# Reluctantly — Fuck Texas **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 19, 2021, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289 "2021-02-19T14:59:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 60
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/1181 "2026-08-18T15:52:34Z")
Everyone who understood @Buck_Godot 's point, raise your hand 🙋‍♀️ ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/1182 "2026-08-18T15:57:48Z")
🙋‍♀️ ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/1183 "2026-08-18T15:58:47Z")
🙋‍♂️ ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/1184 "2026-08-18T16:16:24Z")
🖐 ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/1185 "2026-08-18T16:34:59Z")
🙌 ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/1186 "2026-08-18T16:43:40Z")
Ken Paxton steals $1000 pen > **[Ken Paxton Steals Pens](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlHVxUMasu0%2F)** > > If Ken Paxton can steal a pen, what will he steal from you?Get your very own "Not Ken Paxton's Pen" in the campaign merch store:⟶ https://store.jamestalarico... ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/1187 "2026-08-18T16:50:58Z")
A thousand dollar pen?? Does it write by itself or something? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/1188 "2026-08-18T16:53:27Z")
Just a note that the alleged theft occurred about 13 years ago. Though from what I know about Paxton, I don’t doubt it’s true. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/1189 "2026-08-18T16:53:57Z")
It was a Montblanc fountain pen. Definitely a luxury item, at least for folks who still go for fountain pens. The type where they will have a ritzy store (just for pens!) near a neighborhood you can’t afford to live in ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/1190 "2026-08-18T16:54:27Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > A thousand dollar pen?? Does it write by itself or something? [Hmm, I would have thought Montblanc pens were fairly common knowledge?](https://www.saksfifthavenue.com/product/montblanc-meisterst%C3%BCck-gold-coated-149-fountain-pen-0400026006423.html?dwvar_0400026006423_size=No+Size&dwvar_0400026006423_color=BLACK&site_refer=CSE_GGLPLA%3Acategory%3AMontblanc&country=US¤cy=USD&CSE_CID=SAKS_G_PLA_Men%27s+Accessories_Baseline%3ASAKS_G_PLA_Men%27s+Accessories_Baseline_Men%27s+Accessories&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=4&gad_campaignid=23025478034&gbraid=0AAAAADO6JtQr98azMlOasVDk2b1mlg_jm&gclid=EAIaIQobChMInMaZ2NGqlgMV3RmtBh0Ssi55EAQYAiABEgLVgPD_BwE) ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/1191 "2026-08-18T16:56:05Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Just a note that the alleged theft occurred about 13 years ago. But I believe the ads are current. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/1192 "2026-08-18T16:57:18Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > But I believe the ads are current. Yes, they are. Talarico is bringing it up in the current ads. And I don’t fault him for it. Paxton is a crook, and it’s another example of him being a crook. I just wanted to point out that this isn’t some new incident (the theft), but you are right that the _story_ about it is relevant to the current political situation. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/1193 "2026-08-18T17:01:41Z")
One of the worse things about it is the theft of a fountain pen is one of the more benign of his sins. He’s just a terrible human being and even other Texas Republicans knew it. But he had just enough pull with the right people to hold off a very serious attempt within his own party to oust him. After that, he had a clear lane to nomination, but he’s so awful that he wasn’t going to coast even if this wasn’t a challenging year to be a Republican. He may still win (it’s still Texas) but the race is going to suck a lot of money and attention the national party could have spent elsewhere. So, that’s at least a silver lining, no matter how it turns out. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/1194 "2026-08-18T17:23:42Z")
🙋‍♀️ ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/1195 "2026-08-18T18:44:33Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > Everyone who understood @Buck_Godot 's point, raise your hand 🙋‍♀️ Eh, it started reasonably and then took a sharp right into mocking sarcasm. It would have benefited from a eyesprain-inducing 🙄 . ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/1196 "2026-08-18T21:12:07Z")
[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/udJw-CzX7sA/hqdefault.jpg "I Don't Even Know Anymore (The Simpsons)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udJw-CzX7sA) ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2026, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/1197 "2026-08-19T02:44:05Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > those chapels are non-denominational they aren’t directed at one particular religion. That is why they just have generic representations of religion, like stained glass windows, crosses and bibles. Having done 3rd through 12th grade (+undergrad, but that was very different) in Texas, you may say this as a joke, but it is my lived experience. School administration with absolute sincerity and conviction not understanding why an in school prayer to God is wrong, because the prayer is acceptable to Baptists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, and even Catholics. Freedom of religion means you can be Baptist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, even Catholic, and I guess Jewish if you insist (but we won’t really trust you). ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2026, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/1198 "2026-08-19T03:10:54Z")
🙋‍♂️ ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2026, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/1199 "2026-08-26T21:55:15Z")
A Reagan-appointed judge (yes, he’s 87) ruled a Texas law unconstitutional. The law, among other things, specifically banned drag shows. The judge’s ruling contained some extremely common-sense language: > In the ruling, Hittner also had advice for “those who find such activities as described in this case offensive.” > > “The solution is relatively simple … just don’t go,” he wrote. > **[Judge strikes down Texas ban on drag shows, tells people offended by them...](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/judge-strikes-texas-ban-drag-shows-tells-people-offended-just-dont-go-rcna594448)** > > The federal judge, who cited Dolly Parton in his ruling, found that the state law violated the First Amendment. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2026, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289/1200 "2026-08-27T14:50:25Z")
One that I find annoying is some sort of proposal by our dumb-ass Governor for Texas universities to offer some kind of 3 year bachelor degree. As if somehow this won’t make our universities look bad by granting half-assed degrees. [Texas Gov. Abbott pushing for 3-year bachelor’s degrees | kvue.com](https://www.kvue.com/article/news/education/greg-abbott-pushing-3-year-bachelors-degrees/269-422b938b-3b28-42cf-ae8d-1bec34f64993) And I’m a bit confused about what “high demand” degrees there are that are in such demand that we’d want to shorten the educational requirements in order to create more graduates? Seems to me the way to save tuition for deserving students isn’t to force universities to do this nonsense, but you know, actually subsidize tuition or grant more financial aid. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289.md?page=59) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reluctantly-fuck-texas/933289.md?page=61)