Right Wing Extremists Descend Upon Town Halls Nationwide.

With a useful picture to help you spot said political terrorists. Which will be nice for congresswoman Betsy Markey (D-CO) when she finally gets around to talking to her constituents on the subject.

To be fair, I can’t say that I blame any of the Democrats--especially the freshmen or anyone in a more conservative district--who are being saddled with an increasingly unpopular set of shifting proposals on health care, who are watching opinion polls flipping on them dramatically, and who are faced with the probability of very angry voters showing up to their town hall meetings and putting them in the position of having to either say “no” to the Democratic party leadership or saying potentially saying “no” to their own re-election possibilities. I’d want to head off on a fact-finding mission, too; the Middle East seems safer for them.

Some folks--mostly deranged, right-wing extremists from what I hear--are doing their best to ensure that their representatives have a good opportunity to hear their thoughts, though. From a news release I received just a bit ago:

Concerned citizens are making it very easy for Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Tex., to keep his promise to meet with constituents regarding the health care reform bill.  Friday, “town meeting” style rallies will take place at all three of Edwards’ district office locations in Cleburne, Bryan, and Waco.  Simultaneous news conferences will be held at noon to discuss HR 3200, the so-called “America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009.”

“Americans are facing an unprecedented event in our history,” said Randy Shelton organizer of the Granbury Tea Party.  “Never before has the private industry that has made America so great been so threatened by a growing government. No where has a government take-over of a private industry worked out well for the private sector. Nowherehas it been successful.”

Edwards has told KBTX-TV in Bryan that he “will not vote for any bill that sets up a nationally socialized plan like Canadian health care, a one-size-fits-all.  That won’t work in America, I won’t support it, and I don’t think it’ll pass Congress.”

But Shelton said such a pledge is meaningless, since Congress isn’t considering moving directly to a Canadian-style system.

I know: crazy bastards. How dare they think they should have a voice in the political process?

Update: There’s an app for that. Awesome.

Is it just me or is PJTV getting better? Some of the stuff I’ve been seeing from them lately is really hitting a good note.

Now, go check out what Combs has to say about the town hall meetings. I suspect that he’s right: if you want your constituents to conduct themselves civilly, treat them with respect and be willing to listen.