Suppressing free speech

This is incredible:

Very rarely does the everyday public get a glimpse of what happens behind the scenes in a normally-secret Bush Administration.  

But Monday, March 28, the Secret Service called three everyday people into their offices to discuss why we were kicked out of a presidential event in Denver last week where Bush promoted his plan to privatize Social Security. What they revealed to us and our lawyer was fascinating.

There we were - three people who had personally picked up tickets from Republican Congressman Bob Beauprez's office and went to a presidential event. But as we entered, we were told that we had been "ID'ed" and were warned that any disruption would get us arrested.

After being seated in the audience we were forcibly removed before the President arrived, even though we had not been disruptive. We were shocked when told that this presidential event was a "private event" and were commanded to leave.

More astonishingly, when the Secret Service was contacted the next day they agreed to meet with us this Monday, March 28 to discuss the circumstances surrounding our removal. We had two big questions going into this meeting:

1.  How is the Bush Administration "ID'ing" citizens before presidential events?

2.  Why was an official taxpayer-funded event called a "private event" - leading to citizens being kicked out?

Most shocking of all, we got answers to both questions.

The Secret Service revealed that we were "ID'ed" when local Republican staffers saw a bumper sticker on the car we drove which said "No More Blood For Oil." Evidently, the free speech expressed on one bumper sticker is cause enough to eject three citizens from a presidential event. (Similarly, someone was ejected from Bush's Social Security privatization event in Arizona the same day simply for wearing a Democratic t-shirt.)  

The Secret Service also revealed that ticket distribution and staffing of the Social Security event was run by the local Republican Party. They wanted us to be clear that it was a Republican staffer - not the Secret Service - who kicked us out of the presidential event. But this revealed something else that should be startling to all Americans.

After allowing taxpayers to finance his privatization events (let's call them what they really are after all,) and after using the White House communications apparatus to set them up, Bush is privatizing the ticket distribution and security staffing at his events to the Republican Party. The losers are not just taxpayers, but anyone who values the First Amendment. Under the banner of a "private event" the Republican Party is excluding citizens from seeing their president because of the lone sin of expressing the wrong idea on a bumper sticker or t-shirt.  The question for Americans is - will we allow our freedom to be privatized?

Karen Bauer, Leslie Weise. Alexander Young
Denver residents

I was emailed this account by the people involved, so it's straight from the horse's mouth. The AP did a story on this as well.

"They hadn't done anything wrong. They weren't dressed inappropriately, they didn't say anything inappropriate," Recht said. "They were kicked out of this venue and not allowed to hear what the president had to say based solely on this political bumper sticker.

"The very essence of the First Amendment is that you can't be punished for the speech you make, the statements you make," Recht said.

So to emphasize -- the White House uses taxpayer dollars to finance these propaganda events. THEN, in order to keep out anyone who might be critical, they "outsource" ticketing and security. That way they can label the events "private" and kick out anyone they want in violation of the First Amendment.

Who in Congress will step up and call for an investigation?

•  Dems should show up in droves..

  to these events wearing whatever they think is appropriate.  Bring cameras and videocams, invite local newspeople to watch Americans being led away from a tax-payer funded event.  This would make great evening news.

  by prophet on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:36:59 AM PDT

  •  It might be time

    by 88kathy on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:39:37 AM PDT

    •  Ohhh,

      It's Waaaaayyyyyyyy PAST time.

      by Bulldawg on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 09:06:50 AM PDT

      •  Here are the stops

        http://www.strengtheningsocialsecurity.gov/60stops/

        We should have people at each and every one trying to get in to discuss SS with the Preznit.

        by BudMan on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 09:31:40 AM PDT

        •  Those Morons

          Show in the graphical representation March 3 - 24, which equals 22 days.  How can we expect to entrust them with managing reform of a trillion dollar agency if they can't even get their posters right.

          by BlueBaron on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 10:13:22 AM PDT

          •  Dems should show up in droves...

            a la Ghandi. Call the press and have hundreds of dems show up to "make salt" at these propaganda road shows.
            I think Dems could get more mileage out of this than dozens of anti-war protests. It would be another strike against the far right ruining this country and more evidence ofthe erosion of what this country stands for. (or once stood for)

            by sooner on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 01:18:04 PM PDT

            •  SS will site "security" issues

              This is a good idea, but I think anywhere Bush goes in the world, including the USA, the SS can keep people at considerable distance. So unless the "free" press is willing to go a few blocks (or miles) to see these protestors, nothing is going to happen. You can already guess what the media will do - they'll do exactly what they did in NY city during the replubican convention, when they conveniently ignored 100,000 protestors as if they didn't exist. It is pretty sad but true.

              by Bailey Savings and Loan on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 06:07:02 PM PDT

              •  Not exactly

                Get tickets from your congressperson. Show up properly dressed (a suit would be nice). Behave. But have a bumper sticker on your car. Or wear a donkey pin on your lapel.

                Have the rethugs (and is THAT ever appropriate) throw you out.

                Call media. Immediately. On your cellphone, from in front of the venue.

                Repeat (and repeat, and repeat).

                They might ignore a few, but keep pounding on them, and they'll get the drift.

                And tell them that the OTHER unnamed network is going to be showing up in, oh, about 2 minutes.

                (Local guys will jump on this -- it's NEWS. For small town stations, this is HUGE.)

                by mmacdDE on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 07:32:40 PM PDT

                •  I would notify the media first

                  and tell them what was going to go down...a political car wreck!
                  Revolutions and revolutionary acts are riveting when done right.
                  If the refuk bouncers were intimidated enough THEN you give Bushwhack the gift of a REAL PUBLIC appearence. (with, gosh, other viewpoints and democracy thingys and everything!!!)

                  by sooner on Wed Mar 30, 2005 at 10:47:51 PM PDT

        •  Maybe I'm being dumb...

          ... but how can you tell what days he's going to be at what stops?  I couldn't find a way to click on the map.

          by tree hugger on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 10:58:45 AM PDT

          •  To thwart organization...

            they only announce the schedule a day or so in advance.

            Taken from: the 60 stops site

            DAY 28
            Wednesday, March 30, 2005

            President Bush participates in a Conversation on Strengthening Social Security in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

            Treasury Secretary John Snow delivers remarks to local community leaders in Bozeman, MT

            SSA Deputy Administrator Jim Lockhart participates in four town hall meetings with Rep. Wally Herger in California

            Social Security AdministrationSenior Advisor Mike Korbey participates in Town Hall meetings with Rep. Tom Price in Woodstock, GA

            Deputy Director, National Economic Council, Keith Hennessey participates in a town hall meeting with Rep. Sur Myrick in Charlotte, NC

            by leolabeth on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 04:45:02 PM PDT

        •  the site

          seems to have been taken offline - or at least 'privatized' in one form...

          Any other links to the schedule?

          by JK Minnesota on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 11:11:06 AM PDT

          •  If we don't know when the party is...

            We can't crash it. I've used my meager Google skills for the past twenty minutes trying to find a schedule for the King of Lies SS Tour... you don't think they'd want to suppress THAT info, do ya?

            Every page I've found is happy to tell you about the staged events that have already occured, but I can't find a schedule of DATED upcoming stops.

            Little help?

            R

            From the fool's gold mouthpiece
            The hollow horn plays wasted words

            by Randular on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 12:05:56 PM PDT

            •  yes, my experience too

              when bush came to my state, the news was "officially released" very last minute. - like the day before the event.

              And even then, the location of the event was changed at the last minute & was a very small hand-picked group.

              I really think that we need a little inside info on this one. If you have family/friends who are repubs and oppose Soc Sec privatization, have them call & get tickets.

              by biscobosco on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 12:53:39 PM PDT

            •  They'd tell you

              if they wanted you to know.  Information is gold, you know.  Maybe we could call our local GOP HQs and find out.  My local GOP offices are largely staffed by kindly blue-haired ladies who will tell you pretty much everything they know as long as you're nice to them.

              by Black Max on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 01:00:00 PM PDT

            •  Google

              Maybe you actually need to type "King of Lies Social Security Tour" in the search bar.

              by fishhead on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 01:03:41 PM PDT

            •  I started a diary

              To track locations of Bush's "town hall" performances.

              http://biscobosco.dailykos.com/story/2005/3/29/162350/044

              He's in Cedar Rapids, Iowa tomorrow (30th)

              by biscobosco on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 01:25:14 PM PDT

        •  have a senior citizen try to get into the event.

          . . . and have them say to the media "I am concerned about social security, and I want to hear what the president has to say"

          by bryanb on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 12:58:28 PM PDT

      •  Sneak Attack

        Protests don't work because the MSM doesn't cover them.  The sneak attack is the answer, only intensify the effort.  Swear loyalty, or whatever it takes to get into the meeting, make a loud protest at the right moment and get thrown out.  Then after you get thrown out, someone else stands up and protests from another part of the audience.  It will eventually make it to the media if the chimp is always forced to talk over us and hide our dissent.

        by kharma on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 11:37:24 AM PDT

  •  Reid and Senators should protest loudly

    Demand that Bush pay back the costs of these trips until such time as they become truly "public" events, not partisan private events.

    The Dems should cook up an estimate of what Bush has spent so far on Bamboozlepalooza.  It's probably in the tens of millions at least. Agree on a number and repeat it on every news show and interview they appear on.

    Remember the Republican rule: "If you repeat something often enough, people will think it is true."

    In this case it shouldn't be hard, because it is true.

    by existenz on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:42:49 AM PDT

    •  exactly

      and be sure and say "president bush says he cares about how washington spends YOUR money...but he doesn't mind using it for his private cheerleading events"

      by naderhader on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:46:17 AM PDT

      •  Great word!

        Describe them as "cheerleading events" and we get a chance to remind people that Bush was a cheerleader in college.

        by Field Marshall Stack on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:52:14 AM PDT

        •  Be nice to have a picture of that.

          by rba on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 09:27:05 AM PDT

          •  i disagree

            please.  think of the children.  WON'T SOMEONE THINK OF THE CHILDREN!?!?!

            look.  we're on the correct side.  we have the First Amendment.  Who's got the balls to step up & fight this???

            we know this is crap.  they know this is crap.  that's why they are using underhanded tactics to do them.

            who the FREAK is stepping up & doing something about this b/c i am sick & tired of my taxes going to political reporters, to worthless abstinence programs which have been proven not to work, to political appointments, to cheerleading events & to a fucking war with i NEVER SUPPORTED!!!

            & i'm not talking just mass protests at their events -- which i definitely agree with.  but someone has to take that loophole out so that they can't do this at all.  & it has to be congress.

            reid!?!?  boxer?!!?!?  u got ur butt wooped by these "public events" in 2004, mr. kerry.  how about some payback???

            Bush, What Price Did You Pay?

            by krazypuppy on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 09:42:17 AM PDT

            •  You get a 4 for this one, KP.

              You go, man.

              by Black Max on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 01:03:16 PM PDT

          •  Pictures

            The real pictures and some not so real pictures.

            Pretty easy to tell them apart though.

            by Whittless on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 09:45:08 AM PDT

            •  Re:Outright propaganda

              Someone at my company had the nerve to send me this, I can't believe the lengths some people will go to to prop up their image of Bush as some sort of "cowboy".  Take a look, good for a couple laughs, and there's a good list of all the Hollywood cowboys of old.

              http://oldbluejacket.com/cowboys.htm

              by Stentor on Wed Mar 30, 2005 at 12:59:58 PM PDT

          •  Viola!

            

            by lapin on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 09:58:31 AM PDT

            •  I'd say...

              ... that the technology has changed a bit since George's day.

              by scottp on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 10:24:25 AM PDT

          •  I've got that one saved N/T

            by arkdem on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 05:31:01 PM PDT

      •  how about

        you are welcome to pay for the event, but not welcome to attend.  

        this is a travesty, and i think deserves a congressional hearing!  Misuse of taxpayer money, I'd say.  

        by ejpoeta on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 09:16:46 AM PDT

        •  or we could trow some tea in the harbor? n/t

          by jandrewmorrison on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 10:24:41 AM PDT

          •  Or throw Bush in the harbor.

            by Black Max on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 01:04:29 PM PDT

        •  Congressional hearings?

          Hey, buster, we save that for important shit, like steroids in baseball. (snark!)

          by GreatMidwest on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 11:44:27 AM PDT

    •  I second this idea

      n/t

      by CanadaGoose on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 09:31:23 AM PDT

  •  Dems do show up in droves

    The Secret Service makes sure they are a couple of blocks away. On any given day one can see masses of progressives screaming at the President. I do like your idea though. The key to making it work is to make sure that the Dems are not disruptive in any way. Kind of like a silent protest. Seeing a hoard of people being escorted from a presidential event for absolutely no reason would be a new twist.

    by bobinson on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:43:53 AM PDT

    •  This is a case of tax payer money

      Funding Local republicians.....Kos please ask these 3 people what information they had to provide to get tickets?

      I want to know if these local republicians are using this oppurtunity to collect demographic information and target fundraising oppurtunities.

      by Mikecan1978 on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:47:06 AM PDT

      •  I Attended With No Problems

        Tickets were available to the general public at Bob Beauprez Congressional Office in Wheatridge. I had to show them a photo ID, my name was written on the ticket, and my ID was checked at the door.

        The bumpersticker story is news to me -- but there were articles about this in both the Denver Post and the Rocky Mtn News.  

        by Charles K on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 09:20:33 AM PDT

    •  Would the Secret Service Turn Away

      a Democratic Senator or Representative?  Why can't Kerry show up with a few regular Americans and try to get in?  What would happen, do you suppose?  If Kerry wore a Dem t-shirt, would he be turned away?

      It would be a great photo-op, in any event.

      by prophet on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 09:15:06 AM PDT

      •  anyone ordered to

        the SS does not choose anyone to turn away, they follow the orders set out to them by the sponsering campaignoffice.

        I posted at the bottom, but i was K-E Advance and I know most of their rules and regs.

        They only do what they are told to do, don't let those lying POS pass the buck onto SS. The SS would rather not do events at ALL, NM partisan ones, but once they do, they follow the guidelines set by the White House, in this case.

        Anything they do was pre-approved prior.

        by Dour on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 09:22:37 AM PDT

        •  SS orders

          Is it just possible that in this case the SS were expressing their dissatisfaction regarding the dirty work they're being asked to do? Are we beginning to see the start of a revolt of the Praetorians?

          Question: If enough people (like many thousands) mobbed the lines blocking them from the Presidential limo and rushed to overturn it (I'm not advocating personal violence here), how hard would the police (who are underfunded, and are missing many of their buddies to the Reserves and NG) fight to protect the Chimp-in-Chief?

          by hughster56 on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 06:16:45 PM PDT

          •  I also find it interesting

            that the SS is telling how things work. I don't EVER remember this before.

            I can't believe that they approve of how this WH works...and if there's one group you REALLY don't want mad at you, it's your bodyguards.

            THey don't even have to hate you, all they have to do is hesitate a split second at the wrong time...

            by mmacdDE on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 07:51:39 PM PDT

      •  That would be pure hilarity...

        if Kerry attended wearing a Kerry 2004 T shirt. Too bad he is too polite to do that.

        by ablington on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 09:39:25 AM PDT

        •  Too Polite?

          At this point I have a hard time distinguishing whether Kerry is polite or a pansy.  What has he REALLY done since November to show his concern for what is happening to our Constitutional rights?  Not much in my humble opinion.

          by Oke on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 10:10:21 AM PDT

    •  What Jeffery Feldman was talking about....

      ... a couple of Frameshops ago here.

      He describes this protest as an example which sounds pretty effective:
      "Walking along the streets during this protest was an amazing experience.  Thousands of people stood silently holding up a piece of paper, evenly spaced at about 15 feet apart.  There were no drums,  no loud music, no shouting.  It was a completely different protest aesthetic than I have ever seen before.  And it was effective--both emotionally and politically.  The protest garnered a great deal of political attention and momentum for issues important to the progressive movement."

      Sounds good to me.

      by highacidity on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 10:37:15 AM PDT

  •  parking lot activism

    what if EVERY car parked at a Bush event were to suddenly have a "No More Blood For Oil" bumper sticker on it?

    Not that I'm advocating defacing private property... maybe just scotch-tape it on.

    by emptypockets on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:54:02 AM PDT

    •  Are you Kidding???

      Man, if one of those wingnuts saw you they's pull out their God Given 2nd Amendment guarenteed Magnum and blow you away (in the name of Jesus, of course), and it's be ruled justifiable homicide.  Don't screw with people like that.  I'm serious!

      by Bulldawg on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 09:11:07 AM PDT

    •  Hm... magnetic?

      n/t

      by papercut on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 01:59:13 PM PDT

  •  Complain to your reps

    If your representative or senator is Republican, is he or she going to be happy when a Democratic POTUS uses taxpayer dollars for his private campaigns?  Because that is the precedent that is being set.

    So phone and write your reps.  There is an election coming up next year.  

    I'm not a lawyer, but it seems to me that the ACLU could bring a suit on behalf of the Denver citizens who were ejected.  

    by Plan9 on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 09:23:44 AM PDT

    •  The ACLU is on the case.

      They have a national lawsuit on this subject, and numerous state suits.  Here's the link.  

      by yella dawg dem on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 10:24:54 AM PDT

      •  That suit was dismissed.

        They had sued the Secret Service. The Secret Service denied excluding anyone based on political beliefs, blaming the Local Cops, and the Campaigns.

        When Kerry was scheduled to speak at the Wisconsin Capitol, and advertised that no "outside signs" would be allowed, I called the Campaign Office here, who reitererated their position, claiming it was on orders of the Secret Service. I next called the Chief of the State Capitol Police, who agreed that, persuant to my successful suit against him, and then Governor Tommy Thompson in 1993, anyone has a right to display any sign on the Capitol Grounds at any time.

        Next call was the local Secret Service Office, who passed me to the Regional Office in Chicago. I was informed that the Agency has no objection to signs, so long as they're not mounted on sticks.

        The Campaign , in it's last press release, modified their ban to sticks. Due to ugly weather forecasts, the September event was moved to a rented indoor venue, where I had no right to take my sign inside. Instead, I held it by the entrance.

        Kerry returned to Madison in late October. This time the rally was held on a public street, under a City issued Street Use Permit. Approaching with a ticket in hand, and a poleless sign reading "Grow Hemp, Save Farms," I was grabbed by Union guys working security for the campaign. The first local cop on the scene tried to persuade them to admit me. Meanwhile, several thousand folks were stuck in line due to the standoff. The next local cops to arrive debated what action to taker, eventually deciding it would be easier to arrest me, than my assailants.

        My Disorderly Conduct charges were dismissed by the City Attorney. I'll be filing civil action shortly, against the City, the Campaign, and my individual assailants.

        by ben masel on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 10:57:34 AM PDT

        •  I'm no lawyer

          but if taxpayer dollars are paying for these events it seems to me you could sue the Republican party or whoever sponsored the event for denial of civil rights if you were kicked out.

          by flory on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 12:32:58 PM PDT

        •  You forgot the worst part, Ben

          What did the local newspaper put as a caption to the picture of you being arrested? Insult to inury, indeed!

          by randybastard on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 12:39:00 PM PDT

        •  Keep up the good work, my friend!!

          by randybastard on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 12:40:08 PM PDT

        •  Which suit?

          Was that the national one, or was it limited to Wisconsin?

          by yella dawg dem on Wed Mar 30, 2005 at 06:18:37 AM PDT

          •  The dismissed ACLU suit?

            National, sought an injunction. Filed in Pennsylvania.

            by ben masel on Wed Mar 30, 2005 at 08:00:39 AM PDT

            •  Damn. Do you know

              if they've taken an appeal to the Third Circuit?

              by yella dawg dem on Wed Mar 30, 2005 at 08:22:54 AM PDT

              •  No

                The Secret service went on record that they do not, and won't discriminate based on political viewpoint, so there's nothing to appeal. They blamed all the incidents cited in the case on either local cops, or Campaigns.

                The dismissal does not preclude a new action, with a better fact record, but the SS themselves have since been pretty careful not to create that record.

                by ben masel on Wed Mar 30, 2005 at 09:39:29 AM PDT

  •  exactly

    I tried to get tickets when Bush was here. I called all of the senators and reps offices, but did not receive a return call. My call was last minute... evidently the Bush plans were not released to media in advance so we didnt find out till last minute when he was coming and how to get tickets.

    I think that this would be a great dkos action. Find out where bush is holding his next "town hall" session. Why are we protesting outside? why are we being excluded from his "conversations"?

    Get tickets, show up well dressed, suit, business attire, but with a democratic pin or better yet, with an american flag lapel pin and a discreet democrat button .

    Tell the presenters that you have a question for Bush, How can you ask it?

    The point is to expose these "town hall" meetings clearly for what they are. controlled, screened campaign stops.  The point isnt even social security. its the larger narrative which stretches from gannon to armstrong to rather to segrena.

    Bush plays a man of the people on screen. but this could help to pop the bubble.

    by biscobosco on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 09:39:04 AM PDT

    •  The underlying idea...

      of this whole shitpot of shenanigans is Karl Rove's "permanent campaign," this time to pave the way for Bush's anointed successor.  Remember, EVERYTHING Bush and Rove do is part of the ever-expanding political campaign.  These guys are absolutely focused.  Even when Rove is giving the old rogering to his blow-up doll of Lee Atwater, he's thinking "campaign, campaign, campaign."  Treat these "events" as campaign rallies -- i.e. get inside and do some creative (and legal) disruption, even if it means nothing else but getting thrown out.  (If you're going to do that, get a buddy to videotape you.)

      by Black Max on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 01:11:14 PM PDT

  •  Bush supporters heart Kerry!

    Here's an idea.  Identify people who are headed to these sham town hall GOP rallies for privatization and put Kerry bumper stickers on their cars (or "No blood for oil" or whatever).

    Wouldn't that get some true believers kicked out and give them a taste of what it's like on the receiving end of this taxpayer-funded thuggery?

    by freedc on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 10:18:17 AM PDT

    •  GOOD IDEAR (as Howard would say)

      by Joon on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 10:54:35 AM PDT

  •  even better

    use a HIDDEN camera.  heh.

    after that, they'll start strip-searching the attendees.

    "Sir, please step out of your clothing, hold your ticket in your right hand, bend over and grab your left ankle with your left hand."

    by Joon on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 10:53:39 AM PDT

  •  or forget the media, and take'm to court

    I am fairly sure that it is illegal to use taxpayer money for a political event (except to provide security for the president).  If you are excluding anyone who might disagree with you, it is a political rally . . . not a public event, and I can't see how it would be legal to use public money.  Anyone with legal expertise on the matter know anything else about this?  Or anyone want to offer his or her opinion?  

    by bryanb on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 01:07:56 PM PDT

    •  I'm with you

      Kos said:

      Who in Congress will step up and call for an investigation?

      I think with this Congress there won't be any investigation forthcoming soon, if at all. Better to slap a seize-and-desist order on the administration first. That might bring some reaction from those dozy chambers.

      by high5 on Wed Mar 30, 2005 at 01:08:22 AM PDT

  •  absolutely

    I am so sick of Bush&Co having these "public forums" where the only people that show up are the ones who agree with him. If we don't do something about it, they're going to turn this country into a theocratic one party state. Bring hordes and hordes of Democrats with signs and American flags.

    Crash the party. Signal there's an opposition. The media will cover it, especially if the Republicans are stupid enough to counterprotest and give the whole thing more attention.

    by archerhouse on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 01:34:16 PM PDT

  •  Bush's GOP: Acting Like KGB Agents In Ol' USSR

    Seems like George W. Bush and his Republican hordes are acting like KGB agents in the old Soviet Union kicking out potential dissenters from taxpayer-supported events. There's nothing private about a taxpayer event featuring a public official promoting a highly public program.
    It shows the true nature of George W. Bush and his political operatives. These guys aren't conservatives, they're outright FASCISTS whose extremism must be exposed and put out of commission.

    by alaprst on Wed Mar 30, 2005 at 03:52:37 AM PDT

•  chirp chirp chirp

  "Who in Congress will step up and call for an investigation?"

  The same Democrats who voted for Condi and the bankruptcy bill!

  Crickets, Markos, crickets.

  by paradox on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:37:35 AM PDT

  •  Exactly

    Democrats in Congress are too busy voting to take away bankruptcy protections from people with crushing medical bills and plotting to sell more constituencies out to the right wing to care about this egregious violation of free speech.
    

    by eugene on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:41:03 AM PDT

  •  Now, wait a minute

    Colorado Democrats all voted against the war in Iraq, which may have something to do with Democratic gains in this state recently.

    Admittedly, I don't know how each of them voted on Rice or the God forsaken bankruptcy bill. But if you had to rely on a block of Democrats to address this matter with the Executive, I'd say Colorado Dems are your best shot.

    by Kimberley on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:52:04 AM PDT

    •  New Colorado Dem Senator Salazar

      wasn't in Congress before January 2005.  He supported the invasion of Iraq, introduced and voted for Alberto Gonzales, voted for bankruptcy reform,and voted for Rice.  He opposes Social Security privatization but seems ready to support a bill giving carte blanche to the gun industry.  Go figure ...

      by coloradobl on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 09:28:50 AM PDT

•  Unless steroids are involved this GOP Congress

  won't investigate anything.  

  Now, unofficial investigations and hearings by Democratic Congressmen should be held.  Also, they should be making speeches on the floor of Congress about this and other issues every single day.  

  But will they do it?  Dunno.

  Conyers can't fight every battle.  He needs help.

  by LionelEHutz on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:37:56 AM PDT

  •  It's time to help ourselves

    If congress is so lame that they can't even investigate this kind of crap, then the citizens will have to get creative and do their job for them.

    Aside from the good ideas above, another possibility is to swamp them with so many ticket requests it grinds the machine to a halt...

    by drofx on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:58:38 AM PDT

•  Great documentation

  I can't believe the Democratic party is silent on this.  The should be all over the "President in the bubble" and "taxpayer dollars funding partisan events" aspects of this.  

  Of course, my instinct would be to go to one of these events and plaster every car in the lot with a No Blood for Oil bumper sticker :)

  by Twin Planets on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:38:08 AM PDT

  •  Obstructionism Works Both Ways

    Time to sic Bulldozer Dean on 'em. :)

    by cskendrick on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:39:54 AM PDT

  •  taxation, representation....

    Surely there is a way to riff on this theme about this kind of horseshit. Every 8th grade social studies student should know the phrase -- and how it lead to war. Dare I say, an 'insurgency'.

    Right? Or am I being a nerd?

    by naderhader on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:42:33 AM PDT

    •  8th grade social studies

      is now all about manifest destiny and how God meant white people to expand from sea to shining sea, and to burn gasoline in His honor. Anything else would be blasphemous^H^H^H^H anti-American. "Taxation without representation" has been replaced by "We must not inconvenience our most productive citizens."

      Get with the program, man.

      by felagund on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:47:20 AM PDT

      •  Not in MY classes, goddammit.

        We learn real history in there, and believe me, some parents don't appreciate what their kids are coming home and telling them what they heard in class today....

        by Black Max on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 01:14:43 PM PDT

    •  Nerd? Try Patriot

      Please.  The precise same thoughts have been in my soul all morning.

      It might be time to take to the streets.  Americans are notoriously complacent but we're fast running out of options.

      Arnie was in San Jose last Friday.  The nurses, firefighters and teachers rushed his car (they thought the limo was Arnie's, it wasn't), the cops lost control of the perimeter.

      All it would have taken is one protestor to start rocking a side and that limo would have been overturned in 10 seconds.  I'm not kidding.  A quick kick to a window and Bic lighter and it would have been torched in 180 seconds.  Tops.

      This is what happened when the Harvey Milk/Moscone verdict was read.  Ordinary citizens just erupted in the streets, who had been calm and quiet just an hour before.  With nothing but their hands and what was in their pockets they created utter bedlam in 30 minutes.

      Keep pushing us, GOP.  We won't be sitting behind our screens forever, motherfuckers.

      by paradox on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:55:18 AM PDT

      •  thank god

        I'm not the only one foaming at the mouth when I hear about this shit.

        I'm ready to take to the street, let's get organized. That evil bastard comes to dallas so damn often, people would probably turn out just to protest the gridlock.

        I mean, this is america, goddamnit!!!
        

        by naderhader on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 09:11:23 AM PDT

      •  march

        i say lets organize a series of marches on washington DC.  let shut that town down.  the first one can be peaceful, but the subsequent ones can be increasingly violent until we get to fullscale revolution.  NO MERCY

        by tunataco on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 09:23:02 AM PDT

        •  Why punish DC? We're good Democrats!

          If you want sympathy for your cause, don't fuck with a working guy's commute. Trust me.  

          Janitors for Justice forever earned my emnity when they decided to block the Roosevelt Bridge one morning about ten years ago. I was stuck in traffic needing to rid my body of the coffee I had drank just before I left my house.  My carpool decided after crawling in traffic for two hours to get off I-66 and holed up in a dinner in Arlington and later when shopping at Pentagon City.  I didn't get to work until lunchtime and most of my co-workers who live in Virginia were also very late.  They owe me for the fucking 4 hours of Personal Leave they took from me.

          by akeitz on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 12:25:07 PM PDT

          •  Doesn't your (fmr) company owe you

            those 4 hours from ten years ago?  JforJ has done more good for your fellow Democrats in "your" city than you could have in those four lost hours.

            by Mogolori on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 12:57:50 PM PDT

            •  Oh please!

              My current non-profit institution btw. And no they don't -- it's not their fault that assholes prevented me from getting there for hours.  And no amount of "good" can overcome the dangerous situation they created that morning.  They are lucky that nobody needed medical attention in that backup and that the Virginians waiting in traffic didn't use their guns that I'm sure they were illegally carring into DC.

              The tactic backfired -- the normally union friendly organizations roundly condemned them and the city passed laws making such a protest a felony.
              

              by akeitz on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 04:27:00 PM PDT

        •  No

          Violence is a pretty stupid way to oppose them at this stage. What ever happened to good old fashioned Civil Disobedience. And legal action (ACLU). And voting. And get out the vote.

          by mole333 on Thu Mar 31, 2005 at 11:52:23 AM PDT

      •  Those evil nurses, firefighters and teachers

        Why do they hate 'merica???

        by adigal on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 09:23:40 AM PDT

      •  I'm sure that would go over well!

        I understand the anger, but it is no way to get the support of mainstream citizens.  It is a good way, though, to elicit a huge reaction from the other side.  The US is not the Ukraine.  

        In the US, if you want to build a civil society, you have to model one.

        by fishhead on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 01:11:27 PM PDT

      •  I got your back, buddy.

        You hit em high, I'll hit em low.  It's time to stop taking this shit sitting down.

        by Black Max on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 01:16:26 PM PDT

  •  Again, blame your State Democratic Party

    When this happened in Arizona, the State Democratic Party was all over it and had a press release and was making calls within the hour and had a picture of the kid in the diaries here.

    The DNC can't do everything. The Colorado Dems should have been more aware and forceful about this.

    by Dour on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 09:24:57 AM PDT

    •  Absolutely;

      It is the local, state run dem party that should have volunteers ready to go to attend and to watch closely what happens.  And raise a stink when Bush kicks them out.

      And then send emails around the world.  This is exactly what motivated the Dean blog.  someone would say "Dean should ..." and everyone would say "just do it yourself."  Or in this case the state parties should be taking the lead.  Let state parties take some of the heat.

      by GrandmaJ on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 09:31:11 AM PDT

  •  e-bay

    Make sure to have pictures of being escorted away, and sell the "offending" bumper sticker or tee on e-bay.  Offer a taxpayer discount since we've already paid for the event.

    by debraz on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 10:16:00 AM PDT

•  Full court press

  To raise this question in LTEs, blogs, radio-show call ins, you name it.

  This crap really pisses me off.

  by baldandy on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:38:19 AM PDT

  •  I totally agree

    my first thoughts: this crap just totally pisses me off. I am mad as hell, and I'm sending this to Durbin right now. Any other Illinoisans on here please join me: http://durbin.senate.gov/sitepages/contact.htm

    by peglyn on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:59:33 AM PDT

    •  Yeah, we're on this, too.

      Here's the text of the letter I sent. Durbin's only got a web form for comments, rather than an email address, but there's room for 10,000 characters. I asked him to call for disclosure in the case of "private" events (so you don't waste time going just to be yanked out of the seat), as well as a requirement for private funding for those events.

      by Rob at Chaos Digest on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 11:52:27 PM PDT

  •  Tried last week, will try again today.

    I'd say this is outrageous, but my meter's been broken for a long time now.

    When we first heard about the Tucson T-shirt incident, I spent 2 days trying to get through to Randi Rhodes about it, but it was all Terri, all the time. And I'll send an e-mail to my Senator (Schumer), who does have a mouth on him, and an LTE to the NYTimes.

    by sidnora on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 09:14:48 AM PDT

    •  well, I sent my letter

      I have had it, and Durbin is at least going to hear about it:

      Dear Senator Durbin, as a constituent who has sent you many letters of thanks and admiration for your excellent representation in upholding the values and interests of specifically Illinoisans but also Americans in general, I am writing now to ask that you please investigate the ongoing expense of tax payer money to support the Bush/ Republican political agenda. It seems that every day another story comes out which expounds the pervasiveness of this corruption, and I honestly feel that there will be no end to it anytime soon. This latest story I have included makes my blood boil over, and I feel that your outstanding integrity can help to expose and put an end to at least one of the simpler acts of destruction on our constitutional rights that the Bush administration has enacted. Thank you for taking the time to consider my position (story follows). Sincerely, xxxxx

      Mar 29, 10:33 AM EST

      Secret Service investigating removal of three from Bush visit

      By P. SOLOMON BANDA
      Associated Press Writer

      DENVER (AP) -- The Secret Service says it is investigating the claims of three people who claim they were removed from President Bush's town hall meeting on Social Security last week after being singled out because of a bumper sticker on their car.

      The three said they had obtained tickets through the office of Rep. Bob Beauprez, R-Colo., had passed through security and were preparing to take their seats when they were approached by what they thought was a Secret Service agent who asked them to leave.

      One woman, Karen Bauer, 38, a marketing coordinator from Denver, said Monday the agent put his hand on her elbow and steered her away from her seat and toward an exit.

      "The Secret Service had nothing to do with that," said Lon Garner, special agent in charge of the Secret Service office in Denver. "We are very sensitive to the First Amendment and general assembly rights as protected by the Constitution."  
      The three who were removed, along with their attorney, Dan Recht, met with Garner on Monday. Recht said he may file a lawsuit based on the group's alleged violation of their First Amendment rights.

      Garner said the group appeared confused as to who asked them to leave and declined to release further details, citing an ongoing investigation.

      Alex Young, 25, an Internet technology worker from Denver who was among the three removed from the event March 17 at Wings over the Rockies, said officials told them the next day they were identified as belonging to the "No Blood for Oil" group.

      Young said they belong to no such group, but the car they drove to the event had a bumper sticker that read: "No More Blood for Oil."

      "I don't think a bumper sticker on a friend's car should disqualify me from seeing the president," Young said.

      Beauprez distributed tickets to the event, which was part of President Bush's effort to gain support for his plan to overhaul Social Security. Messages left after-hours at Beauprez's office were not immediately returned Monday. A call to Bush's advance team in Denver went unanswered.

      Lawrence Pacheco, a spokesman for Rep. Mark Udall, D-Colo., said the congressman has asked the Secret Service about the group's allegations.

      Young, like Bauer and lawyer Leslie Weise, 39, is a member of the Denver Progressives, a political activist group. He said the three had T-shirts underneath their business attire that read, "Stop the Lies" and they had talked about exposing them during Bush's visit. He said they had scrapped the plan by the time they arrived at the museum.

      Recht said the T-shirts did not play a role in the group's removal.

      "They hadn't done anything wrong. They weren't dressed inappropriately, they didn't say anything inappropriate," Recht said. "They were kicked out of this venue and not allowed to hear what the president had to say based solely on this political bumper sticker.

      "The very essence of the First Amendment is that you can't be punished for the speech you make, the statements you make," Recht said.

      President Bush has visited at least 17 states to gain support for his plan to change Social Security, meeting with people who are generally supportive.

      Some people who have stood up to disrupt Bush while he was talking have been removed. But a group called Americans United to Protect Social Security said there have been at least two instances where people have been removed or barred from a Bush event beforehand.

      In February, a "black list" of people banned from getting tickets was obtained and published by the Forum newspaper. The White House and the Republican Party denied such a list existed and Gov. John Hoeven's staff said no one was denied tickets.

      Brad Woodhouse, a spokesman for Americans United, called the Denver example the most egregious violation.

      "They're screening the people who are allowed to come and then they're profiling them in the parking lot," he said. "It's quite extraordinary, and disappointing."
      

      by peglyn on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 09:18:00 AM PDT

      •  The usual suspect

        "Garner said the group appeared confused as to who asked them to leave"
        This was probably the infamous overzealous volunteer who gets blamed everytime something like this happens.

        by Catte Nappe on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 09:45:13 AM PDT

        •  That line jumped out at me, too.

          I've seen that phrase used more than once in news accounts where I knew the details, and they didn't support the gist or bias of the article.  Just call it confusion.  It provides cover for the miscreant and has the added bonus of making the victim (can't think of a better word) appear to be befuddled or incompetent.

          by sj on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 10:37:22 AM PDT

        •  A few bad apples, a few overzealous volunteers

          You know it's never going to be anyone in a position of leadership taking responsibility. I mean...come on. It was the CIA who got Iraq wrong, not the Preznit. And so it goes...

          by joejoejoe on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 04:14:54 PM PDT

      •  May I use your first paragraph...

        ... as a starting point for my own letter to Barbara Boxer and DiFi? Sometimes it helps to have something to start with, and I like how you worded your letter.

        by highacidity on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 11:01:56 AM PDT

        •  be my guest

          and thanks for the compliments (here & below). I do my best writing when I am angry :)

          by peglyn on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 01:28:42 PM PDT

      •  You first paragraph

        is excellent; I'm afraid I didn't do as much buttering up as you did. I usually do, too. But I write Schumer and my Rep. so often these days I think they probably see name and think, "Oh, no, not her again".

        And I used the letter rather than the AP story. Even though it's not "journalism" (and what is, these days?), I felt the most powerful part of the story was their interview with the SS.

        I just hope someone, somewhere, does something about this.

        by sidnora on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 12:05:50 PM PDT

•  It speak volumes, and at very high volume

  That the Secret Service was so candid about its directives -- and who gave them -- and why.

  by cskendrick on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:38:56 AM PDT

  •  On several levels

    One, that BushCo is that blatant about what they're doing.

    Two, that the Secret Service, like a LOT of law enforcement people everywhere, has totally had enough of it.

    Three, that BushCo has no fear of reprisal. You can already see the giant heads on Fox talking about the right of a private organizer to make sure an event is private.

    <shudder>

    by felagund on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:43:23 AM PDT

    •  Why Does the Secret Service Hate America?(n/t)

      by bobinson on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:47:19 AM PDT

      •  Why is the Secret Service's mission

        to protect the president being compromised by an unaccountable private security organization?
        

        by Mogolori on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 01:08:33 PM PDT

  •  They are supposed to be nonpartisan

    I'm sure many in the organization are upset that they are being used for partisan purposes.  I read a book on the history of the Secret Service.  The last time they were ordered to clear out protestors from Presidential events was under...you guessed it...Nixon.

    Back then, many of the agents would simply say no to Nixon's aides. They responded that their job was protecting the President, not suppressing free speech. Unfortunately, the leadership in today's Secret Service is not quite as tough with Rove & Co. about honoring the 1st Amendment.

    Good to see these Secret Service personnel try to clear their name, though.

    by existenz on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:47:04 AM PDT

    •  What they might be seeing

      Is that the Bush Imperium, while more robust than the Imperial Presidency under Nixon, won't long outlast his tenure...and he will be going back home in 2008.

      I suspect Jeb pretty much short-circuited his chances for the job over the weekend.

      The Easter Bunny was kind. :)

      by cskendrick on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 09:07:45 AM PDT

      •  Don't bet on it.

        Karl Rove is unparallelled at turning cowshit into diamonds...or at least gussying it up and passing it off as diamonds long enough to get a vote out of it.  If Rove wants Jebby as President, I don't care if Jebby butt-bangs Jeff Gannon on CNN, he'll run a powerful campaign.  Rove realizes that you can't lie to all of the people all of the time...but you don't need to.  Enough of the people enough of the time buying into your shit works just fine.

        by Black Max on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 01:21:32 PM PDT

    •  At the Raleigh Bamboozlepalooza

      We were protesting across the street and someone said, "Let's hear it for law enforcement!  They're out here to help us keep the peace today."  The crowd cheered the cops, and one young officer broke the standard issue stone face with a big grin.

      Law enforcement, any first responders, have been systematically screwed. I say put the heat where it belongs, at the top of the steaming pile.

      by debraz on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 10:21:55 AM PDT

      •  why are we across the street?

        That would be appropriate in a partisan campaign stop perhaps. But this is supposed to be a "town hall" with the president.

        We should fill the auditorium and ask our questions. that is what bush fears most. real face-to-face contact. actual discussion of Social Security, or anything else for that matter.

        by biscobosco on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 11:24:22 AM PDT

    •  This is what jumped out for me in the diary...

      ... that the Secret Service appeared eager to distance themselves from the issue. Good for them! I like the idea of making sure we let the personnel of whatever agency is working on these events know that we are aware that don't hold them responsible for the odious orders they may have to follow... (to a certain point of course).

      by highacidity on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 11:11:12 AM PDT

  •  Not letting them off so easily

    Secret Service agents are law enforcement officers, sworn to uphold the Constitution and the laws of the United States, as are all the state and local cops that you can be assured were present in quantity.

    They need to explain why, with all of the law enforcement on hand, not one of them took any action to prevent/stop what was clearly an illegal action.  

    The Republican staffer is the one that should have been arrested, and then maybe this shit would stop.

    by Wayward Wind on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:56:25 AM PDT

  •  Yeah and it begs the question...

    ...of why the hell the Secret Service is answering to the Republican Party. They're supposed to be protecting the president's life, not being Pinkerton officers for the local Republican machine.

    THEY ARE TAXPAYER FUNDED! THIS IS FRAUD!

    by AggieDemocrat on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 09:31:39 AM PDT

    •  New tactic - Civil rights lawsuit

      At the very least, compel the person of George W.Bush or the Republican National Committee (or local chapters) to compensate the United States government for funds spent on planning, logistics, security, catering, et cetera for exclusively partisan functions.

      And far better - establishing a precedent that ones freedom of movement, assembly and expression is curtailed for the crime of having the wrong bumper sticker or partisan affiliation.

      I say approach such events openly, as Democrats, under the official banner of the Democratic Party, and demand entry.

      If they want to start arresting attendees to taxpayer-funded meetings as Democrats then the Republicans are in for far more serious setbacks.

      They can pay for their own shindigs.

      And yeah -- I want my effing money back, Redshirts. Stealing my taxes to pay for your parties isn't cool at all. I'll see you in court.

      by cskendrick on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 09:50:55 AM PDT

      •  exactly

        To quote a great movie, "Hey mister, I want my two dollars!"

        by AggieDemocrat on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 12:01:02 PM PDT

•  Appalling. But par for the course

  This is, after all, the Stage Managed Administration.  No detail is to small to orchestrate, no audience can be filled with enough shills.

  And no truth shall ever be admitted.

  by WWGray on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:39:01 AM PDT

  •  OOPSIE

    a hooker in the white house...how did that happen?

    by 88kathy on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:41:20 AM PDT

•  well wellstone is dead

  So I'm thinking, NOONE in congress. Maybe Boxer. And where the hell is Salazar on this?

  This is scary. And even scarier that the Secret Service is breaking ranks and letting the info out there. Dissent in these ranks means things are much worse than we think.

  by naderhader on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:39:06 AM PDT

•  Arm yourselves

  It's only a matter of time before they start coming for us. Not the SS, but the Moronic Brownshirt Fucks.

  But it is interesting how all the Nazi abbreviations and tie-ins apply here so neatly.

  by Jim J on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:39:22 AM PDT

  •  The SS had to eventually put down...

    the SA (Brownshirt) leadership (Roehm), as they were competition.

    by rgilly on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:52:51 AM PDT

    •  Well done! n/t

      by Jim J on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:58:34 AM PDT

  •  arm yourself

    This was mentioned at my home last week - the gist of the conversation was "Americans have at least 250 million guns around and about their homes, so when the crunch comes, at least we can fight back."

    Another person there stated that "yeah, all those guns out there, but with all those guns of all shapes and sizes,and ammo of all calibers; what happens when the 'loaner' bullets don't fit?"

     Make sure you have enough.  And then some.

    by libbys mom on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 06:58:15 PM PDT

•  My prediction:

  No one will call for an investigation.

  I don't find this any more incredible, particularly, than any of the other assaults this Administration has made against freedom of expression or assembly or due process or medical choice or any number of liberties we're supposed to enjoy.  They're all so consistently appalling and incredible, and Congress is so consistently ignorant and/or emasculated to the situation, that I've become desensitized.  Wait, is that what they were counting on?

  I think my eyes are bleeding.

  by The Termite on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:39:24 AM PDT

  •  It is way past time to wake people up.

    This should be the rallying cry for ALL progressives, and frankly, every else, too.  We should all be up in arms (figuratively, security folks) about this and doing everything possible to bring it to light.  My conressman, senators, and local papers we be getting my letters immediately.

    by beemerr90s on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:43:26 AM PDT

    •  I agree, but for God's sake...

      ...what does it take to convince one fucking Republican that Something Is Wrong?  It's not like some of these people haven't lost a voice too, particularly in the labor sector, and all they do when they hear of these kinds of muzzlings is shrug and write it off to the assumption that the muzzled were "makin' trouble."

      The gate of the pen is still open, y'know?  And I feel like we're standing outside it ringing the bell and screaming at the sheep, "Make a run for it already before they finally herd you onto the killing floor!"  And they're not listening.

      by The Termite on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:50:52 AM PDT

      •  the only tme they are gonna care is

        when what happens directly affects them.  that is a fact.  these bible belters that supported bush and still do apparently don't realize that bush is going to gut the farmer's subsidy program.  they refuse to look past the pretty lights the administration distracts them with.  we all should be veryconcerned about what this administration is doing.  but many people choose not to know what theirgovernment is up to.  and what they do know doen't seem to hurt them, so who cares!  

        by ejpoeta on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 09:26:07 AM PDT

    •  They are too busy

      reading Schiavo letters for their inaction there.

      by Dev on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 09:06:15 AM PDT

  •  There will be no investigation...

    So true, because we live in a one-party system. The democrats are parasites living on the asses of the republicans, so they're no help at all. Our system of checks and balances no longer exists.

    by mitchvance on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 09:03:55 AM PDT

    •  it doesn't matter

      There has already been an admission by the government of this nasty conduct.  It just needs to be publicized and rolled up into the democratssocial security narrative.  

      Bush has a lame ass plan which no one wants and he trots all over the country using taxpayer dollars and does everything he can to prevent legitimate discussion of the issue by having the united states secret service kick people out of the event because of the bumber sticker on their cars.

      'nuff said.  While the secret service issue probably would not resonate with the american people, by tying it closely with an issue which they already mistrust the president about will help the issue to resonate.

      by sophiebrown on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 09:49:52 AM PDT

•  Abuse of the Secret Service

  Under Bush, it has become the American version of the Praetorian Guard.

  by Dump Terry McAuliffe on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:39:52 AM PDT

  •  But the Secret Service was candid in this

    Which is very peculiar.

    I would imagine that SS guys have standing order not to speak to the media, with the spirit of the order being quite broad in scope.

    However, speaking to evictees appears to have fallen outside the letter of that command, and the agents involved either inclined (or ordered) to cooperate, which is passing strange.

    There's a lot of buzz hitting Dailykos diaries today, that suggests that the Pubbies' assault on rule of law isn't going over so well with the law enforcement community these days.

    by cskendrick on Tue Mar 29, 2005 at 08:45:29 AM PDT

    •  A cry for help...

      from the Secret Service in memoryholeland. They are in bondage and being kept in line by the Bushite commissars.

      by rgilly on