'Blood is on Abbott's hands': Anger at GOP surges as food & water shortages compound TX power crisis

[DonViejo]

'Blood is on Abbott's hands': Anger at GOP surges as food and water shortages compound Texas power crisis

Jake Johnson, Common Dreams
February 18, 2021

Texans who have been without power for days in the aftermath of Winter Storm Uri are now also facing food and water crises as frigid temperatures and ongoing blackouts disrupt supply chains and wreak havoc on the state's infrastructure—compounding emergencies that have spurred intensifying backlash against GOP leaders.

At his first press conference since the devastating winter storm slammed the state, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott—facing growing calls to resign—said Wednesday that he didn't know when the nearly three million households still without power will see their electricity restored.

"That is information that has not been provided to me," said Abbott, who has shifted blame onto state energy officials and erroneously claimed the state's wind and solar power sources are responsible for blackouts.

In a statement following Abbott's press briefing, Texas Democratic Party chair Gilberto Hinojosa said the Republican governor's "lack of foresight and inability to manage this crisis is part of a repeated pattern."

more
https://www.rawstory.com/texas-power-outage-2650608051/

[Faux pas]

1. Yeah Sure Ya Betcha

"That is information that has not been provided to me," said Abbott.

[LazySusanNot]

2. Republican governor's "lack of foresight and inability to manage this crisis is...

part of a repeated pattern".

I found an article (which I replied with in another post) this morning which touched on the crisis from 1989 then 2011 and today. Warnings went unheeded.
Robber Barons do whatever they want to if allowed to... (My emphasis added)

Texas power outages: How the largest energy-producing state failed in freezing temps
By Jason Whitely (WFAA)
Feb 15, 2021, 8:28pm EST

"The experiences of 1989 are instructive, particularly on the electric side. In that year, as in 2011, cold weather caused many generators to trip, derate, or fail to start. The [Public Utility Commission of Texas] investigated the occurrence and issued a number of recommendations aimed at improving winterization on the part of the generators.”

“These recommendations were not mandatory, and over the course of time implementation lapsed. Many of the generators that experienced outages in 1989 failed again in 2011," the investigation discovered.”

“Fast forward a decade and here we are again.”
https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2021/02/15/dallas-winter-storm-freeze.html

Thank you for posting.

[blm]

4. Good article. Thanks for posting.

[LazySusanNot]

5. Thank you. Trying to do my little part.

There has been a FLOOD of information about all the events that led up to this latest crisis just here on DU not to mention State and National coverage. Hoping that this may be the tipping point that finally turns Texas blue!

[dalton99a]

11. +1

[UpInArms]

3. Lack of regulation and the demand for lower taxation

... people just do not seem to be able to understand ....

Those two things are expensive...

Everything will cost more and there will be no public services ...

Privatization puts money in the pockets of the few by extracting the most from the pockets of the many.

[TheRealNorth]

6. This may be an opportunity for Biden...

I know he is doing what he can in terms of providing the federal aid that is requested, but maybe he should be out "in-front" and provide more "visible" leadership. Maybe bring Beto along for the ride to give him a boost for 2022.

[roamer65]

7. This is a problem created by Texans.

Let them deal with it.

I sincerely hope this is a “come to Jesus” moment for them about the TX GOP.

That is where the blames lies for this crisis.

[TheRealNorth]

8. But someone has to drive that narrative

And preferably, several people have to "flood the zone" with the narrative. Right now, it only seems to be Beto, MSNBC, and some of the liberal Youtubers.

Otherwise, people are only going to remember that green energy was to blame because the Republicans have united behind that as an excuse for their failures.

[roamer65]

9. Governor Beto O'Rourke.

I hope he declares soon.

As far as geeen energy, our windmills and solar have been working just fine this winter in MI.

-21 deg F the other night.

[LazySusanNot]

10. Agreed. "several people have to "flood the zone" with the narrative".

Here's hoping for more to jump on the band wagon very very soon. First they just need the electricity to be turned back on, a big cup of coffee a shower and hot meal. (Oh, and maybe a little balanced media coverage for a change).
Go Texas!