not to be confused w/ the PFJ, or the JPF thread...I expect fully as much outrage as that generated by Rush. To get the ball rolling, can we all agree, that this is just another case of the man holding a good sistah down? -- In politics, timing is everything. From my perspective, Patrick Kennedy’s timing could not be better. We are in for a treat as the mid-term elections loom in half a year. The GOP’s opportunity has arrived. Cynthia McKinney’s reaction to the obvious and blatant favoritism enjoyed by Patrick Kennedy is likely to be something to savor. She is already on the record about the indignities she received at the hand of a white cop. But now she sees that for the white boy, supervisors stepped in, relieving the officers at the scene and driving the staggering Kennedy home. She faces potential legal jeopardy, and now a rich white boy walks away without so much as a breathalyzer test from circumstances that would ordinarily demand a drunk driving investigation. At least one cop reportedly says he smelled alcohol. There are reports that a complain has been filed with the union over the supervisors coming in. Supposedly, the Capitol Police have a bit of a generation gap between the older supervisory ranks, accustomed to treating Congress like royalty, and the post 9/11 recruits, many of them ex-military, who see their job as protecting the Capitol from serious terror threats and who see the rules applying to all. Kennedy has a history of trouble: Kennedy’s past includes several troubling episodes, starting with his treatment in 1986 for cocaine use. More recently, a charter company accused him of causing $28,000 in damage to a rented yacht in 2000. That same year, he acknowledged that he was “on a lot of different medications for, among other things, depression,” and was accused of shoving an airport security guard at Los Angeles International Airport when she tried to make him check his bag.He was in a traffic incident last month in his home district, according to Boston Herald columnist Howie Carr, who reported that the mishap occurred as Kennedy was hurrying into the parking lot of a pharmacy in Portsmouth, R.I. Never known for self-control or thoughtfulness, Representative McKinney is going to have a hard time keeping her mouth shut. She could denounce favoritism, of course. But she is asking for favoritism herself, so that won’t work out too well. Even McKinney can see this. So she will demand “equal treatment” – meaning equal immunity from the laws which govern the rest of us. But that argument raises awkward questions for the rest of the United States Congress. We are going into an election, with opponents of either party ready to remind the voters that Congressman X has lost touch with the ordinary folks back home. One would expect a flurry of statements from members of Congress affirming the need elected representatives to live by the same laws as the rest of us. But to affirm this would then lead the demand that Congress hold hearings on the Capitol Police’s handling of the Kennedy incident. That is a demand that no Congressman wants to heed. They enjoy the special treatment, the outright coddling, they receive from the Capitol Police, as much as you and I would. And the Capitol Police, whose budget is passed by Congress, are happy to oblige. But we are in the midst of a really serious election, much-hyped by the Democrats as a chance to turn over control of Congress. Nothing concentrates the Congressional mind so wonderfully as the prospect of losing majorities and maybe one’s own seat. The GOP, on the receiving end of a campaign against its own corruption, can perform political jiu-jitsu and turn the issue against the Democrats, with well-timed hearings on the Capitol Police and its treatment of members. If they don’t, they are going to hear from me and my friends. The GOP base is already angry about a number of issues. The last thing a GOP-controlled Congress ought to do is stand for the principle of immunity from the demands they impose on the rest of us. They will hear this from the grass roots, right as they head home more often as campaigners. Who will be the first member of Congress to stand-up and demand hearings on the Capitol Police’s treatment of members of Congress? Thomas Lifson 5 05 06
He should resign from the congress, what a disgrace. These politicians Republicans and Democrats are all alike, crooks.
It seems obvious from everything I have heard that he received preferential treatment from the cops. He's lucky nobody got hurt. I hope he gets his problems under control.
Since he never asked for preferential treatment, the problem lies with the cop. Man I can't imagine myself defending a Kennedy 10 years ago.
I wasn't saying he was to blame and not the cops. He was to blame for driving under the influence and crashing. The cops or whoever gave the orders to them not to test him, definitely deserve blame.
I semi agree with your statement except I tend to think that "I'm driving to a vote" is a *wink wink* way of asking for it.
he should resign immediately and focus on getting over his addiction. apparently he said today that he was in rehab in december and now this happens. he obviously has some problems that are going to hinder his work and he should take care of them first. its a different situation than limbaugh b/c kennedy is a public servant and pigboy is not. his addiction doesnt have an impact on the political process like kennedy's. limbaugh is just a huge hypocrite b/c of his statements about how all people who use drugs illegally should be locked up while he himself was doing the same thing. not to mention the fact that he is a 3 times divorcee who champions traditional marriage. those cops should be held accountable for the (in)action as well. wouldnt be suprised if one or both of them knew kennedy.
I hope Pat gets the help he needs and I'm happy no one was hurt in the accident. That said I find it refreshing that he had the balls to admit a mistake and admit himself to drug rehab. It takes a man to admit mistakes and try to rectify them as soon as possible. Wish we would see that more from our elected officials. Now I'm sure republicans are going to try and use this to deflect criticism of wrong doing by their party. It was only a matter of time. And here we see basso, instead of commending him for admitting mistakes and doing what he could to help himself, ridicule him and use a man's sickness for political points. not surprising
Absolutely absurd that a man in Kennedy's position would wait to get help until after he crashes his car ~ he could have easily killed himself or others. Clearly this has been a huge problem long before this incident -- too little too late. The other explanation to this is that he was partying and popping pills - crashed and is just doing political damage control by saying he needs help for this long time problem.
and you accorded RUsh the same respect and sympathy, correct? you didn't use his disease to score political points? or is it different when a republican is involved?
its different when a total hypocrite like limbaugh is involved. for years he said anyone who used drugs illegally should be locked up and he was illegally using drugs the whole time. his addiction was so severe that it caused him to go deaf. he's a textbook definition of a hypocrite, just like the rest of the neocons.
Honestly I haven't heard Kennedy railing against drug addicts for years while he himself was high as a kite. Reagan called Limbaugh "Number One voice for conservatism in our Country" -- I would hardly consider Pat Kennedy the "the number one voice of liberals."
High Court May Replace Miranda with Kennedy Rights (2006-05-05) — The 1966 Supreme Court Miranda ruling could face its toughest challenge to date during the fall court session when Justices will consider revising the famous “you have the right to remain silent” litany with a new set of statements known as the “Kennedy Warnings.” The case springs from an incident this week in which Capitol Hill police allegedly were prevented by their superiors from administering a field sobriety test to Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-RI, son of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-MA, when the younger Kennedy staggered from his car after narrowly avoiding collision with a police cruiser and crashing into a barricade. Rep. Kennedy said he had not been drinking alcohol, but was impaired by prescription medications which made him think he had to rush to Congress for a 2:45 a.m. vote. Police did not run a breathalyzer test, did not arrest the Congressman, and simply gave him a ride home. An attorney for the American Drunkards Association (ADA) hailed the case as “great leap forward in providing real justice to a people who have faced years of discrimination at the hands of police just because of who they are.” When the Supreme Court convenes in October, it will consider rewriting the Miranda Warnings to conform to the more progressive treatment Rep. Kennedy received. The following is a draft excerpt of the new Kennedy Rights: 1. You have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer questions. Do you understand? If so, stagger randomly. 2. Anything you do say will be ignored and quickly forgotten, because you’re not yourself right now. Do you understand? If so, let your chin drop suddenly to your chest? 3. You have the right to consult a public relations firm before speaking to the police, and to have your PR spokesman present during questioning now or in the future. Do you understand? If so, say: ‘My umbersmand.’ 4. If you cannot afford a public relations firm, one will be appointed for you before any questioning if you wish. Do you understand? If so, allow your eyeballs to roll back in their sockets. 5. Knowing and understanding your rights as I have explained them to you, are you willing to answer my questions without a public relations expert present? If you say ‘Yes’ or ‘No’, or make any sound at all, or say nothing, we will respect your right to remain silent and we’ll give you a ride home. http://www.scrappleface.com/?p=2252
