Texas progressives look at the usual idiocy

Besides the 13th week of COVID-related blogging and news, there was so much related to George Floyd that I decided I needed THREE Texas Progressives roundup posts this week.

So, here's everything else.

Texas politics

I'll pass on watching an establishment Dem grifter vs. a ConservaDem gun nut debate in the Democratic Senate runoff, but you can go ahead.

It's the economy, stupid. How will white Texans' economic take of May be in October, and how will that translate to the polls? Given Texas Hispanics' likely low turnout again, and what I would think would be not-high enthusiasm for Biden, this is a big issue — how white Texans who aren't Democrats but aren't Trump blank-checkers will vote. Or not vote.

Texana

An Amarillo Mexican, or "Mexican," restaurant with a race-stereotyping name won't back down. And, dude? The name is "topped" by the logo, which looks even worse. You're the dumb shit who ordered merch in advance too. If you go belly up, blame nobody but yourself.

Christoph Spieler shares two lessons for transit agencies during times of crisis.

National politics and commentary

The Green Party is making preparations for its national, online-only convention.

George Floyd's killing and related has led women of color either currently or formerly with NOW to blow the whistle on racism there. That said, the Daily Bees piece ignores that Friedan herself and other early "second-wave" feminists were also anti-lesbian.

SocraticGadfly notes how Ted Rall is becoming a self-writing parody of himself.

Off the Kuff analyzed two more polls showing a tight Presidential race in Texas.

National Republicans are starting to worry about the election.

Iowa GOP voters as well as the state party were obviously VERY tired of Steve King. Why didn't this crushing primary loss happen many years ago? Is this a proxy for people getting tired of Trump, or at least the alt-white associated with Trump, to which King himself became more openly devoted after Trump's election?

If you're almost my age, or older, you probably remember Sambo's restaurants. Did you know there was still one left today? Well, "was," as it's seen the light and changed its name. That said, the restaurant chain was named after its cofounders, and "Sambo" was popularized as a name for subcontinental Indians, not American blacks, per the book of that name.

Goodbye to James Bennet as NYT op-ed head. He won't be missed. Will his temporary or permanent successor reign in Bret Stephens or Bari Weiss? Probably not. Move Teapot Tommy Friedman out to pasture? Unlikely.

Paradise in Hell warns his Trump-supporting friends and colleagues that the day is coming when they will have to choose between their president and their country.

Therese Odell is always on top of the news and how politics and current events relate to the TV industry.

When Tom Cotton does it in a NYT op-ed, it's wrong. When Israel does it, it's OK.

Overton Window alert: Politico calls Lisa Murkowski a "moderate."

Economy

A mild May jobs rebound (most likely, many of the jobs are short-term in grocery and related retail that needs more stockers, sorters and cleaners, or in businesses in general hiring temperature takers, but at near-minimum pay and with little training) can't hide larger problems that will continue to play out. That's even as Kroger has dumped its "hero pay" (albeit then being pressured into some more onetime bonuses) and other grocery stores either have followed or will. (In other cases, the rehirings were done to meet the terms of the Paycheck Protection Program. That's "semi-temporary," and remember, that program is loans, not grants.)