'Hell is real' billboard could cost Kentucky ($42 million a year) federal transportation fund

[kpete]

Source: Lexington Herald Leader

'Hell is real' billboard could cost Kentucky federal transportation fund

By John Cheves | The Lexington Herald-Leader

FRANKFORT — Kentucky risks losing $42 million a year in federal transportation funds if lawmakers approve a billboard deregulation bill aimed at saving a "Hell is real" sign along Interstate 65, according to federal officials.

The state House approved House Bill 536, sponsored by Rep. Johnny Bell, D-Glasgow, earlier this week, and the proposal has received one of three required readings in the Senate.

The bill would exempt non-commercial billboards — defined as those that don't advertise products or services — that are on private property from the state Transportation Cabinet's permitting process.

Bell has said he is defending a LaRue County billboard declaring "Hell is real," which stands across Interstate 65 from a billboard advertising an adult bookstore in Upton. A judge ruled the "Hell" billboard to be advertising and therefore subject to laws restricting its location and size. Bell said he disagreed with the judge.




Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/03/26/91117/hell-is-real-billboard-could-cost.html

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[Libertas1776]

1. Good

i hope they lose their federal funding. Fucking proselytizing wingnuts.

[Dulcinea]

39. I thought this was hell. eom

[Journeyman]

2. More money for the rest of us. . .

though this could result in Kentucky roadways being their own sort of "hell."

[Roland99]

10. Which, ironically, would probably hit the poorer, more rural, more conservative counties

as the larger counties, with more of tax base via population and businesses will continue maintaining county roads.

[Cha]

35. Hell on Earth..is what they're in.

[fascisthunter]

3. hell is real because they promote it

[NoSheep]

6. Ding!!!!!!

[Ernesto]

4. Mental Illness is alive and real

in Kentucky

[mike_c]

30. yep-- not just Kentucky, either....

The religious nutters are everywhere.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ohtransplant]

7. We have the same billboards in Ohio...

on I-71, SW of Columbus and I-70 west of Columbus.

[Roland99]

9. And you have the giant butter Jesus, too!

:)

[road2000]

11. But we have the Creation Museum in Kentucky! n/t

[proReality]

12. Oh, please...

...don't remind everyone.

[Roland99]

15. I never went there before I moved.

Moved to central FL last year. Nice seeing about a 90/10 split of Obama/Biden stickers over McCain/The Twit stickers.

[ohtransplant]

24. I've never been to the butter Jesus and don't know where it is...

but I also won't mention it to anyone 'cause someone might want to take me there!

[Roland99]

25. From what I remember it's up I-75 near Middletown maybe?

I know it's been Cinti and Dayton.

[Abq_Sarah]

42. I thought you were kidding

Until I googled that. :wow:

Personally, I liked the name "Touchdown Jesus".

[Roland99]

45. Never understimate the, um, artistic endeavors? of the Fund-A-Mental case.

[defendandprotect]

19. Did your state lose money as Kentucky is?

[KamaAina]

8. "sponsored by Rep. Johnny Bell, D-Glasgow"

With Dems like this, who needs repukes? :eyes:

[The Straight Story]

13. I think they should allow the billboard - I don't see it as advertising (nt)

[proReality]

14. It is an eyesore,

just like every billboard is. It needs to go so we--and everyone else--can actually see what a beautiful state this is.



Edited for all the hasty mistakes!

[jmowreader]

40. That part of Kentucky has no natural beauty, sorry

If the Hell is Real billboard were on I-75 around Berea, yes it would be an atrocity and a sin against nature's beauty. But Upton? That area's so boring you could install a nuclear reactor, a junkyard and a garbage dump right next to each other and only improve the scenery. IIRC there's a heavy-duty truck junkyard there; you look at it and think, "that's supposed to be there."

[kentauros]

16. I dare someone to put up a billboard extension on it,

with the letters "ITY" or "TY" :P

[Roland99]

17. I think this would be better....

"n o t" in front of real


:)

[kentauros]

20. I agree with that,

but I prefer things that make it funny or silly. It "defuses" things better ;)

[defendandprotect]

18. What ... no cross? If religion couldn't strike FEAR it would be out of business....

Meanwhile, does anyone remember how the fable goes ...

allegedly "Jesus" died for your sins -- your salvation is guaranteed!!

"Life is Eternal" is also something that should be given thought --

All the world's major religions used to teach Reincarnation!!!

The Bush's will be back, but maybe as women sitting on the floor of some dessert

somewhere swatting flies off their starving children?

How nuts is Kentucky?

Have they just succeeded in getting a lot of religious fanatics into office?

[Scairp]

38. Kentucky is not b/w

By any stretch. After all, they had slavery but never seceded from the Union. Kind of an independent frame of mind of live and let live. Sure, it's by and large fundamentalist, but they also have a history of electing Democrats for governor, so go figure. You cannot pigeonhole Kentuckians. I oughta know, I was born there, lived there for my much of my early childhood and spent a great deal of time there even after we moved to Ohio. In many ways I love Kentucky, but I also hate it too. I don't think I could ever live there now. I've become much too liberal in my adulthood.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

21. Religion is a "service."

A money from pocket transaction.

"Breed. Give. Breed. Give." :think:

[Manifestor_of_Light]

51. IOW, Every Sunday is Palm Sunday.

Got their palms out for $$$$$$$.


:banghead:

[brooklynite]

22. Can I be offended?

Apparently bus ads saying "God is not real" (or words to that effect) are the height of offense to true believers, who then demand the sign be taken down. As someone who doesn't believe in Hell, asserting that it does is terribly offensive to me.

[joeybee12]

23. DUPE!!!! n/t

[daleo]

26. Hell is real

If you want it to be.

[protocol rv]

27. I wonder, what they would say if the sign said Hell is not Real

I propose to fund a larger sign across the road which says "Baloney, Hell was invented to scare you"

[truedelphi]

28. Hell is REAL - ask any civilians that survive any of

The military actions of any armed forces.

Ask the people in Iraq, Afghanistan, Chechnia, areas of Africa where women are raped as a way to show the power of the conquerors.

Problem here in this nation is that so few think that Hell arrives after the demented actions of one's fellow man, while so many think Hell becomes apparent only in some dewey foggy after life state, where Jesus judges you and angels weep.

[MrSlayer]

29. The other side says "You are there now."

[golfguru]

31. All you have to get there is------>

drive like hell LOL

[depakid]

32. Cruised along 65 on the google map- but couldn't find the sign

Easy to find the "Lion's Den Adult Superstore," though.

:rofl:

[Demeter]

33. No Doubt Our Neighbors to the South Were Referring to Hell, Michigan

a real nice place to live!

http://www.hellmichigannews.com/

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/2456

[Oak2004]

37. I enjoyed my visits to Hell immensely

It's the one place civilization intrudes on the hiking trail I'd sometimes hike in the '80's when I lived in MI. It was a great place to pick up some junk food, refill canteens, and head back to the trail.

Ahhh, to be in Hell again, awash in the heat (of summer, of course). Kentucky is right: Hell, MI, is as real as it gets.

[Vidar]

46. Not me. I briefly got lost there. Horse Flies in Paradise, lost in Hell

[donco6]

34. Hell is Real - (You're Living HERE, aren't you?) n/t

[OnyxCollie]

36. Satan is real.

[Odin2005]

41. Hell is other people -Sartre

[jakefrep]

43. Send a bill to the church erecting the sign for $42 million

I'm sure they would have no problem soaking the members of the congregation for that.

[marshall]

48. What church is that?

I haven't found anything to indicate that an organized church is behind the sign.

[alfredo]

44. I 65 is hell. Just yesterday 11 people died south of that sign.

[lumberjack_jeff]

47. Someone should make some creative additions

"Here's proof that" above and "...Welcome to Kentucky" below.

[MisterP]

49. there's even a supposed recording of it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nryzFGx1QE

[boppers]

50. Free speech rights on private property vs. signage regulations vs. highway funds?

This could get pretty complex.