By Craig McDermott, crossposted from Random Musings
…Being offensive isn’t a capital crime.
From CNN, via Phoenix Channel 3 (KTVK), written by Saeed Ahmed, Ed Lavandera and Joe Sutton –
A cartoon contest featuring controversial images of the Muslim Prophet Mohammed turned deadly Sunday night when two men pulled up in a car and opened fire. Police returned fire, killing both men after one wounded a security guard.
None of the approximately 200 people attending the event were hurt.
The two shooters have Phoenix ties, sharing an apartment in north Phoenix.
Let’s keep it short and simple:
“Freedom of speech”, as an American value, is almost universally treasured, even revered, here. It covers many activities, from “speaking truth to power” to “being obnoxiously offensive”.
The organizers of the “cartoon contest” are rabid Islamophobes and were deliberately trying to offend and upset as many people, mostly Islamic, as possible.
They exhibit no redeeming qualities as human beings and offer no benefit to civil society.
They were completely wrong in their behavior.
And as wrong as they were (and still are), they were less wrong than the people they so offended and outraged that those people expressed their outrage by grabbing guns and attempting to kill those that offended them.
And2, this is not even a close call.
…The GOP 2016 presidential field may have to trade in their clown car for a tour bus if this keeps up.
From the Huffington Post, written by Chris Weigant –
Last week, the field of officially-announced Democratic presidential candidates doubled in size, from one person to two. This week, the Republican presidential field is likewise going to double, from three candidates to six. Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, and Marco Rubio have all previously officially announced their candidacies, and this week they will be joined by Carly Fiorina and Ben Carson (who announced today), and Mike Huckabee (scheduled to announce tomorrow).
There are at least a half-dozen more Republicans who are looking to jump into the race, ranging from serious (i.e. – Jeb Bush) to “serious” (wink, wink) (i.e. – the Rick twins, Perry and Santorum).
There are others who are also making noises about getting in the race like Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-bat shit crazy) and Governor John Kasich (R-OH).
Assuming that all of the people who are “rumored” to be running (in quotes because some, like Jeb Bush, are widely known to be running, but haven’t officially announced their candidacies) and that at least a few of the dark horses get into the race, the R field will need a larger vehicle to go from state to state.
I’m sure the Koch Brothers can afford it though.
…Doug Ducey may not be courageous, but no one can say that he is stupid.
From the Arizona Republic, written by Laurie Roberts –
The Arizona Board of Regents are voting today on a plan to raise tuition and fees at the state’s three universities.
MIA from today’s meeting: the person responsible for the Board of Regents having to raise tuition and fees at the state’s three universities.
Gov. Doug Ducey, that would be.
…The Grand Canyon chapter of the Sierra Club released its report card on the 2015 legislative session, and to no one’s surprise, every Republican at the Capitol except for two, Rep. Noel Campbell and Gov. Doug Ducey, earned “Fs”.
Those two earned “Ds”.
Next year being an election year, expect all of them to earn “Fs”…unless the Sierra Club adds “G” to their list of possible grades.
Of course the Sierra Club would give Republicans “Fs”…the Club is not known for it’s conservative view points.
If your state U’s are already suffering budget cuts and fee advancements, keep an eye on Louisiana to see how bad it can get. (LSU may have to declare ‘exigency’ — the academic equivalent of bankruptcy — because Piface Jindal — he of the ‘official portrait’ that makes him look like an albino — has cut funding so severely — while at the same time trying to make sure religious schools are cut in on state money.)
Sometimes even as solidly state-centered a blog as BfAZ can benefit by having people reading and reporting on other states so they can provide advance warnings on the next Republican led outrage in their own states. (But then — here he goes again — Democrats have got to learn not to run against individual Republicans but against the Party as a whole, and putting the GOP on the Defensive. They’ve been doing that to us for years — and the results show how well it has worked. We are on the popular as well as the right side of almost every issue, but because of Republican use of ‘scare words’ we do the right thing and they get the votes. Which leads to gerrymandering and court decisions which make it even easier for them.)