Scott Johnson: Blithering Idiot — And An Embittered, Senile Old Whyte Guy.

This morning, Scott Johnson conveniently forgets that legislators, when speaking inside the rotunda, in every state in our storied Union… enjoy (almost) carte blanche, on speech — when debating actions to be taken (or refrained from) on the floor of the rotunda.

More robust is that protection, than even in the public square (“public outcry”), or from the pulpit, for a preacher, under our long-standing black letter common law. For nearly 240 years, we as a nation have held that speech — even incendiary and defamatory speech — is absolutely protected, on the floor when a legislator speaks.

True, the Tennessee Three started their chanting outside of the floor, proper — in the hallways. But they then spoke on the floor. And for the first time in Tennessee’s history (going back to early day slavery, and beyond — before statehood even) these overwhelmingly whyte GOP super majority legislators… expelled two young black men of their number, while sparing an older whyte woman — for… speaking out of turn (they say).

It was impotent, as they are being re-appointed by the Democratic Party of Tennessee, formally, as we write this. But the message was unmistakable — in the place that saw the Klan founded, and until just two years ago, kept a bust of Nathan Beford Forrest inside the halls of that same rotunda… impertinent young black men… will be excluded (or worse) — even in the year 2023.

But it is not even the audacity of the act of stifling that most vexes me. It is that Scott Johnson dares to compare/equate the Tennessee Three to the Proud Boy leader, and/or to the QAnon Shaman (each private citizens not elected to speak, by the people — then breaking through glass, and grabbing a podium from the floor, while trespassing — with intent to overturn the lawful outcome of a national election). And it resulted in felony murder of Ashli Babbitt.

But Scott sees boisterous debate on the floor of the chamber, BY HER OWN MEMBERS… as the same as insurrection.

That is all we need to know.

Scott thinks the second amendment precedes the first, in our Bill of Rights.

It does not.

And advocating for legislation on sensible gun control (BY LEGISLATORS!) is in no manner akin to a riot by lawless vigilantes to overthrow a government BEING CERTIFIED.

Uh… yeah, Scott… take your nonsense… directly to the ashcan of history. That is where it lands.

Cheers.