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Cookie's avatar

Thank YOU Beto!!! We the People...must turn this country BLUE...DARK BLUE. Regain control of the NUTHOUSE called GOP government. Then right this ship back on course to a living wage and support for seniors, and the removal of Citizens United, Heritage Foundation, ET. AL. to move this country in a forward direction. I WON'T GO BACK to living without RIGHTS as in the 50'S.

Thank you Sir.

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PLawson85's avatar

He’s gonna be our President someday. And we in TX are FINALLY going to cause the entire GOP to collapse once this state flips Blue. Beto, you have fired me up.✊🏻🇺🇸

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Cookie's avatar

The sooner the implosion hits the better. I'm in Fl. I have been on many calls to constituents by Darren Soto...but this state is being destroyed for all retirees living on fixed incomes when rents, taxes, and food is no longer possible to afford on SSI.

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PLawson85's avatar

Once Texas Flips Blue, it’ll cause the dam to burst and Several Red States to flip. Mark my words. It’ll be a Domino effect.

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K. Smith's avatar

I have been calling Greg Abbots office weekly with my concerns on school vouchers. The person I spoke with said they have been receiving a lot of calls with constituents mostly opposed to “school choice”.

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Terry Mach's avatar

School choice for the few, and predominantly for students from wealthier families.

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The Alpha Fellowship's avatar

What are you concerned about? Our education system is broken. It does not work. only 23% of HISD seniors were considered collegiate or career ready. Vouchers represent the avg allotment per student in the state. At risk districts receive far more and perform far worse. Districts don't need money for students they don't have.

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Cats🐈‍⬛'s avatar

HISD (of which I am a product of) may be the exception, but I don’t really agree with you regarding the vouchers representing the average allotment per student. Schools get paid on attendance rather than (and as it should be) enrollment. So every time a student misses school, that money is withheld. There is no way $10,000 (which is more than the student allotment) is enough for tuition to any private school. Consequently, that makes vouchers not workable for your average family; only for rich people. Further I worked for a school district for many years and I have seen incredibly dedicated teachers who were there for their students, in spite of TEA’s policies and testing constraints. One other problem is that schools receive nothing from the state for their fixed costs such as building maintenance and repair, technology upgrades, etc. If the state would actually pay what it costs to run these school districts, I think our local school taxes would go away.

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The Alpha Fellowship's avatar

That is just not accurate. Attendance % is based upon enrollment numbers not POTENTIAL enrollment. 10K is the AVERAGE allotment per student in the state. HISD receives significantly more as do other struggling districts. Schools also receive an allotment based upon their real estate holdings specifically for maintenance. We have schools building $80M football stadiums and one with a $1.5M scoreboard whose students have a 50% literacy rate. Please don't tell me it's funding. Research shows there is little correlation between the two. Our average High School seniors graduate with the math skills of our top 3rd graders. We must fundamentally restructure the system.

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Karen Scofield's avatar

Thank You,Beto, for sharing this information today. It's very important that people get Involved in their Government,or we'll be living in a Land for the Rich and governed by the Rich. Will reStack ASAP 🙏💯👍🇺🇸

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Lynn Mahlum's avatar

I just wrote to my representative, Michelle Fischbach. I hope lots of people are writing to her! Our senators are already fighting the battle.

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Babette Donaldson's avatar

I love that you're stepping up with messages like this. Thank you. I would love to see more of Texas Dems working together as a team. It would be nice addition to your Substack to invite others to amplify your message and be even more reassuring to hear y'all speaking together.

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PLawson85's avatar

We hold the Key to finally destroying the GOP.

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Babette Donaldson's avatar

I've quit referring to them as GOP - "Government of the People". And I never use the words Conservative or Republican. They are only "Maga" or "Trumpists". Them claiming the flag and corrupting the ideas of patriotism is another lie. I don't even use the (R) beside their name; only (M). And in my heart, I think that their behavior is now literally treason by supporting Trump's destruction of relationships with old allies.

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PLawson85's avatar

I refer to them now as Fascist Mobsters and Traitors. They are No longer the Party of Lincoln,TR,Eisenhower and Reagan. They have become the VERY thing even Barry freakin’ Goldwater Hated, a Bunch of Treasonous Mobsters Oligarchs willing to Sell our Entire Country to Russia and to Communism. Trump is the Evil Goblin they bred and fed for 30 years. Dubya was the Beginning of the End of True Conservatism. He was dressed up as one, but was a Criminal and Crony the Whole Time.

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James Starr's avatar

I lived in Texas for 49 years.. I pity my home state...I tried hard to turn it blue like so many others... but when there are 7 million red hat republicans and maybe only 300,000 democrats state wide, it is an impossible task.

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Babette Donaldson's avatar

Hi James,

I agree that it is extremely difficult but refuse to give up hope. I invoke LBJ an Ann Richards and Sam Rayburn. I look back at the dominance of Democrat governors listed in the link.

https://lrl.texas.gov/legeleaders/governors/govBrowse.cfm

What about billboards of famous, respected Texas Dems with the Tag Line - "THIS is who we really are." Remember LBJ's courage with Civil Rights and The Great Society. I deeply wish that we had supported Ann Richard's Campaign Finance Reform.

Please.... Let us all remember who we were and who we need to be.

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James Starr's avatar

Yes, and I miss Ann Richards... I met her a few times. I moved from Texas for good in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic. I've only returned twice since then to visit my elder parents. I dont even miss my friends there. The only progressive friends I had moved out already, too. I miss San Antonio, Big Bend Nat. Park and my childhood little town in deep East Texas. (the area not the people lol) oh yeah...I miss the memories.

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PLawson85's avatar

Turning TX Blue will take a few things: Lots of Groundwork, DNC and DCCC putting tons of money and resources into the state, Getting 50%+ Turnout in all the Large Blue counties AND finally, Picking off at least 12-13 Bellwether Counties like Collin,McLennan,Bell,Angelina,Pecos,Ellis,Uvalde and lots of SE Texas counties and flipping them Blue. That’s the Key to snapping the Red Belt.

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James Starr's avatar

I followed Beto O'Rourke on his social media in 2018, 2019 he worked his ass off while running for governor with his grass roots campaign, over 17 months of door to door knocking and volunteers to help meeting and greeting with the toxic people of Texas (most, not all) and he even Live Streamed a lot of his efforts,

I know because I watched it all in real time... it was townhall after townhall, some were scheduled while some some impromptu, and even that was not enough...it will be kind of impossible to top that.

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PLawson85's avatar

I volunteered for his Senate Campaign in 2018. The DNC hasn’t poured any groundwork resources into TX since 1994.

Flipping this state is Not Impossible. It’ll be very hard and expensive but I assure you, It CAN be done.

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James Starr's avatar

just reading this lowered my blood pressure a bit. Thanks

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PLawson85's avatar

You’re welcome.

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C St's avatar

Thank you Beto.

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Liz Bergt's avatar

Those in Texas, please sign up at poweredxpeople.org and commit to showing up regularly when actions become available.

I volunteered on college campuses weekly in 2024. It felt good to do things in my power to help turn the tide in Texas. I encourage all to join us and eventually we will succeed.

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Judy Gustafson's avatar

Thank you, Beto, for continuing to be a voice for democracy. You are a compelling speaker, and even more believable because you are not currently in office; you are truly one of us. As our elected representatives are mostly silent, I greatly appreciate the independent voices speaking loud and clear with ideas on what we can do.

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Kimberly Montgomery (CA)'s avatar

Beto, Thank You! Although I do not live in Texas, I have relatives there. I love that you are a voice that is not only for your home state, but for all of America. We are a member of a global community, and standing up for what is right in our own states, in our nation, and globally is absolutely the right thing to do. Democracy isn't perfect, but it is a living foundation that can grow with our times and be improved as we find the pitfalls and loopholes.

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TR's avatar

Thanks. Beto, yep can't stand Abbott for like the last 5 years Patrick as well and definitely paxton , they're all psycho crazy racist and bigots

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Jennifer N's avatar

Beautiful dogs!! The next democratic candidate (Beto?) must showcase their dogs. Dogs cross party lines!

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A D Lane's avatar

One thing I did today was call my local Dem office to find out where (in my red state) I can connect with others. I also asked them if they were on Blue Sky, they weren’t, but within mins of us talking they opened an account. Call your Dems and get them on Blue Sky!!!

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Jean Cast's avatar

So what happens when we don't get to vote?

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foxcreek's avatar

Beto has done so much to help Texas become the land of the free...because he is so brave...and dedicated and willing to serve, not the wealthy, but every woman and everyman. Thank you, Beto. I look forward to seeing you as a US Senator...asap. SO GOOD TO SEE YOU WITH YOUR WONDERFUL DOGS AND NOT AK-47s! I keep seeing some leaders with their family members holding guns...in Christmas cards, yet. Do Christian nationalists sell those types of Christmas cards? I think those type of cards can be purchased by many extremists wordwide.

The way Gov. Abbott and Trump take such joy with separating families ...makes such a picture. Are they related? Or do they worship the same god or are thankful for any type of nature? Or do they support any citizen except themselves?

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Jay's avatar

I hope he runs for Governor, Abbott will not be beaten by a neophyte period who is unvetted even in a good climate imo.

Talarico needs to run for Senate, not Gov, though I appreciate him calling Abbott out as a House Rep and he's a good person.

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Kristen Gladden's avatar

Beto, you make me miss my home. El Paso is wildly special. Also, love those pups. And their names are fire! Thank you for keeping up the fight. United we stand.

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Sallyfemina's avatar

My parents are buried in El Paso. I used to be there a couple of times a year, including every Christmas. It's such a wonderful place -- shame it has to be connected to Texas!

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Kristen Gladden's avatar

Truly. But also depends on who you ask as far as being connected to Texas. Lol.

As I’ve gotten older, I try to go as often as I can as well. Strange how that happens. 💙

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Sheree Moltzan's avatar

I donate a small amount monthly

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