Pirate's Cove

I wonder what could have caused this? (h/t Dr. Melissa Clouthier)

Screaming constituents, protesters dragged out by the cops, congressmen fearful for their safety — welcome to the new town-hall-style meeting, the once-staid forum that is rapidly turning into a house of horrors for members of Congress.

On the eve of the August recess, members are reporting meetings that have gone terribly awry, marked by angry, sign-carrying mobs and disruptive behavior. In at least one case, a congressman has stopped holding town hall events because the situation has spiraled so far out of control.

Aw. The poor babies. Imagine them being so out of touch with their constituents that their constituents are livid and expect their elected officials to be responsible to their constituents.

“I had felt they would be pointless,” Rep. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.) told POLITICO, referring to his recent decision to temporarily suspend the events in his Long Island district. “There is no point in meeting with my constituents and [to] listen to them and have them listen to you if what is basically an unruly mob prevents you from having an intelligent conversation.”

The problem is, the conversation has tended to be one way, and I am not just speaking about Democrats.

Democrats, acknowledging the increasing unruliness of the town-hall-style events, say the hot-button issues they are taking on have a lot to do with it.

“I think it’s just the fact that we are dealing with some of the most important public policy issues in a generation,” said Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa), who was confronted by a protester angry about his position on health care reform at a town hall event several weeks ago.

No, it’s not that you are dealing with them, it is HOW you are dealing, or, in some cases, not dealing, with them. Hence, the really pissed off constituents, who expect value for and responsibility with the money taken at the barrel of a jail cell.