Paxton Impeachment - Day One Breakdown

Here's what you missed on day one of the Paxton Impeachment Trial.

https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/paxton-impeachment-day-one-breakdown



Today was day one of the Impeachment of Ken Paxton. The Senate mainly dealt with housekeeping issues. Toward the end of the day, we finally heard from one witness. The day started with each Senator (except for Angela Paxton) being sworn in, one by one. It was a little absurd because they could have stood and been sworn in together, but Lt Governor Dan Patrick wanted everyone to swear on Sam Houston’s bible in the front of the room.


The legend is that “Sam Houston’s bible” belonged to the forefather of Texas. However, in recent years, it’s been suggested that the bible did not actually belong to Sam Houston. So, it’s possible that the Senators were just sworn in on an old bible that didn’t belong to anyone special.

Next, they had to address all of the pre-trial motions that Ken Paxton’s team filed, and there were a lot. There were 24 total pre-trial motions ranging from quashing the articles of impeachment, dismissing most of them, or dismissing each article one by one.

Of those motions, all Democrats and seven Republicans voted against every single one. Those GOP members included Flores, Hancock, Huffman, King, Middleton, Nichols, and Springer.

Is there still some integrity left in the Republican Party?

See the moment Ken Paxton's attorney's object to their own exhibit

Impeachment Day - Kick Off

How to watch, who to follow, and what to expect.

https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/impeachment-day-kick-off


It’s day one of the Ken Paxton impeachment trial. Dan Patrick states the trial will likely last most of September and perhaps even into October. While I’d love to bring you a play-by-play of every moment, I’m taking 19 hours this semester and won’t be able to commit the entire month.

However, I will watch the entire thing (even if it’s not live) and give you the best clips on YouTube and TikTok. If you aren’t following me there, make sure you do.

If you want to watch the proceedings live, they will be broadcast on the Texas Senate website.

Each day, the Senate gives out so many press passes. Local and national press were camped out in front of the Capitol this morning to be first in line.

Angela "The Bonnie To His Clyde" Paxton Announces Reelection

Angela Paxton: The poor unsuspecting wife? Or the partner in crime?

https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/angela-the-bonnie-to-his-clyde-paxton



In September 2022, a process server showed up at the Paxton’s family abode to serve Ken Paxton a federal affidavit. Instead of facing the music, Ken climbed out of a bathroom window just as his wife, Angela, pulled the F250 around and swung the door open for him to jump in. Ken shuffled through the lawn, his cowboy boots in hand, as the process server bolted after him, waving papers over his head. He jumped into the truck as it peeled away, leaving the man chasing them in the dust.

During their drive to safety, Angela, the getaway driver, turned to her husband and said, “Honey, I think I’ll run for reelection.”

His likely reply was, “Of course, dear. Being elected keeps you out of jail.”

On the weekend before Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial begins, Angela decided it was the perfect time to announce her reelection. Actually, her “official” announcement will occur on the eve of her husband’s impeachment trial.

A Media Whore And An Oil Whore Go Toe-To-Toe As The GOP Civil War Rages On

The GOP Circus: Texas Republicans embroiled in a most entertaining Civil War.

https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/a-media-whore-and-an-oil-whore-go


Over the last month, pro-Ken Paxton forces, funded by West Texas billionaires, have pushed a false narrative that Democrats control the Texas House. Of course, as much as we wish that were true, it is not. So, what’s the point?

Far-right Republicans didn’t get everything they wanted passed, and the GOP base only responded to the blame game on Democrats. But since Republicans control the House, they have nothing left to do but call the GOP members they don’t like “secret Democrats” and “Democratic conspirators.” And, of course, their low-informed base falls for it, hook-line-and sinker.

Ken Paxton being impeached by a Republican majority? Blame the Democrats.

No vouchers implemented? Blame the Democrats.

Vaccines still allowed in Texas? It’s all because of the Democrats!

A Progressive White Knight Rides In To Save Texans From The GOP's ERCOT

A Bold Move for Energy Resilience: Congressman Greg Casar Takes On Texas' Electric Grid Crisis.

https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/a-progressive-white-knight-rides


Today, Congressman Greg Casar announced he is drafting federal legislation requiring Texas’s electrical grid to connect to the national grids. After years of Texans pleading with the Texas Legislature to do something to help our failing electric grid, they have continuously refused. To be more specific, Republicans with oil moguls deep in their pockets have blocked all solutions to fixing our grid.

Over the last week, ERCOT has asked Texans to conserve power every day while outages and rolling blackouts have occurred throughout the state. The outages and problems with ERCOT this summer have all stemmed from natural gas and coal power plant failures.

Republicans will never connect us to the national grid, even though it’s the right thing to do. They won’t because of the amount of money the oil and gas industry pours into Republican elections. That’s all there is to it. The Texas GOP has shown us time and time again that the only ones they are beholden to are the fat cats who fill their pockets.

Can Congress force Texas to connect to the national grid?

The Problem With Carpetbaggers

Do outsiders define the Texan narrative? #txlege

https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/the-problem-with-carpetbaggers


Texas is full of transplants and carpetbaggers. Transplants are always welcome with open arms. People move here for job opportunities or to be close to family. They bring their diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, enriching the cultural fabric of our state. Transplants contribute to Texas’s economic growth and vitality, bringing their skills and talents to various industries. They embrace the Texan spirit, immersing themselves in the local community, forming connections, and actively participating in the vibrant Texan way of life. Their presence strengthens our shared values of resilience, hospitality, and opportunity. As a welcoming home to transplants, Texas continues to evolve and thrive with the contributions of these individuals who call it their new home.

Transplants are not carpetbaggers. Carpetbaggers, our opportunists who moved to Texas to benefit and sew chaos in Texas politics. Just as in the period after the Civil War, carpetbaggers are almost always Republicans and are always corrupt and exploitative. They never have Texans’ best interest in mind, as they are opportunistic interlopers who seek personal gain and manipulate the political landscape for their advantage.

Unlike transplants, carpetbaggers do not come to Texas to embrace its culture or become part of the local community. Instead, they use their presence to further their agendas, often at the state’s and its people’s expense.

Is Julie Pickren A Liar Or Did She Simply Spill The Beans Early?

Call your SBOE member and tell them that PragerU and fascism aren't welcome in Texas.

https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/is-julie-pickren-a-liar-or-did-she



Last week, the January 6 insurrectionist and Texas School Board of Education Member Julie Pickren gleefully announced that PragerU was coming to Texas schools. However, within 24-hours, SBOE Chair Keven Ellis released the following statement:

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Ellis claimed to have no knowledge of PragerU submitting any instructional material to the SBOE, nor had anyone from PragerU ever contacted him.

So, why did Julie Pickren make this announcement?

How to Flip Texas by 2030

The District Action Council Model Presents an Opportunity to Turn Texas Blue for a Generation

https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/how-to-flip-texas-by-2030


Texas Democrats are tired.

The Texas Democratic Party has lost every statewide race since 1994.

The Texas Senate has been in Republican hands since 1996.

The Texas House? Since 2002.

Why do we keep losing? Get a focus group of ten Democratic activists in a room, and you’ll get fifteen responses:

It’s a messaging problem! We aren’t speaking to rural communities!

It’s a messaging problem! We’re not speaking to people in the cities!

We’re too liberal!

We’re not organized!

We need to speak about kitchen table issues!

We need to engage Gen Z!

The state is too gerrymandered!

It’s because of voter suppression!

Greg Abbott is suppressing the vote!

While all of these challenges may (or may not) have merit, I would contend that one of the major overlooked causes that can truly be solved and agreed upon is the electoral organizing model… which is currently more broken than Greg Abbott’s moral compass.

Texas To Implement Fascist Propaganda Outlet, PragerU In Schools

Republicans in Texas are bringing propaganda and white nationalist indoctrination to our public schools.

https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/texas-to-implement-fascist-propaganda


Yesterday, the far-right propaganda outlet announced they were now an approved vendor for the State of Texas. The announcement included a short video featuring white supremacy advocate and January 6th insurrectionist, SBOE member Julie Pickren.

Fascist movements in history have always targeted education as a means to control and manipulate public perception, molding the minds of the younger generation to align with their ideological agenda.

PragerU, if you’ve been fortunate enough not to see them, promote white supremacist and fascist ideas, and package them into short videos with cartoons and right-wing commentators. One recent video featuring an animated Frederick Douglas calling slavery a “compromise.” The same video claimed that believing the lives of Black people held value would lead to higher crime.

PragerU’s videos contain widely considered misleading and false content promoting climate change denial. Historians and political scientists have also criticized PragerU’s videos for containing deceptive and inaccurate claims about topics such as slavery and racism in the United States, immigration, and the history of fascism. PragerU has been accused of promoting anti-LGBT politics.