When King George travels, liberties suffer

The Capital Times ^ | May 13, 2004 | John Nichols

[freeeee]

BFD.

Yes, I know free speech and assembly aren't important to you.

[SoDak]

So, from now on, any president that is making a campaign stop needs to monetarily reimburse everyone inconvenienced, needs to pay to keep order everytime the local University turns out it's typical mob, and is encouraged to allow said mob to shout him down wherever they may turn up. Does freedom of speech also mean that when I am exercising that right, that someone else must be forced to hear that speech in order to fulfill that right?

[T'wit]

The Cap Times is still pitching it after all these years, eh? When I was at UW, the conservative club mocking named its annual freedom award after William T. Evjue, legendary leftist editor of the Times. The paper fumed but there wasn't anything they could do about it.

[BluH2o]

No mention, of course, of Bush's immediate predecessor King Slick and his $350 haircut on Air Force 1 at LAX back in the first months of his presidency. commercial airline traffic was held up at the nations busiest airport for over two hours while Slick's Hollywood stylist was summoned to AF 1 to work his trade.

[eyespysomething]

Blah blah blah

The President came through our area a few weeks ago. No "no-free-speech" zone. Anyone could line up anywhere along the 10+ miles his motorcade drove on.

One guy did, protesting about no jobs. One.

Amazingly, I wasn't allowed to block the road and make the President's motorcade stop so he could shake my hand, and I like the guy. Imagine that.

With the level of hatred against the President in the country right now, I'm not surprised by this. Was there no where (bridges/overpasses, hillsides etc) these people could have "free-speeched"? Just because we have a first amendment, doesn't mean people are allowed to get in his face to disagree with him.

[TC Rider]

W should have had the decency to parade on foot like Hillary in NYC. Then his royal minions could have beat the snot out of dissenters (like Hillary).

Get over it. The Secret Service is following policies put in place over 10 years ago. I speak from experience in trying to exercize free speach against the Clintons.

[freeeee]

Rather have that than being taught by a liberal writer filled with irrational animus.

Yes, Dane. I know the SOP of "killing the messenger" when the facts are embarassing.

But I don't play that game. I don't care who wrote the article. I care that Americans were denied free speech and assembly because of their political views while others who cheerlead the government are not.

Go on, surprise me and actually address that point.

[armyboy]

Some people were removed or arrested for one reason and only one reason: they were protesting. THAT is why this isn't a free country

just because i=of this little incident you are saying this isn't a free country? Also I want to know where your outrage is when anti-kerry people are removed because they are protesting. it's happened plenty of times. So I say again get off your F'ing soap box ya' hypocrite.

[freeeee]

The problem is that the SS knows it cannot really protect the President from a determined assassin, so they want to create a record 'for the file' of how hard they have tried, just in case.

Exactly what is the connection between protesters and assassination attempts?

Hinkly was posing as a supporter.

This policy has nothing to do with safety and everything to do with a nice clean photo-op.

[an amused spectator]

The point of the article was that people who weren't protesting were allowed to stay.

Those with critical views were forced to leave or face arrest.

Those who do not remember history, are condemned to be freeeee.....

[freeeee]

Apparently he's never heard of what it's like when either of the Clintons traveled. Even today I read that signs, etc., are removed from Hillary's presence.

Um, isn't that part of why we don't want to elect Clintons?

[discostu]

I wonder how many of these protesters thinks it's just dandy to not allow pro-life demonstraters near abortion clinics. Goose, meet gander.

[whereasandsoforth]

Get back to me when they close down LAX again like they did when King Bulbnose had his arse hairs pucked on the tarmac.

Get back to me when they close down LBJ Freeway (!!) in Dallas just because King JizzWhizz needed an entrance and an exit to and from his brother's wedding.

[Christian4Bush]

"Look pal, When a VIP comes to town stuff gets disrupted, it life. This is about the only country where you could write this about it's leader and not get into trouble. I'm fighting for your right to say those things. if it wasn't for strong leaders like President Bush there would be no America to defend.
So F you and the horse you rode in on..."

Damn right PING!!!

[Dane]

But I don't play that game. I don't care who wrote the article

Blah, blah, blah. Yada, yada, yada. Who cares if you are promoting an article by someone who no doubt is among the hate America crowd.

[hattend]

Typical Bush-hater hypocrisy. I'm sure things went like clockwork when Clinton travelled.

Guess the author forgot about Clinton's barber appointment at LAX.

[Johnny Gage]

Continued proof of:

[freeeee]

The Secret Service is following policies put in place over 10 years ago. I speak from experience in trying to exercize free speach against the Clintons.

The SS does what the pres says. If he says non violent protesters stay then they do.

No president in the last 10 years has any respect for free speech or assembly.

[Christian4Bush]

"Guess some folks just have a NEED to complain about anything President Bush does."

Unfortunate but true PING.