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Sen. Charles Bishop (R – Arley) “coldcocks” Sen. Lowell Barron (D – Fyffe) on the Senate floor a few minutes ago.
Sen. Pat Lindsey (D – Butler) was sitting in the Chair when the Senate decided to recess. Reportedly, Bishop and Barron were cursing each other when Bishop “knocked Barron across a desk” and “tried to choke him,” according to a source in the Senate chamber. Security had to break them up.
Apparently there was frustration over the order in which bills were being considered, and the Senate recessed to work out the frustration.
Bishop was already known as the last Senator to take a swing at another on the Senate floor, and now apparently he has gone one better. And this is not the first time Senate security has separated Bishop from another Senator this session.
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YOu can watch the video on tonight’s Capitol Journal program at 10:30 on your local APT station. I do believe we have the only video of the punch. It will also air as part of the discussion Friday night at 7pm on “For The Record”.
It’s good to see them working through their problems in a constructive manner.
The fight occured because Lindsey ignored the rules and ran over the Bipartisan Coalition once again. He let Barron interrupt a filibuster and move to set aside the bill that was being discussed. Barron got a little cocky at the microphone and bragged about what they did. Zeb Little moved for a recess to cool tempers, and then Lowell got clobbered. That’s the story in a nutshell.
It will probably be the highest ratings APT has ever gotten.
[...] UPDATE: Mike and Danny have posts up as well. Danny’s account says Bishop also tried to strangle Barron. Tim Lennox left a comment there that APT will have video on Capitol Journal tonight at 10:30 and also on Friday night’s For the Record (7 pm). Set your VCRs/TIVOs — it’ll be better than WWE! [...]
Hmmm, on the one had Bishop need to learn to control his temper. . .
on the other hand it WAS Lowell Barron that got punched.
Is there a good guy anywhere in this story?
[...] According to some sources close to Doc’s Political Parlor, Bishop also tried to strangle Barron. Charles Bishop is an embarassment to Alabama. The name calling, physical intimidation, and now outright violence is not becoming of the office to which he was elected. I’m no fan of Lowell Barron, but I think it would be better for everyone if Bishop resigned. And if you Republicans don’t issue a statement distancing yourselves from this incident, I’m going to be very disappointed. [...]
Bishop is a nut job and he should resign. The republicans got up and defended him and that is unbelievable!
The incident has already made Drudge:
http://www.drudgereport.com
Somebody said when the Legislature is in session, even Ringling Brothers/Barnum & Bailey know they lost the title of “Greatest Show on Earth”.
There is a reason why both sides in Parliament sit “two swords lengths” apart
EL whats unbelievable is that Lowell Barron isnt sitting in a prison cell right now. The man is a crook.
See all the geezer-on-geezer action at my site.
[...] After much discussion on the motion and the events, Sen. Bishop took the floor. It’s been an interesting afternoon. First thing I did when I left the floor was say I’m not proud of what I did… But when he called me a s.o.b… when you bring my mother into it, she is my mother… [...]
Barron is a discrace! I’m surprised someone hasent already punched the bastard.