Trenchant insights, sublime commentary, and humorous anecdotes — or reasonable facsimiles thereof — from the year that was. And a prayer for 2024: that it will be better.
Thanks for the great recap, and good riddance to 2023. I particularly appreciate the update on Tony Buzbee’s crash and burn. I hope he spent lots of his own money in the loss. A most appropriate end to 2023 for that pompous windbag.
And thank you, Deece, for such magnificent reporting throughout 2023. I look forward to much more in the new year!
I really have enjoyed your newsletters Deece - you're an excellent writer and give great insight into Texas politics! I especially enjoyed your tribute to Gaston and the one about taking your niece to work back when AR was Gov. Those were fun days! Really exciting to read that you are buying James' house in Marathon, what a wonderful full circle of life. Happy New Year!
I have always thought hospitality was a sublime virtue. James practiced it so much better than I ever could. Still, I hope to keep that spirit alive at "Fort Gaston." That, and feeding the birds.
5) Expected the House to descend near-irrelevance. They did exactly the same thing in 2011-2016. ´Nothing can happen because a Democrat is President´. This has succeeded as well as it has because the media is very bad at pointing out that R Houses tend to suck swamp water since they´re afraid of the wingers.
4) Winner: Donald Trump. As expected by anyone with a functioning brain.
3) See, I think that´s just the old school ...1920´s-style Dixiecrat party, redux. Ma & Pa Ferguson anyone?
2) And to think, Republicans used to talk about how wonderful the Texas Lege was because they got paid 5 dollars and a box of bottle returns per annum, and that was OK, because the Lege was never in session anyway. On the other hand, they didn´t accomplish anything anyway, so I guess it amounts to the same thing with a lot more performative yelling.
1) The thing that matters here: do the Feebs want him or not?
I bet Sheila Jackson Lee wins relection. It´ll turn out to have been a freebie run for mayor for her.
Did we ever find out what was up with the dude stealing the animals from the Zoo? Just lost his mind or something like that?
elm
buck up: 2024 is the year donald trump loses - something to look forward to!
I appreciate your insights in the political realm . I also appreciate your choices of adjectives and other descriptive terms which hit the mark and the funny bone. I know James will be very proud of the continuation of hospitality and shared reflections that will continue at the Broken Wheel under your guidance. We hope to join you sometime in stargazing and problem solving. Happy new Year dear friend.
Best news of the year, that you will buy James’ home (probably you lived there possibly more than he did). The house needs a James, and short of that, a Deece is just as good❣️Thanks for understanding stupid in the lege processes and in the legislators. Sharing the absurdities with us makes us saner.
Wonderful recap my friend, now relax until the New Year, (just a few days away)!Exciting yet sad new about your friend James, but I know you will do justice to his old house, now your new house in Marathon! ❤️
Thanks for the great recap, and good riddance to 2023. I particularly appreciate the update on Tony Buzbee’s crash and burn. I hope he spent lots of his own money in the loss. A most appropriate end to 2023 for that pompous windbag.
And thank you, Deece, for such magnificent reporting throughout 2023. I look forward to much more in the new year!
Thanks for your readership and thoughtful comments! Happy New Year, John!
Outstanding summary, Deece. Hope to visit you again sometime in Marathon. 2024 will likely give you much more to cover at the Texas Capitol.
I'd treasure the chance to share some Trans-Pecos time with you and Debra next year! Happy New Year to you both!
I really have enjoyed your newsletters Deece - you're an excellent writer and give great insight into Texas politics! I especially enjoyed your tribute to Gaston and the one about taking your niece to work back when AR was Gov. Those were fun days! Really exciting to read that you are buying James' house in Marathon, what a wonderful full circle of life. Happy New Year!
I have always thought hospitality was a sublime virtue. James practiced it so much better than I ever could. Still, I hope to keep that spirit alive at "Fort Gaston." That, and feeding the birds.
Come visit!
Enjoyed reading your work. Looking forward to more. Thanks.
Welp!
5) Expected the House to descend near-irrelevance. They did exactly the same thing in 2011-2016. ´Nothing can happen because a Democrat is President´. This has succeeded as well as it has because the media is very bad at pointing out that R Houses tend to suck swamp water since they´re afraid of the wingers.
4) Winner: Donald Trump. As expected by anyone with a functioning brain.
3) See, I think that´s just the old school ...1920´s-style Dixiecrat party, redux. Ma & Pa Ferguson anyone?
2) And to think, Republicans used to talk about how wonderful the Texas Lege was because they got paid 5 dollars and a box of bottle returns per annum, and that was OK, because the Lege was never in session anyway. On the other hand, they didn´t accomplish anything anyway, so I guess it amounts to the same thing with a lot more performative yelling.
1) The thing that matters here: do the Feebs want him or not?
I bet Sheila Jackson Lee wins relection. It´ll turn out to have been a freebie run for mayor for her.
Did we ever find out what was up with the dude stealing the animals from the Zoo? Just lost his mind or something like that?
elm
buck up: 2024 is the year donald trump loses - something to look forward to!
SUFFER MY POETRY
Definitely not at all a contagious disease
Even though it can make you ill at ease
Suffer my poetry if you please
Allow me to use words that tease
It’s a way for me to shoot the breeze
Suffer my poetry if you please
I’ll make it wholesome and cut the sleaze
Like from milk I create the cheese
Suffer my poetry if you please
Ron Kessler 12-25-23
Thanks, Deece for 2023. Let's do another one.
Thanks for sharing your friendship and your poetry this past year, Ron. Happy New Year!
I appreciate your insights in the political realm . I also appreciate your choices of adjectives and other descriptive terms which hit the mark and the funny bone. I know James will be very proud of the continuation of hospitality and shared reflections that will continue at the Broken Wheel under your guidance. We hope to join you sometime in stargazing and problem solving. Happy new Year dear friend.
Best news of the year, that you will buy James’ home (probably you lived there possibly more than he did). The house needs a James, and short of that, a Deece is just as good❣️Thanks for understanding stupid in the lege processes and in the legislators. Sharing the absurdities with us makes us saner.
Wonderful recap my friend, now relax until the New Year, (just a few days away)!Exciting yet sad new about your friend James, but I know you will do justice to his old house, now your new house in Marathon! ❤️
Happy New Year!🥳
P.S. Deece, thank you for being a strong voice for Texas!❤️