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August 01, 2009
"Town Halls Gone Wild" ~ Thank God People Are Speaking Up
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Congressman Tim Bishop has been a Rubber Stamp for Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank and the rest of the Washington elitists who want to tax and spend this nation to death. The Conservative Society for Action and other angry taxpayers had a little surprise for him at one of his "Town Hall" meetings on June 22, 2009.
Watching this video I sat here and cried. Yessss God Bless America!!!!!!! ~ Wild Thing
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Continuation of the above video.... .
Town halls gone wild
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 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.”
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Wild Thing's comment.........
They need more of this at every town hall meeting held across the country this August! Protest outside but be polite inside so you’ll get a chance to make your points.
"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,"
Yeah, Tim...it's really SUCH the bummer that you'd have to listen to the ramifications of your actions...those PESKY "little people" - why even bother??? This twit is voting for life-destroying legislation that he doesn't bother to read, and he treats the anger of his constituents as some sort of polite, tea-and-crumpets debate. Fire their butts...they’ve obviously forgotten who they work FOR!
Thomas Jefferson: "When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty."
Timmy Bishop just leasrned what it means to be an American, probably for the first time in his puny life.
The town halls are going wild because the people are tied of the lies and the absolute monstrosities that these Congressmen, particularly the DNC, are producing. It should be a message to them about what is coming in 2010.
“Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women; if it dies there, no constitution, no law, no court can save it.” — Judge Learned Hand, 1944
“In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.” ~Declaration of Independence. July 4, 1776.
Please check out if your Senator or Representative is holding a public forum or Townhall in your area. So far I have found this list of upcoming Townhalls.
Here is a list of upcoming Healthcare Townhalls.
Town Hall Events to Counter Protest. July, August, September 2009
More of them are added as they are planned.
So far, the following are hiding from voters in Massachusetts, NO TOWNHALL SCHEDULED:
-Ed Markey, Representative,Democrat, no public meeting
-John Kerry, Senator,Democrat, no public meeting
-Ted Kennedy, Senator, Democrat, no public meeting
- Diane Feinstein (CA-D) - NO
- Barbara Boxer (CA-D)- NO
- Nancy Pelosi (CA-D) - NO
For all those who don't have a Healthcare Townhall to attend because your Senator/Congressman are in hiding.
Please see the link below for date and time to report to their offices. Nationwide PUSH.
Operation Recess Rally
On August 22nd, 2009, during the break in session, we the people fully intend to hold mass rallies outside of every single congressional office in the country.
These events will represent a strong statement that we’ve been pushed to the edge and simply cannot be pushed any further. It is at this time that we will also hand deliver a coalition letter to every single congressional office in the country.
We can all be part of this:
As was the case with the Tax Day Tea Party, this MUST be a grassroots powered, collaborative effort. This means that people like YOU will have to take ownership at the local level.
We need local organizers to began organizing, we need activist to help activate, and we need all hands on deck to help spread the word.
The concept is simple, the operation brand is simple… now all we need to do is implement it.
Project/Operation Name: Recess Rally
Operation Date: August 22nd, 2009
Operation Location: Congressional District Offices
Information Contact: rally@americanlibertyalliance.com
Posted by Wild Thing at August 1, 2009 07:55 AM
Comments
I guess they forgot that we pay their salaries. They can't just listen to one side and not the other. They can't just go helter skelter willi-nilly all over the place. So what if we're a little less cordial than they expect. We're angry. They are messing up so bad and they need to know that. They are killing America! Can't they see that?
Our city is having a protest on August 22 (Saturday) at noon in front of our county's federal courthouse downtown Omaha. So anyone in and around Omaha who is fed up with this BS, come on down. We'd love to have you join us! It's mainly to protest the Healthcare bill.
Posted by: Lynn at August 1, 2009 08:36 AM
The constituents of pelosi, kennedy and the others who are not holding townhall meetings should stage media-friendly townhall meetings at the Senator/Reresentatives' home offices without the Senator/Reresentatives present and deliver to the a video of the meeting and/or get their local media to broadcast them for all to see.
My theory is all these wacko socialist programs is just a covert way of paying reparations since an openly "reparations for slavery" bill would be political suicide.
This is Obama/pelosi's "stick it to the man," plain and simple
Posted by: Billy Ray at August 1, 2009 10:19 AM
Billy Rae, I disagree to a point. Paying Reparations would be good for the economy. Each one would receive say a Million each, Can you imagine how many Cadilacs would be sold, Lincolns and so on. The sales would go through the roof. In the end it would be considerably cheaper and better for the economy that the porkulus bill that spent 787 Billion.
But I digress. This is what all Congressmen can expect. I know where mine hangs out and I plan to meet up with him one way or another. I will attend every town hall he has the nerve to attend and will make my disapproval known. This is what we got to do. We must beat the hell out of them so that they get the message.
Posted by: Mark at August 1, 2009 11:29 AM
Congressman Tim got an earful and was shocked. His Democrat congressional handbook's usual standard answers did not placate the crowd. Federal spending cuts would have to be Social Security cuts(BS), no firearms control would mean more crime(BS) and flat rate taxes would not be fair(BS). I also liked the crowds reaction when he stated that congressmen did not sell favors.
We may be heading toward another memorable period in American History like 1968. Only this time the revolution will be for a return to traditional America and a reversal of socialism. Or we may repeat the 1776 armed revolution and return to a Constitutional Republic.
Posted by: TomR at August 1, 2009 12:34 PM
There were no cut "shots" to this man's pants. Would it have been too embarrassing? Because it looked to me like he wanted to pee his britches on MORE than one occasion in these clips. Whoever sent them to WT, THANK YOU!!!
Did he answer folks' questions? No. But at least he got a taste of what he is going to be up against.
"Silent No More!!!"
Posted by: BT in SA at August 1, 2009 01:09 PM
Great Points, Tom, This guy thought he could BS his way out of this, but as you said he 'pat' answers didn't placate the crowd. His statement to POLITCO was the standard BS line of not being able to talk to an unruly mob, well that mob is ready to march on Washington, with Torches and Rope, he should show more respect for his Constitutents.
This is the whole problem they think WE THE PEOPLE are stupid and won't remember come November. WE won't forget this time.
Posted by: Mark at August 1, 2009 03:16 PM
If all those folks there organized and actively campaigned against him, his days in Congress would be through come next election.
Posted by: BobF at August 1, 2009 04:03 PM
Sorry, this is my third post but I just got to add, Bishop is a pompus arrogant Ass. He thinks he's doing these people a favor just by showing up. He closes his eyes during one voter's comment as if to say, 'How long can this go on', also he's saying he's not changing his mind.
His constitutents have this guy pegged, He is a Pelosi Puppet.
Posted by: Mark at August 1, 2009 06:20 PM
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 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.
Congressman Bishit, (typical New Yorker, from the city area not upstate), Typical NY congressperson if you don't agree they don't want to hear it. Hopefully good by Bishit 2010 along with all of the others.
Posted by: Bob A at August 1, 2009 06:56 PM
Lynn, I think your right, I really believe
they have forgotten. So many of them have
been career politicians and they just
think their paycheck comes from the
government. They forget the gov. got the
money from us first.
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 2, 2009 12:10 AM
Billy Ray, I think the ones that won't
do the Town hall thing, then like you
said the citizens are going to their
offices and make sure they are heard.
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 2, 2009 12:13 AM
Tom, I agree!!
"We may be heading toward another memorable period in American History like 1968. Only this time the revolution will be for a return to traditional America and a reversal of socialism. Or we may repeat the 1776 armed revolution and return to a Constitutional Republic."
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 2, 2009 12:15 AM
BT in SA, well said, your right. He
never answered them.
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 2, 2009 12:16 AM
Mark, DITTO
"This is the whole problem they think WE THE PEOPLE are stupid and won't remember come November. WE won't forget this time."
Oh and never be concerned with how many
comments, it is wonderful to get the input.
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 2, 2009 12:20 AM
Bob A., perfect name for him!!!
Congressman"Bishit"
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 2, 2009 12:22 AM
