Pete Stark’s Edgy Town Hall Meeting
[Guest post by DRJ]
California Rep. Pete Stark mocked a Minuteman who asked what the federal government would do to stop illegal immigration:
“Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif., no stranger to controversy, mocked the idea that the borders are not secure when asked about the federal government’s lack of activity on border security.
“We can’t get enough Minutemen armed. We’d like to get all the Minutemen armed so they can stop shooting people here,” Stark said.
Eventually, members of the audience urged Stark to offer a serious answer.
“If you knew anything about our borders, you would know that’s not the case. Our borders are quite secure, thank you,” Stark said, drawing jeers.
Stark resumed his hostile act, asking the Minuteman what he would do to secure the border.
“I would send about about 25,000 troops for one thing and build a wall down so vehicles could not pass,” the Minuteman said.
“How high and long would it be?” Stark asked.
“As high and as long as it takes,” the Minuteman said, elicting cheers.
Stark said he would start a ladder company with the Minuteman if he designed the wall and doesn’t shoot the people coming over.
“But I’ve got to know how high the wall is and I’ll sell a whole lot of ladders for people who want to come,” Stark said.
“This is a very serious matter and you’re sitting there making fun of it,” the Minuteman responded.
“I don’t have to make fun of you sir, you do a fine job all by yourself,” Stark said.”
Stark and his views are not representative of the Californians at this blog, but he strikes me as an outspoken but mainstream California leader. Is this really what most Californians want?
— DRJ
Jesus, there are parts of arizona where american citizens are told to stay out of becuase the illegal immigrants might kill them. But Stark is saying it is all under control.
look, if you are an open border kind of person, fine, but don’t pretend the border is under control. you are not entitled to your own set of facts.
Aaron Worthing (A.W.) (e7d72e) — 6/30/2010 @ 1:44 pmSheesh.
A few Al Qaida terrorists get in, a few Russian spies get in, 20,000,000 Mexican illegal aliens get in…and right away people jump to conclusions, and start assuming that our borders aren’t secure.
Dave Surls (593f85) — 6/30/2010 @ 1:50 pmOne must remember that Stark’s district is bordered by both Nancy Pelosi’s and Barbara Lee’s among others (and that hack Garmendi’s). If we could excise the Bay Area, California would be a conservative state. It is not what this Californian wants and the people of San Diego would disagree with him.
Caroline S. (f0721c) — 6/30/2010 @ 1:54 pmIdiot vs Idiot.
htom (412a17) — 6/30/2010 @ 2:08 pm“One must remember that Stark’s district is bordered by both Nancy Pelosi’s and Barbara Lee’s…”
So, you’re saying that stupid can jump from district to district like some sort of plague spreading?
Dave Surls (593f85) — 6/30/2010 @ 2:09 pmComments by Dave Surls,
Thank you, sir, for contributing smiles to my day.
MD in Philly (3d3f72) — 6/30/2010 @ 2:16 pmOT but Stark is obviously seriously ill. That edema (puffiness)! Compare his appearance here to his appearance in prior meltdown videos from a couple of years ago.
Mitch (890cbf) — 6/30/2010 @ 2:20 pmI never had the misfortune to be “represented” by Fortney “Pete” Stark, but he’s emblematic of the entitled politicians we had. Bear in mind that by Bay Area standards, Dianne Feinstein is a “moderate”. Not sure now, but a lot of the House Dems could get reelected without any GOP candidate opposition.
Red County Pete (a37031) — 6/30/2010 @ 2:24 pmSo, you’re saying that stupid can jump from district to district like some sort of plague spreading? Yeah, kind of like noxious weeds.
Should we find any encouragement that even a Congressman in a district like his is not immune from reality and sanity breaking out right before his very eyes? I can only assume he thought the crowd was going to join him in mocking the minuteman, but reinforce the complaints.
I guess he never watched the video of Specter’s first experience in town hall meetings last summer.
MD in Philly (3d3f72) — 6/30/2010 @ 2:29 pmThere are times when you wished a machete would come across the sky and rip a man’s jugular in half — this is one of them.
Not only does he lie outright to score cheap points — he demeans the Voters and takes an outright illegal, unethical position.
HeavenSent (a9126d) — 6/30/2010 @ 2:55 pmPete Stark is only one small step to the right of Ron “Red” Dellums on the ideology spectrum, a step that is probably too small to measure without the use of advanced physics.
AD - RtR/OS! (209868) — 6/30/2010 @ 2:59 pmHe represents his district, and has for these many years.
“Thank you, sir, for contributing smiles to my day.”
You are more than welcome, sir.
I figure if I can’t be smart, I might as well be amusing.
🙂
Dave Surls (593f85) — 6/30/2010 @ 3:28 pmThat arse is emblematic on why the Tea Party came into being – they condescend, mock and outright lie to their own constituents. Marie Antoinette would be proud.
Dmac (ab1849) — 6/30/2010 @ 3:36 pmDRJ, Stark is hardly “mainstream” … except in the Bay area. He’s a loon with a mouth that does not know when to shut up.
SPQR (26be8b) — 6/30/2010 @ 3:44 pmAD – RtR/OS! — 6/30/2010 @ 2:59 pm:
Well, he did graduate MIT in 1953.
Passing Through (94d405) — 6/30/2010 @ 4:12 pmSPQR,
From what I’ve seen and heard, Stark believes in tax and spend, doesn’t want to secure the border, and looks down on his conservative constituents. Isn’t that mainstream California politics?
DRJ (d43dcd) — 6/30/2010 @ 4:26 pmThere is a way to campaign against safe seats and it involves “class resentment”. Every add, every pamphlet, itemizes the incumbent’s cost– pay, health insurance, pension, office expenses, travel expense account, fringe benefits.
nk (db4a41) — 6/30/2010 @ 4:33 pmAt least he didn’t grab the guy by the neck and choke him for asking a question.
Machinist (497786) — 6/30/2010 @ 4:49 pmSadly, DRJ, it certainly appears that that is mainstream California politics.
But that’s largely because of the dominance, through Democratic gerrymandering, of the looney centers of the Bay area and metro Los Angeles.
If the people of the rest of California were rescued from the constraints of Democratic gerrymandering, they would be able to move California government closer to the center.
However, Pete Stark is all that you describe, plus he’s a freakin’ loon even as tax and spend liberals go.
SPQR (26be8b) — 6/30/2010 @ 4:51 pmGoogle “Pete Stark outburst” and get more than 5 thousand hits.
That’s what I mean by a loon.
SPQR (26be8b) — 6/30/2010 @ 5:01 pmDon’t forget, this is the same idiot that said “the more debt you have, the wealthier you are.”
Another Chris (121ff0) — 6/30/2010 @ 5:02 pmLittle Lord Fortney
ColonelHaiku (9cf017) — 6/30/2010 @ 5:20 pmknown in bay area as
moronic gasbag
I remember a friend telling me, some years back, after he bought an apartment building, that he must be doing OK since he now owes the bank a quarter-million (I said this was some years back – but it was in the day when you could buy a single-family detached Ranch for about a tenth of that).
AD - RtR/OS! (209868) — 6/30/2010 @ 5:24 pmIt all depends on the cash-flow, which is King!
They have no intention of enforcing the law, but they lecture us that “we are a nation of laws”. Culture of thy Corruption, name is Pete Stark.
tyree (63c76f) — 6/30/2010 @ 5:38 pmFrom what I’ve seen and heard, Stark believes in tax and spend, doesn’t want to secure the border, and looks down on his conservative constituents. Isn’t that mainstream California politics?
Unfortunately that represents those in power – now. Perhaps that will change
Dana (1e5ad4) — 6/30/2010 @ 6:18 pmifwhen Whitman and Fiorina (hey, you take what you can get) get in. If they even live up to half of their conservative claims, it will be miles better than where we’re at now.Stark will never lose an election. He represents his constituents and represents them well. He can afford to ridicule citizens who disagree with him because he can. Today, that makes him a hero.
The ruling class rules. Long live the ruling class.
Ag80 (363d6e) — 6/30/2010 @ 8:40 pmStark and his ilk represent the perfect argument for term limits.
daleyrocks (1d0d98) — 6/30/2010 @ 8:50 pmStark and his district should be picked up and relocated to one of the border towns of Mexico. They deserve that privilege to their heart’s content.
Leftist idiocy, naivete and idealism are easy to get away with — or don’t seem so peculiarly self-destructive — when one lives in a bubble of Bay Area limousine liberalism.
Actually, good ol’ capitalism cushions that part of the country. High residential real-estate prices and, in turn, a kind of demographic segregation (ie, “if you’re underclass and lowly educated, seek your fortunes and happiness somewhere else!!”) prevent tens of thousands of the huddled masses of central and south America from streaming into key portions of the SF area.
Large parts of euro-socialized societies like France, Britain or Scandanavia are somewhat similar. But the influx of Islamicized Third Worlders are truly testing “progressives” struggle in not talkig out of both sides of their mouth.
Mark (411533) — 6/30/2010 @ 8:59 pmAD – If you owe the bank a million dollars and can’t pay it back, you are in trouble.
Have Blue (854a6e) — 6/30/2010 @ 11:11 pmIf you owe the bank a billion dollars and can’t pay it back, the bank is in trouble.
As for Pete Stark – where is Madam DeFarge when you need her?
Have Blue (854a6e) — 6/30/2010 @ 11:11 pmComment by Have Blue — 6/30/2010 @ 11:11 pm
Yes! I’m familiar with that saying, though the first time I heard it, the numbers didn’t have quite as many zero’s.
AD - RtR/OS! (209868) — 7/1/2010 @ 12:43 am“If you knew anything about our borders, you would know that’s not the case. Our borders are quite secure, thank you,” Stark said
— Patronizing piece o’ shite!
[note: released from moderation. –Stashiu]
Icy Texan (c47747) — 7/1/2010 @ 2:04 amI don’t suppose there’s any way we could force them to secede? Too bad the founding fathers didn’t anticipate a California. Though the Bay Area may not be indicative of the rest of the state, I can’t help wishing an earthquake would detach it and send it drifting out to sea.
Sojourner (aafd3c) — 7/1/2010 @ 2:22 amIt appears Rep. Stark has read Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals. Deflect and demonize or mock your opponent.
Aside: the rabid crowd at this meeting, looks like the tea party people Pelosi is afraid of!
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