Does Skinner Deserve 10 Lashes with a Wet Noodle?

[Skinner]

Earlier today, I posted this message in which I said this:

I have a confession which isn't going to win me many friends here on DU: I'm highly skeptical of Patrick Kennedy's "disoriented by prescription drugs" excuse.

I am well aware that we do not know if he was drinking. I suspect we probably won't ever know. I will even grudgingly admit that it is admirable that some of you are giving him the benefit of the doubt and accepting his explanation for what happened. You might turn out to be right -- In fact, I hope you are right. If we get conclusive evidence that you're right, then I will submit myself to 10 lashes with a wet noodle, right here in the General Discussion forum.

In the wake of Kennedy's presser today, I'm not sure whether I have earned the 10 noodly lashes. As is often the case, the truth seems to be somewhat more complicated than the black-and-white "he was drunk driving"/"he took some sleeping pills" dichotomy we were discussing. At the press conference Kennedy did not give any additional details about the events of Wednesday night, but he did make clear that he has a problem with prescription medication and will be checking into rehab.

So, I will leave the decision up to you to decide whether I have earned the previously promised wet-noodle lashes.

What do you think?

[Cooley Hurd]

1. Oh, wet noodle lashes don't hurt...

...don't ask how I know, okay? ;)

[dubyaD40web]

8. How about in the eye?

:-)

[derby378]

2. But who's gonna do the lashing?

Is it pay-per-view? Will munchies be supplied? I need help, here.

[Drum]

11. The cat-o-nine-noodles will be auctioned,

as a DU fundraiser. Why not a lighthearted event, an homage to whipping up the base?

The revolution will be televised...though should be free.

;)

[H2O Man]

3. Hopefully

it merely indicates a lack of knowledge about addiction-related issues.

[Binka]

33. Oh Gawd A Voice Of Reason

Did the parents just fall a sleep? I am appalled at this bullshit. From admin? What fucking nonsense.

[H2O Man]

48. This morning

when it was being "reported," I thought it seemed pretty clear what had happened. Patrick is a good man, who suffers from addiction. Addiction is a disease frequently marked by relapse. It can be as simple as a doctor who is intelligent and who uses care, but who prescribes a medication for a physical ailment that sparks the addiction. The Kennedy family, like so many others, has a genetic predisposition to what RFK Jr calls "the Irish flu." JFK was allergic to antihistamines (those familiar with the reactions this causes know exactly what I mean), and so one might suspect that the reaction to other medications could have serious reactions. Synergism, from two medications, is serious.

We need to move back in the direction of being a compassionate society.

[BuyingThyme]

4. There is no difference between driving under the influence and

driving under the influence.

[Drum]

17. Spot on! nt

[glitch]

34. There is a difference in intent. If you have no intention of driving and

end up on the road due to "side effects" on prescribed medications, who exactly should be charged?

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/08/business/08ambien.html?ei=5088&en=17cf99894f297014&ex=1299474000&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&pagewanted=print
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,187230,00.html

[BuyingThyme]

54. I was so drunk, I didn't know what I was doing.

[glitch]

70. You chose to get that drunk. Are you saying unknown side effects

to prescribed drugs are your choice as well? In some respects it is everyone's responsibility to know the risks of what they are taking, but that responsibility is shared with doctors, pharmaceutical companies and the fda.
We pay them a lot of money with the expectation they know what they are doing.

[BuyingThyme]

78. Alcoholism is a disease. I'm not responsible for my disease

This is somebody else's fault. They sell alcohol right there at the supermarket, with the approval of the government. The bartender served me. How can this be my fault?

[htuttle]

5. Just get a cake in the shape of a noodle

If Tucker Carlson didn't have to actually eat a shoe, you shouldn't have to actually get whipped with a noodle.

[Triana]

6. YES but...

...only on general purpose. Just because it'll be fun. I'll volunteer if someone else holds him down. Or better yet, we can take turns...

Lash the Admin! Lash the Admin!

:evilgrin:

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

7. ... I really just want to see a noodle lashing.

:blush:

[Drum]

21. (YouTube must have one somewhere, lol)

[Triana]

75. Well, we could MAKE one for YouTube !

(joking...)

[underpants]

9. Rehab is also a nice 28 day cooling off period for the press too

Not to doubt Kennedy and of course I wish him the best-I have been going through this with my brother for years.

Rehab is also used to take the heat off the primary subject. Everyone forgets about it after a week or so and they come back out *NEW* and move on with their life.

[berni_mccoy]

10. yes, Yes, YES!!!! LASH AWAY, LASH AWAY, LASH AWAY SKINNER!

bwahahahahahah!

You know, it's just too damn bad that Kennedy didn't shoot someone in the face!

Then there would be no fuss at all, and no noodle lashings to be had.

[ComerPerro]

12. NO SEX THREADS

[stepnw1f]

13. Shame on you Skinner!

Take that!!!

[dogday]

14. Yes you do

I have a noodle with your name on it :evilgrin:

[AndyA]

15. I think you have every reason to be skeptical.

I would not be surprised to learn this is all a manuever to minimize damage. The Republicans do it all the time. No, that doesn't make it right, but we need to keep our focus on the big picture right now. And the Kennedy car scrape isn't it.

[JuniperLea]

16. PFT!

People need to look at themselves and ask how much the reasoning behind their views has reached freeper status.

To blindly support someone just because they are "on our side" is soooo Repuke. And to make a decision about a situation where you have little or no information is just as bad, if not worse.

Never apologize for thinking clearly or having an open mind, Skinner. Without those qualities we are all doomed.




:yourock:

[Common Sense Party]

18. He's a Democrat. He deserves the benefit of the doubt.

Only Republicans are guilty until proven innocent.

That's just the way things are.

[zippy890]

19. I thought 40 lashes with a wet noodle was way that went

I suppose you can get off with 10 seeing as all the
fine community work you've done.

;-)

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

20. If you deserve the noodle...

off the top of my head I can think of several dozen who for worse bad calls deserve the flail, the cat, the knout and the cudgel. Plus one who deserves that little flapper thingy that makes more noise than pain.

:evilgrin:

[libnnc]

22. Skinner, I love ya but....

I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE KENNEDY THINGY!!:banghead:

PORTER GOSS PORTER GOSS PORTER GOSS PORTER GOSS

FOCUS!FOCUS!FOCUS!FOCUS!

RAY MCGOVERN RAY MCGOVERN RAY MCGOVERN

FOCUS!FOCUS!FOCUS!

A KENNEDY IN REHAB IS NOT (REPEAT) NOT NEWS!!

(pant, pant, pant...sorry for the rant but Jayzus!!):banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[Warpy]

23. He got handled with kid gloves, so we WON'T know if he'd

had a few glasses of wine with dinner and then popped that Ambien. That would certainly have been enough to do it, Phenergan or no Phenergan.

Anyone who either defends him or condemns him without admitting this is over the line.

We don't know. There is no possibility we'll ever know. The cops dropped the ball.

Skepticism is the only rational reaction. No noodles today unless you're having ramen for lunch.

[MazeRat7]

24. Naaaa... save the noodling for something really egregious (n/t)

[helderheid]

25. yes, but purely for entertainment

[BlooInBloo]

26. How about 10 noodles with a wet lash?

Yah, I have no idea what that means either.... :)

But it does give an indication of my assessment of the importance of the topic of Kennedy-anything.

[MADem]

27. Uh, Skinner, HE doesn't really know if he was drinking--his mind was a

blank. And he was seen in Hawk 'n Dove, not drinking excessively, per the waitress, but drinking.

I'm guessing the combo of a couple of beers, the ambien, the stomach meds, and now, PAIN MEDS, put him in the mother of all blackouts. That was probably IMMEDIATELY apparent to the Capitol Police supervisor. So he gave him three citations, perhaps discussed what Patrick really oughta do to fix his issues, and sent him home in a car.

Patrick stood up, and did what he needed to do. Basta cosi!!!

[johnaries]

28. As has already been pointed out, Ambien can cause sleep-

driving:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=ambien+sleep-driving

But because of Skinner's excellent record in the past, I vote against the noodling. Besides, I'm not sure how the FSM Church would see that.....

[Alamom]

29. I appreciate you Skinner....but I've never seen a noodle lashing.

It sounds like it might be..... fun. :*

[Midlodemocrat]

Not sure. Do we want to get into the whole

'preferential treatment' thing for an admin? I mean, what if it was RimJob?


:yoiks:

[LoZoccolo]

30. You do, but for something else!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=401971

:hide:

(It's a joke! It's a joke! I didn't even vote in the poll and screw up the numbers!)

[donheld]

80. He said no sex threads

No promises of S/M activity is going to intice him to change that. :evilgrin:

[saltpoint]

31. Maybe just send us all a hundred bucks & we'll consider the matter

settled.

_____

I'm absorbed by Cheney's belligerence toward Russia and more recently about Goss' possible replacement.

I hope Patrick Kennedy gets the support he needs at the rehab joint & returns to Congress good as new.

[Cleita]

32. Even if he was drinking, I think the media is giving this

way too much coverage like they always do, i.e. the Clinis, etc..

Most of us are aware that when prescription medication becomes a problem, it's because somebody had a drink or two on top of it, or they were doctor shopping for extra quantities to up the dosage prescribed like Rush Limbaugh.

Sometimes all it takes is a beer or glass of wine on top of Valium or whatever the drug used that affects one's motor skills and to make someone drunk. So I think there is truth in both statements. He probably had something to drink on top of his prescription drugs. I'm sure lab testing will confirm exactly what it was that he took and how much.

[Kansas Wyatt]

35. Too complicated, however

Regardless of whether prescribed medication was the cause, they still view that as driving under the influence. It is not a very good excuse to come up with, to get away from driving under the influence label.

[Joe for Clark]

36. Of course not!

Its an honest opinion.

The ambien excuse does sound a little unconivcing. But he DID take responsibility right away.

At the end of the day - alcohol or sleeping pills - not really much difference, I suppose. That he took responsibility seems a novel thing in Washington these days. I think highly of him for that.

Joe

[Ron Mexico]

37. No, Skinner does not deserve lashes at all

Comment: no matter what Kennedy had said at the press conference, the original point about preferential treatment being bad stands.

I don't really believe this is a prescription drug problem anyway, as much as I would like to believe it is.

[xultar]

38. Do I get to do the spanking? If so yes. Lashes please!

[Spazito]

39. I can only agree with 5 lashes due to...

my supporting half of your OP on Kennedy.

[WiseButAngrySara]

40. No noodle lashing! Poor Patrick Kennedy couldn't even remember

the incident himself! I sincerely hope that he recovers soon, and that the press lays off of this and doesn't turn it into an excuse to bring up Chappaquidick, but I'm sure I'm wrong about that latter hope.

[SmokingJacket]

41. Yes, but only for making this story a bigger deal.

He clearly took something he shouldn't have before driving, and it doesn't matter if it's alcohol or drugs. That's that, IMHO.

If there was preferential treatment, that's a mistake made by the police.

This is a bottom of the page story, not a headliner, but got bumped up when Goss quit...

[johnnie]

42. Get ready dude

[Arkansas Granny]

43. It just depends on how much you are going to enjoy said

noodle lashing.

;-)

[ChiciB1]

44. While I'm Sure Noodles Don't Hurt... I Still Say NO....

I don't care if you are a Repuke, Dem, Indep, Green or whatever "high" profile cases such as these are RARELY fully disclosed. Kennedy obviously DOES have some sort of problem, and I'm sure we will NEVER know fully what actually happened, so I think noodle lashes aren't in order.

I wonder how MANY more of them up there are involved with drugs, alcohol or whatever! It's too bad that behavior by "high visibility" persona seem to be treated as a Hom-Hum matter.

As a person who is currently dealing with a son who is addicted to drugs, it irritates me that THEY can readily seek AND get help, while there is precious little being done for the rest of us!!

If it's wrong for my son, it's wrong for those with deep pockets too!

[acmejack]

51. Well first of all it is something that needs to be out on the table.

Everyone wants to ignore this and it is a problem in the highest reaches of our Government. Just in this week alone, not one, but two, national figures with prescription drug abuse issues emerged. We need to get this straightened out posthaste. There is a huge & profitable industry "treating" these people, and arresting them, imprisoning them,etc too.

[ChiciB1]

63. I'm In Full Agreement...

I may have a skewed vision here because of of son, but our jails are extremely OVER-CROWDED and there is no help available that you can afford. It is truly SAD! I called INTERVENTION regarding my son... $36,000.00 for the first month! But they did add that in time, the patient could work some of it off! We couldn't afford it, and now my son is worse than ever (HIS FAULT) but also a fugitive from the law too! Decided NOT to appear in court for his violations! I AM NOT giving my blessing to his behavior! But it is heartbreaking.

Just think of the ones we DON'T hear about! In many ways Pharmaceutical companies should be screened much closer too! Was it Jon Stewart Or Steve Colbert who did the skit about pharmaceutical companies? It was funny, but it wasn't funny too!

[dogday]

64. Amen and also the FDA needs to be

held accountable for allowing these drugs on the market, while denying the benefits of smoking pot for medicinal purposes...

[Reader Rabbit]

45. Only if FSM administers them itself!

Justice is only appropriate if it comes from His Divine Noodliness.

[radfringe]

46. I'm declining on voting in this poll

When I first heard the story - my political radar went crazy. I hoped it was just a little traffic accident and nothing nefarious going on in the background -- however the beeping from the radar told me there was more to the story

then it came out about ambien... ok - plausible excuse but not excusable excuse to be behind the wheel, and given the news reports about ambien and driving recently -- radar went off even louder -- plausible excuse is just tooooo convienent

I just didn't like the way the whole thing smelled.

As much as I would have like to see this as something blown waaaaaaaayyy out of proportion as a way to smear all Dems as being druggies or something (thus diverting attention from Oxy-Rush) -- well the tin-foil hat didn't fit this time.

I'm sure oxy-Rush is having a hey-day with this - avoiding hypocrisy has never been his long suit

[BOSSHOG]

47. Why should you be lashed with limbaugh's penis?

[incapsulated]

49. Yes, bring out the noodles

Not for being skeptical, he has admitted he was impaired, but for starting a thread about said skeptisim and making the story about whether we "believe" Kennedy more important than it should ever be. Which is why I started a counter OP.

Make up for it by posting a Porter Goss Cristal and Ho's thread.

[ScreamingMeemie]

50. I think you should ban yourself for a week after a consensus, and then

ask yourself if you can be reinstated. That might be fun...or not. :)

[Peace Patriot]

52. I give Kennedys a lot of benefit of the doubt. Can you imagine what it

would be like to know that two members of your family--a president, and candidate for president who had just won the California primary--were shot dead, under highly suspicious circumstances?

The members of this family have a target on their backs, always. They grow up knowing that the price of public service may be a bullet in your head--with two graphic examples of that reality in their family albums.

I can't imagine how difficult it must be for them. I can only applaud those who stick with public service, and who--one and all--represent the real interests and the real views of the people in this country.

And now, with the Bush junta in charge--who are not afraid to out CIA agents and entire CIA WMD counter-proliferation networks, putting our own covert agents' lives in great jeopardy--and who have yet to be called to task for it and convicted--and who are known for the dirtiest of dirty tricks against a long enemies' list, and for torture, and for renditions, and for their contempt for the law, and for slaughtering tens of thousands of innocent people witout a thought, no one is safe, least of all the most liberal family of public servants in the country. Who knows what Bush junta operatives have tried to do to them?

I bring all of this to mind when a Kennedy is in trouble. I pray that Patrick Kennedy will survive and thrive. God bless him and his family!

:hug: :grouphug: :hug:

[glitch]

73. I agree with you. And when RFKjr says he'd prefer to die with his boots on

which he did say on his radio show regarding speaking out against tyrany and corruption (IIRC), it has special significance.

[Shakespeare]

53. Well, maybe a little.

Having taken one of the two drugs Kennedy says had him so messed up (phenergen, which I can't even IMAGINE being taken w/Ambien), I was inclined to believe him. Phenergen (prescribed for severe nausea) all but put me in a coma; combine that with Ambien, and the recently publicized side effects, and I find his story pretty believable.

I guess I'm just sick of the instant assumption that those mick Kennedys are a bunch of irresonsible drunks, and have been pissed off at the way everybody latched onto the story. He's one of ours--while I don't think he should be given special consideration if he had done something wrong, couldn't we have at least mustered a little benefit of the doubt for him?

[Orsino]

55. You were exactly right to be skeptical.

However much we might want to believe Kennedy's story, it's changing as often as Rush's.

From where I sit, the Congressman looks like just another Kennedy whose name/money bought him out of legal trouble. Perhaps his sudden recollection and candor are admirable, but the situation smells.

[qanda]

56. Noodles....

Hmmm. Now, I know what I'll make for dinner tonight. Thanks Skinner.

[leftstreet]

59. Really. This thread makes me hungry

[FlaGranny]

57. I voted yes, but I only did it because

it sounded like it might be fun. I haven't beaten anybody with a wet noodle for a LLLOOOONNNNNGGGG time.

[AuntPatsy]

58. Yes, you may be the prez of this site but you still must be held

accountable for your actions.

[riona]

60. Hold the noodle

Automobiles have become mobile activity centers. They're used as phone booths, dressing and newsrooms, movie theaters, sleep centers.....Never underestimate the creativity of the modern driver.

[hexola]

61. Your post was about preferential treatment...not drunk or not...

You were right on...10 pats on the head.

[walldude]

62. Yes but instead of regular noodles I think Top Ramin is in order.

:evilgrin:

[KitchenWitch]

65. Can I adminster the lashes?

:evilgrin:

I think being skeptical is coming too naturally because of the current political climate. That being said, I have more than a healthy share of cynicism myself.

It is no secret that addiction and alcoholism tends to run in families, and it is also no secret that the Kennedy family has more than its share of addicts and alcoholics (whether they have found recovery or not). My point? It is likely that Patrick Kennedy was drinking. Do I know that for sure? No, but it is certainly well within the realm of possibility.

Is Bush drinking and drugging again? I do not know for sure, but that is also highly possible, given some of the behavior and his appearance (his face is getting puffy and red, people in later stages of alcoholism do get that puffy red faced appearance because the liver is less able to metabolize the ethanol.)

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

66. You're getting off to easy.

I say we strap you to the front of matcom's scooter and have him swallow a bottle of ambien.

[Skittles]

67. I am out of the loop but will offer my ass-kicking services anyway

I think it would be fun to kick some admin ass :7

[Vidar]

68. Wet lashes with noodly appendages constitute blasphemy.

[kmla]

69. Umm, Skinner.... You forgot the "Robb is a Dingbat" option in your poll.

Are you new around here or sumthin?

:7

[seabeyond]

71. i voted no even though i thought we ought to wait before deciding

to hang the dude, wink. but no noodles for you skinner

[Rex]

72. Noodle lashing? I agree with you!

No lashing plz, I have a pasta phobia.

[titoresque]

74. how do we know you don't have a noodle fetish?

:shrug:

[bridgit]

76. Yes, noodle-lash the Admin! it builds character...

:-)

[Lochloosa]

77. Nope...I think he should threaten to leave because of all the flaming that

took place. It's seems the popular thing to do lately....

[Toucano]

79. Or better yet, threaten to "pull the plug" on DU!

I always say take a popular idea and make it your own.

[RoyGBiv]

81. No noodles ...

I think if Kennedy were Random Dude on the Street, he'd be sitting in jail at this very moment listening to the court appointed attorney try to convince him not to go with the crazy story about the meds making him act all funny because that would end up with the judge throwing the book at him on yet more charges.

I am fed up with "society people" getting the option of things like rehab while poor or even middle-class people go to jail and have their lives ruined just by the accusation. That's not a comment on what I think needs to happen to Kennedy, rather a comment on the unfairness of the system overall. Kennedy's guilt or innocence on either point should not be the focus. The fact that he even has options because of who he is (and how much wealth he has access to) should be.