Legalectric

Yes, it’s just wrong. After seeing so much misinformation, a concerted disinformation campaign of lies surrounding the refugee resettlement issue and Executive Order 13888, I don’t understand why more accounts haven’t been removed or suspended. But it seems that twitter is going to take some action:

Members of the House Are on Notice: No Tweeting Deepfakes

I wish it extended further than “deepfakes,” and I wish facebook would get on this and take action against lies, though as a policy facebook has endorsed lying.

I just don’t get it. How do people justify these lies, lies, hate, and fear-mongering which are intentionally used to whip people into a furor, in the case of refugee resettlement in Goodhue County, to the extent of a credible threat? The County locked the doors, all except one, and we had to enter through a metal detector and run the gauntlet of several deputies at the entrance and more at in the County Board meeting room. Lying is a moral and ethical issue, and to the extent there’s reckless disregard for truth or falsity and/or actual malice, it’s a legal problem even when against a public figure. In Minnesota, defamation can also be a crime:

609.765 CRIMINAL DEFAMATION.

The County Board did the right thing, and thankfully did not bow to the intense campaign against refugee resettlement.

Goodhue County was not the only County to be victim to this disinformation campaign:

Minnesota’s Pope County, in Trump Country, votes unanimously to welcome refugees

And a PRIEST spouting hate:

Rice County priest apologizes for criticizing Islam in sermon

He said:

“Both as Americans and as Christians we do not need to pretend that everyone who seeks to enter America needs to be treated the same,” he said. “I believe it is essential to consider the religion and worldview of the immigrants or refugees. More specifically, we should not be allowing large numbers of Muslims [seeking] asylum or immigration into our country. Islam is the greatest threat in the world both to Christianity and to America.”

“We made it up”: Ex-Infowars editor says he published lies about Muslim community to spread hate

How do we hold people accountable for these inciteful lies? Apologize? No, that’s not enough. That priest needs to be defrocked — this is NOT Christianity! What about threats to County Board? Is there an ongoing investigation into the threats made to the County? Speaking of inciteful lies, what does it say about the Republican party in CD2 if Phil Parrish, who pridefully broadcasts screeds of hate, and in particular against A.G. Keith Ellison and Rep. Ilhan Omar, and Islam generally, is regarded as fit to be a Congressional candidate? Well, the good news is that as of February 1, 2020, he has suspended his campaign and scrubbed his site. Looks to me like there’s some accountability happening. Now, where are the criminal charges based on the Goodhue County threat?

Fallout Shelter, Mike and Bernie Winters (1961)

Here’s the latest addition to the Muslim/travel ban, added this time by “Proclamation” and not an Executive Order:

Proclamation on Improving Enhanced Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry

Nutshell version, from National Law Review:

… this new travel ban prevents certain citizens of Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar (Burma), Nigeria, Sudan, and Tanzania pursuing immigrant visas (‘green cards”) from entering the United States. Only Diversity Visa immigrants from Sudan and Tanzania face restrictions, but all other immigrants (employment-based, family-based, Diversity Visa-based immigrants) face restrictions on their entry to the U.S. as a result of this proclamation. Also, there is an exception for all of these countries for Special Immigrant visa applicants who have provided assistance to the U.S. government.

This certainly is keeping attorneys busy suing over and over and over and over and over…

The Public Utilities Commission has eFiled its Briefing Papers regarding Association of Freeborn County Landowners’ Petition for an Environmental Assessment Worksheet:

There were some bizarre notions expressed. Here’s one:

Over 380 signatures were submitted by Association of Freeborn County Landowners, and yet THIS?!?!

So today, on behalf of Association of Freeborn County Landowners, I eFiled a review of those Staff Briefing Papers:

Bottom line:

Come on out for the show:

Public Utilities Commission

February 6, 2020 @ 9:30 a.m.

121 – 7th Place East, Suite 350

St. Paul, MN 55101

Here’s the bill everyone’s talking about:

Comments? It’s important to let them know what you think. Here’s the contact info for the Senate Energy Committee (LINKED HERE).

In last week’s Rochester Post Bulletin, about the Senate Energy and Utilities Finance and Policy Committee meeting in Rochester:

Senators take heat on waste-burning energy

• John Molseed jmolseed@postbulletin.com
• Jan 15, 2020