18 Sunday Sep 2022
Posted in Uncategorized
It’s really hard to tell with the cult these days.
This afternoon in northwestern Missouri:
Still there.
Maybe they all forgot about January 6, 2021.
Bad combover. Check. Too long red tie. Check. Orange spray tan. Check. Tiny hands. Check. Cluelessness. Check…
05 Sunday Dec 2021
Posted in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri House
Tags
1619 Project, Brian Seitz, censorship, critical race theory, curricular micromanagement, education, fascists, fear, gaslighting, higher education, Howard Zinn, missouri, right wingnut, right wingnuts
Apparently books with ‘things’ in them and any discussion thereof are really scary.
“…to ensure that the intellectual vitality of students and faculty is not infringed, the general assembly hereby enacts the following reform for history curricula used in schools and institutions of higher education in this state…”
Stack ’em and burn ’em. That’s next.
Bill prefiling for the Missouri General Assembly session started on December 1st.
Yet another bill, addressing a matter of great urgency for right wingnuts:
HB 1634
Prohibits the use of any curriculum implementing critical race theory in the public schools and institutions of higher education of the state.
Sponsor: Seitz, Brian (156)
Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2022
LR Number: 3667H.01I
Last Action: 12/01/2021 – Prefiled (H)
Bill String: HB 1634
Next House Hearing: Hearing not scheduled
Calendar: Bill currently not on a House calendar
The bill language:
SECOND REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 1634
101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLYINTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE SEITZ.
3667H.01I DANA RADEMAN MILLER, Chief ClerkAN ACT
To amend chapter 170, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to curricula
implementing critical race theory.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 170, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 170.353, to read as follows:170.353. 1. In accordance with Article IX, Section 1(a) of the Missouri Constitution, which states that “A general diffusion of knowledge and intelligence being essential to the preservation of the rights and liberties of the people”, and to ensure that the intellectual vitality of students and faculty is not infringed, the general assembly hereby enacts the following reform for history curricula used in schools and institutions of higher education in this state.
2. As used in this section, “curriculum implementing critical race theory” includes, but is not limited to, any curriculum that:
(1) Identifies people or groups of people, entities, or institutions in the United States as inherently, immutably, or systemically sexist, racist, anti-LGBT, bigoted, biased, privileged, or oppressed; and
(2) Employs immutable, inherited, or typically continuing characteristics such as race, income, appearance, religion, ancestry, sexual orientation, or gender identity to:
(a) Perpetuate stereotypes; and
(b) Assign blame for societal problems or ills to categories of living persons based on any such stereotypes or characteristics; or
(3) Classifies persons into groups for the purpose of targeting only certain groups for education, formation, indoctrination, or viewpoint transformation, other than separation of students by biological sex where appropriate and conducive for state20 mandated sex education instruction.
3. For purposes of this section, curriculum implementing critical race theory includes, but is not limited to, the following:
(1) The 1619 Project initiative of the New York Times;
(2) The Learning for Justice Curriculum of the Southern Poverty Law Center;
(3) We Stories;
(4) Programs of:
(a) Educational Equity Consultants;
(b) BLM at School;
(c) Teaching for Change; or
(d) The Zinn Education Project; or
(5) Any other similar predecessor or successor curriculum.
4. No state department, school district, charter school, online instruction funded in any manner by the general assembly, or personnel or agent of such state department, school district, charter school, or online instruction shall teach, use, or provide for use by any pupil any curriculum, instructional material, or assignment designed to teach components of critical race theory as part of any curriculum, course syllabus, or instruction in any course or program of study.
5. (1) If the state board of education determines that a publicly funded local education agency or online program of instruction has violated this section, the board shall notify the entity of its violation.
(2) If such entity fails to comply with this section within thirty days of such notification, the state board of education shall direct the department of elementary and secondary education to withhold a maximum of ten percent of the monthly distribution of state formula funding to such entity. After the board determines that such entity is in compliance with this section, the department shall restore the distribution of the funding to its original amount before the percentage of the distribution was withheld.
6. (1) If the attorney general determines that a two-year or four-year institution of higher education that receives state moneys has violated this section, the attorney general shall notify the institution of its violation.
(2) If such institution fails to comply with this section within thirty days of such notification, the attorney general may direct the department of higher education and workforce development to withhold a maximum of ten percent of the distribution of state funding to such institution. After the attorney general determines that such institution is in compliance with this section, the attorney general shall notify the department to restore the distribution of state funding for the institution to its original amount before the reduction was made if any such funding was withheld.
7. This section shall not be construed to:
(1) Inhibit or violate the First Amendment rights of students or faculty;
(2) Undermine the duty of a public institution of higher education to protect intellectual freedom and free expression to the fullest degree; or
(3) Prevent a public institution of higher education from promoting racial, cultural, ethnic, intellectual, or academic diversity or inclusiveness, provided such efforts are consistent with the provisions of this section.
“…This section shall not be construed to…Inhibit or violate the First Amendment rights of students or faculty; Undermine the duty of a public institution of higher education to protect intellectual freedom and free expression to the fullest degree; or Prevent a public institution of higher education from promoting racial, cultural, ethnic, intellectual, or academic diversity or inclusiveness, provided such efforts are consistent with the provisions of this section…”
It does just that:
“…No state department, school district, charter school, online instruction funded in any manner by the general assembly, or personnel or agent of such state department, school district, charter school, or online instruction shall teach, use, or provide for use by any pupil any curriculum, instructional material, or assignment designed to teach components of critical race theory as part of any curriculum, course syllabus, or instruction in any course or program of study…”
What, we’re all stupid?
“…If such institution fails to comply with this section within thirty days of such notification, the attorney general may direct the department of higher education and workforce development to withhold a maximum of ten percent of the distribution of state funding to such institution…”
Must have left out the part about reeducation camps. That’ll get fixed with an amendment.
01 Friday Jan 2021
Posted in Uncategorized
Tags
4th Congressional District, 6th Congressional District, 7th Congressional District, 8th Congressional District, Billy Long, Donald Trump, electoral college, fascists, Jason Smith, missouri, right wingnuts, Sam Graves, sycophants, Vicky Hartzler
Vicky Hartzler (r) [2016 file photo].
We Will Object
Co-authored By: Rep. Jason Smith (MO-08), Rep. Vicky Hartzler (MO-04), Rep. Sam Graves (MO-06), and Rep. Billy Long (MO-07)
Washington, December 31, 2020Next week, your 117th United States Congress will convene for the first time. After the election of Speaker and the adoption of the Rules of Congress, the action will quickly move to reading aloud the electoral votes submitted by each state from this past November’s election – counting them, and declaring the vote tally for President and Vice President. During that process, the question will be put before your elected officials – does anyone object to the certification of electoral votes of a state. We will object. Our hope is that others will join us.
We don’t take this decision lightly, but we must protect the integrity of each vote cast by every law-abiding Missourian. For every instance of Georgia failing to follow its own state law in verifying signatures, of Pennsylvania accepting mail ballots after the legal deadline set by its state legislature, or folks from outside Nevada casting a ballot in that state – the value of every Missourians’ vote is diminished. That’s not right. And we cannot simply look the other way.
The right to freely cast your vote in elections is a sacred privilege afforded to us as Americans because of the sacrifices of the patriots who fought for that right. When that process is spoiled and abused by officials not following their own state law, it violates that right and jeopardizes the entire integrity and foundation of ‘free and fair’ elections. In such instances, where voting process changes are made without the consent of the voter, we know it is our duty and our obligation to serve as a backstop to protect the power of one person, one vote – to protect your vote as a Missourian. We must be able to have confidence in not only the agreement and expectation that this election would follow the law, but future ones will as well. We take the responsibility of upholding the Constitution seriously, and that is why we feel compelled to object to the electoral count taking place on January 6th.
The reported results of this past November’s Presidential election don’t even pass the most basic eye test. Republicans were projected to lose seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, we gained more than a dozen. Republicans were supposed to lose control of several state legislatures, we picked up multiple. We were projected to lose control of the United States Senate – we didn’t, and we won’t. All of this occurred on the same night President Trump lost? It’s hard to believe. Combined with the daily reports of voting irregularities where state election laws were discarded and not followed, something doesn’t add up. President Trump won over 74 million votes, Obama – 69 million. President Trump won 2586 counties, Obama – 873 counties, Joe Biden – 527 counties. The numbers, the evidence, and the abnormalities all speak for themselves.
We have joined lawsuits, called for a Special Counsel and demanded accountability and integrity, now we finally get to cast our vote. We have no illusions about the outcome, at the end of the day, this is still Nancy Pelosi’s House. Our only hope is that more will join us – that more will value protecting the vote of every American living in their state as much as we do fighting for yours.
Spare us.
Representative Billy Long (r) [2016 file photo].
Number of court cases? What where the outcomes? Federal cases? How many Trump appointees among the judges and justices?
Counties don’t vote. People do. Morons.
The population of Los Angeles County, California? The population of McPherson County, Nebraska? Should we list more small population counties, or do you get the point?
“…The reported results of this past November’s Presidential election don’t even pass the most basic eye test. Republicans were projected to lose seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, we gained more than a dozen. Republicans were supposed to lose control of several state legislatures, we picked up multiple. We were projected to lose control of the United States Senate – we didn’t, and we won’t. All of this occurred on the same night President Trump lost? It’s hard to believe. Combined with the daily reports of voting irregularities where state election laws were discarded and not followed, something doesn’t add up. President Trump won over 74 million votes, Obama – 69 million. President Trump won 2586 counties, Obama – 873 counties, Joe Biden – 527 counties. The numbers, the evidence, and the abnormalities all speak for themselves…”
In 2016: Hillary Clinton, 65,853,514 votes. Donald Trump, 62,984,828 votes.
Eye test?
What this speaks of: Stupid people came up with this. Stupid people wrote this. Stupid people signed on to this. Stupid people believe it.
Bad combover. Check. Too long red tie. Check. Orange spray tan. Check. Tiny hands. Check. Cluelessness. Check…
Previously:
Right wingnuts throw shit against the wall to see if it sticks – Washington, D.C. edition (December 10, 2020)
Amicus this (December 11, 2020)
10 Thursday Dec 2020
Posted in Uncategorized
Tags
amicus brief, Billy Long, Blaine Leutkemeyer, Donald Trump, fascists, Georgia, Jason Smith, Joe Biden, Michigan, missouri, Pennsylvania, right wingnuts, Sam Graves, Texas, U.S. Supreme Court, Vicky Hartzler, Wisconsin
Representative Vicky Hartzler (r) [2016 file photo].
Today, at the United States Supreme Court in the election case Texas has filed against Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin – right wingnut members of Congress (bless the State of Missouri) filed an Amicus brief:
[….]
Amicus U.S. Representative Sam Graves represents the Sixth
Congressional District of Missouri in the United States
House of Representatives.Amicus U.S. Representative Vicky Hartzler represents the
Fourth Congressional District of Missouri in the United
States House of Representatives.Amicus U.S. Representative Blaine Leutkemeyer represents
the Third Congressional District of Missouri in the United
States House of Representatives.Amicus U.S. Representative Jason Smith represents the
Eighth Congressional District of Missouri in the United
States House of Representatives.Amicus U.S. Representative Ann Wagner represents the
Second Congressional District of Missouri in the United
States House of Representatives.
[….]
Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer (r) [2014 file photo].
Maybe Billy Long (r) was sleeping.
Representative Billy Long (r) [2016 file photo].
….Pursuant to subparagraph 2(b) of Rule 37, amici U.S. Representative Mike Johnson, et al., hereby move the Court for leave to file a brief amicus curiae in support of Plaintiff Texas’ Motion for Leave to File a Bill of Complaint and Motion for Preliminary Injunction….
….On the merits, this amicus brief defends the constitutional authority of state legislatures as the only bodies duly authorized to establish the manner by which presidential electors are appointed, one of the central issues in the pending litigation. As members of the federal legislature, these amici seek to protect the constitutional role of state legislatures in determining the manner by which states choose their electors….
Uh, no. Texas wants to impose the will of its Attorney General (r-pardon me) on other states and their legislatures.
….These amici appear as 106 Members of Congress and respectfully request that this Court uphold the plenary authority of the state legislatures to establish the manner by which electors are appointed, and determine the constitutional validity of any ballots cast under rules and procedures established by actors or public bodies other than state legislatures….
….National polls indicate a large percentage of Americans now have serious doubts about not just the outcome of the presidential contest, but also the future reliability of our election system itself….
That’s some serious Chutzpah. Who was it who “cast doubt”? We’ll wait.
Besides, opinion polls don’t decide elections, voters do.
….Fortunately, the Framers of our Constitution provided for this moment. It is now the duty of this Honorable Court to objectively review the facts presented by the Plaintiff in this historic case, render judgment upon the unconstitutional actions in the Defendant states, and restore the confidence of all Americans that the rule of law will be upheld today and our elections in the future will be secured….
They’re that stupid. And they believe everyone else is.
They want to disenfranchise millions of voters.
That’s some serious shit.
And a waste of time.
Previously:
Uh, the job description says Missouri (December 9, 2020)
A party in disarray (December 10, 2020)
Right wingnuts throw shit against the wall to see if it sticks (December 10, 2020)
09 Monday Nov 2020
Posted in Uncategorized
Tags
Brownshirts, Donald Trump, fascists, Grifter, grifting, phone, text
I received the following text on my phone from Donald Trump’s (r) campaign [1-660-243-9318]:
Vote
#StopTheSteal
I’d never thought I’d see this in America. The Democrats are STEALING THIS ELECTION in real time.
* ‘Clerical errors’ added 100K votes overnight!
* Widespread ballot harvesting in MINNESOTA,
* Poll workers bragging about throwing away Trump votes in PENNSYLVANIA,
* Democratic operatives secretly counting ballots in GEORGIA…after sending poll watchers home
#StopTheSteal
Democrtas will get away with it…unless you and I lead the charge to fight back, hold them accountable, and FAIRLY WIN THIS RACE for President Trump. We are on the ground with legal resources ready to help! Will you make a donation today of $25 to help? [….]
The “properties” on this message:
Subject:
NoSubject
Date:
Mon, Nov 9
12:10PM
No, I did not sign up to receive texts from Donald Trump’s (r) Brownshirts.
I immediately replied:
Fuck of[f] you Fascist pigs.
And, as you can probably tell, I rarely text.
01 Sunday Nov 2020
Posted in Uncategorized
Here we are.
Molly Jong-Fast @MollyJongFast
Do these car caravans strike anyone else as profoundly odd?
[….]
8:51 PM · Oct 31, 2020
Die Fahne hoch! Die Reihen fest geschlossen!
SA marschiert mit ruhig festem Schritt.
Kam’raden, die Rotfront und Reaktion erschossen,
Marschier’n im Geist in unser’n Reihen mit…
06 Thursday Jun 2019
Posted in Uncategorized
They could benefit from reading the panels – The Gettysburg Address, and the Second Inaugural Address:
We really don’t have to worry about Fascists taking over until their leader appropriates a national holiday to nurture his narcissism and promote his cult of personality.
A stain on the Lincoln Memorial
….President Trump’s takeover of Washington’s Fourth of July celebration isn’t just a logistical nightmare that’s disrespectful to the city, the nation and the holiday. His insistence on speaking at the Lincoln Memorial — and undoubtedly delivering the narcissistic ramblings that are the hallmark of his appearances — is an affront to President Abraham Lincoln’s spare brilliance, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s thundering oratory and Marian Anderson’s unforgettable contralto….
Oh, wait…
And, in a metaphor that reflects our times perfectly, the reflecting pool has been drained.
14 Thursday Feb 2019
Posted in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri House
Tags
Dirk Deaton, fascists, General Assembly, HB 927, higher education, missouri, Nazis, Pastafarians
“…3. No public institution of higher learning shall deny a political or ideological student organization any benefit or privilege available to any other student organization, or otherwise discriminate against such an organization, based on the expression of the organization, including any requirement that the leaders or members of such organization:
(1) Affirm and adhere to the organization’s sincerely held beliefs;
(2) Comply with the organization’s standards of conduct; or
(3) Further the organization’s mission or purpose, as defined by the student organization…”
Nazis and Fascists, oh my.
“You had some very bad people in that group. You also had some very fine people on both sides,” he [Donald Trump (r)] added.
A decision matrix.
A bill, introduced on Wednesday by Representative Dirk Deaton (r):
FIRST REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 927 [pdf]
100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLYINTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE DEATON.
1952H.01I DANA RADEMAN MILLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapter 173, RSMo, by adding thereto two new sections relating to higher education.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 173, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto two new sections, to be known as sections 173.1559 and 173.1560, to read as follows:
173.1559. As used in this section and section 173.1560, the following terms shall mean:
(1) “Benefit”, recognition, registration, the use of facilities of the public institution of higher learning for meetings or speaking purposes, the use of channels of communication of the public institution of higher learning, and the use of funding sources that are otherwise available to other student associations or organizations in the public institution of higher learning;
(2) “Exercise of religion”, any practice or observance of religion, whether compelled or mandated by, or central to, a system of religious belief;
(3) “Public institution of higher learning”, any state postsecondary educational institution governed or supervised by a board erected under chapter 172, 174, 175, or 178; a board of trustees of a community college; or any state board for any other technical school;
(4) “Substantially burden”, an action by a public institution of higher learning that directly or indirectly:
(a) Penalizes conduct or expression that reflects a student’s sincerely held religious beliefs;
(b) Denies a student an opportunity to engage in religious activities; or
(c) Pressures a student to engage in conduct or expression contrary to a sincerely held religious belief or not to engage in conduct or expression motivated by a sincerely held religious belief.73.1560. 1. No public institution of higher learning shall take any action or enforce any policy that denies a religious student association any benefit available to any other student association, or otherwise discriminate against a religious student association with respect to such benefit, based on that association’s requirement that its leaders or members adhere to the association’s sincerely held religious beliefs, comply with the association’s sincere religious observance requirements, comply with the association’s sincere religious standards of conduct, or be committed to furthering the association’s religious missions as such beliefs, requirements, standards, or missions are defined by the 9 association or religion upon which the association is based.
2. No public institution of higher learning shall substantially burden a student’s exercise of religion unless the institution can demonstrate that application of the burden to the student is in furtherance of a compelling interest of the public institution of higher learning and is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling interest.
3. No public institution of higher learning shall deny a political or ideological student organization any benefit or privilege available to any other student organization, or otherwise discriminate against such an organization, based on the expression of the organization, including any requirement that the leaders or members of such organization:
(1) Affirm and adhere to the organization’s sincerely held beliefs;
(2) Comply with the organization’s standards of conduct; or
(3) Further the organization’s mission or purpose, as defined by the student organization.
4. Any student, religious student association, or political or ideological student organization that has been aggrieved as a result of a violation of this section may assert that violation as a claim or defense in a judicial or administrative proceeding against the public institution of higher learning and obtain appropriate relief, including damages, against that institution.
Does that mean that you can’t punch Nazis? Just asking.
Pastafarians, ready your colanders…
Previous:
HB 837: Asserting equal opportunity to resurface their playgrounds? (February 6, 2019)
27 Tuesday Nov 2018
Posted in Claire McCaskill, media criticism, social media
“Faux News channel, fascist groupies” – protest sign, circa 2003- 2004.
Today, via Twitter:
Claire McCaskill @clairecmc
I have been interviewed on tv a gajillion times. I have never been given the questions, much less allowed to approve their scripts! This is bizarre. Fox and Friends is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Trump administration.ProPublica @ProPublica
In multiple interviews on “Fox & Friends,” former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt was essentially allowed to dictate the terms for the interview and avoid any difficult questions.
We knew a long, long time ago.
25 Thursday Oct 2018
Posted in social media
Why Trump’s insistence on using unsecured phones is such a disaster
10/25/18 08:00 AM
By Steve Benen
…Let’s count the ways in which this is a disaster for the president. First, it offers proof of Trump putting sensitive information at risk, not accidentally, but as a result of neglect and laziness. On any given day, the president of the United States knowingly picks up unsecured mobile devices, has private conversations, and remains indifferent to the fact that foreign spies may be listening and recording everything that’s said…
Late last night, a question, in the aftermath of the news about pipe bombs that were sent or delivered to a number of Democrats and a news organization:
Michael McFaul @McFaul
Did Trump call Obama or Clinton today?
11:44 PM – 24 Oct 2018
Someone wins the internets:
Jamison Foser @jamisonfoser
dunno. ask China.
[….]
11:54 PM – 24 Oct 2018
Previously:
When Fascism comes to America it will be produced like a reality TV show, clutching its social media feed… (October 25, 2018)