Got to love it

[tombogan03884]

http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2009_08_09-2009_08_15.shtml#1250092370


The Perils of High Public Office

CBS News has dug up some video of Rep. Dan Rostenkowski being chased down the street by a crowd of angry seniors. This event took place twenty years ago next Monday -- August 17, 1989.

Here's Rostenkowski starting at 1:35 in the video:

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Rostenkowski: I don't think they understand what the government's trying to do for them.

Reporter: Do you sympathize with their anger on this?

Rostenkowski: No, I don't think they understand what's going on.

As this book makes clear, Rostenkowski was comfortably within the mainstream of Congresssional and elite media opinion in dismissing the objections of his constituents as uninformed, ill-founded, or rabble-rousing. But, the day had long-term consequences. As the New York Times observed in a 2002 article, "the television images of Mr. Rostenkowski under assault struck fear in the hearts of politicians that remains to this day. Few want to be pitted against older people on issues involving Medicare. ‘Politicians were traumatized by the Rostenkowski episode and they remain traumatized,’ said Henry J. Aaron, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.”

I devote a few pages of my book on Medicare to the subject.

Related Posts (on one page):

   1. The Perils of High Public Office
   2. Grassroots Activism For Me, But Not For Thee

[tt11758]

Apparently they're not only no longer traumatized, but have completely forgotten the incident.  Something tells me they'll be reminded sooner rather than later.

[tombogan03884]

 I'm waiting for the video of one of these pompous asses running down the street being pelted with medicine bottles yelling EEK, EEK. 
That would be the time for BO's goons to come get me as I will be laughing to hard to resist. 

[tt11758]

I'm waiting for the video of one of these pompous asses running down the street being pelted with medicine bottles yelling EEK, EEK. 
That would be the time for BO's goons to come get me as I will be laughing to hard to resist. 

Hopefully they'll put me in the cell next to your's. 

[PegLeg45]

Apparently they're not only no longer traumatized, but have completely forgotten the incident.  Something tells me they'll be reminded sooner rather than later.

I'm waiting for the video of one of these pompous asses running down the street being pelted with medicine bottles yelling EEK, EEK. 
That would be the time for BO's goons to come get me as I will be laughing to hard to resist. 

How 'bout a lot of tar, feathers, and a good sturdy rail................................ or about twenty feet of good rope?
You're rubbing off on us, TB.

Hopefully they'll put me in the cell next to your's. 

I'll bring you two a fried chicken box on Sundays.    

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

How 'bout a lot of tar, feathers, and a good sturdy rail................................ or about twenty feet of good rope?
You're rubbing off on us, TB.


I'll bring you two a fried chicken box on Sundays.    

Could you slip a file in there while your at it ? 

[PegLeg45]

Could you slip a file in there while your at it ? 

Hell, I figured you were good enough to pick a lock with a chicken bone.           

[tombogan03884]

Hell, I figured you were good enough to pick a lock with a chicken bone.           

I am, I want the file so I can go into business making "shanks".
Guess I'm just a born entrepreneur.