political news

What is a ‘Trump conservative’?

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I am laughing — kinda/sorta — at the least funny joke in the history of political chatter. It is a term called “Trump conservative.”

I want to understand what it means. How do you define such a person? Here is what I can determine.

A Donald Trump conservative favors active government. He favors siccing the government on political opponents. He favors the government blocking news organizations that report on dissent from Trump policies from entering government buildings.

A Trump conservative wants to establish a state religion … Christianity, of course. That is despite the Constitution’s strict prohibition against making laws that establish a state religion.

A Trump conservative wants to toss the notion of small government into the shitter. He or she doesn’t care about enormous budget deficits or adding to the monstrous national debt.

This individual also favors getting involved in wars that have no bearing on protecting Americans. He or she wants us to become the “policeman for the world.”

Are we clear now on what constitutes a Donald Trump conservative? It sounds for all the world like a new-fangled conservative has become a liberal proponent of massive government interference in Americans’ lives.

Actually, I am not laughing at any of this. It’s not funny!

national news, political news

Independent voter? Less so now!

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My list of acquaintances in North Texas is a lengthy one, as I have become acquainted with lots of folks as I move from place to place in my daily routine.

When they learn of what I did when I was a working man — as a journalist who spent 37 joyful practicing my craft — the question often comes: Oh, say, how do you lean politically? Are you a Democrat or a Republican?

For starters, my politics had nothing to do with my job as a journalist. I generally was able to check my partisan label at the door. It’s different these days. Yes, I still cover local communities in Collin County, but the issues never tread onto partisan ground. However, I keep my head in the big game of national politics.

Now comes an admission. For longer than I dare seek to remember, I have declined to hang a party label on my politics. I long considered myself to be an independent voter. I have split my ballot generously between Democrats and Republicans. My presidential votes, though, have been Democratic since 1972, when I cast my first vote president.

Today’s national mood, I am sad to acknowledge, is driving me more solidly into the Democratic camp. I haven’t changed my basic world view. I remain a deficit hawk and I am not going to embrace some of the far-left progressive policies — such as Medicare for all and forgiving all student loans — that have become all the rage. However, I do believe government has a significant role to play in supporting Americans who need help.

When I hear the MAGA morons extol the virtues of the MAGA chieftain disguised as the POTUS, I am reminded each day how little I think of them and the nitwit they follow. I want secure borders as much as the next American, but I also want my government to treat everyone who comes here — legally or otherwise — with a degree of compassion and humanity.

Therefore, it is becoming safer to say that anyone who cares to ask me whether I “belong” to a politial party, I can still say “no,” given that Texas doesn’t require us to register with any partisan organization … but I can say the Democrats appeal to more than ever.

And it has much to do with the blind, gullible and feckless fealty that too damn many Republicans keep expressing for Donald J. Trump.

local news, political news, State news

MAGA field launches suicide mission

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Watching the enormous Texas Republican primary field trying to out-MAGA itself is sorta like watching a circular firing squad eliminate a traitor … in that there will be plenty of stray bullets to take out bystanders.

Actual conservatives are now being called “Republicans in name only” by Donald Trump loyalists who seek to keep the MAGA meister relevant to the current policy debate. They seem to ignore polling data that suggest Trump’s approval rating among all voters is cratering more rapidly than a Mar-a-Lago minute.

The MAGA crusade is good for the base of the party that still remains wedded to what passes for Trump’s philosophy — as if he actually had one, which he doesn’t.

Real conservatives like U.S. Sen. John Cornyn have been hung with the RINO tag. Same with state Rep. Candy Noble of McKinney, who’s been called a “liberal” by her primary foes. Congressman Chip Roy has been called “disloyal” to Trump by MAGA adherents; Roy answers that he is stands with Trump on virtually every policy one can mention; he is running for Texas attorney general!

The good news for the rest of us is that the MAGA cultists are likely to win many of these primary races, setting up the possibility of a massive congressional rout in favor of real patriots in the fall election. I can’t speak for what might occur in some of these Texas-centric races, as the state’s political makeup remains a bit of a mystery to me.

I will cast my vote in the other party’s primary, which seems to be progressing on my realistic, reasonable grounds. I still intend to wait for Election Day, March 3. I am praying my candidates don’t mess up between now and then.

political news

End the political messages … now!

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A friend and former colleague beat me to the punch, but I now intend to join him in his call to political strategists, candidates and other policy hacks in this desperate message.

End the incessant demands for money that are flooding my message and email inboxes! Now is a good time to start … or shall I say stop?

The culprits are Democrats seeking to flip Congress. I am hearing from candidates seeking seats on faraway locales at either end of the country. I delete them as soon as I discover them. I usually follow the deletion with a message to discontinue the deluge. It’s no good. You see, for as often as I delete the message and get acknowledgment that they won’t send me any more messages, other pop up like weeds in the Texas spring.

I am growing increasingly tempted to pull the hair off my skull by the roots.

I might hear from the occasional MAGA-inspired correspondent seeking to boost Donald Trump’s agenda. But it’s almost always Democrats who I reckon know the nature of High Plains Blogger or I have communicated with in some back-handed fashion. They’re going for the jugular. Only in this case it’s my jugular.

Well, I have made my pitch. If you see me around town with splotches of hair missing from my noggin, you’ll know how they got there.

Uncategorized

Is a Jan. 6 replay possible?

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You have no need to answer the question posed in the headline, because I know the answer. Damn right it’s possible … and Donald Trump has signaled it himself. Imagine that, eh?

Trump said the other day he might not accept the results of the midterm election if they don’t go his way. Meaning that if voters react the way every pundit from Pensacola to Portland is suggesting. That is, voters are likely to show the Republican-led Congress the door and hand the House — and maybe the Senate — gavel to the Democrats.

What does non-acceptance mean? We saw it play out in horrifying and graphic terms on Jan. 6, 2021 when Trump provoked the insurrection and sent the mob to Capitol Hill to storm the seat of our federal government while Congress was certifying the Electoral College victory of Joe Biden over Trump in the 2020 presidential election.

Spare me the crap that he called for a “peaceful demonstration.” The moron did nothing for hours while the mob gathered and then stormed into the Capitol building, smashing windows and assaulting police officers assigned to protect the place.

Some folks died in that assault. Many others were hurt. Capitol cops were beaten by the mob. The traitors threatened the life of Vice President Mike Pence. Some mobsters even defecated on the floor of the Capitol building.

But … what did the felon in chief do when he took office in January 2025? He pardoned all of them! Including the most violent among them!

So, when this imbecile says he might not accept the results of another free, fair and legal election, no one on this side of the grass should doubt what could transpire.

local news

Stunning casino discovery …

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I walked into a gambling casino this weekend and made a startling discovery upon entering the place … it was the lack of cigarette/cigar smoke lingering in the air.

Yep. Even casinos have become smoke-free environments.

This one was at the Winstar resort in Thackerville, Okla., just about 90 minutes or so from my North Texas home. My friend and I walked in and I was prepared to cover my mouth and nose from the stench.

Didn’t need to …

I don’t visit gambling joints very often but every one I ever have seen has been filled with blue smoke from cigarettes. I recall seeing a middle-aged woman one time in Las Vegas playing three slot machines at once, cigarette dangling from her mouth as she moved gracefully among the machines that were gobbling up her money.

Well, whatever. That was then. Today, I saw a smoke-free environment flourishing just fine without the stench of smoke.

State news

Going to wait until the end

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Truth be told, I actually pondered casting my vote early for the Texas primary election set for May 3 … then I thought differently about it.

That said, I am going to return to my usual manner of voting on Election Day.

All the fire and volleys have been lobbed in the Republican Party primary. The race for Texas attorney general has me confused. The MAGA gang is pounding Congressman Chip Roy for backing Liz Cheney and for voting to impeach Donald Trump. If I were voting in that primary, I would consider that a plus for Roy.

Roy is answering by saying he’s actually a Trump loyalist. Whatever … he’s trying to eat the whole cake.

My eyes are set on the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. It’s down to two fine candidates. Texas state Rep. James Talirico and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett. Talirico hails from San Antonio; Crocket calls Dallas home.

I’m leaning toward supporting Talirico. I like his deep religious faith that he doesn’t shove aside. He proclaims he’s a fighter, but distances himself from the Christian nationalists who comprise much of the MAGA base.

I long have resisted voting early over a fear of casting my vote and then being disappointed if my candidate messes up before Election Day. I am going to follow that path again this election cycle … and then hope for the best from the individuals I hope to support.

crime news

Randy Andy heads for the slammer

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A friend of mine who hails from Great Britain recently told me of a nickname the Brits have placed on a — now former — member of the Royal Family.

They call him Randy Andy, because the former Prince Andrew had a lengthy and time-honored reputation of being a bad boy.

These days, the ex-prince is in custody of British law enforcement authorities because of his relationship with the late Jeffrey Epstein, the noted sex trafficker who wheeled and dealt with underage girls.

The plot is thickening beyond anything King Charles and his kin could have ever wanted.

Blood certainly isn’t thicker than the royal standing with the public. His Majesty the King ordered Randy Andy arrested. I think the royals are done with him. Nice knowing about you, Andrew.

local news

Jackson bridged huge gap

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Jesse Jackson’s death at age 84 brought to my mind immediately an experience I had that bore witness to the enormous political strength of this iconic civil rights leader.

I was new to Southeast Texas in 1984, the year Rev. Jackson ran for the presidency the first time. I had a side hustle going on with an election research firm in which I would cover the election in Texas. They folks for whom I worked assigned me to cover a Democratic caucus in a precinct in what we used to call Beaumont’s “fashionalb west end.”

In 1984, Texas Democrats caucused on primary election night with representatives for candidates making their arguments on behalf of their candidate. Those who attended the caucus then were asked to cast their votes for the candidate of their choice.

The west end of Beaumont was mostly white. However, Rev. Jackson — a Black Baptist preacher — managed to parlay his passionate support into votes at this caucus. Black voters were present to cast their votes for the man who spoke directly to them and for them. As it turned, Jackson would end up winning the caucus in that particular precinct while doing exceptionally well throughout Jefferson County.

I cannot recall who won the Texas Democratic primary that year, but I do recall as the nation mourns Jackson’s passing that this fiery orator, disciple of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and a champion of what became the Rainbow Coalition of Americans made his presence felt in Democratic Party politics.

His imprint on the political landscape is as indelible today as it was in 1984 when he burst onto the scene as a mainstream candidate for president of the United States of America.

May this iconic leader and champion for the dispossessed rest in eternal peace.

national news

Interesting times? Ya think?

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Can it be that we all are living in an era that is producing a political climate none of us ever saw coming? I believe that is the case.

Ponder for just a moment a short series of events:

We elected an an individual to the presidency with zero public service experience and whose notoriety was forged on a reality TV show in which he fired make-believe businesspeople.

This individual has insulted a Vietnam War hero, a Gold Star family, a reporter with a physical challenge, and all the men and women who have chosen to wear the uniform of the nation’s military.

He lost an election, declared it — without an ounce of proof — to be a fraud, then instigated an insurrection against the very government he once swore to protect and defend.

He ran a third time for the White House vowing to be the “retribution” of those who cling to his cockeyed views. And he has delivered mightily on that promise.

Donald Trump then vowed to purge the nation of undocumented immigrants and deployed a poorly trained, heavily armed, masked-up army of agents who have killed American citizens on the street, arrested thousands of others wrongly.

What has all of this produced? Chaos, misery, grief, anxiety, heartbreak … and any other sort of emotion one can define.

I am disgusted beyond all measure by what is transpiring in real time in this nation I love with all my heart.

The Chinese proverb about “living in interesting times” doesn’t come within a country mile of defining what we’re enduring these days. It’s frightening, but I’ll say it once more that we have plenty of constitutional weapons we can deploy to fight this hideous trend.

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