I Wish Stark Hadn't Apologized. I'm tired of people saying what

[leftyladyfrommo]

they really mean and then being forced to capitulate. Or people being arrested for wearing a non popular t-shirt.

People are being forced into the majority conformity and that sucks. It is also an extremely worrison path we are on.

[CottonBear]

1. Democrats should not apologize for when they speak their minds and speak truth to power.

It makes Democrats look weak.

Bush and Cheney never apologize and they are pathological liars and asshats.

[earthboundmisfit]

2. And the schoolyard bullies keep winning.

Over and over and over.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. So nancy forced him, and played into the Pugs

meme

GOP strong

DEMS weak

Way to go nancy!

[leftyladyfrommo]

5. I don't care for Nancy Pelosi.

I really try to support women but I just plain think she is horrible. And I don't like Reid any better.

[stirlingsliver]

4. I'm With You

It just burns me up when people who speak the Truth To Power are forced to retract their courageous statements.

It's just one more sign, I suppose, of the terribly repressive state we live in.

What makes it even worse is that Pete Stark was forced to say that he should be insignificant.

The tyrants have won.

[devilgrrl]

6. He apologized?

eom

[leftyladyfrommo]

7. I just saw it on the news somewhere. He wasn't censured by he

apologized anyway.

What I would give to see a Democrat with some balls.

[guruoo]

22. Exactly. He shouldn't have said it, but once he did

he should have never backed down. In fact, he should have turned up the heat
while he had the public's attention.

[truebrit71]

8. Yup....today....

...the rethugs were trying to get him censured...

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

10. Here.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3039881

[LSK]

11. SHIT, THATS FUCKED UP

:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

:nuke: :nuke: :nuke:

[Didereaux]

9. Now even the Congressmen have no 'Freedom of Speech' rights. n/t

[truebrit71]

12. Another win for the repukes....brilliant...just f*cking brilliant...

:eyes:

I give up...

What's the point anymore when our own party fucks us in the ass repeatedly...??

[leftyladyfrommo]

13. That is kind of how I feel about it, too.

I'm still a Democrat but I am embarrassed by this bunch in Congress.

[truebrit71]

14. I don't mean to be so crude but i have just about had it with these spineless wimps...

...we are the MAJORITY party and the minority STILL keeps leading us around by our noses...

Absolutely pathetic...

[leftyladyfrommo]

15. I know. The Repugs must have something on these guys.

Something very untoward is going on, that's for sure.

[unpossibles]

16. I've wondered about that too

it makes no sense at all.

I notice no one on the right ever apologizes. When have Ann or Rush or Bill ever apologized for the crap they spew?

[leftyladyfrommo]

20. Has to be something. And something really big. n/t

[acmavm]

26. Well then, they need to get the hell out of politics. Because

covering their own hides is no justification for selling the country out.

[11cents]

17. Lesson: pay some damn attention to people's histories!

Stark has his good points, but he has a long record of popping off with over-the-top remarks that he later retracts. He lacks self-control. His tearful apology was entirely predictable; he's like a kid -- all emotion-driven.

The issue here isn't the remarks themselves; it's turning people who really aren't reliable into instant heroes and standard-bearers. Someone like Stark was never suited for that role, and we had every reason to know that.

[guruoo]

18. IMHO, Idiot for saying it, double idiot for backing down n/t

[Generator]

19. And goddamn it!

The Dems are idiots. You know he had the opportunity to say something like-I'm sure the president doesn't want the troops heads blown off. HOWEVER, this war is wrong, is never going to end and if the president wants no more troops to die-he can start bringning them home and supporting what the MAJORITY of all Americans want. This isn't a dictatorship. Bring the troops home.

Instead it's meek slumping away as ususal.

[mmonk]

21. Speech against the administration's policy is frowned on

when made an issue. This is normal in countries where free speech is inhibited and usually goes along with fascist shifts.

[otohara]

23. Not To Mention This Apology Went Way Beyond

a simple apology. WTF is this "insignificant" remark all about?

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

[lpbk2713]

24. Does anyone think for a moment ....

that next summer when GOP candidates show the video of the original statement Stark made on the House floor that they will also make a disclaimer that "he later apologized"? Hell No. It won't even be suggested. They don't play like that. Apologizing was just a wasted effort IMHO. And it will be used against all Dems, just wait and see.

[acmavm]

25. Damn! What a bunch of gutless assholes. Have you ever seen

a republican apologize for ANYTHING??? And do you think the fact that they don't might have something to do with why the ALWAYS GET THEIR WAY????

[Individualist]

27. DLC prevails again!

:mad:

[flyarm]

30. YEP ..YOU HAVE THAT RIGHT!! eom

[flyarm]

28. Half of Nancy's state is burning down,,there was almost no national guard..and this is the bullshit

Nancy allows on the floor?

so why Nancy is * bringing in 1,200 national guard?? because your state doesn't have enough??????

and this is the crap you concern yourself with Nancy??????????


I just called her office and let them have it!

fly

[Hidden Stillness]

29. This is Apparently More Important Than Medicare Advantage, or S-CHIP...

Pete Stark just finished conducting a wonderful House hearing a few days ago on the outrageous, (and deregulated), scandal of "Medicare Advantage" and its excessive billing, fake charges, funneling money away from real Medicare, etc., etc., a total commercial takeover yet again, of a Government program, with outrageous losses of money, and reduced coverage--and countless ties to the Republcian Party. Another outsourced corporate takeover of a Federal program, and its complete fleecing by these corporations. Suddenly, of course, along comes this distraction, a silly remark that is suddenly "shameful and disgraceful." How convenient. Democrats should have instantly censured Boner for outrageous and shameful conduct, for passing out checks from the tobacco industry on the floor of the House of Representatives when Republicans still controlled, as a bribe for a vote. That USED TO BE illegal, (revealed by Bill Moyers, during the PBS Abramoff investigation special). Again, Democrats did nothing.

[mdmc]

31. what did he say?