TX Senate Rundown: Talarico pastor said what about attempt to kill Trump? | Opinion
Just over two weeks into the general election campaign for U.S. Senate, the race is currently defined by two sprints: the effort to define Democrat James Talarico and Texas Republicans’ work to patch their internal wounds from an intense primary battle. Here’s a survey of some recent headlines and my analysis of each storyline.
This is not how you talk about an attempt on the president’s life
Talarico’s religious beliefs are the source of considerable attention as reporters and analysts try to figure out if he can peel off any conservative Christian voters who find Ken Paxton’s misdeeds disqualifying. Several have examined Talarico’s Austin church, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian, and its pastor, Jim Rigby.
Among several eye-popping details, National Review reported that the morning after an assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents Dinner, Rigby observed: “I know a lot of people have mixed feelings,” drawing chuckles from the crowd.
My take: Um, what?
Rigby followed up with: “It’s really, really important, if we are going to be the healing agents of the world, that violence is not going to get rid of the problem that we have.” Not that such violence was immoral or ungodly — it wouldn’t be politically effective.
Other reporting has revealed the mush-headed progressivism that defines the church, which really sounds more like a political grievance group for progressives than a religious organization. The church uses an “Inclusive Bible” and won’t refer to God as the Lord because the feudal connotations of the word might trigger people. As the great Dave Barry liked to say: I am not making this up.
As I’ve said before, this is stilted progressive language that the vast majority of Texans do not use. They do recognize it, though, and huge swaths distrust the motivation that injects political newspeak into every facet of life, including religion.
Churches get to be as activist as they like, but a pastor should admonish those in his flock who kinda wish the president had been murdered. Neither Talarico nor any candidate (or any parishioner, for that matter) should be held directly accountable for a pastor’s views. But a political candidate who sits in those pews should condemn such a casual approach to violence.
Talarico told The Dallas Morning News that his church stresses action driven by faith. “That’s the kind of faith a lot of people are looking for. Because we’re all used to the performative faith.”
It’s pretty performative to almost sanction shooting a political leader, if only it would work.
As for any notion that Talarico can win over any but the most progressive Christians by espousing anything like this kind of religious rhetoric — let’s just say we know that won’t get rid of the problem he has.
John Cornyn is in his feelings about Trump, loyalty
Sen. John Cornyn was easily dispatched by Paxton in the May Republican runoff. But he’s got nearly six months left in office, and he’s not going quietly.
Cornyn, in an extensive interview with The New York Times, questioned President Donald Trump’s loyalty to his political allies — and predicted a rough ride for the president in the rest of his term.
The four-term Texas senator warned, as bluntly as ever, that Republicans could be in deep trouble in November’s midterm elections. He confirmed that he had no intention of campaigning for Paxton or raising money for him.
But it was Cornyn’s matter-of-fact statements about how Trump has alienated a number of Senate Republicans, after years of sucking up to the president, that were most biting.
“There’s never going to be good enough for him, other than 100 percent, you know, slavish adherence to whatever he wants,” Cornyn told The Times. “But obviously that’s not what the senator’s role is supposed to be, especially in terms of checks and balances.”
My take: Cornyn is angry at Trump, and that’s fair. He should also be steaming — and perhaps is and dares not articulate it — over a voter base that did not appreciate his contributions.
Cornyn has been a Senate Republican leader, vital to conservative victories such as judicial appointments and Trump’s tax cuts. Texas GOP primary voters looked at all that and decided they’d rather have Paxton, a corrupt, unimpressive, ineffective attorney general whose career was lifted from anonymity by his willingness to do anything to find Trump’s favor.
Cornyn didn’t lose because Trump endorsed Paxton at the last minute. He lost because the core of his party is caught in a populist fervor that devours useful public servants in record time.
As for Trump, he has survived a decade as a candidate and president despite burning any number of bridges. He has never had a majoritarian view of politics; as long as he can keep the favor of the bulk of his party, especially those fantastically loyal to him, he thinks he’s fine.
Cornyn is right that Trump would face a barrage from a Democratic congressional majority until he leaves office in early 2029. The only thing Trump really has to lose at this point, though, is his legacy. And he is not a long-term strategic thinker or planner. So, barring an investigation that leads to criminal peril, Trump will enjoy sparring with Democrats and leave other Republicans to pick up the pieces in the campaigns of 2028 and beyond.
Paxton impeachment lawyer endorses Talarico. … So what?
Super-lawyer Dan Cogdell, who represented Paxton in his state securities-fraud case and his impeachment trial, says he’s backing Talarico.
“Respectfully, I think Ken has lost sight of his core mission, which is to represent the people of Texas,” Cogdell said in a statement distributed by the Talarico campaign, the Star-Telegram’s Eleanor Dearman reported. “And unlike Ken, I believe to my core that James Talarico believes in unity over division and that he knows how to assemble not only Democrats, but Independents and Republicans, and we need that right now.”
My take: A trial lawyer playing opportunistic politics? To the fainting couch!
What’s notable about Cogdell’s defection, if it can be called that, is that he revealed nothing about Paxton that voters don’t already know. He has to honor attorney-client privilege, of course, but Cogdell didn’t indicate that his legal service to Paxton had left him with concern about the man’s character or ability. Instead, Cogdell fell back on predictable political messages about Talarico’s ability to unify people and issues where he thought Paxton had come up short, such as education, healthcare and school shootings.
Yawn. Plenty of lawyers change their loyalties as frequently as they change their socks. Unless Cogdell has insight he can share about Paxton, his endorsement means nothing for the race.
