SF restaurant owner says Bernie Sanders was 'cranky,' rude to staff

[George II]

Sen. Bernie Sanders was in town for the Democratic National Committee's summer meeting and dined out with staff at San Francisco's iconic John's Grill on Thursday, according to Politico.

The presidential hopeful didn't impress the owner of the 111-year-old restaurant, John Konstin.

"It was all very nice, except for cranky Bernie," Konstin told Politico.

Konstin told SFGATE the U.S. senator from Vermont declined to shake hands and take photos and "was rude" to staff.

"He was just rude, not friendly," Konstin said. "I think he was just hungry and didn't want to be a politician. He lost my vote."

https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Cranky-Bernie-Sanders-San-Francisco-Johns-Grill-14378921.php

(Note: mostly short one-sentence paragraphs so I included five, not the recommended four)

[Me.]

1. I Guess His Won't Be One Of The photos On The Wall

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. The thing about retail politics is that

you can't afford to be cranky in public, ever, no matter how tired you are or how much you don't feel like shaking hands or signing autographs or chatting with strangers. If you're not in the mood for those things, stay at a hotel where you can have a little privacy for a while (which everyone needs sometimes). Or else suppress your grumpiness and pretend to have a good time - since campaigning is a lot of acting anyhow. Being rude cost Bernie one vote. No big deal by itself, but a candidate's rudeness gets reported and it doesn't help.

[calimary]

25. Yep. Truth. That's part of it. A BIG part of it.

[LincolnRossiter]

26. If you're a private person or you don't enjoy frequent interactions with strangers

I have an even better suggestion; don’t run for office.

[Cha]

72. Good advice!

[handmade34]

3. well, yah

I expect nothing less from Bernie

[mitch96]

22. Sounds like 1/2 my New York friends.... ;)...................... nt

[George II]

30. He hasn't lived in NYC since his mid-20s, more than 50 years ago.

[handmade34]

44. you can take the boy

out of the city, but you can't take the city out of the boy...… Bernie is just Bernie

[George II]

86. I'm a NYC boy, too - I was born about 2 miles from where he was, about six years after him....

....and lived in NYC for years longer than he did. I don't act like him. You CAN take the city boy out of the boy.

[handmade34]

92. just teasing...

I traveled throughout the U.S. before I retired last year... I have seen it all... I have seen where stereotypes come from and how they are broken... we just need not stigmatize


I loved New York and I love the rural South... there was some good, no matter where I went

I just try to get in digs at Bernie whenever I can and I hope beyond hope that he does not become our nominee, because although I would vote for him, I do not think he would be a good President

[mitch96]

93. "NYC since his mid-20"

I have not lived in NY/metro area since my early 20's. I only spent 15 of my formative years there. 40 years in Fla and when I get mad or pissed off my friends say NY falls out of my mouth.. I guess the way you learn to speak in your early years never leaves you.. eh?
m

[George II]

94. I have an older brother and never like his "accent", so in my mid-teens I worked on getting rid...

...of it. By my 20s it was pretty much gone. I traveled all over the country for work, and people were surprised I was from NYC - "where's your Archie Bunker accent?"

I'm 71, but my wife says that when I have a couple of beers it comes out! Otherwise I pretty much have a non-descript accent.

[mitch96]

95. "By my 20s it was pretty much gone"

I grew up with two other guys on my block. One had no discernible NY/north east accent. His parents were from PA. My other friend (known him since I was 5 years old) has a very discernible NY/LonGiland accent. His parents were long time New Yorkers... Also had 2 friends down here in culturally diverse Miami.. One set of parents were from Alabama and she had a distinct southern accent. The other born and raised in Miami had a NY'ish/north east accent. I guess who you grow up with matters.. Then again my Mom was from the Pittsburg area and I did not get the "youns" accent... Strange and fascinating stuff...
m

[Codeine]

103. My best friends are Massholes,

and a few glasses of wine is all it takes to hear the r’s start to disappear.

[paleotn]

23. Ever been to NYC?

[handmade34]

45. yes

[Freethinker65]

4. Is he sure it wasn't Larry David doing Bernie? Jk😀

[betsuni]

91. ...

[comradebillyboy]

5. Bernie is that way to everybody. It's one of the reasons why

his legislative accomplishments are so sparse. He just doesn't work well with others. I had the same problem in my professional life and it definitely held me back.

[redstatebluegirl]

18. Yep, he is a grumpy old dude.

[Cha]

142. ...

[customerserviceguy]

6. I think that's just Bernie's normal demeanor

They're not accustomed to that out in laid-back La-La Land.

[mcar]

40. I think waitstaff everywhere are accustomed to rude customers

I just don't think they expect it from a presidential candidate who is supposed to be trying to win votes.

If that's just his normal demeanor, that's a problem for him.

[Cha]

101. Exactly..

[wasupaloopa]

59. La La land? In my home state of CA we out progress Bernie the grump every day.

[Hortensis]

73. :) Yes. Can't contest that. BUT, do they outdo him in

longing for socialist revolution during those long, slow years between reelection campaigns? Huh? Huh?

We miss California. After 20 years away, my husband still takes the L.A. Times.

[Cha]

143. +1!

[Blue_true]

81. La-La Land? Where did that come from?

San Francisco is a distinctly different city than Los Angeles, seriously different. LA is glitz and glamour, San Fran is more slicked-back hair cool.

[customerserviceguy]

82. I'm from the Pacific Northwest originally

that's how we refer to anything south of the Oregon border.

[Blue_true]

83. Ok, now I get it. You're right, I have heard California putdowns when in Portland or Seattle. nt

[Clash City Rocker]

129. I have friends from the Pacific Northwest who don't hold those rude prejudices

So please don’t try to lump all of them together. San Francisco is nothing like LA, and not everyone from Oregon and Washington is that much of a bigot.

[FreeState]

140. No we don't -

Born and raised in a Seattle and I’ve never used or heard that everything in CA as la la land - only LA.

[whathehell]

131. If you mean rudeness, they're not accustomed to it in most places

Nor should they become so. I like Bernie a lot. -- He's my # 2 pick for Prez. That said, I don't like or tolerate rude behavior.

[sheshe2]

7. Warren wouldn't have done that.

I met her once at Senator Markey's campaign office, she was campaigning for him on his first run for the Senate. She gave a short speech, shook hands all around and I got a selfie with her.

Granted she was working but still~

[JI7]

8. this article mentions Warren also

and says she did exactly what you describe.

[sheshe2]

38. Thanks, JI7!

I had to run when I posted and didn't have time for the article.

[George II]

9. The article has a photograph of Warren in the kitchen of the restaurant she visited in SF....

greeting the staff:

"Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts stepped into the kitchen at Ayala restaurant in San Francisco during the 2019 California Democrat Convention."

[sheshe2]

39. Thanks for that fantastic photo!

I didn't go to the article because of the way you worded your OP (about the five lines) I thought that was the entire post.

Thanks so much for the heads up about Warren.

[BannonsLiver]

51. Warren is a really good candidate.

It's easy to have warm feelings for her.

[Blue_true]

84. Friends that have met her says she knows how to connect to the core of a person's humanity.

Sounds profound, but several of them swear by that.

[George II]

13. I'll never forget this:

[sheshe2]

41. ...

[mcar]

42. Once they went to lunch at a place just a block down from where my son was living at the time

I loved when Barack and Joe did their lunch runs.

[Hortensis]

74. :) I loved when either one ran into children.

I swear if parents had let their babies crawl around those diner floors, Obama'd have been down there with them.

[Eliot Rosewater]

60. I am trying to lay off Bernie, but this brings back to mind that pic of him at the

event where everyone is together, laughing, and he is alone looking angry.

Nothing new to me as I have followed him for much longer than 95% of his supporters, but it does create the issue of getting along to get along etc.

There is a REASON he found it difficult to pass legislation for 29 years.

[Hortensis]

75. It was reportedly a big reason, but another was that he didn't try.

Being "independent" and officially disapproving of and verbally "dissociating" frequently from Democratic senators meant he wasn't involved in by far most of the work that senators from both parties typically do, much less their caucus leadership.

[Sneederbunk]

10. Sent the soup back.

[nilram]

19. I wasn't at all impressed with the food at John's

There are so many other restaurants in SF that are better. Still, a person can be polite, even friendly, when sending food back.

[LincolnRossiter]

11. There's a part of me that sympathizes with celebrities and public figures

who occasionally want to enjoy a night out without the constant interruption of fans and onlookers. But unfortunately for them that’s the price you pay for being a public person. They’re well compensated for the hassle.

And yeah, Bernie seems cranky as hell.

[calimary]

28. YES. That's the price you pay. And if you don't like it or don't want it,

then DON’T pursue a life or career that puts you in the public eye.

It’s just that simple.

That “annoying public” thing is what buys tickets to your movies, runs up the Nielsen ratings on your TV shows, fills the auditoriums for your speaking engagements, buys the books at your book-signings, and buys your other merch - t-shirts, cookbooks and kitchen stuff, clothing lines, athletic shoe lines, cosmetic lines, lifestyle stuff, fitness stuff, blogs, AND supports the other brands you endorse.

And poor widdle you! How unfortunate for you. You’re bothered and interrupted and inconvenienced and having to whine and cry and complain - all the way to the bank.

Gee. Too fucking bad.

[SWBTATTReg]

37. Well said! NT

[sheshe2]

46. Ding ding ding!

Winner!

[greatauntoftriplets]

56. Excellent point.

Political candidates -- and office holders -- are pretty much always at work when in public and so should treat the public well.

Plus, you never know what the waitstaff might have done to your food!

[George II]

58. Yep....

[Eliot Rosewater]

62. Fan? Big time here, learned a lot about science even. Saw a taping, the ONE week

you know who wasnt there when she broke her leg riding her horse.

[cstanleytech]

12. I do not think its a negative for Bernie. Don't get me wrong I am not a Bernie supporter mainly

because I think he needs to stop sitting on the fence and only joining the party when he wants to run for the nomination but nor do I oppose him either rather I know from experience that when my blood sugar is to high or to low (type 1 diabetic) that I can get extremely irritable and that's putting it mildly.

[mcar]

43. I'm so old I remember when the media was aghast

at Amy Klobuchar's "meanness." Guess it's OK if you're a man.

[cstanleytech]

47. I wouldn't know as I have been largely avoiding the varies posts bashing any of our people as I find

it to be completely unhelpful when it comes to support a candidate.

[honest.abe]

14. Isn't he always that way??

[comradebillyboy]

15. Why yes, yes he is.

[Princetonian]

16. Can you imagine the headlines if it was VP Joe?

[thesquanderer]

31. I think this is the kind of stuff that shouldn't be posted about any candidate.

It's really just a useless bash of one of our candidates. Not helpful to anyone in any way, and not indicative of anything of substance. It's bad enough that some newspaper bothers to print an article about the horror of someone being cranky at a meal. Posting it here has no purpose except to poke supporters of a candidate who the poster doesn't like.

[Meadowoak]

33. +1

[wasupaloopa]

61. Primary voting hasn't even begun. I advise leaving DU for the season.

Just you wait Henry W, just you wait.

[Hortensis]

76. Yes, unless it's part of long-term patterns of behavior

that a lot of voters would want to know about. This is from back in 2015 quoting people who'd interacted with Sanders professionally for some time at that point:

Chris Graf, long-time Associated Press bureau chief in Vermont, in an article published Sept. 30 in Theweek.com, had this to say about the senator: “Bernie has no social skills, no sense of humor, and he's quick to boil over. He's the most unpolitical person in politics I've ever come across.” ...

A recent article by Paul Heintz titled “Anger Management” featured current and former staff who have experienced the dark side of Sanders. “They characterize the senator as rude, short-tempered and, occasionally, downright hostile. Though Sanders has spent much of his life fighting for working Vermonters, they say he mistreats the people working for him,” Heintz wrote.

Among those he cited was Steve Rosenfeld, Sanders' press secretary during his 1990 House campaign, and author of “In Making History in Vermont.” "At his best, Sanders is a skilled reader and manipulator of people and events," Rosenfeld wrote in his account of the campaign. "At his worst, he falls prey to his own emotions, is unable to practice what he preaches (though he would believe otherwise) and exudes a contempt for those he derides, including his staff."

https://www.lansingcitypulse.com/stories/the-trouble-with-bernie,4622

Sanders is Sanders. Fine, admire him for his strong points, or even the whole person, but those who do should do it with their eyes open.

[Princetonian]

87. I agree.

But then, I agree with everything you post.

[ehrnst]

17. I've heard that about him. (nt)

[Hortensis]

55. Lots of stories from Vermont.

[Eliot Rosewater]

63. Anyone who has not been vented the way Hillary or Barack were, and clearly Bernie and

for that matter all of our current candidates other than Joe have not been, does risk a reaction by a fickle public.

Personally I dont give two shits if he is unfriendly AS LONG as he beats rump and RESTORES our government and name around the world and STOPS being unfriendly when trying to get Medicare for all, for example.



NONE of our candidates can accomplish such a MAJOR deal as that without being able to schmooze others AND being prepared for compromise.

ACA happened because of schmoozing and compromise.

What happens if the ONLY way to get Medicare for All is to carve out someway for the CORRUPT AND VILE health insurers to stay in business. Do you scrap the whole thing and fuck everybody over who needs it?

[ehrnst]

64. ACA happened because Pelosi knew how to move it through.

Sanders doesn't have her people skills or her ability to listen, evaluate the situation and change tactics when needed.

It did involve compromise, but we got further towards Universal Health Care than we have ever been, and that was way better than what we had before.

What happens if the ONLY way to get Medicare for All is to carve out someway for the CORRUPT AND VILE health insurers to stay in business. Do you scrap the whole thing and fuck everybody over who needs it?

What if M4A isn't the only way to get health care to everyone? The vast majority of developed countries who have UHC don't do it via single payer.

[Eliot Rosewater]

65. I am OK with the way Canada does it.

[ehrnst]

67. Do you know how Canada did it?

All their provinces went single payer independently of each other. This took over 15 years. Then there was a very liberal federal administration elected, and they added a federal layer over it. This was in the 60's - amd they've been tweaking and developing alongside medical technology expansion since. It is much easier to prevent costs from rising than it is to slash them.

They also don't cover what M4A promises - dental, rx, etc, which makes coverage far more expensive. That's one way they make it affordable - they don't offer the platinum plan that M4A promises.

They could not start in 2019 and get what they have now in less time, let alone in in two years, especially having to retrofit into an existing complicated patchwork like the US has.

Green Mountain Care in VT didn't get off the ground, Coloradocare was soundly voted down in 2016, and California still hasn't figured out funding mechanisms to get it off the ground - so doing it like Canada did isn't likely.

https://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/hist/medicare/medic-4h01e.html

[Eliot Rosewater]

68. Yes, I have a friend there who lectures me all the time about it LOL

and I didnt know they were including dental.

Now, it should be but I can see the cost of that skyrocketing the whole thing and making it less likely to happen.

[ehrnst]

69. You make choices, because that's the reality. It costs a lot of money.

Last edited Wed Aug 28, 2019, 07:24 AM - Edit history (1)

And TWO YEARS????? I guess someone who doesn't expect to have to ever deliver can promise the moon. Sanders isn't known for listening to anyone, no matter how expert and apolitical, who doesn't agree with him lockstep.

What worries me more than anything is that Sanders is skyrocketing people's expectations that health care can be just like it is now, like it is on private insurance, and cover MORE, and will cost everyone even LESS - even though Canada hasn't managed to do that.

[FM123]

20. Politicians must never forget that everybody has a sphere of influence

whether they be your customers, co-workers, neighbors, relatives etc etc. So that "one vote" that Bernie lost from the restaurant owner may turn out to be more than just one.....

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

21. Maybe he was having a bad day

But when you're in the spotlight behavior matters.

[Cha]

98. And, not the first time.

[trueblue2007]

105. reading the numerous stories about BS ..... he has bad days every day. I don't think he is nice.

polite, courteous, let's other people offer opinions etc. i don't think he acts professional either. look at the way he had his hand and finger all around that woman on the video.... he was very very very rude. he was rude during the 2016 debates.

is he respected by his colleagues????

[betsuni]

108. I think Barney Frank gave a good description here:

"I think he has unduly denigrated the institution and a lot of the members. It does not help leftist causes to make people think government is full of poltroons and charlatans. ... Bernie alienates his natural allies. He is completely inefficient as a lobbyist because he offends just about everyone. His holier-than-thou attitude -- saying in a very loud voice he is smarter than everyone else and purer than everyone else -- really undercuts his effectiveness. To him, anybody who disagrees with him is a crook; there are no honest disagreements with people. Bernie's view of the world is that the great majority of the people agree with him on all the issues and the only reason he does not win is the Congress is crooked."

[melman]

113. "Frank told The New York Times in 1991"

https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2016/04/11/history-barney-frank-bernie-sanders-criticize


https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=260890

[betsuni]

137. He hasn't changed. You must not be very familiar with Bernie.

Try watching a few interviews and reading about him.

I thought never changing was a big plus, "authentic." Not anymore? Interesting.

[NCjack]

24. Next time Bernie says he wants a soft boiled egg and bowl of oatmeal, that's

what he wants. So, serve it to him.

[empedocles]

27. 'Get Off My Lawn!' tendencies

[Turin_C3PO]

29. Yeah, he strikes me as a grump.

Kind of a cranky fellow. Naturally, I’d vote for a grump against the current narcissistic sociopath but I hope I don’t have to.

[dewsgirl]

134. Yep same here. I'd vote for a house plant compared

To what we have now.

[madaboutharry]

32. Bernie behaved the same way when I saw him in 2016.

I thought he was going to yell for everyone to get off his lawn.

Bernie is not a people person. That just isn't who he is and it isn't something you can manufacturer. Not everyone has that personality.

I think this is why as time goes on that many of the voters he had in 2016 will migrate to Elizabeth Warren. She loves politics and crowds.

Of course, if he is the nominee I will vote for him. But I hope I will get to vote for someone else.

[Cha]

34. lol.. I saw this on twitter yesterday.

[Vegas Roller]

35. Not surprised at all

The real personality is amply evident.

[Bayard]

36. I've noticed this at the debates

The other candidates shake hands and smile. Bernie always stands apart.

[Cha]

48. No need to be "rude" enough to lose

someone's vote.

[sheshe2]

49. The article states that Jane felt the need to apologize as they were leaving.

That is telling.

[Cha]

50. That's right, she..

Thank you! party:

[sheshe2]

52. Wow.

Just wow, Cha.

[Cha]

66. And, John Konstin still "won't

vote for him"!

[jcgoldie]

53. OMG this is a hit piece!

I can't imagine Bernie was cranky!

[RhodeIslandOne]

54. Welp this place is going down hill fast.

A minute ago we had an article attributing bullshit to Biden via a Bernie supporter, now this clickbait shit.

[betsuni]

57. Of course he was cranky. At 111 years old, John's Grill is obviously part of the establishment.

[Steelrolled]

70. Sen. Bernie Sanders was in town for the Democratic National Committee's summer meeting....

I think you'd also be a little cranky after having to meet with the DNC.

[Cha]

79. Yeah, of course, blame it on the DNC that

BS is so rude in John's Grille that his wife had to "apologize" and he lost the owner's vote.. and then it appears in the San Francisco Gate.

[JI7]

80. nobody had to be there. Sanders uses the dnc for his own advantages

and then goes after the same when things don't go as he wanted.

for example things like minimum wage and unions on his campaign. claims to be for it but doesn't practice or himself.

[SidDithers]

77. "Bernie Talks Like a Jewish Man from Brooklyn and You Need to Get Over It"...nt

Sid

[whathehell]

133. One can talk.like a Jewish man from Brooklyn without being rude

I'm not saying he was or wasn't, I'm just saying that one doesn't automatically equate with the other.

[democratisphere]

78. We already had to put up with one miserable occupant of the Oval Office.

Who needs another?!

[Joe941]

85. A petty and biased hit piece - plain and simple.

[Cha]

89. It's kinda "petty" to be

rude to other people in a restaurant.

[NurseJackie]

124. It gives us insight into the man. Is there anything about it that's untrue?

A petty and biased hit piece - plain and simple.

Is there anything about it that's untrue?

[ecstatic]

88. LOL!

The cranky attitude is appealing to some people. Personally, I don't like rude/abrasive/dismissive personalities.

[Tarheel_Dem]

90. K&R

[Cha]

96. ..

Tarheel!

[Tarheel_Dem]

97. Hi Dear Cha!

[Cha]

99. ALoha, Tarheel!

[Gothmog]

104. Hey Cha

[Cha]

106. Heh Goth

[lunamagica]

100. K&R for visibility

[flotsam]

102. I think the original post is petty BS

He was in a restaurant and those people-including the owner are service people. While other diners are in fact "the public" and while it would have been swell to charm every owner, barmaid, waitress, busboy, head cook, line cook, prep cook, and dishwasher the simple fact of eating there and paying cash implies a certain station and discretion is implied to be given by those working there. The owner is a whining asshole given wholly inappropriate coverage and if I were Bernie for the next 100 days I would complain loudly and long how shitty the place was under the goose/gander doctrine.

[Jamaal510]

107. K&R

[betsuni]

109. ...

[NurseJackie]

110. "It was all very nice, except for cranky Bernie," Konstin told Politico.

"It was all very nice, except for cranky Bernie," Konstin told Politico.

Interesting.

"He was just rude, not friendly," Konstin said. "I think he was just hungry and didn't want to be a politician. He lost my vote."

Mr. Konstin now knows first-hand what many have been saying about BS for quite some time: that he simply does not have the demeanor or temperament to be the Leader of the Free World.

I have higher standards and higher expectations in the candidate who eventually gets my vote. I'm looking for someone who's thoughtful and kind, polite and mannered, and who can show common decency and respect of others.

Konstin told Politico his restaurant hosted a party with Secretary of State Alex Padilla, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was "pure class."

This doesn't surprise me at all.

[Act_of_Reparation]

111. More or less cranky than Klobuchar, would you say?

[ehrnst]

112. Well... depends on how far back one goes

https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/anger-management-sanders-fights-for-employees-except-his-own/Content?oid=2834657

[Act_of_Reparation]

114. So about the same, then.

Disappointed, but not surprised.

[ehrnst]

115. "About the same?" You have some sources for that kind of historical "grumpiness" on Klobuchar?

Do share.

I mean she doesn't go back nearly as many years as Sanders, him being a career politician going back before the internet, so I imagine you won't have problems finding what you say is there that makes her "about the same."

And to think some people say that the excoriation of Klobuchar for being "not nice" is about having double standards for men and women.

I look forward to seeing your sources, which I'm sure are forthcoming.

[Act_of_Reparation]

117. A confusing proposition.

I don't rightly understand what's transpiring here. I'm not defending Bernie Sanders. I don't support Bernie Sanders. I have never—not once—posted anything on these forums to that effect. I wouldn't support any candidate who has, to my knowledge, been credibly accused of abusing their staff. You posted a link showing Bernie is an asshole to people. And I agreed. I'm not sure why I'm getting raked over the coals for this.


But whatever. I'll indulge you your ax to grind.

You hint at "excoriation", which suggests you already know about the allegations brought against Amy Klobuchar by former staffers, and yet you challenge me to present sources. Using my keen and penetrating powers of deduction, I suspect you either 1) have already dismissed any source I would present, or 2) you like reading things more than once. Or twice. Or whatever.

But let's not dwell on the why of things. Here's the story you'll be discrediting: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/22/us/politics/amy-klobuchar-staff.html

I look forward to your post dismissing the NYT as a conservative rag, questioning the loyalties Klobuchar's accusers and calling me an idiot for believing their vile lies. I am especially excited to see your calculus proving, conclusively, that hurling solid objects at people is "not nice", but not quite Bernie Sanders-level "grumpy".

:passive-aggressive emoji goes here:

[ehrnst]

118. Let's review:

You posted:

"More or less cranky than Klobuchar, would you say?"

I posted a link in response with a history of people discussing this aspect of Senator Sanders.

You replied:

"So about the same, then."

I asked you to support your statement that they were comparable - "About the same"

You took great umbrage for some reason - confusion?

I don't rightly understand what's transpiring here. I'm not defending Bernie Sanders. I don't support Bernie Sanders. I have never—not once—posted anything on these forums to that effect. I wouldn't support any candidate who has, to my knowledge, been credibly accused of abusing their staff. You posted a link showing Bernie is an asshole to people. And I agreed. I'm not sure why I'm getting raked over the coals for this.

Raked over the coals? That article is "Showing Bernie is an asshole," which apparently you are equating to Klobuchar in a sterling example of whataboutery...



Ane without apparent irony, wrapped up with this:

I look forward to your post dismissing the NYT as a conservative rag, questioning the loyalties Klobuchar's accusers and calling me an idiot for believing their vile lies. I am especially excited to see your calculus proving, conclusively, that hurling solid objects at people is "not nice", but not quite Bernie Sanders-level "grumpy".

:passive-aggressive emoji goes here:

That's a threefer: attacking a straw man, red herring and whataboutery.



I suggest that you look those up on your internets, so you don't get papercuts. I'm disappointed, but not surprised those wouldn't be included in your kindle publication, but then again, what can one really expect for $9.99?

[Act_of_Reparation]

123. Still confused.

I'm not entirely clear on whether you'll be:

1) Discrediting the source you asked for, or

2) Demonstrating how one person's pattern of abuse is objectively worse than another's.

I hope it's #2 because if it is that means you have a standardized scale for grumpiness and—if you keep with tradition—the individual units on the scale are named after you (which I think is pretty fucking rad). The next time someone asks me how I'm doing before I've had the chance to drink my morning coffee, I will tell them "I'm about 10 mEhrnst this morning!"

Whatever the case may be, I am not wasting my time "defending" a vague, off-the-cuff statement of a subjective feeling. Suffice it to say, then, I feel that 30 years of verbal abuse is roughly equivalent in its effect to 20 years of verbal abuse and throwing shit at people.

Clearly you disagree, and that's a problem for you. The trouble is, after this little display, I don't particularly care that you disagree, and I'm not especially interested in hearing why. So, I'm going get up and go enjoy my weekend now. You can stay here and describe to me in great detail the mechanics of your Standardized Scale of Grumpiness and how it shows, conclusively, that Sanders' and Klobuchar's treatment of their respect staff are totally disparate. Feel free to take my silence as concession.

[ehrnst]

128. Folding when you have nothing in your hand is a good choice.

Pushing away from the table and stomping out the door indignantly in a "display" as though others are cheating you, not so much.

But it's a free country, yes?

[George II]

122. That's a LOT different than snapping at an attendee at a political event.

[Act_of_Reparation]

125. "[Throwing things at your staff] is a lot different that snapping at an attendee...

...at a political event."

What do you mean by "different"?

Are you saying it is dumber move, politically? Or are you saying it is morally/ethically different?

[George II]

126. One is a public event the other was a staff meeting/gathering. One was snapping at...

...a perfect stranger and his/her child, the other was a reaction to a close staffer/employee.

I can't believe this needs to be explained.

[ehrnst]

130. That's some "vague, off-the-cuff statement of a subjective feeling" there...

Klobuchar is apparently such a long standing raspberry seed in your wisdom tooth that you'll go out of your way to "offhandedly" shiv her on a thread that has nothing to do with her.

And then to get testy with people when they call you out on it, as if somehow they are the ones derailing.

That quite the "little display" don't you think? What is it she did that's got you so up in arms that's you are threatening those that disagree with you with your silence?

I hope it's #2 because if it is that means you have a standardized scale for grumpiness and—if you keep with tradition—the individual units on the scale are named after you (which I think is pretty fucking rad). The next time someone asks me how I'm doing before I've had the chance to drink my morning coffee, I will tell them "I'm about 10 mEhrnst this morning!"

The next time someone clutches their pearls and vents their fury at being called out with "passive aggressive" icons and such, I will tell them "that's about a 3 on a scale of Act_of_Reparations!"

Is the "confusion" you expressed cleared up now?



I suggest the ignore feature to spare you more distress.

[Eliot Rosewater]

121. For some, and we know a group on the right and left like this, NOTHING their

"candidate" can do that will change their minds.

[George II]

116. I haven't seen Amy Klobuchar cranky in public at all, especially on the campaign trail.

Did we miss something?

[marble falls]

119. We all get cranky. Having to interact with people as much as any political aspirant ...

sometimes one may be cranky. I'll vote for Bernie if he gets the nomination, I think if I could change my support over a seriously nonsensitive issue like being grumpy, well ... sometimes we get ... grumpy. Expecting us not to be is an almost ageist sort of requirement.

I'm shaking my cane at you from my front porch right now.

[ehrnst]

120. I don't believe anyone is telling you not to vote for Sanders if he gets the nomination.

Can you clarify where that occurred?

[President Sauron]

127. churchill wasn't always the nicest dude..

a lot of your favourite musicians, actors/actresses, academics, and other well respected people are not always the friendliest.

they are human.

[Eliot Rosewater]

139. Churchill? You are comparing him and what he dealt with and accomplished with this?

[gopiscrap]

141. welcome to DU

[pnwmom]

132. The article also included a quote about Elizabeth Warren, at a different location.

"She was absolutely wonderful and came into our kitchen," Ayala General Manager Alexandra Loulias said. "So complimentary of our staff. She took individual photos with everyone. Just the nicest lady."

[Jirel]

135. Huge eye roll.

What, he snubbed a photo op that the restaurant owner wanted to use for bragging rights? Somehow, I doubt he ever would’ve had this guy’s vote.

[mulsh]

136. I've eaten at John's Grill, many times. The staff is great, professional, know

when customer wants to chat and when they just need to eat quickly. The food is pretty good, the bar is too. And frankly they aren't hurting much for regular business. Every public person sacrifices some privacy that privilege. They don't get a choice in that. For an old pro like Saunders phony niceness should be second nature, if for no other reason self preservation. I guess I was right in assuming the putz is also a schmuck, as we say in Gaelic. Yet another reason why I won't vote for Saunders if I don't have to. I doubt he'll be our nominee.

[BlueMississippi]

138. K&R nt

[betsuni]

144. K&R