Why the Village Hates Pete Stark

[babylonsister]

http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1991

Why the Village Hates Pete Stark
by: Matt Stoller
Sat Oct 20, 2007 at 15:04:07 PM EDT

I read an incredible book about the broken political process in the early 1990s called The Lobbyists, and one of the key moments was when Pete Stark dressed down in a withering nasty tone a bunch of corrupt Democratic lobbyists for pushing an unnecessary tax credit in contrast to most excessively jubilant pathetic members of Congress, both conservative and liberal, willing to do whatever these lobbyists wanted. Stark has always been willing to break the code of the Village in DC. He was the first member to admit he's an atheist, and he has never stood for Republican nonsense.

Apparently, Democrats dissented vociferously when Thomas sought unanimous consent on a surprise 90-page substitute bill that had been dispatched late the night before. Feeling cheated, Democrats demanded more time to peruse the freshly edited document, and justifiably so. Out of fairness and bipartisan respect, all committee members should have a fair crack at any legislation before it hits the floor. Nevertheless, bickering ensued.

Rep. Scott McInnis, R-Colo., told Rep. Fortney "Pete" Stark, D-Calif., to "shut up," during the meeting, upon which Stark called McInnis a "little wimp."

"Come on, come over here and make me, I dare you," Stark continued. "You little fruitcake. You little fruitcake. I said you are a fruitcake."

Stark is tough, passionate, and liberal, which in DC is a no-no. And then of course there was this.

"I commend MoveOn for their ad and for speaking truth to power," said Stark. "Up is not down, the earth is not flat, and the surge is not working. General Petreaus betrayed his own reputation by standing with George Bush in opposition to the timely withdrawal of all of our brave men and women from Iraq. I thank MoveOn for their patriotic ad and call on Petreaus to help Bush end a war the President should have never started."

Stark is an air force veteran, a founder of the Progressive Caucus, and won his seat in a primary in 1972 over a ten-term incumbent. That's my kind of Democrat.

[PA Democrat]

1. I like people willing to stand up for their principles.

Stark earns an "A" in my book.

[babylonsister]

2. Me, too! I think he's just great for telling it like it is. nt

[xchrom]

3. may his cranky enthusiasm catch on. pete speaks for me. nt

[davidinalameda]

4. Pete does speak for me

he's my rep!

I do think his hyperbole did go a bit over the top but I still sent him an email thanking him for what he said

[MasonJar]

5. I tried to call him, but his box was full, as was Pelosi's. I will have to

contact them on Monday. Good for him on each and every incidence mentioned above.

[VP505]

6. Rep Stark

sounds like just what we need for a House Speaker, someone who isn't shy about calling a spade a spade, in polite circles, and a fucking shovel when necessary. There is a message going around Washington that I wished more of our Reps would notice. When Move On ran their ad and the whining started, the contributions poured in, when Senator Dodd said that he would put a hold on the FISA bill, his campaign contribution started pouring in, if those are not two examples that suggest that "we the people" are starved for STRONG leadership or Representatives that have the spine to stand up to Bu$hco I don't know what does.

[MadMaddie]

12. Agreed...and he won't apologize for the things he says..

that's all I am looking for....someone with some backbone....Pelosi big disappointment.

[DireStrike]

28. And his name is PERFECT for it too

The Stark Truth... you can see the ad campaigns now.

Or no... "Stark-raving honest" to co-opt that phrase before it's used against him.

[gateley]

7. Man I like this guy! K&R nt

[Cha]

8. I'm betting the people at moveon feel

pretty amazing that Pete Stark thought well of their hard-hitting ad on "Or betrayus"! And look who voted for the condemnation..miss hypocrite herself..Nancy Pelosi made a statement that while she didn't agree with what the rw hate radio talkshitfest has to say..she'd defend to the death their right to say it..everyone except moveon.org it seems.

What's nancy pelosi's agenda that she makes sure she rebukes Pete Stark?

[Newkophile]

15. Pelosi abstained

Here's a Daily Kos site that lists who voted for (341) and against (only 79) the MoveOn.org condemnation. Pelosi evidently abstained as she's not listed in either group:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/9/26/13021/7964

[Cha]

16. Oh goody...who brought it to the

Floor?

[AZ Criminal JD]

18. By tradition the Speaker rarely votes n/t

[Usrename]

19. Are you kidding? Tell me you're kidding. She didn't vote?

Is there a chickenshit smiley?

:grr:

She's a disgrace!

[roody]

30. Or would she prefer to repuke Pete Start?

[Richard Steele]

9. I wish I could recommend Pete Stark for more than just the DU "greatest" page. nm

[dkofos]

10. With talent like this, why are we stuck with piss poor pelosi??

[BeHereNow]

11. Because Nanceeee is a good corporate pet.

She is obedient to the corporate rulers.
Stark is not.
BHN

[DinahMoeHum]

13. Now, THAT's a Democrat !!!

:kick::kick::kick:

[Window]

14. Well, alrighty then.

Peace:thumbsup:

[kster]

17. They have to get Stark to whimper by apologizing

so they won't look bad or have to come up with excuses as to why they won't take a stand.

Stick to your words Stark!!! Don't apologize!!!

[Senator]

20. Stark Should "Move The Game" And Start "Talking Impeachment"

This little flap would vanish into thin air and people would be falling all over each other to apologize to him, if he'd just stop breaking The Village Omerta.

Give them something real to whine about.

---

[babylonsister]

23. I wish! nt

[DeSwiss]

21. He's my kind of Democrat too!!!! K&R!!!! n/t

[Disturbed]

22. Pete Stark should be Speaker of da House.

America needs him, now.

[DeSwiss]

31. Actually.....

...I'd prefer to see him as the Majority Whip.

With REAL whips!!!

[hisownpetard]

24. Now, that's what I call a Motivational Speaker! nt

[riverdeep]

25. This is someone who 'gets' it.

We aren't in some properly supervised boxing tournament with state-sanctioned refs and a medical crew on stand by, clearly written rules that are fairly enforced. No, this is walking out of a scary, unfamiliar bar at two in the morning and being jumped in the parking lot. You don't know how many there are, you don't know what they've got, you just know you've got seconds to make sure you live to see another day. In this case, you do ANYTHING you have to.

What we're in is a brutal streetfight, with people who will do ANYTHING to take you down. Playing fair is not is natural to them. So, yeah, sometimes it gets messy, it looks a little desperate, not particularly nuanced. And that's just what it takes sometimes to stay on your feet.

We've been so used to hearing mealy-mouthed, compromise first, apologize for asking for more gruel Democrats so long, when a real Dem comes out, we're pleasantly shocked.

[malaise]

26. Bravo Pete

for the Stark truth. :yourock:

[bonito]

27. K&R!

[DireStrike]

29. Now, how long until we find the untidy things about Stark

so we can all hate him and denounce him?