Gabrielle Giffords on her worst day is still more competent than Frank Antenori on his best day

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Oh Frank, always a dick…

"Don't make me angry" Frank(enstein) Antenori is off terrorizing the villagers again. Apparently Frank has settled upon the risky strategy of questioning Gabrielle Giffords' capacity and competency to perform the essential functions of her job — which is an invitation for others to question the competency of a man who is always getting angry and threatening people when he doesn't get his way. Frank has an anger management problem.

Arizona state Sen. Frank Antenori (R) questioned whether Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) is fit to run for office and criticized how her staff has cut off press access to her. Possible Giffords opponent questions her readiness to run for reelection – The Hill's Ballot Box:

"She is cognizant enough to read and comprehend the debt bill and cast a vote but her handlers don’t feel the media should be given access to her, and I don’t know why that is," Antenori said in an interview with The Hill Wednesday night. "It’s creating the legitimate question: Is she able to vigorously represent the district, or was this a one-time deal? Can she do this next term to the same degree of every member of Congress, is she able to continue that level of energy?"

Why this insensitive and callous remark is so offensive:

Giffords is recovering from a gunshot wound to the head suffered in an attempted assassination last winter.

Way to blame the victim of a horrendous crime. You must make your mother proud. There but for the grace of God, Frank. Never forget it.

"The voters need to make a decision, and how do they do that without information? They can't make an assessment of her ability because her staff have denied access to the media. If she's back, as they claim, why are they still blocking media access to her?" He said. "She is held to a different standard and that's understandable, but it's strange they're going to continue to [shield her from the media]."

Well, now you're just being a comedian, Frank. It was not that long ago that you and your buddies in the Southern Arizona GOP delegation announced a boycott of the Arizona Daily Star until they acceeded to your extortionary demands to turn their editorial page into a mirror page of FAUX News Fraudcasting. Tucson legislators boycott 'liberal' Star editorial board | Tucson Sentinel:

Tucson-area state legislators Melvin, Antenori, Gowan and Stevens… sent this letter to the Arizona Daily Star today, saying that they won't discuss the issues with the Star's editorial board:

In the Arizona Daily Star's Jan. 27th editorial, Publisher John Humenik and Editor Bobbie Joe Buel, admonished southern Arizona Republican House members for not responding to their request for our views on the state budget.

Our opinions, however, were to come in the form of answers to extremely liberally-biased questions, built upon premises on which we disagree.

When did the media become a mouthpiece for one political party, without regard to their professional duty to fairly present both sides of an issue?

In our opinion, that's exactly what's happened at the Arizona Daily Star. The publication continually demonstrates a liberal bias in their viewpoints. Most frequently, they support the Democrats' proposals, while dismissing those put forward by Republican lawmakers.

We have attempted repeatedly to reach out to the Arizona Daily Star requesting that they provide balance to their editorial board by including just one conservative writer who could offer another viewpoint. Our request was denied.

Now the Star is claiming that "some lawmakers said they would not help us share their budget thoughts with you – those who elected them – or said they were too busy to do so." This is simply not true.

On the contrary, we are happy to offer our views on the budget with any member of the media who will report the information fairly, accurately and without bias. That doesn't mean that we don't expect them to bring balance to the story. That's journalism 101. But, it's time to bring fairness and balance back to reporting.

Every day, House members share views with their constituents and listen to their thoughts via phone calls, emails and appointments here at the Legislature.  We have many vehicles besides the newspaper in which to communicate with the people of Arizona. We utilize the radio where we talk directly with constituents. We are on the Internet and embrace all forms of social media.

While we would also like to participate with the Arizona Daily Star, it seems fruitless to do so.

The bias of the Arizona Daily Star editorial board makes a fair and balanced discussion impossible. As a result, we will no longer participate with the Star's editorial board.

We are beholden to our constituents and do not have to answer to the whims of an overtly biased newspaper.  If the Star decides to bring back the standards on which journalism was founded, as well as balance to their editorial board, we'll reconsider our stance.

Sincerely,

• Senator Albert A. Melvin (R-District 26)
• Representative Frank Antenori (R-District 30
• Representative David Gowan (R-District 30)
• Representative David Stevens (R-District 25)

So we have a Congresswoman who is recovering from a critical gunshot wound to the head who should not be disturbed by the TMZ paparazzi and media villagers and Beltway bloviators, all of whom want to be first with an exclusive interview, and we have a group of Southern Arizona divas led by Frank Antenori who boycott the Arizona Daily Star because they don't like their press coverage. Which is worse?

I have known soldiers who have gone through treatment at the traumatic brain injury (TBI) ward at Walter Reed Hospital, and my family has a long history of stroke, with which I have had a lifetime of experience dealing with the sometimes lingering physical effects of a stroke.

Is someone disqualified from office because they have a physical disability, like Bob Dole? Is someone disqualified from office because they suffered a brain injury, like Vice President Joe Biden or Sen. Tim Johnson (brain aneurysms)? Is someone disqualified from office because of slightly halting speech or the occasional slurred word (like this has never happened to you)? George W. Bush and his "Bushisms" should have put that question to rest.

These physical limitations during the process of recovering from a brain injury have little or nothing to do with mental competency. Those of you who have stroke victims in your family know this — their mind is all there, it is their body that does not always respond. Are we to adopt a blanket prohibition against anyone with a physical disability from running for office?

There are thousands of Iraq and Afghanistan wounded warriors who would like to have a word with Frank Antenori if this is what he intended by his comments. I can introduce Frank to former Senator Max Cleland, a decorated Vietnam war veteran who left three limbs on the battlefield. Tell it to him, Frank.

Gabrielle Giffords on her worst day is still more competent than Frank Antenori on his best day. You can take it to the bank.