TAMUallen said:

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Gigem314 said:

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AgBQ-00 said:

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maybe we get Talarico on a Tank like Dukakis.

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It won't be a tank but it could be a truck, or a horse, or a 4-wheeler at the border wall. Or, even just him with a normal group of kids would look as awkward and out of place as Dukakis on that tank.

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Put him on a horse with a glittery cowboy hat

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He'll be a furry. Takes on 6 at one time.

Found some footage of Talarico showing a picture of his girlfriend:

I have it on good authority she does exist. Her name is Lennay Kekua.

BMX Bandit said:

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what "compromise" was going to get a Bill passed that Trump would be OK with signing?

Trump had already said he was not going to sign the version that was out there. He wanted additional things added. But y'all think he would be OK with a compromise Bill? What color is the sky in this world?

Have to agree with gipper here. The Bill was not going to pass, but Cornyn dug his own grave by not constantly shooting from the rooftops that it needed to be.

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Why wouldn't it pass?
This isn't a spending bill. Why would anybody oppose this?
You already know the answer.There's no reason to oppose.

Im Gipper said:

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Cornyn did support the SAVE America Act.

He said he supported it, and when it came for a vote on the Kennedy reconciliation bill, he supported it.

There is nothing more that he could've done (or Thune) to get it passed. It simply did not have the votes. Very bizarre people still don't understand that.


We're Corian completely blew it on this issue was not making it the central issue of the past four months.

Anytime he spoke, he should've been calling on the Republican holdouts by name to vote for it. He should've been seen having meetings with Tillis and McConnell in which the topic was getting them to change their vote.

While ultimately it would not have changed the vote outcome, it is something that Cornyn could have used to help his campaign.bb


Even if he secretly did not want it to pass, this is still something he should have done to help him in the election. But he chose not to, and blew it.


You have to get credit for Paxton for his move of saying he would consider dropping out if this or to pass. Politically genius.

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Completely forgot about this, but that is a damn good point. I think it will resonate with Texans well in November, just like t did last night.

Most political talking heads believe this was one of the greatest strategy moves imaginable for a candidate to put out there. Full self-sacrifice for something that over 80% of Americans want. It put Thune in an untenable situation to drag Cornyn across the finish line if he didn't get it done.

I think that's exactly what it was and Cornyn has misread the temperature of Texas. Not uncommon, but he has to be more savvy in his position. Or, I guess he doesn't now.

Thune has endorsed Ken Paxton…

Ellis Wyatt said:

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FireAg said:

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Thune has endorsed Ken Paxton…

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I'll vote Paxton anyway.

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Touche…

Just found it ironic given he went all-in on saving Cornyn…

One of Talarico’s biggest problems is that the 2018 Senate clunker (Cruz +2.6%) happened. O’Rourke had a lot more going for him than Talarico does, was a sitting US Rep, and worked his ass off.

While he was sitting in suburbia picking off Abbott voters, Cruz was in Pampa trying…

— Seth Keshel (@RealSKeshel) May 27, 2026

Quote:

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One of Talarico's biggest problems is that the 2018 Senate clunker (Cruz +2.6%) happened. O'Rourke had a lot more going for him than Talarico does, was a sitting US Rep, and worked his ass off.

While he was sitting in suburbia picking off Abbott voters, Cruz was in Pampa trying to run up the score and down in Laredo trying to go for the jugular when he should have just lined up in a goal line set and hit the GOP strongholds, and won by about 7.

There's no sneaking up this time, and now the Latino vote is much stronger for the GOP after 8 years to shift around - then you have all the Florida style +1s from other states moving to Texas.

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Less Evil Hank Scorpio said:

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WestAustinAg said:

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Less Evil Hank Scorpio said:

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WestAustinAg said:

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amercer said:

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Tergdor said:

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Fortunately for Paxton, all of the false preacher stuff from Talarico outshines Paxton's "poor Christian" criticisms.

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Don't learn the wrong lesson from 2024. All the trans ads were effective not because people actually care much about that issue, but because it told them that the Dems spent their time on stuff they didn't care about.

Most voters don't care about the stuff that animates F16, and so it only really resonates if there is something else to hold it up. Most of the "Talarico is a weirdo, vegan, fake Christian" stuff isn't going to move the needle with swing voters. If people are really pissed at Trump the democrats have a chance in the race. If not, then not

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Swing voters dislike phony politicians. His views on vegan campaigns, 6 genders, fake christian-y stuff is actually going to be a big tell for the part of the electorate that doesn't check in until late.

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Do you really think the culture war stuff will have the same sway on these elections as in the past? I think the economy will matter much more. Paxton will try to steer the conversation towards the culture stuff, but I don't think that is what is going to get voters motivated this cycle.

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Cultural issues are a short hand way to define the opposition as "out of touch with normal people". They work. And when Talarico says he has 6 genders he's actually fighting the same culture war. He did that to fly a flag that he is onboard with all the trans element of the party. This is the foundation of his run so he had to lock that down first.

If the election/citizen concern moved swiftly to the economy I dont think Talarico has any advantage on those issues. He's been a school teacher....and a politician.

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Sure, I don't really disagree too much with any of that. The model for what wins elections is just way simpler to me. What wins elections is getting certain demographics to the polls and having other demographics not care that much. I think Ds are pretty motivated this cycle, and I think Rs are pretty unenthusiastic, mostly from issues top down. I don't think Trump has energized people with his actions in his first two years.

I'm probably dead wrong and Paxton will win by 12 points, but from a macro level I think the Rs have an uphill battle this year.

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I think you'll see the same effect that you've seen in the D turnout in 2020 & 2024 of simply voting against Trump but flipped. Pretty much every single view and soundbite from this weirdo is something that 90% of Texans do not believe in. Whether the candidate was Cornyn, Hunt, or Paxton, Texans are going to show up to reject this freakshow. I mean what policies does this guy believe in that is going to get some massive black or Hispanic turnout? Healthcare for transgenders, more than 2 genders, veganism, etc.....? LOL.

The only stance this guy has that may get a slight uptick in black voters would be abortion, but it won't move the needle much. Every Hispanic that i know is a strong Christian and is against abortion.

Prosperdick said:

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One of Talarico’s biggest problems is that the 2018 Senate clunker (Cruz +2.6%) happened. O’Rourke had a lot more going for him than Talarico does, was a sitting US Rep, and worked his ass off.

While he was sitting in suburbia picking off Abbott voters, Cruz was in Pampa trying…

— Seth Keshel (@RealSKeshel) May 27, 2026

Quote:

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One of Talarico's biggest problems is that the 2018 Senate clunker (Cruz +2.6%) happened. O'Rourke had a lot more going for him than Talarico does, was a sitting US Rep, and worked his ass off.

While he was sitting in suburbia picking off Abbott voters, Cruz was in Pampa trying to run up the score and down in Laredo trying to go for the jugular when he should have just lined up in a goal line set and hit the GOP strongholds, and won by about 7.

There's no sneaking up this time, and now the Latino vote is much stronger for the GOP after 8 years to shift around - then you have all the Florida style +1s from other states moving to Texas.

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And as we can see, Paxton is coming out of the gate swinging. He's not going to let up between now and November.

The other challenge I think Talarico will deal with is motivating the Dem base to vote for him. Sure, he's trying to court moderate suburban voters and virtuous mommy bloggers, but I question whether the Dem base who prefer a more combative candidate will be motivated to get out and vote for this guy.

To be fair, Talarico is also not a criminal or adulterer so he's got that going for him (to those who still care about moral character, which I know is not most of MAGA).

Another talking point for Paxton is how Talarico has said that God supports abortion.

I don't know how to find that video someone posted here on Texags of one of Talarico's sermons, but Talarico tears the clear text of the Bible to shreds in order to rearrange the words into a complete falsification of the passage.

I am no expert on the Bible by any means, but I am a retired English teacher who is used to reading and making sense of texts, and it is clear to me that Talarico is terribly distorting the meaning of the text.

I think it's the Annunciation.

It just shows that Talarico will do anything to make God and Jesus conform to his beliefs, rather than the other way around.

Talarico needs to run his own version of this ad, I'm sure it will work:

They're doing it again . . . https://t.co/fXCt4ZABIy pic.twitter.com/mUCpajkbRP

— Flappr (@flapprdotnet) May 27, 2026

Yes I can. Paxton is a crook and low moral individual. Republicans had yet another opportunity to vote for a decent candidate but bowed to Trump and his cult. The party that will sell their souls to appease a different criminal.

Tell us the things you like about him (other than the 6 gender thing)

This is not going to be close.


But I will laugh at the comments from everyone who thinks that it will be.

Hullabaloonatic said:

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Yes I can. Paxton is a crook and low moral individual. Republicans had yet another opportunity to vote for a decent candidate but bowed to Trump and his cult. The party that will sell their souls to appease a different criminal.

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You've got that backwards. Trump was about to endorse Cornyn a few weeks but couldn't because of the blowback and misreading this one.

Cornyn lost all on his own.

Hullabaloonatic said:

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Yes I can. Paxton is a crook and low moral individual. Republicans had yet another opportunity to vote for a decent candidate but bowed to Trump and his cult. The party that will sell their souls to appease a different criminal.

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What Talarico policies do you support?

FireAg said:

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Hullabaloonatic said:

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Yes I can. Paxton is a crook and low moral individual. Republicans had yet another opportunity to vote for a decent candidate but bowed to Trump and his cult. The party that will sell their souls to appease a different criminal.

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What Talarico policies do you support?

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Well I don't think we're going to get an answer, or he's having trouble coming up with something

Hullabaloonatic said:

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To be fair, Talarico is also not a criminal or adulterer so he's got that going for him (to those who still care about moral character, which I know is not most of MAGA).

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He may not be. Doesn't make up for his complete ideological capture by every Lefty bull**** ideology ever, from open borders to men in womens sports to the disfigurement and sterilization of minor children though, does it?

Hullabaloonatic said:

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To be fair, Talarico is also not a criminal or adulterer so he's got that going for him (to those who still care about moral character, which I know is not most of MAGA).

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You might want to look at Talarico's social positions and supporters before trying to puff your chest about moral character.

And is this showing...moral character?

James Talarico's pastor:

"Last night there was an assassination attempt. I know a lot of people have mixed feelings < congregation laughs >"

continues to say violence is not the answer and its important to not do to this fascist movement what they are doing to rest of world pic.twitter.com/kb8eXXLhZs

— ATX data (@data_atx) April 27, 2026

If the Democrats had a real candidate this might be the year instead they have this weak wristed guy with years of ultra liberal comments. He will never win in Texas but the scary part is if they had a good one that was close to center tough guy with some military service they could make it close.