Jonathan Kamens 86 47I don't think I'm going to get in to this #EdMarkey town hall in #MaldenMA today. #MAPoli #politics #USPol
EDIT: Made it in!
EDIT: Made it in!
There is a huge auditorium full of people at this town hall and I don't see a single person besides me wearing a mask. Not cool.
Oh, wait, there's one other mask!
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli #CovidIsNotOver
Oh, wait, there's one other mask!
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli #CovidIsNotOver
National Anthem sung, somebody else whose name I missed is speaking now, a lot of puffing up Markey and talking about what an experienced leader he is. Again: I don't care about this. I want to know what Markey is doing, and I want to hear it from him. That's why I'm here.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Markey says we're here today on the 250th anniversary of the start of the American revolution.
"We did not want a king."
Talking about the "Muskocracy".
Now he's introducing all of the other electeds who are here. He's got a good memory for this stuff, and he's strong and solid. Nothing at all like Biden at that awful debate.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
"We did not want a king."
Talking about the "Muskocracy".
Now he's introducing all of the other electeds who are here. He's got a good memory for this stuff, and he's strong and solid. Nothing at all like Biden at that awful debate.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
"I was the first in my family to go to college but I wasn't the smartest… We know the unfairness that was built into our society" before the advances that Trump and Musk want to undo.
Now he's talking about what Trump and Musk are going to cut to pay for $2 trillion in tax cuts.
Still not talking about what he's going to do about it.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Now he's talking about what Trump and Musk are going to cut to pay for $2 trillion in tax cuts.
Still not talking about what he's going to do about it.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Ok now he just brought out three "experts" to talk about what's going on.
I don't want to hear from experts, I want to hear from Markey.
Maybe there are people here in the audience who are learning something from this, but I'm certainly not, and I doubt most of your are either, so I'm going to stop posting until they say something interesting and new.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
I don't want to hear from experts, I want to hear from Markey.
Maybe there are people here in the audience who are learning something from this, but I'm certainly not, and I doubt most of your are either, so I'm going to stop posting until they say something interesting and new.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
I am feeling cheated here. The point of a town hall with an elected official is for the official to answer questions from their constituents. I'm not here to listen to speeches, I'm here to see people challenging Markey about what he's doing and to see how he responds to those challenges.
This is a campaign rally, not a town hall. This is bullshit.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
This is a campaign rally, not a town hall. This is bullshit.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
First question: checks and balances, from an AP History teacher.
Congress has the power of the purse.
The courts so far are defending checks and balances.
We don't know how this is going to play out.
I do know this… We're going to have to litigate.
So far it's tenuously holding.
But we also need to fight back in Congress and block block block. That's why I'm voting against every one of a Trump's things.
We're also going to need an uprising.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Congress has the power of the purse.
The courts so far are defending checks and balances.
We don't know how this is going to play out.
I do know this… We're going to have to litigate.
So far it's tenuously holding.
But we also need to fight back in Congress and block block block. That's why I'm voting against every one of a Trump's things.
We're also going to need an uprising.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Second question: what are you going to do to protect the social safety net programs that my family depends on?
No good answer given, except perhaps that the state legislature will work to find funding to make up for any gaps created by cuts at the federal level.
Markey says that the cuts will affect everyone, red and blue states. I guess he's saying therefore the cuts won't be bad? That's a stupid answer.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
No good answer given, except perhaps that the state legislature will work to find funding to make up for any gaps created by cuts at the federal level.
Markey says that the cuts will affect everyone, red and blue states. I guess he's saying therefore the cuts won't be bad? That's a stupid answer.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Next question: how are the jobs of federal workers going to be protected?
Musk is doing stupid shit.
I feel a special obligation to protect veterans.
We are not going to allow them to dismantle a system that was put in place to etc.
Great, tell us HOW you're going to keep them from dismantling those systems. HOW?
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Musk is doing stupid shit.
I feel a special obligation to protect veterans.
We are not going to allow them to dismantle a system that was put in place to etc.
Great, tell us HOW you're going to keep them from dismantling those systems. HOW?
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Next question: what can be done to support Ukraine. This gets a standing ovation. The person asking the question calls Trump an Oval Office bully.
Markey says Putin is a dictator, Russia invaded Ukraine not the reverse, and what Trump and Vance are doing is absolutely irresponsible.
What we're going to do is block any cuts in aid to Ukraine.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
Markey says Putin is a dictator, Russia invaded Ukraine not the reverse, and what Trump and Vance are doing is absolutely irresponsible.
What we're going to do is block any cuts in aid to Ukraine.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
When Musk gives that salute, it's a permission slip for people in our country to say and do things that we have spent generations rooting out from our country.
It's wrong and it goes against our country values.
I will be there on the front lines in the Senate protecting funding for Ukraine.
(No specifics about how.)
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
It's wrong and it goes against our country values.
I will be there on the front lines in the Senate protecting funding for Ukraine.
(No specifics about how.)
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli
KellyAnn Romanych (she/her)@jik my rep Judy Chu said something similar at our recent telephone townhall. There are two R in California that have huge pops that will be affected by Medicaid cuts. Here's a sample of what info I've pulled together to get specifics out and to support other advocates https://mastodon.social/@kellyromanych/114113918212162232
ikuo
EllenJS
David Croyle@jik That sort of phony political theater is one of the things I hate most about modern American politicians, and the dems. Trust me when I say that I know that the Republicans are vastly worse in every way, but It still sits very badly with me.
Jessamyn@jik Is there going to be time for Q&A, it might be good to be like "Listen, I've been on ALL THE SHOWS talking about how I got fired from a mission critical job and it was bullshit and dangerous for the government to do this. Please let me know you're doing at least as much as me." I mean I love Markey but come on.
@jessamyn I'd love to, but there are a thousand people here, there is not going to be time for more than a few questions, and I'm near the back. I very much doubt I'm going to get to ask a question.
Joseph Elfelt@jik Suggestion for anyone at a politician's 'townhall'.
Early in the event standup and interrupt. Explain that the event was advertised as a 'townhall' and the common meaning of that term was that the politician would answer questions from their constituents. Then ask for a show of hands for how many people came here expecting the politician to answer questions from the audience. Put the screws to them to answer questions. #Resist
BakersRelay@mappingsupport @jik And be firm but polite. Do not let them goad you into helping them to shut down the meeting.
@BakerRL75 @jik Years ago I called for a show of hands at a public meeting. This can be a powerful tool.
Ciggy Bringer of Smoke@jik i love and appreciate you doing this! This is reporting, 100%.
libramoon
Paul_IPv6bet one beer that the phrase "the children are our future" will pop out in the education spiel.
@paul_ipv6 They didn't use those words but the sentiment was definitely there.
Chris Gervais 🎸🥁💻@jik Where is this being held? Is it streamed?
@chrisgervais Malden High School, don't know if it's streaming, kind of doubt it
@EllenJS Yes but with 1,000 people in the room and only an hour and a half scheduled for the event and we're already halfway through that time and they haven't taken any questions yet, I kind of doubt they're going to take many, and I suspect the ones they take will be prescreened.
Bob Collins@EllenJS oh, that sucks, hope you're back on your feet soon!
WulfyLets hope the choice was accidental;
"In 1939 Rice sold the rights to the song to Charlie Mitchell and Jimmie Davis (a common practice in the music business of that era).
Jimmie Davis was a well-known country singer and politician. He recorded “You Are My Sunshine” in 1940, and the song propelled him to elected office in 1944 and again in 1960. He used it as his campaign theme, often singing it while riding a horse called Sunshine.
In 1960 Jimmie Davis was elected Louisiana governor on a segregationist ticket."
While it's not necessarily an anti-civil rights anthem as black performers recorded it later.
It's probably not a random choice in your town Hall.
@n_dimension I mean, I don't think Markey's progressive credentials are in doubt.
Sakti 
Blake C. Stacey@jik I wore mine!
Lasse Gismo - 🇮🇱🇺🇦🇸🇩