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03 Sep 2011 12:30

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Biz, Politics: Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz planning political town hall next week

This is the CEO’s follow-up to his call for more corporate responsibility, and it’s sponsored by No Labels. All we know is that there had better be free coffee. source

25 Feb 2011 13:16

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Politics: Protip: Don’t ask “Who’s gonna shoot Obama?” at town hall meetings

  • average Georgia Rep. Paul Broun, a Republican, had a town hall meeting on Tuesday night in Athens. People from across the region came by. Broun asked the person who had to travel furthest the first question.
  • awkward Unfortunately, that person asked this ever-popular question: “Who’s gonna shoot Obama?” People laughed, presumably in shock. Broun avoided an exact answer and his folks later talked to the Secret Service. Smart. source

23 Nov 2010 09:24

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U.S.: Woman who dissed Obama’s economic record now unemployed

  • I don’t take lightly the fact that I know friends who’ve been looking for jobs for two years. Could it take me two years to find a job? Wow, that’s a scary proposition for me and my family.
  • Unemployed worker Velma Hart • On losing her job. Hart’s situation is painfully ironic, as she gained notoriety a few months ago after Hart, an Obama supporter, grilled the president a few months ago for his record on the economy. In that town hall, Hart said this: “I’m one of your middle-class Americans. And, quite frankly, I’m exhausted. I’m exhausted of defending you, defending your administration, defending the mantle of change that I voted for, and deeply disappointed with where we are right now. I have been told that I voted for a man who said he was going to change things in a meaningful way for the middle class. I’m one of those people. And I’m waiting, sir. I’m waiting.” And now she’ll be waiting while unemployed, sadly. source

20 Sep 2010 20:41

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Politics: Tough crowd: Obama’s toughest town hall question today

  • Wow. That stings. At Obama’s town hall today, the president took a couple of questions like this one, which seems really pointed for a town hall. That said, Obama’s answer to the question was effective and not one bit pandering. Still though, you have to wonder if he’s going to be able to bounce back from a sluggish recovery in one piece. source

07 Jun 2010 10:25

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Politics: Democrats realize that town halls not best way to reach constituents

A year ago, this dude yelled at Arlen Specter. Now he’s out of the Senate race, and Democrats aren’t holding town hall meetings anymore. Coincidence? We think not. source

24 Aug 2009 23:33

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Politics, U.S.: Poll: Do you guys care about town hall protests anymore?

  • The video
  • The video
  • About the video This is a great example of a town hall protest: This Marine vet, David William Hedrick, attacks Congressman Brian Baird. During the speech, he compares Nancy Pelosi to a Nazi wearing an S.S. armband. The guy’s very proud of his statement, and says so in the video’s description. We feel like we saw a video like this, with similar arguments, weeks ago.
  • The video
  • About the video This is a great example of a town hall protest: This Marine vet, David William Hedrick, attacks Congressman Brian Baird. During the speech, he compares Nancy Pelosi to a Nazi wearing an S.S. armband. The guy’s very proud of his statement, and says so in the video’s description. We feel like we saw a video like this, with similar arguments, weeks ago.
  • Why the poll? The video got us to thinking. We can’t be alone in thinking that maybe this card has been a bit overplayed. It seems like, instead of pushing forth the Democratic process, so many people are doing this that it’s reached a saturation point. Whether it’s organic or astroturfing, it’s been getting play for weeks. Are we wrong? Are we right? Let us know. Vote.

24 Aug 2009 10:36

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Politics: The founder of Frommer’s Travel Guides attacks Arizona gun crazies

  • I will cancel any plans to vacation or otherwise visit in Arizona until I learn more. And I will begin thinking about whether tourists should safeguard themselves by avoiding stays in Arizona.
  • Frommer’s Travel Guides namesake Arthur Frommer • Discussing his displeasure with town hall protesters who carried loaded guns to events in Arizona. There’s no reason they can’t. It’s legal. And that’s Frommer’s problem. He feels that it sets a bad standard for travelers in the state for reasons beyond political. “I not only believe such practices are a threat to the future of our democracy, but I am firmly convinced that they would also endanger my own personal safety there.” • source
 

19 Aug 2009 10:20

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U.S.: Polls: Town hall protesters aren’t changing anyone’s minds

  • 62% of people aren’t being swayed by town hall critics source

14 Aug 2009 23:17

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U.S.: Obama calls out Big Insurance, holds his own at a town hall

  • Now, I want to just be honest with you, and I think Max will testify. In some cases what we’ve seen is also funding in opposition by some other insurance companies to any kind of reform proposals.
  • President Barack Obama • Referring to Montana Democratic Sen. Max Baucus, as well as the insurance companies, at an event on health care in Montana today. That’s right, Obama just said that some of the insurance companies (who he didn’t name) are spending money to try to kill the plan. Dangerous ground he’s treading, but he’s been treading a lot of it lately. • source

12 Aug 2009 21:19

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Politics: Crazy town hall moment of the day: Rosa Parks + ripped poster

  • The video
  • The recap A black woman is sitting at a town hall hosted by Claire McCaskill yesterday. A reporter, whose interest has been piqued, checks out her Rosa Parks poster. Some guy sees the poster, steals it from the woman, and rips it up. Guess who gets booed and taken outside? Obvious question: How is this not racism? At some point, you have to watch these videos and shake your head. This is democracy? This isn’t people just being jerks? source