It is no secret that if there one thing we take delight in, it is reading Quizmaster Chris when he goes off on a moral crusade. Who can forget the time he accused a large company of being “morally challenged mother-stabbers and father-rapers” because they made him fill out a W-9? Or the time he got into a rivalry with Big Daddy Graham? Or when he got himself into the middle of the greatest Scotland is/is not a country debate that has ever taken place, on earth, ever?
So when we read that Chris nearly came to fisticuffs while working at the polls last week, and that the brouhaha had shut down the polls for heaven’s sake, we got the popcorn and the hot cocoa ready. We figured that the show was about to begin. Good old fashioned Philly political corruption (at the Mummers Museum no less), and Quizmaster Chris was smack dab in the middle of it? This had Instant Classic written all over it. But so far, nothing on his blog. Thankfully, the Daily News story itself had some real gems in it.
(Quizmaster Chris) Randolph got into a shouting match with the man who was sitting in the seat reserved for the minority judge of elections. Randolph told him to give up the post.
“Shut the hell up!” said the man, who declined to give his name. “I’m tired of looking at your face and listening to your fat mouth.”
The argument escalated when Michael Harrison, a volunteer for the Democratic ward leader Ed Nesmith, asked Randolph to produce a badge or credentials.
“I have a court order,” responded Randolph. “I don’t need credentials. We don’t need no stinking badges.”
“Don’t disrespect me like that,” said Harrison, who leaned close to Randolph’s face. “This court s— here, don’t mean s— to me! I will f— you up!”
Harrison and Randolph appeared eager to take the fight outside, but two police officers arrived about 1:15 p.m. and a sergeant ordered the polls shut down to sort out the dispute.
My favorite part is when the guy says, “Don’t disrespect me like that.” What? Was he wearing a sombrero at the time? Otherwise, how could he have been offended by a line from the Treasure of the Sierra Madre? That being said, great comeback from Quizmaster Chris when asked to produce a badge.
There is somewhat heated back and forth with someone in the comments section of the article, but mostly just between Chris and some guy who just seems keen on ruffling his feathers. QC doesn’t really fall for the bait. Nonetheless, we want to hear, from Quizmaster Chris, what happened on that day. Our popcorn is getting stale.
He seems more like a Blazing Saddles kind of guy. Now that I think about it, he must have meant Treasure of the Sierra Madre, because he gets the quote wrong 😀
He eats plenty of bait on this one, which is where the reporter calls Chris out on his little fibby-fib.
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/city/20101103_Spat_delays_voting_at_Mummers_Museum.html
I’m shocked, shocked to hear that there was thuggery, threats and intimidation at a Philadelphia polling place.
I too would like to learn more about this incident. There doesn’t seem to be much info available other than the two links to an Inquirer and Daily News articles.
Incidentally, Johnny, the guy in the comments section does more than try to ruffle feathers. He flat out calls Randolph a liar, based on the fact that Randolph claims he wasn’t doing any shouting and a video shows that he was. To be fair, Randolph might honestly believe that he wasn’t shouting but was rather being shouted at, or he might be simply be guilty of the all too human quality of remembering his own actions in a more favorable light than they deserve. At any rate, the volume of voices in the argument isn’t probably what you’d call a substantive issue.
I’m also be interested in what the Republican guy was doing during the shouting match and potential fistfight. He appears briefly at the beginning of the story refusing to surrender his seat, and, not incidentally, insulting the rightful seatholder. No further mention is made of him, however, and the later threats and intimidation after Randolph returns with the court order come from the Democratic poltico.
I’d also point out that based on the info presented, the Philadelphia police seem to have behaved professionally and admirably, breaking up the argument, securing the election machinery, and seemingly enforcing the court order. The police have come in for a lot of criticism concerning corruption lately, and we should give them some positive recognition when they deserve it.
Mock if you will! Those of lesser breeding always deem it necessary when confronted with their inferiority. Fight the good fight, Quizmaster Whoever! Though a lesser man, he can read my tale and aspire to my heights of intellect and grace.
http://blizzmasterpilch.blogspot.com/