Posted on 05/05/2012 9:00:58 AM PDT by SmithL
It was a revealing moment for California Rep. Pete Stark, the irascible East Bay liberal who has forged a reputation as a firebrand during four decades in Congress.
The 80-year-old Democrat, in a meeting with Chronicle editors and reporters this week, appeared to be confused about Solyndra, the Fremont solar power company whose collapse has fueled Republican criticism of the Obama administration's energy policies this election year.
"I wish I had enough expense allowance to get one of those new S's that Solyndra's going to make down there - the electric car," Stark said, after being asked about the company. "They run $60,000 to $90,000."
Solyndra doesn't make electric cars - or anything else. It declared bankruptcy and shut down last year after receiving $535 million in government loan guarantees. The electric car company in Fremont is Tesla Motors, which took over part of the abandoned Nummi plant and will release its next car, the model S, this summer.
Stark's gaffe may have been dismissed in the past as a simple mistake. But it was only the latest in a string of confounding statements and unsubstantiated charges he has made in recent weeks, raising questions about his effectiveness as he seeks his 21st term in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Last month, at a candidates debate in the East Bay, Stark accused Eric Swalwell, his Democratic opponent in the June 5 primary election, of taking "hundreds of thousands of dollars" in bribes. At Tuesday's meeting at The Chronicle, Stark wrongly accused the newspaper's conservative columnist, Debra J. Saunders, of donating to Swalwell's campaign. In both cases, Stark was forced to apologize.
"I don't think he's fit to be in office,"
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
This is a glaring example why we should not let these guys make a career of so-called public service.
Translation: he's a jerk, but a liberal, so he gets a pass, but now he's suffering from dementia.
When you get to the age of 80, your brains runs a lot slower than it did at seventy. That is why the Cathollic Church does not permit Cardinals over 80 to vote for the next pope. The pope himself, who is turning 85, himself feels the clock ticking . Even with modern medicine, old is old.
Senile old commie-time to retire.
He can take John Dingell with him. These dinosaurs must go.
If the MSM were even close to fair, there would be reels of footage of this guy being a total jerk. But instead, we're treated repeatedly to a singular moment when Ted Nugent goes off on a smug CBS interviewer.
Poor Fortney.
The problem is not the demented psychopaths that are in Congress so much as it is the demented psychopaths that vote for them.
The Founders warned against Universal Suffrage and didn't put a right to vote in the Constitution, but 4 or 5 amendments later we have the likes of algore winning the popular vote, Carter elected once, Clinton twice, and an in your face communist named Hussein Obabma (I'm not a muslim, just everybody else in my family is) looking at reelection.
Not much better on the GOP side with geniuses voting for the likes of Rick Santorum (real presidential material there) and MYTH FLIP SLICK WILLARD.
Americas problems will not be solved by the electorate, for the problem with America is the electorate.
Term limits. Needed NOW.
Term limits. Needed NOW.
The GOP should run M.C Hammer. He’s a Dem but he could get elected and vote RINO.
how about raising questions about his mental health? As to his effectiveness, well, isn't insane firebrand the role the RATs have for Fortney "Pete" Stark-raving-mad? He is very effective in that role because he IS a loon.
80 years old.
The passing of time is a natural antiseptic.
Gotta disagree. I’d rather have Dingel and Stark, in the minority in the House, rather than new lefties...Dingell and Stark are an embarasssment to the Dems and to Obama..they only help the GOP..besides..it is NO fun being in the minority in the House, and I like watching these two clowns, aling with Rangell..they once wielded enormous power..now nobody gives a rat’s ass what they say or think..
“I don’t think he’s fit to be in office.”
When was he ever?
Four decades for an uber rich, white, liberal, male banker 1%’er, claiming to represent a predominantly black district. More evidence of neo colonialist paternalism from the democrat party.
I say keep him in office. Now that he’s officially senile, he might start to make some sense.
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