Even FreeRepublic realizes the FBI raids on anti-war/anti-empire groups is BS

[murdoch]

Reading about the FBI raids, I went to Free Republic as I figured they would be celebrating the FBI raiding anti-war/anti-empire groups around the country.

But guess what, even they realize this is nonsense.

You can go on Youtube and see the "terrorists" who were raided. One was Mick Kelly, a 1960s throwback whose apartment over a vegan co-op was raided. He tries to make light of the raid, although it is obvious he is a bit shaken by it.

Then the other ones were arrested a school teacher and others. The search warrant, which is online, is trying to find material that they "indoctrinated" people into their ideas. I sure hope they did. This is unbelievable.

They join other Minneapolis "terrorists" like those who were "pre-emptively" arrested before the RNC national convention for McCain in 2008. The RNC 8 were arrested before the convention even started for violations of the Patriot Act. As a lawyer talking about the recent arrests said, the way the Supreme Court has been expanding the definition of support for terrorism, these laws might actually allow for these people to be charged as terrorists. He said some local Somalis who sent old Goodwill type clothes to poor Somalians were charged with terrorism related crimes and it was upheld.

Also, the terrorists protesting the RNC, the 8 of them? Three of the eight have had all charges dropped. So the FBI prevents them from planning a protest against the RNC, and then later has to admit they had nothing on three of the arrested whatsoever. Even FreeRepublic realizes that the idea these hippies are going to attack the RNC with machine guns and bombs and are a threat to national security is ridiculous.

Uptake video has video of the FBI raid, interviews with the "terrorists"

http://www.youtube.com/user/UpTakeVideo#g/u

Twin Cities Indymedia has more

http://tc.indymedia.org

[sabrina 1]

1. Maybe if this keeps up, now under Democrats

the American people will join forces at last and do something about these power-crazy people who are running this country.

I am glad that Freepers are not jumping for joy over this. I would have thought they might be also. We did try to warn them when Bush started all this.

The worst thing that could happen to those who are running this country is that the people unite against these fascist tactics. As long as we are divided, they win.

[Fumesucker]

2. But there are some on DU who defend the raids..

I wish I could say I'm surprised by that..

[annm4peace]

3. the DFL leaders have yet to condemn the raids

even Progressive DFL Mayor Rybak and Rep Ellison who stood on stage and walked in marches with those who's homes were raided have failed to speak out.

Lots of DFL are going Green.

[Ter]

4. You're mistaking neo-con for tea-baggers

Neo-cons are Bill Kristol, George Bush, Cheney, Irving, etc. Tea-baggers are far more anti-government, and many are partial Ron Paul types. RP Light if you will. They are anti-government,, worry about the UN and New World Order, and are not too fond of the unPatriot Act.

[merqz]

5. I agree. I see that confusion a lot

There is a fair amount of variety in the right wing, just like in the left wing. I think people on both sides TEND to lump the other side together when in fact it's more useful to recognize the differences.

For example, there are a lot of people on the right who think the war on drugs is a complete farce. There are some on the left who are actually ardent drug warriors.

There are various levels of statism supported by different factions of the right, just like the left.

I generally distinguish between Paleo-cons (think Buchanan), Neo-Cons, Libertarian cons, Tea Partiers, and South Park conservatives. The other day somebody posted a quote by Goldwater who referenced the ban on gays in the military being an absurd policy. The National Review, famously came out for decrim of marijuana DECADES ago.

In order to better address your opponent, you have to understand them, and like I said there ARE opportunities for common ground if you recognize the distinctions.

[Ter]

13. Whenever people say these tea-baggers are worse than Bush, I say they are wrong

They are more conservative than Bush, but Bush is far more of a Police State Republican. Tea Baggers like Mike Lee in Utah or Rand Paul in Kentucky are not gonna support more camera lights or searches. Hell, Paul doesn't even support the wars and wants to repeal the unPatriot Act.

[merqz]

17. I agree

The primary problem I have with the teabaggers is the hypocrisy. They weren't exactly screaming (in an organized loud way) when Bush was expanding govt. Remember, this was the president who took years before he vetoed ANY spending bill.

Bush was a right moderate but a strong statist right moderate. I would WAY rather have a real conservative, but one who wasn't so statist oriented. Think Goldwater.

Maybe it's my small town New England upbringing. Many of those people were definitely not in line with Democrats, but they were the FARTHEST thing from the neo-cons. For example, what people did in the privacy of their bedrooms - they could not care less. They also aren't religious in the way bible belt people are. It's more just a traditional thing and a cultural thing, then as a way to criticize other people's lifestyles.

I can get along fine with people like that. I may not agree with them on a lot of economic stuff (I want a higher minimum wage, etc.) but I can agree with them on a fair %age of stuff, FAR more than a neo-con.

[Bitwit1234]

6. Because they realize these things could soon be happening to them.

[TBF]

7. Exactly, but they will also use it to campaign against Dems -

the teabaggers especially are going to jump on this once FOX decides to talk about it. Pre-dawn raids ...

[Renew Deal]

8. Do you have the link to freeperville where you saw this?

[murdoch]

10. FR link

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2595902/posts

[Renew Deal]

11. I just read that entire miserable hatefest and you made it up.

There is 1 post out of 81 that even implies there might be a problem with the raids. The rest of the posts are "celebrating the FBI raiding anti-war/anti-empire groups around the country."

It makes me wonder why you are spending so much time there.

[murdoch]

12. 1 of 81?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2595902/posts#19

Sounds like they are chasing windmills to me. These spoiled and selfish little brats are too cowardly for something like that.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2595902/posts#20

This looks bad to me. What the hell are they doing? NO ARRESTS? This is rogue.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2595902/posts?q=1&;page=51#51

We have 30,000 Saudi nationals here on student visas. 15 of 19 of the 09/11 terrorists were Saudi nationals here on student visas. We have no idea where these 30,000 people are or what they are really up to. So what does out illustrious FBI do? They focus on white anti-war protesters.

Perhaps there’s something to this. Perhaps not. I do find it interesting that they had so little evidence against these people that all they could do is raid eight locations fishing for some.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2595902/posts?q=1&;page=51#76

with them going after anti-war people, soon enough it will be anti-government, anti-health care people and terrorists of those sorts. They are using such a broad brush to paint a label on people anymore its basically coming down to if you dont agree with us we’re coming after you.

[Renew Deal]

16. The first three comments are all complaints that no one was arrested.

They want to see "anti-war" protesters arrested and are disappointed they weren't. Only the 4th one is a legitimate complaint about the raids. The third one gets bonus points for making this a race issue.

[tjwash]

9. Don't kid yourself...if this was on bush's watch, there would be huge orgiest circle jerks over this

nt

[johnaries]

14. Oh, c'mon. It's FR. If Obama magically made everything perfect

FR would still find something to complain about. If your arguments include "FR hates it', then you need to take a serious look at your arguments again.

[Rex]

15. The Feds are a mystery to me; they worry about anti-war protesters

and give the ultra-violent RWing a free pass. Why oh why are so many of our authority figures RWing zealots? I guess the baser side of life really does appeal to some.

[Hannah Bell]

18. oh, this can't be. a number of du-ers assured me these people were funding hamas, farc, & hezbollah

& that the reason the fbi didn't arrest them was they wanted to rope in the whole ring of traitors & spies.

it must be so, i heard it at du from the best of sources.