[Politics] Think back to 2007, when a bunch of people decided that Utah was the perfect test laboratory for their experimental plan to kill the "socialistic" public-school system by diverting state educational dollars toward wacky, private religious schools.Remember how we resoundingly defeated that crazy plan? Remember how we vowed to get back at the legislators who tried to shove the voucher scheme down our throats?
Well, it's time for payback, baby! Here's the list of the Legislature's school-voucher ringleaders:
Payback's a Bitch: Vote Against These Pro-voucher Candidates
Senate
- Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo
- Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper
- Sen. Mike Waddoups, R-Taylorsville
- Sen. Carlene Walker, R-Cottonwood Heights
House
- Rep. David Clark, R-Santa Clara
- Rep. Greg Curtis, R-Sandy
- Rep. John Dougall, R-Highland
- Rep. Keith Grover, R-Provo
- Rep. Greg Hughes, R-Draper
- Rep. Eric Hutchings, R-Kearns
- Rep. Brad Last, R-St. George
- Rep. Becky Lockhart, R-Provo
- Rep. Stephen Sandstrom, R-Orem
- Rep. Steve Urquhart, R-St. George
- Rep. Carl Wimmer, R-Herriman
Note that every last one of these candidates is a Republican *. Since concepts such as "recorded fact" and "historical evidence" are now tools of the vast left-wing conspiracy, each of these candidates will tell you that this list is obvious evidence of the media's evil, liberal bias. On the other hand, you might just chalk it up to the fact that, in recent years, the GOP has developed a disturbing, self-destructive tendency to welcome radical nutcakes with open arms.
Hm. Which do you think is more likely?
(Brandon Burt)
* As was Rep. Mark Walker, R-Sandy, who also would have appeared on this list of pro-voucher legislators--were it not for the fact that he resigned his seat in July, on the dark night before the House Ethics Committee was scheduled to convene hearings regarding allegations that Walker had bribed a political opponent to drop out of the race. (Note that this was a separate investigation from that involving Rep. Greg Hughes, R-Draper, who is also on the list of voucher supporters.) The Utah Republican Party, having become convinced of its entitlement to a political majority, is trying to laugh off the perception that an awful lot of its members seem to be under investigation these days.
I voted yesterday - straight ticket Democrat, yes and no to the various amendments, no to every judge on the ticket and yes to both Prop 1 and 2.
ReplyDeleteI wish we could vote against the Mormon Church being considered a religion. They're a political machine and do not deserve the tax breaks they've received that has contributed to the making of their close-minded empire. I grew up Mormon, have Mormon family members, and all I can say is that the Mormon's make me sick.
ReplyDeleteMormon Church GOTV for Prop 8: "Do All You Can"
Another night in Oakland, another round of Prop 8 picketing. This time a couple dozen people spread out on each of the four corners at MacArthur and High Sts. in east Oakland, California leading the fight against gay marriage. The scene was, oddly enough, jumping. Lots of teenagers, some grandmas, cheering, each with a sign. The most popular were "Prop 8 = Free Speech" (that 'equal' is making it into the anti-gay marriage push holds its own irony), and "Honk if you Support Prop 8" (the intersection was as loud as a a Manhattan thoroughfare). Detractors, those with No on Prop 8 signs and vocal drivers provoked screaming ("God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve!"), middle fingers out of car windows, lots of pointing against windshields, a real show of humanity.
I talked to a few picketers and found out they're all from area Mormon churches. They've been picketing every night at various spots across the Bay Area. One young woman, Patricia, who's 18, said she and her church go to a different intersection most every night. I asked if she was going to vote. "Yeah, I'm voting, yes on Prop 8." Who are you voting for for president? Her response might be what surprised me the most, after the jump.
"I'm not," she said. "I'm only voting for Prop 8, nothing else, that's the only thing that's important." Seriously? She said it's so important because without it "there will be gay marriage in my church."
While it's safe to say that the Mormon Church isn't going to start blessing same-sex unions in their temples, the message she's sending is a strategic one. The Church of Latter Day Saints has all but ordered its congregants to campaign for, and donate to (the church has raised at least $10 million from its members), Prop 8's passage. From High Country News:
In June, the church's top prophets commanded Mormons "to do all you can" to work for Proposition 8 and donate money to the campaign. Mormon leaders throughout California read the instructions to their congregations, which have more than 750,000 members. Word spread everywhere in the Mormon realm. In August, the prophets added pages of elaboration: "The Church has a single, undeviating standard of sexual morality: intimate relations are proper only between a husband and a wife united in bonds of matrimony. ... Any dilution of the traditional definition of marriage will further erode the already weakened stability of marriages and family generally...with harmful consequences for society."
At least in Oakland its congregants are out in force, and there's no sign they're slowing down. "We've seen a bunch of haters," said Patricia, "but also a lot of supporters."
UPDATE: Kevin Drum looks at the latest Prop 8 poll numbers out today. "It's gonna be close, folks."
- from Mother Jones
So ... people who want to have equal marriage rights are "haters," huh?
ReplyDeleteAnd I thought only Utah Mormons were like that.
You and me both, Brandon. I guess we were wrong.
ReplyDelete