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It's a Gonzo Protest in Florida

Alberto's first speaking engagement didn't go quite the way he would have liked, but it's not surprising that students protested the man who gave the President (his pal) a blank check when it comes to our civil liberties while also installing "torture" as an approved method of interrogation. Alberto is getting paid a boatload of cash (40K) to speak after disgracing his post as AG. Being a "movement conservative" is always a very profitable venture. And he took no questions from the audience.

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The Alligator:

In his first appearance at a university since resigning in August, former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was met at UF on Monday with a mixture of cheers, boos and scattered interruptions by protesters, two of whom were arrested.
Gonzales, who resigned from his position after a controversial tenure, spoke to more than 800 people at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. During his prepared speech, Gonzales largely avoided discussing the controversies he faced in office, including his dismissal of nine U.S. attorneys.

Instead, he focused on encouraging students to consider a career in public service while describing his own experiences in that field.---Later, he ignored scattered jeers from the crowd to answer questions about his dismissal of the attorneys, the Geneva Convention and torture.

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108 Comments
tjb's picture

He's a little piggy

Otay's picture

Gonzo shouldn't be upset. The students are just prepping him to get used to seeing people in jumpsuits, as that's all he see in the near future.

PeteN's picture

That guy in the hood is my hero for the day.

Left&Left's picture

McClellan gets a book deal, Gonzales gets 40k to open that lying torture loving shit hole of his? Fuck this shit man, crime truly pays!

goatsage's picture

PeteN @ 3:

That guy in the hood is my hero for the day.

That took some serious balls. Good for these students!!

Rusty Shackleford's picture

[Deleted. Please don't advocate violence on this site-Sitemonitor]

Gonzalez, I mean.

Joe O.'s picture

And folks say young people don't know or care about what is going on in the nation. Well, they know and they are taking action or making statements against crooks like Gonzales and its great to see.

Robt's picture

There is no doubt that the Rebubs are going to need either more Tazers or one big one!
As these criminals go out to get their " Hush" Money ".

Do they make the Anal Tazer yet?

Samson-'s picture

abu gonzo, the former torture general, deserves to be treated like the human garbage he is.

in fact, all the former and current bushbots should be, until the end of their days, followed around, mocked, protested, jeered, etc. they should never be forgiven nor forgotten. their names will forever be tied to their despotic enabling, neofascist tendencies, illegal activities and treasonous behavior. and rightfully so.

Cheney's picture

1. I wonder what those who were arrested are going to be charged with.

2. It's kind of disappointing when only a handful of people stand up in protest with their backs to Gonzo.

3. Shame on the university for charging $$ to attend this travesty and shame on the fascist Gonzo who's now profiting from being a (disgraceful) attorney general.

Dr. Matt's picture

Reich-wingers every where are screaming: "Tase him, tase him!"

sam sneed's picture

wow

what balls

to stand on a podium telling lies and getting paid 40 gees to do it with no remorse...

goatsage's picture

This photo and the one of Rice being confronted by blood soaked hands are starting to give me hope that we are reclaiming our democracy from these criminals. I can't wait for the photo of Bush and Cheney being indicted.

sam sneed's picture

the orange suit and black hood icon is so powerful
gonzaless has to see it in his sleep,i least i hope he does

Robt's picture

If there is to be profit made from holding a Government position. Other than stealing or embezzling, "if you will".

They should have to perform their job fully without resignation, and should wait for a certain amount of time as Congressmen now have to wait to become lobbyists.

Most of all, I would like to see these colleges change the format. Make it a debate with Gonzo and Waxman. Rove and Olberman. Bring in another point of view on the next speaker........................

apeman's picture

May fear is Blackwater and other such POS**ts
will be hired to escort these criminals around.
Won't be long. If it isn't happening as we blog.

ggy's picture

I wish I could have beend there so I could throw a fucking brick at his head with the words JUSTICE written on it.

paranoia's picture

I got search at the transit center in Portland, and I ask one of the trimet bus driver of when they started searching? The answer I got was very disturbing, was that they have to comply with Homeland security protocol to get federal funding. In other word they have to keep drumming up fear of travel to sway the public to think that a guys like Gonzo is a hero. It's all about using 9/11 to take away our Bill of Rights. As long as the fear keep us at bay, they'll keep taking more and more for themselves.

apeman's picture

Brick Pies.

liberalNmoderation's picture

sam sneed @ 14:

the orange suit and black hood icon is so powerful
gonzaless has to see it in his sleep,i least i hope he does

Pfffft....they don't sleep Mr. Sneed...Gonzoid, and the rest of his...ilk, are far too busy being eeeevil and planning the downfall of this country.

paranoia's picture

The security that search me, refuse to give me their names and their supervisor name. It's beginning to look more like Gestapo every day. We'll get used to it, bit by bit, and they'll take over bit by bit, as we get used to it.

JerryM's picture

Code orange .....

Dahgrostab'ph-r-i's picture

Did that putz say in his speech that "sometimes we stumble"? yeah and sometimes you order torture you fuck!

Oh how I hate these rightwing criminals...I hope all the Republicans are proud of your party!

liberalNmoderation's picture

apeman @ 16:

May fear is Blackwater and other such POS**ts
will be hired to escort these criminals around.
Won't be long. If it isn't happening as we blog.

20,000 strong, well armed, with tanks and a small air force...fun fun fun.

Joe O.'s picture

goatsage @ 13:

This photo and the one of Rice being confronted by blood soaked hands are starting to give me hope that we are reclaiming our democracy from these criminals. I can't wait for the photo of Bush and Cheney being indicted.

I agree. Rice and Gonzales always get the big bucks for various speeches. That is a given. However, those that stand in direct opposition to war criminals and crooks, face to face, and still do it knowing the punishments they could receive afterwards are priceless. You can't put a price on courage like that. Those students, are true patriots and are better human beings than those that they stand up to.

sam sneed's picture

liberalNmoderation @ 20:

sam sneed @ 14:

the orange suit and black hood icon is so powerful
gonzaless has to see it in his sleep,i least i hope he does

Pfffft....they don't sleep Mr. Sneed...Gonzoid, and the rest of his...ilk, are far too busy being eeeevil and planning the downfall of this country.

hey even dracula sleeps..

Concerned American's picture

Why didn't Gonzo pay the university $40,000 versus the other way around?

JerryM's picture

Dahgrostab'ph-r-i @ 23:

...I hope all the Republicans are proud of your party!

I hope all americans are proud of their country .......

The sooner you stop being divided and get it sorted the better.

Weaseldog's picture

sam sneed @ 14:

the orange suit and black hood icon is so powerful
gonzaless has to see it in his sleep,i least i hope he does

He couldn't look, for fear it would unduly excite him in public.

earl's picture

Funny I never see any headlines about this stuff on CNN International's crappy website ... but did you hear?

"Deer leaps over police car on highway"

Spock's picture

So if gonzo can speak, what's the big deal with Ahmadinejad? They're both criminals.

jgr4's picture

goatsage @ 5:

PeteN @ 3:

That guy in the hood is my hero for the day.

That took some serious balls. Good for these students!!

A big THANK YOU to all the students who protested. And good luck to those of you who got arrested!

sam sneed's picture

Weaseldog @ 29:

sam sneed @ 14:

the orange suit and black hood icon is so powerful
gonzaless has to see it in his sleep,i least i hope he does

He couldn't look, for fear it would unduly excite him in public.

oh yeah..its the Torture Guy™ for crying out loud!

gumby's picture

there is no coverage of this story by the MSM - google it and see for yourself

Dhalgren's picture

Take the $40K out of [University president] Dr. Machen's salary. Make him give more talks to make the money back. Seriously.

goatsage's picture

gumby @ 34:

there is no coverage of this story by the MSM - google it and see for yourself

Yes, but Bush pardons Thanksgiving Turkey

roper's picture

WEASEL

Bonkers's picture

I cringe at the notion that fellers like AG are even hired for speaking engagements. The man is a CRIMINAL and a LIAR. A criminal liar. He's lies criminally. His lies are crimes.

GEEZ!

Dr. Who's picture

jgr4 @ 32:

goatsage @ 5:

PeteN @ 3:

That guy in the hood is my hero for the day.

That took some serious balls. Good for these students!!

A big THANK YOU to all the students who protested. And good luck to those of you who got arrested!

The scary bit is that some of the students actually cheered for this asshole. That is what I fight frightening....

Weaseldog's picture

roper @ 37:

WEASEL

Hey! No insulting of weasels please!

Robt's picture

Send a reporter to the University and ask them now that its over, "Was it worth 40' G's to hear Gonzo" ?
And, " What was the most informative educational benefit from Gonzo's speech " ?

Death Star's picture

John Ashcroft Law firm gets 52 million no bid contract to monitor some kind of medical prothesis. Can anyone say Hush money? Gonzales will be getting a very special stocking stuffer this christmas.

willie's picture

chickenshit chickenhawks do not take live questions. 40K and prescreened questions. life is good for gonzo.far better than it should be for sure.

cleo's picture

"Go into public service to serve the rich and fleece the poor", said Gonzo to the nauseated crowd. Why would anyone want to hear this criminal speak about anything?

Bil Biloxi's picture

Code orange standing next to Abu Gonzo. Priceless.

Old Billy's picture

If I were a UF student I would be angry. Its my understanding that Gonzales was paid $40,000 from the student events budget that every student pays for with dues. Whoever decided to hire Gonzales for a speech without even any real Q & A deserves immediate expulsion. Who knows? Maybe they'll try to get the money back because he wouldn't answer questions.

Gonzales is still a criminal. Now he's ripping off college students. Asshole.

Torbin's picture

ggy @ 17:

I wish I could have beend there so I could throw a fucking brick at his head with the words JUSTICE written on it.

Oh, that's soo funny. LOL Very descriptive.

Dana's picture

My hat off to the protester in the hood for restraining himself...
I would have taken that hood and put it over Gonzo's head, where
it belongs!

Indigowatcher's picture

Did anyone else notice who exactly did the cheering at the end of Gonzo's speech? It was a tight knot of 30-40 people on the front rows that stood and cheered when no one else did. These people were obviously actors, or plants, or whatever you want to call them...

Biggus Diggus's picture

The protesters are heroes. Good for them. Do not ever give Abu a free pass in this world.

liberalNmoderation's picture

sam sneed @ 26:

liberalNmoderation @ 20:

sam sneed @ 14:

the orange suit and black hood icon is so powerful
gonzaless has to see it in his sleep,i least i hope he does

Pfffft....they don't sleep Mr. Sneed...Gonzoid, and the rest of his...ilk, are far too busy being eeeevil and planning the downfall of this country.

hey even dracula sleeps..

Yeah...but dracula's way cooler than Gonzaloid...he's more like Igor...don't think he slept much...just scurried about, mumblin and eatin bugs and whatnot....rubbing his filthy/bloody hands together, leering and goin "Yeeesssss Massster"!

JQPublic's picture

$40,000? To hear Mr. "I don't recall" talk? Are you kidding me!? Where the hell is that money coming from, skyrocketing tuition fees? Why are parents not storming the campus with pitchforks right now demanding an explanation for that kind of payment to a disgraced official?

Biggus Diggus's picture

That Bill Kristol wanna-be with the gleaming white chicklets on his teeth was creepy.

Spirula's picture

If I were a UF student I would be angry.

Many of them here are.

On the bright side, Dr. Kevorkian is scheduled to speak in Jan..

And he took no questions from the audience.

Which would have be an expercise in futility, as congress found out. There are only so many ways you can say " I don't know" or " I don't remember".

Spirula's picture

sheesh...exercise

Mark's picture

Given how Gonzales pretty much gave Bush the green light to water boarding, congress should have water boarded him right there during all of those hearings when his memory got "hazy". Just imagine seeing that on cspan.

sully18's picture

sam sneed @ 12:

wow

what balls

to stand on a podium telling lies and getting paid 40 gees to do it with no remorse...

Not balls-- abject arrogance and lack of honor

ggy's picture

I think we should start a nation wide campange to start stoning polititians and corrupt official's like Gonzo. I'm not talking about bricks but if everyone in the audience carried one stone in their pocket and all at once started throwing them at this cocksucker then the world would be a better place.

Stones don't set off metal detactors.

sully18's picture

The report was pretty stupid,especially sinve the reporter could notpronounce habeas corpus correctly.

E in Md's picture

Don't forget to donate some monopoly money to Gonzo's defense fund. Need info?

sully18's picture

ggy @ 57:

I think we should start a nation wide campange to start stoning polititians and corrupt official's like Gonzo. I'm not talking about bricks but if everyone in the audience carried one stone in their pocket and all at once started throwing them at this cocksucker then the world would be a better place.

Stones don't set off metal detactors.

While I like the idea,it seem a bit too violent unless by stoning them you mean getting them stoned like we used to in the 60s.

leslie's picture

Goddess bless those protesters. I heard them on the radio this morning and cheered.

Terrible's picture

Maybe when he gets out of prison he can describe his own experiences in that field for a hefty fee.

Terrible's picture

goatsage @ 5:

PeteN @ 3:

That guy in the hood is my hero for the day.

That took some serious balls. Good for these students!!

I agree with that! They should be honored and applauded for their stand!

Paul's picture

I'm very proud of the prtestors, especially those who were arrested, and proud of those who jeered. Good to see the upcoming generation getting about the business of getting their heads and their hearts screwed on correctly.

Terrible's picture

Spock @ 31:

So if gonzo can speak, what's the big deal with Ahmadinejad? They're both criminals.

I'm not disagreeing with you but what crimes did Ahmadinejad commit? I don't think I've heard of any yet. gonzos crimes are many and well known of course.

greg white's picture

Don't throw stones.

Much better to toss them pennies, it is more symbolic as it is greed that motivates these thieves. For extra added affect, put a drop of blood on it.

Pete Bogs's picture

get used to it, Gonzo... you're OJ without the Bronco...

Pete Bogs's picture

they should've built a naked pyramid in front of Gonzo...

Lynnianaa's picture

9 Samson- Says:
abu gonzo, the former torture general, deserves to be treated like the human garbage he is.

in fact, all the former and current bushbots should be, until the end of their days, followed around, mocked, protested, jeered, etc. they should never be forgiven nor forgotten. their names will forever be tied to their despotic enabling, neofascist tendencies, illegal activities and treasonous behavior. and rightfully so.

That would be hilarious.

IgnoranceIsNotBliss's picture

Wait a minute....he was paid 40K from a fund that is student funded and the bastard wouldn't even answer questions? Oh, I forgot - it's that whole I don't recall thing isn't it?

Pursang's picture

This criminal receives 40K for his speech, and what is the poverty level in this country again? For a family of four?

It's great to be a Bushie isn't it?

ysbaddaden's picture

Pete Bogs @ 68:

they should've built a naked pyramid in front of Gonzo...

That woulda just reminded him of his fratboy days.

ysbaddaden's picture

liberalNmoderation @ 50:

sam sneed @ 26:

liberalNmoderation @ 20:

sam sneed @ 14:

Pfffft....they don't sleep Mr. Sneed...Gonzoid, and the rest of his...ilk, are far too busy being eeeevil and planning the downfall of this country.

hey even dracula sleeps..

Yeah...but dracula's way cooler than Gonzaloid...he's more like Igor...don't think he slept much...just scurried about, mumblin and eatin bugs and whatnot....rubbing his filthy/bloody hands together, leering and goin "Yeeesssss Massster"!

That's Renfield, as played by Dwight Frye. Igor was a broken necked shepherd who survived a hanging and was played by Bela Lugosi in Son of Frankenstein and Ghost of Frankenstein. Fritz was the doctor's assistant in the original Frankenstein and was a hunchback played by Dwight Frye, who later played simple thug named Carl in Bride of Frankenstein.

Edwin's picture

PeteN @ 3:

That guy in the hood is my hero for the day.

Me too, and probably the week. Maybe even longer.

jr's picture

I'm tired of these neo Pinochetists getting welfare bookings on the speaking circuit

Edwin's picture

The hooded guys are great, and let's not overlook those who stood with thei backs to him. Good for all of them.

That "it should be fun" guy (yeah-- right!), in the suit, might be the next Karl Rove. (See Nixon campaign video, circa 1972)

republicanSScareme's picture

My question is: Why would the University of Florida pay this clown 40 thousand dollars to talk about anything? Wouldn't that money have been better spent buying Thanksgiving meals for the homeless in Gainesville?

Besides, isn't he headed for Leavenworth?

Proud American's picture

TREATOR to AMERICA and a waterboy to a corrupted president. He bend over forward for Cheney and bend over backward for the President.

Raising legal defense fund to defend himself from enabling the illicit expansion of the executive power and dismantling of settled laws of the land.

BUSHKNOCKEDDOWNTHETOWERS's picture

U of F Spends 40k to have this human paraquat speak.....Disgraceful!

Preacher Boob's picture

Only 40K a pop for a Gonzo speech?

He could easily double his take if he let people piss on him.

Have your people contact my people, Speedy.

Gordon's picture

He got paid $40K to speak to 732 people. No wonder it costs so much to go to college these days. I wonder if they paid $54.65 each to hear him? Who paid the rent on the auditorium, the security guards, the tasers, the insurance? bet it really cost the college about $100,000 to hear this traitor speak.

Nancy's picture

I didn't hear him ask for forgiveness. That means I'm free to still despise him for the traitor and the foreign agent he is.

JohnnyBravo's picture

Um, you got 40K, and you won't take questions? Aaawww, why not Gonzo? Why only pre-approved questions from obedient index cards?

Assclown.

sam sneed @ 14:

the orange suit and black hood icon is so powerful
gonzaless has to see it in his sleep,i least i hope he does

You said it well. I hope that this particular image haunts all of the bastards.

mudshark's picture

doesn't he look proud......?.....and that student ....manoman....yeah...he's got some big stones.

AConfederacyofDunces's picture

Bravo!

...

St. Vitus's picture

Go Gators!

sofla's picture

I want to know how someone decided it was a good idea to pay that corrupt dimwit $40k to speak about anything, especially public service.

The University of Florida can surely do better than Gonzales for $40k... maybe have Dwayne "Dog" the bounty hunter speak about racial sensitivity or maybe Britney Spears could give a lecture on parenting.

Trii's picture

Seeing students protest makes my day. May there be more pictures like these as we haunt these guys for the rest of their lives.

Bob in Thailand's picture

sofla @ 90:

I want to know how someone decided it was a good idea to pay that corrupt dimwit $40k to speak about anything, especially public service.

The University of Florida can surely do better than Gonzales for $40k... maybe have Dwayne "Dog" the bounty hunter speak about racial sensitivity or maybe Britney Spears could give a lecture on parenting.

Or maybe George Bush could speak on lying with finesse.

Great action done with a nice balance of decorum and in your face bravado!

verna's picture

pursang said it.. a family could live for a year on what ths criminal got for saying nothing for an hour!! this makes my blood boil!

swarmofkillermonkeys's picture

Indigowatcher @ 49:

Did anyone else notice who exactly did the cheering at the end of Gonzo's speech? It was a tight knot of 30-40 people on the front rows that stood and cheered when no one else did. These people were obviously actors, or plants, or whatever you want to call them...

The perks of hiring a "PR firm" to rehabilitate your image (so you can sell books, and make a few million from speaking tours and television). And of course, U of F was happy to oblige.

paranoia @ 18:

I got search at the transit center in Portland, and I ask one of the trimet bus driver of when they started searching? The answer I got was very disturbing, was that they have to comply with Homeland security protocol to get federal funding. In other word they have to keep drumming up fear of travel to sway the public to think that a guys like Gonzo is a hero. It's all about using 9/11 to take away our Bill of Rights. As long as the fear keep us at bay, they'll keep taking more and more for themselves.

What a fucking joke.

Yeah, when I think MAJOR population centers or world-famous landmark buildings, I think Portland. Seriously PORTLAND? For LOCAL BUS SERVICE?! I'm assuming Oregon, but so much the worse if Maine. WTF, would you possibly need to search a citizen for in PORTLAND? Unless, of course, that is a lie and they do it because they can. Fishing expedition doesn't even cover it. Why not just start opening up and searching the Lexus and Mercedes in the parking garages? It's just as constitutional (or more so)? They could sure as hell store a lot more explosive that a person boarding a bus, travel to many more crowded areas, and the terrorist backers have plenty of cash (thanks to the rise in oil prices). Hmm... gee, I wonder why they don't...

Why are you submitting to an unreasonable search of your person without probable cause? Do they ask for your papers before you board the bus? How many checkpoints are there in Portland?

Do not accept their excuses. That brave kid in the orange clothes didn't, and I think that's the right move. I hope the police treated him right, as he obviously posed no physical threat.

RobertPaul's picture

What a country!

Where else in the world can you have a $190,000/year job that you do so poorly that you are forced to resign in disgrace and then make 440,000 speeches about it.

Only in BushCo's America!

RobertPaul's picture

OOps! Sorry, Typo . . . I meant $40,000 speeches

Kathy in St. louis's picture

My husband wouldn't wear his glasses when he was a teen, and when his worried mother told him that he needed to wear them when driving he said, "Mom, I only drive down streets I know". And so it is for the Bushies. You won't see any of the the present or former members of this administration going anywhere but places in the South, military bases, Vets groups, or the Chamber of Commerce. Thus, we have Gonzales making a speech at the University of Florida.

It's great, though, that he didn't even fare well ,"Driving down streets he knows".

Chervilant's picture

ysbaddaden @ 74:

Pete Bogs @ 68:

they should've built a naked pyramid in front of Gonzo...

That woulda just reminded him of his fratboy days.

Gonzo didn't have fratboy days. He attended my alma mater, wherein fraternities and sororities were banned after some bad hazing incidents. Also, Gonzo clearly forgot our Honor Code, or he wouldn't be in deep yogurt now. Do remember, Gonzo is STILL in deep yogurt. It's only a matter of time...

JoeySoCal's picture

Good for these college kids. That is fucking awesome.

Mark's picture

Who are these 800 people who came to hear the lying little weasel speak? I would never do him that honor. gonzales deserves to be shunned and ignored from now on, assuming we can't find a way to put him in prison where he belongs.

Pawsie's picture

eh...... i guess he doesn't get a hint that some of us.. pretty much 'hate' him because he continue to say.. he doesn't recall. And that he basically broke the constitutional law...

James M. Martin's picture

Uh...it was NOT "Alberto's first speaking engagement...." Actually, VO-5 spoke in Corpus Christi, Texas a couple of weeks before he started the college tour. His host was the local Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which probably isn't quite as right wing as the United States Chamber but more likely was scraping the bottom of the barrel to come up with the most "prominent" Hispanic they could book. And VO-5 had some protestors here, too, only they were carrying picket signs outside the banquet hall, not inside. One of them was a local attorney, Abel Cavada, an activist and progressive who also writes for a local tabloid, We the People.

anonymousryan's picture

Honestly, I was really against paying Gonzales $40,000 to come speak at UF. A lot of students were, even that douchebag Andrew "Don't tase me, bro!" Meyer was against (twist ending, he's a Paultard). But that picture is really worth ever penny. I'm really upset I forgot all about it. :(

pops's picture

This bum should be tar and feather and taken to the mexican border and a shoe kick up his ass if he try,s to come back across blow his head off.

Jack Damage's picture

Hmmm, don't think that whole rightwing lecture circuit thing is gonna work out too well Big Al.... Maybe you need a friendlier audience.. I hear North Korea likes the sort of shit you were slinging as AG... Maybe you'll get more than a 'few' cheers there asshole.....JD

Ex-Canuck's picture

Several of gonzo's actions during his tragic tenure amount to treason. He should be charged, tried and executed by hanging - along with several others in the cheney/bush neo-fascist administration.

max barshled's picture

[Deleted. This site does not advocate extraditing former public servants to Cuba for the purposes of being placed in a small bamboo cage and being jabbed with a sharp stick]

Tribute to the Real Gonzo, H.S.T..

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