Greg Abbott
Politics & Policy
January 20, 2015
The New Regime
Greg Abbott, Dan Patrick, and the future of Texas.
Politics & Policy
December 29, 2014
A Path to Medicaid Expansion?
It appears that Governor-elect Abbott is considering some form of Medicaid expansion. If this is indeed the case, it is incredibly good news for Texas. Rick Perry’s rejection of Medicaid expansion was petulant and extremely damaging to the state. The cost of expansion to the state is miniscule (mainly covering
Politics & Policy
December 10, 2014
Finally, A Real Governor
Greg Abbott is off to a fast start—and that is good for Texas.
Politics & Policy
November 26, 2014
Obama’s Immigration Action
Some questions about Barack Obama's explanation for his executive action on immigration, announced last week.
News & Politics
November 24, 2014
The Arguments Against Obama’s Executive Action on Immigration
On Thursday, the president said that Congress had left him no choice but to act alone. Conservatives can argue otherwise.
Politics & Policy
November 5, 2014
The Next Four Years
Free advice for Greg Abbott, the new governor of Texas.
Politics & Policy
November 4, 2014
How Would a Bookie Handicap the Election Results?
After a year of campaigning, the first gubernatorial race in a generation not to feature an incumbent governor comes to a conclusion. Wendy Davis has been a clear underdog since the race started—so how would you set the spread?
Politics & Policy
October 21, 2014
A Voting Guide from the Hidalgo County Democrats Doesn’t Include Wendy Davis
Citing space concerns, the Hidalgo County Democrats in Precinct 4 say they had to be judicious about the candidates they put on the form.
Politics & Policy
October 17, 2014
Greg Abbott and the DMN
To the surprise of no one, the Morning News has endorsed Greg Abbott for governor. It is a choice that I won’t criticize. But I will raise this red flag: that Wendy Davis has uncovered serious issues about Abbott’s character and lack of empathy for Texans who have
Health
October 13, 2014
Does Wendy Davis’s Ad Cross the Line in Mentioning the Accident that Put Greg Abbott in a Wheelchair?
Davis's latest ad has caused a lot of controversy. Is she wrong in bringing up Abbott's accident?
Politics & Policy
October 12, 2014
Victims
Wendy Davis's new ad attacks Abbott for attacking "other victims"
Politics & Policy
October 10, 2014
Voter ID Struck Down
A federal judge in Corpus Christi called the state's voter ID law "an unconstitutional poll tax"
Politics & Policy
October 8, 2014
Abbott’s Fundraising
The war chest matters in 2014, but it sets the tone in 2018.
Politics & Policy
October 2, 2014
The Home Stretch
I’m not surprised that the race for governor has tightened according to the recent Lyceum Poll. This is a contest between two candidates who have the support of large constituencies that stretch far beyond Texas. Abbott is among the state’s most prominent attorneys and is no stranger to
Politics & Policy
October 1, 2014
Davis for the Win
The final debate in the 2014 governor's race is over, and the winner was clear-cut.
Politics & Policy
September 29, 2014
The Fallout From the Enterprise Fund
When one looks at the wheeling and dealing that went on with the Texas Enterprise Fund, my question is this: Why is it not an impeachable offense? These folks used the Enterprise Fund for their private playground. They awarded $222 million to entities that, according to the Dallas Morning News,
Politics & Policy
September 22, 2014
Weighing in on the Debate
Alas, I was out of the state for the Texas gubernatorial debate on Friday evening, but having watched the replay, I can’t say that I missed much. As debates go, I found it relatively low-wattage. Both candidates were articulate and reasonably polite to their opponents, though I thought Davis
Politics & Policy
September 16, 2014
Three Fights over School Funding
Democrats Wendy Davis, Leticia Van de Putte, and Mike Collier take on their Republican opponents over the 2011 cuts to public schools.
Politics & Policy
September 15, 2014
The Upside of Inertia
In his jobs plan, Greg Abbott opts for a minimalist aesthetic.
Politics & Policy
September 10, 2014
Abbott and the Money Machine
He's still raising money for his race for governor. And it's not because he's worried about Wendy.
Politics & Policy
September 9, 2014
A Fleeting Moment of Substance
On Thursday, Wendy Davis offered a good policy idea, which was forgotten by Friday
The Daily Post
September 8, 2014
Some Things Worth Considering About the Wendy Davis Abortion Reveal
The big news out of the gubernatorial campaign has got a lot of people talking—but is it anything worth saying?
Sports
September 4, 2014
It’s Come to This. Greg Abbott and Wendy Davis Are Bickering About Favorite Football Teams
Yesterday, Davis told a radio station that she's a Cowboys fan, which led the Abbott campaign to call her a flip-flopper, in one of the sillier press releases of this campaign season.
Politics & Policy
September 2, 2014
Weekend Wobbles
Two court rulings and a debate over a debate add up to a couple of headaches for Abbott.
Politics & Policy
September 2, 2014
Another Round of School Finance
It is all but certain that Attorney General Greg Abbott will appeal Judge Dietz’s school finance ruling. It’s classic Abbott. He has to win, even if he realizes that he is going to lose.But the Legislature’s treatment of the schools during the 2011 session all but guarantees a loss for Abbott.
Politics & Policy
August 12, 2014
What the New Wendy Davis Ad Tells Us About Her Campaign
And the coverage of it by the media.
Politics & Policy
August 12, 2014
Abbott on the Attack
The attorney general takes a swing at Wendy Davis.
Politics & Policy
August 11, 2014
A Creepy Texas Story
Wendy Davis's first TV ad of the gubernatorial campaign is a fairly dark one
Politics & Policy
August 6, 2014
What Governor’s Race?
With three months to go until the general election, there isn't much reason to talk about the governor's race. It's over.
Politics & Policy
August 4, 2014
The Modern World
Wouldn’t it be nice if Texas were to catch up to the modern world, for once? I’m addressing the issue of same-sex marriage here. What’s the use of fighting for a policy that without question violates the Fourteenth Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection of the laws? In fairness to Greg
Film & TV
July 24, 2014
The Alamo Drafthouse Will Kick Greg Abbott Out Of Its Theaters If He Talks During A Movie
The Austin-based theater chain that makes national headlines for kicking out talkers and texters wants the Attorney General to know that there are no exceptions.
Politics & Policy
July 2, 2014
“Honey, Let’s Go Look for Dangerous Chemicals Tonight”
Wendy Davis wins a round over Greg Abbott.
Politics & Policy
June 20, 2014
Making the Pitch
Greg Abbott reaches out to Hispanic voters, at a moment when other Republicans are struggling to do so.
Politics & Policy
June 4, 2014
Abbott at the Republican Convention
What does his schedule suggest about his role?
Politics & Policy
April 7, 2014
The Pre-K Wars
UPDATE: This post has been edited to correct errors related to the candidates’ position on pre-K and public education. I regret the error.Why does pre-K matter? The answer is that professional educators wouldn’t be so gung-ho about pre-kindergarten instruction unless they saw the huge value – both in terms of
Politics & Policy
April 4, 2014
She Works (As?) Hard for the Money
A response to Texas Monthly's coverage of the equal pay debate.
Health
March 27, 2014
Greg Abbott Enters Fray in Lawsuits Involving “Sociopath” Doctor
The story of Dr. Christopher Duntsch—the North Texas neurosurgeon responsible for the death of two patients and the paralysis of four others—saw an interesting twist this week when the current Attorney General and gubernatorial hopeful used his office to intervene in three lawsuits against the hospital that allowed him to
Politics & Policy
March 24, 2014
The Truth About Equal Pay
Wendy Davis and the Democrats are on the attack about the Lilly Ledbetter Act, but would the bill have addressed the problem?
Politics & Policy
March 7, 2014
Bio Hazard
Campaigns get complicated when politics and gender collide. Just ask Wendy Davis.
Politics & Policy
February 19, 2014
What Ted Nugent Tells Us About Greg Abbott
The man expected to become the next governor of Texas shows that he lacks political judgment.
News & Politics
February 17, 2014
The Revolt Against Crony Capitalism
Rick Perry’s approach to economic development is being challenged by candidates from both parties. But history shows that Perry is only conducting business as usual.
Politics & Policy
February 5, 2014
Greg Abbott and the Border
Attorney general Greg Abbott’s $345 million border security plan is almost certainly doomed to fail. The border region is so huge and comprises so many millions of acres that it defies the ability of state government to enforce whatever security issues may arise. Every Republican candidate this election cycle has
Politics & Policy
February 3, 2014
Clichés on the Campaign Trail
The bad news for Texans is that 2014 is shaping up in the most predictable way.
Politics & Policy
January 27, 2014
Life and Death and the Case of Marlise Muñoz
What happens when a private family tragedy plays out in a very public way?
Politics & Policy
January 22, 2014
My “Primary Lessons”
If 2014 is the year everything is supposed to change in Texas politics, why do the campaigns feel so irrelevant?
Politics & Policy
January 20, 2014
Primary Lessons
If 2014 is the year everything is supposed to change in Texas politics, why do the campaigns feel so irrelevant?
Politics & Policy
January 10, 2014
The Man in the Arena
In the brief time Ted Cruz has been a senator, he has managed to convince half the country that he is a true patriot and the other half that he is a dangerous nutcase. What will he do next?
Politics & Policy
December 9, 2013
Wendy Davis Emerges
Wendy Davis jumps into two contentious issues--not a moment too soon for her campaign.