O.K. I'm stumped. What's a real town hall supposed to be like?

[Mike Daniels]

Because from what I saw it seemed to be a town hall meeting as far as I understand it. Granted there was a moderator but the questions seemed to come from general citizens. They sure weren't written or spoken like they came from campaign/debate staff.

[Bicoastal]

1. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE IN A REAL HALL IN A REAL TOWN!!

Nashville ain't a town, it's a cotton-pickin' city!

And that weren't a hall, it was a dadblaggit auditorium!

And THAT'S why I lost!

Now get the hell off my lawn, whippersnappers!!

[CoffeeCat]

2. McCain is a grumpy old man who complains....

...about everything--where ever he goes!

At the bank...
"ATM machines! All of these damn buttons!"

At the movie theater...
"Damn air conditioner. It's freezing in here and I only have two cardigans on!"

At the mall...
"Damn hooligans working at Chick-Fil-A....think they own the damn world!"

At the restaurant...
"What do you mean, Applebee's doesn't have gravy? What good are ya anyway?"

[sakura]

11. "And what's with all these buttons on the telephone?

In my day, we turned the crank and asked the operator for Murrayhill seven- oh- five!"

[CoffeeCat]

13. You funny!

That made me laugh!

:rofl:

[BeyondGeography]

3. Only John McCain knows

He is, after all, the master of the format.

[Kat45]

4. I think at a real town hall people are called on and ask a question

Anyone can ask one. Unlike this event where the people submitted the questions ahead of time and Tom Brokaw vetted them and decided who to call on. He also asked his own questions. It was way too formatted and planned. (Of course if it was a bush town hall, only the 'right' people would be let in, but that's not a genuine town hall either.)

[Occam Bandage]

6. Which doesn't happen for obvious reasons on live national television.

If an unvetted questioner stands up and says "Fuck this war" or "Fuck your terrorist buddies," then every network that broadcast this debate is on the hook for FCC fines and penalties.

Plus, if they happen to call on two or three people that just give party-tested attack "questions," then people start to grumble conspiracy and say the thing was rigged, and the moderators have egg on their face.

[Occam Bandage]

5. 1. McCain should be the only candidate present.

2. There should be no moderator present to restrain McCain from speaking at length about whatever he feels like.

3. The only voters present should be hand-selected McCain supporters.

[Richard Steele]

7. 4: All recordings of the event must be edited by McCain staff before public release. nm

[chupacabranation]

8. Yeah, I didn't see any torches or pitchforks, either.

Town halls just ain't what they used to be.

[TheDonkey]

9. McTroll sitting in a reclining chair getting canned questions from paid staffers in an audience of

supporters. Now THAT is a real deal joe 6pack townhall.

[DefenseLawyer]

10. Otis should be in the cell.

I believe the mayor's office is upstairs.

[Overseas]

12. Free form discussion, not pre-screened and chopped up oddly.

I agree that the questions came from the audience members but the proceedings felt very stilted.

And the times McLiar walked across the stage while Obama was answering were curious too.

Obama tried to stay in place and listen respectfully while McLiar was dissembling.