Posted on 08/08/2009 2:19:59 AM PDT by Zakeet
The health-care debate was supposed to play out at rallies and inside gymnasiums when lawmakers headed home for the August recess.
But after a series of contentious town-hall meetings, some Democratic lawmakers are thinking twice about holding large public gatherings. Instead, they are opting for smaller sessions, holding meetings by phone or inviting constituents for one-on-one office hours.
Democrats have accused Republicans of manufacturing the opposition by organizing groups to attend the events and encouraging disruptive behavior. Republican organizers say the unrest reflects genuine anger about the proposed health-care changes.
[Snip]
Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D., Ariz.) on Thursday canceled her public schedule for the day after a "Chat with Ann" session at a Safeway grocery store in Holbrook, Ariz., turned rowdy.
A video of the meeting showed a woman shouting, "You don't appreciate our frustration!" Ms. Kirkpatrick cut the session short after 15 minutes and headed to her car, trailed by a jeer of "What a nitwit!"
[Snip]
Rep. Brian Baird (D., Wash.) also said the raucous nature of recent meetings about health care caused him to steer away from the events, if only because they aren't productive when so many people are shouting.
"I'm not a coward, but neither am I a fool," said Mr. Baird. "There is a real concern right now about this nationwide campaign of intimidation and disruption that I think is troubling," he said. "It's getting dangerous."
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
A Congressperson like Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D., Ariz.) has to serve three terms before he or she will be entitled to that lucrative congressional pension plan. Ann Kirkpatrick won because of the taint of her opponent and she is in her first term. Count on it, Ann Kirkpatrick will fold on this one or she won’t get that pension. Its her choice: go with Obama or lose that pension.
The Democrats, whose fear of truth,
led them to choose an empty suit
to front the old Ci-cago mob,
then thought to ram down all our throats
a plan to ease out of life those of age
now find that maybe astroturf
is not as comfortable as Axelrod said.
All of a sudden the old turn out
and say they will not quietly go.
What to do but shut the door
when real grass starts to grow up through.
Project, project, and turn and turn.
Quick, shut the door, don’t let them in.
Send in the thugs from SEIU
let them know you’ll not have talk.
All these folks have camera phones.
Fascism as affirmative action
is not as easy as we thought,
we who know how to run Ci-cago.
fade out.
Jimmy Reed sings:
“Down in Virginia, down where the green grass grows.”
Not only is he is a coward and a fool, he'll also be looking for a new job come next year.
I wonder why democrats avoid explaining what they ARE doing. They just let constituents ask questions and then they give answers that seem designed to outrage the audience. Does anyone else see this?
You really think Obama, Acorn, and his hired thugs are going to allow a fair election?
The Dems are getting a taste of things to come.
Mr. Baird. “There is a real concern right now about this nationwide campaign of intimidation and disruption that I think is troubling,” he said. “It’s getting dangerous.”
Mr. Baird, it’s called “responsibility for your actions”.
All this time, there has been no personal consequence for
these robbers, now the table has turned.
Simple. Do you explain to your children what you are doing. You expect them to listen and obey.
How many times have you told your children when asked about something: "just do as you are told"
There's your answer. Our representatives think we are mostly proletariat and just need to be lead by the nose, they forgot they work for us.
The problem is our "representatives" live a bubble while in DC and forget there are actual adults in their districts that demand answers. Ask too many questions and the Union thugs put you in your place
They will sure try. As well as flipping independents, it also helps if we get to the don’t-give-a-damn segment of America (40% of Americans eligible to vote did not cast a ballot for any presidential candidate in 2008) with the firstest and the mostest.
The demoCrooks are running and hiding from the People.
They know what they are doing is wrong, is corrupt, is evil, and these “representaives” know the People know, that they are being lied to their faces.
Sure they want “call in “Town Hall Meetings”..Tjhat way they can have their Union Mobster Thug Technicians, screen not only who gets to ask any questions, but also what questions get “asked”.
They are traitors to their oaths, and are attempting to rule without representing of the Peoples will.
And now they are sending legions of Basiji like goons to attack the People.
By the Diirection of Mr Obama, violent criminal thugs have been paid and sent out to stomp protesters. He’s criminaly guiilty. The Unions and the others, are criminaly guilty, the violent Unionion goons are guily, they are all guilty of a criminal conspiracy to do bodily harm, and have dfone so basedf in part on race, which makes them all guilty of the Hate Crimes committed.
Barak Obama had/ordered a Black American man, STOMPED!
How many more will be stomped by his fascist goons?
We all need to read it now and then and then shout it to their faces.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Yes, how quaint. The Representatives are supposed to carry the people’s opinion as a whole (obviously not all will agree, but whatever the majority is) back to the Congress.
In the olden days this was then expected to percolate through an arm’s length Senate (chosen by local representatives of the people). Now the Senate is almost exactly a statewise arranged House. But given that, the Senate ought to also carry the sense of the state’s people back to the Congress. So only what wins in terms of population and also in terms of states should win in terms of law. Instead we have five hundred plus little Napoleons vying to rule us.
So they are confronted by constituents, and lets keep the very clear...these people are constituents too, who have in fact read the horrifying bill. They don't know what to do or say...all they have are Nancy Pelosi’s talking points.
A smart democrat would drop the talking points, read a few conservative blogs, read the bill, and hold informed town halls at the end of August.
Meanwhile, from the Let Them Eat Cake Crowd.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124967502810515267.html
Lawmakers’ Global-Warming Trip Hit Tourist Hot Spots
Penguins, a Rocket-Propelled Airplane (and Tax Dollars) Also Involved
Things are moving...even those that use to defend someone being a registered Democrat are drawing the line.
There are two important things about our Congress, and you have both mentioned them: (1) they live in the bubble of DC and Capitol Hill, and (2) they want their goodies and bennies.
The U.S. Congress does not really work for Americans.
They work for each other, to horsetrade bills that they haven’t read and don’t really care about, because on Capitol Hill you need to go along to get along. The goal is to pass laws, not to act as a steward of the American polity.
And I mean this about both Rats *and* Republicans.
They are all complicit in the ongoing destruction of America.
They don’t seem to care.
” And I mean this about both Rats *and* Republicans.
They are all complicit in the ongoing destruction of America. “
Exactly.
As far as I can tell, not one Republican politician has publicly voiced anything but the most tepid support for our ‘Townhall Movement’... (Somebody please correct me if I’ve missed something..)
These ‘Leaders’ don’t even make good followers....
he Democrats have already lost this battle and lost it decisively. The whole idea of a Townhall Meeting is to have ordinary citizens attend in order that that they can exchange their thoughts with elected officials. The elected official has the opportunity to win support for what he believes is best for his constituency.
By opting out of public meetings in favor of invitation only and telephone meetings he winds up preaching to the choir ans accomplishes nothing at all.
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