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Punch flies on [Alabama] Senate floor
Birmingham News ^ | June 07, 2007 3:24 PM | David White

Posted on 06/07/2007 2:40:15 PM PDT by james500

State Sen. Charles Bishop hit Sen. Lowell Barron on the floor of the Senate this afternoon.

The Senate was in recess when Bishop, a Republican from Arley, and Barron, a Democrat from Fyffe, started an animated conversation. Bishop suddenly hit Barron in the face, and Barron fell back onto a desk.

Patrick Harris, assistant secretary of the Senate, said he saw Bishop hit Barron and quickly grabbed Bishop and pulled him back.

Bishop in an interview later said Barron called him a s...o...b, so he hit Barron in the face.

"If he calls me that again, it'll happen again," Bishop said.

Barron was not immediately available for comment.


TOPICS: Government; Politics/Elections; US: Alabama
KEYWORDS: sob
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To: james500

bttt


21 posted on 06/07/2007 3:00:56 PM PDT by southland
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To: james500
How many think it is sad that we have done away with real gentlemen/gentle-lady politicians settling their personal arguments with a duel like in olden days?

I would like to see either Condi Rice or Elizabeth Dole take on either Hairy Read or that old sot Murdering Teddy Boy Kennedy.

Only problem is Condi and Elizabeth would have to shoot them in the back.

Both those guys would show their true whimpering Democrat colors consistent with a yellow backbone and a white cut and run flag.

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1......Run Ted, Run Hairy Run Run, Run...Cock..Fire.

22 posted on 06/07/2007 3:05:25 PM PDT by OKIEDOC (Kalifornia, DUNCAN or THOMPSON 08, ELECTION 2008, MOST IMPORTANT OF MY LIFE TIME)
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To: Paleo Conservative

Formosan’s...


23 posted on 06/07/2007 3:06:10 PM PDT by johnny7 ("But that one on the far left... he had crazy eyes")
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To: T.Smith

Preston Brooks lives!


24 posted on 06/07/2007 3:06:16 PM PDT by Publius (A = A)
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To: Melas

I don’t like fighting either but sometimes these liberals need a good punch in the nose. Its long overdue.


25 posted on 06/07/2007 3:07:21 PM PDT by beckysueb
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To: james500
Either way, immigration policy wasn’t the reason for this assault.

Oh.

What specifically led to this physical confrontation on the floor of the Senate this afternoon?

26 posted on 06/07/2007 3:16:32 PM PDT by dragnet2
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To: james500; Clintonfatigued; JohnnyZ; Kuksool; AuH2ORepublican; Clemenza
Forget Fred, Charlie Bishop for President in '08 ! He's kicking rodent ass and taking names !

"Don't you call ME a sumbitch !

27 posted on 06/07/2007 3:20:30 PM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (~~~Jihad Fever -- Catch It !~~~)
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To: james500

Bishop (L), Barron (R)

28 posted on 06/07/2007 3:25:52 PM PDT by csvset
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To: fieldmarshaldj

What specifically led to this physical confrontation on the floor of the Senate this afternoon?


29 posted on 06/07/2007 3:26:41 PM PDT by dragnet2
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To: dragnet2

Specifically, it’s in the article.

“Bishop in an interview later said Barron called him a s...o...b, so he hit Barron in the face.

“If he calls me that again, it’ll happen again,” Bishop said. “


30 posted on 06/07/2007 3:27:59 PM PDT by james500
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To: dragnet2

More info from:
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070607/NEWS/70607029/1001

“The argument occurred after Bishop had asked Barron and other Democratic Senators to allow a bill prohibiting funds from being transferred between political action committees. Republicans had hoped to bring up the bill earlier today.”


31 posted on 06/07/2007 3:31:06 PM PDT by james500
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To: james500
No, I would seriously doubt this led to the confrontation.

Do you think these people just walk around the Senate floor calling each other names for no apparent reason?

You stated immigration policy wasn't the reason for this assault.

How do you know this?

32 posted on 06/07/2007 3:32:47 PM PDT by dragnet2
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To: dragnet2

Barron and Bishop have known each other a LONG time, and both served in the Senate as Democrats in the ‘80s. Barron became a rodent dictator of the body and Bishop later tried running for statewide office (for Governor and later won office as Agriculture Commissioner, an important office in the state). Bishop grew more and more tiresome of the rodents and he eventually switched parties. He returned to the legislature this January after 16 years (and the first time serving in office as a Republican), and was part of the push to depose Barron after 8 years as virtual dictator with a coalition of Republicans and DINOs.

My guess is that Barron has been in a state of rage since January (along with other Liberal Democrats) and this is the second time they’ve confronted Sen. Bishop to his face trying to provoke him (and Bishop doesn’t suffer fools, he’s blunt and outspoken, no bullcrap). Barron called him a name and Bishop decked him, probably 25 years in coming. Neither of these men are youngsters (I think Charlie is in his early 70s, Barron is 65), and as you can see, they’ve got quite a bit of history.


33 posted on 06/07/2007 3:33:58 PM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (~~~Jihad Fever -- Catch It !~~~)
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To: james500

34 posted on 06/07/2007 3:34:25 PM PDT by Eastbound
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To: james500

Taking the fight to the adversary. Republican all the way. A demorat would simply whine,carry on or pee their pants.


35 posted on 06/07/2007 3:40:49 PM PDT by taxesareforever (Never forget Matt Maupin)
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To: fieldmarshaldj
Well, nothing I have read so far has specifically explained why one called the other a SOB, leading to a physical confrontation. Clearly we have yet to hear exactly what led to this brawl on the floor.

Unless that is, these guys are ready for the rubber room.

36 posted on 06/07/2007 3:42:38 PM PDT by dragnet2
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To: dragnet2

Personality clashes. Like I said, these guys know each other well and have been rivals for quite some time. Barron had that punch coming a long time.


37 posted on 06/07/2007 3:44:44 PM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (~~~Jihad Fever -- Catch It !~~~)
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To: james500

more context and quotes:
http://blog.al.com/breaking/2007/06/alabama_senator_throws_punch_i.html

MONTGOMERY — Session-long tensions in the Alabama Senate boiled over Thursday as Republican Sen. Charles Bishop of Jasper punched Democratic Sen. Lowell Barron of Fyffe in the head before the two were pulled apart.

Bishop said he punched Barron after the senator called him a “son of a bitch.”

“I responded to his comment with my right hand,” Bishop said.

Barron initially refused to comment and went into a closed-door meeting with other Democrats. Sen. Vivian Figures, D-Mobile, was seen going into the Democratic meeting carrying first aid supplies, but she said Barron was not hurt.

Bishop said he regretted throwing the punch because “that’s not the way grown men solve their problems,” but he said he would not immediately apologize to Barron.

The fight came on the final day of the 2007 regular session of the Legislature as Republican senators were using delaying tactics to force the Democratic leadership to bring up an election reform bill to ban transfers of campaign donations between political action committees.

The Senate had just taken a recess Thursday afternoon when Bishop approached the chair where Barron was sitting. Moments later security officers and others rushed to separate the two senators.

Alabama Public Television tape showed Bishop taking a swing at Barron and hitting him in the head.

Republican senators and a few dissent Democrats have been using delaying tactics in the Senate all session to protest Senate rules formed by the Democratic majority that the minority coalition says are unfair.

“It’s indicative of how much tension is in the Senate right now,” said Sen. Larry Dixon, R-Montgomery.

Members of the Alabama House said the incident makes the entire Legislature look bad.

“It’s certainly a black eye on the Legislature and the Senate in particular,” said Rep. Jay Love, R-Montgomery.


38 posted on 06/07/2007 3:48:05 PM PDT by james500
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To: fieldmarshaldj
Personality clashes. Like I said, these guys know each other well and have been rivals for quite some time.

Oh. Where I operate, personality clashes, and arguments occur all the time. But if anyone gets into a physical brawl, calling names etc, they are gone, fired, terminate, and possibly arrested and prosecuted for the physical thing.

I guess they're lucky the don't have to abide by the rules the rest of us are required to follow in the work place.

39 posted on 06/07/2007 3:49:43 PM PDT by dragnet2
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To: james500

In this image from video, Alabama Sen.Charles Bishop, R-Jasper, right, and Democratic Sen. Lowell Barron of Fyffe, left, scuffle on the floor of the Senate after Bishop punched Barron, Thursday June 7, 2007 at the Statehouse in Montgomery, Ala. -- (AP Photo/Alabama Public Television, Adam Vincent)

40 posted on 06/07/2007 3:54:06 PM PDT by maggief
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