The General
Footballguy
I find this hard to believe. Regular people seem to be finding ways to help out.Pretty much.
At the very least someone whose job is dependent on having your neighbors pick you this seems unusual.
I find this hard to believe. Regular people seem to be finding ways to help out.Pretty much.
This is basically what I was thinking too. Aside from "it just looks bad" (which is irrational), there's no particular reason for a senator to stick around.I'm no Cruz fan but what's he supposed to be doing exactly? It's a Senate recess week the guy is allowed to go on a vacation with his family.
Right, I’m only saying that there’s not much he necessarily could or should be doing in his role as a Senator. He could help in the same ways a lot of people can help, and it would reflect positively if he had chosen to do so.I find this hard to believe. Regular people seem to be finding ways to help out.
At the very least someone whose job is dependent on having your neighbors pick you this seems unusual.
Wow. Explain to me why I should agree Tim would post something like that?I think bof sidez can agree that was hilarious. Both the misread and that it could easily have been typed given the poster.
Exactly.Right, I’m only saying that there’s not much he necessarily could or should be doing in his role as a Senator. He could help in the same ways a lot of people can help, and it would reflect positively if he had chosen to do so.
Because he has years of posts talking about race? Lighten upWow. Explain to me why I should agree Tim would post something like that? Because unless you can articulate cogent reason, this is defamatory.
I edited my post. Cheers for the reply.Because he has years of posts talking about race? Lighten up
There's also a COVID epidemic, which is subsiding, why not wait until the Texas positivity rate drops below 5%. It's currently 11.1%, one of the highest in the country. Also, Mexico is in the middle of a huge second wave. And Cruz went anyway knowing he would be noticed.This is basically what I was thinking too. Aside from "it just looks bad" (which is irrational), there's no particular reason for a senator to stick around.
Yeah, I don't care about that either. Cruz going on vacation doesn't magically infect his constituents with covid.There's also a COVID epidemic, which is subsiding, why not wait until the Texas positivity rate drops below 5%. It's currently 11.1%, one of the highest in the country. Also, Mexico is in the middle of a huge second wave. And Cruz went anyway knowing he would be noticed.
A US Senator helping in this way means a lot more than Joe Citizen.Right, I’m only saying that there’s not much he necessarily could or should be doing in his role as a Senator. He could help in the same ways a lot of people can help, and it would reflect positively if he had chosen to do so.
He’s not getting expelled.Yeah, I don't care about that either. Cruz going on vacation doesn't magically infect his constituents with covid.
Look, Cruz should be expelled from the senate under the terms of the 14th amendment. I'm not a fan. But I'd rather stick to stuff that actually matters -- like the whole insurrection thing -- not trivial Twitter stuff.
Reading it while enjoying a Tab.I honestly didn't realize that Newsweek still existed. I should probably reserve judgement until I get a second opinion from US News & World Report.
That large portions of the state has zero power for days seems like a colossal #### up to me. I know **** all about Texas power grid, but yeah something seems amiss.Well, they have to blame someone now that Trump isn't here for this. Just saying,...
Yea, i think Cruz is a turd, but he can make phone calls and whatever else he needs to do from MexicoThis is basically what I was thinking too. Aside from "it just looks bad" (which is irrational), there's no particular reason for a senator to stick around.I'm no Cruz fan but what's he supposed to be doing exactly? It's a Senate recess week the guy is allowed to go on a vacation with his family.
It is a result of being unprepared for a historic weather event that is partially foreseeable. It has almost nothing to do with liberal politics (renewable energy) or conservative politics (deregulation)Getting back to the point of this thread- This is the part I’m trying to figure out: is there a political question to discuss here? What I mean is: is the situation Texas is facing a result of conservative politics? Or a result of liberal politics? Or would it have made very little difference no matter what kind of politics the state and local government there chose to practice?
And note I’m not talking about incompetence or corruption or hypocrisy or lying, all of which, when they occur, are a different matter entirely and tell us nothing about political ideas. I’m referring to the philosophies associated with conservatism and liberalism, and whether one of these would have been more effective than the other in terms of the storm.Getting back to the point of this thread- This is the part I’m trying to figure out: is there a political question to discuss here? What I mean is: is the situation Texas is facing a result of conservative politics? Or a result of liberal politics? Or would it have made very little difference no matter what kind of politics the state and local government there chose to practice?
I don't think it's particularly related to "conservative" or "liberal", just as I didn't think the massive CT power outages in 2020 were related to conservative or liberal. More accurately, it's a basic failure of government to ensure that certain entities are able to fulfill their stated purpose and hold them accountable.Getting back to the point of this thread- This is the part I’m trying to figure out: is there a political question to discuss here? What I mean is: is the situation Texas is facing a result of conservative politics? Or a result of liberal politics? Or would it have made very little difference no matter what kind of politics the state and local government there chose to practice?
Thank you. This was my suspicion reading the attacks from both sides, but it’s rather unclear.It is a result of being unprepared for a historic weather event that is partially foreseeable. It has almost nothing to do with liberal politics (renewable energy) or conservative politics (deregulation)
a separate, minimally-regulated grid had something to do with it.It is a result of being unprepared for a historic weather event that is partially foreseeable. It has almost nothing to do with liberal politics (renewable energy) or conservative politics (deregulation)
Could that be due, at least in part, to conservative ideology regarding deregulation?I don't think it's particularly related to "conservative" or "liberal", just as I didn't think the massive CT power outages in 2020 were related to conservative or liberal. More accurately, it's a basic failure of government to ensure that certain entities are able to fulfill their stated purpose and hold them accountable.
I mean the parts of the state (El Paso and much of the East) not part of ERCOT seem to be fine, so it's pretty clearly policy decisions made by both the politicians in government and the ERCOT administrators. They had ample warning in 2011 and chose not to spend the resources to upgrade their grid.Getting back to the point of this thread- This is the part I’m trying to figure out: is there a political question to discuss here? What I mean is: is the situation Texas is facing a result of conservative politics? Or a result of liberal politics? Or would it have made very little difference no matter what kind of politics the state and local government there chose to practice?
yep. there’s no financial incentive to make the upgrades, or create more capacity.I mean the parts of the state (El Paso and much of the East) not part of ERCOT seem to be fine, so it's pretty clearly policy decisions made by both the politicians in government and the ERCOT administrators. They had ample warning in 2011 and chose not to spend the resources to upgrade their grid.
And this is due to both political parties unable to reach an agreement on infrastructure, even though both parties have been talking about it for at least a decade?As a nation we have a fragile power grid that we don’t want to acknowledge
I would just say I don't know if it is so much greed, but the belief of not wanting to increase direct costs on the citizens.It does appear to be more about competence, greed and special interests than it does about conservative or liberal. However I would add I don't know enough about Texas politics and relationships with the energy industry to say that any ideology component is completely off the table.
I don't think so. Power companies here in CT are pretty heavily regulated, yet last year large swaths of the state lost power for a week. You didn't hear about it as much because it wasn't 27 degrees outside.Could that be due, at least in part, to conservative ideology regarding deregulation?
Lead. The vacations will always be there. It's not every decade that people in the State you are elected in are without power, water and are freezing to death.I'm no Cruz fan but what's he supposed to be doing exactly? It's a Senate recess week the guy is allowed to go on a vacation with his family.
Jeebus, give Biden and Democrats some time on this, there are more pressing matters at the moment, like COVID to deal with.It’s incredibly frustrating. Even during the Obama years, even during the Trump years, as divided as Americans are, there’s never been any large disagreement on infrastructure. Liberals are for it. Conservatives are for it. Nobody speaks against it. And yet it hasn’t been done. There hasn’t even been a significant bill proposed. Why not?
There’s widespread agreement that infrastructure needs improvement. There is large disagreement about how best to do it.It’s incredibly frustrating. Even during the Obama years, even during the Trump years, as divided as Americans are, there’s never been any large disagreement on infrastructure.
Is this because it simply is boring? I mean it makes good talk to say we need it...say that we sort of agree its needed. But when it comes down to spending money...nobody wants to...because its boring stuff...people don't see it as tangible things but more of a concept.And this is due to both political parties unable to reach an agreement on infrastructure, even though both parties have been talking about it for at least a decade?
Is this a serious question? Why do you think?It’s incredibly frustrating. Even during the Obama years, even during the Trump years, as divided as Americans are, there’s never been any large disagreement on infrastructure. Liberals are for it. Conservatives are for it. Nobody speaks against it. And yet it hasn’t been done. There hasn’t even been a significant bill proposed. Why not?
Because thats exactly what happened during the Covid crisis.When Texas went dark, conservatives (including the ####### Governor) were quick to put the blame on renewable energy resources. And that simply is not true. Everything failed. The right thing to do is to be honest and transparent. And do every thing you can to help those in need. The moral grandstanding should wait until the crisis is over.
This and we are at a point where you can’t let the other “side” get a “win”.There’s widespread agreement that infrastructure needs improvement. There is large disagreement about how best to do it.
It’s not hard to check ERCOT’s website and see where the shortfalls this week have been, but yeah the how and why I’m sure are quite complicated.This is very, very unusual weather, right? This exposed flaws in their system that need to be addressed. Living in Seattle preparing for 100 degree weather days and high humidity isn’t something we do. It also isn’t as deadly when it does happen occasionally and have such drastic ramifications that freezing temps do.
Political points will be scored left and right as no one will want to take the brunt of this, what will come out of it I guess is they get stuff in place to ensure this doesn’t happen again in 30 years or whenever this weather hits them again.
I’d suspect that not too many people on FBG’s have any level of expertise on Texas power grid structures (and if they do they are busy right now) other than what they read in an article yesterday.
wondering the same thing. what policies made this a cluster? this is 2021, not 1776 & Texas being the largest producer of energy in the union. I don't get it.Getting back to the point of this thread- This is the part I’m trying to figure out: is there a political question to discuss here? What I mean is: is the situation Texas is facing a result of conservative politics? Or a result of liberal politics? Or would it have made very little difference no matter what kind of politics the state and local government there chose to practice?
so you put the family on a plane and say "sorry honey, we are in a historic situation and as an elected official, I need to be here helping any way I can"Looks like Cruz decided to get out of town and head down to Mexico until this blows over.
He’s absolutely entitled to do what’s best for his family but man are the optics on this terrible.
lot of support for it from both sides but covid happened & there went the dollars.timschochet said:It’s incredibly frustrating. Even during the Obama years, even during the Trump years, as divided as Americans are, there’s never been any large disagreement on infrastructure. Liberals are for it. Conservatives are for it. Nobody speaks against it. And yet it hasn’t been done. There hasn’t even been a significant bill proposed. Why not?
I agree with this. These sort of efforts are typically handled by local governments. I don't know that Ted has a lot of role at this point--and whatever role he has can be exercised on a beach in Cancun.fatguyinalittlecoat said:Right, I’m only saying that there’s not much he necessarily could or should be doing in his role as a Senator. He could help in the same ways a lot of people can help, and it would reflect positively if he had chosen to do so.
I believe you are in Austin (apologies if my notebook is wrong) I lived, worked, down there years ago and have a few friends down there still. One of my absolute favorite places in the US. I’m so sorry you guys are dealing with this, I hope you, my friends, and everyone down there are as good as possible.joffer said:It’s not hard to check ERCOT’s website and see where the shortfalls this week have been, but yeah the how and why I’m sure are quite complicated.
It's a result of piss poor planning for things that COULD go wrong but likely WON'T go wrong. It was a gamble and they lost the bet. We all know that things COULD freeze (at least any of us who've paid attention even a little bit since the mid 90s). Plan for the worst, hope for the best is sound policy. It costs a lot of money, but it prevents things like this from ever happening.timschochet said:Getting back to the point of this thread- This is the part I’m trying to figure out: is there a political question to discuss here? What I mean is: is the situation Texas is facing a result of conservative politics? Or a result of liberal politics? Or would it have made very little difference no matter what kind of politics the state and local government there chose to practice?