Tennessee Insurrection

[ATeam]

Good Description of the Democratic Response to the TN Expulsions

The following excerpt from this piece explains thins nicely from the Democratic point of view.

When Tennessee Republicans expelled two young, Black Democratic lawmakers from the state House last week, the national reaction was swift and intense.

Videos of their defiant speeches racked up millions of views on social media. Top figures in the Democratic Party, like Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), marshaled hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of online, grassroots campaign contributions to Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, and to the Tennessee Democratic Party.

Vice President Kamala Harris met with the “Tennessee Three” in Nashville; President Joe Biden, as well as former President Barack Obama, issued statements condemning their expulsion.

Millions of people who might not otherwise have cared about the machinations and players in the state house of a deep red state were, all of a sudden, devouring information about it.

Those striking responses reflected a sea change within the Democratic Party: national energy, outrage, and dollars flowing to fierce battles unfolding in the state capitals they once neglected.

 

[ATeam]

What Are TN Republicans Saying?

I've been talking a lot about the Democratic developments after the TN House expulsion vote. The Republicans are talking and acting too.

"In a Friday fundraising email, the Tennessee GOP said: 'Their adolescence and immature behavior brought dishonor to the Tennessee General Assembly as they admitted to knowingly breaking the rules. Actions have consequences, and we applaud House Republicans for having the conviction to protect the rules, the laws, and the prestige of the State of Tennessee.'" (Source)

 

[danthewolf00]

That bullhorn was like blm standing in the freeway blocking normal people going about their lives.

 

[LDB]

Imagine the uproar had it been republicans pulling this. And the further uproar if they'd even attempted to return, much less been allowed to do so. The shameful part is not only on those 3 but also on the republicans for not expelling all 3 and then not enforcing the expulsion. So shame on both sides.

 

[muttly]

Imagine the uproar had it been republicans pulling this. And the further uproar if they'd even attempted to return, much less been allowed to do so. The shameful part is not only on those 3 but also on the republicans for not expelling all 3 and then not enforcing the expulsion. So shame on both sides.

Dems know that they can just falsely claim racism over and over again, amplify it by the “news” media and Republicans will fold their tent.

 

[Pilgrim]

Hmmmm, did not all this uproar start with a bullhorn ......if any of you have been on the receiving end of a bullhorn, they can be either a safety device or they can be blaring and upset people or cause a disturbance....well, the man with the horn got what he wanted. In fact it decision was brillant------But legislative business in the House was brought to a halt when three elected Democratic representatives stood at the podium with a bullhorn to lead protestors in the galleries in calls for gun reform. This was brilllant,,,you gotta give them that...

This stunt was probably created by and coordinated with the leadership in the TN Democrat party. The two that were expelled knew dam well that if they were expelled their districts would vote to put them right back into their seats in a special election. That's why Johnson was more passive and already had her lawyer lined up with his argument prepared. The Knox County Commission and the Republican County mayor wouldn't have been so accommodating to her. Also remember all of the other House members from the Knoxville area voted against her. It was all an orchestrated show, and it worked for their purposes. The fact that they were using the deaths of three children and three staff members of a Christian school as the backdrop for their production is contemptible.

 

[danthewolf00]

Just plain evil that they used the murder of children to exploit their agenda.....but that is how the Democrats work.

 

[ATeam]

Tennessee Young Voter Turnout

According to this source, young voter turnout in Tennessee was 13% in 2022. It will be interesting to see if that number changes in 2024. We do not yet know what the long-term impact, if any, will be of the shootings, school walkouts, capitol demonstrations, expulsion vote and the aftermath will be. One way to determine that will be to view the Tennessee young voter turnout in 2024.

 

[ATeam]

Dems know that they can just falsely claim racism over and over again, amplify it by the “news” media and Republicans will fold their tent.

It's not a false claim. It was a racist vote that prompted outrage because it was racist.

 

[muttly]

It's not a false claim. It was a racist vote that prompted outrage because it was racist.

What evidence do you have that it was a racist vote?

 

[ATeam]

What evidence do you have that it was a racist vote?

The white lawmaker, Gloria Johnson, who survived the expulsion vote was asked why she survived when the two black men were expelled. She said, "I'll answer your question; it might have to do with the color of our skin." Additionally, the two who were expelled said it was a racist vote. Further, Johnson has said in several subsequent interviews that race played a role in the expulsion results. She cited "racially tinged" questions she did not receive that the other two did during the expulsion debate. The racism is "blatant," she said in this interview. She is citing comments actually made on the record. That's part of the evidence upon which I came to believe this was a racist vote.

 

[LDB]

Everything is racist to the left. The opinions of the three leftists involved is hardly proof of racism. The idiot who caused the problem by not expelling all three as should have been done explained it due to his defective lawyer brain. Not racism, lawyer stupidity.

 

[ATeam]

Everything is racist to the left. The opinions of the three leftists involved is hardly proof of racism. The idiot who caused the problem by not expelling all three as should have been done explained it due to his defective lawyer brain. Not racism, lawyer stupidity.

I'm not left. I'm a centrist. And, no, everything is not racist to me.

On the record racist comments made by white lawmakers are proof of racism. The vote that expelled two blacks and retained one white for the same offense was a manifestation of that racism.

If you're looking for an idiot in this mess, I suggest the House Speaker. He had the power to stop the disruptive protest by ordering the gallery cleared and the Tennessee Three brought to order. He failed to do that. Instead, he took a vindictive approach. AFTER stripping the three of their committee assignments, he used his super-majority power to further grind the three into the ground and he conducted an expulsion vote. That's when the racism came into full view nationwide. That's when the local and national outrage exploded. That's when the three became national figures. That's when significant financial contributions began to flow into the three's campaign committees and the TN state Democratic Party. That's when three state legislatures got press coverage few state legislatures can even dream of.

The speaker should have left well enough alone. The protest lasted only a short time and punishment had already been meted out. Had the speaker left it at that, the explosion now underway would likely not have happened.

It's been said that Republicans in power can't take yes for an answer. This is an example of that. They have a super-majority. The Democrats can't block anything they want to do. They could quietly go about their business, no matter how offensive or outrageous it is to the minority party. And when the minority rises up in loud protest, they could rest assured that power remains theirs no matter what, and they could calmly manage the situation.

But that's not what happened here. They did not calmly manage the situation. They panicked and went for the throat. When the protests took the Republicans out of their comfort zone, they acted on their emotions and acted to further crush those who were already crushed. That was seen an an intolerable abuse of power by many and some of those rose up, and continue to rise up.

The Tennessee Republicans would not be dealing with any of today's storms had they not escalated the minor bullhorn incident into a full-blown war. Instead of taking yes for an answer and wisely wielding their super-majority power, they did everything they could crush a minority voice that annoyed them.

Complaints have been voiced by the minority that their mics are turned off during debates or that they are not being recognized to speak during debates. If you are a super-majority leader, how fricking stupid can you be to let that happen?

That only frustrates the minority and inspires them to do things like bullhorn disruptions. Instead, you KNOW you have the votes. Why not let the minority speak? It will make zero difference in the outcome and it strips them of the ability to complain about unfair treatment in debates. Yes, you have to spend time (or waste time, depending on your point of view) listening to these people. But given the results you now see, does that not make more sense than doing everything you can to silence them? Let them speak. It hurts nothing and you still have the votes to do what you want to do.

 

[muttly]

The white lawmaker, Gloria Johnson, who survived the expulsion vote was asked why she survived when the two black men were expelled. She said, "It might have to do with the color of our skin." Additionally, the two who were expelled said it was a racist vote. Further, Johnson has said in several subsequent interviews that race played a role in the expulsion results. She cited "racially tinged" questions she did not receive that the other two did during the expulsion debate. The racism is "blatant," she said in this interview. She is citing comments actually made on the record. That's part of the evidence upon which I came to believe this was a racist vote.

This is the same Democrat white woman that before the House vote for expulsion, distanced herself from the actions of the other two black fellows right?
A vote she escaped by one vote because a House member was swayed by her perceived contriteness and culpability that she had highlighted in her presentation before the vote.
The other White House members voted to expel her the same as the black members.

What she is doing AFTER the vote, and is safe from expulsion, is race baiting politics.

 

[ATeam]

This is the same Democrat white woman that before the House vote for expulsion, distanced herself from the actions of the other two black fellows right?

No. Not right. That woman has stood frequently and in solidarity with the two black men.

A vote she escaped by one vote because a House member was swayed by her perceived contriteness and culpability that she had highlighted in her presentation before the vote.
The other White House members voted to expel her the same as the black members.

That does not change the result. As a body, the House cast a racist vote.

What she is doing AFTER the vote, and is safe from expulsion, is race baiting politics.

She is saying nothing different from what she said before. Her message is consistent.

 

[muttly]

No. Not right. That woman has stood frequently and in solidarity with the two black men.

That does not change the result. As a body, the House cast a racist vote.

She is saying nothing different from what she said before. Her message is consistent.

Aside from the actual facts of the vote were the deciding vote from one person (based on Ms. Johnson’s contriteness) was different than the rest who voted for the expulsion of the white woman. But facts are pesky sometimes.

Her message before the vote distancing her actions from those of the other two is a matter of record.
Again, a pesky detail for some.

Maybe some need to look beyond their white guilt and quit allowing themselves to be gaslit by people pushing racial victimhood.

 

[coalminer]

Just plain evil that they used the murder of children to exploit their agenda.....but that is how the Democrats work.

No, they are using the murder of children to create laws that will prevent that tragedy from happening again.

I just wish the GOP would come clean and tell everyone this is exactly what they want with all of the guns floating around.

 

[danthewolf00]

No, they are using the murder of children to create laws that will prevent that tragedy from happening again.

I just wish the GOP would come clean and tell everyone this is exactly what they want with all of the guns floating around.

Create laws that will prevent it from happening again......yea right.
How about Democrats tackle mental illness before they go after guns....that just might fix the gun issue.
But why go after a gun...guns don't just get up and shoot people.....just like cars don't drive off and kill people....at least not yet.

 

[ATeam]

Her message before the vote distancing her actions from those of the other two is a matter of record.
Again, a pesky detail for some.

It's not a pesky detail. It's made up fake news. Johnson has been steadfast, consistent and fully aligned with the other two. Whether she held the bullhorn or not as she stood with the others is insignificant hair splitting. And she showed no contrition. She openly refused to apologize.

 

[ATeam]

The Tennessee Protests are Having an Effect

Republican governor impliments certain gun control measures and asks legislature for more.

Tennessee governor calls for law removing guns from dangerous people

Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, signed an executive order strengthening gun background checks.

www.politico.com