California State Assembly Speaker, on Talk Radio: "I don't know why we allow that kind of terrorism to exist"

Matt Welch | June 30, 2009

Funny, how dominant political parties tend to tar their marginalized opponents as "traitors" and "terrorists." Actually, it's not funny at all. Here's California State Assembly Speaker Karen Bass having a friendly conversation with L.A. Times columnist Patt Morrison:

How do you think conservative talk radio has affected the Legislature's work?

The Republicans were essentially threatened and terrorized against voting for revenue. Now [some] are facing recalls. They operate under a terrorist threat: "You vote for revenue and your career is over." I don't know why we allow that kind of terrorism to exist. I guess it's about free speech, but it's extremely unfair.

Hat tip to (the properly outraged) Chris Reed.

Comments

Xeones|6.30.09 @ 9:32AM|#

Shut the fuck up, Karen Bass.

Hugh Akston|6.30.09 @ 9:34AM|#

I guess it's about free speech, but it's extremely unfair.

A clear violation of the First Amendment guarantee of fair speech.

DHS Thinks I\'m a Terrorist|6.30.09 @ 9:36AM|#

In other words the people should have no say at all in what their masters do with the money stolen from them. In other words we should just give up any pretense in "democracy".

B|6.30.09 @ 9:42AM|#

Wow. These are the kind of people who hold public office.

Wow.

Rich|6.30.09 @ 9:42AM|#

"I guess it's about free speech, but it's extremely unfair."

One of this country's big problems in a nutshell.

Darth Vader|6.30.09 @ 9:45AM|#

The confiscatory force is strong with this one.

|6.30.09 @ 9:46AM|#

It's hard for thieves to lecture the rest of us on unfairness.

Fluffy|6.30.09 @ 9:47AM|#

Well, this sentiment is only a logical extension of the "positive libertarian" argument holding that people aren't free when they're worried about stuff.

Since all these angry constituents speaking their mind and threatening recalls were filling the state legislators with worry that they might lose their jobs, the state legislators weren't "really free". They were TERRORIZED!

Kevin|6.30.09 @ 9:49AM|#

The word "terrorism" is getting thrown around too loosely these days.

The kind of arm-twisting she's describing is just a part of politics, and always has been. If that's terrorism, Washington should be at DHS level Red+ over Crap & Trade and healthcare.

Colin|6.30.09 @ 9:50AM|#

What I love is how she cannot even say "taxes." She calls it "revenue" -- as if that somehow makes it better, more sophisticated.

The thing is she can say and do whatever she wants because she basically ununelectable.

Mike Laursen|6.30.09 @ 9:53AM|#

The word "terrorism" is getting thrown around too loosely these days.

"Thrown around too loosely" is an understatement. It just officially lost any meaning whatsoever.

DHS Thinks I\'m a Terrorist|6.30.09 @ 9:53AM|#

"The word "terrorism" is getting thrown around too loosely these days."

Yea, kind of like "harassment" now can mean a guy complementing a woman on her dress

|6.30.09 @ 9:58AM|#

Hmmmm......"terrorize".......

Activist Financier 'Terrorizes' Bankers in Foreclosure Fight
...Mr. Marks's nonprofit organization, Neighborhood Assistance Corp. of America, has emerged as one of the loudest scourges of the banking industry in the post-bubble economy. It salts its Web site with photos of executives it accuses of standing in the way of helping homeowners -- emblazoning "Predator" across their photos, picturing their homes and sometimes including home phone numbers. In February, NACA, as it's called, protested at the home of a mortgage investor by scattering furniture on his lawn, to give him a taste of what it feels like to be evicted.

In the 1990s, Mr. Marks leaked details of a banker's divorce to the press and organized a protest at the school of another banker's child. He says he would use such tactics again. "We have to terrorize these bankers," Mr. Marks says.

Though some bankers privately deplore his tactics, Mr. Marks is a growing influence in the lending industry and the effort to curb foreclosures. NACA has signed agreements with the four largest U.S. mortgage lenders -- Bank of America, Wells Fargo & Co., J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. and Citigroup Inc. -- in which they agree to work with his counselors on a regular basis to try to arrange lower payments for struggling borrowers. NACA has made powerful political friends, such as House majority whip James Clyburn of South Carolina, and it receives federal money to counsel homeowners....

|6.30.09 @ 9:59AM|#

Wow. These are the kind of people who hold public office.

These are the only people depraved enough to *want* to hold public office.

Xeones|6.30.09 @ 10:00AM|#

Yea, kind of like "harassment" now can mean a guy complementing a woman on her dress

Uh oh, did somebody's office make them go to sensitivity training?

|6.30.09 @ 10:03AM|#

Yea, kind of like "harassment" now can mean a guy complementing a woman on her dress

Uh oh, did somebody's office make them go to sensitivity training?

My guess is either that, or someone opened and read a newspaper.

|6.30.09 @ 10:05AM|#

What is the world coming to when politicians' careers are at the mercy of voters?

me|6.30.09 @ 10:09AM|#

make them go to sensitivity training

Him. Make him go to sensitivity training. Women are already sensitive.
And "him" is more grammatically correct.
You're welcome.

Telly|6.30.09 @ 10:10AM|#

So this is what the enlightened people of major metropolitan areas such as California vote into office?

How progressive and advanced of them.

|6.30.09 @ 10:11AM|#

Remember progressives are just smarter and more open minded than the rest of us. I feal terrorized by this woman's stupidity.

|6.30.09 @ 10:17AM|#

Remember progressives are just smarter and more open minded than the rest of us.

Being the end product of thousands of years of human moral and intellectual progress, they should be. The rest of us, on the other hand, are just shaved apes.

Granite26|6.30.09 @ 10:17AM|#

Close your eyes, cross your legs, and think 'One day it will fall into the ocean'

|6.30.09 @ 10:23AM|#

Geez, Matt, this was from Saturday's paper!
What took you so long? With John and Ken on vacation and the Times not printing any letters to the editor on this interview, only Chris Reed seems to have noticed!

DHS Thinks I\'m a Terrorist|6.30.09 @ 10:24AM|#

"My guess is either that, or someone opened and read a newspaper."

Seamus,

I just opened and read a newspaper.

|6.30.09 @ 10:25AM|#

She seems afraid.
Good.

People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.

creech|6.30.09 @ 10:36AM|#

Somehow I don't think this is what Revere had in mind for California when he raised the Bear Republic's flag in Sonoma's plaza.

|6.30.09 @ 10:40AM|#

I am disgusted by the use of the word "terrorist" to describe people who dare to talk back to the ruling class. Certainly the phrase is not used to describe the intimidation of those who disagree with liberal orthodoxy.

If I were an actual terrorist, I could ask for no better camouflage than the over-use of the term. When spoiled brats in office scream "terrorist" at every flat tire, crop failure and lunar eclipse, the actual bomb throwers will be able to operate openly. Who benefits most from crying " wolf"? Obviously, the wolves.

|6.30.09 @ 10:47AM|#

It's my understanding that voting people out of office is a form of terrorism.

|6.30.09 @ 10:54AM|#

""Mike Laursen | June 30, 2009, 9:53am | #

The word "terrorism" is getting thrown around too loosely these days.

"Thrown around too loosely" is an understatement. It just officially lost any meaning whatsoever."""

Yeah, but it hasn't lost enough meaning that it keeps innocent people off the terrorist watch list.

ChrisO|6.30.09 @ 11:12AM|#

When the backlash hits, it's going to get ugly.

|6.30.09 @ 11:37AM|#

How do you think conservative talk radio has affected the Legislature's work?

The Republicans were essentially threatened and terrorized against voting for revenue. Now [some] are facing recalls. They operate under a terrorist threat: "You vote for revenue and your career is over." I don't know why we allow that kind of terrorism to exist. I guess it's about free speech, but it's extremely unfair.

Very next question


Do you get especially exasperated when your own people -- Democrats -- don't agree with you?

You know, I was a community activist, so I'm used to standing out in front of an elected official's office and protesting. It's only been five years since I've been on the other side.

But she wasn't a terrorist, just a community activist

What a maroon!!!

hmm|6.30.09 @ 11:43AM|#

I currently have a terror alert level for my residence. I have noticed it is directly proportional to a two things.

a) my wife's current mood, which is directly correlated to current purchases of make-up, shoes, purses, dishes, other useless shit

b) the level food in the animals bowls (fucking cats are natures terrorist)

We are currently at Post-it terror alert level yellow. Last shopping trip is currently 8 days past. The animal variable has held steady since an isolated incident 4 nights ago.

In other news elected officials are generally turds.

Yea, kind of like "harassment" now can mean a guy complementing a woman on her dress

I don't think, "Nice dress. Wanna Fuck?" counts as a compliment.

JB|6.30.09 @ 11:43AM|#

I don't know why we allow cunts like this to exist. Fuck her existence.

hmm|6.30.09 @ 11:44AM|#

The right did the same thing with the Patriot Act. WHO CAN BE AGAINST THE PATRIOT ACT? IT HAS PATRIOT RIGHT THERE IN THE DAMN NAME!

They all do it.

Hal Turner|6.30.09 @ 12:08PM|#

I'm not sure, but I'm guessing that this would not be a good time to make the statement that "This legislator deserves to be killed. Her blood will replenish the tree of liberty. A small price to pay to assure freedom for millions."

(JB at 11:43am sounds like a domestic terrorist. If I worm my way into his confidence and then rat him out, I wonder if the feds will let me go.)

|6.30.09 @ 12:09PM|#

She needs to form her own country and take La. State Rep. Norton and Hurricane Chris with her.

Who the fuck votes for these people if they are not being paid off to do so?

They do all do it and they all need to be shot!

Janet Napolitano|6.30.09 @ 12:23PM|#

The DHS will be investigating this terrible instance of speech you have brought to our attention soon, Speaker Bass, so you wont suffer from these terrorist actions against your ambitious agenda any longer.

|6.30.09 @ 12:23PM|#

"She needs to form her own country and take La. State Rep. Norton and Hurricane Chris with her."

Actually there are countries all over Africa run by people just like this woman, Norton and Hurricane Chris. You see how that has worked out.

alan|6.30.09 @ 12:31PM|#

I don't think, "Nice dress. Wanna Fuck?" counts as a compliment.

Coming from me it does. I don't drop trout or compliment fabric print, design, or how that is aesthetically arranged on the bodice for just any pair of gams that comes waltzing along.

jtuf|6.30.09 @ 12:32PM|#

"You vote for revenue and your career is over." I don't know why we allow that kind of terrorism to exist. I guess it's about free speech, but it's extremely unfair.

Technically, that would be the demand made with terrism as a threat. Voting California State Assembly Speaker Karen Bass out of office would then be the terrist act. So, one of the top Democrat politicians in California does not see a moral difference between blowing up a school full of children and voting against an incumbent in an election.

Aaron|6.30.09 @ 12:36PM|#

As soon as a politician equates taxes with "revenue," they've lost my interest and vote.

TAXATION IS NOT REVENUE YOU MORONS!

In fact, I think the above will be on every sign in my yard this coming voting season. I got yer "revenue," you SOBs.

|6.30.09 @ 12:36PM|#

"He'll eat whatever, he'll even eat you"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff343J2StHs

DHS Thinks I\'m a Terrorist|6.30.09 @ 12:41PM|#

"I don't think, "Nice dress. Wanna Fuck?" counts as a compliment."

How about just "Nice dress"? Sexual harassment laws are often used to screw over guys that a particular woman just doen't like for some reason.

alan|6.30.09 @ 1:03PM|#

"I don't think, "Nice dress. Wanna Fuck?" counts as a compliment."

How about just "Nice dress"? Sexual harassment laws are often used to screw over guys that a particular woman just doen't like for some reason.

Since I work for myself I don't have any of these problems, anymore. However, when I was a cubical rat, things were a bit different. Two different female bosses approached me for sex at two different jobs, one at a law firm, another at a subsidiary corporate office of one of the world's largest banks. What did I do, being sexually harassed and working in a hostile working environment and everything. What do you think I did?*

Yet, the example given is always cast as a woman victim preyed upon by a male harasser.

Even in non sexual situations, it is my experience that on balance male bosses were more partial, less petty, and less obvious in playing favorites with the staff they governed. Though, I have had a few pretty good female bosses, as well.

* Ran to HR and filed a claim against the action of these atrocious managers. Just kidding. Fucked 'em.

|6.30.09 @ 1:10PM|#

Sexual harassment laws are often used to screw over guys that a particular woman just doen't like for some reason.

Having been an HR director before, I can attest that this is nonsense. There is still a lot of true harassment that goes on, especially in lower-end jobs.

Harassment is heavily dependent on context. In most cases a simple "that's a nice dress" is not going to be considered sexual harassment in any court in this country, as a reasonable person would not consider it an unwelcome comment. This would be different if the woman in question has previously told the guy she doesn't want him to say such things.

When we go off into "that dress makes you look sexy" or "I like the way that dress hangs on your body" we're crossing into harassment territory. And in most cases where the accused says "I was just complimenting her on her dress" it turns out he really said one of the less innocent things above.

24AheadDotCom|6.30.09 @ 1:14PM|#

What Reason fails to note is that Bass was mostly referring to RadioHostsJohnAndKen. They're hardly libertarians, more like EastCoast ConservativeDems. And, they've also strongly opposed something Reason supports and something that's played a major role in CA's problems: MassiveImmigration.

In fact, without all that MassiveImmigration that Reason supports, KarenBass and her friends wouldn't have so much power and wouldn't be able to push for so much spending.

And, Reason has consistently failed to note the role that their policies played in CA's problems.

P.S. In case anyone replies to this, their responses will almost assuredly be ad homs delivered through sockpuppets, thereby conceding my points and showing the cowardly, childish, anti-intellectual nature of libertarians.

P.P.S. Anyone here in Knoxville?

|6.30.09 @ 1:14PM|#

How do you think teachers' unions have affected the Legislature's work?

The Democrats were essentially threatened and terrorized against voting for vouchers. Now [some] are facing recalls. They operate under a terrorist threat: "You vote for vouchers and your career is over." I don't know why we allow that kind of terrorism to exist. I guess it's about free speech, but it's extremely unfair.

24AheadDotCom|6.30.09 @ 1:20PM|#

And, while I'm here, it looks like Reason is disfavored by Insty:

pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/81059

Either that, or he forgot which link was which.

(99.9% of you will have no idea what I'm referring to, so don't bother)

|6.30.09 @ 1:20PM|#

Lonewacko-

I'm with you on the welfare for immigrants. Its awful-just as any kind of welfare is awful, including the billions we flush down the rathole called ICE. Why don't you do some blogging about that?

DHS Thinks I\'m a Terrorist|6.30.09 @ 1:23PM|#

"What Reason fails to note is that Bass was mostly referring to RadioHostsJohnAndKen. They're hardly libertarians"

I don't care what political viewpoint they have. I support free speech and will stand up for their right to speak without being labeled a terrorist by someone who claims to "serve" them in government.

"In fact, without all that MassiveImmigration that Reason supports, Karen Bass and her friends wouldn't have so much power and wouldn't be able to push for so much spending."

Without the welfare state people crossing invisible lines would not be problematic. If you move to a new neighborhood no one would be forced at the point of a gun to support you financially.

|6.30.09 @ 1:32PM|#

(99.9% of you will have no idea what I'm referring to, so don't bother)

This should be the new disclaimer at the bottom of all your posts.

|6.30.09 @ 1:32PM|#

"your career is over" is not a terrorist threat. A terrorist threat involves actual violence, not inconvenience.

-jcr

|6.30.09 @ 1:34PM|#

Ran to HR and filed a claim against the action of these atrocious managers.

Aren't there a couple hundred thousand porn flicks where the HR rep then bangs the harassee?

-jcr

Hugh Akston|6.30.09 @ 1:37PM|#

DHS, you pathetic sock puppet. Enough of your ad hominem attacks on a mind so great his genius cannot be endured, let alone understood. Even without considering your points, it's clear that your childish, anti-intellectual use of the SpaceBar renders you unworthy of a response.

DHS Thinks I’m a Terrorist|6.30.09 @ 1:49PM|#

Hugh Akston,

You should be thankful I didn't put a spaces in "RadioHostsJohnAndKen" or "MassiveImmigration". I can only endure so much corruption of the English language.

SSB|6.30.09 @ 1:52PM|#

what do you expect? it's like going to a public restroom and expecting to find wisdom and knowledge stored in a toilet bowl. more likely you're going to find a coiled dookie.

DHS Thinks I’m a Terrorist|6.30.09 @ 1:55PM|#

But I have never listened to RadioHostsJohnAndKen so I thought it might have been part of their shtick. Sort of like the way Rush Limbaugh sometimes refers to Al Gore as AlGore. If you are wondering why Limbaugh does this, it goes back to a skit he once did in which Al Gore played the Role of "Igor" to Bill Clinton's role as Dr. Frankenstein.

Rich|6.30.09 @ 1:56PM|#

> A terrorist threat involves actual violence, not inconvenience.

So, threats about crashing the net and massive identity theft are not terrorism?

|6.30.09 @ 2:10PM|#

Voting for "revenue", lol.

No Name Guy|6.30.09 @ 2:46PM|#

Fucking amazing. That people with this attitude are in positions of REAL power in the government of a state as large as California.

I'm reminded of the school house rock ditty from my childhood in the 70s:

"Take your powder, take your gun, report to General Washington, hurry now there's not an hour to lose".

alan|6.30.09 @ 3:02PM|#

Aren't there a couple hundred thousand porn flicks where the HR rep then bangs the harassee?

I've seen at least one that fit that description. So, Tulpa, was HR as much the poontang magnet people assume?

|6.30.09 @ 3:53PM|#

The fact that she's black is totally irrelevant. Black people in government are no worse than all the other government baddies. Just keep repeating it to yourselves - we live in a post-racial world after all.

|6.30.09 @ 5:07PM|#

So, Tulpa, was HR as much the poontang magnet people assume?

Not in my experience, but given the company I was working for the harassees would never be mistaken for porn stars. To be honest there were many times when I was wondering not only why a guy would risk his job making a lewd comment to a coworker but why he would make such a comment to this particular coworker...

Dave|6.30.09 @ 7:14PM|#

I live in the socialist state of California and this witch Bass and her kind have gutted
the residents here.
I also want to apologize for inflicting
Babs Boxer and the idiot Diane Feinstein on America.

db|6.30.09 @ 8:50PM|#

What I love is how she cannot even say "taxes." She calls it "revenue" -- as if that somehow makes it better, more sophisticated.

"revenue" is what a legitimate business earns for goods or services rendered. It has no place in the lexicon of a politician.

|6.30.09 @ 9:45PM|#

If you're a libertarian who is approached by a Democrat activist urging you to vote Democrat, point out Ms. Bass's comments to him and ask for his response.

Art-P.O.G.|7.1.09 @ 12:59AM|#

If you're a libertarian who is approached by a Democrat activist urging you to vote Democrat, point out Ms. Bass's comments to him and ask for his response.

+1. I don't see Tony or joe from Lowell anywhere around to defend the Democrats here.

alan|7.1.09 @ 3:11AM|#

To be honest there were many times when I was wondering not only why a guy would risk his job making a lewd comment to a coworker but why he would make such a comment to this particular coworker...

Tulpa, if you are still there, here is an MadTV classic.

Bet you have been there

alittlesense|7.1.09 @ 8:11AM|#

Has anyone noticed that this woman look a lot like Al Franken in a dress?