I read this it is also possible for Tenn. legislature to NOT seat the 2 Justins if they are again to serve. On personal note; this is such a breach of our democracy. I have been steamed about it for days. And our country needs them, fine orators, thoughtful, committed to their communities, state and to democracy. Could you comment on where we could send notes of approval to the 2 Justins, [to the local Dem headquarters or some such?] Thanks for all you do.
Well, Justin Jones is back in office, so you could google his Nashville office address? And if you have any money at all to give I'd throw it at the Tennessee Dem party. They're awesome--I was on a call with some of them yesterday
Many thanks for the shout out to Markers For Democracy! We feel the same way about you! Funny story: David Pepper sent me the first six chapters of his new book to read and I also finally finished reading them yesterday! I agree that it will be a must-read for all activists and those who want to help save democracy. Hoping to lure David to NYC and/or a Markers zoom for a book talk when it is published. In the meantime, we have so much work to do. Another mass shooting. Reproductive freedom under assault from Republican judges and legislators. And we learned from Dan Goldman this morning that Jim Jordan is planning to bring his circus to NYC to hold hearings about our democratically elected DA Alvin Bragg. Thanks for your daily inspiration! I need it more than ever.
I'm so glad I'm not the only one. I felt AWFUL. But I gave him copious notes this time, so hopefully he'll forgive me. And it's going to be a great book, I agree.
Is anyone else having problems accessing the audio for our Substack newsletters? All of mine say “The audio for this post is still processing. Please check back in a minute.” This started yesterday and I can’t find any reference to the issue anywhere. Thanks in advance for any comments!
As I told TCinLA: most Substacks have the audio function at top right - looks like earphones. 🎧 It’s an AI generated voice and allows us to listen instead of read. But ALL FIXED NOW, so perhaps I am simply letting people know about this functionality.Thank you for your kind response.
Did the Justins not have an avenue within the legislature to propound their views? Isn’t that why legislatures exist? The rules of our democracy are everything. They should apply to all sides. Maybe expulsion was extreme, or maybe it was the correct move.
They haven't expelled members who are a) serial sexual predators of teen girls b) peed on another member's seat c) dealt Oxy to friends and family using their prescription pad, and now d) lied about what district they lived in. On top of that Democrats in the legislature are routinely ignored, have their mics turned off, kept off of key committees...this has been coming a long time.
Republicans do not follow the rules. It appears Cameron Sexton the Republican speaker of the Tennessee house does not live in his district. From the Popular Information substack today
“But while Sexton is imposing draconian punishment for technical violations of procedural rules, an investigation by Popular Information reveals that Sexton may be in violation of the fundamental rules of the legislature prescribed in the Tennessee State Constitution. Specifically, Article II, Section 5a of the Tennessee State Constitution states: "Each district shall be represented by a qualified voter of that district."
Also I am so glad to see people take a moral stand regardless if it gets them kicked out for technically violating the rules. Overdue!
Pay attention to reported facts and you’ll know the speaker refuses to recognize those 3 to speak at any point in session, which led to their actions. Maybe you fail to realize the racist and misogynistic nature of that choice by the speaker? In addition there were other options for the speaker to assert rebukes. I feel insulted by your fatuous suggestion this expulsion was justified.
I read this it is also possible for Tenn. legislature to NOT seat the 2 Justins if they are again to serve. On personal note; this is such a breach of our democracy. I have been steamed about it for days. And our country needs them, fine orators, thoughtful, committed to their communities, state and to democracy. Could you comment on where we could send notes of approval to the 2 Justins, [to the local Dem headquarters or some such?] Thanks for all you do.
Well, Justin Jones is back in office, so you could google his Nashville office address? And if you have any money at all to give I'd throw it at the Tennessee Dem party. They're awesome--I was on a call with some of them yesterday
Many thanks for the shout out to Markers For Democracy! We feel the same way about you! Funny story: David Pepper sent me the first six chapters of his new book to read and I also finally finished reading them yesterday! I agree that it will be a must-read for all activists and those who want to help save democracy. Hoping to lure David to NYC and/or a Markers zoom for a book talk when it is published. In the meantime, we have so much work to do. Another mass shooting. Reproductive freedom under assault from Republican judges and legislators. And we learned from Dan Goldman this morning that Jim Jordan is planning to bring his circus to NYC to hold hearings about our democratically elected DA Alvin Bragg. Thanks for your daily inspiration! I need it more than ever.
I'm so glad I'm not the only one. I felt AWFUL. But I gave him copious notes this time, so hopefully he'll forgive me. And it's going to be a great book, I agree.
Oh, lord. That would be the number one reason to expel someone!!! Yikes!!!!!!
Regarding Tennessee this is an important read https://open.substack.com/pub/popularinformation/p/where-does-the-tennessee-house-speaker?r=ezt0e&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
I did a Tiktok about it yesterday. And there's more about it this AM. He f---d around and now he's finding out.
Lol
It’s all fixed now. Sigh .... I knew once I yapped about it, it would be fine. Gremlins at work 😆
Quick Sign and postcards work best for old me.
Maybe it’s time to kick more members of the lege out?
Is anyone else having problems accessing the audio for our Substack newsletters? All of mine say “The audio for this post is still processing. Please check back in a minute.” This started yesterday and I can’t find any reference to the issue anywhere. Thanks in advance for any comments!
I rarely use it, so I haven't experienced that. Should I be doing an audio version of this newsletter?
As I told TCinLA: most Substacks have the audio function at top right - looks like earphones. 🎧 It’s an AI generated voice and allows us to listen instead of read. But ALL FIXED NOW, so perhaps I am simply letting people know about this functionality.Thank you for your kind response.
Some people on other columns have said the audio option hasn’t been available-don’t know why.
Did the Justins not have an avenue within the legislature to propound their views? Isn’t that why legislatures exist? The rules of our democracy are everything. They should apply to all sides. Maybe expulsion was extreme, or maybe it was the correct move.
They haven't expelled members who are a) serial sexual predators of teen girls b) peed on another member's seat c) dealt Oxy to friends and family using their prescription pad, and now d) lied about what district they lived in. On top of that Democrats in the legislature are routinely ignored, have their mics turned off, kept off of key committees...this has been coming a long time.
They didn’t expel a member who peed on another members chair.
Republicans do not follow the rules. It appears Cameron Sexton the Republican speaker of the Tennessee house does not live in his district. From the Popular Information substack today
“But while Sexton is imposing draconian punishment for technical violations of procedural rules, an investigation by Popular Information reveals that Sexton may be in violation of the fundamental rules of the legislature prescribed in the Tennessee State Constitution. Specifically, Article II, Section 5a of the Tennessee State Constitution states: "Each district shall be represented by a qualified voter of that district."
Also I am so glad to see people take a moral stand regardless if it gets them kicked out for technically violating the rules. Overdue!
Pay attention to reported facts and you’ll know the speaker refuses to recognize those 3 to speak at any point in session, which led to their actions. Maybe you fail to realize the racist and misogynistic nature of that choice by the speaker? In addition there were other options for the speaker to assert rebukes. I feel insulted by your fatuous suggestion this expulsion was justified.
If a difference of opinion is insulting to you, how do you survive in the world?
By breathing. It’s not “a” difference of opinion, but this particular one I find offensive.