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onenote

(42,381 posts)
43. its hyperbole by the author of the article cited in the OP
Wed Nov 21, 2012, 11:42 PM
Nov 2012

you are right that the law is exceedingly silly. and, frankly, it ought to be held unconstitutional insofar as it requires the state director of homeland security to "publicize" the legislative findings about God's role in protecting the state and arguably imposes a penalty of one year in jail on the director if he/she doesn't publicize those findings. (I say arguably because the specific provision at issue doesn't contain a penalty provision; rather there is a generally applicable penalty provision to the larger section of the state code in which the god provision is located.

In any event, the court case upholding (wrongly I believe) the provision noted the requirement that the director publicize the legislative findings but then went on to expressly find that "no requirement exists that
the director agree with or believe in them or that citizens read the posting." So, as interpreted, the law doesn't threaten jail time for not believing in god.

A copy of the decision (which quotes the statutory language) can be found in a link in this article:http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/almighty-god-can-remain-in-ky-homeland-security-law

well, if it's for security purposes then ok Enrique Nov 2012 #1
Rand Paul's libertarian (circa 4000 B.C.) paradise. Yup. freshwest Nov 2012 #2
You give him too much credit x2 vancouverite Nov 2012 #6
You mistake me. I think he is a waste of oxygen, food, water, space and time. freshwest Nov 2012 #14
I understood and understand x2 vancouverite Nov 2012 #21
Don't knock the Neanderthals agent46 Nov 2012 #40
Fuck. I love Owensboro. You mean I can't go back there? HopeHoops Nov 2012 #3
You can go back Cirque du So-What Nov 2012 #17
I really loved being there. It was so different from what I was used to. HopeHoops Nov 2012 #79
I've felt that way about lots of places I've lived and visited Cirque du So-What Nov 2012 #80
I was so not involved in that. I stayed at the 6-story hotel on the river and worked nights... HopeHoops Nov 2012 #81
That hotel, the Executive Inn, is gone Cirque du So-What Nov 2012 #86
Well that's a bitch. It was the only place you could get a beer on Sunday (only with a meal). HopeHoops Nov 2012 #88
It used to be about the only place where you could drink on Sunday Cirque du So-What Nov 2012 #89
Yeah, Irving, TX is dry. You can tell because EVERY border crossing is lined with liquor stores. HopeHoops Nov 2012 #90
Bang head nadinbrzezinski Nov 2012 #4
It sure is a head turning in the wrong direction. sarcasmo Nov 2012 #16
That can't be legal. Federal law wouldn't allow it and Cleita Nov 2012 #5
Why the state Supreme Court has not taken it up nadinbrzezinski Nov 2012 #23
Probably an actual case would move it toward Federal action sooner. JHB Nov 2012 #31
You've discovered the flaw so many of us don't or won't see. The law depends on government Egalitarian Thug Nov 2012 #68
This law is inviting a challenge MrScorpio Nov 2012 #7
uhhhh...if the Feds do not bother with Constitution dixiegrrrrl Nov 2012 #91
My opinion is that the Conservative movement itself is a... Lady Freedom Returns Nov 2012 #95
Ummm last time I checked 2naSalit Nov 2012 #8
If our safety and security depends upon the avebury Nov 2012 #9
My question is... smaug Nov 2012 #10
how in the HELL has this travesty been on the books for six years, and some of us are only now niyad Nov 2012 #11
Because atheists are America's easiest whipping boys. riderinthestorm Nov 2012 #12
I just read the whole thing, and the kentucky supreme court keeps refusing to rule this nonsense niyad Nov 2012 #15
They probably fear retribution JNelson6563 Nov 2012 #44
Multiple plaques are very important. defacto7 Nov 2012 #51
that's right newspeak Nov 2012 #92
That brings up a good point! Lady Freedom Returns Nov 2012 #96
No, atheist smokers are the easiest (well, maybe not in KY). Egalitarian Thug Nov 2012 #69
a DEMOCRAT authored this stupidity--a baptist minister who uses his "faith" like a bludgeon, niyad Nov 2012 #13
A fucking DEMOCRAT? leftlibdem420 Nov 2012 #54
Rats - I was planning on going to Kentucky next year csziggy Nov 2012 #18
But, but, but.... HarveyDarkey Nov 2012 #24
Aren't they endangered? Michigan Alum Nov 2012 #71
Whooping cranes are barely hanging on Kolesar Nov 2012 #76
And whooping cranes migrate through Kentucky every year csziggy Nov 2012 #98
Elections are a filter to put the stupidest people into the statehouse Kolesar Nov 2012 #104
OMG, me too! I guess I'll have to settle for the Caribbean again. Incitatus Nov 2012 #106
What a hardship! csziggy Nov 2012 #109
Im perfectly safe where I am. And it ain't Kentucky. nt rrneck Nov 2012 #19
This is why I, as a liberal Atheist, refuse to even visit the South. Odin2005 Nov 2012 #20
The wife wanted a trip to Disneyworld last summer. mick063 Nov 2012 #26
Good. Make sure you keep that promise. cordelia Nov 2012 #30
How about exceptions for the blue urban areas? eridani Nov 2012 #58
That's true liberal_at_heart Nov 2012 #62
University towns are also blue spots surrounded by red eridani Nov 2012 #94
You won't be missed. Edweird Nov 2012 #78
I wasn't expecting to be missed. mick063 Nov 2012 #99
You know how at tax time you have to file state as well as Federal? I don't have to do that. Edweird Nov 2012 #102
Still not ever going to step one foot in that dumbass law, "stand your ground", state. mick063 Nov 2012 #105
This atheist liberal from NC is glad of that obamanut2012 Nov 2012 #82
Yeah, we're all armed to the teeth.......... Amaril Nov 2012 #87
Good. Stay away. Far away. cordelia Nov 2012 #29
I, as a liberal atheist from NC, say "thank you" obamanut2012 Nov 2012 #83
It's actually quite sporting to live in the South Major Nikon Nov 2012 #85
is there any indication of how many people have been prosecuted and jailed under this stupidity? niyad Nov 2012 #22
Kentucky still exists, so it must be working! Honeycombe8 Nov 2012 #25
The safety and security of the Commonwealth cannot be achieved apart from reliance upon Almighty God Coyotl Nov 2012 #27
Which God? progressoid Nov 2012 #28
Yep, which god, which religion and which asshole(s). ... got so many of them anymore we RKP5637 Nov 2012 #33
The "Almighty" one.. jeez, can't you read? It's right there in *bold* letters and everything!!! Ghost in the Machine Nov 2012 #38
Ohhhh. progressoid Nov 2012 #65
Folks, we have our winner, please stop calling in now.. Thanks! Ghost in the Machine Nov 2012 #67
Well, if god mandates it then we better do it - how dare anyone question this!!! RKP5637 Nov 2012 #32
Hmmm. The "legislative findings" of Kentucky Revised Statutes KRS 39A.285(3) struggle4progress Nov 2012 #34
its hyperbole by the author of the article cited in the OP onenote Nov 2012 #43
There you go again, bringing facts into threads......nt msanthrope Nov 2012 #108
Allah will be pleased.... macacawitz Nov 2012 #35
WTF frogmarch Nov 2012 #36
Wow Livluvgrow Nov 2012 #37
Sorry to be a Doubting Thomas here, but I'm not sure how this absurdity persecutes coalition_unwilling Nov 2012 #39
That's what I was thinking. defacto7 Nov 2012 #49
well if you are the head of the state Homeland Security division liberal_at_heart Nov 2012 #59
No state requires that you recognize God to hold public office SpartanDem Nov 2012 #73
They should have to strike those laws from their constitutions liberal_at_heart Nov 2012 #97
if a Christian who believes in separation of church and state refused to place TheKentuckian Nov 2012 #107
If this happens in Wisconsin Berserker Nov 2012 #41
don't tell glenn grothman..... dembotoz Nov 2012 #93
Just imagine if these people ever did gain true and absolute power Downtown Hound Nov 2012 #42
...whoa. SoapBox Nov 2012 #45
Appallingly ridiculous. . . BigDemVoter Nov 2012 #46
jesus fucking christ. n/t BlancheSplanchnik Nov 2012 #47
The Death Throes of a Failing Mythology mckara Nov 2012 #48
How can the courts legally justify this? silhouete2 Nov 2012 #50
Eric Swalwell's friends. leftlibdem420 Nov 2012 #52
The stupidity of people never ends. hrmjustin Nov 2012 #53
So the director of the Kentucky Homeland Security could go to jail if the sign is taken down? Kaleva Nov 2012 #55
In what branch of government does "Almighty God" serve? Canuckistanian Nov 2012 #56
So which god is it? JEB Nov 2012 #57
Well, there's a state I won't be visiting. 6000eliot Nov 2012 #60
They're worse than the Taliban Zoeisright Nov 2012 #61
Seriously? Get a paper bag and breath into it cali Nov 2012 #70
Relatively so. aandegoons Nov 2012 #74
Well, not quite. Not yet, anyway. Mariana Nov 2012 #72
I lived in North Carolina for a while as a child mountain grammy Nov 2012 #63
I agree with you liberal_at_heart Nov 2012 #66
But it's absolutely true, because the bible says so. gtar100 Nov 2012 #64
The headline is ridiculous, and it conceals the $160,000 question Jim Lane Nov 2012 #75
Put the "building super" in jail if he doesn't put up the Ten Commandments placard, presumably Kolesar Nov 2012 #77
The regional bigotry and bashing in this thread is just heartwarmimg obamanut2012 Nov 2012 #84
all i see is a law requiring religious plaques on homeland security offices. where is HiPointDem Nov 2012 #100
This is why we have a Supreme Court! n/t savebigbird Nov 2012 #101
This isn't from the Onion? marmar Nov 2012 #103
Its becoming like Ya Basta Nov 2012 #110
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