We are going to have one of these Town Hall meetings next week.

I am in a position to have some influence on what goes on and how it goes on. Here are my thoughts, please feel free to criticize or add suggestions.

A low key police presence is necessary. Not storm troopers, just a presence.

Name tags...people should identify themselves. If they are going to be assholes, we all should know who they are.

This meeting is being run by one of our Senators, so I can't control that but, if I did, I would suggest that the format be laid out right at the start. One person speaks at a time and identifies themselves and where they are from. No shouting, no interrupting, no demonstrations. If that happens, the meeting is over, or, even better, everyone goes silent and stays silent until there is silence and order.

I think we can wait these folks out.

One more thing: if someone says that the health care bills call for the death of elderly people or other outrageous claims, I would ask them to cite the specific provision in the bill that says that...you would be amazed at how quickly some of these ignorant puppets fade when they are asked to back up what they say with facts.

But the real tactic is to fall silent when someone starts yelling...fall silent and stay silent until they look around, get embarassed and stop.

It works. It really does. This movement will fold like a cheap suit if we keep our composure, be patient and keep calling them out for the facts.

If the crowd just goes silent, how long do you think one of these pinheads can speak? @ sentences... Do NOT shout at them, let them have the floor. They'll shut up very quickly...

there were very few female lawyers in my specialty, I would run up against people at meeting who just constantly interrupted me. Finally I arrived at a very effective tactic: I would fall silent...the asshole would rant away and then realize that I wasn't responding. Inevitable they would stop and be confused and I would remain silent for an uncomfortable length of time...all eyes would be on me and then I would say "are you finished interrupting?" Always worked like a charm.

It is a strategy that worked for this male lawyer also.

Except I used it when the opposing side wasn't responding to the point I made. Just rambling off on their own talking points.

I might suggest moving away from them and isolating them. Don't do anything, just back away until they're isolated and watch them. Silently.

If they try to move toward you, back away.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/8/4/761608/-Tea-Baggers-FAIL-to-disrupt-Health-Care-meeting,-lessons-shared.

I like your tactics, too. May I copy them to our local Obama for America group? I'm sending them suggestions since I cannot be otherwise active.

suggestions to your group. Bottom line is :go silent when people disrup and stay silent until they stop AND insist on the facts. I think they teach 2nd grade teachers this tactic...oh, also keep your voice low...people will become quieter because they want to hear you.

They are a little concerned - too many of them think of DU as totally left wing fringe people. But I've told them this is a good resource of information. And now about all I can do it use my time to check the internet, so I might as well use it to send them good info.

might help dissuade chaos as well. I like the idea of name tags and presenting the rules or format first. It might be helpful to have someone passing out a paper with those same rules to people as they enter the door. Please report back and let everyone know how it goes. Good luck!

Have someone circulate the mike, always keeping it in their hands, rather than having standing mikes that people can take over. Turn the mikes off when it's the Senator's turn to speak. There's no need to amplify the disruptors.

Also, ask that everyone identify who they are and where they're from before asking a question. No compliance, the mike goes away. No specific question, the mike goes away.

Set clear ground rules before the meeting begins that this will be an exercise in civil discourse and ask for the police's help in removing those who would disrupt.

Personally, I'd like to make one of the turfers who believes that old people will be put to death admit--out loud--that it doesn't and apologize for being stupid.

But, hey, that's me.

Otherwise, kick and rec; I look forward to the follow-up report!

to drag these idiots out in cuffs after an attitude adjustment and a bite on the knee from rin tin tin.

You need metal detectors and a series of check points from the outside to the inside to weed out these idiots check them for weapons and take their signs away and make them understand that if they disrupt they go to jail.

Ever been to a Presidential or Presidential candidate appearance and seen how the Secret Service runs the show? I worked the Kerry Edwards event in Orlando in 2004 as staff and we kept the flip floppers (show up with shower shoes and throw them) out on the street and stopped them from disrupting the event.

Doug D.

mic up in the room and have people wade to it. Have vol. move around the room to get to people. Have the person taking questions do like Obama and go boy/ girl/ boy/ girl and pick randomly.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6244066&mesg_id=6244066

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I'd propose the following for members of congress speaking at town hall events: (1) Announce beforehand that there have been organized efforts to disrupt constituent meetings and it might happen here too, (2) ask everyone to please stay calm even in the face of provocation, (3) have your own cameras there to record the lunatics, and (4) rely on the fact that organized screaming doesn't wear well with the American public. And then turn up the volume on your sound system.

Give these idiots as much a chance as possible to do something stupid in front of cameras.

yeah, there should be a police presence. these thugs are just dangerous, now what with their threats of bringing firearms at the townhall meetings.

think they are misguided and misdirected. For my Towm meeting, I'm thinking of suggesting that the cops hang out in my office which is a few steps away from the meeting. They just need to be available not looming.

I'd give people all night if they want a respectful, intelligent discussion with a basic set of rules and fact-based dialogue, and no engagement whatsoever if they want to act like fools.

Good luck with your Town Hall. Keep us posted!

My aunt and uncle are in Keene.
They're in the small group of people who would go and protest the war every Sunday.

If the meeting's within a two-hour drive, I know they'll go.

good plan.

a respectful attitude. I could be very wrong but I hope not.

Limit the event to citizens of the district/state. Make them show id with addresses.

The meeting is intended to be a respectful exchange of ideas.

And then keep staring at them for several more seconds.

No signs allowed in the interior of the building. All signs remain outside and post someone there to assure that they are left alone.

Females enter the room/building first and leave first.

No children allowed in the meeting.

No weapons. (Goes without saying but make it clear)

Use of profanity, threats or any other behavior that poses a risk to others or promotes a volatile environment will not be tolerated. Either escort the party out or provide an area where they may continue to view the meeting via televised media. Once they are out, they may not return to the meeting.

No chanting. Belongs at a protest, not a meeting.

Cover your room. Have adults with specified ID designated to assist participants

Parking away from the building only. Block off the area in the front and back of the building.

Keep it short. An hour. End. Any more than that and people will begin to protest.

And the most important thing: Have an agenda. Use media to make your/others points. Establish a lottery. Give everyone a number and fishbowl them out for questions. Make it transparent.

Good luck. Post the "rules" in the local paper prior to the meeting and outside the meeting area.

why the women entering first and leaving first?

women tend to sit in small groups or in two's. It will break up some of the "clumping" seating choices. When they leave, and they usually do in an orderly fashion, the guys will generally follow. You may also move the elderly to the front of the seating area. Another trick of showing consideration while also keeping them, hopefully, in a safer area.

If someone wants to fight, they will do so. But I have read through many of the tips in this thread and there are some good ones.

I thought it was brilliant. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6231131

We'd be chattering at the start of class, and she would stand behind her lectern silently smiling. She never raised her voice, and it took just seconds for us to realize she was ready to begin. She was a great teacher.

out of the Stalinist era. Be careful. The Repukes will edit the hell out of whatever they tape.

:thumbsup: