At least, I’m assuming it’s the back porch. Looks more like a back porch than a front porch. In my humble opinion.
I have a front porch, and a back porch, and the porch in this video looks more like my back porch.
But admittedly, the video was shot in Texas. Maybe porches look different in Texas?
A few of my neighbors here in Pagosa Springs are second-home owners from Texas, so they’re probably aware that a former schoolteacher named James Talarico is running for the U.S. Senate in Texas. I’ve even heard about it myself, and I normally don’t pay attention that kind of stuff. My motto is, “What happens in Texas, ought to stay in Texas.” (If you need a motto, you’re welcome to use it, too.)
But as we’ve noticed lately, politics doesn’t seem to be staying where it belongs. People are getting elected here and there… and there and here… and then going off to Washington DC and causing all kinds of havoc.
And some people who have a lot of money — and I mean a lot of money — and who want even more money, are sticking their big fat noses and big fat wallets into political campaigns, in Texas and similar places.
Not so much in Colorado. Which is part of the reason I live here. Another part is, I can’t afford to leave.
Political campaigning is more an art than a science, and I’m a big fan of art. Especially, movies. So when I came across James Talarico’s campaign video, I viewed it as a film critic might, with an emphasis on the word, “might”.
Here’s the 30-second video:
My kids used to call me Papa. And still do, in fact, on occasion. If I ever have grandkids, they might also call be Papa.
But in Texas, I guess a grandfather is called “PawPaw”.
I know some people have an ‘accent’ when they talk. Apparently, some also spell with an accent.
Another reason I’m glad I don’t live in Texas.
The comment that stuck in my brain, after watching this video, happens at the very end of the 30-second film. PawPaw and Jimmy have clarified their central thesis — namely, that we are instructed by Jesus to love both God and our neighbor — with the implication that, while Republicans like Ken Paxton might love God, they don’t love their neighbor. But Democrats do.
And also, Democrats can smile, and laugh, and joke around. When Jimmy says, “I’m James Talarico and I approve this message,” Paw Paw gives an enthusiastic “AMEN!”
Then Jimmy taps PawPaw playfully on the arm, and says, “You’re never going to make it in Hollywood.”
And PawPaw happily agrees, as if it doesn’t matter at all if he’d make it in Hollywood.
In my humble opinion, both of these men could make it in Hollywood. Jimmy. because he’s young and handsome… and PawPaw because he’s old, and can look right into the camera and say, “That’s loving your neighbor” as if he really means it.
Texas hasn’t elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1988. But there was a time when Republicans couldn’t even hope to get elected in Texas. In the years since Texas was admitted to the Union in 1845, the voters have elected 27 Democratic Senators and only 7 Republican Senators.
The Republicans have a long way to go, if they want to catch up. Senators serve six-year terms — which makes no sense, but that’s the way it’s always been. If James Talarico manages to get elected, the Republicans will have to wait six years to try and kick him out. And that would make it “28 Democratic Senators since 1845.”
Ken Paxton won the Republican primary and is running against Jimmy in November.
After running across Jimmy and PawPaw in their video, I decided to watch some of Ken Paxton’s campaign videos.
If there’s a person who’s never going to make it in Hollywood, Ken Paxton seems a likely candidate.
Underrated writer Louis Cannon grew up in the vast American West, although his ex-wife, given the slightest opportunity, will deny that he ever grew up at all. You can read more stories on his Substack account.