Kansas State Rep arrested for...

[dudalb]

Totally wierd and bizarre.
"I don;t think we are in Kansas anymore, Toto".

 

[Meadmaker]

Well that's sort of the goddamn problem isn't it? That we don't judge this based on factual correctness but on... like style and poise.

Calm, non-crazy stupid is not better (or so we don't dare leave that hair unsplit least someone run with not notably better) than ranting at the heavens, birds nest in your hair stupid.

Actually, I think calm, non-crazy, stupid is a lot better than birds nest in your hair stupid. The birds nest in the hair isn't really a form of stupid. It's a form of crazy.


My biggest problem with the American electorate is that they are willing to put up with the birds nest in the hair crazy as long as they agree with the ideology. There was this one guy who used to tweet crazy **** several times a day, and who clearly showed signs of mental illness. It got so bad they took away his twitter account, and there are still millions of people who think he's ok because he was always going after people they didn't like, so they were willing to overlook the crazy.

Similarly, I think if a guy like this ranted all day long about left wing causes, he would have plenty of defenders here, but he shouldn't. He's nuts.

 

[Meadmaker]

Then point out and mock non-crazy stupid rather than pretend that someone who seems to be mentally unwell is representative of Republicans.

There's plenty to mock out there. I don't think Marjorie Taylor Greene or Matt Gaetz are literally mentally ill and their stuff is eminently mockable. Indeed, it is mocked around here and deservedly so. But it seems to me that you're awfully keen on treating this guy in the same manner and if, as Tragic Monkey plausibly suggests, he is suffering from mental illness, he doesn't deserve the mockery.

(Mind, he might deserve mockery for other things he's done or said, but that's another issue.)

I think MTG might be literally mentally ill.

 

[Dr. Keith]

I've encountered some outrageously stupid lawyers in my time.

I feel like we must have met in real life at some point.

 

[JoeMorgue]

Similarly, I think if a guy like this ranted all day long about left wing causes, he would have plenty of defenders here, but he shouldn't. He's nuts.

Well I wouldn't have been one of them so your whataboutism is not my cross to bear.

 

[phiwum]

Is there evidence he is actually mentally ill?

Only his behavior, which I confess I have only seen described (not looked up the videos).

Now, it's possible that he's well(ish) and responsible and I'm in no position to state with confidence that's not the case. But I was responding to Joe's post, where he seemed to suggest that the difference between well and unwell is irrelevant.

Insofar as you're merely pointing out that what the person is saying is false, he's right, I suppose, but no one here is debating the reasonableness of this fellow's words or actions. If he's in his "right mind" relatively speaking, he deserves mockery. If he's not, then he doesn't. That's all I was saying here.

Honestly, this is a bizarre local news item. I don't think it's indicative of the state of the Republican party or anything. There's plenty to say about the current GOP, but it's a fairly small percentage of them who discuss masturbation and knee a kid in the 'nads while substitute teaching. No more than a fifth, surely.

 

[Stacyhs]

As much as I enjoy dunking on Republican politicians who get themselves into idiotic situations...this sounds more like genuine mental illness. Or possibly a physical one-- a brain tumor in the right place can remove inhibitions. Talking wildly about sexual and religious matters in inappropriate contexts is not normal behavior, even for Republicans. He may not be responsible for his behavior, in which case he merits sympathy (and help) rather than condemnation (and amusement).

I agree; this is beyond the usual GOP crazy. Samsel is having a mental health crisis and needs help.

 

[Norman Alexander]

And a substantial number of people would like to see those standards lowered. Abolishing the federal Department Of Education is a major goal of many on the Republican side. Abolishing public education in general has support in Congress. This state, Kansas, has at times put creationism in to the curriculum in this century.

Oh, please make this happen! It would help make our country really great, our children world leaders! And by "our country" I mean Australia, not the USA.

 

[Norman Alexander]

Samsel is obviously having a mental health crisis of his own. He's posted a very long rambling and incoherent FB message today. It begins with

"I am truly sorry that this has caused confusion and pain, especially in my native hometown. But this is not about me. It never has been. If it were up to me, I'd be sitting on a beach in Australia or exploring the jungles in Africa. Maybe the beach in San Diego, or Portland or Madison remain on my bucket list of places to travel. Of course, I'm pretty blue collar, so Melvern Lake or a Royals game is more my style."

and proceeds to all kinds of unrelated topics including the incident in the classroom.

https://www.facebook.com/MarkSamsel...d=650140028766996&comment_tracking={"tn":"R"}

Buried by a small dog, not sitting.

 

[sackett]

I think this sorry fluggler merits removal from the public payroll, whatever clinical picture he may present.

 

[dudalb]

More I read about the guy, the more I am reminded about the evil schoolmasters in Dickens' novel. Mr Squeers in "NIcholas Nickleby" and Mr Creakle in "David Copperfield" come to mind.

 

[Norman Alexander]

If this guy is genuinely mentally unbalanced and has been spouting this drivel for some time, it speaks volumes about the people who elected him to a position of power as a representative. Either they are spectacularly stupid themselves, or they all did it for a sick LOL, or they actually agree with the rantings of this lunatic.

I have spoken before about the USA finding a space to corral all the pig-ignorant right-wing religious dross that pollutes the country, where they can build their own gun-ridden jackbooted WASP society with no blacks or Hispanics or Jews or anyone else they hate. Florida was shaping up to be that place, but Kansas is now the lead candidate.

 

[RecoveringYuppy]

Only his behavior, which I confess I have only seen described (not looked up the videos).

Battery is bad and not typical but plenty of people commit that crime without being legitimately mentally ill.

I don't think it's indicative of the state of the Republican party or anything.

What is "it"? Nothing I've heard him say seemed atypical of Republicans. Only the actual battery is atypical. Currently battery is pretty much atypical of all large cross sections of society.

 

[dudalb]

If this guy is genuinely mentally unbalanced and has been spouting this drivel for some time, it speaks volumes about the people who elected him to a position of power as a representative. Either they are spectacularly stupid themselves, or they all did it for a sick LOL, or they actually agree with the rantings of this lunatic.

I have spoken before about the USA finding a space to corral all the pig-ignorant right-wing religious dross that pollutes the country, where they can build their own gun-ridden jackbooted WASP society with no blacks or Hispanics or Jews or anyone else they hate. Florida was shaping up to be that place, but Kansas is now the lead candidate.

That sounds pretty Nazi like to me. Or, if you prefer, Stalinistic.

 

[RecoveringYuppy]

If we were to dissect the ideological content related to what he said, you would indeed find conservative beliefs, but conservative do not think that substitute teachers ought to ask a class full of high school kids if they masturbate. Conservatives do not think that you should go on weird rants about lesbian parents when you are supposed to be teaching school.

Note that he was talking about masturbation in the context of procreation being a good thing. I don't know what country you live in but here in the US conservatives absolutely do want teachers teaching procreation and anti gay narratives.

 

[dudalb]

What has happened to the GOP Is tragic.
The sane people are being driven out, and the crazies taking over.
It's sad, because I think you need a sane ,fiscal conservative party to put a break on the progressives. Problem is that the GOP is no longer about limited government but white greivence.

 

[Norman Alexander]

That sounds pretty Nazi like to me. Or, if you prefer, Stalinistic.

Indeed, but it is what these people actually want. A place of their own, unpolluted by the people they hate, governed only by the religion and rules and rulers they wish (i.e. themselves), with a wall around it so high that they can see nothing outside.

North Korea.

 

[Stacyhs]

What has happened to the GOP Is tragic.
The sane people are being driven out, and the crazies taking over.
It's sad, because I think you need a sane ,fiscal conservative party to put a break on the progressives. Problem is that the GOP is no longer about limited government but white greivence.

I don't agree with Liz Cheney's politics( and her father...don't even get me started on that SOB), but I at least admire and respect her for standing up to Trump and the rest of the GOP Congress sycophants and calling out his Big Lie and Jan. 6th responsibility for what they are. She's not rolling over then and humping his leg like that spineless McCarthy.

 

[Jim_MDP]

As much as I enjoy dunking on Republican politicians who get themselves into idiotic situations...this sounds more like genuine mental illness. Or possibly a physical one-- a brain tumor in the right place can remove inhibitions. Talking wildly about sexual and religious matters in inappropriate contexts is not normal behavior, even for Republicans. He may not be responsible for his behavior, in which case he merits sympathy (and help) rather than condemnation (and amusement).

I think we can work both sympathy and amusement into the currently popular "trade offer" meme (where is that from BTW).

 

[Thermal]

Actually, I think calm, non-crazy, stupid is a lot better than birds nest in your hair stupid. The birds nest in the hair isn't really a form of stupid. It's a form of crazy.


My biggest problem with the American electorate is that they are willing to put up with the birds nest in the hair crazy as long as they agree with the ideology. There was this one guy who used to tweet crazy **** several times a day, and who clearly showed signs of mental illness. It got so bad they took away his twitter account, and there are still millions of people who think he's ok because he was always going after people they didn't like, so they were willing to overlook the crazy.

Similarly, I think if a guy like this ranted all day long about left wing causes, he would have plenty of defenders here, but he shouldn't. He's nuts.

Well Tbf homeboy wasn't ranting about fiscal responsibility and a strong national defense. He was solidly on the bat **** crazy platform. Competitively, the flip side would be a little more colorful than "left wing causes". I assume.