Is it true when former President Bush did townhalls they were to pre-selected crowds?

[3peet]

what was that about? Never heard that before.

Why does Bush govern from the gut? The first reason is that being on vacation more than any other president in history and making speeches in front of adoring preselected crowds is so much more fun than the hard work of policymaking. So why not just consult your gut, get it over with, and leave yourself plenty of time to party down?

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/08/31/3523

As he likes to do, Bush calls on preselected members of the audience by name and they talk about how various parts of the Bush agenda -- such as his tax cuts -- have helped them personally. In general, Bush is at his bantering best in these events. But there is a slightly rushed, disjointed quality to this day's exchanges.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A39938-2004Sep21?language=printer

 

[festeringZit]

what was that about? Never heard that before.



http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/08/31/3523



http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A39938-2004Sep21?language=printer

Um, who cares?

 

[3peet]

Help me out there Fest. Why do you think that was?

 

[festeringZit]

Help me out there Fest. Why do you think that was?

I couldn't care less. If you actually retained anything you read,
you'd know that I think Bush is a vile piece of shit, which I have
posted here multiple times - once within the last 24 hours.

 

[ElTaino]

of course the audience was preselected. im sure CIA security concerns as well as the thought of not making a president look stupid. (not that he needed any help with that) played a part. im sure that mr odrama has that very same courtesy extended to him. the one time someone slipped through the cracks, bush had to use his chuck norris insticts to dodge a shoe. i dont think anything like will happen here in the near future, but you can bet your ass that everyone is screened and preselected.

 

[3peet]

of course the audience was preselected. im sure CIA security concerns as well as the thought of not making a president look stupid. (not that he needed any help with that) played a part. im sure that mr odrama has that very same courtesy extended to him. the one time someone slipped through the cracks, bush had to use his chuck norris insticts to dodge a shoe. i dont think anything like will happen here in the near future, but you can bet your ass that everyone is screened and preselected.

Not sure Obama ducked quesitons like Bush would. Obama spoke at Fort Meyers, FL which is deep republican country.

 

[Dave007inVegas]

Not sure Obama ducked quesitons like Bush would. Obama spoke at Fort Meyers, FL which is deep republican country.

Why is BO still campaigning? I thought he was supposed to be governing.

 

[guitarjosh]

I'm sure he did. They pretty much all do. Remember back about 10 years ago when Madeline Albright did a townhall at Ohio State U and got booed off the stage? Do you think that was handpicked?

http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9802/18/town.meeting.folo/

 

[meltdown]

Even if he didn't, it would be very easy to only allow the "friendly" journalists to ask questions. I heard he was prepped on who was sitting where. All the liberals who may ask him a tough question were grouped together and GW was instructed to not even look their way during Q&As. Obama did this at his press conference didn't he? How many challenging questions did he get and look who asked them.

 

[barman]

of course the audience was preselected. Im sure cia security concerns

cia?

 

[fletchisrhsm]

of course the audience was preselected. im sure CIA security concerns as well as the thought of not making a president look stupid. (not that he needed any help with that) played a part. im sure that mr odrama has that very same courtesy extended to him. the one time someone slipped through the cracks, bush had to use his chuck norris insticts to dodge a shoe. i dont think anything like will happen here in the near future, but you can bet your ass that everyone is screened and preselected.

I think you mean SS and yes, i agree with this post.

 

[ElTaino]

I think you mean SS and yes, i agree with this post.

sorry, i did mean SS, dont know why i put cia. proofreading is overrated anyway