Congressman ‘Caught on Camera’ Pulling Fire Alarm to in Apparent Attempt to Delay Vote to Avoid Shutdown

Flying Squid@lemmy.world to politics @lemmy.world – 732 points –
Congressman ‘Caught on Camera’ Pulling Fire Alarm to in Apparent Attempt to Delay Vote to Avoid Shutdown
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Thanks a lot, dude. Gonna be hearing about this from the right for forever

Yep. Shitty, stupid move. Should be censured for it.

No, minor issue. Don't let it distract from the fact that Republicans can't even pass their own budget, or even a stopgap measure.

Republicans can't govern because they have no policies besides tax cuts for the rich.

Minor or not, it was simply a dumb thing to do. I'm not saying he did a terrible thing, but it was stupid and an unforced error that gave Republicans ammo. Censuring is basically just formally being told you did something bad and warned to knock it off.

Imagine what Republicans will say if he doesn't get any response at all.

The sad fact is, Republicans could be spending all day, every day, raping puppies, but it's the fire alarm thing that would get all the press attention, and they damn well know it. Democrats have to be held to a higher standard than the puppy-rapers, because we know exactly how everyone will respond when they're not. It's unfair and stupid, but that doesn't change anything, unfortunately.

Imagine what Republicans will say if he doesn't get any response at all.

It doesn't matter what they say. They are going to say something negative about Democrats either way.

This is actually good because they can focus on this minor issue, blow it out of proportion, and look like idiots. Democrats should just respond with:

"He was pulling the alarm to wake up the Republican leadership. Our government needs to be funded as fast as possible."

Sadly, it does matter what they say, if it's something that news outlets will blast 24 hours a day.

It doesn't matter. Not only is it only going to be covered for 5 minutes, no one is going to vote based on this issue. Democrats can literally ignore it.

I hope you're right. It would be nice not to worry about stupid shit anymore. But it was still a dumb thing to do.

I can confirm, this doesn't change my vote. It'll be a non-story.

I don't think what Bowman did was smart, but giving ammo to Republicans genuinely doesn't matter. Republicans are currently trying to impeach Biden for literally nothing. If you act perfectly and give them no ammo, then they'll just straight-up make up bullshit instead.

My point is that that's what we should force them to do: Flail around and scream about nothing because they have nothing. It makes them look desperate, childish, and stupid. We shouldn't make their lives easier by giving them anything they can rant about that's in any way connected to reality.

This is nothing. The immediate association is "something a kid does to get out of a test". I fucking welcome them going all in on the grave offense of pulling a fire alarm so they could actually read the legislation. PLEASE Republicans, publicize the shit out of this.

Imagine what Republicans will say if he doesn't get any response at all.

What are Republicans saying about the fact that Trump is a fraudster and a rapist, that MTG spreads the most idiotic anti-semitic conspiracy theories and that Bobert gets tossed out of a theater for smoking, hollering, getting her boobs grabbed and giving a guy a hand job? What are Republicans saying about the fact George Santos is an obvious liar, huckster and fraud who has been charged with fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds, and making false statements?

What response did that get from Republicans - as compared to, say, the response Al Franken got from Democrats?

And where's the benefit for Democrats in acting in good faith when dealing with an opponent that doesn't even know the meaning of the term "good faith?"

Is hating transgender people and drag queens a policy position?

Now 6 hours later when it’s passed the senate: LOL.

I understand they needed to read the bill (or frankly needed an AI to review the differences), but pulling the fire alarm was probably not needed.

It's the thing Republicans can't understand though: he's "our team" but we don't care and the appropriate charges should be pressed.

I mean technically he didn't actually do much.

IANAL but didn't he obstruct Congress?

Wow I hate that acronym!

False alarms are against the law regardless of it being an attempt to fuck with Congress. Which is probably why an aid wouldn't do it for him. They knew they'd at least lose their job, and possibly get fined or have a few days in jail.

I for one LOVE that the not a lawyer acronym sounds like an Asimov porn parody 😂

But if he did it to give the representatives the opportunity to read the bill they were about to vote on to make sure that they’re not being tricked by the Republicans — then he was supporting Congress

Hello anal I'm dad.

More seriously, it seems like it'd be a pain to prove, since he has a (shitty) excuse.

In some jurisdictions, false reporting of emergencies is illegal. Not sure about DC or the halls of Congress.

The proverbial false yelling of "fire" in crowded theater is literally one of the test examples for limitations that should be placed on free speech because it is so dangerous.

Profoundly stupid. Your hapless opponents are creating all the bad press they can for you. How did he possibly think this would help?

Okay so apparently he did it so the senate could actually read the bill they were signing as there was no time before the government shutdown so that adds interesting context at least.

Yeah I think he should probably get a stern talking to from a fire marshal and punished if he does it again