<i>British Memoirist Is Denied U.S. Entry</i>
By John Amato Saturday Mar 22, 2008 5:00pm'This is a country, not a country club.'
This is really disturbing.
Sebastian Horsley, a British author who has written an eyebrow-raising memoir detailing a life of rampant drug use and voluminous encounters with prostitutes, was turned back at Newark Liberty International Airport on Tuesday as he tried to enter the United States for a book party and New York news media tour.
Lucille Cirillo, a spokeswoman for the New York office of United States Customs and Border Protection, said she could not comment on specific cases. But in an e-mail message, she said that under a waiver program that allows British citizens to enter the United States without a visa, "travelers who have been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude (which includes controlled-substance violations) or admit to previously having a drug addiction are not admissible."...read on
I was going to opine on this at length, but I'll let Arthur Silber elaborate:
I appreciate Horsley's irony in the face of injustice. It should go without saying that in light of the metastasizing American surveillance state and the numerous ways in which individual liberty is destroyed daily in this country, to say nothing of the Horsley story itself, "land of the free" is now the dream that has gone.
Finally, consider the following. Sebastian Horsley is a private citizen, who happens to have written a book. He was detained for eight hours, questioned extensively about personal behavior that is not criminal by any reasonable and valid standard, and then sent packing back to London. Your kind is not wanted here, he was told. And the United States government used its considerable power to enforce its judgment...read on
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I heard Sebastian Horsley on NPR last week... It's too bad he was sent back to his native London, the guy is just too cool for words.
I wish I was a dandy.
- Justin
While Chalabi, who was convicted and sentenced in absentia for bank fraud by a Jordanian military tribunal. He faces 22 years in prison, should he again enter Jordan, is invited to the State of the Union and sits next to the President's wife.
The public shame caused by the neocons agenda and their puppet George W. Bush will take decades to repair.
Gawd bless AmeriKKKa !
Sounds very early 20th Century. Back in an era which we forget, when the U.S. and local government openly used all sorts of policies and laws to control free speech and repress political movements.
If there were any justice left in this country every Republican and Neocon in our government would be swinging from gallows in front of the Washington Monument.
"Moral turpitude" is a family value in the GOP.
There ought to be a list of prominent thinkers not allowed in the states.
There is already a list of thinkers not allowed to fly in the states.
Ever since I first found out that a peace activist that sing happy peaceful song was not allowed in the states, then you know seriously something is wrong. Maybe Formerly known as Cat Steven wasn't being followed by Moon Shadow, but another entirely different Shadow operative. We lost most of thinkers that wanted to work on stem cell research, and eliminated any thoughts of global warming and evolution in govt. It just goes on and on, that the real American slogan at the gate should be change from "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free" to "Gives us your stupid that want to be owned by the govt to do our bidding"
Arthur Silber brings home a very trenchant point at the end of his essay when he notes that here is a person being hounded for having written about a book about his behavior, which is not a crime, while absolutely no one in the Bush administration has been charged with war crimes, or crimes against peace, or crimes against humanity in the illegal invasion of Iraq and the subsequent unnecessary deaths of over a million Iraqi people. It would be difficult to conceive of a more stark contrast between what has occurred here. Have any of the major presidential candidates called for the United States to join the International Criminal court so that criminal charges can be brought against the current administration? The answer to that question, of course, is no and that would certainly include that savior of the Democratic party, that [alleged] agent of hope and change, Barack Obama. The chance of that happening is about as likely as an atheist being elected president of this country.
How many days until these feeble-minded neocon nazi's are gone? I wonder if the repuke sycophants do a "hiel chimpy" when they see their imbicile in charge? Moron Bush would probably think that was cool. Would make him walk erect - with head held high, as he opens a door and walks into a closet.
Required @ 6:
Do you really want them to be murdered in retaliation for murdering?
Just shows again that the government fears ideas coming into America more than keeping "terror" out.
Verdillac @ 11:
No, justly hung for treason, we can even have a trial.
bush has committed crimes too numerous and now this......
a british citizen is denied entry into this country for writing a book
about his past experiences....WHAT THE FUCK !
bush has used drugs and the gop fuckheads
stoleelectedhim to president. what's wrong? not a part of that hypocritical
society called republican party?
Barney Google @ 7:
that is because they have no morals......they just suck at the alter
of god's asshole.
John, for god's sake.
I WILL NOT defend what you imply is a RIGHT of a foreign national to visit the US for the purpose of making a buck.
Frankly, the US is fucking filled at the moment with Brits here 'on business'. Listen to commercials, TV in general if you dont believe me.
I am not a conservative BUT I will not pay cent one on a foreign national that has :
1) a more rational government than mine
2) universal healthcare
3) civil society
4) a product to hawk in the colonies.
Wake up John, the guy has it better than YOU DO BUD. And you are what ... wasting scarce resources to help him sell his wares like --- Simon Cowells.
This is a non-story. It's your site - none of my business - but this is tangential bullshit.
EliteLemming @ 13:
You're a hate-filled Christian fundamentalist mullah? Come on into America! You did something considered immoral according to our hate-filled Christian fundamentalist mullahs? Get thee hence, demon!
It's already getting out there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U4Pib26X_4
Criminals in Congress::
REP. ALBERT BUSTAMANTE (D-TX): Convicted in 1993 of racketeering and accepting an illegal gratuity.
TONY COELHO (D-CA): Currently under investigation for fraud while serving as U.S. Commissioner General of Expo '98 in Lisbon, Portugal.* He was Al Gore's primary presidential campaign manager until he resigned citing health reasons.
REP. WES COOLEY (R-OR): Convicted of falsifying VA loan applications. Paid $7,000 in fines plus court costs, and placed on probation. Subsequently tried to gather support to get re-elected to Congress.*
REP. JERRY COSTELLO (D-IL):
REP. BOB DORNAN (R-CA): In 1983 attempted to leave Grenada with a stolen AK-47. It was confiscated by the Army and destroyed.
REP. WALTER FAUNTROY (D-DC): Financial disclosure misdemeanor (1995).
REP. BARNEY FRANK (D-MA): Accessory to a male prostitute who ran a whorehouse in their Washington townhouse.
REP. NEWT GINGRICH (R-GA):
STATE REP. ALCEE L. HASTINGS (D-FL): From the 1998 Almanac of American Politics: "He was impeached by the House of Representatives by a vote of 426-3 in 1988 and convicted and removed from office by the Senate by a vote of 69-26. The impeachment arose from allegations that Hastings conspired with a friend to accept $150,000 for giving two convicted swindlers a break in sentencing. Hastings was acquitted in a criminal trial in 1983, but the friend was convicted. In the House, the case for impeachment was made by John Conyers, senior member of the Congressional Black Caucus. Removed from the bench, Hastings was unapologetic."
SEN. JESSE HELMS (R-NC): In 1990, the Helms campaign sent out 125,000 postcards primarily to black North Carolina voters claiming that they might not be able to vote, and would be prosecuted for vote fraud if they tried. His campaign, the North Carolina Republican party, and four consulting and marketing firms were charged with violations of the Voting Rights Act. The Helms campaign signed an admission of guilt (claiming later that they didn't have the money to fight it in court), but Helms and his staff were never prosecuted.
REP. CARROL HUBBARD (D-KY): Convicted in 1994 of misappropriation of funds.
JAY KIM (R-CA): Convicted of accepting illegal campaign contributions from foreign sources.
REP. GERALD KLECZKA (D-WI): Convicted of DUI in 1987; arrested for DUI in 1990 and 1995.
REP. JOE KOLTER (D-PA): Fraud and conspiracy (1996).
REP. NORMAN LENT (R-NY): In 1982 tried to have fifty counterfeit Rolex watches mailed to him from Taiwan.
REP. DONALD E. "BUZ" LUKENS (R-OH): In 1989 was convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
REP. NICK MAVROULES (D-MA): In 1991 pleaded guilty to charges of bribery and tax evasion.
REP. EDWARD MEZVINSKY (D-IA): Indicted in March of 2001 on federal fraud charges. Claimed that he developed mental problems after using a malaria drug called Lariam. "Clearly, the responsibility lies with the manufacturers," claimed Mezvinsky's lawyer, Michael Barrett.*
REP. JAMES MORAN (D-VA): Charged with spousal abuse, and assault and battery. A regular instigator of bar fights while mayor of Alexandria, VA, his position made him immune to arrest. Once said he thought about becoming a boxer because "I like to hit people."
REP. AUSTIN J. MURPHY (D-PA): Vote fraud, including forgery, conspiracy, and tampering with federal records (1999).*
REP. MARY ROSE OAKAR (D-OH): Charged with seven federal felonies related to financial-disclosure irregularities (1998).
SEN. BOB PACKWOOD (R-OR): Charged with sexual harassment. Oddly enough, many of the women named as harassees defended Senator Packwood.
REP. CARL PERKINS (D-KY): In 1994 pleaded guilty to filing a false financial-disclosure statement, conspiracy to file false statements with the Federal Election Commission, and bank fraud. Sentenced in March of 1995.
REP. MEL REYNOLDS (D-IL): In 1995 was convicted of having sex with a minor and obstructing justice.
CHARLIE ROSE (D-NC): Financial disclosure irregularities (1994).
REP. DAN ROSTENKOWSKI (D-IL): Illegally converted official funds to his personal use and mail fraud; accused in 1996 of embezzling $700,000 from the federal government, he was charged with 13 of the original 17 counts against him. Went to prison after serving in Congress; now back in Washington working as a lobbyist.
REP. LARRY SMITH (D-FL): In 1993 was convicted of income tax evasion and campaign-reporting violations.
REP. PAT SWINDALL (R-GA): In 1988 was convicted of perjury.
REP. JIM TRAFICANT (D-OH): Indicted on 5/4/01 by a Cleveland, OH federal grand jury for bribery, tax evasion, racketeering, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice. Found guilty of all charges in April 2002.
REP. WALTER TUCKER (D-CA): Federal extortion charges; convicted of accepting $30,000 worth of bribes while a Congressman, and sentenced to 27 months in the federal penitentiary.
REP. J.C. WATTS (R-OK):
CHARLES WILSON (D-TX): In 1995 was forced to pay a $90,000 fine to the Federal Election Commission.
Number of members of Congress who escaped tickets and/or arrest from a variety of driving offenses ranging from speeding to DUI in 1999 due to Congressional immunity: 217
Number of members of Congress who were released after being pulled over for drunken driving in 1998 by claiming Congressional immunity: 84
EliteLemming @ 13:
oops, goes here
like the bush warrants for search and seizure, we can have the bush/cheney trials
after we have hung them……..seems fair by their own lack of standards.
Anh, not that big of a deal.
I think any country has a right to keep convicted felons out if it wants.
I'm sure he'll be welcome in France.
But if they are going to keep criminals out, can't they deny Dick Cheney entrance into the USA for his crimes against humanity? They are a LOT worse than some convict author.
♣Bangkok Bob♠ @ 20:
you are definitely some repug slime---this list is so dem heavy
closed you eyes to your bastard gop misdeeds? GF YOURSELF
The US has always denied entry to anyone with a drug charge. Thousands upon thousands of Canadians are denied entry, routinely, for having been charged.
My friend is a fashion designer and wants to work in NY, but nope. He got busted with a joint in high school. So, he lives in Milan instead.
The US sent Cat Stevens back too. Saw that in the news a few years ago. Remember all his violent songs, like "Peace Train"? .
Well, good thing our country is concerned with the real crimes.
dadams @ 21:
Yeah, but aren't we trying to restore honour and justice to our country.
11 Verdillac Says: Required @ 6:
If there were any justice left in this country every Republican and Neocon in our government would be swinging from gallows in front of the Washington Monument.
Do you really want them to be murdered in retaliation for murdering?
================
How about permanent retirement in Guantanamo, henchmen included. It's all top-notch food and frat-boy fun there.
If Air Force 1 lands in Newark, Bush is in big trouble.
Is this no longer a "greatest hit"?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ttDUGM-1mU
USA closed for repairs. Maintenance begins January 2009.
Welcome to The United Stazis of Amerika
Land of the artificial sweeteners-fluoride-and the MSM.
EliteLemming @ 26:
based on the lack of action by congress.......duh....NO
All i wanna really know is how this will impact popular music culture and if The Stones, The Who and Led Zeppelin will ever get to perform in America again, based on this Homeland logic.
Hopefully, legendary American druggies like Patti Smith, Lou Reed and Bob Dylan will get a pass in the meantime. Enjoy the shoe
This guy is prevented from coming into the country yet the Bush Syndicate is allowed to stay in the country after the trillion dollar Iraq war and this http://members.tripod.com/rationalrevolution0/war/bush_family_and_the_s.htm
Boy we sure have our priorities straight don't we.
Welcome to the New America, or not.
Bently @ 35:
Yeah New America, where most of the population has been reduced to being afraid of life.
dadams @ 32:
Who included congress in we? Oh sure there's a couple a good uns, but most will be on the docket, Dems too.
Of course Frank Zappa was all over the subject in 1992:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvUU5x1u3gs
:)
L.A. Confidential @ 36:
And we don't even have our concentration camps and political prisons yet!
EliteLemming @ 39:
oh, yes bushco has plenty of these. where do you think the American
citizens who are disappearing NOW are being taken.......oh you foolish one.
I like this trend. Maybe we can start deporting our politicians for moral turpitude- If we can find a country that will accept them.
dadams @ 23:
1) Criminals OF Congress, NOT "Criminals IN Congress"
2) Criminal refers to felony, not misdemeanour illegality.
3) Other points too numerous to mention.
Don't post this kind of crap if you expect to be taken seriously.
All thats left to say... "Goodbye Blue Skys".
SteveK @ 3:
If those responsible are not held to account for their crimes,this shame will never be repaired.The Albatross pResident`s stench will hover over America forever.
If the ideals,and I use the term loosely, that were used to deport Mr.Horsely were applied to Bush,he would also face deportation.
Wait till they start telling us(Americans) we can't leave the country.That's when the real fun starts.I'm as liberal as they come but I think we need to rethink gun control or we will be helpless when the shit hits the fan!
My oh my this is a bit of hypocritical nonsense. The gub'mint of the US of A doesn't want persons displaying moral turpitude to sully our virginal soil, yet it has no problem with the countless moral defectives and criminals within its own hallowed halls. All that remains now is for the big sign to be installed in front of Lady Liberty that reads;
more at my blog...
This is history repeating itself. The Reichstag (twin towers) was burned and now Hitler(Bush) is going after the communists,(democrats) and jews (muslims).
If you missed this you missed history.
Am glad i wansnt the only one bothered by this story. When, when is the baby boomer generation going to come to terms with the war on drugs?
L.E.A.P.
Law Inforcement Against Prohibition.
Moral turpitude? Are you kidding me man?
Who died and left this kettle in charge of morality for all the pots?
We SUCK.
*
Krackonis @ 48:
Now they get to live history.
Worst president EVER.
*
Goodwins law:
Any argument drawn up regardless of how identical the comparison are not taken seriously enough. Take cue from Bill O'Reilly, in his comparison of Obama to be like Hitler because of his followers to think Obama as being popular among his own people. He found only one comparison and you can evoke Hitler, but 20 comparison? Then you went to far!
Does this cover Americans too?
If so, does this mean we can kick rush limbaugh out of the country? How about the resident?
Is shooting someone in the face considered "moral turpitude?" How about starting wars for profit? Or cruising for gay sex in a public restroom? Or swindling people out of their retirements? Or...well, I think you see where I'm going with this.
Hey cool, I got the old 'moral turpitude' moniker as well when I was rejected entry in 2004, even though I had traveled through the US for years. Looks like I'm in good company. Welcome to the ever-growing club Sebastian.
Oh, and the reason United States Customs and Border Protection does not comment on specific cases is because so many of those cases include absolutely ridiculous reasons to keep people out of a country.
Well...you folks back in the nifty fifty can also kiss any Rolling Stones concerts goodbye.
The Bush "administration" has created our very own zone of totalitarianism, at all entry points to the country, administered by our very own brand of brownshirts "just following orders". It's a very good test of your own tolerance for fascism to drive across the border into the US of A and subject yourself to the scrutiny and interrogation by these authoritarian functionaries.
All this because of the never-ending wars on "Terror", "Drugs", and, apparently, common sense and respect.
At the Peace Arch crossing in Washington, some genius permanently banned from the United States a university professor from Vancouver, on his way to visit his children in California, who had the "moral turpitude" to experiment with LSD WHEN IT WAS LEGAL, and write about it. No charges, no arrests, no convictions, and yet some moron in a uniform has the ability to permanently ban him from the USA. And the remedy is virtually impossible.
Welcome to the last totalitarian major power.
divadab @ 56:
While i agree that we have become totalitarian we are certainly not the last major one. Just last week two reporters were murdered on the same day in Russia and while Russia is not the power it once was it is still formidable. China is also totalitarian and its power increases daily. Saudi Arabia can also be included.
The same kind of thing happens in Iran.
Chuck @ 58:
Yes, it does. I really don't want us to use THAT as an excuse for invasion.
xoites Hussein defends Constitution @ 57:
Sadly it seems to be a new world government global phenom. There are not too many nations left with politicians that even pretend to listen to their citizens. Did the democracy experiment fail and nobody was notified, or what?
How very, very sad and angering this is. However, I spent some time today with some serious right wingers and I can bet that they would agree wholeheartedly with the decision. It was NOT a pleasant part of my Sunday afternoon needless to say. It does wake one up to just how hard headed these people really are and how very blind they are to anything not republican, it's amazing. I had a hard time digesting the fact that there is absolutely no room in their thought processes to hear logic, kindness, thoughtfulness to other ways of thinking, etc., etc., etc. I heard all of the talking points, including that it only makes sense to invade Iran because of all of those 'terrorists' being trained there. I also heard about some of the contracts that big pharma has with our government to build three new multi-million dollar buildings to house the production of just one medication that hasn't even been approved yet by the FDA. These people thought that was wonderful. oy vey!
I listened for a bit and then politely left with my head pounding and was so pleased when I arrived home and received a call from a friend who is actually sane and not living in fear, who laughs with me.......it made my day liveable! I do not believe I'll be going back to that particular type of gathering ever again in my life, no matter how enlightening it was!
Verdillac @ 11:
Uh, yes? Is this a serious question? Imagine how destabilized America would be after we did that. I love exacerbating problems. It is what I do.
Amnesia and writing NO twenty times, when filling out the I94 on the plane is the best course for anybody visiting the US,
the mere fact of being arrested 20 years ago on some protest or being drunk in public disbars anybody from entering on a I94 visa period, its the matter of being arrested not any subsequent conviction or fine.
Also once you have been barred from entry to the USA then its illegal to try to enter on an I94, a visa is then required to enter.
Being arrested is the bar to entry, no smoke without fire, assumed guilty before being found innocent etc.
You then have to apply for a visa waiver BEFORE entering the USA, just time consuming and costs some money.
If you are on some political watch list then its prob too late, they know about you and will have fun at the border, but the waiver will get you through, as its a vetting process and they wont want to upset some higher ups judgment and decision.
Do not have in your luggage any book/ literature or something that might upset any xtian small towner working for the USCIS, nice clean innocent seeming laptop with encrypted documents in a hidden file system on a separate partition. Or use one of the many free online filling systems like Gmail for documents that you dont want the border morality inspectors to read.
PS; I had fleeting slight fun at the London embassy with an official there on my attitude over my juvenile record from over twenty years ago, bit of a cultural clash experience for a godless Brit meeting an xtian official.
And of course immigrating legally gets you the full expensive previous life inspection by TLAs compared to illegals who bypass all this and dont have to pay to be hassled, mucho fun.
from the powerofnarrative.blogspot
The USA does seem to be in love with the 'permit' (for money) system, permission is required from all levels of government to do almost anything apart from breathing and wiping ones ****
Theres always some official asking for money for in exchange for a piece of paper legalizing the action desired, its legalized systematized bribery.
Justin @ 1:
Meh. A quote: "It’s better to be quotable than honest,” he told Time Out London in February. In an interview with The Independent last September, he said: “I don’t speak, I quote. I am a fraud. I have cobbled together my personality from hundreds of little bits. I am simultaneously the most genuine and the most artificial person you will ever meet.”
Someone should tell the dude that Oscar Wilde has been done.
Back in the 80s, my friend was denied entry to the UK because he was a punk.
I have a feeling Horsely made some smart-ass comment to the TSA, which will get anyone booted out.
One has to wonder why I'd travel to USA at all! I might go cos it's going to be cheap for Brits.
Remember, this has been happening for quite some time under the Republican reich. Back in the late 80s, Reagan had Billy Bragg deported.
I wonder how a Dutch author would have been treated. Prostitution AND recreational drugs are legal in the Netherlands. So, would the U.S. deny entry to a law abiding citizen, according to his country's standards?
Compared to many European states, the US is a drug swamp.
Kinda BS for the US to point fingers. Then again, not anything new.
You know like complaining about Iran. How many countries have we inv.. uhm liberated?
How many terror organizations do/did we support?
The pot and the kettle. But this time the kettle is polished steel with a small black smudge on it.
As long as 'we, the people' still live in our little bubble, we will never wake up and face the hard cold reality.
Moral turpitude. That's hilarious.
From a nation that elected a coke-head alcoholic president who spearheaded the genocide of Iraqi and Afghanistan's people...
That's some moral high ground to posture from.
Hilarious.
Well hell folks.. We can't be lettin in any old whoremongerin author from England. Why his very presence might taint the flower of our nations youth... Naw, the only whoremongers we allow around these parts are the farm fresh homegrown types... You know em, you love em... The back east politicians with a pro in every taxpayer paid hi-rise condo in the big apple they can scam, the closet queenies out west who troll public mens rooms for the wide stancers and try to pass laws tellin us 'all' how we should be livin 'our lives', the 'Geawwd I have sinned' preachers who can just put themselves thru some kind of 6 week repent outpatient course to 'cure' em of their eee-veeill sinful addictions and ways... Them be the only decent whoremongerin Jebus faa-reak pedophilin perverts we allow to wonder the streets in this Geeaawwd fearin country... And then there's George and Dick... And their antics makes whoremongerin look like a sunday go to meetin picnic... Just to put it all in proper perspective......JD
Britisher @ 42:
REP. JERRY COSTELLO (D-IL): I'll just bet Barak Obama could let us in on a few secrets about Jerry Costello since he is from Illinois. Obama has a forked tongue so we never know if he speaks the truth!!
REP. NEWT GINGRICH (R-GA): What did Newt do?
REP. J.C. WATTS (R-OK): Never even heard of this guy!
What about the rest of them?
An English druggie can't enter the country but a gay prostitute "reporter," like Jeff Gannon's allowed repeatedly into the White House?
I call my ass the White Hills.
This must part of Bush's "freedom agenda"..
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