Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

I swear, each month of 2025 will have its own history degree.

Never give a known liar the benefit of the doubt.

The party of Reagan has become the party of Putin.

The media handbook says “controversial” is the most negative description that can be used for a Republican.

Within six months Twitter will be fully self-driving.

Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gives a damn.

Do not shrug your shoulders and accept the normalization of untruths.

But frankly mr. cole, I’ll be happier when you get back to telling us to go fuck ourselves.

“Until such time as the world ends, we will act as though it intends to spin on.”

No offense, but this thread hasn’t been about you for quite a while.

Hey Washington Post, “Democracy Dies in Darkness” was supposed to be a warning, not a mission statement.

We need to vote them all out and restore sane Democratic government.

The low info voters probably won’t even notice or remember by their next lap around the goldfish bowl.

Some judge needs to shut this circus down soon.

Quote tweet friends, screenshot enemies.

Text STOP to opt out of updates on war plans.

We are learning that “working class” means “white” for way too many people.

The press swings at every pitch, we don’t have to.

Dear legacy media: you are not here to influence outcomes and policies you find desirable.

Hi god, it’s us. Thanks a heap, you’re having a great week and it’s only Thursday!

The lights are all blinking red.

They are not red states to be hated; they are voter suppression states to be fixed.

Trump’s cabinet: like a magic 8 ball that only gives wrong answers.

If you are still in the gop, you are either an extremist yourself, or in bed with those who are.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Don’t boss him, don’t cross him, he’s wild in his sorrow

Reader Interactions

206Comments

  4. 4.

    dm

    It gets better. Here’s how the Guardian leads their story:

    Congressional candidate Greg Gianforte owns shares in Russian index funds
    $250,000 invested in funds with holdings in Gazprom and Rosneft

    They also have a link to audio of the event.

    I’m guessing Gianforte’s internal polls show him trailing, and he’s feeling the pressure of the campaign.

  5. 5.

    mai naem mobile

    Putting my political strategist hat on,goddamnit why didn’t this happen a week ago to get a full news cycle?

  6. 6.

    Trentrunner

    Gianforte’s statement blames “liberal” Jacobs for grabbing Gianforte’s wrist.

  8. 8.

    Peale

    Another white guy with a shaved head? Wasn’t it roger stone last week making charges about Gen. McMaster’s gay leather community ties just last week for sporting a similar hairstyle?

  10. 10.

    Adam L Silverman

    This is the thread you’ll want to see:

  11. 11.

    mai naem mobile

    Somebody should ask Mike Pence if Jayzus would approve this kind of behavior?

  12. 12.

    sharl

    @dm: That particular Guardian story came out just last month (4/28), and it was by the very reporter who was assaulted. Hmm…

    Someone also speculated that it could be that Gianforte has seen polling numbers that have left him a bit stressed. We can only hope; it’s up to Montanans now.

  15. 15.

    farthestnorth

    Chris Hayes is great on this. Wonder if GG didn’t realize there was an audio when he released his statement blaming the liberal reporter

  16. 16.

    Ian

    If he wins and then is convicted of assault, will his fellow house republicans censor him and make him walk the plank? I seem doubtful.

  19. 19.

    hovercraft

    He just put out a bullshit statement that is not supported by the audio. I guess we shouldn’t believe our lying ears, the question was rude and he shoved his recorder into the candidates face aggressively.

  20. 20.

    Mike in NC

    Meanwhile, Lunatic-in-Chief is planning yet another White Power rally upon returning to US. This time in Iowa. Must be to distract from having zero legislative accomplishments to date.

  22. 22.

    encephalopath

    Unfortunately, as we have seen, there is a disappointingly large portion of the electorate who loves that asshole, bully shit. This sort of thing will make them vote for him harder rather than dissuading them.

  23. 23.

    Trentrunner

    Isn’t there likely to be video, since it took place in a room where Gianforte was getting ready to be interviewed by a local TV station?

  25. 25.

    David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch

    This wouldn’t have happened if we still had school prayer.

  28. 28.

    JPL

    @farthestnorth: I assume they are hoping their supporters don’t listen It also depends on how the news covers the assault.
    I did read that 2/3rd’s of the votes have already been cast.
    Am I alone having trouble trusting so called good christians.

  31. 31.

    Trentrunner

    Another way this was stupid: Media/reporters will identify with Jacobs and that will further fuel coverage.

  33. 33.

    germy

    The above video is from the guardian article. The Guardian says in the caption it’s audio only, but whoever posted it to youtube is anxious for clicks, and so called it “Greg Gianforte Assaults Reporter – video“

  34. 34.

    Ian

    @JPL:

    I did read that 2/3rd’s of the votes have already been cast.

    That number is likely to be 2/3 of likely voters (a guess, I do not know for sure). Very few states hit 50% voter turnout total. This incident may boost non-voters or disinterested voters out tomorrow, changing the likely voter pool.

  37. 37.

    Peale

    @hovercraft: I don’t get why. I mean his first trade deal with China was for billions in ag products. Just like every other trade deal, the farmers get fed first.

  38. 38.

    JPL

    @Ian: That sounds right. I have no idea about voting turnout in Montana. The sheriff is going to have a news conference at eight, which is past my bedtime, since I live on the east coast. I assume they give Greg a pass, because it’s Montana.

  41. 41.

    germy

    Jesus! Steve Bannon is on Frontline tonight.

    Talking head just called him a “brilliant strategist.”

  44. 44.

    schrodingers_cat

    @germy: Frontline more like Farceline. I saw one that blamed Obama for the rise of ISIS and their pre-election one on the candidates could be summarized in a line, HRC: ambitious bitch, DT: lovable rogue.

  45. 45.

    ByRookorbyCrook

    There was a local news team setting up in the room when this went down. There may be video from them. I imagine the Rethuglican will amend his statement. It seems to be all the rage with the GOP these days.

  48. 48.

    SiubhanDuinne

    Willie Nelson, nice title. (I so rarely know what the reference is, it’s fun to get one right occasionally.)

    Republicans seem to default to violence. I’d have to google for the details, and I’m lazy and don’t feel like it right now, but I’m pretty sure one of Rand Paul’s goons curb-stomped either a reporter or a peaceful protester when he was first running for the Senate in 2010.

    I have a kid brother whose usual response to opposition (or anything he took as opposition) all through his childhood and teen years was to slam his fist into his opponent’s face. He bloodied my nose and smashed up my glasses when I was about 18 and he was 14 or 15, and I was by no means the only one who felt his knuckles. To his credit, he began martial arts training not long thereafter, became extremely skilled, and internalized the discipline and detachment required. But if impulse control isn’t there — and it sounds as though it isn’t in Gianforte’s case — it can be damaging to say the least.

  49. 49.

    Felonius Monk

    @schrodingers_cat:

    What is with all these bald Republican men? Do they lose brain cells along with their hair?

    No. They just subconsciously know that they are dickheads.

  51. 51.

    JMG

    What goes around, comes around. Reporters covering Republicans are advised to start carrying mace, or just a roll of quarters inside a sock.

  55. 55.

    Ruckus

    @schrodingers_cat:
    The brain cells were trying to run away from the misuse and abuse and as they are so small all they needed was to push the hair out and they have an escape path.
    So to answer your question, Yes, yes they do.

  56. 56.

    sharl

    I did not know this!

    Ari Berman @AriBerman

    Montana has Election Day registration, so if anyone there is not registered yet you can still come out tomorrow & make your voices heard

  58. 58.

    ThresherK

    On first glance, after reading the headline, the mic is almost covered by the big “hit here” arrow icon.

    I confused the angled boom arm with him holding a riding crop or metal baton. Can ye blame me?

  73. 73.

    Steeplejack

    @eclare:

    Ha! Tuck Buckford had to issue his own non-apology apology a few nights ago, if I remember correctly.

  74. 74.

    hovercraft

    @germy:
    You mean the liberal reporters fault, him and his aggressive microphone/recorder that he shoved into the poor defenseless candidates face.

  76. 76.

    germy

    “He aggressively shoved a recorder in Greg’s face.”

    I mean, c’mon. How else could Greg respond?

    “Aggressive behavior from a liberal journalist” is a quote from the statement.

  78. 78.

    germy

    @Major Major Major Major:

    I’m surprised he didn’t blame Obama.

    That sort of goes without saying.

    Didn’t Obama create an atmosphere where aggressive reporters can shove recorders into the faces of honest men?

  80. 80.

    Mary G

    Don’t know if it’s true, but appears Quist decided to get even:

    Montana politico friend tells me that canvassers are now playing audio of the Gianforte assault on the doors. People changing votes. #mtal— Henry Kraemer (@HenryKraemer) May 25, 2017

  84. 84.

    Corner Stone

    Doesn’t GG’s campaign have to know 100% that there is no video in existence? from any TV crew, reporter, staffer, passers-by?
    Or are they betting it is too late for anyone to see the video and be arsed enough to change their vote?

    By this I mean some people may have been cheering him beating up a liberal reporter, but his BS statement vs actual video? Maybe peel off a few voters?
    And what happens if Ben does press charges?

  86. 86.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Anne Helen Petersen‏Verified account @ annehelen 26m26 minutes ago
    Here in Anaconda, no one had heard Gianforte news. I played audio at the bar and there the reaction could be summed up as “oh my god”

    I would say that first sentence is the challenge. I’m sure it’s all over the internet, and will be on the morning networks’ news, local and cable

    ETA

    Dave Weigel‏Verified account @ daveweigel 9m9 minutes ago
    Source tells me that some Quist canvassers are now playing audio of the Gianforte/Guardian incident for voters.

  87. 87.

    amk

    Montana has Election Day registration, so if anyone there is not registered yet you can still come out tomorrow & make your voices heard— Ari Berman (@AriBerman) May 25, 2017

  88. 88.

    Kay

    @Paula:

    The audio sounds really bad.

    It does. In a way it’s worse than video. The reporter is right, too. He needs to be arrested for assault. Anyone else would be.

    I love the arrogance. It sounds like he was too cowardly to give a straight answer on the health care bill so put them off with some bullshit about waiting for the CBO score. He’s mad the reporter called him out on his bullshit.

    Has he answered the question yet? It would be a shame if he were able to weasel out of answering by assaulting someone, not to mention anyone else would already be in police custody. The worst time to get arrested is before a holiday weekend, so he might be in there a while.

  89. 89.

    Steeplejack

    @germy:

    The “liberal” reporter’s fault. Fix’d.

    From Gianforte spokesman Shane Scanlon’s statement: “It’s unfortunate that this aggressive behavior from a liberal journalist created this scene at our campaign volunteer BBQ.” (News story here.)

  92. 92.

    JPL

    @Kay: If he is not charged, the sheriff should be shamed. I assume he won’t be, because why wait for a news conference.

  93. 93.

    eclare

    @Steeplejack: Not for “leather daddies” whatever that means. That was for the evil, seeping Chobani yogurt, which devours your soul at night from your fridge.

    ETA> No, all Alex Jones said was that Chobani employed refugee terrorists who spread, I think TB. So, yes, I exaggerated. Maybe.

  94. 94.

    dm

    The audio, with that “Are you from the Guardian?” makes it sound like the Guardian’s reporting on his Russian connection bothers him. I was wondering who “the other guy” was who “did the same thing”, and what that thing was (presumably, persisting in asking a question).

  95. 95.

    raven

    Cold Missouri Waters

    My name is Dodge but then you know that

    It’s written on the chart there at the foot end of the of the bed
    They think I’m blind that I can’t read it
    I’ve read it every word and every word it says is death
    So confession Is that the reason that you came

    Get it off my chest before I check out of the game
    Since you mention it well there’s thirteen things I’ll name
    Thirteen crosses high above the cold Missouri waters
    August 49 North Montana

    The hottest day on record the forest tinder dry
    Lightning strikes in the mountains
    I was crew chief at the jump base
    I prepared the boys to fly
    Pick the drop zone C47 comes in low
    Feel the tap upon your leg that tells you go
    See the circle of the fire down below

    Fifteen of us dropped above the cold Missouri waters

    Gauged the fire I’d seen bigger

    So I ordered them to side hill we’d fight it from below

    We’d have our backs to the river
    We’d have it licked by morning even if we took it slow
    But the fire crowned jumped the valley just ahead
    There was no way down headed for the ridge instead
    Too big to fight it we’d have to fight that slope instead

    Flames one step behind above the cold Missouri waters
    Sky had turned red smoke was boiling

    Two hundred yards to saftey
    Death was fifty yards behind
    I don’t know why I just thought it

    I struck a match to waist high grass running out of time
    Tried to tell them step into this fire I’ve set
    We can’t make it this is the only chance you’ll get
    But they cursed me
    Ran for the rocks above instead

    I lay face down and prayed above the cold Missouri waters

    Then when I rose like the phoenix

    In that world reduced to ashes
    There was none but two survived

    I stayed that night and one day after

    Carried bodies to the river

    Wondering how I stayed alive
    Thirteen stations of the cross to mark their fall
    I’ve had my say I’ll confess to nothing more

    I’ll join them now those that they left me long before

    Thirteen crosses high above the cold Missouri waters

  96. 96.

    Patricia Kayden

    @Trentrunner: Yep. And he started the whole “beat down a protester and I’ll pay your court costs” thingy. Classy Dude.

  97. 97.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    via Jamelle Bouie’s twitter

    And Backus wrote that toward the end of the candidate’s talk, a man in the audience said to Gianforte, “Our biggest enemy is the news media” and asked, “How can we rein in the news media?” The man followed up his question by turning to Backus, who was sitting next to him, and “raised his hands as if he would like to wring his neck.”
    Gianforte smiled, pointed at the reporter and said this: “We have someone right here. It seems like there is more of us than there is of him. I don’t have a simple solution for you. I will say that doing town hall meetings and getting out and visiting with people is very important.”
    This “joke” made at the reporter’s expense wasn’t funny at all. In fact, on its face, the statement demonstrated Gianforte’s agreement that news media are “the enemy.”
    To be clear, the reporter never felt as though he were in danger of physical harm. But it should concern every Montanan when a candidate for Congress singles out any individual in a crowded room to point out that he is outnumbered.

  98. 98.

    JPL

    @Kay: Saw this on a local reporters feed

    On way to press conference, we pass @Bencjacobs riding shotgun in a Gallatin Co Sheriff’s Office patrol car. #bdcnews #mtal

    Does it mean anything?

  102. 102.

    Kay

    @JPL:

    I’m pleased the reporter called the police and made an ordinary complaint. There’s nothing special about this guy. He’s just an ordinary thug, one of probably hundreds of assaults today.

    I know he’ll get special treatment but everyone doesn’t have to play along. People can hold up norms even if authorities don’t.

  104. 104.

    Mary G

    The sheriff’s office has repeated their request that people stop calling 911 to find out what happened. Lord above.

  107. 107.

    Steve in the ATL

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    rts training not long thereafter, became extremely skilled, and internalized the discipline and detachment required.

    Could he take Adam Silverman? That’s the standard ’round these parts.

  108. 108.

    Kay

    It’ll be depressing if people think this is acceptable behavior but I put nothing past them after Trump. They’re just really poor judges of character. Sometimes you wonder how they reached adulthood- survived. They make such poor choices of people to admire or promote.

  109. 109.

    sharl

    @Kay: Here’s the start of a short tweet-stream from May 6

    Topher Spiro‏ @TopherSpiro

    The Republican running against @RobQuistforMT was caught on tape praising Trumpcare to lobbyists! Here are the effects on Montana. 1/

    There are a few links in that collection of tweets, none of which I read, but from the numbers just in the tweets alone, that should have provided lots of ammo to Quist’s campaign against the GOP guy with the anger management issues.

    I haven’t been following this race beyond the occasional news mention, but I did see that health insurance is a big concern there. Unless MT somehow comes out looking better under ACHA via today’s CBO scoring data – which seems doubtful – I could see why Gianforte wouldn’t want to answer the CBO scoring question from Ben Jacobs.

  110. 110.

    Chet Murthy

    There’s something the Rethugs learned, this cycle. If they’re shameless, they get away with things nobody ever got away with in the past. If Gianforte wins, I fully expect him to make the assault “go away” (if necessary by pleading down to a misdemeanor or something) and be seated in Congress. And for no other Rethug congresscritter to make the slightest noise.

    It’s who they are, now.

    ETA: Heck, just staying in the race, is testament to the superhuman power of shamelessness.

  113. 113.

    Adam L Silverman

    @JPL: Yes, he’s been released from the hospital after having his elbow checked and a deputy is taking him either back to his rental car at the location where he was attacked so he can then drive to the sheriff’s office to make a formal statement and press charges or to the sheriff’s office to make a formal statement and press charges and then they’ll drive him to pick up his car.

  115. 115.

    Kay

    I would bet money it’s not the first time, either. If that question set him off imagine what else sets him off.

  119. 119.

    Kay

    @sharl:

    was caught on tape praising Trumpcare

    He seems to get “caught on tape” a lot, doesn’t he? You’d think he’d have this tape thing figured out.

  120. 120.

    JMG

    If Gianforte is elected (probably will be), his troubles will just begin. Regardless of the status of any criminal and civil litigation, he will get to Congress and one-half the reporters in DC will be surrounding him daily hoping they can set him off. The other half will be going over every second of his past life hoping they can ruin the rest of it.

  122. 122.

    hovercraft

    @Steve in the ATL:

    Could he take Adam Silverman? That’s the standard ’round these parts.

    Have you seen Adam? GG is a (b)millionaire businessman, also too a carpetbagger, Adam could totally take him. I think.

  126. 126.

    Major Major Major Major

    Clearly this is why early voting is the devil. You just don’t know everything about the candidates. For example until this I never would have guessed this asshole thought assaulting members of the press was ok!

    I crack me up.

  131. 131.

    Keith P.

    @C Nelson Reilly: I’d go with Jesse Ventura/Chris Cilizza (although I don’t think Thor’s hammer could damage those frames….too much plastic and hipster strength)

  132. 132.

    Another Scott

    I just donated to Quist’s campaign (again). I don’t think the money will be wasted, even at this late date. They can buy pizza and donuts for the volunteers, etc.

    Monsters like this Teabagger – like Michael Grimm before him – have no business having an office of trust under the United States. Grimm got 8 months in prison for tax evasion.

    We need to make sure our candidates have the resources they need for GOTV, etc., etc.

    Fingers crossed.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  134. 134.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    I don’t think this comparison is meant to be complimentary

    Dave Weigel‏Verified account @ daveweigel 29m29 minutes ago
    MT voter when I ask about Gianforte: “He thinks he’s Donald Trump. He could go out on 5th Avenue, shoot somebody, and get away with it.”

  135. 135.

    Aleta

    @raven:
    Another one written by James Keelaghan:

    In the corridors of power where our voice is seldom heard
    The status quo is what they want, they can get it with a word
    For us it takes a thousand voices, a million angry shouts
    To notify the ship of state to bring its course about
    But if we pull together we might turn this ship around
    Hold your ground

    Oh, this world is changing
    Spinning out through space and time
    Oh, it’s rearranging
    All the things we thought were yours and mine
    You’ve got to hold your ground
    Hold your ground
    Hold your ground

    Sometimes it seems the motion is strictly retrograde
    There are so many reversals of advances that you’ve made
    The things you thought were changing have shuddered to a halt
    But if we stand together we might turn this world around
    Hold your ground
    Hold your ground
    Hold your ground

    It isn’t for the faint of heart to bet when the odds are long
    And neither is it easy to be right in face of wring
    You must proceed from strength to strength, although the road is rough
    And sometimes human courage just isn’t quite enough
    But if we stand together we might turn this world around
    Hold your ground
    Hold your ground
    Hold your ground
    Oh this world is changing

  137. 137.

    Steve in the ATL

    @Another Scott:

    I just donated to Quist’s campaign (again). I don’t think the money will be wasted, even at this late date. They can buy pizza and donuts for the volunteers, etc.

    Bandages, braces, painkillers, copays….

  138. 138.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    sooooo many doughy wannabes on the right

    Charlie Warzel‏Verified account @ cwarzel 8m8 minutes ago
    Charlie Warzel Retweeted Dagny Delinquent ?
    i follow prob 200 pro-Trump accounts. seeing a decent amt of this in my timeline right now

    Dagny Delinquent ? @ DagnyDelinquent
    .@ GregForMontana sir u are a serious badass, we all salute u sir for the great deed u did today for this country, a true patriot!

    a great deed for the country, by a true patriot, because somebody asked a congressional candidate about the budget impact of a bill in congress. Is “Dagny” a Randian handle? Dagny Taggart? ETA Google tells me it’s the shrugging Atlas itself. I thought it was the architect’s girlfriend in the other one

  139. 139.

    Steve in the ATL

    @hovercraft:

    Have you seen Adam? GG is a (b)millionaire businessman, also too a carpetbagger, Adam could totally take him. I think.

    I know Adam has been trying to butch it up since I made that bicurious joke last night. I was just kidding but apparently struck a nerve!

    (BRB–checking my email for a cease and desist from Adam!)

  140. 140.

    Adam L Silverman

    @JPL: The Sheriff, at the press conference, indicated they didn’t make an arrest at the scene because they were gathering evidence: the audio, witness statements – apparently there were four other people in the room (key question here is whether of those four who are Gianforte staffers if they tell the truth or try to cover for their boss by claiming that Jacobs attacked Gianforte in line with the campaign statement), and attempt to gather and review any video that might exist.

    My guess is that if Gianforte wasn’t 1) rich and 2) a candidate for Congress that he would have been arrested on the spot and then all of the above would have been done. Also: he white!

  141. 141.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Adam L Silverman: My guess is that if Gianforte wasn’t 1) rich and 2) a candidate for Congress that he would have been arrested on the spot and then all of the above would have been done. Also: he white!

    yeah, they were gathering evidence, so they let the accused drive away.

  142. 142.

    amk

    So I was there for this – still am t.co/tgjOCYErFi— Alexis Levinson (@alexis_levinson) May 24, 2017

    All of a sudden I heard a giant crash and saw Ben's feet fly in the air as he hit the floor— Alexis Levinson (@alexis_levinson) May 24, 2017

    So, there is at least one witness.

  146. 146.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @amk:

    Is she the one who was on Chris Hayes’ show earlier? I had arrived at my destination so heard only a few seconds, but the young woman who was his guest said she was an eyewitnes.

  149. 149.

    JPL

    The sheriff is saying that they haven’t spoken to Gianforte yet and as a Montanan he has the right to present his side with an attorney. CNN is interviewing him.

  150. 150.

    lamh36

    Anyone believe that the guy will be arrested for assault? Cause I don’t…the whole “we are investigating” was to get the media off their backs…but watch…they won’t arrest him, and if they do, they’ll do it in the middle of the night…so no one sees his perp walk in time for the election…smh

    That is, if they even arrest/charge him at all, but bet, it will be AFTER election day…and ONLY if he lost…if then

  152. 152.

    Gin & Tonic

    @SWMBO: Might just be me, but I think the set of people who answer a question with “Frank Zappa” and the set who answer the same question with “John Denver” probably don’t have a lot of overlap.

  153. 153.

    Peale

    Reading your comments about GG. I keep thinking you’re all talking about Glen Greenwald.

  154. 154.

    JMG

    I can’t wait until Gianforte goes out for the usual early morning “candidate X casts vote” photo op! Should be excellent!!! Maybe he’ll snap again.

  156. 156.

    lamh36

    If this MT thing, doesn’t make more reporters ANGRY & willing to tear the GOP and Cheeto Prez a new one in their reporting…IDK what will

  157. 157.

    guachi

    @Adam L Silverman:

    My guess is that if Gianforte wasn’t 1) rich and 2) a candidate for Congress that he would have been arrested on the spot and then all of the above would have been done. Also: he white!

    It’s Montana. Everyone is white. In the 15 years I lived in Montana, I spoke to exactly one black person.

    The fact he’s white is meaningless.

  160. 160.

    lamh36

    @reidepstein 42s42 seconds ago
    More
    Brian Gootkin, the sheriff of Gallatin County, Montana, who is investigating the Gianforte-Ben Jacobs incident, is a Gianforte donor

  161. 161.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @lamh36: on the 911 tape Rachel Maddow played, somebody refers to him as “Greg”. I know candidate deliberately emphasize first names, these days, but still…

  163. 163.

    Elie

    I could see however, in a counterintuitive way, that he would do this to energize the knuckle dragging base he wants to mobilize to vote. Twisted? For sure. But I could see one of these lame brains thinking that. So we have to GOTV and stay cool and make sure every vote is counted…

  164. 164.

    GregB

    @lamh36:

    The investigation is over. The reporter has been arrested and is being questioned in the Seth RIch murder.

  165. 165.

    Trentrunner

    Eyewitness reports–local Fox News!–is pretty damning: foxnews.com/politics/2017/05/24/greg-gianforte-fox-news-team-witnesses-gop-house-candidate-body-slam…

    During that conversation, another man — who we now know is Ben Jacobs of The Guardian — walked into the room with a voice recorder, put it up to Gianforte’s face and began asking if him if he had a response to the newly released Congressional Budget Office report on the American Health Care Act. Gianforte told him he would get to him later. Jacobs persisted with his question. Gianforte told him to talk to his press guy, Shane Scanlon.

    At that point, Gianforte grabbed Jacobs by the neck with both hands and slammed him into the ground behind him. Faith, Keith and I watched in disbelief as Gianforte then began punching the man, as he moved on top the reporter and began yelling something to the effect of “I’m sick and tired of this!”

    Jacobs scrambled to his knees and said something about his glasses being broken. He asked Faith, Keith and myself for our names. In shock, we did not answer. He then said he wanted the police called and went to leave. Gianforte looked at the three of us and repeatedly apologized. At that point, I told him and Scanlon, who was now present, that we needed a moment. The men then left.

    These are the witnesses the Bozeman sheriff was interviewing. “Punches,” “grabbing by the neck,” I’m guessing an arrest is forthcoming. This is NOT a misdemeanor assault.

  166. 166.

    Corner Stone

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: None of this is going to rest on the buddy buddy between the sheriff’s office and GG.
    Either Quist pulls off the long shot tomorrow or this goes down the memory hole.

  167. 167.

    lamh36

    @Trentrunner: Whoa….even Fox news online reporting description of the Montana incident disputes the candidates “liberal” media bullshit statement.

  168. 168.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Fox News is Eyewitness News tonight!

    As part of our preparation for a story about Thursday’s special election to air on “Special Report with Bret Baier,” we arranged interviews with the top two candidates, Republican Greg Gianforte and Democrat Rob Quist. On Wednesday, I joined field producer Faith Mangan and photographer Keith Railey in Bozeman for our scheduled interview with Gianforte, which was to take place at the Gianforte for Congress Bozeman Headquarters.
    …
    At that point, Gianforte grabbed Jacobs by the neck with both hands and slammed him into the ground behind him. Faith, Keith and I watched in disbelief as Gianforte then began punching the man, as he moved on top the reporter and began yelling something to the effect of “I’m sick and tired of this!”

  171. 171.

    Mary G

    @Trentrunner: WOW!!! Fox reporters being honest, what is the world coming to? Sheriff seems like he will have to file charges now, no? IANAL, but seems pretty open & shut.

  172. 172.

    JPL

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: I wonder if Fox just drops reporting about the race.

    I like this paragraph
    reporter
    Alicia Acuna
    By Alicia Acuna Published May 24, 2017 Fox News
    FILE – In this March 6, 2017, file photo, Greg Gianforte, right, receives congratulations from a supporter in Helena, Mont. Montana voters are heading to the polls Thursday, May 25, 2017, to decide a nationally watched congressional election amid uncertainty in Washington over President Donald Trump’s agenda and his handling of the country’s affairs. (AP Photo/Matt Volz, File)
    FILE – In this March 6, 2017, file photo, Greg Gianforte, right, receives congratulations from a supporter in Helena, Mont. Montana voters are heading to the polls Thursday, May 25, 2017, to decide a nationally watched congressional election amid uncertainty in Washington over President Donald Trump’s agenda and his handling of the country’s affairs. (AP Photo/Matt Volz, File) (Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
    The race to fill Montana’s sole seat in the U.S. House of Representatives took a violent turn Wednesday, and a crew from the Fox News Channel, including myself, witnessed it firsthand.

    As part of our preparation for a story about Thursday’s special election to air on “Special Report with Bret Baier,” we arranged interviews with the top two candidates, Republican Greg Gianforte and Democrat Rob Quist. On Wednesday, I joined field producer Faith Mangan and photographer Keith Railey in Bozeman for our scheduled interview with Gianforte, which was to take place at the Gianforte for Congress Bozeman Headquarters.

    Faith, Keith and I arrived early to set up for the interview in a room adjacent to another room where a volunteer BBQ was to take place. As the time for the interview neared, Gianforte came into the room. We exchanged pleasantries and made small talk about restaurants and Bozeman.

    During that conversation, another man — who we now know is Ben Jacobs of The Guardian — walked into the room with a voice recorder, put it up to Gianforte’s face and began asking if him if he had a response to the newly released Congressional Budget Office report on the American Health Care Act. Gianforte told him he would get to him later. Jacobs persisted with his question. Gianforte told him to talk to his press guy, Shane Scanlon.

    At that point, Gianforte grabbed Jacobs by the neck with both hands and slammed him into the ground behind him. Faith, Keith and I watched in disbelief as Gianforte then began punching the man, as he moved on top the reporter and began yelling something to the effect of “I’m sick and tired of this!”

    Jacobs scrambled to his knees and said something about his glasses being broken. He asked Faith, Keith and myself for our names. In shock, we did not answer. He then said he wanted the police called and went to leave. Gianforte looked at the three of us and repeatedly apologized. At that point, I told him and Scanlon, who was now present, that we needed a moment. The men then left.
    To be clear, at no point did any of us who witnessed this assault see Jacobs show any form of physical aggression toward Gianforte, who left the area after giving statements to local sheriff’s deputies.

    Unfortunately, the sheriff just didn’t have enough information to act though.

  175. 175.

    hovercraft

    @guachi:
    A few years ago my family went on a road trip to see America, we are East Coast Elitists, we rented a minivan and drove from Jersey to Washington and then down the West Coast. After we got through Iowa we elicited a lot of stares everywhere we went, I guess 6 black people in a car was an uncommon sight for the people who gawked at us. Mount Rushmore was a diverse crowd, but other than Native Americans we really did stand out. We were very happy to get to Washington State.

  177. 177.

    JPL

    @JPL: more info
    It wasn’t a local TV news crew that witnessed alleged assault by Gianforte, but rather @FoxNews. Read their account here. #mtalWhitney Bermes added,
    Fox News team witnesses GOP House candidate Greg Gianforte ‘body slam’ reporter fxn.ws/2qlZ36n via @aacuna1

    They probably have video, but will they show it? hmmm

  179. 179.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Jon Favreau‏Verified account @ jonfavs 23m23 minutes ago
    The conservative intelligentsia weighs in

    Laura Ingraham‏Verified account @ IngrahamAngle 36m36 minutes ago
    Did anyone get his lunch money stolen today and then run to tell the recess monitor?

    Politicians always need to keep their cool. But what would most Montana men do if “body slammed” for no reason by another man?

    she also retweeted this, presumably because she thought it was a dope insight by Pudge Carlson

    Tucker Carlson‏Verified account @ TuckerCarlson May 23
    #Tucker: I’ve lost all faith that intellectuals in Washington can help make the World more stable @ FoxNews

    is it normal to hashtag yourself?

  180. 180.

    Mike J

    Merriam-Webster ‏Verified account @MerriamWebster 15 minutes ago
    ? Lookups for ‘body slam’ are up 136,900%;GOP candidate in Montana special election accused of attacking a reporter.

  182. 182.

    Shalimar

    @MisterForkbeard: Acuna is national, based out of Denver. The 3 Fox employees stayed in the room afterwards to talk and regroup, and at least one and possibly all three made it clear they weren’t going to lie to police to protect Gianforte. Thus, he is well and truly fucked. I can’t imagine any reason Jacobs wouldn’t press charges.

  183. 183.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Mike J: ah– they couldn’t even give him an “Hour” or a “Report”? is it a dinner time show? “Tucking in with Tucker” would work, and it could play to dinner in some timezones and beddy-bies on the East Coast

  184. 184.

    Another Scott

    @Somebody: That’s a pretty good way to put it, but I express it a little differently:

    “The problems with America aren’t caused by poor people having too much money.”

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  185. 185.

    RinaX

    Fox News is confirming that this happened AND that it was even worse than described? I just don’t know how to process this.

  187. 187.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Another Scott: has the advantage of being an accurate description of Paul Ryan’s worldview: The poor have it too easy while the rich are suffering.

  188. 188.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Adam L Silverman: in more ways than one…

    I’m a stout gentleman myself, but my mother’s only connection with frozen foods was when she cooked them, and my father’s walking stick collection is worth about $45, both canes from Walgreen’s.

  189. 189.

    hovercraft

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    Laura Ingraham‏Verified account @ IngrahamAngle 36m36 minutes ago
    Did anyone get his lunch money stolen today and then run to tell the recess monitor?

    So if she had aggressively shoved a phone/recorder into Hillary’s face and Hillary had put her hands around her neck and body slammed her she wouldn’t have called the cops on her and spent the rest of her life living off of her harrowing tale about how Hillary almost murdered her? Wow what a tolerant resilient woman.

  192. 192.

    Aleta

    Maybe mentioned already, but Ben Jacobs had a story in the Guardian at the end of April about Gianforte’s ties to Russian companies.

    Ben Jacobs in Washington
    Friday 28 April 2017 14.54 EDT Last modified on Wednesday 24 May 2017 20.12 EDT

    A Republican congressional candidate has financial ties to a number of Russian companies that have been sanctioned by the US, the Guardian has learned.

    Greg , who is the GOP standard bearer in the upcoming special election in Montana, owns just under $250,000 in shares in two index funds that are invested in the Russian economy to match its overall performance.

    Russia ‘targeted Trump adviser in bid to infiltrate campaign’

    According to a financial disclosure filed with the clerk of the House of Representatives, the Montana tech mogul owns almost $150,000 worth of shares in VanEck Vectors Russia ETF and $92,400 in the IShares MSCF Russia ETF fund. Both are indexed to the Russian equities market and have significant holdings in companies such as Gazprom and Rosneft that came under US sanctions in the aftermath of the Russian invasion of the Crimea.

    The holdings, while substantial, make up only a small portion of Gianforte’s wealth. The congressional candidate, who made a fortune starting a software company which was later sold to Oracle, has assets estimated to be worth between $65m and $315m, according to his financial disclosure.

    Richard Nephew, the former principal deputy coordinator for sanctions policy at the state department, told the Guardian that “there is definitely a question here but my initial reaction is that this is not something to freak out about”.

    He added: “Index funds are usually just like mutual funds, excluded from consideration from a sanctions perspective because the ownership stake per person is incredibly small.”

    But he noted that it did raise some concerns from “a Russia policy perspective” as a conflict of interest because “betting on Russia’s economy is problematic”.

  193. 193.

    Shalimar

    @Aleta: Gianforte asks Jacobs as he is getting back on his knees after the attack, “are you with the Guardian? the last guy did the same thing.” I assume that means getting too close to Gianforte while asking about the CBO score, but it seems unlikely “the last guy” was also with the Guardian because why would they have 2 reporters covering a race in Montana? So the Guardian was on Gianforte’s mind when he got violent.

  194. 194.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Brian Beutler‏Verified account @ brianbeutler 21m21 minutes ago
    The Fox story is good; otoh, reporters should not garner special props for telling a story they witnessed accurately.

    Maggie HabermanVerified account @ maggieNYT
    Props to the Fox team for recalling what they saw in unsparing detail

  196. 196.

    trnc

    To be clear, this all went down in Bozeman, MT, at an event that was advised as a Campaign Meet and Greet at Greg for Montana HQ

    The wave of the future for political events – the Meet and Slam.

  197. 197.

    MisterForkbeard

    @trnc:

    The wave of the future for political events – the Meet and Slam.

    You can do better than that. “The Meet and Beat”, maybe.

  198. 198.

    trnc

    If very many people in Montana are in the habit of looking at the Google News front page, Baldy is going to have a very bad day tomorrow.

  199. 199.

    Aleta

    @Shalimar: I saw somewhere a video of a different Guardian reporter, at an earlier time, who tried to interview G. I’ll link it here if I see it again. First the Guardian reporter encountered a pretty hostile guy in G’s crowd who said he didn’t look British (has darker skin than the hostile guy). Then he was refused by G. who said he wasn’t American.

  203. 203.

    hitchhiker

    And 2 Montana newspapers withdrew their endorsements. What else could they do? GG lost his shit in front of 3 neutral reporters, and his spokesman delivered a big fat lie to the public.

    Come on, Montana peeps. Don’t send this ragey billionaire to DC!

  204. 204.

    Elizabelle

    Missed this thread. I put up comments and links on it in the next one.

    The Los Angeles Times has a very informative story, about the two candidates and politics in Montana as a whole.

    Montana’s congressional race is about more than Trump — including an election-eve assault charge

    Very worth a click.

    And, GG ran lost a governor’s race last fall, to Democrat Steve Bullock, by 4 points in a year when Trump trounced Hillary by 20 points. Montana got a good look at Gianforte already.

    Quisp is out there, talking about a botched surgical procedure and all the medical bills he’s faced.

  206. 206.

    david

    Amusing how so many are lamenting that so many votes have already been cast (via early voting) or in the mail.
    It’s almost as if they want to… limit voting access.

    You vote early, you vote uninformed. Last minute revelations or events are now the norm.

Comments are closed.