Mika Brzezinski Mugged In Washington

[CatWoman]

"Morning Joe" co-host Mika Brzezinski was mugged outside her Washington, D.C. hotel Thursday morning, her co-host Joe Scarborough announced on their program. The Washington Times' Christina Bellantoni writes about the announcement, which Scarborough delivered while Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty guested on the program:

As the show began, Mr. Scarborough blasted Washington without naming the hotel, saying he needed to talk about what had just happened to his co-host.

Mrs. Brzezinski said she was embarrassed and didn't want him to tell viewers about the experience, but he detailed the mugging and complained the bell desk should have been paying attention.


"A guy walks across the street straight for her," Mr. Scarborough said, adding the hotel should "at least police five feet outside their own doors." Mrs. Brzezinski said she gave the mugger the $6 in cash she had with her, adding that he asked her for $20 and said something along the lines of "Give me money and nothing will happen."


Mr. Fenty, brought on the show to talk about education and plans for the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama, told the hosts the matter would be investigated.


"This is what mayors do," he said. "We are going to look at it and work with the hotel and the police department."

"Mayor it was six dollars, it's OK," Mrs. Brzezinski told Mr. Fenty. "I love that hotel. I'll need six dollars before I leave the bureau is all."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/18/mika-brzezinski-mugged-in_n_152006.html

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. I'll bet the mugger found her flask too

:)

[RaleighNCDUer]

2. Have they re-defined 'mugging'?

She was held up, intimidated into giving him money. He never laid a hand on her.

I always thought that a 'mugging' was defined by the beating that came with the robbery. And a beating without a robbery is also a mugging.

[Rebubula]

4. So...

...since she was not hurt...this is not a problem to you?

The threat of violence is all most people need to give up the wallet.

And yes...it is still a mugging. A beating without a robbery is a beating.

[Winterblues]

3. Because of Republican governing there will be many more of these.

I have a strong suspicion that crime will increase over the next few years until unemployment gets less and people have more financial security..

[gratuitous]

5. Where will the money come from to hire all the cops needed to keep the overrich safe?

We know for a fact that we can't raise taxes on the likes of Mr. Scarborough and Ms. Brzezinski; and nobody else has a job thanks to Mr. Scarborough's former colleagues in Congress. Which means there are more folks out there looking to aggressively panhandle money from Mr. Scarborough and Ms. Brzezinski.

I'd say some short-sighted policies may have landed them in quite a pickle.

[MiniMe]

6. Thats a mugging? I get asked for money on the DC streets every day

Who knew I was being mugged multiple times every day. :eyes:

[WI_DEM]

7. Well, on the other hand, it's early in the morning. You are a woman walking alone

and I (assume) a man walks up to you and demands money--it is intimidating despite what you might think.

[MiniMe]

9. Been there, done that. And late can be worse that early. And I am a woman.

If she has a problem, then NBC should pay for a driver to pick her up and escort her outside. Some panhandlers have a more agressive attitude than others in DC, and I'm sure in other places too. I have become somewhat immune to it. Do you live in WI? I don't know what it is like there, but Mika should be used to it spending time in NYC. The first time I came downtown by myself and saw some panhandlers I was a little intimidated, but as I said, I barely even notice it now. Hard hearted? Probably, but I am having problems paying my own bills.

[WI_DEM]

11. yeah, it is kind of hard hearted, but to each his or her own.

[MiniMe]

15. I'll give you an example

There is a guy who sits outside our building every day. He doesn't come towards you, but vocally he is a bit agressive in his panhandling. He has an apartment a few blocks away in NW DC, which is not a cheap place to live, but he comes down the street to beg for money. Now, is it possible that he needs some extra cash? Of course. Do I have the money to spare? I can't pay my own bills. And I pass 3 or 4 more on my 3 block walk to the subway. Twice a day. Would I buy him a hot dog and a soda? Or a sandwich? Yes, of course I would. I have been known to take leftover sandwiches from luncheons we have at work out to feed the homeless (they have been refrigerated and wrapped so they are still good). When you see it every day you do get a bit numb to it.

[wuushew]

8. I think this illustrates the advantages of a cashless society

You can pay for almost anything with debit cards now days be it Walgreen's or McDonald's.

Only the underground economy needs physical currency.


If somebody robs you of your plastic not only can it be deactivated before spent, but the card is much more valid as evidence should a suspect ever be questioned possessing it.

[TahitiNut]

14. Some of us would rather make purchases anonymously.

I refuse to give my telephone number to the clerk trying to expand their mailing list. I avoid using personal checks (with name and address) or credit cards or debit cards because I prize my privacy. It's not about buying anything that might embarrass me. (I wish my life were THAT interesting. It's not.) It's about being appalled at the rampant data collection and intrusions on our privacy. The "paperless" society makes as much sense as the "paperless" bathroom. It stinks.
:puke:

[wuushew]

17. Better information can also lead to a less wasteful society

Advertising is not going away anytime soon. A company that might have conducted a bulk mailing advertising campaign can spend its budget more efficiently targeting fewer but more relevant customers. This would save many trees.

Also making purchases is a two way street, its not only about companies creating demand out of thin air. A vegetarian or vegan would have no use for the meat special at the grocery store but would have a use for a flyer of equal length including more relevant items.


Even if you do use cash, purchases are made in public. Standing in line at the gas station it is very obvious that the man in front of me has a habit of buying X brand of cigarettes X times a week. How is this humanly observable behavior not the same type of information that the information networks exchange?



Privacy must be counter balanced against positive benefits. I know where you are coming from because I don't like shopping at Radio Shack for the reasons you describe. They ask you for your life story even if you pay cash!

[TahitiNut]

19. Let's make the trains run on time, huh? I'm not interested in efficiency at the cost of rights.

No way. No how.

[Ichingcarpenter]

10. She's never in DC for that show

What the hell was she doing there anyway? Sorry to hear about her theft
but I still would like to know why she was in DC. I know Joe lives there
and half the time broadcasts his part of the show from there.

The story didn't say why she was in DC

[DainBramaged]

12. Booshe has been mugging us for 8 years, nothing done about that.

[lpbk2713]

13. Did the evil miscreants carve a backwards 'B' in her cheek?

Smokin' Joe would be furious.

[Catherine Vincent]

16. She only had $6 on her?

[leftofthedial]

18. Joe the Intern Killer and his ilk have mugged the country for trillions.

Who cares?

[Ichingcarpenter]

20. Except for the Gossip... Anyone know why she was in DC?

Are Joe and her an item? I think Contessa Brewer should ask these questions then
Nora O'Donnel could handle the next hour.