NH - Tea Party idiots kill 4th graders harmless bill

[KevinM1]

First, it wasn't state bird. We already have one. It's the purple finch. It was for an as-yet unspecified state raptor.
Second, Groen's comment about Planned Parenthood was straight out of the Tea Party handbook, and since I live one town over I kinda know what his politics are all about. Dude is a Teaper through and through.
Third, this isn't "using kids in anything political" because naming a state raptor, of all things, shouldn't be considered partisan.

Ultimately, it was supposed to be a learning exercise that actually involved the kids in the political process. Given how few people vote, let alone are completely uninterested in politics at all, that's a worthwhile thing to strive for. And then a couple of humorless, and I can only assume dickless, politicians decided to grandstand for no real reason. I can sort of see Burt's issue with the appropriateness of it all, but there's already a precedent set for it, and the vote would take, what, a couple of minutes at most without the grandstanding? It's not like this would table some proposed legislation on anything actually important.

So if the whole thing is about teaching kids how the political process works, then what is the objection to their bill failing? That is part of the political process. In fact it's the majority of the political process. Most bills fail. It's like they are going to teach kids about politics but then coddle them and not actually teach them about politics. You know why I would probably vote against this bill, because some teacher decided it would be a good idea to bring a horde of 10 year olds to where I'm trying to work and do something serious. When was the last time you were around a mass of 10 year olds? It's obnoxious, loud and exactly what that guy said, a waste of time. Best thing to do is make sure the teachers don't do this year after year.

There is a way to vote against the bill tactfully and professionally. Groen certainly didn't exhibit any tact. Burt was borderline, IMO. I dunno...maybe I'm weird, but I try to not be a dick to kids. That doesn't mean I think everyone needs to cave in and give the kids what they want, but if they choose to explain why they voted against it, it can be done in a more constructive way than "your idea sucks and is a waste of time." Even if it is a shitty idea and a waste of time. Something as simple as "While I don't see a reason to vote for naming a state raptor at this time, I'd like to thank you for your interest in learning how the political process works." Boom, short, sweet, polite, and professional. The bare minimum of what the situation required.

Who cares about the planned parenthood comments, 10 year olds don't understand it anyway. What's egregious here is that dickhead 'reporters' then use it to make a partisan statement, that Republicans hate children of all things. That is exactly using children for political means, which is my objection to start with. Stop fucking using children to make a point, even one as nonsensical as this.

Fair enough. However, if you hate that, shouldn't you also hate Groen's grandstanding? I mean, he did take the opportunity to twist the thing into a tortured comparison to Planned Parenthood for no real reason other than to make a dig at something he didn't like.

I really don't give a shit that these people are essentially volunteers. They're public servants and representatives of the State's government. They should get called out for acting like dicks.