Poll: Was Senator Max Baucus Tipsy On The Senate Floor? You Decide

by Colby Hall | 8:18 am, December 28th, 2009

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baucus A number of conservative websites are claiming that Senator Max Baucus (D-Montana) was guilty of orating under the influence on the Senate floor. A newly viral video depicts Baucus speaking on the Senate floor, while making irregular gesticulations, odd pauses and slurring of words. Some are claiming that the recent torrid pace brought about by the Health Care vote has exhausted the Senate body, and is the reason behind this, and other odd behavior.

In his speech, Baucus eviscerates the right for challenging Health Care reform for political reasons, though unfortunately for the senator, many people will be watching this speech for reasons he didn’t intend. It probably doesn’t help that the Senator’s name is nearly the same as Bacchus, the Roman god of wine. After the video be sure and weigh in on the poll that follows:

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Bacchus, Baucus Drunk or Tired?, Drudge Report, Drunk Senator, God of Wine, Health Care Speech, Healthcare, Matt Drudge, Max Baucus, Max Baucus Drunk, Poll, Senator drunk or tired, Tired or Tipsy

11 comments

Zakk says:

December 28, 2009 at 9:26 am

“conservative websites”? I first saw this on Think Progress.

Zakk says:

December 28, 2009 at 9:28 am

Isn’t this also the same guy who ‘hooked up’ his girl friend with some sweet tax payer money?

RazorsEdge says:

December 28, 2009 at 10:51 am

Hey Colby,

Did you ask Baucus’s office for a comment regarding his behavior? Did you reach out to other Senators on the floor at the time, for their comments. Maybe you got a no comment or he was just tired. Either would help us get closer to the truth/answer. Maybe you got conflicing comments. If you got a “no comment”, that would be juicy as well.

Who are the “some” in your ‘Some are claiming that the recent torrid pace’ sentence? The sentence where you claimed ’some’ have claimed the torrid pace for being behind this incident/his behavior. Can you reveal those sources?

Chuck Varrick says:

December 28, 2009 at 10:58 am

I don’t understand how the guy can claim that Baucus was upset cause Republicans didn’t play fair? How the heck can Republicans do anything without any power? The Dems always had the power to play unfair and cram anything down their throats. And that is just what they did. And for the record, my guess is he took a few too many Valium’s and washed them down with a captain and coke.

Magister says:

December 28, 2009 at 12:05 pm

Where’s the “don’t care” selection in the poll?
Is being “tipsy” or “tired” against the Senate rules?

And just for good measure — What’s the media angle of this post?

pyrope says:

December 28, 2009 at 9:49 pm

Since our elected representatives are imbued with the authority to make far reaching decisions for their constituents–and many times those decisions effect generations down the line–it is incumbent upon them to make those decisions with a sober mind. Whether there is specific language that requires congressmen and senators to be sober while discharging the duties the with which the citizens have entrusted them is written in some text somewhere, I admit my ignorance that I do not know. However, given the long careers of serial drunks, e.g. Ted Kennedy and Robert Byrd, it is likely that many such decisions have been made. Is it no wonder then that so many bad pieces of legislation are passed into law?

Magister says:

December 29, 2009 at 9:14 am

@pyrope: You’ve named a couple of recent punching bags, but going all the way back to the founding fathers, the majority of American leadership have always been fans of strong drink. In fact, historically, it has been those who abstained, who have always raised the most suspicion.

Zakk says:

December 29, 2009 at 12:36 pm

Duuuudeee, I’m so Baucus.

ImNotBlue says:

December 29, 2009 at 1:12 pm

Magister says:
December 28, 2009 at 12:05 pm

And just for good measure — What’s the media angle of this post?

Don’t I get beat up for making that comment?

(And the media angle is that it was caught on camera… and who’s reporting it. Not a great angle, but usable I suppose.)

Magister says:

December 29, 2009 at 4:06 pm

@ImNotBlue: The “media angle” was sort of my mantra for a while, Quigley even name-checked me in a post because of it, but I included it here because of the response you received from Colby the other day, when he tried to redefine the site.

Anyway…

The reason that I came back to this post was because the Senator has responded, which though it doesn’t add muct to the poll, I felt it should be linked for the record.

ImNotBlue says:

December 31, 2009 at 12:43 am

Magister says:
December 29, 2009 at 4:06 pm

Fair enough.

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Rahm Emanuel On 60 Minutes: “Fringe Group Has Taken Control” Of GOP

by Colby Hall | 3:05 pm, Saturday

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White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel was recently interviewed by CBS' Katie Couric for tomorrow night's episode of 60 Minutes, a short clip of which has been released online. In the clip made available, Emanuel briefly discusses the challenges of his political foes: the Republican Party, and says that they have their "own problems and fissures" and are "at the behest of a fringe group that's taken control of their own party." Video after the jump.

» 67 comments

Obama’s Final Push On Health Care To Democratic Caucus On Capitol Hill

by Drew Grant | 5:14 pm, Saturday

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President Barack Obama spoke in the conference hall of the Capitol today about the health care reform bill which is coming close to meeting enough votes to pass in the House of Representatives, which earlier today decided not use the "deem and pass" strategy to railroad the bill through Congress. "I know this is a tough vote for some of you," said our president, adding "Don't do it for Nancy Pelosi, or Harry Reid, or me. Do It for the American People." Pay attention folks, this speech is definitely one for the history books.

» 15 comments

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