How far is too far

[Jobber of the Week 0]

First, I'll get this one from Slate out of the way because I'd rather get the one with a debatable source out of the way first:

 

One Nation Under Bush

At a campaign rally, Republicans recite the "Bush Pledge."

By Chris Suellentrop

 

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla.—"I want you to stand, raise your right hands," and recite "the Bush Pledge," said Florida state Sen. Ken Pruitt. The assembled mass of about 2,000 in this Treasure Coast town about an hour north of West Palm Beach dutifully rose, arms aloft, and repeated after Pruitt: "I care about freedom and liberty. I care about my family. I care about my country. Because I care, I promise to work hard to re-elect, re-elect George W. Bush as president of the United States."

 

I know the Bush-Cheney campaign occasionally requires the people who attend its events to sign loyalty oaths, but this was the first time I have ever seen an audience actually stand and utter one. Maybe they've replaced the written oath with a verbal one.

 

Next up, this story of a woman and her family denied tickets to a rally because of a bumper sticker.

 

Resident says confusion cost her tickets to Republican rally

By MATT COUGHLIN

Bucks County Courier Times

 

A Lower Makefield woman said she received a rude awakening Wednesday when she tried to get tickets to see President Bush today in Lower Makefield.

 

Simi Nischal got a ride with a co-worker to pick up tickets for herself, her husband, Narinder, and their two children. But just as the tickets were about to be placed in her hands, she was escorted from the Yardley gristmill and told to leave, she said.

 

" 'I deny you the right to attend this rally,' " Nischal said a Bush-Cheney campaign worker told her.

 

Apparently, Nischal's ride was a Kerry-Edwards supporter. Her car sported a bumper sticker for the Democratic candidates.

 

Nischal, a computer programmer who is originally from India, said her children wanted to see the president. The family had talked over dinner Tuesday night about attending today's campaign rally at the Broadmeadows Farm in Lower Makefield.

 

About lunchtime Wednesday, Nischal's co-worker dropped her off at the gristmill to pick up free tickets. When the co-worker returned, rally organizers for Bush and Vice President Cheney apparently noticed the Kerry-Edwards sticker stuck on the car, Nischal said. The organizers asked the co-worker why she was there and she responded, "to pick up Simi." While this was going on, Nischal was in the ticket office finishing paperwork and showing her identification for her tickets.

 

"The lady came in and said, 'Who's Simi?' " Nischal tearfully recalled Wednesday night, adding that she identified herself and was then refused tickets to the rally and escorted from the building.

 

Shortly after that, a man wearing a Bush-Cheney T-shirt confronted Nischal in the parking lot and told her to leave.

 

"He was so rude, he made me feel like a criminal," Nischal said. "I said, 'That's not fair, you are losing a supporter.' [And he said], 'We don't care about your support.' "

 

Nischal said onlookers cheered and laughed at her as she left the property.

 

Lastly, this story has the most amazing story I've ever read. This makes Protest Zones look like freedom and liberty:

 

Campaign event security spurs arrests, removals

By LYNN CAMPBELL

REGISTER STAFF WRITER

October 16, 2004

 

Tight security and screening at President Bush's campaign events in Iowa has led to at least five arrests, frightened one teenager, and caused several other people to be turned away when they failed to voice support for the president.

 

While some were protesters, others were escorted out of events or told to leave because they were wearing buttons or T-shirts for Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.

 

"It appears that the people wanting to control the visual images and the whole tone of these events have become so overwhelming," said Ben Stone, executive director of the Iowa Civil Liberties Union. "As a result of this obsession with control, there's been this increased use of screening and eliminating people."

 

The Kerry campaign has also held Iowa events that have been closed to the public. However, reports in Iowa and across the nation indicate that security at Kerry events is less strict. The Des Moines Register could not find any examples of detractors being arrested or kept out of Kerry events, and Republicans declined to provide any examples.

 

Bush campaign spokesman Dan Ronayne explained that because there's only so much space at each event, volunteers helping to re-elect Bush are given priority at Bush campaign events over those intending to disrupt.

 

"If someone were to be coming up wearing a 'John Kerry for President' T-shirt, that is probably someone who has left the undecided column," Ronayne said.

 

One of the latest incidents came when John Sachs, 18, a Johnston High School senior and Democrat, went to see Bush in Clive last week. Sachs got a ticket to the event from school and wanted to ask the president about whether there would be a draft, about the war in Iraq, Social Security and Medicare.

 

But when he got there, a campaign staffer pulled him aside and made him remove his button that said, "Bush-Cheney '04: Leave No Billionaire Behind." The staffer quizzed him about whether he was a Bush supporter, asked him why he was there and what questions he would be asking the president.

 

"Then he came back and said, 'If you protest, it won't be me taking you out. It will be a sniper,' " Sachs said. "He said it in such a serious tone it scared the crap out of me."

 

Sachs stayed at the event, but he was escorted to a section of the 7 Flags Events Center where he was surrounded by Secret Service and told he couldn't ask questions. "I was just in a state of fear," he said. "I was looking at the ceiling and I didn't know what to expect, I was so scared."

 

Ronayne said he wasn't aware of what happened to Sachs and declined to comment further. "To the best of my knowledge, no one's lives have been threatened at an event," he said.

 

Sachs' situation is the latest in a string of stories in which Iowans attending Bush campaign events said they've been made to feel unwelcome.

 

Other incidents include five protesters arrested outside an event in Cedar Rapids; black and Hispanic students frisked in Davenport; and two people denied admission in Dubuque because they either didn't support Bush or were affiliated with someone who didn't.

 

Iowa's stories are similar to those being told around the country. According to media reports, Missouri students were in tears after they were removed from a Bush rally because they were wearing Kerry buttons. Others in Minnesota and Wisconsin were asked to leave Bush rallies because they had Kerry T-shirts or stickers.

(...)

 

Those attending an August campaign event for Vice President Dick Cheney in New Mexico were asked to sign a loyalty oath, pledging their endorsement for Bush's re-election, before they received tickets to the event.

 

That spurred Kerry to joke regularly about the situation at campaign stops in Iowa and across America. "I want to just make certain that nobody here had to sign a loyalty oath to get in, right?" Kerry asked during a stop in Tipton last week. "This is a genuine open audience of Iowans, right?"

 

Ronayne said no such loyalty oaths are required by those attending Bush events in Iowa. "The only paper that is distributed at these events for people to sign entirely at their own discretion is a volunteer form," he said.

 

That last one is absolutely frightening. And while the spokesman is right that people wearing shirts for the other candidate are probably not as undecided, loyalty oaths? How are you going to court undecideds when you make them announce or sign a pinky pledge to hear what you have to say?

[MrRant 0]

I'm in favor of the billy club if people start being dicks and throwing shit etc.

[bobobrazil1984 0]

Nischal said her daughter has been learning about the political process at school and has been a Bush supporter. She even picked up papers for her daughter to volunteer for the Bush campaign right before she was kicked out of the gristmill, she said.

 

Nischal said she and her husband had not voted in previous elections, but the couple wanted to set a good example for their daughter by voting this year.

 

"I was undecided, but we have changed our opinion," Nischal said. "You don't treat people that way."

 

moral of the 2nd story... dont ever be friends with someone of the opposite party!!!

in all seriousness though, it's a loss of 2 "un-likely" voters in a SWING STATE, and most likely a gain of those two for Kerry, so, well, at least there's consequences however small and tiny.

[Jobber of the Week 0]

I'm in favor of the billy club if people start being dicks and throwing shit etc.

Is there anyone who isn't, really?

 

 

And don't answer that question. I want it to remain rhetorical or else I'll cry.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

.—"I want you to stand, raise your right hands," and recite "the Bush Pledge..."

 

Woah, and I thought it was weird when Wal-Mart employees exercise before opening up their store.

 

And so what if people that don't support a candidate get turned away? What am I supposed to be outraged about? I think turning these people away is dumb, but not enough to spark a shit-fit over. Then again, I love it when one or two pseudo-hippies speak their lack of a mind at a campaign stop because then the mob can overwhelm them...

[mister foozel 0]

one more reason not to vote for Bush

 

Kerry should use this to his advantage, with the slogan:

 

"If you vote for Bush, you might as well be electing the Nazi Party"

 

fucking nazis

[Skywarp! 0]

Basically, the NYPD's handling of the RNC protesters was too far.

[bob_barron 0]

Basically, the NYPD's handling of the RNC protesters was too far.

But they didn't. I was there and the police showed remarkable restraint.

[2GOLD 0]

one more reason not to vote for Bush

 

Kerry should use this to his advantage, with the slogan:

 

"If you vote for Bush, you might as well be electing the Nazi Party"

 

fucking nazis

 

Don't be stupid.

Be a smarty

Come on and join the Nazi Party.

 

PARTY!

[snuffbox 0]

Basically, the NYPD's handling of the RNC protesters was too far.

But they didn't. I was there and the police showed remarkable restraint.

I was also there...and Bob's right, it wasnt bad.

 

Bad = Kent State.

[Highland 0]

Bush and Cheney need to have the Imperial March precede their entrances instead of Hail to the Chief. Then again, I'd probably think it'd be cool if they did come out with the Imperial March playing.

[2GOLD 0]

Bush and Cheney need to have the Imperial March precede their entrances instead of Hail to the Chief. Then again, I'd probably think it'd be cool if they did come out with the Imperial March playing.

 

My best friend and I had this conversation on the phone during the Kerry speech. My best friend is an extreme Democrat and even he admitted he'd have considered voting for Bush if he had come out to the Imperial March complete with the Red guards and Cheney in the Darth Vader Helmet.

 

 

As for the Protestors treatment, I honestly don't know. The cops in some areas have been quick to defuse situations that aren't even situations at the time. I can't blame them though, the anger level might be at a level just below the Vietnam War anger.

[Corey_Lazarus 0]

Saying you'll kill somebody for speaking their mind is WRONG. Denying somebody tickets to a partisan convention when they're swing voters is STUPID.

 

Basically, if somebody is peacefully protesting, ie. just speaking their mind and not causing any physical or mental (in the terms of showing graphic pictures, be they humorous or not, or yelling obscenities, like PETA and PETA affiliates often do) harm? Let them. This whole nation was founded on being able to represent your side. But the moment things get out of control? Yes, take any means necessary to subdue the offenders.

 

I'm not going to say that it's because of these and similar incidents I'm not voting for Bush. I'm not voting for Kerry either. At the risk of sounding like any other idiot of my generation, it's an election between a giant douche and a turd sandwich. Cake or death? Cake, please.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

it's sorta amusing to have Bush ask for Democrats to vote for him at a rally where there'll be very few Democrats present.

 

(it's even more amusing that he calls them the "Democrat party" in some areas and the "Democratic party" in others)

 

I don't know what they call the oath, i've heard it refered to as the "Loyalty Oath" though

[Justice 0]

one more reason not to vote for Bush

 

Kerry should use this to his advantage, with the slogan:

 

"If you vote for Bush, you might as well be electing the Nazi Party"

 

fucking nazis

If only you were Kerry's Campaign manager. Then this election would be so much easier for us Conservatives to win.

[Justice 0]

To be completely honest, though, 1 and 3 don't bother me at all. 1 is stupid, but I doubt it's authenticity and frankly, it's just a bunch of diehards showing how much they support the President. Until they are forcing people to take them, this is a pretty dumb story.

 

3 is just stupid as well. The guy comes in with a "No Billionaire left behind" pin. Of COURSE they aren't gonna let him in. Hell, he's also got the whole 'Young Rebel' thing going for him. He didn't pay for a ticket, so that doesn't , mean he's losing anything, and the guy definitely looked as though he was gonna cause shit. "Ask him a few questions" generally means shouting accusations when it comes down to anyone from the opposition coming to a rally. I also don't believe his 'sniper' claim. This kid looks like he was trying to start shit, and failing that, he just embellished his failure to the newspaper.

 

2, though, does hit me a bit. It's sad that something like this happened, and it does disappoint me.

 

Of course, though, these events are true for either side. I've been ganged-up by a bunch of "Students for Kerry" before for supporting the President, so please don't try to claim these are party exclusive.

[Guest Anglesault]

I still think the absolute funniest story was Al Franken mugging that poor shmuck at the Dean rally earlier this year.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

I still think the absolute funniest story was Al Franken mugging that poor shmuck at the Dean rally earlier this year.

Don't fuck with Stuart Smalley!

 

[Vyce 0]

one more reason not to vote for Bush

 

Kerry should use this to his advantage, with the slogan:

 

"If you vote for Bush, you might as well be electing the Nazi Party"

 

fucking nazis

You know, sometimes I think to myself, "We just don't have enough rampant idiocy here in the Current Events folder. After all, INXS is just one man..." And then my prayers are answered, and a new one of these types of posters pops up.

 

Thank you, Jesus.

[Guest MikeSC]

I guess Republicans simply need to become more violent to be more acceptable to the left.

-=Mike

[Corey_Lazarus 0]

one more reason not to vote for Bush

 

Kerry should use this to his advantage, with the slogan:

 

"If you vote for Bush, you might as well be electing the Nazi Party"

 

fucking nazis

You know, sometimes I think to myself, "We just don't have enough rampant idiocy here in the Current Events folder. After all, INXS is just one man..." And then my prayers are answered, and a new one of these types of posters pops up.

 

Thank you, Jesus.

You'd think you'd develop a sense of sarcasm in your years on this planet. But alas...

 

And yes, Mike. Then the left would go "wow, they really have earned our respect by showing how firmly behind their beliefs are...now we have more ammunition to throw false claims!" And then the right will go "but you're Godless sons of whores that hate this country!" And then the left will say "but we're planning on making changes to better the people for this country that we see fit!" And then the right will go "but those changes will also alienate half of the nation, the more influential half, and chaos will erupt once terrorist organizations see how weak we are as a government!" And then the left will go "then maybe it's time to focus on advancing our home than on worrying about our neighbors!" And then the right will go "my dad can kick your dad's ass!" And the right will be right, because the left's dad was probably a hippie.