…. he has a way of bringing out the “interesting” in people. The gentleman who speaks after Congressman Joe Knollenberg is Trent Wisecup, Knollenberg’s Chief of Staff.
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…. he has a way of bringing out the “interesting” in people. The gentleman who speaks after Congressman Joe Knollenberg is Trent Wisecup, Knollenberg’s Chief of Staff.
Filed under Politics
Here’s an example of what some far-left individuals do when they disagree with a politician’s stance on an issue. Bruce already knows the Congressman’s point of view. He wants to capture his public assault on video so he may spin it the way he wants.
Simple Bruce insinuates that there is no acceptable answer other than his. He isn’t after dialogue. He doesn’t want Knollenberg to answer. He simply wants it to look as if the representative isn’t voting the correct way. Knollenberg is a Republican voted into office by the citizens of his district. Maybe Bruce doesn’t understand the concept of voting inline with one’s constituents.
Liberal Bruce asks Knollenberg “When ya gonna end the war?” What a great example that many Democrats would rather end the war than win it. In fact, it appears they want the United States to lose in order to make President Bush look bad. Most Republicans want to win the war which, in turn, will end it, bringing democracy to the Iraqi people and an ally in the region.
Democrats and Republicans, together, voted to take military action in Iraq. Congress continues to fund the war. I wonder why Bruce won’t stalk his Democrat senators; stick a camera in their faces asking why they don’t end the war? Why won’t they vote to cut funding for the war? He can then put that on YouTube.
Liberal Bruce continues asking Knollenberg, “When ya gonna vote for SCHIP?” Well, Knollenberg does support the current State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) that helps children of low-income families. He doesn’t support expanding the program to, among other things; include the children of middle-class families. Maybe Bruce should do some investigating before asking questions.
Here’s another chance for Bruce to stalk his Democrat senators; ask them why they want to expand SCHIP by $35 billion and create more entitlement programs leading us to socialism when they could have re-authorized the current program and continued to help the children?
Part of Trent Wisecup’s job is to protect his boss from aggressive agitators like Bruce. After Knollenberg answered the questions, he did just that. People like Bruce think to disrupt, disturb, be rude, be loud and get in your face is the way to communicate effectively. Liberal Democrats refer to this behavior as dissent. I think this highlights one who is incapable of effectively arguing a position. When you can’t argue a point, you have to “dissent” hoping your behavior will stop any meaningful conversation. This tact makes up for lack of logic.
Early in the video, Bruce talks about the T-shirt he’s wearing – Young Turks, an Air America radio program. This illustrates how Bruce fits into a small minority of opinion. Air America, a small, left-wing radio network, which recently went bankrupt, has only a handful of affiliates – small stations with anemic ratings.
One correction – Air America Radio’s original owners declared bankruptcy in 2006. Green Family Media completed their purchase of the company in March of this year. The company is no longer bankrupt.
Also a bit of history… Air America Radio has been on the air since 2004; Rush Limbaugh started two decades earlier. Conservative talkers have, over time, built a very well-defined and faithful audience. Of the 20% of the listening public who tune into political talk, most are male, middle-aged and conservative. That comes from studies done by the Pew Research Center and a talk industry magazine.
In addition, a small number of very large companies own large blocks of talk stations. Those companies are broadcasting one type of programming to all or most of their stations, because it makes financial sense. They aren’t going to risk running progressive programming, because it takes time to build an audience and a base of advertisers – as amply proved by Air America’s rocky history.
The success of conservative talk is really just a simple equation: history + money + access.
Ratings are the big equalizer. No company is going to run programming that people don’t want to watch or listen to. It doesn’t make financial sense to continue with a program that isn’t supported by advertising.
Very interesting. So, attempting to engage one’s own “representative” in casual conversation about issues that concern you is now classified as un-American? Joe McCarthy is chortling in his grave…
Representative Knollenberg and his handlers seem more than a bit nervous – you know, like the schoolyard bullies who can’t answer with reasoned argument, so they resort to name-calling and threats. Just like some of the comments posted here and on the video – epithets and attempted insults are a sure giveaway that one has lost the argument, and one well knows it.
As for “minority” status – one needs to look at the plethora of polls taken around the country, not just by “liberal” media, but by respected, non-partisan entities. The vast majority of respondents, from Republicans, Democrats and Independents have expressed their deep disgust with a war that was started unnecessarily, has been waged incompetently and continues to drain the life out of our American heroes, almost on a daily basis. The last national elections proved that, and I believe that only scratched the surface of discontent within American society today.
When “victory” has an ever-changing definition (from those who wage the war currently), concerned citizens – real red blooded Americans – must stand up and demand straight, honest answers. That they are having to do so more and more these days is proof positive that they are not getting straight answers. If you think you’re right, you need to prove it, and if defending your position is too difficult – well, need we say more?
Why Joe Knollenberg continues to support this modern-day Vietnam is a fair question, I think. When your constituents demand action, and you refuse not only to act but to even discuss the issue with the voters, you leave yourself open to the kind of encounter seen on Mr. Fealk’s video. As for “spinning” this piece – I think Mr. Wisecup’s own words are sufficient for gathering what went on there. Unless Mr. Fealk used special effects to change what came out of Mr. Wisecup’s mouth, the video footage spoke volumes about how these guys act when challenged. No spin needed here.
As for SCHIP, the sad truth is that many middle-class families can’t afford real health insurance. With many companies dropping this as a traditionally offered benefit, even those who are making what was once considered decent wages are now forced to pay exorbitant premiums and huge co-pays just to get inadequate coverage. While members of Congress and their hangers-on get some of the best medical care in the world, they complain that helping America’s middle-class keep up with skyrocketing insurance costs is “too expensive”. Yet we all know that we all pay the cost in the end – far more than if our representatives did the right thing and helped fix the problem legislatively. When the uninsured and the under-insured end up at the local hospital’s ER, we always get stuck with the bill – even more expensive than if Congress had done their job in the first place! But those insurance companies are making record profits, aren’t they? And their lobbyists, they’re as active as ever, aren’t they? And their campaign donations are…hmm, simple math tells us why the situation remains as it is, does it not?
That the United States hasn’t the will or gumption to overhaul it’s medical system, even though it has plummeted below most other nation’s in terms of quality and efficacy for it’s own citizens, is a national scandal. Once respected, our system of providing necessary care to all Americans is now pointed at with derision by much of the world’s industrialized nations.
This is acceptable to our right-wing screamers?
Mr. Knollenberg’s record is one of being a virtual rubber stamp for the Bush administration. If that’s what he believes is the best representation for ALL of his constituents, then he needs to be ready to defend his decisions, not just in press releases, but face-to-face. Complaining about being challenged regarding one’s own actions only perpetuates the perception of being feeble and cowardly. Not a good image for someone up for re-election.