"Leave the mask. Take the cannoli." Clever.

[Not Heidi]

"Leave the mask...." The restaurant's billboard. Tried but failed to post an image.

See Jim G.'s thread re O'Connell's Pub:[link:https://democraticunderground.com/100215720898|]

There's O'Connell's in St. Louis, and then there's Basilico's, in my hometown.

PASTA, VINO, AND LIBERTY!

If you're vaccinated, you're not welcome. This restaurant's Facebook and Instagram pages make it clear: they mean to lead the charge to new depths in "destructive irrationality."*

The proprietor of Basilico's Pasta e Vino in Huntington Beach, California, has posted a message in the restaurant's window that reads:

NOTICE
PROOF OF BEING UNVACCINATED REQUIRED

WE HAVE ZERO TOLERANCE FOR TREASONOUS, ANTI-AMERICAN STUPIDITY. THANK YOU FOR PONDERING.

Ponder, indeed. 🤔

Basilico's owner, Tony Roman, states that he's not "anti-vaccine" but "pro-freedom, anti-tyranny."

I called the restaurant this evening to ask if it is true that they won't serve anyone who has been vaccinated against Covid-19. The gentleman I spoke to answered, "no." He asked where I'd "heard that." I told him that I'd been looking at their social media and have received the message loud and clear. He said (and this is as close to verbatim as I can get):

"No, we don't have any requirements like that, unlike a lot of other places in the United States" -- clearly referring to places such as O'Connell's Pub in St. Louis. I bit back some bitter snark and thanked him for his time. (I hope I was able to keep my tone neutral. Confrontation isn't my bag.)

If you were to call Basilico's, what would you say? Would you try to dine there? How do you imagine that would go?

Do you know of other businesses whose owners flaunt similar sociopathic/psychopathic idiocy?

[link:https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-07-26/huntington-beach-restaurant-wants-unvaccinated-diners|] Paywall, sorry. Hopefully some of you can read it.

* Paul Krugman: Climate Denial, Covid Denial and the Right’s Descent
Aug. 9, 2021
[link:http://nyti.ms/2U7Uxxb|]

Also see Chris Cuomo and Tony Roman on CNN last week:[link:

|]

[madaboutharry]

1. Ignorant know nothing with a big mouth.

One of the upsides of being a moron of this magnitude is that you are too stupid to know what a moron you are.

[gratuitous]

2. Does Basilico's bend the knee to the tyranny of the so-called "Health" Department?

Come on, Tony. You're not falling for that whole "safe food handling" scam foisted upon freedom-loving Americans by a bunch of eggheads at fancy-pants universities are you?

[Not Heidi]

10. 👍

[LuckyCharms]

3. Tony is a fucking dick. n/t

[BigmanPigman]

4. This dude looks like he is wanted by law enforcement or else hasn't slept

in several months. Not only is his physical appearance unhealthy but the way he responds makes zero sense. Even Cuomo had no idea what this nut is referring to. Huntington Beach is a RWNJ hot spot. They had protests against masks and it was so bad Newsom caved into their BS at the time. Orange County is another RWNJ location to avoid. These morons are 100% in love with the fucking moron. I wouldn't step foot into their county if you paid me.

[Not Heidi]

9. I'm in Orange County. CA's 48th.

We turned out Dana Rohrabacher in '18. Michelle Steel took back the seat last year, but Christ, she's not so beloved of Putin that she's considered "an intel source worthy of [her] own code name." (The Hill, 11/22/17)

They had protests against masks....

Yeah, I was at PCH & Main for a couple of those. We progressives who live here know our strength and value. We show up. The right doesn't go unchallenged here.

Orange County is another RWNJ location to avoid.

Maybe a thing to avoid would be blanket statements like this.

I wouldn't step foot into their county if you paid me.

No? Bummer.

[myccrider]

13. I'm in the OC, too.

It used to be ruby red but has been turning into a purple swing county in recent years. I’ve lived here for more than 65 years and have been a screaming liberal/lefty/progressive since I was around 14 years old. And I have many friends of like mind. The county has changed a lot in my lifetime. I expect it to change even more in the future...in a good way.

There are reactionaries in all places and there are progressives in all places. Please quit stereotyping like this. It doesn’t help.

[BigmanPigman]

14. Sorry about tjat.

[Maraya1969]

5. "Quite frankly you sound like an idiot"

[SergeStorms]

6. Trying to save his worthless life....

is tyranny.

OK, fuck you then. Die, dipshit.

[DBoon]

7. So he believes in freedom?

Am I free to walk into his restaurant, light up a stogie, and blow the smoke into his face?

[marie999]

8. How do you prove you have not been vaccinated?

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

11. Hold a piece of steel against your shoulder, then let it go.

If it falls to the ground, you're not magnetized, therefore not vaccinated.

Voila.

[SheilaAnn]

12. Bwahahahaha, geez the coffee almost left my hand on that one. Thank you. n/t