Sad News from Burlington

WPTZ has more (0.00 / 0)

Video on the link

Attn. Cathy Resmer: My real name is Eddie Garcia, and I live in St. J.

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by: kestrel9000 @ Wed Jul 29, 2009 at 10:22:50 AM CDT

It's so sad (4.00 / 3)

Brain injuries can have so many unanticipated effects, including turning off some of those inhibitions that normally make people behave properly in public.

Ed is such a nice guy, if this is true, it's likely just one more tragic consequence from the car accident that nearly killed him.

Beware the Everyday Brutality of the Averted Gaze

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by: mataliandy @ Wed Jul 29, 2009 at 10:27:16 AM CDT

Sad (4.00 / 1)

It's too bad for Ed. Hopefully, his friends will support and advise him during what appears to be a very difficult time. Probably time for them to have a heart to heart talk with him too about a run for Gov Lite. TBI is a bitch.

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by: HSTGonzo @ Wed Jul 29, 2009 at 11:10:25 AM CDT

Just to be a repeat parrot ... (4.00 / 1)

I've lived with and worked around folks who've suffered severe traumatic brain injury, and I know from experience that these injuries certainly alter behavior, thinking patterns and personalities.

I applaud Flanagan not only for the work he's done for you and me, but I also (and more loudly) applaud him for coming back from his injury like he did.

I hope Ed keeps in the public sphere even if this story turns out to be true.

Without making light of anything: masturbating in public has nothing on invading nations that never attacked us.

It's about community ... RAMABAHAMA DOT NET (only it is still under construction ... isn't that life?)

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by: Rama Schneider @ Wed Jul 29, 2009 at 11:22:43 AM CDT

Well, yeah, but... (0.00 / 0)

... really, I don't want my political leaders doing either one.

Flanagan's case is a sad one, certainly, but if he's this incapable of governing his behavior -- not to mention this self-unaware, to judge from his absolute denials -- then he's no longer fit for public office. In fact, he really needs some counseling to make him fit for private life.

 

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by: jvwalt @ Wed Jul 29, 2009 at 12:14:53 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

You may be right up to a point ... (0.00 / 0)

but not as right as you seem to think you are. Traumatic brain injuries are about physical damage, and this sort of injury does not respond to counseling. This is much more a case of having someone provide assistance to help the injured (in this case Flanagan) get through the day.

As far as the denial thing goes: you could be correct that he's self-unaware, but I'd propose another reason for his denials. (I'm not going to bring Flanagan into this because I don't know what he's thinking ... I just want to advance an alternative story line).

A vibrantly healthy individual who has been important to the society around her/him is all of a sudden incapacitated in many ways and can no longer do all the wonderful and exciting things that had been part of his/her life. The fact this person has lost capabilities that help to interact with the world outside herself, however, does not mean she has lost the capacity to understand she is now living in a much more restricted world. So this person does his best to play like it's all manageable ... denial.

Back to Flanagan ... in his case we're talking about masturbating in extremely inappropriate places, and yes this does point to a problem with being able to govern behavior. But he's still a million percent better than any of our nation's torture monkeys and their legions of apologists ... other than create uncomfortable moments Flanagan did no harm to anybody.

JV, you need stairs to get to second or third floors ... that's called assistance. Ed just needs more than the normal assistance ... and he's still got a lot to offer.

Unfortunately the law will probably not see it in this human light.

It's about community ... RAMABAHAMA DOT NET (only it is still under construction ... isn't that life?)

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by: Rama Schneider @ Wed Jul 29, 2009 at 16:34:41 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I don't need a lecture, thanks (0.00 / 0)

Not to get too maudlin here, but I had a close relative who lived for 26 years with a far more severe TBI than Flanagan's. (As it happens, one of the relatively trivial sequelae was inappropriate touching of himself.) And I have another relative who suffered a "minor" TBI with very subtle effects. So I know how these things work, and I sympathize with the man.

However, inappropriate is inappropriate. I have a hard time believing that a man who I wouldn't want as my gym partner is truly qualified to hold a prominent position in state government. And, based on my own experiences, I have to wonder how else he's been affected by his tragic injury, especially in light of his vehement denial of the Y incidents, and the fact that he considers himself a viable candidate for even higher office. That makes me question his self-awareness, his judgment, and his suitability for office. (My relative with the "minor" TBI has a lot of trouble with simple organizational tasks; I love her, but I wouldn't vote for her either.)

That's aside from the simple issue of public masturbation, which I find more than "uncomfortable." I find it downright creepy and completely inappropriate in any situation other than mutual consent. Oh yes, it's illegal too.

I misspoke (miswrote?) when I said "counseling," but he needs help. More than he needs to occupy a prominent political office.  

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by: jvwalt @ Wed Jul 29, 2009 at 17:09:45 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Who?... (4.00 / 2)

...do we have in office now that's fit to hold office?

It's too bad.  

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by: PeteySweety @ Wed Jul 29, 2009 at 12:41:14 PM CDT

So... (0.00 / 0)

Now I know the difference between a soccer mom and a bulldog.

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by: farjas @ Wed Jul 29, 2009 at 13:00:48 PM CDT

what (0.00 / 0)

the hell does that mean?

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by: Doug Hoffer @ Wed Jul 29, 2009 at 15:07:27 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

waiting (0.00 / 0)

Am just waiting to see if these accusations against flanagan are true before judging.  No one has actually proved that he was really "doing it."  Just accusations so far.  

When you wake up each morning look around you.  It might be the last time you get to do it.  

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by: Watercloset @ Sat Aug 01, 2009 at 00:32:47 AM CDT