Might this backfire? They already have an overwhelming majority, but this seems like the sort of thing that could fire people up. In general, do you think pushing a “Republicans are anti-democracy”, while true, is effective?
Ever since I heard about this (and saw video of other protests and marches in and around Nashville) all I can “hope and pray” is that every one of those young people are either already registered to vote, or got registered this week.
To your point, yes hope this completely backfires on the GOP - I saw a screenshot on Twitter yesterday that indicated that expelling these folks was against the state constitution and their First Amendment rights.
Using a bull horn in the chamber seems to me to be a bit over the top. I should think they would be censured, or however the Tennessee Legislature slaps members on the wrist.
Looks like they’re starting with the “sure is some nice health insurance you got there – sure would be a shame if you were to lose it” approach with Gloria Johnson.
And if they do expel these Reps they’ll drag their feet scheduling special elections to fill their terms because, of course they will.
There are two narratives.
- The GOP is anti-democracy and fascist.
- The GOP is punishing house members for having the gall to speak out against the murder of children in our schools.
Both are a bad look. Both have been true across the nation and there seem to be close to no consequences. The system has failed because the GOP and their propaganda machine broke it while Democrats watched.
Sure does with me, and I’m no progressive (as the term is used today).
Context is the emotional wallop of the Nashville school shooting. Unless the Tennessee Three do the bullhorn thing again, they shouldn’t even get a censure.
Stripping them of committee assignments, already a done deal, goes against the expressed will of those who voted for them to be full representatives.
I say the same when the committee assignment strip happens to Republicans.
“Liberal Redneck” and TN native, Trae Crowder has about three minutes on this issue. I like this guy … a lot:
they have voted to expel justin jones. he has taken his name plate and is leaving the legislature.
I cannot say how much I hope this backfires. I mean I know it is TN, so any hope of it turning blue is hopeless, but maybe at the national level.
To be fair, the job of a representative is to dispassionately do research, debate, and advocate for subjects, not to get up in the middle of the room and start hollering holy hell.
If all the congresses started ejecting the radical elements that were elected in, it might do the world good.
BUT, only if it was all based in written, accepted, well-known rules that have clearly stated punishments. Doing it arbitrarily and one-sidedly is, obviously, not a reasonable process.
If the Democrats are wise they’ll publicly chastise those members who misbehaved for those misbehaviors, and then they focus on making a larger point about double-standards.
NYSE: MTG is up with a bullet today!
[ie, it’s a good day to be an asshole from the South]
As the saying goes, if you are more upset at the messenger than you are about the message, then you’re part of the problem.
Wait. What? I couldn’t hear you over the semi-automatic weapon fire still echoing throughout Nashville.
Shitheads.
I live in Nashville. I have hated the Republican Party for a long time, but this incident increases the intensity of my loathing to the next level. I would be ecstatic if they all just up and disappeared off the face of the earth.
In every debate about getting rid of the Electoral College, some dipshit says, “It protects us from tyranny of the majority,” and makes it clear that they have no idea what, “Tyranny of the majority,” is.
Well, this is what “Tyranny of the majority,” looks like.
Excellent point!
They are now debating Gloria Johnson.
Gloria Johnson won the vote and stays in the legislature.
On to Justin Pearson.
What were the vote numbers on Johnson, and why did she “win” (i.e. why did some Repubs not expel her, but did expel the first)?
Her words were
I don’t know. I didn’t hear the arguments that were proffered.