Question Of The Day: The Town-Hall Battleground

Pineview1997 August 4, 2009 9:17 AM

Is it too much to ask that each side hopes to be the smartest, best-informed voice in the crowd and not, say, the loudest? The soft bigotry of low expectations? And Chris, "who will win?" Are you kidding? No one has been winning with this astroturfed outrage.

OGLiberal August 4, 2009 11:36 AM

If these folks continue to carry around over the top posters (devil horns???) and just yell and scream, at some point they'll be exposed for what they are - a bunch of angry, mostly white, rabble rousers with no ideas or arguments of their own. In a country where most people agree that healthcare reform is needed (although what form that takes will differ among folks), "Just say no" is not a valid option. I love and encouage a lively town hall debate but these folks don't want to engage in debate - they want to end it by acting like a bunch of loudmouthed thugs.

I agree with Pineview - shouldn't folks on both sides strive to be the smartest and most convincing voice in the crowd? Even if you truly believe that "Just Say No" is the right way to go, you should have to present an argument as to why you feel that doing nothing is the best option. That's how debating works. But, again, these folks don't want to debate...they want to stifle discussion and frighten politicians with angry chants and silly signs.

OGLiberal August 4, 2009 11:37 AM

If these folks continue to carry around over the top posters (devil horns???) and just yell and scream, at some point they'll be exposed for what they are - a bunch of angry, mostly white, rabble rousers with no ideas or arguments of their own. In a country where most people agree that healthcare reform is needed (although what form that takes will differ among folks), "Just say no" is not a valid option. I love and encouage a lively town hall debate but these folks don't want to engage in debate - they want to end it by acting like a bunch of loudmouthed thugs.

I agree with Pineview - shouldn't folks on both sides strive to be the smartest and most convincing voice in the crowd? Even if you truly believe that "Just Say No" is the right way to go, you should have to present an argument as to why you feel that doing nothing is the best option. That's how debating works. But, again, these folks don't want to debate...they want to stifle discussion and frighten politicians with angry chants and silly signs.

slag August 4, 2009 11:44 AM

Let's get ready to ruuuuuuummmmmbbblllle!!!

I'm so glad that here we are in the 21st century, and this is how our most important issues are decided. If I ever start to question evolution, I do one of two things: visit the chimpanzees at the zoo or observe our Republican Party in action. Although, I think the Republicans have the chimpanzees beat in the poo-flinging contest.

And Chris, "who will win?" Are you kidding?

Of course he's not kidding. Just be prepared to duck and cover whenever you see the Chris Good byline.

Rhoda August 4, 2009 12:09 PM

The Adminstration can do a lot to counter the astroturf movement that the teabaggers have set up as can the Congressional Democrats: they can get on local tv, do a lot of interviews, do a lot of newspaper stuff and sell the hell out of this while having people yelling in the streets.

The best course to take is the Rove-Bush playbook on dealing with the protesters against Iraq: sell your message and let the other guy do his.

tacitus August 4, 2009 12:55 PM

Lobbyists already spend hundreds of millions of dollars to buy direct, unfettered access to lawmakers. But now it seems that is no longer enough as they are attempt to shut down any meaningful access the ordinary public has to the men and women *they* (not the lobbyists) elected to represent them in Washington via rent-a-mob.

Won will win if they succeed? Nobody. Everyone loses.

Abhinav August 4, 2009 1:33 PM

Does it matter "Who drowns out who"?

Is that really what passes for political discourse on one of the biggest legislative issues facing the country?