Prediction: If Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reporters are required to file extensive reports every time Denny Altes or another wingnut Republican threatens to file an idiotic piece of legislation, they are going to find themselves short of sufficient hours in the day.

Take today: about 40 column inches on a patently unconstitutional idea that Altes may or may not pursue to require federal law enforcement officers to obtain prior approval from local sheriffs before making criminal arrests in their counties.

Pay wall. But you hardly need to bother. This is vintage Denny nonsense. DBI, the floor is open.

The extremists' views have been repudiated by Democrats and Republicans alike. But the Republicans have not demanded their money back from the candidates nor have they withdrawn electoral endorsements of any of the three. Sen. Davy Carter's endorsement of Fuqua's Democratic opponent James McLean in Batesville has been a lonely Republican action worthy in response to what the trio stands for. I suspect support for the Trio is wider than you might care to believe among base voters and thus Republicans dare not give too much offense by standing up more bravely against warm words for slavery, religious bigotry and the rest of their nuttiness. Mauch's support of a neo-Confederate group that has endorsed secession would get far too many amens, I fear.

Still, the shape of the story is clear enough. But then I read in the DOG a comment from Phillip Finch, the chair of the Independence County Republican Party, one of Charlie Fuqua's backers. Rather than avoid comment, like the cowardly leader of the Craighhead Republican Party, which supports Jon Hubbard, Finch said:

“The county party is distressed. We all think highly of Charlie ... we realize it is a provocative book. Would we agree with everything he said? No. But Charlie wrote a book on some important topics that our country needs to deal with and he wrote it with a Biblical view.”

So there's nothing to do but provide more this morning from Charlie Fuqua's hit book:

We must require all parents to support their children. Any parent that does not support his or her children should be sterilized so that they cannot produce more children that they do not support. Any parent that has his or her parental rights terminated by a court because they have abused or neglected their children should be sterilized ...

Docs could set up profitable referral desks at the county courthouse if sterilization became required for failure to pay child support. At least Fuqua doesn't call for capital punishment, as he did for rebellious children.

Remember former Republican legislator Charlie Fuqua, running again for legislature with financial support from the Arkansas Republican Party and U.S. Reps. Tim Griffin and Steve Womack, among others? We've mentioned some excerpts from his book, "God's Law: The Only Political Solution."

I have more for you today. To save space, I've omitted the Biblical citation for Fuqua's endorsement of the death penalty for rebellious children. Fuqua doesn't think execution would have to be used often on children who defied their parents, but suggests the deterrent effect of its legality would be beneficial. Verbatim, from the writing of Charlie Fuqua, a former lawyer for the Arkansas Department of Human Services:

The maintenance of civil order in society rests on the foundation of family discipline. Therefore, a child who disrespects his parents must be permanently removed from society in a way that gives an example to all other children of the importance of respect for parents. The death penalty for rebellioius children is not something to be taken lightly. The guidelines for administering the death penalty to rebellious children are given in Deut 21:18-21:

…

This passage does not give parents blanket authority to kill their children. They must follow the proper procedure in order to have the death penalty executed against their children. I cannot think of one instance in the Scripture where parents had their child put to death. Why is this so? Other than the love Christ has for us, there is no greater love then [sic] that of a parent for their child. The last people who would want to see a child put to death would be the parents of the child. Even so, the Scrpture provides a safe guard to protect children from parents who would wrongly exercise the death penalty against them. Parents are required to bring their children to the gate of the city. The gate of the city was the place where the elders of the city met and made judicial pronouncements. In other words, the parents were required to take their children to a court of law and lay out their case before the proper judicial authority, and let the judicial authority determine if the child should be put to death. I know of many cases of rebellious children, however, I cannot think of one case where I believe that a parent had given up on their child to the point that they would have taken their child to a court of law and asked the court to rule that the child be put to death. Even though this procedure would rarely be used, if it were the law of land, it would give parents authority. Children would know that their parents had authority and it would be a tremendous incentive for children to give proper respect to their parents.

To date, Congressman Griffin and Republican Party Chair Doyle Webb have criticized some of the things Fuqua has said. Womack has said nothing. But no party official has demanded money back or urged Fuqua to withdraw from the race. Majority control of the legislature is far too important for Republicans to abandon a candidate, no matter how extreme. Which tells you a little something about Republican majority governance.

Still waiting for Republican leadership, too, on the question of endorsement of sitting Republican Rep. Loy Mauch of Bismarck, who we've quoted repeatedly in defense of slavery and harshly critical of GOP patron saint Abraham Lincoln. Mauch scorns Lincoln as a Nazi and Marxist. The Republican representative is a follower of the neo-Confederate League of the South.

Republican officials also haven't pulled endorsements and financial support for slavery apologist Republican Rep. Jon Hubbard of Jonesboro.

UPDATE: Columnist John Brummett asked U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin if he'd like to add Loy Mauch to his list of regretted campaign contributions (to be distinguished from withdrawal of party endorsement). He got this response (pay wall; apparently it isn't pay feature):

The congressman wrote back, “I read a sample of Rep. Mauch’s statements, and they range from outrageous to historically inaccurate and anachronistic to downright odd. As we all know, both parties have folks that say ridiculous things, but I would not have financially supported Mauch had I known about these statements. And yes I am requesting that he give the money to charity.”

Note the weasel words "financially supported." Griffin presumably would vote for Mauch over Jesus, were Jesus to run in the party to which his philosophy is most naturally inclined these days, the Democrats. Of course, as Mauch tells us, Jesus condoned slavery, too.

UPDATE II: U.S. Rep. Steve Womack's staff, which normally ignores requests for information from the Arkansas Times, hastened to volunteer that they HAD made a statement about Hubbard and Fuqua, but not Mauch:

I am disheartened by Jon Hubbard and Charlie Fuqua's recent statements and do not support or agree with their views. Offering donations to their campaigns—and to all other Republican candidates seeking office in the Arkansas Legislature this fall—should not suggest otherwise.

In light of their new agreeability I've asked two followups: 1) what about Loy Mauch? and 2) does the congressman urge votes for these candidates despite their pronouncements? A campaign spokesman responded to Question 1, but not Question 2 (which is an answer in itself):

The congressman does not support the comments made by Mr. Mauch in the least.

UPDATE III: Congressmen Griffin and Womack, this is the more appropriate statement, Twittered this morning by Republican Sen. Davy Carter:

I am proud to endorse Rep. James McLean for State Rep. Dist. #63. It has been an honor to work with James the past four years, and I look...

McLean is Fuqua's Democratic opponent. Carter would earn Hall of Fame status if he endorsed Harold Copenhaver, who's opposing Hubbard, or David Kizzia, who's opposing Mauch. Neither of them are legislative colleagues, but a stump would be better in either case.

UPDATE IV: When I did my rundown early Saturday morning of Republican Party contributions to extremist candidates, Fuqua had not filed his latest campaign report. It came on-line yesterday. Add as financial supporters:

* House Republican Leadership PAC — $2,000.

* Independence County Republican Party — $500

* Michelle and former Republican legislator Jim Bob Duggar — $250. (Fine thing for the reality TV family show stars).

Does Republican Rep. Terry Rice really want to be House speaker bad enough that he'll send $2,000, the maximum, to a total nut rather than let a proven, conservative Democrat hold the seat?

• THE PROBLEM'S NOT ME: So says Rep. Jon Hubbard. It's those left-wing liberal bloggers.

First, from former Republican Rep. Charlie Fuqua, running again for the House from Batesville, who we noted has a book in which, among others, he calls for expulsion of all Muslims from U.S. and execution of repeat criminal offenders and says U.S. monetary policy is contrary to the Bible. He was quoted here:

"I think my views are fairly well-accepted by most people," Fuqua said before hanging up, saying he was busy knocking on voters' doors.

Alas, he's right, certainly insofar as the Republican base is concerned. Witness party officials refusal to withdraw endorsements and financial support from him or from Rep. Jon Hubbard of Jonesboro or Rep. Loy Mauch of Bismarck, both slavery apologists.

Hubbard issued a statement late yesterday to KAIT-TV in Jonesboro. He said he's been taken out of context by "left-wing liberal bloggers." The statement said, in part:

Obama-Pelosi-Beebe Democrats, led by left-wing bloggers, have attacked me over a book I wrote in 2008. They attacked me because I’m a conservative, and they’ve taken small portions of my book out of context, and distorted what was said to make it appear that I am racist, which is totally and completely false. These liberals offer no positive plans for dealing with the issues which are of major concern to the people of our state, and all they can do is to launch these negative attacks on those of us who do have legitimate and workable solutions to these problems. The one thing that scares the life out of them is losing their political stronghold they have had on our state for the last 138 years, and this is what keeps them awake at night. They will do anything to steer the conversation away from the real issues, and that is why they try to make me and other conservatives spend our time defending ourselves against their false accusations, instead of addressing these real issues the people of this state desperately want answers or solutions for.

I didn't call Hubbard a racist. But I have noticed his pungent remarks over the years on immigration (he's on an unending tear against the UA, for example, for allowing a program on campus about the plight of undocumented students) and about black people and slavery. Integration has brought down white folks, slavery was a blessing in disguise, etc. As he says, it's all in his book. The fuller context doesn't mitigate Hubbard's extremism in my view or, apparently, the views of several Republicans who've distanced themselves from the quotes — if not from Hubbard the candidate. But if you want to buy it and decide for yourself, it's on Amazon.

No defense heard yet from Republican Rep. Lloyd Mauch of Bismarck, who's written for years in defense of slavery, saying, among others, the practice was condoned by Jesus and must be OK because none of the Gospels weighed in against it. He's also repeatedly rapped Abraham Lincoln, spiritual father of the Republican Party, as a Nazi and Marxist.

In an earlier post on extremist Republicans (repetitive, I know), I mentioned I was planning to peruse House Republican candidate Charlie Fuqua's book, "God's Law: The only Political Solution."

Now that Lindsey has done a quick scan, I think some excerpts he found deserve a blog post of their own.

STARVE 'EM

The minimum wage should be set at zero. It is simply a lie that raising the minimum wage helps people at the low end of the pay scale.

KILL 'EM

We cannot continue to sustain the percentage of our population that is in prison. No prison term should be longer than two years. Prison should be unpleasant and rehabilitative. Anyone that cannot be rehabilitated in two years should be executed. [emphasis supplied]

PRAY

Education is inherently religious activity. Some religion will be taught in schools. Because God has been banned from public schools by our court system, the religion taught in public schools is secularism. If we decide to continue to fund education with public funds, the only way to have an educational system that gives parents the freedom to have their children taught the religion they desire is to have a voucher system that enables the parents to select the school the parents desire.

THROW THE MUSLIMS OUT

I see no solution to the Muslim problem short of expelling all followers of the religion from the United States.

Also recommended: Fuqua's Q&A with himself as part of the "media kit" for his book. In it, he explains why today's money system violates two of the Ten Commandments: against stealing and false witness. You'll have to read it.

BTW: Fuqua is a fruitcake of long standing. When he served as a Republican representative from Springdale, even Republicans didn't have much good to say about him. He made the Dem-Gaz's worst legislators list. Republicans were quoted as saying Fuqua was an embarrassment. Gov. Mike Huckabee said at the time: "I will say that we had some difficulty with only one Republican, that being Charlie Fuqua..."

CORRECTION: Fuqua's Democratic opponent, James McLean, is no liberal. The Koch billionaires have even praised his vote against Obamacare. But they'd be happy to see Fuqua win. Why? An automatic vote is an automatic vote, nutcake or not. The Republican Party has completed transition to automaton Koch-run Tea Party. The remaining few sane, if they dared depart from the company line, know they'd be expelled quicker than Fuqua would boot a Muslim by a Koch-backed nutcake in a primary.

Again: I know I risk this item being printed and distributed in a Koch flyer to the delusional who think Charlie just might be onto something. But when they come for me, I don't want to say I'm sorry I didn't speak sooner.

• SLAVERY HAD ITS PLUSES: Republican Rep. Jon Hubbard.

There's also Rep. Jon Hubbard of Jonesboro, famously unhinged, who's put some of his choicest thoughts on paper in a book available on Amazon, “Letters to the Editor: Confessions of a Frustrated Conservative.” I'd heard a lot about this book and was talking to Lindsey Millar this morning about ordering a copy. But Michael Cook at Talk Business has already written about some choice excerpts. I confess that publicizing thoughts such as these might only serve to encourage the Republican voter base. But the truth will set someone free. Excerpts selected by Cook and others:

Slavery was good for black people:

“… the institution of slavery that the black race has long believed to be an abomination upon its people may actually have been a blessing in disguise. The blacks who could endure those conditions and circumstances would someday be rewarded with citizenship in the greatest nation ever established upon the face of the Earth.” (Pages 183-89)

If you think slavery was bad, you should have seen Africa:

African Americans must “understand that even while in the throes of slavery, their lives as Americans are likely much better than they ever would have enjoyed living in sub-Saharan Africa.”

“Knowing what we know today about life on the African continent, would an existence spent in slavery have been any crueler than a life spent in sub-Saharan Africa?” (Pages 93 and 189)

Black people are ignorant:

“Wouldn’t life for blacks in America today be more enjoyable and successful if they would only learn to appreciate the value of a good education?” (Page 184)

Integration was bad for white people

“… one of the stated purposes of school integration was to bring black students up to a level close to that of white students. But, to the great disappointment of everyone, the results of this theory worked exactly in reverse of its intended purpose, and instead of black students rising to the educational levels previously attained by white students, the white students dropped to the level of black students. To make matters worse the lack of discipline and ambition of black students soon became shared by their white classmates, and our educational system has been in a steady decline ever since.” (Page 27)

It's basically hopeless.

“… will it ever become possible for black people in the United States of America to firmly establish themselves as inclusive and contributing members of society within this country?” (Page 187)

Immigration is bad.

..the immigration issue, both legal and illegal... will lead to planned wars or extermination. Although now this seems to be barbaric and uncivilized, it will at some point become as necessary as eating and breathing." (Page 9)

Don't forget Nazi Germany.

"American Christians are assuming a similar stance as did the citizens of Germany during Hitler's rise to power." (Page 158)

Any wonder why the Arkansas Republican Party endorses mass mailings that emphasize the evil being done to America by black men, particularly the one in the White House or one dressed up like a doctor? FYI: Hubbard has a great Democratic opponent, church stalwart businessman Harold Copenhaver of Jonesboro.

• FUQUA'S WAY: Another weird Republican, Charles Fuqua.

I'll have some book excerpts shortly, but this is from his own website:

Q. Do believe that the law of the U.S. is inconsistent with the principles stated in the Ten commandments?

A. Abortion, failing to use the death penalty, Socialism, graduated income tax, and our entire economic system is in violation of God’s law.

Again. This might be a winning ticket. But here I stand. I can do no other than report it.

UPDATE: I have some excerpts from Fuqua to add, but they're deserving of their own special attention. Evict all Muslims from the U.S.; monetary policy violates the Ten Commandments, etc. Check it out here.