EDITORIAL CARTOONS TO HELP EXPLAIN THE INSANITY OF TENNESSEE'S LEGISLATURE

         Clay Bennett is the editorial cartoonist for the Chattanooga Times Free Press, and his work pretty much sums up the stories of the day, both locally and nationally.

         If you look at the "out" box in the first cartoon, as well as the bill on the desk, you'll get an idea of why the drug test in the "in" box makes sense.  They must be stoned out of their gourds to think any of this shit matters to the average Tennessean.

          One of the biggest success stories (from the GOP's standpoint) is the passage of a new photo voter ID law for the state.  There have been several stories of elderly life-long residents who were denied access to the polls during the primary elections, even though all had voter registration cards, as well as other identification and documentation.  Mission accomplished.

        And somehow it's become a mantra from the right that Obama is to blame whenever the courts or that pesky ol' Constitution prevent them from ramrodding some fundamentalist Christian nonsense down everyone else's throats.  They even thump the Bible when they're defending the destruction of our scenic vistas.  Go figure...

           The Lt. Governor is lampooned in this one, and it pretty much sums up what the guy is all about.

         The news today has the General Assembly moving to allow students to discuss religion and creationism in the classrooms, regardless of the subject or the teacher's syllabus plan for the class.  They're looking out for the rights of religious nutballs to send their children to school to proselytize to the secular humanists they encounter in Algebra class, I guess.  As if the gene pool wasn't dumbed down enough around here, they want to clutter up science classes with prayer meetings and Bible distribution.

          And when they're not concerning themselves with fucking up our children's meager educational opportunities, they want to make sure the gun lobby gets its proverbial pound of flesh.  Already on the books are laws allowing loaded, concealed handguns in bars and restaurants.  Now, they want to pass a law to allow guns in the parking lots of employers who currently don't allow guns on their properties.  And for good measure, Tennessee is one of the states that has a Stand Your Ground law much like the one in Floriduh that's making headlines and headaches for the rest of America today.

           And just as soon as Mr. Bennett draws one to illustrate the new "Saggy Pants" bill currently being voted upon by the full House, I'll post that one as well.  What's a "Saggy Pants" bill, you ask?  Why, that's a law that will criminalize the wearing of pants if they aren't hitched up to the proper levels, as determined by anyone who wants to call the police and file a complaint.
           
            Heavy sigh...