Do the Hucklebuck

If you can, democracy's outta luck:

“Make a list… Call them and ask them, ‘Are you going to vote on Issue 2 and are you going to vote for it?’ If they say no, well, you just make sure that they don’t go vote. Let the air out of their tires on election day. Tell them the election has been moved to a different date. That’s up to you how you creatively get the job done.”

Well, isn't THAT so adorable. Mike Huckabee, a man who ran for the White House in 2008, suggesting that people trick or sabotage other people into not voting. That's a great sign, fersure.

"Issue 2" is evidently one of those Scott-Walkeresque pieces of legislation which trashes the right of public workers for collective bargaining - because, you know, public workers are SO overpaid and have such unbelievably wonderful jobs and after all who needs unions anymore, other than baseball players?

And, as usual in America v 6.0, after thirty-some-odd years of budget cutbacks and ever-dwindling spending, this is justified on grounds that "we just don't have the money". Well, shit, isn't that nice - Huckabee, proud member of the GOP, who have never seen a tax cut for the wealthy that they weren't willing to sign on to, is looking to screw over public employees on the grounds that the state just doesn't have enough money anymore.

And, of course, the ding-dongs in the audience just have to weigh in on the issues:

Huckabee’s message resonated with Sandra Tugrul of Lebanon, who agrees that budget cuts are necessary.

“We have to find a way to balance the budget in Ohio and the only way to do that is to cut costs,” she said. “The policemen and firemen are important, but there’s a point where we have to tighten our belts.”

Oh, my GOD, yes, we must have our priorities! We must keep what is truly "important" in mind! Police? Firefighters? Meh, sure, they're nice to have, but we're in a budget crisis here!

Mind you, Topeka has already legalized spousal abuse (which they may have gone back on, but, still...) so why not just a few dollars by legalizing crime in Ohio? Hell, legalize arson - that'd save on BOTH police AND firefighters! Whee! I just fixed Ohio's budget, I am so smart, I am so smart, S-M-R-T smart!

Huckabee’s folksy appeal held clout with many supporters, like Michelle Seigel of Mason, who says she’s a member of the Mason Tea Party and fears public employee layoffs in the event of an overturn of SB 5.

“He was amazing,” she said. “I feel I need to do more. I need to make some calls.”

Oh, fuck, THAT's what we need to be basing our public policy around, "folksy appeal". Yeah. That's such a strong basis for politics. "Who you'd like to have a beer with". Yep. Worked out so goddamn well last time, didn't it?

One hopes, though, Ms. Seigel is NOT going to be making those calls to see whose tires need to be let down.