Eras Over
The new Enron folks bought another full-page ad in today’s Chron. That’s five full-page ads this week.
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BREAKING NEWS! See this from the Trib:
House Speaker Dade Phelan on Friday announced he is dropping his bid for another term leading the lower chamber, ending a bruising, monthslong intraparty push to remove him from power.
Phelan, a Beaumont Republican, had previously insisted he had enough votes to thwart a challenge from the right led by state Rep. David Cook of Mansfield, a former ally.
“Out of deep respect for this institution and its members, and after careful consideration and private consultation with colleagues, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw from the race for Speaker of the Texas House,” he said in a statement. “By stepping aside, I believe we create the best opportunity for our members to rally around a new candidate who will uphold the principles that make our House one of the most exceptional, deliberative legislative bodies in the country—a place where honor, integrity, and the right of every member to vote their district takes utmost precedent.”
Phelan abandoned the race days ahead of a scheduled meeting where Republicans are set to pick their nominee for the gavel.
Phelan’s withdrawal sets up a renewed scramble for control of the House. State Rep. Dustin Burrows, a Lubbock Republican and top ally of Phelan, has filed paperwork to run for speaker, according to two sources familiar with the matter. His path to the gavel rests on courting the chamber’s 62 Democrats and roughly 40 unpledged Republicans — and reports of his candidacy were already drawing swift pushback from Cook’s camp and grassroots GOP activists, who are set on selecting a speaker without relying on votes from Democrats.
Phelan was relying on the bloc of Democrats and uncommitted Republicans to secure a third term as speaker. But he never produced a list of supporters, while Cook gained fresh momentum this week by picking up two new backers, bringing him within striking distance of the votes needed to lock up the GOP caucus’ endorsement this weekend.
Here is the entire Trib read: Dade Phelan drops out of House Speaker race | The Texas Tribune.
Another one bites the dust. I guess you can chalk up a W for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
I am thinking the MAGA GOP Texas House members will settle this without the support of Texas House Democrats. I am thinking that is where it is headed.
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Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour comes to an end Sunday night in Vancouver. The tour started in March of 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. The tour has traveled to five continents with close to 150 performances. That adds up to about a kazillion friendship bracelets. The featured photo is from a “Today” report this morning on the Tour’s last stop in Vancouver where the horses from the Vancouver mounted police are wearing their version of the Taylor Swift friendship bracelets. Shake it off.
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We will know on Sunday the twelve teams who are in the College Football Playoffs (CFP). There will be a total of eleven CFP games and a bunch of other bowl games.
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According to Tags, the Astros have made an offer to Alex Bregman, but not the amount that Bregman is seeking. Stay tuned.
