2026
If all these tariffs are confusing you, don’t feel bad, they are also confusing to the folks who are imposing them.
_____
It is on. See this from the Chron:
Attorney General Ken Paxton on Tuesday launched a long-teased bid to unseat U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, vowing to take a “sledgehammer to the D.C. establishment” after surviving federal criminal investigations and a state impeachment.
Paxton has long hinted at challenging Cornyn, a four-term Texas Republican who he has branded an “America Last RINO” who has done too little to help President Donald Trump.
The Cornyn-Paxton primary is going to be filthy nasty. The thinking is Paxton will prevail and be the MAGA nominee. Too bad Texas Democrats don’t have a strong candidate to take on Paxton. I don’t consider former Cong. Colin Allred a strong candidate. I think he ran an uninspiring campaign for the U.S. Senate last year against Sen. Cancun Cruz. Since his defeat, Allred has kept a low profile at a time when Democrats need strong leadership.
A 2026 Allred campaign would be the same old boring affair that would fail to rev up the base and reach out to independents. I would hope that Beto and the folks that run the Texas Democratic Party don’t serve up another milquetoast loser U.S. Senate candidate. Commentary would prefer a strong female candidate willing to conduct an aggressive, bold, take-no-prisoners campaign.
Democrats can win the U.S. Senate race against Paxton in 2026 with the right candidate. I don’t think Allred is the right candidate.
On a related note, regarding the Cornyn-Paxton slugfest, Cornyn took a shot at Paxton for not prosecuting Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. If Cornyn makes Judge Hidalgo an issue in the 2026 MAGA primary, it will just make Judge Hidalgo a stronger 2026 general election candidate if she chooses to run for reelection.
_____
Former Astros pitcher Octavio Dotel left us in that tragic roof collapse in the Dominican Republic early Tuesday. He was 51.
Dotel played for us from 2000 to 2004. He wore the 41 in 2000, and the 29 from 2001-2004. I was there in Yankee Stadium in 2003 to watch him be part of the six pitcher no-no.
We got Dotel in a 1999 trade that sent Derek Bell and Mike Hampton to the Mets. We sent Dotel to the A’s in a three-team trade that got us Carlos Beltran from the Royals in 2004.
Dotel won a World Series ring with San Luis in 2011.
Octavio Dotel left us way too soon.
_____
The Astros won last night in extra innings and finish up the roadie with a 3 pm game this afternoon in Seattle.
The featured photo is a reminder that the team returns this weekend for a quickie three game homie against the Angels, one of our AL West competitors.
