Which of these things do YOU think is worthy of banning a member of congress?

[Still-alive]

https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2023/04/06/tennessee-expulsion-vote-democrats-justin-jones-gloria-johnson-justin-pearson/70079929007/

Being an admitted Child molestor

Being found guilty of domestic violence

Peeing in another congress persons chair

poll options A-C are all worthy of banning a member of congress

Participating with peaceful protesters who are sick and tired of seeing kids die at the hands of gun violence and he just wants to speak up about it on the floor of congress. oh and happens to be black. He should be banned for 'not staying in his lane!'

All of the above are worthy of banning a member of congress

None of the above are worthy of banning a member of congress actually

[SaoirseS]

Take emotions out of it. Take politics and political party membership out of it, take the “cause” out of it, and take a look at the reason why the Tennessee legislators were expelled. They violated the body’s rules of order and decorum, which came with consequences and they knew it. Just because they rationalized their cause was “just” or that they were somehow entitled to an exception under the circumstances doesn’t justify three legislators marching with protestors and intruding on and disrupting legislative business. That is the whole heart of the matter.

Rules, laws, ordinances etc. are no good unless there is a commitment to enforcing them. I’ve had my share of skirmishes with protestors (WBC) thinking the First Amendment gives them a broad license to go anywhere, do anything, at anytime they please without consequences, but alas the First Amendment isn’t the issue here, so keep that out of it. Misconduct in any form, especially violations of the Tennessee House’s own rules, subjects members to consequences. Look at Tennessee’s history of expulsions going back to the 1800s.

Lastly, the fact this has been kicked into the national spotlight only divides people into one of two camps, and I’m not falling for it. It’s Tennessee’s own business, not Democrat versus Republican business (check how the members voted), and not pro or anti gun ban. Let them fight it out.

[Still-alive]

nope sorry i strongly disagree with you. especially when the two black members were expelled and the white woman wasn't.

i can't see any other reason for expelling them other than that.

"are no good unless there is a commitment to enforcing them. "

tell this to the child molestor, domestic violence person, and guy who peed in someone elses chair. The people who voted these two out for 'decorum' or whatever clearly didn't care about it when it was violated with the guy peeing in someone elses chair.

And even if you are correct that they did violate the rules, you have to admit the optics here are absolutely horrendous for Tennessee. These two are going to be reelected unanimously just watch.

Beau in that clip, a guy who is very familiar with southern politics, i linked said it best. they are sending a clear message to young voters there. 'shut up and stay in your place.'

[Still-alive]

oh and history of expulsions in Tenessee house of reps: In the state of Tennessee, expulsions are rare; since the Civil War, only eight representatives had been expelled before 2023. Six representatives were expelled in 1866 for trying to prevent passage of the 14th Amendment, which granted citizenship to former slaves.

In 1980, Republican representative Robert Fisher was expelled for bribery. Republican representative Jeremy Durham was expelled in 2016 for sexual misconduct.

so there we go two out the 8 people expelled for reasons other than racism/preserving slavery. great record there i suppose...

[SaoirseS]

Still, it's the Tennessee House's business no matter how you slice it. It's not national business, despite the weigh-in from several politicians, past and present. I said my piece as to the why. I'm not taking sides on this. I probably would if I lived in Tennessee, but I don't, so my opinion really doesn't matter anyway. Let communities and states fight their own battles.

[goaded]

The normal consequence for something like violating the body’s rules of order and decorum would be censure, not expulsion.

[Still-alive]

"I'm not taking sides on this."

you kinda do sound like you're taking sides here...

but ill leave it alone.

Sure let them fight it out but it still doesn't mean a light shouldn't be shone on this awful behavior. Which i fear will only keep happening in more and more big red states.

[Still-alive]

I also kind of fear for these well spoken black congressmens lives too. as we all know the dark history of what happens to well spoken black speakers in our country's history... newsone.com/.../

[SaoirseS]

If you're going to cherry-pick and throw my words back at me in quotes (why people do this I don't know, I think it's silly), I'll do the same and help you with some more of my own words:

"Take emotions out of it. Take politics and political party membership out of it, take the “cause” out of it, and take a look at the reason why the Tennessee legislators were expelled."

I'm not taking sides, I'm looking at reason (theirs) and process, nothing more. I'm not bringing politics (or race) into the equation, but you are, which transcends the scope of my comment.

I don't know about where you live, but in my state I expect elected officials to represent and do the job they were elected to do, which is to conduct legislative business - not to join mini-mobs and disrupt that business to promote or voice one of their pet rocks. And if the legislature takes action for violators, I'm not joining the court of public opinion to decide what happens to them. By whatever process is in place, I don't care whether they are censured, expelled, slapped on the wrist, have their birthdays taken away from them, or if by process they decide to do nothing at all. It's not up to me. Or you, or anyone other than those in a position to render those judgments. Sure you can have an opinion and state it on social media, which isn't going to do any good, but if it's that important to you then write the legislators and voice your opinion, or better yet run for office.

And more words from me: "Let communities and states fight their own battles." They're the only ones who can do anything about it.

[Still-alive]

i don't wanna continue this discussion further today but ill say that the reason i copy paste some points is so the other person sees exactly which point im addressing. because you have made so many i chose ones i felt were ones i have a clear alternate opinion on.

in any case your points are made. it seems you have your opinion. i have mine. i am clearly a progressive and always side with progressive stances and values. Seems like you aren't which is just fine. we will agree to disagree.

[Still-alive]

I quote people on other forums too like reddit but the difference is they all have quote options built into theirs but this one doesn't. so i just do it the old fashioned way.

[SaoirseS]

Oh, I'm progressive in many respects, but I don't take sides in many cases, especially where I have no standing to do so. When it comes to politics, one party is a raging dumpster fire and the other is a smoldering train wreck. You can pick whichever one fits the appropriate party. I have no use for either one. Despite how many people tell me "you have to pick a side," my response is always "says who?" My empathy often stops with families of the deceased, and so do my emotions when it comes to issues of the day. We don't need to agree to disagree, there's nothing to agree or disagree with here. Happy Easter! And don't block my fire lanes.

[SaoirseS]

I still think it's pretty silly. I know what I wrote, and it's easy for me to understand the reference. I know it won't stop people from doing it, and I'm not going to lose any sleep over it lol.

[Still-alive]

I can still appreciate your honesty. you argue in good faith unlike most on here i see especially on the right. i feel like your mind can be changed if you see that the logic and evidence is there.

mine can too.. and has very often.

Anyways happy Easter!

[SaoirseS]

:-) :-) :-) :-) Happy Easter to you too! My husband doesn't celebrate Easter, but is partaking in the ritual biting the head off of a chocolate bunny. Nobody starts at the tail.

[Sour-rose]

Okay, but peein' in someoines' chair? Okay, that... that could be worthy. You sick mofo, takin' a piss in someone's chair like a dog xD

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

Poll options A-C are all worthy of banning a member of congress

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

Thanks for MHO :)

[SmokinAces2000]

As soon as I heard this was in Tennessee I wasn’t surprised

[Alessa13]

I don't know why they had to disrupt congress to protest peacefully, they SHOULD of done it outfront. The cause is unimportant, because once protesting in congress becomes the norm, then both parties would start doing it. Then no work would ever gone done, if violating the rules does not merit explusion, then nothing will.

Two of them have done it before in the past, which is why they ended up getting outsted the third barely survived because she didn't have the history of it.

All that matters is that they violated the rules, it does not matter why they did it. They simply did it wrong, they should of done it outside and not blocked traffic.

The irony of it all is they didn't even vote for the bill that did pass to increase school safety. It is like they don't care about school safety.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/tennessee-democrats-faced-expulsion-failed-vote-school-safety-bill-earned-bipartisan-support

They could of taken a partial win then fought for more later, but they didn't even want to increase it at all.

I grew up in TN and know how things are here. Most of us could care less about the first three, unless they happened in congress while it was in session. Crimes that happen on ones personal time, don't merit explusion. They do merit being charged criminally and going to jail and if they don't show up to vote then they can be explused for failure to show up.

I support them being kicked out, but I also knew and support them being reinstated as temporary reps to finish out the terms and to be able to run for the special election.

This really brings to the spot light how Democrats clearly cannot protest peacefully without distrupting things. They simply do not know how to do it right.

[Still-alive]

i highly disagree with you. but you are free to express it...

[Alessa13]

Its okay, I just know that if protesting to disrupt congress becomes the normal for any party then both parties will do it when in the minority and nothing will ever get done. Can you imagine Republicans doing it in liberal states constantly, and liberals in conservative states?

I wish they had simply done it outside without blocking traffic.

[lottiebannotie]

If you're a chomo shouldn't be on this poll and I don't care who you vote for

[Guardian45]

I'll take Door#4, Alex!

[call_me_scar]

A and B I found the peeing funny

[NostalgiaSenpi]

A-C.