If you watched the President last night...

[smarriveurr]

... as he spoke to a joint session of Congress, in an historic event that occurs at momentous times in our national history - the wake of the September 11th attacks, after President Kennedy was shot - and you were, like myself, flabbergasted to hear a member of the United States Congress heckling the President of the United States in a speech on

Comments

[smarriveurr]

See, and the thing is, I tend to enjoy the concept of Question Time. But this is the US, we don't have that tradition; it's unbelievably, ludicrously rude to interrupt the chief executive during an address.

It'd be one thing if he could fire back, the way Question time allows. But hitting someone like that while they have to remain dignified, just to get more lies on national TV? I hope he was hauled out of the chamber by security.

[smarriveurr]

Frankly, I'd like to see him gagged. Physically. Whenever he's in public.

Plus, of course, now the top story is not about the health care plan. It's about the outburst, the reaction to the outburst, the apology, how Democrats should be happy the President gets to accept the apology and be the dignified one, and, my favorite of all, how focused the media are on the outburst. I love when news organizations point out that they have the attention span of gnats and refuse to focus on the shit that matters.

[smarriveurr]

*nod* And seldom do they make a prominent issue of the fact that Joe the Shouter is full of shit, since the bill does in fact contain provisions specifically denying benefits to undocumented immigrants.

Also, y'know, the President pointed out that he wants the Public Option to run under its own proceeds, which means if you want the coverage, you still have to pay for it. So it's still not costing Jimmy Red State money. As opposed to the cost of sending EMS/firefighters to the homes of people with chronic conditions who can't afford to see doctors when they call 911, or treating people in the ER because they couldn't get medical care till it was emergency. Both of which actually DO cost taxpayers, and more significantly than subsidizing actual care.

[smarriveurr]

Nah, I'd try catching him on the trail in NC. Much less security, bigger impact.

[smarriveurr]

See, but that's where you cross the line from "fit of rage" to "serial stalker"...