General Discussion

During one of Barack Obama's run for president one of my acquaintances, a mild-mannered older white guy dropped by the Democratic tent some of us were manning during the election. He told us how he'd been at the grocery store in Dripping Springs and ended up arrested and charged with criminal mischief.

Why? A pickup parked by his with decals and anti-Dem messaging. He took it in stride, admiring the artistry even, until he rounded the truck and saw what was on the other side – Obama depicted as an ape. At which point he lost it, picked up a tire iron and started hitting the truck.

In 2008, Obama got approximately 43.7% of the vote in Texas. In 2012 that dropped to about 41.4%. I've been reading about how Fox Noise is attacking Jasmine Crockett so much that they think she'd be the best Democrat to run for U.S. Senate for the seat that John Cornyn holds now. I wish I agreed. I've wondered if Fox News isn't setting Texas Dems up, if she gets into the race, to vote for her in the primary, which she could win because of her name recognition. But no Dem has run successfully for a statewide office in a generation. Barack Obama was likable. Crockett has high negatives for a reason. She has been a consistent voice attacking Trump and other Republicans – which is why she could win the primary, but there's no chance she could win statewide.

My purple county has people active in Three Percenters, Proud Boys, and other extremist groups. Racist incidents and threats have occurred several times over the last few years, including in my small town. And more counties in Texas are red, than purple or blue.

I think of the old folk tale about Brer Rabbit who'd been caught and just begged his captor repeatedly to "please don't throw me in that briar patch." So of course, that was exactly where the cruel hunter threw him – right where Brer Rabbit wanted to be thrown, where he could make his escape. Is that Brer Rabbit ploy the same psychology behind Fox News inveighing so much against Jasmine Crockett? I wouldn't put it past them.