Tuesday, August 07, 2018

Quick Hits: Volume CLXVIII

- It's one thing for social media giants like Facebook, YouTube, Apple and Twitter to ban the loony Alex Jones and Infowars. While hypocritical given that the aforementioned companies preach diversity but then ban speech they find objectionable, they are private enterprises and thus are free to associate (or not) with whomever they desire.

However, when a state's executive branch of government utilizes tactics to undermine an organization committed to firearms safety? That would appear to be a legit First Amendment issue. 

New York’s governor has made it clear that he’s on a witch hunt to put a private organization out of business.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, has been in a protracted battle with the National Rifle Association. Now he’s using a state agency to hound the pro-Second Amendment organization with costly regulatory threats, as well as to convince financial institutions not to do business with the NRA.

The NRA filed a lawsuit against Cuomo and the New York State Department of Financial Services, saying, according to NPR, that the state officials are trying to “deprive the NRA and its constituents of their First Amendment rights to speak freely about gun-related issues and defend the Second Amendment.”

The financial services agency specifically targeted an NRA insurance program. Called Carry Guard, it was created to help gun owners and concealed-carry permit holders pay legal bills if they use their firearms in self-defense.

When Cuomo says things like he would have put the NRA out of business 20 years if possible, that seems to leave very little wiggle room as to his motivation here. One would hope this would be a slam dunk win for the NRA.


- Speaking of insufferable government actions.

On the same day the City of West Hollywood voted to ask for President Donald Trump's Walk of Fame star to be removed, the person who'd most recently vandalized it was charged.

The resolution to request the removal of Trump's star's was unanimously adopted by the West Hollywood City Council but is not legally binding as the city has no jurisdiction over the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Mayor John Duran said the vote was symbolic. "The West Hollywood City Council did not pass the resolution because Donald Trump is a conservative or a Republican. Earning a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is an honor. When one belittles and attacks minorities, immigrants, Muslims, people with disabilities or women -- the honor no longer exists," he told CNN.

Uh huh. Say, don't the nearby Walk of Fame stars of Bill Cosby and Kevin Spacey remain intact?




Pretty much.


- I am very excited for my friend/former Miss Minneapolis/former Northern Alliance Radio Network contributor/future Mrs. Jake Coleman/fellow politico Julia Schliesing entering the fray of electoral politics!





I know she has already knocked on doors, walked in parades, etc. in an effort to get to know the folks in Chanhassen. No question she has the knowledge, passion and work ethic. Please feel free to check out her campaign web site as well as her Facebook page for more details.

You got this, Julia!!

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1 comment:

Bike Bubba said...

I look forward to the sound of jackhammers around Grauman's when they decide to remove the stars for all actors, directors, and producers who have abused the casting couch or otherwise behaved badly towards the opposite (or the same I guess) sex. Do you think the theater will survive?