Open Thread: Obama live “town hall”
posted at 12:10 pm on March 26, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
I’m listening to Barack Obama’s “virtual town hall” while doing other work, and if it’s possible, this is even more dull than Tuesday’s press conference. The questions chosen by Obama’s handlers all serve to feed his favorite tropes, and thirty-four minutes into it, I have yet to hear a challenging question. The White House set up a voting system to allow the most popular questions to rise to the top. I’m not sure if they’re following the actual voting system, but right now it feels a lot like a campaign stop with Hillary Clinton-like embedded questions.
Michael Kraskin at Political Machine notes the top questions getting asked probably won’t get an airing:
- Marijuana – 2,141 questions
- Birth Certificate – 480 questions
- Socialist – 487 questions
So far, I have to admit — the press does a much better job of pressing Obama for actual answers than the sycophants contributing to this forum. I’m also willing to admit that the bar was set pretty low today.
Feel free to add your own thoughts. It’s up to you to keep me awake.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: 1 2 Next »
I can’t listen since I am at work. I would get fired if I fell asleep on the job.
carbon_footprint on March 26, 2009 at 12:19 PM
There is so much material here for good SNL skits. When will they start the process of bringing Obama back to earth.
RedSoxNation on March 26, 2009 at 12:19 PM
This is bull. Ogabe gets past his ‘prompter by answering canned questions, all of which just happen to delve into subjects near and dear to his heart. The answers are so canned they smell like cream of mushroom soup.
Why is the POTUS spending so much time campaigning instead of working to get things done.
Bishop on March 26, 2009 at 12:19 PM
Town Hall Meeting: Boring . . .
(i thought the trip through the campaign trail was over.)
geckomon on March 26, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Well, he scheduled this “Town Hall” as a salve for his bruised ego from the presser, so we shouldn’t expect much in the way of critical questioning.
Just a lot of people asking what government will give them.
PBoilermaker on March 26, 2009 at 12:20 PM
What if the question thing is a trap to identify future enemies of the state?
bloggless on March 26, 2009 at 12:20 PM
I submitted a question on Tort Reform, but got in a little late, got 100% positive votes, but that means I probably only got 1 or 2…
So don’t expect him to talk about Tort Reform. Doing a search for that, there were several questions related to it, but since none of the categories were “Layers suck”, they were all over the board.
Pot heads are amazed by the pixels on the screen.
kirkill on March 26, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Pretty sad. I would like to ask him some questions though.
saiga on March 26, 2009 at 12:20 PM
It is dull because Obama is a one-trick pony…
coldwarrior on March 26, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Ed, Jimmy Carter verified the voting system. Everything is fine and legit!
WashJeff on March 26, 2009 at 12:20 PM
oops, Lawyers Suck…I have no problems with layers.
kirkill on March 26, 2009 at 12:21 PM
I’d rather be a fly on the wall when George Soros is giving Dear Leader His marching orders.
rbj on March 26, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Thats’ at least 480 overlapping questions: Hey you dope smoking socialist, where is your birth certficiate?
myrenovations on March 26, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Someone test his geopolitical skills: “Mr. President, if Russia attacked Turkey from the rear, would Greece help?”
I bet he’d get that puppy dog head tilt thing going until his handlers sent a mild charge through his collar.
Patrick S on March 26, 2009 at 12:21 PM
how about a real town hall meeting without the planted audience?
geckomon on March 26, 2009 at 12:22 PM
to be fair, I actually think this is a good idea, and if Bush would have tried to explain things a little better and more often, we might not have had so many lies spread about him.
kirkill on March 26, 2009 at 12:22 PM
Hilarious. Are they asking if he will legalize it, cover it under socialized medicine, or for recommendations on which is best?
Vashta.Nerada on March 26, 2009 at 12:22 PM
Dear Mr Obama why are you so Awesome?
signed.
C. Mathews.
P.S. My leg is feeling all tingly right now.
Dreadnought223 on March 26, 2009 at 12:23 PM
Is Obama just doing this to collect email addresses?
faraway on March 26, 2009 at 12:23 PM
+1 Made my day!
kirkill on March 26, 2009 at 12:23 PM
How about this one:
What do you think of the tea parties that are happening?
bloggless on March 26, 2009 at 12:23 PM
I’m at work too…
if sitting in class listening to liberal college students talk about US foreign policy is considered work.
anywho
Ed, I love the screenshot you have for this post
blatantblue on March 26, 2009 at 12:23 PM
The government ran out of money and there is nothing left for him to do since he doesn’t know how to work the printing presses.
myrenovations on March 26, 2009 at 12:24 PM
My guess is “How much is a good price to pay for a lid of Maui Wowie?”
teke184 on March 26, 2009 at 12:24 PM
The Americorps stuff is creepy….really creepy.
Bishop on March 26, 2009 at 12:26 PM
He would get a warm tingle running down his leg from yesterday’s beer, then he would say that the squeaky wheel gets the Greece.
Steve Z on March 26, 2009 at 12:26 PM
Let’s see, rigged questions, prepared answers. Nothing of substance addressed. Kinda like watching paint dry. Where have I seen this before? Well, there was the Press Conference Tuesday night. Besides that. What’s was that guy’s name? Jimmy something…
kingsjester on March 26, 2009 at 12:26 PM
We will all be Ameri-Corpses cause of this!
blatantblue on March 26, 2009 at 12:27 PM
The marijuana question got asked:
Trent1289 on March 26, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Does the President actually do anything for the country? Or does he just campaign every day?
eforhan on March 26, 2009 at 12:27 PM
OT for Open Thread: Anyone see South Park last night? Instant classic!
Ugly on March 26, 2009 at 12:28 PM
He could do something for our country by just shutting up and doing nothing. Every time he tries to do something, he actively makes things worse.
teke184 on March 26, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Wake up Ed, you’re SNORING, and I can’t hear TOTUS!!
Knucklehead on March 26, 2009 at 12:29 PM
No. He was told he’s the Campaigner In Chief.
Patrick S on March 26, 2009 at 12:29 PM
He loves the sound of his own voice. Anything that keeps him out of the Oval Office is fine with me. I wish he would go campaign in Germany again.
I especially liked how he talked about “curriculums” while trying to address the sore state of education. LOL. What a moron.
progressoverpeace on March 26, 2009 at 12:29 PM
So how long before he starts doing daily 3 hour television shows to inform the public ala Chavez?
Why is he doing this while the US Treasury is STILL NOT FULLY STAFFED?!
Skywise on March 26, 2009 at 12:29 PM
My Question for Obama; Why is the federal government involved in K-12 education at any level?
Dasher on March 26, 2009 at 12:30 PM
He also asks Congress to spend your money, your kids’ money and their kid’s money.
Trent1289 on March 26, 2009 at 12:30 PM
Me! Me! Me! I got a question, Mr. President! You spent $787 billion to create 2.5 million jobs, an average of $314,800 per job. Will you hire me for that salary?
Steve Z on March 26, 2009 at 12:30 PM
Sorry, i killed enough brain cells when i was younger, not gonna kill anymore by listening to this crap.
MDWNJ on March 26, 2009 at 12:30 PM
Loved it. Especially the bit about how the Treasury determines how much who gets.
Oh great, now Dear Leader wants to control our heating/AC/lighting. Stay the frak out of my house, TOTUS!
rbj on March 26, 2009 at 12:31 PM
He distracts.
misslizzi on March 26, 2009 at 12:31 PM
whatever you do, don’t look at the screen too long!!!!!! It might be a trap!!!!!!!!!!!
bloggless on March 26, 2009 at 12:31 PM
Dear Obama,
When you palled around with Bill Ayers, did you get the idea for your kid summer camps from him or was it Rahm the Jew’s odd version of the Nazi Youth program?
Mommypundit on March 26, 2009 at 12:32 PM
He loves the sound of his own voice. Anything that keeps him out of the Oval Office is fine with me. I wish he would go campaign in Germany again.
Fair enough, but he’s dropped the ball into the laps of his brain-dead administration which means when things go bad, Ogabe will blame them and he escapes. Same plans, he just won’t get the serious hits after they fail.
Bishop on March 26, 2009 at 12:32 PM
Barry, you go first.
bloggless on March 26, 2009 at 12:32 PM
Please, someone offer O and M a three picture deal and get them to Hollywood where they belong. They all hate America in Hollywood and want all of us non lefties dead.
nondhimmie on March 26, 2009 at 12:32 PM
At this point, we should encourage him to spend 100% of his time campaigning.
18-1 on March 26, 2009 at 12:34 PM
The fundamentals of the economy must be really sound, cause it seems he’s got a lot of time lately to do “cool” things.
Real cooooooool…. 8-)
blatantblue on March 26, 2009 at 12:34 PM
My Question on Smart Grids: “Smart grids is a misnomer. There are smart meters, but they have nothing to do with the grid. Out current grid was built by private enterprise. Companies seeing a need, and building to that need, and future forecasts. It has worked well, except for interference from state and federal government, and environmental regulations and of course environmental wackos. Why not cut the red tape, and let Americans do what we do best?”
Dasher on March 26, 2009 at 12:34 PM
Herr Obama, can you outline for us the ways in which your administration’s policies differ from the constructions of the Third Reich?
whitetop on March 26, 2009 at 12:35 PM
What a pity the only drug-related question was one crafted by a moron.
LimeyGeek on March 26, 2009 at 12:35 PM
I think our greatest weapon is sardonic dismissal. Seriously. We have to give it our best go…to dismiss him as a mistake again and again while taking issue with policy. It is a darned good tactic and we really need to keep it up. Thankfully, this isn’t difficult given how pathetic he is. If he weren’t so blasted dangerous…
Mommypundit on March 26, 2009 at 12:36 PM
Barry, if a fetus is born alive when does it turn into a baby?
bloggless on March 26, 2009 at 12:36 PM
he is talking to the voices in his head again
Mojack420 on March 26, 2009 at 12:36 PM
We’re screwed either way. Anyone who doesn’t already know that The Precedent is a total joke will never know.
I still want to send him campaigning in Germany :)
progressoverpeace on March 26, 2009 at 12:36 PM
Because telling people what to do, when to do it and how to do it and making them pay extra to do as they are told, is what makes governing fun.
myrenovations on March 26, 2009 at 12:36 PM
I have wondered the same thing, although I use Castro as a model….
That requires actual work. I’m thinking he really doesn’t like to do real work….. present.
tru2tx on March 26, 2009 at 12:37 PM
Only if you warm it up in the microwave first.
sdd on March 26, 2009 at 12:37 PM
I could not agree more.
misslizzi on March 26, 2009 at 12:38 PM
New job. Everyone goes into a new job with that righty-o grab the bull by the horns attitude. A couple of more months of this and Barry will be bunkered in like Carter. Sorta the Punxsutawney Phil of the Beltway.
Limerick on March 26, 2009 at 12:38 PM
It probably says that most of his audience are a bunch of jobless dope smoking slackers who have nothing better to do during the middle of the day other than sit around and be bullshitted to by a crooked politician.
Dreadnought223 on March 26, 2009 at 12:39 PM
“Mr. TOTUS, what are you going to do to allow women on welfare to get bigger boobs so they can compete more fairly in finding someone making minimum wage to romance them?”
kirkill on March 26, 2009 at 12:39 PM
An aside: in high school, at about 630 pm after play practice (yeah, I was in plays) I was held up at gunpoint with two other much larger guys. After the incident, the guys I was with were so pissed they didn’t just take that pipsqueak guy down, given their own size. Point is, the criminal was tiny…and shaky…but he had a loaded gun which made him completely dangerous. We could have died that night because of some small fry with a big weapon. I get the same feeling with Obama…
…we can derisively laugh and reject him, yet, he has a lot of power. Which makes him the single most dangerous man in the world.
Mommypundit on March 26, 2009 at 12:40 PM
TOTUS-Why do you want infanticide to be legal? Why should my tax dollars go to abortion services overseas?
Babino on March 26, 2009 at 12:40 PM
Are you posting from Gitmo? Sounds like torture to me.
TheUnrepentantGeek on March 26, 2009 at 12:41 PM
Ed, WAKE UP!!!!
hillbillyjim on March 26, 2009 at 12:41 PM
He covered that at the inaguration: It’s not about bigger boobs or smaller boobs, it’s about whether the boobs are working for the people.
myrenovations on March 26, 2009 at 12:41 PM
LMAO
Ann on March 26, 2009 at 12:41 PM
I’d rather listen to Rush. He at least makes sense.
milwife88 on March 26, 2009 at 12:42 PM
Why is this surprising? He didn’t have a record to get him elected to the job in the first place…it was cult worship. He was a good actor, reading some lines on a clear screen in front of welfare recipients, college liberals and eco activists. He had no record and spent his entire tenure as a senator running for office. Of COURSE he is campaigning for the next four years. Pathetic, yes, but we are the butt of the joke.
But, really…he simply cannot be elected another term. Or, if he is, we have to have, like, three democrats in the house and senate COMBINED. Fear the second term.
Mommypundit on March 26, 2009 at 12:44 PM
And he can speak extemporaneously.
misslizzi on March 26, 2009 at 12:44 PM
Is it just me, or does anyone else notice that Mr. Obama’s answer to ANY question is, “Well, we must invest in Healthcare, Education and Energy independence…blah,blah, blah, blah…..”
Hell, I could ask him when he’s going to take his next dump and the answer would be the same…”After we’ve invested in Healthcare, Education and Energy independence.”
pullingmyhairout on March 26, 2009 at 12:45 PM
Hey, Bishop…are you my friend from college? hahaha. kidding.
Mommypundit on March 26, 2009 at 12:45 PM
two things OT
1. I found The Great One Mark levin’s new book at Costco yesterday. I think it would really damage their liberal thought processes if this book got bought out on their shelves too!
2. So Sean Penn is going to do the new Three Stooges movie, eh? I guess as much as I love the Three Stooges, this is one more movie I WILL NOT SEE!!!
Oh! Obamarama PBO is still boring us on-line? Just how many canned answers can he “ad lib off the cuff” especially since he needs TOTUS so much!
Vntnrse on March 26, 2009 at 12:46 PM
For crying out load, will someone please tell the empty-suit-in-chief the election is over and it’s time to do some actual f-ing work!
He’s already campaigning for 2012 instead of doing the urgent and needed work of this nation, just like when he was a senator, all campaigning and NO ACTUAL WORK OTHER THAN VOTING “PRESENT!”
Liberty or Death on March 26, 2009 at 12:46 PM
He’s on education now talking about bad teachers and accountability measures. Yo, unions are the problem there. I have had two kids through public school and there are more than a few bad ones, he’s right on that. Getting rid of them is a union problem not let’s spend more taxpayer dollars problem.
msmveritas on March 26, 2009 at 12:46 PM
Nobama thinks we are too stupid to turn off our lights. This is coming from someone who thought a breathalyzer was an asthma inhaler.
jaboba on March 26, 2009 at 12:46 PM
I manage websites so I’m online almost all day. I tried watching Obooba (sorry, blatantblue) and I was wavering between sheer anger and drowsiness. Not a good feeling.
AubieJon on March 26, 2009 at 12:47 PM
I find it interesting that Obama’s “townhall” is at the same time as Geithner’s “gimme more power” plea.
teffertoes on March 26, 2009 at 12:47 PM
I’ve always found it interesting to consider what others’ view of what constitutes ‘power’ really is.
If, like me, you consider power to be ‘motive force’, or the ability to get work done, then you should really consider what enables that to be the case for politicians. The only power that he/they have is that which we give them…and most of that is in our heads. We mindlessly accept proclamations of law without consideration of their constitutionality. We are derelict in our duty as Americans.
We have empowered government to effectively act as a fascistic quasi-monarchy with our apathy.
That power can just as quickly evaporate if we get our heads straight.
LimeyGeek on March 26, 2009 at 12:47 PM
ha!
It’s the new mantra. We have to shuffle along…say it with me…”healthcare, education, energy” Actually, this just means, “Genocide, Indoctrination, 9th Century-3rd world” in Obamaspeak.
Mommypundit on March 26, 2009 at 12:47 PM
One has to think there’s a method behind this madness…he’s so untrustworthy, this entire administration in fact (with approval ratings dropping), that Axel has him out every chance selling their awful product of social engineering and gov growth.
They’re so cocky and arrogant about their front man, O, they feel any public appearance/speeches/townhalls are a plus for them…and a kick of dirt in the face of his opponents/critics…
RepubChica on March 26, 2009 at 12:48 PM
I agree…and am interested…what do you suggest? How can we turn it back?
Mommypundit on March 26, 2009 at 12:49 PM
I’m still waiting on someone to ask for a house or some gas money. Plus a burger flipper going on his 8th year of Junior College wanting to know if Chicago Jesus can get him a pay raise.
Dire Straits on March 26, 2009 at 12:50 PM
Do you have any recollection of the town halls held by Bush? You gotta wonder if these guys re-read these posts or if its some sort of crazy stream-of consciousness. Unbelievable.
crr6 on March 26, 2009 at 12:51 PM
Whatever it takes to move them out. I say we offer to put his profile on the penny if he walks away tomorrow. I can live with that. The penny is just as worthless as he is.
sherry on March 26, 2009 at 12:51 PM
We could kill this Smart Grid stuff if were Frank Lutz’ed it and started calling it the You’re Too Stupid Grid.
You’re too stupid to turn off your lights. You’re too stupid to control the air conditioning.
myrenovations on March 26, 2009 at 12:53 PM
That’s a fairly obvious media strategy being employed to focus peoples attention on particular issues. He did the same thing during the campaign with his promise to give tax cuts to 95% of Americans.
Dreadnought223 on March 26, 2009 at 12:53 PM
Throw in Air Force One, Marine One, full salary, benefits and staff for life. Anything. Just get him the hell out of there.
califcon on March 26, 2009 at 12:54 PM
Agree. No proclamation or propaganda would work if so many of us didn’t buy into it…. Even if we fear it, we buy into it.
Your “sardonic dismissal” proposal is a good start.
misslizzi on March 26, 2009 at 12:54 PM
I wonder if someone will ask him who John Galt is?
Dreadnought223 on March 26, 2009 at 12:55 PM
See, I’m against that because I don’t believe kids should be having sex.
todler on March 26, 2009 at 12:57 PM
Ugly on March 26, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Indeed! I was really expecting to see this as a topic this morning, since I think that episode actually ‘explained’ what is going on today far better than any talking head…
and I’m not a South Park fan. But I’m getting there. Just leave the towel and turd alone. ;)
dish on March 26, 2009 at 12:57 PM
The questions picked were written by Obama staffers based on Obama campaign speeches he had given so many times that he had memorized the response and did not need a telepromter.
albill on March 26, 2009 at 12:57 PM
This ‘town hall’ thing is an invitation to trouble. It’s only a matter of time before they have to shut it down.
jeanie on March 26, 2009 at 12:58 PM
I agree.
So the proper way for a “good” “reporter” (quotes intentional) would be to ask this follow up:
“While I can see your desire to shift the focus off, say, why you are a flaming red communist by repeating the mantra, I will ask again, when can we get answers about your illegal campaign funds and get a look at that birth cert. Thanks! Bill.” heh.
silly this afternoon. Kids are sleeping on a rainy day and I am drinking a lunch beer. You heard me.
Mommypundit on March 26, 2009 at 12:58 PM
Depends on which side Greece would help…. :)
I always remember the statement a Turkish man made to me once: “When the Greeks come to play football in Turkey, we throw flowers at them. When we go there, they throw chairs…”
I doubt the One knows anything about THAT part of history though.
mjk on March 26, 2009 at 12:58 PM
Well, although ideally it would be great if we could accomplish such change via the ballot box, there is too much inertia at the moment for me to believe that any good could come in a timely manner to make a difference to the impending disaster of Obama’s suicidal vision.
I’ve always asked “at what point do you drop the hammer?” with respect to escalating our political actions…I think the hammer should be dropped now, before the multi-trillion dollar lame nag has left the barn.
Turn off the financial spigot. Everybody that is responsible for literally sending checks to the IRS – business owners & the self-employed – must close their checkbooks.
This action should be prefaced with a clear declaration (perhaps a month in advance) of our intentions – under the constitutionally protected banner of “redress of grievance”.
I suspect we’ll get to see the true nature of our gubmint….and receive an object lesson in the true rationale behind the 2nd Amendment.
LimeyGeek on March 26, 2009 at 12:59 PM
That was required fire fodder in college. He wouldn’t know…
Mommypundit on March 26, 2009 at 1:00 PM
Comment pages: 1 2 Next »