There! I've fixed it while the VA circles the drain

 As The Victoria Advocate circles the drain, I wanted to show you what the paper's new managing editor does as a reporter. Yes, I am picking on him. Why?

 Because he is turning what was once a fine newspaper into a Trumper religious rag; he is shutting down blogs that don't reflect his personal Christo-fascist view; he is mentoring a scant newsroom of green reporters who don't know how to write a tight story using AP style or how to do real reporting like making pubic records requests; he has ignored suggestions on how to drill deeper by filing public records requests; and, he has attacked me by asserting his 40-some years in journalism is superior to my master's in hospital administration, 25 years in the health care industry and 22 years as an award-wining journalist.

Decent people thwarted fascist-backed state-sponsored murder

There is no shortage of reprehensible behavior from Fuhrer Greg Abbott and his fascist henchmen, Reich-fuhrers Ken Paxton and Dan Patrick.

Those of us passionate about putting justice back into the justice system watched the maneuvering around Robert Roberson’s execution. We saw the Texas Pardons and Parole Board and Paxton willing to kill an innocent man who was condemned based on junk science. Roberson’s death penalty was based on using the fully debunked “shaken baby syndrome” as the reason for Nikki Curtis’ death. Complicating the case at the time of Roberson’s arrest and trial was his flat affect, now known as a symptom of his autism and not his indifference to his daughter’s passing.

But even the prosecutor and detective who handled the case originally repudiated their belief that Roberson was a killer. So did a bipartisan group of Texas legislators and the Innocence Project. And so does a Texas law passed in 2013 designed to protect people from being convicted based on junk science. All of these clear-minded people called for the execution be halted. When the blood-thirsty and ignorant members of the Pardons and Parole Board and Paxton pushed for the execution, the lawmakers, in a unique move, subpoenaed Roberson to testify before the Texas House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee today, Monday October 21. Decency at the Texas Supreme Court showed itself when the justices backed the lawmakers’ request thereby halting the execution.

Fascist-in-chief Abbott remained silent until today, spewing his cowardly play as Monday morning quarterback in the form of an amicus brief filed by James P. Sullivan, the governor's general counsel. In it, Abbott argued the legislators usurped the governor’s constitutional power to issue a 30-day clemency for the state-sponsored murder. Using the inelegant language, Abbott’s lawyer claimed the lege “stepped out of line,” according to a report from the Texas Tribune. Of course, in this way, we don’t know what the psychopath fuhrer would have done; but, those of us watching Abbott and his rise to power would bet that the blood of an innocent on his hands would not bother this monster not one whit.Meanwhile, Paxton, the corrupt Texas attorney general, thwarted the House committee. “But Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is representing the state’s prison system, said Roberson would only testify via video,” according to the Texas Tribune, also reporting that the committee’s chairman found that restriction unacceptable due to Roberson’s autism. The legal wrangling will continue for some time and Roberson can’t, according to law, be faced with another death warrant for 90 days.

Following this case will be important. If the blood thirsty fascists on the Pardons and Parole Board and blood-lust Abbott and Paxton continue to push this ultimate punishment, Texans will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that their interest isn’t justice — it’s power. Any clear-mined people following Abbott over the years would agree that he is mentally ill. Not only does that make Abbott in particular a hypocrite to his Catholic so-called faith but it also makes him dangerous.

And now for something completely different

Those of us, perhaps mainly guys, of a certain era will fondly remember the Hardy Boys mysteries and the Tom Swift sci-fi adventure series. And maybe we’ll remember the word game call Tom Swifty or Tom Swifties. The word game used the heavy use of adverbs modifying dialogue, incorporating puns and humor. In the Wikipedia entry on the Tom Swift books, an example is: ‘“I lost my crutches,’ said Tom lamely."

Today we have new Swifties, followers of arguably the most famous pop artist of our day, Taylor Swift. Now, as some of you know, I have lamented the cult of celebrity for emphasizing values and behavior of which I disapproved. But for Taylor Swift, I have made an exception. It’s not that I find her music great. I enjoy some of her songs and some snippets of her Eras tour. Whether it’s real or imagined (after all, perception is reality), Swift presents as kind, generous, down-to-earth, feminist and misogynist hater; she’s not only talented but she’s a hard worker. She is, truly, the girl next door. She lived life bathed in the spotlight beam of an A-plus-list celebrity.

Then, a little more than a year ago, the world learned she is dating an NFL star, Kansas City Chief’s tight end, Travis Kelce, who was really unknown outside of football circles. Then the scrutiny of both celebrities was not only in the hottest of spotlights but it was also under the public relations equivalent of an electron microscope. Everything and anything was fair game for the pop culture media; and, then the phenomenon crossed into the mainstream media. These two 30-somethings couldn’t twitch without some speculation about their love life, relationship and careers. Will they or won’t they (fill in the blank)? Are they or aren’t they (fill in the blank)?

If Kelce didn’t make a Eras tour concert event or event, speculation was rife that there was, as so many have phrased it, “trouble in paradise.” If Swift missed a Chief’s game or Kelce event, again, was there a relationship problem. Paparazzi and other media types followed them almost everywhere they could — on dates, to parties, on vacation and even professionally related events. The lack of privacy was, in my opinion, beyond the pale. And that evasiveness extended to the Swift and Kelce families. I frankly don’t know how they stand the pressure although I do know that their wealth forms somewhat of a bulwark for them.

I also remember my mid-thirties and being in love and lust and admit to nostalgia about it. And I think that’s why I find their situation so interesting. I can’t fathom how they hold onto the strong sense of self and character under the unrelenting pressure. I wonder how they don’t push back on some of the invasive speculation about their relationship. So far, it’s clear to me that they are independent people with professional obligations. They must have a healthy respect for one another and are grounded in understanding their commitments.

I admit I am pulling for them to stay together. I know why. I don’t feel this way about other celebrity couples. Maybe this is a good thing, a bright spot during stressful and perilous times.