How You Know Your Strategy Is Working

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says that when TX Democrats arrive back in the state, "they'll be arrested and brought to the Capitol and we will pass these bills" pic.twitter.com/rrZSGeQWoA

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 15, 2021

Dan Patrick knows this is bullshit.

The authority of the House to arrest and bring House members to the floor is limited to the time period of the session in which the quorum call is issued.  When the special session expires by the terms of the Texas Constitution, the arrest order expires, too.  Abbott can call another special session immediately, but the House in that session must issue another quorum call which can lead to the arrest and forcible detainer of House members for the duration of that session.  But that's all it can do.  House members in D.C. and elsewhere can return to Texas, and leave again to prompt that call.

Or Congress can do the right thing, and get two bills on President Biden's desk ASAP.  Meanwhile, the Texas House Speaker (R) is trying to play good cop to Patrick's insane clown posse:

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan has chartered a plane to offer Democrats a free ride home after they left the state to stop a restrictive voting bill. #TXlege https://t.co/3fhNVzHuyS

— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) July 15, 2021

Patrick, on the other hand, wants to amend the Texas Constitution:

.@DanPatrick makes his play, asking @GovAbbott to add item to next special session agenda that would change quorum to simple majority (which would make House Dem exodus irrelevant) #txlege https://t.co/WZsnmP10Hk

— Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) July 15, 2021

Frankly, he's got to get that through both houses and onto the ballot, where it still might not pass. I wouldn't be surprised if the House didn't turn it down, to begin with. Just notice:  Patrick is outdoing Abbott in demanding the arrest of all out of state Democrats the moment they set foot on Texas soil.  The House Speaker, OTOH, is offering them a free plane ride.  Vineger; honey.  There aren't enough Democrats in the Senate to break quorum, so Patrick doesn't care about the rule (now).  The House probably prefers to keep its version of the filibuster.  At least I wouldn't presume Patrick speaks for the Speaker.  He very seldom does.

Meanwhile, there is a plan and a purpose in being in D.C.:

Texas state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer in Washington, D.C.: "This is a session to suppress our voting rights, and we hope that the U.S. Senate will hear us and they will act to pass the For the People Act before the August 6 recess." pic.twitter.com/taIxP90Piz

— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) July 15, 2021

Word is several Justices have written favorably of the ideas in the two House bills (v. the VRA), which would screw Abbott and Patrick back into the woodwork. And where there is a plan, there are also tangible results:

Beto O’Rourke has taken the lead on outside fundraising for House Democrats who left the state. He has raised over $500,000 for Texas Democrats in two days, according to his team. #TXlege https://t.co/bnqJZvQJEp

— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) July 15, 2021

Dan Patrick is playing to the rubes.  Nothing more. It's all the knows how to do. But playing to the rubes may not be enough this time. Although FoxNews hasn't figured that out, either.

Hi, I am the media critic for Fox News. I was well-paid for what was left of my credibility. https://t.co/lDxVT2spf4

— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) July 15, 2021