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PORTSMOUTH – If you want to see the President talk about health-care reform at Portsmouth High School today but weren't one of the 1,800 people selected by the White House: good luck.
And, if you had plans to drive through the city tomorrow: think again.
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Police said only ticketed guests will be allowed onto Andrew Jarvis Drive, the road leading into the school. Sidewalks along Lafayette Drive will be the best spot to see the President's motorcade ride into town, according to Portsmouth police Sgt. Mark Newport.
They included Democrats, Republicans and Independents. Most said they had never given money to the Obama campaign.
Originally posted by Woland
You realise this isn't a Fox mesageboard? ATS aspires to be a bit better than just a mudslinging site, so it's a shame when we get threads started like this.
If the President of the United States holds a town hall meeting, how many people are going to attempt to attend?
What do you do? Run a first come, first served scheme? Then what do you do with the thousands still stood outside?
What will he do with the thousands that *will* stand outside, far away, unheard?
It is by invitation only. Obama is a coward, else he would open it to first come, first served, or a lottery.
You realize that ATS is not an MSNBC sounding board, don't you?
What will he do with the thousands that *will* stand outside, far away, unheard?
Watch on television, listen to a radio? This is crowd managment and I suspect that it is a legal requirement at any pre-planned event to have a capcity and regulate it. To not do this would be negligent particularly given the rather impassioned town hall meetings, recently.
What do you do? Run a first come, first served scheme? Then what do you do with the thousands still stood outside?
People applied for this on the White House website.
To suggest that way this is being done is any different to every other large scale political event is foolish. It's stage managed to do two things:
1, Make sure the politician can get his point across, as that will make the politician look good. 2, Make sure that agitation by political rivals doesn't turn this in to slanging match. As that will make the politician look bad.
This isn't great, but it's they way it happens. It does at least allow for the politician to get his point across. To single Obama out as being cowardly for doing this is little more than flinging mud.
You realize that ATS is not an MSNBC sounding board, don't you?
I attacked your statement of calling Obama a coward for doing something that every other politician does. From your comment, I'll take it you think MSNBC has superior and more rational debate.
You realise this isn't a Fox mesageboard?
No, MSNBC is a screaming shill for Obama. My comment was in response to your backhanded opening insult that you used to try to deflect the discussion and to color me in a certain light:
You can "apply" all you want. The fact is, many tickets were doled out by local congressional offices. The rest of the "applicants" were screened.
God forbid that the politicians be made to look bad!
and doesn't answer the question as to why he needed to hand pick his audience.
Originally posted by jsobecky
reply to post by MissysWorld
Yes, I watched it also, and the audience was so obviously stacked that is was a disgusting scene to watch.
Not one very tough question was asked. Only 9 questions asked, one was 'given' to an adolescent girl.
And his obvious attempt to ridicule and switch the spotlight to Sarah Palin was so obvious, by frequently referring to 'death panels'
We certainly got to the bottom of the health care debate with this dog and pony show, eh?
[edit on 11-8-2009 by jsobecky]
The sad part is that he and those on the hill see nothing wrong with this. Truly an elitist attitude.
Originally posted by jsobecky
reply to post by MissysWorld
One person asked Obama about the great health care given to members of Congress, as compared to what the ordinary people will be offered.
Obama danced around the question, saying that we will be given 'choices' for our insurance.
But we will not be able to choose the Congressional plan.
And he totally sidestepped the fact that Congress will be exempted from having to participate in the plans we are fed. Apparently, they are too 'special' to feed from the same trough.:shk:
This civic republican or deliberative democratic conception of the good provides both procedural and substantive insights for developing a just alloca- tion of health care resources. Procedurally, it suggests the need for public forums to deliberate about which health services should be considered basic and should be socially guaranteed. Substantively, it suggests services that promote the continuation of the polity-those that ensure healthy future genera- tions, ensure development of practical reasoning skills, and ensure full and active participation by citizens in public deliberations-are to be socially guaranteed as basic. Conversely, services provided to individuals who are irreversibly prevented from being or becoming participating citizens are not basic and should not be guaranteed. An obvious example is not guaranteeing health services to patients with dementia. A less obvious example Is is guaranteeing neuropsychological services to ensure children with learning disabilities can read and learn to reason.
Originally posted by jsobecky
reply to post by MissysWorld
One person asked Obama about the great health care given to members of Congress, as compared to what the ordinary people will be offered.
Obama danced around the question, saying that we will be given 'choices' for our insurance.
But we will not be able to choose the Congressional plan.
And he totally sidestepped the fact that Congress will be exempted from having to participate in the plans we are fed. Apparently, they are too 'special' to feed from the same trough.:shk:
Originally posted by jsobecky
reply to post by MissysWorld
Yes, I watched it also, and the audience was so obviously stacked that is was a disgusting scene to watch.
Not one very tough question was asked. Only 9 questions asked, one was 'given' to an adolescent girl.
And his obvious attempt to ridicule and switch the spotlight to Sarah Palin was so obvious, by frequently referring to 'death panels'
We certainly got to the bottom of the health care debate with this dog and pony show, eh?
[edit on 11-8-2009 by jsobecky]
Not one very tough question was asked. Only 9 questions asked, one was 'given' to an adolescent girl.
Julia read the following question off a piece of paper: "As I was walking in I saw a lot of signs outside saying mean things about reforming healthcare. How do kids know what is true and why do people want a new system that can help more of us".
This randomly asked question gave Obama the perfect opportunity to dismiss talk about "death panels that will pull the plug on Grandma" and to blame Republicans for everything. Over on the town hall comments thread at AR15.com a user by the name of AtomicPunk09 discovered someone on facebook who might possibly be Julia's mother and had a photo of her with Obama:
I could go on and on and check out every one of her Facebook frends but I think the point is clear - the cute question about "mean signs" was read from a pre-written note by the daughter of a Democrat political insider who is know to and has been photographed with President Obama.
Combine that with the first question being from a Democrat State Representative, then a couple of easy Medicare "give me more handouts" questions, then a few more pro-Obamacare questions, and by then end even Obama is begging for a question from someone opposed to his plan.