WH resolves pretense of public access to Town Hall Meetings

[Rose Siding]

Froomkin wrote yesterday...

And, after mounting criticism that the White House has been shattering presidential precedents, wrapping Bush in a bubble and possibly even violating free-speech rights by keeping dissenters out of Bush's so-called public events, the Bush team is trying something new today.

For today's event, the White House has eliminated any pretense that the events are open to the public, instead making it clear that the events are invitation-only.

That's certainly one way to address the issue.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/politics/administration/whbriefing/

[madmom]

1. but who's paying for them? n/t

[MADem]

7. WE ARE, and that is the ISSUE

RNC should have to pay for chimpy's outings, and they probably do, giving him (and him alone) the equivalent of the cost of a business class ticket to the venue. In the meantime, everytime that clown moves, it costs us a couple of hundred grand, and the longer time he spends on the ground, the more the costs escalate, and we have to pay for it.

It's horseshit. They should be paying for the cost of fuel, the wear and tear on AF1 and associated hardcars, support vehicles, etc., and the overtime for the agents who have to work longer shifts in support of his absurd bits of theater.

Your tax dollars at work!!!!

[benddem]

2. this group gets stupider every day

we're paying for those meetings. They make me ill.

[rodeodance]

3. umm..wonder how this solves this issue--invite only those who do not

oppose your position? or ask prefabricated questions friendly to Bush.
Sick-but they will prob. get away with it.

[driver8]

4. We all know what would happen if a democrat tried this...

I can hear the whining already.

[Dr Fate]

20. So why dont we do what they would do?

THEY would have their top, house-hold named Republicans on TV everynight sayin "What is Kerry hiding"

"Why does Kerry only allow the elite at his rallies"

"Kerry is scared to let ALL Americans attend his meetings."

So what will WE say?

"This is troubling, we will be writing some strongly worded letters about this, let me assure you..."

Or perhpas nothing at all.

[LibertyorDeath]

5. They just make you want to Vomit. They are such chicken shits

Proof positive they are scared of the public.

[Dr Fate]

10. DEMs should say that on TV: "Bush is scared of the American public"

"His unwillingness to speak to EVERYONE on this issue is cowardly, anti-1st amendment and Un-American."

Of course, they will likely just "write letters" and "issue releases" and pretend that is enough.

If they do go on TV shows and speak out- it will be in "nuanced" languages that will provoke no one.

Then when Dr Fate complains that they gave Bush a free pass on this, everyone will say:

"But didn't you read those press releases on the DNC website- didn't you read that letter they wrote to some republican controlled commitee?-it was on DU... didn't you watch CSPAN at 2:00Am last night?- STOP saying we are not fighting..."

[ourbluenation]

12. Great post Dr Fate.....Paging Dr. Dean

Paging Dr. Dean...are you listening????? The dems need to call out chimpster on his fear of letting americans talk to him. DO IT! This is a ridiculous and illegal way to spend my goddam money!

[Dr Fate]

14. "Bush is acting like a coward. He should let EVERYONE have access..."

"...what is he afraid of? I thought ALL taxpayers paid his salary?"

What is shameful is that our DEM leaders are just as scared of being this blunt as Bush is of facing Democrats at his rallies.

Now is the part where other DUers come in and accuse me of "DEM bashing."

[mikehiggins]

21. It isn't Dem bashing

to point out how feeble and impotent the supposed "leaders" of this party have been and continue to be. One can only extend the blanket of the Kissinger argument to them for so long (ol' Henry once theorised that the reason the Nazis came to power was because the existing "establishment" could not recognise what was happening under their noses)

How long can the Dems claim that they are just stupid, and not part of the whole Beltway mess? Reid stands up and says he's going to lead the fight to protect the only weapon the Dems have at their disposal (the filibuster) and he's praised as a second coming of Winston Churchill and FDR combined.

Hell, he's just looking out for himself, ultimately, and his other compatriots on the Democratic side of the Senate. If Frist gets his way the Democrats in Washington might just as well go on vacation until 2006, and probably beyond. How does simple self-preservation morph into great leadership.

Actually, the case can be made because of the lack of leadership shown by his peers since the Watergate ripoff of the taxpayers money began.

At least he's standing up, which is good to see. Now lets see if any of them inside the Beltway have the cojones to take it to the mats.

I have my doubts.

[LibertyorDeath]

16. Exactly they should hammer it 24\7 until Rove says uncle.

[Dr Fate]

18. But since it's our idea, it's now offically "Too Radical..."

"...to much like somthing Micheal Moore would do"

...it will somehow "Confuse and alienate swing voters."

Etc, etc.

As I said, Bush will get a free pass on this as always.

[Dr Fate]

6. I'd love for our Top DEMS to make an issue of this onTV.

I dont want them to issue "realeses" or "write letters"- I want Hilary, Kerry & Dean front and center, on TV saying in non-nuanced, plain language, somthing like this:

"Bush is opposed to the 1st amendment rights of Americans- He is using propaganda tehqniques similar to those used in communist Russia. Hiding from the American people is cowardly. Bush needs to stop lying about access to his rallies and come clean about the fact that only certain people are "allowed" to see him in today's America..."

[Vickers]

9. "Hiding from the American people is cowardly."

Bingo.

This is the kind of thing I say to folks when I learn they are RWers. "Hey man, why is George such a scaredy-cat?"

[Dr Fate]

11. But that is not "nuanced" enough- so never expect a DEM to say it.

The only DEMs who will ever say that are at DU and perhaps the one you might meet in the grocery line- you know, regular, normal people.

The best we will get is "This is troubling- Bush should rethink this"

[Vickers]

13. Yeah, I know what you mean. I am one of those LOUD Dems you hear about

:P

My favorite exchange with a RWer goes something like this:

"So, which branch of the service did you serve in?"

"Oh, I was never in the military."

"WHAT THE FUCK, ARE YOU SOME GODLESS TERRORIST PUKE?!?!?!"

I have never had a good answer to that question.

EVER.

:spank:

While I try to instill good manners in my children, I can be quite uncharitable myself.

[Dr Fate]

15. I thought DEMS were reading some fancy-pants Berkeley book...

...by some professor there, about how to talk to normal people...

Yet you and I already know how to do it and gladly give that advice for free.

DEMS are out of touch- we dont need some book by a Berkeley Professor- we need regular old "Grocery line" talk-and my prediction is that Bush will have another free pass on this.

[ourbluenation]

17. I couldn't agree more...re grocery store line chat

I challenge everyone of us to get out of this board more often and go join some inane, benign, board out there somewhere. Go where ya think the mod repubs and indy's are. I am a regular on the Bachelor board at ABC....THE BACHELOR BOARD!!!! It is painful sometimes, but the discussion actually turns to politics quite often and people are listening. Sticking around here all the time is preaching to the choir.

[Dr Fate]

19. RIGHT- and we dont need a Berkeley Proffessor to teach us that.

We just need plain, old-fashoined talk- like the kind you have around the water cooler or in line at the Bank on pay-check day:

"That Bush must be scared of regular people- he only allows hard-core Republicans at his rallies- everyone else is turned away- sounds cowardly & un-American to me. He lied about the rallies-making it seem like anyone could come- but that was just not true. I thought he was supposed to lead ALL of us..."

It would really provoke the repugs and get people talking about this.

[AzDar]

8. There is something ELSE going on here.. I just can't quite put my

finger on it. During the 2004 election/coup, Bush only campaigned to 'friendly' audiences. How, I wondered,in the bloody hell do you win an election by preaching to the choir? After the results were in, it dawned on me: you can't win an election that way....and you don't
HAVE to worry about reaching new converts if you're going to STEAL it anyway! The way CaliguBush is using the same tactics on S.S....Is the fix already in?

[Robbien]

22. They are probably stuffing bags full of money to hand out

to congresscritters. Our congresscritters are suckers for bags of cash.