They do this all the time. Maybe Biden should call their bluff, execute his powers as Commander in Chief, and order the National Guard in Texas to turn on State Police.
Oh look, that’s so cute. A bunch of idiots who never read the constitution nor know of our history. Secession is illegal and cannot happen. The union is unbreakable. I live in Texas. Please liberate us.
Who didn’t see this coming? It was clear from beginning.
And it’s another proof that compromise politic doesn’t work.
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Hope you guys can sort all this out by Oscar Night.
Republicans just love doing Putins work.
Please, leave. Don’t come crying to us the next time your electrical grid gets overwhelmed.
Hey! Y’all used to rely on us to kick-start y’all’s power grids! Back in the '70s and '80s! Back when racism and cocaine reigned supreme!
Now y’all are all like, “ew, why is that racist coke-head talking to me?” Well, it’s cuz you’re woke or something!
Hey! Listen to me and stop walking away! Why are you taking our American flags?? Hello?
Speaking of power grids, have fun trying to keep yours maintained once you secede, Texas. It barely works as it is now.
Really? It seems to be working great. In fact, Texas has the most diverse power generation with nat gas AND coal AND solar (largest national producer) AND wind (largest national producer) AND nuclear. Coupled with the largest oil play in America along with a significant amount of the country’s refining capacity, I think Texas would be just fine in a secession.
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Did you have a point?
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Your account has only been active on Lemmy for 9 days and every single comment you’ve made has been downvoted into oblivion. Why is that?
That should be obvious. I’m in the wrong echo chamber
Shoo, troll.
Sure bro, it’s not because you’re a clown who refuses to acknowledge reality.
Was that your whole comment? What reality am I missing here? I haven’t derided or put down anyone on this site. In fact most people on here seem quite rude. Everyone just gets their undies in a bunch over views that don’t align with theirs.
Well, the echo chamber for idiots calls itself X now, so its users have less problems with spelling it.
As a lifelong Texan, please shut the fuck up forever.
Exsquuze me? What’s your problem?
I LIVE HERE
And? These were just facts. I’m not calling for secession nor do I think it is a good idea. Better together than apart.
It’s understandable that you think this, having been born in 2022.
Texas has the most diverse power generation with nat gas AND coal AND solar
I think I saw that brochure.
Nah just facts easily findable on the internet
As someone who had to wrap my dementia-affected grandmother in blankets and help her sleep next to my mom’s fireplace while she randomly woke up yelling out my recently-deceased grandfather’s name back in February 2021, I’m gonna say our problem is less about diversification and more about maintenance, infrastructure, oversight, and corruption/improper investments.
There’s a wolf going through your neighborhood that can easily get into homes with old alarm systems but easily defeated by updated security. Are you gonna let the wolf eat you because you’re so proud of how well you designed your old-ass system and the cool modern features it can mimick, or are you gonna call the fucking alarm company and update your security system no matter the cost?
We keep trying nothing and then saying, “but it won’t be so bad this time because we invested more money into the people who failed us last time.”
Yep I completely agree there. They didn’t upgrade the plants to be ready for a cold snap back in Feb 21. I was right in the middle of it. Can you confidently say nothing has been done to mitigate it for next time? Because it just hit -10 for three days without a problem.
You’re not wrong that some changes were made but the vast majority of investment isn’t going into sustainable solution. Texas Monthly recently had an interesting write-up about the nuances as to why the power stayed on this year.
I’m also not sure where you are, but in San Antonio this year, the temperature, precipitation, and duration were all far more forgiving than 2021.
My concern is that, especially with the Texas grid still being privatized, profits will continue to be prioritized over safety and cold weather will soon not be the only killer.
There is always going to be a risk in extreme weather for power issues. I don’t believe increased government regulation is going to help as they are terrible at doing things efficiently and cost effectively. Texas has some of the cheapest power which is great for those of modest means and it would be a shame to change that for those choosing between a meal or their power bill. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.
Can you confidently say nothing has been done to mitigate it for next time?
Yes. Nothing has been done to mitigate it for next time. ERCOT uses weather and manufactured scarcity to drive increased profits as we suffer. They will not willingly fix anything, and there is no mechanism to force them to fix anything.
Abbott is heavily funded by ERCOT. What ERCOT wants, ERCOT gets and Abbott will sit by and placate Texans about it as needed. That’s what he’s paid by them to do.
When Abbott and ERCOT say “we’ve done a lot of things to prevent this from happening again. We invested in more generation and winterization”, but then point to nothing substantial, what they are saying is they’ve done nothing to prevent another opportunity for them to manufacture scarcity on the bodies of dead Texans again.
During this latest cold spell last week, which was significantly warmer state-wide than the blackout event, ERCOT issued rolling blackout warnings for three days, warning us that rolling blackouts were possible over and over again. They falsely blamed wind generation short-comings, despite wind advisories and wind storms all week long all over Texas.
They are terrible liars and, instead of pushing back on them, you defend them. Why? Why are you defending vile, grotesque sub-humans who profit on the deaths of fellow Texans?
Every word uttered by a conservative is deception or manipulation. Never, ever believe a conservative. Never.
What units are you using for your -10?
https://www.chron.com/weather/article/houston-freeze-texas-18610377.php
This is saying lows in the 20s with an all time record of 5 set 90+ years ago.
How about that mitigation during heatwave just 4 months ago?
https://www.npr.org/2023/09/08/1198520449/the-texas-power-grid-struggles-through-heatwave
Did you forget about those additional rolling blackouts that no one else in the country deals with?
Cough California cough
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I’m with you, fuck this shit stain
You don’t have to write a comment to block. But it does show your need for public validation.
I bet it’ll run just fine on thoughts and prayers. Good luck to you, ya Yankee heathen!
Oh shoot, my lights ran out of thoughts — gotta switch to the backup prayers…
I don’t get why Biden doesn’t do this. The fear is abott will say government over reach and that will be a talking point for the election? How about strong father figure, who enforced the law to keep us united?
Because Democrats don’t go in for the same ‘Daddy Issues Politics’ that Republicans do, and Republicans will never vote for Biden?
I agree, but at the same time, watching fascists get stomped, legally or otherwise, brings me immense joy.
It does to me too, but I also understand why stomping fascists in an election year can be a bad idea.
‘Can’, of course. It may be that we get to stomp fascists and benefit from it. But I get why it may not happen.
You can’t let what Republicans say dictate what you do
No matter what Biden does, they’re going to do what they’re going to do.
Even if he doesn’t do the right thing now, they’ll just lie some more and do it anyways.
I guess the flip side of that though is it’s really past when everyone should keep trying to reason and compromise with these screaming toddlers. How many times now have we seen this exact thing play out where Republicans act completely unhinged and Democrats treat them with kid gloves and keep offering them compromises and trying to appease them. Fuck em. Ignore them until they cross the line, then come down on them like a ton of bricks. No more playing nice, no more treating them like reasonable adults. Wait until Abbott puts his name on something legally incriminating then send the FBI in to haul him to a jail in DC and try him for sedition. Bonus points if they can swing the death penalty.
Fuck em. Ignore them until they cross the line, then come down on them like a ton of bricks. No more playing nice, no more treating them like reasonable adults.
Damn straight! As a parent to an actual toddler, sometimes I have to take my son’s toys away until he chooses to behave. Does that make me the “bad guy”? Maybe. But it’s also part of being an adult.
I mean, have you ever tried to sink to a toddlers level and get in a screaming match with them?
But sure, ideally we’d start running FDR style Dems again, get some of the 1/3 of the country who doesn’t vote regularly, and conservatives can keep screaming into the void while Dems sweep every election that matters.
FDR literally only lost two states in 36, because he was legitimately trying to help the average American.
But the DNC is very open about not wanting that, and after NH I really think they’d go as far as ignoring results in a competitive primary in 2028.
So we’re kind of stuck with trying to win over conservatives, that’s the only direction the DNC recognizes as valid.
I’ve given up on winning the game, I’m just trying to lose as little as possible at this point. Definitely doesn’t mean I have to like it either.
But the choice is try what we can or check out and watch it all burn down, I’m not ready for that yet.
Edit:
My bad, I didn’t realize what you replied to.
I’m saying don’t pay attention to what Republicans are threatening to do.
Regardless of what Biden does, they’ll find an excuse to do it anyways. Because when Republicans try to explain why they’re doing anything, they’re almost always lying and just saying what they think the best answer is in the moment.
So Biden should have activated them immediately on title 10.
The longer he waits, the bigger chance a significant amount don’t listen. And at that point it’s a legit civil war.
You gotta counter with a “sure, but here are fair terms and conditions to have a clean break with the US”
I think they’ll turn tail when corporations realize they’ll be treated as foreign unless they relocate outside of Texas.
No matter what Biden does, they’re going to do what they’re going to do.
Ah, another Innuendo Studios fan, I see. Yes, just like he said in “Alt-Right Playbook Ep. 3, ‘You Go High, We Go Low’”,
Republicans are going to cry “So much for the tolerant left!” no matter what form our opposition takes, so the obvious solution is to just ignore them. But clearly it’s more complicated than that, or we wouldn’t be having this issue.
This business with the border is another example of them going low, and Biden and Democrats trying to keep the moral high ground.
The Alt-Right Playbook is one of the best video essay series on YouTube 
Fuck that.
The high ground is fighting fascism.
Lincoln tried apeasment leading up to Civil War 1 and all that did was give the South time to build strength.
We just saw how bad of an idea it is to crush an insurrection slowly. And there are shit ton of examples of how well appeasing extremists works worldwide.
As soon as Abbots letter came out, Biden should have activated them under title 10, had them remove any remaining razor wire and the rest of the bullshit. If Abbott tried to move cops or a “militia”, then everyone involved should be arrested for sedation.
This isn’t normal republican bullshit from a decade ago.
This shit is as serious as conservative extremists make it. Giving in a little just emboldens them, and ignoring them does the same thing.
I say this as a veteran of the US military:
There’s a shit ton of US active military who would be willing to overthrow the government for some conservative bullshit.
We can’t underestimate them. Even if they’re idiots, they’re dangerous idiots.
I constantly tell Democrats this, and am constantly met with childish accusations of overreaction.
This country is completely fucked for the simple reason that there is literally no left wing. There is nothing to counter the unjust and illegal maneuvers fascists deploy that democrats are willing to use. It’s pathetic.
“Meet me in the middle,” says the unjust man.
You take a step towards him. He takes a step back.
“Meet me in the middle,” says the unjust man.
— A. R. Moxon
I see you’ve negotiated with Republicans before.
Malignant narcissist parents. I got started early.
We’ll have to arrange some kind of post wwII Berlin level air campaign to support Austin.
Every 15 minutes a C130 land fully stocked with Trader Joes Chili lime rolled tortilla chips, apple cider, and Joe’s O’s.
And to keep the pro secession people away: Offer Shiner beer at Wal-Mart for buy one, get one 50% off 12-pack.
I just asked a coworker who emmigrated from there. He’d fully pack a c130 with only coffee and kombucha.
And Telecaster guitars.
And drop brown bags filled with shit on Ted Cruz and Albots property on the way back. Time management maximized.
Why would we freely add to Ted Cruz’s collection of bags of shit? He’d love that.
Yeah, I thought that’s how he reproduces.
Honestly, Ted Cruz stood before a podium this week and give a speech against the insanity of adding more Razorwire, mentioning that is has done nothing to prevent growing immigration numbers since they started putting it up. Fuck that guy, for real, but on this particular issue he is on our side.
And drop brown bags filled with shit on Ted Cruz and Albots property on the way back. Time management maximized.
Get this person a position in the DLA, we’ve got bags of shit to drop.
Go for it.
Seriously. Put up our shut up.
Agreed, but this might create a “Dog catches car” effect… Violent clashes get squashed, political backlash over the effort, GOP loses seats/power then gets relegated to insignificance.
Would they have to create their own currency??
We’ve already got our own currency: HEB and Whataburger gift cards.
What’s the exchange rate between Whataburger gift cards and Sheetz gift cards? Asking for Dan Patrick
I hated the cops and infrastructure in Pennsylvania the times I drove through, but I can forgive almost anything if it’s got a little Fetterman in it.
Yeah, if you drove through PA you should probably get your alignment checked.
get your alignment checked
I’m Rebel Alliance all the way. Fuck the Empire and their impeccable fashion choices.
I was thinking more like Sheetz vs. Wawa
Oh! I visited a Wawa once when I lived in NJ and thought, “how is this different from Valero back in Texas?”
Can I choose QuickChek?
They are creating a gold backed cryptocurrency as we speak! The holy grail of currency that cannot be manipulated like fiat. Texas is a step ahead of the rest.
Good luck with that. That just shows that they are too stupid for basic math.
I don’t think calling anyone stupid makes a good point.
Anyone who wants to go back to a gold based currency is stupid. Can’t help it.
I can’t tell if you’re joking or not.
No need, they wouldn’t last long enough to need one. First winter rolls around and 90% of the state freezes to death.
Maybe Biden should call their bluff, execute his powers as Commander in Chief, and order the National Guard in Texas to turn on State Police.
These people are dying for an excuse, don’t give it to them.
What you are referring to is known as Appeasement and, historically, has been a bad idea.
they’re a bunch of fatass cowards who need to be shown how cowardly they are… backing off only encourages them…
FAFO Texas.
U.S.C. 18: 111
This statute outlines certain types of assault against a federal officer and the appropriate charges and penalties. Penalties for Assaulting or Resisting a Federal Officer A simple assault of a federal officer carries a $100,000 fine and up to one year in prison.
For example, simple assault is forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating, or interfering with federal officers while performing their duties. As noted, physical contact or injury is not required for a conviction.
Simple federal assault is a Class A misdemeanor that carries up to 1 year in jail and fines of up to $100,000.
(b) Enhanced Penalty.—
Whoever, in the commission of any acts described in subsection (a), uses a deadly or dangerous weapon (including a weapon intended to cause death or danger but that fails to do so by reason of a defective component) or inflicts bodily injury, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.
If they touch a Federal agent, make an example out of them & their immediate supervisor via a Conspiracy charge.
I don’t think there is a single legal expert that doesn’t agree Biden has full authority to shut Abott down, especially since even the supreme court agrees with Biden.
Like what is even the problem here? Abott is killing international asylum seekers by placing razor wire in contested zones.
If Canada placed razor wire on their border and started shooting and deporting Americans, we’d be talking about the ethics of using nukes.
Biden has immunity. He should just order seal team 6 to execute Texas political leadership.
let them fight it in court for years
Floridian here. I prefer the execution idea - it’s a better use of tax dollars than paying for lawyers (GOP donors, of course) to argue on behalf of deeply flawed state executives.
As someone who actually lives here, I would be very hard pressed to find someone who actually thinks secession is a good idea. It has been years since I’ve met someone who didn’t consider it anything more than a joke or bit of (false) trivia.
Be aware that Lemmy is a pretty radically legt place. It isn’t where to go if you want nuanced takes on stupid conservative talking points.
While this is true, your elected officials are acting as if it’s really on the table. You may not be able to find a Texan who says they want secession, but it’s not hard to find one who would vote for it.
Rural Texas can be pretty crazy. Cities and the immediate surrounding areas are pretty normal and liberal.
Cities and the immediate surrounding areas are pretty normal and liberal.
I’m not so sure about that.
Comparing Austin to Houston (for example) you’ll see two quite different mindsets / philosophies going on. And Dallas/Fort Worth seems even different from the two other cities.
I say this all the time, but that’s everywhere in the US. When I first moved to Pennsylvania, a friend told me that it was Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, with Alabama in between. Then, later, we moved to Minnesota, and it was the same thing: The Cities, a couple of outliers like Duluth and the college towns, but MAGA signs everywhere else.
If the electoral college didn’t make elections so unfair, politics in the US would be more sane, and more liberal.
If the electoral college didn’t make elections so unfair, politics in the US would be more sane, and more liberal.
If we ever end up actually having a civil war, it’ll be over this.
The majority will be tired of the minorities bs, and they’ll insist on a change.
The minority will insist that in never changes, because they would lose their power if it did, and are unwilling to lose the culture war.
And unstoppable force and an immovable object type scenario.
Yeah, stopped at a gas station out in the middle of nowhere in west Texas, and the old woman at the cash register wouldn’t ring up me and my GF because my GF was black. In 2020. A friend almost got in a fight at a bar out in the middle of nowhere in Texas because he had a UT bumper sticker on his truck, and they didn’t like “liberals” there.
But, the cities are pretty normal. Have seen police cars painted with rainbows for pride month. A church down the road from me flies a pride flag, etc.
wouldn’t ring up me and my GF because my GF was black.
Holy shit, that’s insane. Did you get free gas? It’s not like you were going to put it back. Also, do you txink she’d have rung up a black couple? Did she object to the mixed couple part? Wild, man.
former texan… man, they really want it, even if it seems bonzo crazy, they’ll try to get it. I’m really pushing fam down there to get out before it gets worse. The GOP doesn’t care about winning by the rules, as evinced by Abbot and Paxton’s disregard for laws they don’t like and recent fights with the - checks notes - yeah the supreme court…
I can’t and won’t put anything past the texas conservatives / GOP anywhere at this point, if they have the opportunity to wreck things they will - they don’t think consequences through and don’t care about patriotism in a sense that most people do. I’d should refer to them as Texas Nationalists.
Why would anyone want nuanced takes on stupid conservative talking points? They’re not worth listening to because they’re not grounded in reality or knowledge of how the world works.
So you want dictatorship. That way there is no opposing side and as long as you agree, everything is good.
I think most rational people would like an opposition party who brings good ideas with solid justification to the table. A group of professional politicians who argue in good faith, working for the betterment of their electorate. People who can at least be respected by the international community, willing to tackle the real problems facing the world as a whole.
If we’re talking about dictatorship perhaps it’s worth scrutinising the people arguing for total immunity for the president. It’s especially worth an in-depth look at the relationships they form with leaders of other nations and the principles they share.
You can’t have a functional democracy if you don’t listen to the other side. That’s literally the problem we have right now, a bunch of boomers who scream socialism when you try to feed their starving children or get people access to medical care.
I don’t think anyone would disagree with your point, but the other side is literally daring the U.S. military to kill them right now and emitting lout screeching noises. I can’t blame anyone for avoiding engagement.
A vocal minority of cockwaffles are daring the federal government to assert its authority.
I’m sure the proportion of conservatives who support this is disappointingly high, but it is not all, or even most (around here). Even if they do support this political fuckery, the transition to a shooting war is not a small leap.
Civil war it is then. (they will start it though)
“The feds are staging a civil war, and Texas should stand their ground.”
That’s not a post by an anonymous user on a fringe messageboard. That was a post on X by Rep. Clay Higgins, a GOP congressman from Louisiana, who was responding to the Supreme Court’s ruling that the Biden Administration—and not Texas—has jurisdiction over border enforcement.
Stay in your lane, pal.
