OK, enough is enough. Lawrence O’Donnell on MSNBC is right. Texas Governor Greg Abbott is busy engaging in a cover up. He needs to buy 5 months until election day to keep the botched Uvalde school shooting under a bushel basket. And in doing so, he is engaging in a level of political corruption that would have former President Richard Nixon, and former Chicago Mayor Richard J Daley roll over in their graves in admiration.

Here’s the thing. The Texas law enforcement response to the school shooting in Uvalde was nothing more or less than a monumental cluster fuck. Abbott himself, in a bitter reelection campaign against a skilled opponent, rushed forward the night of the shooting to update the public, only to spout out more bullshit than a 3rd rate used car salesman. Then he had to hold another presser to express his outrage at having been misled by his minions.

It didn’t get any better once Abbott finally shut up and let the professionals take over the PR. Every update that the DPS and local law enforcement gave only brought more questions as to the timeline, and more doubt on the efficiency and professionalism in the response. Law enforcement faces kept getting redder, and responses became more oblique.

And now the cover up is in full mode. The District Attorney has announced a grand jury, and has said that no details will be forthcoming while families are burying their loved ones. A states Attorney has announced another grand jury, and announced that no new information will be released while the investigation goes on. basically, it’s an informational blackout.

But here’s what we know. Uvalde School District Police Chief Pete Arredondo was recently sworn in in secret as a member of the city council. He skipped the first scheduled city council meeting. He isn’t showing up at his office as police chief, which isn’t unusual for somebody you don’t want being seen in public. Worse, the Uvalde School Superintendent hasn’t taken the almost mandatory step of placing the Chief on paid administrative leave pending investigation. Even worse, Arredondo has yet to give a detailed statement or deposition to the school board. Nobody wants to know shit about jack shit.

But worst of all, the law itself is working against its own citizens. It turns out that Texas has a moronic law titled something like The Dead Shooter Law. In a case where the shooter is killed, and there is no one left to prosecute, then the state gets to cherry pick what if any information from the investigation it releases to the public. This is to public corruption what a bottle of muscatel is to a wino. Heaven. And an escape hatch.

This is unutterable bullshit. These are public servants, we pay their salaries, they answer to US! The citizens of Uvalde have been inspired in the way that they have pushed back against the obvious bullshit of the state’s response. But these are desperate times, and now, once the burials are complete, the citizens of Uvalde need to take it to another level.

It’s time for the citizens of Uvalde to start showing up at every public meeting of the city council, demanding answers into the shooting investigation, and demanding that Pete Arredondo be either fired or placed on administrative leave. Demand answers as to why, after 2 weeks, they have no testimony from Arredondo on the events of the day.

Do the same thing at school board meetings. Angrily demand answers. Ask why Arredondo hasn’t been either fired or placed on administrative leave, and why he has yet to provide the board with a comprehensive statement to the board on the events of the shooting.

Texas citizens outside of Uvaldo can get involved too. Show up at every single event that Governor Greg Abbott appears at. Boo him when he’s announced, heckle him while he speaks, and shout demands for answers to the progress of the investigation as he leaves. Do the same thing to the Lieutenant Governor, and the state Attorney General as well. It’s time to turn up the heat.

These shitheels work for us, and they’re all up for reelection in November. There is ample evidence out there that public pressure works. Look at the ACA repeal vote in the Senate for proof. Keep the heat on these corrupt pols. Even if they continue to obstruct, it gives statewide Democratic candidates like Beto O’Rourke rich talking points to score points. Don’t give them a free pass to run out the clock. There are 21 precious souls riding on this.

 

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1 COMMENT

  1. I wouldn’t mind much if Abbott,the mayor of Uvalde,,the town council,,the school.superintendent,,and the two chiefs of police swan.with the fishes in the Rio Grande.
    Itbiscdisgraceful.
    19 cowardly cops standing around scratching their balls while children died.
    You can pick a classroom.door lock with a credit card. I was a teacher. This wasn’t A top.secret facility with many layers of security and advanced locks. I strongly suspect that with a little bodyvEnglish, it could have been broken down. The cops were cowards. The pols are lying sumbitches. Abbott can go straight to hell.with out his wheelchair. About now I am kissed with that tree for not finishing what it started.

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