Quo Vadis GOP?

[Barrister]

Read on Reddit that apparently nobody knows where George Santos was born, including whether he was born in the US or not.

I thought he was born in Brazil?

[HVC]

That's what the liberal media wants you to think

[The Brain]

Read on Reddit that apparently nobody knows where George Santos was born, including whether he was born in the US or not.

I thought he was born in Brazil?

Not old enough to be one of the boys.

[Syt]

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/florida-education-board-vote-extending-ban-gender-identity-lessons-2023-04-19/

Florida education board extends ban on gender identity lessons to all grades

April 19 (Reuters) - Florida education officials voted on Wednesday to ban classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in all public school grades, expanding on a law signed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis that barred such lessons for younger students and was derided by critics as the "Don't Say Gay" bill.

The new rule is part of a broader rightward push on cultural issues championed by DeSantis, who is widely expected to run for president in 2024.

The board, whose members are appointed by the governor, unanimously approved prohibiting lessons on gender identity or sexual orientation in grades four through 12, unless the instruction is required by state standards or is part of a health class that parents can opt their children out of.

Last year, DeSantis signed legislation that outlawed instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation from kindergarten through third grade, arguing that parents, rather than teachers, should decide when to discuss those subjects with their children.

Critics, including Democratic President Joe Biden, said the law would marginalize already vulnerable LGBTQ students. The statute sparked an ongoing battle between DeSantis and the Walt Disney Co, after the entertainment corporation publicly opposed the law.

Dozens of speakers gave impassioned remarks, mostly in opposition to the measure, during nearly an hour of public comment ahead of Wednesday's vote.

Many opponents said the rule's language was so vague that teachers would likely avoid the subjects altogether rather than risk their careers.

Some speakers asked whether teachers might skip works of fiction that feature gay characters, for instance, while others wondered whether LGBTQ students, or students with LGBTQ families, would feel unable to discuss their personal lives in class.

"This rule is by design a tool for curating fear, anxiety and the erasure of our LGBTQ community," said Joe Saunders, the senior political director for LGBTQ advocacy group Equality Florida.

The state education commissioner, Manny Diaz, defended the proposal, saying it simply clarified that teachers should adhere to state-approved curricula. Students who need counseling, including for mental health, should be referred to professional school counselors rather than teachers, he said.

"We're not removing anything here," he said. "All we are doing is setting the expectations so that our teachers are clear that they are teaching to the standards."

Violating the rule could result in the suspension or revocation of an educator's teaching license.

Members of several conservative groups that focus on education, including Moms for Liberty and Florida Citizens Alliance, praised the rule for protecting parental rights, while other supporters said it would prevent the "indoctrination" of children.

"These decisions should be left at home for parents to decide when their children should be exposed to this material," said Ryan Kennedy of the Florida Citizens Alliance.

The regulation does not require legislative approval. The Republican-majority legislature is separately considering a bill that would expand the 2022 law through eighth grade.

Americans are sharply divided along party lines on the issue.

Some 72% of Democrats in a Reuters/Ipsos poll from March said they were more likely to vote for a presidential candidate who supported letting teachers discuss sexual orientation and gender identity at school.

Among Republicans, however, 76% said they were less likely to support such a candidate.

[garbon]

Because if you don't talk about something, it doesn't exist?

[Josquius]

Yet they still scream about being the party of freedom.

[Hamilcar]

Because if you don't talk about something, it doesn't exist?

Remember you have fewer cases if you don't test for the virus.

[Jacob]

Because if you don't talk about something, it doesn't exist?

I think it's more that if you've made it a culture war objective to hate someone for who they are, you approve of laws and social conventions that makes those people's lives as miserable as possible.

[crazy canuck]

Because if you don't talk about something, it doesn't exist?

I think it's more that if you've made it a culture war objective to hate someone for who they are, you approve of laws and social conventions that makes those people's lives as miserable as possible.

Then comes the book burning - or I guess in this cycle it has happened already.

Some people still remember the prediction of what follows book burning.

[Valmy]

The book thing is just weird. It isn't like books are the main way kids learn about things these days.

But I guess it is just tradition.

[Duque de Bragança]

The book thing is just weird. It isn't like books are the main way kids learn about things these days.

But I guess it is just tradition.

If books are banned, maybe they will read more. 

[Josquius]

The book thing is just weird. It isn't like books are the main way kids learn about things these days.

But I guess it is just tradition.

Guess it's more about the gesture for the base than anything else.

[Admiral Yi]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSB9Yeky624

Judge orders His Pillow to pay $5 million to person who proved his election data was false.

[grumbler]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSB9Yeky624

Judge orders His Pillow to pay $5 million to person who proved his election data was false.

And the guy who proved his data to be false voted twice for Trump.  He still wanted to prove that election denial was bogus because he thought that it was toxic.

[Sheilbh]

Now given my record with Republican presidential candidates, this will be the kiss of death - and I don't actually expect him to necessarily do well, or even run.

But I think Chris Christie's speech about Trump is exactly the right strategy and approach. And it feels like he's the first Republican candidate (including 2016) to actually spot that to beat Trump you actually need to campaign against him, not hold back in the hope that you can pick up a lot of his supporters. It doesn't work.