News from the states.
Since our country's politics are really a state-by-state affair with every election including the Electoral College's vote for President, we thought is would be best to organize the news and our discussions by states.
Paragraph.
ARIZONA
Should I carry my U. S. passport with me if I travel there?
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer
At first, whether or not to carry your U.S. passprot to Arizona may seem like a silly question but under the new Arizona state law, if you encounter the police, they can investigate your right to be in the United States. How else does a U.S. citizen prove it? A driver's license doesn't indicate if you are a citizen or not. "But wait", you think, "I'm a third generation U. S. citizen. I don't have an accent. No way would the police doubt my citizenship." Now I have to remind you that Arizona's Governor has made it emphatically clear that this is not racial profiling. They can and, apparently, will question anyone's right to be in Arizona and the United States. I'm not sure what happens if you can't prove that you are a U. S. citizen though. Maybe they deport you back to your home state?
CALIFORNIA
Sacramento Tea Party Rally
Nona and Darrell Konopasek
The Tea Partiers held a rally in Sacramento, CA on Sept. 12, 2010. Among those attending and quoted in an article in the Sacramento Bee were Nona and Darrell Konopasek who were able to repeat the Tea Party mantras of “We want politicians to understand we are done with the high taxes” and “The harder you work, the more they take”. It is pretty clear that these “deep thinkers” must get their news from Fox News so they haven’t been told that the Obama administration and those they are protesting against have cut taxes for 95% of Americans.
Also at the event were local radio personalities Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty. Their appearance at the event was apparently to show that these “infotainers” are happy to once again change their political stripe from their self proclaimed moderate views to appear to lead the parade toward higher ratings. We have no use for “leaders” that find the biggest parade of the day and jump in front so they appear to be the leaders. Unfortunately, this fools the “deep thinkers” of the Tea Party movement and our guess is that Armstrong and Getty’s ratings go up every time they make one of these appearances. No surprise that they don’t try their grand standing at any event where real thought and political discussion takes place.
Also at the event were local radio personalities Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty. Their appearance at the event was apparently to show that these “infotainers” are happy to once again change their political stripe from their self proclaimed moderate views to appear to lead the parade toward higher ratings. We have no use for “leaders” that find the biggest parade of the day and jump in front so they appear to be the leaders. Unfortunately, this fools the “deep thinkers” of the Tea Party movement and our guess is that Armstrong and Getty’s ratings go up every time they make one of these appearances. No surprise that they don’t try their grand standing at any event where real thought and political discussion takes place.
KENTUCKY
Rand Paul opposed to Civil Rights Act Title II
Whites Only Counter Coming Back?
"In 1960, if you were African American, you were not allowed to sit here—the lunch counter at the F.W. Woolworth store in Greensboro, North Carolina. Racial inequality pervaded American life. Throughout the South, a racist system known as “Jim Crow” segregated people in restaurants, restrooms and most other accommodations. When African Americans tried to find a house or apartment, register to vote, or even order lunch, they were denied equal rights. The Woolworth’s in the Greensboro, like other stores in the community, refused to seat and serve African Americans at the luncheonette."
-From the Smithsonia Institute's National Museum of American History
Rand Paul, Tea Party darling and Republican Senate nominee in Kentucky, objected to Title II of the Civil Rights Act outlawing racial discrimination in “public accommodations.” “Had I been around I would have tried to modify that,” he said.
Sounds like the Tea Party might have a limited guest list.
-From the Smithsonia Institute's National Museum of American History
Rand Paul, Tea Party darling and Republican Senate nominee in Kentucky, objected to Title II of the Civil Rights Act outlawing racial discrimination in “public accommodations.” “Had I been around I would have tried to modify that,” he said.
Sounds like the Tea Party might have a limited guest list.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Tea Party gets nasty.
We suppose nothing should surprise us from South Carolina, the state that still can’t quite figure out that the South lost the Civil War and continues to fly the Confederate flag or that elected Mark Sanford Governor who wanders off from his duties to see his mistress in South America and Joe Wright to Congress who has the rudeness to yell “Liar” at the President of the United States from the floor of Congress, but, well, read this:
From New York Times columnist Gail Collins: “Loads of exciting primaries next week! Although it’ll be hard to top the one in South Carolina, where two Tea Party candidates are fighting about a lie detector test and a state senator has argued that racist comments he made over the radio don’t really count since the interview occurred in a bar.“…State Representative Nikki Haley and Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer are fighting over who is the true Tea Party candidate. Recently, two political consultants came forward and claimed that they had had sexual encounters with Haley, whose campaign puts quite a bit of stress on God and her happy marriage. Haley says she smells a Bauer plot.
“One of Bauer’s other supporters, State Senator Jake Knotts, managed to unite the state in a moment of mass revulsion when he went on the radio to say he opposed Haley, who is Indian-American, because ‘we already got one raghead in the White House. We don’t need another in the governor’s mansion.’”
No wonder we prefer our Coffee Klatch to their Tea Party.
From New York Times columnist Gail Collins: “Loads of exciting primaries next week! Although it’ll be hard to top the one in South Carolina, where two Tea Party candidates are fighting about a lie detector test and a state senator has argued that racist comments he made over the radio don’t really count since the interview occurred in a bar.“…State Representative Nikki Haley and Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer are fighting over who is the true Tea Party candidate. Recently, two political consultants came forward and claimed that they had had sexual encounters with Haley, whose campaign puts quite a bit of stress on God and her happy marriage. Haley says she smells a Bauer plot.
“One of Bauer’s other supporters, State Senator Jake Knotts, managed to unite the state in a moment of mass revulsion when he went on the radio to say he opposed Haley, who is Indian-American, because ‘we already got one raghead in the White House. We don’t need another in the governor’s mansion.’”
No wonder we prefer our Coffee Klatch to their Tea Party.
TEXAS
"Mindlessly swatting babies with the U.S. Constitution"
This title comes form the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's opinion piece regarding efforts to change the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Consitution to take away citizenship rights.
In an article about the "birthright debate", the Fort Worth Star-Telegram quotes state Rep. Leo Berman as saying "We cheapen the value of our citizenships, particularly when we give them away to people who are committing a crime against the United States." He's talking about a brand new, just born baby. What crime could the babies have committed and when, in the womb?
The article also cites a study by the Pew Report that noted that 4 out of 5 mothers that are illegal immigrants when they give birth concieved after they arrived in the US. That makes the whole arguement that as Republican Minority leader John Boehner put it: "(many illegals came here) just so their children could become US citizens" kind of silly.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram's opinion peice put it best when it concluded: "Beating up on unborn babies riles folks up, but it doesn't provide the needed solutions and merely turns the Constitution into a political prop."
In an article about the "birthright debate", the Fort Worth Star-Telegram quotes state Rep. Leo Berman as saying "We cheapen the value of our citizenships, particularly when we give them away to people who are committing a crime against the United States." He's talking about a brand new, just born baby. What crime could the babies have committed and when, in the womb?
The article also cites a study by the Pew Report that noted that 4 out of 5 mothers that are illegal immigrants when they give birth concieved after they arrived in the US. That makes the whole arguement that as Republican Minority leader John Boehner put it: "(many illegals came here) just so their children could become US citizens" kind of silly.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram's opinion peice put it best when it concluded: "Beating up on unborn babies riles folks up, but it doesn't provide the needed solutions and merely turns the Constitution into a political prop."
Thomas Jefferson banned in Texas
According to the New York Times, the Texas Board of Education, "...cut Thomas Jefferson from a list of figures whose writings inspired revolutions in the late 18th century and 19th century, replacing him with St. Thomas Aquinas, John Calvin and William Blackstone. (Jefferson is not well liked among conservatives on the board because he coined the term 'separation between church and state.')"
“I reject the notion by the left of a constitutional separation of church and state,” said David Bradley, a Texas Board of Education member.
The New York Times article also said: "Since January, Republicans on the board have passed more than 100 amendments to the 120-page curriculum standards affecting history, sociology and economics courses from elementary to high school. The standards were proposed by a panel of teachers."
We wonder if they even bothered to think about the fact that students graduating from Texas schools will be significantly less well trained for jobs when they graduate than from other states. We know that it will be much less likely we would hire anyone with a Texas education (or should that be indoctrination?).
“I reject the notion by the left of a constitutional separation of church and state,” said David Bradley, a Texas Board of Education member.
The New York Times article also said: "Since January, Republicans on the board have passed more than 100 amendments to the 120-page curriculum standards affecting history, sociology and economics courses from elementary to high school. The standards were proposed by a panel of teachers."
We wonder if they even bothered to think about the fact that students graduating from Texas schools will be significantly less well trained for jobs when they graduate than from other states. We know that it will be much less likely we would hire anyone with a Texas education (or should that be indoctrination?).
Anti-tax State Rep pockets Thousand in Tax Dollars
From the Associated Press: "Rep. Joe Driver, R-Garland, faced with findings from an investigation by The Associated Press, acknowledged in an interview that for years he has been submitting the same receipts — for luxury hotels, airline tickets, meals and fees — to both his campaign and to the Texas House of Representatives. He also has been collecting thousands of dollars in state mileage reimbursements for travel in vehicles for which his campaign has shelled out more than $100,000 since 2000."
According to the AP report, Driver is an "anit-tax conservative", "who rails against the evils of runaway government spending". The report also said that Driver thought it was ok to pocket the tax dollars.
Sounds like runaway government spending is only bad if it goes to someone else's pockets. Maybe that has to do with the quality of Texas education or something.
According to the AP report, Driver is an "anit-tax conservative", "who rails against the evils of runaway government spending". The report also said that Driver thought it was ok to pocket the tax dollars.
Sounds like runaway government spending is only bad if it goes to someone else's pockets. Maybe that has to do with the quality of Texas education or something.
WEST VIRGINIA
Republican Congressional Candidate likes Saudi Religious "Freedom"
According to a New York Times story, West Virginia Republican Congressional Candidate Elliot "Spike" Maynard asks: "Do you think Muslims would allow a Jewish temple or Christian church to be built in Mecca?" That was in resonse to the proposal to build a Musluim masque in New Yark City near ground zero.
Well, Spike, of course they wouldn't. One of the things that makes the USA great is our religious freedoms that they don't have in other countries!
From Spike's campaign web site: "In an interview with POLITICO, Maynard said: 'Our part of the world and way of life is threatened by liberal Democrats in Washington.' "
Thanks for your offer to help, Spike, but we'll take the religious freedom protected by the liberal Democrats over your attempts to restrict religious freedom like they do in strict Muslim countries.
Well, Spike, of course they wouldn't. One of the things that makes the USA great is our religious freedoms that they don't have in other countries!
From Spike's campaign web site: "In an interview with POLITICO, Maynard said: 'Our part of the world and way of life is threatened by liberal Democrats in Washington.' "
Thanks for your offer to help, Spike, but we'll take the religious freedom protected by the liberal Democrats over your attempts to restrict religious freedom like they do in strict Muslim countries.