Town Hall meeting with Governor Gregoire
Town Hall meeting with Governor Gregoire
The well-rehearsed Town Hall meeting with Governor Christine Gregoire will take place this evening. Rehearsed, you ask? Oh yes. Democrats in power take no more chance with real democracy than do Repub
The well-rehearsed Town Hall meeting with Governor Christine Gregoire will take place this evening. Rehearsed, you ask? Oh yes. Democrats in power take no more chance with real democracy than do Republicans. The audience gets seeded with the right people and the agenda gets tested and as much control as possible is set in place ahead of time. Listen to the people? No no. How old fashioned. The purpose is to get public approval for the Gov's proposals. After all, there is an election next year. Hello.
Rehearsed? Well, gee, I guess the Herald forgot to report the focus group last week. The Gov's advance team paid 50 selected local citizens $50 bucks each to sit in for a mock session and give their feedback to issues tested on them. That gives the Gov's staff a feel for local attitudes. Tonight's session will get the benefit of what was learned. Oh, and those 50 all got free passes to sit in the best seats - those close to the Gov - for tonight's meeting. They have been warmed up just as talk show audiences get warmed up before the star comes out.
So - let's take the news reports of how successful and wonderful this down-to-earth, grassroots 'town hall' democracy event with more than a grain of salt. Any suggestions from the audience are also probably arranged ahead of time. The risk of a suggestion from a citizen that runs counter to Gregoire's agenda is minimized as much as possible. This is a kick-off for her 2008 campaign for reelection. Nothing more. If you think this a cynical opinion then perhaps you are forgetting already the purpose of the very expensive focus group event.
Rehearsed? Well, gee, I guess the Herald forgot to report the focus group last week. The Gov's advance team paid 50 selected local citizens $50 bucks each to sit in for a mock session and give their feedback to issues tested on them. That gives the Gov's staff a feel for local attitudes. Tonight's session will get the benefit of what was learned. Oh, and those 50 all got free passes to sit in the best seats - those close to the Gov - for tonight's meeting. They have been warmed up just as talk show audiences get warmed up before the star comes out.
So - let's take the news reports of how successful and wonderful this down-to-earth, grassroots 'town hall' democracy event with more than a grain of salt. Any suggestions from the audience are also probably arranged ahead of time. The risk of a suggestion from a citizen that runs counter to Gregoire's agenda is minimized as much as possible. This is a kick-off for her 2008 campaign for reelection. Nothing more. If you think this a cynical opinion then perhaps you are forgetting already the purpose of the very expensive focus group event.
