GOP Guvs’ Anti-Immigration Theater Gets Weird With D.C. Bus Stunt

HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 27: Texas Governor Greg Abbott prepares to speak at the Houston Region Business Coalition's monthly meeting on October 27, 2021 in Houston, Texas. Abbott spoke on Texas' economic achievements... HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 27: Texas Governor Greg Abbott prepares to speak at the Houston Region Business Coalition's monthly meeting on October 27, 2021 in Houston, Texas. Abbott spoke on Texas' economic achievements and gave an update on the state's business environment. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R) political clown show has rolled into town and parked itself helpfully right on Fox News’ doorstep.

A week after Abbott promised to send buses and planes to D.C. carrying undocumented immigrants who had been processed in Texas and released from federal custody, the first bus arrived on Wednesday and stopped outside the building that houses the studios for Fox News, NBC News and C-Span, per Fox News reporter John Roberts:

Abbott stated in his announcement last week that the trips were voluntary for the migrants, and he acknowledged during a Fox News interview on Thursday that he couldn’t actually force them to get on the buses because “that would be kidnapping, even though it would be by a law enforcement agency.”

The Texas governor is up for reelection this year and will be facing off against Democratic rival and former presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke in November.

On the same day Abbott unveiled his plans for the gimmick, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) — who’s both running for reelection and is widely seen as a top potential contender in the 2024 presidential race — played copycat. DeSantis pledged to set up a similarly bizarre trafficking operation of his own in which he would send undocumented immigrants in Florida to “sanctuary states,” including President Joe Biden’s home state of Delaware.

DeSantis accused Biden of “dumping people” into Florida, a full imitation of ex-President Donald Trump’s racist attacks on immigration as the Florida governor sets the stage for himself to take a possible shot at the White House in 2024.

DeSantis’ office made it clear to Fox News on Tuesday that the governor Means Business with the stunt and will have the funds to do it when he signs the state’s new budget.

Latest News

Notable Replies

  1. I keep making the argument that GQP politicians can get away with ANYTHING as long as they hate they right people.

  2. . The Dems need to make this a win-win somehow. There has to be a way and they need to do it fast.

  3. Governing by stunt ain’t governing. Just ask Donnie, DeSantis, Cawthorn, Greene, Gosar, Boebert, Noem, et al. They represent a Confederacy of Clowns and Dunces.

  4. The Clowns keep showing up, because the audience keeps clapping. Abbot, DiSantis, Hawley, Cruz and the rest, discovered that a large portion of the American Electorate are infantile, mean-spirited dunces.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

61 more replies

Participants

Avatar for josephebacon Avatar for jw1 Avatar for mondfledermaus Avatar for DuckmanGR Avatar for inversion Avatar for dont Avatar for sniffit Avatar for sparrowhawk Avatar for ralph_vonholst Avatar for danny Avatar for joelopines Avatar for travelingprincess Avatar for strongmad Avatar for joegi99 Avatar for wagonmound Avatar for tena Avatar for dommyluc Avatar for texastoast Avatar for alyo Avatar for timorwig Avatar for eaharrison Avatar for dogselfie Avatar for PicMover Avatar for ajswift89

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: