Nebraska police pull over man with huge bull riding shotgun in his car – National & International News – THU 31Aug2023

Nebraska police pull man over with huge bull riding shotgun in his Crown Vic

Capitol doc: Senate GOP Leader McConnell “medically cleared” for work, despite second freeze-up

NATIONAL NEWS

Nebraska police pull man over with huge bull riding shotgun in his Crown Vic

Recently, Lee Meyer of Neligh, Nebraska, was driving his modified Crown Victoria with his “friend and buddy” Howdy Doody riding shotgun. After getting some 911 calls from concerned motorists, police had to track down Mr. Meyer, but he wasn’t that hard to find. Officers were apparently initially confused by the callers’ descriptions, saying “We didn’t have a full understanding of it until we saw it”. Meyer’s passenger was a huge watusi bull. 

Meyer is in the habit of taking his special friend out in his specially modified ride to rodeos, cattle shows and parades around the state. The car’s passenger side has been replaced with a cattle gate to allow Howdy Doody to be tied securely while driving and to allow him to get in and out of the car easily.

It’s not clear whether the pair were on their way to any event when police pulled him over. Perhaps they were just out joyriding. Police let Mr. Meyer off with a warning as long as he turned around and took the bull home, which he did.

Lee’s wife Rhonda says Howdy Doody has been like a member of the family since Lee got him 8 or 9 years ago. However, Rhonda did register a complaint about how much her husband has spent on the bull. “The amount of money that he’s spent on this whole darn project between the car and the bull I could’ve had a brand new kitchen,” she said.

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Capitol doc: Senate GOP Leader McConnell “medically cleared” for work, despite a second freeze up at presser

Yesterday, another video circulated of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, 81, freezing up for several seconds in front of a press conference. This is just a few weeks after another incident in which McConnell trailed off mid-sentence when answering a reporter’s question, and stood frozen, silent, and unblinking for several seconds before a GOP colleague led him away from the podium. You can see the first video here. 

The new video comes from an event in Kentucky, McConnell’s home state. A reporter asked McConnell about what plans he has to run for re-election in 2026. Similar to the previous incident, McConnell began answering the question (after asking the reporter several times to repeat it), then trailed off and fell silent. For several seconds, McConnell stood silent, staring unblinking at a fixed point, until an aide came to prompt him. You can see the second video here. 

Despite these two incidents and concerns from members of both parties about McConnell’s fitness for office, the US Capitol attending physician says he has “medically cleared” McConnell to continue working. Dr. Brian Monahan said he “conferred” with McConnell’s neurological team.

Concerns about lawmakers’ health and age

McConnell suffered a serious fall and concussion in March this year. After the first freezing incident, his team revealed that he has fallen “several more times since February”. Both times, McConnell’s team have played off his lapses as “momentary lightheadedness”.

McConnell’s incidents and other concerning episodes with lawmakers have reignited a debate on age limits and health requirements for serving members of Congress.

Earlier this year, now 90-year-old Democratic Sen. Diane Feinstein (CA) was missing in action for several months after recovering from “shingles”. Her absence caused massive delays in judicial appointments since she’s a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. 

After she finally did return to work this summer, Feinstein launched into a speech on the floor when her name was called during a roll-call. Video showed several people trying to silence her and prompting her to “just say aye”.