Founder of Anti-Gay Westboro Baptist Church Dies

[kensei]

The comedian turned political commentator Dennis Miller (formerly of "Saturday Night Live") has a radio talk show. He used to be a typical Hollywood liberal but at some point had a change of heart and is now a rather cynical conservative with a few liberal leanings still surviving. On the day Fred Phelps' death was announced Miller used his show to celebrate it, playing cheerful music and reveling in how a true scumbag of a human being was now burning in Hell, with the announcement something along the lines of "God has issued a press statement saying He's sorry it took Him so long."

I'm very liberal in my beliefs about some things and very conservative about others and could never identify myself with any political party. I just know that I've always felt that families who get wind they're going to be targeted by Phelps' group should advertise one time and place for their loved one's funeral but then privately organize another. I remember they came to my community once to protest at a soldier's funeral, and the Freedom Riders were here to stand stone-faced in between them and the mourners and block the view as much as possible.

Miller mentioned that Phelps' family had requested that no one protest at his funeral, and rightfully made fun of that request. I just thought, man, I hope people deluge it with protests. A popular slogan of Phelps' used to be "God hates fags." I hope his funeral is met with hundreds of signs and people chanting the slogan "GOD HATES BIGOTS!" But that's me.

[Robert]

Hi FM

I agree that the British aren't the people they were. But that's partly down to the politicians. Capital punishment is a case in point. It's possible to have a good debate on capital punishment, and it's possible that if there were a referendum I myself might end up voting No. But what actually happened? The MPs voted on it, and it was decided to make it an issue of conscience, with no party whipping. Amazing how the MPs suddenly acquire a conscience when it suits them. So the rule is, if an issue is highly technical, then the MPs claim to have more knowledge than the electorate, and vote the way they want because they are 'representatives rather than delegates.'
But if an issue is adjudged a moral question, then the MPs take no note of the people's wishes because it is an issue of personal conscience and the MPs can't be expected to go against the 'still small voice' that they claim (with a straight face) to hear. Everything's nicely stitched up.

PS after I went offline last night I suddenly realised I might be misinterpreted, so let me say that the monkeys in question are Cameron, Miliband and Clegg, Heath, Wilson, Callaghan, Thatcher, Major, Blair and Brown etc.

[Fleetwood Mac]

If you don't vote don't complain about the government you have.

I don't vote, GUT, but I wouldn't agree with Robert on the 'monkeys' point. They're certainly not above corruption, hypocrisy and shoddy management just like any other human being; but I think that, by and large, they represent their constituents reasonably well with one caveat: in accordance with their wishes.

I don't vote simply because there isn't a political party out there who share the same opinions as me on what I consider to be the fundamental issues.

Personally, I think the fundamental problem in this country is the people, not the politicians. The people in this country would queue up for days and walk through fire to get at the latest pair of under-cracks by Georgio Alouvio at 900 quid a pair. But, interested in the state of country? Not on your life.

Politicians are limited in what they can achieve these days. I mean some multi-nationals produce more in terms of wealth than a small European country.

I used to be more opinionated in the sphere of politics but as you get older you, or maybe just I, tend to just want them to stay out of your space. Mind you, I still can't stand the left and their monumental load of old bollocks that they spout (hello Julie!), and that will never leave me.

[GUT]

Thanks Rivkah, I don't follow US politics all that closely and for the life of me could not remember his name.

[RivkahChaya]

Mitt Romney

[GUT]

G'day Robert

No Bush wasn't the Mormon.

[Robert]

On the contrary, GUT, if people vote for monkeys then they have no right to complain.

[Robert]

Was Bush a Mormon? Then I've got a bone to pick with him about the new look LDS genealogy site. Why must people always change things that work well?

[GUT]

G'day Robert

If you don't vote don't complain about the government you have.

[RivkahChaya]

Well GUT, I'm not American, but as for your general point, I don't vote precisely because I know that whichever party is elected, we will get the same pisspoor useless stupid lazy ignorant creeps that we have always had.

Yeah. Obama is exactly as big a idiot shmuck as Bush, fils.

If that Mormon had gotten elected, I was going to movie to Canada, no kidding.

[Robert]

Well GUT, I'm not American, but as for your general point, I don't vote precisely because I know that whichever party is elected, we will get the same pisspoor useless stupid lazy ignorant creeps that we have always had.

[GUT]

G'day Robert

Exactly.

But who can change the law?

The Government.

Who can make the Government change the law?

The people of the Country in question.

So blame yourself for not changing the law, not the people who take advantage of it or the Judges who apply it.

[RivkahChaya]

They can be kept off private property, and some cemeteries in the US are private property. Also, churches and shuls are generally regarded as public in the same sense that businesses are, but that actually isn't quite true; I'm not really sure about churches, but shuls (synagogues) usually have a dues paying membership, and have control over who can be on the property. We could legally prevent them from being on shul property, including the parking lot and the yard. We'd have to do the policing ourselves, though, unless we obtained some kind of order of protection, which would require a prior act or threat.

Most cemeteries are public property, albeit, they have hours they are open and closed, like public parks.

[Robert]

GUT, if the judges' hands are tied by the law, then change the law.

[GUT]

That's all it took.


They love to picket.

I've seen dudes picket Courts here, usually the Family Court, because they don't like a decision, do they really think it will change the Court's mind.