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Author Topic: 'Town Halls' a Chance for the President, Not the Public, to Vent  (Read 2221 times)

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Offline Chris_

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'Town Halls' a Chance for the President, Not the Public, to Vent
« on: August 14, 2009, 07:00:48 AM »
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'Town Halls' a Chance for the President, Not the Public, to Vent



Much has been made of the chance for true, interactive democracy offered by the freewheeling town hall format that lawmakers are using in health care forums across the country.

But what the White House is calling a "town hall meeting" does not quite follow in the tradition of the public-driven forums that sprouted centuries ago in New England.

It's more like a press conference for the public.

In an orderly fashion, selected members of the audience pose brief questions, and the president elaborates.

And elaborates. And elaborates.

A look at President Obama's health care "town hall" Tuesday in Portsmouth, N.H., shows the president out-spoke his audience by a ratio of nearly 9-to-1.


Uncle Eg0 doesn't care at all what the "little people" think.  Anyone surprised by this?

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Offline DumbAss Tanker

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Re: 'Town Halls' a Chance for the President, Not the Public, to Vent
« Reply #1 on: August 14, 2009, 08:10:25 AM »
Not surprised at all.  Really, what is the point of going to one with the President?  As far as your own District Rep in the House goes, you could possibly get a point across or at least they'd understand their support was iffy at best in 2010; Senators, perhaps.  But the President?  The process is out of his hands at this point, the Congressional Sausage Works has the ball entirely in their court and the President's role in impacting the legislation is very limited - plus everyone knows damn' well they have zero chance of getting a point across to him that would change his viewpoint, he is stuck with where he is on it both situationally and in his own right, so why even waste the time to go and try to talk to him?  For the President, these so-called town halls are purely press opportunities; for the public, the only point in going is just to see the President, which is great if you're a fan.  They have jack to do with changing any outcomes.
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Offline NHSparky

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Re: 'Town Halls' a Chance for the President, Not the Public, to Vent
« Reply #2 on: August 14, 2009, 08:11:44 AM »
This wasn't a town hall meeting.  It was an infomercial.
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Offline TheSarge

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Re: 'Town Halls' a Chance for the President, Not the Public, to Vent
« Reply #3 on: August 14, 2009, 08:12:51 AM »
I'd give anything for one of the people picked to ask a question to stand up and ask the POTUS if he'd like some cheese with his whine.  :-)
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Offline Chris_

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Re: 'Town Halls' a Chance for the President, Not the Public, to Vent
« Reply #4 on: August 14, 2009, 08:15:09 AM »
Quote from: TxRadioguy on August 14, 2009, 08:12:51 AM
I'd give anything for one of the people picked to ask a question to stand up and ask the POTUS if he'd like some cheese with his whine.  :-)
....but later that night, that person would get a visit from a guy from Detroit named "Vinnie".   :o
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Offline TheSarge

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Re: 'Town Halls' a Chance for the President, Not the Public, to Vent
« Reply #5 on: August 14, 2009, 08:16:05 AM »
Quote from: lug-nut on August 14, 2009, 08:15:09 AM
....but later that night, that person would get a visit from a guy from Detroit named "Vinnie".   :o

Then "Vinnie" had better bring more than a silenced .22


Just sayin...
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Liberalism Is The Philosophy Of The Stupid

The libs/dems of today are the Quislings of former years.  The cowards who would vote a fraud into office in exchange for handouts from the devil.

If it walks like a donkey and brays like a donkey and smells like a donkey - it's Cold Warrior.  - PoliCon



Palin has run a state, a town and a commercial fishing operation. Obama ain't run nothin' but his mouth. - Mark Steyn

Offline NHSparky

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Re: 'Town Halls' a Chance for the President, Not the Public, to Vent
« Reply #6 on: August 14, 2009, 08:17:49 AM »
Quote from: lug-nut on August 14, 2009, 08:15:09 AM
....but later that night, that person would get a visit from a guy from Detroit named "Vinnie".   :o

But this ain't Detroit.  I have a .45, a shovel, and a whole shitload of land behind my house.
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Offline Chris_

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Re: 'Town Halls' a Chance for the President, Not the Public, to Vent
« Reply #7 on: August 14, 2009, 08:17:54 AM »
Quote from: TxRadioguy on August 14, 2009, 08:16:05 AM
Then "Vinnie" had better bring more than a silenced .22


Just sayin...
"Vinnie" shows up at my place, at the very least he will leave with a limp.   :uhsure: :innocent:
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