Greg Abbott, the right-wing hack who is governor of Texas, probably doesn’t know what a “petard” is, but he’s now been hoisted by a big one. “Hoist on a petard” is a Shakespearean phrase referring to a bomb maker being blown sky high by his own creation.
Abbott’s bombastic saga began last year, when he noticed that high tech billionaires were waving political cash at lawmakers who’d help them build massive AI data centers across America. Sniffing a quid pro quo bonanza, Abbott shoved his way to the front of that money hustle, loudly proclaiming that, by gollies, he would make Texas the “epicenter of AI development.” Not only did he pour massive taxpayer subsidies into the billionaires’ pockets, but he even passed a law making it illegal for local officials to interfere with the profiteers.
Sure enough, Texas is now the world’s top location for these corporate invaders – so way to go, Guv! But… oops. The governor’s giveaway is now called Greg’s Folly, for the vast majority of Texans (especially rural Republicans) don’t just oppose his AI data centers – they despise, abominate, HATE them. And they’re now in angry grassroots revolt against the perpetrators, including Greg.
So, hoisted on his own petard, Abbott has now flip-flopped from hypester to reformer, comically demanding an end to the tax giveaways he created; he’s frantically trying to regulate AI projects he deregulated; and now crying that the rural voice he silenced must be heard.
Sadly for him, those billionaires he courted so passionately are now laughing at him. When he recently commanded all data center owners to report their water usage to him, more than 70 percent simply ignored the petty tyrant.
Do something!
Wanna hoist Abbott out of office? Donate to Gina Hinojosa’s campaign here, and get involved with our friends at Mothers for Democracy.
Fighting data centers? Check out the list of resources at the end of this post.
