[Tspud1]

He should have identified himself. Can't blame the officers for doing their jobs and protecting him. I don't think he should have published their names.

[aruanan]

Good for him.

[Timesink]

And then journalists sit around all day wondering why the public ranks them dead last on the list of Least Trustworthy Professions, behind even used car dealers, politicians and trial lawyers.

[Polonius]

My first thought after reading it was "What a dick!"

My second thought, though, was that he has a point. Later in the story, he quotes an officer as saying "if anyone shows a particular interest in something, we get suspicious." The reporter also says he pointed out that plenty of people in the area were using video cameras to record things without being stopped and questioned.

This should raise the question of why the reporter, jerk though he may be, was questioned by 10 officers for merely asking a question about an innocuous piece of equipment. Is this reporter an angel? No, but he behaved the way he did to make a point about the misuse of the Homeland Security tip line leading to useless paranoia and intrusive police behavior.

Of course we need to be more vigilant now, but does that really justify detaining and questioning citizens (with 10 officers, no less) for no more pretext than asking "curious questions?" It's clearly both excessive and a waste of law enforcement resources.

Being patriotic includes a lot of things, including questioning whether some post-9/11 law enforcement measures are ill-conceived. These may be trying times, but we shouldn't forget the importance of safeguarding are basic rights as citizens even as we do our best to ensure our security.

[Contra]

For anyone who doesn't know Courtland Milloy, he's the Ramsey Clark of journalism.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

This sounds exactly like the crap I've read in my local college newspaper. Sophmoric to say the least. The black guy has a chip on his shoulder...

[Bob J]

Join us tonight as The Shrew interviews Robert Spencer author of "Islam Unveiled: Disturbing Questions About the World's Fastest Growing Religion" This should prove to be a fascinating and provocative interview about this highly timely topic. Additionally, The Shrew interviews Robert Nowacki of the Free Congress Foundation Judicial Review and we will discuss the filibuster of Miguel Estrada!

Click HERE to listen LIVE while you FReep! HIFI broadband feed HERE! (when available)

Would you like to receive a note when RadioFR is on the air? Send an email to radiofreerepublic-subscribe@radioactive.kicks-ass.net!

Click HERE to chat in the RadioFR chat room! OPEN AND CHATTING NOW!

Miss a show?

Click HERE for RadioFR Archives!

[ladyinred]

Ah gee whiz fella, we were attacked on Sept 11th. You were most likely one of the reporters screaming the loudest about how come the government didn't know this was coming in advance!!!!! Because of people like you that is why.
Idiot.

[Cvengr]

Why did he write the article and even more importantly, Why would anybody waste time reading it?

We can continue this for a long time,....

[PhilDragoo]

It's a race-baiting wise-ass detector, citizen, and you're proof that it works.

[grumple]

(snip)
Both officers carried 9mm semiautomatic pistols, Mace and batons.

Anything to make them menacing. What are they supposed to carry? An ice cream cone, floppy red shoes and chewing gum?

[Sloth]

First off, this reporter is a first-class jerk, with an obvious racial chip on his shoulder.

However, if he *accurately* described the confrontation (big "if"), then the cops were in the wrong.

Let me see your ID," Spilde said.

"Why?" I asked.

Wrong response.

"Call for backup," Spilde eventually told Ramirez as he seized my notebook and pen and began to search me. Was I being arrested, I asked before turning over my driver's license.

The cops had NO legal authority to lay a finger on this guy.

[Hatteras]

"What I really wanted to know was why my questions about the box had made me suspect. Or was it that an African American -- whom someone may have mistaken for a Middle Easterner -- was asking them?"

sigh...

FORGET THE WAR! WHAT ABOUT ME?! THIS IS ALL A PLOT TO UNDERMINE THE BLACK MALE IN THIS COUNTRY!!! ARE YOU LISTENING AMERICA?! AMERICA? Are you there, America?! Hello?........

[MEGoody]

As if I'm supposed to be all outraged because the cops 'hasseled' this guy. If it were up to me, I'd kick him in the behind. None of this would have happened if he'd just answered the initial question.

[Rummyfan]

Great take on this article in Best of the Web yesterday....

The point of the whole thing seems to be that Courtland Milloy is a jacka**!