I'm sick of it. I'm completely burned out on reading these laudatory gush-fests on Facebook wherein my progressive friends tell me and the rest of the world how awesome Ken Rogers is for writing an editorial that's critical of the radical right wingers who dominate North Dakota's Republican Party. Haven't seen his editorial? Sample some of his watery sewage:

The West used to be known for rugged individualism.

Instead, at least in North Dakota, the Legislature feels compelled to guide the state’s citizens -- publicly and privately.

There are legislators who are all-knowing. There’s no bounds, no limits, to the scope of their knowledge. They know when new life quickens. They know the poor are, in essence, drug users and freeloaders. They know the homosexuality is a chosen lifestyle. There are lawmakers who  know about your marriage, and whether you should get a divorce and how you should figure out your budget to pay child support. They know what’s best for you, and you, and you.

It’s not that this Legislature is particularly conservative, which it is, but that among its number there are those who feel compelled to modify the social, religious and cultural behavior of others.

Bismarck Tribune (please go read the whole thing)

So, in his editorial he goes on to call out somebody -- and he never tells who -- for being part of the radical right. He's critical of voters for voting for these people. It's their fault, he tells us, that we've got these nut jobs in the capitol. Here's Rogers pointing the finger at you and me, the voters:  

"When you get right down to it, the problem doesn’t reside in the Legislature. No, it’s the voters. We did elect a number of intolerant, all-knowing people to the North Dakota Legislature. We did it because maybe we didn’t do our homework about the candidates."

So what's the problem?

HE NEVER TELLS US WHO HE'S TALKING ABOUT!!!  

Who in the Sam Hell is Ken Rogers talking about?  Is it Voldemort?  Are we not supposed utter his or her name?

How are we supposed to vote against these people if the cowards in the media will not even tell us who they are?  How are we supposed to "do our homework"? You'd think you could read a frickin' newspaper editorial and know who the editor is criticizing; but you can't.  Because Rogers is too much of a coward to name names. 

To my progressive, democratic and/or liberal friends: Ken Rogers is not a hero for writing this editorial; he is part of the problem.

Geez!

Comments (19)

Star said:

	... What is this? Nothing more than the Bismarck Teabune have a momentary sense of conscious. Amen to the moment at least. Now if they would just continue to put the word out on these people, then maybe we could have an educated as opposed to indoctrinated electorate. Between the Teabune and KFYR, Clear Channel's Voice of the Dakotas, it is almost makes one not even wanting to be in Bismarck.
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February 17, 2013
Votes: +3

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big jake said:

... Jason, Rodgers is not talking about the lunatic Republicans alone, his specifically talking about you. I am not supportive of Chet's view on Rodger's op ed piece. I am amazed that he got it inot print. Doubt that will happen again. Doubt that the Trib will print any supportive letters. I suspect that Rodgers believes what he said. I would suggest that we should all consider writing anything supportive of his opening here with no misunderstanding of the practical futility of penetrating the Chamber of Commerse rag. They are in charge. The elite have done a marvelous job of fooling the fools as evidenced by the Jason's.

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February 19, 2013
Votes: +3

nimrodent said:

	... As soon as the ALEC puppets in the ND legislature pass more restrictions on voting rights, discouraging college students, Native Americans, and poor people from voting, then Jason and his ilk can solidify the Luddite, theocratic majority in the ND legislature.
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February 20, 2013
Votes: +3

Jason said:

	... You tell me how the voting rights discourage anything.
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February 20, 2013
Votes: -1

nimrodent said:

	... You tell me why we need legislation imposing additional voting regulations.
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February 20, 2013
Votes: +2

Jason said:

	... why we need to ensure that the only people who are voting are citizens?
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February 20, 2013
Votes: -1

nimrodent said:

	... Is that a problem in ND under current laws? Lots of voter fraud. I don't think so.
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February 20, 2013
Votes: +1

Chet said:

	Just the facts, ma'am. I like the article entitled "The only person arrested and convicted of voter fraud in 2012 was a Republican" (click here) This is just a horrible reality environment for these Republicans to be pushing to make it harder for everyone (especially the elderly, young, poor and minority groups they're targetting) to vote. Luckily their objectives are transparent.
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February 20, 2013
Votes: +1

big jake said:

... The right to vote is an essential component of our system. America has a checkered past regarding this issue. Sad but true. We should be encouraging easier access to the ballot box and not inhibiting it. Perhaps increased consequences for voter fraud might help with the imaginary problem. It is soley the domain of the Repulican party to impose arbitrary rules restricing access and the reason is totally their racist approach to our society. They should be ashamed. Their claim to being red blooded patriots more than just pathetic, it is lunacy. The current behavior of Congress is equally abhorent. The mission is clear; to further their agenda to impose their nutty beliefs on the entire nation. Some this is just simple contempt and hatred of a black President. Some of it lies in their anger at failing twice to elect unfit men to the Presidency. This bunch of elites and the tea party stooges, political hacks, and a host of media nut jobs, embarked on the mission in 1964 following the Goldwater disaster. Unimaginable to them to elect LBJ irrespective of his response to giving special interests to them since he was elected to the Senate in the 40's. They have continued unabated since then. Clinton could not have been elected without Ross Perot's utter contempt of the Bush clan. Clinton was easy. Monty Hall was the only thing he knew and his disjointed ego. It took a abrogation of our Constitution to select "W" to the Presidency. No "W" no war. It is that simple and now well documented. Their hubris caused the election of Obama. And his failure to take this bunch of dangerous lunatics on with a vengence, it yet to be explained. As we slip deeper in to the economic abyss, we still are lacking the will to take charge of our nation's destiny.

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February 20, 2013
Votes: +2

Star said:

... I read Rogers article and I, too, wish he would have named names, but that may have been too much for the Teabune to handle cause some of those people he is talking about represent Bismarck and surrounding area districts. That could have hurt circulation, and business is business as they say. When is the last time your watched your local TV news and got a really hard, controversial story? Sadly, I cannot recall ever having seen one. Pretty soft coverage is all you will get. Too bad for the FOURTH ESTATE, but that is the reality. Chet has covered this pretty well in other posts. Am glad to see that there is outrage building out there over the "behavior" of this legislature. Was listening to the Joel Heitkamp show for the past few days and the guy sitting in for Joel did a fantastic job of pointing out how these clowns in our legislature are operating. Am also glad to see that Nimrod and others are seeing the ALEC and the Abortion/Personhood America agenda coming to bear in ND. Too bad the people are so uninformed by our, at best, mediocre or is it complicit press and media.? The sad reality is that absolute power corrupts absolutely. We desperately need a strong opposition party in our legislature and we do not have it because the people of this state have been "brainwashed" so completely that with the exception of a few areas, unless you have an (R)behind your name, you do not stand a chance in an election. All I have to do is go to the local coffee shop each morning and listen to the people sitting there to understand why ND is perceived as it is outside the state. Believe me our legislature is not helping the image of the state as a progressive state in terms of social norms. I have hope though that more and more people are awaking from the "R" trance and starting to see what is happening in our state. I only hope that it is not too late.

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February 21, 2013
Votes: +5

Jason said:

	... I agree voter fraud isn't an issue in ND. But I also don't think it inhibits legal voters. But there is NO denying that it is an issue country wide. The fact that they aren't prosecuted doesn't mean it's not happening.
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February 21, 2013
Votes: -3

big jake said:

... Star, you are spot on. While what is being said at the coffee shop may not reflect the entire population, it is significant. I have asked the question before, have we always been like this or have just chosen to ignore this truly insane set of beliefs. I would suggest that it is in part caused by the failure of my party to tackle this head on. Back in the Guy era, moderation was the only choice and anyone who spoke out was relegated to the margins. It is still so. Until we find an anchor, a strategy to improve the standard of living for all of us, we will continue to plunge into the unmistakable downward spiral. It will probably require a complete change of the Democratic hierarchy. It also should be obvious that the elites have determined that taking over every state legislature is doable and they are succeeding. Take a look at our Capital and argue that this is not true. It is extemely dangerous and the plan is to get all of our Senators and Representatives from this incompetent pool. Think about the future.

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February 21, 2013
Votes: +1

Star said:

... Jason, I don't know where you are getting your information on voter fraud, but please check your sources cause, seriously, IT AIN'T AN ISSUE!!!!! Not here or nation-wide. Just because FOX news and Right-wing blogs and think tanks create a issue, does not make it an issue. Reality and facts do not bear this out. According to the national studies that track this type of data in all the states over several national election cycles, it is like .000000013%. And I have not heard of it being an issue in ND, so why are we writing laws to prevent it from happening, when it is not an problem? This is all part of ALEC's agenda. Restrict voters, make it tougher for people to vote. There is your national issue. That is why you see these bills before legislators in all Republican dominated legislative states. I will bet you that if you look at all the bills passed on this issue, the wording is virtually the same. It is like a boiler plate document. Hopefully the voters in ND will rise up and stop making our state a laboratory for every Right-wing nutbag idea that is out there. Personhood legislation has been struck down in every state where it has been brought up but that does that stop the Margaret Sitte's? Hell no. Lets pass it ND and see what happens? SAD, SAD day for ND.

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February 21, 2013
Votes: +4

nimrodent said:

	... Even a nimrod can figure out that the agenda for the 63rd legislative assembly has been set by: (1) ALEC, (2) Colorado-based Focus on the Family, and (3) Continental Oil.
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February 21, 2013
Votes: +5

Star said:

	... Nimmy, Amen to your comments. Too bad ND doesn't have a solid opposition party and a press/media who can bring out this information to the people. The more I think about it, the FOURTH ESTATE in this state is complicit. Where is the out rage at some of the legislative actions? It is going to take the people to overturn some their laws. Hopefully, they will.
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February 21, 2013
Votes: +3

big jake said:

... Voter problems do exist here. I was an election clerk along with my wife for several elections. A few elections back I clerked in a different precint. A Republican couple were clerks. In their 60's and of obvious German-Russian origins. As voters came to the table I observed that they we treating Native Americans differently and denied several ballot access. I was not to pleasant to them and said that we have affidavits here to be used in those situations. They did that and nover spoke to me the rest of the day. Then like now I was both angered and ashamed that this could still happen. That is how I feel about the current legislature. I suspect that many of you feel the same way. Until we get sick enough of this, we will continue on this downward spiral. It will not end well if we do nothing.

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February 22, 2013
Votes: +2

Star said:

... Big Jake, Thanks for sharing that information. Your story is a 180 from what the Repuks in our legislature are trying to do. They are seeking to deny, restrict voting privileges through a legal process when we have happening, according to your story, already. These laws would just make it simpler for the same discrimination to happen under the vail of legal authority to deny them the right to vote without proper documentation. How revolting this is that in a country and state like ours, this happens.

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February 22, 2013
Votes: +3

big jake said:

... Star, as bad as that was and a reflection of our culture, far worse is what is happening to both our state and nation. It does get tiresome reporting a continous stream of negative stuff while looking for some good things. We do not need more cheerleading, but are in desperate need of facts and truth. Scarce commodities. It is so easy to ignore not only our neighbors but if what is happening does not openly affect us, we have chosen to ignore it.

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February 23, 2013
Votes: +0

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