Wrongly Arrested Bush Protesters Talk About Their $80K Government Settlement On Hardball
By Logan Murphy Monday Aug 20, 2007 11:01am
On July 4th, 2004, Jeffery and Nicole Rank attended an public Independence Day event in Charleston, WV where President Bush was to speak. Despite the fact that the event was open to the public and was held on public land, the Ranks were arrested for wearing anti-Bush t-shirts. On Monday's "Hardball" the couple told their astonishing story of being arrested, the charges that were filed against them and eventually dropped and why they decided to sue the United States government -- a suit they thankfully won.
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The Ranks were very brave to stand up to the Bush administration and they fought for all Americans and our right to free speech. We owe them thanks...
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Ranks First!
While the Ranks deserve praise for their resolve, it is important to note that suing the United States Government means suing you and me. In other words, you and I regularly pay for the malfeasance of wrong-headed police and the anti-Constitutional repression of the Bush administration. Interesting paradox, no?
Thank you, Ranks. You will be remembered in history for what you did. You are an inspiration. Also, can I borrow $32,000.00. Thank you.
Thank you Jeffery and Nicole Rank!!!
Greg Thomsen @ 2:
"We" deserved to get sued in this case. I hope the pointy-headed idiots who arrested them got Medals of Freedom and "Attaboys" as they left government service to "be spend more time with their families."
To add insult to recovery, no doubt they'll pay half of that to the IRS (i.e., us). Just can't win for losin'!
Another example of fiscal irresponsibility from the Bush administration. They shouldn't have instructed their goons to act in ways that could make them liable for civil damages.
Jeffery and Nicole Rank = PATRIOTS!
So much damage to our country, in so little time.
Thank you Ranks.
Great these people got some resolution regarding this incident...
Even better that they are going out on the circuit and telling their story...
Maybe it will give persons who might have ideas to suppress others that way pause for some thought...
See how far we've come in eight years - protesters wearing t-shirts are now elevated to hero status. Remarkable!
wow! this country has come a long ways since 2001. the flag is just a rag to boosh and co.
Good grief! Just look at the size of that crowd! Two little people in that huge crowd were arrested for wearing mildly anti-Bush t-shirts. *scratches head*
that was a righteous lawsuit and a damn good thing to do. a disgusting violation of the 1 st amendment that some of us are too stupid to recognise
Rabble-rousers! They shoulda been peppered with rubber bullets! After all, it was "war fever" time. Woohooo! Nobody harshes Bush's bloodlust buzz and gets away with it!
patriots. heros.
eom
#8-Jo
Well said. Like Lt. Watada and the soldiers featured in the documentary Sir! No Sir! [which focused on the GI Resistance during the Vietnam War] these people should be considered heroes as well as patriots. The Bush administration has been doing their best to crush dissent and the hope is that even with a conservative majority in the Supreme Court this administration will not succeed in turning this country into a fascist state.
80k is just lunch money for booshco to order some Domina's Pizza.
My T-shirt says "the Real George Washinton was a revolutionary"
I wish their t-shirts reat bush and dick go together like a bun and a hotdawg.
That should read read.
I've been listening to Grounds Keeper Willy too long.
Isn't it a pity that some of the DINO people aren't as courageous!
Shit, I could ship two 19 cent washers to the Pentagaon and pay the 82k about 12 times over. Oh yeah, that was taxpayer money too! My bad.
We need people doing this (peacefully protesting) at every public Bush/Cheney event. After a certain number of arrests and settlements like this, even the dimmest Republicans will start to get the message...
Jeffrey and Nicole, you are American heroes in my book.
Fight the good fight.
Stating the obvious: This couple will Rank high among Patriots as the history of the Bush Dark Age is recorded. Thank you to them for the courage to be American, unlike the quivering masses that cower beneath Bush oppression.
On Sunday, 19 Aug 07, I went to LAX to collect a friend returning from N.J., something I do fairly often. Ramping up public hysteria for the forthcoming "Gen. Betrayus"/ Bush lacky report, the place was lousy with cops and there were police "Check Points" on all roads for the general public to enter the airport. This in conjunction with yet another arrest for peaceful exercise of First Amendment Rights as prectised by the Ranks, the dissapearance of individuals rendered for torture and murder, et cetera, conjoin to beg: How then, does the current U.S.A. differ from other suppressive, fear based, terror fueled regimes anywhere on the planet?
ooops. 'practiced' - at least, maybe more. more coffee, please!
there's more! never mind! duh!
Horst @ 26:
Sadly, it seems to be merely a matter of degrees.
Greg Thomsen @ 2:
They are welcome to my dime, if it raises awareness, and scares the hell out of enough people.
Anyone know where the money came from....probably from us, the tax payers.
these people have my admiration and i might add all thoes good patriots at bushes first inagurial parade that pelted the first familys limmo with rotten eggs deserve credit for showing the world the rotten human beings that that lemmo held, im only sorry i wasnt there with a crate full of hens fruit!
PNAAC Minister @ 11:
see how far we have fallen in 6 years. United states citizens wearing t-shirts were ILLEGALY ARRESTED AND DETAINED
Thank you Jeffrey and Nicole.
The Bush Family Mob Dynasty has not corrupted every Judge in the United States of America.
unlike some Judges who:
- are bribed
- are paid off
- photographically compromised in some "jeff gannon" type position
- or have been paid millions to keep "bush family secrets" quiet
America. A Great and Good Nation.
...always get to the Truth
Thanks to all the Veterans and U.S. Attorneys
They know the truth.. And do they have stories to tell ;)
Voltaire, "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
Bush, "F--- you, I'm gonna have your unpatriotic liberal ass locked up if you try to say it"
Greg Thomsen @ 2:
Hey don't worry. Uncle Sam gets about 45% of that money back by taxing them. Hopefully they will be able to cover their legal bills, assuming they hired a private lawyer before letting the ACLU take-over (which never charges its clients).
"WE" needed to be sued. It is so rare that someone sues the US government and wins a cash settlement. This is an amazing story.
People wronged during the RNC convention in NYC cannot sue the NYPD for damages or even an apology. They and the NYCLU are suing just to open the police RNC files and get the whole truth on why they were arrested and detained, even if they were miles from the convention site.
it may be true that we the taxpayers ultimately paid for the gov's criminal activity but if i'm going to see $80,000 go; i'm elated that these ppl get it and not some ill concieved 'mission', bomb or bribe.
The Ranks won their case, but Bush wins in the end.
What does it really matter that they prevailed in court when they were still prevented from attending a public event and causing the boy-king a moment of possible discomfort?
I seriously doubt that it will have any effect on the conduct of security services at future public appearances.
madmommy-
you sound sane to me!
lwoolf @ 31:
Yeah, and?
I wonder where the $900K came from to ship two 19-cent washers to a military base in South Carolina? You guessed it. And we getting the money back? You guessed it. And that $9 Million dollars spent in Iraq every HOUR? Gee wiz.
Dissidents should be jailed for they endanger public safety reason. Period.
The safety of women, children and elder people who attended any govt-sponsored/public events are paramount.
[Left Behind Advocate, is that you? -- Sitemonitor]
Greg Thomsen @ 2:
--------------------
If you dig a little deeper you'll find a wealth of pointless squandering. Just ask the families of more than 3500 dead soldiers. Just ask the people of New Orleans who still have no just remedy to their collective plight.
RickinSF-
I'm not o certain you are correct. This is not the first legal action against Bush restriction of 1st Amend. I believe all have won so far. Sad part is that it doesn't hit the Bush pocket book!
Suing for money is not the answer. As was said earlier, it is really you and I who pay through our tax dollars. Why not go after the job of the person(s) responsible for the arrest and remove them from their job? No one faced a consequence here; you think paying out money that isn't theirs affect the transgressors? the people responsible for deciding to arrest these people were not even mentioned. Was it the police officers themselves? the chief? Bush's people? Who? They are the ones who need to be exposed and vilified. That is what the Rank's should have gone after, not settling for money. That just undermines their position.
Is Arlington Group serious or sarcastic?
Arlington Group @ 41:
yes its got to be terrible for the brain dead repigs when the american people wake up only to piss in a republicans face, brutality i calls it!
A citizens group in Austin successfully sued when Bush was governor. They were protesting his decisions to allow more pollution in the Brazos River. Bush had them all illegally arrested.
The next day, a Neo-Nazi group had a rally in the same place. Bush allowed them to access.
Not to be harsh, but... why does it so often take an unfortunate incident like this to actually prompt people to action -- or to even care? This televised couple said they hadn't known civil rights were in jeopardy prior to being arrested. Really?! Where have they been?
I run a blog about an unrelated civil rights infringement -- it's only a week old but you wouldn't believe how many people during conversation have asked me whether I myself was a victim of the topic I cover. I haven't. But why need I be? Isn't it enough to just care about these people or about the issue on behalf of those who fall prey to it?
I know that in some sense I'm preaching to the converted here, but I thought it still might be food for thought...
Remember all the cold war propaganda?? They are trying to take us over, and impose their communist, dictorial lifestyle upon us!! Well, we fought the "good" fight, and here we are. there is an interesting (if nerdy) correlation to me between the way Luke Skywalker kept turning more to the darkside when he gave into his anger. Remember that? The same has happened to the US , we keep giving parts of ourselves, our rights, and our constitution away so we can "kill the terrorists" and as we watch, we are turned, transformed into something that does not resemble where we started.
2 more quick points,
1. Politicians love to quote, and invoke our founding fathers when it fits their agenda, but the majority of the time the things they vote on, and accept, go against the core of what th FF envisioned.
2. Those who would give up liberty to purchase safety deserve neither. Ben Franklin.
If I were a pundit, it would be the first thing out of my mouth every time we talked about things that pertain.
Arlington Group @ 41:
This comment sounds like code for stating that no dissent should be allowed during a time of war. I hope that Arlington Group can point out where in the U.S. Constitution it states that dissent of the government during a time of war is not allowed, as I was unable to find that particular article and section among the three copies of the Constitution that I possess. Simply wearing an anti-government t-shirt should not be considered grounds for imprisonment. Bush is supposed to be the president for all the people, not simply for those who blindly agree with his warmongering point of view.
Good grief Barnicle. There was a time I thought you had a brain. The couple is worried that our laws are in peril and he asks them if they are going into the T-shirt business. It is interesting that the local authorities arrested and held the couple, yet the Feds paid the settlement.........sooooo.......the instructions come down from on high and the locals get a hold harmless. "We were just following orders" defense.
Let's make Iraq more like America!.........what?, oh.....seems they already are.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=10139
I hope their lawyer can help out another individual arrested for protesting at a Bush rally. This one they charged with littering.
2 abuses of first amendment rights just in the last couple weeks, in small town-- but liberal-- Asheville, NC.
Soon coming to a town near you.
Greg Thomsen @ 2:
$80K???? Why not more. That seems like a fucking low amount.
I guess free speech is dead after all.
Our enemies hate us for our freedoms!.... and our strict t-shirt laws.
you didn't have to do it but you did, now your rich, and i thank you.
One for the people!
Arlington Group @ 41:
I hope you're kidding here. If not, then I'll say the obvious. Jailing dissidents endangers the constitution which is a document necessary for the safety of all citizens, on multiple-levels. This is an example of a social trap, a series of decisions justified for one reason or another leading us off a "cliff".
I'm from West Virginia originally, and I'm sorry this happened there (or anywhere for that matter). I hope it doesn't add to anyone's stereotypes of the place. There are many wonderful people there.
Related...police somewhere near Charleston, WV are being sued for beating a lawyer in handcuffs who was arrested for DUI. When he was taken to the hospital, cranial fluid was leaking from his nose. Why is it that if you or I did this we would be arrested but police officers are first investigated, etc?
Seth
The American People are the Good part of the story...
Criminals operating much like a mob...
WITHIN the government are the ones that need to be jailed.
Keeps those leaks coming..
leaks by career Justice Department prosecutors and FBI agents who have had it with the Bush Crime Family, GOP coverups and Now ...Alberto Gonzales.
The thugs are really showing their fascist colors now. True patriots wear anti-Bush tees.
Top Rankin'
They don't want to see us unite:
All they want us to do is keep on fussing and fighting.
They don't want to see us live together:
All they want us to do is keep on killing one another.
-the great robert nesta marley
i think the Ranks have true courage--then and now.
i am sure at the rally they were harassed by the GOP_einsatzgruppen, and now, i imagine, the defenders of neofascism (the melanie morgans, hugh hewitts, ann coulters, malkins, etc) are calling for them to be disappeared. not easy for average citizens to deal with being in the crosshairs of the fanatic, rabid reichwing. probably not cheap either.
as far them suing the govt--the point is well made that the tax payers are footing the bill--but, you know, oh well. $80,000 is, what, about what it costs per second for iraqi occupation? and, i think it is possible, that it was the money settlement that catapulted their story to be covered by the MSM. and that is the most important aspect of this case, IMHO.
and, don't be mistaken, the bush junta was desperate to keep this story from ever seeing the light of day.
totalitarian tactics are one thing, having those totalitarian tactics exposed for all the world to see is something else.
This is not a win for the good guys, but a loss.
The correct response would be to prosecute the police who committed false arrest, kidnapping, false imprisonment, and filing false police reports. Start putting into prison the cops who corrupt their own office by being the goon squads of the White House, and we the people will start getting our rights back.
Greg Thomsen @ 2:
While it may be true that you and I foot the bill, the point is made that this kind of harassment is wrong and is not acceptable. The guilty parties are exposed and on record. One would hope the voters remember.
Slightly off topic..
This is unlikely and undesirable for some reasons....BUT
wouldn't be refreshing to see a cop pull another cop over for speeding?
Some of the chronically worst drivers are cops. They drive like many of us would if we had absolutely no fear of getting pulled over.
Avenger,
Not to be harsh, but… why does it so often take an unfortunate incident like this to actually prompt people to action — or to even care? This televised couple said they hadn’t known civil rights were in jeopardy prior to being arrested. Really?! Where have they been?
It's the system. It's the glorification of our military power and our nations supposed riches and the shiny carrot dangling before the masses representing "the American dream" and the ludicrous "nationalism" pounded into our heads since childhood that dulls our senses and lulls us into our deep sleep.
Thank you Ranks. I just hope this give some strength to the case of the Denver group who was thrown out of a Bush speech for a bumper sticker out in the parking lot. They weren't even protesting!
follow up_er: 80k being paid by taxpayers
after further thought, i think this is more than justified.
why? why do we have to pay $.0000001 (or whatever the math works out to be), why are we being charged with this miniscule sum?
the way i see it: because we deserve it.
we have known about the "free speech zones", we have known about bush's use of ticket-only audiences. we have known how our rights have been whittled away at (the stuff that isn't a "national security secret").
well, we let bush get away with it for years now and now we pay for our apathy.
Rose Colored Glasses @ 63:
This is the point I tried to make above - the Ranks are heros for a day and that's about the last you'll hear of it. Not to take anything away from the Ranks but if you think this is going to wake the sleeping masses, you've not been paying attention!
good good. but get your copy right, logan. they didn't win the suit, it was settled out of court.
Avenger @ 48:
"preaching to the converted here" implies that at some point we were NOT for civil rights.
Don't insult us just because you may have jumped on the train late.
Greg Thomsen makes an excellent point. When taxpayers have to fund a settlement with folks like the Ranks (though the settlement was justified), it means we're paying a fine through our taxes because people we (supposedly) elected decided to shred the Constitution. Even if Bush had been elected legitimately (he wasn't), that's wrong.
If Bush and Cheney could be held personally responsible for funding these settlements, we might have fewer such incidents.
Rose Colored Glasses @ 63:
i don't wholly agree.
i think targetting the police is, essentially, going after the little guy. i don't know more than the basics of the case, but i would be surprised to find out that this was a call made by the local cops. more like, a "directive" from bush's advance team to "sanitize" the crowd.
also, i think targetting the cops would backfire, as some would rally around the officers "just doing their jobs"--however crazy that might be. now, the way things went down, it is all placed on the GOP and dear leader's henchmen. which i think is apropos.
Horst @ 43:
But Horst, money means nothing to the Administration. Power is what it's about. So they lose a few bucks in court cases, they're still allowed to suppress dissent.
Reasonable people who believe(d) in the First Ammendment can get cold feet thinking, "Hey, I might end up in jail if I go to that event." Perhaps you recall a couple weeks ago when a guy told Cheney he disagreed with him and his policies, the Secret Service later arrested him, and, were it not for the guy's wife showing up, his child would've been sent to social services. I have a kid and the thought of myself in a similar situation is singularly creepy.
Doesn't matter that these folks get released, or win in court; the damage is done and the message has been sent.
[...] they “didn’t realize it until it happened to us.” Crooks and Liars has the video here. 1:30 pm | [...]
Samson, Thanks for sharing the song insight...
a song that needs to be sung nationwide.. "
Thanks to Crooks and Liars for shining a light on... all of these stories where...
"the bush junta is desperate to keep this story from ever seeing the light of day"
Samson- @ 62:
Seth @ 65:
Here in Texas, a traffic cop stopped someone for speeding, and the driver was so annoyed that when the cop tossed a wad of gum onto the street, made a citizens arrest for littering.
The court threw the book at the cop by convicting him of littering and imposed the heaviest fine to make an example of him.
They are officially my heroes of the month!
The Smiths Go To Washington,,
i take great pleasure in posting any marley lyrics. to me, one of the most amazing and inspirational people to walk this earth.
for the hell the jamaica went through during his lifetime (thanks IMF!!) and the fact that marley grew up dirt poor, to then come out of that situation with pride, courage, honesty, compassion and positivism, is, to me, truly amazing.
jah live
To TIKI AL @71:
You're seeing enemies where there are none. Obviously he didn't imply anything but flattery to people on this post.
Is that what dirty f*ing hippies look like today? They look kind of normal to me...
Good that they got a settlement, as they should. I hope all the other peaceful protesters and dissenters also get just treatment.
Where'd the money come from to pay these patriots?
probably Communist China, the same place Bush borrows $19 Billion per month to pay for his war on Iraq...
Thank you Mr & Mrs Rank, for standing up for America. You make the Founding Fathers proud..
This is just the tip of the iceberg .....Americans better wise up fast to what Bushco. is doing to our constitution.......
Hey, everybody, while we are on the subject, let's not forget about another anti-war hero, good old Brett Bursey. Details: http://www.scpronet.com/freespeech.html
In response to 73. true, but if law enforcement learns that "selective enforcement", "under color of authority", and just plain old breaking the law will get them in deep trouble, they will think carefully about breaking the law and misusing their authority.
Greg Thomsen @ 2:
Suing the government means suing us. We the taxpayer foot that bill and once again BushCo gets off unscathed, unpunished and without a dime out of pocket.
Think GW has a "hit man" somewhere close? It wouldn't surprise me.
If the Ranks make too much of a racket, a hit man may jump up and bite.
This country has no more freedoms - so watch your back and don't say anything.
Freedom of speech - that's a laugh!
Amazing what the Administration will do to silence lawful protest: Pay people off many years after dissuading action. The intended affect was the stifling of public and discussion when the protest first occurred, and the intervening silence. $80K hardly does justice to the chilling effectd on public oversight of the US government.
The Mussolini fetishists on the right love to hurt protestors while claiming they are spreading "freedom" to the Middle East
This appears to be a naive position: azureblue @ 86:
I disagree that they will "think careflly" about anything; rather, they'll misuse their position to make excuses, not do their jobs, and not engage in meaningful oversight of their officers. Even civilian leadership can and does make promises to do things by way of supervision and refuses. Thje reason the public has to create civilian oversight boards is law enforcement, on their own, cannot be trusted to police their own, and for not thinking despite their training.
Even if there is an emergency, those who suffer because law enforcement does not "timely" do anything have no claim. Despite police officer standards and training/oversight, there are some departments that are a cess pool of corruption: THey have no other hiring pool because of manning shortages. The rottom apples get shifted to different barrles. LE will lie if they believe they can get away with it; even if challenged, they'll quickly accuse the public-observers as having an "attitude" problem. There's something called a wall: A common agreement to lie to the courts: Testilying.
The Ranks should be applauded for what they have gone through.
I'm in a similar situation myself but nowhere in this deep . . . yet.
I have been flying my American flag upside down the past couple months. I've been doing this off and on the past several years but this time I've left it up in protest. A few weeks ago I receive a letter from my homeowners association telling me to fly it right side up. And have 60 days to resolve the situation.
I contacted the ACLU and they sent some papers saying the homeowners association cannot tell me how I should fly the flag. And if the HOA gives me anymore trouble to let them know.
Just a few minutes ago I saw two of my neighbors standing outside on the street and discussing the flag. I just caught the tail end of the conversation. One neighbor said he's really upset about it and wants to say something to me and the other neighbor said he's going to get the board to have me remove it.
The way I figure it. I've had to put up with their President's lies and total disregard to our Constitution and this is my time to say, enough is enough.
However, my wife and kids want me to put the flag the right way. But I've been telling them we can't cower to how Bush and his supporters in law enforcement have been treating people protesting the war.
Random @ 80:
Since you agree with the "obvious", at what point in your life did you start thinking civil rights was a good thing and convert?
I am not an enemy either, at the very best the poster stated his thought poorly.
He could have said "preaching to the choir", but then I would have been insulted at the godbot reference.
Yet, reich-wingers still completely support their arrest.
kometes @ 81:
Depressing init?
hey,
I have 2 homemade t-shirts for sale..$40,000 each!
How much longer do we need to deal with these guys? Yoi and double Yoi
And yet the Christofascists traitors who committed this crime managed to escape prison and execution for their crime. Amazing.
ysbaddaden @ 95:
What's to be depressed about when every day people protest injustice? Seems inspirin' to me!
---------------------------------------
TIKI Al @92-
He could have said “preaching to the choir”, but then I would have been insulted at the godbot reference.
Insulted by a very common- probably the most common- metaphor(and yer own, at that) fer statin' a position to the like-minded? Awfully sensitive, ain't it?
Excuse me: you couldn't edit the plagiarist Mike Barnicle out of the interview?
Know why the incident- or many like this one- happened?
Here's a link to the (heavily redacted) Presidential Advance Manual:
http://www.aclu.org/freespeech/protest/30265res20070628.html#attach
Sorry tweety, but having these great couple on WON'T help your plunging ratings. Resign NOW and save MSNBC the trouble of DROPPING YOU.
The Ranks are the finest, to bad you want credit for having them on your sad show. You and baby tucker can go enlist and show us all what great Americans you are.
$80,000 buys a lot of property near Crawford.
Hats off to the Ranks. Who cares where the money came from? My taxes go to pay for bombs and dumbass Republican officials. i'd rather it go to people like the Ranks.
Well, (gasp) clearly the Ranks view the world in a pre 9-11 mind set!
After all, if you express an opinion that contradicts the decider guy, the enemy has won !
That's not all that went down that day. The Secret Service, presummably, went through Charleston within about a six block radius of where that rally was going to be staged, and pulled people out of stores and restaurants. My sister witnessed a person who was arrested for wearing an anti-bush T-shirt. That person was sitting down in a restaurant eating a meal, disturbing nobody. It didn't appear that anybody in or from the restaurant had filed any kind of complaint. They just walked in and looked around and arrested the person, basically for exercising free speech.
Shit's been going on all over the country. It's bogus. What I'm also curious about is how these characters get away with the "free speech zones". Where in the Constitution does it say that public free speech can only occur from within a cage or fenced in area far from any spot where the speech could possibly have any influence? Has the ACLU got any ongoing challenges to that absurdity?
This is great! It took a lot of guts to go to court. They were absolutely right to do this. It blows my mind that the first thing some people think about is "they took my taxpayer money!" Yea well so what? Face it, $80,000 is a tiny, tiny price to pay for reiterating our rights. If you are worried about how our government spends money on that small level, then you must be the most pedantic person on earth.
Arlington Group @ 41:
Public Safety trumps Civil Liberties ??!! Unfortunately, but true, this has been the tactic used by most politicians, state and federal governments to stifle opposing and dissenting views. And the media follows along with it. And also unfortunately, the Democrats rep/statesmen, have also been using the very same tactic.
wisedup @ 101:
It wasn't Matthews. It was Mike Barnicle.
And before ya say,"Well, I meant Hardball should go away," ya didn't say it that way. ;)
But I agree with ya about Matthews and Carlson. Ya get more honesty from Scarborough- and that ain't sayin' much!
[...] Crooks and Liars [...]
jebidiam @ 106:
What kind of gets me is, some suggest that they should of gone after the cops. I mean really, how hard would it be to replace one questionable cop for another ? No, they did the right thing, go after the head of the family. (any soprano fans?)
ysbaddaden @ 77:
Care to cite this story?
Paul @ 105:
Don't presume that it's the Secret Service. Remeber the case in Denver, where some Bushco apparachik in the guise of a T-man expelled people from one of Stupor Mundi's townhall Social Security gatherin'? I'd suspect the same happened to the person your sister saw detained.
Check out my link ^^ @99. It discusses how the Secret Service's job is to protect the President only- but it does offer some creative notions on suppressin' dissent.
crazy train @ 110:
From the ACLU press release:
" The charges against [the Ranks] were later dismissed and the City of Charleston, not a defendant in the case, apologized for the incident."
http://www.aclu-wv.org/Newsroom/PressReleases/08_16_07.html
Maybe the apology got the city off the hook.
The officers who arrested them should be fired as well- perhaps jailed.
I also think the American People should file a class action suit and make the RNC pay the civil judgement.
OK - I'll bite.
I know that PNAC is the Kristol/Cheney neocon cabal of Project for New American Century, but what the heck does PNAAC stand for?
(I would've said "what the hell" - but since s/he is apparently a minister ...)
I want a t shirt with a pix of the couple in their t shirts...
Andy K @ 100:
Good reference. We are talking about an administration where diplomacy is a last resort after all attempts at warfare have failed.
Andy K @ 98:
"insulted at the godbot reference" was snark, sorry it was so feeble.
Arlington Group @ 107:
Methinks the safety of the demonstrators is most at risk at these FASCIST events.
Very Nazi. That's what they do in fascist countries. I'll bet the arrestors had bronw shirts.
Finally, a tax break for the middle class!
Buy and wear a couple of anti-Bush T-shirts, and get an $80K refund.
Or buy stock in an anti-Bush T-shirt company and try to equal Gates' and Buffet's refunds.
The subliminal dynamic at work here is not the arrest, it's not the police, it's not the "facist" Right Wing. By supressing dissent through intimidation, as in this case, the long term effect will be that dissent evaporates. Intimidation has a chilling effect. Where once a person would stand in an expression of defiance, the fear of legal entanglement and scrutiny urges him to keep his seat and close his mouth.
While this couple won their battle, but there's a much bigger war at hand here. It's one being conducted slowly and methodically.
Anyone who isn't willing to express dissent outwardly vs. an administration with a 25% approval rating doesn't qualify as a dissenter. Really, folks...it's a no-brainer.
It's great that they won their lawsuit, but this will in no way hinder police officers from pulling this crap again. After all, $80 K paid by the government takes no skin off of the back of the guilty police officers themselves. They need to go after these particular police officers or whoever ordered these officers to arrest these two.
PNAAC Minister @ 11:
No, you sycophantic PNAAC blockhead, what you are seeing are two patriots who decided they'd had enough and used the guarantees given to them by the framers of the Constitution and exercised their right of free speech. These were two ordinary citizens arrested and charged illegally.
Yes they are heroes, not because of their t-shirts, but because they had the guts to stand up to the RepubliNazi's that run Bush's dog and pony shows that pretend to be "public rallies". F*ck all of them. Impeach all of them. Jail all of them.
Awwwwww.. poor little King Petulant Prick doesn't like dissent. Too fucking bad. Many people don't like bullshit based wars and terror attacks.
I saw a kid wearing an Idiot Son Of An Asshole tee shirt one night. I went out of my way to tell him what a great tee shirt it was. And thats in Canada too. Bush has a negative approval rating here. You can keep him till you dump or jail him.
Do people who were pro-Bush t-shirts get arrested and detained? Didn't think so. Bush declared war on the 1st amendment even before he and his thugs cheated their way to the White House.
$80K? This administration loses more than that in the sofa of a K Street lobbyist's waiting room.
PNAAC Minister @ 11:
The semi-literate trolls are back in town.
I'll say it slowly and simply for you PNAAC. For having a tee-shirt with their political opinion on it, not only were these folks thrown off of public property - that everyone else and their dog was allowed to be on - but were later forced to come back to town under charges of Trespassing.
Trespassing?! On public property that everyone was allowed to be on?! That is a pretty pathetic charge. I could come up with ten better ones off of the top of my head, and mine would not fly in court.
But if you don't think this was stupid, just imagine this happening to one of your own political persuasion if they were to be charged because they wore a tee-shirt expressing their opinion at Edward's or Obama's or Clinton's appearance as president.
Just think about it.
The Ranks' settlement was paid for by taxpayers' money. Convenient, ain't it?
That's why Republicans will never stop arresting protesters - it's not their own money they're losing in court later - it's YOURS and MINE.
[...] Two precedents Both via Crooks and Liars. Wrongly Arrested Bush Protesters Talk About Their $80K Government Settlement On Hardball [...]
"But if you don’t think this was stupid, just imagine this happening to one of your own political persuasion if they were to be charged because they wore a tee-shirt expressing their opinion at Edward’s or Obama’s or Clinton’s appearance as president.
Just think about it."
Fanatical authoritarian followers can't reason like that. It's impossible.
Another domino falls.....
I know some people will scream "race card" and "that doesn't have anything to do with it" but I'm going to say it anyhow.
The Ranks seem like lovely people, but they say what all white folks say when stuff like this happens to them: We didn't know this could happen in America until it happened to us.
Black people and other minorities have been marching and protesting against things like this happening for literally CENTURIES. Now all of a sudden, white folks are feeling the effects of tyranny and it's a problem.
When will white people realize that the War on Drugs (ie. The War on Black People) was actually practice for everything you all sanctioned with the Patriot Act? While you all were busy voting for Bush and slapping magnets ribbons on your cars and claiming the rest of us were unpatriotic terrorist sympathizers...why didn't you listen then?
I am sick to death of white folks being all on the civil liberties bandwagon NOW. Where the hell were you after Amadou Diallo or Timothy Thomas or Sean Bell?
The Ranks got ARRESTED. And they got set free and given 80 grand. The men I listed above were KILLED and their blood cries out from the ground for justice.
I demand a recount.
Deborah....a lot of white folks agree with you.........I realize your anger.It's well founded.....but perhaps you should redirect it to the people turning back time...I suppose your not to fond of Rudy either...neither are we.
Actually Deborah, there's a huge difference between bigoted, racist, local law enforcement a la the South of the 40's, 50's and 60's,the NYPD and LAPD of today, and the systematic suppression of dissent from all quarters regardless of race by a federal government whose responsibility it is to protect you as a citizen from the same abuses. Individually, local governments may run roughshod over your rights, but, ultimately, it's the federal government who's supposed to be there to correct the injustice. If that avenue of redress is corrupted, lax in its duties, or tainted by politics, then we have lost our last, best hope that justice will EVER be served.
Why do you think that so many "white folks," are incensed by the disregard of the Constitution by the powers that be? It's not over your blackness or our whiteness, my dear.
You are comparing apples and oranges. Throwing in the phrase "white folks," to me, is as offensive as if I were to go off on a tirade about "black folks."
You're right. Your writing smacks of bigotry and, to say the least, confusion of who your enemies truly are.
Deborah @ 135:
There is no point in trying to get White Americans to understand what you are saying Deborah. Observing the issue through the prism of human nature, history and current events, reminds me that the American majority will change and make significant sacrifices, but only when facing a situation that negatively affects the majority of White Americans. Because of this, the problems facing non White Americans, including racial prejudice (something many Americans believe is inconsequential), and a long standing (and constantly morphing) system of institutionalized economic and social imbalance, rarely make it onto the front burner. Remember, the Europeans who initiated the modern colonial path that led to today, did it for themselves, not for us. By growing up today, in the skin we were born in, we all experience very different versions of America and the world. Often it is this fact (complicated by the demands of daily life, traditions, facts on the ground, bitterness, mistrust, resentment, prejudice and a whole host of other factors) that makes understanding and progress with race relations a monumentally slow process.
Why is Barnicle making jokes about what they are going to do with 80000 dollars of taxpayers money. Money which of course they deserved but no american taxpayer should have to lose. The fact that the man can make jokes about it is very disturbing. This is disgusting that the Bush administration operates in such a way that makes stuff like this lawsuit happen. Still feel safe americans?
Congratulations, I wish the award would have been for a few million.
Their T-shirts were an implicit threat of violence against the President of the United States and any reasonable person would see it that way. I am very disappointed the state or federal government did not pursue criminal charges against these folks. I am sure that a jury of their peers would have found them guilty in no time at all. Paying them one red cent, let alone $80K, is a monstrous perversion of justice.
nabalzbbfr @ 141:
Indeed. The two could have taken off their tee-shirts, rushed the stage, and strangled Bush with them. And the image on the tee-shirt made it less likely the secret service would be paying special attention to these two. /sarcasm
A picture of Bush with a line through it means "no Bush", not "kill Bush", and is not going to incite a mob to violence. Don't get unhinged. Hysterics are unbecoming.
The only threat t-shirts pose to boosh is every morning when he nearly chokes himself on one while getting dressed.
I was actually there and watched this happen. The event required a (free)ticket to get in, and the rules stated that no political T-shirts, buttons, anything could be worn in the event. In fact I had to remove a conservative (non-Bush) button that I was wearing, and was instructed by security to do so. The two individuals in question kept the shirts concealed until they got inside. The couple has also said that there was no dress code given for the event, which was not true, a flyer was given along with the tickets and there was something posted at the gate. In any case, a dress code was enforced at the gate (no political statements pro/anti/or unrelated to Bush, period), which is why they chose to conceal their shirts until they got inside. When asked to leave, they refused and laid down like a couple of children, refusing to go and generally acted in an embarassing manner. Its interesting to see how media/etc portrays this event differently from how it actually happened, it was a real eye opener for me. They also used closeups of the dozen or so protestors there to make it appear that there was a large protest going on. I'm not here to argue, just to let you know what actually happened.
So much for the land of the free... where you must sue in order to have your freedoms and even then probably only in 'free speech zones'.
THIS COUNTRY NEEDS ABOUT 50 MILLION MORE LIKE THE RANKS!!!!
PNAAC Minister @ 11:
YOU MISS THE POINT SIR BUT I DO SEE YOUR POINT AND IT MUST BE HARD TO FIND A HAT THAT FITS.....
What a bunch of Jerk Offs. In case you guys dont realize this, but tax payers ( us ) will have to pay out. Not George W. wtf?
eyewitness @ 144:
Isn't your family waiting for you, Karl?
Just goes to show how ridiculously easy it is to make a buck at the expense of the tax-payers and the American public.
But whats really pathetic is that these commie bastard losers were protesting at a crucial moment in our history when the troops needed as much support as they could get.
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