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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Posted by johncoby

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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Posted by johncoby

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

It’s time to support the Republican Party in their time of need

September 2, 2022

Come on Republicans! You can do it!

Thank you Mr. Fish https://clowncrack.com

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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

Group to file lawsuit against Texas Senator Paul Bettencourt for PPP Loan forgiveness

August 30, 2022

Yesterday Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia called out State Senator Paul Bettencourt. Bettencourt has been critical of President Biden’s school loan assistance program. According to Garcia, Bettencourt has also received free assistance from the Federal Government to the tune of $623,500 through the PPP loan program. According to the Houston Chronicle, Garcia asked Bettencourt via Twitter:

“Is this you?” Democrat Adrian Garcia tweeted at Sen. Paul Bettencourt, a Republican who criticized President Joe Biden’s plan to offer student debtors up to $20,000 in relief was “costing $600+Bil.”

In his defense, Bettencourt said “No one gives back free money”.

Ok, he didn’t say exactly that but the massive hypocrisy of criticizing the Federal Government providing help to students in debt while accepting $623,500 in free money from the Federal Government has not gone unnoticed. The Society of Hypocrites in Texas has filed suit against Bettencourt. According to their statement:

The State of Texas has a proud history of being hypocrites but we have never been afraid to accept help from the government when needed but we know our limits and we know to keep our mouth shut. No one is more of a Texas sized hypocrite than Senator Ted Cruz, yet Paul Bettoncourt gives him a good run for his free money.

Because of this, the members of the Society of Hypocrites of Texas (SHIT) have decided to file suit against Paul Bettoncourt for defecation of character. Let us be very clear. We are not going to take this shit from Paul Bettoncourt.

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Posted by johncoby

Why AT&T customer service is rated #1 in the world

August 28, 2022

After waiting on the phone to talk to an AT&T customer service representative have you ever wondered how AT&T is rated #1 in customer service? Well so do I. Here is why I think they deserve this rating.

When AT&T is working it works just great. I have great cellular coverage, unlimited data, no throttling, my internet access for home is reliable, and Uverse is just great. Luckily you do not need customer support when everything is just fine.

Talking to a machine. When something goes wrong is when things go wrong. AT&T uses a computer assistant to screen calls resulting in most callers yelling REPRESENTATIVE!!!! Usually the assistant will ask a series of question trying to find the right representative for you to speak to. Most of the time it will provide useless information like “log in and solve your own fuckin problem” when you calling because you can’t login in in the first place.

Waiting. Once they transfer you to a representative the waiting starts. This is a good time to take a shower, mow the lawn, or watch a 3 hour movie because that is how long you will wait to talk to a REPRESENTATIVE!

Getting a call back. AT&T values the 3 hours you will wait for a REPRESENTATIVE and will give you an opportunity to receive a callback when it is your turn. You can get a call back usually at 11 PM or the next day if you are lucky. If you ever receive the call back you have to push 1 to talk to the REPRESENTATIVE. Many times the button will not work and AT&T will simply hang up with a friendly “Goodbye”

Hanging up, transferring. Once you are finally talking to a REPRESENTATIVE the first line of defense would be to tell the caller “You have the wrong department. Let me transfer you…” and the wait starts all over again. When you finally get the right REPRESENTATIVE on the phone and they are incompetent and cannot solve your problem they will put you on hold, multiple times, then they will simply hang up.

Visiting an AT&T store. The first thing the service representative will do is to call…..wait for it….customer support.

So the bottom line AT&T customer service is the best in the world in teaching you have to be patient, how to control your temper, and how to cancel your entire service…..if only you can talk to a REPRESENTATIVE to do so.

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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

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