General Discussion

DFW

(60,147 posts)

159. They were two long-term friends of mine whose paths had never crossed.

Sun Apr 23, 2017, 06:32 PM

Apr 2017

I had been trying to put this together forever, but as I only spend maybe ten days a year in the DC area cumulatively (I now live in the German Rheinland), it was very difficult to find a date when Howard and I were in DC at the same time, AND when Helen was free. FINALLY I managed it. Howard picked the place (The Capital Grille near Dupont Circle) and the time, and we FINALLY made it happen.

It was really funny, because neither Howard nor Helen were exactly unknown faces in Washington, and the other two people at the table were my brother and myself. I haven't lived in the DC area since I was 16, and my brother keeps a low profile. From the stares we got, you could practically hear the steady stream of "I recognize Howard Dean and Helen Thomas, but who the fuck are THOSE two guys?"

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I waited on Bernie Sanders in Burlington [View all] smirkymonkey Apr 2017 OP

One of the reasons I'm calling for younger progressives to take up the torch in 2020 Warpy Apr 2017 #1

Yes -- someone younger, please. I also remember the Vietnam era, pnwmom Apr 2017 #6

Thank you, I agree with you. I think Bernie is great in that he has brought an awareness to smirkymonkey Apr 2017 #51

Do you think he would have tipped more if you were a man? David__77 Apr 2017 #2

Not sure, It may have had nothing to do with it. smirkymonkey Apr 2017 #56

Sexism and racism often affect the size of the tip. athena Apr 2017 #91

I think that that can be the case. David__77 Apr 2017 #139

he probably didn't know the math and didn't know what percentage he was giving JI7 Apr 2017 #3

Nothing could be easier than 10% -- just move the decimal point over. He was paying pnwmom Apr 2017 #7

It was routine to give 15 to 20%, that was what most people smirkymonkey Apr 2017 #32

Yep. People's public persona doesn't always match who they are in person.. nt SunSeeker Apr 2017 #4

Message auto-removed Name removed Apr 2017 #5

Oh, please. This is a longtime poster who was openly supporting Bernie in the primary, pnwmom Apr 2017 #8

Message auto-removed Name removed Apr 2017 #10

Because the poster was strongly supporting Bernie. Why would someone who was supporting pnwmom Apr 2017 #12

Message auto-removed Name removed Apr 2017 #13

Good grief. Why don't you get to know people around here before you start pnwmom Apr 2017 #14

Thank you! I did support Bernie for a long time smirkymonkey Apr 2017 #33

Lots of otherwise nice people are thrifty-to-the-point-of-cheap. It has a lot to do with what you pnwmom Apr 2017 #39

I agree. He may be thrifty, but if anyone should know that a waitperson's salary is smirkymonkey Apr 2017 #48

But the relationship with your brother is different. They are neighbours, so Sanders sees him lunamagica Apr 2017 #127

My brother is also a pillar of the community so that might have smirkymonkey Apr 2017 #132

how would you know since you just got here ? JI7 Apr 2017 #15

Good question.. I waned to ask that but something held me back. nt pnwmom Apr 2017 #41

This is not the first story about Bernie's less than generous tipping. SunSeeker Apr 2017 #9

Message auto-removed Name removed Apr 2017 #11

Oh jeez. On a bill of $16.25, he left $2.44 (15%) Demit Apr 2017 #63

Where is MIRT? nt fun n serious Apr 2017 #16

They did their job! Cha Apr 2017 #18

Woo hoo! fun n serious Apr 2017 #19

Phew! Glad he's gone! pnwmom Apr 2017 #42

I know, right.. you handled him quite well Cha Apr 2017 #60

Thanks Cha for having my back! smirkymonkey Apr 2017 #67

You're Welcome, smirky, and Yes, I do! Cha Apr 2017 #68

I alerted on that troll's post in another thread and it survived the jury. betsuni Apr 2017 #20

I did in this one.. Cha Apr 2017 #21

That one was the usual. betsuni Apr 2017 #22

Right.. blah blah blah and Brock.. blah blah blah Cha Apr 2017 #23

Oh, but WE are the lemmings. betsuni Apr 2017 #24

Yeah, pretty sure Cha Apr 2017 #40

And, by the way, betsuni Apr 2017 #25

Yeah, talk about "authoritarian"! Cha Apr 2017 #46

I saw the term "hillarian" used against a DU poster survive a jury. That should not happen. Demsrule86 Apr 2017 #107

That's something we don't forget, right smirky! Cha Apr 2017 #17

Right! Thanks Cha!! smirkymonkey Apr 2017 #36

You're Welcome! And, I could tell Rod Serling Loved Cha Apr 2017 #38

You can tell a lot by a person's demeanor in public and the first impression you get. nikibatts Apr 2017 #26

The standard tipping years ago was 15%, though some did 10%. Current norms on tipping today are still_one Apr 2017 #27

It was 15% for ok service, 20% when I was a server in 1977-86. we can do it Apr 2017 #35

Waiters/waitresses/bartenders work hard DeminPennswoods Apr 2017 #28

Is it possible the service wasn't as good as you thought? woodsprite Apr 2017 #29

No, I knew who he was so I went out of my way to give excellent service smirkymonkey Apr 2017 #37

Believe me, if you don't leave a tip, waitstaff don't think you "forgot." Demit Apr 2017 #64

The only "coded messages" I send my server.... moriah Apr 2017 #76

Oh yeah, try to blame someone else Cha Apr 2017 #86

You should never, ever leave a tip that is less than 15%. athena Apr 2017 #98

This sort of post lies Apr 2017 #30

This sort of post raises concerns on both sides and it has little to do with tipping. kstewart33 Apr 2017 #52

To me, it's all about the tipping, and not at all about Bernie. athena Apr 2017 #102

No it's a comment about Sanders not practicing what he preaches nini Apr 2017 #70

Not even close lies Apr 2017 #142

You are calling the OP a liar then nini Apr 2017 #145

+1 lunamagica Apr 2017 #161

Anecdotal evidence is considered inadequate on DU from what I understand HoneyBadger Apr 2017 #31

I'm pretty sure that only applies to scientific study kcr Apr 2017 #49

Well you're wrong. Cha Apr 2017 #87

It should be mythology Apr 2017 #157

Message auto-removed Name removed Apr 2017 #34

I would never recommend the current DU to anybody who supports Bernie m-lekktor Apr 2017 #44

I wouldn't either. SammyWinstonJack Apr 2017 #77

Dunno. If one posts Fox/Breitbart links and wants to call women cunts, not sure we can emulatorloo Apr 2017 #78

I don't loathe Bernie, I quite like him in fact. smirkymonkey Apr 2017 #45

hey, I think DU Sanders supporters donated almost $100,000? to Bernie and he sent DU a thank you let Sunlei Apr 2017 #53

Welcome JTFrog Apr 2017 #59

Message auto-removed Name removed Apr 2017 #61

Maybe your service wasn't very good and 10% was generous. aikoaiko Apr 2017 #43

Now that's a cheap shot. kstewart33 Apr 2017 #54

The OP offered an explanation. I offered an alternative. aikoaiko Apr 2017 #62

Yep. I have two friends who own 5 restaurants between the two of them. Hassin Bin Sober Apr 2017 #69

It is like that in higher education, as well. demmiblue Apr 2017 #81

I'm sure your multiple restaurant owning buds have a confirmation bias tilted toward the little guy kcr Apr 2017 #82

The one guy closed both his restaurants for day without immigrants. He's an Irish immigrant. Hassin Bin Sober Apr 2017 #100

Sorry, I always got great tips from other people. smirkymonkey Apr 2017 #151

And sometimes the customer is just a jerk nini Apr 2017 #72

And maybe it's a cheap shot. kstewart33 Apr 2017 #147

Thank you. I went out of my way to give good service smirkymonkey Apr 2017 #152

In this day and age 10% is very poor service crazycatlady Apr 2017 #66

I disagree sarah FAILIN Apr 2017 #96

A server pays taxes on 8% whether a tip is received or not crazycatlady Apr 2017 #116

I have waited tables as a teen. sarah FAILIN Apr 2017 #146

How much was the total bill? 3 people sometimes each plate/meal is close to $15 & 10% is enough tip Sunlei Apr 2017 #47

I'm not sure, maybe around $50? smirkymonkey Apr 2017 #50

hey $5 and you get 8 tables an hour? to carry 3 plates, refill drinks once & bring catsup. $5 . Sunlei Apr 2017 #55

Dont forget part of that goes to busboys, taxes etc nini Apr 2017 #85

Really, nini.. trying to excuse the poor tipper. Cha Apr 2017 #88

There still seems to be the mindset that service type jobs are not worthy of a living wage nini Apr 2017 #92

Good for your Dad! I worked has a waitress with Cha Apr 2017 #94

Both of my sisters were waitresses nini Apr 2017 #99

LOL! Cha Apr 2017 #101

Oh, blaming the "slow cooks" now, eh? Hassin Bin Sober Apr 2017 #103

That is incredibly insensitive. athena Apr 2017 #104

Personally if a place has cheaper food I increase the percentage I tip csziggy Apr 2017 #71

I do the same. nini Apr 2017 #83

Exactly! athena Apr 2017 #95

10% is never "enough tip". athena Apr 2017 #93

I'm not surprised at all ornotna Apr 2017 #57

Yes, he did that to me too. smirkymonkey Apr 2017 #58

You'll get better! Demit Apr 2017 #65

He made Baby Jesus cry!!! QC Apr 2017 #74

Less than 10% tip? Gothmog Apr 2017 #73

If The Service Is Not Top Notch..... LovingA2andMI Apr 2017 #75

I'm betting smirky gave Top NOTCH Service! Cha Apr 2017 #84

Paying less than 15% is theft. And undertipping hurts waitresses more than waiters. athena Apr 2017 #90

Sure you are on the right board? smirkymonkey Apr 2017 #153

Some people need to hurt others to feel good about themselves. athena Apr 2017 #155

Cue people telling you that you probably didn't deserve a decent tip. LexVegas Apr 2017 #79

Exactly.. how low.. "smear the messenger". Cha Apr 2017 #89

Looks like the messenger made it up Quixote1818 Apr 2017 #110

NO smirky "didn't make it up".. that has nothing to do Cha Apr 2017 #112

I feel for you NastyRiffraff Apr 2017 #80

Yes, there are exceptions, Riff.. I have an anecdotal Cha Apr 2017 #97

Good for Rod Sterling NastyRiffraff Apr 2017 #141

Oh, I also forgot to mention that I waited on Pat Robinson and crew smirkymonkey Apr 2017 #120

OMG don't get me started about the church people! NastyRiffraff Apr 2017 #143

They were honestly the worst people I have ever had to wait on. smirkymonkey Apr 2017 #144

Too bad you didn't wait on Howard Dean DFW Apr 2017 #105

Nice guy! smirkymonkey Apr 2017 #117

Howard was ALWAYS a nice guy. DFW Apr 2017 #125

Wow! You have met some amazing people in your life! smirkymonkey Apr 2017 #128

Just a string of lucky coincidences, mostly DFW Apr 2017 #134

Oh - that's great! I would love to meet her! smirkymonkey Apr 2017 #135

Helen is gone now, unfortunately DFW Apr 2017 #136

She was a gem. It must have been an honor to meet her. smirkymonkey Apr 2017 #137

She and my dad were colleagues since JFK was in the White House DFW Apr 2017 #138

Oops, I replied to the wrong post, I think. DFW Apr 2017 #160

Howard Dean AND Helen Thomas??!! NastyRiffraff Apr 2017 #156

They were two long-term friends of mine whose paths had never crossed. DFW Apr 2017 #159

That sounds like something Howard Dean would Cha Apr 2017 #124

That was typical Howard for sure DFW Apr 2017 #131

Dean is also very wealthy JI7 Apr 2017 #149

Even wealthy people can be very stingy DFW Apr 2017 #158

god not another one !! pangaia Apr 2017 #106

Maybe the evidence is just piling up? CajunBlazer Apr 2017 #109

You seem to have a lot of connections to Sanders in your posts. Here is an interesting one Quixote1818 Apr 2017 #108

Can't both accounts be true? CajunBlazer Apr 2017 #111

Yes they can be.. his big "Gotcha" .. fizzled. Cha Apr 2017 #113

Doubtful. nt greyl Apr 2017 #114

No, it's not "doubtful" at all. Cha Apr 2017 #121

Possible but it smells fishy as hell Quixote1818 Apr 2017 #119

Nope, see upthread. smirkymonkey Apr 2017 #115

Or you could have remebered you praised Sanders previously and did a search Quixote1818 Apr 2017 #122

It's not really important if you "buy it" or not. Cha Apr 2017 #123

Whatever. It's true. Honestly, it has been a faint memory. smirkymonkey Apr 2017 #126

Welcome to ignore. athena Apr 2017 #129

This Right Here LovingA2andMI Apr 2017 #165

Interesting.... LovingA2andMI Apr 2017 #164

It's hard to base my thoughts of someone based on someone else's experience Horse with no Name Apr 2017 #118

Larry David? Is that you? Koch Ebola Apr 2017 #130

How did you ever find me out? smirkymonkey Apr 2017 #133

I also waited on Bernie Sanders left-of-center2012 Apr 2017 #140

My husband said the same thing. He waited on Bernie Sanders n NYC and Nanjeanne Apr 2017 #148

Sounds More Like Bernie.... LovingA2andMI Apr 2017 #166

Sorry to hear that that happened. Ken Burch Apr 2017 #150

No, not at all. As I have said upthread I still value Bernie's input as a progressive champion. smirkymonkey Apr 2017 #154

Post removed Post removed Apr 2017 #162

I waited on Eddie Money back in the 80's. QC Apr 2017 #163