I don’t see how censure will serve any useful purpose. The GOP already criticized the outburst publicly, and the guy looks like a fool. Further attention to it would not accomplish anything useful.
This is an example of why Shodan’s contributions to this Board are not highly respected.
Cite for an example that Obama has said anything at all publicly about Wilson’s outburst?
Perhaps waterboarding would be an appropriate censure.
It would probably actually cause a backlash, as the RW thoughtleaders decide one of their own was being persecuted for daring to speak out to Hussein the Socialist.
I thought it was uncalled for but certain Democrats have acted just as rudely before. There are a lot of uptight Democrats at the moment as the sheen is clearly coming off Obama. That said, it was a stupid and rude thing of Wilson to do. It overshadowed the real Republican response.
Obama said he accepted Wilson’s apology. Given his and Pelosi’s comments I’d say there won’t be any censure.
Yes. Heckling by a congressman toward a sitting president while he addresses congress deserves something more than just. “oops my bad”
what tired repetitive lame bullshit.
A conservative friend of mine was offended by members of the public booing Bush during the inauguration. He thought it was disrespectful of the office and unnecessary. How did you feel?
I imagine he feels the same or even stronger about some childish inappropriate display by an elected official which only serves to make his own party look bad.
I despised Bush and his policies and I would have applauded some Democrat calling him on his lies in the appropriate time and place. Interrupting his address is not it and doesn’t serve the cause of honest vigorous opposition.
If a Dem had done that to Bush I’d be smart enough to say “Shut up fool, you’re not helping us”
Whether they censure this child or not doesn’t matter much. I hope the real censuring comes at election time.
Actually, no, they haven’t. At least not during a presidential address during a joint session of Congress.
One of the few wise things Bush did before he left office was set into motion the agreement between the US and Iraq for the gradual withdraw of Coalition forces in Iraq. Accelerating the withdraw substantially so as to pull all of our troops out immediately or even before the end of 2009 would mean leaving behind billions of dollars worth of equipment and supplies but also leave the troops extremely vulnerable during such a hasty exit. The timeline is important for protecting the lives of Coalition soldiers as well as Iraqi civilians who might suffer even more if the carpet were to be suddenly pulled out from under them.
If this happened in a meeting I were running, I would gavel it as out of order, which in this case it most certainly was. This was a formal occasion and was no more appropriate than yelling at a funeral ceremony. I think there should be a punishment, such as a ruling that it was out of order and that further outbursts will result in discipline. It is one thing to harumph in unison under one’s breath during an audience participation applause, etc. moment, but this isn’t PM’s Questions, it’s closer to the Queen’s remarks.
This is serious business! No time for wacky frat pranks!
Obama’s Jerk Store Moment:
“Who let Glenn Beck in here?”
Seems like they booed Bush during his 2005 State of the Union. I’ve watched the clip a number of times and that’s what they appear to be doing to me. Boorish then and boorish now.
Booing is probably not a new thing, and I don’t think it compares to yelling out while someone else is talking. If we must go down the tu quoque road, there was also booing from the Republican side last night.
What else could he have done or said ? Obama could not have chastised him. It is something his own party will have to do.
I’m in his alternate reality. I think a heckling of Bush would have been very deserving and welcomed. I know far too many extreme lefties, and shouting, heckling, and waving stupid banners is SOP for that camp. You know, cherishing civil disobedience and all that. Myself, the blind subservience of the Democrats during Bush’s terms was appalling and I would have celebrated some good solid shouting of “liar!” during his term.
A heckler is only as good as how he appears against the hecklee. In last night’s case, the heckler appeared belligerent and disrespectful against the poise and calm of Obama’s presentation, and that senator is already suffering the backlash. Alternatively, had Obama come across fumbling and uncertain with prior precedence of lies, evasions, and misstatements (e.g. typical Bush speech) then he would have soundly deserved a good heckling.
i think Bush should’ve been heckled, too – he well deserved it. But not during a presidential address to Congress. And he never was. And if he had been, I seriously doubt that the SDMB would have approved.
If you think otherwise, I don’t think you know this Board at all.
I don’t think “the board” would have any collective opinion on the matter. The constant influx of new Great Debates threads suggests we may actually be a diverse community 
The difference is that Bush actually lied.
McCain is a different story and I sorely wish he hadn’t been forced to sell himself out to the right wing whackos to get the party endorsement.
Not to further hijack this post but Afghanistan has ALWAYS been different than Iraq. When we went into Afghanistan we had every reason to do so, when we went into Iraq, we had to be tricked into it.
I find it odd that you would blame Obama for not precipitously withdrawing from Iraq, its beyond irresponsible.
Oh I agree. Yelling was inappropriate and it actually hurt the Republicans.
One of the things I got from this whole exchange is proof of McCain’s general integrity. If only he’d picked a different running mate. I’m generally an independent, and, to me, heckling in the halls of congress is just plain wrong. There are rules. I don’t care if there’s a KKK leader advocating forced abortions for “colored” folks behind the podium. If he’s got the floor, he’s got the floor. For the congresscritters to display the sorts of disrespect, from eye-rolling and cell phone usage to out and out heckling, that they displayed, is completely beyond the pale. I expected adult behavior from elected officials. I was quite glad to see one of my Senators stick up for what’s right, even across partisan lines. He’s managed to secure my vote for the future, as long as he doesn’t do anything remarkably stupid between now and then.