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