And We’re Off At The Tracks to Looneyville
The best time a body can have is when the Texas Legislature is in session. There’s people who make a living following crazy bills in the Lege.
I’m in for the long haul this session because this is one of the most promising crazy sessions we’ve had in a long time.
There’s Lyles Larsen, who filed HB 149, called the Texas Liberty Preservation Act and providing penalties for not taking this crap seriously. Lyles, who is bright white but not bright brained, is confounded that Texans should follow the Supreme Court and the laws thereof and by gawd there’s this thing called Posse Comitatus and this crap has to stop.
Lyle is suddenly upset about the stuff that suddenly got giant when a black man was elected President. Twice. In a damn landslide.
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (Pub. L.No. 112-81) are inimical to the liberty, security, and well-being of the citizens of the State of Texas by violating:
(A)the Texas Constitution;
(B)the limits of federal power authorized by Article I, Section 8, United States Constitution;
Honey, Texas has the longest constitution in the whole damn United States of America. A picture of it weighs five pounds. Voters have amended it 474 times. In some cases, breathing is a violation.
Second, nobody takes the Texas constitution seriously. Hell, not even me and I’ve been here longer than Lyle.
It’s gonna be a fun session.
Thanks to Ralph for the heads up.
The reason so many silly Texas Representatives in Congress propose amendments to the US Constitution is because the Texas Constitution has more patches than a crazy quilt.
When you are having trouble sleeping, call up Texas Constitution with the Google. Nightmares may ensue.
1As much as I hate to admit it, this loon is correct in part about the NDAA being “inimical to … liberty, security, and well-being” but not as regards solely the citizens of Texas but as it regards all U.S. citizens.
Specifically, sections 1021 and 1022 allow putting any US citizen behind bars indefinitely without accusation or trial if thought to be a threat to national security.
Together with the so-called Patriot Act and the Authorization of Use of Military Force, authorities have the legal ability to detain indefinitely anyone the government considers a threat to national security and stability, which could potentially include also those exercising their First Amendment rights at demonstrations and protests.
2But he IS cute. And he has gorgeous hair. Maybe HE can be the next Governor Goodhair.
3When in doubt, go to the original source. If you search for the publications he lists in HB149, which he very nicely gives in paragraphs 4-5, the parts in the parentheses will give the laws he cites. The first is a bogus reference and only applies to people who directly attacked or planned the attack on 9-11. It’s only two pages long.
The second one, however, is big and could be construed to be scary until you get to these paragraphs (PL #112-81, Subtitle D Counterterrorism, Section 1022 -the section HE points out):
(b) APPLICABILITY TO UNITED STATES CITIZENS AND LAWFUL RESIDENT ALIENS.—
(1) UNITED STATES CITIZENS.—The requirement to detain
a person in military custody under this section does not extend to citizens of the United States.
(2) LAWFUL RESIDENT ALIENS.—The requirement to detain
a person in military custody under this section does not extend to a lawful resident alien of the United States on the basis of conduct taking place within the United States, except to the extent permitted by the Constitution of the United States.
In other words, this document doesn’t cover citizens and lawful aliens.
I do, on the other hand, agree that there was a lot of legislation passed subsequent to 9-11 that eroded our personal freedoms, one piece of which was called The Patriot Act. This, on the other hand, in the immortal words of Inigo Montoya, “I don’t think it means what you think it means.”
4SusanF
5You know that facts never do anything for the reality challenged.
The Lege doesn’t even convene until Jan 8 and the crazy is already in full swing. We haven’t heard from the Senate yet, but the rumor is that Dan Patrick is going to introduce a bill to tax gay sex.
6@Marge – Yup. We Swedes are all very handsome, but unfortunately, there’s a goodly share of dumb ones among us. Being Swedish entitles me to say that. Now if you’re just looking for a gigolo, he might be your guy. Just don’t pick his brains for his knowledge of constitutional law.
7OK! How on earth do I get appointed as collector for this particular tax?
8I’m not really worried about the Lege passing bills that claim Texas doesn’t have to follow the US Constitution. No matter what they do in that vein, Texas will still have to follow the US Constitution. I’m a lot more concerned about the bills they might pass that will actually affect the citizens of Texas. You know, like the ones they passed last time that severely cut the funding for family planning programs. Or the one that cut the budget for fire fighting despite the fires that were busting out all over due to the worst drought since the 1700s. And that doesn’t even get into education funding.
9As the old saw goes, “No person’s life, liberty, or property is safe as long as the Texas Legislature is in session”. We’re ok for a little while, but we’ll need to be very careful in a couple of months.
10The NDAA is an awful piece of crap, just as is the Patriot Act and any-and-all the Acts that allow government survelliance and more. so Mr Goodhair is right to be afraid. This is where the right can sometimes be right: PRIVACY issues.
My source for all things creepy about government intrusion is not this guy, however; it’s the ACLU.
And they are on a mission to kill NDAA too.
Bedfellows! Harumph.
11I actually still remember the fact that I was taught in the 10th grade, required, Texas government class, that the Texas Constitution was full of “deadwood.” Including the law that it was illegal to ride your horse into a saloon. I’m guessing that the ensuing years haven’t amended a damn thing.
12Many, MANY years ago as a visitor to your fine state, I was stunned to learn that one couldn’t purchase light bulbs on Sunday. Really. Lightbulbs. Never have figured that one out.
Are those laws still being enforced? Anybody??
13Rubymay, those were the old Sunday blue laws, which are no longer in effect. If you think not being able to buy lightbulbs on Sunday was crazy, you could buy a hammer or a screwdriver, but not the nails or the screws. And you also could not buy housewares such as pots and pans. Or electrical tools like drills, etc.
During the 70s, I worked at a hardware chain store (Handy Dan Hardware) as a cashier, so we had to know what could be sold and what couldn’t. We literally had to rope off certain sections of the store on Sundays. I am so glad they finally repealed those laws because I never know when I’m going to need nails or lightbulbs or panty hose, which was something else that couldn’t be sold on Sundays. Ahh, those were the days and I don’t want to go back to them.
14Click image. Too bad it is only a parody:
What if President Obama responded to those requesting the right to secede?
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/526339_433682393359972_1916233664_n.jpg
15Hilary, you can’t “kill the NDAA”, and the ACLU is not on a mission to do so. The NDAA has to be passed every year so that all those poor slobs who get to have their arms and legs blown off for the cause of profits for Republican cronies can get paid.
16NO Friday toon??
17Texas does not have the longest constitution. Alabams does.
18This idea of overriding federal law swings down from the trees every few years.
Marge Wood…. bite your tongue! Texas doesn’t need another Governor with great looking hair! Obviously the brain cells are depleted by feeding the hair follicles.
Can’t wait to send that satire letter from Obama to my Panhandle friends around Lubbock way who are gung ho to secede and are ready to defend their courthouse from all UN troops coming over the hill in their direction. Of course that part of the world doesn’t have a whole lot of hills….and the only thing most of those old geezers have shot recently have been mailboxes, tin cans, and jackrabbits… maybe a Coors sign or two.
19Anyone channeling Molly?
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