Of Tweets and Nooses
In 2011, Gov. Rick Perry appointed Barry Smitherman to lead the board that regulates the state’s oil and gas industry, which is called, oddly, the Texas Railroad Commission. Smitherman then ran for the board and was elected in 2012.
He, of course, is an idiot who froths at the mouth as often as possible which is why he’s a friend of Rick Perry’s.
Smitherton took to the Twitter and reposted a picture showing a noose and suggesting that any of the 16 Senators who voted to debate gun control be charged with treason and hung.
He put that on Twitter. Yeah, so everydamnbody can see it.
Barry has also launched himself a fancy pants website where this pretty much says all you need to know —
He is an outspoken critic of the Obama EPA and U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s attempts to limit U.S. oil and gas exploration and domestic power generation. Barry is an unwavering defender of the 2nd Amendment, he is pro-life, and pro-free markets. He and his wife, Marijane, have been married for 26 years and are proud parents of four children. They attend Lake Hills Church in Austin.
The website is cryptically named BarryForTexas.com Yeah, the dude has his sites set on higher office.
If you get some free time today, scamper on over and read Barry’s Blog. Warning: grab a jacket first because this thing is gonna send chills all over ya. From …
“Over two thousand years ago, Christ died as the payment for our sins. Three days later He conquered death and rose from the dead!”
… all the way to …
“This Saturday, February 23rd, I will be showing my support for the Second Amendment by celebrating .223 Day with our employees at the Railroad Commission of Texas. To celebrate, we will be partaking in a Concealed Handgun License course,”
… Barry touches all the hot button issues with a quick stop at marriage equality in between. You gotta admire this. That bar is set so high that it’d take an eagle two jumps to get over it. From Jesus to nooses to guns and a little extra judgmental hate thrown in.
We can really grow ‘um to pander in Texas, can’t we?
If you’re on twitter (me = @txstatesam) be sure and include Smitherman’s twitter name in your tweet. This guy needs to feel national heat for his actions since the local GOP seems perfectly content for one of their own to threaten violence against elected officials who unlike him actually may have a conscience.
1Normally I wouldn’t give you two cents for John McCain or Jeff Flake, my Arizona Senator Varmints, but, at least they voted for cloture to debate the bill. Even a broken clock is right twice a day, but not in Texas, I guess.
2Is an unwavering ばかちゃん
3The American Taliban must be very proud of its member, Barry, for his use of visual and verbal death threats. So that’s what “pro-life” means
4to Mr. Smitherman.
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/115
5So we now have a public official who implies that violence should be used against other public officials who want to REDUCE violence? What’s wrong with this picture? Is there such a term as “slightly psychotic”?
6I’m always bemused by “right to life” advocates that threaten to kill their opponents. But then, it’s difficult to determine the true beliefs of anyone that replaces rational thought with a recitation of contradictory talking points.
On a side note: shouldn’t the Texas Railroad Commission be put in charge of the Board of Pardons and Paroles? Given the way the death penalty appeals process works, the Railroad Commission seems a natural home for that organization.
7Yessiree Bob … Jesus and nooses … Good God Almighty!!
8“Over two thousand years ago, Christ died as the payment for our sins. ”
Bible scholars figure that the Crucifixion took place in AD 26.
2013 – 26 = 1987
math fail.
9A colleague has reported it to the FBI and I contacted a former Secret Service official who has reported it, as well. Even if it weren’t retaliation against a public official, it would be a terroristic threat.
10I knew this guy was crazy when he was campaigning! It seems that he is totally out of control now! We need to get rid of Perry and everybody he has appointed!
11He is running for Governor with that kind of talk.
12A-MEN Billy Don, and if only we could figure out some way to make it permanent! And isn’t treason punishable by firing squad, not hanging by neck until dead?
13Where do you get them in Texas? There’s an unending supply, unfortunately.
14Way to go, Alyssa! Just to be bi-partisan, can you pass along Ann Coulter’s threat re John McCain’s daughter?
15Is it treason to go against the NRA?……Cold dead hands…
16Hmmm. Looks like Smitherman finally became the sincerest pumpkin in the patch.
http://www.texastribune.org/2013/04/11/texas-top-oil-and-gas-regulator-retweets-noose-ima/
Sometimes sincerity takes quite a few hours to acquire, until your political advisers take a baseball bat and whop you upside the head. There are folks who used to do the same to mules until they started getting arrested for animal cruelty.
17I attended high school with Smotherman. He was a jerk.
18Is his wife name really Marijane? REALLY? Some jokes just write themselves. I couldn’t resist bring it up even if jokes about people’s names are insufferable childish, so is this idiot.
19“Barry will protect Texas jobs by fighting against the federal government.”
Of course he is a protegee of our esteemed Gov. Perry.
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