Texans are cold and pissed. And to deflect from the deadly conditions that millions are experiencing, the state’s GOP has found a shiny new scapegoat: renewable energy.
There’s a lot of blame to go around, but Gov. Greg Abbott should remember he’s been in office for six years, said Cal Jillson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University. During that time, the electric grid hasn’t undergone any real analysis or improvement.
“When systems come under stress, they tend to buckle, if not collapse,” Jillson said. “And that’s what happened here to the energy grid.”
“Nooooo! Not the notoriously ethical Ken Paxton!!!” MSNBC host Chris Hayes said in a tweet.
Scandal has enshrouded Paxton his entire time as Texas’ top law enforcement official. In 2015, he already had felony securities fraud charges hanging over his head. Last year, The Associated Press reported he’d become the subject of an FBI investigation, but so far, he’s avoided facing legal repercussions.
In late 2020, Paxton fired several senior aides after they accused him of accepting a bribe, according to
The Texas Tribune. They slammed his actions as a “bizarre, obsessive use of power.”
The aides said the attorney general had investigated Paul s rivals and assisted him in settling a lawsuit, according to that article. In 2018, the real estate developer had also donated $25,000 to Paxton’s reelection campaign.
Whether or not I run, I will do everything in my power to elect a Governor who looks out for everyone, keeps Texans safe, answers to the people instead of the special interests & guarantees that we all have equal opportunity to achieve our best in life. 8/8 Beto O Rourke (@BetoORourke) January 28, 2021
O’Rourke’s enthusiasm has earned him considerable clout over the years, but following a string of recent failures, critics have accused him of prioritizing style over substance.
The former U.S. representative quickly became a liberal darling when he ran against incumbent Republican Sen. Ted Cruz in 2018, but lost. Later, he also failed to secure the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.
Republican lawmakers are facing intensifying pressure from some longtime allies and financiers over their continued ties with President Trump, as they reckon with taking stands on impeachment and protecting themselves politically to survive the 2022 midterm primaries and elections.