July 20, 2003

THE HORSEFEATHERS AWARD FOR REASONED DISCOURSE

Last week one sub-committee of the much larger House Ways and Means Committee met to deliberate about some new pension rules. What follows is an excerpt of the discussion between a Democrat, 71 year old Congressman Pete Stark of California and Republican Scott McInnis.

In an attempt to stall the deliberative proceedings while his Democratic colleagues regrouped for a strategy session, Congressman Stark began to read a 91 page bill. According to The New York Times Chairman Thomas “let the reading go forward, then tried to gavel it to a close. Mr. Stark, who Republicans say has irritated
them with a history of off-color remarks, grew agitated, prompting Representative McInnis to mutter, "Shut up." A transcript reveals the exchanges that followed:

”Mr. Stark: "Oh you think you are big enough to make me, you little wimp? Come on. Come over here and make me. I dare you. You little fruitcake. You little fruitcake. I said you are a fruitcake."

”Mr. Thomas: "Recess is over. The classroom has been resumed."

”Later, on the House floor, Mr. McInnis said he feared a "bodily threat" from Mr. Stark, 21 years his senior. At some point - just when remains a mystery - Mr. Thomas called the Capitol police….”

Posted at 02:47 PM by

Comments

Don't laugh--that stuff happens in real life.

Posted by: Mike Q on July 20, 2003 09:46 PM

Hey, Bill Thomas is a local boy. He is a local teacher (Bakersfield College) turned politician. He obviously is a resolute traditionalist not a permissive progressive. Many teachers today -and politicians and policemen- often avoid the display of will and prefer to be nice which means being a wimp. Cheery and evasive when things are tought and generally indulgent and -in my opinion- cowardly. Bill is a macho Kern Country man at home on the range with .30-.30.
He didn't lose any votes in the 21st district. Seriously, I have met him many times because he has always been a big supporter of the We the People Constitution program. There is a picture of Bill Thomas with the Arvin team on my web site.

The other man sounds as if he were intoxicated (but isn't that one of the main pastimes of pols?)

Posted by: Ricardo Munro on July 23, 2003 12:39 AM