Our Senator tries to answer some questions.

[madamesilverspurs]

There must be something in me that requires regular exposure to ugly behavior. Why else would I go to a public event where I know there will be adults acting like toddlers who missed their nap? Maybe because I thought, hoped, wanted to believe that just this once we might have civil adult conversation. Well, color me disappointed.

Our Senator, Michael Bennet, was holding a very brief meet-and-greet that turned very quickly into the kind of encounter that he and his staff had tried very hard to avoid. Knowing the time was limited he dispensed with any prepared remarks and started taking questions. He did say that he knew most of the questions would be about health care reform and that he would make sure to listen to both sides equally -- as if they were going to him get away with that. First questioner spent several minutes dissing various government programs in order to lay the groundwork for her question, which also took several minutes to ask because it incorporated just about every rightwing talking point out there. And she interrupted the Senator repeatedly when he tried to answer, and his responses were met with groans and muttering loud enough to drown him out. That tactic (overly long time spent to 'ask a question') was repeated by others, much to the disgust of half of the attendees and the entirety of the Senator's staff who were trying to keep him to his tight schedule.

He was finally able to more or less complete that first response, then asked for a question from someone in favor of reform. A young man stood up and posited that the Constitution does not provide authority for the government to legislate anything to do with health care (which, of course, drew wild cheers and applause from the other side of the aisle); Bennet responded that there wasn't time to get into a Constitutional debate (of course he was booed for that). A couple of pro-reform comments and questions did get squeezed in, even though they were interrupted or drowned out. And, true to form, when the event ended the GOPers were standing around complaining that they weren't being listened to; that seems to be a favorite mantra of theirs, entirely in keeping with their insistence that allowing all voices to be heard is somehow harmful and insulting to them. Criminy.

Anyhow, on the way to the parking lot we were approached by the young man who'd raised the Constitutional issue. Long story short, he was suggesting that we need to go back to the document as it existed before the Bill of Rights "was tacked on to placate special interests". I allowed as how that would work fine for him, since white males pretty much owned all the rights back then, but it wouldn't work for me or for anyone of color. He insisted it was the only way to make a "clean" start. When I told him that I had no interest in throwing away 250 years of progress and improvement just so he could have his way regarding health care he resorted to the "danger of socialism" meme. "Truth to tell," I said, "I'd rather be a live socialist than a dead capitalist." He stood there with his mouth open as I told him to keep learning, then I turned away and caught up with my friends.

And, for the record, Michael Bennet says he favors the public option.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

1. Intelligent and informative post -

they're still at it, monopolizing, speechifying (under the guise of "asking a question"), and prattling on and on like the antedeluvian idiots that they are.

A young man, presumably without a clue, thinks we should ditch the Bill of Rights.

Proof that our educational system has failed miserably.

Well done, and your parting line was a thing of beauty, madame.

K&R...........................

[EmeraldCityGrl]

2. Bravo Madame!

[madrchsod]

3. my house critter did phone in " townhall meetings "

foster of the illinois 14th decided to use the phone because of the right wing crazies in this district. the vote was close and next year the votes will be even closer.

yes, these people act like children and should be treated as such.

[Hawkeye-X]

4. Senator Useless

Is on schedule to be primaried out and replaced with Romanoff

[Hawkeye-X]

5. Sorry about the post - posted it from my BB..

Now I'll tell you why I think He's Senator Useless:

He's from the East. Knows NOTHING about what the state needs.

He was Ritter's pick and his pick alone - the Colorado Democratic Party had Andrew Romanoff in mind, and I back the Colorado Democratic Party 100% on their choice.

He'll be primaried out very easily - he has no creds. Andrew Romanoff has plenty of creds and state legislature history in his background. And with Andrew Romanoff on the ballot, GOP chickenhawks will just throw in a sacrificial lamb since they have no-one. Pete Coors has already lost all creds, and the others are just about as useless. Schieffer is a has-been.

Ritter also will be primaried out - because he failed to stand for labor, and sold out on all business interest, and that pissed off the Colorado Democratic Party. He'll either 1) survive on his primary challenge or 2) or lose to a Rethuglican moron who'll be a temporary placeholder until he's forced to resign ala Palin.

[madamesilverspurs]

6. No problem,

I wasn't sure I was going to attend. But then I figured that, regardless of my sentiments about how he got the job, he IS presently one of our senators and it's in my best interest to know where he stands.