Prog Blogs, Orgs & Alumni
Bank Slate
Betsy Devine
birch, finch, beech
Blue News Tribune (MA)
Democracy for NH
Live Free or Die
Mike Caulfield
Granite State Progress
Seacoast for Change
Susan the Bruce
Tomorrow's Progressives
Politicos & Punditry
The Burt Cohen Show
Krauss
Landrigan
Lawson
Pindell
Primary Monitor
Scala
Schoenberg
Spiliotes
Welch
Campaigns, Et Alia.
Paul Hodes
Carol Shea-Porter
Ann McLane Kuster
Katrina Swett
Jennifer Daler
ActBlue Hampshire
NHDP
DCCC
DSCC
DNC
National
Balloon Juice
billmon
Congress Matters
DailyKos
Digby
Hold Fast
Eschaton
FiveThirtyEight
MyDD
The Next Hurrah
Open Left
Senate Guru
Swing State Project
Talking Points Memo
50 State Blog Network
Alabama
Arizona
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
This is going to be my personal observations and thoughts about the town hall this morning. I am sure I will miss something, and will undoubtedly have more to add later, but I wanted to get this out.
My last town hall meeting with a congressperson in my town was some years ago with Jeb Bradley. That's when he explained to us that he had to toe the party line with the Republican leadership or we wouldn't get the goodies. It was pathetic and sad, for him, and more for us, his constituents.
Today we got to hear our magnificent congresswoman. I use that word because that is how I perceived her. She was honest, she was forthright, she was deeply knowledgeable about her job, its pressure and contradictions, but sure she was representing her constituents to the best of her ability, whether they agreed with her or not. It was a much friendlier crowd than I had expected, and I almost thought Carol was a little disappointed! There were some questions from the other side, most of which made very little sense to me, either because they were very vague or because they were based on misinformation. There were questions from people who thanked Carol for the healthcare vote but were concerned about the costs, to which Carol responded that if she had gotten to write the bill she would have gone with Medicare for all or the public option, but that there was no way that could have been voted in, and changes had to be made. She reminded us several times that this is just the beginning, and a work in progress, but absolutely necessary for the good of the country.
There was a woman who apparently has gotten to ask a question at 3 town halls so far, who is a stay at home mom who home schools, studies the Constitution and the founding fathers, and whose grocery bill has gotten too high. She is convinced the founders would not approve of Carol, and it's the Democrats' fault that food is too expensive. Or something like that, I had some trouble following the logic, no, wait, there was no logic, these people really confuse me. Carol attempted to respond, but she was having none of it. She disagreed with Carol and...well, I guess she wanted Carol to agree with her, and I didn't even get the sense that that would have made her happy.
For all those who insist that Carol did not read the bill, I think her grasp of the provisions today proved them wrong. She knows that bill inside and out.
She was also asked about the energy bill, Iraq and Afghanistan, credit cards and other financial reforms, and I am sure I have forgotten a few other things.
I am so proud to be a supporter, and so glad to have her as my congresswoman. I am truly represented for the first time in my 67 years. Now for goodness sake let's make sure we re-elect her!
