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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsO'Rourke calls Abbott a "thug" and an "authoritarian" who's "got his own oligarch here in the state
ORourke calls Abbott a thug and an authoritarian whos got his own oligarch here in the state of Texas
The Democratic nominee for governor slammed the Republican incumbent in harsh terms, presaging a bitter lead-up to an election nearly eight months away.
BY SEWELL CHAN MARCH 12, 20227 HOURS AGO
REPUBLISH
Evan Smith, CEO and co-founder of The Texas Tribune, interviewed Democratic gubernatorial nominee Beto ORourke on Saturday at South by Southwest. Credit: Sewell Chan/The Texas Tribune
https://www.texastribune.org/2022/03/12/orourke-abbott-thug/
"SNIP.......
Beto ORourke, the Democratic nominee for Texas governor, called the Republican incumbent, Greg Abbott, a a thug and an authoritarian on Saturday and compared Texas energy executives to Russian oligarchs in a blistering critique that presages an election that is about eight months away.
I just had a chance to meet with the ambassador from the EU, ORourke told Evan Smith, the CEO and co-founder of The Texas Tribune, in a crowded hall at the South by Southwest festival. We talked about the fact that youre seeing the continued rise of authoritarians and thugs across the world. And we have our own, right here, in the state of Texas.
Smith asked, Greg Abbott is a thug in your mind?
The Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors. Become one.
ORourke replied, "Hes a thug, hes an authoritarian.
Let me make the case. Not only could this guy, through his own incompetence, not keep the lights on in the energy capital of the planet last February, but when people like Kelcy Warren and other energy company CEOs made than $11 billion in profit over five days selling gas for 200 times the going rate; not only did he not claw back those illegal profits; not only was there no justice for more than 700 people who were killed, who literally froze to deaths in their homes, outside, in their cars, people who are paying now tens of billions of dollars cumulatively to pay for the property damage that the flooding that ensued caused in their homes, but hes taking millions of dollars in payoffs from these same people. I mean, hes got his own oligarch here in the state of Texas.
.......SNIP"
applegrove
(118,492 posts)gldstwmn
(4,575 posts)OAITW r.2.0
(24,287 posts)Republicans relate more with the Putin viewpoint than what I consider is the Democratic viewpoint of our political reality.
IngridsLittleAngel
(1,962 posts)You are exactly right and hit it on the nose. Keep on doing so. And I hope in 8 months we're celebrating your win over Thug Abbott.
poli-junkie
(997 posts)Repuke states are now authoritarian states! Especially their cracking down on LGBTQ & reproductive rights! Wake the Ef Up!
Deuxcents
(16,085 posts)brer cat
(24,523 posts)Preach, Beto.
Johnny2X2X
(18,969 posts)Abbott loves him some Russia. Make every Republican pay for their Putin love.
Cha
(296,844 posts)Asshole magats.
Stuart G
(38,414 posts)dalton99a
(81,392 posts)left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)vercetti2021
(10,156 posts)Texas is full of fucking dumbasses sadly. They'll never vote for a Democrat even if the conservative was an authoritarian...oh wait...
rownesheck
(2,343 posts)I live in Texas and in these rural towns, there are houses that are literally broken and falling apart. Drive through east Texas. Towns like Vidor, Evadale, Silsbee, Deweyville, etc have areas that look like they've been bombed out. Yet, the people living in those towns will still vote republican because their religion, racism and gun worship tell them to.
LetMyPeopleVote
(144,919 posts)malaise
(268,693 posts)Rec