Her complaint had nothing to do with press conferences but only with the description of the event as a Townhall. Historically, Townhall events are not scripted, attendance is open without invitations, and the ideas are free flowing.

This was no Townhall event, it was basically a photo-op for Obama to push his agenda.

Oh really tell me about it. I'm not up to date with the latest cynical wheezes of Barry the African and his cross armed anubis tomb guarder they all call Raahummm.

But let me get this straight. So his publicity machine filled with PR operatives put together a photo op that they call a "Townhall" but which resembles nothing of the kind and the loyal brain removed stenograph corp who are all called "Unk" call it that without comment in their later write ups.

Amazing, the cheaper the trick the more effective they are.

that Israel is still occupying Gaza?

Contrary to their statements to the contrary, the fact that Israel still controls the border of Gaza indicates that their statements claiming that they no longer occupy Gaza are lies.

Anyone interested in why this distinction is important should read up on the responsibilities of an occupying power to the inhabitants of the occupied zone.

Israel continues to commit in war crimes.

link at sig

That and her obviously ponderous and pendulous gonads. ;-}

And she makes sure everyone knows it! See pic at sig.

Even more peculiarly, once upon a time, Israel was adamant that such a naval blockade constituted a casus belli, i.e., justification for war.

See for example:

http://www.knesset.gov.il/lexicon/eng/six_days_eng.htm

just doing a quick net check after the fact to make sure I had spelled the word "Unk" a character from Vonnegut's The Sirens of Titan properly I was reminded of this:

“As far as I’m concerned, the Universe is a junk yard, with everything in it overpriced. I am through poking around in the junk heaps, looking for bargains. Every so-called bargain has been connected by fine wires to a dynamite bouquet.”---Malachi Constant

Worth bearing in mind if anyone moves over to the Huff to read Taibbi's, "The Great American Bubble Machine".

The quote comes from the book published in 1959. The man Vonnegut was a fucking prophet that he was.

Thomas was not complaining about [...] the fact that people knew in advance who would ask questions.

Her complaint had nothing to do with press conferences but only with the description of the event as a Townhall.

__________

No.

Ms. Thomas presented two different (though related) complaints to Mr. Gibbs.

She had a complaint about the upcoming "town hall" and then she also had another complaint - - about the recent press conference.

One complaint - - the one to which you refer - - was about how the "town hall" was going to be staged.

Her other complaint - - the one to which I refer - - was, specifically and explicitly, about the Nico Pitney incident, which she called "shocking".

When I watched her say that, I felt disappointed.

Oh really tell me about it. I'm not up to date with the latest cynical wheezes of Barry the African and his cross armed anubis tomb guarder they all call Raahummm.

Perhaps we should get something straight here.

Although I am not particularly fond of Barack Obama's performance as President, I am even less fond of assholes who use racist terminology to describe him.

Barack Obama is an American, not an African.

ignore when UT's resident not-Xist acts Xist. Par for the course around here.

BTW, how is the war were you pimping a few months ago going? Yours and Ondelette's and now "the Left's" glorious war.

We only killed 17 in the latest drone attack (attacks that ondolette encouraged and supported, I don't feel like digging through his archive to find the post where he says we need to drop bombs on Waziristan).

US Drone Strike Kills at Least 17 in South Waziristan

Latest Attack Came as Napolitano Met Officials in Islamabad

by Jason Ditz, July 03, 2009

US drones launched an attack on sites in South Waziristan today, killing at least 17 and injuring some 27 others according to intelligence officials. The strike came as US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano was visiting Pakistani officials in Islamabad.

Kind of a low score compared to the 80+ that the Obamabombs killed last week.

http://news.antiwar.com/2009/06/24/at-least-35-civilians-killed-in-us-drone-strike-on-funeral/

Dozens of Civilians, No Militant Leaders, Killed in US Drone Strike on Pakistan Funeral

TTP Insists Only Five Members Lost

by Jason Ditz, June 24, 2009

Sources involved in the rescue operation following yesterday’s US attack on a South Waziristan funeral procession reported that at least 35 civilians were among the slain, and that no prominent militant commanders were killed in the strike.

TTP Leader Baitullah Mehsud

The drone strike, which according to current counts killed at least 80 people, is by far the single deadliest US attack on Pakistani soil since the practice began last year. Pakistani officials expressed muted discontent over the strike.

Go Humanitarianism!

I admit that I was wrong in characterizing Arabs as being unable to grasp math concepts. It was wrong to state a generalized view of why something happened, in a particular incidence, based on the accepted explanation at the time among ex-pats, which was unproven.

I apologize.

At the time the general consensus among ex-pats in the Middle East (mostly the Brits) was that the reason so many foreigners were in the country was that most of the Arabs weren't generally well-educated and because an adequate educational system wasn't available to them. Also because automation and similar modern techniques were new to them and outside expertise was needed. That's why the ex-pats really ran things, which I think is hard to dispute.

I didn't give much thought to what I wrote and have been reconsidering it.

Yet I keep coming back to the "fact" that the people there were not prepared for modern technology, such as it was at the time.

The times were very good. The oil money was pouring in and it was being spent on outside help, sculptures, art and a wide variety of other things.

When I was there, in Jeddah, which is where I was when my little anecdote occurred, they were putting up stop lights at busy intersections. They had to impose severe penalties in order to have people understand the need to stop. It was a learning experience that had to be seen to be believed.

I attempted to be careful in not writing anything offensive, but I wouldn't bet that I succeeded.