Open Thread: Obama's Twitter Town Hall
In another effort to engage the online community once bubbling with support for President Barack Obama, Obama will participate in a Twitter town hall today at 2 pm EDT to answer questions on jobs and the economy posed by Twitter users with the hashtag #askobama.
The questions Obama answers will be handpicked by Twitter staffers and pre-selected Twitter users, who will be tracking the popularity and geographical distribution of the questions to determine which questions to ask Obama. Don't expect any hardball questions, though. As Michelle Malkin points out, the moderator of the town hall, Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, is a close friend of the administration as a State Department adviser.
Will you be participating? Let us know what you think of Obama's latest online engagement effort in the comments.
Dorsey isn't Obama's only friend on the Twitter team, though. As Malkin explains,
Chief exec Dick Costolo is a telecom/national security adviser. And in the other direction, former State Department aide Katie Stanton is now a Twitter “vice president of global policy.” It’s a recipe for another softball forum a la the Facebook town hall in April. Your tax dollars at work.
Are you going to tweet any #askobama questions this afternoon? Let us know what you would ask the president below.
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Comments
Obama has found the Proper Format
Submitted by Comrade Jim on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 10:33am.
To match his intellectual depth.
On second thought he may be over-matched The teleprompter will probably be tweeting: asktheteleprompter.
It's not about "intellectual
Submitted by motherbelt on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 11:37am.
It's not about "intellectual depth." It's about proving how "cool" he is.
The text-message-Facebook-twitter president.
This is also proof of the caliber of his young followers who think he's cool simply because he won't challenge them to do anything more strenuous than sitting at their computers.
If you have any doubts about the intellectual heft likely to populate this Twitter Town Hall,
watch this embarrassment
This "...he won't challenge
Submitted by amyshulk on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 4:11pm.
This
"...he won't challenge them to do anything more strenuous than sitting at their computers."
Is the nub of it all - Pres. Bush didn't ask us to sacrifice after 9/11, and Pres. Obama didn't ask us to either after the financial collapse.
The result? People still think their house should be an ATM, unemployment benefits should go on forever, and food stamps for all. While paying NO Income taxes.
Enough of the "well they don't pay enough {the rich} so we need to gouge them" bs.
This is on ALL of us.
Ronald Reagan
Sure, I'll participate...
Submitted by Grumpy in Arizona on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 10:29am.
...But only if I'm allowed to call him Dick.
- Grump :o)
Timing is Everything
Submitted by billb on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 10:32am.
Today the Whitehouse will be all ATWITTER with economic nonsense. Tomorrow the Community Organizer will organize the congressional community. Friday the jobs report. Like I said, "Timing is everything!"
Pay for WH Staff
Submitted by Agnostic on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 12:08pm.
Speaking of the WH Staff you can check out the pay for the 454 staff members for the WH on a list here. A lot of good paying jobs to "advise" people who don't seem to be listening to anyone but the old Marxist friends and college mentors.
$153,000 to assist the president and engage the public?
Please remember this doesn't include benefits or any other tax provided benefit - which are both ample I'm sure!
What does he do?
Submitted by paragrouper on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 3:36pm.
"$153,000 to assist the president and engage the public?"
Telepromter Toter?
The Absentee President has
Submitted by Scuba Dude on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 10:32am.
The Absentee President has time to do this frivolous "Town Hall" but he can't find the time to meet with Republicans to try and work on the myriad of problems this country is facing? I guess that Senator (or Congressman) was correct, the only way to meet with Odumbo is to make a tee time.
2012 cannot come soon enough.
A gimmick
Submitted by Unsane on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 10:37am.
He has no time for anything else other than gimmicks? Seriously?
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
Gimmick Uns*
Submitted by cajun2 on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 10:44am.
When you are from Chicago, Gimmicks take on a different meaning.
I read that the NEA is supporting Obama's re-election. Let's see if he intervenes on behalf of his new supporters.
Recommended name change:
Submitted by almostacowboy on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 11:26am.
From NEA to NIA - National Indoctrination Association
What a diletante
Submitted by HelenS on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 10:40am.
This guy is such a pathetic poseur. He swans around posing as Someone and can't even find one nano-second in his play-time to have a serious moment on any subject.
He is frighteningly incompetent and out of touch.
Me - "The libs/dems of today are the Quislings of former years - the cowards who would vote a fraud into office in exchange for handouts from the devil."
I doubt
Submitted by ripper58 on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 10:44am.
he would answer my tweet..."since your presidency is an utter failure, when do you plan on resigning?"
My Questions
Submitted by HardRightTurn on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 10:53am.
Coke or Pepsi?
Regular or deepdish?
Socialism or capitalism?
Freedom or despotism?
You or me? 'cause there can't be both.
______________________________________________________________________________
To more fully comprehend the Left, one must read “Leftism As Psychopathy” by John Ray, M.A., Ph.D. Caution, it might scare you a little bit.
http://jonjayray.tripod.com/psycho.html
Gee he's so
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 10:56am.
techno savvy. He must have picked up these skills between lines of blo in school. I'm impressed. He can tweet. Get's my vote, NOT.
We finally found something that BO can do, TWEET. I hope that's all he will be doing very soon, indeed.
"Generic Republican Candidate 44%, Obama 44%"
Submitted by Red Jeep on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 10:58am.
"For the first time since March, more American adults consider themselves Democrats rather than Republicans."
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/electi...
Trend is exactly oppostie of what I have been expecting
Submitted by Lipton on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 11:15am.
what exactly do the dems have to do to lose support?
Polls
Submitted by Unsane on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 5:58pm.
Take all polls with several megatons of salt.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
Questions for Obama
Submitted by Bluegill on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 11:01am.
Why couldn't you get one Democrat to vote for your fabulous budget?
Where is the civilian security force you promised?
What is your new Simplistic Slogan since Hope and Change is missing in action?
Would you really cut off checks to the seniors?
Dear #askobama:
Submitted by SickofLibs on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 11:25am.
Now that you're done doin' Bin Laden stuff, tough guy, why are you dicking around on Twitter like a 15-yr old instead of being locked in a room with the congressional leadership trying to rescue your country from the impending economic abyss?
Twitter Town Hall
Submitted by almostacowboy on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 11:32am.
One 7-word question consisting of 2 special characters, two twit-breviations (including BFF) followed by a 14-minute answer consisting of "let me be clear on this" and 27 first-person personal references.
Makes you wonder....
Submitted by motherbelt on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 11:40am.
why he has to make so many fund-raising trips, doesn't it?
Why doesn't he just stay in DC, and do online fundraising...you know, while he does his day job?
It couldn't just be that he likes to travel, and in style, could it?
Nah......
http://dailycaller.com/2011/0
Submitted by Satchmo on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 11:44am.
http://dailycaller.com/2011/07/06/white-house-uses-twitter-to-bully-crit...
The Sound Bite President
Submitted by CobraMan on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 11:51am.
How interesting, the President is so "focused" in discussing things with the average person that he uses a format that limits any question, or any response, to nothing more that sound bite sizes. What the matter, Obama, having trouble cogitating large, complex concepts, so much so that you need to limit discussions to a 127 character format?
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
To be fair...
Submitted by falcon on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 11:58am.
...he gets 140 characters.
/snark
“I will not stand by and watch this great country destroy itself under mediocre leadership, that drifts from one crisis to the next, eroding our national will and purpose.” – Ronald Reagan, July 17, 1980.
Show's you how much I Tweet
Submitted by CobraMan on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 1:06pm.
Show's you how much I Tweet. Heh.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Been reading some of the tweets from Dan Gainor
Submitted by falcon on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 11:57am.
...and a lot of them are pretty funny and snarky, but you can bet the only ones that get answered are the ones that shower glory on Dear Leader, and he won't answer any hard questions about the economy, Libya, Somalia, Yemen, Mexico, unemployment, oil prices and exploration, Operation Fast and Furious, his wife and kids' pricey trip to Africa on the taxpayer's nickel, his inability to do even the simplest of governing and his penchant for escaping to the golf course, his arrogance, his narcissism, his undermining Mooochelle's very limited "credibility" regarding fattening foods by eating chili dogs and cheese fries, his outright lies, his very eligibility to be President, and a whole list of others. These are the ones I came up with off the top of my head.
Sure hope someone archives the Twitter feed, 'cuz I'd love to see the ones that don't get answered. And there'll be a lot of them.
“I will not stand by and watch this great country destroy itself under mediocre leadership, that drifts from one crisis to the next, eroding our national will and purpose.” – Ronald Reagan, July 17, 1980.
Oh COME ON!!!!
Submitted by jon_torlin on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 12:29pm.
Now this is just absolutely absurd beyond the absurdities already there!
Terrorists might try to plant bombs in people
Where'd they get this idea from, watching Batman: The Dark Knight??
They go so far to say "There's no evidence of a specific plot" but now they are talking about "additional screenings?" You can't get anymore invasive than the crotch grabs they are doing and the radiation-cancer-inducing scanner screenings, what's next, X-rays or exploratory surgery at the airports??
Come on, you assholes in Congress and the Senate, enough's enough!!! Dismantle these out of control idiots! Throw Pistole and Nappy out on their ears!
-Jon
Can't wait...
Submitted by almostacowboy on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 12:56pm.
for Cousin Janet's response to this threat.
Puh-LEEZ
Submitted by HelenS on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 1:07pm.
When are these morons going to figure out that profiling is a valid option!
Me - "The libs/dems of today are the Quislings of former years - the cowards who would vote a fraud into office in exchange for handouts from the devil."
They will get it when the
Submitted by jkwtrading on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 1:25pm.
They will get it when the profiling comes down US (everyone) against them (extreme minority) their fingers will point," It's them" when they are cornered.
Give's new meaning
Submitted by CobraMan on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 1:08pm.
Surgically implanted IED's? That gives new meaning to "intestinal fortitude."
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
and if one blows up to how
Submitted by jkwtrading on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 1:23pm.
and if one blows up to how crap gets on one's face.
The latest on Fast and Furious
Submitted by ricklail on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 12:34pm.
Grassley and Issa met with Ken Melson. DOJ is stonewalling the investigation. Read the letter to Holder. It is in the link.
Rick, here's a link to the entire text of the letter.
Submitted by Blonde on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 12:56pm.
It's at the bottom of this linked page.
The full text runs FIVE PAGES, and Darryl Issa begins the letter with a huge shot across Eric Holder's bow (from the first page, emphasis mine):
Yesterday, Acting ATF Director Kenneth Melson participated in a transcribed interview regarding Operation Fast and Furious and related matters with both Republican and Democratic staff. He appeared with his personal counsel, Richard Cullen of McGuire Woods LLP. His interview had originally been scheduled through the Justice Department to occur on July 13 in the presence of DOJ and ATF counsel. As you know, however, under our agreement Department witnesses who choose to attend a voluntary interview with their own lawyer are free to exercise that right rather than participate with counsel representing the Department's interests.
After being made aware of that provision of our agreement, Acting Director Melson chose to exercise that right and appeared with his own lawyer. We are disappointed that no one had previously informed him of that provision of the agreement. Instead, Justice Department officials sought to limit and control his communications with Congress. This is yet another example of why direct communications with Congress are so important and are protected by law.1
1 Specifically, no officer or employee may attempt to prohibit or prevent "any other officer or employee of the Federal Government from having direct oral or written communication or contact with any Member, committee, or subcommittee of the Congress" about a matter related to his employment or the agency "in any way, irrespective of whether such communication or contact is at the initiative" of the employee or Congress (emphasis added). Moreover, the prohibition also applies to any officer or employee who
"removes, suspends from duty without pay ... any other officer or employee of the Federal Government ...by reason of any communication or contact of such other officer or employee with any Member, committee, or subcommittee of the Congress." Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010, P.L.111-117, 123 Stat. 3034, § 714 (2010), as continued by §1104 ofP.L. 112-10- which extends the funding levels, as well as "the authority and conditions provided in such Acts," through September 30, 2011.
Holder is going to be toast. A Crispy Critter. Soon. (Although the media is doing its best to keep this fairly quiet)...it was a three deep link to find the actual text of the letter).
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
The political appointee in
Submitted by jkwtrading on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 1:22pm.
The political appointee in Arizona is next to be questioned if the committee follows it up. His testimony can lead to the real end result.
jkw
Submitted by Blonde on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 1:33pm.
My sense of the matter is this.
Melson WAS a career Civil Servant, but resigned with provisos to take a promotion to an appointed position. Then he was named "Acting" Director of ATF. Even though it's an appointed provision, he still apparently holds his career status, which is why he's not going to allow himself to be scape goated.
IOW, even though Melson is an Obama appointee, he's got his own skin in the game, and isn't going to allow himself to be thrown under the bus quietly.
Holder has got to be fuming that Melson met with Rep. Issa privately, without the "benefit" of DOJ counsel. And as I said in my post above, Issa isn't pleased that Holder is trying to manipulate the release of information. I'd love to see Issa declare Holder to be in Contempt of Congress.
This is going to be a very big deal. Hopefully, Casey Anthony will fall off the front page tomorrow.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Blonde, I do not think Casey
Submitted by Scuba Dude on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 1:41pm.
Blonde, I do not think Casey Anthony should have ever received all the media attention it did. IMHO it should have been a local story. It is sad what happened but there are far more important things happening in this country that has an effect on everyone. Debt crisis, Fast & Furious, TSA to name a few.
Exactly
Submitted by Blonde on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 1:48pm.
I've been extremely annoyed with Fox going 24/7 on this for the past two weekends.
I love the Saturday Morning business block, and GIVE ME BACK MY NEIL CAVUTO!!!!
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Getting pushed back
Submitted by jon_torlin on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 2:09pm.
Well, look at it this way, Fox News will slowly push the Casey Anthony story to the back, which they are already doing on their home page and the Fast and Furious is at the top of the list.
Ugh, the Dictator in Chief is doing his dog and pony show with the pre-picked questions and prepared answers. That whole thing is so damned phony and people just.......ARGH! Sorry, about to go into a rant here, don't want to.
-Jon
Funny video on Red State
Submitted by povertypimpin on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 2:21pm.
There was an SNL skit with Dan Akroyd from the late 70s doing an impersonation of Jimmy Carter. I guess Carter was the 1st to do the whole "ask the President" gig. A lady called in and asked a very technical question about equipment she uses at the post office. Dan Akroyd as Jimmy gave an incredibly detailed response. It was so funny because obviously the President knew the question ahead of time and it would be impossible for him to know about how to use equipment at the post office, but the host of the Q&A made sure to tell the audience that this was a live call.
Here is the link:
http://www.redstate.com/dan_mclaughlin/2011/07/06/askobama/
That skit was hilarious. The
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 5:24pm.
That skit was hilarious. The funny thing is that it not only in relevance parodied Obama's twit event, it also had relevance to his 5 dollar meet the President lottery.
Blonde
Submitted by ricklail on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 2:16pm.
Here might be the next one. Elisa Baker for killing and dismembering her step daughter. This has an international flavor. ( I am following this because I grew up in Catawba County.) The only thing that may shut the media down is that the courthouse in Newton would not be able to handle the crowds like they did in Orlando.
Mr. President....
Submitted by bigdaddy on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 12:55pm.
...You are 150 yds out, the ball is on a slight slope above your feet, no wind, 8 iron or 9 iron?...
Gubbermint Ejumikashion in Atlanta
Submitted by Dave. on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 1:11pm.
Yeah, ya just gotta love it.
Thank God my parents had the foresight and resources to take me out of that hideously broken school system after the second grade, and enroll me and my siblings in private school.
And that was way back in 1973.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
gee Dave ya just dated
Submitted by jkwtrading on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 1:18pm.
gee Dave ya just dated yourself..big 5-0 is close huh. half a century..got ya by 10 years.
I won't twitter him...talking
Submitted by jkwtrading on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 1:16pm.
I won't twitter him...talking to "road kill" would be more productive.
Cheating in schools...
Submitted by AgentAmerican on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 1:24pm.
Atlanta Public Schools in sticky principal and teacher cheating scandal avalanche...
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Education/2011/0705/America-s-biggest-teach...
You think they were Obama supporters? Hmmm?
CLIENT # 9 GETS THE AXE
Submitted by ricklail on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 2:00pm.
but what they are going to replace him with is not a lot better. We thought all along they would hire Weiner to co host
LOL!!!!! Good News
Submitted by Scuba Dude on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 2:14pm.
LOL!!!!! Good News Rick!!!!!!
This POS who was my Governor (briefly thank goodness) deserves to be thrown back to the dustbin on history. Here is hoping this might be the start of a trend.
Tingles? Madcow? Larry the Socialist? Could they be next? One can only hope.
Watch the SNL skit of "Ask
Submitted by povertypimpin on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 2:23pm.
Watch the SNL skit of "Ask Carter" done by Akroyd. It's at Red State .com
Liberals Panic, Bachmann surges, Romney stalls, Gingrich collaps
Submitted by im41 on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 3:59pm.
The Bachmann Cometh
So we have a Bachman/Cain
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 5:33pm.
So we have a Bachman/Cain Presidency? Or perhaps a Bachman/Palin? I guarentee that if Cain is chosen for either VP or President nominee the LSM will come unglued. It will be billed as the GOP trying to get their house negro in office.
Ohhhhhhh why so hostile?
Submitted by GregE on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 9:22pm.
The debt ceiling should not be something that is used as a gun against the heads of the American people to extract tax breaks for corporate jet owners or oil and gas companies that are making billions of dollars," Obama said during a town hall that featured questions posed through the online social network Twitter.
How long did the call for civility last after Gabrielle Giffords was shot? As long as the emotion of the moment did, about 10 days. Once it was no longer useful, the liberal politicians and media dropped it. Stoops.