Bush makes protesters 'disappear'

[Guaranteed]

Guest Opinion: Bush makes protesters 'disappear'
By CHARLES LEVENDOSKY
Casper Star-Tribune

http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?
id=1&display=rednews/2003/11/29/build/opinion/guest1.inc

President Bush has never been an advocate of the First Amendment.
Even when he was governor of Texas, he prohibited demonstrations on
the walkways in front of the governor's mansion, an area that had
traditionally been used for peaceful protests.

As president, Bush has widened his restrictions on demonstrations
against his policies. Anti-Bush protesters are now relegated to what
are euphemistically called Free Speech Zones. These areas are
cordoned off as far as a mile away from the president and the main
thoroughfares, so that Bush cannot see the demonstrators, or their
signs of protest, nor hear their chants.

The free speech enclosures are only for those who disagree with the
administration's current policies. Those citizens who carry pro-Bush
signs are allowed to line the street where the president's motorcade
passes.

<snip>


Since pro-Bush activists are allowed to be seen by Bush, I was thinking that our protestors ought to start making double-sided signs. Have the "Yay Bush" claptrap showing before Bush gets there, and the Secret Service will let you in....yell some "Heil Hitler" stuff for awhile. Then, just before Bush gets there, everyone turns their signs inside out, and starts yelling that he's a lying, murdering bastard. Wouldn't that be great? :)

[Walt Starr]

1. Since Pro-Bush speech is being handlked differently from Anti-Bush speech

there is a good case that constitutioinal rights have been denied.

I think we have a civil lawsuit against Bush himself, here.

[sistersofmercy]

13. I believe you're correct!

[LiberalVoice]

2. Bad Idea

I would die laughing for about 10 seconds. Until the pro-bushits pull out there shot-gunss and pitch forks. :D

[Bronco69]

3. We could also make pro bush* signs

that are taped on top of anti-bush* signs. Just before the motorcade passes just rip the pro bush* sign off and show him how we really feel.

[creativelcro]

4. THAT is a COOL idea!

Looking forward to those programmable paper signs they've been talking about for the last few years...

[Bronco69]

6. I've always wanted to do that

the only thing holding me back is having to mingle with repukes. They absolutely positively make me sick!!

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. Sneaky sneaky

I like it. :^D

[Noordam]

5. corrected link

http://tinyurl.com/x1uo

[kentuck]

8. Just as they will do when their convention is on the luxury liner...

They hate our freedom!

[dkamin]

9. Yes

This is a gross violation of the Constitution. Lawsuits have been filed, and we'll see where they go. Remember Brett Bursey? He was the guy who was arrested in SC for holding up an anti-Bush sign amidst throngs of pro-Bush people. Strom Thurmond, Jr. made a point of trying really hard to prosecute him.

All of the protestors are being released; however, the fact that they're getting arrested and having to defend themselves through several layers of legal process is a serious barrier to free speech.

My girlfriend's dad is a local lawyer in Missouri, and is defending a protestor who has been charged with failing to obey a lawful order from the police and walking in the street instead of the sidewalk. I think the various legal organizations, like the ACLU, are setting up the groundwork for a federal civil rights case. However, to do that against a hostile federal government, they have to first set up the local and state defense groundwork, which means potentially several years before the outcomes.

In my opinion, further grounds for impeachment.

[markus]

10. I think we need to start going to court and requesting this:

That all public demonstrations for or against Bush be equally cordoned off to First Amendment Zones. There should be no displays on public property, or visible from public property, either for or against Bush as long as the First Amendment Zone is enforced at any location.

Or else just rule the damn things unconstitutional.

[kentuck]

12. Excellent point.

By the equal protection clause, one group cannot be treated differently from another. If the anti-Bush crowd has to be in a "free speech" zone, then so would the pro-Bush crowd, and vice-versa.

[lumpy]

11. Anything that works sounds good to me.

Mixed crowd? Wild!

[sistersofmercy]

14. If a large group of protesters do as you suggest it would probably

lay the ground work to a major civil case.