8.02.2023

Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts





From Texas Monthly's 96 Minutes, published 10 years ago this month.


  • Finally, Trump has been indicted for January 6th and all that he did that led up to it. He is in big, big trouble -- as he should be. He tried to destroy democracy and the peaceful transition of power, and he needs to pay the price. 



    • Indictment text
    • These guys are four of the six unnamed co-conspirators. They will be charged next. John Eastman, Justice Department stooge Jeffrey Clark (see paragraph 81) , nutcase Sidney Powell, and Rudy Giuliani. 

    • Mike Pence response to the indictment. It's the closest thing he's had to a spin since January 6th. 

    • So what happens if Trump is the Republican nominee?  The election would be an existential American crisis. 
      • We have slightly over half of the population which will never vote for Trump. Heck, they will crawl over broken glass to vote against him.  That number should ensure that Trump is never re-elected as president, but there is that crazy Electoral College problem. So there is no guarantee. 
      • So that leaves the 48 to 49 % of the population who are Republicans who are composed of: 
        • Well less than half, but enough to control the Republican primaries, are Ultra-Maga Extremists. They are willing to "blow the system up", they don't care about January 6th (and actually support it), and truly have no problem with setting democracy aside and installing an authoritarian so long as it is Trump or someone exactly like him. 
        • The rest are regular and sane Republicans. And these guys are the key. Will they be willing to save the country as we know it? 
      • I cannot tell you enough how the above numbers are exactly like Germany political demographics in 1932.
      • But what happens if Trump wins after being convicted?  
  • Saw this last night.

  • I had to read the story, but it led to a little bit of a surprise. It was Walmart which was hit with the damages. Not the shoplifter. Silly.

  • University and Carroll in Denton yesterday.  A nude guy had been running through the Kroger parking lot. (Thanks emailer.)


  • Central Expressway in Plano looked to be on fire this morning. Seems problematic. 

  • Does Wise County get in on this? From the story: "Thanks to the state’s budget surplus, the Texas Historical Commission voted to increase the amount it gives to courthouse restoration projects, LaFleur said. For years, the commission has given counties up to $6 million each. Going forward, the commission will give counties up to $10 million each. Though Upshur County and three other county courthouses were awarded grants in the 12th round, the commission voted to extend the grant increase to them as well, LaFleur said."  Were we in the 12th round?

  • I bet we see more and more of this. It has to be going on everywhere. 

  • Wow, even the New York Post is on board. Fox and Friends even displayed it this morning: