A detail from the Thomas Hart Benton painting in the House Lounge on the third floor of the Missouri capitol [Show Me Progress file photo].

David Marner posted a photograph of two individuals exchanging phone numbers using a panel of the priceless Thomas Hart Benton mural in the Missouri capitol House Lounge as a convenient writing surface. Apparently this happened at pro “right to work” media event hosted/attended by a number of republicans.

It’s not necessarily stupidity. Ignorance? Personal exceptionalism? Notwithstanding the inability to contemplate the damage done to a work of art by one individual behaving in that manner, what of the damage done if the thousands of visitors who go to see that work every year acted in the same way?

We can understand, though not excuse, stupidity or ignorance. Personal exceptionalism is neither understandable nor excusable and is much more destructive.

…they left out the bronze foot in his mouth.

The bronze bust of Rush Limbaugh in the Missouri Capitol.

Couldn’t help it. Had to make the pilgrimage.

Previously:

There’s no room for sluts in the gallery. There is for prostitutes. (March 5, 2012)

Destined to be one of the top political quotes in the history of Missouri (March 5, 2012)

Steve Tilley owes Dred Scott and Buck O’Neil an apology (March 6, 2012)

Rush’s Bust (March 6, 2012)

What has your representative said about honoring Rush? (March 7, 2012)

Rush Limbaugh’s bust ain’t exactly a hit in small town Missouri (March 7, 2012)

Rush Limbaugh (r): on derangement (May 14, 2012)

The first inductee into the Hall of Infamous Missourians (May 15, 2012)

Speaker Steve Tilley (r): on Rush Limbaugh and intolerant liberals (May 15, 2012)

This would have left a mark, if they cared… (May 16, 2012)

In the absence of fear, a bill introduced today:

SB 269 Modifies the use of the Capitol complex grounds by non-public entities

Sponsor: Nieves

LR Number: 1328S.01I Fiscal Note not available

Committee:

Last Action: 2/6/2013 – S First Read–SB 269-Nieves

[….]

Current Bill Summary

SB 269 – This act provides that no parking space upon the capitol grounds shall be specifically designated or set aside for any person that is not an official or employee of the state, however an appropriate number of spaces may be designated for handicapped parking.

No person or entity that is not an official or employee of the state shall be allowed an office or reserved space in the State Capitol building, except for reserved space within the Senate and House chambers and galleries, and any non-public person or entity maintaining an office or space shall remove its office or space from the State Capitol building on or before August 28, 2013.

This act is identical to SB 694 (2012) and SB 341 (2011).

[….]

Why, if this bill passes and is signed into law the Capitol press corps (whatever is left of it) will have to vacate their luxurious office suites in the building. Oh, and it would make it a little more difficult for the media to document the atrocities during the session. That would explain why a right wingnut republican is sponsoring the bill.

Previously:

SB 694: See where sucking up to them gets you? (January 24, 2012)

From an editorial in today’s St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

Editorial: Missouri Speaker’s legacy: It’s El Rushbo’s House now

….Mr. Tilley forever will be known as the man who turned what lawmakers like to call “The People’s House” into Rush’s House.

On Tuesday, Mr. Limbaugh repaid the favor, lavishing praise on Mr. Tilley to his national radio audience and replaying clips of his induction speech.

Mr. Tilley, who has turned monetizing public service into an art form, sold out the people for 15 seconds of fame.

Cha-ching.

Previously:

There’s no room for sluts in the gallery. There is for prostitutes. (March 5, 2012)

Destined to be one of the top political quotes in the history of Missouri (March 5, 2012)

Steve Tilley owes Dred Scott and Buck O’Neil an apology (March 6, 2012)

Rush’s Bust (March 6, 2012)

What has your representative said about honoring Rush? (March 7, 2012)

Rush Limbaugh’s bust ain’t exactly a hit in small town Missouri (March 7, 2012)

Rush Limbaugh (r): on derangement (May 14, 2012)

The first inductee into the Hall of Infamous Missourians (May 15, 2012)

Speaker Steve Tilley (r): on Rush Limbaugh and intolerant liberals (May 15, 2012)

A significant chunk of the introduction before this excerpt sounded suspiciously like “He has his faults, but at least he doesn’t kick his dog.”

And, again, projection, with absolutely no sense of irony, in the republican controlled House chamber. Speaker Steve Tilley (r) on intolerant liberals:

Speaker Steve Tilley (r): ….But these aren’t the kinds of things that the radical liberal groups want to make known when they talk about Rush. Instead these liberals who try to put forth the illusion that they believe in a philosophy of tolerance or understanding, they’re anything but tolerant. And they’re anything but understanding

But fortunately there are only a handful of them here in Missouri. I think I read where the latest anti-Rush rally in Columbia actually broke single digits. [laughter] Which, Rush, it’s actually an improvement because they had an anti-Rush rally at the Capitol where there were more media than protesters….

Because we should always display tolerance for people who use their power and influence and microphone to call a young woman expressing an opinion on public policy a slut.

Oh, we understand all right.

“….I think I read where the latest anti-Rush rally in Columbia actually broke single digits. [laughter] Which, Rush, it’s actually an improvement because they had an anti-Rush rally at the Capitol where there were more media than protesters…”

The march to the Capitol, April 28, 2012.

Does anyone think that the general public will ever have direct access to that bust of Rush Limbaugh? Just asking.

Previously:

There’s no room for sluts in the gallery. There is for prostitutes. (March 5, 2012)

Destined to be one of the top political quotes in the history of Missouri (March 5, 2012)

Steve Tilley owes Dred Scott and Buck O’Neil an apology (March 6, 2012)

Rush’s Bust (March 6, 2012)

What has your representative said about honoring Rush? (March 7, 2012)

Rush Limbaugh’s bust ain’t exactly a hit in small town Missouri (March 7, 2012)

Rush Limbaugh (r): on derangement (May 14, 2012)

The first inductee into the Hall of Infamous Missourians (May 15, 2012)

We journeyed to Jefferson City this morning, checked in at the House Communications Office and then set up our still cameras in a side gallery. Over the course of the morning session we had conversations with Representatives Joe Aull (D), Jason Kander (D), Chris Kelly (D), Jill Schupp (D) and Mary Still (D). Representative Denny Hoskins (r) crossed the aisle and we had a lengthy conversation in the side gallery about redistricting and its aftermath, the budget, revenues, and HB 1229.  

Speaker Steve Tilley (r) at the dais.

Stained glass above the press gallery and dais in the House chamber.

Representative Jill Schupp (D-82).

Old media in the press gallery above the dais. There’s a lot of space up there, but not very many people occupying it anymore.

 One gets the feeling that the paradigm has been changing and it isn’t finished just yet.

Debate across the aisle.

Representative Stephen Webber (D-23).

Representative Mary Still (D-25).

Minority Floor Leader Mike Talboy (D-37)(left) and Speaker Steve Tilley (r)(right) in conversation at the back of the House chamber.

After the noon recess in the House we encountered American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and Communications Workers of America (CWA) members with signs marching to the Capitol steps. After a few cheers the union members were instructed to leave their signs in a pile for collection before the went into the building. Later in the afternoon we encountered small groups in the halls  and offices speaking to individual members of the House.

Which side are you on? Which side are you on?

As the AFSCME, CWA and SEIU members gathered in front of the steps Representative Mark Parkinson (r) was exiting the building. We greeted each other and had a pleasant enough conversation. Apparently, Representative Parkinson believes public workers should be happier then they are.