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POLITICS
When Did Violence Become the Norm in Government?
Fistfights are breaking out or threatened to break out
I’m feeling old today. How many times have I begun an article with the phrase “What the hell is going on in … (people, place, or thing)? I’m seeing shit that I’ve never seen before and I’ve been around for a long time.
(Quavering old lady voice) “Back in my day, things were more civil. There was none of this politicians fist fighting in the corridors of Congress or calls for civil unrest from former presidents.”
What the actual fuck is going on?
Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) had to (verbally) break up a threatened fist fight between Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) and Teamsters President Sean O’Brien during a hearing at the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Bernie Sanders! He’s 82 years old and trying to restrain a former MMA fighter and a union chief. Banging away with his gavel reminding the former MMA fighter:
“This is a hearing, and God knows the American people have enough contempt for Congress. Let’s not make it worse.”
Later, during an interview with a conservative talk show, Mullin went on to threaten to bite the Teamsters president the next time they mixed it up:
