(Rep) Stark Apologizes

[sabra]

Source: MSNBC

Embattled Democrat Pete Stark has just publicly apologized to "the president and his family."

He took the floor after his fellow Democrats successfully killed a motion to censure him in the wake of his remarks last Thursday asserting that American troops were fighting in Iraq to have their "heads blown off for the president's amusement."

"I want to apologize to my colleagues, many of whom I have offended," Stark began. He then apologized to "the president and his family" and "the troops."

"I hope that with this apology, I return to being as insignificant as I should be," he concluded though a voice cracking with emotion.

Read more: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/10/23/426367.aspx

[DrDan]

1. oh brother . . . .

still looking for some spine in that group . . .

[roguevalley]

103. doesn't matter. words spoken can't be taken back.

[DrDan]

105. are you referring to the apology?

Wish he could take that back.

[roguevalley]

119. no. the original speech. no matter what, they can't be unsaid and

they needed to be said. it gave a lot of people heart.

[DrDan]

121. unfortunately it also applies also to the apology . . .

lot of people are losing heart from these Dem's actions and words

[Carolina]

131. no but

weakness, and the appearance of it, lives on and on and on and on and on...

[JerseygirlCT]

141. No, this was smart

Those words aren't going anywhere, except into our collective memories. The apology is a gesture that shows him to be a far bigger person than the subject of his previous comments. I wouldn't be a bit surprised to hear more from Pete Stark, and that would be a good thing, I think!

[liberal N proud]

2. NOOOooooooooooo ooooooooooooooo!

[phantom power]

3. Why do I belong to a party of cowards?

[jojo54]

18. Because you, like myself and countless others,

hope that one day the Democratic party will once again stand for what they believe in and stop letting others push them around.

Although I plan on living another 40-odd years, I hope I'm alive when it happens.

[Orsino]

98. Because wishy-washiness is usually more benign...

...than the GOP's war on the middle- and lower class. Usually.

[HughBeaumont]

4. ONCE AGAIN, DER FAILURE FUHRER WINS!!!

I'm sorry for the caps, but Jesus H CHRIST on a stick!!

What the hell is everyone so Goddamned AFRAID OF???

Is this a President or Josef fucking Stalin?

[freebrew]

68. anthrax?

nt

[HughBeaumont]

95. Wellstoning is more like it.

Although that's not too far off. They more or less got away with both.

[acmavm]

133. Then the sniveling whiney cowards should either resign and go home or

tell the world what they deal is and be an real American.

Either way, quit selling the country down the river.

[SeussTree]

5. That's too bad. (nt)

[monmouth]

6. Now I really am pissed and disgusted. I have to leave for a while..

[fenriswolf]

7. wth?

I hope that with this apology, I return to being as insignificant as I should be," he concluded though a voice cracking with emotion.


is that for real? this has got to be fake.

[HughBeaumont]

13. OK I just read that piece . . .

I don't get it. Why would he say that unless he's pulling a Galileo?

[Cha]

36. "Galileo",

Hugh?

[HughBeaumont]

101. Wasn't it Galileo who said, under his breath . . .

. . . when he was forced to recant heliocentrism under the Inquisition: "Still, it is so"? Or is that just legend? Or did someone else say it? I remember hearing that when I was younger . . .

Anyway, I may be misinterpreting, but it sounds like Stark is doing a little dig of the same nature because he knows (correctly) that he was right?

[starroute]

107. Eppur si muove

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_pur_si_muove!

The Italian phrase "E pur si muove" or "Eppur si muove" means And yet it moves.

Legend has it that the Italian mathematician, physicist and philosopher Galileo Galilei muttered this phrase after being forced to recant in 1633, before the Inquisition, his belief that the earth moved around the sun.

At the time of Galileo's trial, the dominant view among theologians and philosophers was that the Earth is stationary, indeed the center of the universe. Galileo's adversaries brought the charge of heresy, then punishable by death, before the Inquisition. Since Galileo recanted, he was only put under house arrest until his death, nine years after the trial.

There is no contemporary evidence that Galileo uttered this expression at his trial; it would certainly have been highly imprudent for him to have done so.

[HughBeaumont]

110. Thank you.

Looked Galileo up on Wiki, but wasn't sure of the exact phrase.

[tomg]

126. I think that what we need is

for every Democrat who is forced to apologize when we know they are speaking the truth to end the apology with "E pur si muove." That's it. Nothing else.

Accusation" "My God, they insulted the president/troops
Apology: "Sorry I didn't mean it. E pur si muove"

[Radar Astronomy]

156. Galileo

Koestler isn't quite so sure.  

While I don't want to try to defend the Renaissance Vatican
(especially on this forum), the entire issue of Galileo and
the Inquisition is wildly misunderstood. 

Pope Urban was a friend of Galileo and read the first draft of
"Dialog Concerning Two Systems of the World".  The
pope had some very reasonable questions about how Galileo
accounted for tides.  Galileo "responded" by putting
the pope's questions into the mouth of the straw man character
"Simplico"  (very subtle, heh?).  He then had the
final manuscript reviewed by a rural censor and printed with
the Imprimatur and Nihil Obstat of the Vatican.   

The final draft demonstrated conclusively that Galileo: 

1.) Did not understand Copernican astronomy, except in a very
coarse and superficial manner.

2.) Did not understand Ptolemaic astronomy any better.

3.) Had not a clue about the dynamics of tides.

4.) Was unaware of the importance of maintaining the
friendship of powerful people who protected him from the
vicious and petty operatives who dominated the Inquisition.  

Dialog was a deeply embarrassing book, for Galileo.  (Galileo
made a number of valuable contributions to astronomy and
physics.  Dialog was not among them.)  While we accept
academic freedom as a given, Galileo was in the pay of people
who owed allegiance to the Church and the Pope.  Gratuitously
insulting his patrons and protectors was foolish and
characteristic of Galileo.  His potential defenders were put
off by the substance of the work.  What is the percentage in
defending such a wrongheaded and abrasive work?

The Jesuits (who numbered among his potential defenders) were
for the most part convinced Copernicans by this time.  They
were aghast at his ham fisted, inaccurate and unnecessarily
abusive arguments.   


  

[Cha]

109. I don't know about Galileo but

I think you're right about Pete STark after reading more interpretations of his statement. That's why I questioned you..cause I was hoping it was something positive instead of Pete just being Chained.

[robinlynne]

69. Somebody gave him a whole lot of hell behind the scenes. That somebody can only be a Dem leader.

[Justitia]

70. Agree. Didn't help that some Bush Dogs (aka Blue Dogs) went along w/censure. Assholes. -eom

[robinlynne]

71. Did anyone see the censure resolution take place?

[Justitia]

76. I didn't, sorry. Just saw Stark's stmt & the Bush Dog votes. -eom

[calimary]

158. Gotta be.

When I called Pete Stark's office on Monday, I think, to applaud his backbone and thank him for speaking for me, when I got through, I reached a young female staffer who was very flustered. Evidently they were having a hell of a time in the office handling the phone lines. She took my point but begged off as politely as she could, saying in a semi-frantic voice - "I'm sorry, but I have to go - there's a Member of Congress calling!"

I figured it could be one of only two things: either another Dem calling to scold, or a republi-CON calling to make threats. I knew he wouldn't have much support, because there's just not a lot of backbone there on our side. And from the tone of her voice - VERY flustered and frantic - I surmised it must have been a fairly prominent member of Congress calling.

[atreides1]

8. Well He's Insignificant Now

Just when you think that another politician with a spine has emerged!!!!!!

I guess next he'll announce that he's retiring from Congress?

[tom_paine]

114. I couldn't have said it any better, atreides1.

Is there no left to defend America and the American People?

We have had our Caligula moment when Chimpoleon threatened Putin with World War III in his usual, subtle :puke: way.

Actually there have been more than a few "Caligula Moments" reminiecent of the day the Mad Emperor announced that he was a God or that he was appointing his horse to the Senate, and the Romasn, Senators and People alike, just took it.

[mikelgb]

9. Nancy made him do it

[DinahMoeHum]

10. F-U-U-U-U-U-U-C-C-C-C-K-K-K !!!!!!!!!!

FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK
FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK
FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK
FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK
FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK
FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK
FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK
FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK
FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK
FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK
FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK
FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK

:argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh:
:argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh:
:argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh:
:argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh:
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:argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh:
:argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh:
:argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh:
:argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh:
:argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh:
:argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh::argh:

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

27. Sounds right!!!!!!!

[Mira]

29. Best reply in my book. Chicken Soup in his spine.

What in the hell happens to these people that everybody caves ??????????

[Sequoia]

11. Guess he got that call from Cheney.

"Hey there Starko, how 'bout you and I go quail hunting!?"

[tularetom]

12. Did he get an envelope full of white powder?

The guy was correct. I think this twerp does get off on suffering and death. What I want to know is who got to him.

If a guy like this can be strongarmed there is nobody who will stand up to these ghouls.

[Occulus]

14. They fall for it every single damn time, don't they?

Hey Dems: STOP APOLOGIZING.

[babylonsister]

15. Goddamnit. nt

[Elidor]

16. Kneecapped by the GOP, left twisting in the wind by his own party

Thanks for nothing, Nancy, you worthless excuse for a leader.

[Justitia]

17. damn, damn, damn - apologizing for the truth! What the hell is happening in congress???? -eom

[Amonester]

24. Congress: more like an asylum of mental "irrelevants" now. n/t

[KansDem]

19. I thought "amusement" was a bit of a stretch. I'd have preferred to hear "aggrandizement" instead.

Or "failed policies"
Or "lies"
Or "blundering"
Or "incompetence"
Or some other assessment of this debacle that would have kept it in the media spotlight for a while.

But "amusement" only gave ammunition to the neo-con screech machine...


edited to fix truncated subject...

[Cha]

41. Agree..even though what Pete Stark said

was true..there was a much more zinger way to say it. So now it's apology time.

Why couldn't he just say .."I'm sorry for the "amusement" statement but everything I said holds true?

Pete, Pete, Pete, et tu?

[KansDem]

67. True. Perhaps it's the difference between Dems and Repubs

We see the whole statement as valid; they see just the one word.

Rather than debate the entire statement, Repubs want only to whine and cry about the word "amusement."

[Cha]

74. repukes don't want it to be true..they

don't care about reality. Pete Stark and his congress buddies need to learn how to frame..via George Lakoff...this should have been done YESTERDAY.

Pete's a smart guy ..he can get out of the fucking hole they put him in. Is nancy happy now that Pete Stark has groveled?

[deutsey]

127. I agree n/t

[Martin Eden]

97. I agree that "amusement" was a poor choice of words.

It wasn't at all helpful.

[Telly Savalas]

149. But the one thing worse than feeding the Screech Machine

is backing down when they start their screeching.

It's kind of hard for the media not to have a bit of a right-wing bias when people representing the center-left voluntarily choose to not make their case.

[Honeycombe8]

157. Yes, he went a tad too far. But an apology wasn't necessary. All he needed to do...

was just come to podium and explain that he was angry (and say that, BTW, I'm angry like MOST AMERICANS are angry right now), and maybe went too far with the amusement crack, but that his sentiments remain the same, and that his heart is with those who are dying and wounded because of the President's misbegotten actions. That's sort of saying he's sorry for that one word, but not really. He's at the same time reaffirming the sentiment.

[PollThis]

20. I love that last sentence.

"I hope that with this apology, I return to being as insignificant as I should be,"
GO TO HELL CONGRESS!

[Mojorabbit]

59. I think it was his way of

slapping them down. "I return to being as insignificant as I should be", a slap for the dems acting insignificant about not making any waves.

[HughBeaumont]

21. George W Stalin.

Agent Mike . . . tell Der Fuhrer to kiss my ASS. Kiss his ass. Kiss your ass.

[Amonester]

40. I hate to see the stars & stripes behind (that non-elected war criminal)

king george pissypants gave marching orders to torture and murder innocents

how more un-american does that despicable war criminal have to be for congress to act?

[HughBeaumont]

111. I'd like to see steel bars in FRONT of that unelected criminal.

Jesus, did REAGAN suppress dissent as much as this tin pot dick-tater does?

[Amonester]

118. I think they (him+cheney+(hidden somewhere)rove) secretly...

threaten they will 'order' a false-flag op. somewhere and impose martial law if they can't get their criminal plans (how many more?) going (i.e. if anyone tries to stop them and have enough power to be effective at doing so).

I truly can't see any other valid reason otherwise.

[Hawaii Hiker]

22. Pete, why did you f-ing apologize

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[williesgirl]

23. PELOSI MUST GO NOW. I'm going to puke over this. Disgusting.

[IndianaGreen]

139. Newt Gingrich or Sam Rayburn would have never allow a censure motion to come to the floor

that they did not approve of. Pelosi is either totally incompetent allowing herself to be out maneuvered by the GOP minority at every turn, or she is a warmonger like Bush. In either case, she is unfit as Speaker!

[Akoto]

25. Wow, I'm shocked!

:sarcasm:

[izquierdista]

26. Gutless wonder

It's gutless wonders like this that make me happy that I decided to emigrate.

[Carolina]

61. where are you and

can I join you there? I've had it!

[izquierdista]

89. Behind the Iron Curtain

Sometimes the grass IS greener on the other side of the fence.

:hide: :hide: :hide:

[Carolina]

128. Yikes!

[WarhammerTwo]

28. Wow.

The last line says it all. Man, there is something seriously wrong with our two-party system. I mean, by what he said, you know he was FORCED to apologize. What anybody said to him to force him to apologize, I have no idea, but it must've been akin to a threat. Cripes. It's like the friggin' mafia.

[Cha]

45. It's such a shock because if you're Pete Stark

and you say something like he said in the first place why would you give such a "I am actually a weinie", apology?

[Karmageddon]

30. Makes you wonder if they got to his family.

By "they" I mean Cheney, although it could be Pelosi too for all I can tell anymore.

Just when I thought there was at least one spine in the Democratic Congress. How depressing.

[David Zephyr]

31. Our party is castrate again like it was before the Iraqi invasion. Something is up. War with Iran?

There's too many little signals here and there that are beginning to really add up which signal a run-up to an attack on Iran.

While many others here have been saying so for a long time, I figured that the Democrats this time would not allow , would not go along with, another Bush military excursion against still another Muslim nation in the powder box of the Middle East.

Who got to Pete Stark? What happened for the 180 degree about face?

What' going on now with Pelosi?

Lieberman / Kyle Resolution passes with Democrats (not all) support?

Are Democrats being shown secret "intelligence" about Iran fabricated by the White House to get them in line?

Something is up. And I am beginning to think it's attacking Iran.

[mvd]

32. Well, at least they killed the censure motion

Maybe there was a deal between Pelosi and him that he would apologize if they killed the motion. Still, our Party shouldn't have turned away from him. Repukes in power sometimes apologize, but their party hardly ever deserts them. While Bush might not be amused by the deaths (as evil as he is,) he does treat the war like a video game. That sounds like amusement to me.

[Didereaux]

33. Well it's even..even a Congressman has no 'Freedom of Speech' right n/t

[Cha]

48. NObody except the

bushits have any goddamn right to say what they want. Is anyone gonna censure bushit for his fucking "bring it on" blurt when the asshole actually got soldiers KILLED? I didn't think so.

Fuck you bushit and Fuck you congress.

[girl gone mad]

34. Our party is sick. n/t

[Cha]

35. Oh gwad..

If only Stark hadn't said.."to the president's(sic) amusement"..cause we know that sociopath couldn't care less about the troops and just because bushit laughs when he's talking about deaths and world war 3 I guess it was too much for Pete Stark to bear..just one of those Freudian Slips.

[Emillereid]

37. I am now convinced that the Democrats will lose next year -- we are too

spineless for the battle that lies ahead.

[Carolina]

64. exactly

we're told to wait til we have the WH. Well, gee, ain't no guarantee of that

We waited from 1994 to 2006 to get Congress back and a helluva lot good that seems to have done.

This wait til we win strategy is a friggin LOSER!

[Emillereid]

108. Don't know about you, but I am friggin depressed about the behavior of

the democrats. We're all set to anoint Hillary and deep in my gut I don't think she can win and even if she wins I don't think her foreign policy will be that different from Bushit's. On the domestic front she might be a little better, but not good enough.

My husband is a Canadian and we might just back there - I've had it with these late, great United States.

[Carolina]

129. can you adopt a

54 year old?!

You're so right: the late, used to be great United States.

[Name removed]

38. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LSK]

39. FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK

[ShortnFiery]

42. OMG! We have NO opposition party. Where the f**k is The Democratic Party?!?

:grr: :nuke:

[ljm2002]

43. Did "Mean Jean" Schmidt ever apologize?

I know her remarks (*) were stricken from the record; however, I do not remember her being censured, nor do I remember that she apologized.

Anyone?

===

(*) Referring to her remarks to Murtha, "Cowards cut and run, but Marines never do". Murtha was a Marine with combat experience. Schmidt was... hmm, no military service. Quelle surprise.

[bbgrunt]

44. what the hell--Nancy needs to go.

[Gen. Jack D. Ripper]

46. In all fairness, when the Republicans circle their wagons,

it can be pretty tough, I'm sure, to hold your ground. Those pissy little ass-wipes just love making hell for people who disagree with their politics. Even we citizens aren't exempt, after 9/11 there was a not so secret campaign by the right to make anyone who didn't support the President feel less American. They have no scruples with not only attacking a person's character, but their dignity as well. Bullies, all of 'em.

[Cha]

51. Yeah, and it just made me

want to fight harder.

[onehandle]

47. He didn't deny his comment. He apologized for offending.

It could be worse.

[Justitia]

62. yes, it wasn't a mealy-mouthed apology, he wants the focus on kids & the war.

Of course, I don't believe he should have to apologize at all, he should just have said "Fuck 'em", but that's why I'm not in congress I guess.

However, having actually listened to it, I got the distinct impression he was put up to it, and he sincerely wants the focus on kids & the war.

My beef is with the leadership who hung him out to dry on this.

[BrklynLib at work]

49. How very, very sad....Made to apologize for telling the truth....

:shrug: :cry:

[HowHasItComeToThis]

50. OH GLORIOUS KING GEORGE.

WHEN DO I GET MY APOLOGY FOR YOUR DESTROYING MY NATION.

[Name removed]

52. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[rockybelt]

53. What a bitter disappointment

What do you think the neocon nazis dug up on him? The only dem who had enough balls to stand up and now they castrated him. CRAP:cry:

[MarinCoUSA]

54. This is a joke? Right?.............. RIght?

He didn't do this. did he?

[FreepFryer]

55. Profoundly disappointing. We need a new batch of 'Pro-Spine Democrats'. Vote in 2008.

[goclark]

56. We are doomed! We are only puppets and they

are in total control of the strings!

[The Stranger]

57. Which is why you fail.

[Ammonium]

58. What a loser

Have some damn backbone or gtfo out of congress and let someone else have your place who isn't a fucking pansy.

[ldf]

140. pansy

reporting.

[mitchum]

60. That's just goddamn pitiful

[Joanne98]

63. Thanx Nancy!

:mad:

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

83. We need a new speaker...

She's a worthless piece of shit...

[MelissaB]

88. For the first time, I agree

if she is behind this. :(

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

90. The speaker can bottle up votes until doomsday...

She allowed this to happen.

I laid off her until now. I cut her some slack until now.

Screw her!

[The Backlash Cometh]

65. Soma, Soma, SOMA!

[Zorra]

66. In general, right wingers are schoolyard bullies. We all need to stand up

to them when we speak truth, and support each other in this.

It is time that we formed a united front in the face of republican aggressors. Republicans are corrupt and conscienceless, and use hate, lies, and aggressive behavior/violence in order to get their way.

These people are are generally ignorant and compassionless human beings, and they are destroying our country.

It is time to stand up and call them on their bullshit.

Just say "no" to republicans.

[Joe Bacon]

72. Wimps.

They wimp out again. Bartcop is right. They're nothing but a bunch of pink tutus.

[WGS]

73. I guess free speech

isn't what it used to be. Why should he have to apologize for stating a fact? I feel like I am in bizarro world.....:mad:

[JaneQPublic]

75. No wonder Congress has an approval rating of 11 percent!

On one side we have the GOP war mongers kissing Bush's ass.

And on the other side we have the party elected to stand up to Bush instead sniveling, whimpering, and apologizing everytime they open their mouths.

Son of a bitch!

[rateyes]

77. Fuck every Republican, Nancy Pelosi, and all 5 Democrats

who voted for censure. You all are disgusting human beings for doing that to Pete Stark, who did nothing but tell the truth.

When you vote to censure a person for speaking the truth, you have only censured yourselves.

Fuck all of them, and the horses they rode in on.

Bastards.

[Gravel2008]

152. What?? Who were those 5? They need to be called out!

Here and now!

[AllyCat]

78. Oh my freakin' God...."insignificant as I should be"????

What on earth is wrong with this party? I cannot believe he caved and I can't believe Pelosi actually pushed for censure. Which party does she belong to again? I'm confused. I'm confused about just about all of them.

Good grief.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

79. Pete, you stupid bastard...

Just when it looked like the Democrats had grown a pair, you cave like complete wuss.

[Zhade]

80. That's right - just keep apologizing to the criminals instead of stopping them.

You fucking COWARD.

[Deep13]

81. I guess that spine delivery to Capitol Hill was late. n/t

[rocktivity]

82. ..

:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:
:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:
:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:
:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:
:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:
:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:
:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:
:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:
:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:
:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:
rocknation

[Divine Discontent]

84. beyond telling....

that final sentence sure gives away that his statement was coerced with a threat or heavy handed screaming in a not-so-quiet room!

"I return to being as insignificant as I should be" implies he will not win or seek re-election next year. That video statement, and his previous words will be used against him by someone. Amazing....

[AzDar]

85. Horrifying and humiliating.

Jeezus H. Christ what is going ON????:nuke:

[Coexist]

86. this sucks.

it really, really sucks.

[TankLV]

87. disgusting news...but I'm not surprised...

fucking spineless maggots all...

let's see - continue voting for the same crap and enable and continue the same crap time and again - or sit the next one out and get the same immediate result but send a message and mabe finally get change...

hmmmm...

I know one thing is sure - expecting change by continually doing the same thing (voting in the same spineless dems) IS insanity...

weighing my options more critically now...

my vote is NOT automatic and guaranteed...

of this I'm certain - the DEMS will have to EARN my vote...

[ChickMagic]

91. Well, I called his office expressing my disappointment

I told her that I was promised that he wouldn't apologize.
I asked if he had been threatened or kneecapped and she
said, "I'm sorry. I can't speak to that."

I told her that I guess Republicans are the only people
who have freedom of speech and that the venom coming
from the right wing goes unpunished.

I told her I still appreciated what he said because
it was the unvarnished truth. George is a known sadist,
so Stark was not out of line.

I'll pass it on, said she.

[progpen]

92. Christ on a sidecar...

what do Pelosi and Reid have to do before they are unceremoniously removed from the Democratic party? What the fuck is going on with the Dem misleadership? Is there even a Democratic party left, or is it just the democratic arm of the Republican party now?

[zonkers]

93. Con some informed DUer please explain WTF he means by "insignificant"?

I don't get it. Did he just bend over and take it?

[sabra]

100. my take: Stark is saying while congress wastes time on Censuring him

they should be looking at ways to ending the war and health care for our children

[AllyCat]

102. I believe he was coerced and that was his way of letting people know

That said, I would have resigned and said why before I apologized for A) speaking the truth and B) having some guts to do it. Instead, he bowed to these thugs and has just given more fuel for the fire for BushCo to just keep on keepin' on.

[loudsue]

94. Does anyone have his office's phone #? I'm going to call 'em & ask

who put the horse's head in his bed.

DU needs to have links to the congressional offices switchboard on the front page of DU. I never can find it when I need it.

Gawd this whole thing (Pete Stark's apology) pisses me off.

[woodsprite]

96. I think before standing up there, apologizing and calling

myself insignicant, I'd have stepped down first and I'd let everyone know why I was stepping down. I would not say I was wrong if I knew I was correct and DAMMIT, He WAS correct!

Maybe he found a horse head in his bed yesterday morning.

[Baby Snooks]

99. I won't apologize...

I think Pete Stark merely said what a lot of people would like to say and don't dare. I've said it. And will not apologize for it.

I think the Bushes are destined only for Hell. And are intent on taking everyone else they can with them. I think they are evil. All of them.

[depakid]

104. I return to being as insignificant as I should be

That about says it all.

Thought I was reading The Onion there.

[libnnc]

106. Happy now, Madame Speaker?

:nuke:

Fucking idiocy. :mad:

[Buns_of_Fire]

112. Pete, Pete, Pete... I'm SO disappointed in you...

But, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. You APOLOGIZED for your statement. But I note that you didn't RETRACT it. And that part about returning to insignificance (as a member of Congress) could well be taken as a brilliant little snarky dig at ALL of Congress, couldn't it?

"The fraud in the White House is an egg-sucking cowardly piece of shit," say I.
"That's below the belt," says my superior. "Apologize, or else."
"Okay," say I. "I'm sorry the fraud in the White House is an egg-sucking cowardly piece of shit."

There. Everybody's happy.

[Xenotime]

113. What!?!? I just made a fucking donation too! FUCK!

[scarface2004]

115. should a done like pacino in 'justice for all'

when he goes ballistic at the end and starts screaming 'you re not gonna get him...i m gonna get him!!!!'

[Buns_of_Fire]

116. And, as he's being dragged from the chamber, say, "...and that concludes my apology" (n/t)

[BlueStater]

117. I just don't get it

I wish I knew what these assholes were doing to him behind the scenes that's so bad that he not only apologizes but offers such a pathetic, weak apology as well.

I am seething. This country desperately needs leaders right now and Nancy, you pathetic bitch, you don't even come close to cutting it. Go off and kiss that dumbass monkey in the White House's ass some more.

[Neshanic]

120. I went to his website, and sent a thank you note the day after his speech. Someone posted a link,

I was so proud.

What has happened to them, to us?

Unbelievable things that question our patriotism, our lives from the right, and no apologies needed.

[MisterP]

122. the Gleichschaltung of America continues: the few Leftists in power are berated and humiliated

into feebleness, while the Corporatists all coo how Moderate they are and tumble over each other trying to curry the favor of the current Decider and His doubtless FDR-condemning successor, telling each other how great the domestic threat is from the purged, shrinking Left and how they need to "win" by embracing reactionary positions

[endarkenment]

123. How is this done?

What is in the note handed to Pete Stark, what is whispered to him behind closed doors, what is the message on his answering machine?

How is this done?

[MilesColtrane]

124. If what I think happened did happen then I can't blame Stark.

Bush and Cheney like to go after opponent's families. Just ask Valerie Plame.

[Mad_Dem_X]

125. WHAT THE F*CK?????

Is there not ONE Democrat with the balls to say what he/she believes, and then STAND BY IT? What the fuck has happened to this country? I don't even recognize this place any more.

Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck! :grr: :banghead:

[Carolina]

130. And that's the problem

One here and one there make easy pickings.

BUT if Dems would take a page out the repuke playbook and STAND UP TOGETHER against BUSHIT, against intimidation, against the corporate media whores, no kneecapping or horse's head shit would occur.

That's what pisses me off about our Dems. One lone soldier tries his David v Goliath best and the other Dems not only sit back and allow the truth to be turned on its head, they fucking join in with Goliath.

It's time for a Tea Party, y'all

Meanwhile with flood, fire, drought and war ... we're going to hell!

[NekoChris]

132. I don't know how

But I somehow posted a new post rather than a reply. I sent Mr. Stark this:
----------------
I just recently read an excerpt from your apology about returning to insignificance and I want to bolster you by telling you to never ever allow this to be.

I am not from your state, I am rather politically unattached as I do not follow the machinations or know the whole story on everything ,but I will say this.

Your voice is not insignificant. Perhaps what could be said is they are a powerful weapon without any fine tuning. If you fire a cannon it goes forth and barrels over everything with no regard. If you fire a rifle, it hits the target with pin point accuracy and strikes exactly where desired.

Do not cull your words nor mark them as unimportant, or allow yourself to be marked so. Rather sharpen them, focus their intent, and strike with them at the heart of the matter with elegence and grace.

Spread this if you so feel to your associates. Bucking the system and those who run it is exactly what is needed, but your words must be carefully chosen. If you must pause to calibrate them, do so. If you must take a breath to make sure the next thing you say is correct, do so.

Focus that anger at how things are and become the voice that the people so badly desire that echoes through the ears of those who need to hear it. Temper your words with wit and confidence.

I respect anyone who has the gall to stand up and say something is wrong, we need more of that. Do not back down, but do not lose focus either.

Fall back, gather your calm, and comes forward again with renewed strength. It's cool, we all have moments, but don't let them push you into the ranks of the unheard.
-------
I didn't really proof read it or anything, I just read the last comment he made on insignificance and felt that this man cannot be allowed to humble himself that way. Send him reassuring words, something, if he broke like that during his comment then clearly he needs support.

[0rganism]

134. Does Daimyo Pelosi wish Rep. Stark to perform seppuku on the house floor, next?

Hey, as long as she's having him fall on his sword, might as well go all the way with it. He has dishonored his party by displaying metaphorical guts, the only proper atonement is to spill the real ones for the Emperor's amusement.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

135. Yet another gutless wonder.

No surprises here.

:shrug:

[cyr330]

136. I knew it was coming. . .

What a bunch of fucking pussies. Someone like Anne Coulter can make any comment she likes, and there are no repercussions. Going even further, Republicans in general make the most outrageous comments with no apologies ever given.

BUT--Dems beg, apologize & cry. It's no wonder they lose every goddamned election.

[City Lights]

137. Dems are so predictable.

:eyes:

With Dems like these...

[IndianaGreen]

138. Republicans never apologize for anything! Our Congress has gone the way of the Reichstag!

The pathetic excuse the Democratic leadership showed themselves to be when they were in the opposition, remains a pathetic excuse now that they are in the majority.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

142. WHYYY???? nt

[Raine]

143. Guess Stark decided he wants

to ride in small airplanes.

[flaminbats]

144. what a waste of time!!

I defended this rat, and now he apologizes to those we defended him from!

why didn't I just shut up and let the freepers kick the hell out of Stark for our amusement? :banghead:

[seriousstan]

145. WOW! He was thrown under the bus qiuckly. I thought he was a staunch allie.

It is not as if he changed a vote.

[Progressive Friend]

146. Absolutely pathetic -- and this shows that Democratic Party is not a genuine opposition party

The Democratic Party leadership serves the same master as the GOP does: big business.

[Rockerdem]

147. He wasn't thrown under the bus, he crawled under it

I agree that there was a powerplay by the leadership. It didn't come from Stark's constituency or his financial backers - hell, they probably agreed with him enthusiastically. No, this came from the moneybags of the party ... DLC types.

It was a deal: apologize and we will kill the censure. But, shit, he didn't have to take the deal. He could have fought it and worn it like a badge of honor, earning even MORE accolades from all of us. Instead he figured that this was the safer route, or some other political calculation. He did it willingly. Accolades from us was secondary.

[NoodleyAppendage]

148. Deal was made. Votes to kill censure in exchange for public apology. Thanks, Nancy...you WIMP DINO

Stark was pressured internally, no doubt. Who needs Repukes with COWARDS like Nancy and her DINO crew?

J

[Betty]

150. insignificant is a good word

for these spineless, ball-less dems. I am ashamed of this party. repugs can say whatever the fuck they want, no matter how outrageous, and our democratic "leaders" just bend over and take it and ask for more. They are getting more insignificant by the minute.

[galileo3000]

153. Which Virtues Do you feel Stark lacked?

Courage? Discipline? Strength? Honor?

If this is what we are lacking, how do we build them? (by we, I really mean me).

I tend to think pretty small, as I wield so little influence. I don't claim to know what would work for everyone. Hell, I'm not really sure how I would develop those traits in myself, but I'm trying.

I will admit that I am not a brave man, but I also am not a coward. If I want my leaders to be strong, it would make sense to me that I need to try to be stronger myself.

Recently, I have been trying to run as I thought it would help me become more disciplined. Tonight, I will try to run past the pain that I think I can withstand and push through my exhaustion. Hopefully courage is like a muscle that can grow stronger from use. If I do it...If I run despite being tired, hungry, and dehydrated, it will mean that I kept my word (while that may not the best definition of honor, but it is a start). I realize that it will take more to restore our party to glory but hopefully my desire for us to be better helps someone else out in the ether.

Within this blog, it is easy for me to remain undisciplined, so I will sign off for the night and run.

- Peace and Friendship to all.

Galileo

[unkachuck]

151. and there you have it....

"I hope that with this apology, I return to being as insignificant as I should be,"

....I hope all you lefties have been paying attention?....I hope all you lefties will prosper from brother Pete's unfortunate experience and will now actively seek your own 'insignificant' place that's waiting for you in the Democratic Party....

[BornagainDUer]

154. Oh FUUUUUUUUUUUCK YOU!!!!

What a pathologically gutless crop of assholes we have in Congress.

Fuck getting mad, fuck it all

FUCK YOU!!!!

THIS FUCKING COUNTRY DESERVES BUSH.

All I want to do is get the fuck out of here!!

[and-justice-for-all]

155. He should have went for the gold and ended with

"Fuck you Mr. Fascist Dictator"