House stenographer hauled from floor

[highplainsdem]

Source: Politico

A House floor stenographer was abruptly hauled out of the chamber after charging the dais and screaming during Wednesday’s late night vote on raising the debt ceiling and funding the federal government.

As the bill sailed toward final passage, the presiding lawmaker suddenly began pounding the gavel. Witnesses on the floor said the woman, who was not identified, seized a microphone and began yelling during the vote.

She was then removed from the chamber by floor staff and taken into an adjacent elevator. She continued yelling as she was taken away

-snip-

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/house-stenographer-hauled-from-floor-98439.html

---

More on this can be found in the Twitter feed of Todd Zwillich, Washington correspondent for The Takeaway from Public Radio International:

https://twitter.com/toddzwillich

Audio that Zwillich posted on Soundcloud:

https://soundcloud.com/toddzwillich-1/floor1-101612-wav

Shouting that God "will not be mocked" and "you cannot serve two masters." Something about the Constitution and Freemasons.

[bottomofthehill]

1. Again I say

This has been a crazy time for a lot of people and she has been at work for 14 plus hours. Low blood sugar, stress and fear of loss of insurance, there are a lot of things could be going on. Let's not rush to judgment quite so fast. Now along with everything, she is a national laughing stock and her job is in jeopardy.

Not really funny

[highplainsdem]

7. I don't think it's funny. I agree with Zwillich that it's sad and troubling.

[dem in texas]

64. I agree it's not funny - but

This lady has some problems and needs help, this outburst was not caused by low blood sugar.

[Fearless]

8. None of those things are logical explainations.

[bottomofthehill]

10. Sorry but

Long work day, long three weeks, possible medical condition......all quite logical and possible.

[wtmusic]

14. No, she's just a closet fundie who was counting on God to pull this one out

and he let her down, or he doesn't exist.

Ouch!

[Fearless]

15. I'm sorry but I've worked 14 and 16 hour days

Don't generally eat a full meal during them, work 50+ hours a week, and I've never started shouting about god and freemason conspiracy theories. I'm sorry.

[bottomofthehill]

22. Maybe you don't have a host of different medical conditions that could cause this

And I hope you never do. But if you do, it can be quite frightening to those around you. Hopefully, it will not be on national tv with the world watching. Maybe a little compassion......maybe.

As your treatment plan becomes more effective in bringing your blood sugar within its target ranges, you may occasionally experience hypoglycemia (low blood sugar reactions). These reactions occur because there is too much insulin in your blood stream and not enough sugar going to your brain and muscles to help them function.

It is important to recognize and treat low blood sugar immediately because it can come on very quickly. It may be dangerous when your blood sugar is very low because you could pass out or have convulsions if your brain is not receiving enough sugar to work properly.
A low blood sugar reaction can happen when:
You take your medication, but don't eat on time.

You don't eat enough for the medication that you have taken.

You skip a meal.

You exercise more than usual.
Hypoglycemia reactions are thought of as "mild," "moderate," or "severe." If untreated, the early, mild symptoms of hypoglycemia can become moderate or severe.

Mild Hypoglycemia Moderate Hypoglycemia Severe Hypoglycemia
(needs emergency
treatment)

Sudden hunger Personality change Passing out

Dizziness Headache Convulsions

Shakiness Irritability

Nervousness Blurred vision

Pounding heartbeat Confusion or difficulty concentrating

Drowsiness, tiredness Poor coordination

Sweating Slurred or slow speech

Numbness or tingling
of mouth or lips

[Fearless]

25. Are you her doctor?

You seem to think you know a lot about her medical well being.

[bottomofthehill]

28. No smartass, but a coworker who just watched someone's life go to hell for the world to see

How about a little compassion instead of just snide bullshit. I hope nothing ever goes wrong in your perfect little world

[Fearless]

41. If you're not a doctor

Then on what basis do you make your assertions?

[bottomofthehill]

42. Maybe because I just watched them put her in an ambulance to go to the hospital

I am going out on a limb an taking a guess that there is a medical issue.....

[Fearless]

46. No medical issue

Makes you spout right wing conspiracy theories. If it did Ted Cruz and Michelle Bachmann should have been evaluated years ago.

[Fearless]

52. My sexual orientation has no place in this discussion

[Tumbulu]

53. Of course they should have been evaluated

And treated many years ago. Perhaps this is the real reason these guys were fighting like hell to keep medical insurance away from regular people, they will lose their base.

[LanternWaste]

86. You realize this very thing happened to a Jet Blue airline pilot some month back yes?

You realize this very thing happened to a Jet Blue airline pilot some month back yes? The sudden onset of medical conditions resulting from medications are hardly conspiracy theories... ruling them out due to biases though, is little more than dogma.

[Fearless]

94. The conspiracy theories i referred to

Were regarding her Freemasons comment.

[LanternWaste]

107. Which seem both irrational and unstable given the context of her position at that particular moment.

Which seem both irrational and unstable given the context of her position at that particular moment, which further leads me to believe that a side-effect to medication cannot be, all other things being equal, ruled out.

[Fearless]

116. Medications don't make you believe that freemasons are trying to overthrow the government

She was very calm and very direct in what she said. She exhibited no manic behaviors at the time of her actions.

[heaven05]

87. I agree with what you say

lot's of lack of compassion among human beings these days. With the dangerous fiasco we've witnessed for the last few weeks especially, led by people who care nothing of hurting and denying millions of at risk people, I'm not surprised at the comments to which you're responding to. Sad, mean world we live in.

[Ash_F]

73. Are you?

One person says maybe. You say definitely not.

What makes your opinion so definitive?

[Fearless]

82. Because medical issues don't make you spout right wing bs

Last edited Thu Oct 17, 2013, 07:18 AM - Edit history (1)

And for the record i haven't said she isn't some how sick. I've said that there is no sickness that causes you to spout right wing conspiracy theories and it it's insulting to those who have mental illnesses to claim so.

[greiner3]

106. I've never been in the situation this woman was in;

However, I've had manic episodes where I was not totally responsible for my actions.

Lighten up dude!

[Fearless]

115. There's no reason I should hold pity for a winger.

Lots of people have rough days. Lots of people are sick. No manic episode makes you spout right wing conspiracy theories, unless you already believed them.

[Jamastiene]

56. I have had Hypoglycemia for years now.

Never have I started shouting conspiracy theories about Freemasons and yelling that "God will not be mocked." Your explanations for this are all bullshit so far. Keep trying, I guess?

[Bradical79]

34. Sounds like a medical condition

People in good mental health generally don't behave this way.

[tomm2thumbs]

35. Dont' be sorry. They always say 'people panic in their native tongue'

and I'm guessing her native tongue was most likely FoxNews-inspired crazy-right-wing-idealogue a la mode.

with a heapin' helping of religious fanatic sprinkles on top.

[Myrina]

88. Are you surrounded by batshit crazy self-absorbed millionaires?

Stress and ill health, in the context of general assholery, can cause someone to snap.

[Fearless]

95. I manage a restaurant. Short answer yes.

[Jamastiene]

55. I can't think of any medical condition that

would cause someone to start yelling, "God will not be mocked." That's some right wing bullshit. Getting tired does not make someone a right wing tool. It just brings out the right wing tool that was already there.

[avaistheone1]

66. She could have had a mental break(down).

Many people who have a mental breakdown who may not be particulary religious normally, will verbally start talking in religious terms that may not make sense.

[get the red out]

102. Thank you

You are absolutely correct. I have seen two people close to me suffering from mental illness, bi-polar disorder to be precise, and this is exactly like one of them acted, in reference to the religiosity, when the disease first manifested. He was full-blown delusional, he doesn't even attend Church and is not particularly religious.

People on this thread shut others down because they aren't doctors, but there is no way to rule out a medical condition (and mental illness is a medical condition) until we hear some kind of confirmation as to what was going on.

[DeSwiss]

38. ....

[center]
''If you want logical take the blue pill.
If you want the truth, you realize that there are no pills.''[/center]

[Fearless]

43. All things have a cause

Logic is the use of evidence to try to understand cause. The opposite of logic is faith-to believe without evidence or in opposition to evidence.

Logically speaking she is a wingnut. The words she uses are evidence of this. Conversely she might have a medical condition that might have caused her to spout conspiracy theories that otherwise she wouldn't believe in and do so after calmly doing her job for months our years without incident up until this one day.

[LanternWaste]

110. Classical definition of faith is merely a belief in that if which we do not posses all relevant know

" faith-to believe without evidence or in opposition to evidence. ..


Classical definition of faith is merely 'a belief in that of which we do not posses all relevant knowledge'. For example, I have great faith in my neurologist. I do not believe my faith in him is irrational or illogical.

[Fearless]

118. We are speaking of two slightly different definitions of faith.

Yet they are similar. You have faith in your neurologist based on past positive experiences you've had with them. Those are your facts.

[Hekate]

12. I'm with you. The poor woman went sailing right off the edge...

... Gawd, if I'd had to listen to that incessant GOP blather for all this time I think I'd be ready to heave the steno machine right at the Speaker of the House.

[NBachers]

16. Yes, that was my first thought- If I had to pass all that poison through my body to record it,

I would be forever changed, altered, and demented.

Think about it - all this bizarre insane babble has to be processed through her ears, into her brain, and then transferred to the steno machine. It can't help but leave a trail of poison behind, to twist her system. It would break me, too.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

109. Former court reporter here. You are absolutely right.

Bad vibes, free floating anger in court, whatever you want to call it.
I once had to stand up and BEG a judge for a lunch break so I wouldn't get the shakes. I had low blood sugar and some of these judges don't want to take breaks. He backed down when I said "My doctor's name is Dr. ___. His phone number is ______. Would you like to call him and talk to him? I have to eat lunch."

[GoneOffShore]

2. One wants to be kind - but I think she's been at the Oreo's.

And the Red Bull.

[Heather MC]

3. FIRED!!! With Medical to get her the help she needs

It's too many crazies trying to drive the ship. Really time to clean house and toss some folks overboard

[Schema Thing]

4. I assume they mean Chuck Todd?

[Snake Plissken]

5. I'm pretty sure she was on Jetblue flight into Tampa the other day

[HubertHeaver]

77. The unfortunate girl seated nearest the camera is scared shitless.

Probably will have PTS symptoms after that ordeal.

[AngryOldDem]

81. At least they were apparently landing. n/t

[uppityperson]

6. Ah, that is who it was. I hope she appreciates the mental health part of ACA. But wtf?

[SoapBox]

9. wow...Krazy.

[wtmusic]

11. "The Constitution would not have been written by Freemasons..."

"You cannot serve two masters. Praise be to God..."

Fundie nutcase.

[juajen]

72. Masonry was very prevelant at our country's inception.

14 Presidents have been Mason's. Of these were Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Madison. If you compare the constitution of the United States to the Masonic constitution you will find some things that are alike. Washington was buried with a Masonic funeral and was past Grand Master and Master of his lodge.

[Nihil]

78. Sadly, most of the recent administrations have tended to ignore the good bits like that ...

> If you compare the constitution of the United States to the Masonic constitution
> you will find some things that are alike.

... in favour of blind irrational fundamentalism coupled with sheer greed ...
the kind that gained strength when you decided to ignore the natural (sensible)
boundary between religion & state and print partisan mottoes on your currency ...

[Marrah_G]

85. The masons also pulled off the Boston Tea Party

How is that for some irony...lol

[VanillaRhapsody]

13. its the same lady?

am I totally befuddled are you all saying its the plane lady?

[KinMd]

17. She'll be a tea party candidate for U.S. Senate next year

[Jamastiene]

57. +1000000

[Hekate]

18. Nice to see the famous DU empathy and compassion are alive and well in this thread

[kestrel91316]

24. No empathy whatsoever for dominonists who think they can

disrupt our legislative proceedings after god-knows-how-many-years of infiltration and possible sabotage.

I don't think she's mentally ill. I think she truly wants the bible to be the law of the land. We're lucky she didn't have a gun. We might not be so lucky with the next saboteur.

[wtmusic]

33. Thank you

although one could argue Dominionism is a mental illness.

[jberryhill]

30. Compassion for what?

What makes you think she has an illness?

How patronizing can one get to assume that because someone acts out of purpose and conviction with which you disagree, then they must be mentally ill.

I didn't have compassion for the 9/11 hi-jackers or Timothy Mcveigh either. While those are extreme examples, I do not automatically assume that someone engaging in deliberately disruptive behavior for a cause, is mentally ill.

Are the Code Pink folks mentally ill? They get up and yell about stuff they believe. What makes this woman any different?

[avaistheone1]

68. So far the pundits and Republicans who know her say this woman is normally soft spoken and reserved.

She may be both a religious extremist and she may be mentally ill. We may have observed her have a mental break this evening.

This woman is different than Code Pink, in that she is employed by the government to take notes/stenography on the House floor. She is there to record the events that take place - Not to shape them with her own opinions. Code Pink on the other hand does not work for the government, and its purpose is:

.snip.... working for peace and social justice. We have become famous for confronting the warmongers, whether in the halls and hearing rooms of Congress, the national conventions of both the Republicans and Democrats, George Bush's fundraisers, the publicity tours of Karl Rove, Condi Rice, Donald Rumsfeld and others, and Nancy Pelosi's house.
- See more at: http://www.codepinkalert.org/article.php?list=type&type=3#sthash.PdCNeYdB.dpuf

[jberryhill]

114. Edward Snowden worked for the government too

And when he wanted to make a stand for his beliefs, he did so.

The updates to this are that (a) she said the Holy Spirit moved her to do it, and (b) her husband is proud of her.

This was a deliberate action out of her convictions and, no, being employed by the government does not trump religious beliefs for people who have the courage of their own convictions.

[Posteritatis]

79. It's definitely one of the more annoying popular beliefs around here, isn't it?

That's before going into the nasty places "beliefs at odds with mine are a disease" traditionally leads in the first place. Ugh.

(At least the site's improved from a few years back, where the general assumption was that "mentally ill" and "evil" were synonymous..)

[treestar]

89. I don't think it's the beliefs

It's the way she suddenly expressed them, that make people think there's a mental issue involved.

[Posteritatis]

119. I'm talking in much more general terms

"Disagreement is a disease" is definitely a recurring theme here, especially on the hot topics of the day. It's calmed down over the years but it's still a problem.

That said, "our side" has had public outbursts like that which people are oddly reluctant to medicalize by comparison....

[Spitfire of ATJ]

32. Remember this?

[pothos]

39. The stuff that she was shouting

Is standard fare and is fully believed by many people on the right, including many elected members of congress. They just don't shout it on the floor of the House, but they sure say the same stuff to right wing radio hosts, townhalls, etc.

[RobinA]

97. Really...

very enlightened crowd we've got here.

[tenderfoot]

113. I have a hard time feeling bad for someone who deliberately waisted the Nation's time

[dlwickham]

19. just found her facebook page

she's a right winger

https://www.facebook.com/dianne.fosterreidy/likes_other

[Jamastiene]

58. Dobson from the AFA are mentioned prominently on her Likes page.

If she's been spoon feeding herself that crap, no wonder she had her little outburst. To those defending her, if this is really her FB page, she will NOT be embarrassed by her behavior now, later, or ever. Anyone who can agree with Dobson's hate group bullshit doesn't know they should be embarrassed. They think they are right, no matter what.

[dlwickham]

65. I'm pretty sure this is her FB page

it has a link to a stenographer page and a link the House page as well

[AC_Mem]

20. Michelle, is that you?

Sorry, couldn't resist

[Tx4obama]

21. She 'strolled' up to the dais, not 'charged' - and her name is Molly.

They call her 'Molly' in the AUDIO clip

[hamsterjill]

91. Yes, I distinctly heard "Molly"

Perhaps there is more than one stenographer; thus the name of the other stenographer in this thread? But this woman is definitely referred to as "Molly".

[MelungeonWoman]

105. Molly is powdered MDMA.

MDMA is the main component of ecstasy. Doubt if that has anything to do with this story, just an observation.

[TwilightGardener]

23. On a brighter note, I hear there's a job opening for a new stenographer at the US House of Reps.

[No Vested Interest]

26. Is her name Diane Reidy? Anything

else known about her personal history?
For instance- how did she get the job? Political influence?
If so, whose?

[jberryhill]

29. Been there 20 years

[IronLionZion]

27. video

[tomm2thumbs]

37. that seals it for me - not tired, just off her rocker

to be fair, she is lucky she has healthcare and will hopefully seek assistance with this issue

[Manifestor_of_Light]

31. I was a court reporter(stenographer) for twenty years.

Incredibly stressful job. I got to where I hated humanity most of the time from working in the courts because some of the lawyers and judges were mean and nasty.

That said, her screaming is NOT excusable. But I definitely had the urge to get up and run off screaming A LOT. Part of the stress is being around people every day who hate each other and whose emotions run high, whether it is civil or criminal court. Very bad environment.

I used to come home at night and cry from the inherent stress of my job. And mean people just made a difficult job worse.

I hope she gets some mental health care.

[Ash_F]

92. Thank you for sharing your experience.

That was enlightening.

[Hekate]

117. Thank you for this -- I believe every word of what you said.

Including that her screaming is not excusable.

This woman may be everything everyone is saying about her, but (a) her job in that environment had to suck, (b) the rush to judgment at DU was immediate and extreme given the small amount we knew at first, and (c) even people we don't like sometimes reach a breaking point and just snap.

All the furloughed workers are returning to work today -- my guess is that she is out of a job.

[emsimon33]

36. Very weird!

[azurnoir]

40. oh dear wait till she finds out

the Constitution was written by Free Mason's

[Bernardo de La Paz]

93. Facts don't matter to RW Dobson AFA religious types. Sorry, but they have faith-based "realities".nt

[rpannier]

44. It's fall

One of the nuts has fallen from the tree and rolled into the House of Representatives
Though with some of the Republicans that are there, a whole bunch of them rolled in. Rotten nuts, but nuts just the same

[BluegrassStateBlues]

45. Closet teabagger fundie gets caught up in the excitement and does something irresponsible.

Not giving her the cover of mental breakdown.

[mia]

47. Thanks for all the kind-hearted posts above that set me straight. n/t

[No Vested Interest]

59. On another site, a commenter said her words were

in the vein of what a Jehovah's Witness believes, especially regarding the Freemasons.
Anyone here know anything about that?

[ForgoTheConsequence]

74. Jehovah's Witnesses aren't political.

This sounds more like Alex Jones meets Dan Brown horse shit. Washington was well known and well documented as a Mason so it's also dead wrong.

[No Vested Interest]

100. Thanks for clarification.

I knew many of the Founders were Masons.
Not sure how her statements fit in with any groups thoughts re Masonry and government, etc.
As of now, I'll just let her words be what they are and not try to interpret.

[jtuck004]

48. Would someone 'splain this to me? She disrupted a single house chamber meeting where, if they had

been patient she would eventually have gotten tired and sat down with no real effect. For this she was hauled off for a mental evaluation.

The Tea Baggers were doing their best to seriously disrupt the not only the economy of the U.S. but of the world, and they are walking around loose?

I don't use the word incongruous a lot, but those two outcomes seem strangely out of kilter.

[davidthegnome]

51. +++

The above post pretty much wins the whole damn thread.

[Jamastiene]

60. Good observation. n/t

[eppur_se_muova]

103. OMG -- an actual attempt to put this in PERSPECTIVE !

Very well done, too ! Mental evaluations for all Tea Baggers, it's only fair !

[wordpix]

121. that is a good example of irony

Batshit crazy T-baggers walking around loose while getting paid, with gov. health care to boot, and a woman who goes bonkers hauled off to the psych ward.

[Crowman1979]

50. If you think that's bad, there are hundreds of people like her in the military

[Jamastiene]

61. In the House too, with all those Teabaggers in there. n/t

[Spitfire of ATJ]

54. Another video of the event...

[Jamastiene]

62. That sounds like half the religious zealots in my little Bible Belt hometown.

They never STFU about their hatred toward others either. Too bad we can't get someone to drag them off. My hometown wouldn't be too bad then.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

63. I know. A couple under a tree by a lake,..."We should get married. We both hate the same things."

[Festivito]

76. Nice job enhancing the audio on this video. eom

[davidpdx]

67. Down right strange

*cues Twilight Zone music*

[loudsue]

69. They do a lot of drugs in DC.

The whole culture is sex and drugs w/in the offices, staff, lobbyists. "Inside the beltway" is its own little world.

[ReRe]

70. This does not surprise me in the least...

... in this fundamentalist "Teabagger House." Could it have been a ruse to get the fundies all riled up? I wouldn't put anything past the Teabaggers.

[Ichingcarpenter]

71. Sorensen did a toon yesterday ... I think it ffits

He did this before the incident.

[Liberalynn]

96. +1

I agree it fits.

[Blue_Tires]

98. brilliant

[cui bono]

75. Well that's ONE federal employee who won't be returning to work tomorrow.

[AngryOldDem]

80. Surprised it hasn't happened before now. n/t

[meanit]

83. It's all fun and games

until somebody shows up with a bomb strapped to their chest....

[ehrnst]

84. If she had shouted 'All'hu Akbar!' it would have been reported VERY differently. (nt)

[DCBob]

90. This lunatic womain will probaby become the new RW hero.

[RainDog]

99. The Cruz sorts of religious leader thinks she was speaking for god

'm not here to say this person is mentally ill or not. I'm not making fun of what happened and I don't know why it did and I am passing no judgment on a situation I know nothing about.

However, I do want to address this situation as understood by the religious literalists that are part of the Republican party at this time.

Here's how they frame it:

“It was not a mental episode, what she was doing was known as an exercise of the gifts of the spirit where she brought a warning and a message from God regarding the activity,” Doocy said the minister had written.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/10/17/fox-friends-suggests-house-stenographer-targeted-for-bringing-message-from-god/

If you're not familiar with Cruz and Palin's religious orientation, it includes the idea that someone can speak words from god - any someone, and this sort of speech is inspired (and valued, as is, if they decide that's what it is.)

So, what was her warning and message? What was god telling Ted Cruz and his followers? Here's a transcription of her statement:

He will not be mocked. He will not be mocked. [to someone next to her] Don't touch me. [to the chamber] He will not be mocked. The greatest deception here is this is not one nation under God. It never was. Had it been, it would not have been— no. It would not have been— constitution would not have been written by Freemasons. They go against God. You cannot serve two masters. You cannot serve two masters. Praise be to God, Lord Jesus Christ.

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2013/10/stenographer-dragged-house-floor-during-vote/70632/

So, what was that message from god?

The stenographer was saying this is not a Christian nation, and any politician that says it is is lying.

So, looked at from the religious right's pov - this woman is telling them to get out of govt and go back to their churches.

I think she was speaking a truth. Whether it was from god or not, not for me to say.

But the reality is that whenever your religion gets mixed up in politics, both are going to suffer.

[SummerSnow]

101. Not just listening to those baggers, but reporting their crazy crap..

would do that to anyone

[The Stranger]

104. This isn't stress. That's bullshit.

And it comes a week or so after a woman inexplicably drove through barricades, with a child in the car, trying to get to the White House.

It may be the result of a dysfunctional government in some weird sociological sense. I'm not saying it's aliens or UFO's -- it is clearly psychological -- but it's not some random event.

[penultimate]

111. Well...

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

[greiner3]

108. She'll be fired;

AND watched for possible terrorist plots; well, maybe not, now that I think of it.

After all, the House IS run by people who think this way.

[Sunlei]

122. not fired but out on medical discharge. To dangerous, she could harm herself or others.

Feel sorry for her but she has great insurance.

[penultimate]

112. That's strange...

[Beacool]

120. It sounds like she had some kind of nervous breakdown.

Poor woman.

[hamsterjill]

123. Stenographer offers godly excuse

She says the Holy Spirit has been waking her up at night.


http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/holy-spirit-made-stenographer-offers-godly-excuse-bizarre-house-rant-article-1.1489524