17 Comments

The Republicans will keep doing stuff like this so long as they face no electoral consequences for their blackmail/threats. So far, sadly, they have not.

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Sorry you’ve been subjected to abuse on social media Judd. I know it can be tough but I hope you consider it a sign that what you’re doing makes a difference. If you weren’t doing good, they wouldn’t be angry with you.

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This mess, like most GOP-induced politics, is spiraling out of control. Chapek has muddied the waters to such an extent it is unlikely he can ever regain the respect he needs to continue as CEO. Many of us believe he should go. The creation of a special enterprise zone ("Reedy Creek") is emblematic of inappropriate corporate political influence in this country and should be brought to a screeching halt. When will corporations learn the difference between earning legitimate profit versus unmitigated greed? If Disney can extricate themselves from this preferential treatment they stand a chance of regaining their independence -- and their powerful voice. True, shareholder profits may suffer in the short run, but ultimately everybody benefits -- except the politicians of course, but everybody knows they have already sold their souls to the Devil.

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In Banks' case, I wonder whether this is purely performative i.e. an empty threat. Either way, it's reprehensible, as are the proposed actions of Florida Republicans.

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So much to unpack in this cluster. 1) Online harassment means you’ve hit a nerve and are prominent enough for it to matter. 2) Where are all the Florida parents who object to the PRE legislation? The group with the largest stake in Florida schools isn’t speaking, or at least they aren’t getting any attention. Why? 3) Corporations have many of the legal rights that individuals have, including the right to free speech. They aren’t inciting violence or encouraging secession, so are Rs just trying to stay in the news? 4) I wonder if the internal Chapek email that leaked was done in the hopes of hurting or helping DeSantis and PRE? With the Disney history, it’s not hard to imagine an internal desire among a segment of employees/execs to be more Walt than Bob Iger. 5) It’s very common for corporations to receive huge incentives when they bring huge economic impact to a community. I don’t have data, but I assume Disney deserves most of the credit for building “Orlando” into what it is today. Does Florida need Disney more than Disney needs Florida? 6) All of the public threats of retribution against Disney likely won’t hold up. Surely DeSantis et al know that. Holy Fox sound bites.

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I am heartbroken, dismayed, and deeply concerned by the agendas of conservative rightwing politicians against the LGBTQ population. How soon will it be before I add fearful for my life?

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Punishing companies who oppose their political agenda, which is what Republicans are threatening to do to Disney, is the essence of totalitarianism. This is what the Republican Party is doing on both the state and national level whenever it gets pushback to its increasingly totalitarian impulses. This is a major story that should worry all Americans who believe in a free and fair society, but it is receiving scant attention from the mainstream media. We continue to let a small group of domestic terrorists, primarily in Red States, strip Americans of their rights. We've seen the movie before and it does not end well. Will Americans wake up and push these domestic terrorists out of office before it is took late? So far, it does not appear so.

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They're so blatant in their misuse of power. I wish reasonable people had half their confidence!

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Once again, you present a clear explanation of current conflicts in the news. This helps me keep my balance so much! Thank you.

Going forward, I have some fun imagining what would happen if Disney were to shed its conservative tendencies and got creative responding to these threats. Could Mickey Mouse be repurposed as a superhero? Could he protect his diverse friends from bullies, or better yet, teach his friends to laugh at those ridiculous bullies? And what about Mickey against the gun lobby - which when you think about it, is probably far more responsible for children's anxiety than wondering about why their classmate has two mommies. I suppose that if Mickey's copyright truly does expire in a couple of years, artists will take over if Disney fails to step up.

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A wise old editor once told me "If you don't piss off the politicians you aren't doing your job."

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It's been said a million times but these people don't care about kids at all. The right is the party of pedophilia and sexual assaulters. It's been proven time and time again. The latest example being John Rose from Tennessee who groomed a child and then married her when she turned 18. She depended on him for lots of things including financial stability and then he married her. A sick and disgusting situation and could you have guessed he's a republican? He undoubtedly cheated and made it so she would get the scholarships and other assistance as he sat on the board of the college she attended. But R's don't care because it's two religious people who pumped out babies that they will raise to be members of the far right cult that is known as republicans. They're only interested in grooming and indoctrinating more children to their side so they can get more votes.

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I'm not on Twitter or Facebook, so I haven't seen any attacks against you. But if you're being attacked by RWNJ, then you're telling truth and on the right side of history. Today's Strom Thurmond-GOP wants lemmings who go along, including with anti-democracy and fascism. It's scary to think of what can happen this election year, if GOP gains Senate and/or House.

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It is a colossal mistake on the idiot governor’s part to poke the Disney giant. Disney is the Orlando area’s largest employer. It is currently the most popular destination IN THE WORLD.

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Disney should "vote with its feet." Pack up the entire Florida Disney World operation and move it some place its positive economic impact and political leverage might be appreciated. Suggestions: West Virginia, Utah, South Dakota, Arkansas.

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The GOP have no economic policies that benefit American voters, so they resort to emotional issues, stirring up their base to get votes, while they take kickbacks from corporations.

However, INSANE DESANTIS has upset this applecart. I would not be surprised to see many other Florida corporations back off on investment there, and withhold donations to the Republicans. This whole DeSantis idiocy is going to backfire badly.

#MangoWanker #Turdking #Mobster #Traitor

#GOPTraitorsToDemocracy

#MurdochWanker

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