The top of the granite monolith north of Fredericksburg stands at an elevation of 1,825 feet and rises about 425 feet from the base. Some say it takes its name from the mysterious sounds that the heating and cooling rock reportedly makes. Another legend states that Tonkawa Indians gave it this name believing that a Spanish conquistador cast a spell on it, making magical ghost fires glow at the top. The site reopened as Enchanted Rock State Natural Area in March 1984. The area includes Enchanted Rock, Little Rock and Buzzard’s Roost and features over 11 miles of trails.
In Texas, It’s a Felony to Harbor an Illegal Alien – But What Does that Mean?
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has reinstated a Texas law that makes it a felony punishable by up to 10 years to harbor illegal aliens. The ruling lifted an injunction that had blocked the 2015 law from taking full effect, in a ruling praised by both the state and immigrant advocates.
The law makes it a felony to encourage unauthorized immigrants to enter or remain in the country by concealing, harboring or shielding that person from detection. Two landlords had sued to prevent enforcement arguing that the law was overly broad and could apply to people who rent apartments and homes to undocumented immigrants. Texas argued that the law was intended to apply only to alien smuggling and human trafficking operations. But that wasn’t the way the law was written and – given the near total control of the State by the Red Meat Wing of the Republican Party – it was an open question as to who could be prosecuted.
The Fifth Circuit, in an opinion by Judge Jerry Smith, cleared the air by holding that the law as written does not apply to persons who provide shelter to or conduct business with illegal aliens.
“There is no reasonable interpretation by which merely renting housing or providing social services to an illegal alien constitutes ‘harboring … that person from detection.'”
Thus, landlords and homeless shelters cannot be prosecuted. Here, the Fifth Circuit saved the bacon of the pathetic excuse for an Attorney General that is Ken Paxton by issuing a ruling that saves the statute but likely does not accomplish what the Tea Party dominated State House really wanted.
Today in Texas History – February 28
From the Annals of the Cults – In 1993, federal and state agents attempted to execute on an arrest warrant for David Koresh (fka Vernon Howell) and followers at the Mount Carmel Center compound of the Branch Davidians near Elk. Based on an FBI and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms investigation, authorities sought to arrest Koresh for possession of illegal firearms. The ATF’s plan to arrest the leader of the Branch Davidians went severely awry. The BD’s were not surprised because a Waco reporter asked for directions from a mailman who happened to be Koresh’s brother-in-law. When the authorities arrived they were met with gunfire and an intense firefight broke out. Four agents and six Davidians were killed. The violence and stories about the bizarre and possible illegal practices of the BDs (including child marriage, polygamy and child abuse) captured the attention of the nation during the 51-day standoff which followed. Ultimately, the compound was attacked with tear gas and other weapons resulting in a fire which destroyed the comp0und. Only eight BD’s survived the fire. Koresh was likely killed by one of his lieutenants Steve Schneider who then killed himself.
Trump Drops Texas Voters in the Grease
Coming down on the side of making it harder to vote in the face of absolutely no evidence of in-person voter fraud, the Trump Administration decided that Texas’ Voter ID law is A-Okay. The Texas Tribune reports:
The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed Monday it plans to ditch its longstanding position that Texas lawmakers purposefully discriminated against minority voters by passing the nation’s strictest voter identification law in 2011.
The move comes one day before a federal judge is scheduled to hear arguments on that high-stakes voting rights question, and it highlights yet another instance in which President Donald Trump has dramatically departed from the path of his predecessor.
Former President Obama’s Justice Department originally teamed up with civil rights groups against Texas throughout the long-winding legal battle over the ID law, known as Senate Bill 14. But on Monday, lawyers for U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions told parties that they were dropping a claim that Texas lawmakers intentionally discriminated against Latino and African-American voters.
Today in Texas History – February 27
From the Annals of the Secessionists – In 1850, Carlos Esparza and others first attempted to establish a territorial government and separate the Territory of the Rio Grande from the rest of Texas. The secession movement was intended to protect the interests of Hispanics who were widely discriminated against despite their role in securing Texas independence. The movement never went anywhere and was eventually dropped. Esparza was a Mexican-born follower of Juan Cortina and wealthy rancher. He seemed an unlikely proponent of the Hispanic cause, but Esparza worked mostly behind the scenes in advance of Cortina’s goals.
During the Civil War he worked with both Union and Confederate forces while promoting the Cortinista cause. In 1873 Esparza was appointed as an inspector of hides and animals for Cameron County and apparently used that position to aid Cortina in avoiding capture. After Cortina was arrested in 1875, however, Esparza retreated to his ranch, avoided further political causes and was seldom seen thereafter.
Today in Texas History – February 24
From the Annals of the Revolution – In 1836, Col. William Barret Travis wrote his famous letter addressed “To the People of Texas and All Americans in the World.” Travis, a failed lawyer and largely considered to be an inept military commander, achieved his moment of greatness with the stroke of his pen. Writing from the besieged garrison at the Alamo in San Antonio, Travis relayed the dire circumstances he and the unfortunate forces under his command were facing. He called out for help. “I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism & everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch.” Travis either knew that his situation was hopeless or was hoping against hope for a miracle that did not exist. Inspired by his letter, some 32 men from Gonzales and the DeWitt Colony reached the Alamo in the early morning hours of March 1. They were killed along with the other defenders when the Mexican Army assaulted the crumbling fort days later. Col. James Fannin, another hopeless military incompetent, began a march towards the Alamo but deterred by the presence of Gen. Urrea’s forces moved into an indefensible position, surrendered and was later killed in the mass execution of his troops. The most famous lines of Travis’ letter pledged that he would “never surrender or retreat” and swore “Victory or Death” most likely knowing that the latter was the only possible outcome. His prediction was correct as Travis was among the first to die in the final battle.
Louie Gohmert – Coward of the Congress
Rep. Louie Gohmert (TP-Texas) is refusing to attend any town halls in his district because he is scared that he might get shot.
“At this time there are groups from the more violent strains of the leftist ideology, some even being paid, who are preying on public town halls to wreak havoc and threaten public safetyis afraid of being shot.”
Of course, Gohmert offers no evidence of his “fake news” regarding people being paid to attend town halls and no evidence that any violence has erupted at such an event. Gohmert went so far as use the shooting of former Rep. Gabby Giffords as an excuse for his cowardice. Loony Louie pathetically attempted to cloak his spinelessness in the context of protecting his constituents. Gohmert claims that the House Sergeant at Arms advised him after Giffords was shot that the “civilian attendees at Congressional public events stand the most chance of being harmed or killed.”
As a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment, I am sure that Gohmert would fully support citizens openly sporting firearms at any town hall and according to NRA theology that will prevent anyone from acting up – because “an armed society is a polite society.” Take your own gun Louie and out draw the bad guys.
So why is Gohmert really afraid to face his constituents? Could it have anything to do with the challenges that other members of Congress are getting at their events? Could it have anything to do with LG’s inability to string coherent thoughts together in response to a sensible argument? Or is Gohmert just a spineless little coward?
Today in Texas History – February 23
From the Annals of Bad Decisions – In 1861, Texas citizens (meaning white, property-owning men) voted on the Texas Ordinance of Secession. The vote was overwhelmingly for secession from the Union with 46,153 voting for secession and only 14,747 against. Of the 122 counties casting votes, only eighteen cast majorities against secession. Only eleven other counties had votes of as much as 40 percent against. For those who claim the Civil War was not about slavery, please take a look at the vile racist screed that is the Texas Ordinance of Secession.
Republicans Have Man-Crush on Putin
We know that Trump loves him some Vlad Putin – for whatever reason that probably has nothing whatsoever to do with Putin having the goods on Trump’s Moscow escapades and ties to the Russian Mob. But Trump’s affection towards the Russian strongman is now influencing a large segment of the American public. Republicans are now loving themselves some Putin and increasingly falling in line with their dear leader. Gallup reports:
A major reason for the overall rise in Putin’s favorable rating this year is Republicans’ more positive views of the Russian leader, from 12% in 2015 to 32% today. This comes at a time when President Donald Trump wants to improve relations with Russia, after somewhat frosty relations between the two countries during Barack Obama’s presidency. Independents’ opinions of Putin also have grown more positive in the last two years, but to a lesser extent than Republicans’. Democrats’ views have become slightly less positive, with just 10% viewing Putin favorably today.
So 32% of freedom-loving Republicans now have a favorable view of the former KGB agent who stole Crimea, invaded Ukraine, brutally suppressed Chechnya, destroyed the free press in Russia, pocketed billions for himself and cronies, jailed dissidents and opponents, murdered countless other opponents, ordered more slaughter in Syria, propped other dictators and interfered in our latest election. What’s not to like?
Paradise in Hell 