How Come No Republicans At The Cooper Blogger Meetup?

20 Responses to “How Come No Republicans At The Cooper Blogger Meetup?”

1. JS writes
   April 9th, 2009 2:45 pm

   Below is the bulk of the comment I just posted at Mack’s blog in response to Katherine’s concerns. Bottom line: this wasn’t a claque, and diversity of opinions is welcome and will be improved on as we go along, provided we can keep a good discussion going. This was a first effort. If you want to be involved, drop me a line at john.spragens@mail.house.gov and I’ll keep a list. Thanks, John

   From Mack’s place:

   While I don’t know everyone’s party affiliation who was present this morning, many of the folks represented have been very critical of Jim and may well continue to be. As I explained to the group, the bloggers who were invited were ones I knew in person and by reputation, who weren’t affiliated with “mainstream” (sorry Freddie) media, and who I thought would give him a fair hearing (e.g., I’d never seen them categorically declare that all Democrats are idiots). I was also concerned that if we had too broad a spectrum represented we would spend more time debating ideology than talking policy.

   That said, these things are a work in progress, and as Jim said, this won’t be the last one he does. He wants to get more voices involved. That’s why I asked all the bloggers who joined us this morning to think about who might do the next one. If you’re interested, let them - and me - know.

2. Bob K writes
   April 9th, 2009 3:02 pm

   Then John should have invited me. While we’ve had a few differences on policy, I’ve probably been as complimentary of Rep. Cooper as any conservative blogger in Tennessee, and more so even than a few of the liberal bloggers that were there.

3. Reality writes
   April 9th, 2009 3:12 pm

   Let’s get real. “A fair hearing” = Hacking for Coop. I mean come on, we get that he looks down his nose at anyone who isn’t smart enough to agree with him, but let’s cut the BS.

   Cooper has been a political snob all the way back to when he was forced to mingle with the masses at the Walking Horse Show in the 4th District.

4. Southern Beale writes
   April 9th, 2009 3:34 pm

   It wasn’t a press conference and anyway, I don’t recall ever getting invited to blogger meet-ups where Bill Hobbs was in attendance.

5. Reality writes
   April 9th, 2009 3:35 pm

   Maybe “congressman” cooper should remember he represents everyone here.

6. Freddie O'Connell writes
   April 9th, 2009 3:37 pm

   So you all are seriously petty enough to want “top post” privileges from your congressman? What part of “this won’t be the last one” is hard to understand?

7. spaz writes
   April 9th, 2009 3:45 pm

   Really, how many liberal bloggers get invited to meet with Marsha Blackburn? Or Zach Wamp?

   At least Spragens is offering an invitation to the wingnuts in the future. Will Marsha and Zach do the same for the lefties?

8. Reality writes
   April 9th, 2009 3:45 pm

   Oh no, let’s be clear. My issue is not with the barring of anyone with a differing view from the event.
   We’ve known for years that Cooper runs from intellectual discourse.

   My issue is this pile of crap Nashville Scene trained hack Spragens is trying to feed us about a “fair hearing.” A) it’s garbage and B) it’s insulting to many responsible bloggers who might disagree with his majesty yet somehow mange to conduct themselves appropriately.

9. Micky writes
   April 9th, 2009 4:17 pm

   Krumm,

   Are you serious? You say some of the nuttiest stuff I have ever seen? Why would he want to invite you? Get real, brother love.

10. Kat Coble writes
    April 9th, 2009 4:21 pm

    It wasn’t a press conference and anyway, I don’t recall ever getting invited to blogger meet-ups where Bill Hobbs was in attendance.

    You may not have blogging at that time, but 3+ years ago Hobbs and Cobb ran several joint blogger lunches drawing on political bloggers from all ranges of the spectrum to meet with various political types. All flavours were invited. While I was unable to attend, those that went all found them useful and polite gatherings.

    I assume that had you been blogging at that time, you would have most definitely been invited.

    That’s why I asked all the bloggers who joined us this morning to think about who might do the next one. If you’re interested, let them - and me - know.

    Well, I guess now I’m interested. Especially since you saw fit to invite a blogger who isn’t even a resident of the 5th district, and therefore not represented by Cooper. And while it doesn’t seem like it from today’s writing, I assure you that I am polite and well-spoken.

11. Reality writes
    April 9th, 2009 4:22 pm

    You mean as nutty as “hey, Obama told me to piss off Nancy Pelosi.” That kind of nutty?

12. Kat Coble writes
    April 9th, 2009 4:25 pm

    Micky,

    Unless he’s moved or I’m mistaken, Mack isn’t a resident of the 5th district, and therefore not Cooper’s constituent.

    Unless HE’s moved or I’m mistaken, Krumm is both a resident of 5 AND a constituent of Cooper.

13. Mack writes
    April 9th, 2009 4:52 pm

    EXCEPT THIS WAS NOT A “MEETING” OF HIS CONSTITUENTS!

    This is real easy, folks. Cooper agreed to meet with five bloggers, to discuss issues they write about. I actually went thinking he had something to sell to us, but he spent the whole morning answering questions. Tough ones at that.

    John S. has said, twice now, that he intends to organize more of these, and include other engaged bloggers. Since the first was this morning, I’m willing to cut him a little slack for not scheduling one immediately after lunch…

14. Reality writes
    April 9th, 2009 5:03 pm

    All he has to do is be honest. I know it’s difficult, but try. Here, I’ll help:

    “I am a liberal. I only wanted to talk to liberals so they can go forth and spread my message of government joy. I had no need for any bloggers other than liberals in the room. Thank you for asking.”

15. Kat Coble writes
    April 9th, 2009 5:32 pm

    EXCEPT THIS WAS NOT A “MEETING” OF HIS CONSTITUENTS!

    Obviously. In that case, I hope we, his constituents, didn’t pick up the tab for everyone’s coffee.

16. Mack writes
    April 9th, 2009 5:33 pm

    Reality, predictability in a car is a good thing. With a person, its boring as hell. The ‘Liberals’ in the room didn’t include Cooper.

17. Mack writes
    April 9th, 2009 5:36 pm

    Coble, you are multi-dimensional, why not comment like it? This a winning strategy for you? Coffee? Seriously? Hookers and blow would give you a little traction, perhaps, but this is a stretch only Gumby should try.

18. Reality writes
    April 9th, 2009 5:42 pm

    Well so far everyone that has fessed up to being there seems to be pretty far over there on the libnut scale. And just because he’s not liberal enough for the Obamatons doesn’t mean he’s not in the club.

19. Donna Locke writes
    April 9th, 2009 9:38 pm

    Reality, Jim Cooper doesn’t want to be confronted with any inconvenient facts, or by any victims of his voting and the policies he advocates.

20. Kat Coble writes
    April 9th, 2009 10:12 pm

    Coble, you are multi-dimensional, why not comment like it?

    What other dimensions should I comment on? You can’t have it both ways. Either he’s being transparent by reaching out to the blogging community or he’s having a DeseDemDose day, in which case it starts to look dangerously like campaigning. I take very seriously those who campaign on the Congress dime. It’s a real problem, of special concern to folks like me who aren’t affiliated with one of the two major parties. You can laugh it off as “just coffee” all you like, but when a representative meets with key Democrats in play, including one who is notorious for campaigning AND not his constituent it looks to me like I might have a point in whichever dimension you want to play it.

    Yeah, it’s little stuff. But if nobody says “whoa” to the little stuff you get…well, you get what the TNDP has turned into these days.