 | Politics "wid" a taste of Philly, by Will Bunch of the Philadelphia Daily News |
| Politics "wid" a taste of Philly, by Will Bunch of the Philadelphia Daily News |
Last month, we railed against the actions of the Secret Service at a rally in the Philadelphia suburbs, where agents reportedly blocked journalists from interviewing anti-Bush AIDS protesters. Now, it's getting worse -- according to a report out of Wisconsin.
The student newspaper the Daily Cardinal (you may have to register...pretty obnoxious for a college paper) says that three Racine, Wisc., residents were ejected by the Secret Service from a recent Bush rally not because they were a threat to the president or because they verbally disrupted the affair, but because they donned T-shirts with the word "liar" on them.
The story says: "Keith Rosenberg, Michael Goebel and James Bremner said they signed the required pledge stating they supported Bush. They said they did not put on the protesting shirts until Bush appeared on stage to speak."
"'But we weren't there to start a riot,' Bremner said, adding the intent of their actions was 'handing it to [Bush] because the guy is a blatant liar.'"
OK, you can debate which candidate has the better plan for Iraq until you're blue in the face, but all Americans -- regardless of ideology or party affiliation -- should be appalled and horrified by this. The Secret Service has an important role to play, which is protecting the president and other candidates from physical harm -- and only that. Any step toward restricting Americans' right to free speech, especially when it all seems to be on behalf of one candidate (Bush), is a small but frightening step toward becoming a police state. We know that sounds alarmist, but that's how it looks to us.
You have the forum Will. Get your paper to do the story.
Posted by: Erik at October 3, 2004 09:02 AMHave you noticed , the revised Secret Service insignia where the S's are little lightning bolts? Look real close.
Posted by: CV at October 3, 2004 09:14 AMWe should be absolutely horrified by this. What this story proves is that Bush is a danger, himself, to the political stability our own nation. His policies and divisive leadership have apparently caused the Secret Service to have concerns, whether legitimate or not, about the safety of this president and his Loyalty-Oath audiences. It shows us that they believe there is such instability inside our nation that even a fresh-faced American college kid with a message T-shirt is a potential danger to anyone with conflicting opinions while in the same arena with this president. If that sounds ludicrous, it may be because it is.
I believe, if the overall political discussion was more open in the media and more reflective of the way America really thinks (rather than rah-rah Bush), there would not be such public frustration and conflict. I believe, if Bush rallies were open to the American public, regardless of political affiliation, the truth would be naturally and peacefully revealed. We'd hear some 'boos' and healthy democratic dissent. Instead, the Bush campaign is anti-democratic. The campaign's Loyalty Oath policy creates confrontation. He's not a King. He's our public employee. We should be absolutely horrified.
We already live in a police state, but it is not too late to stop it. Russian republics are more free than U.S. We spread democracy but restrict it in the U.S.
Posted by: Bobx at October 3, 2004 09:21 AMI know there is a significant amount of pro-Bush indoctrination in other formerly non-partisan areas of the government. Anti-terrorism training programs come with pictures of Bush dispersed throughout and points are emphasized with quotes from Dear Leader. I wouldn't be suprised if the Secret Service has been politiciced as well.
The Bush administration also makes sure anyone working close to him are loyal to him and his ideology. So, you can count on his Secret Service detail to all be good Republicans.
I wonder if their current loyalty will shift to another, Democratic, President.
I recall that Clinton didn't check on the political beliefs of non-partisan offices in the White House. That's how he ended up with one of the White House FBI agents, Gary Aldrich, who despised him and secret service agents who testified against him in hearings.
Posted by: wysiwyg at October 3, 2004 09:44 AMIs Fascism too strong a word? Because it's the only one I can come up with.
Posted by: claystoke at October 3, 2004 10:56 AMWhat really disturbs is the wasted resources that goes into these censoring efforts. As someone who lives in NYC, I honestly did have security concerns about the RNC. Aside from the protests that I was a part of, the event WAS a real target for terrorists. During the convention 1800 people including myself, who were part of non-violent frequently pacifist groups, were preemtively arrested and held in a bus garage that was previously condemned for asbestos and carcinogens for three days till the convention ended. The purpose was to give Bush a blemish free photo op. A friend of mine was actually questioned by the FBI for stickering. How many real terrorist organizations use adhesive paper as a tactic or go around holding signs announcing themselves as opposing Bush? Why are we wasting resources sending the FBI after people who sticker? Why did we waste the NYPD's resources following Quakers, Pacifists and bicyclists for enviormental protaction? Any idiot would tell you that they don't pose a saftey threat. With such a distraction how easy would it have been for a lone terroist or suicide bomber to slip by and kill people? Besides the assault on the First Amendment that our founding fathers held most dear, the politicizing of the Secret Service, police and FBI make me feel far less safe against the real terrorists.
Posted by: Jon Winkleman at October 3, 2004 11:21 AMHeh...yeah BUT let's keep in min ONE important fact.
IF the only words on the shirt were "LIAR" and the secret service knew immidiatlely this referred to Bush... :-)
What if the t-shirts just said "Flatulent" on them? Is the president gaseous also? Would they be wrestled to the ground for that too?
This is just amazing really, ought to be headlines. It's like you're in a crowded room, someone yells out "Hey, Liar!" And Bush is the one that turns around...all the rest turn towards Bush.
Posted by: Tom Joad at October 3, 2004 11:38 AMNo, Fascism is not too strong a word.
It looks like Bush has killed Godwin's Law.
The one that said, that in any internet discussion, if the names Hitler or Fascism were invoked then discussion was terminated with the "bad word" sayer deemed the loser.
Fascism is not about the German variant, but is rather a politicoeconomic system wherein the all powerful State is enmeshed with with the major corporations. What Mussolini called the Corparativo Estado (corporate state).
It comes from ancient Roman symbol of the Fasces -- a bundle of rods with an axe in it -- as the exemplar of the States power to control, punish and kill.
Posted by: Alpha Hydroxy at October 3, 2004 12:29 PMRemember the line in "In the Line of Fire," where Clint Eastwood as a secret service agent remembers being told by the vice-president(or campaign manager)to break up some anti-war (Viet-Nam) demonstrators. Eastwood responds that he cannot do that because of the Bill of Rights.
It would be nice if life imitated art today.
Jamielynne
Bush Jr. was in charge of enforcing loyalty among GHWB's campaign and presidency... what in the hell would make anyone think it wouldn't end up in his?
This Idiot in Chief is an extreme danger to this country and the world. The simple fact of loyalty oaths and restrictions on the campaign stops tells me everything I need to know. We should demand that Bush returns the matching funds and pay for his campaign out of his own pocket.
His performance at the debate was everything we need to know about how wrong he is for this country. He can't even put together a thought in a presidential debate... how in the hell can we expect him to represent us in the world...
Unbelievable that some 50% of the people in this country support this moron.
Had Clinton done any one of the hundreds of things that Bush has done wrong, they would have called for his head...
Pathetic....
Posted by: Babbman at October 3, 2004 01:07 PMI've read about these Bush tactics so long that I can almost recite each episode by heart. What do I think of after reading yet another episode? The Old Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. Hey, did the Old Soviet Union become us and we became the Old Soviet Union? Just asking!
Posted by: free seagull at October 3, 2004 01:08 PMWhy doesn't the ACLU suit the bush bastards?
Posted by: nwrog at October 3, 2004 01:34 PMThe question resides with leadership. It always resides with leadership. The fact that the Secret Service has become politicized is self evident. It has by its action or inaction demonstrated that it has.
The issue is that the Secret Service leadership had not condmemed the violations of the first ammendment it committed by arresting citizens for wearing t-shirts that were assumed to be derogatory toward the president.
Had USS Director W. Ralph Basham denounced these actions we would not have this debate today.
His inaction speaks volumes toward explaining his lack of non-partisan governance of the USS.
It implies his tacit approval of illegal unconstitutional actions by his agents.
This is just one more reason why we need a president that does not fear, but will honor and enforce the constitution and bill of rights.
Posted by: The Lib Pat at October 3, 2004 01:48 PMI was a delegate to the Texas Democratic Convention last June. In contrast to the over regulated Republicans, we had very scant security. This is the first convention I have attended that did not closely inspect my delegate badge when I entered the floor even when John Edwards was speaking! I am curious as to how much security John Kerry and Edwards have now at their public appearances. I hope there is at least some scanning for weapons. No one enjoys hecklers, but that danger is sometimes the price of free speech and assembly. I don't think Bush realizes the irony of his pandering about "FREEDOM" and how he and his crew are superessing freedom in our own county. Joy Bates
Posted by: Joy Bates at October 3, 2004 02:06 PMi am glad to see that there are so many who are on to the fascistic tendencies of the present day 'republican' president. I am amazed that so many people of either party, democratic or republican, are yet unable to see the grave danger Mr. Bush has put us in as a nation. We are at risk to losing more and more of our freedoms due to the dangers from terrorism or from foreign nations such as Iran and North Korea and their neuclear capability. Our men and resources wasted for the sake of oil! WE NEED A NEW AND WISE PRESIDENT!
Posted by: jerome sweeney at October 3, 2004 03:29 PMjust like the Gold Star mother who was man-handled at a firehouse when Laura was speaking..Does this not tellyou something here....so very sad in our day for America. The secret for these service people is that they have to sign a statement that they are true loyalist to dubya and all....can you just imagine guarding the twins???!!
Why can't we have direct election of the President? Bush lost the popular vote in the election. And why do we have to vote on a Tues?
A sat. or sun. would be better.
Why did President Bush give the Taliban a money gift of 43 million dollars? IT happened in May, 2001. What did the Taliban do with this money? No one will answer this question. Tell me what nice thing that Republicans have ever done for working people?
Richard
Check out the Washington Post
When Bush spoke in Fond du Lac, WI, I took time off from my teaching job and went to the anti Bush rally. Now, in Appleton, WI, months before, I organized the anti Bush rally. We got within a block of where he cold Tuesday, daytime. I coordinated with the police and things went smoothly. I had a feeling of being left out of the invite only speech at the new Performing Arts Center.
No arrests, no problems outside the PAC. A wide cross section of folks with many taking time off work to protest - for the first time in their life.
By the time Fond du Lac happened months later, protestors were forced to be 1/4 mile away with hugh CITY dump and garbage trucks blocking the roads so the bus carrying Bush could not be seen.
I was with a large group in front of a union headquarters where a city policeman was requiring us to stay behind sawhorses. Cars and buses with ID's were allowed to go through. I was in an ok place. A Lamers bus with passengers came toward me, I was NOT told to move, others were on the 2 lane road with me. The officer did not tell us to move so I stayed my course. The bus had not been carded. I have witnesses. The bus driver continued toward me and without flinching an eye, kept going and because people screamed at me to get out of the way, I did. I could have been run over. I was so shaken I went inside and called Lamers in Milwaukee. Unfortunately, we did not get the bus number. No satisfaction.
I left and drove to Oshkosh where he later rode down the main street at probably 40 miles per hour.
I returned to Appleton and police were on MY quiet street. In order for me to get downtown, I had to go on a busy street that was lined with cops. I felt like the tanks were coming for me.
There were big trucks all over.
The Bush bus turned a corner one block from where I was standing and rolled by with him sitting in the right front passenger seat with his simpering smile. At least 35-40 miles per hour. The street was lined with children and senior citizens.
After Fond du Lac I have NEVER been so taken back, scared, angry, in my life.
I continue to work within the peace movement and called a candlelight vigil when we hit the 1,000 dead number. The war facts are so distored. The media is so bought out.
Our freedoms have been stripped, our land has been raped, our people are living in poverty without health insurance and decent educational opportunities. I am worried about retirement. I abhore this administration and the neocons. The arrogance and dry drunk thinking are killing our country.
GET OUT AND VOTE THEM OUT, please.
Not as new as you think.
When VP Quayle's wife visited Joshua Tree many, many safe days after our 7.6 earthquake and got the photo op in front of the same tired (safe) decimated bowling alley on all the nonews (no contact with the citizens who were hurting for help), the SS wrestled down an elderly lady with a sign and handcuffed her.
The sign went "If you think this is a mess, you should see Wash. DC." Had to get that sign out of the news cams view quick. That was during the older shrubs' questionable presidency. (Research info about the amazing New Hampshire primary he "won" and the computer guru *Sununnu* who knew the voting machine technology which could even be programmed by dialup).
Sununnu was well rewarded with a position in the admin of G.Sr
Yes, but you folks don't appreciate how mentally fragile these poor politicians are.
During Vietnam, I was at a speech by Nelson Rockefeller. About a dozen students in white shrouds representing dead soldiers stood silently and motionless in the aisles staring at him. After about 20 minutes he cracked and started sputtering that he couldn't understand how anyone could be expected to speak "with all this DISRUPTION!"
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