Retiring Republican Senator Tom Tillis had the perfect analogy. Calling Paxton “ethically challenged” he said, is like saying Jeffrey Dahmer had an eating disorder.
In the recent Texas primary, Trump once again demonstrated his control over the MAGA base. But–as numerous polls illustrate–that base is shrinking. For many years, political scientists have pointed out that low-turnout primary elections are determined by the most ideological voters in a given party.
That was certainly the case in Texas.
It remains to be seen whether Texas voters who participate in the November midterm will send Ken Paxon–a perfect MAGA representative–to the Senate. A website that emerged during the primary, titled “Crooked Ken Paxton,” documented Paxton’s corruption and quoted former Congressman Louie Gohmert, of all people, saying a vote for Paxton would be a vote for corruption. (I will admit to surprise that Gohmert can even spell corruption–my favorite line about him was from a pundit who labeled him “the dumbest mammal to enter a legislative chamber since Caligula’s horse”…But Gohmert certainly represents Texans’ version of conservatism.)
As former Republican Charlie Sykes has written, “Paxton is a layer-cake of scandal, including felony indictments for securities fraud, allegations of bribery and abuse of office, whistleblower retaliation, and extramarital affairs.” (Bolding in the original.)
Don’t take my word for it. Paxton’s fellow Republicans found his conduct so repugnant they impeached him and temporarily removed him from office. (Much like his political godfather, Paxton was acquitted in the senate.) His own staff reported him to the FBI, and resigned en masse accusing him of bribery, abuse of office, and misuse of state resources to benefit a fat-cat donor. His wife divorced him “on biblical grounds”, accusing Paxton of committing adultery, based on “recent discoveries.”
Any or all of this would be disqualifying for any politician not named Trump. But Paxton endeared himself to the president by his zealousness in launching bogus lawsuits challenging the 2020 election and leading the effort to overturn the outcome.
In the end, this was the qualification that mattered to Trump:
Ken Paxton would be willing to break the law for Trump; John Cornyn might not.
Ken Paxton would provide cover for any act of corruption Trump might commit; John Cornyn might not.2
And most important: If needed, Ken Paxton would join any Trump coup attempt; John Cornyn might not.
In other words, Trump was looking for a henchman, not a statesman. And he found the whole package in Paxton.
I am so old that I remember a time political figures tried to hide their corruption. There was even a saying that explained the reason for pretense: Hypocrisy is the homage vice pays to virtue. Rather obviously, figures like Trump and Paxton see no need to pay such homage. They are “out and proud” kleptocrats.
As corrosive as the corruption is the impunity with which the corruption is committed. Impunity – the expectation of unaccountability – is not only a stance. It is a tactic. It breeds cynicism, and popular cynicism is a necessary ingredient of autocracy and kleptocracy.
The autocrat does not just flout the law; he renders it so fungible that as social or moral framework, it becomes meaningless. There is no use trying to stay on the right side of the law when you don’t know from day to day which side is right.
The autocrat does not just defy the popular will; he dismisses it.
As the author reminds us, cynicism can become fatalism, a belief that corruption and venality are part of an unchangeable element of human society, the feeling that things have always been this way and always will be.
Exhaustion of imagination becomes literal exhaustion. For a populace already demoralized by political gridlock, economic precarity, and an impenetrable morass of disinformation, resistance can feel like too much work. The only people left with any ambition are those bent on abusing it. When cynicism slides into compliance, the autocrat has won.
Ken Paxton’s victory in Texas’ MAGA primary sets up a contemporary challenge to that demoralization and exhaustion. The Democratic Senate candidate, James Talarico, is a former seminarian who, before entering politics, was a middle-school English teacher and an executive director for an education nonprofit. He’s serving his fourth term in the Texas House of Representatives, and from all accounts is a compelling candidate.
The difference between them is stark. Who Texan voters choose will tell us just how far gone we are.
I guess this will show us just how much the Texans in his district have fallen. I think they’re probably a lot like the Kentuckians who turned on Massie after backing him for years. In my view, he and Ro Khanna are two of the best lawmakers fighting corruption in Washington.
Talarico is a strong candidate, but he’s with the Satanic Democrats. “He worked with Biden and can’t be trusted.”
Meanwhile, Cornyn wasn’t sufficiently committed to supporting Trump, leaving an opening for Paxton. Paxton went around the state promoting TPUSA’s Club America program. When I sent a FOIA request to his office and the Texas Education Association (TEA). His office responded with a letter stating it had no knowledge of the program. TEA had the documents but wanted to decline my request for copies, so they sent a letter to Paxton recommending that he deny my request, which he did the day it expired.
Voters need to ask themselves, “Why does Trump always recommend the most corrupt minions of the Republican Party?”
It’s true that he doesn’t want to be held accountable, but it’s also a tip of what is coming in Trump World. As much as I’d like to say with certainty what is about to happen, I can only speculate. I know there is a group of young Tech investigators conducting deep dives into what the National Design Studio and Joe Gebbia are doing across all federal government websites. Supposedly, they are modernizing the US . Gov websites. The techies using OSINT tools have discovered that many of the .GOV websites are being routed to private websites that are actually collecting the data. According to these techies, Trump and his cronies are building an alternate government in the private arena. User data is the target. It’s much, much worse than Watergate. So, why are they stealing our data?
Speaking of precision … One of Paxton’s nausea-producing acts was to use taxpayer money to move his mistress from San Antonio to Austin and put her to work for a friendly donor.
Ever since Ann Richards was voted out, Texas politics has devolved into the slimiest of entities. George W. Bush as governor was merely a thin veneer covering the real “operators” of the state. Rick Perry wore out his knees trying to become somebody important in national politics, and Greg Abbott combines both the traits of incompetence and abject corruption to go along with his nastiness.
In sum, 21st century politics in Texas is a study in all these things. All one has to do is look at the rankings of states in those people services like health care, education and immigration. Oh, and most Texas Republican women vote the way their husbands tell them to.
I’m not making this up.
If John Cornyn doesn’t stand up to Trump at this point, he is spineless. I am not confident about Talarico. Cornyn could kick the Senate Republicans to do resist Trump. It is ridiculous that Dems have to “sue” to oppose Trump. This is NOT what is supposed to happen with checks and balances where the legislative branch has power to stop the president’s over reach. Cornyn – now is your moment. We know Paxton is a sleaze; let’s talk about emboldening the “losers” who are still in the Senate and House – they still have more power than Paxton does right now. Just do it, Cornyn. I appreciate the analysis of Paxton, but I would like to see how the “losers” Trump is preventing from running again can get Congress to do its job – Speak out without fear.
in NoDak, former congress critter now gov,kelly armstrong is carrying a trump torch here in his magat domain. last week i heard him say, “were only going to put legislatures in who can get the job done.”end of quote as far what the job is. im sure its making sure no one gets in board unless he approves.ala trump.
well, ill have to say, im getting a data center in my backyard. not a common one, one that employes its minions to operate it. the power plant is minnkota square butte, Milton Young. is nearby. 705 megawatts capacity, this data sprawl will use, as they say, 440 megawatts. (so they say) the one in ellendale NoDak will use 360 megawats. 2 data centers using the capacity of one power plant. the meeting last week in town,in center, nodak, was not going as planned. as some locals didnt like the idea. these folks are diehard trumpers all,and no one asked why we need them?..death threats, etc make a list ..the equipment to do the dirt work is on the ground,though they say,the building permits arent even done. so they say. seems alot of money and the property,in a NDA was sold to whoever. locals are really pissed its gone this far. but some,lalala it along. some talk of stopping this train,nope, youd have to find a out of state law firm, and a federal district court to stop this. and with a state of air head magats we would never use the government court. yes, dumbass and all wind. this state of closed minds, really could care less.as with the gov, hes looking at his states investments in all this and im sure his personal growth portfolio seeing chaching!. along with whoever he can drag along for clout. ya might say paxton is corrupt. id like to second the that list to the state of NoDak as a whole.
Speak without fear, Linda Robb, an excellent order… that should be the mantra of any and all of the “losers”. Unless they “know” some truly vile information on drumpf, what do they have to fear? They will leave DC and fade back into “normal” life. He would only need to hunt them down and off them, if in fact, they have info that could get him arrested, convicted and imprisoned. And yet, if it was, me, I would gladly sacrifice my life and legacy to do the right thing. We must get rid of all these people trying to ruin our democracy.
Trump and Paxton appear to be cut from the same cloth, and why does Trump pick these sort of dirtbags, because he knows that they will “heel, and obey.”
Ann Richards was a gem, the Bush boys, in Texas and Forididia, were certainly not.
It’s no secret but I would certainly have liked to see greater press coverage of that primary duel in Texas that yielded a crook and cheat to represent, well, just who will he represent? Who chose him? A majority of only 8% of registered Republican voters. That’s it. Some MAGA presence! Some Trump influence! Not so much, not much at all. Yet the headlines screamed how dominant Trump remains….