Texoblogosphere: Week of December 22nd

The Texas Progressive Alliance wishes Ag Commissioner Sid Miller a happy holiday as it brings you this week’s roundup.

Off the Kuff reviews who filed for what in the Democratic primaries in Texas.

The Green Party of Texas filed almost sixty candidates for state and local offices for the 2016 election, reports PDiddie at Brains and Eggs.

SocraticGadfly dips into the archives and offers up thoughts on that Christmas chestnut “It’s a Wonderful Life,” including what a remake might look like, and a follow-up post about all of what’s wrong with the original.

Greg Abbott reacts to children coming to America by sending troops. Obama looks at solving problems in Central America. CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme is disgusted that the only tools Republicans have are military force, fear and hate.

Neil at All People Have Value said that we would be better off with the values of Christmas rather than with the values of commerce. APHV is part of NeilAquino.com.

===============

And here are some posts of interest from other Texas blogs.

Mean Rachel wishes Rep. Elliott Naishtat a fond farewell.

Texas Watch is pressing the TEA for more information about school bus safety.

Next City believes that urbanists will like Houston Mayor-elect Sylvester Turner.

Christopher Hooks analyzes the recent mock mass shooting.

Chris Brantner has some advice for cable cord cutters.

John Wright proposes five New Year’s resolutions for the LGBT movement.

Paradise in Hell tries to distinguish between Ted Cruz’s lies.

Kyle Jack lists outgoing Houston Mayor Annise Parker’s top ten snarky tweets.

Bayou Bend Xmas

Today’s feature photo is of the Holiday lights at Bayou Bend— a division of the Museum of Fine Arts Houston.  The lights display entitled Christmas Village, runs now through December 30th.

Texoblogosphere: Week of December 7th

The Texas Progressive Alliance thinks we need fewer thoughts and more actions to curb gun violence as it brings you this week’s roundup.

Off the Kuff has been following the legal standoff between Greg Abbott and refugee relief organizations with increasing disbelief.

Libby Shaw contributing to Daily Kos is not the least bit surprised to learn the Texas Republican Party dances with the absurdity of secession again. We’re back in the silly season of elections. TX GOP: So it now it wants to secede?”

Socratic Gadfly heard about Mark Zuckerberg’s alleged shiny new charity, looked at it, and saw it was full of problems. Then, when some “pseudoskeptics” either claimed he was wrong, or else did special pleading for Zuckerberg, he took a closer look and found it was even worse.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme thinks Ted Cruz is a mansplaining *&% for saying condoms are all a women needs in the way of reproductive health care.

“Thoughts and prayers” as gun safety policy from too many Republicans who are responsible for crafting laws which protect Americans…. isn’t. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs would like to see something more effective to stop the carnage in this country.

Neil at All People Have Value took a good picture of Downtown Houston at night. Our everyday lives have a lot of value. We should assert this value each day. APHV is part of NeilAquino.com.

====================

And here are some posts of interest from other Texas blogs.

David Ortez gives three reasons why decriminalizing first-time marijuana possession cases will be good for Harris County.

Lone Star Ma highlights the Sustainable Development Goal of ending hunger.

Robert Rivard examines the science and denial of climate change.

TFN Insider asks why Greg Aboot is bullying faith-based organizations when he claims to support religious freedom.

Lize Burr delves into the Great Disappearing Condom Machine Mystery.

Grits for Breakfast discusses the role of plea bargains in unjust convictions.

Texas Government Regime Threatens Religious, Aid Groups For Wanting to Help Refugees

It may be Giving Tuesday, but if you’re gonna live in Texas, you better check those principles of caring and kindness at the door.

After doing everything in their power to silence cities and virtually eradicate Local Control of municipal governments, officials in the Texas State Government (let’s just call the what they are now… the Texas Regime led by Oppressor-in-Chief Greg Abbott) have now turned their thirst for dictatorial power upon the state’s charities, religious groups, non-profit organizations and resettlement coalitions.  Here’s the unfortunate story from Brian M. Rosenthal of the Houston Chronicle

AUSTIN – Texas officials are escalating their opposition to Syrian refugees with a new message aimed specifically at resettlement groups that have indicated they will accept people fleeing the war-torn country: change your mind or risk getting sued by the state.

Texas health commissioner Chris Traylor issued the first lawsuit threat over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in a letter to the Dallas branch of the International Rescue Committee, which said earlier this month that it supports accepting Syrian refugees.

“We have been unable to achieve cooperation with your agency,” Traylor wrote in the letter, which was released to the Houston Chronicle late Sunday, adding that, “Failure by your organization to cooperate with the State of Texas as required by federal law may result in the termination of your contract with the state and other legal action.”

Similar letters are expected to be sent to any refugee resettlement group that takes a similar position against Gov. Greg Abbott. The Republican is among more than 30 governors who declared that they will not accept Syrian refugees due to security concerns in the days after terrorists with ties to the Syria-based Islamic State killed at least 130 people in Paris on Nov. 13.

Surely, there comes a point where this type of behavior just seems beyond the pale for the great state of Texas!  After all of the drama Houstonians saw over the feeding ordinance, it’s incomprehensible that this action by the state would not receive some form of electoral consequence.  But I guess they’re counting on low voter turnout like the always do, which sadly seems to be a working strategy.  It kind of leaves you speechless at this point.

Off the Kuff has more.

Welcome to Texas Ref