"He Sucked" Tweet to Kansas Governor. Teen Questioned.

[_eh]

Run time: 02:04 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bf3cQZ4R934   Posted on YouTube: November 27, 2011 By YouTube Member: iwatchucam Views on YouTube: 55   Posted on DU: November 27, 2011 By DU Member: _eh Views on DU: 5034

 
The office of Sam Brownback, Governor of Kansas, contacted this girl's school about a tweet she made criticising him. Pathetic!

[usrname]

1. Everyone's backpedaling as fast as they can

It's like they're doing the hokey-pokey.

[freshwest]

6. They need to backpedal their way into a big, fat financial settlement for harrassment of a minor.

GOPigs have deep pockets, too.

This is fricking outrageous even for these fascists.

[ooglymoogly]

2. Gee Gov. and officials...what's it like being hoist on the pike of

one's own petard of fascism... like a neon flag of hypocrisy?
Time to summon up some of those big ol' gopper, John Boehner, crock tears and tell us how hard it is being a gov.

[Lorien]

3. repugs can dish it out, but they sure can't take it

It's only "free speech" when they are the ones talking!

[SteveM]

8. Esp. from teenage girls. nt

[SemperEadem]

4. If ever there was a case about what the First Amendment means

http://voices.kansascity.com/entries/brownbacks-office-right-complain-about-students-tweet/

this is it. To recap:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Sarcasm and irreverence is not malice.

Brownback and his staff owe this young lady an apology. Sure, writing something on Twitter isn't passing a note around in class. It would appear that there are some people apparently being paid by taxpayer money spend a lot of time doing name searches on their boss to see what has been said about them. Social media lends itself to expression of free speech and public figures need to get used to the fact that not everyone likes them, yet everyone has a right to express their opinion, even if it's about them. Here is where I draw the line in this:

Brownback’s spokeswoman, Sherriene Jones-Sontag contacted the Youth in Government program and complained. Her gripe was passed along to the school principal, who reamed out Sullivan and told her to write a letter of apology.

As Phil Cardera, a responder on this site, ably stated: What you fail to recognize is the element of intimidation that followed. Contacting the principal carried the obvious threat that this girl’s school record and chances for college might be impacted — and Brownback’s people know that. Forcing an apology — and let’s be serious, with his funding policies, schools feel threatened — is WAY out of line.

Part of the First Amendment is the right to be free from the government punishing or intimidating a citizen for his or her speech. That is why you are free to criticize any government official without fear that The Star will find itself surrounded by stormtroopers — or your advertisers visited by the Governor’s folks hinting about raising their taxes or auditing their books.

Yeah, a rude Congressman heckled Obama. But, the IRS did not audit him the next day in retaliation. You would be appalled — rightly — if that had happened.

But, that IS what happened here, make no mistake.

It's the intimidation tactics--the revenge scenario--that is the problem here, not an 18 yr old adult expressing her opinion to her friends.

[bigmonkey]

7. This is why Republicans want ta destroy online anonymity.

They want to step right over to intimidation whenever they see anything they don't like. Anonymity has its own downside from a progressive point of view, but it has its upside.

[freshwest]

11. They'd like forced nanotechnology installed to record our thoughts in the trans-human age.

For those who think that's tinfoil hat talk, check out Michio Kaku's promotion of it and listen to the people cheering the idea of merging the human brain with machinery becoming 'homo superior.'

Michio Kaku on The Singularity

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTPAQIvJ_1M&feature=related

This is the thinking of the elite that Nancy Pelosi complained about dealing with the GOP when she said they think they're going to live forever. That's why they feel insulated.

Another of Kaku's older presentations proclaims all persons who oppose a centralized, planetary government are bigots and terrorists. I tried to put that together to see where he was going.

For that reason, OWS would be designated terrorist, although they want a planetary solution. Any group or nation that opposes the system that will enable this being created will be called terrorist. FDR fought against the kind of world order that we are seeing taking place.

I enjoyed his videos of the possibilities of a planetary civilization that can control its local space environment in such as way as to prevent catastrophe by a meteor, to harness the power of the sun in a more direct way, space travel and even time travel. Also how it's theoretically possible and guiding the scientific community now.

However, I realize that despite the hyping of such adventures and the investments required by those who are intrigued at the thought, have been trained to make such things happen and have wealth and prestige from the system, it will leave probably 99.999999% of humanity out of the running to benefit them. The track record of sharing the best of technological advances with the masses, is not that great, no matter how good the sales job is. And it is real good.

I don't think people oppose the idea of global anything, so long as people and the environment aren't destroyed. But the combining of all the world's people will end up causing social stratification ala the Brave New World model and the destruction of the biosphere of this place that is our home.

And if people 'in control' as Kaku says, become cyborgs, and are able to leave this planet, they will not care about the environment. This may be the reason the GOP has always sought to demonize the environmental, labor and human rights movements. They will need total control.

Of necessity, those who seek to live that kind of life are going to extract all the wealth out of the 99% to survive in such a system and escape the catastrophe they're creating on Planet Earth.

But consider this and understand. They believe they are doing the best thing for the human race with all the fervor of any convert. And truly believe their opposition to be evil. What an incredible time to live in.

:hi:

[freshwest]

9. Wow, thanks.

[freshwest]

5. Leave the kid alone! Hate radio calls for killing people, so they go after a kid? Fuck them!

[SteveM]

10. O-o-o-o, Brownback. Tough-guy.

:puke:

[Enthusiast]

12. This used to be The United States of America.

I don't know what it is now.

[JoePhilly]

13. Her apology should simply say ... "I'm sorry that you suck."

[backtoblue]

17. that would be a great response!

:hi:

[Marie Marie]

14. HE should apologize to HER for sucking so badly.

Just sayin'....:shrug:

[Quantess]

15. I wonder if Brownback & staff are embarrassed yet.

[AsahinaKimi]

16. She is probably right

After hearing all this, He probably does suck.

[CarrieLynne]

18. way to prove her right ya douche!

[RoccoR5955]

19. Brownstuff should apologize

For being brown stuff. Damn, can't kids speak out any more in this country, or have we truly become a banana republic?

[fascisthunter]

20. The Fascist Mentality on the right on Display

I bet they expected her to apologize too... a girl.... a girl in school with an opinion is harassed because the governor and his quislings disapprove. What an embarrassing example of abuse of power.