The folks at the Star this week had a bit of fun at Frank Antenori’s expense. They ran a piece on Tuesday about his driving record and unpaid tickets. Given his jihad against red light enforcement, I suppose it makes some sense.
Hey Frank, I feel for you. I’ve been there.
What never got on the radar of Southern Arizona’s paper of record is an incident last Thursday when Antenori confronted a veteran police officer and called him a “cry baby” for testifying against his bill.
This from the Arizona Guardian:
Several witnesses at the Capitol said Antenori was swearing loudly as he pointed his finger at Olsen. Antenori said he can’t remember using foul language but admitted, “I was very upset and I raised my voice but I never touched the guy”
“Trust me, if I assaulted him he’d know it,” said Antenori who is a former member of the U.S. Army’s Special Forces. “I can’t help that a six-foot-four 250-pound crybaby felt intimidated by a little legislator.”
“If I assautled him he’d know it.” That’s comforting. As far as I can tell, no one is alleging any assault. Interesting to bring that up. “I could have hurt him real bad if I wanted” is a defense for being a jackass now?
The guy has been in the legislature for a while. He hasn’t yet had anyone testify against one of his pet bills? He’s going to have fun in congress.
The incident has gotten the attention of at least one national outlet, but has not made our local paper. I’d say this says a lot more about his demeanor and how he will act towards his possible congressional constituents than a few unpaid tickets.
You’d think that a paper that has spent the last year or so editorializing on “civility” would care about this.
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Ted, Ted, Ted…doncha know The Star’s style guide lists the following definition:
“Civility: Noun
Formal Politeness, and the social rule that the it is ‘incivil’ to point out inconvenient facts about the Republicans, such as their overweening hypocrisy and long record as bullies, cranks and extremists given to intemperate language and even more intemperate lawmaking, all the while wailing loudly about how terribly they’re being opressed and STOP HITTING MY FIST WITH YOUR FACE YOU DIRTY SMELLY HIPPIE! and you damned liberals should STFU because, because Bill Maher! that’s why!”
If you think that’s whack, you should see the style guide entry for “Bipartisan”…
One witness says Frank chest-bumped the officer.
My Dearest Commenters,
He doesn’t care. He doesn’t have to. He’s Frank Antenori.
Your Humble Servant,
Christopher