Random Thursday Morning Thoughts

It was just a sign from above to change their name. 

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• After five failed attempts to pass school vouchers last session, including four specials sessions, the Texas House passed it last night by a vote of 85-63 with only two Republicans voting against it. 
  
  
  
  

  
  
  
  
• But "some rural conservatives" did not include Wise County's representative Andy Hopper who voted to sell out our public schools. But we knew that was coming ever since we found out his campaign was primarily funded by the West Texas Oilmen PAC.
  
  
  
  
• Flashback: So why has Greg Abbott been so hell-bent on getting vouchers passed? Follow the money. $10 million to be exact.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Best proposed amendment that failed.
  
  
  
• Two Republican lawmakers yuking it up during the school voucher debates late last night.
  
  
  
• Chairman of the Federal Reserve yesterday: 
  
  
  
  
  
  
• You knew this was coming:
  

  

  
  
  
  
• In the case where Trump rounded up 238 people, claimed they were gang members, bypassed the courts, and then flew them to the El Salvadorian prison, a judge is moving towards contempt proceedings.    
  

  

  
  
  
  
• But there's a big problem: The Justice Department is in charge of prosecuting criminal contempt and Trump controls the Justice Department. So when the DOJ declines to prosecute, the judge has the right to appoint an independent attorney to serve as the prosecutor. (But who wants that job?) And even if an independent prosecutor pursued the contempt and secured a conviction and prison sentence, it's the U.S. Marshals who have to execute that sentence and, guess what, they are part of the DOJ. And Trump would pardon whoever was convicted anyway. It's over. 
• In the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, Trump's government tried to justify his wrongful deportation to the El Salvadorian concentration prison by releasing what little "bad" history he had, and by ramping up the rhetoric (and lies) against him. This is not normal. And so what? I don't care if he's Charles Manson. That's that whole point of having laws and rules which apply to everyone. It is at the very heart of due process. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
• More authoritarianism. It is here.  
  
  
  
• Oh, my.
  
   
  
  
  
• "Pastor" Robert Jeffress is still at it.
  
  
  
• Messenger - Above the Fold