成人X站

成人X站 NEWSRADIO OPINION

Ross: Politics is war by other means

Nov 16, 2023, 8:55 AM | Updated: 12:57 pm

Sen. Markwayne Mullin. (Getty Images)...

Sen. Markwayne Mullin. (Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

We all know that bullies are a problem. It鈥檚 bad enough in the classroom, but it鈥檚 really bad when that attitude persists into adulthood and plays out among people in important positions.

As happened during that now-famous Senate hearing this week 鈥 the confrontation between Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, and Teamsters President Sean O鈥橞rien.

“You want to do it now?” Mullin asked.

“I’d love to do it right now,” O’Brien said.

“Well, stand your butt up then,” Mullin said.

“You stand your butt up,” O’Brien said.

“Oh stop it, you know your United States Senator,” Senator Bernie Sanders said.

Does that remind you of something?

鈥淕entlemen, you can鈥檛 fight in here. This is the war room,鈥 the famous Dr. Strangelove quote.

And yet, there鈥檚 another famous quote that says: Politics is war by other means. So confrontations like this shouldn鈥檛 surprise us, because that鈥檚 the whole point of having a Congress鈥 to bring people with deep disagreements together and hope something constructive emerges.

Markwayne Mullin is a United States Senator, a title which implies a level of decorum, but he felt bullied, and wanted to set an example:

“I tell my kids you’re responsible for your words. If you want to be a bully, expect to be treated like that. And you should be able to stand up for other people who are being bullied, too,” Mullin said. “I’m not somebody that’s gonna say we go around and fight all the time. But I will say that every now and then, you do, and he should be taught a lesson.”

He explained in a series of interviews yesterday that he saw Sean O鈥橞rien, head of the teamsters, as a typical online bully.

More Dave Ross: Artificial Intelligence bringing a non-human approach to health care

And I would note that on his 鈥淴鈥 account, Mr. O鈥橞rien has adopted the handle 鈥淍Teamsters SOB鈥濃 which I suppose could stand for Sean O鈥橞rien, but maybe not.

And the Senator 鈥 who was once an MMA fighter 鈥 says keyboard bullies like him need consequences.

鈥淚鈥檓 not supposed to sit there and absorb it. He needs to be called out for his actions there,” Mullin said. “Fortunately,聽 I’m capable of doing it, what about the people who can’t? I can do something about it, and maybe I can stop him from doing it again. What are you supposed to do with bullies, ignore him or stand up to it.鈥

Stand up to 鈥檈m! And to his credit, he wasn鈥檛 talking about a duel, no weapons 鈥 just two men doing what men do to avoid too much thinking.

And after a few bruises, they might have decided all on their own that talking things out would be a better idea after all.

Or not鈥

“I’m not afraid of biting. I will bite in a fight, I’m going to bite, I’ll do anything,” Mullin said. “I mean, I’m not above it. And I don’t care where I bite, by the way, it’s just going to be a bite.

Okay, I think you鈥檝e made your point.

Listen to Seattle鈥檚 Morning News with Dave Ross and Colleen O鈥橞rien weekday mornings from 5 鈥 9 a.m. on 成人X站 Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the聽podcast here.

Dave's Commentary

Dave Ross on 成人X站 Newsradio 97.3 FM
  • to 成人X站 Newsradio weekdays at 5am for Dave Ross on Seattle's Morning News.

成人X站 Newsradio Opinion

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: Jeremie Dufault on Ban, Ferguson & WA鈥檚 Future

State Rep Jeremie Dufault joined the John Curley Show to talk about being banned from the house floor last week, his optimism in Bob Ferguson as the Governor and why he still has hope for the future of the state of Washington. Listen to The John Curley Show every weekday at 3pm on 成人X站 Newsradio […]

4 hours ago

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: Help Us Find Producer Laura’s Mystery Man!

On the Jake & Spike Show, producer Laura shares a missed connection. It was A chance meeting and a date in Greece straight from a rom-com. Listen to the Jake and Spike Show every weekday from 12pm – 3pm on 成人X站 Newsradio 97.3 FM. Listen to 成人X站 Newsradio 97.3 FM or go to MyNorthwest.com to […]

6 hours ago

house floor republican...

John Curley Show

‘They’ve been lying, and nobody calls them on it’: Republican Rep. removed from House floor after Parents’ Bill of Rights outburst

The House of Representatives barred Republican lawmaker Jeremie Dufault from the floor for the rest of the legislative session following an outburst Thursday

10 hours ago

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: Is Bill Belichick’s 24-Year-Old Girlfriend Weird?

Did anyone else notice Bill Belichick’s new girlfriend has a uniquely sinister energy in this interview? Listen to the Jake and Spike Show every weekday from 12pm – 3pm on 成人X站 Newsradio 97.3 FM. Listen to 成人X站 Newsradio 97.3 FM or go to MyNorthwest.com to learn more!

11 hours ago

Guests including Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai and Elon Musk, arrive before the 60th P...

Matt Markovich

Bezos bolts, billions lost: Is Washington’s wealth walking out the door?

Jeff Bezos' relocation could signal a new era for Washington's tax future and wealth distribution. Explore the implications.

17 hours ago

(Getty Images)...

John Curley Show

Is social media ‘splintering’ the Democratic Party? John Curley weighs in

John Curley said that those who share posts online could be over-radicalizing the views of the Democratic party, giving Republicans a leg up.

1 day ago

Ross: Politics is war by other means