Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Hoosier Hospitality Vs. Homophobia

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Previous Related Posts:
Indiana Doesn't Want You - Backlash to RFRA Bill
Indiana Gov. Pence Signs Law Permitting Gay Discrimination

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Governor Mike Pence of Indiana keeps flip-flopping on what to do about the gay discrimination RFRA law he chose to sign last week. While more corporations pull out of Indiana and more famous names stand against Pence, he vacillates between pleasing his Tea Party backers and trying to save his state from ruin. The problem for Pence is that he's always taken a hard line against gay rights, and can't run away from that. He doesn't want to be seen as giving them equality because the far-right will dump him. I guess he forgot that his oath of office meant he was governor for EVERYONE in Indiana, not just the far-right Evangelical Kochtopians.

From The Atlantic
Tuesday is proving to be a turning point in the fight over Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act. With businesses, the state's largest newspaper, and leaders in the General Assembly expressing doubts about the law, Governor Mike Pence said he wanted to sign a bill this week "clarifying" the law.

"After much reflection and in consultation with leadership of the General Assembly, I’ve come to the conclusion that it would be helpful to move legislation this week that makes it clear that his law does not give business a right to deny services to anyone," Pence, a Republican, said at a press conference in Indianapolis Tuesday. "We want to make it clear that Indiana is open for business. We want to make it clear that Hoosier Hospitality is not a slogan, it’s a way of life."

Pence called for a bill on his desk by the end of the week. That deadline coincides with the NCAA Final Four, which begins Saturday in Indianapolis. The NCAA has criticized the law, and there have been calls—though they have not gained traction—for the tournament to be moved.

The Indiana Star came forward with an epic front page:



The Atlantic Continues:
On Tuesday, The Indianapolis Star demanded changes in an unusual and striking front-page editorial. The paper's editorial board says that the state's reputation is on the line. "All of this is at risk because of a new law, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, that no matter its original intent already has done enormous harm to our state and potentially our economic future," the editorial states.

Meanwhile, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson has said he will not sign a similar bill unless it is revised to resemble the Natinoal Religious Freedom law signed by Bill Clinton. This was a smart move from Hutchinson, but it really leaves Pence hanging out to dry, which is hilarious.

From CNN
Hutchinson asked lawmakers to recall the law that the Arkansas House had given final approval on Tuesday — or to send him follow-up legislation that makes the changes he requested.
Meanwhile, Hutchinson said, he's considering signing an executive order that bars discrimination among the state's workforce.
"The issue has become divisive because our nation remains split on how to balance the diversity of our culture with the traditions and firmly held religious convictions," Hutchinson said. "It has divided families, and there is clearly a generational gap on this issue."

Absolutely the best tweet about Gov. Pence and #RFRA came from author Stephen King!



Well, said, Sir!















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Cliven Bundy and Sons Show Up for Nevada Land Hearing

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Previous Related Posts:
Vegas Shooters Inspired by Bundy Ranch and Alex Jones
Bundy Ranch Militia Moves to Utah
Cliven Bundy Talks About "The Negro" as #GOP Stampedes Away From #BundyRanch
Bye-Bye Bundy
Wingnuts Declare Victory as Feds Leave Bundy Ranch
Bundy Ranch Stand-Off in Nevada Attracts Militia

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On Monday March 31, 2015, the Nevada Legislature had a special Committee Meeting to hear public comments on the law AB408, also known as the "Bundy Bill." This abominable piece of legislation would make it possible (in some alternate universe) for Nevada to "take back" their land from the Federal Government, then sell it to the highest bidder. Or, they could just give it to the ranchers who have been using it for cattle leases - you know, like Cliven Bundy did last year.

The sponsor of this bill is Michele Fiore, the crazy Nevada Assemblywoman who once flipped out on the Chris Hayes Show as she talked about how the Bureau of Land Management had harrassed Cliven Bundy's cattle during the stand-off last year. You know, the same cattle he has been letting graze on public land for 25 years without paying his grazing fees. The cattle that actually now belong to the Federal Government, but which for some reason the BLM will not seize as payment. This whole thing baffles me.





The reason Bundy and Fiore want this bill passed is so Nevada can set a legal precedent for all the other western states overseen by the BLM. They want all public land opened to cattle grazing, mining, and hunting, and probably want it policed by the Bundy Ranch Militia instead of the government. That sort of leaves the rest of us out of the process, which is the point because they want their own little kingdom, and couldn't care less about wildlife, hikers, or Native Americans. 

First the "Pro" people spoke, led by one of Cliven's sons, Ammon Bundy, who invoked the Bible, the Constitution, and God, and it went downhill from there. It amused me that many of the libertarian types also mentioned raising tax revenue on the land for the state instead of the Fed, but then these are the same people who don't want to pay taxes on the roads they travel, or pay those darn grazing fees anymore.

Most of the people speaking "Against" the law were Conservationists or Native Americans (who actually have a claim on the land, you know), and a few were just very eloquent citizens worried about running into crazy people with guns whenever they want to take a walk in the desert.

The third group were the supposed "Neutrals," although they all turned out to be more Bundy-ites, including Cliven's other son Ryan!! My favorite "Neutral" was an out-of-state gal from California who waved her hands in the air and said she was afraid of Harry Reid, Red China, Saudi Arabia, and ISIS, at which point the chairwoman reminded her she was supposed to be neutral. It was that kind of meeting.

I watched this hearing for hours yesterday, and live-tweeted, so many of the tweets below are from my account. If something is in quotations, it is a verbatim quote - even though some of them seem beyond bizarre - like the woman who held up a spur to make her point, or the guy who name-dropped Bob Dole for some unknown reason. All true!









The Pro's















































The Opposition



































The So-Called Neutrals


















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