House Democrats Storm Out of Ways and Means Committee ("you little fruitcake")

Washington Post ^ | Friday, July 18, 2003

[nickcarraway]

By any standards, today represented a low point in the history of congressional comity. Democrats accused the GOP of running a police state; Republicans recounted how one Democratic member of the panel called a Republican colleague "you little fruitcake" in the midst of the standoff.

The blowup occurred as the panel began to mark up a wide-ranging pension bill sponsored by Reps. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.). The changes narrowed the original bill, but retained most of its key provisions.

[RightOnline]

It was Pete Stark (who did the disgusting name calling and 'calling out'). I'd have kicked his lily-white Democratic, slimy ass if he'd talked to me like that. I wish the Republican who was so verbally abused (forgot his name; just saw him on FNC) had done just that.

Stark ain't exactly yer basic he-man..............

[Moonman62]

God forbid the Democrats allow a bill to move forward that would allow people to save more for their retirement before taxes.

But the Dems are protecting us from a police state, LOL!

[Physicist]

No matter which way you slice it

Gentlemen, please! Do we really knead this?

[freekitty]

They want us to go without and themselves to have it all.

[boris]

"you little fruitcake"

Was Rear Admiral Bwaney Fwank visiting?

--Boris

[tracer]

"You know, you have a very rye sense of humor... ."

Or perhaps whole wheat.....

[tracer]

No, he was recovering from a recent rear-end collision......

[gaspar]

Can't wait for Limbaugh on Monday. Although he claims he hates no one, I really believe he hates Stark.

[golas1964]

Doh!

[lawdude]

"He must have been bread to be that way."

That is a half-baked comment!

[Regulator]

You're a disgrace to your race!

That was J.C. Watts he said it to, on the House floor. I saw it on the tube. I thought J.C. was going to deck the little loudmouth.

Actually, I was hoping.

[Petronski]

Better to post stupid puns than to just loaf around.

[Michael.SF.]

Kolbe's the only openly gay Republican serving in the House. If it was, this one could be big trouble for the Dems.

No, it would only be trouble if a Rep. called a Dem by a hatful anti-gay term. Dems always get a pass on such things.

[PeoplesRepublicOfWashington]

Note what the bill was about:

....individuals would be able to contribute an annual maximum to $15,000 to a 401(k) plan and $5,000 to an IRA, beginning next year. People aged 50 and over could contribute even more.

They were justified in walking out in a huff. Don't you know that such a law would be extremely unfair? After all, welfare recipients, hobos, and the rest who populate the 'Rat Plantation don't have 401(k)s or IRAs.

[gitmo]

Here is a quote from a Foxnews story:

At that point, Thomas said Stark's motion came too late, to which Stark replied by crudely questioning Thomas' intelligence and squabbling with committee Republican Scott McInnis, who stood up for Thomas.

"That particular individual threatened me with physical harm," said McInnis, R-Colo., referring to Stark.

The committee reporter captured the essence of Stark's less-than-soaring rhetoric, read on the House floor by Rep. Kenny Hulshof, R-Mo.

"'Oh, you think you are big enough to make me, you little wimp? Come over here and make me. I dare you,'" Hulshof recited.

According to the stenographer's transcript, the room then broke out in laughter, at which point Stark raged, "You little fruitcake, you little fruitcake. I said you are a fruitcake

Fox News

[CholeraJoe]

Dems always get a pass on such things.

Oh, yeah. I forgot about "Sheets" Byrd and the 'N' word and Hitlery and her "f*&king Jew b*stard" remark.

[arasina]

The democrats must be steaming from yesterday's speech and press conference.

Imagine that. A steaming pile...of democrats.

[arasina]

Next one to "pun post" is toast, so try not to get carrawayed with it. :o]

[arasina]

Stark, raving mad?

[DannyTN]

"Committee Democrats complained that the Republican majority had not given them enough time to review a substitute bill that they had received shortly before midnight Thursday."

I expect Republicans to hold to a higher standard than Democrats. If they really used this kind of tactic of giving them something with only 8 hours to review, then they are as bad as the Democrats.

I'm ok with them changing the house rules to end filibusters of judges. But if they are really railroading legislation through without allowing the minority party time to review that's just wrong.