Frothy lefty bureaucrat suspended for trying to “shame” a gun owner/activist.
If this were in a Blue state, you’d expect that to be, perhaps, the beginning of a piece of quixotic litigation by wronged conservatives.
But it’s a Red state. Justice actually happened:
The executive director of the Alaska human rights [what else? – Ed] commission has been suspended for 15 working days without pay for complaining on social media about a “Black Rifles Matter” sticker she believed to be racist on a vehicle in the commission’s Anchorage parking lot.
Commission members voted 5-2 Friday to suspend Marti Buscaglia, effective Monday.
It’s worth noting that one of the dissenters thought the punishment was too lenient.
One thing you have to get down to paragraph five to find out – Buscaglia used her departments’ Facebook page for her “shaming”.
Buscaglia, a former newspaper publisher in Alaska and Minnesota, declined comment in an email to The Associated Press.
Last month, Buscaglia saw the sticker on Linegar’s vehicle and posted a photo of it on the commission’s Facebook page asking, “In what world is this OK?”
Linegar, who has a plumbing and heating business, has said the truck was his and that his company was doing repairs at the building that day. He has said that he understood the stickers to be about gun safety and “Second Amendment awareness.”
In his statement to the AP, Linegar said Buscaglia should never have made those comments on social media. “If she wanted to simply have a conversation with me, then a note to that effect could have been left on my windshield. Instead, she saw fit to write a different type of note, put my truck on Facebook on the State page …,” he said.
Of course, this is in a hard red state.
In Connecticut, California, or some parts of Minnesota, Linegar would have a SWAT team – figurative or literal – breaking down his door, figuratively or literally.
Did she make these comments in the guise of her position?
If not, how is her commentary not simply free speech? Given your penchant for wanting to protect free speech on the right (and I think generally), why aren’t you offended rather than applauding? I think that bumper sticker is pretty rude, too. She didn’t get into some sort of confrontation with the person, she just commented on her own page. Is FB not free speech?
As a business person, I would never put a political bumper ticker on any company vehicle. To be honest, were I the owner of that business (and Yes I understand this IS the owner who did it) I’d tell any employee to mind their p’s and q’s, their political opinions on their time is their business but not on company time. I have no interest in offending 35-40% of the populace by shoving my politics in their face when I’m providing service. I find it ironic that you would think a private comment (on social media) should invite governmental action. Where does that line stop, Mitch? Where do I, as a private citizen, governmental employee or not, have the right to assemble and speak?
Also, Mitch, let’s have a real conversation, ok? Saying in Minnesota there’d be a SWAT team kicking down doors is just fear mongering nonsense. I see pretty vile bumper stickers all over the place in the Twin Cities, no SWAT teams are rolling anyplace. You say you want to have a real discussion, then have it.
Of course, it COULD have been an advert for Black Rifle Coffee?
The Hate Speech Commissar has resigned.
https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/2019/04/09/alaska-human-rights-commission-director-resigns-over-rifle-sticker-complaint/
Looking at the photo accompanying the article, does it strike anybody else as odd that in a state stolen from indigenous peoples 100 years after the Civil War freed the slaves in the Old South, there are two Black members but no First Nations members on the Human Rights Commission? Seems to me proportional representation should render a different result.
There should be no conversation. There should have been summary dismissal from her position, followed by a 1983 action for deprivation of civil rights by a government official acting under color of law.
Notice that what she said on the official government website was NOT the actual message she left on her business card banning his vehicle from a public parking lot specifically because of his speech. That’s as blatant a form of government censorship as you can get.
https://mustreadalaska.com/human-rights-commission-director-was-regulating-hate-speech/
Seriously, Penigma,, did you do ANY research before commenting?
“Did she make these comments in the guise of her position?” Yes, posted on the official Human Rights website and on her official business card.
“If not . . .” but they were, so the rest of your comment is a STRAW MAN.
“I would never . . . ” fine, but your business model fits the bluest state in the nation – the only one to vote for Mondale. He’s entitled to have his business model fit his state without some government bureaucrat imposing her personal blue state opinions on it.
“I find it ironic that you would think a private comment (on social media) . . . ” but it wasn’t a private comment, it was written on an official government business card and posted on a website used for official government business, open for public viewing. There’s nothing private about her actions, this was government action all the way.
“Where do I, as a private citizen, governmental employee or not, have the right to assemble and speak?” On your own time, on your own website, on your own nickel, not using the power of your official position to impose your personal political beliefs on private citizens.
This isn’t that hard, Pen. Every public employee knows the rules. I suspect you’ve forgotten the rules exist because of the many Obama administration officials who broke them and the newest crop of Democrat candidates who wish to abandon them. I’m thrilled to see Alaska hasn’t.
If not, how is her commentary not simply free speech?
JD has dealt admirably with the Penigma eff-up, but I want to say that by posting her comment on Facebook, that woman wasn’t just expressing her opinion: she wanted to punish Linegar for having that bumper sticker. She put up the post on social media and hoped that the mob would then do what it does. Threats would follow. Doxing. A boycott. … hey, isn’t this the figurative SWAT team?
Uh…..
Can we talk about the obvious?
Marti Buscaglia is the executive director of the Alaska human rights commission, an organization whose mission it is to protect civil rights.
Is not owning a firearm a constitutionally protected civil right?
So what I am getting is this, the Alaska human rights commission, only protects certain human rights for certain humans. Why not have a human rights commission protect all human rights for all humans?
Is that too much to ask?
As Jeff Foxworthy used to say: Here’s your sign, Pen.
Sure, I’m going to believe you when you tell me that the comment “in what world is this OK?” is not designed to engender various forms of intolerance towards that person. And exactly how is it not wrong, as JD notes, to try to ban a citizen’s vehicle from a state-owned, public parking lot?
For that matter, given the horrific history of the 20th century, with tens of millions of disarmed people murdered by their governments, it’s pretty stupid, really, to argue with the notion that “black rifles matter.”
Penigma posted;dr
Teh Peevee whined: “Did she make these comments in the guise of her position?”
Coherent readers immediately noted she posted her smear on her official state Fedbook page; says so right where Mitch wrote it.
Now, we might be tempted to point and laugh at teh Peevee, but wait. Mitch also noted; “One thing you have to get down to paragraph five to find out…”. Teh Peevee specializes in writing 50 paragraph, incoherent, autistic screeds, but when reading, he can’t get past the first sentence before falling face forward on to the table.
But don’t be troubled, frens, we are all still justified in pointing and laughing at Teh Peevee, just because it’s fun.
A human rights commissioner who ignores due process.
It’s Orwell’s world, we just live in it.
Also, I’d be remiss not to comment on this: “Buscaglia, a former newspaper publisher in Alaska and Minnesota…”
Is there no land remote enough that we cannot be free of the overflow of degenerate detritus from leftist states?
Let’s look at some real data about the prevalence of hate crimes in the US, shall we?
Hate crimes prosecutions from January 2017 to present:
Racial Hate Crimes
Eight indictments and 14 convictions
Religious Hate Crimes
Eight indictments and seven convictions in cases involving arson or other physical attacks, or conspiracy or threats to commit such attacks against places of worship;
Seven indictments and five convictions in cases involving other hate crimes based on religion.
Sexual Orientation Hate Crimes
Six indictments and six convictions
Other (Gender Identity Hate Crimes)
One sentence;
One indictment, one conviction in state court with a federal prosecutor cross-designated as a state prosecutor.
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-update-hate-crimes-prosecutions
That is 21 convictions in a nation with a population of 325 million people.
The money spent on “human rights commissions” would obviously be better spent elsewhere.
Joe, the details indicate she commented on the commissions FB page, which is clearly wrong but what she said was not exactly ‘over the top.” Still, honestly, I did not note/see that she had done so using a governmental resource. I COMPLETELY agree she should have been disciplined, as I expect, would anyone else, left or right. you can’t use your governmental position to advance your political agenda (by means of retaliation). By the same token, Joe, do you feel it’s right to dismiss US Attorneys who won’t pursue vote-fraud charges when the evidence isn’t sufficient (as was done under W)? The point is, policy should be driven by standards, not act as or be used as political platform. So, yes, Joe, she got what she deserved.
You say you want to have a real discussion, then have it.
A conversation would require you to stick around after posting your factually-light comments. I recommend you start with acknowledging you jumped the gun (pun intended) in condemning the actions of the commission in suspending Buscaglia. Further, maybe admit that a remedial course on reading comprehension might be to your benefit.
By the way, your continued silence on retracting your hasty comments excoriating Mitch and the commission is DEAFENING.
Swiftee said, “But don’t be troubled, frens….”
Yeah Swiftee, your writing is hopelessly (or hopeless) beyond me, I mean, spelling the word frens (sic) is certainly a challenge.
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, I skim a LOT of Mitch’s stuff because, like here, it’s sophistry. Mitch INVENTS that this would only happen in Alaska, that’s BS, he does it because it helps stoke the idea that you all should demean/devalue your fellow citizens who hold alternate views because they’d “strip you of your rights” or intimidate you so you should feel justified in hating them and you all go and prove that he’s write to do so by simply attacking rather than really engaging in any sort of discourse on what should be allowed as social commentary (away from your job) or what is acceptable commentary from a public official in their official capacity. Kudos to you, no, it’s not ironic at all that you’re admonishing me for comprehension. You so clearly grasped the higher level point. Nope not at all ironic. Not.at.all. You certainly don’t appear to be a bunch of peevish little crowd-followers piling onto an insult rant. I mean, there aren’t any of you who do that sort of thing, nahhh…
If you really believe that people operate solely from their political views, then that’s pretty sad. I don’t and I suspect the majority of you don’t either.
I missed the comment about the commission’s page, my bad, no excuse, what’s yours?
J. Ewing;
Black Rifle Coffee is some good stuff.
Jarhead Java is good, too!
Both companies owned by and employ veterans.
A rare re-engagement from Penigma?
This last post by him/her is rich coming from the side that’s easily triggered by a certain red hat.
Mitch INVENTS that this would only happen in Alaska, that’s BS, he does it because it helps stoke the idea that you all should demean/devalue your fellow citizens who hold alternate views because they’d “strip you of your rights” or intimidate you so you should feel justified in hating them and you all go and prove that he’s write to do so by simply attacking rather than really engaging in any sort of discourse on what should be allowed as social commentary (away from your job) or what is acceptable commentary from a public official in their official capacity.
I’m sure this one single sentence sounded completely awesome before it was written out. Write?
not just an innocuous comment on Facebook. She wrote on the back of her official government card, and Instructed him not to use a government parking lot while he was displaying his bumper sticker on his vehicle. The photos are in the linked article in my comment. And, this is not just a slip, hers is an egregious abuse of official government power. It’s not sanctioned, it’s not discretionary, she has no right or authority to do it. That’s completely different from prosecutorial discretion, and completely different from appointment at will. You’re flat-out wrong on this one in every respect. Stop commenting, you Are just digging the hole deeper.
Aside from the squabble with Pen, did anyone think that maybe the dude put the sticker on his truck in order to garner support (in the form of jobs) from folks who don’t mind/possibly support his viewpoint? Think of the demographic in which he resides. **Generalized guessing to follow** I am sure most people are indifferent to the sticker’s message= jobs won. A few really and actively support it= jobs won. A few really dislike the message (as the gov official did)=job lost. Sounds like an effective way to screen burdensome clients to me. Free markets for the win.
Pen, the simple fact is that, contrary to your claims, the now former commissionerette has attested to the severity of what she did by resigning. You can claim that it’s “not that bad” because she wrote what she did instead of saying “go out and kill this ()*&(*&)”, sure, but she’s admitted that what she did was way out of line.
Why do you guys continue to entertain Penigma? Its like arguing with a brick wall. What will it take for you all to go tell him to fuck himself like I already have?
POD, it’s really for others who might be misled by Pen. The odds of that individual cluing in are, yes, low, but for the sake of those who aren’t familiar with that genre…
BB fair points. I didnt think of it that way.
Besides that PoD, it’s fun and good practice to demolish lefty arguments. 😉
JDM,
I prefer back and forth, thats why, even though I find him annoying, I love engaging with Emery/EI. I like debate, not just destroying arguments. Probably has something to do with me growing up in a split household (Dad was a conservative-libertarian, Mom is a JFK “blue dog” Democrat)
POD
penigma is a treasured resource – he’s like having a Domino’s pizza in the neighborhood – whenever you get that hankering for low-information leftist talking points, Penigma delivers.
It’s one thing when the blow-dried weatherman cheerfully assures the morning news anchors that April blizzards are the New Normal because of Global Warming. He’s just a religious fanatic, like the people who believe the Mothership is coming to get them in 12 years. My response to all of them is: roll eyes, move on.
It’s another thing when the Leftist leaves his own website and comes here to deliver a lecture on his lofty principles, and to sneer at our failure to adhere to our own principles, without bothering to learn a single thing about the facts of the case – even to the extent of ignoring links to articles in other comments. In that case, a responsible adult has an obligation to rub the Leftist’s nose in his poop, same as you’d train a puppy not to make a mess in your house. I don’t care if he poops outside, but he needs to learn to make the mess somewhere else.
Actually, I think it’s loneliness, JD. One comment in the past 6 months on his site vs a lively and daily exchange of ideas, humor, and just-plain-fun here.
Speaking of just plain fun, sometime soon should be a get together at Keegan’s or somewhere, don’t y’all think?
Teh Little Peevee bleated:
“Aeqiwnwefn;awodiv. Oinqqoie!!! Asoinwna;ivpoadsn
oidno;ewinf;oeicaidcawekl? Weoitqnwe;oincq;i (sic). Jasupwenga. Vaepoinaenasoij csoaineavpo. oia. aosinaiwaAnaonfsoaic, woinewqfoiacnawe. Caoineaicae. winwqoicneaoidcfv, onwnid. Nauvnaiear anisdfn aoinea nicenan casoidcne, (aosincenavjs;fion). Woincaenfu. woiciqant, owntoaisdcne. caoeanti. wponcaidntasdkn aoine aoincaoeifnc. coanetiawern;alsdv! oaisd. Deantn owniv oasernc (onw) fawowienc, wonatincawe.”
Oh, ok then. That’s different.
Sounds like fun, BB. Let me know when the snow melts.
Snow melts?
BB,
Agreed, it used to be a biannual thing but its been 3-4 years at least since the last MOB gathering. Probably because its dead but we should start a new tradition.
Swiftiee did you have a seizure on you 2nd to last post?
Oh, by the way, I was going to say early on that compared to (the majority of voters in) MN, AK is indeed red, but they elected Lisa Murkowski as a Republican, not just once but multiple times. That red has a dark and evil tint to it.