Fisticuffs breakout in Alabama state senate

[Strike For The South]

I dont even need to say anything ot make this funny http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/06/07/lawmaker.scuffle.ap/index.html

[BigTex]

Republican Sen. Charles Bishop said Democratic Sen. Lowell Barron called him a "son of a [expletive]."

"I responded to his comment with my right hand," Bishop said.

That is by far the funniest thing I've heard today.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

That's shameful, as if Alabama doesn't have a bad enough reputation to begin with.

[Zaknafien]

oh come on, arent there fights in Parliament all the time?:2thumbsup:

[Banquo's Ghost]

oh come on, arent there fights in Parliament all the time?:2thumbsup:

Not at all. The British Parliament has two lines drawn along the length of the Commons hall. (I'm sure you know that Parliament has directly opposing benches, rather than the more usual semi-circle). These borders are measured so that only by crossing the line can one reach the opposition with a sword thrust.

Crossing the line is a severe (bannable) offense. Occasionally, Tarzan will jump up and swing a mace around, but that's as dangerous as it gets.

The Lords has no such line, as their Lordships were always considered far more civilised than the Common rabble. Well, that and the fact that skewering one's rival is a time-honoured privilege of the aristocracy, and most are anyway, fast asleep. Now that the lower orders are being raised to the peerage on the basis of credit transactions, no doubt the time will come when such measures are necessary to restrain Lord Chav of Burberry from chinning the Earl of Largesse.



"Tarzan" was the nickname for Michael Heseltine, a Tory MP with a lion's mane of hair and a penchant for assassinating Thatchers. During a debate in 1976, he famously grabbed the ornate mace that lies in front of the Speaker denoting Parliament in session, and swung it around a few times. I forget why, but it was to illustrate some constitutional point. The session was suspended and he apologised the next day. Quite the furore.

[Odin]

Not at all. The British Parliament has two lines drawn along the length of the Commons hall. (I'm sure you know that Parliament has directly opposing benches, rather than the more usual semi-circle). These borders are measured so that only by crossing the line can one reach the opposition with a sword thrust.

Crossing the line is a severe (bannable) offense. Occasionally, Tarzan will jump up and swing a mace around, but that's as dangerous as it gets.

The Lords has no such line, as their Lordships were always considered far more civilised than the Common rabble. Well, that and the fact that skewering one's rival is a time-honoured privilege of the aristocracy, and most are anyway, fast asleep. Now that the lower orders are being raised to the peerage on the basis of credit transactions, no doubt the time will come when such measures are necessary to restrain Lord Chav of Burberry from chinning the Earl of Largesse.



"Tarzan" was the nickname for Michael Heseltine, a Tory MP with a lion's mane of hair and a penchant for assassinating Thatchers. During a debate in 1976, he famously grabbed the ornate mace that lies in front of the Speaker denoting Parliament in session, and swung it around a few times. I forget why, but it was to illustrate some constitutional point. The session was suspended and he apologised the next day. Quite the furore.

I think Zak meant parliments in general not the UK specifically.

Fighting in Taiwain parliment (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6636237.stm)

While by no means an everyday occurance, legislative bodies come to blows from time to time.

[Zaknafien]

Yep, Taiwan specifically was who I was thinking of. But speaking of those gents in London, I always thought they could get pretty rowdy too, hmm?

[Marshal Murat]

Do does this mean he connected on another level with the Democrat senator, with an significant impact on political thought?


There should be a decorum set in political gatherings to ensure that this doesn't happen, or at least prevent a constant brawl in the Senate.
Maybe that is what the country needs? A WWF brawl in the Senate, with bets on your senator? That could rejuvinate the political process.

[Reverend Joe]

That was disappointing... the Democratic senator didn't even fight back. I was hoping for a real brawl, and with more than two people involved.

ALABAMA STATE SENATE ALL-STAR DEATHMATCH, TONIGHT ON PAY-PER-VIEW!

[Gregoshi]

Maybe that is what the country needs? A WWF brawl in the Senate, with bets on your senator? That could rejuvinate the political process.
Good point (and puns :laugh4: ) MM. Not only would it perk up interest in politics with the masses, it could raise some money and would definitely change the qualifications needed for running for office..."I was 35-4 as county supervisor and 16-6 in the state legislature. A vote for me is a vote for strength."

[Odin]

Maybe that is what the country needs? A WWF brawl in the Senate, with bets on your senator? That could rejuvinate the political process.

Wonderful, so i have the tag team of Kennedy and Kerry :inquisitive:

[Don Corleone]

I don't know which is worse, that he hit the guy, that he refused to apologize, or that the Alabama Senate couldn't bring itself to censure Bishop. :dizzy2:

I'd like to say something like "Only in Alabama", but sadly I think that might prove to be inaccurate at some point in the future.

[Crazed Rabbit]

That's not so bad - I've got Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell.

I'm sure Kennedy, sufficiently liquored up, could get a bit rowdy.

Crazed Rabbit

[Don Corleone]

I think I could take John Sununu and I know I could take Judd Gregg. Both at the same time... I dunno. If either of those jokers votes in favor of S1384, I suspect we'll find out sooner rather than later.

[DemonArchangel]

ALABAMA STATE SENATE ALL-STAR DEATHMATCH, TONIGHT ON PAY-PER-VIEW!

I'd watch that.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Yep, Taiwan specifically was who I was thinking of. But speaking of those gents in London, I always thought they could get pretty rowdy too, hmm?

Well over here we confine ourselves to heckling, actually coming to blows is, well, just not cricket.

It's an interesting point actually because the rowdy nature of our parliament in comparison to the reverence that America generally has for it's legislature is something that some consider to be a sign of our supperior democratic ideals.

We have no respect for our politicians.

[Duke of Gloucester]

oh come on, arent there fights in Parliament all the time?:2thumbsup:

In America there is a long tradition, seemingly.

Knock-down arguments US style. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preston_Brooks)

[Reverend Joe]

In America there is a long tradition, seemingly.

Knock-down arguments US style. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preston_Brooks)
That one's always got my blood boiling. If there was but one thing I could travel back in time to do, I would return the favour to Brooks. In public. In front of his electorate. With a dildo.

And then I would pee on his mother.


Well over here we confine ourselves to heckling, actually coming to blows is, well, just not cricket.

It's an interesting point actually because the rowdy nature of our parliament in comparison to the reverence that America generally has for it's legislature is something that some consider to be a sign of our supperior democratic ideals.

We have no respect for our politicians.

I actually have a lot more respect for politicians willing to yell than each other in public than those prissy little snobs in Congress.