I really thought Barney Frank sucked on Real Time tonight...

[MrMickeysMom]

This was the season final until September. I enjoyed this panel, but I have to say that Frank woefully stunk in understanding what is going on in the middle class. At several points he was handed his hat by the panelist next to him (I'm forgetting her, but she was well informed). I could tell this pissed him off so that the only retaliation was to talk over her, which didn't undo her feathers. She presented a good argument to question, "if we need more police to take care of high crime areas, why were they primarily positioned around Occupy Wall Street, rather than high crime areas?" He's out to lunch even after Washington on the role of police, and the squeezing of middle class. She pointed out his backing away from legislation that showed a political strategy, which is think made him sit there like he pooped his pants during the rest of the show. That was good, as I wanted to listen to another person with ideas a million times better than Barney Frank... Jay Z!

[liberal_at_heart]

1. someone getting their chops busted over how Occupy was treated? I'll have to watch that.

[think]

2. I like Frank alot but was also surprised by his actions

[cherokeeprogressive]

3. Barney Frank has NO FUCKING CLUE what it's like to live like we do.

He's been in his seat for over THIRTY YEARS.

[MrMickeysMom]

5. And, that shouldn't have been a surprise...

But, the bottom of the season, he came off pretty badly, which only accentuates how out of touch most are.

We've said it before... you could only count a few who a true progressives and haven't been caught up in the game...

[FarPoint]

15. I have to agree....

That was my take on his display as well. He is too far removed.

[grasswire]

4. Sadly, I guess he's jumped the shark.

He seemed very "establishment" to me tonight. He protected DHS so vigorously that Maher told him he was "badgering the witness."

[MrMickeysMom]

7. Who was the woman who cleaned for floor with him, anyway?

I was very interested to listen to how she made her points.

[kas125]

9. Alexis Goldstein.

http://alexisgo.com/

[MrMickeysMom]

11. Thank you for that...

I'm listening to her podcast now.

Excellent visit.

[Archae]

6. Maybe he just had a bad night.

I still remember when he confronted that guy about military people showering together, comparing it to being in an athletic club shower.

He can be well-read and knowledgable, and maybe tonight he was just off his game.

[TheKentuckian]

14. It is about game but belief and philosophy. He was "off" because of topics.

Even in your example, he just displayed the insight of someone that isn't a backwards fuck in open rebellion against common sense.

I like the guy because he is fiery and doesn't take shit but he is not some liberal lion on economics or civil liberties that limit the government. Pretty damn good on access.

[RedCappedBandit]

8. I felt like they were both right, regarding the police.

They were arguing different points. Was kind of frustrating.

Alexis Goldstein (w. occupy) was right, obviously. The police, especially in NYC, waste their time on stop & frisk, a clearly racist policy.

But Barney Frank wasn't wrong, either. That's not a reason to get rid of the police. It just means we need to improve them (very much).

Throughout the rest of the show I think Alexis was brilliant, especially next to Barney.

[MrMickeysMom]

10. After sleeping on it, I've concluded just this much...

1) Though I respect Barney Frank's experience about the way the Republicans have played their game (defunding the things that effect us), I think he tried (and then, having some realization, had to leave it)

2) Frank must have come away from that last night, realizing how broken it was, regardless of how hard he tried.

3) My local govt role deals with the funding and operations of local law enforcement (and I will complete my 5 years this year because I lost a primary this year). I learned a bunch in during this time. We do more and more for public safety and public works, and it sucks up so much of the tax base, right along with public works. Proportionally, local governments are being starved. It's painful, and it all matters here. What ARE the priorities? I could go on, but won't...

4) We're politically and structurally broken, Barney knows it, and the brilliant young people who want to outright reform it must come together with the rest of us to demand we get our priorities straight. I agree, we should not prioritize to continue to be a police state.

I appreciate with everything you said. This really was a reality check.

[Paladin]

12. Another dreary show from Maher.

If I want to see talking heads being constantly interrupted and talking over one another, I'll subject myself to Chris Matthews......

[TheKentuckian]

13. Barney is a banker friendly establishment pol who has a liberal rep because he is gay and outspoken

Nothing against the man at all but he just is kinda middle of the road Democrat.

[MrMickeysMom]

16. Sort of makes me re-re-define "middle of the road" Dem...

It keeps bending more and more to Wall Street corporate models with each passing day...

[TheKentuckian]

17. Yup, pretty much just the Reagan era Republicans without the "Moral Majority" shit and the Southern

Strategy but with more of a heavy influence from Darth Cheney.