This Week in the Laboratories of Democracy
In which gun rights controversy continues, Maine Governor Paul LePage threatens to leave office, and there are a string of sexual harassment cases in the Missouri House.
Eddie BradyGetty Images
(Permanent Musical Accompaniment To This Feature)
Being our semi-regular weekly survey of what's goin' down in the several states where, as you know, the real work of governmentin' gets done, and where the moon looks good, mama, shining through the trees.
It's starting to get predictable, but we have to begin once again in Maine, where twice-elected human bowling-jacket Paul LePage is running out of governmental institutions to beat him over his empty head. You may recall that, because he is no more qualified to be the governor of a state than I am to fly a jet fighter plane, LePage bungled things so badly that 65 bills he meant to veto became laws anyway. LePage went to court – or, possibly, wandered in while looking for a diner and a nice piece of pie. And court pretty much jumped his ship for him.
The ruling says LePage erred when he determined that the state constitution allowed him more than 10 days to veto the bills. LePage's legal team had argued that the Legislature prevented the governor from returning the vetoes because lawmakers had temporarily adjourned. However, the ruling by six of the seven justices on the Maine Supreme Judicial Court rejected that reasoning. The seventh justice recused himself and did not participate in the proceedings. The 55-page opinion found that although the constitutional language is ambiguous in describing situations that prevent a governor from returning vetoes, the Legislature determines when it is in session and when it adjourns, not the governor.
Most recently, LePage has told the people of his state that, if they don't want him to pretend to know what he's doing any more, he'll just leave. That'll show 'em.
"If the people of Maine want me, I'll do the job. If they don't want me, just ask me to leave. You don't have to impeach me… So far, I've only got four people write me that wanted me to resign."
It's time, folks. Seriously.
Let's skip on down to Missouri and see how the legislature in the Show Me state is handling a spate of sexual harassment complaints by female interns.
Among the first suggested additions to Engler's list came from Rep. Bill Kidd, an Independence Republican, who responded almost immediately, "Intern dress code." He was seconded by Republican Rep. Nick King of Liberty. "We need a good, modest, conservative dress code for both the males and females," King wrote in an email to colleagues. "Removing one more distraction will help everyone keep their focus on legislative matters." Rep. Kathy Swan, a Cape Girardeau Republican, said in an email that dress codes are common HR policies in the workplace. "The most valuable and valid internship experiences are ones where interns are embedded in the work environment, which includes the same/similar job expectations as employees, including dress code," Swan said.
The Speaker of the House already has sunk this idea because Missouri's already been a national laughing stock over the past year and this would be gilding the lily. Still, the mind-set of the people proposing it is an interesting one. Apparently, in the state capitol of the Show Me state, all of the Showing Me is best done in private.
(HA! Every one a Maserati!)
Modestly attired in a burka and red fedora, we slide north to Wisconsin, where famous jurist-for-rent Rudolph Randa, who is one of the only reasons Scott Walker is running for president rather than for the Canadian border,ruled on a gun-trafficking case, apparently by stapling an NRA bumper sticker to his head.
"People kill people," U.S. District Rudolph Randa said, echoing a common gun rights slogan. "Guns don't kill people." Dontray Mills, 24, purchased a total of 27 firearms, mostly handguns, between December 2012 and April 2014 and pleaded guilty to one of the charges on April 22, 2014, after an ATF investigation. As a result of the conviction, Mills will never again be able to buy firearms legally. On Wednesday, he was sentenced. As part of the plea bargain, prosecutors agreed with the one year of probation. Randa said he recognized the seriousness of the offense and acknowledged the problem of guns winding up in the hands of people who use them to commit violence. But Mills, Randa said, did not come across as a typical defendant because of his good behavior since the charges and his life ambitions, which include becoming a rap musician. While on bail, Mills twice traveled to Los Angeles to work on a film and to pursue his musical aspirations.
Thus do we find the magic formula by which African American defendants (and aspiring rap musicians) can get a break from conservative justices – make sure you get caught with enough guns.
Or, I guess, make sure your kid goes to school in Michigan, where Parent-Teacher conferences just got a lot more interesting.
Michigan law allows people with concealed pistol licenses to carry openly in schools, which ultimately led to the judge's decision. Open carry advocates say the decision is a victory. "Obviously, we're very happy to see the judge uphold the law. We felt the law was very clear. The judge obviously felt it was very clear, which is why he came out with such a strong ruling so soon in the process," said Tom Lambert, president of Michigan Open Carry, Inc. Rockford Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Mike Shibler said he thinks the open carry law is flawed. "Why would you want to bring a gun into school? What is the purpose of that? It makes absolutely no sense," he said.
Why does Dr. Shibler hate America and want to put his life in danger this way? Not making sense about guns is what keeps us free.
And we finish, as is our custom, in the great state of Oklahoma, from which Blog Official Airborne Topsoil Wrangler Friedman of the Plains brings us another tale of someone who exercised his Second Amendment freedoms.
Sheriff Charles Pearson said the man dropped his gun and a bullet hit him in the arm. The sheriff did not identify the man or offer any other details about what happened. The group of armed citizens and veterans is standing guard outside the Save Yourself Survival and Tactical Gear store after the owners said they received death threats from all over the world for putting up a sign saying Muslims weren't welcome. "I saw several of those gentlemen out there yesterday," Pearson said. "The way they were holding their weapons, with the fingers on the triggers, you can tell a couple of these gentlemen have no idea about weapons safety. It's like the Clampetts have come to town," Sheriff Pearson told muskogeenow.com.
I've waited my whole career to cover a story to which this could be the headline:
Man Accidentally Shoots Self While Guarding 'Muslim-Free' Oktaha Gun Store
This is your democracy, America. Cherish it.
Pierce: Rick Perry Returns