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Mike Lew's avatar

The fact that a large number of folks will enthusiasticly agree that speaking out of turn in the TN legislature is worse than Jan 6 is why our democracy is on life support. If the citizens can't see through such blatant nonsense, it's over.

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Christine's avatar

And worse than sexual assault.

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hrlngrv's avatar

Do they not see through it, or do they just not care?

The latter may be the greater problem.

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mel ladi's avatar

I originally thought that the Tennessee GOP had some there there, and indeed they did, the Dem representatives certainly deserved a letter of reprimand. Being on the correct side of this fight doesnтАЩt make them immune from the bodyтАЩs rules and decorum. But the TN GOP reps must be drunk on their own power and believe there will be no consequences for that level of overreach. (And yeah, I couldnтАЩt help but notice the two expelled happened to be black.)

There has to be consequences to these types of actions, doesnтАЩt there?

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Beth's avatar

Except that apparently there were no consequences for the representative accused of child sexual molestation (and is heard on a phone call apologizing to one of his victims). None for the one who peed on a Dem's office chair. None for the one convicted of domestic assault.

But sure, there should be consequences for speaking out against child murder.

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Arun's avatar

In legislatures the world over, the usual punishment for violating decorum is censure. Expulsion is usually for getting convicted of a crime or other serious misconduct.

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Terri's avatar

Part of this story is missing. According to a state Senator, who was previously a representative and, is also a black woman, for YEARS this rebublican majority has not ALLOWED debate from the minority party. They cut off their mikes, use rules to jam through legislation without allowing for fact finding sub committees to do the necessary expert and study process that has been done for decades. They kill minority party bills WITHOUT DEBATE!!!!!!!!!!!

Puts what these Tennessee 3 in a different light in my humble opinion. It put's these condescending republican words in a different light. One of these young black men, during their "trial" yesterday, was lectured about introducing bills to get them passed but what has been going on is the republicans kill them WITH NO DEBATE.

They have been silencing the minority party for years with 'decorum' and 'house rules' as a bludgeon, as way to shut them up.

Also, these republicans didn't follow due process as usually one is referred to an ethics committee and a process is followed to do fact finding and the member is allowed to mount a defense. These two young black men did NOT get a chance to get a rigorous defense. It's disgusting and typical of the KKK south. Object lesson in critical race theory for ALL TO SEE.

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Apr 7, 2023
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my name's avatar

Especially as the third rep herself pointed out she, a 60 year old white woman, didnтАЩt get expelled for the same offense during the same vote. The forced birth GQP only expelled the young black men.

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Lewis Grotelueschen's avatar

We must remember the protests came in the wake of the murder of six people, including three nine-year-olds. When passions are running so high, it's obscene to inflict such a severe punishment. There may be no direct consequences for the representatives who did this, but the story is terrible nationally for the Republican Party. So there may be consequences for these representatives in the larger sense that the goals of the Republican Party may be thwarted.

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suzc's avatar

I actually had been thinking of a trip to Nashville for a couple of reasons.

I will not go anywhere near TN now, nor FL, nor TX for that matter. I just do not want to subject myself to the horror that is Republicanland lawlessness and disorder.

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Keith Sherman's avatar

From your lips . . .

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Apr 7, 2023
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Sheaster's avatar

Oof, easy there, Hoss- I felt all Gateway for a minute.

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Apr 7, 2023
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Walternate ЁЯЗ║ЁЯЗжЁЯЗиЁЯЗжЁЯЗкЁЯЗ║ЁЯЗ╣ЁЯЗ╝ЁЯЗйЁЯЗ░ЁЯЗмЁЯЗ▒ЁЯЗ▓ЁЯЗ╜ЁЯЗ╡ЁЯЗж's avatar

It's not that I thought that was your goal (in fact, reading many more of your comments has convinced me that it's not), but I aspire to give the benefit of the doubt.

The way I see it, if one *truly* cares about an idea, one would seek to change hearts and minds in support of one's idea. To not do so, to me, suggests such a person either: (1) doesn't really care what people think, and just wants their desired outcome, which ultimately is inflicted through force (sounds kinda "repugniKKKlan", doesn't it?), or (2) doesn't *truly* care about the idea about which so much noise is being made; the noise is the point.

I won't declare which of these you are coming across as, nor will I not address how I disagree with your manner of conveyance; after all, "Ppl need 2 come 2 the right judgment on their own. I dont want 2 placate them."

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David Court's avatar

Don't confuse volatile voice volume with actual numbers of voters. Frequently, (s)he who shouts loudest is trying to drown out the truth which (s)he is unable, unwilling or incapable of understanding. (S) is a tip of the cap to Megaphone Marge.

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Mingus Khan's avatar

Don't assume being the minority means they can't take control over the government. Less than 1% of the population were Bolsheviks when they overthrew the czar.

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Mike Lew's avatar

Look at the margins of elections. Republicans still pull in at least 40%.

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David Court's avatar

Based upon what I see and hear, many of that 40% are more than fed up with TFG, too.

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Apr 7, 2023
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David Court's avatar

There you go again, just like those you so clearly despise, ranting without evidence to support your contention that "Every one of them is...." I have no doubt you believe what you write because being against everyone is easier than figuring out who might be reasonable, or at least not in TFG's corner.

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Apr 9, 2023Edited
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Ben Gruder's avatar

You actually make a good case.

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Apr 10, 2023
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Ben Gruder's avatar

What does ILOB stand for?

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rlritt's avatar

You are 100% right.

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Kate Fall's avatar

What worries me is that most citizens can see through it, and it doesn't slow their roll a bit.

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Lewis Grotelueschen's avatar

Psychologically, the right is at war. All the niceties of civilized behavior are daily dying.

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knowltok's avatar

What was that quote one of them made about bringing a mercenary army to a holy war?

Dems shouldn't go over the top on this, but any chance to point out that Republicans are engaged in a holy war against the rest of the country (left and middle) should be taken.

Current example in TN: Don't make it about Tennessee, paint it as, this is who Republicans are nationally.

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Maryah Haidery's avatar

I agree! From listening to so many of them, this is exactly how they view it. The тАЬslow Civil WarтАЭ podcast seems less like a hyperbole today :(

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