WP, Milbank: Frist didn't count to ten, had "screaming temper tantrum"

[DeepModem Mom]

Mad About You
By Dana Milbank
Wednesday, November 2, 2005; Page A05

In the genteel club that is the United States Senate, Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) had a screaming temper tantrum yesterday.

Minutes after his Democratic counterpart, Harry Reid (Nev.), used a surprise parliamentary maneuver to throw the Senate into a rare closed session, Frist burst from the chamber and approached the cameras in the hallway.

Without counting to 10, as anger-management experts recommend when you are very, very mad, Frist exploded....

***

(The Dems' move) was a cheap trick -- and it worked brilliantly. Reporters dropped their stories about Alito and covered the melee in the Senate. CNN titled the episode "Congress in Crisis." MSNBC displayed a live shot of a mostly empty hallway outside the Senate chamber and a clock showing elapsed time since the Senate went into closed session.

Republicans knew they were licked. They agreed to set a schedule for the long-delayed intelligence committee investigation Democrats demanded. "Today, the American people had a victory," Reid declared....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/01/AR2005110102068.html?sub=AR

[Lasher]

1. Frist will feel better after he skins a few more cats. (EOM)

[johnfunk]

31. I don't think so -- Kitty Kevorkian got OWNED yesterday

[Robeysays]

44. he looks like an elf...

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[Lasher]

45. Or maybe he was begat

[Snotcicles]

53. When Frist starts throwing out that Grand Institution line you know his

bung hole is clenching.

[meow2u3]

59. ROTFLMAO!!!

Kitty Kevorkian! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[tbolt]

62. Resemblants

Rich Little ?

[Snotcicles]

52. ET phone home n/t

[Up2Late]

56. Eeeeuuuwwww! You just reminded me of a Veterinary Text book I found

a few years back. Very disturbing pictures, for a Cat lover, in it. :puke:

[PleadTheFirst]

2. God, I love that story.

I think I'll read it again. :)

[Beetwasher]

18. Hee Hee, I Know What You Mean!

It's a damn fun read. There's just something so satisfying in seeing Frist in all his amateurish, shithead glory. Naked for the world to see what a bumbling, whiny asshat he is.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. Springer had a great reply to Frist's tirade

You call Reid's call to find out the truth about what brought us to war a stunt? What do you call what you did with Terri Shaivo?

[reality based]

5. Excellent point! n/t

[LaurenG]

9. The problem with this statement is it's not hitting the nail

on the head. "You call Reid's call to find out the truth about what brought us to war a stunt? What do you call taking a year and a half and still not getting the answers to the reasons for war and then refusing to discuss it? That is a STUNT of the first order and a deliberately corrupt one at that Mr. (pasty boy) Frist".

[Beetwasher]

15. Yeah, That Schiavo Stunt Was Such A Success Too!

:rofl:

If you're gonna pull a stunt, you should at least pull a GOOD one that doesn't help the opposition! Frist is such an amateur it would be sad if it weren't so friggin' hilarious!

[samsingh]

37. well put

love it when people can encapulate repug absurdity in one or two sentences.

[Broken_Hero]

47. good call, :)

[Captain Hilts]

4. Millbank didn't mention the connection to the Roberts hearings...

as a reason for calling the closed session.

[melissinha]

6. What happened to Milbank?

He didn't insert any personal conservative viewpoints here... all pure journalism.... Congratulations, Mr. Milbank you may turn out to be decent journalist after all.

[Beetwasher]

19. Milbank Confounds Me

I've seen some damn fine stuff from him and then whammo, he hits you with something egregiously whorish. This must be one of his good days. :shrug:

[yellowcanine]

7. I think we have a street fighter on our side. Fristy never knew what hit

him until he woke up in the ER.

[bballny]

10. what would

a rich boy know about a street fight. That is like saying you would want * in a foxhole with you. I couldn't think of a worse compatriot in a real life fight.

[freeplessinseattle]

42. you're talking about Frist, right?

because I'm sure you know Reid's history growing up dirt poor, and taking boxing lessons encouraged by his history teacher (who later became Gov of Nev)

[bballny]

63. Of course

Frist.

[AlinPA]

8. The "It was a cheap trick..." line was not very objective.

[beltanefauve]

58. Agreed

What they call cheap, I call clever.

[Historic NY]

11. I watched it unfold yesterday and it was apparent....

that the Republicans were totally clueless. They thought it was over the budget bill.....the moral of the story is when Repugs snooze we can make them lose. In all it was brilliant move by Reid & Durbin, to use the rules to capture the agenda. Frist's words after carrying on, that he had to go back and figure out what was going on was telling.

[ClintonTyree]

61. I must agree.......

watching Frist's meltdown in real time was one of the top 10 events of the year in my opinion. The look on his face was priceless and it was quite apparent he didn't have a clue what to do next. The often used "deer caught in the headlights" analogy was totally applicable here and quite amusing.

It was one of the few moments in the last 5 years when I was so damned proud to be a Democrat that I could have burst my buttons.

By the way Mr. Frist, if you'd like to experience what a real slap in the face feels like I'd be more than happy to oblige. Just consider it one of your Senatorial fact finding missions, OK? ;)

[TheCowsCameHome]

12. Frist will find a career in talk radio with his uncontrolled outbursts

Hannity, watch out.

[bunny planet]

13. Scarlett O'Frist has a meltdown on camera.

Too mucking fuch.

[yorkiemommie1]

17. quick! somebody get the smelling salts !

Scarlett O'Frista has gone into a swoon!

:nopity:

[Norquist Nemesis]

14. It just dawned on me what Frist meant about the "scare tacticts"

He shit his pants. :rofl:

[Straight Shooter]

16. To shut down the Senate 6 times for Clinton impeachment was a cheap trick.

This was not a cheap trick. To write something like that is a cheap shot on Milbank's part. He can't help himself, I suppose. He's in this mess up to his eyebrows with the complicity of covering up the lies before and during the War on Iraq. He's got to find a way to throw a dart somewhere.

[glitch]

25. That's correct. Milbank is going to have to go in for a long recovery.

Assuming a whore can recover.
I don't suppose he can help himself, it's hard changing those old tapes.

[Senator]

20. Ruckus in the Sandbox - Oh My!

Poor babies!

Bully Billy stamped his little feets.

And Kitty Bond got a big, big tummy ache.

And poor Patty Cake Roberts got no treats for Halloween!

You see, children, nobody like to have sand thrown in their eyes. Not even Big Bad Fitz the Cat.

Now stand aside while Daddy Dems uncover the stinky Turd Blossom and take it out.

Then we can all go back to playing nice. OK?

--

[WiseButAngrySara]

21. Frist! What a brat, what a bully! He never has advanced beyond the

'terrible two's'...I'm not changing my opinion about changeling Dana Milbank over this one, but good for him.

When does Fritz go to jail?

:kick: and recommended!

[Vinnie From Indy]

22. Millbank Smillbank

He would need several mea culpa columns to make up for some of the crap he has written.

I wish Reid would have commented on the GOP usage of the word "stunt" to describe the Democrats insistence that the intelligence committee do it's job. Reid could have reminded people that the reason this is so important is because OUR SOLDIERS ARE DYING EVERY DAY in Iraq and by addressing the flaws in our intelligence gathering and the administration's use of that intelligence we might save soldiers lives. He could have thrown in just for good measure that it is also "for the children". It is amazing how many people will instantly back anything with that phrase in it.

[Cha]

23. "Cheap Trick"? Wasn't that

the name of a band in the '70's?

http://www.cheaptrick.com/discography.html

"Mr. Leader," one stunned journalist observed, "I don't remember you being so exercised over something before."

"You've never seen me in heart surgery," the senator, a transplant specialist, replied.

Dr. Frist's patients -- not to mention the Tennessee medical licensing board -- may be surprised to learn that he had operating-room rage. But his reaction to Reid's provocation was predictable."

This will be worthy news for future heart patients of doc frist.

[One_of_8]

26. ROFL

Dr. Frist's patients -- not to mention the Tennessee medical licensing board -- may be surprised to learn that he had operating-room rage. But his reaction to Reid's provocation was predictable."

Paging Dr. Scarlett O'Frist, stat! A good surgeon strives to remain calm and focused during surgery, not that Frist would know what being a good surgeon is like.

[mnhtnbb]

51. Surgeons are notoriously ill-tempered and bad-mannered

They yell, scream, throw instruments, and generally carry on like the spoiled brats most of them are. When confronted, they always hide behind, "I'm doing this for the patient." No, they are doing it to intimidate the OR staff and assert their power.

Most of them have earned their reputations as first-class assholes.

[Ysolde]

24. I still don't like Mr. Milbank...

The shot about it being a "cheap trick" is not even remotely reporting. It's scary when the press bashes Dems so much that we can't even tell when we are still being bashed.

I'd really like the WaPo to truthfully report all of the information about the run up to the war on the front page (DSM anyone?), instead of putting things in columnists' articles inside the paper.

[ljm2002]

27. I haven't had this much fun in years!

For the last several years, watching the lunatics running this country has been an exercise in frustration, not to mention downright depressing. Even during the Clinton years, the right captured much of the agenda -- forcing Clinton to the so-called "center" by painting any progressive ideas as "loony left".

As serious as the underlying issues are, we finally have something to laugh about. Thank you Harry Reid!

My favorite parts of Milbank's article:

1 -- "Republicans are outraged," Sen. Christopher Bond (R-Mo.) reported. "I just ate lunch, and it's upset my stomach." :nopity:

2 -- As he leveled these charges, Ueland turned in a 360-degree circle so that all the journalists could hear him.

"You're spinning!" one of the reporters observed. :rofl:

[Cha]

28. That was one of my faves, too.

Upsetting that repuke from Missouri's stomach.

And Scarlett O'frist's chief of staff, eric ueland, literally spinning like a damn top.

[klook]

33. "You're spinning!"

That's my favorite. B-)

I also like the image of a perplexed Mel Martinez in the presiding officer's chair as Reid shares a laugh with a couple of colleagues.

It's dead serious businses, though, and I'm glad the Democrats are showing some spine.

[SeattleGirl]

40. Those were my two favorites also!

"It's upset my stomach" -- Oh you poor, delicate little thing! This is the Senate, sir, not a tea party! :rofl:

"You're spinning" -- That was absolutely the BEST line!! :rofl: :rofl:

[faithnotgreed]

41. oh my - those are great excerpts

thanks for posting them

[mark11727]

46. Politics ain't pretty... wear a cup.

[peekaloo]

29. Democracy in action is not a cheap trick.

Frist, of all people, should know there is more than one way to skin a cat.

[Tatiana]

30. Poor Rethuglicans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Republicans are outraged," Sen. Christopher Bond (R-Mo.) reported. "I just ate lunch, and it's upset my stomach."

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[fishnfla]

32. Its about the war, stupid

So Dr Frist thinks he can run the chamber like the OR, and gets his nose all bent outta shape when an attending physician has to point out the error of his ways....

Makes me wonder: why dont he get as upset about the war? I mean, thats the real deal, life-or-death story here. To whine about a slap in the face? Almost offensive, but stupid to make this about yourself Doc.

The American people might not know procedural rules from an aortic bypass, but they understand what happens in a war.

[vogonity]

34. What is the significance of a closed session?

I understand that the rule invoked by Reid is one that is not commonly used, but what was Frist et al so pissed about? So they go in and lock the doors and talk about secret stuff for two hours. Was it simply the fact that Harry was able to command a lot of attention to the fact that the Intelligence Commitee hasn't done anything about the (mis)use of intelligence before the war started?

What would have happened if the Repubs just said, yeah the Dems wanted to talk about some stuff in private, so we did.

I hope this question doesn't come across as hopelessly naive. I am really proud of Reid for managing to show some backbone in this matter, but what specifically was the big deal about the closed session?

[Jane Austin]

38. You don't sound naive to me.

I think you said perfectly how over the top the Rethugs'reaction was when you said what they could have said:

"What would have happened if the Repubs just said, yeah the Dems wanted to talk about some stuff in private, so we did."

That is what a serious person would have said.

[leftchick]

35. I think this is the best column ever from dana...

:rofl:

omg... frist is such a fucking baby...
<snip>

"About 10 minutes ago or so, the United States Senate has been hijacked by the Democratic leadership!" he announced. Never, he said, have "I been slapped in the face with such an affront to the leadership of this grand institution." Epithets flew from his mouth: "They have no conviction. They have no principles. They have no ideas. This is a pure stunt."

Frist was now sputtering. "This is an affront to me personally. It's an affront to our leadership. It's an affront to the United States of America!" Turning sorrowful, he vowed that "for the next year and a half, I can't trust Senator Reid."

[MADem]

43. But Harry was so much classier!

By sunset the deal was struck, the lights went up again in the Senate gallery, and Reid went to the cameras to declare victory. Told about Frist's "slap in the face" remark, Reid stood in silence for a long time. "It's a slap in the face to the American people that this investigation has been stymied. . . . That's the real slap in the face."

[FreedomAngel82]

36. Frist got bitchslapped

That's why he's pissy. He wasn't in control anymore.

[Cha]

39. There was a couple of names for frist when

the repigs were faux grandstanding for Terry Schiavo..

Pissyfrist or Prissyfrist.

[upsidedownaussie]

48. brilliant!

absolutley amazing political move. kudos, *this* is how politics should be done...
Despite the fact that it lost us a seat, thank god Daschle wasn't re-elected. He'd never have the balls or the brains to pull something like this.
I like Reid more and more with each passing day.

[Joey Liberal]

49. Reid is an American hero

Harry Reid has proven himself to be a master in the art of politics. He has the republicans all in a right wing tizzy.

[PurpleChez]

50. Fuck you, Bill Frist.

You and Tipsy McStaggers' other brown shirts are no longer the unquestioned lords and masters of the universe. So boo-fucking-hoo. You and all of your thug cohorts tied your fortunes to the idea that the idiot king was the wisest leader the world had ever seen and now the world is starting to realize that Mr Thing might not be all that. We're not gonna obey orders anymore. You fucking fascist pig. Go screw yourself.

[petepillow]

54. Video? Please? Pretty Please?

i want to watch frist in all his huffy glory.

[rosesaylavee]

55. This is my favorite post ever on DU

Thanks for posting DMM!!

Recommended even tho its on the Home Page - just wanted to show my support.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

57. Wow! Frist really lost it...

...What an enjoyable read---or should I say Reid? Give 'em Hell, Harry!

[tbolt]

60. Hijacked

did the democrats use box cutters ?

[Canuckistanian]

64. Boy, Frist was really "unhinged"

He was "shrill". He was a "bug-eyed fanatic".

[Miss Elizabeth]

65. VIDEO!!!!

I've looked on Crooks and Liars, and didn't see it... Someone PLEASE post a link to video of Frist's meltdown! Oh, please! I'm in a Tenn suburb, and I've been hating this jerk for so long.