12 Comments
Apr 25, 2023Liked by Erin Reed

Rep. Zooey Zephyr is amazingly courageous and she is an inspiration to every single person!

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Apr 25, 2023Liked by Erin Reed

It’s deeply disturbing to observe the blatant censorship we are witnessing - whether it be in legislatures or in libraries (referring to the book bans) across our nation.

Further, the nonsensical justifications put forth by the GOP are poorly guised and a false narrative.

What country am I living in? The inability to tolerate another perspective undermines the very fabric of our democracy and poses a significant threat to our society that goes well beyond these specific issues.

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Apr 25, 2023Liked by Erin Reed

We formed PLAN (Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada) in 1994 with support from Montanans who started MTCEL (Montanans for an Effective Legislature), which was the first progressive statewide coalition in the West. At that time, both our states were red but trends showed with good organizing and enough time, we could move the needle in each of our states.

One reason Nevada turned purple since then is the amount of resources national funders were willing to dump here once Clinton won in 1994, while MTCEL went broke b/c MT went off the national radar screen.

It is well past time to see a renewed focus on building progressive organizing in Montana, a state whose future looks brighter now given the amazing courage shown by Rep. Zephyr and her supporters in the face of such hatred.

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LET ZOOEY SPEAK

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Apr 25, 2023·edited Apr 25, 2023Liked by Erin Reed

I would argue that SB458, if it is passed, has been rendered unconstitutional, in part, by the legislature's refusal to permit debate on the bill from a duly elected representative through an abuse of the chamber's rules. She has not been censured, and the House Majority Leader has no right to set himself up as a dictator conditioning constitutionally protected speech on receiving "apologies." That, IMHO, violates the first amendment. If citizens in Zephyr's district were denied the opportunity to be heard on the bill through their elected representative who was improperly silenced then I submit adoption of the bill itself is constitutionally defective.

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Apr 25, 2023Liked by Erin Reed

As always, thank you Erin.

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Apr 26, 2023Liked by Erin Reed

Erin, every time I read the ethical disclosure at the end of a post regarding Zooey I give a little squee and clap for you both. It seems to be missing this time around and I hope everything is alright.

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I am appalled (though can't say that I'm shocked) at the MT legislature... but I am so.dang.proud of everyone who made the trek out to Helena (including some of my friends who drove out from Bozeman, I got to hear about it as we were waiting for our children to come out from school yesterday)!

There's so much here... you highlight it - and knowing we follow other states who have done egregious and harmful things, not to mention discriminatory behaviors (lookin' at you, TN!), it's just insanity that humans don't learn and MT is following the stupidity and hate. I just read tonight's Capitolized from MTFP... looks like the GQP is going to hand down some kind of discipline tomorrow - and though we are in the minority, our party will stand against whatever that may be and remain in support of Zooey! The insanity of it all is just.too.much. They are quick to say this was an insurrection... I think someone needs to hand them a dictionary and a copy of the constitution!

LET HER SPEAK!

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The time interval is interesting. How many days has it been?

It suggests that she's not being expelled for what she said, but rather for refusing to submit.

If you want your day's supply of irony, check out Tuesday's edition of The Faulkner Focus*, starting at about 52:30, where guest commentator Jason Rantz, a Seattle radio host and frequent Fox commentator, gives his view of the goals of the visitors in the gallery (who were removed by police):

"I think ... the intent is obviously to silence and bully anyone who stands in their way ..."

Rich, isn't it?

* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ntdjq-XH0c&ab_channel=CarbonCountyNewsNetwork

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Apr 29, 2023·edited Apr 29, 2023

I was discussing this event with someone else recently, and realized that Rep. Zephyr exhibited more decorum than Jesus did when addressing the hypocrites of His day. Check out Matthew 23 for a number of examples; verses 27-28 should be of especial interest.

Too bad this didn't occur to someone before she spoke in her own defense; she might have said something like this:

"It has been made clear to me that my words offended the sensibilities of some of the members of this body; and, upon reflection, I realized that I might have expressed myself in language these members would have found more acceptable, or, at least, more familiar:

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

"Matthew 23:27-28."

Let's see them kick her out for that.

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Erin, I am so terribly sorry to hear about what was done to Zooey in retribution for her speaking the ugly truth that her political opponents don’t care to hear. I hope you’re both well, and thank you for your continued coverage of our increasingly tenuous existence in this country.

That being said, I am deeply concerned that we are rapidly approaching a tipping point, as the true motivations towards the restrictive legislation are being revealed, unmasked and unafraid of the court of public opinion. This cannot stand or endure as it is, and the strain grows greater by the day. When that eventual break occurs, I can only hope we can all weather the storm and make it to safe harbor on the other side.

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