Tag Archives: Gov. Greg Abbott

local news

Not moving? Me neither!

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By JOHN KANELIS / johnkanelis_92@hotmail.com

A social media friend — who’s an actual friend from the Texas Panhandle — posted a fascinating rebuke of those who are challenging his opposition to Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision to rescind the state’s mask mandate.

He writes: I’m sorry that the mask wearing issue has been re-politicized and has become personal. It has been suggested that those of us who disagree with Gov. Abbott on this issue should move to a blue state. I do disagree. I agree to disagree. But I ain’t movin’.

Well, I ain’t movin’, either. Although I haven’t been criticized in a personal nature for the thoughts I have expressed on this blog about Abbott’s premature lifting of the mask-wearing order. I maintain that Abbott’s decision apparently wasn’t based on medical advice. Abbott must be listening to someone or something whispering sweet nothings into his ear, that the COVID virus isn’t that big of a deal. Well, we all know the truth about that.

I, too, simply hate the politicization of this entire issue. Wearing a mask should not become a Democrat vs. Republican matter, but it has, to the shame of those who attach politics to this issue.

I will disagree with the governor’s decision and will demonstrate my disagreement by continuing to wear a mask when I venture into public places with total strangers. How long will I do so? I haven’t a clue, other than to predict that I will not shuck the mask anytime in the near, or medium future.

local news, medical news

It’s not about ‘my body, my choice’ to wear a mask

My head is likely to explode the next time I hear a Donald Trump supporter blurt out that idiocy about mask-wearing, declaring that it’s “my body, my choice” to wear a mask.

Spoiler alert: I used the “head … explode” statement as a figure of speech.

But still, I keep hearing that mantra coming from those who think mask-wearing infringes on their civil liberties. I saw a woman on TV last night tell a reporter that her decision to forgo a mask during this coronavirus pandemic is strictly her choice and that the government has no right to dictate how she cares for her body.

Note to the lady — who was standing next to a “Trump-Pence” campaign sign — and to others who hold that preposterous view: The issue transcends your body and your choice by a factor of, oh, millions and millions.

Those who insist that they should be able to decide whether to wear a mask are embarking on a selfish, uncaring, thoughtless and reckless view of the world around them. They are endangering others, perhaps even their loved ones, by refusing to comply with government mandates.

I live in Texas, a state known for its residents’ independent outlook on life and liberty. However, our community in Collin County, I am proud to declare, has been relatively quiet in terms of mask-wearing. My wife and I don’t get out much these days, but when we do we see practically everyone around us wearing masks. I haven’t seen any protest signs, or individuals arguing with the cops who are empowered to enforce the mandate.

I went to the grocery store recently and eavesdropped on one woman griping to a store employee about the ordered issued by Gov. Greg Abbott. Good grief, lady. Get a grip.

I guess my bottom line on this specious argument is that the morons among us who bitch about mask-wearing as an infringement on their “constitutional rights” are entitled to forgo the masks.

Just stay the hell away from me, my family … and everyone else!

local news, State news

Texting ban bill needs to become law

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Say it ain’t so, Texas Senate.

Please tell me you are going to follow the Texas House’s lead and send a bill banning texting while driving to the desk of Gov. Greg Abbott. And please, governor, tell me you’re going to sign this bill into law.

Why am I asking these things?

I ran into a Texas House member Sunday and he told me he thinks there’s a chance the Senate won’t approve a bill that the House approved by overwhelming numbers about three weeks ago.

The state needs to enact a law that all but five other states already have enacted.

It would write into state law a prohibition against sending text messages while operating a motor vehicle. Is there a more stupid act than that?

Granted, motorists shouldn’t have to be told not to engage in such stupidity, but they do.

That’s where the state ought to come in, not to babysit the nimrods who cannot stop texting while driving — but to protect the rest of us traveling on our public streets and highways who are put in imminent danger by the dipsticks who cannot put their texting devices down.

Several cities across the state have enacted ordinances against this kind of (mis)behavior; Amarillo is one of them. Out-of-state motorists driving through Texas don’t know which cities have bans and which do not. A statewide ban that is promoted aggressively across the nation would make it clear that such idiocy won’t be tolerated in Texas.

The 2011 Legislature sent a texting ban bill to Gov. Rick Perry’s desk. But the governor vetoed it, issuing one of the most ridiculous veto messages imaginable, saying the bill was too intrusive, that it micromanaged Texans’ behavior on the road.

The Texas House has done its job. Now it’s the Texas Senate’s turn.

Well?