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Texas Democrats Provide Comic Relief

Texas Democrats Provide Comic Relief

The Democrats in the Texas state legislature must have been thinking of a line from a song from the Broadway musical “A funny thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” – “… tragedy tomorrow, comedy tonight …”

This comedy did not take place at the Forum, but at the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.  It actually started in Austin when the entire Democrat membership fled the state legislature – and their sworn duties – to travel to the nation’s capital to become mock congressmen.

They abandoned their job to deal with election reform legislation in their own general assembly to support election measure in Congress.  The entire Democrat legislative caucus of Texas legislature skipped out like a bunch of truant school children.

And this is not the first time they did it.  Near the end of the regular session, they blocked all the work and all the legislation of Texas in an attempt to stop the passage of various election reform measures – simply because they did not like them.

That action was silly because they knew that they were just delaying the passage of the legislation.  They knew that Texas Governor Greg Abbott would call a Special Session to deal with legislation the Democrats temporarily blocked.

Despite all that, the crazy Democrats did it again in the Special Session.  And since they have bolted at the beginning of the Special Session – as opposed to the end of the regular session – the Democrat legislators will have to hide out for the next 30 days.

If they hold out that long, Abbott has promised to call another Special Session … and another … and another … until the next election in 2022 unless the Democrats give up their childish game. 

Good comedy often relies on absurdity – and the Texas Democrat legislators are providing an abundance of that.  They claim that their extreme action is necessary to save democracy – to prevent the collapse of the American Republic.  If they go back and do their job – and the Texas legislature passes the election reform laws – they portend the end of America.

That is as absurd as the victory over America by the forces of Grand Fenwick (a squad in men in Medieval armor) in the move “The Mouse That Roared.” 

You see what I mean by absurdity making great comedy?

If you were to make a movie of this Texas Democrat folderol, could you conceivably do anything but a comedy? Legislators escaping in private aircraft to get out of town before the posse arrives.  The governor and the remaining members of the legislature issuing arrest warrants to force the errant legislators back into the chamber.

I can imagine scenes reminiscent of a Max Sennett comedy as Texas officers are tracking down individual legislators.  Imagine seeing the absentee lawmakers being dragged into the legislative chamber, which will then be locked like a jail to keep the Democrats incarcerated until the business of the state can be completed.

This is such a hilarious funny movie, that maybe I will write the script.  And yes, I do write scripts on occasion.

In the end – movie or real life – the Democrats will fail to stop the Texas election legislation.  It will be passed and signed by Governor Abbott.  So, what is the point? 

Comedy does not need a point – other than to provide a good laugh.  And so far, that is all that the Texas Democrat legislators have provided.  No achievable objective.  No point.  Just a lot of hearty laughs.  But one should always appreciate a good laugh.

So, there ‘tis.

About The Author

Larry Horist

So, there ‘tis… The opinions, perspectives and analyses of businessman, conservative writer and political strategist Larry Horist. Larry has an extensive background in economics and public policy. For more than 40 years, he ran his own Chicago based consulting firm. His clients included such conservative icons as Steve Forbes and Milton Friedman. He has served as a consultant to the Nixon White House and travelled the country as a spokesman for President Reagan’s economic reforms. Larry professional emphasis has been on civil rights and education. He was consultant to both the Chicago and the Detroit boards of education, the Educational Choice Foundation, the Chicago Teachers Academy and the Chicago Academy for the Performing Arts. Larry has testified as an expert witness before numerous legislative bodies, including the U. S. Congress, and has lectured at colleges and universities, including Harvard, Northwestern and DePaul. He served as Executive Director of the City Club of Chicago, where he led a successful two-year campaign to save the historic Chicago Theatre from the wrecking ball. Larry has been a guest on hundreds of public affairs talk shows, and hosted his own program, “Chicago In Sight,” on WIND radio. An award-winning debater, his insightful and sometimes controversial commentaries have appeared on the editorial pages of newspapers across the nation. He is praised by audiences for his style, substance and sense of humor. Larry retired from his consulting business to devote his time to writing. His books include a humorous look at collecting, “The Acrapulators’ Guide”, and a more serious history of the Democratic Party’s role in de facto institutional racism, “Who Put Blacks in That PLACE? -- The Long Sad History of the Democratic Party’s Oppression of Black Americans ... to This Day”. Larry currently lives in Boca Raton, Florida.

34 Comments

  1. Dan Tyree

    They proved that they are morons

  2. Ben

    Larry,
    I agree! I take it you are also against the filibuster? Because that’s all this is, a highly publicized filibuster.
    I look forward to your article on doing away with the filibuster at the Federal level.
    Thanks in advance.

    • larry Horist

      The walk out is not really a filibuster because the Texas legislature does not provide for a filibuster. Also, the filibuster only applies to the U.S. Senate, so how do you explain all those House members walking out in Texas. Since you seem to support the action of the Texas legislators — and you see it as essentially a filibuster — you must be a big time supporter of the filibuster in DC. You memory seems to be as limited as you comprehension skills since I have written several times — even recently — in support of the filibuster. You are a typical left-winger who does not believe in rules and laws when it does not suit your political agenda.

      • Rod Dwyer

        Whom do you suppose is picking up the bill for the private airplane, hotel meals, and drinks for the absent Democrats?

      • Ben

        Larry, this is no different than the filibuster. It accomplishes the same thing. It allows the minority party to hold up legislation that they deem compromises their Constitutionally held oath.

        I am on the fence on the actual idea of the filibuster as I definitely see both sides of the argument, for and against.

        However as you that points out you have argued for the filibuster in the past ( some days are busier than others, I don’t always get the joy of reading your insightful essays). All I’m asking for is some consistency from you. Essentially this is the filibuster in action, the same tactic republicans have used over and over again to stop legislation and judicial appointments.
        Thanks for the reply. I enjoy the snark! I noticed that you made the mistake of typing you instead of your twice in the reply. I find that interesting, because I often do the same thing and then later when I reread my post I notice and cringe. But if such a wordsmith as yourself makes the same mistake, I won’t beat myself up too much in the future. Funny how the brain works like that.

    • Dan Tyree

      The ad picture shows the leftist morons on the same plane. Hmmm. No. I’ll be nice and wish them well. ( with my fingers crossed).

      • Dan Tyree

        Disregard my statement. Crash!!!!!!!

    • Richard

      Ben, you are running out of oxygen again, pull your head out of your a$$. The methane gas is getting to you.
      They are not the same thing, but nice try. As the saying goes, winner must be present…’

      • Dan Tyree

        Ben probably grew up jerking off in an outhouse so much that every time he smells shit he gets a boner

        • Ben

          Dan,
          Insightful response. I see you are demonstrating the full force of the white power you wrote about earlier this week.

          • Dan Tyree

            Ben don’t you know what they say about people who can’t take a joke? Fuck’em.

        • Ben

          Dan, I can take a joke. I LOVE to laugh… 1) it wasn’t a joke. 2) it wasn’t funny 3) why would you want to fuck me? That’s just weird you pervert.

          • Dan Tyree

            Sorry Ben. I don’t ride the chocolate highway. That’s a commiecrat thing

  3. Allen

    Who paid for this trip? The tax payers? They should all be removed from office. If ordinary citizens did this at their job they would be fired on the spot.

    • MariaDelia

      The left would made sure of that, to the Reps, they never stop until they get what they want. I also praised Mr. Horist,

      for his ”style, substance, sarcastic humo,r and maturity of thought, in short supply with many reporters. Kudos to him!

      Thanks to Punchingbagpost.com for sending the article

  4. CMWRF

    Why lock them in their senate?? Lock them in a maximum security jail and let the other prisoners have with them. They are NOT state representatives, they are CRIMINALS and need to be treated as such….and yes, since their antics greatly affect ALL in Texas, they should be considered violent offenders who cause harm to others and are likely to continue that harm..

  5. Bob M

    Does anyone else see that they are in a Private Jet, not commercial, and asks themselves, “Who’s paying for this?”

    Did each legislator dig into their wallet and pool funds for the price of travel?

    or,

    Did they pay for such travel out of the office budget – begging the next question of the ethics of using taxpayer dollars to avoid doing the taxpayer work?

    or,

    Was it paid for by some big donor or donors, and, ergo, also subject to questions or ethics for accepting gifts to not do the work of the State?

    I appreciate the hope for a “Day the Music Died” outcome, but that would be a waste of a perfectly good airplane. I’d much rather see them all in the Docket answering for their actions, wouldn’t you?

  6. Florida Phil

    My 60s Senior HS class held a temper tantrum event to protest our Principal’s asinine rules for Casual Day. It was stupid, ridiculous and anything else one could say along those lines, but it was far less immature than this latest Democrat stunt. To make matters worse, the Biden-Harris admin addressed it as being courageous. That party continues down its rapidly spiraling whirlpool of childish behavior. No respect for anything despite their presenting their stunts as being constructive. Their poisonous, collective behavior is both disgusting and immature, the main reason we’re seeing the collapse of our once-great nation.

    • Joe S Bruder

      And Mitch McConnell shutting down ALL business during Obama’s term was NOTHING like this…

  7. I'm Not A Robot

    “If I can’t have my way then nobody can.” They are acting like a bunch of second graders. Wait, that’s giving them too much credit!

  8. Robert6391

    The fact being that both political parties use every tool in their tool box, and it does not matter which side of the isle they are on. McConnell did much the same when he was Majority leader. Now walking out of a legislature .assembly so there is not a Quorum in not new it has been done since this was a Country, many of our know statesmen did the same in the 1800s, it is just a way to make it know to the World exactly what is happening in that state, which the majority of Americans are against, like 70% think those new restrictions on voting are wrong.

    • larry Horist

      Robert … You are factually wrong. More than 70 percent of American favor most of the provisions in the various laws being enacted across the country. The most popular provision is voter ID, which even has the approval of most Democrats. Yes, walking out to bread a quorum is not new. Senator Durbin orchestrated such a move when he was Illinois Senate parliamentary for the Democrats. Democrats from Wisconsin fled to Illinois a few years back. Even Abraham Lincoln and other Whigs jumped through a window to break a majority. Of course, those were all short-term strategies. Also, they mostly failed. These kind of antics tend to be self-damaging. Eventually, the Texas laws will be passed and signed. Their effort in Washington to convince members of Congress to change their positions — which are currently opposed to changing the filibuster — will not happen. The so-call For the People Act will must likely fail … but some form of a John Lewis Voting Rights bill may pass. But the showboating of the Texas legislators will have zero impact on any of that. And the fact that they sell the mission as saving democracy is puffed-up nonsense. You are 100 percent correct that politics is a pragmatic game. What one side may rue today, the do tomorrow. That is why I always say that hypocrisy is not a problem in politics, it is a condition of employment.

      • Ben

        Larry, those are fake polls.

      • Ben

        Larry, those facts really are fake and misleading. While 70% of republicans may support the Republican effort to make voting more difficult, the population at large ( including independents), do NOT favor “most of the provisions in the bill”. It’s interesting how you (or the writer of the poll, or article you quoted) worded that to make it seem like it was more popular than it really is.

        “On one hand there are bills like Texas’s, which are popular with Republicans but not with the public as a whole. None of the most common GOP restrictions attracts the support of more than 36 percent of Americans, and opposition outpaces support across the board.“

    • Dan Tyree

      McConnell did it for the right reason. He was trying to save the country from communism

      • Ben

        Dan, McConnell did it for power. That’s it plain and simple

        • Dan Tyree

          Just like your commiecrat party. It’s all about power.

  9. Rick

    You can tell that they are nuts just by looking at them. How do these crazies get elected in the first place? Get out the butterfly nets and prepare the rubber rooms.

  10. ShadowMerlin

    These clowns claim that refusing to participate in a vote that they could lose will save democracy! Perhaps someone could explain to them that in a democratic vote Their side may win or may lose.

  11. Joe G

    The good citizens of the State of Texas should be ashamed of these idiots (and that’s being complimentary) They all belong behind
    bars.

  12. Joe G

    The good people of Texas should be ashamed of these idiots – they should be caged – what fools

  13. Good Luck

    this is what some people voted for to help run this State, I will not vote for a democrat again. They act like little kids, if they dont get their way then they just go in the corner and say i,am not going to play .. Are they all 5 year olds?

  14. Frank steTson

    Larry, you shoulda sourced the 70% and framed the question/response because no way does 70% of America support any of these partisan state bills. Perhaps a single plank; but no way 70% support of the entire bill, for any of these restrictive laws. That’s spin, sir.

    Fyi; I support the standing filibuster like the Jimmy Stewart movie. I am for anything giving the minority a voice and making laws difficult for the mob to pass. Both parties to blame on this, think the Dems started it and enough is enough.

    And folks, quit belittling yourself with the name calling. You can’t be that weak and scared. That includes you too Larry, have some class.