“(H)ow many more gay people does God have to create before we ask ourselves whether or not God actually wants them around?” — Mn State Rep. Steve Simon, DFL-St. Louis Park

That quote by Rep Simon is literally going around the world. As of this posting the following YouTube has gone viral, and been seen 170,938 times.

(Direct link to YouTube)

The best story (IMNSHO) about Rep. Simon’s comments is from a Star Tribune Editorial Writer, John Rash. From it:

With all the action, breaking through the capitol cacophony – let alone the cultural clutter in today’s media – is rare. When it does happen, it’s all too often due to a legislator saying something inflammatory, or inane, or both.

Yet in a measured, calm tone, testimony from Rep. Steve Simon, DFL-St. Louis Park, about a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in Minnesota, has made a splash nationally.
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Which goes to show that even in today’s showboat society a quietly expressed idea can still make meaningful noise.

Indeed. And once again, from that “noise” –

“(H)ow many more gay people does God have to create before we ask ourselves whether or not God actually wants them around?” — Mn State Rep. Steve Simon, DFL-St. Louis Park

(crossposted at MnProgresiveProject.com; comments welcome there)

Overextending themselves with, for instance, today’s State House Hearing on the GOP’s proposed Constitutional Amendment to use the Constitution to limit freedom and cement RightWingNutBigotry into stone. And that’s just one “for instance.” As bad as the GreedOverPrinciples party is here in Minnesota, we have a Gov. Dayton preventing this state going down the Wisconsin GOPer wHoleBunchOfCraziness.

The image to the right is “Today’s Most Popular Articles” from Madison’s The Daily Page. What started in February, in Wisconsin, is still going strong. Six Wisconsin GOPers face recall action. To be sure, GOPers are targeting Wisconsin Democrats, even going so far as allegedly offering Shots For Signatures. What hasn’t been seen on the GOPer side is people – as in people in the streets. Like at Hudson, on March 15th, and there were hundreds protesting GOPer Governor Scott “Baseball Bat” Walker – and eight – EIGHT – there to support him. People are still out and about and making their voices heard; the following YouTube was made from scenes from the Wisconsin Capitol from April 25th to the 29th. (I got the link from First Draft via email notification Crooks&Liars).

“The future belongs to those who are passionate and work hard.” And what the GOPers have started – in Minnesota, in Wisconsin, in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and elsewhere – is far from over.

(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)

But NOT the dream. Let Freedom Ring.

* Chrissie Hynde sings “State Of Independence”

* MLK delivers “I Have A Dream”

The Dream Lives On.

(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)

It’s mighty fine company Wisconsin Governor Scott “Baseball Bat” Walker is bein’ associated with these days….

(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)

Oh – and GOP State Party Chair Tony Sutton’s “quislings” comment, too.

Now it’s time to look at the why there isn’t an incumbent for the Mayor’s Office in Eden Prairie. The Mayor’s seat is empty due to the decision not to run by the should have been nearly indicted for felony – yes, FELONY – prosecution, incumbent (and GOPer-endorsed) Mayor Phil Young. The sordid saga became public last spring, and as it played out, local GOPers – including GOP SD 42 Vice Chair Kevin Schultz (Schultz claimed he was speaking only for himself; yeah, “right”) – defending the indefensible: GOPer Phil Young falsifying reimbursement forms by filling out for meetings he never attended. Under penalty of perjury. Well, mileage reimbursements, too. For meetings he never attended.

But, has anyone heard anyone from GOPer “leadership” speak out about Young’s behavior, behavior that almost landed lawyer Young on the wrong side of a felony prosecution?

Of course not.

After all, what’s a little perjury among GOPer pals?

A point that’s been raised, but never addressed or even acknowledged by the local GOPer “leadership” is that similar behavior by a City of Eden Prairie employee would have resulted in immediate dismissal. Do not pass go; do not collect Golden Parachute – clean your desk/locker out and get out. NOW.

But, GOPers always seem to tolerate behavior among themselves that is NOT tolerated by the working stiffs, the middle class, the lunch-bucket crowd. All too often, GOPers believe rules simply doesn’t apply to them.

So, the taxpayers of Eden Prairie are stuck with GOPer Young until the end of December, when the next mayor will be sworn in. For the closest look at GOPer Young’s objectionable activities, link here.

From it:

(Plymouth Police Detective) Hultgren filed his final report July 12.

That report shows that for 20 consecutive months, the mayor of Eden Prairie filed claims for reimbursement, $35 each time, for attending meetings of the Regional Conference of Mayors, including three meetings that hadn’t occurred at all. He attended, by his own admission according to the transcripts, “two or three.”

At the end of the report, Hultgren notes that he had heard further allegations that the mayor may not have attended meetings of the Eden Prairie Foundation for which he was reimbursed. “Due to the reasons given by both the County and City attorney for declining to prosecute, these allegations were not investigated. Finding a few more meetings not attended by the Mayor would not change the basic facts of the case thus it would not result in a different finding by the County and City attorney.”

The mayor’s seat is vacant because disgraced GOPer endorsed Mayor Phil Young isn’t running for re-election.

And the local GOP “leadership” has been awfully quiet about it.

And they’ve also been mighty quiet about the cut ‘n pastes from disgraced GOPer Phil Young’s 2006 campaign website to the GOPer-endorsed for City Council Donna Azarian website .

Over the next few days, I’ll take a look at the races for Mayor and City Council.

The point for now, is that the last candidate for mayor the GOPers gave the citizens of Eden Prairie hasn’t worked out so well.

And the local GOPer “leadership” hasn’t said squat about it.

In February 2009, Republican National Party Chair Michael Steele said “You have absolutely no reason – none – to trust our words or actions at this point.”

It was true then; it’s true today, and tomorrow won’t be any different until good and decent Republicans toss today’s GOP “leadership” out.

And two weeks from today, on November 2nd at the ballot box, is a good place to start.

(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)

AM950: Minnesota’s Progressive Talkers

Minnesota’s Public Defender Crisis

Willard Munger Legacy

Link here for previous episodes, featuring guests such as:

Steve Kelley
Amber Greves
Mark Dayton
Maria Ruud
Ron Case
John Marty
Paul Thissen
Terri Bonoff
Ahmed Tharwat
Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer

“Democratic Visions” – watch it!

(originally published at MnProgressiveProject.com)