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* On Facebook…
* On Twitter…
hours from junk status and a multibillion dollar tax hike and @politico_il's lead story is mean Facebook comments
— Illinois Policy (@illinoispolicy) July 6, 2017
* It goes beyond “mean Facebook comments.” This memo was sent to House Republicans yesterday afternoon. There is a real and legitimate fear brewing…
Dear House Republican Members,
[The HGOP’s] Digital Media Manager, has prepared the information below to help guide members who experience abusive social media comments.
What to do if you receive threats on Facebook, Twitter or other social media accounts:
* If you feel the threat is imminent call 911
* Report threats of violence immediately to State Police at this phone number: 877-xxx-xxxx
* Then report to social media platform - here’s how
* Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/help/181495968648557?helpref=faq_content
* Twitter:https://support.twitter.com/articles/20169998#whatshouldido
* Or, ask your communications staffer for helpOthers ways to manage posts or comments:
* Delete comments containing profanity, name calling, or libelous statements.
* Hiding a comment will leave it visible only to the person who posted it and their friends.
* Like or comment on positive comments - which will push them to the top of news feed. This is a very good strategy.
* Ban individuals who repeatedly post abusive comments especially if they are not constituents.Call me if you have any questions or issues.
* We’ve already discussed much of the info in today’s Politico story…
One legislator was called a “f—-ing animal.” Another was told he’d be “hanging from a tree.”
“You are selling your soul to the devil,” said a message to GOP House floor Leader Steven Andersson, who reported receiving a steady flow of abusive text messages and calls — including a death threat. “I’m coming for you,” it said. Now the Illinois State Police are investigating. […]
Andersson said he didn’t believe any of the 15 GOP members were backing off their original votes.
Stoking the backlash are well-funded anti-tax groups such as the Illinois Policy Institute, whose staffing exceeds that of some legacy newspapers. That group had warned its subscribers that Andersson and another lawmaker might vote with Madigan. Andersson’s cell phone was somehow distributed as well as those of several other GOP members who voted for the tax hike, Andersson said. The Illinois Policy Institute said Wednesday it does not release or post lawmakers’ cell phone numbers.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 9:49 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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At least the governor isn’t using overheated language or conjuring violent imagery.
Comment by Roman Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 9:54 am
Illinois Policy created the monster, now they want it to stay in its cave?
*shakes head*
Comment by Jerry 101 Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 9:54 am
Notice that it is extreme right republicans that are spreading hate and threatening people.
Comment by Real Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 9:56 am
And from the Illinois Policy Institute’s Facebook page…
From https://capitolfax.com/2017/07/02/behind-todays-house-revenue-vote/
And from the Illinois Policy Institute’s Facebook page…
UPDATE: Our sources tell us there are two Illinois Republicans in the House who are confirmed “yes” votes on the $5 billion tax hike.
From today’s CapFax: “The Illinois Policy Institute said Wednesday it does not release or post lawmakers’ cell phone numbers.”
***
If IPI claim is true, then why is the Facebook page with that information still accessible?
IPI has been helping fan the flames, not standing by with buckets of water.
Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 9:57 am
When thoughts are limited to 140 characters and bullies are provide anonymity, this is what results.
Twitter and Facebook have destroyed political discourse.
Comment by Telly Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 9:58 am
Jerry 101, I’m at all not convinced IPI really wants their monster to “stay in its cave.” They’re doing the bare minimum to calm the monster.
And as others have noted, the Governor’s own frothy “two by four” analogy is only stoking the hostility further.
Red meat. (exclamation points, en masse)
Comment by Linus Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 9:59 am
Compassionate conservatism at its finest.
Honestly officer, I didn’t start the fire. How was I to know giving a jug of gasoline and a book of matches to a 5 year old (or in this case adults with the mental maturity of a petulant child) was a bad idea.
Comment by former southerner Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 9:59 am
I’ve personally had to report at least one commenter on IPI’s post for threatening a State Legislator.
I’ve not seen IPI do anything to tamp down the rhetoric, so I’m a bit skeptical of their requests to tone it down.
They’ve built this monster. that they can’t control it is neither surprising nor funny.
Comment by illini97 Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:01 am
I can throw bombs with the best of them - and I am okay with spirited and potentially heated dialogue - but the line crossing this session (and in our nation as a whole) has reached critical mass.
The musing that has bothered me the most was when an IPI poster claimed that Chad Hays was going to burn in hell. That was not just beyond the pale but so inappropriate that it should have been taken down immediately.
This is not much different that some of the comments WICS lets stay up on their Facebook page. Late last election season they allowed social media followers to post that Avery Bourne deserved to have those fake nude photos circulated because she supported Rauner’s agenda. They also let people refer to President Trump as “fuhrer”. I know Trump is not the most popular guy in Illinois but that is just ridiculous.
What has happened to civil discourse?
Comment by Curl of the Burl Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:02 am
“Threats… don’t advance our cause.”
IPI doesn’t think threats are wrong, just ineffective.
That can be interpreted as a call to action.
See you in church.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:04 am
The Republicans are nothing but a negative group, Rauner, Trump, the list goes on and on.
Comment by Valvino Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:04 am
If you’re out of ideas, your policies don’t work, and you can’t win elections, resort to threats and intimidation.
For the IPI, all this is made much easier by having big bucks with which to do it.
Comment by Blue Bayou Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:05 am
Inflammatory language allowed to accepted as the norm on some platforms allows others to think the bounds of what can be said are farther than what’s accepted anywhere else in society.
There are groups, both sides, all sides, on the fringe that stoke the like-minded policy thinkers to embrace imagery that doesn’t borderline dangerous, the language is dangerous.
I find it puzzling, no matter the group, issue orientated of not, when harsh imagery is used to gin up the people in a group, by its leaders or outlets, then these leaders and outlets are themselves puzzled how far things got out of hand.
We can all be upset with policy or votes of decisions or even the combination of them all. We are all people, that is what we share no matter if our beliefs clash. We have families. We hurt. We feel the pressure, we feel the pain of others. No governmental official, elected, appointed or civil servant should fear for their personal safety or the safety of their loved ones.
My hope is that any official feeling threatened, in any manner, by any means, gets the relief necessary for their safety. It should never come to this.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:06 am
–“Threats… don’t advance our cause.”
IPI doesn’t think threats are wrong, just ineffective.
That can be interpreted as a call to action.
See you in church.–
Excellent points, wordslinger. Their choice of words doesn’t say it is morally reprehensible to wish death upon your political rivals. It says it is not politically advantageous to do so. Maybe check back later for further instruction.
Fine group of folks.
Comment by illini97 Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:07 am
There has always been vitriol. But recently that vitriol has turned dangerous. We’ve already seen the results of the hate that can build up in someone with the shooting in Washington D.C. I fear that more such events are coming.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:07 am
After reading the Politico article, it is even clearer that the Democrats have let the governor and the Republicans lead the way on messaging for the last two years. They have managed to poison the well of any rational discussion of the necessity for a tax hike. Most folks are not directly affected by the downward spiral that the state is in, and therefore they see no increase needed. As the Republicans who voted for it have said, when they explained it to their constituents rationally, people tend to understand. But there has been two years of flannel shirts and duct tape and folksiness selling the story one way. Democrats, as usual, have been bringing a plastic spork to a knife fight. Mind you, nothing excuses the death threats and the obscenity that is being spewed, but when there has been nothing done to pitch your position, blowback is to be expected.
Comment by Archiesmom Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:09 am
===The Republicans are nothing but a negative group, Rauner, Trump, the list goes on and on.===
Completely missing the point is noted.
If you think it’s “just” Trump, Republicans, et al, you are missing quite a few points.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:09 am
This is not a “mean” facebook comment:
“And there are Lee Harvey’s to deal w Madigan & Cullerton”
There are numerous - as in, too many to count and share - that contain direct threats of violence. It’s absurd, and for IPI to a) try to write this off as just “mean comments”, and b) leave all of these comments up, is shameful.
Comment by JoeMaddon Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:10 am
I agree with demoralized. It seems like we are back in 1968
Comment by John-on-the-spot Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:13 am
Please “check yourself” if you think this is coming only from the right.
The degradation of public discourse has been fueled by the lack of condemnation, and “free speech” defense of, the nightly dramatic depiction of violence against of the leader of the free world, in Central Park.
This is all very unfortunate. (Mr. Scalise is back in the hospital too.)
Comment by cdog Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:13 am
GOP legislators should forward to commenters Bruce’s “magic budget” that showcases his request for revenue.
Comment by Jocko Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:14 am
Those people saying it’s only the “right” or the “left” aren’t helping and in fact are further stoking the fires. Hate has no political party, nor does it limit itself to a particular ideology. It’s everywhere.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:18 am
The comments section on IPI posts is always toxic but this is a new low. They need to start moderating their posts a bit.
If I see one more comment blaming “cushy legislative pay and pensions” for our budget troubles, my head is going to explode.
Comment by Phil King Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:20 am
Gabby Giffords has never fully recovered from the incident in Arizona in 2011. May as well mention that if youre going to mention Scalise. Both shouldnt have happened.
Comment by low level Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:20 am
The Owl has hooted…
https://twitter.com/intent/user?screen_name=RLSandack&original_referer=https://embed.scribblelive.com/Embed/v7.aspx?Id=1546911&ThemeId=28790
Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:21 am
See you in church??? Insinuation noted.
Comment by Hal Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:22 am
Looking through Facebook comments from some of the Republicans voting for the revenue bill, I couldn’t help but wonder about people. Are people more unreasonable than they used to be or do unreasonable people have more of a platform than they used to? I don’t want to look at the past with rose colored glasses, but it certainly seems to have gotten worse. As much as it would please me to blame the Illinois Policy Institute, it seems, at worst they’re capitalizing on a growing problem. They certainly didn’t create this problem, and I suspect their call for civility will be largely ignored.
Comment by AC Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:22 am
It appears IPI sees no causation between their incendiary rhetoric and the reactions of their disciples. How convenient.
Comment by thunderspirit Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:23 am
reads like a barely-sufficient disclaimer to protect themselves from civil liability, in the event….
Comment by Stumpy's bunker Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:23 am
- Anon221 -
With great respect…
Google “shorter URLs”
Please. Thanks.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:23 am
We reap what we sow. When you have a president who regularly engages in and supports this type of inflammatory rhetoric, it makes it appear more acceptable for everyone else. As a former Republican, it makes me sad to see my former party become an enable of this type of activity. The vast majority of Republicans don’t engage in this type of activity, but by standing silent as it occurs, they are in effect supporting it.
That’s not to say that the Democrats have clean hands. The hate and threats of violence can be just as bad from the left.
Both parties would do well to actively distance themselves from their extreme elements.
Comment by Pelonski Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:24 am
OW- Sincere apologies.
Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:26 am
Let’s not pretend like over-the-top rhetoric is a partisan issue.
How many liberals (including commenters here) are guilty of accusing the governor of “hostage taking”?
Comment by Phil King Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:28 am
For someone making 30,000 per year, we are talking $1 per day increase. $1485 per year total for all services provided by the State.
Comment by Reality Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:29 am
*eye roll* Oh, c’mon with the Julius ceaser thing. There was a portrayal where Obama was killed, plus the whole point is that political violence solves nothing and just makes things worse.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:30 am
The rhetoric and speech we see today will continue unless and until we get back to some normalcy as a society.
The stagnation of the past 30 years is literally ruining families. Not even two family incomes is enough anymore. This disintegrating has been 30 years in the making. Our country was not supposed to work this way.
Comment by sensen Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:30 am
Oh Sandack, victimizing themselves? Really?
Threats of being hung. Threats of assassination. And you try to write it off as folks victimizing themselves?
Comment by JoeMaddon Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:33 am
Wow. Even after the needed increase, income taxes will still be pretty low here compared to most other states.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:34 am
“Let’s not pretend like over-the-top rhetoric is a partisan issue. How many liberals (including commenters here) are guilty of accusing the governor of ‘hostage taking’?”
If you insist on making a false equivalence, please put a little effort into it.
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:40 am
-Reality- It’s not the extra 1.2, it’s the fact that the reality that this will solve nothing. Just like the temporary hike led to nothing except more unpaid bills. We have career politicians that are more interested in keeping their pensions that straightening out the mess they created.
Comment by Downstate AgMan Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:45 am
“Comparing the state income tax hike he’d vetoed a day earlier to a “two-by-four smacked across the forehead,” Gov. Bruce Rauner on Wednesday warned lawmakers not to override him and said he would do “everything possible” to try to make sure they don’t.”
Violent imagery by Governor Junk.
Comment by Chicago 20 Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:46 am
If anyone knows about victimizing himself, it’s Ron Sandack
Comment by Someone you should know Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:48 am
The severe imbalance in the media is causing the problem. IMHO, if blogs like this allowed some vitriolic posts to remain, it might blow off much of the pressure that builds when quite literally half the populace doesn’t feel heard.
Comment by q34 Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:49 am
“-Reality- It’s not the extra 1.2, it’s the fact that the reality that this will solve nothing. Just like the temporary hike led to nothing except more unpaid bills”
I guess those human service providers that were paid for back bills from revenue generated from the last tax increase really received manna from heaven not real money.
Try and know something about what you are talking about.
Comment by Give Me A Break Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:50 am
Hal, what alleged insinuation are you noting? Be specific.
It should be noted that the governor of Illinois emerged from his secret lair yesterday and accused a supermajority of the GA with attacking the citizenry with a two by four upside the head.
That has been the only leadership he has provided.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:50 am
q34, are you saying we don’t have enough vitriol? That people are holding back?
Comment by illini97 Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:51 am
===IMHO, if blogs like this allowed some vitriolic posts to remain, it might blow off much of the pressure that builds when quite literally half the populace doesn’t feel heard.===
Maybe you don’t understand why this place is so great on so many levels, including the moderation of comments.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:51 am
==IMHO, if blogs like this allowed some vitriolic posts to remain, it might blow off much of the pressure that builds when quite literally half the populace doesn’t feel heard.==
Rich has kept this space as the only one I can think of where I can hear from informed people on the state without being overwhelmed by vitriol. As someone who’s spent his entire career in digital media, if you don’t tend comment sections they become not only uninformative, they let people work themselves into a frenzy. More places should be like this, not fewer.
Comment by whetstone Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:55 am
Anybody who issues a death threat or threat of violence using his or her real name in social media is pretty dumb. What happens if an employer finds out? Sometimes people’s actions outside of work are causes for job termination, especially if they’re threats of violence or death, or wishes for death, like legislators should be hanging from trees.
While the IPI denies distributing legislators’ phone numbers, it mailed state workers letters with instructions to drop the union. The ploy by and large failed. Rauner’s pretend friendship and obfuscation of truth in regards to contract proposals also failed. State workers on the whole didn’t fall for phony psychological ploys, and I don’t believe they ended their union membership anywhere near the level the IPI may have hoped.
Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:55 am
After the tax vote, IPI sent a FB message to my local Rep, Terri Bryant, one of the 15, which predictably generated several hundred comments, a good number of which were misogynistic, profane, and/or violent. They certainly didn’t do much in the way of policing the comment stream for things that cross some obvious lines (”fat b****” “tar & feather” “burn in hell” etc.) This certainly comes from both sides, but IPI is itself playing a two-sided game by acting as a respectable think tank (and thereby fooling some of my liberal pals into reposting their stuff) but also stoking violent social media commentary. When you add a well funded entity like that to the toxic mix of a highly divided public and uncompromising leaders (both Rauner and Madigan qualify), you don’t only get dysfunction but could get something even worse–political violence. We’ve already seen some of that. A
Let’s hope the violent social media commentary leads more folks in public positions to tone it down a bit–and maybe even to compromise now and then.
Comment by Doc Anonymous Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 10:58 am
“That has been the only leadership he has provided.”
That, and to tell the Senate GOP to vote as they’re told to vote or there would be a “f—— problem.”
Comment by Nick Name Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 11:00 am
By fronting, i mean he knows something he is foreshadowing, so its not so surprising later.
my guess is we get the junk rating regardless of anything we pass in legislation.
not so surprising, you dont have to be casseopia to figure it
out that the state is now in sorry shape after the irresponsibility of the last two years
Comment by Team Warwick Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 11:01 am
“-Reality- It’s not the extra 1.2, it’s the fact that the reality that this will solve nothing. Just like the temporary hike led to nothing except more unpaid bills”
Just because this gets repeated over and over by the Republicans doesn’t make it true. For about the 1,000th time, under the temporary tax hike, we were making our pension payments and we paid down the backlog of bills. This is not an opinion, it is a fact. If you don’t believe me, go research the issue independently by looking at the actual government records and let us know what you find out (i.e. don’t just rely on an article or the IPI website).
Comment by Pelonski Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 11:02 am
Inflammatory language is is protected by the first amendment and is not illegal…
Comment by Liberty Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 11:04 am
I’m almost inclined to think this kind of thing is built into the country. We grow up learning about how our founding father’s created this country because the felt they had to choice but to violently break from a tyrannical regime. Political violence, like it or not, is the reason the country exists. I think its hard for people to hear their whole lives about how war created the country they live in and not become indoctrinated in lines of thinking that condone violence.
I’m not at all defending these commenters or IPI, because I think they’ve been deluded and deceived by a Reaganesque trickle down ideology that isn’t designed to help anyone but the upper strata of society. I’m just sort of ambivalent to hand wringing about violent rhetoric. This country is founded, after all, on violent rhetoric.
Comment by Actual Red Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 11:04 am
Civility is going away in todays society. As the monikers eludes, nobody’s accountable anymore.
Comment by NobodysAccountable Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 11:12 am
Once they overide and we get a budget, the news for Gubernor will not be good. Its gonna be a steady drip, drio, drip of the damage the past two years did, the jeri-rigged emergency funding of desparation, snd endless examples of shenadigans with shuffling funds around by inexperienced people. These two years have been gross mismanagement and maybe even malfeasance whether intentional or not.
Voters arent gonna be happy.
and madigan didnt do it - gubernor did
major miscalculation in strategy im thinking
Comment by Team Warwick Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 11:12 am
Oh, this is rich! IPI/IOP and whatever other letters they are operating under, funded by Rauner and his buddies, gets all their followers worked up into a frenzy and now they want to cry innocent?
What in the heck did they think would happen with all the snarky comments they put out, targeting individual lawmakers while egging their followers on to do “something”, and tweaking the facts to fit their narrative - all to get these people worked up? Did they honestly think that these people were going to send candy and flowers to these legislatures with a nice note asking them to flip?
This is what happens when you yell “FIRE” in a theater folks.
Comment by Been there, done that Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 11:13 am
=IMHO, if blogs like this allowed some vitriolic posts to remain, it might blow off much of the pressure that builds when quite literally half the populace doesn’t feel heard.=
Nope. To add on to what has already been said, allowing comments like that to stand doesn’t “blow off steam,” it normalizes the statements. It provides a space where folks are told by others around them that the violent rhetoric is not only ok, but to be commended. Places like Cap Fax tell the commenter that such rhetoric is out of line and inappropriate. That is the message that we should be sending.
Comment by Montrose Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 11:19 am
Some people are over reacting when they contacted the members of the GA and Rauner isn’t helping things. The members of the GA had no place else to go. The state was facing junk bond status and Rauner didn’t care. If there’s no budget there’s no school in the fall and that includes high school sports. It should be pointed out that it is a 32% increase and not raised to 32%. Maybe that’s what some people thought. Many times you want to shoot the messenger and in this case that’s not fair.
Comment by Ginhouse Tommy Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 11:21 am
Very few things are worth literally fighting for. This isn’t one of them.
Comment by Mike Royko Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 11:21 am
Maybe reminding folks of two things will help: 1 let’s remember that all the hatred has real consequences as a federal senator returned to ICU today in Washington after being shot three weeks ago, 2 written or verbal threats on Facebook or anywhere else can very well be a violation of the law and get you locked up, thius the number to the ISP in the memo. Believe me they do arrest people.
Comment by Former Merit Comp Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 11:41 am
– The Owl has hooted–
Keep in mind, Sandack thought it reasonable and acted upon the belief that, overnight, he had become a sex symbol to the young ladies of Asia.
So, his thoughtsicles don’t work so good all the time.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 12:02 pm
There is a interesting corolary to Il current problem from Colorado Springs. whats interesting is that the Rauner style mybway or the highway was a failure; they ultimately came to realise that “ideas matter, but so do relationships.” basicLly you have to wotk with others in politics not in spite of them. they made a conservative governemnt work and made progress once they got rid of their mayor who refused to wirk with others. Anyway interesting corrilary particuarly because they still stayed conservative, they just out aside the my way ir else method of governing and worked in political relationships. They took a cullerton radango approach to get out of their.
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/06/30/colorado-springs-libertarian-experiment-america-215313
Comment by Ghost Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 12:10 pm
“Inflammatory language is protected by the first amendment and is not illegal…”
Uh, no, there are limits to freedom of speech–the U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly said.
Comment by Steve Rogers Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 12:14 pm
Steve - not as of last month:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2017/06/19/supreme-court-unanimously-reaffirms-there-is-no-hate-speech-exception-to-the-first-amendment/?utm_term=.d045cde19c30#comments
Comment by Curl of the Burl Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 12:25 pm
@Liberty:
Just because you *can* do something doesn’t mean you *should* do it.
And that is completely aside from the fact that you do not have the right to be provided with a platform for incendiary rhetoric. This is a private space, run by Rich Miller, not the government. The First Amendment does not apply. Rich can set whatever rules he likes, ban whatever language he considers inappropriate, and ban any commenters who violate his rules (or simply because he doesn’t like them).
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 1:13 pm
==Inflammatory language is is protected by the first amendment and is not illegal…==
It can be. Not everything anyone says is protected by the 1st Amendment. Ever heard of libel and slander laws? Also read Brandenberg v. Ohio. Speech that seeks to incite lawless actions and that is likely to incite such actions is not protected. Bottom line, you can say whatever the heck you like. That doesn’t mean it’s always legal or protected.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 1:22 pm
===Inflammatory language is is protected by the first amendment and is not illegal===
Apparently, you were raised wrong.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 1:26 pm
Bruce talking real big again… not surprised. Rememger the tape revealed during the campaign regarding the female employee?
This is part of the reason he hasnt been able to get anything done. Racheting up rhetoric rather than knowing when to tone it down and compromise.
Comment by low level Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 1:30 pm
===Inflammatory language is is protected by the first amendment and is not illegal…
Mostly. However, that doesn’t mean others cannot and should not shun such language. That’s all protected.
Comment by ArchPundit Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 2:50 pm
Just went over to the IPI Facebook page to see what their followers and commenters were saying about the powder at the Capitol.
The “this is wrong and should never be condoned by anyone comments” have been vastly outnumbered by comments like “thrown at wrong office”,”throw it at the Dems”,and “throw it at Madigan”.
And as of now,the people running the IPI Facebook are ok with it.
Comment by btowntruthfromforgottonia Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 3:04 pm
This is a shot to cover symptoms. It’s needed but actually targeting the cause of the disease is necessary. This is good but not the actual resolution to the foundational issue(s)
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 4:50 pm
Ic the atmosphere of this state and nation doesn’t change soon, I believe we have some dark days ahead.
Comment by South Illiniosian Thursday, Jul 6, 17 @ 5:00 pm