Bush rally was sad day for democracy

[TheOne]

Published August 3, 2004

Bush rally was sad day for democracy

Joan Collins

The phrase "this is what democracy looks like" changed meaning as the protest of President Bush's appearance in Springfield unfolded. Initially, the phrase described the thousands of people lined up with tickets, waiting to enter the field house, being reminded not all people in southwest Missouri thought this president deserved four more years of leadership that had launched wars resulting in thousands dead and tens of thousands wounded, a national debt increasing at $1.69 billion a day, and an atmosphere of secrecy in America.
The Secret Service told protesters where to gather; the location was excellent. Democracy was working: People were exercising their right to assemble while others exercised their right to protest.

But when police told protesters they had to move about 200 feet away, while the people supporting Bush remained in place, the atmosphere grew tense. When protesters complained to local police, they replied, "We're just following orders." Then the protesters called the media: It was time for citizens to know how democracy was working in Springfield, as protesters had been herded into a "free speech zone."

When gatekeepers announced final seating for those with tickets, protesters with tickets tried to get in, but their tickets were grabbed and torn up, and police threatened them with arrest if they argued back. One woman screamed, "You're tearing up my ticket," and hit back at the man when he started shoving her with his chest, trying to shut her up. The police arrested the woman. Two other people were "taken down": a young girl who could not back up fast enough because there were so many people behind her and a man who is charged with trespassing because he was standing on property his own tax dollars partially funded.

All this, while the Bush supporters passed by, granted access to the president of us all because they would shout his praises at the appropriate moments.

When "this is what democracy looks like" arose from the protesters this time, it had an ominous tone. People were being taken down, and the picture was not pretty.

And remember, the Kerry rallys allow Rethuglicans in with bullhorns....

 

[Merlin1047]

And remember, the Kerry rallys allow Rethuglicans in with bullhorns....

Oh yes, ONE solitary guy with a bullhorn. You should be proud.

So the Bush people didn't want a pack of rabid, screaming libs disrupting their function. Booo hooo. I know I'm going to lose sleep over this one. If a candidate has a paid function, he has every right to limit access as he sees fit. If kerry had directed security to toss the guy with the bullhorn, you wouldn't hear me whining about it.

Since you didn't provide a link, I couldn't check on my own, but is this written by the same Joan Collins who is the soft-porn star?

 

[MJDuncan1982]

It seems you are making excuses to a reported instance of our democracy being threatened. I don't feel any candidate deserves loyalty over one's loyalty to our democracy. I always thought the whole damn country was a free speech zone...

 

[TheOne]

I hope that woman is not a porn star...

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And it was more than one guy with a bullhorn. It was like a dozen people and some others had those aerosol horns you use on boats.

 

[Merlin1047]

It seems you are making excuses to a reported instance of our democracy being threatened. I don't feel any candidate deserves loyalty over one's loyalty to our democracy. I always thought the whole damn country was a free speech zone...

Really? Try coming into my house and shooting your mouth off.

 

[Merlin1047]

I hope that woman is not a porn star...

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And it was more than one guy with a bullhorn. It was like a dozen people and some others had those aerosol horns you use on boats.

Okay, then they should have been tossed out on their asses. No one has a right to come into a partisan function with the express intent of disrupting the proceedings. That's not free speech. That is merely a form of vandalism.

 

[MJDuncan1982]

Merlin if you sold tickets to your house without discrimination and then refused to let me in based on discrimination due to political views without a refund we would most definitely have a problem. Yes I understand there are necessary limits on free speech but it does not seem to me that this is one of them.

 

[Merlin1047]

Merlin if you sold tickets to your house without discrimination and then refused to let me in based on discrimination due to political views without a refund we would most definitely have a problem. Yes I understand there are necessary limits on free speech but it does not seem to me that this is one of them.

Okay, I can see your point regarding the refund. If they were going to deny entry to the protesters, then the purchase price of the ticket should have been refunded. But then again we don't know, based on the information presented, if anyone attempted to get a refund or not.

 

[freeandfun1]

Okay, I can see your point regarding the refund. If they were going to deny entry to the protesters, then the purchase price of the ticket should have been refunded. But then again we don't know, based on the information presented, if anyone attempted to get a refund or not.

More than likely, the tickets were sold with a disclaimer stating that the price of the tickets were "political contributions" and therefore, non-refundable.

 

[tim_duncan2000]

That's probably true, so this is how I feel about them:

 

[freeandfun1]

That's probably true, so this is how I feel about them:

Yep. It is funny to think the DNC is helping the RNC!