Jackson Free Press

The MS State Legislature made The Smoking Gun today

(And, no, it wasn't for the totally innappropriate and sexist joke that Rep. Steve Holland allowed to be told yesterday to "call to order" a Public Health Committee Meeting. The text of which is below)

We also made one of my favorite trashy celebrity websites under the headline "Dumb Bitches Of The Day". This is a category usually reserved for Britney and Lindsey. If I was drunk, I might feel honored.

Christ, people...it's crap like this that makes the rest of the world freak out about this state. Can we please keep the dumba$$ political maneuvering on the down low for a bit? We have enough going on with Britney being born close enough to this state to have breathed its air while she was growing up. That alone is enough for fourteen different kinds of "ignorant hillbilly" associations.

Although, the commentary on Dlisted did make me chuckle.

Meet Republicans W. T. Mayhall, Jr. and John Read, and Democrat Bobby Shows. These three idiots are members of Mississippi's House of Representatives and came up with one of the dumbest bills in history. They are proposing a bill that will make it illegal for state-licensed restaurants to serve obese people. That means anybody with a BMI of 30 or above won't be able to eat with everybody else. This is a problem since 30% of the state is considered obese.

The two page document states that any restaurant that breaks the law could get their license pulled.

Click here to read the documents

Obviously these three twits don't have anything better to do. Don't they have some tap dancing to do in an airport restroom somewhere?

Where in the hell did they get that picture? Are these required for the job? But, more importantly, has anyone checked Bobby Shows's pulse recently?

I'm trying the best I can here, but I could use a little help.

The really horrible part is that I picked up a copy of the House schedule yesterday after the meeting. I read this bill. It wasn't as bad as some of the other ones. Let's just hope they don't read the rest of the list.

I swear, if people around here don't just sit down, calm down, and stop doing crap like this before they THINK, I might start telling people I'm from Louisiana.

And that would just kill my Mamaw.

Text of Joke Told Before Public Health Committee Meeting on 01/31/08 By Dr. Briggs Hobson as introduced by Rep. Steve Holland.

"What are the three words a woman hates to hear while she's having sex?"

---"Honey I'm Home!"

I don't even know where to start with that. It just breaks my heart.

Previous Commentsshow

Lori this takes my breath away. I cannot believe legislators are paid to come up with this type of nonsense! The voters of each of their districts should be screaming for someone to hurry up and write the recall law. Rampant stupidity should definitely be included in the list of criteria for invoking such a law and we could start with these three.

BuyJxn

Feb 1 2008

I heard about the law on the news tonight. It won't fly. It's obviously unconstitutional. Sounds like a new type of Jim Crow law.

LatashaWillis

Feb 1 2008

L.W.-I know it won't ever become law. It's not that. It is the very fact that someone wrote it, introduced it, and actually typed it into public record in this state and thought it was "okay". Just makes me growl.

Lori G

Feb 1 2008

Yeah, I get it. It's an embarrassment. It's like telling men with receding hair lines to stay out of the barber shop. They still have some hair left to cut. How woul they even enforce this law? Put a scale at the door of every restaurant and stand there with a BMI chart? If that were the case, a lot of people would be turned away. You can be classified as obese on a BMI chart and not look like it at all.

LatashaWillis

Feb 1 2008

L.G., After "the joke" and "the bill", your mama is ashamed to be from Mississippi. V.M.

NOYRSLF

Feb 1 2008

NOYRSLF- Mother, you are so obvious. I don't need your damn initials. Is visiting message boards something you've gotten from ME? ;) L.W.- Some friends and I were discussing it earlier. One is a lawyer..he basically said the same thing..there is no way to enforce it. Not unless you have trained people on wait staff to check BMIs. Wouldn't that be a hoot? Other than that, what are they going to do next? Stop letting them buy tater tots at the grocery store?

Lori G

Feb 1 2008

I swear, if people around here don't just sit down, calm down, and stop doing crap like this before they THINK, I might start telling people I'm from Louisiana. Since I used to live in California, I may just start claiming that state.

golden eagle

Feb 1 2008

Other than that, what are they going to do next? Stop letting them buy tater tots at the grocery store? That would be hilarious. Underground tater tot networks and chocolate speakeasies will start popping up. The feds will be going into the bakoods to destroy high fructose corn syrup stills. When will the madness end? LOL

LatashaWillis

Feb 1 2008

"backwoods", not "bakoods". Saw it after I hit submit.

LatashaWillis

Feb 1 2008

This is a sign of things to come. Obesity causes problems so they say. So, what do they do. Ban the people from eating! If you can do it to tobacco, you can do it to food. This is why we need Government OUT of our lives people.

LawClerk

Feb 1 2008

That has to be the stupidest bill that has ever been introduced. I think you are kinda over reacting to the joke. I thought it was funny.

BubbaT

Feb 2 2008

By the way, why do you have to use "white" in the title? Can't you just say "old men" or is it necessary to use their color?

LawClerk

Feb 2 2008

LawClerk- 1) Just Because 2) Yes

Lori G

Feb 2 2008

It is necessary to use their color?

LawClerk

Feb 2 2008

Everybody knows that God is an Old White Man...Some of you could get in a lot of trouble. (P.S. I weigh about 130)

willdufauve

Feb 2 2008

I want to ask a question, but I'm afraid of what may happen as a result of it.

LatashaWillis

Feb 2 2008

LawClerk- I answered that question above. It is the word "yes" preceeded by the number 2. I answered your question that way because the second one was compounded. There were only two question marks. So, I answered the two that ended in question marks. The clarify..if you had asked it this way By the way, why do you have to use "white" in the title? Can't you just say "old men"? Or, is it necessary to use their color? I would have answered: 1) Just because 2) Yes, I could have 3) Yes With that small issue of comprehension cleared up, I will say: Old White Men have enough advantages in this country to be able to handle a swift sarcastic swipe in the interest of "funny". After all, I'm sitting next to a White Man on my couch right now and one day he will be MY "Old White Man" and he finds the whole post hysterical. If he can take it, you can too. Of course, he might be trying to retain access to my Old White Panties.

Lori G

Feb 2 2008

Oh L.W., go head...we need some excitement. I'm in my jammies on the couch contemplating what matinee I may attend. :)

Lori G

Feb 2 2008

No. I don't think it's funny. You might think it's funny. Just because some "White Man" thinks it's funny, doesn't mean I will. I think it's inherently racist. There is zero reason to use the color of their skin in that post. I wanted to make sure I understood completely what you were saying before I responded. Thanks for clarifying.

LawClerk

Feb 2 2008

Okay, here goes: In the instance of subject/verb agreement, when a command is given such as, "Come here," or, "Pick that up," there is an understood "you." Why is there an understood "white" when talking about people. If the guy is white, he's called a man, but when he isn't, he's called a black man, Latino man, Asian man, etc. Black people do it, too. Why do we do that? Is it a way of assigning a "personality" or preconceived notion to someone who is the subject of a conversation? Have fun. I'm taking a nap, and then I have somewhere to go, so you may not hear from me for several hours. Have mercy.

LatashaWillis

Feb 2 2008

Oh, LawClerk, Bless Your Heart. Do you get this angry when you read satirical pieces in other magazines? Or is it just this one? If I consistently endeavored to write things that wouldn't piss anyone off, I'd be horribly boring. I hate being boring. But, I do appreciate your outlook and opinion. This is why I always look forward to the comments after I post things like this....just for the dissenting voices. I love debate. Most often the best debates are brought on by very deliberate provocative statements.

Lori G

Feb 2 2008

Have mercy. --HA! Actually, I agree with your post. I have no idea why there is an "understood" white. Interesting point. But, I do agree that its to assign a certain "category" to the person, or man. Like...if I started a story with "Well, I walked out of the grocery store and there was this black man in the parking lot." There is definitely more of an implied "preconceived notion" to that statement than, "Well, I walked out of the grocery store and there was a man in the parking lot." At least in the south...from my experience. The dynamics of communication are very interesting to me. Especially the things you say when you don't realize you are saying them.

Lori G

Feb 2 2008

"Do you get this angry when you read satirical pieces in other magazines? Or is it just this one?" Nope. Just here. The double standard is patently offensive to me.

LawClerk

Feb 2 2008

Plenty of black folks are dying young and poor over a racial double standard that doesn't seem to bother whites much; I'm not going to get excited over "honkey" or "white men" unless the obvious intent is to exclude.

Tom Head

Feb 2 2008

Ah, Tom, finally a man that understands and acknowledges his white entitlement. I thought that was missing from this converstation. :)

Lori G

Feb 2 2008

oh jeez... If it's wrong to say for one group, it's wrong to say for the other group. It's sad that you don't get it, but, from the state of affairs that MS is in, I can't say I'm surprised either of you don't.

LawClerk

Feb 2 2008

"his white entitlement" That statement really perturbs me. You have no clue what you are talking about.

LawClerk

Feb 2 2008

No, I don't get it. Sorry. Maybe you should start a nonprofit. Or hold a rally on the steps of the Capitol. Or get laid.

Tom Head

Feb 2 2008

Now that was intelligent.

LawClerk

Feb 2 2008

I thought so, too.

Tom Head

Feb 2 2008

Easy does it, y'all. Let's not get personal.

LatashaWillis

Feb 2 2008

Latasha, you're right. LawClerk, I'm sorry; I shouldn't have suggested that you start a nonprofit... ;o)

Tom Head

Feb 2 2008

Tom-I totally didnt realize how much I've been missing you around here. ;)

Lori G

Feb 2 2008

No, it's ok. I've notice how the rules are only enforced against certain people on this site. No biggie.

LawClerk

Feb 2 2008

Lighten up, Francis. I'm supposed to be the self-professed human piñata, remember? (And Lori, miss you more. What are you up to these days?)

Tom Head

Feb 2 2008

They are proposing a bill that will make it illegal for state-licensed restaurants to serve obese people. That means anybody with a BMI of 30 or above won't be able to eat with everybody else. This is a problem since 30% of the state is considered obese. Wouldn't it make much more sense to have another bill - for instance either/or 1) a bill urging MS's Washington Delegation to ask for Fed Funds to help install walking trails and parks - especially in the areas where obesity is the biggest problem? 2) fully funding anti-cholesterol drug prescriptions for people who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid yet unable to afford meaningful amounts of health insurance (say, HH income under $40,000, individual income under $25,000)

Philip

Feb 2 2008

I agree that the legislation is ridiculous, and I applaud the fact that you are raising the issue. Food high in fat is not causing obesity- placing copious amounts of said food into our mouths coupled with a severe lack of exercise is morel likely the answer, not an authoritarian and frightening governmental attempt to curb our admittedly self-destructive behavior. That said, I have to agree with LawClerk regarding the use of the word "white" in the title. I understand that it is normal to write sensational headline titles- in fact, it was the title that made me click on the link to read this. In that sense, your title was a smashing success and a good use of journalistic instinct on a purely practical level. However, after reading the article, the only other reason to include the word (besides the sensationalistic approach outlined above) would be to infer that one of the reasons these three men decided to push the legislation was because of the color of their skin. That would appear to be inherently racist, as I understand the word. In your comments, you mentioned that white men have enough advantages to handle a sarcastic swipe- I fail to notice the sarcasm; if it's present, it was certainly undeveloped in the text of the article. However, you did extend the "old" adjective in the headline by commenting on one of the photos. I don't know what you were thinking when you wrote it, nor do I profess to know. I'm much too old to play Internet Comment War and try to convince the other side that I'm right. I only posit that LawClerk's position is not wholly untenable, not that yours is patently unsound. As you said earlier, however, these things do provoke debate. I hope we can have a constructive one.

Yorick

Feb 3 2008

LW wrote: In the instance of subject/verb agreement, when a command is given such as, "Come here," or, "Pick that up," there is an understood "you." Why is there an understood "white" when talking about people. If the guy is white, he's called a man, but when he isn't, he's called a black man, Latino man, Asian man, etc. Black people do it, too. Why do we do that? Is it a way of assigning a "personality" or preconceived notion to someone who is the subject of a conversation? This happens with gender. As in The High School Soccer team vs. The *Girls* High School Soccer. When there's no qualifier, it refers to the Boys team, since that's the norm. Bugs the crap out of me. As for the old white men comment - Y'all just need to quit being so sensitive, poor old white men. And you need to look at who wrote the post, and what her past writings have been like, and develop a sense of humor. I thought it was feminists who had no sense of humor. I guess it's really the old white guys who are lacking...

kate

Feb 4 2008

Alrighty then, ya'll are wayyyyy to sensitive! When something is a fact, it is a fact. Seriously, the original comment was on a ignorant bill to attempt to control what people, who are judged "fat", eat. That is based on a major misconception - that overweight people naturally overeat. We know scientifically that this is not necessarily the case. There are many factors that influence weight and what we eat is just one of them. Other factors are: genetics, diseases, drug side effects (have you every really read the possible side effects of any drug you take?), etc...So not only are the lawmakers spending; sorry, wasting time, designing a bill to take away one of our essential rights, THEY ARE STUPID, TOO!! If you are going to be an "old white man" lawmaker who attempts to take away basic rights, you should at least know what you are talking about! Besides, it is never about the food anyway. NOYRSLF (better know as: Mother)

NOYRSLF

Feb 5 2008