If you only have time to read one or two pieces today on Texas politics

[PDittie]

then read Paul Burka...

The evolution of the Republican primary into a race to the far right is a sad moment in Texas politics. There is nothing left of the party of George W. Bush, or even the party of Rick Perry. The press has done little to hold up its side of the equation; they can't get away from the Wendy Davis saga. We should be talking about how Republicans have allowed creationism to creep into the schools, about the myopia of the media when it comes to setting the agenda for a political race, about the failure of the business community to shoulder its share of responsibility for educating Texans about the things our citizens need: better schools, better roads, better health care.

There's only three more paragraphs there. Burka isn't all that accurate all that often any more, but he's dead solid perfect there. And so is Charles Kuffner. All the grafs ahead of this one excerpted below are important, and so is this last one.

Here’s where Mark Jones’ idea (that Democrats should just give up and vote in the GOP primary) really makes no sense. Pretty much every county where Democrats are strong features important primaries. We already know about Harris County, where the need to nominate Kim Ogg outweighs Jones’ suggestion all by itself. Travis County is electing a County Judge, as is El Paso County, which also features three hot legislative races. Bexar County has races for County Judge, County Clerk, District Attorney, District Clerk, and a slew of District Court judges. Dallas County has a power struggle between current DA Craig Watkins and Party Chair Darlene Ewing, with the former running his own slate of candidates, including one against Ewing. Tarrant County will be key to Rep. Mark Veasey’s re-election. And those are just the big counties.

The media and the consultants and the anal-ysts like Rice U's Mark Jones have so far dictated the terms of this election, and not just with the roasting of Wendy Davis for the snarling consumption by the fringe right hogs in this state.

The only way that will ever change is if enough people refuse to buy what they're peddling, and upend the conventional 'wisdom' with their direct action at the polling place. If that does not happen, then Texans will keep getting what they have been for the past 20 years. And after that long, will excruciatingly deserve what they will surely get in the years to come.

This is your final warning.

The deadline to register voters has passed. It's GOTV time. There were eight million Texans registered to vote in 2012 who did not do so. That means that Dems have their address, know where they live, maybe even have their phone number and/or e-mail.

I trust that everyone here knows what to do with that information, yes?

Early voting begins two weeks from yesterday. It's time to reach out and touch your neighbors. Do what you can, when you can, as often as you can. There's no way we will ever change anything in this state if you don't. Now if you will excuse me, I have some work offline to do.

[Gothmog]

1. Great post

[Bennyboy]

2. Someone needs to organize the musicians...

Especially the female musicians into a strong collective. They all say they are a "loose knit" group, but that needs to be a tight coalition instead. Play benefits, tableing at shows etc. We win this through the music.

[Gothmog]

3. I love this cartoon about Texas politics