If you want to see what MAGA governance looks like, look no further than Texas.
And it will be far worse before getting better.
Happy Monday TAT readers,
Today’s essay will be painful for those who support the Texas Taliban or as more commonly known, the Republican Party of Texas. They do not stand for our constitution, American nor Texas. They are by their actions, an adversary of our constitutional republic.
First, and before continuing, I want to make it crystal clear that what follows has nothing at all to do with party politics. I despise any political party as a tool of pursuing a “more perfect union.” Our constitution doesn’t mention political parties, or as they were known at the framing and ratification of our constitution, “factions.” Like one of my idols, President George Washington, I consider big money political parties a threat to our republic. Today’s Democratic party at least keeps their agenda between the proverbial constitutional guardrails while the GOP is doing all possible to replace it with a Project 2025 bastardization of it.
"I have already intimated to you the danger of Parties in the State, with particular reference to the founding of them on Geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the Spirit of Party, generally This spirit, unfortunately, is inseperable from37 our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human Mind. It exists under different shapes in all Governments, more or less stifled, controuled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form it is seen in its greatest rankness and is truly their worst enemy.38 The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge natural to party dissention, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries, which result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an Individual: and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction more able or more fortunate than his competitors," - From the Farewell address of George Washington to all citizens - Library of Congress - 19 September 1796
Introduction
My political party is our constitution, nothing more, nothing less. The problem with Gov. Greg Abbott and his Texas Taliban, is that they have zero respect for either the US or the Texas Constitutions. The evidence surrounds everyone who lives in our once proud state of Texas. Like the Civil War era, the current shame imposed onto our fair state, is largely built on the same ideology as employed by the Confederacy. I have recently characterized that ideology as; the Four Horsemen of the MAGA Apocalypse.
Today’s TAT essay will be to express what life in Texas is like, through the lens of these four horsemen. It is ugly to anyone in Texas that isn’t a willing victim of these anti-American horsemen or has enough privilege, mostly white Christian Nationalists or wealthy enough to withstand the near absence of state services, equitable law enforcement, equal opportunity and far more. Earlier today I republished an earlier essay on this topic. In order to convey to all Americans, what MAGA governance looks like I use my home state of Texas. What follows should give everyone a much clearer view. I don’t participate in hyperbole and the facts, will be as always, presented clearly and largely, in embedded links.
The last thing I will say in this introduction is, even as horrific as the Texas Taliban is, a new Trump administration will be far worse. Texas like Florida, Missouri, Ohio, Mississippi or any other deeply red state, will look very much like Texas, as that DeSantis and Abbott are engaged in a high-speed race to the bottom. I’ve spent too much time in combat zones defending our nation and its true values, to stand down now. My pen these days is my weapon against Taliban-like tyranny. Since many of my deployments were to Afghanistan, I know what such tyranny looks like, up close. I won’t stand for it here at home and will employ every legal means to stand against it. I hope that you will join me.
Off we go now to that first ugly horseman, autocracy.
Autocracy is the law of Texas
Here in Texas, Greg Abbott, via his hitmen, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a.k.a. Danny Goeb, Ken Paxton and to a large extent, House Speaker, Dade Phelan, control the legislative agenda. Abbott or rather the preferred, polite pejorative, “hot wheels” last election, “primaried” all GOP candidates who refused to endorse his unconstitutional, school vouchers obsession. With enough votes, he will shove these vouchers down the throats of all Texans. Even GOP representatives and Senators from rural districts, disagree with those vouchers, but hot wheels doesn’t give a damn.
Abbott and his henchmen, continue to waste state funds to pass their school vouchers program that would allow taxpayer dollars to be spent on private schools, religious or not. I’ll be damned if I will stay silent about paying for religious education with tax dollars, regardless of which religion. Not because I have a fight with real Christians but like the Rev. Hagee church and school just down the street from me, their curriculum often crosses the line into Christian Nationalism. Besides and most importantly and despite the religious hit job by the US Supreme Court, there actually is a separation of church and state, for anyone who has ever read the constitution and, the history of its writing. Our founders were adamant about eliminating the vestige of a state religion in government.
Speaking of Supreme Courts, the Texas version is nothing more than a steppingstone to higher office in Texas. Like Abbott, both MAGA senators, John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, took this route to their Senate jobs. The TX Supreme Court is also nothing more than a rubber-stamp for all far-right extremist legislation, the US and TX constitution be damned. Their support for oligarchism in TX is legendary, especially oil wealth.
Abbott is trying to prove that he can be further to the right than any other Texan. For that matter, more to the right than any other American politician. Yes, in common terms he is “sucking up” to Trump and the oligarchical powermongers in national GOP leadership. This year’s agenda includes shoving biblical teachings down the throat of all Texas school children. The curriculum is an affront to our constitution and few things are more un-American, than imposing a set of religious beliefs onto all citizens.
Hot wheels, like most Texas Republicans that still vote R, are endorsing White Christian Nationalism. I include the word “white” because the TX legislature not only gerrymanders against minorities and non, far-right Republicans but the DOJ is again suing Texas for violating the civil rights of Texans. It’s not just minorities that suffer. Last week a federal judge struck down the portion of SB 1 that would prohibit most support for the elderly and disabled regarding who and how they could be assisted in registering to vote and actually getting to the polls. It sure as hell isn’t very democratic to restrict voting rights of folks, just because they are too old, disabled or lack transportation to vote.
The bottom line on Abbott and his henchmen, they are very nearly, the textbook definition of autocracy. Rank and file Texans have little or no say, other than to support or not, the extremist MAGA agenda.
Blasphemous Christian Nationalism is the official religion of the TX GOP
The blasphemous nature of Texan devotion to an increasingly Christian Nationalist version of Christianity, should disqualify any candidate, but in Texas, it’s your calling card. Don’t get me wrong, I come from generations of preachers and teachers in the Midwest, and I have absolutely no beef, with legitimate Christianity. That is not what the state of Texas endorses though, under the Abbott regime. Christian Nationalism is the official religion of the Texas Republican Party, and I stand firmly against it!
One of the biggest donors to far-right extremist Texas GOP campaigns, is a oil billionaire from Midland, Texas, the heart of West Texas oil. He is famous for saying out loud, for what Abbott, Paxton, Patrick and Phelan legislate, and I paraphrase here: “only Christians should be allowed to hold elected office.”
The Billionaire Bully Who Wants to Turn Texas Into a Christian Theocracy – Texas Monthly
Joe Straus: Tim Dunn said only Christians should be in leadership | The Texas Tribune
Texas’ draconian abortion law for example, is solely based on the religious views of the TX GOP. Those views are White Christian Nationalism. Even the US Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe vs. Wade, was made on the religious grounds inadvertently exposed in Associate Justice Alito’s leaked draft opinion. His referencing the strict religious views of a late 17th century English judge is beyond damning.
"Back to SCOTUS. Justice Alito, whose opinion regarding the dismantling of Roe v Wade, based on a 17th Century opinions of an English judge named Hale, who is best known for sentencing women to death for witchcraft and legally justifying marital rape, is bizarre, misogynistic and disrespectful of honest legal scholarship of previous Courts. In my opinion, he also violates our constitutional right to Separation of Church and State in his majority opinion.“ - Happy 1st day of Summer and… a good day to stop putting up with the BS from SC Justices Alito and Thomas’ - Paul Cobaugh - June 21, 2023 "Hale was a famous and well-respected judge from the 17th century who authored major legal treatises that are still regarded by historians as important sources of English common law. Like most other men from the 17th century, however, Hale also held views on women that would now be described as misogynistic. Not only did Hale lay the foundation for the common law marital rape exemption, which gives legal immunity to men who sexually assault their wives, but he was also known for laying the legal foundation for the Salem witch trials." - Modern views on women absent in draft that would overturn Roe Justice Alito instead leans on the views of a 17th century judge who convicted women of witchcraft. - Courthouse News Service - Kelsey Reichmann - May, 2022
It’s not just the draconian and vigilante abortion rule either that represents the White Christian Nationalism of the Texas GOP. As noted in the last section, the whole school voucher program and the imposed biblical curriculum in public schools, are telltale signs of CN or WCN, Christian Nationalism and White Christian Nationalism. It doesn’t end there. In the links to the Pulitzer Prize winning Texas Tribune below, you will see any number of articles reinforcing my opinion.
Speakers condemn Texas group’s Christian nationalist event | The Texas Tribune
Christian nationalism takes hold of Texas GOP convention | The Texas Tribune
Texas GOP group to host conference on “war on white America” | The Texas Tribune
Conservative Christians push Texas Legislature on church-state separation | The Texas Tribune
Joe Straus: Tim Dunn said only Christians should be in leadership | The Texas Tribune
Texas flagpole could test the separation of church and state | The Texas Tribune
Meet the Christian nationalist from Texas advising Mike Johnson | The Texas Tribune
Groups raise worries with Bible-infused school curriculum | The Texas Tribune
I wrote about the White Christian Nationalist approach at length on July 31st, 2023, and the TX GOP’s imposition of CN and WCN on public schools, should enrage anyone who has read our constitution. The White Christian Nationalists are at war with the state Board of Education. It is also CN that is behind the vigilante enforced, Texas abortion ban. To be clear for those without much knowledge of this ban, it allows Texans to “snitch” on their family, friends and neighbors and receive a reward, for successful prosecution of those who would seek an abortion, in state or out, their doctors and other healthcare workers. Some counties even have laws making it illegal to drive someone out of state on county highways, for abortion or family health services related to women’s health. There isn’t single secular issue driving this effort. It is a strict, CN approach to women, their families and their health.
“History will prove that our current state government is the most corrupt ever and is ‘bought’ by a few radical dominionist billionaires seeking to destroy public education, privatize our public schools and create a Theocracy that is both un-American and un-Texan,” Rogers wrote in a Wednesday op-ed in the Weatherford Democrat. “May God save Texas!” - Amid white supremacist scandal, far-right billionaire powerbrokers see historic election gains in Texas - Glenn Rodgers, a GOP Representative, "primaried" over school vouchers. - Texas Tribune - Robert Downen - March 8, 2024
I nor most Americans have anything against differing religious beliefs. A state religion is clearly, unconstitutional and un-American, no matter how many laws that a far-right extremist, Texas Statehouse passes and the TX Supreme Court rubberstamps. Here again, we find that Abbott and his cronies don’t give a damn about the constitution of the US, nor Texas.
Well y’all, oil is still king in Texas and typically is allowed to do as they please, no matter how little they contribute to the common good and how much they imperil the spacious environmental wonders of our state. No one is against fossil fuels that pay their fair share of taxes, have reasonable oversight and are compelled to observe environmental laws. It no longer just oil though. All manner of tax evasiveness by major corporations have found a home in Texas. Abbott and Phelan’s pledges of low or non-existent tax burdens, limited oversight of relocated manufacturing’s environmental impacts on our state, and even the refusal of the state to demand that these entities take care of the communities they nest in. Elon Musk is especially despised. Musk as usual, buys his way in. No oligarch is unwelcome in Texas. The only exception is another draconian law that says that any company that is critical of the oil industry, is not welcome.
In South Texas, SpaceX faces skepticism over environmental damage | The Texas Tribune
SpaceX land swap with Texas challenged in court | The Texas Tribune
Elon Musk says he’ll move X and SpaceX to Texas | The Texas Tribune
Elon Musk donates $1 million to group backing Texas Republicans | The Texas Tribune
House Committee Gives Tesla Motors a Chance | The Texas Tribune
SpaceX’s ascent in Texas was fueled by accommodating local politicians (reuters.com)
Federal agencies caught in environmental crossfire over Starship launches - SpaceNews
This year saw our felonious AG, Ken Paxton impeached. Of note, he is still under investigation by the FBI for other charges. Who else but some of Texas’ most far-right billionaires, swooped in to save him. This is a textbook example of what oligarchy looks like.
"Hours before the Texas House overwhelmingly voted to impeach Ken Paxton in May, a well-funded supporter of the attorney general issued a threat to his fellow Republicans. A vote to impeach Paxton, Jonathan Stickland wrote on Twitter, “is a decision to have a primary.” “Wait till you see my PAC budget,” he later added. Stickland is the leader of Defend Texas Liberty, a political action committee that has donated millions of dollars to far-right candidates in the state. It is a key part of the constellation of political campaigns, institutions and dark-money groups that a trio of West Texas oil tycoons — Tim Dunn and brothers Farris and Dan Wilks — have pumped small fortunes into as part of a long-term crusade to push Texas to the extreme right." - Ken Paxton’s far-right billionaire backers are fighting hard to save him - Texas Tribune - By Robert Downen and Carla Astudillo - July 24, 2023
The big, campaign donor check writers in Texas, like in most state political environments, expect something in return. In Texas, primary donors are affiliated with the fossil fuel industry, with the exception of Musk, Michael Dell etc. One point of interest is that outside donors have significantly backed off their GOP funding this year. Not that the oil industry can’t afford to fund the travesty known as the TX GOP, but they have become far too radical for so many former contributors.
"The annual Texas Republican Convention started Thursday in San Antonio, and culminated with George’s election as party chair. The event has long featured lucrative corporate sponsorships by Fortune 500 companies. But this year, the names of its biggest past sponsors were missing from the banners and agendas. Verizon, Comcast and Union Pacific sponsored the 2020 Texas Republican convention, according to The Texas Tribune. But they are not listed as supporters this year. Pepsi and Chevron were sponsors of the 2022 Texas Republican convention, but they are not backing this year’s event. Spokespeople for Verizon, Comcast, Pepsi and Chevron did not reply to requests for comment. A spokesperson for Union Pacific said only that the company’s “political giving is bipartisan and publicly disclosed in accordance with state and federal laws.” - Texas Republicans confab hints at how GOP breakup with corporate America could play out - CNBC - Brian Schwartz - May 24, 2024
Additional reading at the following links will increase your awareness of how deeply, oligarchical influence lies in our statehouse, especially in terms of “dark money.”
Beto O’Rourke calls Greg Abbot ‘thug’ with own Texas oligarch | Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Political earthquake in Texas: Austin’s oligarchy cracked on Tuesday (thehill.com)
Even Russian oligarchs are getting in on the act… again supporting Texas Republicans.
"WASHINGTON — A Russian tycoon who federal authorities say funneled illegal foreign donations to a Texas congressman and Donald Trump’s political action committee was secretly charged with conspiracy, the Justice Department revealed Monday. The September 2020 indictment of oligarch Andrey Muraviev had remained secret until now, though prosecutors had previously identified him as the true source of $5,400 donated to Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Waco, and other illegal donations. “Little did I know when I ran for Congress in 2018, illegal Russian money would find its way into that election to help my opponent. American elections should be influenced by Americans and we should pass my bill to keep foreign money out of our elections,” Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, tweeted on Tuesday. Allred ousted Sessions in 2018, ending an 11-term run for the Dallas Republican. Sessions then moved to Waco and made a comeback in the 2020 election." - Russian oligarch charged with illegal campaign donations to Trump PAC and Texas Rep. Pete Sessions - The Dallas Morning News - Todd J. Gillman - March 15, 2022
The Texas statehouse does their best to shield the oil and gas industry from oversight and regulation, as much as possible. The big freeze of 2021 knocked out power to nearly the entire state for 5 days, killing hundreds of Texans and became to date, the most expensive disaster in Texas history. The fossil fuel industry reaped $11.1 B in additional profits in just 5 days, due to how the legislature had created how they would be paid when there was excessive demand. Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys was hootin’ and hollerin’ at his profits from this devastating storm. The legislature passed the expense onto taxpayers instead of the industry which had refused to upgrade protections based on a report about a 2011 storm. They play… Texans pay. Oh yeah… Ted Cruz hopped a plane to Cancun while Texans perished and suffered catastrophic losses.
Oligarchy in Texas is like everything else… big. I could go on ad nauseum on this topic but must finish up with the last Apocalyptic Horseman, violent extremism.
Violent Extremism
The topic of far-right, violent extremism, that is so prevalent in our state, is both sad and maddening. It’s no secret that Texas had the second most arrestees from the January 6th, armed insurrection on our nation’s capital. One of the primary planners and Seditious leaders of the assault, hailed from Granbury, Texas. Stuart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers is now spending 18 years in Federal Prison for Sedition and multiple related felonies. The ideologies of groups like the Oath Keepers, 3%ers and Proud Boys may differ slightly but at their core, they are the textbook definition of far-right, violent extremist groups.
There are plenty of lesser-known groups as well, such as the True Texas Project. The agenda of these groups vary a little bit but largely share the anti-immigrant, non-white bias and Christian Nationalist identities of the big national groups. The True Texas Project is primarily focused on protecting White America. Some of the same oil oligarchs that finance most GOP candidates and issues, also support True Texas Project.
All types of far-right extremist incidents continue to rise at an alarming pace.
Key Statistics provided by the ADL
Antisemitic Incidents: According to the ADL’s annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, Texas has seen a dramatic rise in antisemitic incidents in recent years. In 2022, the number of incidents increased by 89% from 2021 levels, rising from 112 to 212 incidents. Since 2021, ADL has tracked a total of 365 incidents in the state.
Extremist Plots and Murders: In 2021 and 2022, ADL documented two extremist murders in Texas and six terrorist plots. In 2023, a gunman who embraced antisemitism, misogyny and white supremacy opened fire in a mall parking lot in Allen, killing eight people and wounding seven more before police shot and killed him.
Extremist Events: Since 2021, ADL has documented 28 extremist events in Texas, including banner drops, flash demonstrations, training events, fight nights, protests, rallies and meetings.
White Supremacist Propaganda: In 2022, ADL documented 526 instances of white supremacist propaganda distributions across Texas, a 60% increase from 2021 (329). There have been 1,073 propaganda incidents since 2021. The groups responsible for the majority of the incidents were Patriot Front and the Goyim Defense League (GDL).
Hate Crimes Statistics: According to the latest FBI hate crimes statistics from 2021, there were 542 reported hate crimes in Texas in that year, an increase of 33% from the 406 incidents recorded in 2020. Hate and bias crime data in Texas and nationally highlights how hate crimes disproportionately impact the Black community.
Insurrection Statistics: Seventy-four of the 968 individuals logged by the George Washington University Program on Extremism who have been charged in relation to the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol are Texas residents, the second most in the nation.
ADL and Princeton’s Bridging Divides Initiative Threats and Harassment Dataset: The Threats and Harassment Dataset (THD) tracks unique incidents of threats and harassment against local U.S. officials between January 1, 2020, and September 23, 2022, in three policy areas (election, education and health). Texas recorded seven incidents of threats and harassment against local officials.
And then there is the issue of incitement by right-wing leaders, Abbott included.
That conspiracy theory — and corresponding violence — has been bolstered by frequent depictions of immigrants as “invaders” by major figures such as Tucker Carlson and Gov. Greg Abbott. Before he set fire to an Austin synagogue on Halloween 2020, Franklin Barret Sechriest wrote in his diary that “no invader is innocent.” And, after a gunman, hoping to fight the “Hispanic invasion of Texas,” killed 22 people at an El Paso WalMart in 2019, Abbott vowed to stop using such language to describe immigrants. He has since resumed his use of "invasion" rhetoric. - Extremists have turned Texas into a hotbed for hate, report finds - The Texas Tribune - Robert Downen - September 21, 2023
With 72 independent, right-wing hate groups being tracked in Texas, irrefutable statistical evidence of increasing far-right, violent extremism, perpetual incitement, both overt and via ‘dog whistles, by politicians and huge financial support from oligarchical backers, nothing good can come from this combination. It is a disgraceful stain on Texas. We’ve been here before.
All Four Horsemen of the Texas MAGA Apocalypse can also be found in the Civil War era. I have long considered the MAGA movement as a Confederacy 2.0. We as a state or a nation cannot afford to take that last fatal step of civil war. Still, this is where we are heading so long as the fake patriotism of MAGA prevails, as the primary ideology of the GOP. God, guns and Trump could hardly be more un-American and yet, today’s GOP, is seduced by far-right/ MAGA ideology that often translates into extremist violence. Threats of a civil war if Trump loses in November and a threat to convert the US into a system of government based on the extremist, Project 2025 if he wins, must be stopped, at all costs.
The terrifying thing is, today’s essay may be about Texas, but all of this exists in every state in the Union, more dangerously so in deep red states. The good news is that the way to succeed against such dangerous threats, is for the time being, non-violent. It’s called the ballot box. I encourage everyone to not only vote, but to also look into similar activities in your own state that stand up for true constitutional values. I understand, it’s a little scary to look under dark, damp rocks, but it is the only way that we save our republic. We have our work cut out for us in Texas, with the Abbott and his Texas Taliban so well-entrenched, but we will find a way. We must or suffer even deeper infringement of our constitutionally guaranteed rights at the hands of the Four Horsemen of the MAGA Apocalypse. Not on my watch.
My very best for your week,
Paul
Given the putrid mess the Woke Democrats and Neo-Bolshevik Progressives are making of our country, the Texas model may not be such a bad idea. Hopefully the rest of the country will wake up and stop doing stupid.