Quelling Dissent [Criticizes citizen actions against protesters]

The Salt Lake Tribune ^ | 9/12/2007 | James Roach

[TChris]

Two news items passed recently without notice in The Tribune's pages. Separately, each story is troubling enough, but put side by side, the two stories illuminate a terrifying trend.

The first comes from Myanmar, formerly Burma, and tells how its military junta has created civilian gangs to solidify power by antagonizing dissent. The second comes from our own country and tells how the Bush administration has also created civilian gangs, called "rally squads," to antagonize protesters and demonstrators. These civilian volunteers stand ready to block protesters' signs and to drown out demonstrators' chants, ensuring that nary a critical word is heard at presidential events.

The New York Times called these American civilian gangs "vigilante squads" and said they "are out of place in a democracy." In fact, the only country in which these gangs have a place is Myanmar, a fascist military dictatorship. Shouldn't something as ominous as the Bush administration emulating the Burmese military junta in stifling protest get far more attention than it has?

[TChris]

Poor leftist moonbats. They really don't like counter-protests very much, do they?

[muawiyah]

I didn't like it when the leftwingnutz attempted to interfere with General Petraeus report the other day.

We already knew what the leftwingnutz had to say too ~ .

[AppyPappy]

How terrible. Maybe the State should silence those who try to silence others in the name of free speech.

Unless it shouldn’t.

[abercrombie_guy_38]

More excuses from the Commies to quiet opposing viewpoints. I’m sure the Dems will find a way to investigate and make laws about “civilian mobs.”

[BelegStrongbow]

I thought from the citation that this was a pundit, but it appears to be a letter to the editor. Perhaps everyone else saw this without having to note that, but given that this is a personal opinion, it is just moonbattery not the dangerous propaganda an actual pundit could pursue.

I wonder who wrote it for him, however?

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

So let me get this straight, it's O.K. for moonbats to chant and disrupt events, but when Conservative counter-protesters show up to exercise their 1st Amendment rights as well, it's a fascist dictatorship?

Unbelievable!

[jiggyboy]

the Bush administration has also created civilian gangs, called "rally squads," to antagonize protesters and demonstrators.

I don't believe this for a second. I would have read about "rally squads" somewhere in the past thousand hours or so of my FR surfing.

[BufordP]

I’m for quelling the quell quellers. Oh stop the circle of quelling!

[wastedyears]

Well then they’ll love this Saturday coming up!

[JMK]

Of course, the moonbats never cause disruptions. Anybody remember this picture?

Link:
Kerry Supporters Tear Up Bush-Cheney Sign, Make Little Girl Cry

[chimera]

They aren’t used to be challenged. The lamestream media certainly never questions or criticizes them. They can’t fathom the thought that someone might disagree with them. Leftists never acknowledge the possibility that they could be wrong, or that another might have a legitimate disagreement with them. Liberals are the ones who brook no dissent. You either agree with liberals, or you are shouted down and ostracized. So much for the vaunted "diversity". Libs are all for "diversity", as long as it is "diverse" like them.

[anoldafvet]

This is the third time I’ve read this same complaint, each time by a different “person”. It wouldn’t surprise me if Reid or Pelosi were “testing the waters”.

[Spok]

“The New York Times called these American civilian gangs “vigilante squads” and said they “are out of place in a democracy.”

The article clearly states that these are citizen ‘volunteers’ whose voices must be silenced. The left is becoming more and more hostile to free speech.

[dforest]

Just what you would expect coming out of a guy named ROACH.

[Enchante]

Dear Ny Slimes,

I am sure that you are busy investigating all the lawless left-wing “vigilante gangs” of anti-war, anti-Bush, anarchist, anti-globalization, and all-around anti-Republican hateful nutjobs who have committed so many CRIMES over the past few years..... RIGHT?? You couldn’t be ignoring all the crime and depravity committed by your friends, could you?

[tet68]

I’m for quelling the quell quellers. Oh stop the circle of quelling!

“Quell horror!”

[Edgerunner]

NYT=Goose steppers...