Wait, so it's not just "Right-Wingers" being organized here?

Huh. You'd think, listening to the Democrats, there are some ordinary citizens showing up at these town hall meetings, and then there are "thugs" showing up as "mob" and "disrupting" the meetings, and they're "stooges" of insurance companies and Republicans.

On the other hand in St. Louis:

"The back and forth between factions within the crowd created a carnival-like atmosphere inside and out between members of the movement opposing President Barack Obama's policies and groups who came to show support for the president's proposals."

So you mean the other side is organizing people to go to these events, too? Huh. No kiddin'.

Kenneth Gladney, 38, a conservative activist from St. Louis, said he was attacked by some of those arrested as he handed out yellow flags with "Don't tread on me" printed on them.

Well I'll guarantee you Gladney wasn't with the Progressive side, or attacked by the conservative side. So there's the first violent act I've heard of, and it wasn't by my side.

And in Denver (same article)

"Just say no!" yelled those demonstrating against health care reform."
Yes we can!" shouted back those who support Obama's plan.

People shouting from both sides? But I thought these meetings were being "stacked" by the conservative side.

I think the problem is, the progressive side is used to stacking these things unopposed, and they're upset to encounter opposition.

Boener's spokeswoman lays it down the way it is, though. See if this makes sense to you and squares with bunches of opponents showing up at these things:

"All the polls show there is serious concern, if not outright opposition, to the President's health care plan"

Which jives with all of the polls I've seen in the past month or so. So why the surprise?

In Tampa, in Kathy Castor's defense, she said all the right things about welcoming a healthy debate, and I, for one, don't approve of the shouting down bit. I understand if you get agitated during an exchange and your voice raises because your adrenaline is high, but remember My Ten Commandments for Conservatives. Anyway, from the article.

Political groups on both sides also recruited members to attend.

Opponents included the 9-12 Project, the Free Republic Web site and the Hillsborough County Republican Party, Proponents included unions involved in sponsoring the event and Organizing for America, a liberal organizing group that grew out of the Barack Obama presidential campaign.

Advocates on both sides said they urged their members to behave respectfully at the meeting.

"Be courteous while anyone is speaking, including Castor. We don't want to sound like an 'angry mob,' " advised the Web site of the Tampa chapter of the 9-12 Project, a meetup group founded under the influence of Beck, a television and radio host.

Yes indeed. Be courteous. Please.