The Texas Ethics Commission finally nails Michael Sullivan of Empower Texas

September 5, 2022
From The Houston Chronicle

It’s sad that it takes 10 years for justice to be served but served it was. According to the Houston Chronicle:

A Texas appeals court this week upheld a nearly decade-old fine by the state ethics agency against former Empower Texans CEO and conservative activist Michael Quinn Sullivan for failing to register as a lobbyist.

The details of this complaint filed with the Texas Ethics Commission in 2010 are interesting. Why would they issue such a large fine of $10,000 on such a small issue as not registering as a lobbyist for a simple $100 fee. I will summarize the final order explaining here:

  • Empower Texas is an extreme right wing organization
  • Michael Quinn Sullivan was the CEO at the time
  • The complaint was filed by 2 republican law makers
  • The complaint alleged Sullivan failed to file as a lobbyist in 2010, the filing fee was only $100
  • After a 2 year investigation he was fined $10,000
  • The Commission subpoenaed documents from Sullivan
  • They came to the conclusion that “Mr. Sullivan and Empower Texans have destroyed or lost thousands of emails sent to members of the Legislature during 2010 and 2011, despite having received written requests for such information in 2012”
  • Sullivan was subpoenaed to show at the formal hearing but refused to answer any questions “asserting his rights under the First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendment as a basis for his refusal to testify”
  • “The Commission’s unanimous opinion is that Mr. Sullivan is a paid lobbyist who is required to register under Texas law.”

So bottom line it would seem the Ethics Commission had a real problem with Sullivan not producing subpoenaed documentation as well as him refusing to answer questions. Maybe that was the reason for the $10,000 fine. It took 10 years to resolve this. This is what happens when you have uncontrolled money in politics.

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Another republican talking point down in flames: Bail reform

September 5, 2022

It isn’t getting any better for the Harris County Republican Party. With gas prices falling, consumer confidence rising, unemployment at record low levels, the economy is recovering from COVID, inflation on the way down, women angry about government overreach into their uterus, electricity prices skyrocketing, streets are flooded with guns, the party is grasping for a message. One of those has just been shot down.

Harris County, under an agreement with the federal government in 2017, ushered in bail reform for misdemeanor cases. Needless to say the MAGAt Republicans jumped on this like a 18 year old at a raffle for an AR15 assault rifle claiming it would increase crime. It didn’t. According to a study documented by The Texas Standard:

Now, new research from the University of Pennsylvania’s Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice indicates Harris County’s bail policies do not compromise public safety.

In the words of Rick Perry, Oops. The Houston Chronicle has more on this subject. The scare tactics by the Republican Party are nothing but scare tactics. It’s all they have at this point. Facts do not matter to them. Neither do studies. But the facts remain crime statistics are on the decline even though Abbott has flooded the streets with uncontrolled gun access putting our police on high alert.

Maybe the republicans might want to look at their record over the last 20 years before shooting their mouths and feet off.

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Texas by the numbers. (it ain’t pretty)

September 5, 2022

Greg Abbott has begun his campaign attacking Beto O’Rourke. It’s all he has. Abbott can’t run on his record but Beto can and probably will. After 20 years of republican rule in Texas with 8 years as Governor, here is Abbott’s record:

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Posted by johncoby

Governor Abbott lies to the sad faces of the parents of the Uvalde massacre.

September 2, 2022

We do thing bigger in Texas including having the biggest liar as our Governor.

It not low enough for Abbott to sign legislation sitting with the head of the NRA to protect guns in Texas right after the Santa Fe shooting. It’s not low enough for Abbott to say “It could have been worse” after 19 children were gunned down with the very weapon Abbott protected. No it’s not low enough for Abbott so he went further.

According to the Houston Chronicle he claimed, incorrectly, that he could not call a special session because it was unconstitutional to raise the age to buy an AR15 from 18 to 21. He thinks we are idiots. There are limits across the country on the age you can purchase an assault weapon. In some states no one can buy an assault weapon. In the United States we had a complete ban on the purchase of assault weapons for 10 full years until the Republican Party let it lapse. So Greg Abbott just fuckin lied to their sad faces.

Even if Abbott was right, and he is not, he could put this to the voters in Texas and amend the Texas Constitution to raise the age to 21 and it would pass 80-20. He could put a complete ban on assault weapon ownership and it would pass 60-40. But it is so much easier to just be like trump and lie like a rotten dog.

The Uvalde parents have been demanding Abbott to call a special session to raise the age to buy a rifle from 18 to 21. The shooter that killed their children was 18 and was able to buy multiple assault weapons and more according to the NYPost he bought:

  • Smith and Wesson M&P15 (also an AR-15-style rifle)
  • Daniel Defense DDM4 V7 (an AR-15-style rifle)
  • 375 rounds of M193, a 5.56mm 55-grain round with a full metal jacket
  • 60 30-round magazines,
  • a holographic weapon sight
  • Hellfire Gen 2 snap-on trigger system
  • 1,740 rounds of 5.56mm 75-grain boat tail hollow point

By now if you don’t know who Greg Abbott is then you will never know what he is.

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Posted by johncoby

Dear Republicans, Whose side are you on?

August 31, 2022
Fourth Officer Who Responded to Jan. 6 Capitol Riot Dies

Well, President Joe Biden has asked the right question to the MAGAt Republicans. Whose side are you on?

The Republican Party has flooded our streets with guns including military style weapons, high capacity clips, armor piercing bullets, body armor, and Mafia style silencers and yet they claim to “Back the Blue”. These killing machines strike fear in law enforcement as well as every citizen in the United States.

The Republican Party has embraced open carry of assault weapons in public and expect Law Enforcement to take a chance that the owner is not a mentally ill person waiting to kill police or children. They treat gun ownership like a joke while Police are faced with your jokes on a daily basis.

Republican leaders watched as Police Officers were attacked, beaten, on the steps of the United States Capitol, and did nothing. They watched. Silently. Gleefully. They advocate for riots and violence in defense of their leader, Donald Trump, even when faced with overwhelming evidence provided by the FBI and the Department of Justice.

They refused to call out those in their party and their media mouth pieces when they hint about or justify the use of force against the FBI, IRS, and other members of law enforcement.

It just begs the question: Whose side are you on? Seriously. What the fuck is wrong with you? What the living fuck is wrong with you? In the words of Beto O’Rourke ““It may be funny to you, motherfucker, but it is not funny to me.”

This isn’t funny. You are going to get more people killed with your hateful rhetoric.

You think it’s funny?

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Posted by johncoby

Washing your hands of the Uvalde Massacre

August 27, 2022

Spare me.

I have never liked Mattress MAGAt Mack or his furniture store. I’ve been critical of the Houston Astros for organizing this feel good stunt of honoring Uvalde citizens who survived the shooting. Instead of actually using their power to stop this senseless violence like the Uvalde Massacre from happening again they chose to do something easy, something that can wash their hands of the blood of the kids killed.

The Astros could have used the opportunity to tell the Uvalde community, and all communities across the state that they will do whatever they can to prevent spending another nickel on consoling those affected by gun violence. They could do more than a moment of silence. They could do more than hitting a homerun for a fan.

The Houston Astros strike out on the Uvalde massacre BAH  August 19th, 2022

MAGAt Mack joined in the ceremonial, feel good, event calling it a “Day to Remember”. You know what is a day to remember? May 24, 2022. That’s the day 19 children were slaughtered by an 18 year old with a military assault weapon. Maybe instead of eating a hotdog, playing a stupid game and feeling good about yourself, you could stop giving money to the elected officials who gave the 18 year old the right to buy the weapon. Maybe you could stand up and use your power to demand a change in laws to prevent another massacre and still protect the rights to own guns, responsibly.

Instead MAGAt Mack and the Astros would rather have their very own “Day to Remember”, a day that will live in infamy, at least for them. Now, go wash your goddamn hands.

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Posted by johncoby

As of today women’s reproductive rights in Texas is over. Thank you Greg Abbott.

August 25, 2022

As of today women’s reproductive rights are over in Texas thanks to Greg Abbott’s “trigger law” which bans abortions for rape and incest victims. According to the Houston Chronicle:

A new state law that prohibits all abortions from the moment of fertilization, except if the mother’s life is at risk, is now in effect. Any doctor that performs an abortion could face life in prison and at least $100,000 in penalties. They could also lose their medical licenses.

Houston Chronicle 8/25/2022

The right to address a pregnancy by a mother and her doctor is now replaced with the Greg Abbott’s long arm of government keeping that child in a women womb regardless of the viability of the child or the life of the mother. A rapist best friend is now Greg Abbott who will protect the rapist’s child born to a 10 year old.

This is sick. Just plain sick. Come November we need to abort Abbott.

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Posted by johncoby

Don’t Move to Texas

August 24, 2022

It’s hard to disagree when Texas leads the nation in mass shootings (8), is the easiest state to get a gun, a state where anyone can walk around in public with a loaded AR15, a 100 round barrel clip, a silencer, and wearing body armor. A state with out of control property taxes, electricity rates, college tuition rates, home prices, and home insurance premiums. Texas ranks 49th in benefits for teachers in the nation, 45th in education. Texas teachers are underpaid, under appreciated, and under attack. Texas doesn’t take too kindly to gays, muslims, Mexicans, or anyone who even looks illegal. Texas has flooded the streets with unlimited guns putting our law enforcement under constant stress to keep us safe. And Texas is ranked 48th in quality of living

In short, Texas sucks. Do yourself a favor, Don’t Mess Move With To Texas.

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Democratic Headquarters opens in the Bay Area

August 24, 2022

Democrats in Bay Area Houston opened their campaign headquarters for the 2022 election. Located at 1215 Bay Area Blvd on the corner of Diana and Bay Area, the office will be a focal point for campaign activities including their Grand Opening last Sunday.

Hundreds of Democrats stopped by during the event to pick up campaign signs and meet the candidates including Commissioner Adrian Garcia and our Harris County judicial candidates. We even had a surprise visit by the Chair of the Texas Democratic Party!

The office will be opened from 11-6 every day and will extend their hours as needed for phone banking and block walking activities.

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After flooding Harris County with guns, republicans complain about….gun violence

August 24, 2022

The Harris County Republican Party should be sued by the Society of Hypocrites in Texas (SHIT) for defecation of character.

This is all the republicans have left. They are truly nothing but a bunch of lying, hypocritical, racist, gun toting, bible thumping, pathetic, losers. Case in point. Yesterday the Harris County Republican Party along with the State’s Comptroller, after flooding the state with guns, allowing 18 year olds to buy assault weapons, high capacity clips, armor piercing bullets, and silencers, they are now blaming the Democrats for…wait for it… rising crime and defunding law enforcement. According to the Houston Chronicle:

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar this week accused Harris County commissioners of defunding local constables and threatened to prevent the county from implementing its proposed 2023 budget if the county does not reverse course.

The issue is about how Constables can roll unused funds back into their budgets with no questions asked. It’s a policy that is not practiced in any government entity in Texas. In fact:

“This practice was unique to Harris County and is not the practice of other local governments,” he said. “Under the current policy, departments, including the Constable’s Offices, can request the use of unspent funds on vehicles, equipment, and other one-time expenses. The County has continued to support these investments.”

So to be clear, republicans are just fucking losers.

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