See other Resistance Articles
Title: Town halls gone wild
Source:
Politico
URL Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20090731/pl_politico/25646
Published: Jul 31, 2009
Author: Alex Isenstadt
Post Date: 2009-07-31 11:46:04 by F.A. Hayek Fan
Keywords: None
Views: 929
Comments: 68
Screaming constituents, protesters dragged out by the cops, congressmen fearful for their safety — welcome to the new town-hall-style meeting, the once-staid forum that is rapidly turning into a house of horrors for members of Congress. On the eve of the August recess, members are reporting meetings that have gone terribly awry, marked by angry, sign-carrying mobs and disruptive behavior. In at least one case, a congressman has stopped holding town hall events because the situation has spiraled so far out of control. “I had felt they would be pointless,” Rep. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.) told POLITICO, referring to his recent decision to temporarily suspend the events in his Long Island district. “There is no point in meeting with my constituents and [to] listen to them and have them listen to you if what is basically an unruly mob prevents you from having an intelligent conversation.” In Bishop’s case, his decision came on the heels of a June 22 event he held in Setauket, N.Y., in which protesters dominated the meeting by shouting criticisms at the congressman for his positions on energy policy, health care and the bailout of the auto industry. Within an hour of the disruption, police were called in to escort the 59-year-old Democrat — who has held more than 100 town hall meetings since he was elected in 2002 — to his car safely. “I have no problem with someone disagreeing with positions I hold,” Bishop said, noting that, for the time being, he was using other platforms to communicate with his constituents. “But I also believe no one is served if you can’t talk through differences.” Bishop isn’t the only one confronted by boiling anger and rising incivility. At a health care town hall event in Syracuse, N.Y., earlier this month, police were called in to restore order, and at least one heckler was taken away by local police. Close to 100 sign-carrying protesters greeted Rep. Allen Boyd (D-Fla.) at a late June community college small-business development forum in Panama City, Fla. Last week, Danville, Va., anti-tax tea party activists claimed they were “refused an opportunity” to ask Rep. Thomas Perriello (D-Va.) a question at a town hall event and instructed by a plainclothes police officer to leave the property after they attempted to hold up protest signs. The targets in most cases are House Democrats, who over the past few months have tackled controversial legislation including a $787 billion economic stimulus package, a landmark energy proposal and an overhaul of the nation’s health care system. Democrats, acknowledging the increasing unruliness of the town-hall-style events, say the hot-button issues they are taking on have a lot to do with it. “I think it’s just the fact that we are dealing with some of the most important public policy issues in a generation,” said Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa), who was confronted by a protester angry about his position on health care reform at a town hall event several weeks ago. “I think in general what is going on is we are tackling issues that have been ignored for a long time, and I think that is disruptive to a lot of people,” said Bishop, a four-term congressman. “We are trying, one by one, to deal with a set of issues that can’t be ignored, and I think that’s unsettling to a lot of people.” Freshman Rep. Dan Maffei (D-N.Y.), whose event at a Syracuse middle school was disrupted, said that he still planned to hold additional town halls but that he was also thinking about other options. “I think you’ve got to communicate through a variety of different ways. You should do the telephone town hall meetings. You should do the town hall meetings. You should do the smaller group meetings,” said Maffei. “It’s important to do things in a variety of ways, so you don’t have one mode of communication.” “You’re going to have people of varying views, and in this case, you’ve got the two extremes who were the most vocal,” Maffei said of the flare-up at his July 12 event. On Tuesday, Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who handles incumbent retention duties for House Democrats in addition to chairing the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, met with freshman members to discuss their plans for the monthlong August recess. While the specific issue of town hall protesters never came up, according to sources familiar with the meeting, he urged them not to back away from opponents. “He said, ‘Go on offense. Stay on the offense. It’s really important that your constituents hear directly from you. You shouldn’t let a day go by [that] your constituents don’t hear from you,’” said one House Democratic leadership aide familiar with the meeting. Some members profess to enjoy the give-and-take of the town halls, even if lately it’s become more take than give. “Town halls are a favorite part of my job,” said Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-Mo.), a third-term congressman from St. Louis who noted that a “handful” of disruptions had taken place at his meetings. “It’s what I do. It’s what I will continue to do.” “People have gotten fired up and all that, but I think that’s what makes town halls fun,” said Perriello, a freshman who is among the most vulnerable Democrats in 2010. “I think that most of the time when we get out there, it’s a good chance for people to vent and offer their thoughts. It’s been good.” “I enjoy it, and people have a chance to speak their mind,” he said. Both Carnahan and Perriello said they were plunging forward with plans to hold more town hall meetings. Republicans, with an eye toward 2010, are keeping close track of the climate at Democratic events. “We’ve seen Russ Carnahan, we’ve seen Tim Bishop, we’ve seen some other people face some very different crowds back home,” said National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Pete Sessions (R-Texas). “The days of you having a town hall meeting where maybe 15 or 20 of your friends show up — they’re over. You’ve now got real people who are showing up — and that’s going to be a factor.” Asked later how or whether the GOP would use the confrontations against Democrats, Sessions responded: “Wait till next year.” But Democrats are quick to point out they’re not the only ones facing hostile audiences. They single out Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.), who found himself in a confrontation earlier this month with a “birther” protester, and insist that Republicans face a backlash of their own if it appears the party is too closely aligned with tea party activists or other conservative-oriented protesters. “It’s a risk that they align themselves with such a small minority in the party,” said Brian Smoot, who served as political director at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in the past election cycle. “They risk alienating moderates.”
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: All (#0)
Translation: There is no point in meeting with my constituents if they won't allow me to blow smoke up their asses.
"The Central Intelligence Agency owns everyone of any significance in the major media." ~ William Colby, Director, CIA 1973–1976 The purpose of the legal system is to protect the elites from the wrath of those they plunder.- Elliott Jackalope
Can anyone give a reason why they should not?
"What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that its people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms....The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." Thomas Jefferson
Reading between the lines, those in power ignore the people and are fearful of the people that they are ignoring. I would not be surprised if elections were suspended at some point.
Hard to believe that a grown man could talk such shit, but then again he's a politician. These a-holes are getting much *less* than they deserve, and I take some heart in the fact that serfs are putting the fear of God in them.
Thanks for nuthin', Jr.
Can anyone give a reason why they should not? The beltway bandits in both parties are cowards who know that the actions they have taken over the last fifty years are unconstitutional. They also know that they have every intention of continuing their illegal actions and cowards that they may be, they are not stupid. In a nation of 300+ million people, they are perfectly aware that it is only a matter of time until someone picks up a weapon and "goes into politics." IMHO, this is the REAL reason for the passage of the Patriot Act, the Military Commissions Act, and the reason why they are now embracing torture. You can see their fear with the constant talk of domestic terrorism and their discussions of how to stop it.
"The Central Intelligence Agency owns everyone of any significance in the major media." ~ William Colby, Director, CIA 1973–1976 The purpose of the legal system is to protect the elites from the wrath of those they plunder.- Elliott Jackalope
Exactly. Read my post #5 for my thoughts on this matter.
"The Central Intelligence Agency owns everyone of any significance in the major media." ~ William Colby, Director, CIA 1973–1976 The purpose of the legal system is to protect the elites from the wrath of those they plunder.- Elliott Jackalope
My REPUBLICAN congresscritter hasn't met any constituents in public in a couple of years. He even got re-elected last year without ONE public campaign appearance. He's a chickenshit SOB who pisses his pants at the prospect of having to answer for his sins in D.C.
_________________________________________________________________________ Hard to believe that a grown man could talk such shit, but then again he's a politician. These a-holes are getting much *less* than they deserve, and I take some heart in the fact that serfs are putting the fear of God in them. Yes, well I'm sure the kulaks believed Stain's five year plans were disruptive as well, the bastards. /sarcasm. The question is, to what lengths will the 2-party fraud go to implement their agenda?
"The Central Intelligence Agency owns everyone of any significance in the major media." ~ William Colby, Director, CIA 1973–1976 The purpose of the legal system is to protect the elites from the wrath of those they plunder.- Elliott Jackalope
“It’s a risk that they align themselves with such a small minority in the party,” said Brian Smoot, who served as political director at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in the past election cycle. “They risk alienating moderates.” This is what the Dims fear, that GOP congresscritters will find the courage to take small-government slash-and-burn positions and defeat them in 2010. So far, the Stupid Party seems to be falling for it.
"Off with their motherf*ckn heads" - The Red Queen, Alice in Wonderland, sort of..
I despise "moderates". Let's just call them what they are. .
Click for Privacy and Preparedness files Build a fire for a politician/bankster/pig and he will be warm for a day. Set a politician/bankster/pig on fire, and he will be warm for the rest of his life.
Fully agree
So far, the Stupid Party seems to be falling for it. That's assuming that there really is a difference between the two parties and that there really is an ideological battle between the two. I flat out reject this belief. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Because of that and the fact that both parties have been sharing power since the advent of the Republican Party in 1854, I am convinced that both parties have become a giant single political machine whose goal is to consolidate and maintain political power within Washington D.C. in order to facilitate the wishes of those who control this machine. That's not to say their are not factions within the political machine, but those factions are not ideological in nature. We have the best government money can buy, and the factions within this political machine has more to do with whose paying the most money to whom. The only reason they continue the two-party facade is in order to better control the population by creating not only factions between the two parties, but internal factions as well. It's all a giant sleight of hand routine. Keep the rubes focused on one area while screwing them in another.
"The Central Intelligence Agency owns everyone of any significance in the major media." ~ William Colby, Director, CIA 1973–1976 The purpose of the legal system is to protect the elites from the wrath of those they plunder.- Elliott Jackalope
So far, the Stupid Party seems to be falling for it. That's where you and so many others are mistaken. They aren't "falling for it". They are true believers in what the Dims are pushing. The only reason any of them ever ran as a Republican in the first place was because there either weren't any open slots to run as a Dim,or they knew they couldn't win running as a Dim. EVERY time the American public has a clear choice between a conservative candidate and a leftist candidate,they vote for the conservative. This is why the Dims and their RINO brothers are working so hard to ignore and nullify any conservative politician that runs for office. The fact that conservative elected officials like Walter Jones Jr were barred from appearing at the White House during the Boy Jorge administration is proof of this. They were trying their best to marginalize him by making him look ineffective.
Hi Sneaky. Welcome to Coventry. Good post by the way.
"I think the subject which will be of most importance politically is Mass Psychology...It's importance has been enormously increased by the growth of modern methods of propaganda...Although this science will be diligently studied, it will be rigidly confined to the governing class. The populace will not be allowed to know how its convictions were generated." Bertrand Russel, Eugenicist and Logician
Poooooooooooooooooor baby. Are we a widdle wurried over the Proles waking up to your betrayals of them? Collar getting a bit tight? Afraid that Tar and Feathers hasn't gone out of fashion?
"I think the subject which will be of most importance politically is Mass Psychology...It's importance has been enormously increased by the growth of modern methods of propaganda...Although this science will be diligently studied, it will be rigidly confined to the governing class. The populace will not be allowed to know how its convictions were generated." Bertrand Russel, Eugenicist and Logician
An example of this would be the Republicrat Party supporting a proven liberal like Arlen Spector over a proven conservative (by Republicrat standards) Pat Toomey. Another example is the Republican Party backing the Democrat candidate over Ron Paul.
"The Central Intelligence Agency owns everyone of any significance in the major media." ~ William Colby, Director, CIA 1973–1976 The purpose of the legal system is to protect the elites from the wrath of those they plunder.- Elliott Jackalope
Welcome to Coventry. Coventry? Good post by the way. Thanks.
In fact,a PERFECT example.
Coventry - refers to the realm to which exiles from society are sent.
"I think the subject which will be of most importance politically is Mass Psychology...It's importance has been enormously increased by the growth of modern methods of propaganda...Although this science will be diligently studied, it will be rigidly confined to the governing class. The populace will not be allowed to know how its convictions were generated." Bertrand Russel, Eugenicist and Logician
That does not preclude competition between the District's two major crime families to be the dominant faction. It's good to be the king.
Ok,thanks. The only Coventry I had ever heard of before is the one in England that the Germans bombed in WW-2.
That's what happens when you stab the President in the back. He's also a kook who endorsed Dr. Islam for President. And his voting record has become very un-conservative in recent years. The ACU gave him a rating of 58 in 2008.
Can't agree. They each represent different factions of the military-industrial complex. Toss in race hustlers and religious frauds that orbit the two crime families and you get a certain picture of how they operate. I think the GOP is laying low, waiting for the Dims to hang themselves. But many of the current Dim bills that the GOP opposes will never be repealed or modified at all if the GOP does gain power in 2010. To that extent, you can recognize that the GOP and the Dims are one big tent, one big-gooberment party, one big Ponzi scheme. But despite many similarities and policy agreements, they are still two fairly distinct crime families and they are rivals for power.
Yer' Welcome. Robert Heinlein wrote a nice short story by the same title - which is where I first learned of its other connotations.
"I think the subject which will be of most importance politically is Mass Psychology...It's importance has been enormously increased by the growth of modern methods of propaganda...Although this science will be diligently studied, it will be rigidly confined to the governing class. The populace will not be allowed to know how its convictions were generated." Bertrand Russel, Eugenicist and Logician
The two party Fraud is just "Good Cop vs. Bad Cop" and they are, both parties, ultimately controlled by the same small group of Plutocratic Megalomaniacs. Insisting upon believing in the two party fraud is as profitless as believing in the Easter Bunny.
"I think the subject which will be of most importance politically is Mass Psychology...It's importance has been enormously increased by the growth of modern methods of propaganda...Although this science will be diligently studied, it will be rigidly confined to the governing class. The populace will not be allowed to know how its convictions were generated." Bertrand Russel, Eugenicist and Logician
Well, it may be exile but there are naked broads riding around on horseback when taxes are too high. Most people think the Godiva legend is Continental, not central England.
It's good to be the king. Maybe, but I believe it's all part of the same type of sleight of hand routine that magician's use to keep their audiences baffled.
"The Central Intelligence Agency owns everyone of any significance in the major media." ~ William Colby, Director, CIA 1973–1976 The purpose of the legal system is to protect the elites from the wrath of those they plunder.- Elliott Jackalope
That's what happens when you stab the President in the back. He's also a kook who endorsed Dr. Islam for President. And his voting record has become very un-conservative in recent years. The ACU gave him a rating of 58 in 2008. Well looky what the cat drug in... happy fun ball, AKA a jillion other silly nicks.
Thanks for nuthin', Jr.
Ahh. I was wondering which Liberty Post member this Republicrat butt-licker was.
"The Central Intelligence Agency owns everyone of any significance in the major media." ~ William Colby, Director, CIA 1973–1976 The purpose of the legal system is to protect the elites from the wrath of those they plunder.- Elliott Jackalope
he's had a number of nicks here too. what's your current nick on LP, gar?
I do believe it's 'fifty yard line', having run 'padlock' into the ground.
Thanks for nuthin', Jr.
Who says I have one? That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Since you reinstated my thread posting ability, I will use it pretty to trash Hussein Obama. pretty much. I can't promise I won't resist the urge to make fun of the Paultards, though.
Fuck off. (Welcome to the forum.)
Join 2x4 Tuesdays & protect your RKBA. Since you reinstated my thread posting ability, I will use it pretty to trash Hussein Obama. Welcome (back?). I can't promise I won't resist the urge to make fun of the Paultards, though. ;-)
_________________________________________________________________________ The asshole posts there as fifty yard line now.
And this is supposed to upset us why? Just because the people of this site do not lick the balls of the Republicrat party as you do does not mean that we support the niggar-in-chief or the Democan Party. I can't promise I won't resist the urge to make fun of the Paultards, though. I can understand why a big government Republicrat such as yourself would be threatened by a man like Ron Paul. Every piece of small government legislation that Paul writes and the Republicrat Party ignores is an indictment against them and proof of their faux small government beliefs. Of course your continued embrace of George "big government" Bush says all that needs to be said about you, eh comrade?
"The Central Intelligence Agency owns everyone of any significance in the major media." ~ William Colby, Director, CIA 1973–1976 The purpose of the legal system is to protect the elites from the wrath of those they plunder.- Elliott Jackalope
I hope you've got the ability to do IP blocking before this jerk completely trashes this site like he's done to LP. Who's next? Marguerite? Joe Snuffy? Mad Dog?
He trashes Ron Paul because as Eric Dondero Ron Paul fired his worthless ass.
Jaysus. There are limits, ain't they?
Join 2x4 Tuesdays & protect your RKBA.
Comments (41 - 68) not displayed.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest“There is no point in meeting with my constituents and [to] listen to them and have them listen to you if what is basically an unruly mob prevents you from having an intelligent conversation.”
#2. To: Hayek Fan (#0)
congressmen fearful for their safety —
#3. To: Hayek Fan (#0)
#4. To: Hayek Fan (#0)
“I think in general what is going on is we are tackling issues that have been ignored for a long time, and I think that is disruptive to a lot of people,” said Bishop, a four-term congressman.
#5. To: phantom patriot (#2)
congressmen fearful for their safety —
#6. To: PaulCJ (#3)
Reading between the lines, those in power ignore the people and are fearful of the people that they are ignoring.
#7. To: PaulCJ (#3)
I would not be surprised if elections were suspended at some point.
"This man is Jesus,” shouted one man, spilling his Guinness as Barack Obama began his inaugural address. “When will he come to Kenya to save us?”
-Schweizerische Schuetzenzeitung (Swiss Shooting Federation) April, 1941
#8. To: Old Fud (#4)
and I think that is disruptive to a lot of people,” said Bishop, a four-term congressman.
#9. To: Hayek Fan (#0)
...that Republicans face a backlash of their own if it appears the party is too closely aligned with tea party activists or other conservative-oriented protesters.
#10. To: Hayek Fan (#0)
#11. To: Hayek Fan (#0)
“It’s a risk that they align themselves with such a small minority in the party,” said Brian Smoot, who served as political director at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in the past election cycle. “They risk alienating
moderates” useless cowards that stand for absolutely nothing.
#12. To: PSUSA (#11)
#13. To: TooConservative (#9)
This is what the Dims fear, that GOP congresscritters will find the courage to take small-government slash-and-burn positions and defeat them in 2010.
#14. To: TooConservative (#9)
This is what the Dims fear, that GOP congresscritters will find the courage to take small-government slash-and-burn positions and defeat them in 2010.
#15. To: sneakypete (#14)
#16. To: Hayek Fan (#0)
“I had felt they would be pointless,” Rep. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.) told POLITICO, referring to his recent decision to temporarily suspend the events in his Long Island district. “There is no point in meeting with my constituents and [to] listen to them and have them listen to you if what is basically an unruly mob prevents you from having an intelligent conversation.”
#17. To: sneakypete (#14)
EVERY time the American public has a clear choice between a conservative candidate and a leftist candidate,they vote for the conservative. This is why the Dims and their RINO brothers are working so hard to ignore and nullify any conservative politician that runs for office. The fact that conservative elected officials like Walter Jones Jr were barred from appearing at the White House during the Boy Jorge administration is proof of this. They were trying their best to marginalize him by making him look ineffective.
#18. To: Original_Intent (#15)
#19. To: Hayek Fan (#17)
An example of this would be the Republicrat Party supporting a proven liberal like Arlen Spector over a proven conservative (by Republicrat standards) Pat Toomey.
#20. To: sneakypete (#18)
#21. To: Hayek Fan (#13)
Because of that and the fact that both parties have been sharing power since the advent of the Republican Party in 1854, I am convinced that both parties have become a giant single political machine whose goal is to consolidate and maintain political power within Washington D.C. in order to facilitate the wishes of those who control this machine.
#22. To: Original_Intent (#20)
Coventry - refers to the realm to which exiles from society are sent.
#23. To: sneakypete (#14)
The fact that conservative elected officials like Walter Jones Jr were barred from appearing at the White House during the Boy Jorge administration is proof of this.
#24. To: sneakypete (#14)
That's where you and so many others are mistaken. They aren't "falling for it". They are true believers in what the Dims are pushing. The only reason any of them ever ran as a Republican in the first place was because there either weren't any open slots to run as a Dim,or they knew they couldn't win running as a Dim.
#25. To: sneakypete (#22)
#26. To: TooConservative, sneakypete (#24)
I think the GOP is laying low, waiting for the Dims to hang themselves. But many of the current Dim bills that the GOP opposes will never be repealed or modified at all if the GOP does gain power in 2010. To that extent, you can recognize that the GOP and the Dims are one big tent, one big-gooberment party, one big Ponzi scheme.
#27. To: Original_Intent (#20)
Coventry - refers to the realm to which exiles from society are sent.
Coventry is well-known for the legendary 11th century exploits of Lady Godiva who, according to legend, rode through the city naked on horseback in protest at high taxes being waged on the cityfolk by her husband Leofric, Earl of Mercia. According to the legend the residents of the city were commanded to look away as she rode, but one man didn't and was allegedly struck blind. He became known as Peeping Tom thus originating a new idiom, or metonym, in English. ... There is a Grade II* listed statue[17] of her in the city centre, which for 18 years had been underneath a much-maligned Cathedral Lanes shopping centre canopy, removed in October 2008.[18] There is also a bust of Peeping Tom looking out from a bridge that crosses one branch of the shopping precinct.
#28. To: TooConservative (#21)
That does not preclude competition between the District's two major crime families to be the dominant faction.
#29. To: longnose gar (#23)
The fact that conservative elected officials like Walter Jones Jr were barred from appearing at the White House during the Boy Jorge administration is proof of this.
#30. To: Old Fud, longnose gar (#29)
That's what happens when you stab the President in the back.
#31. To: Old Fud, longnose gar (#29)
#32. To: christine (#31)
what's your current nick on LP, gar?
#33. To: christine (#31)
what's your current nick on LP, gar?
#34. To: longnose gar (#33)
I can't promise I won't resist the urge to make fun of the Paultards, though.
www.righttokeepandbeararms.com
#35. To: longnose gar (#33)
"This man is Jesus,” shouted one man, spilling his Guinness as Barack Obama began his inaugural address. “When will he come to Kenya to save us?”
-Schweizerische Schuetzenzeitung (Swiss Shooting Federation) April, 1941
#36. To: christine, long nose gar (#31)
#37. To: longnose gar (#33)
Since you reinstated my thread posting ability, I will use it pretty to trash Hussein Obama.
#38. To: christine (#31)
he's had a number of nicks here too. what's your current nick on LP, gar?
#39. To: Hayek Fan (#37)
I can understand why a big government Republicrat such as yourself would be threatened by a man like Ron Paul.
#40. To: IDon'tThinkSo (#38)
Who's next? Marguerite? Joe Snuffy? Mad Dog?
www.righttokeepandbeararms.com
.
.
.