Has any Representative or Senator ever just freaked out and been escorted off floor?

[Inchworm]

Just curious.

I know I'd probably want to plain call an opponent an asshole if I were in some of these debates.

:shrug:

[Drale]

1. Well right before the Civil War there was an attack on the floor of congress

On May 22, 1856, Brooks beat Senator Sumner with his heavy walking cane in the Senate chamber. The cause was a speech Sumner had made three days earlier, in which he had ridiculed a relative of Brooks, Senator Andrew Butler. Butler was not in attendance when the speech was read, but Sumner compared Butler with Don Quixote for embracing the harlot (prostitute) slavery as his mistress, and mocked Butler for a physical handicap. Senator Stephen Douglas of Illinois, who was also a subject of criticism during the speech, suggested to a colleague while Sumner was orating that "this damn fool is going to get himself shot by some other damn fool." (Jordan et al., The Americans)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preston_Brooks#Political_career

[Inchworm]

2. Thanks!

I'll read up on it.