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Short Baird Town Hall Report

I was there. It was pretty amazing. It was the closest I've ever been to being at a Jerry Springer chair throwing event.

Baird at one point insinuated that - when the crowd let out a huge round of boos for his upbeat Iraq trip report - they were booing the troops, which worked the crowd into a frenzy. He was then fighting an uphill battle for the better part of the hour. We lost count of how many times he evoked Al Queda and noted that the magic six month figure came up more than once. It was really ugly and awkward. Emotions ran really high in the auditorium. Not many of the people who queued up got to speak. Many who did took a long time getting to the point or had long, written diatribes that were only obliquely connected to Baird's Iraq escalation change-of-heart, but then it's a town hall. Baird emphatically stated his faith in Gen. Patreaus, which is really troubling. Hell, read this! I don't know how his other town halls went, but judging from this one, I would be really surprised if Baird's office doesn't try to engineer a way out of this.

I'm tired. I can barely keep my eyelids separated as I write this. Later.

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5 Comments so far (Add 1 more)

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Another report over here.

Glad I went home rather than attend and get even more angry. The good people of Vancouver spoke for me.

[Reply]

1. By bushtool on August 28th, 2007 at 6:49 am (replies, if any, are attributed separately above).
Nice link Bushtool. The boat captain, Phil, was impressive.Baird used a tactic to diffuse people he thought had powerful points. (Like, the captain) It did not work in this case. He asked the captain if when some loon damages the ship, would you adandon it? Presumably a reference to the admins execution of the war. Phil said “No sir, but you have a choice whether you are going to run it into the rocks or run it into the sand. I want to run it into the sand, and you want to run it into the rocks.” (Thunderous applause)

I am not sure Baird has ever had to face this many who are this angry.

You missed quite a show.

[Reply]

2. By arturo on August 28th, 2007 at 7:15 am (replies, if any, are attributed separately above).
I am glad I was there. It was obvious we need to start seeking someone to run in his place. Everyone I spoke to said they worked hard to get him elected and are fed up, not just with the Iraq situation but that he no longer represents him. I did not get a chance to speak my peace about his defense of keeping thousands of troops in Korea at the cost of billions each year. When I came home from Korea in 53 many of the troops remained It was 56 when veterans and loved ones of those still there met congressmen that promised all troops would be home as soon as the South Korean Army was equipped and trained to protect their own borders… That was over 50 years ago….and they are still there. It was then I learned not to trust any congressmen. History is repeating its self and with persons like Baird at he helm we will be in Iraq and Korea for another 50 years.

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3. By Austin Shotwell on August 28th, 2007 at 7:49 am (replies, if any, are attributed separately above).
This story is quoted over at Washblog.

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4. By bushtool on August 28th, 2007 at 10:14 am (replies, if any, are attributed separately above).
Probably the best reporting on the town hall is over at Ridenbaugh Press:

Insurgency at Vancouver

And this was a crowd, to a big extent, of Baird’s best in-district political friends. Or, those who used to be his friends. A few speakers before Phil, a woman who was a long-time supporter dressed him down by reminding him, We are the ones who hit the ground to get you elected. . . . We were so so proud of you and the work you did.’ Now, she said: I cannot believe your arrogance, Mr. Baird.’

The audience atmosphere was a little Pentacostal: Cries of impeach Bush’ or end the war’ and similar calls punctuated questions, answers and everything else. In the two hours we were there, not one questioner - out of perhaps 20 - expressed anything other than disgust and outrage at Baird’s new take on Iraq. To judge from audience reaction, a portion of the crowd of perhaps 400 to 500 (those that were inside - the room was filled solid and others couldn’t get in) supported him, but that portion was surely less than 10%.

[Reply]

5. By Aneurin on August 28th, 2007 at 1:11 pm (replies, if any, are attributed separately above).