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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

smokeycut Since: Mar, 2013
#118876: Apr 12th 2016 at 12:14:36 AM

Oh joy.

Do they not see what's happening to North Carolina? Do they not care? Are they that idiotic and transphobic?

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#118877: Apr 12th 2016 at 12:43:13 AM

It's the ALEC I suspect. They have been propagating this agenda for quite a while.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Medinoc from France (Before Recorded History)
#118878: Apr 12th 2016 at 1:11:43 AM

I thought ALEC was in the pocket of big corpos, not religious nuts... Though any corporation would probably have interest in turning Michigan into a Deep South beachhead in the north, I don't see why they would start with discrimination rather than, say, minimum wage.

"And as long as a sack of shit is not a good thing to be, chivalry will never die."
darksidevoid Anti-Gnosis Weapon from The Frontiers (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: Robosexual
Anti-Gnosis Weapon
#118879: Apr 12th 2016 at 4:41:31 AM

I'm not sure it would be correct to say ALEC had a part in this, and I don't have opinion polls in front of me or anything, but I suspect that at least the MI GOP themselves are doing it in an attempt to drive turnout of their own voters up, because Presidential election years are the ones in which their power in state houses are most likely to be reduced. That's the real reason why NC's legislature called a special session to pass their bill, too. Speaking of which, fuck this idiot, verbal trainwreck of a legislator currently being interviewed on NPR for making all the rest of NC look like a bunch of ignorant blowhards by association.

edited 12th Apr '16 4:43:11 AM by darksidevoid

GM: AGOG S4 & F/WC RP; Co-GM: TABA, SOTR, UUA RP; Sub-GM: TTS RP. I have brought peace, freedom, justice, and security to my new Empire.
PotatoesRock Since: Oct, 2012
#118880: Apr 12th 2016 at 4:55:04 AM

I think it's kind of simple why GOP states keep spit-balling these Bathroom Bills:

They're gnat legislation, effectively. The GOP knows they'll probably got shot down or torched, but these and the religious freedom bills are basically the GOP trying to continue appealing to their anti-LGBT voters. They can't discriminate on marriage anymore. And I think a lot of these legislators are probably aware that the writing is on the wall for LGBT discrimination in the Workplace and Housing is probably going to be nuked (since the Feds are filling lawsuits to see if the courts will bite (which they're expected to)).

So basically these bills are the last remaining legislation they can put out.

But they're backfiring because the Big Businesses the GOP relies upon, since there are enough upscale LGBT voters with sufficiently worthwhile purchasing power, no longer want to back anti-LGBT legislation because they have a new blue ocean of consumers to appeal to.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#118881: Apr 12th 2016 at 5:17:07 AM

Isn't Michigan relatively liberal? And it stands to lose a lot of business if this passes, I think the governor might cave on this one.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
FieldMarshalFry Field Marshal of Cracked from World Internet War 1 Since: Oct, 2015 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Field Marshal of Cracked
#118882: Apr 12th 2016 at 6:24:37 AM

cross post: 6 Ugly Thing I Learnt Selling Guns to Drugs Cartels well... that is depressing

advancing the front into TV Tropes
Ogodei Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers from The front lines Since: Jan, 2011
Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers
#118883: Apr 12th 2016 at 6:48:33 AM

In Michigan's case it can be a much needed distraction from their governor's potential indictment, too.

Xopher001 Since: Jul, 2012
#118884: Apr 12th 2016 at 9:05:50 AM

@darksidevoid This reminds me of the 2004 election, when a bunch of homophobic laws were passed in states nationwide, thanks in part to Karl Rove, Bush's campaign manager

edited 12th Apr '16 9:06:26 AM by Xopher001

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#118885: Apr 12th 2016 at 9:36:31 AM

[up] How many of those laws survived to today?

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#118886: Apr 12th 2016 at 9:37:45 AM

They were same sex marriage bans, so none per Obergefell v. Hodges. I am not sure if there were any more.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#118887: Apr 12th 2016 at 10:17:28 AM

Speaking of courts

"Senate Judiciary chairman Grassley tells Garland no hearings" - http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN0X91OO

Not a surprise, but now he's told the man to his face.

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#118888: Apr 12th 2016 at 10:34:20 AM

Please, Iowa, in the name of all what is holy or horny kick that idiot out of office in November!

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#118889: Apr 12th 2016 at 10:58:02 AM

Has the Supreme Court thing already started backfiring? I recall a couple articles about cases that ended up with left leaning decisions when Garland might have been a deciding vote in the Conservatives' favor.

TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#118890: Apr 12th 2016 at 11:31:53 AM

Grassley does seem to be feeling the heat from the spectacular bad timing of his decision to be an obstacle to basic fundamental principles of U.S. Government.

"I'm calling on you, I’m asking you, I’m begging you, I’m imploring you — will you do all you can to help me win reelection," Grassley asked delegates, according to the Register.

The Iowa Republican added that with "White House organizing a campaign" against him the 2016 election is "a lot different" than his previous campaigns.

While Grassley is running unopposed for his party's nomination, Senate Democrats have found a strong challenger in former Lt. Gov Patty Judge, who is running for the Democratic nomination.

Democratic leaders praised Judge after meeting her in Washington during a closed-door lunch. Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), alluding to Republicans' refusal to consider a Supreme Court nominee, said "the thing she said that was really very, very powerful, is that she's one judge that Sen. Grassley can't ignore."

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MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#118892: Apr 12th 2016 at 11:42:47 AM

Playing coy again, Ryan? Everyone knows you want to be President some day.

Maybe he feels that if he gets the nomination by some kind of insider coup, then loses the general, his ambitions will be dead forever.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#118893: Apr 12th 2016 at 11:45:19 AM

If the Republicans are feeling the pressure in Iowa then that's good news, that's one of the safer seats. Iowa is safer then North Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Pensilvania Illinois, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Missouri, Indian and Arizona. That's 10 possible pickups before we ever get to Iowa, while the Dems have only two seats they could be forced out of (Colarada and Nevada).

[up] I'd say that's exactly it, he wants to be president, not some sacrificial lamb who dies so that Trump doesn't cost the Republicans the House.

edited 12th Apr '16 11:46:11 AM by Silasw

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
ILoveDogs Since: May, 2010
#118894: Apr 12th 2016 at 11:47:21 AM

What I'm worried about is if they still refuse to do a hearing for Hillary or Bernie's nominee.

FFShinra Since: Jan, 2001
#118895: Apr 12th 2016 at 11:47:39 AM

[up][up][up]Or he knows this cycle is a wash for the GOP no matter what and he's getting more done (and more done for his image) being the speaker. Especially in a Dem win, he's in the prime position (if they hold the house as they are expected to) to be the handbrake on Dem legislative ambitions.

He doesn't want it because he's more powerful where he is.

edited 12th Apr '16 11:48:07 AM by FFShinra

TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#118896: Apr 12th 2016 at 12:26:26 PM

A wash is when a business barely breaks even.

This is not a wash. It's a catastrophic failure. And There Was Much Rejoicing.

Yaaaay.

edited 12th Apr '16 12:28:32 PM by TheHandle

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#118897: Apr 12th 2016 at 12:55:21 PM

Oh please let Grassley lose his election to a someone named "Judge", the karma will be oh so sweet.

Ekuran Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
#118898: Apr 12th 2016 at 2:16:41 PM

[up][up][up][up]It's incredibly unlikely for Hillary or Bernie to become President without getting a Democratic Senate.

ILoveDogs Since: May, 2010
#118899: Apr 12th 2016 at 2:18:58 PM

...how do you mean? We elect them, they're President. Whether or not they do anything is what you're talking about.

Ekuran Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
#118900: Apr 12th 2016 at 2:25:37 PM

I mean if one of them becomes President, they're almost guaranteed to get a Democratic Senate as well, which means they'll get their Supreme Court nominee on the bench.

That's what you're talking about, right?

edited 12th Apr '16 2:26:47 PM by Ekuran


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