April 13, 2010

Instapundit says "this sort of thing should happen more often"... but should it?

"Barney Frank gets a high-altitude haranguing on health care. Two women ophthalmologists, whom Frank’s partner, Jim Ready, dismissed as 'bitchy; — which really set them off. Frank got an earful. As far as I’m concerned, these guys shouldn’t be able to go anywhere without getting an earful. Luckily for Ready he’s the partner of a gay Democrat, because if he were a Republican that remark would have been sexist."

At the linked article, I see that "high-altitude" signifies that Frank was riding in an airplane at the time. It wasn't a political event, just normal transportation, and Frank was initially polite and said that he didn't like to talk on planes. He wanted to read. The women kept talking louder and louder to intrude on Frank anyway, which is pretty unfair to the other passengers on the plane. The "bitchy" remark, which sounds apt, was nevertheless stupid and impolitic, and it stirred things up, again to the detriment of other passengers.
"No one was calming things down and people were standing up shouting," said Brooke Sexton, who was seated seven rows behind Barney....
You really cannot have this kind of environment on an airplane.
"The women had been drinking, and they were crying and shouting," Sexton said. "They were clearly the antagonizers, and Mr. Frank was kind of minding his own business."...
So "this sort of thing should happen more often"? I think not.

ADDED: "Mr. Frank was kind of minding his own business." An obvious rejoinder: It's not his business. It's the people's business. But I'm sticking to my position: It's an airplane.

301 comments:

1 – 200 of 301   Newer›   Newest»
TosaGuy said...

Like Barney Frank has never verbally bullied anyone.

traditionalguy said...

The destruction of medical careers everywhere just to gain a cheap government monopoly that serves no one well is a crime. Criminal politicians need to hear angry free speech about their evil deeds.

TMink said...

If you do not listen to people who need to be heard, they will get louder. This is a simple, basic part of human nature that is easily recognized by even the most casual observation.

It is not important whether or nor it should happen, it is important to note that it will happen more as long as large populations in the country believe that their elected officials are not listening to their concerns.

The handwriting is writ large upon the wall: "Mene, Mene, Tekel u-Pharsin."

Trey

Mark O said...

"So "this sort of thing should happen more often"? I think not."

And, this is exactly why the democrats will continue to win. They are wonderfully comfortable with fictional racial slurs and we find as "bitchy" the animated expression of opposition on an airplane.

He got only a bit of what he deserved. He is a high profile political hack and he cannot expect to be treated like some damn movie star.

No arrests. Nothing but the exercise of the diminishing First Amendment.

More. You can bet he would give you more.

Wince said...

"They were clearly the antagonizers, and Mr. Frank was kind of minding his own business."

If only Barney Frank would mind his own business.

(She said Ready also upset another passenger, calling him "Santa Claus.")

Who's "bitchy"?

A.W. said...

I don't know, i wasn't there. still at worst these were people expressing themselves loudly on a plane. not my bag, but i can't denounce them. they are excercising freedom of speech.

Anonymous said...

Did we ever decide what the distaff version of a dick move should be called? Whatever the phrase is, this seems a good chance to try it out.

Hoosier Daddy said...

"No one was calming things down and people were standing up shouting," said Brooke Sexton, who was seated seven rows behind Barney....

You really cannot have this kind of environment on an airplane.


I agree and I'm surprised if the cabin was actually being disrupted that action wasn't taken, even after it landed. Last time I checked, there is a zero tolerance for disrupting a flight.

That being said, this should be a message to Congress that there are a lot of very unhappy people out there.

traditionalguy said...

Thoughts on using a German style voice in an argument:The loudest one in the conversation will seem to be in charge, but that loud one must also sound intelligent and never use "Cuss words" to be seen favorably. Even then, the women of both sexes will never want to be around you again.

Brian said...

I deplore such outbursts, and from the article it appears it was fueled in part by alcohol, i.e., the doctors in question were more confrontational than usual due to drinking. You'd get furthur in your arguments keeping a cool head, and being sober.

That said, I understand the frustration that these doctors feel. They basically don't have a choice in the matter, so they are venting to Barney Frank. He may have simply been "minding his own business" on the plane, but he's been minding the business of healthcare as well. And Instapundit got it right when he said if this were a Republican who said "bitchy" the MSM would be all over it, and Democrats would be calling for an apology.

garage mahal said...

Instapundit thinks drunk and belligerent passengers should harass other passengers on planes. Good to know. If I ever see him on a flight I'll have to give that a try.

MPorcius said...

If you hired a dry cleaner, and he destroyed your suit, would you complain to him the next time you saw him?

Barney Frank was hired by the American people to handle certain things, and it is reasonable for people who believe he has not handled them well to complain when they see him.

American legislators are not aristocrats or gods, they are professionals hired to do a job, and when they do a bad job, they should hear it from their customers.

SteveR said...

Barney Frank gets yelled at and millions of Americans got loans thet shouldn't have (and defaulted) because Barney bullied the system to the benefit of his friends. And we're all paying for that.

I could go on about Mr.Frank. Being yelled at is the least of what he deserves.

Freeman Hunt said...

They didn't listen to polite. They didn't even listen to the Constitution. Shall we just polite our way right into Statism?

I find the tyranny of people like Frank awfully impolite.

Would I get drunk on a plane and start haranguing a lawmaker? No. Do I care if lawmakers who supported the health care bill get harangued by drunk people? No. Not at all.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Althouse, like Trad Guy said, pretend one of your sons had invested $200K in med school and then this arrogant congress-critter half-destroyed your son's earnings prospects. Now tell us how you view the behavior of the two women.

In case you don't get it, Dems like Barney Frank are taking away the incentive to excel from our best and our brightest in order to serve & pander to America's clueless.

bagoh20 said...

"Mr. Frank was kind of minding his own business."...

If he did, these "bitchy" doctors would have nothing to bitch about to him.

I don't like anybody acting like this on an airplane, but if the legal profession was being nationalized, then you would see what real bitching looks like and it too would be warranted.

"This is a big fucking deal!"

Anonymous said...

It'll be interesting to see if anyone has the nerve to complain about Nancy Pelosi's private jet ever again.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Bago said:

"I don't like anybody acting like this on an airplane, but if the legal profession was being nationalized, then you would see what real bitching looks like and it too would be warranted."

This is a f-ing excellent comment.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

ah, poor Barney Frank. He stood by and applauded the government-run housing market collapse/economic disaster at Fannie and Freddie, and helped pass the largest tax increase (health care "reform") in history during an economic down-turn.
Clearly he's off limits.

Delicate democrat. boo hoo.


Barney Frank --"If you're not outraged at him, you're not paying attention."

btw - Was Barney traveling on our dime?

bagoh20 said...

This congress has done the impossible: made the public lose substantial respect for them, virtually all of it.

Votes have consequences. And those who make them should have to face it like the rest of us. The congress will not face any of the terrible consequences that the rest of us will from HCR. At least they should have to listen to us bitch about it. Maybe they will think about us for a second before they put another block in their legacy or kick back to their campaigns.

DADvocate said...

I'm of two minds on this,

No, you're not!

Yes, I am!

We complain about the politicos not flying commerical, using military planes or charters, etc. But, if they can't fly commerical without being harassed, we need to not complain about how they fly or travel.

On the other hand, if you make totalitarian laws don't expect to go out in public with impunity. This is not a new phenomena. There are plenty of examples in the past where politicians got earfuls from citizens over unpopular actions.

Bob Ellison said...

They were exercising free spech; Barney Frank wants to exorcise freedom of speech.

victoria said...

I don't know about the rest of you but, when I am on a plane, the last thing I want to do is get into a verbal sparring match with anyone. Just give me my water and diet coke and leave me to my i-phone and my movies. Anything else is a rude and uncalled for intrusion. I don't care if you are Vicki or Barney Frank. Haven't you heard of right time, right place?

I am all for banning alcohol on planes. Bad behavior is never acceptable.


Vicki from Pasadena

Joan said...

The reporting on this is even more one-sided than usual, but some facts are in evidence. First, the cabin crew did not get involved, so there was no disruption. Second, no charges were filed of any kind.

It sounds to me as if a couple of American women exercised their right of free speech when they had an opportunity to speak to one of the architects of our current misery. Frank seems to have acted graciously, his partner did not, and that's the news.

No one is advocating violence or even shouting, but confronting the people who are subverting the Constitution sounds like a good idea to me. As Freeman says, what are we supposed to do, remain polite and be meekly led to statism? No, thanks.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Barney:

I suggest you take the plane rideas as a learning experience. And tell your fellow congress critters to buckle up their chin straps cause the game is just gonna get rougher and dirtier.

MadisonMan said...

Barney Frank was hired by the American people to handle certain things,

If, by American People, you mean a small segment of Massachusetts, I agree with you.

I am mystified that he is re-elected, just as I was mystified that Patches Kennedy would be elected. Or Sen. Imhofe. Such is the curse of Federalism. There are probably people in this very blog who don't understand how Feingold gets elected.

bagoh20 said...

Imagine if the next time Mr. Frank is about to make an over-reaching self-aggrandizing vote, he thinks to himself: "I don't want to have to listen to the bitching when I piss off a majority of Americans." Maybe I'll vote the way they want me too.

Tank said...

Hey, Mussolini (note I did NOT use Hitler) is making the trains run on time, giving you FREE f***g healthcare, and he just wants to be left alone to read his book.

Get back in your hut ya little serf.

The whole plane should be chanting

Repeal the bill now.

Tank said...

Wait,

unless it's a red eye.

Then, everyone should be quiet so I can sleep.

garage mahal said...

Good thing Republicans will get swept back into office BECAUSE THE PEOPLE ARE ANGRY! and Obamacare will be relegated to a socialist trash heap. That's what these drunk ladies were mad about.

bagoh20 said...

"Anything else is a rude and uncalled for intrusion."

I agree, but when Mr. Frank decided to get between me and my doctor and the insurance co. that allows me too afford his help; that started the rudeness and intrusion. I didn't ask for, nor want his help, and repeatedly made that clear in advance.

ricpic said...

The tragedy is that Barney will not have to pay for his perfidy personally seeing as how he represents an ultraliberal district.

Peter Hoh said...

rdkraus, they'll repeal it right after they repeal Medicare, Part D.

bagoh20 said...

"relegated to a socialist trash heap."

That heap is huge, but some people seem to think another nation's trash is this nation's treasure.

America doesn't not need to dumpster dive its domestic policy.

muddimo said...

I don't think polite goes too far with Mr. Frank. I'd say bitchy sounds about right.

Tank said...

Peter

I can't wait that long.

Wah.

AllenS said...

Be careful what you say about Barney Frank. He's a known ******.

Anonymous said...

All it took was a handful of geezers to rock Rostenkowski's car to get the
Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988 repealed in 1989. Its not like this stuff doesn't happen to Republicans either. Goes with holding public office. So many of Frank's acolytes have disrupted Catholic masses its not even news anymore. Get over yourself Barny. Yawn.

David said...

First, it's going to have no impact on Frank. Also it's rude. Not just to Frank but to the others on the plane. Frank can be rude too so I'm not full of sympathy for him but the others on the plane didn't sign up for this.

Anonymous said...

What I can't figure out is, if you're on a plane with Barney Frank and for once he's not yelling in that* quacking voice, why wouldn't you leave well enough alone?

*Take it away, John McWhorter.

Unknown said...

don't know where I come down on this, but it seems I am on Victoria's side--(ice skating on the river styx tonite and I only hope Charon has a license for the zamboni)

There are times when people should just be let alone--Frank, whom I don't like, can be harangued at any number of public venues; an airplane doesnt appear to me to be appropriate.

Note to Mad Man: federalism is indeed significant, but I regard it as a good thing and not a curse.
Of course thats only my opinion.

Anonymous said...

"So "this sort of thing should happen more often"?"

Goddamn right it should. And it will, in spite of your pissy scoldings and protestations to the sort of civility Barney Frank would never deign to show us.

I ask you, Ann ... should Code Pink interrupt Congressional hearings?

I think not.

But they do. At Barney Frank's invitation. He puts them into the room.

What's good for the goose is good for the fucking gander.

Didn't our President tell us that if we disagree with someone we need to "get in their faces." Punch them back twice as hard.

No fucking freedom, no fucking peace. Barney Frank is no longer going to enjoy his time in public office. He's too comfortable, and we should be aiming to afflict him - since the press won't do its job.

Barney Frank can fuck off. He'll get an earful from me I ever get the chance to harangue that bastard. And I hope his little boyfriend attempts to silence me.

Rules for Radicals. I suggest you read it again. Politics ain't bean bag. And all the rest they've done to us when the shoe is on the other foot.

No way do I have any issue being rude to these fucking assholes. How else do we show our disdain for what they are doing to our country?

Fuck them and the plane they rode in on.

Richard Dolan said...

Lots of dyspepsia on this morning's thread, it seems. Some folks need to reach for the Pepto Bismal.

There is a time and place for everything. Recognizing the wisdom in that saying is part of being an adult. An airplane three miles is neither the time nor the place if you have political protest in mind. That's true even if the particular politico riding with you favors dreadful public policies.

Treacle said...

this is a stupid article. ann usually has a more critical eye where an article interviews the politician but not the other side.

Anonymous said...

I await Ann Althouse's protestations to politeness when Barney Frank introduces a bill to cut the $170,000/year salaries of tenured University of Wisconsin law professors who spend the majority of those tax dollars writing posts about the latest turn of events on American Idol.

Somehow, I think the tune will change.

Anonymous said...

There is a time and place for everything."

And the time and place for bitching out Barney Frank for emptying your 401k plan and destroying your retirement is:

Whenever and where ever you happen run into that fat bastard.

Roger J. said...

I have no problems with disruption of congressional hearings, state of the union speeches, or any other public forum--breaches of "decorum?" perhaps, but it seems to me those are precisely the types of venues appropriate for the exercise of citizens rights to free speech and freedom to assemble and petition--airplanes? not so much.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Did any other passengers complain other than the one quoted in the article? Is she an American?

It would be interesting to know how the Globe got wind of the story?

MadisonMan said...

And the time and place for bitching out Barney Frank for emptying your 401k plan and destroying your retirement is:

My 401-K is fatter than ever at the moment.

chickelit said...

Fwankly my dear, I don't give a damn.

Anonymous said...

"You really cannot have this kind of environment on an airplane."

Then the FAA needs a rule preventing assholes like Barney Frank and his gay boyfriend from calling female passengers "bitch."

I hope he or his partner calls my wife a bitch. Those are fighting words.

E Buzz said...

Lots of misogyny in the comments of the story.

But it's ok, because Barney is helping poor people.

I'm Full of Soup said...

My last comment is I doubt Rep. Frank has the ability to be quiet anywhere.

george said...

When I can get away from the disastrous consequences of the legislation these guys pass then they can complain about being harassed in public. Frank puts me in mind of an old plantation owner who wants his slaves to quit complaining about how their chains chaff them when he has company over. Imagine the incivility of those women complaining about their oppression in front of their betters! And embarrassing a sitting member of Congress in public in front of his special friend? For shame! How can any free country survive such a state where its legislators are subject to open ridicule and boisterous disagreement?

These women may be losing their careers and I personally have just laid off 17 people for no other reason than Barney Frank thinks he is a clever, clever boy and is willing to use force to reorder 1/6th of the economy to prove it. One day these people had jobs and the next they did not on the whim of Barney Frank and his ilk. And he expects people to be civil when addressing him? People have been civil way too long. That is how we got where we are.

If Frank were half as clever as he thinks himself to be he would realize that when he arrogates to himself the power to make all decisions, for everyone, everywhere in the country he also takes on the responsibility for the results.

There is already a civil war being fought in the US. Right now it is being done by "legal" means, if that word can be said to have any meaning in a society where most of the people believe the government operates well outside the limits placed on it by its foundational documents. The next step is civil disobedience and active undermining of everything the government does. This is what happens in socialist countries. There is a reason you have to bribe hospital administrators for service or government officials for favors. There is a reason the black markets thrive when the open markets are strangled. There is a reason legislators like Frank do not have the power they think they have and are held in open contempt by those who actually produce something of value to the economy. And there is a reason why all socialist governments everywhere are illegitimate and always will be.

Civility is dead in a country where one group thinks they have the right to confiscate the wealth of the rest and remake the economy in their image. They have CHOSEN force as the means by which things will be done. Now it only remains to be seen if the other side responds in kind. So far they have shown admirable restraint.

But you can't punch someone and then expect them to praise you for it. You can't take everything they hold dear about their country and trash it in favor of a philosophy specifically proscribed by the Constitution --- a philosophy which has failed and lead to untold suffering wherever it has been tried.

In short, you can't set your people upon pikes and then complain that your boyfriend doesn't like to hear the screams of the peasants.

GMay said...

If the cabin crew didn't get involved, then I'm not really buying that there was a significant disturbance. This guy was at the epicenter of the financial crisis we're in which, in turn prompted the massively unpopular government power grabs of the past two years.

If there was no real disturbance, then this turd was treated with appropriate decorum.

John henry said...

I agree generally about not bothering people on planes. That is why I wear Bose noise cancelling headset at all times.

On the other hand, Frank is a public figure, some such as myself, might even say a public enemy.

I think he needs to be confronted wherever and whenever possible.

No justice, no peace! Isn't that how it goes.

John Henry

Phil 314 said...

Sorry, the docs were wrong. They wouldn't want a patient to come to their home to complain about the doc's care nor in the grocery store. Dissent is fine but not in that venue.

Keep it civil

Der Hahn said...

Roger and Denise said...

There are times when people should just be let alone--Frank, whom I don't like, can be harangued at any number of public venues; ...


Really? ANY number? Can you name even one date and time when he has taken questions from a public audience that hasn't been staged managed by his staff?

William said...

The article was written by someone sympathetic to Frank. I can envisage a scenario where the women address him respectfully, and he responds in a dismissive way which, in turn, escalates the situation. Opthalmologists don't have a reputation for heavy drinking, but Frank is known for the contempt with which he treats his opponents....This is all fodder for Nancy Pelosi's mill. She is working on a bill that will grant senior ranking Democrats their own private aircraft to forestall these incidents of harrassment. There is a huge groudswell of opinion among her constituents, i.e. senior ranking Democrats, to pass such legislation.

gk1 said...

Well there are two sides to every story. This article is so one sided it makes me wonder. The obvious fact that none of the women were cited for a disturbance makes me really want to her their version. I like the idea that Barney if afflicted by democracy. Maybe he can fly in Nancy Pelosi's 747 next time if he can't stand the heat.

X said...

Mr. Frank was kind of minding his own business.

how quaint. but we will never allow you to go back to your lives as usual, uninvolved, uninformed.

Meade said...

Dick moves by Frank and his partner; twatteriness on the parts of the sister ophthalmologists. Send all four to bed without supper!

Still, the dick move occurred last month when Obama and his democrats rammed through their health insurance bill. Payback will be a bitch but it need not be bitchy.

John henry said...

Someone said Barney will not have to pay for this.

Well, why not?

Perhaps we can't get him unelected but we can make it costly to get re-elected. We whoudl find out who his primary opponent is (if he even has one) and send them all the money we can afford. We should then find out who his general opponent is and send them every penny we can.

We may not be able to get him out but we can make him spend his slush fund.

John Henry

garage mahal said...

My 401-K is fatter than ever at the moment.

SSSSSHHHHHH!

muddimo said...

Yeah, that's right: "No justice, no peace!" Also, "protest is the highest form of patriotism." Let us applaud these two patriots for confronting the oppressor. Oh, wait...new rules. Quietly and non-disruptively minding our own business is best.

Anonymous said...

"Keep it civil."

Fuck you.

Are they civil when they're destroying your wealth?

Are they civil when they're confiscating your wealth?

Are they civil when they bring their fucking union thugs to our goddamn town hall meetings?

Were they civil when they beat up Ken Gladney?

Were they civil when they accused us all of yelling "nigger" at them?

Were they civil when they were defying the clearly expressed will of the people?

They haven't seen anything yet, quite frankly.

If Barney Frank thinks THIS is uncivil, he's got a huge 'nother think coming.

We're about to get fucking rowdy up in here, so if you're too much of a pussy to take the heat, then get the fuck out of the Congress.

We're coming for you.

We aim to misbehave.

Balfegor said...

He got only a bit of what he deserved. He is a high profile political hack and he cannot expect to be treated like some damn movie star.

But he's in a public airplane. I know I hate it when babies start crying or mess themselves on the plane, and I put up with that, since babies have not yet learned to control their animal instincts. But adults making a scene? It's all very well to do that kind of thing in diners or at political rallies and all, but in the airplane, I have nowhere to escape to. Frank may be entitled to no consideration, but his fellow passengers surely are.

former law student said...

First, the cabin crew did not get involved, so there was no disruption.

No good ever comes from getting between a couple of bitchy opthamologists and a Member of Congress. "Bitchy" here means passive-aggressive: talking in a loud voice about someone, but not to them.

The idea of sandwiching Glenn Reyonlds on a plane between two haranguers appeals, naturally, but frankly no one cares enough to get that upset.

The natural and proportionate response to events like this would be to put all MDs on the no-fly list.

mccullough said...

Barney Frank was on Jay Leno and then leaks his side of the story to the failing NY Times subsidiary.

As Althouse would say, I call bullshit on this.

Anonymous said...

"Perhaps we can't get him unelected but we can make it costly to get re-elected."

And we can make him wish he'd never heard of the fucking Congress.

And that's precisely what we're going to do, so his little bitch of a girlfriend better fucking get used to it.

No freedom.

No peace.

Deal with it.

I'm Full of Soup said...

New Ham - you could play the John Belushi Blutarski role if they ever do a re-make of Animal House.


wv = sowshica = fat gentile girl

E Buzz said...

What, this guy rude and a huge asshole to anyone who dares disagree with him?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bijtBkKQwY8

Anonymous said...

Was it over when the German's bombed Pearl Harbor.

Fuck no!

MadisonMan said...

That is why I wear Bose noise cancelling headset at all times.

Do those work with voices?

Anonymous said...

Poor Barney. He expects others to be polite and mind their own business when he has made a political career of sticking his nose in every place it shouldn't be.

And besides, worse has happened to me on a plane. I once had a five year old kid who kept on climbing over the back of my seat and slapping me on the head. I was so tired from traveling that I just took it (much to my later regret - that kid and his father deserved a good haranguing). That Frank, who is treated like royalty almost everywhere else, has to endure a little travel misery is a good thing. After all, if misery is good for the soul, he sure could use a whole lot of it.

Pastafarian said...

MM said: "My 401-K is fatter than ever at the moment."

Garage Mahal responded: "SSSSSHHHHHH!"

Garage, is that the sound of the air going out of MadisonMan's tires when trillion-dollar deficits as far as the eye can see devalue the currency his 401K holdings are monetized in to the point that they're worth as much as my 100 quintillion Zimbabwe bank note?

Obama, Mugabe. Six of one, half a dozen of the other.

Scott M said...

In almost all cases, Congress-critters included, I would agree with Althouse on this one...it's simply not part and parcel with the common sense of our social contract we all deal with every day.

Barney Frank, on the other hand...I'm not so sure. Mr. "There's no crises at Fannie and Freddie" certainly deserve comeuppance of some kind. I'm not sure it's best dished out by two sauced up, bitchy, females at 35,000 feet.

Roger J. said...

Der Hahn--please note I didnt say in forums to which he has invited people; Mr Frank seems to bristle at criticism and is not likely to "open" any forum where he might be subject to obloquy.

I was more thinking in terms of the kinds of protests mounted by code pink, answer and their ilk--
Send in the people to disrupt his hearings with dissent etc.

Anonymous said...

My 401-K is fatter than ever at the moment.

Curse you, Economy-that-Obama-inherited-from-Bush!

Too many jims said...

If they had spit on Frank, the esteemed Law Professor would have given them an award.

Hoosier Daddy said...

There are times when people should just be let alone--Frank, whom I don't like, can be harangued at any number of public venues;

Heh. Call up your Congressperson and tell him you'd like an appointment to discuss a topic. Let me know how that works out.

I'm trying to remember the name of the Congressman who had to be restrained by his staffers when he was 'harrangued' by a constituent.

Problem with Congress today is that it's becoming very much an aristocratic body and I think people are seeing through that and are tired of it. While the garage's and Alphas want to discount the discontent out there its certainly palpable. Bayh quit, Stupak quit, Reid is probably going to be tossed, Fwank gets harrased on a flight. Yeah, nothing to see here.

racer said...

Ann, you're a gasbag who has, so far, seemingly been unapologetic about installing the current president and enabling the current agenda. Your opinion rates just lower than the poo on my shoe.

g2loq said...

As is usual, Hillary has it just right:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJxmpTMGhU0

former law student said...

Frank should have overreacted as Romney did when the rapper SkyBlu reclined his seat in front of the Romneys.

Frank would have copied the moves of his homeboy, Mitt, and grabbed the opthamologists' shoulders. Then his companion could have screamed, as Ann Romney did, precipitating a return to the gate, and an escort of the troublemakers off the plane.

But in typical Democrat fashion, Frank did not yield to his emotions as did the former GOP Presidential candidate.

Pastafarian said...

fls said: "No good ever comes from getting between a couple of bitchy opthamologists and a Member of Congress."

We're just lucky no one was killed. Ophthalmologists are such bad-asses. And female ophthalmologists at that. They probably both had tattoos of a flaming skull with a knife through it, with the words "Born to raise hell" etched into the bloody blade.

When will this violence and madness end? We need to get control of these insane ophthalmologists, podiatrists, and dermatologists.

Anonymous said...

"... it's simply not part and parcel with the common sense of our social contract we all deal with every day."

Fuck your contract.

Where in your Social Contract does it say Barney Frank can take my tax dollars and force Fannie Mae to loan my money to fucking illegal immigrants?

Where in the social contract does it say bondholders can have their investments stolen from them just because Barack Obama said so?

I never signed your fucking contract and frankly you can shove that right up your ass.

Here's the deal: No freedom. No peace.

You steal our money, we're going to get in your fucking face and you will deal with us one way or the other.

Barney Frank is no longer going to enjoy his time in public office. His life of carefree air travel is over. He isn't going to have fun. It's going to be a constant fucking harangue.

And if he doesn't like that then he can resign from public office or else we're going to drive him out and make his life miserable.

It's up to him. He can go quietly - or he can go rudely and loudly.

But he's fucking going to go - along with the rest of them.

We aim to misbehave.

kent said...

... and, speaking of vile, thuggish, politically motivated behavior: Report: Attack on Jindal Aide and Boyfriend Politically Motivated (Beaten for wearing Palin buttons)

You stay classy, leftist goons.

John said...

"If I ever see him on a flight I'll have to give that a try."

Reynolds is a professor. But money would still be on him kicking your gay ass.

Trooper York said...

The last time I came back from California on Jet Blue there were eleven infants on the plane. That's right eleven. They turned off the air conditioning and raised the heat. Now every once in a while you see one person reach up to direct the air conditioning vent to hit them or away from them. But all of a sudden I saw everyone do it.

You see sometimes you have to put up with an uncomfortable situation on an airplane. Personally I wanted to put each and every one of the screeching bastards in a pillow case and throw them down a well. And I would have been happy to cut the head off of any of their parents who might have complained.

But that would be wrong.

I guess.

g2loq said...

Bawney can hold his own with any type of bitches:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MszfkyOl8w

Background: Pelosi had specifically exempted her family interest in Samoa from minimum wages requirements, Bawney was obfuscating inquiries ...

Triangle Man said...

Heh. Call up your Congressperson and tell him you'd like an appointment to discuss a topic. Let me know how that works out.

I've had good luck getting meetings with staffers in the district offices. If you want direct access to the Congressperson, you should go to DC when Congress is in session and attend a constituent breakfast. You'll have to share time with many other people, but it will also serve to highlight the absurdity of the notion that a Congressperson can have one-on-one meetings with every constituent.

Hoosier Daddy said...

Too bad we can't follow the lead of that Tennessee mom and put our Congresspersons on a plane to Russia.

former law student said...

My 401-K is fatter than ever at the moment.

Curse you, Economy-that-Obama-inherited-from-Bush!


The DJIA is back to where it was on W.'s first Inauguration Day. It's up 37% from its last GWB low. It's as if the whole GWB presidency never happened.

Gospace said...

Since Republicans and conservatives can be freely insulted by performers at concerts and symphonies, non-political arenas, I'm all for harassing Democrats whereever they may be.

It's not like they'll actually let you into their office to talk. Get them whenever and wherever they're available.

Hoosier Daddy said...

You'll have to share time with many other people, but it will also serve to highlight the absurdity of the notion that a Congressperson can have one-on-one meetings with every constituent.

Yes indeed which also shows the absudity of the other poster's comment that there were plenty of venues to 'harrangue' our Congresspersons.

SH said...

"ADDED: "Mr. Frank was kind of minding his own business.""

The guy just stuck the federal government's nose into my healthcare. I WISH he'd mind his own business but he didn't (where is MY right to privacy?). The guy is lucky to just be hounded in public. 200 years ago he’d be tarred and feathered.

Anonymous said...

"The DJIA is back to where it was on W.'s first Inauguration Day."

So, you think it's a good idea for the Fed to steal money from pensioners on fixed incomes, and give it to Wall Street thieves?

And you think Obama going to get re-elected on that message? Dude, you're fucking delusional.

When the Fed is paying .25% interest to elder voters on their savings, and instead forcing mutual funds to invest in the stock market - that's called fucking over old people to create a false stock market bubble that will pop the second the Fed decides they care about inflation again.

Are you for screwing over elderly voters so that Barack Obama's many corrupt donors on Wall Street can get back in the stealing game?

You're sick, dude.

Balfegor said...

Since Republicans and conservatives can be freely insulted by performers at concerts and symphonies, non-political arenas, I'm all for harassing Democrats whereever they may be.

Two wrongs do not make a right! Just because the other side is graceless and vulgar does not make it okay! That just leads to an unending cycle of escalation in rudeness.

former law student said...

It's not like they'll actually let you into their office to talk.

How do you know? Republicans enjoy playing dressup (e.g. pretending to be a phone repairman, who absolutely has to get into the wiring closet) too much to try a direct approach.

GMay said...

Hey Ebuzz, don't post things like that. They clearly get in the way of former law student's ideas about typical democrats.

After all, Barney is well known for his powers of restraint.

Trooper York said...

"Too bad we can't follow the lead of that Tennessee mom and put our Congresspersons on a plane to Russia."

Yeah that would be cool if we could get one of those Polish airline pilots.

Trooper York said...

Oh wait. Was that in bad taste. Sorry.

Anonymous said...

The last time I came back from California on Jet Blue there were eleven infants on the plane. That's right eleven. They turned off the air conditioning and raised the heat.

That's nothing. I was on a flight once where the infants broke into the cockpit and started playing with the leading-edge slat controls.

Trooper York said...

I am in a bad mood. I am just finishing off my tax return.

Trooper York said...

Or maybe my tax return is finishing me off. I am not sure which is which.

Crimso said...

"My 401-K is fatter than ever at the moment."

They'll be coming for that soon enough. Got to spread that wealth around.

Hoosier Daddy said...

Yeah that would be cool if we could get one of those Polish airline pilots.

You cut me deep Trooper. Now I will have to beat you with a keilbasa.

GMay said...

former law student tries: "How do you know? Republicans enjoy playing dressup (e.g. pretending to be a phone repairman, who absolutely has to get into the wiring closet) too much to try a direct approach."

I guess since no one was able to call the office directly, that kinda sinks your idea about the direct approach now doesn't it?

Shanna said...

If the cabin crew didn't get involved, then I'm not really buying that there was a significant disturbance.

Agreed. I was telling some passengers behind me about how long the security line was one day and the flight attendant actually came over and told me to turn around and stop talking! So, if these ladies didn’t get any of that, then I doubt they were too disruptive.

Still, airplanes are captive places and people should generally be more respectful then in more open spaces.

former law student said...

So, you think it's a good idea for the Fed to steal money from pensioners on fixed incomes, and give it to Wall Street thieves?

I criticized Reagan at the time he appointed Greenspan to head the Fed -- I knew his low interest rate policy would beggar America's seniors, as it has for the past quarter-century. I hope you did, too.

Thank God for Social Security, which survived the efforts of GWB and the GOP to make it dependent on stock market performance.

former law student said...

since no one was able to call the office directly

And how do you know this? Because O'Keefe said so?

Forget No Child Left Behind, and start teaching critical thinking skills in the public schools.

Shanna said...

Frank should have overreacted as Romney did when the rapper SkyBlu reclined his seat in front of the Romneys.

I HATE when people recline in front of me. Especially in coach. They should just disable that feature, because there is not enough room. If you recline into my head space, I will not longer be polite about not trying to kick your chair. I may even bump it on purpose. And give dirty looks.

TMink said...

fls said "Thank God for Social Security, which survived the efforts of GWB and the GOP to make it dependent on stock market performance."

You do know it is broke, don't you?

Trey

John said...

"Thank God for Social Security, which survived the efforts of GWB and the GOP to make it dependent on stock market performance."

Yes because having it depend on government performance is going to work out so well. The Social Security fund is going in the red. It won't be there for anyone under the age of 50. Since there is no number lower than zero, it is hard to see how letting me keep my money and invest it could have done any worse than leaving it to the government.

Anonymous said...

Probably hopeless to try to explain this to someone who thinks Greenspan actually had a low interest rate policy for 25 years-- but someone invested in stocks (or in a more realistic balanced portfolio) over that same period would be in pretty good shape now.

John said...

"You do know it is broke, don't you?"

That is not the reality of the reality based community in which FLS lived. That is just the white man's truth. FLS has his own truth.

Shanna said...

The DJIA is back to where it was on W.'s first Inauguration Day.

Yes, ten years ago.

It's up 37% from its last GWB low.

And how much down from the high is it? 30%? We’ve still got a long way to go and it’s stupid to pretend otherwise.

Penny said...

So you're on a plane with Barney Frank and 200 other people when an islamic american starts shouting and crying and basically getting overly emotional about how terrible traveling has become for him with stricter security standards.

I'm going to assume that all of the supporters of these woman's rights to free speech would also apply to this gentleman. That evil Barney Frank deserves to get an earful no matter where he is!

Hoosier Daddy said...

Actually I think it is healthy for Congresspersons, especially high profile ones like Barney to be harrangued in public. It's letting them know that outside the special gerrymandered bubble they rely on for employment, they'd otherwise be asking if you prefer paper or plastic.

John said...

"The DJIA is back to where it was on W.'s first Inauguration Day. It's up 37% from its last GWB low. It's as if the whole GWB presidency never happened."


The unemployment rate if you count discouraged workers is over 17%. And 44% of those unemployed have been so for more than 6 months. Sadly, the Obama Presidency really is happening.

Hoosier Daddy said...

Forget No Child Left Behind, and start teaching critical thinking skills in the public schools.

What's your excuse?

AllenS said...

fls,

You realize that there was no COLA this year for Social Security and VA compensation. Can you imagine the outcry if this had happened under Bush?

John said...

"I'm going to assume that all of the supporters of these woman's rights to free speech would also apply to this gentleman. That evil Barney Frank deserves to get an earful no matter where he is!"

If he were going after the head of the TSA, I would have no problem with it. If he were abusing some powerless stewardess or gate agent, he would be a jerk.

Nice try though, especially for a liberal. By short bus standards, that is a pretty good post.

newton said...

Question: If Barney Frank were traveling in an airplane right now and had a heart attack - and there were fifty doctors on the plane... Fifty...

Will any of the doctors jump at the chance to save his life, especially after what he and his Democrat buddies did to their careers - and the health prospects of an entire nation?

I have a feeling we all know the answer to that...

GMay said...

former law student hilariously praised: "Thank God for Social Security, which survived..."

Warn a guy before you post funny shit like that. I almost ruined my monitor!!

John said...

Newton,

Your cat looks just like mine. I have a ten year old female tuxedo. Very cute.

Jason said...

Yep. When the libtards increase income tax rates in order to pay for their stupid drunken spending spree, AND lower the estate tax exemption on top of that, they're going to say 'fuck you' to everyone who did the responsible thing, taking a deduction at lower income tax rates in their 401ks, IRAs, SEPPs, SIMPLEs, 403bs and TSPs in order to pay the higher tax rate in retirement.

It's going to be the biggest bait-and-switch in history.

Phelps said...

Barney Frank can't be harangued in a number of public venues, because he is keeping his travel stops secret... because people keep haranguing him.

This is a democratic republic. Haranguing public officials is a feature, not a bug. We are all lucky that so far it has been harassment under the first amendment and not the second.

GMay said...

former law student tries desperately: "And how do you know this?

Why don't you clue me in on what you know about the incident?

Forget No Child Left Behind, and start teaching critical thinking skills in the public schools."

Coming from the guy who thinks Social Security "survived", that's fucking rich!

Penny said...

There's plenty of things to be angry about, but when we think that we don't have the obligation to pay attention to when or where or how we work out that anger to some better solutions, then we buy ourselves even BIGGER problems.

Titus said...

A couple of weeks ago I was in Ogunquit and Barn Barn was at the same brunch spot as I.

He was quiet as a mouse and as big as a house. I don't know want his boyfriend looks like but I think he was with him. The boyfriend was not attractive but the again neither is Barn Barn.

Natch, I had to go up to him and shake his hand and tell him how fab he is.

He quietly said thank you.

I was told Olympia Snowe was at the same place the night before. Absolutely love the Big O.

For those of you summering in Maine make it a point to go to Ogunquit-it's only 10 minutes from Kenneckbuckport on the way to the Bush cottage.

Titus said...

I love summering in Maine. Specifically the southcoast, although I do enjoy Acadia and Rockland and the northern coast. Difficult to enjoy a nice ocean swim though on the northern coast because the water is so cold.

Wells, York, Portland, Kenneckbunkport, even Old Orchard Beach with its honky tonk feel has it's charm.

I love the word "summer" or "summering" as well.

From Inwood said...

Trey

you write to fls

You do know [Social Security] is broke, don't you?

Good grief, do you think that he's a former accounting student?

Penny said...

"Nice try though, especially for a liberal."

This made me laugh, John. I guess that means I don't mind being called a liberal in a room full of anarchists.

Nothing wrong with a little common sense, you know? Hell that's all we want from our legislators!

Dustin said...

It's interesting, once you've actually been involved with an event that receives a lot of coverage, how events are twisted.

Some think these doctors were screaming and drunk. I am pretty sure they were far from that, and Frank is simply having his fight in a more advanced and harmful way. People don't generally get *that* smashed on a plane. People who scream on planes are arrested, let alone to big wigs.

I think the media report is probably generally a fabrication. People are going to tell Frank he's a complete jerk, when they have the chance.

Of course, airplanes aren't the place to have heated shouting matches.

Titus said...

Oh and do buy some fresh preserves at The Stonewall Kitchen, absolutely delish.

Maine is also very pet friendly in terms of lodging options which is so important.

What's great about Maine is that even though you get out of the city you are still surrounded by fabulousness in terms of people. You can't find that as much in other more rural parts of the country.

For example you could be eating at a country restaurant and there is a good chance you will be surrounded by Prada, Gucci and Marc Jacobs. So refreshing. You think to yourself I am in the country in the middle of nowhere I am going to see overalls and missing teeth but no you won't. And the fabulous non domestic cars on small country roads is a nice added touch which makes Maine such a special place. No many fattys either.

And many of them are informed and educated on the traits of the rare clumbers. I rarely have to explain all the rare clumber details.

Unknown said...

Balfegor --.

"Two wrongs do not make a right!"

A phrase often used by someone who just committed a wrong.

"That just leads to an unending cycle of escalation in rudeness."

It also provides a better chance of keeping you viable through this cycle.

Hoosier Daddy said...

Of course, airplanes aren't the place to have heated shouting matches.

And I'm betting dollars to donuts it didn't even rise to that level. Ay best he probably got some catcalls and jeering and it never escalated further.

wagnert in atlanta said...

If the attitudes here are at all representative of those of the public at large, I think Barney's use of public transportation is pretty much at an end. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

wagnert in atlanta said...

If the attitudes here are at all representative of those of the public at large, I think Barney's use of public transportation is pretty much at an end. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Titus said...

Barn Barn is always welcome in Newton and Brookline, both part of his district, super fab, with some of the highest average incomes in the country. Many jews too. Overall very fierce.

Unknown said...

Hate to say this, but Ann's wrong and Insta's right. Yes, I know being trapped on a flight with people having an argument is like having a screaming baby on board (and I've had that, Philadelphia to Salt Lake), but the line, "It's not his business. It's the people's business", is what's important here.

More to the point, the Demos and The Lefties have always counted on the Alinsky equation that Conservatives and Republicans will always be gentlemen and ladies in such situations, which is how the Left has gotten away with so much over the years. Don't forget how the useful idiots bragged of hounding LBJ from office. It appears, though, as if the worm may have finally turned.

Slobbering Barney has been playing Fannie Mae with some of his former boyfriends and covering it up for about 15 years as he helped create the economic mess we have today. He is an ethical disaster personally and politically. Moreover, he is the epitome of the imperial attitude infecting the political class. Nobody is allowed to criticize him; not O'Reilly, not a kid at a town hall, no one.
His luck on that score seems to have run out, maybe that's why there are rumors he's stepping down.

One of the things I love about the article is the use of the word "assailed" to describe the confrontation (no bias there). We are also treated to the account of one Brooke Sexton of whom we know nothing else. As a couple of the commenters have noted, if this was all that bad, the flight would have put down ant the nearest airport and the women would have been arrested, so there's a little more here we don't know. And then there's Barney's boytoy's bitter-clinger moment.

Bitchy, are we?

garage mahal said...

It didn't happen. Or, he deserved it if it did. Because, you see, Frank and his Army of Poor People preyed on these all these poor banks tricking them into giving out bad loans. This was 100% the cause of the financial meltdown. It had *nothing* to do with Bush or Republicans that were in charge.

/winger

Penny said...

"...so there's a little more here we don't know."

True, edutcher, but have you noticed that none of us let that get in the way of declaring our own heartfelt positions.

LilyBart said...

The polititians who passed this horrible bill, against the will of the majority of the American people, behind closed doors, late at night on a Sunday, SHOULD BE CONFRONTED at every opportuntity.

Not violently of course, but not too politely either. What they did to the American people was not polite either.

They need to be respectful of the people and their will.

LonewackoDotCom said...

Glenn Reynolds is a yahoo and a bully and his advice will lower the already-low level of debate in the U.S.

He's consistently refused to promote a far superior technique that he could use to try to achieve whatever his objective is.

Neither he nor the partiers nor r/w bloggers understand the difference between your goals and the techniques you use to achieve those goals.

Hoosier Daddy said...

It didn't happen. Or, he deserved it if it did.

Oh I think we all agree Barney Fwank was heckeled. I just don't believe it was some loud obnoxious drunken passengers the way its being made out to be.

This was 100% the cause of the financial meltdown. It had *nothing* to do with Bush or Republicans that were in charge.

You know garage, the Obama administration has taught me that despite having a near stranglehold on the levers of government as the Democrats do right now, a mere Congresscritter can hold up a whole committee process or even a nomination! Up until now I had no idea tht was possible. None. I too thought it was absurd that Barney Fwank could weild that kind of power.

Boy was I wrong. I freely admit it. You can bookmark this if you want garage to rub in my face later.

Mick said...

I will be all for Barney Frank minding his own business as soon as he gets his hand out of my pocket.

Hoosier Daddy said...

Crap that's a lot of typos. That's like chum in the water for Ritmo to come and set me straight.

I can almost hear the ominous music.

Stan said...

If you want courtesy, you have an obligation to be courteous. Slandering people who disagree with you is EXTREMELY discourteous. Barney deserved whatever he got. What comes around goes around.

Now, if the question is whether political opponents should be able to harass politicians wherever they are found, we have a closer call. Assuming we have a politician whose dealing are honest and courteous and who makes himself available to the public regularly, you might have a point.

Barney doesn't make that cut.

Unknown said...

Penny said...

"...so there's a little more here we don't know."

True, edutcher, but have you noticed that none of us let that get in the way of declaring our own heartfelt positions.


We can only go with what we're given and that gets filtered through the sieve of our experiences. I have to say, though, if Ms Sexton is to be believed, it sounds like half the plane was at Slobbering Barney's seat ripping him a new one.

No word if he enjoyed it.

GMay said...

Hey garage,

Can you tell everyone exactly how Bush and the Republicans were responsible for the financial meltdown?

Not suggesting they had no culpability, just want your take on it.

chickelit said...

Lonewacko said: Glenn Reynolds is a yahoo and a bully and his advice will lower the already-low level of debate in the U.S.

You make him sound like the next Rush Limbaugh but I guess that was your intent? Now stop and think where that will get you.

wv "ozonidi" = a bunch of O3-

E Buzz said...

I am guessing it was actually Barney the partier that was trashed and he probably picked a fight...because he has shown over and over and over again that he is a complete asshole.

GMay said...

AW dang, forget it garage, that's totally threadjacking. Nevermind, we can pick it up in a more appropriate thread.

wv: invols - draftees from Tennessee

Titus said...

Instapundit is very unattractive physically and for that reason I am sad.

Barn Barn aint anything to look at either and that is something that tarnishes all fags.

chickelit said...

From Instapundit: UPDATE: Ann Althouse chides me for encouraging discourtesy, but most commenters seem to disagree.

Ann Althouse: Chider in Chief?

wv= "lummille" = a thousand points of light.

Caroline said...

"They wanted to talk to me, but I apologized and said I like to read and watch on planes," Frank told us today. "They began to talk louder and that's when Jimmy (Ready) said, 'If you're trying to be bitchy, you're doing a good job."

Imagine if instead of saying he wanted to be left alone to read, Frank had simply let them vent. You know, listened to their concerns.

Imagine if his partner had not called inebriated women, filled with righteous indignation (at least in their minds), bitchy.

Instead, Frank's indifference and the thoughtlessly (intentionally?) provocative comment of his partner, caused an emotionally charged situation to escalate. Yet Mr. Frank is portrayed as the victim, just minding his own business.

These poor put-upon, delicate representatives. Maybe they need to find a less stressful career.

Chennaul said...

Yeah that would be cool if we could get one of those Polish airline pilots.

Seriously let's step through some little covered details.

In about the fifth paragraph of a UK Timesonline paragraph-it stated that the Russian plane had recently been serviced by the Russians.

Here it is at a yahoo source-

The presidential plane was fully overhauled in December, the general director of the Aviakor aviation maintenance plant in Samara, Russia told Rossiya-24. The plant repaired the plane's three engines, retrofitted electronic and navigation equipment and updated the interior, Alexei Gusev said.

Link

Also in the same article-there have been five crashs of the Tu-154 in the past six years.


In another article -it was stated that on about the third attempt the plane was seen dumping fuel and the speculation of the Russian observer on the ground was that perhaps the plane was having mechanical difficulties but did not communicate that.

Later you have the Russians saying the Poles did not have a good grasp of the Russian language-particularly numbers which would have made vectoring them in through the fog difficult and of course is good for blaming the Polish crew -but-it would also fit with the crew not communicating the mechanical difficulties-which of course would square the blame back on the Russians who built and refurbished the plane just 3 1/2 months ago.

Here is the graph from the timesonline-

Russia Today and other television stations reported that even before the first attempt to land, the pilot had been dumping fuel — indicating some form of mechanical problem — so by the fourth attempt there was no alternative but to put the aircraft down.

timesonline.co.uk

I'm going to be talking to my AF guys tonight about this but I remember distinctly a case where one of the guys was on an E-3 that they dumped fuel to land because even though they had a visual that the landing gear was down -the electronic indicators was indicating that it was not down and there was some issue about even though the tower said it was down they could not be sure it was locked.

Could be the case here-or a number of other problems-just liek the other five crashes in the past six years.

The Tu-154 has a good reputation longterm but that recent last five years record-not so great.

RebeccaH said...

Like any passenger, I'm not fond of commotions on airplanes. But my feeling is, if Jim Ready called the two ophthalmologists "bitchy", well then, it takes one to know one.

Perhaps if Barney Frank, who has never hesitated to be rude and insulting to American citizens, had only given the women a few minutes of his oh-so-precious time, the whole thing might have been avoided. The truth is, he doesn't want to hear from ordinary citizens. He wants them to shut up and do what they're told, because he knows what's best.

If I'd been on that plane, I wouldn't have enjoyed the confrontation, but knowing it was Barney Frank, I'd consider it justice.

Chennaul said...

just liek

Oh crap let me add to the "typo chum" for Ritmo.

Man can that gut type or what?

chickelit said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Chennaul said...

RebeccaH-

Ya from what I've seen of Barney Frank's skills of diplomacy-"bitchy" would just about describe it.

That and snobby.

He has a degree from some Ivy League Hoity Snoityville-place and just like Joe Biden he struggles to let you know just how much smarter he is than everyone else about every other sentence.

Phil 314 said...

"Keep it civil."

Fuck you.


so nice, I'll say it twice:
Keep it civil

FLS;
The DJIA is back to where it was on W.'s first Inauguration Day. It's up 37% from its last GWB low. It's as if the whole GWB presidency never happened.
I thought the Dow was not an indicator of how the "average Joe" was doing but solely an indicator of how "fat cats on Wall Street" are doing?

I'm confused

Unknown said...

Wow Sounds like a entertaining flight! How come this never happens when I'm flying around?

AllenS said...

"If you want the next four years lookin' like the last eight, then I'm not your candidate. But if you want real change...then I need you. I need you to go out and talk to your friends, talk to your neighbors...I want you to argue with them, get in their faces...you guys are the ones who can make the change."
- Candidate Barack Obama to supporters September, 2008

GMay said...

Could you imagine a post about Sarah Palin and Barney Frank here?

The comment count might crash the blog.

Kirk Parker said...

No pitchforks were involved? No tar and feathers, much less someone being defenestrated? Nah, not overboard then.

Phil 314 said...

Thank God for Social Security, which survived the efforts of GWB and the GOP to make it dependent on stock market performance.

Uhh, I would refer you to this

I'm planning on SS being my retirement "frosting". My kids aren't planning on SS.

Freeman Hunt said...

Frank should just be glad that they don't keep tar and feathers on airplanes.

Freeman Hunt said...

You know, the more I think about it, the more I think Frank and Co. should be accosted pretty much everywhere they go. They've earned it. Votes have consequences and all that.

Estragon said...

Using Frank's own standards of manners, if they had beaten him to a bloody pulp and dumped him out the back of the plane, THAT would have been discourteous, and required an apology.

But then, some consider it discourteous to oversee the agency your lover runs, and approve his bonuses even as he runs it into what would be bankruptcy for a private bank.

E Buzz said...

How is it that Barney has never had the scrutiny that Crazy Hands Massa got?

I know the answer, but it is pretty amazing. Some have said that Barney has a necklace made of the weens of many of his young aides.

I'm Full of Soup said...

I predict the MSM's pussified pukes will be he next target for citizen "feedback".

Chennaul said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
William said...

Good move describing the women as drunk. Even lower than a drunk woman is an eye surgeon with hand tremors in the morning. These women cannot come forward and tell their side of the story without damaging their professional reputations.

Big Mike said...

What the doctors did certainly was rude, but then (1) Barney Frank loves to verbally abuse people at every possible opportunity, so turnabout strikes me, at least, as fair play, and (2) I've heard of (though thankfully not seen) similar actions from liberal females directed at male conservatives on aircraft. Why should left-wing lunatic fringe politicians be exempted?

Two points are lost in the all the fuss of whether or not the women were rude and Jungle Jim Ready was right and proper to call them "bitches." The first is that we are just now seeing serious pushback from doctors regarding healthcare "reform." Apparently the AMA was not representing its own membership during the months leading up to the final vote? Why weren't doctors more often consulted -- by both parties?

Secondly, we are seeing more and more people from the conservative side adopting the tactics that until now we had been too polite (or regarded as being too beneath ourselves) to use. I'm all for it. It's about time that FLS and garage and the rest looked into the abyss. Hey, "former," does your side like receiving it as much as you like dishing it out?

Chennaul said...

So you go to the boston.com version of the story and they have just one source-

In this graph:

Needless to say, the women didn't appreciate the remark,["Bitchy"] and things got heated. (Attempts to locate or ID the women were unsuccessful.) Sexton, who's an HR director for the UK-based retailer All Saints Spitalfields, said flight attendants weren't working hard enough to defuse the situation, so she got involved.

"The women had been drinking, and they were crying and shouting," Sexton said. "They were clearly the antagonizers, and Mr. Frank was kind of minding his own business." (She said Ready also upset another passenger, calling him "Santa Claus.") Finally, the parties calmed down and remained quiet for the rest of the flight.


Anybody see some problems?

First, the gal paints herself as the "hero" but the flight attendants weren't all that concerned.

I find that really hard to believe.

She concludes that these "drunks" remained quite the rest of the flight..

They sobered up fast-after she intervened, ey?

Then the females are the "antagonizers" yet all the antagonizing, petty quotes are attributed to Barney's attack poodle-Ready.

What else?

The gal is HR for a British clothing company that just happens to also sell online in the US.

Ghee-think she might have a bias and a motive?

Chennaul said...

William-

Good move describing the women as drunk. Even lower than a drunk woman is an eye surgeon with hand tremors in the morning. These women cannot come forward and tell their side of the story without damaging their professional reputations.

Really good point. No wonder the The Boston Globe has not been able to locate them.

Let's see Virgin should see some problems....

They get their passengers drunk and then when they accost a US Congressman no less-

they aren't that concerned?

They don't do enough to intervene?

What kind of a Mickey Mouse operation is Virgin running in this day and age-after 9/11?

Big Mike said...

@madawaskan, the Russians use the cyrillic alphabet while the Poles use the Latin alphabet. Does anyone know whether the controls were labeled with the Latin alphabet?

Many of the letters are the same shape, but are totally different, e.g., cyrillic C is Latin S, cyrillic H is Latin N, P is R, etc. At low altitudes an extra second spent transliterating letters could be one second more than the pilots could spare.

Poles should have sold the Tu-154 instead of refurbishing it 5 years ago and bought a 737 or an Airbus.

Anonymous said...

"I predict the MSM's pussified pukes will be he next target for citizen "feedback"."

They're already getting it ... thus the demand by the NY Times to out commenter's who are blowing their cover in their own fucking comment sections.

They're lucky their offices aren't being "occupied" in a fit of civil disobedience, preventing them from even printing a paper.

That's what they would do to us if the shoe was on the other foot.

The Tea Party needs to take a page from history at start holding some sit-ins and occupying some offices of those who are aiding and abetting the socialists.

Get in their faces.

Punch them twice as hard.

AllenS said...

"If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun,” Obama said on June 14, 2008 in Philadelphia.

Anonymous said...

FLS:

"My 401-K is fatter than ever at the moment.

Curse you, Economy-that-Obama-inherited-from-Bush!

The DJIA is back to where it was on W.'s first Inauguration Day. It's up 37% from its last GWB low. It's as if the whole GWB presidency never happened."

Yes but the GWB years were a speculative bubble; where as today with 10% unemployment, 10% default on mortgages, 2.9% drop in personal income we are in a ___________(fill in the blank).

Chennaul said...

Big Mike-

That same alphabet difference comes into play between the Serbs and the Croats-same language but the Croats use our alphabet and the Serbs use Cyrillic.

I would think these guys-this crew would be their best pilots-heck the Chief of Staff of their AF was on that flight-so I would think they would be very familiar with the plane.

I still think that a glaring coincidence is the refurbishing of the plane by the Russians just 3 1/2 months ago-and the five crashes in the past six years-coupled with the fuel dumping reported before the first landing attempt from the initial eye witnesses would lead me to consider that it is one of those things about aviation-

It's usually three things going wrong in a row.

Mechanical difficulties forcing a landing in bad weather where communication with the ground controllers is hampered by language.

I still find it horribly naive of the Poles to stick 95 of their top government officials on the same flight-talk about -

tempting fate.


And, I do think the Russians are extra motivated to blame the crew rather than their plane.

Fen said...

The Brownshirt Left has beaten up and hospitalized two more Americans.

For wearing Palin pins.

Nothing from Alphatard or Pravda. Of course. Its all about Barney Frank and his sense of "do you know who I am?!" entitlement. This, from a wretch who is supposed to be a servant of the people.

I think its time to start acting pre-emptively. Hold the leadership of MoveOn, SEIU, et al directly accountable. Whats happens to us, happens to you. And your children.

Known Unknown said...

Victoria said:

"I am all for banning alcohol on planes."

Is there nothing you wouldn't control if you had the power?

Chennaul said...

Look at this-here is what a guy who says he writes for a Polish Aviation magazine posted-

Tu-154M side number 101 has been specially produced for the Poland on 29 June 1990, delivered to the Poland on July 12 1990 [..]Tu-154M in [Dec.] 2009, underwent a full restructuring coupled with the limited modernization, was equipped with modern navigation systems to allow for landing without visual runway visibility as the ILS (Instrument Landing System).

Probably need a better source-but that's more than interesting.

Penny said...

"We can only go with what we're given and that gets filtered through the sieve of our experiences."

That's pretty much true too, edutcher, and also why good conversations are both interesting and rewarding. Heaven forbid we should all have the same take on life.

The internet is quite different though. More often than not, someone writes a piece, we read it, and depending on how "hot" the topic is, we start cheering in approval or screaming in distaste. These days, anything even verging on politics is HOT. Maybe even too hot to handle without losing a little bit of our own humanity.

Tank said...

Maybe Barney's pal is cranky about this (from NRO):

Tank said...

Um this:

Congress Passes Obamacare, Hilarity Ensues [Daniel Foster]


Following up on my earlier post, it strikes me that I haven't been entirely fair to President Obama. It seems clear now that it has always been the president's sincere wish for every Americans to have access to quality health insurance equal to that enjoyed by members of Congress. I just didn't realize that by this he meant he wanted to restrict the ability of both Congress and taxpayers to pick the coverage that works best for them.

Ben Domenech at The New Ledger points to the provision in Obamacare that made this delicious irony possible:

(i) REQUIREMENT- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, after the effective date of this subtitle, the only health plans that the Federal Government may make available to Members of Congress and congressional staff with respect to their service as a Member of Congress or congressional staff shall be health plans that are

(I) created under this Act (or an amendment made by this Act); or

(II) offered through an Exchange established under this Act (or an amendment made by this Act).

This "good for the gander" clause is a stripped-down version of the amendment Sen. Chuck Grassley (R., Iowa) pushed for time and again throughout the health-care reform debate, from committee markup to the reconciliation battle. But Grassley's proposal would have made Obamacare the law of the land for all federal employees — not just Congress, but the full 8 million federal workers and family members currently covered by the generous FEHBP system. But in paring back the amendment to include only members of Congress and their personal staffs (carving-out even staffers who work for committees as opposed to members), the Democrats goofed things up, and good.

Most crucially, unlike other sections of Obamacare triggered in 2014 or later, the Grassley-lite amendment doesn't contain an effective date, a "drafting error" which by well-established precedent of statutory interpretation means that it goes into effect with the president's signature. Thus, members of Congress and their staffs are dumped into the insurance exchanges four years before the exchanges are even established!

Nor does the provision provide for an administrative body with the authority to interpret the provision or guide the transition from the FEHBP coverage to the new system. I have no doubt that Congress will act quickly (and quietly) to fix this goof, but for the time being this leaves Capitol Hill with the same uncertainty and confusion about this bill as the rest of America.

garage mahal said...

The Brownshirt Left has beaten up and hospitalized two more Americans.

Got that video? otherwise you are LYING. And race-baiting. And this couple was probably provoking whoever assaulted them.

Alex said...

We're getting louder and we're NOT going to shut up.

Unknown said...

New "Hussein" Ham said...
...

Get in their faces.

Punch them twice as hard.


The correct line was, "Punch back twice as hard", but you make the point.

Fen said...

The Brownshirt Left has beaten up and hospitalized two more Americans.

For wearing Palin pins.


I'd want some more independent confirmation, but, for those interested, link here

PS Nice to hear Brennan's is back. The Blonde is ecstatic.

Slightly OT, but following Mike and madawaskan's conversation, anybody besides me think it's interesting that a) this is the anniversary of the Krauts finding the bodies in the Katyn forest, b) the coup in Kyrgyz (sp?), c} this isn't unlike the death of General Sikorski in WWII, and d) the guy calling the shots in Russia describes himself as a "Chekist"?

I'm Full of Soup said...

Garage:

You are such a good, little doctrinaire liberal that you are actually trying to equate the two alleged incidents? Think with your own mind just once.

Anonymous said...

"...d) the guy calling the shots in Russia describes himself as a "Chekist"?

The irony here is that the original Chekist was Felix (Iron Felix) Dzerjinksy, a Pole.

AllenS said...

garage,

Do you have video of Obama being born in Hawaii? If not, then he isn't a citizen!

chickelit said...

garage said: Got that video? otherwise you are LYING. And race-baiting.

AP reported it: Link

And what do you mean by race-baiting? Are you implying that they were assaulted by non-blondes?

Anonymous said...

"Got that video? otherwise you are LYING. And race-baiting. And this couple was probably provoking whoever assaulted them."

This right here is the perfect example of the insidious left.

They accuse us of screaming "nigger" at four United States Congressmen in a crowd where even the congressmen were themselves videotaping. And not one videotape confirms that anyone screamed "nigger."

Proving that these Congressmen were lying when they made that accusation.

But now ... if someone on the right gets assaulted and put in the hospital ... unless they have video proving they were assulted (their broken bones and testimony are not "proof") then those on the left such as Garage equate those circumstnaces to suggest that the assulted people are themselves lying.

People like Garage are why the social contract in America is broken for good. They don't comment in good faith and they aren't arguing in good faith. They aren't interested in good faith.

We just need to make sure they're never again allowed any power in this country because they have proven they are too immature to handle it.

So get out there, organize, let's oust this fucking regime and if they don't want to leave quietly ... all the better.

Hoosier Daddy said...

Think with your own mind just once.

Was that supposed to be funny cause I lol'd.

Chennaul said...

Chekist?

what the hell...

Anyways-one other reason to dump fuel would be to make the weight restrictions of that particular landing strip-Smolensk-or however the hell you spell it.

But then again there were early reports he had to land because he was out of fuel which supports the fuel dumping -seen by the initial reporters in Russia.

Fo some reason those two things aren't getting reported anymore.

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