The Worst Field Trip Ever (or Why We Must Now Build an Actial Hell)

[AthenaAwakened]

New Hampshire Republican lawmaker said last week that he strongly opposed a bill drafted by local fourth-graders to establish the Red-Tailed Hawk as the "State Raptor" because the predator bird reminds him of an abortion provider.

The hawk "grasps them with its talons then uses its razor-sharp beak to basically tear it apart limb by limb," State Rep. Warren Groen (R) said on the House floor as the class of 10-year-old students watched from the gallery. "And I guess the shame about making this a state bird is it would serve as a much better mascot for Planned Parenthood."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/19/warren-groen-planned-parenthood_n_6904442.html

And the bastard doesn't get that you don't use a kids' bill to go off on a rightwing rant that confuses and scares kids IN FRONT OF THE KIDS!

 

[dismal]

The fourth-graders from Lincoln Akerman School in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, had drafted House Bill 373 as part of a lesson on how politics work.

Mission Accomplished.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Heard a report about that on NPR. The Planned Parenthood comment was the definitely the worst part of that.

What I think is funny are legislators complaining about what a waste of time such a bill is... instead of tabling the bill for an immediate vote to not waste time... talking about how much of a waste of time the bill is.

Does New Hampshire need an official State Raptor? Probably not. But it probably would have been a bit better for Legislators show tact in voting down, and at times, mocking the proposal made by a class of Fourth Graders.

 

[dismal]

Does New Hampshire need an official State Raptor? Probably not.

You sure you're willing to commit that strongly?

 

[AthenaAwakened]

The fourth-graders from Lincoln Akerman School in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, had drafted House Bill 373 as part of a lesson on how politics work.

Mission Accomplished.

And the lesson continues
(at least for Rep. Groen.)

UPDATE: March 20, 6:22 p.m. -- New Hampshire House Speaker Shawn Jasper (R) demanded an apology from Groen in a statement on Friday.

"Rep. Groen clearly crossed the line in his remarks during the debate on the Red Tailed Hawk," Jasper said. "Not only was it in extremely poor taste but it also violated Mason’s Rules which governs debate, that 'No one is to speak impertinently (or rudely).' The comment drawing a correlation between the Red Tailed Hawk and Planned Parenthood was offensive on many levels and I believe Rep. Groen owes an apology to not only the children of the Lincoln Ackerman School in Hampton Falls, but to his constituents and to his colleagues in the House.”

 

[dismal]

So the argument is that the congresspersons should have acted all artificially nicey-nice because there were kids there to, er, learn how politics really works?

 

[scombrid]

So the argument is that the congresspersons should have acted all artificially nicey-nice because there were kids there to, er, learn how politics really works?

I think the argument is that the guy has a screw loose. Everything he sees reminds him of abortion and he just has to share. It doesn't matter whether his interjection is remotely relevant to the topic at hand, he's going to tell you that it reminds him of abortion and he doesn't like abortion.

Could probably write a comedy skit about it.

 

[AthenaAwakened]

So the argument is that the congresspersons should have acted all artificially nicey-nice because there were kids there to, er, learn how politics really works?

I think the argument is that the guy has a screw loose. Everything he sees reminds him of abortion and he just has to share. It doesn't matter whether his interjection is remotely relevant to the topic at hand, he's going to tell you that it reminds him of abortion and he doesn't like abortion.

Could probably write a comedy skit about it.

oh this skit has written itself. This is the Sarah Palin of legislative moments.

 

[AthenaAwakened]

So the argument is that the congresspersons should have acted all artificially nicey-nice because there were kids there to, er, learn how politics really works?

how about grown folks who are supposed to be about the people's business being civil toward one another REGARDLESS, and how about these same grown folk doing what fourth graders already know to do: when you are doing your work, STAY ON TASK.

 

[dismal]

So the argument is that the congresspersons should have acted all artificially nicey-nice because there were kids there to, er, learn how politics really works?

I think the argument is that the guy has a screw loose. Everything he sees reminds him of abortion and he just has to share. It doesn't matter whether his interjection is remotely relevant to the topic at hand, he's going to tell you that it reminds him of abortion and he doesn't like abortion.

Could probably write a comedy skit about it.

Yes, OK. The reality is many politicians are screwy. The 4th graders know this now.

 

[ksen]

So the argument is that the congresspersons should have acted all artificially nicey-nice because there were kids there to, er, learn how politics really works?

The lesson was probably supposed to be about how politics should work. Unfortunately they got a nice lesson on how it really works in the 21st century.

 

[Nice Squirrel]

So the argument is that the congresspersons should have acted all artificially nicey-nice because there were kids there to, er, learn how politics really works?

Respect. That is the argument.

 

[dismal]

So the argument is that the congresspersons should have acted all artificially nicey-nice because there were kids there to, er, learn how politics really works?

how about grown folks who are supposed to be about the people's business being civil toward one another REGARDLESS, and how about these same grown folk doing what fourth graders already know to do: when you are doing your work, STAY ON TASK.

You mean like avoid becoming drawn into debates about silly things like whether the state needs an official raptor?

Not bloody likely. These are politicians.

- - - Updated - - -

So the argument is that the congresspersons should have acted all artificially nicey-nice because there were kids there to, er, learn how politics really works?

The lesson was probably supposed to be about how politics should work. Unfortunately they got a nice lesson on how it really works in the 21st century.

Exactly. Except "fortunately". This is politics not Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy.

 

[ksen]

I agree that it's fortunate because now there's probably less kids that will grow up voting GOP.

Silver linings and all.

 

[dismal]

I agree that it's fortunate because now there's probably less kids that will grow up voting GOP.

Silver linings and all.

Yes, with any luck they will lead healthy productive independent lives -- perhaps even liking whichever non-state approved non-official raptor they like most -- instead of being brainwashed into thinking the government is the salvation of all their problems.

A good lesson.

And cheaper for society than, say, the lesson 20-something voters learned when they voted for the Obama hope-a-dope in 2008.

 

[Nice Squirrel]

I agree that it's fortunate because now there's probably less kids that will grow up voting GOP.

Silver linings and all.

Yes, with any luck they will lead healthy productive independent lives -- perhaps even liking whichever non-state approved non-official raptor they like most -- instead of being brainwashed into thinking the government is the salvation of all their problems.

A good lesson.

And cheaper for society than, say, the lesson 20-something voters learned when they voted for the Obama hope-a-dope in 2008.

Yes, I agree a state raptor is totally brainwashing. Damn the sneaky Obama! I even bet Eric holder and Al Sharpton were behind this.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

The way dismal speaks it, you'd swear the economic conditions of '08 and '15 were swapped.

 

[AthenaAwakened]

State legislatures vote on silly things all the time, and part of the list of silly things is naming stuff. They get to name bridges and schools and yes, state raptors.

Now most people don't think a lot about this because most people have, well, lives. And included in that group of most people are people who post here.

Now, had a group of fourth graders say five years ago written a similar bill and introduced it into session, it probably would have gone through and there would have been a nice photo op afterwards and the kids would have been interviewed for their local paper and they would have said how awesome it all was and that would have been that, but rightwingers today are too damned crazy to let that happen. So instead you have Ted Cruz scaring children with cries of the world is on fire and this nut comparing a medical procedure to the rending of flesh by a bird of prey

Groen does get credit over Cruz though. Cruz only gave one kid the heebie jeedies. Groen did his shit wholesale, screwing with the minds and emotions of children by the classroom full.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Groen does get credit over Cruz though. Cruz only gave one kid the heebie jeedies. Groen did his shit wholesale, screwing with the minds and emotions of children by the classroom full.

Technically, the fourth graders had no clue what he was rambling on about.

 

[laughing dog]

Groen does get credit over Cruz though. Cruz only gave one kid the heebie jeedies. Groen did his shit wholesale, screwing with the minds and emotions of children by the classroom full.

Technically, the fourth graders had no clue what he was rambling on about.

Technically, neither did Groen.