The Abbott Worm
Sigh. See this from the Trib:
This week when Democrats meet at their state convention to energize and organize their party ahead of November, they’ll be doing so without U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas, who declined an invitation to headline the event from James Talarico, the Senate nominee who defeated her in March.
Last week, Crockett told The Dallas Morning News that she hadn’t listened to Talarico’s message asking her to speak but thought the invitation was an “afterthought.” She added that she “had no idea” if she’d be actively campaigning for her primary opponent because she was focusing more on down-ballot candidates.
Here is the entire Trib piece: Cornyn, Crockett loom large in Senate race after primary losses.
I am pretty much going to say what I said yesterday. All these folks need to get their sh_t together. This is immature, silly, ridiculous, dumb, and stupid. We don’t have time for this crap.
_____
Texas MAGA Gov. Greg Abbott rolled out the red carpet to data centers awhile back. “Come on down” he said. They did. See this from the Trib:
A majority of Texans oppose the construction of data centers in their community, including nearly two-thirds of Texans living in rural areas, according to a new poll published Tuesday.
The survey of 1,200 self-reported registered voters conducted by the University of Texas/Texas Politics Project comes as Republican state officials increase their scrutiny of the tech industry and its race to build out the infrastructure needed to support the growing use of artificial intelligence.
“What the data underlines is how much of a problem the business stakeholders that are heavily in favor of [data center development] have on their hands,” said James Henson, co-director of the poll and head of the Texas Politics Project. “I think the pushback on the issue emerged more quickly and is more widespread than the conventional response to economic development in Texas has historically.”
Overall, 56% of those surveyed by the UT poll said they oppose the construction of a data center in their community, while only 29% said they supported the construction. The poll’s margin of error is +/-2.83 points.
Opposition was strongest in rural areas, where the poll found 62% oppose the construction of a local data center and 22% supported, according to the poll.
Democratic and independent voters were more likely to oppose the construction of a local data center, at 71% and 62%, respectively. GOP voters were more split, with 44% opposed and 42% in favor.
Texas is poised to be the No. 1 market for data centers in the U.S., with the most planned projects of any state. A Texas Tribune analysis of data center construction in the state found a majority of the planned data centers are located in red, rural counties where land is more plentiful and local governments have less regulatory oversight.
The Tribune in a recent analysis identified 248 planned data centers, about half of which were located in unincorporated areas of counties, which have limited means of regulation in comparison to cities.
On June 10, Gov. Greg Abbott issued a letter to state regulators that voiced support for tighter regulation of the centers’ energy and water use and the repeal of a state sales tax exemption for data centers, which is costing the state more than a billion dollars a year.
Abbott and the MAGA led Texas Legislature provided data centers with incentives and pretty much gave them a free ride. Now Abbott and the MAGA legislative leaders want Texans to believe they have things under control. Nope. Democrats need to hit Abbott and MAGA hard on this.
_____
See this that just came out:
Federal officials have confirmed that the number of New World screwworm cases in the United States has risen to 19, with all but one in Texas.
See the featured photo.
Data centers and the Abbott worm, brought to you by MAGA Gov. Greg Abbott.
_____
Yesterday in Toronto, we jumped to a 4-0 lead after back-to-back-to-back dingers. Then we fell behind 6-4. Then we tied it up 6-6 and went to extra innings. Then we won 9-7 in 11 innings.