What If They Held an Inauguration (And Nobody Came)?

That is how I felt about the inauguration of Governor Greg Abbott and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick. The crowds were modest, at best, on the south lawn of the Capitol for the actual swearing-in. During the parade down Congress Avenue that followed, I saw mostly empty sidewalks with only a few onlookers. Perhaps they were all at Zilker Park enjoying the afternoon instead? Or perhaps I should not have been surprised. After all, nobody voted in the election, so why should anyone expect people to attend the parade?

This is what happens in a one-party state when only a small group knows or cares about the candidates. In a way, it was reminiscent of the election that preceded it. Just as hardly anyone showed to vote in the election, today, hardly anyone showed to observe the festivities. And that’s the future of Texas politics: Candidates whom voters barely know, and insiders who excel at dominating the process. Texas politics is strictly an insiders’ game, and that’s not likely to change any time soon.