Texas Republicans scrambling like rats to find the escape hatch and avoid accountability about the July 4th deadly flash floods

Echo opinions published by the Houston Chronicle editorial board: 

Thumbs down: If you are understandably brought to tears by images of waterlogged stuffies and want to know who is to blame for the deadly Hill Country floods, the Texas Governor Greg Abbott doesn’t want to hear it. “That's the word choice of losers," Abbott said when asked by a reporter on Tuesday who was to blame for the devastation. As our governor tells it, the July 4th flood was less a preventable tragedy and more a fumbled play under the Friday night lights. 

“Know this, every football team makes mistakes,” he said. “The losing teams are the ones that try to point out who's to blame.’” So dry those eyes and rub some dirt on it. (Wanna be❓) Coach Abbott is here to focus on results — just don’t expect him to review the game tape. Clear eyes. Full Hearts. Can’t lose our patience with officials deflecting responsibility.

At least 37 children died in the July 4 Texas flash floods, primarily in Kerr County. These deaths occurred at Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp for girls, and in other areas along the Guadalupe River. The flooding was a result of heavy rainfall from the remnants of Tropical Storm Barry, which caused the Guadalupe River to rise rapidly.

Double Thumbs Down: Online commentary is attacking Ted Cruz...aka... "Cruz to lose" for being in Greece during the disasterous July 4th floods. Yes we roasted “Cancun Cruz” when he fled Winter Storm Uri with his family and left his dog behind. And yes, we've called on him to resign for attempting to undermine American democracy and the peaceful transfer of power.

Thumbs down: And speaking of internet trolls, right-wing podcaster Charlie Kirk 🤢saw the floodwaters and knew how he could help — by pushing partisan talking points. Amid an already heated controversy surrounding Austin Fire Chief Joel Baker — who is facing accusations of failing to promptly deploy rescue crews during the crisis — Kirk chose to glide over critiques. Instead, he bizarrely accused Baker, who is Black, of being a "DEI" hire and blamed him for flood deaths. Kirk’s comments were so extreme that even the Austin firefighter union, which is actively calling for a no-confidence vote against Baker, felt compelled to defend the decorated and experienced chief: “As a reminder” they said. “The Austin Firefighters Association firmly condemns all forms of racism, hate speech, and abusive rhetoric.”

Thumbs down: The foot-in-mouth disease went fully bipartisan this week after a Houston-area pediatrician* and a former member of the Houston Food Insecurity Board both found themselves publicly dragged — and professionally sidelined — for treating the deaths in the Hill Country floods as nothing more than a political cudgel against conservatives.😕😒 Pro tip: If you wouldn’t say it at the memorial, don’t post it to the internet.


Thumbs down: Before Texas puts the Ten Commandments in classrooms, maybe the Office of the Attorney General could use a moral tablet or two. On Thursday, Ken Paxton’s wife posted on social media she was filing for divorce “on biblical grounds.” We’re left guessing as to which exact sin has been revealed❓ to state Sen. Angela Paxton since Ken’s impeachment trial. We already knew about the allegations that Texas’ top lawman coveted his neighbor’s wife — not to mention his $1,000 Montblanc pen. (Is Paxton a hypocrite, ya'think❓)

*Houston pediatrician fired over flood victims comment issues apology. "I take full responsibility for a social media comment I made..." (This pediatrician should lose his medical license❗)