CNN: Anti-Bush MLK protest in Atlanta, protesters arrested!

[Bonobo]

Police park busses in front of protesters to prevent B* from seeing them. "Free Speech Zones"!!!


More to come...

[VolcanoJen]

1. CNN reports over 300 protestors in the area

The protesters refused to remain in the "Free Speech" zone, which is 150 yards from where Bush will be. Now the protesters are standing directly across the street from MLK's crypt.

Only one person has been arrested so far, according to CNN.

[elfwitch]

4. good for them...

I can't think of a better memorial to MLK than a bunch of people being peacefully disobediant in his name.

[Mairead]

12. I agree! Martin would be proud.

[Shadder]

35. No

Martin would be out there with them.

[MidwestTransplant]

66. No he wouldn't

Think about it. :)

Just messing with you..

[Clark4VotingRights]

131. You're right. Martin would be marching and protesting.

The man had guts.

[wryter2000]

15. Right on, elfwitch

I hope they all stay safe, and I hope this is all over the national news tonight. Imagine, those thugs telling the people when they have to be out of the church. Bushwa!

[elfwitch]

28. It could be the BIG turning point we've been waiting for

Wouldn't it be great? The home of the civil rights movement the lauching ground for the ousting of BushCo.

[Buns_of_Fire]

5. The commentator said, "They don't understand...

...why they can't stand across the street from MLK's crypt."

That makes two of us...

[TankLV]

52. That makes over 500,000 of us, at least.

Don't ever forget, bunkerboy.

YOU ARE A MINORITY pResident. THE OTHER GUY GOT MORE VOTES! OVER 500,000 MORE VOTES!

YOU HAVE NO MANDATE TO DO ANYTHING!

[wildwww2]

116. Correct! No mandate to do anything. Supreme Court blessing to murder.

And the main purpose is to keep people scared enough to help these fascist assholes remain in power. I hope it does not work.
Peace
Wildman
Al Gore is My President

[Atman]

7. No Camera's?

CNN is headquartered in Atlanta, but can't get a camera over to the first-ever protest seen by Der Bushmiester? Puh-leeze.

[CaptainClark23]

11. uh-huh

No Cameras and 300 protestors. Without any substantiation, I would double that number to 600 at least.

Just because these fecks cannot tell the truth.

[Disandra]

74. CNN lies (what else is new)

Local media reports about 1000 protestors, and the "First Amendment Zones" are not holding them.

I have never been prouder than I am today of being from this area!!

[watercolors]

80. Thank you Atlanta

So very proud of your voices being heard, we need no first amendment zones, its bull shit!

[Clark4VotingRights]

132. Yes! Thank you Atlanta. Today, we are all Atlantans!

eom

[David Dunham]

2. Bush is a Closet Racist

[wryter2000]

17. I don't think he's in the closet any longer

Welcome to DU!

[rumguy]

3. Keep us posted on what happens

How close are they to Bush? Is it all on CNN, live?

[Buns_of_Fire]

9. boosh isn't scheduled to arrive for another hour or so

I hope this doesn't turn into something nasty. I've a feeling they'll cancel His Excellency's visit rather than let him see how much people in Atlanta LUUUUUUUUUUUUV him...

[rumguy]

14. I hope those protesters stand their ground

I wish I was there with them! Bush and his thugs can no longer be allowed to trample all over free speech rights...

[monobrau]

6. Stand fast

This could be an important day. Stand fast, Atlanta!

[aquart]

8. One more photo op screwed.

Let's see, George horned in on the MLK festivities so he could give a superficial appearance of really liking black people and honoring "their" leaders. And thereby look like a good guy and pick up some votes.

Think it worked?

[supernova]

10. Way to go Atlanta!

This is amazing stuff. Keep up the updates. Some of us don't have cable.

Nothing's up on the cnn website yet.

[grasswire]

13. outstanding

Once again our brothers and sisters in the struggle for human rights lead where others fear to tread.

I'm awed and humbled by this.

Solidarity!

[Shadder]

16. Link

http://www.wxia.com/

[mars_clover]

19. thanks!

Thanks for the link!

mars_clover

[NashVegas]

96. What's Wrong With This Quote?

Re Bush:

“He didn't ask me any questions, so I felt kind of unsettled. He is the most genuine person I have met,” she said.

[Sentath]

127. Nothing ( : !

I fully agree that * is genuinely unsettling ( :

[Melodybe]

26. Yay Atlanta! Hold your ground, ruin another precious photo op for Chimpy

I am so proud of the people protesting I wish that we could be there with them. BTW if the media tries to steal another election from us I say we protest the CNN building.

[bobbieinok]

34. file cannot be found........I cannot get video

......

[bigwillq]

18. I don't think protesters should be arrested..

unless they turn violent

[supernova]

21. Depends on how much shrub

goads them while he's there.

He'd better get a class injection before he lands. He sure doesn't have any now.

[DrWeird]

23. I feel the same way

about the president. Throw his ass in prison with a bunch of inmates who got decades for possession of cocaine.

[leftchick]

24. in shrub*'s world....

the protesters get arrested for protesting. His is the king you know.

[mike1963]

25. Gee, how constitutional of you...

:eyes:

[Tatiana]

27. This is Bush's Amerikka.

Anything truthful that upsets Dumbya can be arrested, or at the very least, investigated. Just ask Paul O'Neil.

[oasis]

20. Kicking Bush's behind in Atlanta.Priceless.

[madaboutharry]

22. Maybe Mike Malloy is there

and will give us more details on tonight's show. Hey, Mike get down there and be a journalist.

[TheDalaiMama]

30. way to go Atlanta....we are with you in spirit.

dalai

[proud patriot]

36. I can't wait for Malloy's show tonight

:D Happy Birthday MLK

[0007]

64. I'm more than sure Mike will be there and let us know the happenings!

My hat is off to you protesters. March proudly and peacefully don't buy into the antagonist, be careful!

[Le Taz Hot]

29. You go, Atlanta

You should be able to hear me cheering all the way from California!

[Iverson]

31. Hear hear!

and me from Michigan!

[Tansy_Gold]

44. Me three

from AZ!

[Just Me]

78. Me Four

from WV


GO, ATLANTA, GO!!!!

[Shadder]

32. Minor update

The jackass has landed...this from the WXIA website...

Police set up a zone for the protesters to keep them some 150 yards from where the president will stand at the crypt. However, 300 to 400 protesters who arrived in advance of the president's visit refused to step back to the cordoned-off area and instead set up camp just about 50 yards from the crypt. Officers took one protester into custody and blocked the view of the others with buses.

[cthrumatrix]

37. where is the ACLU....where are our rights?

[progressivebydesign]

86. They're busy with Rush Limbaugh's case today..

I have wondered why the ACLU hasn't championed the bullshit First Amendement Zone cause. Why have we accepted it?

[rustydog]

120. Actually, they are championing a man arrested for refusing to go to a zone

The ACLU has to only fight and win one free speech zone case and the rest come tumbling down.
The same with Rush. he may be an idiotic, right-wing blowhard drug abusing bastard...But he does have the same constitutional rights we have. I hate that basterd, but I have to support the ACLU defending a PRINCIPLE that applys to all Americans no matter what their belief-system is.

[CaptainClark23]

41. From the back of the bus...

To hidden behind it...o sweet irony.....

[DrWeird]

50. Fifty yards?

That's within singing distance. Hope Bob W. Jones gets an earful.

[formactv]

97. It is also 150 ft.

[progressivebydesign]

84. I find buses to be a particularly offensive symbol for them to use.

Stupid assholes. How dare they block off the public with buses? How DARE Bush tie in a lameass 5 minute visit with his fundraising trip. We are paying much more than his airfare, we are paying for the security... he's an insensitive pig. I'm so angry!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tinanator]

115. insensitive pigs everywhere

are deeply offended by this association. He's the devil's own child, insensitive pig is woeful understatement. "I can't wait to hang it!"
Bury him in his own hatefulness. Spread the truth.

[LiberalFighter]

100. They should protest the mayor and the police chief

Give them hell and let them know that their citizens will not tolerate their locally ELECTED officials subverting their rights.

They should also jam the phones of the city/county council members.

Local area unions and social minded churches should had mobilized against this outrage.

[missile_bender]

33. Ironic, as Partiot Act literally defines MLK's activities as terrorist

The act defines terrorism as breaking the (civil disobedience does) for political purposes. But the Ga. Terror Party says President A-wipe sincerely admires King. Bah!

[TacticalPeek]

38. The South shall rise again, aWol!

And kick your sorry ass back to the pig farm!


Ride to the sound of the repression.

[MuseRider]

39. My heart is in Atlanta

today! If I was anywhere close by I would be there. Hold tight, stand up and be free Atlanta.

[thebaghwan]

40. Free at last, Free at last, Thank God Almighty I'm free at last

Stand strong Atlanta, we are with you

[leftchick]

42. CNN says "black people protesting"

on their screen. Then shows a tight shot of protesters (can't show too many you know) I clearly saw several white folks too! CNN SUCKS!!!

[rumguy]

43. was there bus blocking them? were they penned in by secret service?

I don't have cable...

[cthrumatrix]

45. I hope everyone can tell abou 100 people about CNN's actions and

the liberal media.

[Bonobo]

46. Yeah, those black people are troublemakers!

Imagine trying to stand near MLK's tomb while Shrub is visiting.

[rumguy]

47. what unmitigated gall!

how dare they disrupt a rove photo op?

[Atman]

70. Check out CNN web site...

"ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- About 400 protesters assembled Thursday outside the King Center in Atlanta in anticipation of the arrival of President Bush, who was planning to commemorate the 75th birthday of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. with a visit to his tomb.

Carrying signs and chanting to rhythms pounded from conga drums, members of the crowd resisted efforts by police to move them to a designated protest area about 150 yards from the reflecting pool, where Bush was to lay a wreath at King's crypt.

Two people were taken into custody when they attempted to cross the street."

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/01/15/elec04.prez.bush.thursday/index.html

========

Pounding conga drums and chanting rhythms? Must be those negroes! Jesus H!

[wildwww2]

117. CNN does suck. It is the Bu$h administration they are sucking. But they

have been doing this for his entire court appointed rule. IMHO.
Peace
Wildman
Al Gore is My President

[democrank]

48. Hold everything!

Any minute now we`ll hear from the Guardians of Free Speech at CNN...

Ungrateful Marchers Sully President`s Historic Visit. Bush Vows to Unite, Not Divide As Secret Service Struggles to Fend Off Danger.
Cheney Cancels Pheasant Hunt.

Vote now in our latest poll...
Should Ashcroft ban all protesting within a 1,000 mile radius of President Bush? Those voting YES may use our 800 number.

[Buns_of_Fire]

49. Minor update...

Air Bunnypants One just landed. (Probably at Dobbins, which is several miles north of downtown.) As usual, I-75 south will probably be locked down for the Royal Motorcade to the MLK memorial (which, I know from experience, makes the people working downtown -- and along the Royal Route -- feel awfully unpatriotic towards whoever caused the mess).

[Shadder]

51. Nope, not this time

The shit landed at Hartsfield

[proud patriot]

53. Atlanta Indymedia site link here

http://atlanta.indymedia.org/

[leftchick]

55. thank you proud!

I was looking for this! :)

[LiberalFighter]

101. Protestors carried away by police???

They don't look like police to me!!! More like military gestapo in jackboots.

Why not arrest the military gestapo for being out of their jurisdicition?

[Shadder]

54. THEY ARE BEATING ON DRUMS!

More from WXIA

Waiting to greet him are hundreds of protesters who have pushed past barricades to close in on the president as he lays a wreath at the King crypt.

The Secret Service set up a zone for the protesters to keep them some 150 yards from where the president will stand. However, 300 to 400 protesters who arrived in advance of the president refused to step back to the cordoned-off area and instead set up camp just about 50 yards from the crypt.

Officers took one protester into custody and blocked the view of the others with buses.

Drums beat loudly as protesters chanted "In 2004, Bush no more," and held printed signs that displayed King's image and said "War is not the answer."

[rumguy]

56. wow, are you seeing this live?

What is the scene like? Are the protesters trying to get around the buses, what are the SS doing?

[Shadder]

58. I wish

Getting info of the net, WXIA (NBC - Atlanta) will be going live there shortly

[kayell]

60. Do you have a link for their live feed?

I can't find it on their site.

[catmandu57]

61. I wonder if they'll use water cannons and police dogs

to move back the protestors or the Georgia National Gaurd, if they aren't all in Iraq. Good for Georgians I wish there were 100,000 there.

[Just Me]

79. I may not be able to see them or be with them, BUT,...

,...I CAN DEFINITELY "FEEL" THEM!!!

Last year, MLK's Birthday was the start of the hugest wave of global protests ever known to humanity. I wonder if this will be the start of an even greater wave. Oh, God,...I feel so inspired!!!!

I love you, Dr. King!!!! Your spirit lives on and on and on!!!!

[RobertSeattle]

57. Great stuff - hope all the GOP donors see this too

They need to get out of the GOP echochamber and hear what real people have to say.

[CaptainClark23]

59. AP Wire

Copy written as if this is all past tense:

=snip=

Hundreds protest Bush visit to MLK tomb
By LOUISE CHU
Associated Press

ATLANTA - Hundreds of people pushed past Secret Service barricades Thursday to protest President Bush's visit to the tomb of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on what would have been the civil rights leader's 75th birthday.

There were no immediate reports of any arrests. The incident happened before the president arrived for the afternoon wreath-laying ceremony.

Beating drums and chanting, "In 2004, Bush no more," about 300 people marched in circles near the tomb, saying the president's stop there was merely a "photo op." Some protesters held signs that displayed King's image and read, "War is not the answer."

=endsnip=

[young_at_heart]

62. Everywhere Bush goes...........PROTESTS erupt

Every city has to spend extra money to "protect" him.

[joeunderdog]

95. That's why I don't believe polls showing him to be way ahead.

Media lies about polls like any other story.

[leftchick]

65. at least 500!

according to a local atlanta link provided by CatWoman!

[markses]

63. Ah ha hush that fuss/Everybody move to the back of the bus

Do you wanna bump and
slump wit us/we
the type of
people make the club get crunk (2X)
Many a day has passed, the night has gone by
/ But still I find the time to put that bump off
in your eye / Total
chaos, for these playas,
thought we was absent / We taking another route to represent the
Dungeon Family / Like
Great
Day, me and my nigga decide to take the back way / We stabbing every city then
we headed to that
bat
cave / A-T-L, Georgia, what do we do for ya / Bull doggin hoes like them Georgetown
Hoyas
/ Boy you sounding silly,
thank my Brougham ain't sittin pretty / Doing doughnuts round you
suckas like them
suckas like circles around titties Damn
we the committee gone gone burn
it down / But us gone bust you in the mouth with the
chorus now
Say Ah ha hush that fuss/Everybody
move to the back of the bus/Do you wanna bump
and slump wit us/we the type of
people make the
club get crunk (2X)
I met a gypsy and she hipped me to some life game / To stimulate then activate
the left
and right
brain / Said baby boy you're only funky as your last cut / You focus on the
past your ass'll
be a has what / That's
one to live by or either that one to die to / I try to just
throw it at you determine your own
adventure / Andre, got
to her station here's my destination
/ She got off the bus, the conversation lingered in my
head for hours / Took
a shower kinda
sour cause my favorite group ain't coming wit it / But I'm witcha you cause
you probably goin
through
it anyway / But anyhow when in doubt, went on out and bought it / Cause I
thought it would be
jammin,
but examine all the flawsky-wawsky / Awfully, sad and it's costly, but thats all she
wrote
/ And I hope I never have to float in that boat / Up shit creek it's weak is the last
quote / That
I want to hear
when I'm goin down when all's said and done / And we got a new joe in town / When the
record
player
get to skippin and slowin down / All yawl can say is them niggas earned that crown, but
until
then
Ah ha hush that fuss/Everybody move to the back of the bus/Do you wanna bump and
slump
wit us/we the type of
people make the club get crunk (2X)
Ah ha hush that fuss/Everybody move
to the back of the bus/Do you wanna bump and
slump wit us/we the type of
people make the club
get crunk (2X)
Ah ha hush that fuss/Everybody move to the back of the bus/Do you wanna bump
and
slump wit us/we the type of
people make the club get crunk (2X

[Fish-Slapping_Dance]

69. If you miss me at the back of the bus,

you can't find me nowhere (oh-h-h),
c'mon over to the front of the bus,
I'll be ridin' up there.

I'll be ridin' up there,
I'll be ridin' up there, (oh-h-h)
C'mon over to the front of the bus,
I'll be ridin' up there.

If you miss me on the picket line,
you can't find me nowhere (oh-h-h),
c'mon over to the city jail,
I'll be roomin' over there.

I'll be rooming over there,
I'll be roomin' over there (oh-h-h)
C'mon over to the city jail,
I'll be roomin' over there.

If you miss me in the cotton fields,
You can't find me nowhere (oh-h-h)
C'mon over to the courthouse,
I'll be votin' right there.

I'll be votin' right there,
I'll be voting right there (oh-h-h),
C'mon over to the courthouse,
I'll be votin' right there.

[rumguy]

67. So Bush has come and gone already?

[maveric]

68. CNN just showed a clip of bu$h at the crypt with Mrs. King.

And Coretta had a look of total disgust on her face the whole time.
Georgie just kept looking aroung as if he was seeking a camera.

[CaptainClark23]

71. or perhaps he was thinking

"Where the HELL are those drums coming from...uh-oh..I remember this happened to Tarzan on TV once....I wish my Dad were here"

[Buns_of_Fire]

73. From what I saw, it looked like he just placed the wreath...

...and got the hell outta there. The picture I saw on CNN was him heading for the exit with his palms upraised, in a "WTF? You mean they don't LUUUUUUUUUUUV me here?" gesture. I guess chimpy doesn't fare too well when he doesn't have a captive crowd. Apparently, no speech. No nothing. No adoring crowd to applaud his every sentence. No backdrop saying "M-L-K... IS OKAY!". Just lay the wreath and make tracks. Apparently this was the shortest appearance he's ever made.

Good on ya, Atlanta! :toast:

[JohnyCanuck]

76. But now he can write off his Hotlanta fundraising trip

and charge it to the American taxpayer, which is really the point of the whole excercise from his point of view anyway.

[LiberalFighter]

103. Another picture we need!!

[LiberalFighter]

102. Need picture of that!!

[T Bone]

105. Why would Mrs King go there with him and legitimize it

what's wrong with her? Must be intimidation involved.

[Just Me]

113. He didn't earn that place,...he IMPOSED his presence,...

,...he defies everything for which my hero's vision represented. Dr. King still smiled upon this "emperor",...knowing that God always makes over-confident those who shall perish. Your spirit lives forever, Martin :)

[MisterP]

130. he was wrestling with the wreath; he couldn't get it to stay upright

just like the walls in the WH after a few drinks...

[Disandra]

72. The media is actually covering this!

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/0104/15kingvisit.html

About 1,000 protesters greeted President Bush in Atlanta shortly before 4 p.m. as he placed a wreath on the grave of Martin Luther King Jr. on what would have been the slain civil rights leader's 75th birthday.

...

Just before Bush's appearance, Buddhists chanting, students beating African drums and others shouting "Bush go home" burst past barriers but were driven back by police who, in an attempt to corral the protesters, parked four MARTA buses between the protesters and the grave site.

One protester held a sign that read "Bush - Zionist, puppet and liar."

Police had said they planned to keep the protestors 500 feet away from Kings crypt but the protesters, teeming just across Auburn Avenue, were much closer and could see the president as he placed the wreath.

[Adamocrat]

87. Stunning!

The AJC, ever the bastion of fair(ly biased) reporting had to dig up a homeless person to spin a positive quote for Bush. Not to knock the homeless, but anyone who is in that situation who cheers for Dumbya needs to be analyzed. She's obviously a suitable case for treatment.

-A

Edit: Typo-A-Go-Go.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

108. Sean Hannity weighs in...he reports, you decide

Hannity slammed into Michael Julian Bond, NAACP Deputy Director. He said "I hear about Republicans not reaching out to minorities, and when they do, they get protested, called names"...

Bond replied that it would have been nice to see Bush two years ago, three years ago, something other than an election year photo op.

Hannity reminded him that Colin Powell and Condie Rice were both appointed in a non-election year. He called the protests "disgraceful," cut Bond off, and went to a commercial.

When they came back he took a few jabs at the NAACP. Colmes stepped in and said "9 percent of African Americans voted for Bush. What can he do to get more votes?"

Bond said that one way would be to revise his economic and affirmative action policies which are "miles apart" from what most black voters want. He said that Powell and Rice were appointed because they deserved it, they were qualified for the jobs (I assume as opposed to they were well-liked by Bush for being African American).

Hannity cut him off again: "Yeah, yeah, yeah, too bad Bill Clinton didn't make such appointments." End of segment, Bond was sent packing.

Hannity was in "Rove Overdrive" tonight, especially when he badgered Ruth Dwyer into labeling Howard Dean as "paranoid."

Another highlight featured Hannity asking John Snow to clarify the "jobless recovery"..."Mr. Secretary, the way I see it, it shows that we lost jobs, but we actually CREATED them, didn't we?" Snow replied that you have to be careful about how you interpret the numbers.

Indeed.

[aquart]

88. "Zionist puppet" Oh, nice. Real nice.

George would be such a nice guy if it weren't for those evil Jews.

I'm gonna be sick.

[leesa]

107. He's Sharon's puppet. Why do you make a Jewish issue out of it?

[rman]

94. revised: "Hundreds of protesters"

not "About 1,000 protesters"

[LiberalFighter]

104. Air Force soldier???

####
Bush received the wreath from an Air Force soldier and walked over and placed it in front of the crypt and stood in silent prayer for about a minute.
####

Why is the Air Force there?

[LiberalFighter]

106. His authority???

Bush's Martin Luther King proclamation
###
Now, therefore, I, George W. Bush, president of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Monday, January 19, 2004, as the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday. I encourage all Americans to observe this day with appropriate activities and programs that honor the memory and legacy of Dr. King.
###

Excuse me!!! But On October 19, 1983, the Senate voted to make the third Monday in January a national holiday to commemorate the birth of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Why do presidents need to make a proclamation that it is a federal holiday?

[Cocoa]

75. is Zell there with his buddy?

:evilgrin:

[Disandra]

77. Nope. What a coward. n/t

[0007]

81. Zell should have at least had a few thousand shills on hand..

....and where were are the brave tough talking freepers that are proud of their junior and his slimly crew?

[0rganism]

89. Zell and the freeps don't turn out to "honor" MLK, doncha know?

They probably consider his trip there to be some sort of treasonous consort with dark terrorist-minded people.

[progressivebydesign]

82. Remember, Bush has NEVER been out in the REAL public before..

This guy has attended ONLY events in which hand-picked fathful are surrounding him. Once, just once, I remember him having to talk to a real person on the street. That was the infamous "who cares what YOU think" incident. Bush is not a real president. He's a fucking sham. He is sheltered from the people because of HIS anger problems and inability to keep his mouth shut when someone opposes him. Ask Adam Clymer, and was it Al Hunt of WSJ whom he verbally attacked in a restaurant years ago?

Bush is NOT that popular. Not even amongst many Republicans. The far-right christian crowd supports him because they're so indocrinated religiously, they're used to being fed what to think... and they're being fed Bush is Godly crap daily.

Bush will only win if he steals the election. We can only make sure he can't buy guaranteeing a landslide agaisnt him. Too obvious to steal. We have to do that by coming together as Democrats... stop the in-fighiting, and remember who we are really fighting. This visit of his is a slap to all Americans, and especially to those that chose to honor MLK in Atlanta today.

[young_at_heart]

83. Maybe Fox News will FINALLY show the truth!

I'm not counting on it!

[0rganism]

91. Didn't he once describe himself as a "media creation"?

Probably the singlemost honest thing ever to cross his lips, if true.

[Blaze Diem]

85. Its ok dubya..Uncle, faux-democrat , Zellie has a warm Southern

...style welcome for ya...maybe your mama will show up to snuggle ya for a bit, calthose nerves of yours..."mean old nasty black democrats..why can't all southern dems be more like Zell..." "Gee mama, I was just gonna put the,flowers down an tell them blacks how much I was REALLY like them..ya know when I was young and a drunk...and religion saved me and made me prezedint!...An then they were beating them drums and hollering at me..and I just figered maybe I'd be better off getting outta there and on the plane so I could get outta harms way, in uncle Zell's protection!! C'mon mama snuggle yer li'l w. some more in yer big soft bosoms, mama...it sure was a scary day, an I'm gonna tell uncle Ashcroft an Auntie Condi how mean they were, and they're gonna be mad, huh mama!!"

[montana_hazeleyes]

90. Just reading

this thread got my blood circulating like crazy. At the same time pissed at that pompous phoney ass, and proud as hell of the protesters!

I too wanted to jump up and join them!!!!!!

[savistocate]

92. Bush Election campaigning

my subject in email to cnn punditz. Throws out people honestly there to honor King. Unrestrained exploitation.

How timely is Conn Gov Rowland's newsmaking--greatest model typifying
Republicans. The never admit guilt & wrongdoing as it blasts all;
cannot be denied, answer is more denial more cover up more stretched to absurd "justifications". Almost laughable.

[Name removed]

93. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bvar22]

98. Time for Letters to the Editors:

On Thursday, at Martin Luther King's gravesite, George Bush was not satisfied with merely sending Black People to the back of the bus... Bush* had his Secret Service Police force the Black People behind the bus!!!

[pinto]

99. "Behind the Bus!" Bush draws a line....thanks I missed the obvious.

[SayitAintSo]

109. From the 'back of the bus' to BEHIND the bus .... sweet ....

Time to write some more letters .... Kudos to the brave souls that defied Bush's SS .....

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

110. Atlanta's NBC News station: "Bush left Atlanta around 7:30 p.m."

...after attending "a $2,000-a-head fund-raiser at the Georgia World Congress Center just after 6 p.m."...
http://www.11alive.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=41622
This page includes a link for a video clip.

The full scoop, from the same station, on the fundraiser (with a very inspirational photo of the Skipper and his "little buddy" Zell Miller):
http://www.11alive.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=41632
There's a video clip here too.

Sample flank-smooching quote:

"“We believe in this president, we believe in his policies, we trust his judgment, and his strength gives us comfort in a time of danger,” Miller said.

"I can guarantee you that I will not be the only Democrat working for his re-election," said Miller, greeted with loud hoots of approval from the mostly Republican crowd."

"For their $2,000 contribution, guests at the fund-raiser got a rousing campaign speech from the president, a free, open bar and finger foods. Those who had helped raise at least $20,000 got a personal photo with the president."

FINGER FOODS??? Nah...I'm not going there...:-)

[pinto]

112. $20,000 for a photo with the chimp? MLK would laugh........n/t

[chenGOD]

118. So he stayed in Atlanta for how long?

about 4 hours? Is that more or less time than he spent in Baghdad? Guess chimpy can't spend too long outdoors, he might get some fresh air...

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

119. According to Channel 11, 4 hours: here's the schedule

This is from the same "11 Alive" NBC Atlanta station:

• 3:20 p.m.: Bush arrives at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

• 3:45 p.m.: Bush lays wreath at the tomb of Martin Luther King Jr. at the King Center

• 6:10 p.m.: Bush speaks at the Bush-Dick Cheney 2004 Reception at the Georgia World Congress Center

• 7:15 p.m.: Bush departs Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

...which means that he arrived at the $2000-per-head fiasco at 6:10 and an hour later was on the plane. I don't know the commute time, but that means he spent less than an hour at the function. Kind of like those 30-minute Elvis concerts near the end of his career...a couple of mumbled lines from "Hound Dog," a quick "thank you very much" followed by "Elvis has left the building."

Seems to me that if Pat Robertson is right and God has already guaranteed his landslide re-election he would have hung around a while longer and basked in the glow...Instead, he probably gave some kind of "STEP ON IT" instructions to the pilots, followed by Bush hurling his packet of complimentary honey-roasted peanuts across the cabin and swearing to never set foot in Atlanta again unless another photo op presents itself.

[DemonFighterLives]

111. He stuck out like a sore thumb

It is nice to offer condolences, but he did not belong there. His agenda is the farthest thing from MLK's
So much changed when the Kennedys and MLK were killed and this guy has no appreciation for any of them. I would go further, but will leave the rest for peoples imagination.
The President visited a church in the morning. Part of the faith based initiative. The Black folks there were swooning over him. Wonder how much that cost the taxpayers?

[Skittles]

114. BUSH IS A F***ING DISGRACE TO THE MEMORY OF MLK

WHAT UTTER F***ING GALL DUBYA HAS, TRYING TO USE MLK AS A PHOTO OP.

[Snivi Yllom]

121. media whorism

CNN guilty as charged

[Aunt Eunice]

122. I think this may have been a bad call by the protestors..

I don't think Bush had any expectation of picking up black votes by laying the wreath on MLK's grave, possibly, they figured he would take more heat by staying away, especially if he was already in Atlanta.

It is satisfying seeing all of the protestors there, but what are viewers across the South seeing?

A well dressed Bush reverently laying a wreath on tomb, while black protestors heckle.

This won't play well with white Southerners who think the civil rights movement should get over it.

This protest may well have boosted Bush's standing in the South.

Just my opinion

[SmokeyBlues]

123. Interesting observation...

Although I don't share it. You say:

This won't play well with white Southerners who think the civil rights movement should get over it.

I have no clue what this is suppose to mean, so I'll just move along.

This protest may well have boosted Bush's standing in the South.

Frankly, if the majority of white southerners are so blind as to be unable to see rank hypocrisy right in their own back yards –the fact that Bush only stopped by the crypt as a cheap photo-op before heading off to a $2000 a plate fundraiser, which was his real reason for being in Atlanta, then maybe many of them are nothing more than the non-thinking, proudly racist, knuckle draggers that some people on DU and elsewhere say they are.

How sad and unflattering to white southerners.

As I see it, the protesters had a right to protest Bush's insincere visit to the crypt. After all, my understanding is that Bush was the uninvited guest at the event, and we should not forget that.

However, keeping line line with your thinking, I heard two so-called progressives on the radio this morning calling the protest and the protesters atrocious and reminding other Americans that even though we might disagree with all of *hole’s policies and don't like him as a person, we as Americans should nonetheless always show the president (any president and not just *hole) unquestioned respect at such events. WTF?

Is it me not seeing things correctly, or did the entire country get stuck on stupid overnight?

And oh yeah, go Pats!

[Aunt Eunice]

124. I strongly disagree with you..

..GO PANTHERS

Other than that we are not that far apart.

IMHO, the vast majority of Americans are just not in tune with what's going on politically. They see Bush doing what most other presidents have done (except for Reagan), laying a wreath on MLK grave. He had enough sense not to grandstand with a speach.

The South has seen and accepted huge societal changes since the end of segregation and many feel that enough has been done in the way of racial reconciliation. Large black crowds heckling the president reinforces the feelings of some that the civil rights movement will never be satisfied.

I don't agree with those feelings, but that is my observation.

Bush was ridiculed in 2000 for not attending the James Byrd funeral, now he is ridiculed for showing respect to MLK and his family. Southerners are not so stupid as to not see that Bush was in a no win situation.

Please don't think I'm supporting shrub. With so much emphasis on one of our candidates having to win the South, I don't think this protest sent out the right message.

[Bridget Burke]

126. This white Southerner wishes she'd been in Atlanta....

I'd have gladly joined the group protesting my idiot ex-governor. In fact, the protesters were not all African-American. Many Atlantans felt that Bush's social & military policies place him in total opposition to the beliefs of Martin Luther King. It was painfully obvious that his un-invited drive-by wreath-laying was an excuse to make his Atlanta visit "official"--so we taxpayers could pick up the tab for his trip to the $2000 a plate fundraiser. He did not "grandstand" with a speech because his public speaking abilities are laughably minimal.

I'm quite aware that some southerners feel the civil rights movement "will never be satisfied". They're going to vote for Bush anyway & they can kiss my grits.

Other white southerners have taken part in the commemoration over the years & were welcomed warmly.

[callous taoboy]

128. Bridgett

You took the words right out of my mouth!!!

[SmokeyBlues]

129. I can see a Panthers/Pats Superbowl...

I think it would be entertaining. However, Carolina first has to get by Philadelphia at home (no big deal right, the Bucs did it last year even though the so-called 'experts' predicted a 'no-contest'), and the Pats have to win number 14 in a row against a very tough Colts team.

I will say this though, your Panthers beating the Rams at home made my day last Sunday! As for this weekend, we can only wait and see.

You say:

Bush was ridiculed in 2000 for not attending the James Byrd funeral, now he is ridiculed for showing respect to MLK and his family. Southerners are not so stupid as to not see that Bush was in a no win situation.

Being a transplanted son of the South, I fail to see how a large number of southerners (read: white southerners) would fall for the con that *hole was in Atlanta to show respect to MLK. You seem to be implying (and the talking heads in mainstream media do the same thing) that *hole and most white southerners are one and the same. You say that white southerners are not stupid, but believing without question that *hole was in Atlanta to honor King belies your assertion.

Call me 'out of touch' with reality, but I would like to believe that many white southerners who made the mistake of voting for *hole in 2000, have now come to realize the error of their ways. Does this guarantee a vote for our nominee? Nope!

But it could mean a lower Republican voter turnout come November. And that's just fine and dandy with me.

Along with a Pats win of course.
B-)

[Aunt Eunice]

133. Perceptions and reality

You are talking about the reality, while I am talking about how shrub's actions are percieved.

A lot of people in the South, turn on local news see Bush 'acting' respectful and then sees the protestors.

They don't watch Hardball/O'Really?/Russert/etc they get their news from Channel 8 and Leno.

BTW, I hope you're right!

GO CATS!

[chookie]

125. The earth should open up and swallow him

This is kind of like Anton LeVey visiting the Vatican, doncha think?

The guy who stole the votes from tens of thousands of African Americans, a Legacy student in Yale who opposes Affirmative Action, one who is systematically destroying integration -- has no business at a King event. King would denounce this fraud. King would be leading the opposition against him.

Truly, this chimp has no shame, no honor, no decency.

Thanks to the folks of Atlanta for showing him that he is unwelcome among Americans who cherish justice.