OK, that was bad. But, was it bad enough to generate these comments from Utah Republican Party Chairman Dave Hansen (via today's Political Cornflakes)?
"Helen Thomas has clearly lost any semblence of rational thinking and has let her bigoted views of Israel and Jews take over. Yes Helen, its time for you to retire. You might be more comfortable living out your remaining years in a white supremacist enclave in northern Idaho."
Maybe Ms Thomas can take a few of Mr Hansen's party members with her. Namely Senator Buttars, Representatives Wimmer and Sanstrom, and Mike Lee and Tim Bridgewater, too. Their comments have been just as bad, if not worse, than those of Ms Thomas.
I'm sure they'll all love it up there with those folks.
-Bob
(P.S. - I know that Senator Buttars is in the hospital with health issues. I hope he gets better soon.)
"From the Bureau of Criminal Identification -- and these are hard statistics -- in Salt Lake City, Chief [Chris] Burbank's jurisdiction, 81 percent of the homicides, when you have a recorded ethnicity, are committed by Hispanics,"
BCI shows that 18 people were arrested in Salt Lake City for homicides in 2008. 9 were Hispanic, 2 were not Hispanic, and 7 were of unknown ethnicity.
However, the Salt Lake Police Department has slightly different numbers for 2008. According to them, there were 19 homicide arrests that year. The racial makeup was as follows: 3 Caucasian, 7 Hispanic, 3 Polynesian, 5 African-American, and one Native American.
However, nothing in either set of numbers tells us how many of those arrests were of people here illegally. Not all Hispanics are here illegally.
And, just because you get arrested for homicide doesn't make you guilty.
-Bob
p.S. I want to see Carl Wimmer's papers. I don't believe that he's here legally.....
So, I want to start a revolution. Protest against the wrongs my government is imposing on me. Since this is 2010, the most important thing to have is a name. Hmm....
Let's name it after someone from the revolution! I found the perfect person!
He's a failed businessman turned lawyer (conservatives hate lawyers!). In his most famous case as a lawyer, he defended a law that restricted how much clergymen got paid (this is so perfect. We liberals love government declaring how much people get paid). Not only that, but the judge in the case was this lawyer's father! (Old-school Chicago politics at it's finest!)
This person used the momentum from this win to get elected into his colony's legislative body. (we liberals love electing celebrities!)
Nine days after being sworn into office, he proposed an act "in language so extreme that some Virginians said it smacked of treason." (Ann Coulter is going to write her next book about us. I know it!) In fact, he allegedly said "If this be treason, make the most of it!" The freshman representative waited for an opportunity where the mostly conservative members of the House were away (only 24% was considered sufficient for a quorum). In this atmosphere, he succeeded, through much debate and persuasion, in getting his proposal passed.
Later, in a speech to the legislative body against their federal government, he used graphic name calling, according to the only first-person record of the speech. (Typical Liberal can't say anything without cussing.)
Then, when he was Governor (for the second time), he voted against the ratification of the Constitution. (You can't hate America more than that!) George Washington tried to appoint him to be Secretary of State, but he declined because he didn't like Washington's policies. (Man, when you hate America, you really hate America!) But, he later changed his mind (flip-flopper!) and liked Washington better than Jefferson and Madison. (Hey, those are two more Founding Fathers! I really must be an unpatriotic Commie/Liberal America-Hater to name my caucus after this guy!)
Well, after all of that reading, I have come to find out that someone has already named their caucus after this person. What crazy liberal did that?
Oh.
-Bob
P.S. No, I don't think Carl Wimmer hates America. nor do I think he's unpatriotic. However, if a Democrat had done something like Patrick Henry, or even in 2008 had spoken out against the Federal Government in the way the PHC do, they would have been called Unpatriotic Commie/Liberal America Haters by Glenn Beck.
Rep. Carl Wimmer, R-Herriman, is one who has opposed a cell phone ban on the principle of individual liberty. "Government does not need to mandate every good idea," said Wimmer, who acknowledged that driving while phoning may be dangerous. "We are a free people."
So, let's use this reasoning on some of Wimmer's pet issues:
Abortion:
Sure, you're taking the life of another person into your hands, but we are a free people. Government does not need to mandate every good idea..... Oh, that's not his position? Never mind.
Marriage:
We are a free people. We should be able to choose whom we marry. Government does not need to mandate every god idea..... Oh, that's not his position? Never mind.
A conservative legislator wants to give Utah a way to avoid swallowing any federal medicine for health-care reform.
"Even if the feds come out with a wonderful plan that is market driven, if it's a federal mandate, I'm opposed," Rep. Carl Wimmer said Monday. "Basically they should keep their hands off -- it's not within their purview."
So the Herriman Republican plans to introduce a bill in the 2010 Legislature that would pave the way to amend the Utah Constitution and allow the state to opt out of federal health-care reform.
Wimmer's goal is lofty -- to amend the Utah Constitution would require two-thirds approval in the state House and Senate and a majority vote of the people.
Let ne get this straight:
"Even if the feds come out with a wonderful plan that is market driven, if it's a federal mandate, [you're] opposed[?]"
And, opting out doesn't mean that Utahn's won;t be paying for this program anyway. So we'll be paying for programs and receive no benefit.
If you remember — how could you forget? — an anti-gay-marriage demonstrator confronted openly lesbian Rep. Chris Johnson and told the Salt Lake lawmaker that she is "a waste of a vagina."
To his credit, ex-cop Rep. Carl Wimmer, a leader in the opposition to civil unions, not only met with Johnson, but made a public statement that he would have nothing to do with such crass behavior.
Chris and I don't agree on much — Chris and I don't agree on anything. But I won't stand by and see her mistreated.
The same group of demonstrators, America Forever, crashed a press conference called by Johnson and started aggressively questioning gay rights leaders. Wimmer, himself, stepped in.
Remember back in October, when three Republican lawmakers held a press conference at the Capitol (with imported Catholics behind them, no less) to announce an abortion bill they were proposing for 2009? You know, the one that would eventually revoke Roe v Wade?
The one the Representative Johnson called a "gimmick?"
Rep. Christine Johnson, D-Salt Lake City, who was among those holding signs supporting abortion rights, called the announcement a "political stunt" by lawmakers trying to get re-elected, and warned that taxpayers were going to get stuck with the legal tab. "This is going to waste a lot of time. It's going to waste taxpayer dollars and it doesn't need to be our state that tries to overturn Roe v. Wade," she said. She says the money could be better spent on things like comprehensive sex education and birth control that would reduce the number of abortions performed. "I have a duty to defend life," said Sandstrom. "I think it's reprehensible to suggest that defending life is a political gimmick."
Well, now that the election is over and the representatives have won, it's time to wait til next year:
Conservative legislators are backing away from costly plans to take on Roe v. Wade this year -- given Utah's tight budget -- but they want to start stockpiling donations for a future court fight against abortion.
"We are looking at wanting to ban abortion in Utah, period, end of story. However, we want to do it correctly," said Rep. Carl Wimmer, R-Herriman. "We're not going to back away from abortion. We're never going to let it die."
Wimmer is working with Rep. Ken Sumsion, R-American Fork, and Rep. Stephen Sandstrom, R-Orem, on a bill that would bar abortions except in the case of rape, incest or permanent physical harm to the woman.
But the legislators realize Utah doesn't have the estimated $2 million to $7 million it would take to defend such a ban in court. So they are putting off their anti-abortion bill and instead proposing legislation that would create a legal defense fund for a court showdown later.
Wimmer said a private organization was willing to defend an abortion ban and finance the fight. But, he said, Attorney General Mark Shurtleff "would have to give up the right to defend it because, the fact is, it would end up costing about $2 million, and we don't have the money."
However, the Utah Constitution mandates that the case would have to be overseen by Shurtleff, spokesman Paul Murphy said Tuesday.
So, even though this won't cost us anything, we can't do it because Utah doesn't have the money.
Someone once told me that it is not good to start a new year mad at someone nor have someone mad at you.
It is with that in mind that I write this message.
Earlier this month, I found a message that Carl Wimmer had posted publicly on Facebook, which misstated the role of a leader of the LDS Church. I wrote a post about it on my blog.
However, it seems that Rep Wimmer has taken offense to some of the things I wrote in the post, and especially in the comments.
And for those comments, I apologize.
I should not have judged Rep Wimmer so much. I took his faith lightly, which I should never have done. I used presumptions of some LDS Republicans and used them to stereotype Rep Wimmer.
The Church is led by 15 apostles. The most senior apostle is the president of the Church, and he selects two other apostles as counselors. These three function as the First Presidency, which is the highest governing body of the Church. Twelve others form the Quorum of the Twelve — the second-highest governing body of the Church. Together, the First Presidency and the Twelve oversee the entire Church. Church members trace this organizational structure to the New Testament
The members of the First Presidency are Thomas S Monson, Henry B. Eyring, and Dieter F. Uchtdorf.
Elder Wirthlin was 6th most-senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve.
Patrick Byrne, who famously declared on election night 2007 that Utahns had failed an IQ test (only to later say that he didn't really mean they were stupid, he meant they were crazy), donated $10,000 to Carl Wimmer's reelection bid.
That's 30% of the $33,539 Wimmer has raised since the end of August.
I was writing a post about how Republicans will never do anything about abortion because it's too golden a campaign issue for them. It wins them votes when they are desperate.
Well, desperation must be setting in, because with five weeks to go, a press conference was staged.
Conservative Utah legislators said Tuesday they plan to sponsor legislation banning abortions in Utah in nearly all cases, sparking a legal fight they vowed to fight to the Supreme Court. "We're tired of it. This group of legislators has had enough of the slaughter of innocents and we're going to step up and we're going to do something about it," said Rep. Carl Wimmer, R-Herriman.
Innocent people over the age of one minute die all the time by things that Carl Wimmer doesn't want to take on.
Behind him, about 60 abortion opponents, many in town for a Catholic conference, held signs calling for protection for the unborn. A roughly equal number of pro-choice advocates stood behind them holding signs of their own.
They were "in town?" In other words, he had to import protesters?
"We are here to stand up for the unborn, to stand up against the dogs of hate who defend abortion on demand," Wimmer said.
In my experience, people who are pro-choice are far from the type of people who could be classified as dogs of hate.
However, I know many anti-choicers who are full of hate. Like Rep. Wimmer.
The key bill in the package backed by the legislators would ban all abortions, except in cases of rape, incest or if the life or a bodily function of the mother is threatened. Rep. Stephen Sandstrom, R-American Fork, said his bill will be nearly identical to one that failed in the 2007 session. "The crucial thing is: Is this Legislature doing what the people want it to do? Do the people of Utah believe this is the way to prevent abortion from happening in Utah?" asked Missy Bird, executive director of the Planned Parenthood Action Committee.
To answer the first question: Do they ever?
She said it would cost between $2 million and $10 million fighting to the Supreme Court. Rep. Christine Johnson, D-Salt Lake City, who was among those holding signs supporting abortion rights, called the announcement a "political stunt" by lawmakers trying to get re-elected, and warned that taxpayers were going to get stuck with the legal tab. "This is going to waste a lot of time. It's going to waste taxpayer dollars and it doesn't need to be our state that tries to overturn Roe v. Wade," she said. She says the money could be better spent on things like comprehensive sex education and birth control that would reduce the number of abortions performed. "I have a duty to defend life," said Sandstrom. "I think it's reprehensible to suggest that defending life is a political gimmick."
First, we'll talk later about defend ALL life, not just the life of the unborn.
Second, holding a press conference 5 weeks before election day *IS* a gimmick.
South Dakota has a similar ban on the ballot this November. They rejected a ban two years ago that had no exceptions. There were about 3,516 abortions performed in Utah last year, according to the Utah Department of Health. The supporters said the cost of the fight will not be an issue. Wimmer said that a group based out of Washington, D.C., which he would not identify, has committed to doing all of the legal work defending the bill for the state.
So, all of this is going to be paid for by people outside of Utah?
Sounds like the voucher fight all over again.
Oh, and we've heard this before.
In 1991, the state passed a ban on abortion and spent years litigating it in the courts. Supporters of the ban assured legislators that private donors were lined up to support the assured legal fight and a fund was created, but very little was contributed. Sandstrom says this time will be different, because groups and foundations have already committed to backing the state.
You know, like investors that were going to put up funds for a soccer stadium, including naming rights, which didn't come though until right before the thing opened.
Somehow, I overlooked this, but a friend sent me the link, along with the graphic.
As you may or may not know, the Republicans in the Legislature have been given some free reign on a radio show, because that's what was missing from Utah's airwaves: Conservatives.
Somehow I missed that when JMBell said his show was being "suspended" during BYU football season, he was speaking McCain talk and meant to say he was going to be on 24/7.
Anyway, on their show a couple of weeks ago, it was Carl Wimmer's turn to host, and he had some fun snippets:
"Democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner. Freedom is the sheep being armed."
Funny, that sounds a lot like the Legislature, except the wolves are armed.
- Caller echoes Wimmer's opposition to the zoo bond. Wimmer: "If I have to choose between putting shelter over my three young kids or putting shelter over a polar bear or seal ... or winged bat, I don't know what else they've got up there, you know which one I'm going to choose." (It's the winged bat, isn't it?). Says Wimmer: The zoo is a socialist program.
