Temper, Temper

A Democratic Congressman feels the heat, shows off his wrist lock and side hold.

Comments

[Michael Bloomberg]

Apparently found "whose ass to kick"

[peter]

Thugocracy.

[hit and run]

Oh,it's on.

South Carolina politicians have thrown down the gauntlet on teh crazy in recent weeks,and now NC is fighting back.

Did you know that both my congressman and JMH's congresswoman are ranked #2 in the most "Not Hot" for the male and female categories respectively?

Coble-Foxx 2012
The Beautiful People Had Their Chance And Blew It

[VIMH: But they're both from NC. What about the 12th Amendment there son?]
The Constitution? Hah. Like anyone these days pays any attention to that document when determining eligibility to become President.

[centralcal]

Over at Mediaite in a piece by Colby Hall (whoever he is) an attempt is made at spinning it as Etheridge the hero. You see "this sort of inflammatory and guerrilla interview tactics" is the problem.

[DebinNC]

WaPo edits the video and describes the battery they chose not to show as "a hug".

[Ranger]

WaPo edits the video and describes the battery they chose not to show as "a hug".

Posted by: DebinNC | June 14, 2010 at 11:55 AM

Sounds like they are trying to set the standard for media corrption there.

[narciso]

It's Dan Abrams site, you wondered what he did after he left MSNBC, well now you know

[Threadkiller]

You would think this congressman was from Arizona.

Look at how he asks for I.D. ;-)

[Captain Hate]

LOL Tk

The comments at the WaPo site by people defending that thug are pretty telling; between that and the Alvin Greene situation, donkeycrats will only turn on one of theirs if they think he or she is not capable of winning an election.

[anduril]

I'm just amazed at that. And, of course, it invites a constituent who might be a bit bigger and tougher than the kid in the video to take up the challenge.

What an amazing asshole, but also how amazingly arrogant and stupid. Hard to believe he'll be able t get away with this.

[Jane]

The congressman must step down.

[centralcal]

The comments at Mediaite (approx. 94 last I looked) are definitely not in support of Colby's hero thesis. And, surprisingly, Dan Abrams himself pops in to say:

I agree that Etheridge comes across like a class A jerk. I am not sure how his (mis)behavior here is remotely heroic. The horribly provocative question is about “Obama’s agenda?” Please. I’ll bet he is forced to apologize.

[DebinNC]

Around 1:09 Ethridge plucks the cell phone out of his questioner's hand and isn't shown returning it. Was the act of seizing the phone illegal, since it wasn't right in his face?

[DebinNC]

Oops, it's Etheridge, and he steals the phone around 0:26.

[Thomas Collins]

I know the US has a lot of liabilities, but this is ridiculous. See LUN. :-))

[Jane]

Let's get a loan from Fannie and Freddie and buy it TC. Then we can default, but keep it anyway.

[DebinNC]

Etheridge press release:

“I have seen the video posted on several blogs. I deeply and profoundly regret my reaction and I apologize to all involved. Throughout my many years of service to the people of North Carolina, I have always tried to treat people from all viewpoints with respect. No matter how intrusive and partisan our politics can become, this does not justify a poor response. I have and I will always work to promote a civil public discourse.”

I don't think implying the docile victim you assaulted was intrusive and partisan will do the trick.

[Dave (in MA)]

T.C., don't be giving my wife any ideas.
No way in hell am I mowing that lawn.

[BB Key]

Thanks TM,

[Clarice]

Etheridge seems to "have issues". I wonder how long before his wife charges him with domestic abuse? Seriously. He's out of control.

[Dave (in MA)]

Right now CNN.com actually has this on their Politics main page, which is pretty surprising given the guy's party affiliation.
On PMSNBC.com you have to click around or search their site for the Charlotte local news coverage to find it.

[Jim Rhoads a/k/a vjnjagvet]

No Deb, that won't work. How intrusive and partisan can it be to ask a Democrat CongressCritter whether he supports the head of his party's agenda?

I am surprised he didn't say he was under the influence of alcohol and was immediately checking into rehab. That at least would be plausible to all who have by now reviewed the clip. Looks like a ready-made portion of a devastating political ad, made all the more effective with he apology appended.

[Jane]

We will hire Obama to do it Dave, and he can mutter that we are racists.

Etheridge must step down!

[Jim Rhoads a/k/a vjnjagvet]

And that kid's question could have come from Etheridge's left as easily as from his right.

[Clarice]

Jim, the kid was dressed too conservatively and behaving too politely to be mistaken for someone on the left.

[bgates]

that kid's question could have come from Etheridge's left as easily as from his right

He must have realized that, or he wouldn't have apologized.

No, that's not true; he insulted the kids during the apology, didn't he.

I haven't wanted to assault a Congressman so much in weeks, and I live in Alan Grayson's district.

[Mustang0302]

In his defense, that was a truly offensive question...

[Jim Rhoads a/k/a vjnjagvet]

Yeah, Clarice, but the question was objectively neither intrusive nor partisan

[narciso]

Is there something in the water, over there, bgates

[daves]

can not ask who you are in Arizona, but demand an answer in washington

[Dave (in MA)]

Jane, it would be more satisfying to see Etheridge removed from office by the usual means.

[fdcol63]

No matter who the questioner is, and no matter how intrusive he may have been while asking "Do you support Obama's agenda?", the Dem Congressman had absolutely NO RIGHT to respond with violence against him.

Looks to me like the Congressman committed battery.

[bgates]

Is there something in the water, over there

Yes. Alligators.

it would be more satisfying to see Etheridge removed from office by the usual means and then fed to alligators.

[Rob Crawford]

Jane, it would be more satisfying to see Etheridge removed from office by the usual means.

Felony conviction?

You know what would be a stunning breath of fresh air? If Congress itself punished this guy. Not in place of him being booted by voters and facing the inevitable criminal charges, but in addition to them.

[Jane]

Jane, it would be more satisfying to see Etheridge removed from office by the usual means.

Sure, but you know if it were the other side we'd be hearing that chant on a daily basis. So I'm just picking up the slack.

Plus I like Bgates Idea.

[fdcol63]

Heck, I'd settle for the rest of the Dem members of Congress just admitting that what he did was inexcusable and wrong.

I know. I have lowered expectations of Dems.

[centralcal]

Well, maybe this will help his Republican opponent. She is a nurse, married to a doctor, conservative and cute!

[centralcal]

Etheridge seems to "have issues". I wonder how long before his wife charges him with domestic abuse? Seriously. He's out of control.

No kidding, Clarice! It was amazing at how rapidly he went off on the young men. Do we know where he was coming from or going to? Maybe he was already upset over something? Otherwise, it seems to indicate that he has a really short fuse.

[Jane]

Obama just interrupted his press conference. He was whining about his victimhood.

[Ranger]

Do we know where he was coming from or going to? Maybe he was already upset over something?

Posted by: centralcal | June 14, 2010 at 02:33 PM

My understanding is that it was either on his way to or from a fundraiser that Nancy Pelosi was holding for him.

[matt]

the dems are in the witness protection program this summer, haven't you heard. No town halls, no meet and greets. They are down in the bunker from what I have been reading.

Etheridge is simply representative of the new ruling class. They will manipulate the news, strong arm anyone who disagrees, and use their thugs to strategically assault anyone who even tries to document their tactics.

[Jane]

Bob Etheridge is not helping himself with this press conference. So far he has avoided every single question.

[fdcol63]

The SEIU reminds me of the Nazi SA.

[centralcal]

It seems Tea Parties are becoming all the rage worldwide!

“We will arrive with protest signs and flags — both Israeli flags and Gadsden Flags,” Karpa said. “We’ve even arranged to have several Gadsden flags produced with ‘Don’t Tread on Me’ printed on them in Hebrew.”

[macphisto]

why haven't the people attacked by Etheridge filed assault charges against him? there's incontrovertible evidence. it's about time to put these scumbags in prison where they belong.

[Rob Crawford]

macphisto, a suggestion for why they're not pressing charges:

It is unlikely that the students involved in the Etheridge incident will claim responsibility, my conservative operative source suggests, because doing so would expose them to reprisals by staffers for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Source LUN.

[Captain Hate]

Etheridge is simply representative of the new ruling class.

I'm not sure I'd go quite that far in tarring them with such a wide brush. As much as I might dislike the politics of Steny Hoyer, when he was confronted with a similar type question he was reasonably affable in his response while obviously being uncomfortable by it. Make no doubt about it, his answer was disingenuous garbage but it was given by somebody who understands what being in a public office requires him to do.

Etheridge looked like somebody completely in the bag and spoiling for a fight. My guess is his recent polling numbers have been pretty crummy and he knows he's on the wrong side of the momentum leading to November, even before this.

[DebinNC]

The only interesting thing about Etheridge's presser (he arrives six min. into the video) was the almost empty room and the two or three lapdog "reporters" there whose main interest was running interference for him...Were you tired? Was something something going on off-camera we didn't see? Do you know who these partisan wingnuts are? Etheridge seemed cowed, but that may be because he knows he could face charges at some point.

[Jane]

doing so would expose them to reprisals by staffers for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

What does that mean?

[Sue]

The loser in the SC democratic primary has filed a protest. They will get to the bottom of this...at least to the point that Greene is no longer the nominee. Poor Greene. He doesn't stand a chance against these money machines.

[Clarice]

Yeah--where are those protectors of young men who raised the rood when Foley exchanged naughty emails with adult young men who were no longer interns and who were consenting to those conversations with a dunk old queen?

[Jane]

So much for the vote of the people, eh Sue?

[Clarice]

**raised the rooF***

[Rob Crawford]

The loser in the SC democratic primary has filed a protest.

Remember when Democrats accepted the outcome of elections with grace and dignity?

Me neither.

[Clarice]

Pass the retsina, Zorba

oody's on Monday downgraded Greece government bond ratings into junk territory, citing the risks in the euro zone/IMF rescue package for the debt-laden country.

Moody's cut the government bond ratings of debt-laden Greece to Ba1 Monday, moving the debt one notch into junk status.
The agency downgraded the rating by four notches to Ba1, placing it one notch into junk status. The outlook is stable.

[Janet]

“We’ve even arranged to have several Gadsden flags produced with ‘Don’t Tread on Me’ printed on them in Hebrew.”

I would love to own one! How neat is that?!

[Jane]

BTW, doesn't Al Greene have more experience than Obama did when he ran for President?

[laura]

My doctor's son is interning for Etheridge. I see her on Wed, perhaps I can get some inside information. Of course, since she's sticking needles in my back maybe I don't want to ask.

[Captain Hate]

Of course, since she's sticking needles in my back maybe I don't want to ask.

Negatory on that. If her son is an intern that means she's completely in the tank for Etheridge and has probably contributed pretty lavishly to his campaigns.

[Rob Crawford]

I would love to own one! How neat is that?!

Chalk me up for one, too. Although I like the idea of a variant on the color, too -- blue snake and motto on a white background, so the colors match the Israeli flag.

[Janet]

Perfect Rob.

[peter]

Deb in NC, lapdog reporters, indeed. Sickening. "Are you accustomed to having people put cameras in your face?" That isn't what happened. The only one who got in anyone's face was Etheridge strong arming the student.

[Comanche Voter]

Reporter asked "Were you tired?"

That's code words for "Did you have a coupla belts on board?"

My verdict--Etheridge acted like a drunken putz.

[Constitutional Peasant]

Oh, now we see the violence inherent in the system! Come see the violence inherent in the system! Help! Help! I'm being repressed!

[jean]

Could a letter from a lawyer have already been sent to Rep.Etheridge? Something along the lines get out there and take full responsibility or we will press charges.

[Clarice]

I don't think so, Jean.

[centralcal]

Early this morning, over coffee and blog hopping around, I came across the following (either in the blog post or in the comments):

The NY Waste of Times

I just love it! I intend to call it that from now on.

Anyhoo - Clark Hoyt the public editor is leaving, his contract is up. Who their next ombudsman will be, don't know, but he will probably be busy like Hoyt was.

[Jane says obamasucks]

Could a letter from a lawyer have already been sent to Rep.Etheridge? Something along the lines get out there and take full responsibility or we will press charges.

Naw, more like "this isn't playing well in Peoria".

[Whitehall]

Unless this congressman is prosecuted for battery, there is definitely a double standard before the law.

Imagine if the roles were reversed - someone had physically attacked in a similar manner a member of Congress or a federal judge without provocation other than the asking of a simple question.

We all know that the attacker would be in jail, no bail, facing a hard time felony.

[Clarice]

I think "hard time felony" is pushing it. It seems like a rather simple cut and dried assault though. For a first time offender, I cant imagine more than a fine.

[caro]

Lots of American flags up on homes on Cape Cod today. I saw one with a yellow Gadsten flag flying below and thought,there's a Tea Party family.

I am late in saying I loved the Pieces,Clarice. Great name,Deb.

[macphisto]

giving him the criminal record is what counts. it'll never die, and will drag under anything he tries to do in politics forever after. "convicted of assaulting a student who asked him a simple, polite question."

[Clarice]

Thanks, Caro. What a nice place to be in June.

[fdcol63]

The idea of "professional journalists" criticizing this student for putting a camera "in the face" of a Dem Congressman is laughably hypocritical.

The effort by these same "journalists" to excuse the criminal act of battery by this Dem politician is sadly expected.

[Janet]

Looks like we've lost the vote of Princess Leia. LUN
Here is her latest look -

Sad to say I went to one of her shows in DC and ended up walking out. I couldn't listen to the Bush bashing.

[Threadkiller]

Nobody is going to ask her:"Real or fake?"

[Clarice]

It's sad. She never even finished high school. She has serious mental health and drug problems and still reporters ask her for her political views.

I give her credit for just battling to stay alive.

[DrJ]

That's Carrie Fisher? Wow! Time does do its thing.

[Janet]

I agree Clarice...that's why we thought the show might be pretty good. Her recovery, humor, edgy. It got good reviews but I didn't realize it was gonna be SO political. Anyway, it was too much for me. Should have known.

[narciso]

Wow how original, another Tea Part bashing, comedienne, when's the last time she was in something someone watched, besides there's a new Princess Leia in town, or haven't they noticed

[Melinda Romanoff]

And I'll be fightin' back that scene with some this scenery. I just hope it comes with a jar of eye bleach....

[matt]

I just don't see her reprising her role as Princess Leah...maybe a bag lady or pushing a shopping cart down Rodeo Drive ranting about how Mark Hamill cheated her out of her best years and begging for lattes.....

[Ignatz]

She was, on her best day, a pretty lousy actress.

[daddy]

I like her mom.

[Ignatz]

--I like her mom.--

Me too, daddy.
If you've ever seen Eddie Fisher act you know where Carrie got her acting genes.

[skink]

That's Carrie Fisher? What a mess. And what the hell is on her feet? Those slippers(?) are so ugly even a wookie wouldn't be caught dead wearing them in public.

Women who've become rather bulgy and lumpy in their old age should eschew wearing a tight shirt and leggings.

She's quite the sight.

[Captain Hate]

Don't get me started on Star Wars. Why is everybody dumping on that ignorant slob Carrie Fisher? Has anybody tried to get a lucid political comment out of that douche George Lucas lately? He could make the trolls sound insightful.

Speaking of movies (and politics) I watched East-West (Est-Ouest) on DVD last night for the first time since I saw it in the theater.

[Rob Crawford]

Has anybody tried to get a lucid political comment out of that douche George Lucas lately?

*snort*

The fellow who gave us "Newt Gunray"?

[narciso]

And Lott Dodd, the other Neimodian lizard