Texas

Reapportionment Battles Create Massive Struggle For Control Of House Of Representatives In The Future 120th Congress (2027-2029)!

Ronald 13 Comments

The reapportionment battle in Virginia yesterday resulted in a gerrymandering that will, in theory, provide four more likely Democratic held seats in the US House of Representatives for the future 120th Congress (2027-2029).

This is the latest development in the battle for the lower chamber of Congress, begun by President Donald Trump urging Texas to reapportion, and then further pursued in reaction by Democrats to do the same in California, and then other states also participating in gerrymandering in the midpoint of the decade, instead of the usual such action after the census that takes place across the nation in the decennial reapportionment.

Ironically, the action of Texas may partially backfire and help Democrats gain one or two seats, and of course, there is no certainty as to how elections based on this present gerrymandering activity will play itself out in reality.

On paper, it is pretty much a “wash”, at this point however, with the theoretical results being so far:

Texas 5 Republican gains
California 5 Democratic gains
Virginia 4 Democratic gains
Ohio 2 Republican gains
North Carolina 1 Republican gain
Missouri 1 Republican gain
Utah 1 Democratic gain
Florida (special session next week, potential 1-5 Republican gain

Before Florida, theoretically, Democrats may have gained a one seat edge, but if Florida succeeds in its gerrymandering, Republicans could gain a few seats edge.

Also, still in limbo, but possibly taking gerrymandering action before the elections in November, are New York, Georgia, and Louisiana.

Of course, this is not even taking into consideration that public opinion of Republicans is in rapid decline.

Also, there will be massive turnover, with many retirements, and some resignations to avoid expulsion.

The economic situation and anti Iran War views of vast majorities of Americans is making for a very favorable climate for Democrats, who already have won a vast majority of off year and special elections since the results of the Presidential Election of 2024, now nearly a year and a half ago.

Democrats Have Won 30 Special Elections In States Since Trump Was Elected, While Republicans Have Not Flipped Even One!

Ronald 2 Comments

Democrats had now flipped 30 seats in state legislatures and other government positions in special elections since Donald Trump’s election.

This does not only include winning the Virginia Governorship, but also state legislative gains in that state and in New Jersey, and also a multitude of lesser known, but significant rejection of Republican candidates across the board, most recently in the backyard of Donald Trump, the Palm Beach County district in both the state House and state Senate, where Trump resides at his Mar A Lago estate in Palm Beach.

But also the same turnaround occurred in Tampa, Florida, and upset wins in other states, including most recently, Arkansas and New Hampshire, along with Texas, Mississippi, Georgia, and Iowa. The swing in support to Democrats is overwhelming, stunning Republicans nationwide.

It seems clear that the “Blue Wave” is on its way for the midterm elections in November, which is why Donald Trump is trying to limit the right to vote, and why he promoted gerrymandering in Texas and other Republican states, but with Democrats taking action in California and Virginia in particular, to try to resist the strategy.

Escalation Of War With Iran: The Challenge Of A Nation Very Large In Land Area And Population!

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President Donald Trump has escalated the rhetoric and the military action against Iran, after one week of a war provoked by him and Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel.

So as the US engages in a war which Trump now claims could have “boots on the ground”, a horrifying scenario, it is time to examine the challenge of a massive war against Iran, with its large land area and large population.

So some numbers and statistics, which will make clear the massive challenge American troops might face, is in order.

Iran is the 17th largest nation in land area in the world, and is about one-sixth the size of the United States, one sixth the size of all of Europe, and one sixth the size of Canada.

Iran is one-fifth the size of Australia; about half the size of India; four times larger than Iraq; and 80 times the size of Israel.

Iran is about as large as the largest American state, Alaska; more than twice the size of Texas; and the areas of Texas, California, Montana and Illinois combined equal the area of Iran.

Also, the East Coast of the United States from Maine down to Florida is approximately equal to the land area of Iran.

Iran has about 92 million people, approximately one fourth of the population of the United States.

Iran is the 17th most populated country, along with being the 17th largest in land area.

Iran is a highly literate, highly educated nation which has more than doubled in population since the Iranian Revolution of 1979.

It is the ninth largest oil producer and third largest natural gas producer.

It is 77 percent urban and 23 percent rural, with much of the nation being subtropical in climate. It also has its capital, Teheran, which has about 9.6 million people, about one million more than America’s largest city, New York City.

For America to be at war with Iran is a massive challenge, and will not be easily resolved, and could be a war of long duration!

A Truly Divided Nation With No Sign Of Compromise!

Ronald 61 Comments

As America votes in off year elections in just a few states, the recognition is that America is a truly divided nation with no sign of compromise, as we move toward the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Republic, with every indication of Fascist authoritarianism being dominant under Donald Trump!

At present, there are 25 Trump states and 19 Anti Trump states, with only six states really competitive, both in support or opposition to Trump, and in percentages of seats in the House of Representatives.

In the 25 Trump states, 22 of them have Republican governors, and all of the state legislatures and Senate seats, as well.

Only six states really remain “competitive”—Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Nevada, a total of 77 Electoral College votes.

In Electoral Votes, the Democrats have 226 from the 19 Anti Trump states and the District of Columbia. The 25 Trump states have 235 electoral votes.

Also, Nebraska and Maine have divided electoral votes, with the Second District of Nebraska often having one electoral vote going to Democrats and the Second District of Maine often having one electoral vote going to Republicans, so they balance each other.

The states that have strongly gone Republican, while formerly competitive, are Texas, Florida, Ohio, and North Carolina.

With Texas and Florida still gaining population growth, the likelihood is that both states will have more electoral votes after reapportionment in 2032, which makes the Democrats facing a massive challenge in future elections.

And California, Illinois, and New York are likely to lose Electoral votes, necessitating the need for Democrats to win the six “swing states” that have been in play, but won recently by Republicans, as in 2024!

Future Hopes For Democrats: James Talarico, Maxwell Frost, David Hogg

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In the midst of horrendous times under Donald Trump and the Republican Party majority in both houses of Congress, there are encouraging signs of future hope for Democrats in the younger generation.

Three such examples are Texas State Legislator James Talarico; Florida Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost; and Youth activist David Hogg, a survivor of the Parkland, Florida, Marjorie Stoneman Douglas Massacre in 2018.

Talarico is considering a run for US Senate in Texas at age 36, while Frost at age 28 has made a name for himself in the House of Representatives.

Hogg at age 25 is trying to promote younger people running for public office, and has, in the process, alienated older establishment Democrats, and was pushed out as a Vice President of the Democratic National Committee.

While it may not happen, it would be ideal if Talarico could be elected to the Senate, and for Frost to decide to run for the Senate in 2026, and for Hogg to have the opportunity to run for the House of Representatives.

Even if not occurring immediately in 2026, these three young men are positive signs for the future of the Democratic Party.

60th Anniversary Of March On Washington: Need For Renewal Of That Effort!

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Today, 60 years after the famous March on Washington in 1963, and the legendary speech by the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther, King Jr. calling for justice and basic civil rights for African Americans and other discriminated groups, we are having a commitment to restore the civil rights that are under attack in recent years by the US Supreme Court, the Republican Party, and extreme right wing forces.

It is expected that about 100,000 people will participate in today’s commemoration in Washington, DC, as compared to the 250,000 who did so on August 28, 1963.

The struggle against forces that have taken away the right to vote requires a new national commitment to restoring the weakened Voting Rights Act of 1965.

And the open racism and nativism and misogyny promoted by Donald Trump and his minions must be fought tooth and nail through lawsuits, marches, and demonstrations against state governments that are limiting basic human rights, with Florida, Texas, Tennessee, and Alabama in the leadership of setting American rights and freedoms in the wrong direction!

Texas Violence Escalates With No Regulations, Totally Insane!

Ronald 1 Comment

With yet another mass gun murder in Texas this past weekend, the image of Texas suffers ever greater, as it has become the most violent state, and without any idea of gun regulation, other than being a citizen and being a minimum age of 21!

Anyone can carry a firearm, including AR-15 assault weapons, in open carry legally, and there is no consideration of training, licensing, or mental health challenges, and nowhere where firearms are considered illegal to carry!

And the leaders of Texas government, including Governor Greg Abbott, the lieutenant governor and attorney general, and really, all Republicans in the state legislature, and the Texas members of the House of Representatives and US Senate, are all united in just mouthing “thoughts and prayers”.

This is purely insane, and the carnage is increading rapidly, and nationally, there have now been 201 gun massacres in 127 days of 2023!

In Texas, but really everywhere in America, no one is safe, whether in a school or college; a supermarket; a church, synagogue or mosque; a shopping mall; a movie theater; a country music festival; or a myriad of other public places, as well as the danger lurking in private homes by unstable family members who have access to weapons of mass murder!

To have no willingness to regulate guns, when Republicans are very willing to limit drag shows, to ban books, to outlaw discussions of race and gender in schools and universities, to restrict voting rights, and so many others government interventions, is a total outrage that calls for mass demonstrations and demands for action!

But of course, these same Republicans want to limit the right of the people to freedom of speech, and assembly, and this makes it clear we are dealing with Fascist oriented governments that do not care about the health and safety of their own citizens, and non citizens, alike!

No other nation has any sense of gun violence that is totally unregulated and out of control, and this makes America look like a nation that is, clearly, the most dangerous nation in the world, bar none!

And young people are being slaughtered on a level unmatched even in war zones, as America has become a national war zone!

Gerrrymandered State Legislatures–Tennessee, North Carolina, Florida, Texas And Other Republican States!

Ronald 3 Comments

Gerrymandering of many state legislatures, particularly in “Red” states, has led to the movement to take away democracy.

This is particularly noted in Tennessee, North Carolina, Florida, and Texas, as those state legislatures take unprecedented action to strip voting rights, abortion rights, gay rights, and to reject any regulation of guns, despite consistent, every day, occurrences of gun massacres!

The “red” states are the centers of greater carnage than in “blue” states, which are totally the opposite of the “red” states on the major issues of civil rights.

Many state legislatures have become the center of autocratic leadership, such as Ron DeSantis in Florida and Greg Abbott in Texas, but also including many other states!

Republican State Legislatures Are Becoming Fascist Strongholds, Stifling Free Speech!

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Republican state legislatures, many of them holding two thirds of the seats or more, are rapidly becoming Fascist strongholds, stifling free speech, free assembly, and freedom to protest!

Tennessee, by expelling two African American members joining a protest demanding gun regulations after six people are slaughtered at a Christian elementary school in Nashville, is an outrage and racist at its core, as a white woman member who took part in the protest, was not expelled!

The state legislatures in not just Tennessee, but also Florida, Texas, Mississippi, Virginia, Montana, and other “red” states, are stripping civil liberties, including the ability of the public to testify against extremist legislation, being given 30 seconds to one minute, to testify.

Arrogant, out of control governors, including Ron DeSantis of Florida, Greg Abbott of Texas, Glenn Youngkin of Virginia, and others are promoting abuses of power way out of line with constitutional government!

The three governors mentioned above all have Presidential ambitions, and clearly, would be a danger to American democracy and constitutional government, were they to gain the power of the Oval Office!

Ten States Refuse To Expand Medicaid, No Concern About Health Care For Millions!

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North Carolina just became, finally, the 40th state to expand Medicaid for its poorer, less fortunate citizens!

It is mind boggling that TEN states, mostly Southern, refuse to care about health care for millions of their populations combined.

These states are:

Florida
Texas
South Carolina
Georgia
Tennessee
Alabama
Mississippi
Wisconsin
Kansas
Wyoming

This needs to be emphasized for those states that are likely to have Republican Presidential contenders, including Florida (Ron DeSantis), Texas (Greg Abbott and Ted Cruz), and South Carolina (Nikki Haley, Tim Scott).

It is unconscionable that Republicans who are supposedly “pro life” on abortion have no concern about the lives of their poor constituents!

It is a crime against humanity, and should be rectified!