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oraxx's avatar

There is very little that cannot be justified in the name of religion and Ryan Walters is driving that point home with a vengeance. It is a bedrock Constitutional principle in the United States that our secular government CANNOT choose one religion over another. The public schools are a subdivision of that government, and Walters is doing just that with his absurdly unconstitutional directive. History does not begin to support the idea every problem can be solved by slapping a Christian label on everything. Walters will make millions on the Christo-fascist lecture circuit playing the poor persecuted victim of the godless left.

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Stephen Brady's avatar

Agreed! I think he sees himself as a ‘christian warrior’ who is leading in the Dominionist goal of producing a compliant electorate who will bleat christian platitudes and do whatever they are told. Middle Ages here we come.

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oraxx's avatar

Unless they can get total control over the internet, they have no chance of succeeding in the long term.

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Joe King's avatar

They sure are gonna try.

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

Starting with porn.

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Len Koz's avatar

Which I really don't understand since they are the biggest consumers of porn.

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cdbunch's avatar

It's BECAUSE they are the biggest consumers of porn. They can't control themselves and feel guilty so they have to make it so they can't get to it by making sure NO ONE can get to it.

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

To appeal to their sour women, who hate sex, probably because they are having sex with republicans.

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James's avatar

Because "porn" will be defined however they want porn to be defined.

LGBT+? Porn. Books on the history of enslavement and Jim Crow? Porn. Books on atheism? Porn.

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Crowscage's avatar

The 'Official' reason for the existence of the great firewall of China is to block porn. Porn is defined as anything the Party says it is.

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Joe King's avatar

𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑔𝑙𝑒𝑒𝑓𝑢𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑣𝑜𝑡𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑜 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑘𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, 𝑟𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒, 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑣𝑒 𝑖𝑡’𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝐽𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑠 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑠.

Which is why the legislature's investigation has nothing to do with Walters' blatant First Amendment violations and more to do with reminding him that he isn't the head pastor yet.

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Bensnewlogin's avatar

I find it extremely telling that virtually all of the complaints about this christo-fash are about stepping on other peoples prerogatives and power. That's what bothers them. Not that he is destroying public education, essential to a functioning and free society. Not that he wants obvious nonsense taught to children as fact. Not that he's an asshole. Not that he wants people who have no business being anywhere near education, let alone children, running the show. Not that he wants the end of separation of church and state.

Will no one rid us of this meddlesome priest?

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Val Uptuous NotAgain's avatar

I would say that our complaints about him still fall under the “stepping on other people’s prerogatives and power” only for different reasons and levels of power. But, yes the actions the state politicians are taking against him are in regards to how he’s treating them rather than how the students, staff and families are treated.

I do t expect much from Republicans, especially Republicans from Oklahoma, so at least they’re contemplating something.

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Bensnewlogin's avatar

Precisely

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Len Koz's avatar

"I'm very sorry for burning down the church, your honor, but I swear to god I thought the bishop was inside."

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

Henry the second was right in that idea.

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

So ... for a while there, Walters thought he had his own little satrapy there, doing as he pleased with no one to answer to. Now he looks more like the victim of his own arrogance and stupidity, FAFO in spades. Now he has HIS OWN PARTY on his case, demanding his impeachment because he couldn't be bothered to do his job!

Walters was insubordinate. Now he gets to learn the price of insubordination.

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oraxx's avatar

He has the potential of costing the state millions in legal fees, as this will surely go to court if it is allowed to stand. That probably worries Republicans more than the message he's trying to send.

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

Republicans have wasted millions on legal fees, fighting religious issues, long before Walters showed up. Honestly, I have to wonder if any of them actually care about the waste. Whether there is any substantive reaction as a result of the US Department of Education's evaluation of Oklahoma schools or not, but ONE STAR in 32 of 52 performance parameters has got to be a red flag, if ever I knew one.

The question now is whether and how he will be held to account.

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

Short answer "no". Long answer "fuck no".

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

Could be. In any case, followup on this story (as with so many others) remains a must-do.

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Lynn Veit's avatar

I think you nailed it.

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Len's avatar

It’s not his money, so why should he care. Until people like him are held personally responsible and liable, this will continue.

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cdbunch's avatar

Maybe the money that isn't going to the schools is flowing into Swiss banks.

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

Bingo! Or like DeathSantis they are skimming the interest .

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Crowscage's avatar

These wreckers are fine with losing the case. Losing drains funds. Then they turn around and cry poor while they take a bush axe after what they wanted to kill anyway.

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

(Satrapes were province governors who had to answer to the Shah).

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Vanity Unfair's avatar

Also second-level crime-lord in THRUSH according to “The Man from Uncle”. Little sister had a crush on David McCallum and would relate the programmes should I miss one.

Incidentally, OED prefers “satrap” but as it is ancient Persian, who really cares. I might keep the bit about anachronism in Daniel in mind for Biblical literalists.

A governor of a province in the ancient Persian empire. See satrapy n. 1a.

In the Book of Daniel anachronistically attributed to the Babylonian empire; see e.g. quot. C1384.

Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. “satrap (n.),” July 2023, https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/5494330051.

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

Your dictionary is right. I just wrote it in French 🤣

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

What a good and honest man.

"conservative voters don’t give a damn about public education, either [...]Sometimes literally, when it comes to those inhalers."

Who says they send their children to public schools ?

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Zorginipsoundsor's avatar

More proof that repukes are not pro-life.

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NOGODZ20's avatar

Ryan Walters should be forever hounded over his role in the death of Nex Benedict.

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cdbunch's avatar

As far as I'm concerned, even if it is true that their hand held the weapon, they were murdered.

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Bagen Onuts's avatar

Murdering Gays is sen as holy work by many kkkristers. When yahoo had unregulated forums I often got told by kkkristers that my unsuccessful suicide attempts were a shame and I should try harder next time. These were serious comments.

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Lynn Veit's avatar

There are some seriously monstrous sickos out there.

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Die Anyway's avatar

> "In 2023, the state legislature passed a bill giving schools emergency albuterol inhalers and spacers (so the inhalers could be used by multiple students) at a total cost of $250,000. Walters’ office, however, never spent that money. The schools never received the inhalers."

The kids didn't need the inhalers. Walters was praying for them which is ten times better. He saved money and let Jesus do the healing. Win-win.

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xenubarb's avatar

This scenario over inhalers reminds me of dangerous intersections. When residents demand their city put up a stop sign, someone has to die before they actually do it.

Parents of the first kid to die during an asthma attack will receive a bounty of public money riches when they sue.

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Kay-El's avatar

Was thinking the same. Maybe Walters will be tried for homicide if that were to happen.

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Joan the Dork's avatar

I wouldn't be half surprised to catch this doucheguzzler installing a woodchipper at the bottom of the slide on the school playground, at this point.

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Die Anyway's avatar

"Johnny, you left out 'under God' in the Pledge this morning. You're going DOWN THE SLIDE!"

"Marcy, your dress is showing a bit too much knee. You're going DOWN THE SLIDE!"

"Levi, you Jews are Christ killers. You're going DOWN THE SLIDE!"

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Bagen Onuts's avatar

Do NOT say that. We don't need to go giving religionistas any ideas.

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Bagen Onuts's avatar

Will the makers of Albuterol sue him for depriving investors of profits? Maybe jusus well sue for not giving him the money?

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Val Uptuous NotAgain's avatar

He also acted with, at best, indifference, but almost glee regarding the death of Nex Benedict. The safety and lives of the children in Oklahoma schools are not on his list of priorities.

Also, how is denying school districts the funds allocated to enhancing safety “working for the parents of Oklahoma”? In all the complaints listed by McCall, none of them could even be remotely twisted into parents’ wishes for refusing them. What parent wouldn’t want upgraded safety measures for their children? Which parents are demanding the schools not have inhalers available in emergencies? Who are these people telling Walters to be this vindictive asshole?

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

batshit deVil's fans who hate public schools ?

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Lynn Veit's avatar

Yep. Another possibility.

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Bagen Onuts's avatar

Religious superstition strikes again.

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NOGODZ20's avatar

Religious superstition is redundant. :)

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Lynn Veit's avatar

Imaginary little people inside his own head.

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Bagen Onuts's avatar

Adam Kinzinger killed it. “He’s a weak man pretending to be strong. He’s a small man pretending to be big…”

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Guerillasurgeon's avatar

Apparently Ann Coulter is one of those who took a swipe at Walz' kid. What a sick harridan.

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Lynn Veit's avatar

Is Ann Coulter even human? Sometimes I get the impression she's just a pre-programmed hate-robot.

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Daniel Rotter's avatar

It's too bad there isn't any Hell for the Ann Coulters of the world to go to when they die, because they would certainly deserve that destination.

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Zorginipsoundsor's avatar

𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭-𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐓𝐢𝐦 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐳'𝐬 𝐒𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐮𝐬 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐍𝐂 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

https://www.readtpa.com/p/right-wing-cruelty-targets-tim-walzs

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cdbunch's avatar

I was going to say something about all those 'alpha' males probably cried at the end of 'Old Yeller' but then we know how Republicans feel about dead dogs.

https://www.zentaur.org/memes/dog_republican.jpg

'Family Values' only applies if your family looks like the Cleavers.

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NOGODZ20's avatar

And not Eldridge Cleaver.

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Trevor's avatar

Some of the tweets in response to that hateful bitch's comment:

I am conservative and all these vile comments and attacks on a poor kid with special needs is unacceptable and must be called out. It isn't weird, he loves his dad and is proud of him.

I can see why a child loving their parents would feel foreign to you

I know that you don't have any children and I know no one loves you, but it is not weird for a child to love their parent @AnnCoulter. We call your side weird for wanting credit for crowd sizes. You call our side weird for loving our family. I'll take our side any day.

This is a direct quote from you in 2011 …. “Christianity fuels everything I write.” Sorry, Ann, but there’s nothing Christian about your comment above. I don’t think Jesus would like this one little bit. I’ll pray for you.

No one will ever cry for Ann Coulter.

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Joe King's avatar

"The left and union members are calling for the investigation and impeachment."

Because anyone who goes against him in any way 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 be a "woke leftitst", just like his lord and savior, Trump.

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

Lard and munster.

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Lynn Veit's avatar

😂

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

C'est gras et ça pue, comme lui quoi.

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Lynn Veit's avatar

😅😂🤣

Mais il est de loin plus gras et plus puant.💩

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Die Anyway's avatar

Well, of course YOU see a problem. You're not a Catholic priest.

Seriously, this sort of illogical and irrational outcome was part of what led me to doubt the preacher, the church, the Bible, and God. And that was just the start.

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cdbunch's avatar

OT: In terrifying news from neighbor Texas.

Yesterday, news dropped that the Texas Department of Public Safety will no longer fulfill requests from trans people to change gender markers on state ID’s.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐗𝐃𝐏𝐒 𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐤𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞.

Edit to add URL:

https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/new-texas-dps-policy-blocks-people-from-changing-their-gender-on-state-id-cards

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Joan the Dork's avatar

They've been trying to make that list for at least a few years now, but it's still not any less chilling... governments making lists of disfavored minorities never leads anywhere good.

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cdbunch's avatar

I wrote both my state legislators and my U.S. Rep, though I'm not sure how much he can actually do in the face of the courts always allowing the 10th amendment to override the 9th. I didn't bother to write my Senators and listen to them gloat.

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Straw's avatar

Reminded me to never go to Texass.

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Erek Tinker's avatar

Funny how the more they scream about religion in public the more that they are likely to be a corrupt dishonest self dealing POS.

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Len's avatar

Thereby showing the real face of their religion.

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Erek Tinker's avatar

Nah, I disagree. The ideology in the gospels is definitely not reflected by that kind of power seeking.

Every institution in the world that confers power has power seekers and hypocrites, it's not really limited by ideology.

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Len's avatar

They don’t follow the gospels.

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Erek Tinker's avatar

I was responding to the "real" face of the religion comment.

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cdbunch's avatar

So I guess Walters has it in for more than trans kids. Bet there's plenty of security at *his* office. And probably an AED in case *he* has a sudden life-threatening medical emergency.

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Len Koz's avatar

Can we hook that AED up to Walters' genitals and run it at max?

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Bagen Onuts's avatar

He might enjoy it. Many seem to get off on electric flyswatters and such. TENS units are often used for stimulation. I have known several Gay men into it. Many have said their married "hetero" partners enjoyed it. It appears to be far from rare to get off on electricity. Try visiting extreme restraints sometime.

Several friends have reported meeting ministrs in the back rooms of leather bars. It has been said that leather seems to attract the preacher types. Both tops and bottoms.

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Zorginipsoundsor's avatar

There are "art" films devoted to electro-torture.

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Bagen Onuts's avatar

ART as in p o r n?

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Zorginipsoundsor's avatar

Is there any other kind?

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Joan the Dork's avatar

Yeah, that figures. Everything else he should have been impeached for they considered features, not bugs. He sabotaged public education, and they loved him for it. He appointed a terrorist to the education department, and they loved him for it. His policies lead to the death of an innocent child, and they loved him for it. He did his dead level best to tear down the wall between church and state, so he could poison the minds of whole generations of children at a time, and they loved him for it. All that was OK for OK!

He refused to play ball with the rest of the party, though, and now they're sizing him up for a noose.

Fuck every single Republican in that whole benighted state.

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Len Koz's avatar

In the ear...

With a rasp.

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Crowscage's avatar

With a chainsaw.

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