Comments on: The Steny Hoyer Townhall: Reporting from the Outside http://www.sundriesshack.com/2009/09/01/the-steny-hoyer-townhall-reporting-from-the-outside/ Delivering the Best of the New Media Since 2004. Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:08:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Chuck Divine http://www.sundriesshack.com/2009/09/01/the-steny-hoyer-townhall-reporting-from-the-outside/comment-page-1/#comment-686496 Chuck Divine Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:22:30 +0000 http://www.sundriesshack.com/?p=10192#comment-686496 Jimmie, I will say that I am on some Democratic Party e-mail lists as well as some groups that are allied with the Democratic Party. I was told by at least some of those sources to get there by 4:30. If I were organizing a bus group to get there, I would aim for early as well -- whether the group was in favor or against the Obama proposals. Why? The cautious engineer in me likes substantial margins in case of unexpected problems. The cautious engineer in me left home around 3:30 -- just in case I ran into traffic. I didn't, but I could have. People running buses probably did similar things. Jimmie,

I will say that I am on some Democratic Party e-mail lists as well as some groups that are allied with the Democratic Party. I was told by at least some of those sources to get there by 4:30. If I were organizing a bus group to get there, I would aim for early as well — whether the group was in favor or against the Obama proposals. Why? The cautious engineer in me likes substantial margins in case of unexpected problems. The cautious engineer in me left home around 3:30 — just in case I ran into traffic. I didn't, but I could have. People running buses probably did similar things.

]]> By: Jimmie http://www.sundriesshack.com/2009/09/01/the-steny-hoyer-townhall-reporting-from-the-outside/comment-page-1/#comment-686489 Jimmie Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:13:23 +0000 http://www.sundriesshack.com/?p=10192#comment-686489 Oh, I know about the traffic. I live about 15 minutes from the high school so the drive wasn't terrible, but I realize that it's better to bus folks in who have to come a long distance. However, there were indications that some who were bussed in were allowed to stand on line before other people who drove in. I think that's part of what accounted for the visible pro-Obamacare majority at the head of the line. As for the nuance, I can't really blame you. The President himself has couched the issue as reform vs no reform and the press hasn't spent much time correcting him. The Republicans, who have made other proposals aren't exactly helping themselves when they don't pus their alternatives harder and more visible. Right now, the big decision is Obamacare or no. I'm afraid, though, that most people will see that as the only choice and opt for Obamacare because they don't see another way to get reasonable-coverage. If that happens, then we've been served poorly. Oh, I know about the traffic. I live about 15 minutes from the high school so the drive wasn't terrible, but I realize that it's better to bus folks in who have to come a long distance. However, there were indications that some who were bussed in were allowed to stand on line before other people who drove in. I think that's part of what accounted for the visible pro-Obamacare majority at the head of the line.

As for the nuance, I can't really blame you. The President himself has couched the issue as reform vs no reform and the press hasn't spent much time correcting him. The Republicans, who have made other proposals aren't exactly helping themselves when they don't pus their alternatives harder and more visible.

Right now, the big decision is Obamacare or no. I'm afraid, though, that most people will see that as the only choice and opt for Obamacare because they don't see another way to get reasonable-coverage. If that happens, then we've been served poorly.

]]> By: Chuck Divine http://www.sundriesshack.com/2009/09/01/the-steny-hoyer-townhall-reporting-from-the-outside/comment-page-1/#comment-686488 Chuck Divine Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:13:29 +0000 http://www.sundriesshack.com/?p=10192#comment-686488 Jimmie, Thanks. I have also posted a comment on my website. You make an interesting point about opponents of the bills before Congress not opposing all reform but opposing the reforms currently proposed by Democrats (and a few Republicans) in Congress and the White House. Chalk my report as making an error in this regard. I will say that the dynamics of the evening -- at least until I left -- seemed inclined to lack that nuance. I will make a comment about people being bussed in. I do live in Congressman Hoyer's district -- the northern part. I drove myself to the meeting in my Camaro. It took me about 45 to 50 minutes each way -- and I wasn't exactly dawdling. I can see some groups offering bus rides to their members just to make it easier for them to come. I have gotten on buses locally -- and for things far removed from political events -- just because it was easier. DC area traffic is awful. Jimmie,

Thanks. I have also posted a comment on my website.

You make an interesting point about opponents of the bills before Congress not opposing all reform but opposing the reforms currently proposed by Democrats (and a few Republicans) in Congress and the White House. Chalk my report as making an error in this regard. I will say that the dynamics of the evening — at least until I left — seemed inclined to lack that nuance.

I will make a comment about people being bussed in. I do live in Congressman Hoyer's district — the northern part. I drove myself to the meeting in my Camaro. It took me about 45 to 50 minutes each way — and I wasn't exactly dawdling. I can see some groups offering bus rides to their members just to make it easier for them to come. I have gotten on buses locally — and for things far removed from political events — just because it was easier. DC area traffic is awful.

]]> By: Jimmie http://www.sundriesshack.com/2009/09/01/the-steny-hoyer-townhall-reporting-from-the-outside/comment-page-1/#comment-686472 Jimmie Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:22:33 +0000 http://www.sundriesshack.com/?p=10192#comment-686472 I read your post, Chuck, and I think it's a good one. I did notice one thing you did that is a pet peeve of mine in this debate. People who oppose the President's health care plan are not against health care reform. Indeed, most of them believe the system needs reform. They simply do not agree that giving control of the system to the Federal government is the right reform. I read your post, Chuck, and I think it's a good one. I did notice one thing you did that is a pet peeve of mine in this debate. People who oppose the President's health care plan are not against health care reform. Indeed, most of them believe the system needs reform. They simply do not agree that giving control of the system to the Federal government is the right reform.

]]> By: Teddy's SEARCH+ http://www.sundriesshack.com/2009/09/01/the-steny-hoyer-townhall-reporting-from-the-outside/comment-page-1/#comment-686471 Teddy's SEARCH+ Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:21:42 +0000 http://www.sundriesshack.com/?p=10192#comment-686471 KennedyCare!! What could go wrong? KennedyCare!!

What could go wrong?

]]> By: Chuck Divine http://www.sundriesshack.com/2009/09/01/the-steny-hoyer-townhall-reporting-from-the-outside/comment-page-1/#comment-686469 Chuck Divine Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:21:19 +0000 http://www.sundriesshack.com/?p=10192#comment-686469 All, I did get inside. I also took 74 photographs. I found this website via Instapundit. Yes, I have told him as well. You can find my account on my blog at <a href="http://independentbroadmindedcentrist.blogspot.com/2009/09/steny-hoyers-town-hall-on-health-care.html" rel="nofollow">Steny Hoyer's Town Hall on Health Care</a>. If you are looking for red meat -- on either side -- you won't find it on my posting. I was trying to report accurately what I saw. All,

I did get inside. I also took 74 photographs. I found this website via Instapundit. Yes, I have told him as well. You can find my account on my blog at Steny Hoyer's Town Hall on Health Care.

If you are looking for red meat — on either side — you won't find it on my posting. I was trying to report accurately what I saw.

]]> By: Bob Belvedere http://www.sundriesshack.com/2009/09/01/the-steny-hoyer-townhall-reporting-from-the-outside/comment-page-1/#comment-686466 Bob Belvedere Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:45:05 +0000 http://www.sundriesshack.com/?p=10192#comment-686466 After seeing video of and reading reports from so many of these type of gatherings, it was a relief see a report that gives you a flavor of what's going on around the core event. Bravo, Jimmie. Quoted from and linked to at: <a href="http://www.thecampofthesaints.com/2009.08.30_arch.html#1251914572544" rel="nofollow">http://www.thecampofthesaints.com/2009.08.30_arch...</a> After seeing video of and reading reports from so many of these type of gatherings, it was a relief see a report that gives you a flavor of what's going on around the core event. Bravo, Jimmie.

Quoted from and linked to at:
http://www.thecampofthesaints.com/2009.08.30_arch…

]]> By: Video: Steny Hoyer booed at Health Care Town Hall - 9/1/09 | Mofo Politics | Hoping Obama Fails http://www.sundriesshack.com/2009/09/01/the-steny-hoyer-townhall-reporting-from-the-outside/comment-page-1/#comment-686457 Video: Steny Hoyer booed at Health Care Town Hall - 9/1/09 | Mofo Politics | Hoping Obama Fails Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:02:15 +0000 http://www.sundriesshack.com/?p=10192#comment-686457 [...] Via Sun Dried Shack… [...] [...] Via Sun Dried Shack… [...]

]]>