Thumbs up, down: Foes flip over taco flap

Texans are used to arguing about tacos. The distinctions and nuances have fed an entire elite subgroup of food pundits named “taco editor” or “chief taco officer.” In 2016, after one reviewer declared Austin the mecca of breakfast tacos, a food fight erupted between The People’s Republic of Birkenstock and the Alamo City, even generating a petition calling for the author’s “re-education” or exile. But this week’s tortilla flap involved a higher-level offender: America’s first lady, Jill Biden. At the UnidosUS conference in San Antonio, Biden gave a speech seemingly intended to celebrate Hispanic contributions and describing Latinos’ “diversity” — though not the people themselves — “as distinct as the bodegas of the Bronx, as beautiful as the blossoms of Miami and as unique as the breakfast tacos here in San Antonio.” She delivered the taco line with a chuckle that was returned at the time by her applauding audience. Of course, the line may have landed better if she didn’t mispronounce “bodega.” Either way, her metaphoric taco reference was soon decried as an offensive “stereotype,” and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists declared: “We are not tacos.” Biden, who never actually dehumanized anybody or anthropomorphized a morsel of Texans’ beloved morning delicacy, promptly apologized. Many Mexican Americans seemed to take her joke with a grain of salt: “I’m Mexican, and I’m pro taco,” Texasborn Democratic strategist Kristian Ramos told NBCNews.com. Good news is that ordeal led to many insightful articles and discussions parsing everything from the regional peculiarities of taco ingredients to the rules of respectful cultural discourse. Bad news is that Republican candidates couldn’t help but strike while the comal was hot. Congressional hopeful Cassy Garcia sent an email blast featuring a picture of her donning a T-shirt in her new line of merch adorned with the phrase, “unique as a taco.” Congressman Dan Crenshaw issued a clever tweet: “It’s TacX, Jill,” playing on the debate over gender-neutral Spanish grammar. In the end, no one can argue that Biden’s line was remotely as culturally insensitive as President Donald Trump’s condemnation of “shit hole countries.” But hey, the hullabaloo fed the news media’s insatiable appetite for stories exploiting identity politics, which at this point is about as American as apple pie. Not that we’re calling any human being an apple pie.

After our new fellow Texan Elon Musk announced his intention to back out of his $44 billion deal to buy Twitter, the Tesla and SpaceX head has been roundly criticized by many on the far right who had hoped that his absolutist view of free speech would help them regain a foothold on the popular platform that’s been cracking down on misinformation and hate speech. None seemed madder than banned former tweeter Donald Trump. In a speech in Alaska, Trump criticized Musk, calling him a “bullshit artist.” We understand that Trump is speaking from a position of expertise there, but we just don’t think it’s a fair criticism for a man who didn’t have to make up a fanciful tale about being a self-made American entrepreneur. He actually is. No milliondollar trust fund from Daddy to get things rolling. Even Musk’s critics, and we occasionally are, should admit that he came here with the shirt on his back, a seemingly supernatural work ethic and one of the most innovative minds this country has ever seen. So we were glad to see Musk take to Twitter to defend himself, saying it’s time for Trump to “hang up his hat & sail into the sunset.” No need to divest of the cattle in that process. Trump was always all hat.

We suspect it’s harder to rob a restaurant these days with so many going cashless and beefing up security. So, the would-be thieves have found another, more high-tech, way of sticking up Mom and Pop: blackmailing them with one-star Google reviews. The Houston Chronicle’s Greg Morago reported that a growing list of restaurants are being extorted after refusing scammers’ demands for $75 gift cards. So far, they include: high-end River Oaks District sister restaurants Ouzo Bay and Loch Bar; Field & Tides and Maison Pucha Bistro in the Heights; the upscale Bludorn near Montrose and Daily Gather, in CityCentre. It doesn’t matter how polite the thieves are in their approach — “We sincerely apologize for our actions and would not want to harm your business, but we have no other choice,” one email read — extortion always carries a bitter taste. Especially at a time when restaurants are struggling to come back from the pandemic slump in Americans’ dining out habits. The only thing good about this unsavory situation is that the restaurants affected are getting some free media coverage that should not only alert potential patrons to fake reviews but also to the names of some quality establishments. The scammers may be lacking in human decency but their palates appear quite refined.

Four years ago a blue wave swept Lina Hidalgo into the Harris County judge’s office and since then, she’s left us generally impressed. (Her fingerpointing after two staff members were indicted earlier this year? Not so much.) Now though, if the latest poll can be believed, she’s in a fight for her political life with someone just as new to elected office as she was when she knocked off Republican Judge Ed Emmett for the job. The poll, which admittedly has a wide margin of error (plus or minus of more than 5 points), places Alexandra del Moral Mealer in a statistical dead heat with the much better known Hidalgo. The poll shows 48 percent of registered voters in the county support Hidalgo and 47 percent support del Moral Mealer. Five percent are undecided. We endorsed each of them in their ultimate primary races, and will weigh in again on our choice in November closer to Election Day. But for now? In a county known for ‘ol boy politics marked by cleverly timed resignations and appointments, it’s really nice to see a race close enough that it should leave voters of every political persuasion eager to participate.

Musk tells off Trump; blackmail leaves bitter taste; Hidalgo in a fight.

You know what your father told you about money burning a hole in your pocket. Well, Texas has pretty big pockets — and they’re stuffed nearly beyond counting, according to the latest forecast by Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar. The 2023 Legislature could have a $27 billion surplus to contend with when it gathers in January to begin writing the next two-year budget. There are roughly 30 million people in Texas, and that’s enough to write each and every one of us a check for $900. And we’d gladly take it if Texas leaders hadn’t let our needs pile up like bad debt: raises for teachers and staff, universal (quality) pre-K, safer schools, a foster care system where kids aren’t abused, green investments for a more sustainable future. ... The list is as big as, well, Texas.