Rep. Michael Grimm - Thug at Large

Saturday is usually reserved for cartoons, but sometimes real life characters can be more entertaining. So, today I am cancelling the cartoon in favor of the buffoon. 

Now, if you are dead you probably haven’t heard that Representative Michael Grimm of New York threatened to break news reporter Mike Scotto “in half” on Tuesday night after the President’s State of the Union Address. Mr. Scotto committed the crime of asking a legitimate question concerning the Congressman’s troubled finances. Here is that exchange;

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/28/michael-grimm-threat_n_4684695.html

You have to wonder as you watch this and Rep. Grimm returns to deliver his threat, does he actually thinks that we cannot see and hear him? The Capitol Rotunda is well known for its superb acoustics. But the Congressman doesn't really care about that at all. You see he belongs to a very privileged set of Americans, to whom the ordinary laws do not apply. After all, they are the lawmakers.

Personally I am sick and tired of Congressman yelling and threatening reporters who are doing their jobs by monitoring the activities of our elected officials. They seem to think that they are beyond the laws that they write. I have a suggestion for Mike Scotto; have the Congressman charged with battery. It’s a misdemeanor and by itself will probably not affect the Congressman’s career.

But, it would be like placing a shot across his bow; I’m an old Navy guy; and might just serve as a warning to the rest of our elite, elected officials that there has been a “sea change” in America. We, the People, will not tolerate being bullied by our employees any longer. We will, instead, hold them “responsible” for their behavior.

Here are the Congressman’s contact addresses and phone numbers at the 3 offices you pay for. Make your feelings known to this miscreant bully who would use the halls of Democracy to cow both Freedom of the Press and open, accountable government. If you don’t speak up now there will come a time when you are no longer able to.

Note: I began this post on Wednesday and contacted all of the offices listed below in an attempt to get some sort of statement out of either the Congressman or his staff. I gave my name and contact info to the Brooklyn office, which was the only one that was answering phone. The others all had answering machines stating that their mailboxes were full. I am still awaiting a response to my inquiry.

Washington, DC

512 Cannon HOB

Washington, DC 20515

Phone: (202) 225-3371

Fax: (202) 226-1272

Brooklyn

7308 13th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11228

Phone: 718-630-5277

Fax: 718-630-5388

Staten Island

265 New Dorp Lane, 2nd Floor

Staten Island, NY 10306

Phone: (718) 351-1062

Fax: (718) 980-0768

Tell them Robert at Rooftop sent you!

"Building A Building" with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse (1932)

Bullying is a problem which has beset mankind for ages. From the first cavemen, up through the present time, there have always been; and probably always will be; those who would use their size, or strength, to impose their will upon others. Although a serious problem, bullying has proven to be great fodder for some of the best comedy ever produced; be it on stage, screen or even in cartoons.
 

Think of Charlie Chaplin’s early films. Wasn’t he always the victim of some bullying type, whether it be an authority figure, or just a plain old rude person? But he always came out on top in his confrontations with bullies, even if only by accident.

The same is true of the Popeye cartoons, in which the intrepid sailor was always up against someone bigger than himself. Bluto was always trying to savage him in a never ending quest for the love of Olive Oyl, only to be beaten by Popeye and his spinach each time. Since school has just begun again, I thought I would address the issue with a cartoon to illustrate the topic of bullying.

In this 1932 release, Mickey is working on a construction site, building a building. Everyone works in unison except for the riveter. He is the big man on site, and let’s Mickey know it. When Minnie Mouse comes along with her lunch wagon, he quickly makes unwanted advances towards her. This brings him into confrontation with the much smaller Mickey, who; aided by Minnie; gives him a taste of his own medicine. They then ride off together on a new joint venture, as evidenced by the sign on the side of the lunch wagon.

Bullying is a real issue in our schools today. With the beginning of the new school year, all parents should take the time to talk to their children about this topic. Give them the tools they need to confront the problem. The first is humor. Most bullies can be laughed away, but sometimes the only choice is to stand up for your own dignity. But, if fighting back is not your cup of tea, then telling an adult at school, and home, are the next best things. There is no shame in being bullied; but there is also no reason to accept it lying down

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