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[science_expat]

It's quite interesting, though not surprising, to see the differing reactions to Wilson's statement. CNN is going ballistic, the Beeb has barely reported it.

[stitch]

It's quite interesting, though not surprising, to see the differing reactions to Wilson's statement. CNN is going ballistic, the Beeb has barely reported it.

I often daydreamed about W having to cope with a 'Prime Minister's Questions' type session.  It would have been quite amusing. 

[marfa]

I keep thinking about some episode of "The West Wing" where they were talking about
respecting the office even if you disagree with the person. 

His outburst was unacceptable. 

[qrypt]

It was unacceptable by the standards that are considered to apply to the US Congress.  But I also think those standards are not sacred and would prefer to see a bit more of the rough and tumble that prevails in the Commons.  Now, I think Wilson's comments, if made in the Commons, would have gotten him ejected there in short order.  But in general the formality of American politics is weird, not what I would expect in a comparison between the UK and the US.

[marfa]

There should certainly be room for an actual dialog in American politics, but this was a formal address.  Maybe I'm really oldfashioned, but I think some things are appropriate in some settings and some in others.  I would hate to see these rare Congressional addresses or even the yearly State of the Union turn into a Jerry Springer free-for-all. 

Maybe the underlying problem is that civil dialogs are becoming more rare in all areas.  Witness the recent townhall meetings.  Those were supposed to be give and take, but when it breaks down to people screaming or threatening, there's no communicating.

Maybe the press could start asking meaningful questions, maybe politicians could start speaking in something other than 5 second soundbites straight from party headquarters, maybe occasionally some who strongly disagreed could say, "I can see where you might be concerned, but here's the point that I think you're missing." 

Maybe not.

[larryc]

A lot of people on the left are arguing that Wilson played right into Obama's hands, strengthening Obama's "only grownup in the room" style and making the right look like louts.

However, to the extent that we are talking about Wilson this morning instead of about health care, the Republicans win.

[kaysixteen]

One almost wonders whether this clown is a Democratic 5th columnist.  Obama Derangement Syndrome is really making lots of people act, say, and believe, stupidly, and, sadly, far too many evangelicals are mindlessly rehashing anti-healthcare talking points fed to them by rightist sources, most of whom are about as Christian as the Dalai Lama, lacking the latter's charm, of course.

[tolerantly]

I fail to see what the big deal is about. This must be the only non-dictatorship on the planet with such a rod up its ass about Respecting The Office Of The Presidency; as stitch points out, the pols have to deal with legislative heckling all the time in other countries.  No pies were thrown, no shoes were banged.

It's too bad he had no comeback better than "That's not true," though.

[neutralname]

One almost wonders whether this clown is a Democratic 5th columnist.  Obama Derangement Syndrome is really making lots of people act, say, and believe, stupidly, and, sadly, far too many evangelicals are mindlessly rehashing anti-healthcare talking points fed to them by rightist sources, most of whom are about as Christian as the Dalai Lama, lacking the latter's charm, of course.

There was a fascinating and alarming interview today with Max Blumenthal, author of Republican Gomorrah: Inside the Movement That Shattered the Party on NPR today.  It is published by NationBooks, which gives an indication of the author's liberal take on it all, but his info on how Obama conspiracy theories are routinely accepted by listeners to very popular talk radio shows was quite astonishing to me.  And the militias are becoming popular once more.  So the rude congressman and people like Glen Beck and Sean Hannity are just the tip of a Palin-lovin' iceberg. 

[daniel_von_flanagan]

The POTUS is both Head of Government and Head of State.  In a forum like this he's playing a role somewhere in between (whereas with the address for the kiddies he was in pure Head of State mode).

Even in England, where people pretend to hate the monarchy, it is hard to imagine this kind of behavior at an appearance of the Queen.

I think we should have a separate Head of State.  Paris Hilton would be very good in the role. - DvF

[tolerantly]

The POTUS is both Head of Government and Head of State.  In a forum like this he's playing a role somewhere in between (whereas with the address for the kiddies he was in pure Head of State mode).

Even in England, where people pretend to hate the monarchy, it is hard to imagine this kind of behavior at an appearance of the Queen.

I think we should have a separate Head of State.  Paris Hilton would be very good in the role. - DvF

I see your point, but I don't think a healthcare-agenda address is a HOS moment.  That's govt plain and simple.  Imagine all the hooing and stamping that would've gone on in Commons in a similar assembly.

[patchouli]

Wilson's outburst was disrespectful, rude, and lacked class; if he felt an urge to accuse the President (or any speaker) of lying, there were many other places and times where that might have been effective. That's what editorials and rebuttals are for, but he just played right into Obama's hands, like Larryc said. 

Some conservative radio talk shows are making him out to be a hero, but he's already posted his apology.  I imagine now that his temper is down, he is rationally thinking about his job.  It may be too late.

[astronomygal]

Some conservative radio talk shows are making him out to be a hero, but he's already posted his apology.  I imagine now that his temper is down, he is rationally thinking about his job.  It may be too late.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2009/09/rep-joe-wilsons-opponent-gets-a-boost.html

"Rep. Joe Wilson's outburst during President Obama's speech Tuesday night angered lots of Democrats -- but it benefited one, too: his opponent in South Carolina’s 2nd District.

Democrat Robert Miller, a retired Marine and Iraq veteran who is challenging Wilson in next year’s election, had just $48,974 in campaign funds as of June 30, according to CQ MoneyLine. Since Wilson’s comment, Miller has banked over $400,000 in new donations from more than 11,000 individual contributions -- or so says the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee."

[h0tkeys]

After reading all of the hubbub about it, I finally watched the video clip of it.  My impression was that it sounds like Joe Wilson simply didn't hide his outburst during the chorus of grumbling and praising.  It also even sounds like he said it a first time and felt like he wasn't heard so he waited until it was quiet and tries it a second time.  Still an idiot, though.

[kaysixteen]

It seems now for at least the last three (inclusive) presidencies, we have had folks on the far-opposition suffering from nutty conspiracy and what-not theories about the guy in power.  This is not helpful.  Obama has said all the right things, and done many, about wanting to end this sort of thing, but his enemies will not let him, and too many suckers are easy cannon fodder for self-serving lies.