Actions may speak louder than words, but Sen. Richard Blumenthal took that mentality to the extreme on Friday.
The Connecticut Democrat was standing behind Milford Mayor Ben Blake on the town’s Metro-North station platform as the two held a press conference on railway safety. Complete with easels and charts, Blake was laying out the MTA’s safety violations, which total 139 over the last 10 years, worth $552,000 in fines.
“Safety, as you know, is paramount,” Blake said — and then this happened.
The laws of natural selection are sometimes hit or miss.
Any these people control the government budget.
Is it any wonder they are susceptible to bribery?
Hmm.
Mythbusters’ train suction
http://youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=W2KsZ6aGJ0Q#t=58
It’s just another shining example of the sort of brilliant planning and situational awareness that we’ve grown to expect from our so-called leaders.
They chose to put up their visual aids smack-dab on that big fat bright yellow “do not stand here” zone at the edge of the track. Were they too good to heed the warning, or too self-absorbed to take the time to even look?.
That moron should’ve died as an example to the next generation of what NOT to do..
“”Fuck that line, sheeple! — Sen. Richard Blumenthal
^^ That douche just stole my thunder.
derp
I also don’t see the big deal. There is danger, then there is DANGER!
How about some facts? as in… how many people have been killed or injured by a train passing while standing in the yellow zone?
I suspect the answer is ZERO.
Really more about mindless criticism without a thought behind it.
It’s all about irony and it’s funny as sh*t.
I recognize the “potential” for irony as if the guy had been injured or killed while giving a talk about safety while violating the safety rule.
It just IN THIS CASE as we all saw on film, the guy was merely closer to the train than authorities recommend. I would personally stand behind the yellow line myself as who knows what variable physical stuff might hang off the train in violation of regulations and what not?
I guess my irony just need more steel in it, or would pig iron be more appropriate?
So it would be like someone who is lecturing you on the dangers of smoking, while puffing on a Camel non-filter.
On second thought…Geez, why even bother trying to explain this to you?
No, its not like that at all. Its more like standing in the yellow caution zone of a train platform. Watch the video–nothing happens except his hair gets mussed.
Even McCullough says the danger is “hit or miss” and I purely guess that with a fast express train like the one shown, in fact, no danger at all.
Was the unobservant public servant in a more dangerous position than if he were farther away?… Of course. I’m pretty sure to get hit by a train you have to be over the edge of the platform…”Mind the Gap.” Different issue, but same area of danger.
Uh, no I said the laws of natural selection is hit or miss. Sometimes Darwin is more kind to morons such as our esteemed Senator.
If there were no danger, than why would you waste the yellow paint? Sometimes I think we should just do away with all warning labels, and just let “natural selection” take it’s course.
Oh, yes! Think how far we will come to holding the population at 500,000,000 if only we took warning labels off several key products:
toilet bowl brush — not intended for personal hygenics
wheelbarrow wheel — not for hiway use
sex doll — not to be used as a life-preserver
rectal thermometer — not for oral use
Verison — not intended for communications and may violate other local ordinances
Isn’t there “danger” everywhere?
Paint the world in yellow—hmmmm, yellow as in coward?
Yellow generally stands for “Caution” while Red generally stands for Danger. Was the gentleman in question being Cautious? No, I don’t think so. Dead to the world you are when staring into a camera lens. some people indeed have walked off the sides of mountains or into propellors doing that… actually on either end of the Camera. How come cameras are not painted yellow?
There is no red strip even on the tippy edge of the platform. Should there be, you know…. for public safety for those who need to be reminded not to stand in the way of a train?????
…..Ha, ha. OK OK OK==I admit it, one of the few times I took the contrary position that is more wrong than correct.
I compliment you McCullough: you stood your ground but did not unload on me. What an admirable editor you are.
Yea, verily.
Also having to read Pedro’s inane comments day after day after day. Mucho letters but no information or content except to belittle another commenter.
In other words, Pedro has become irrelevant, you can just skip the letters strung together.
^^ Bag of Hammers ^^
That phrase amuses me too, but I don’t know why. Repeat it 2-3 times and its not funny at all. Its just a way to transport a bunch of hammers around.
What could a bag be full of that would be funny? I reverted to the old dead babies joke. I’m getting old, that old meme isn’t as funny as it used to be.
Maybe its the bags?
“Baptism, you two are just dumber than a bag of hammers.”
http://metacafe.com/watch/an-wjwibJ2b4hbJmm/o_brother_where_art_thou_2000_picking_up_tommy/
There is a reason it says to “stand behind the yellow line” but hey! Rules don’t apply to them, they’re in the goobermint.
Post is dumber then a box of rocks.
Was the train in danger of derailing??
Oh wait, the engineer might swerve while text’ing his wife and take out the people.
Its on TRACKS/RAILS.
Ever hear about a car: “It corners like its on rails” ?
Please do us all a solid and stand on the yellow line when you are on the platform…..
139 Safety violations??
EXPLAIN??
Safety violations on WHICH side…those working for the company or for Pedestrians??
If this is only Those working for the company, then this is an INTERNAL problem..
If this is about Hitting those NOT working for the company, that is a PUBLIC issue.
Those platforms are dangerous!
And it looks like Sen. Richard Blumenthal knows what his safety priorities are! Blumenthal has got the little American shield protecting his privates; now, that is real safety in action!
Keeping the further generation Safe and Secure!
FYI this is the douche who talks about the Vietnam war and its aftermath as if he served in Vietnam during the war, when he did NO SUCH THING.
““We have learned something important since the days that I served in Vietnam,”
The legend of his serving in Vietnam was carried in many publications for many years, which he did absolutely nothing to correct.
To be completely accurate, he received 5 military deferments from 1965 to 1970 when he finally obtained a highly valued spot in the Marine Reserves in the DC area. He never served overseas and never faced the possibility of being called up to serve overseas, barring World War III.
here is a link to the NY Times article from 2010
http://nytimes.com/2010/05/18/nyregion/18blumenthal.html?pagewanted=all
Let’s not get all judgmental on the poor guy.
Remember that G. W. Bush served in the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam era and served his country well when or if he showed up for duty.
George went on to serve two distinguished tours of duty as President of the United States and he almost single-handedly rescued the economy near the end of his second term.
It’s not like these guys are attempting to avoid the military conflicts they vote to support.
Blumenthal should be commended for his attention to railway safety.
Those super-fast trains are dangerous… if that’s the Acela it’s going up to 165mph, just a foot or two from people standing on the platform. What if someone stumbles into the side of the train as it’s going by? They could be seriously hurt or killed. We don’t let people stand a foot from the cars on the highway going 80mph.
These trains should have a wall around them with doors that open to passengers only after they have stopped. Make it glass walls if you want, but protect the passengers standing on the platform.
Google “high speed train station japan” and you’ll see some images of the Japanese train stations and there seem to be fences and walls there between the commuters and the train.
I’d like to know if any of those “safety violations” that our dishonorable Congress critter was complaining about were for things like not posting signs that say silly things like “Stand BEHIND the Yellow Line” or perhaps even an automated voice (also) saying it.
But hey! It’s not like Congressmen ever actually have to read. And it’s not like “laws” – even physical laws – have to be obeyed by important power brokers like Congressman Blumenthal.
Yes. Natural selection is indeed hit or miss. And unfortunately voting has nothing to do with it either.
They should get a fine.
(GW Bush)
“he almost single-handedly rescued the economy near the end of his second term.”
Holy Cats! I admire your… *mind-blown* … I don’t even know *where* to start with that one-!
If Linda McMahon had won that Senate race, that would have just been the first act.