They did this in a surprise session to limit exposure in the press because laws like these are very bad for business. The more exposure the story gets, the more likely we can defeat them.

I can't believe it was one of the original 13 colonies. Yes I know it was a slave holding state, however it did have minds that thought it was a good idea to rebel against the Brits.

They are shooting themselves in the foot left and right with over reach and incompetence. We need to vote the bastards out in November....

But Charlotte City Council did an amazing job getting this legislation passed. They worked really hard to get a good bill. And now the General Assembly is yet again overturning the will of the people. And NC has been pretty progressive off and on since Reconstruction. Google Fusion Party for more on that....

The last was to ban same-sex marriage. The one before that was to ban interracial marriage.

which ended it's chances of becoming the law of the land. Thanks to that big time bigot, Jesse Helms.

Vote the bastards out.

I live in North Carolina, and I'm gay. I feel bad about this, and our transgender sisters and brothers feel a lot worse. But everybody should feel terrible, because what the State Legislature is doing today will affect everybody.

The Republicans in North Carolina just used fear as an excuse to wipe out ANY local statutes that expand ANY rights beyond what the state legislature says is ok - which is very, very narrow. Wiped out are all local statutes providing living wages to workers, all local statutes providing incentives to minority-owned businesses, all LGBTQ rights of any kind statewide, etc. etc.

How did this happen to the most progressive state in the south, the state that had Democratic control of the state legislature for over 100 years, usually had a Democratic governor, and often voted to elect the Democrat for president?

It happened because Democrats couldn't be bothered to vote in 2010 and 2014, and/or they refused to vote for the Democratic nominee because that nominee wasn't "pure" enough to deserve the vote. And so the Koch-funded Tea Party took over NC and this is what we got.

And they rewrote the districts because 2010 is a census year, and the state is so gerrymandered now we have no chance of retaking the state for years, if ever. A majority of people cast ballots for Democrats last fall, but the Republicans still held onto a big majority of the state legislature and congressional representatives.

Oh, by the way, their voter ID law took effect last week during our primary, and there were lots of problems and voter suppression among the Democratic base - minorities, the elderly, students. This will definitely depress the Democratic vote in November.

I listen to part of the live streamed debate. Dan Blue made a powerful speech and all the Democratic Senators walked out. They did a voice roll call and the odious Charlotte GOP Rep Rucho was not there either Too chicken, I guess.

https://twitter.com/BonitiTWCNews/status/712767835529994240

2010 and 2014 were midterms so turnout would normally be low. Who are you saying was the Democratic nominee that wasn't "pure" enough?

Also, if you are comparing not voting with Hillary to your example, I think the people that are not voting for Hillary will still be coming out to vote for down-ticket races.

This is important.

I just asked what you were referring to since those were midterms.

You said "It happened because Democrats couldn't be bothered to vote in 2010 and 2014, and/or they refused to vote for the Democratic nominee because that nominee wasn't "pure" enough to deserve the vote. And so the Koch-funded Tea Party took over NC and this is what we got. "


Maybe you should back it up a bit and realize that perhaps it's a legitimate question to wonder which Democratic nominee you were talking about in your comment that wasn't "pure" enough during midterms and people stayed home because of. I live in NC as well and the governor's race is timed with the presidential one. So who were you talking about during midterms?

Or were you just trying to use this travesty to argue the loyalty pledge point which should actually be left in GDP...

I am the OP. You are the one bringing primary mess into this thread. I am asking you to please stop because it distracts from the very real issue, which is that our LGBT brothers and sisters and worker's rights are being assualted. Plus I voted for this city council because I WANT them to enact laws like they did and not what General Assembly is overturning my right again. F'ing taxation without representation in this state these days

This is LBN, not GDP. Can we talk about the issue at hand? Thanks!

I posted a question in a comment about a comment you had made. That's how it works. I'm sorry if you don't like someone asking an honest question for some reason, but perhaps if you have a problem with comments, then you should post a blog post somewhere that doesn't allow comments.

Again, I ask you - who were you talking about when you said "It happened because Democrats couldn't be bothered to vote in 2010 and 2014, and/or they refused to vote for the Democratic nominee because that nominee wasn't "pure" enough to deserve the vote. And so the Koch-funded Tea Party took over NC and this is what we got. "

Yes, calling me out in such a way and telling me to take my question to GDP, when it's a legitimate question about something you posted in the thread is distracting, but that's on you. I didn't bring primary mess in here, I asked you about a comment you made. Are you not able to answer the question because the statement wasn't true or something? I wasn't even trying to argue with you, I really wanted to know.

And you are the only one saying the names of primary candidates in a thread the is NOT about primary politics where no one else has mentioned any. But Imma leave you to it

IF you look, my original comment and question were to the person that I quoted from. Not you. You are the one that saw fit to reply and derail the thread.

And I can mention names of politicians if I want. Sheesh. Either way, you're the one that has distracted from your OP. The original commenter may or many not have replied, but you've added all this to the thread now.

that we could have a civil discussion on this site without dragging f'ing primary bullshit into the ring. I also forgot that everyone here hates Democrats now. Well have fun, I'm out....

What primary stuff are you so flustered over? I asked about the comment about NC elections in off years and who they were talking about. If you re-read my comment, I think you might find you over-reacted.

And this isn't a GDP topic which is restricted to the campaigns of Bernie and Hillary anyway.

Rev bones is seeking background info on past NC voting patterns from 2010 and 2014 which wouldn't be allowed in GDP at all.

North Carolina's state legislature had been controlled by Democrats for 100 years. Yes, many of these Democrats were conservative, but handing over the state to Republicans has been a nightmare. They gerrymandered the state to ensure that they will never lose power.

Turnout was shamefully low among Democrats in 2010. Our party compounded the problem in 2012 by allowing a Republican to be elected governor. Many Democrats felt that the Democratic nominee wasn't good enough, so they didn't bother to vote, telling themselves that McCrory, a former mayor of Charlotte, was "moderate."

The Republicans are literally dismantling my state. I can't even...

because in your original comment you said 2010 & 2014. Thanks for the explanation.

In recent years, a majority of Democrats have voted, but the districts are now so securely gerrymandered, the Republicans still held onto big majorities. The recent federal decision requiring the legislature to redraw the worst gerrymandered districts did not help - sniggering and sneering, they just rewrote them in a different way to their benefit.

Time to regroup and strategize in preparation for the next session. I can already picture lots of civil disobedience on the horizon. Hopefully Chris at ENC is engaged. Let me know if I can help at all.

I am furious to say the least.

but William Barber is in my district so there might well be.

I think that there may be protests from some of the corporations based in North Carolina. This is going to make national news because the bill is so far-reaching.

and then changed districts as I literally couldn't stand working at the school I was at. I like my new school, they like me, and I am close enough to Raleigh that I am still in the chorus and will be able to be at the protest tomorrow at UUFR in Raleigh. That said, Eastern NC is a different animal at times.

I'm glad that you are happy in your new school.

Curious to know who jumped ship.

Senator Dan Blue was great on the livestream.

Looks like 13 abstentions/non-votes unless my fury screwed up my math.

And the Dems walked out at the vote, so not sure what the math is on this. I am seeing nothing on Twitter or in my LGBT friends feeds about Dem turncoats. I really DO want to know if there were some.

So again, do you have a link?

If every R voted for it, then so did 9 Dems at a minimum.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina_House_of_Representatives

Nobody else is talking about this BUT YOU. Not my heavily political NC LGBT network, not the NC politically focused pundits or bloggers, not the state political coverage like WRAL. No one but you. Everyone else says "Senate Dems walked out" and are done. So please post a link. Again, I would be VERY interested to know who voted for this if that is true. But so far I am finding ZERO confirmation when I go look myself.

Are you even from NC? It seems like you are investing in making NC Senate Dems look bad. Is that true? Why?

The OP has the vote total. The link I provided has the party affiliation breakdown of the House. You can do the same math that I did. I never said a word about the NC Senate.

originally 13 but two changed their minds. One of the 11 is my own representative. One Republican voted against and one was absent.

I have no problem with the few Democratic senators doing that. They WERE shut out of the process. The draft bill wasn't even shared with the chambers until this morning! There was a five minute recess to read it before voting began!! There are so few Democratic senators, their votes wouldn't have mattered.

I'm furious with all the Republicans and the Democrats in the House that voted for this travesty, and went along with the travesty of a "process."

Let all the 'southern state refugees' migrate to a new home in the United States, let all the gun nuts and tea party wacko's move to the south and lets all just start over.

Okay, I'm dreaming.

I firmly do not believe in "running away" when it comes to fighting republicans.

As for your dreaming, I'd call it more of a hallucination. Although perhaps in context with the minds of too many of your fellow like-minded DUers, it's more like mass hallucinations.

to say I am angry is an understatement.

. . . that sums up the sheer absurdity of the right's bathroom fixation perfectly:

... whereupon the legislature will pass a similar bill, which the courts will overturn...

Let's see, how many times has the U.S. Congress voted to overturn Obamacare, now?

-- Mal

in November and he will veto This is a sad effort by the NC GOP to drum up support from their bigoted base with a little red meat. They are really unpopular, even with most Rep voters, and are in trouble this fall.

Weird.

...and I suspect that plays an important role in this. The backwards people there want the college-educated "liberal Yankee carpetbaggers" out and BS like this helps to discourage educated, liberal creative types for moving there for work.

No more trips to N.C.

Nascar loses again.

and progressive voters in November. People in my social feeds are PISSED OFF and ready to vote.

After decades of a right-leaning SCOTUS, the country is ready for a progressive one again but it requires voters actually voting.

Amazing some still think GLBT rights aren't "real" civil rights, nor do GLBT persons suffer from "real" discrimination and that our struggles and movement are "winding down."

More to come.