What a jerk...

[misanthrope]

During "town hall" meetings in Baldwin County last week, U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Mobile, most likely expected tough questions about President Bush's Social Security proposal.

But the congressman probably did not anticipate that several constituents at his stop in Gulf Shores would spend much of the hour-long meeting criticizing his support of the Iraq war.

To make his case, Bonner recounted his experience traveling to Iraq and hearing horror stories about Saddam Hussein. The congressman also visited the dictator's torture chambers. He said that although some of the reasons for invading Iraq may have turned out to be off-base, the end result -- Iraq's first free elections -- made the endeavor worthwhile.

None of this satisfied the critics, who said the war was a waste of lives and money. Bonner then said: "The great thing about this country is if you don't like it, you can leave."

More at http://www.al.com/news/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/news/1112004965157380.xml

[Catch22Dem]

1. Just another "means justify the end" repuke

They're all the same. This one's a little extra dickish though. The great thing about this country, asshole, is contrary to popular belief, we have the power to vote your ass out!

[BamaLefty]

3. REPUKE!

[quaoar]

2. The great thing about this country

is that we don't have to listen to horseshit from ignorant politicians.

[trof]

4. Did Jo Bonner really say that?

I sent this out to some local and city papers. Don't know if anyone ran it.

Author's note: I usually do not like to write about occurrences when I don't have first-hand knowledge of them. The words of one of my journalism professors, many years ago, echo in my thoughts. "It isn't what you DON'T know that gets you in trouble. It's what you DO know that isn't so." Indeed. Even so, the quote I write about below comes to me from eyewitnesses whose recollection and truthfulness I trust implicitly.

America...love it or leave it.
Did Jo Bonner really say that?

I was out of town and unable to attend one of Rep. Josiah Bonner's (R-AL) "Town Hall Meetings" in Baldwin County, Alabama on Tuesday, March 22. But I heard about them. Oh yes, I heard a lot about them.

First, I must commend Rep. Bonner. His town hall meetings are not nearly so controlled nor as scripted at George W. Bush's. Unlike the Bush "pep-rallies", I understand attendees at Rep. Bonner's meetings are not required to obtain tickets beforehand, nor are they chosen from a roster of "approved" citizens. Evidently there's not even a list of "undesirables" who would be summarily turned away. Perhaps because of this, it's impossible for all questions or comments from the audience to be previously vetted and scripted.

Unfortunately, some of Tuesday's gatherings didn't go quite as smoothly as had been hoped. Again unlike the Bush public relations/propaganda shows, participants (both Democrat and Republican, I am told) did not go along with absolutely every action of the current Washington administration. Each and every one of these actions are apparently wholeheartedly endorsed by Rep. Bonner.

Many citizens who attended questioned and commented on the Iraq invasion and subsequent aftermath, the cost and conduct of same, the record-breaking federal deficit, and, of course, the proposed privatization of Social Security. I understand how frustrating it can be to meet with constituents who do not completely share your opinions, especially constituents who may actually oppose and disapprove of what you want to do.

Maybe it was because of the frustration level, and maybe it was also just the end of a tiring day, but towards the conclusion of one meeting a member of the audience quoted Rep. Bonner as saying "If you don't like it in America, then you can leave!"

"America...love it or leave it." I thought we had gotten past this short-sighted, anti-democratic, and un-American bumper-sticker mentality after Viet Nam. Wiser and cooler heads prevailed. "If you don't like it, change it." is the remedy endorsed by the vast majority of freedom loving Americans. That's the great thing about living in a democratic republic. If we don't like the course our elected leaders have set out upon, we can change them and change that course of action.
Maybe it's time for such a change.

Massey Lambard
Foley, AL

footnote: Although there was coverage in local newspapers of the town hall meetings, no mention has so far been made of Rep. Bonner's invitation for dissidents to leave the country. Why am I not surprised?
I contacted Rep. Bonner's office to ask if he actually said what had been reported to me. A very pleasant and courteous aide said since they hadn't been present, they didn't actually know what he said. Fair enough. Then they told me that all of the meetings, conducted over two days in Mobile and Baldwin counties, had been "very contentious". Small wonder.

[Frances]

5. Good letter

Thanks for taking the time to write it. I hope that someone did publish it.

I have a first cousin in Orange Beach whose grandson was in Iraq. I wonder if she was in the audience.

[BamaLefty]

6. Way To Go!

Great letter. I'm very proud of my fellow AL Democrat. :)

[quaoar]

7. Good letter, Massey

Keep up the good work.