Though I think most of the people whining and bitching at the healthcare townhalls across the country are misinformed and, well, f’ing stupid, I still support their right to dissent. For those of us that were against the failed experiment in Iraq, we should have been this vocal. But I see, our Washington delegation is chickening out as usual and not holding any public meetings.
Sen. Tim Johnson and Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin would be most likely to bear the brunt of any angry opposition to the health reform plans driven by their party leaders in Congress. But they won’t be holding any town halls on the subject.
I think the best way would be to get all 3 of them on a stage together so they can hear it from both sides, I know I have a few things I would love to ask all 3 of them. No surprise though, especially from Johnson (Mr. dodge debates). I remember last 4th of July when he was running he was in the SF parade and a certain poster here (wink-wink) approached him before the parade started and very politely asked him NOT to support FISA. Him and his wife acted surprised that a constituent would encoste him before the parade. They act like they are freaking untouchable. We elected you, it is time you listen to us, even the batshit crazy ones among us.
Did you see what’s going on out in Rapid City with Herseth “dis-inviting” the public from a forum that was open to the public?
L3wis:
“For those of us that were against the failed experiment in Iraq, we should have been this vocal.”
I agree, because it would have been 10x more respectful than these “vocal” supporters who somehow didn’t make national headlines:
“News outlets that are focusing on the incendiary rhetoric of conservatives outside President Obama’s town hall meeting Tuesday ignored the incendiary rhetoric — and even violence — of liberals outside an appearance by former President George W. Bush in 2002.
When Bush visited Portland, Ore., for a fundraiser, protesters stalked his motorcade, assailed his limousine and stoned a car containing his advisers. Chanting “Bush is a terrorist!”, the demonstrators bullied passers-by, including gay softball players and a wheelchair-bound grandfather with multiple sclerosis.
One protester even brandished a sign that seemed to advocate Bush’s assassination. The man held a large photo of Bush that had been doctored to show a gun barrel pressed against his temple.
“BUSH: WANTED, DEAD OR ALIVE,” read the placard, which had an X over the word “ALIVE.”
Another poster showed Bush’s face with the words: “F— YOU, MOTHERF—ER!”
A third sign urged motorists to “HONK IF YOU HATE BUSH.” A fourth declared: “CHRISTIAN FASCISM,” with a swastika in place of the letter S in each word.
Although reporters from numerous national news organizations were traveling with Bush and witnessed the protest, none reported that protesters were shrieking at Republican donors epithets like “Slut!” “Whore!” and “Fascists!”
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/12/analysis-press-largely-ignored-incendiary-rhetoric-bush-protest/
PP- Thune is just as guilty. I think all three of them should appear together. It would be the fairest and easiest way. The way I look at it Johnson supports a public option and Thune does not, so their votes X each other out. Herseth is the key here, but she is being wishy washy as usual.
You are correct L3wis, they should all three appear and if it turns into a debate between John vs. Tim/Steph all the better.
Best part about that is you’d get some of both sides supporters in the audience and all three would have to show they can handle the heat. If they can’t than NONE of them should be in DC.
That would be the best Town Hall scenario and one that would warrant serious National media coverage.
I would love to hear Thune and Johnson debate the issue.
Townhalls would be meaningless in this atmosphere – we already KNOW all the
talkingSHOUTING points:IT’S SOCIALISM!
YOU WANNA KILL GRAMMA!
YOU WANNA INSURE ILLEGAL ALIENS!
YOU WANT TO TAKE GIVE FREE ABORTIONS TO ACORN WORKERS (…hey, wait a minute, maybe that one’s not such a bad idea, hmmm….) NEVERMIND!
DEATH PANEL!
THE DEFICIT!
HE’S A KENYAN!
I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK!
OBAMA WANTS TO TAKE AWAY OUR BINGO CARDS!
GLEN BECK SAYS I NEED TO SHOUT AT YOU!
…so what’s the point?
…besides, they’re starting to bring GUNS to these things!
Oh, by the way – my prediction for Health-Care Reform is: it’ll pass by the end of the year – including the public option.
Over the next few years it will be extremely popular with everyone.
The clips of idiots like Grassley touting lies like “killing gramma” will be used against them in 2010 and 2012 and well beyond – insuring a Democratic majority in both houses well into the 2050’s.
And you know what else about Chuck Grassley and his fellow Republican hypocrites?
check out this verbiage:
“The covered services are: evaluating the beneficiary’s need for pain and symptom management, including the individual’s need for hospice care; counseling the beneficiary with respect to end-of-life issues and care options, and advising the beneficiary regarding advanced care planning.”
That’s not the language Grassley and his assholes are blaming Obama about THIS time…
THAT’S from the Medicare bill of 2003 (known as the big Pharma give-away) and Grassley voted FOR it.
So did 42 other Republicans. (as well as 11 Demoncrats by the way…)
(Oh, and both of OUR senators, Daschle and Johnson, voted against it. Because of the hundreds of billions that went to Big Pharma.)
Here’s a link to the vote:
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00459#name
I’m for free speech, but it doesn’t do any good , in fact it can’t even be called speech, with the dissenters all yelling and shouting at one time, nobody can be heard.
Red – we truly are a country made up of 50% idiots.