Senator Paul Bettencourt and Cindy Siegel are Playing chess, and Mike Doyle and Chris Hollins Believe the game is Checkers
AUBREY R. TAYLOR REPORTS©
Did you get the memo that stated that Republicans have set forth a new party platform calling for a “SPIRITUAL WAR” in the Lone Star State on Tuesday, November 5, 2024? What? Did you hear what I just said about "A SPIRITUAL WAR" heading straight toward the state of Texas?
Democrats had better take their heads out of the sand and return to "A PARTY PLATFORM" that addresses the needs of the African American community and is more in line with the spiritual beliefs of Black folks, or they’re going to get trounced up and down the ballot in statewide, and maybe even local Harris County races on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
What you have to remember about African Americans is that most Blacks believe in God, and where Democrats are losing their “BLACK SUPPORT” is on the Biden Administration’s handling of the border crisis and their stance on social issues regarding sex-change operations on children under the age of 18 years of age.
The truth hurts sometimes, but it is better to be told the truth now than for Democratic candidates to wake up on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, the morning after the Tuesday, November 5, 2024, “PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION” takes place and discover that they no longer have jobs as judges.
And to make matters worse, if Democrats don’t get their act together, countywide elected positions like County Sheriff and Harris County District Attorney could also be in jeopardy because the Chairman of the Harris County Democratic Party (Mike Doyle) and the Chair of the (DNC) Democratic National Committee, Jaime Harrison are not heeding the repeated warning signs they’re getting in solid opinion polls that show, they’re losing the support of African American voters in groves.
These leftist policies that are now getting pushed down the throats of warm-blooded Americans are placing many Black folks who believe in God between a rock and a hard place. Do they continue to support a political party they don’t identify with from a spiritual perspective and mindlessly follow politicians heading in the wrong direction? Or do they start trusting God and leave the consequences to Him during this pivotal moment in the history of our great nation?
In my opinion, Democrats have shifted so far to the left on policy issues that they’re losing their core base, which is African Americans – not the LGBTQ+ Community.
And as the “GOP” shifts the battle from a carnal struggle with Democrats to a fight where they’re invoking God to get involved – the struggle for Texas just got a lot more interesting.
I’m not saying that catering to the whims and wishes of the party’s far-left wing isn’t necessary during the primaries. Still, if a shift doesn’t occur, and Democrats don’t shift their focus to mobilizing their “STRONGEST VOTING BLOC,” which happens to be African Americans (not Latinos) and certainly isn’t the LGBTQ+ Community – holding on to Harris County is going to be next to impossible in 2024. 
“HUMBLE YOURSELVES.”
A passage of scripture in the Holy Bible says, “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” There’s nothing wrong with having pride in yourselves. Still, the arrogance and egotistical attitudes of some of these local elected officials appear to be an abomination and straight from the pit of hell in many regards.
While some local Democrats are still gloating over the fact that they were able to unseat State Rep. Shawn Theirry (HD-146) and replace her with Laurne Ashley Simmons, other local Democrats are left scratching their heads.
Do these people realize what they’ve done? In the Texas House of Representatives, there are only (17) seventeen "AFRICAN AMERICAN" State Representatives. There are sixteen Democrats and one Republican as of today. That said, African Americans don’t have the power to do anything without working with the Republican majority. If State Rep. Shawn Thierry could convince Republicans to join her (or vice versa) on critical issues of importance to the Black Community, she was an asset – not a liability.
Replacing State Rep. Shawn Thierry with Lauren Ashley Simmons is a setback for “BLACK PEOPLE,” not an advancement. Furthermore, what Democrats should have done was pull State Rep. Shawn Thierry aside and developed a strategy that allowed her (State Rep. Thierry) to use the political clout and capital she’d gained as a bridge to get Republicans to support her on critical issues of importance to the Black Community, which is how things work at the State Capital, in Austin, Texas.
Republicans control the Texas House and Senate, and the Texas Republican Party has just adopted a new platform at their state convention, which calls for "SPIRATYAL WARFARE" in Texas. This dramatic shift further to the right is part of their long-term strategy to do battle against what far-right Republicans are calling “DEMONIC SATANIC FORCES” on the far left.
With both house chambers controlled by the “GOP” in Texas, what in the hell does anyone think a freshman “LGBTQ LEGISLATOR” like Lauren Ashley Simmons can get accomplished for her constituents of the predominantly African American 146th State Rep. District of Texas?
As I’ve already said, Republicans, like State Senator Paul Bettencourt and Harris County Republican Party Chairman Cindy Siegel, are playing a game called chess. And from what I’ve observed so far, Mike Doyle, the chairman of the Harris County Democratic Party, came to the party with a checkerboard and set of checkers.
“TACTICAL BLUNDER.”
The Harris County Democratic Party Chairman (Mike Doyle) made a severe tactical blunder when he allowed the Harris County Democratic Party to get sucked into “A PISSING CONTEST” by issuing endorsements in these nonpartisan HCAD Board of Directors races taking place in the middle of the summer.
Doesn’t Mike Doyle realize that Blacks ain’t going to show up on “JUNETEENTH” to vote for no candidates named Melissa Noriega and Pelumi Adeleke. Are you kidding me?
And now our City Controller (Chris Hollins) has started to point fingers at Republicans and make excuses. I like Chris Hollins but am beginning to believe that Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis is pulling the strings of the promising young Democratic star.
Stop it!!!
I saw an opinion published by Houston City Controller Chris Hollins entitled, “Republicans want Harris County voters to miss this election,” in the Houston Chronicle on June 7, 2024, a few days ago.
My only problem with the opinions espoused by City Controller Hollins is that, once again, local Democratic Party leaders are blaming Republicans for the lack of engagement and mobilization that the Harris County Democratic Party has failed to once again was unable to deliver.
Listen. Right now, the Harris County Democratic Party has endorsed Melissa Noriega in the HCAD Board of Directors, Place 2, runoff, and they’ve also publicly endorsed Pelumi Adeleke in the HCAD Board of Directors, Place 3, runoff, that’s ongoing right now.
So, the onus is on the Harris County Democratic Party and “DEMOCRATIC LEADERS” to ensure their rank-and-file turnout on Saturday, June 15, 2024, for their endorsed candidates in these nonpartisan runoff races.
If Democrats don’t turn out to vote, that shows that the Harris County Democratic Party does not have any stroke with their voters – that’s got nothing to do with Republicans.
The responsibility to turn out “THE DEMOCRATIC BASE” has nothing to do with what the Republicans are doing. It has nothing to do with Republicans trying to suppress the Democratic vote.
If you want to know the truth, the Harris County Democratic Party and the Harris County Republican Party are both in crisis mode. Both parties are facing a serious "VOTER ENGAGEMENT PROBLEM" as our lifetime’s most consequential Presidential Election is quickly approaching.
Tuesday, November 5, 2024, could end up being a low-voter turnout affair, just like we’ve been seeing all this year. If the turnout numbers are below 500,000, Republican candidates will sweep the countywide races. If the turnout numbers are in the 600,000 to 700,000 range, Republicans are going to win some of the countywide races, and Democrats are going to win some.
For Democrats to sweep all the countywide races up and down the ballot on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, in Harris County, Texas, the turnout must be north of 800,000 votes. According to past election data I've reviewed, Democrats will need a voter turnout between 850,000 and 1.2 million to dominate their Republican opponents in the presidential election.
“TOO LACKADAISICAL.”
Instead of Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins complaining about how hard Republicans like Senator Paul Bettencourt and his comrades are making it to vote in Texas, they should be spending their energy imploring Democratic voters to be engaged. However, instead of mobilizing their base, “DEMOCRATIC LEADERS” are continuing to point fingers at “REPUBLICAN LEADERS” while whining and complaining about voter suppression as their base is becoming lazy and disinterested in going to the polls to cast ballots.
Whether Republicans are writing laws that make it difficult or not to vote, I’ve invested resources to ensure that everything is on the up and up.
Listen. I haven’t seen anyone blocking access to polling places in Harris County, Texas. I have not seen any policemen with dogs or water hoses to black access to voter locations. I haven’t even seen or heard of any “ELECTION JUDGES” forcing “BLACK VOTERS” to guess how many beans are in a jar before being allowed to enter any of the “EARLY VOTING” polling locations through the first five days of early voting for these two HCAD runoff election races.
“STAYING AT HOME.”
For whatever reason, “BLACK VOTERS” are not going to the polls to vote for Melissa Noriega and Pelumi Adeleke, and that has nothing to do with the “VOTER LAWS” that have been enacted by State Senator Paul Bettencourt and the Republican-controlled Texas legislature.
Black voters do not care whether Melissa Noriega beats Kyle Scott on Saturday, June 15, 2024. And truth be told, “BLACK VOTERS” don’t know a damn thing about Pelumi Adeleke, the woman who faced off against Ericka McCrutcheon, in the HCAD, Board of Directors, Place 3 runoff.
Suppose you want to know the truth, with Kathy Blueford Daniels out of the way, after soundly defeating Bill Frazier in “ROUND ONE” on Saturday, March 4, 2024. In that case, the Republicans have a more substantial ticket than the Democrats, in my opinion.
Remember, African Americans tend to turn out for names they recognize and for elected officials they connect to on a personal level. The name Melissa Noriega doesn’t mean a damn thing to Black voters in Acres Homes, Hiram Clarke, or Sunnyside – that’s why Blacks are not turning out.
And Blacks have never heard of no damn Pelumi Adeleke; that’s why Democrats are having a tough time getting African Americans to go to the polls in the HCAD runoff races.
Could things change between the three days of “EARLY VOTING” remaining before “JUNETEENTH,” which falls on Election Day, Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Texas? Anything is possible, but on “JUNETEENTH,” most Black folks are going to be thinking about barbequing, eating watermelon, dancing, partying, and spending the day with their family — not going to the polls to vote for Melissa Noriega or Pelumi Adeleka in the no darn HCAD runoff election.
“WINDOW CLOSING.”
If the two Democrats, (Melissa Noriega and Pelumi Adeleke) are going to defeat the two Republicans, (Kyle Scott and Ericka McCrutcheon), in the HCAD runoff elections, the Harris County Democratic Party is going to have to step their game up today (Sunday, June 9, 2024), before the polls close at 7:00 p.m., as well as on Monday, June 10, 2024, and Tuesday, June 11, 2024, to have any chance to stave of embarrassing defeats in these nonpartisan countywide runoff races.
How do I know that the window of opportunity is closing for Melissa Noriega and Pelumi Adeleke, and their hopes of becoming “HCAD BOARD MEMBERS” are on the verge of being nothing more than a pipe dream?
Let me explain!!!
The Acres Homes Multi-Service Center, Hiram Clarke Multi-Service Center, and the Sunnyside Health and Multi-Service Center are “THE TOP THREE” places where African Americans go to cast their votes during the early voting period.
ACRES HOMES - On Monday, June 3, 2024, only 31 voters showed up in person to cast their vote at the Acres Homes Multi-Service Center, which is an African American stronghold for Democrats. On Tuesday, 36 voters showed up; on Wednesday, 20 voters showed up; on Thursday, 35 voters showed up; Friday, 41 voters showed up; and on Saturday, 33 voters showed up at the Acres Homes Multi-Service Center to physically cast their votes, which isn’t nearly enough votes at this predominantly early voting location.
HIRAM CLARKE - On Monday, June 3, 2024, only 14 voters showed up in person to cast their vote at the Hiram Clarke Multi-Service Center, which is an African American stronghold for Democrats. On Tuesday, 15 voters showed up; on Wednesday, 13 voters showed up; on Thursday, 22 voters showed up; on Friday, 25 voters showed up; and on Saturday, 29 voters showed up at the Hiram Clarke Multi-Service Center to physically cast their votes, which isn’t nearly enough votes at this predominantly early voting location.
SUNNYSIDE - On Monday, June 3, 2024, only 22 voters showed up in person to cast their vote at the Sunnyside Health and Multi-Service Center, an African American stronghold for Democrats. On Tuesday, 29 voters showed up; Wednesday, 23 voters showed up; Thursday, 22 voters showed up; Friday, 25 voters showed up; and Saturday, 29 voters showed up at the Sunnyside Health and Multi-Service Center to physically cast their votes, which isn’t nearly enough votes at this predominantly early voting location.
“DARN MAIL BALLOTS.”
The Harris County Clerk (Teneshia Hudspeth) mailed out 38,385 absentee mail ballots to voters who requested them. However, through the first five days of early voting, only 9,364 of the “ABSENTEE MAIL BALLOTS” mailed out by the Harris County Clerk’s Office have been filled out and returned.
Remember, back on Saturday, May 4, 2024, when Kathy Blueford-Daniels (Democrat) defeated her Republican rival, Bill R. Frazer; she dominated Frazer in the “ABSENTEE MAIL BALLOT CATEGORY” by receiving 8,983 absentee mail ballots while her Republican counterpart only received 4,488 absentee mail ballots to his credit.
Kathy Blueford-Daniels received 9,396 votes in the early voting category, and Bill R. Frazer received 9,047 votes. However, when election day rolled around, Bill R. Frazer received 11,603 votes, and Kathy Blueford-Daniels only received 9,242 votes but held on to win.
Kathy Blueford-Daniels received 27,661 votes or 50.44% of the vote; Bill R. Frazier received 25,181 votes or 45.92% of the vote; and Ramsey Isa Ankar received 1,999 votes or 3.65% of the vote.
“CLOSING THOUGHTS.”
The scary thing about the first five days of “EARLY VOTING” for the HCAD runoffs is that voter turnout is worse than it was on Saturday, May 4, 2024. As a refresher, only 57,053 of the 2,620,595 registered voters turned out to vote, which was a 2.18% voter turnout.
What Democrats fail to realize is that low voter turnout in countywide elections favors Republican candidates. What all this means is that Democrats could be on the verge of allowing the Harris County Republican Party to gain much-needed momentum and “BRAGGING-RIGHTS” heading into the most consequential “PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION” of our lifetimes. That said, if Mike Doyle and the Harris County Democratic Party were not going to put muscle behind their endorsed candidates (Melissa Noriega and Pelumi Adeleke), they should have stayed out of these nonpartisan races.
