Rep. Ray Barnes’ angry ignorant rant

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

I briefly touched upon the comments of Rep. Ray Barnes during the recent special session in an earlier post, i.e., he said that the state could file for bankruptcy (as I explained, no, it cannot).

I had not seen Rep. Barnes' extended comments at the time. It turns out this whopper was part of an angry ignorant rant that has now gone viral since the video below was posted. This makes Sen. Sylvia Allen's "6,000 years" video look sane by comparison. The Daily Show is likely to catch up to this video when it comes back from hiatus since Arizona has been such fertile ground for comic material this year.

The Arizona Capitol Times posted this video on YouTube.

Craig at Random Musings has posted a transcript here Barnes: the transcript

This is the same Rep. Barnes who back in October stressed the need to get “emotion” out of politics. Women, Barnes apparently said according to those in the room, are too emotional and should be more logical, like men. (Arizona Capital Times Yellow Sheet) Democratic Diva » Ray Barnes impresses the ladies with his manly logic. Barnes later defended his statement, saying he actually said “most often women are more emotional than men.” Well, who is all emotional now, Ray?

Rep. Barnes really should work on his emotional outbursts. He has already died once on the floor of the House and had to be revived, back in June 2006. Representative Ray Barnes of Arizona had "angels hovering over him," according to Speaker Jim Weiers, when he collapsed on the

Representative Ray Barnes of Arizona had "angels hovering over him," according to Speaker Jim Weiers, when he collapsed on the floor of the House in early June and was revived by colleagues, a lobbyist and a 17-year-old page. Barnes was not breathing and had no pulse when Ashley Mazur, a page with a nursing assistant certification, Representative Ted Carpenter, a retired Phoenix firefighter, and Representative Cheryl Chase, a registered nurse, began mouth to mouth resuscitation and compression in him. A lobbyist who is a former paramedic and Representative Colette Rosati, also a nurse, joined in the effort to save Barnes' life. The group shocked his heart with a defibrillator. Senator Robert Cannell, a doctor who was instrumental in placing defibrillators in both chambers, also arrived on the scene and cleared Barnes' airway. Barnes underwent triple bypass surgery several days later.

Tedski pointed out in his post on this at R-Cubed that Rep. Barnes was named 2009 Legislator of The Year by the Arizona Capitol Times. Arizona Capitol Times » Blog Archive » Meet the 2009 Leaders of the Year This says more about the panel selecting Barnes than it does about him. Here is what the Arizona Republic's Political Insider blog had to say at the time PoliticalInsider – Weekend insiders …

Say what? … That was the collective reaction when the state legislator of the year award went to (drumroll, please) Rep. Ray Barnes.

Colorful character of the year? Sure, we can buy that. He once showed up in the House lobby in his stocking feet, sweatpants and undershirt, en route to a gym workout.

Quote of the year? Barnes' impassioned cry of “Just cut something!” during budget deliberations still rings in our ears.

But “legislator of the year” drew quizzical looks from many. After all, this is the guy who has filed a state Senate campaign although the move violates the state's resign-to-run law.

According to the Capitol Times, which accorded the honor, the northeast Phoenix Republican is recognized for being a hard worker, a good listener and imbued with a healthy dose of cynicism.

Well, we get the cynical part, especially after seven years in the Legislature.