When I began this blog in 2001, I was appalled by President Bush's headlong rush to an illegal war (we were not in fact under attack). As time wore on and Bush began his assault on the Constitution and any people bold enough to criticize, I believed that "the republic is endangered more by actions of our own government than by those of any terrorist." With the election of a high-minded, compassionate, intelligent man like Barack Obama, my fears have ceased.
"Honor them with peace, not war"
United for Peace
Friday, September 17, 2004
A friend drew my attention to the case of Sue Neiderer, who was arrested after impolitely disrupting a speech by first lady Laura Bush. I guess hecklers terrify Laura Bush (because they are unpredictable), but she gamely went on with her speech like the team player she is.
CNN reports:
That is not a new question, why the sons and daughters of the government do not serve. The answer is fairly obvious: they did not need to sign up with the National Guard in order to earn an education or to support their families. I would like to see some statistics on this, but I'd guess darn few guardswomen and guardsmen sign up because they are eager to do riot or hurricane duty. Though they would not mind that. That is how the Guard is generally used, and the standing military is used for foreign wars.
Anyway the children of cabinet membes, congressmen and senators have other ways of showing their patriotism, such as by helping out in mom or dad's campaign, or the campaign of friends (that's what Georgie did even though he *also* signed up for Guard duty) or even runing for office themselves. The number of Administration members who have not served in any branch of the military is unusually large. Of the congress peoeple who have a record of military service a large majority are Democrats. This is such a pronounced phenomenon that they have a name for them, chicken hawks: Voting for war, but avoiding it themselves.
Back to Sue Neiderer, who says she had a ticket to the campaign event in New Jersey. It seems she was arrested for trespassing, which is not apt if she had a ticket to the event. I suppose she will eventually get off, but in the meantime they can bother the heck out of her. The real charge would be for interupting.
Free speech, sure- but where in the Constitution does it say you can interuupt the first lady while she's speaking??
Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
Uncivil liberties
A friend drew my attention to the case of Sue Neiderer, who was arrested after impolitely disrupting a speech by first lady Laura Bush. I guess hecklers terrify Laura Bush (because they are unpredictable), but she gamely went on with her speech like the team player she is.
CNN reports:
HAMILTON, New Jersey (CNN) -- The mother of a soldier killed in Iraq was arrested Thursday after interrupting a campaign speech by first lady Laura Bush. As police hauled her away, she shouted, "Police brutality."
Wearing a T-shirt with the message "President Bush You Killed My Son," Sue Niederer of nearby Hopewell screamed questions at the first lady as the audience tried to drown her out by chanting, "Four more years! Four more years!"
She pressed on, refused to leave and eventually police removed her from the firehouse rally.
The first lady finished her speech, praising the administration's achievements in the war on terror and the economy.
Outside, Niederer said she wanted to ask Laura Bush "Why the senators, the legislators, the congressmen, why aren't their children serving?"
more...
That is not a new question, why the sons and daughters of the government do not serve. The answer is fairly obvious: they did not need to sign up with the National Guard in order to earn an education or to support their families. I would like to see some statistics on this, but I'd guess darn few guardswomen and guardsmen sign up because they are eager to do riot or hurricane duty. Though they would not mind that. That is how the Guard is generally used, and the standing military is used for foreign wars.
Anyway the children of cabinet membes, congressmen and senators have other ways of showing their patriotism, such as by helping out in mom or dad's campaign, or the campaign of friends (that's what Georgie did even though he *also* signed up for Guard duty) or even runing for office themselves. The number of Administration members who have not served in any branch of the military is unusually large. Of the congress peoeple who have a record of military service a large majority are Democrats. This is such a pronounced phenomenon that they have a name for them, chicken hawks: Voting for war, but avoiding it themselves.
Back to Sue Neiderer, who says she had a ticket to the campaign event in New Jersey. It seems she was arrested for trespassing, which is not apt if she had a ticket to the event. I suppose she will eventually get off, but in the meantime they can bother the heck out of her. The real charge would be for interupting.
Free speech, sure- but where in the Constitution does it say you can interuupt the first lady while she's speaking??
Palema
7:11 AM
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Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
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