Comments on: On Laughter

By: Todd Seavey

Todd Seavey — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:19:53 +0000

One of the charges against Socrates in Athens — and _Dartmouth Review_ editor Debbie Stone in New Hampshire — was “malicious laughter,” so you’re in good company, Dan.

By: Menapotstirrer

Menapotstirrer — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 20:23:58 +0000

Send me an e-mail at 1969wasagreatyear@gmail.com and I’ll give you the details.

By: AKA Bryce

AKA Bryce — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 18:02:55 +0000

What meeting? I would like to know more about that.

By: Menapotstirrer

Menapotstirrer — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 02:10:14 +0000

I attended a meeting today with Rep. Reep and Hall. I was appalled when they explained that people in their districts were overwhelmingly opposed to the tax but they were being real leaders by voting for the tax since their constituents were too poor and uneducated to know what was “really best for them”. This kind of legislative arrogance is not only laughable… it is deplorable and their uneducated constituents should bring them home to think about it.

By: AKA Bryce

AKA Bryce — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 23:46:49 +0000

This is a guy who made such a fool of himself at a high school football game he had to publish an apology in the hometown paper. The true judge of the effectiveness of Representative or Mayor Reep is the steady decline of his own home town. Warren has been in steady decline since he became mayor and has gotten worse since he was elected by the citizens of Bradley County to represent them in Little Rock. Maybe he should spend more time trying to bring in industry and economic development to rescue Warren and less time attending homosexual fundraisers and speaking double truths from the house floor. As a former citizen of Bradley County he is a total embarrassment to me, in his general appearance, and his voting record.

By: Brent Who Isn't Jeremy

Brent Who Isn't Jeremy — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 22:15:41 +0000

I agree with Kinkade on all that. The startling inability of Arkansas Democrats to detect partisanship from anyone besides Republicans is a related and most interesting phenomenon. A press release goes out from the DPA urging all Democrats to endorse the tax release; no problem. A week later, Bryan King endorses smaller government; suddenly Robbie Wills claims partisanship has been injected into the debate by, natch, Republicans. It’s like the time that one of my car speakers blew out and I could only hear the music from the right side of the car. Can these politicians even hear themselves?

By: David Kinkade

David Kinkade — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 22:06:52 +0000

First, John, we don’t go in for that IP search business on this blog and I’m perfectly content to host your commentary sans full identification, so welcome.

Second, what I find most interesting in all this is this concept advanced by Wills that the Arkansas House of Representatives chamber is some kind of sanctum sanctorum that must be revered in and of itself. How fortunate that these concepts of restraint and dignity and decorum and reverence (ugh) for the institution coincide so perfectly with the Speaker’s and Beebe’s interests. This desire to avoid all outward displays of conflict is a pretty powerful weapon wielded by Arkansas Democrats, since most of the Little Rock media crowd endorses such go-along/get-alongism as the highest obtainable good.

But perhaps my sensibilities are too cynically irreverent.
D.

By: Bill from Sheridan

Bill from Sheridan — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 21:39:23 +0000

Seriously, being upset about laughter and a one-liner is kinda petty to me. A man was once stabbed on the floor of the Arkansas State House. I think everything but Speaker Wills pride will survive a little laughter.

By: Brent Who Isn't Jeremy

Brent Who Isn't Jeremy — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 21:29:51 +0000

John, it is clear that you are responding to Representative Greenburg’s post, which discusses Speaker Wills’s, without the benefit of reading either one. Here is what Wills said.

“For the most part, dignity and decorum prevailed in this debate. Unfortunately, a few opponents showed a complete lack of respect for the House of Representatives by heckling Rep. Gregg Reep, the sponsor of the bill, with derisive laughter, hoots and catcalls. It was out of line. A few of them have since apologized. Some don’t seem to think they did anything wrong.”

Robbie Wills is anti-laughter.

By: John

John — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 21:15:43 +0000

Now that added for some serious laughter, Bill.

I’m sure you can do any I.P. trace, so try that. I’m a Comcast subscriber in Little Rock.