All Purpose News and Politics Thread Part IV: The Center Cannot Hold

[BeastieRunner]

The Notre Dame Cathedral is on fire ... doesn't look like the Parisian FD can save it. At all.





https://abcnews.go.com/International...dalLaYuZO4kNOY

[BeastieRunner]

They can't get in ... the spire is gone now.

[worstblogever]

... I mean, let's just hope it's not a sign. What a tragedy.

[BeastieRunner]

... I mean, let's just hope it's not a sign. What a tragedy.

The roof collapsed.

[worstblogever]

On this date in 2015, 2016, 2017, as well as 2018, “Crazy/Stupid Republican of the Day posted profiles of Matt Shea, from the Washington House of Representatives, who has had the luck to continually be re-elected to office by the good fortune of getting to run unopposed, even though the Washington Republican Party had several key members warn against backing him when he first entered office because he was too unstable. And boy, is he. Matt Shea has been arrested for road rage and possession of a concealed firearm after allowing his concealed carry license to expire. His ex-wife has gone on record to say he once struck a superior officer while in the National Guard and was forced to take anger management classes (that didn’t work, apparently). Shea also went to the home of his opponent in the 2012 elections and took photos of himself standing on her lawn as an intimidation tactic, then posted them on his Facebook and refused to take them down at her request, effectively doxxing her address to his supporters. And Shea’s supporters include the right-wing militia crowd, who he got all fired up at the capitol in Olympia when a Chinese flag was flown alongside an American one to greet a Chinese diplomat last year (which is normal protocol), calling it a “Communist takeover”. Shea also spoke in defense of Cliven Bundy, has been photographed with the leader of the Oathkeepers, Stuart Rhodes, believes that the Agenda 21 Conspiracy Theory is a real thing, and tells those militia knuckleheads to go ahead and ignore firearms laws. Heck, who he DOES keep company with is ever more disturbing. While Ammon Bundy and a bunch of armed occupiers took over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in January of 2016, Matt Shea went on what he now calls a “fact-finding” mission to the refuge, and against the requests of law enforcement to not visit, embolden, or incite the protesters, snuck onto the compound to buddy up to the domestic terrorists, again. In 2017, he gave a “Patriot of the Year” Award to Anthony Bosworth, another figure from the Malheur Refuge standoff, If we didn’t already have enough of the crazy from Matt Shea, he’s also passionately anti-gay, gaining the notice of the Southern Poverty Law Center for having ties to the Family Research Council and American Family Association, both anti-gay hate groups, and didn’t just try to redefine parenthood so it excluded same-sex parents, he didn’t just vote against same-sex marriage in Washington… Matt Shea even boasted that he would be the first person to refuse business to a gay customer at his florist shop if they came in for an arrangement for a same sex wedding. He also opposes bans on gay conversion therapy, while supporting transphobic bathroom bans, like when he sponsored HB 2935. Shea also refuses to acknowledge any fellow Republican as a member of the GOP if they are not anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage, and anti-Agenda 21. In 2017, Shea was leading a group of many of the same militia whackos at a pro-gun protest at the Washington State capitol, and in the new session of the Washington State legislature, he has sponsored a bill that would split Eastern Washington off from the western party of the state, and make it the 51st State in the union (because it’s far more conservative than the western half).

Rumors were abound that Matt Shea was potentially planning a run for Congress, as well, in 2018, going for Cathy McMorris Rodgers’ seat in Washington’s 5th Congressional District. But instead, Shea has had his hands full with his usual anti-government insanity, clutching his pearls that the majority of the Washington State legislature would move to ban bump stocks on firearms after the Las Vegas Massacre, and dealing with a defamation lawsuit filed against him, because for whatever reason, Matt Shea’s paranoia got the best of him on a right-wing podcast and he accused a sheriff’s deputy of providing the murder weapon in a triple murder.

Even Shea’s road to re-election in the state legislature grew difficult, however, when Rolling Stone magazine got their hands on a four page manifesto that Matt Shea had posted online called “The Biblical Basis for War”, which describes the Christian God as a “warrior,” details the composition and strategies of a “Holy Army” and condemns abortion and same-sex marriage. The document is organized in 14 sections with multiple tiers of bullet points and a smattering of biblical citations. Under the heading, “Rules of War,” it makes a chilling prescription for enemies who flout “biblical law.” It states, “If they do not yield – kill all males.” Because that doesn’t sound like a Christan ISIS.

After facing a hell of a lot of scrutiny for his screed, Matt Shea had the calm reaction you’d expect, claiming that a “counter state of Marxists and Maoists” was conspiring against him. The FBI decided to do an investigation of their own because that’s what you’re supposed to do when someone circulates documents calling for Holy War.

And, in spite of writing a treatise on beginning a holy war were not enough to stop Matt Shea’s election to a sixth term in office, as he won in 2018 with 57% of the vote, leaving his opponent, Ted Cummings, to shrug on election night and sum it up and say, “I just lost to a fascist.” Meanwhile, all the Washington GOP has done in response to this maniac is to finally get around to stripping him from his committee leadership positions in the state legislature, and Shea, meanwhile, has begun calling for Washington state to be split in two geographically and politically, so that he could be a part of a new eastern part of Washington state called “The Liberty State” with its own right-wing politicians running the show.

This is the modern Republican Party. Make no mistake.

[WestPhillyPunisher]

The roof collapsed.

Just heard about the cathedral. What an unimaginable loss in terms of history and architecture.

[BeastieRunner]

Just heard about the cathedral. What an unimaginable loss in terms of history and architecture.

They can't get inside without it killing people it's so hot . Even with gear. I'm watching a friend live tweet it that teaches near it. He said it's stone cold silent. You can hear the fire blocks away because nobody is doing anything.

[PaulBullion]

It's heartbreaking. That moment when the spire fell...

[CellarDweller]

I've been watching this live on CNN.....how awful.

[Iron Maiden]

I was reading this thread about an hour ago and saw the first post. Then I turned on the TV and have been watching this. My heart sank when the spire collapsed in flames. This is a horrific sight and a tragic loss of history. And on top of that it is Easter Week.

[InformationGeek]

Thanks bro. Really inspiring and helpful.

So horrible to watch the massive fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Perhaps flying water tankers could be used to put it out. Must act quickly!

[CellarDweller]

Thanks bro. Really inspiring and helpful.

Every time you think he can't get any more stupid, he tops himself.

[BeastieRunner]

Initial news out of Paris is that it is a construction accident.

[JCAll]

Thanks bro. Really inspiring and helpful.

At least he hasn't started blaming the Muslims yet, so thank God for small miracles.

[BeastieRunner]

At least he hasn't started blaming the Muslims yet, so thank God for small miracles.

No, that's what Omar is for.