Town Hall Debate Reaction

Health Care Reform is the New Gay Marriage

Morgan Warners | Posted 11.14.2009 | Media


Morgan Warners

Gay marriage and our increasingly obvious interconnectedness present threats to traditions and ways of doing things that many of us think should change. In that regard, health reform is the new gay marriage.

The Tyranny of the Tantrum

Terrance Heath | Posted 09.25.2009 | Politics


Terrance Heath

What we're seeing from the health care town halls and what we've seen from the "birthers" is essentially what I call the Tyranny of the Tantrum, which many parents encounter during the "terrible twos."

It's Not Over Until You've Tried These Six Things, Mr. President

Rob Warmowski | Posted 09.17.2009 | Politics


Rob Warmowski

Notice that the insurance industry-funded opposition to reform is well-managed enough to not send shouters and swastika sign-wavers to the town halls you are scheduled to appear at.

Macaca Day 2009: From George Allen to Claire McCaskill, Video Trackers to Town Haters

Dan Manatt | Posted 09.12.2009 | Politics


Dan Manatt

Town Halls -- perhaps they should be renamed "Town Hates" -- have become the front lines of an anti-government revolt by various groups, including health care reform opponents.

Bullies Delight in Town Hall and Center

Carol Smaldino | Posted 09.12.2009 | Politics


Carol Smaldino

We have witnessed a spate of violent bullying and psychological assault, moods of hostility and derision which have stooped to levels that defy any clear intention to act for the greater good.

From Fear to Faith

Jim Lichtman | Posted 09.12.2009 | Politics


Jim Lichtman

This is not about the pros and cons of the health care debate. That's politics. This is about the ethics of a "debate" which has deteriorated into an Us vs. Them shouting match.

Why does John McCain hate planetariums?

Phil Plait | Posted 11.08.2008 | Politics


Phil Plait

Planetaria show us the beauty and grandeur of the Universe, and shouldn't be cynically relegated to being a political bludgeon used to score cheap points.

Profiles in Cowardice

Dave Winer | Posted 11.08.2008 | Politics


Dave Winer

It's time to back off the precipice, Ms. Palin and Mr. McCain.

"That One" Wins

Nancy Snow | Posted 11.08.2008 | Politics


Nancy Snow

Obama has erased lingering doubts that he is ready for the Prime Time Presidency, while McCain raised more doubts that he has the energy or interest in the job.

"That Won": Twitter's Wit on the Second Presidential Debate

Nick Douglas | Posted 11.08.2008 | Politics


Nick Douglas

My God, does he realize how much gas it will take to drive to the moon?! — michael

Elmer Fudd and His Gosh-Darned Overhead Projector, Jell-O, and Obama to Voters: We Are Sick of Shopping

Lily Koppel | Posted 11.08.2008 | Style


Lily Koppel

John McCain seemed old and out of touch. The Republican candidate looked like he should have gone to the bathroom before the debate started.

Echoes of Kennedy-Nixon, Clinton-Dole

Terrence McNally | Posted 11.08.2008 | Politics


Terrence McNally

We all know about the difference between the responses of those who listened to the first Kennedy-Nixon debate on the radio versus those who watched it on television. I did both last night and the same was true.

McCain Calls Obama "That One"

Maggie Van Ostrand | Posted 11.08.2008 | Politics


Maggie Van Ostrand

If the people of this nation cannot tell the difference between presidential behavior and a sick and angry little man, then we're in more trouble than we are with Bush. Get a grip John. You're boring.

McCain Fizzles as Obama Sizzles

Michael Carmichael | Posted 11.08.2008 | Politics


Michael Carmichael

In the course of the debate, McCain was outclassed, outgunned and outrun, time and time and time again. Obama's performance was so commanding that he barely noticed a petulant McCain.

Knowing What You Don't Know

Jon Raymond | Posted 11.08.2008 | Home


Jon Raymond

Last night's debate came close to a Donald Rumsfeld press conference: "As we know, there are known knowns. There are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns. That is to say we know there are some things we do not know..."

The Answer We Needed to Hear

Howard Schweber | Posted 11.08.2008 | Politics


Howard Schweber

Obama's answer to the first question of the night was fine -- anodyne, uninspiring, reasonable, and utterly uninspiring.

Reading The Pictures: Citizen Anger, Pakistan slam, Michelle Love, And McCain As A Blur

Michael Shaw | Posted 11.07.2008 | Media


Michael Shaw

2008-10-08-shaw_mccain_townhall.jpgIn the early phase of the debate, there wasn't a drop of humor in that room. As McCain and Obama offered generalities, these people weren't even close to buying it.

Worse Than "That One"

Cenk Uygur | Posted 11.07.2008 | Politics


Cenk Uygur

For me, the more worrisome moment of the debate came when McCain told a young, black questioner, "You've probably never heard of Fannie Mae."

The Subliminal Slam-Dunk

Mary Lyon | Posted 11.07.2008 | Politics


Mary Lyon

The body language and other nonverbals put Obama decisively over the top, because it said more about the character issue for the two candidates and their wives than anyone's verbiage.

Not a Whole Lot of "Town," and Other Town Hall Debate Reactions

Paul Reiser | Posted 11.07.2008 | Politics


Paul Reiser

Well, for a town-hall meeting, I sure didn't see a whole lot of 'town." A couple dozen of over-lit, under-whelmed people who got free tickets. As a comic, I have to say, that really looked like a tough house.

The Winner of Debate II? "That One"

Arianna Huffington | Posted 11.07.2008 | Politics


Arianna Huffington

At the end of the debate, Brokaw asked McCain to get out of the way of his Teleprompter. He might as well have been speaking on behalf of the future: Senator McCain can you please get out of the way so we can get on with it?

Hitting the Snooze Button on McCain-Obama Round 2

Ted Johnson, Maegan Carberry, Teresa Valdez Klein | Posted 11.07.2008 | Politics


Ted Johnson, Maegan Carberry, Teresa Valdez Klein

Boooring. Yawn. Anything new? "That one?" That's the big controversy of the night? Do we miss Sarah Palin so soon?

From "The One" To "That One": John McCain And (Not) Reaching Across Party Lines

Steven G. Brant | Posted 11.07.2008 | Politics


Steven G. Brant

Sen. McCain failed big time in that most basic principle of bipartisan leadership: attributing inherent worth to his equal from the opposite side of the political spectrum.

Is John McCain Really Our Friend?

Erica Jong | Posted 11.07.2008 | Politics


Erica Jong

Why are these debates so incredibly boring? Is it McCain telling us constantly he is our friend while he grimaces in a way that is friendly to no one? Or is it Obama keeping his cool despite all the idiotic lies and provocations?

That One?!

Bob Cesca | Posted 11.07.2008 | Politics


Bob Cesca

They say that Sen. McCain's strong suit is the town hall debate. If this was, in fact, Sen. McCain's strength, he might as well go home. Sorry... homes.