Yeah, “right.”

Anyone paying attention knows the LAST thing the former State House Majority Leader is, is a “moderate.”

And Paulsen’s inaction on holding Town Halls clearly indicate he’s anything but out of Ramstad’s mold. Here’s what Jim Ramstad said in an interview, before he left office:

“I have had regular town meetings all 18 years I have been in office.” (LawAndPolitics.com)

Which is true. Twice a year, Ramstad would hold a series of Town Halls in different cities at different times and usually on different days so everyone – EVERYONE – got a chance to see and hear and maybe even get to ask their Congressman a question.

So, when Paulsen didn’t hold any Town Halls last spring, there was muttering. When Paulsen didn’t schedule any before starting the August Recess, there was more.

Then along came MudSlingerMike, Deputy Chair of the Minnesota GOP, making it worse for Paulsen. Brodkorb ripped Democrat Colin Peterson for not holding a Town Hall – even though, at that time, neither Michele Bachmann nor John Kline nor Erik Paulsen had scheduled any. It was hypocrisy epitomized – so, let’s watch it again!!!

“If you don’t want to be asked questions, if you don’t want to interact with the public, if you don’t want the opportunity to get a tough question, don’t run for office.” – MudSlingerMike, 29 July 2009

After MudSlingerMike spouted off, criticism got heavy, especially from bloggers like Gavin Sullivan and Dusty Trice and, of course, yours truly – the ol’ TwoPutter.

Still, no Paulsen Town Halls. Sure, pawlenty plenty of closed events; such as the one at an auto dealer where a citizen journalist was refused entry – but, no Town Hall.

Dusty caught up with Paulsen at the State Fair – and “right” after (coincidence? I think NOT), Paulsen announced a Town Hall, held last Friday. Now that that one is out of the way?

“Business” as usual – take care of the base! Gotta dance with them that brought ya, doncha know?

From the Bloomington Chamber Of Commerce:

Governmental Forum: Mr. Paulsen Goes to Washington
Friday, September 18, 2009
7:30 AM to 9:30 AM

Price: Member $20 Non-Member $40

So, if you can get the time off of work, for a mere forty smackers you, too, can watch Paulsen perform for the Captains of Industry – them that bought brought him.

(crossposted at MnProgressiveProject)

As Dusty noted, Paulsen “Spokesman” Luke Friedrich says, “right” at the beginning of the YouTube:

“We don’t do questions from the liberal blogs. Sorry.”

Imagine that; Paulsen NOT taking questions….

Anyway, Dusty’s pressure must have gotten to Paulsen, because this one was just posted!!!

Town Hall Meeting
Town Hall Information

Who: Congressman Erik Paulsen/3rd District Constituents

What: Town Hall Meeting

When: Friday, September 11th, 2009
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.

Where: Maple Grove High School Auditorium
9800 Fernbrook Ln N, Maple Grove, MN

QUESTIONS? Contact me at mn03townhall@mail.house.gov

(Paulsen.House.Gov)

Well, all “right”!!! Won’t take questions from “liberal bloggers”, but: will bow to a “liberal blogger’s” pressure!!! Way to go, Dusty!!!

(originally published at MnProgressiveProject.com)

In lieu of district town hall meetings, Paulsen has opted to hold smaller forums with groups of constituents ranging from seniors to meetings with large employers and business leaders. (EdenPrairieNews.com)

“In lieu of district town hall meetings….”

Just like the guy he replaced, “right”?

WRONG.

Anyway, Paulsen is scheduled to pose, er, ’scuse me, “appear” on Salem Communication’s KKMS radio station today at the State Fair at 3:00 pm. KKMS’ booth is located near Clough and Judson streets. Stop by if you’re near, and if you can, ask Paulsen: “Dude – Where’s My Town Hall?”

GOP State Deputy Chair Michael Brodkorb, on Town Hall Forums:

Paulsen ‘09:

Salem raadio stations; in Minneapolis/St. Paul:

KKMS-AM 980
KYCR-AM 1570
WWTC-AM 1280 (The “Patriot”)

(originally published at MnProgressiveProject.com)

(hat tip to DustyTrice.com)

(crossposted from MnProgressiveProject)

The question should also be asked of GOP State Chair Tony Sutton, and GOP State Deputy Chair Michael Brodkorb.

There’s a powder keg out there, with a short fuse. And today’s GOP leadership is sending out sparks. If one of those sparks catches, well……you can be sure, the GOP will blame it on anybody and everybody but themselves.

Here’s Rachel Maddow:

And speaking of the “MOB” – I noted this:

Moving The MOB
August 13th, 2009 by Mitch Berg
Well, the verdict (throwing out all the votest for “crashing Drinking Liberally”) was pretty decisive. People want the MOB Summer Party moved to September 12.

So moved it shall be!

Location to be officially announced later.

Who knows? Might be a real barnburner….

(h/t to CrooksAndLiars.com)

(crossposted from MnProgressiveProject)

Here’s what CrooksAndLiars.com says, just under that video:

Oh, the irony! Frank Freakin’ Luntz, the man so amoral, he actually got censured by his trade association, lecturing Democrats about right and wrong for using “misleading” poll-driven language? I think my heart’s about to seize from me laughing so hard. Republicans are such flaming hypocrites, aren’t they?

Republicans are such flaming hypocrites, aren’t they?

Yes, they are.

“Hypocrisy, Thy Party Is GOP”

(crossposted from MnProgressiveProject)

The hypocrisy was so blatant that the St. Cloud Times wrote about in an editorial.

And all week people talked about MudSlingerMike being the chief spokestool of the hypocritical GreedOverPrincipels party. Well, they talked MORE about the thuggishness of the GOP, but the GOP’s hypocrisy was a hot topic, too.

Over at a website named SCSU Scholars, Professor Banaian made a post were he scored high on etiquette. The Good Professor made some talking points for rightwingers to ask Congresspeople AND highly suggested they do so on their best behavior. Like I said, The Good Professor got high marks for that.

However, bein’ a GOPer, The Good Professor just couldn’t help doin’ the ol’ GOP Double-Standard in the comments section of the post. I sometimes wonder if it’s not only in their nature, it’s a party plank, too, but: we’ll go down that road, later. For now, let’s confine the discussion to Professor Banaian’s GOPer SNAFU.

Now, The Good Professor said, and I quote:

These are to be a substitute for yelling, not a complement. I agree with those who are saying to stop the shouting matches at the town halls. It’s unhelpful, it plays into the hands of the Democrats and their love-slaves in the media. (Tapper not included.). Ask the questions, record the answers, then find a reporter and tell them what you thought of the answer. Get your opposition, if you are, in the newspaper and on the radio and TV in a way you’d be proud to show your grandchildren.

OK, ignore the stuff in the middle, that’s just The Good Professor acting like The Absent A Mind Professor. Do give credit where credit due, like I did, and score The Good Professor high for calling for civilized behavior at Town Halls.

Now, on to the comments, the first made by yours trulty, the ol’ TwoPutter:

Say, Professor? What if my congressman happens to be a Republican, and doesn’t/won’t hold town hall meetings?

TwoPuttTommy | Homepage | 08.05.09 – 2:34 pm | #

The second comment isn’t worth reposting; rather inane blather, so who cares. It’s The Good Professor’s response to yours truly’s comment numero uno, that demonstrates the title of this post:

TPT, she doesn’t have a bill to sell. Your comedian-cum-senator does.

kb | 08.05.09 – 3:43 pm | #

Which elicited my response in the very next, and so far last, comment:

***TPT, she doesn’t have a bill to sell. Your comedian-cum-senator does.
kb | 08.05.09 – 3:43 pm | # ***

O
M
G.

Is that REALLY your position, Professor?

TwoPuttTommy | Homepage | 08.05.09 – 4:24 pm | #

And as of the time of this post, that comment of mine – last Wednesday – has gone unanswered.

Now, virtually all regular readers here will know EXACTLY why the ol’ TwoPutter wrote what I did; I’d even surmise that The Good Professor figured it out, too – even though he hasn’t commented….

….but, I’ll explain it anyway, for teh GOPers that stumble upon this post:

The Professor is taking the position that Senator Franken has a duty and responsibility to appear in public to defend and explain his support “for” health care reform, BUT (and it’s a big “BUT”) Bachmann has NO duty NOR responsiblity to appear in public to defend and explain HER OPPOSITION “against” health care reform.

Clearly, it’s that ol’ GOP Double-Standard, once again.

Spotty over at The Cucking Stool takes a long look at Professor Banaian’s post and how it fits into the scheme of things. It’s a good read.

Oh – and here’s that YouTube of MudSlingerMike, once again:

(crossposted from MnProgressiveProject)

Unreal. The disinformation put out by rightwing astroturf groups are even hitting the GOPers that do hold Town Halls – which, of course, don’t include GOPers Bachmann, Kline, or Paulsen.

Not only did GOPer Rep. Robert Inglis, R-SC, have the guts to face his constituents, he also had the common sense to tell them the truth:

“I had to politely explain that, ‘Actually, sir, your health care is being provided by the government,’ ” Inglis recalled. “But he wasn’t having any of it.” (WashingtonPost.com).

And why wasn’t the “keep your government hands off my Medicare” guy having any of it? Disinformation, pure and simple. Recently, the astroturf group “Conservatives For Patients Rights (yeah, “right”) had their ad fisked by FactCheck.org. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that their analysis of rightwing claims are, well, to quote the analysis:

CPR Administers Bad Facts, Again

* It’s not true that any of the health care overhaul measures that have been approved by committees in Congress would add “a trillion to the federal deficit,” as the ad says. The Senate bill would add roughly $597 billion over 10 years, and the House bill that was approved by the Ways and Means Committee in mid-July would add a much smaller $239 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office. (FactCheck.org)

Now, I’m looking at a very fancy brochure recently mailed out – at taxpayer expense – by Rep. Erik Paulsen, R=republiCon. And what does Rep. Erik Paulsen claim, in his published and mailed at taxpayer expense brochure? It’s “right” there, on page 2: “Their plan would cost over $1 trillion”

Way to go, Erik! Mailing out debunked disinformation, published and mailed at taxpayer expense.

Paul Krugman opined a little over a week ago on the subject: Why Americans hate single-payer insurance. Paul Krugman’s explanation? “Because they don’t know they have it.” And Paul Krugman uses the “particiapant” at the Town Hall, referenced above, as an example. Here’s what else Paul Krugman said:

One of the truly amazing and depressing things about the health reform debate is the persistence of fear-mongering over “socialized medicine” even though we already have a system in which the government pays substantially more medical bills (47% of the total) than the private insurance industry (35%).

In a way, this is the flip side of the persistent belief that the free market can cure healthcare, even though there are no places where it actually has; people also believe that government-provided insurance can’t work, even though there are many places where it does — and one of those places is the United States of America. (NYTimes.com)

And rather than correct the disinformation, Rep. Erik Paulsen, R=republiCon fuels the fire.

Gotta love today’s “conservatives”, doncha?

Well, in a word, “no.” And you certainly can’t trust them to tell the truth, either.

(crossposted from MnProgressiveProject)

By now, everyone knows the story about the MN GOP ripping DFLer Colin Peterson for Peterson’s decision not to hold “Town Hall” meetings. Dusty Trice made a great catch of State GOP Deputy Chair Michael Brodkorb engaging in the hypocrisy the GreedOverPrinciples party is so well-known for. Let’s watch!

Dusty followed up that YouTube with another YouTube of Michele Bachmann ducking questions. The contrast between what GOPer Brodkorb mouthed off about and Bachmann’s actions is quite clear – link here for Dusty’s entire post.

And Dusty Trice isn’t the only one that caught the blatant demonstration of GOPer hypocrisy; the St. Cloud Times Editorial Board weighed in, too! Let’s look!

Then what about Peterson’s neighbor, the GOP’s own 6th District Rep. Michele Bachmann?

Except for one tightly controlled forum at which she barely spoke, we don’t recall any town meetings she’s held in this area since elected. (St. Cloud Times)

Ladies and Gentlemen, MudSlingerMike is simply demonstrating – once again – why reasonable people have no reason to believe anything that the GOP says (or, “trust”, as GOP National Chair Michael Steele said).

As Dusty said, Brodkorb’s actions are “unbelievable.” Nice catch, Dusty.

(crossposted from MnProgressiveProject)

Congressman Erik Paulsen’s several predecessors established a decades-old tradition of holding quarterly ‘Town Hall Forums’–in which constituents could address questions to their solon face-to-face. Upon assuming the seat, Paulsen unilaterally erased this democratic inheritance.

And Paulsen ducking out should not be a surprise to anyone. Paulsen started his campaign for congress claiming he was something he clearly is not – a moderate in the mold of Frenzel and Ramstad. Paulsen started his congressional career under a false facade; his record in congress clearly points out Paulsen is hardly a “moderate” – why would Paulsen take the chance to expose the charade in a public venue?

And what’s really not surprising is just the other day, the state GOP, led by FEC Tony and MudSlingerMike, ripped DFLer Peterson for not holding Town Halls.

Everybody got that? The state GOP’s position is:

Rip Peterson, but ignore Paulsen doin’ the same thing. Well, Kline and Bachmann, too.

Which, of course, proves once again:

“Hypocrisy, Thy Party Is GOP”

(crossposted from MnProgressiveProject)