Two news stories out of Florida and Montana on Wednesday might at first blush have seemed unrelated, but paired with what we just saw in Tennessee, we must now pay very close attention. In Florida, the Walt Disney Company sued the state alleging violation of its constitutional rights after Gov. Ron DeSantis’s allies attempted to cancel two of the company’s land development contracts, all in retaliation for its opposition to Florida’s Don’t Say Gay or Trans law.
This is horrible, but to be honest, it is what I have become to expect from Republicans - deflect, deceive, deny... act in the most repugnant way possible, and then accuse the people who call you out on it "out of line", "indecorous" and "disrespectful"
On the other hand they tout their "Christian Ethics" and "Family Values" - which are actually dogwhistles and code for racism, homophobia, xenophobia, misogyny etc... of course they also would be the first to crucify Christ if he actually did return.
I am so frustrated that the book that I am currently reading, "Amerikas Gotteskrieger" (America's Holy Warriors) by the German journalist Annika Brockschmidt, has not been translated into English - I think you and your readers would find it quite enlightening... and to be honest, scary as fuck... the problem is so deep rooted, that our generation will not be able to resolve it in my opinion
Rep. Zephyr will eventually outshine these horrible people, just like the TN3. I'd like to see President Biden invite her to the WH as well to shine additional light on this blatant scheme. They say sunshine is the best disinfectant. We need that in abundance, these days. Before trump, it was unthinkable that the Republicans would be proudly saying and acting on the formally quiet parts. If we on the sane side of things don't take these things seriously, we deserve to lose it all. The Republicans are outright daring us to do something about this, counting on the spineless track record of Democrats to keep us from doing anything. We must confront this at every turn, lest we really do, lose it all.
American Academy of Pediatrics (not Association). I’m not being trying to be a pedant, but there is a much smaller organization with a very similar name to the AAP that gives antivax providers an air of legitimacy and is likely against gender affirming care.
It is particularly alarming when you step away from the immediate circle of, say, reproductive rights, trans rights, etc, and understand that there is not just one target here, one scapegoated entity, awful in its own right, but, rather, a strategy, a political platform if you will, that is predicated on impugning other, silencing other, oppressing other, demeaning other, restricting rights of other, in order to both garner support from a select few, but also to establish provisions in order to ensure all that other cannot successfully mount a defense, neutralize their oppressors.
Who is all that other?
Every last one of us.
If we need to descend on Disney flash mob style, and take our show on the road- to Montana and anywhere else, well...let the We The People Tour begin.
Jay, once again you hit the nail on the head: DeSantis is doing all of his baby-dictator stuff to raise money. "DeSantis decided to go to war with the company. He began calling it “Woke Disney” and claimed in a fundraising email, “If Disney wants to pick a fight, they chose the wrong guy.”
At least Republicans are consistent -- it's ALWAYS all about the money. Trump paved that pathway with his first campaign, and with every stupid thing he has done since. It's remarkable to me that there are still enough shills in America to send these charlatans their hard-earned money. I know they are brainwashed, but still!
There will come a time of reckoning. We all need to do our bit in our local, county, state and federal ponds. I'm starting with personally attending our City Council meetings (had been "attending" via Zoom occasionally). Put our bodies where our mouths are, I say, as much as is possible. Thanks for everything you do, Jay!
Troubling enough they have ‘riot police’ in Montana. Ask yourself what would prompt that at all (think about it...it will come to you); and it isn’t the possibility of trans people or their supporters. I’m bemused by the dichotomy.
Otherwise, there certainly is a Constitutional remedy for the silencing of dissent in this country? Do Montana lawmakers really want a 1A fight on their hands? Because they’ll lose. Her constituents could also sue. I don’t know what the state constitution might offer, and congressional rules also differ from state to state but this is a blatant federal violation of rights on Zoe’s part and likely the protestors rights as well.
Disney/Desantis- The issue there is Desantis is going after the kids. Mickey Mouse is beloved by children and now his bright idea is to put a state prison next to disneyworld one of the safest most inclusive places in the world. Can you imagine if a convicted felon of a serious crime got out and hopped the fence to disneyworld? Parents won’t stand for it and why? Because they love their children, they would sacrifice anything for their children and I would bet even their political party for at least one election. What’s the harm in trying the other side to protect your children. Desantis is making it explicit now that he doesn’t care about your children and he doesn’t care about your economy or you but you can handle that as you are an adult, your children need you to protect them as best you can and your governor is telling you he’s going to put a state prison next to Disney world for exercising freedom and trying to stand up for children and people everywhere of every diversity.
Montana- it actually boils down to the same but different. Children need mental health care, they need medical care and here is the reality republicans aren’t considering gender affirming care could end up helping a child realize that they aren’t trans, they are instead just a bit more nurturing or masculine or feminine or tomboyish or any label you want but ultimately it boils down to they are little human beings who deserve to be cared for. One representative stood up to 21 to protect children of every single gender identity for health care because they are human beings and deserve love and care so they can figure out who they are. Everyone in this country has the freedom to decide who they are. And guess what some men are like “mama bears” and they are still masculine too they have that fierceness and love for their children so everyone father, mother, brothers sisters etc can stand up and fight for children’s health care and the understanding that they deserve space to figure out who they are. We are all imperfect don’t need people telling us we are, just give us the freedom to figure it out ourselves. Ironically it’s republicans who are acting like big government now, the very thing they despise, I guess they are having political identity issues at the expense of America, but you can help them figure it out by voting. Empower yourself with your God given freedoms and inalienable rights.
Maybe all the companies Trump attacked for disagreeing with him should join forces with Disney to overwhelm the power the government has if it decides to be corrupt. Trump's list is very long, and includes companies like Harley Davidson, BMW, NYTimes, CNN, PBS, NPR, (insert news or science organization here, even Fox sometimes)... Someone who's been tracking would undoubtedly have a list of hundreds of companies and individuals, many of whom are popular celebrities, who are victims of his abuse.
And then every business DeSantis has attacked in his political games, including the cruise industry who also supplies a tremendous amount of funding to the state, whom he kept from doing business for 6 months after they were finally able to spin back up after COVID.
Seems there are enough that they should be able to put these guys in their place.
I just realized our constitution is missing an amendment froṁ the bill of rights: The government shall not use its power and wealth (wealth provided by the citizens) to attack, intimidate, or silence the citizens of the country. That is a foundational requirement for a Democracy, and one the founders should have known well.
I for one appreciate how the MAGAt GOP is unable to learn that trying to silence their opposition does quite the opposite and thrusts them onto the national stage, thereby amplifying their voices.
Hello! Is anyone aware of organizations that may be supporting Rep. Zephyr in countering the restrictions approved by the supermajority in the legislature? Does Rep. Zephyr have any legal recourse and/or representation?
(Not so) Fun Fact: James Dobson, the founder of Focus on the Family worked for a while as the assistant of a guy named Walter Popenoe... his Wikipedia entry actually mentions that in one quick throwaway sentence... Popenoe was a eugenicist who openly praised Hitler and advocated forcible sterilization... before becoming a "marriage counselor"... Dobson just praised DeSantis for his laws "protecting the family" just these days
I fear fascism is no longer creeping but jerking violently against its chain. Not yet big enough or strong enough to break it. We have to starve this beast.
This is horrible, but to be honest, it is what I have become to expect from Republicans - deflect, deceive, deny... act in the most repugnant way possible, and then accuse the people who call you out on it "out of line", "indecorous" and "disrespectful"
On the other hand they tout their "Christian Ethics" and "Family Values" - which are actually dogwhistles and code for racism, homophobia, xenophobia, misogyny etc... of course they also would be the first to crucify Christ if he actually did return.
I am so frustrated that the book that I am currently reading, "Amerikas Gotteskrieger" (America's Holy Warriors) by the German journalist Annika Brockschmidt, has not been translated into English - I think you and your readers would find it quite enlightening... and to be honest, scary as fuck... the problem is so deep rooted, that our generation will not be able to resolve it in my opinion
Rep. Zephyr will eventually outshine these horrible people, just like the TN3. I'd like to see President Biden invite her to the WH as well to shine additional light on this blatant scheme. They say sunshine is the best disinfectant. We need that in abundance, these days. Before trump, it was unthinkable that the Republicans would be proudly saying and acting on the formally quiet parts. If we on the sane side of things don't take these things seriously, we deserve to lose it all. The Republicans are outright daring us to do something about this, counting on the spineless track record of Democrats to keep us from doing anything. We must confront this at every turn, lest we really do, lose it all.
Do we now need to see it's almost 1930?
American Academy of Pediatrics (not Association). I’m not being trying to be a pedant, but there is a much smaller organization with a very similar name to the AAP that gives antivax providers an air of legitimacy and is likely against gender affirming care.
It is particularly alarming when you step away from the immediate circle of, say, reproductive rights, trans rights, etc, and understand that there is not just one target here, one scapegoated entity, awful in its own right, but, rather, a strategy, a political platform if you will, that is predicated on impugning other, silencing other, oppressing other, demeaning other, restricting rights of other, in order to both garner support from a select few, but also to establish provisions in order to ensure all that other cannot successfully mount a defense, neutralize their oppressors.
Who is all that other?
Every last one of us.
If we need to descend on Disney flash mob style, and take our show on the road- to Montana and anywhere else, well...let the We The People Tour begin.
Jay, once again you hit the nail on the head: DeSantis is doing all of his baby-dictator stuff to raise money. "DeSantis decided to go to war with the company. He began calling it “Woke Disney” and claimed in a fundraising email, “If Disney wants to pick a fight, they chose the wrong guy.”
At least Republicans are consistent -- it's ALWAYS all about the money. Trump paved that pathway with his first campaign, and with every stupid thing he has done since. It's remarkable to me that there are still enough shills in America to send these charlatans their hard-earned money. I know they are brainwashed, but still!
There will come a time of reckoning. We all need to do our bit in our local, county, state and federal ponds. I'm starting with personally attending our City Council meetings (had been "attending" via Zoom occasionally). Put our bodies where our mouths are, I say, as much as is possible. Thanks for everything you do, Jay!
I shudder to think what happens to any LGBTQ+ kids born into GOP families.
The Mouse that roared!
Troubling enough they have ‘riot police’ in Montana. Ask yourself what would prompt that at all (think about it...it will come to you); and it isn’t the possibility of trans people or their supporters. I’m bemused by the dichotomy.
Otherwise, there certainly is a Constitutional remedy for the silencing of dissent in this country? Do Montana lawmakers really want a 1A fight on their hands? Because they’ll lose. Her constituents could also sue. I don’t know what the state constitution might offer, and congressional rules also differ from state to state but this is a blatant federal violation of rights on Zoe’s part and likely the protestors rights as well.
Disney/Desantis- The issue there is Desantis is going after the kids. Mickey Mouse is beloved by children and now his bright idea is to put a state prison next to disneyworld one of the safest most inclusive places in the world. Can you imagine if a convicted felon of a serious crime got out and hopped the fence to disneyworld? Parents won’t stand for it and why? Because they love their children, they would sacrifice anything for their children and I would bet even their political party for at least one election. What’s the harm in trying the other side to protect your children. Desantis is making it explicit now that he doesn’t care about your children and he doesn’t care about your economy or you but you can handle that as you are an adult, your children need you to protect them as best you can and your governor is telling you he’s going to put a state prison next to Disney world for exercising freedom and trying to stand up for children and people everywhere of every diversity.
Montana- it actually boils down to the same but different. Children need mental health care, they need medical care and here is the reality republicans aren’t considering gender affirming care could end up helping a child realize that they aren’t trans, they are instead just a bit more nurturing or masculine or feminine or tomboyish or any label you want but ultimately it boils down to they are little human beings who deserve to be cared for. One representative stood up to 21 to protect children of every single gender identity for health care because they are human beings and deserve love and care so they can figure out who they are. Everyone in this country has the freedom to decide who they are. And guess what some men are like “mama bears” and they are still masculine too they have that fierceness and love for their children so everyone father, mother, brothers sisters etc can stand up and fight for children’s health care and the understanding that they deserve space to figure out who they are. We are all imperfect don’t need people telling us we are, just give us the freedom to figure it out ourselves. Ironically it’s republicans who are acting like big government now, the very thing they despise, I guess they are having political identity issues at the expense of America, but you can help them figure it out by voting. Empower yourself with your God given freedoms and inalienable rights.
Maybe all the companies Trump attacked for disagreeing with him should join forces with Disney to overwhelm the power the government has if it decides to be corrupt. Trump's list is very long, and includes companies like Harley Davidson, BMW, NYTimes, CNN, PBS, NPR, (insert news or science organization here, even Fox sometimes)... Someone who's been tracking would undoubtedly have a list of hundreds of companies and individuals, many of whom are popular celebrities, who are victims of his abuse.
And then every business DeSantis has attacked in his political games, including the cruise industry who also supplies a tremendous amount of funding to the state, whom he kept from doing business for 6 months after they were finally able to spin back up after COVID.
Seems there are enough that they should be able to put these guys in their place.
I just realized our constitution is missing an amendment froṁ the bill of rights: The government shall not use its power and wealth (wealth provided by the citizens) to attack, intimidate, or silence the citizens of the country. That is a foundational requirement for a Democracy, and one the founders should have known well.
I for one appreciate how the MAGAt GOP is unable to learn that trying to silence their opposition does quite the opposite and thrusts them onto the national stage, thereby amplifying their voices.
Hello! Is anyone aware of organizations that may be supporting Rep. Zephyr in countering the restrictions approved by the supermajority in the legislature? Does Rep. Zephyr have any legal recourse and/or representation?
(Not so) Fun Fact: James Dobson, the founder of Focus on the Family worked for a while as the assistant of a guy named Walter Popenoe... his Wikipedia entry actually mentions that in one quick throwaway sentence... Popenoe was a eugenicist who openly praised Hitler and advocated forcible sterilization... before becoming a "marriage counselor"... Dobson just praised DeSantis for his laws "protecting the family" just these days
I fear fascism is no longer creeping but jerking violently against its chain. Not yet big enough or strong enough to break it. We have to starve this beast.