As I was listening to the car radio this afternoon, there was announcement of a new contest — identify the voice of the news maker of the week. About 20 minutes later, the sound clip was played. I recognised the voice immediately. It was that of Ted Cruz. Now you might say "So what?". I live in Canada! The fractious Republican race seems to have taken over here too. It has been a pleasant sunny day today. Not the kind of day they like as they go back to work. OGIM!!!
Short Takes
Huffington Post — Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal (R) vetoed a bill Monday morning that would have allowed open discrimination against gay people, a huge victory for the LGBT community and for businesses that had been threatening to boycott the state if Deal signed the law.
“Georgia is a welcoming state. It is full of loving, kind and generous people. And that is what we should want,” Deal said during a press conference. “I intend to do my part to keep it that way. For that reason, I will veto House Bill 757.”
The bill would have prevented the government from taking action against organizations or people with “a sincerely held religious belief regarding lawful marriage between… a man and a woman.” It would have opened the door to all kinds of discrimination against same-sex couples. A state-contracted counselor, for example, could refuse to provide services to people in a same-sex marriage. Taxpayer-funded adoption and foster care agencies could refuse to place children in their homes. Government employees, a la Kim Davis, could refuse to file official forms for same-sex couples.
While I was out today, I kept hearing about Gov Deal's veto of the so called "religious freedom bill" which is not about religious freedom at all but about discrimination. At the beginning of March, Deal spoke out against the bill which had not yet reached his desk saying:
“I think what the New Testament teaches us is that Jesus reached out to those who were considered the outcasts, the ones that did not conform to the religious societies’ view of the world and said to those of belief, ‘This is what I want you to do,'” Deal said … (from Raw Story)
Good work Nathan Deal!
Raw Story — The U.S. Secret Service will not allow people to carry guns into the July Republican National Convention in Cleveland, quashing the hopes of more than 45,000 people who have signed a petition saying attendees should be allowed to bring firearms.
The Secret Service said on Monday it has the authority to preclude guns from sites visited by the people it protects such as U.S. presidential candidates, presidents and former presidents.
Well we didn't have to wait a long time for an answer on open carry at the RNC in July. Now, will it hold?
YouTube — Stephen Colbert: Now You’ll Be Able to ‘Binge-Watch the Death of the GOP’
I always like a bit of humour . . . especially when talking about Republicans.
Alternet — New research findings from a team of progressive economists provides documentary evidence that the financial footing for Sen. Bernie Sanders visionary social change agenda is not only plausible, but would create far more socially productive jobs, as well as moving us down the road to the more humane society that is at the heart of the Sanders campaign.
In their push to vilify Sanders, Democratic Party acolytes from the media to academia have fallen in line attacking the economic foundations of his campaign for free public college tuition, Medicare for all, job creation through infrastructure repair, and other critical needs.
But a new report from the University of Massachusetts Amherst Political Economy Research Institute documents how a key Sanders proposal – a tax on Wall Street speculation -would bring at least $300 billion a year in new revenues from those who can most afford to pay it for the critical reforms the country so desperately needs.
The plutacrats really don't like Bernie's ideas because it means less money in their pockets. I say Go Bernie!
My Universe —
L
3 Responses to “Squatch’s Open Thread 28/03/2016”
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HP: Kudos to the Governor!!! Wish other politicians would treat folks with respect, like he has shown.
RS: What were people going to do in bringing guns to the RNC?? Shoot the messengers?? Colbert is funny. lol.
AlterNet: Great article, passing it on. Show me the money! Go Bernie, GO !!!
My Universe: How cute and funny. I've never done that though. lol.
Yesterday, started weeding, mowing, planting seeds. Recovering from Easter, it was wonderful, and I ate too much, leaving me in a candy coma. Hope that you have a great day! Thanks, Lynn.
I would think what that native Canadian says would be news in Canada!!
Raw Deal was afraid of the economic impact NC is experioencing.
Dang! I was hoping they would have a holy war there!!
Amen! I heear Hades needs a Party!
That really is embarassing!!
Isn't it terrible when American Republicans start to stalk you when you thought youself far away and safe enough in your own country, minding your own political business, Lynn? I know just how you feel. It's mostly the Clowns that keep popping up here too, hardly a word on Bernie and only a small word for Hillary.
HuPo: So glad the governor of Georgia didn't go the way his colleague of North Carolina is about to go/already gone. Nathan Deal can proudly say he's a true Christian and he, unlike the other Republican lawmakers in his state who came up with this bill and passed it, can also say he is a man of principle and values who didn't cave in under the undoubtedly heavy pressure of his pseudo-Christian party. Kudos to Nathan Deal!
RS: So the GOP has gotten the Secret Service to take the fall for them, huh. A few days back the number of idiots wanting to bring firearms to the Republican convention was just over 30,000; apparently there were 45,000 in the end. And they were ALL coming to the convention with loaded weapons to make sure Drumpf got his nomination …uhhh defend themselves against a Da'esh attack? Do I smell a rat with a blond toupee, or what! But it's very kind of the Secret Service to get the GOP leadership off the fence they were sitting on, being split down the middle on how to proceed. It's conveniently out of their hands now.
YouTube: Thanks for posting, Lynn. We can never have enough Colbert to make fun of Republicans and their candidates and an Open Convention.
Alternet: These new research findings showing that Bernie's plans a both economically and socially sound are finally coming in; better late than never, I'd say. But how much press coverage do the get…?
My Universe: Great cattoon!