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Oh look, the RNC has unveiled their welcoming committee:

MnIndy RNC reporter Jeff Severns Guntzel is at the Minneapolis Food Not Bombs house, which was raided by police this morning. Facts are still coming in, but Guntzel says that at 8 a.m. neighbors near the home, located at 2301 23rd Avenue South, reported hearing a loud bang followed by yelling. A single police squad car was parked out front. When Guntzel arrived he saw eight or nine officers enter the house in what he says is a joint operation between officers of the Ramsey County Sheriff's Department, the Minneapolis Police Depatment, and the FBI. According to one witness who was in the house at the time of the raid, the action is related to last night's raid on the RNC Welcoming Committee's "convergence space." Several other spaces have been raided this morning.

Glenn Greenwald and Jane Hamsher are in Minneapolis for the RNC and went to two of the raided houses. Glenn:

Each of the raided houses is known by neighbors as a "hippie house," where 5-10 college-aged individuals live in a communal setting, and everyone we spoke with said that there had never been any problems of any kind in those houses, that they were filled with "peaceful kids" who are politically active but entirely unthreatening and friendly. [..]

There is clearly an intent on the part of law enforcement authorities here to engage in extreme and highly intimidating raids against those who are planning to protest the Convention. The DNC in Denver was the site of several quite ugly incidents where law enforcement acted on behalf of Democratic Party officials and the corporate elite that funded the Convention to keep the media and protesters from doing anything remotely off-script. But the massive and plainly excessive preemptive police raids in Minnesota are of a different order altogether. Targeting people with machine-gun-carrying SWAT teams and mass raids in their homes, who are suspected of nothing more than planning dissident political protests at a political convention and who have engaged in no illegal activity whatsoever, is about as redolent of the worst tactics of a police state as can be imagined.

Jane took a video:

Glenn Greenwald and I arrived at one of the houses shortly after it was raided this morning. It was a hippie house full of people in their late teens and early twenties who said they were here to "watch history." They were forced on the floor by roughly twenty cops carrying assault rifles, who initially refused to show them search warrants and joked about the "Terminator" and the "Executioner."

We spoke with the people who were staying at the house about the raid in the video above, and they were really sweet and inspirational, interested in "food not bombs." Coming off the Denver DNC where most young people were blackberry-wielding Young Democrats hustling tickets to bigger and better parties, they were extremely refreshing and a much needed part of our political landscape. The idea that they were a serious threat to security is rendered rather ludicrous by watching the video above.

Welcome to GOPworld. Lindsay Beyerstein has more...

About Nicole Belle
Nicole Belle's picture
Mom, Wife, Media Critic/Political Analyst, Blogger, Austen Fanatic, Unapologetic Liberal NicoleBelle@crooksandliars.com
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214 Comments
bullfrog's picture

...and "gustav" nears monster status.

why does god hate neocons?

DrDick's picture

Combined with this these raids raise serious concerns about what is in store for November.

Dave's picture

This is scary shit.
Dave
Viet Nam Vet

NewDemocrat08's picture

This is your future America, keep voting for these Republicons and see what's left of the Constitution shredded!

Alerta alerta's picture

The police state at his best.

P.D.'s picture

Well, we knew this would happen. The Repugs get their Convention, we get the shaft. I thought they were considering putting off the Convention because of the hurricane? Oh right! They could give a shit about the little people.

Biff Limbaugh's picture

iraq's a training ground for goon squads.

constituent's picture

i'm a west coast transfer from minneapolis(uptown) very blue and cool. these are the type of people right wing
evangelicals hate. people that know the issues and disagree with them.

rduke's picture

Anarchists are easy prey for the totalitarian police state.

That is due to what a majority of the populace thinks Anarchy is...

When they do not.

Anarchists at least the evolved ones I know and love.. renounce violence...

Although I am sure the "Anarchists" that are bought and paid for by the police would show you a different side of ....'Anarchy'

Americans know less about Anarchy then they do about Muslims.

Taarak's picture

Obviously this group had weapons of mass protest. Why wait, when the smoking gun could come in the form of a street map. There are reports from British Intelligence that this group tried to acquire a microphone. This is a justified preemptive strike against those threatening to yell “Boo!” It is reported that one of the protesters arrested had links to Dunkin Donuts and was found with warm coffee. Only extraordinary rendition will tell for sure if they planned on waking up on Tuesday to the same alarm clock. Serves them right!

constituent's picture

are country has been taken away from us. it's NOT just
government....it's the corporate world also. ever since the
vietnam war they won't have it.

Ruthless People's picture

bullfrog @ 1:

...and "gustav" nears monster status.

why does god hate neocons?

Wingut's prayers being answered but God may have different plans as to which convention gets rained out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohxdvio9n2Q. How much rain will Minneapolis get from this? We'll know soon enough as Gustav (translation: the staff of God) approaches. Already the Republicans are rescheduling their convention so even if Gustav veers away (which I hope it does) the Lord may be sending a clear message to the GOP: This was your warning at convention time. Stop hating, stop killing his people in wars, stop dividing his people, stop killing his planet and his creatures on it, stop war profiteering and stop praying for the misfortune of others! Will the ignorant right wingers heed their God's message? I doubt it.

Ruthless People's picture

Ruthless People @ 12:

bullfrog @ 1:

...and "gustav" nears monster status.

why does god hate neocons?

Wingut's prayers being answered but God may have different plans as to which convention gets rained out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohxdvio9n2Q. How much rain will Minneapolis get from this? We'll know soon enough as Gustav (translation: the staff of God) approaches. Already the Republicans are rescheduling their convention so even if Gustav veers away (which I hope it does) the Lord may be sending a clear message to the GOP: This was your warning at convention time. Stop hating, stop killing his people in wars, stop dividing his people, stop killing his planet and his creatures on it, stop war profiteering and stop praying for the misfortune of others! Will the ignorant right wingers heed their God's message? I doubt it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSrCsrHID8g&NR=1

P.D.'s picture

Ron Paul is holding his own Convention. And let's not forget about Bob Barr. The MSM certainly did. The fact is, these two guys could shave thousands of votes.

McCain the Liar's picture

Sieg Heil!

Che's Lounge's picture

Storm headed for the gulf coast.

Storm headed for Minneapolis.

Doug's picture

Typical Brownshit (uh Brownshirt) thuggery meant to intimidate peaceful protesters. No surprise the raids were approved by the Republican governor in an effort to quash the estimated 50,000 protesters. This is what we have to look forward to with a McCain administration.

Ruthless People's picture

Ruthless People @ 13:

Ruthless People @ 12:

bullfrog @ 1:

...and "gustav" nears monster status.

why does god hate neocons?

Wingut's prayers being answered but God may have different plans as to which convention gets rained out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohxdvio9n2Q. How much rain will Minneapolis get from this? We'll know soon enough as Gustav (translation: the staff of God) approaches. Already the Republicans are rescheduling their convention so even if Gustav veers away (which I hope it does) the Lord may be sending a clear message to the GOP: This was your warning at convention time. Stop hating, stop killing his people in wars, stop dividing his people, stop killing his planet and his creatures on it, stop war profiteering and stop praying for the misfortune of others! Will the ignorant right wingers heed their God's message? I doubt it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSrCsrHID8g&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohxdvio9n2Q

Peter G's picture

Wow. Didn't those kids look scary. Probably an Al Qaeda sleeper cell preparing to screw up your latte order at Starbucks. Thank the FSM that no one was physically hurt.

Andy's picture

I really wish that people would stop acting so indifferent and get active. This boat is just a couple of leaks away from completely sinking. Sometimes I wonder if we haven't already crossed the Rubicon.

Loonie's picture

Look out! They might... offer you some tofu!!

Piss-ant cowardly jackboots.

kablooie's picture

Big Brother has morphed into Big Daddy, proving yet again that Big Daddy jest HATES teenagers with funny hair cuts.

I hope they sue the living shit out of the city, state and county goons that did the dirty work of Big Daddy.

Dahgrostab'ph-r-i's picture

To be fair, if these people are against indescriminently bomb innocent people then clearly they are a threat to the Republican party who is all in favor of indescriminently bombing innocent people and anyone else who might get caught in the action.

danger hussein al-malak choom al-khadra's picture

this should serve as a message to hippies:

start learning how to use assault weapons.

McCain the Liar's picture

Conspiracy to riot is so bogus.

constituent's picture

Avidor @ 16:

Video report on raid in South Minneapolis

More at The Uptake:

The Uptake

hey thanks for sharing the video........not a surprise to me everyone had conviction and were able to articulate their concerns.

nonny mouse's picture

This, ironically enough, gave me a lift. Maybe it's a cyclical generational thing, but these idiot cops could not have done a better job at taking a small group of quite young kids with sweet but vague ideological views and energized them into becoming more focused on policitical issues. The apathy of a generation has bred a police state where abuse of power has become commonplace. But the abuse of power by a police state will breed the next generation of outraged idealists determined to stop it.

The times they are a-changing. Again.

hate2haggle's picture

Please contact Sheriff Bob in Ramsey County Minnesota and illustrate how his action today mirrors Fascism in the 30s.

ContactRamseyCounty@co.ramsey.mn.us

Chimpokomon's picture

Here is a link to a great video made by the "RNC Welcoming Committee"

These are kids who want to make a better world, and take it upon themselves to feed the hungry.

Food Not Bombs is a peaceful underground organization.

Groups like this one in Saint Paul are often the target of FBI infiltration and intimidation. All over our nation the FBI has used illegal tactics to weaken the networks of anti-authoritarian groups.

Revolutionaire's picture

The people in the video posted don't seem to be very upfront. They're being very coy about their affiliations it seems, only saying things such as "we want to be a part of history," and "we came here to see history happen." What history did they come to see at the RNC exactly? Or were they actually there for the protests, for the RNC Welcoming Committee as the Sheriff's Office cited in the earlier raid.

They all act like they have nothing going on, yet they somehow ended up housing 23 protesters, just by word of mouth.

And there's nothing wrong with any of that. It just seems they're hiding something. Their story doesn't add up.

But yeah, no surprise to see the authorities toting their guns to intimidate any would-be protesters. Power drunkards with a badge and gun enabled by tax payer dollars to protect the oligarchs during their family reunion. What a beautiful world.

Chimpokomon's picture

Here is a link to a great video made by the "RNC Welcoming Committee"

Video link

These are kids who want to make a better world, and take it upon themselves to feed the hungry.

Food Not Bombs is a peaceful underground organization.

Groups like this one in Saint Paul are often the target of FBI infiltration and intimidation. All over our nation the FBI has used illegal tactics to weaken the networks of anti-authoritarian groups.

JustSickOfIt's picture

The repigs are thinking about canceling their hate fest in Minneapolis,

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/30/rnc.gustav/index.html

"They are also hoping to get McCain himself to a storm-affected area as soon as possible."

Maybe old numb nutz will fly down into the hurricane for a better view. He's such a compassionate leader. HA!

Ttown's picture

NewDemocrat08 @ 4:

This is your future America, keep voting for these Republicons and see what's left of the Constitution shredded!

YOU THINK THIS IS A REPUBLICAN ISSUE????? WAKE UP!!!!...S.O.S.!!! THIS COUNTRY HAS BEEN TAKEN OVER BY CORPORATE INTERESTS! ...GEEeeeZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ...Is everyone that stupid????? THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE IN EITHER PARTY!!! You mindless sheep.

enigma4ever's picture

This is horrible- I keep trying to explain to my teenage son that we living in a police state, and he does not believe me...this I horrible...I have worked with Food Not Bombs in 3 different states, they are lovely souls..often young, very idealistic and very peaceful....COINTELPRO back at it...just like all those years ago....horrible....I will pass this on..cuz we know that MSM would never show this...( Hope someone sent to Keith too).

Loki's picture

First person to mass produce

McCain/Who The F*%# '08

Bumper stickers, will make a fortune.

Che's Lounge's picture

"They all act like they have nothing going on, yet they somehow ended up housing 23 protesters, just by word of mouth.

And there’s nothing wrong with any of that. It just seems they’re hiding something. Their story doesn’t add up."

Gee, and that's AFTER the fact.

Who's the nazi judge authorizing these storm troopers to conduct these raids?

enough's picture

This is why McSame didn't select Pawlenty for VP. This way they can claim total stupidity. If the Democratic leadership doesn't hold these criminal to account, we will see this everywhere. I think we need a constitution. Oh, what do you know, we already have one. Call your congress person.

Jared Hyder's picture

WAKE THE FUCK UP AMERICA!!!!!!! You want America or FASCISIM DELUXE?
Category: News and Politics

http://cliffschecter.firedoglake.com/2008/08/30/video-food-not-bombs-pro...

The idea that peaceful young demonstrators need SUB-MACHINE GUNS shoved in their faces because they plan to do ordinary LEGAL PROTESTS is just another hint of what you shall recieve under RETHUGLICAN RULE.........WHAT PARTY DOES THE GOVERNOR OF THIS STATE BELONG TO? YOU WOULD BE CORRECT IF YOU GUESSED THE PARTY OF MORONS AND SYCOPHANTS......OOPS I MEANT THE REPUBLICANS...LET US ALL DO OUR PART TO ERASE THIS PARTY FROM OUR COLLECTIVE MEMORY FOR GOOD.VOTE BARACK OBAMA AND DEMAND HE HEEDS OUR COUNTRY'S ORIGINAL INTENT......WE MUST PUSH HIM TO DO OUR(the people's) BIDDING HE WILL LISTEN UNLIKE JOHN/CRANKY OLD SENILE MORONIC FUCK/McWORSE THAN BUSH.

biff's picture

There's nothing like the smell of liberty in the morning.

Anonymous Captain Bitter Whiner (about having one house) Hus's picture

Do you think for a minute that every comment on this page and every comment on every other topic at C+L are not being monitored by the Feds? They have the technology. The question is do they have the manpower to research every comment or do they react and ask questions later? bush has taken this to a new level and it is scary.

Captain Bitter Whiner (about having one house) Hussein Kanga's picture

Can you say "Patriot Act?"

brakshow's picture

Republicans Are Coming To Minneapolis!

Listen...you can hear their mating call....tap tap tap.

Alerta alerta's picture

Geez, what's up with the shouting? Did your Caps Lock break or something? WE CAN "HEAR" YOU, OK!!!!!

VegasRage's picture

Oh this couldn't be political, I'm sure the authorities were on this case for years and it just coinkOdinkoly just coincided with the RNC visit. Frikken amazing the Neo-nut-sacks get a way with this crap.

Nikola's picture

This is catastrophic...

Hulk's picture

This is just how the neocon/fascist party wants it. These kids really looked dangerous.

Get a life MN police. Nazi brownshirts. WTG. Proud to be a fascist type.

david's picture

we sit by and watch it happen, report it and make films about this type of police state action... but what r we doing to stop it? can we even stop it? i'd like to know how we prevent an overt violent raid like this one. any suggestions?
thanx,
david

Captain Bitter Whiner (about having one house) Hussein Kanga's picture

hate2haggle @ 29:

Please contact Sheriff Bob in Ramsey County Minnesota and illustrate how his action today mirrors Fascism in the 30s.

Contact RamseyCounty@co.ramsey.mn.us

Yeah, right. And get you name on another list of somebody to watch.
Why should I be afraid to email these people and complain? 10 years ago I would not have been afraid.

Ruthless People's picture

I feel sorry for the good folks of progressive Minneapolis. They're under a fascist siege.

Captain Bitter Whiner (about having one house) Hussein Kanga's picture

This is the mentality of the Republican State. "Be afraid, be very afraid but we are here to help you."

Erik Asphaug's picture

OMFG
Is it a police state yet?

dadams's picture

this is just what you can expect from bush/cheney
when the election in nov takes place......
mass intimidation of people at the polls

thanks for the fucking police state
bush/cheney you are both fucking douchbags.

Captain Bitter Whiner (about having one house) Hussein Kanga's picture

I hope Glenn Greenwald and Jane Hamsher don't get thrown is some massive holding pen someplace. "To protect themselves from themselves."

Jared Hyder's picture

Once again, just like the MASTERFUL Stephen Colbert at the 2006 White House correspondents dinner WOWed anyone with the sense god gave a goose,these CRAZED RIGHT WINGERS have no idea of comedy,sarcasm or schadenfreude..........JUST LET THEM EAT CAKE, LIKE McWORSE did yesterday 3 years ago....there is no help for the intellectually-challenged peers we refer to as "REPUBLICANS" MAY THEIR BABY JESUS HELP THEM.......no, really I hope he does because their moronic infantile JESTERING devalues our country as a whole.........THANKS....I'll be here all week.....try the fish

Notnow's picture

oh great, the koolaid patrol has followed the GOP to Minnesota. Nice going Nicole, you are an idiot. I can't wait till McCain wins in a landslide over the Can-do Kid Obama. Oh the tears, the outrage...it'll make this storm look like a light sprinkle of rain.

Sachem's picture

Local reporting indicates that the police were "seizing a dizzying array of items, including a machete, a hatchet, throwing knives, axes, bolt cutters, equipment used in rappelling – and three 5-gallon buckets of urine."

So there it is, our civil rights have just established a market value - 15 gallons of piss. Thanks George, Dick et al. History is already laughing at you.

constituent's picture

Ruthless People @ 49:

I feel sorry for the good folks of progressive Minneapolis. They're under a fascist siege.

not that minneapolis voters need to nudged to vote they will be out in full force now

Taarak's picture

I certainly hope these ARE Nazi tactics. The Nazis self-destructed after about 10 years. After that they only left a legacy of stylish uniforms in the wake of their destruction.

I certainly hope these are NOT Stalinist tactics – that of removing all opposition in the dark of night – with no one left in the daylight to complain, and no one to complain to. This Stalinist destruction lasted 30 years.

Yes, I hope this authoritarian nightmare of ours is on its last legs, to be washed away in a series of torrents – both natural and willful. I hope it’s soon over – with only a legacy of tiny lapel pins left in the wake of national destruction. We can rebuild as long as there’s some one left in the daylight to complain – and someone LEFT to complain to.

This is hope.

tyree's picture

obama opens his speaches warmongering for more war in afganistan and you eat it up like sloping hogs , thier all corporations bitches ! wake up !

Comrade Rou's picture

These raids are indicative of the level of sheer stupidity these folks embrace. Totally mindless goons following orders..Sieg Heil .....Bush/ McCain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWGz1KEc2Ak

Captain Bitter Whiner (about having one house) Hussein Kanga's picture

Jared Hyder @ 54:

Once again, just like the MASTERFUL Stephen Colbert at the 2006 White House correspondents dinner WOWed anyone with the sense god gave a goose,these CRAZED RIGHT WINGERS have no idea of comedy,sarcasm or schadenfreude..........JUST LET THEM EAT CAKE, LIKE McWORSE did yesterday 3 years ago....there is no help for the intellectually-challenged peers we refer to as "REPUBLICANS" MAY THEIR BABY JESUS HELP THEM.......no, really I hope he does because their moronic infantile JESTERING devalues our country as a whole.........THANKS....I'll be here all week.....try the fish

Jared, man, you're going to burst a vain. Calm down.... No on second thought don't calm down. We need more people who are as fired up as you. Just try not to stroke out buddy.

Ruthless People's picture

"Republicans Are Coming To Minneapolis…Quick! Hide The Bill of Rights!"

And for God's sake the the US Treasury in a lock box, not much left in it as it is!

Roket's picture

So they raided two houses. One filled with kids and the other filled with lawyers. Oopsie. Neo-Con think backfires once again. Now they will probably have anarchists of all stripes showing up for the big party. Morans.

Edwin Hussein's picture

Nice fucking country. How many Blackwater troops will be patrolling the streets?

Captain Bitter Whiner (about having one house) Hussein Kanga's picture

I don't want to live like this!!!!

Nikola's picture

Captain Bitter Whiner (about having one house) Hussein Kangaroo @ 48:

hate2haggle @ 29:

Please contact Sheriff Bob in Ramsey County Minnesota and illustrate how his action today mirrors Fascism in the 30s.

Contact RamseyCounty@co.ramsey.mn.us

Yeah, right. And get you name on another list of somebody to watch.
Why should I be afraid to email these people and complain? 10 years ago I would not have been afraid.

10 years ago he wouldn't have had an email address to complain to:P

Captain Bitter Whiner (about having one house) Hussein Kanga's picture

Roket @ 63:

So they raided two houses. One filled with kids and the other filled with lawyers. Oopsie. Neo-Con think backfires once again. Now they will probably have anarchists of all stripes showing up for the big party. Morans Morons.

FIFY

Alerta alerta's picture

tyree @ 59:

obama opens his speaches warmongering for more war in afganistan and you eat it up like sloping hogs , thier all corporations bitches ! wake up !

I'm awake now, what do you want me to do? vote for the "Boston tea party"?
Guide me enlightened one!

Ruthless People's picture

With Gustav now a category 4 storm and they are predicting a category 5, let's keep track of how many oil spills there's going to be. That should throw "rain" on the Rethuglican convention. Fresh oil spills are going to be a little difficult to for Rethuglicans to spin and ile about washing ashore just as their convention gets underway.

Pim's picture

The RNC is in St. Paul, not Minneapolis.

Noah's picture

Dave @ 3:

This is scary shit.
Dave
Viet Nam Vet

You should be scared. So should every "freedom loving" American.

from The 14 Characteristics Of Fascism:

2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights - Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need."

3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause - The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial, ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.

4. Supremacy of the Military - Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected.

6. Controlled Mass Media - Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.

7. Obsession with National Security - Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.

8. Religion and Government are Intertwined - Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.

9. Corporate Power is Protected - The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.

12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment - Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws.

13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption - Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability.

14. Fraudulent Elections - Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.

Ruthless People's picture

Edwin Hussein @ 64:

Nice fucking country. How many Blackwater troops will be patrolling the streets?

Kent State 2008.

Mike's picture

david @ 47:

we sit by and watch it happen, report it and make films about this type of police state action... but what r we doing to stop it? can we even stop it? i'd like to know how we prevent an overt violent raid like this one. any suggestions?
thanx,
david

One of the easiest ways is to make the police live in the neighborhoods they police, then when they pull stuff like this, they have to go home at the end of the day and look their neighbors in the eye.

Ruthless People's picture

Pim @ 70:

The RNC is in St. Paul, not Minneapolis.

Figures, the smaller more conservative twin sister.

Ruthless People's picture

Ruthless People @ 74:

Pim @ 70:

The RNC is in St. Paul, not Minneapolis.

Figures, the smaller more conservative twin sister.

...but I thought is was still being billed at a "twin cities" convention, no?

fiver's picture

OK. This sucks. What do we do about it? Who's organizing lawyers to help - there's more than a few who want to.

Karen? You out there? What can an out of state lawyer do to help? Has someone arranged local counsel or pro hoc vice privileges to defend these arrests? I know little of criminal law, but I can get plane tickets, and I learn quick - and I'm not alone.

If C&L has some info, please post it or send me an e-mail. This is the same crap they pulled in New York.

constituent's picture

tyree @ 59:

obama opens his speaches warmongering for more war in afganistan and you eat it up like sloping hogs , thier all corporations bitches ! wake up !

we are in afghanistan deep. it's well know by intellects
(people like you) that this isn't a war to be won. it's guerilla war.......obama will try diplomacy with tribes.
surely you understand this warfront/region is complicated. again we already have comittment to the area for various reasons.
overall i know what your getting at but please provide a logical/rational /realistic alternative. please provide the candidate that would provide that alternative to obama's plan with afghanistan that you approve.

Peter G's picture

More Breaking new. The sheriffs department has released its' justification for the raids. They had compelling evidence that several of the inhabitants of these houses were contemplating voting for Obama. Treason charges are pending. (The snark should not be necessary)

tyree's picture

68 Alerta alerta Says: join up ! show obama your with him one hundread percent !

fastfeat's picture

Hats off to Jane and Glenn for getting this out there.

And hats off to the kids for allowing a camera crew to come in and talk to them after going through the ordeal they just endured, sans lawyers.

Alice X - (Chomsky Nader) - status quObama - change you can 's picture

Robert Mugabe move over! You have nothing on us.

Alerta alerta's picture

tyree @ 79:

68 Alerta alerta Says: join up ! show obama your with him one hundread percent !

Er? Amazing that you take that out of my post. You must know me even more than i do. But you are right that i support Obama.

I just sent an email to the ACLU to see if they are on this- does anyone else have any other ideas of WHO to contact there ? Any Unitarian or Quaker Church Contacts ( they are very helpful out West with resources) ??? Has anyone notified Al Franken' HQ? ( they might know Some Folks ?)

DrDick's picture

Captain Bitter Whiner (about having one house) Hussein Kangaroo @ 49:

hate2haggle @ 29:

Please contact Sheriff Bob in Ramsey County Minnesota and illustrate how his action today mirrors Fascism in the 30s.

Contact RamseyCounty@co.ramsey.mn.us

Yeah, right. And get you name on another list of somebody to watch.
Why should I be afraid to email these people and complain? 10 years ago I would not have been afraid.

Some of us have been on those lists for 40 years and wear it as a badge of honor. I for one will congratulate them on their successful transformation into fascist storm troopers.

pinkobait's picture

Pope might ask,
"Who breaks a butterfly upon a wheel?"
The GOP that's who.
Glenn and Jane are quite the dynamic duo BTW.

Captain Bitter Whiner (about having one house) Hussein Kanga's picture

enigma4ever Barack The Vote @ 84:

I just sent an email to the ACLU to see if they are on this- does anyone else have any other ideas of WHO to contact there ? Any Unitarian or Quaker Church Contacts ( they are very helpful out West with resources) ??? Has anyone notified Al Franken' HQ? ( they might know Some Folks ?)

There is this page that is pretty useless and then there is this which is better to contact the Franken campaign and then here are some addresses and phone numbers:
Twin Cities: (612) 344-2008
Greater Minnesota: (888) 908-2008
Fax: (651) 645-0429
2575 University Ave W
Suite 100
Saint Paul, MN 55114
Al Franken for Senate
P.O. Box 583144
Minneapolis, MN 55458-3144

I don't know that there is anything he can or will do but at least this is contact information.

Floridiot's picture

South Mpls. is Keith Ellison's Congressional district, why not contact him?

brakshow's picture

"Minneapolis Food Not Bombs house, which was raided by police this morning."

Was this in additio to the anarchist raid or was it the same raid?

fiver's picture

enigma4ever Barack The Vote @ 84:

I just sent an email to the ACLU to see if they are on this- does anyone else have any other ideas of WHO to contact there ? Any Unitarian or Quaker Church Contacts ( they are very helpful out West with resources) ??? Has anyone notified Al Franken' HQ? ( they might know Some Folks ?)

Great idea w/ Franken's campaign. I've tried ACLU and the National Lawyers Guild sites - nothing. Still trying...

New_Damage's picture

Notnow @ 56:

oh great, the koolaid patrol has followed the GOP to Minnesota. Nice going Nicole, you are an idiot. I can't wait till McCain wins in a landslide over the Can-do Kid Obama. Oh the tears, the outrage...it'll make this storm look like a light sprinkle of rain.

Wow. Every day you wake up thinking you've heard the most wrong thing ever, and then somebody comes along and tops it. Congratulations.

We've already got your youngrepublicanbloggerfootballs setting up shop in my building here in downtown Mpls. ("Have you heard about these things called 'laptops?' Ohmigod!")

Your imaginary McLandslide amuses me.

Numinous's picture

Ttown @ 34:

NewDemocrat08 @ 4:

This is your future America, keep voting for these Republicons and see what's left of the Constitution shredded!

YOU THINK THIS IS A REPUBLICAN ISSUE????? WAKE UP!!!!...S.O.S.!!! THIS COUNTRY HAS BEEN TAKEN OVER BY CORPORATE INTERESTS! ...GEEeeeZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ...Is everyone that stupid????? THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE IN EITHER PARTY!!! You mindless sheep.

The GOP is owned by corporate interests at this point.

Pretending otherwise is the worst kind of willful ignorance.

AC Wilco's picture

Notnow @ 56:

.....

Nope, sorry. Didn't get a word of it. My browser can't translate moron.

Dear Fiver and Captain Bitter- thank you I will keep working on this-
I am doing Gustav Watch this weekend anyways...so I am sitting here with a laptop and a phone-happy to help in any way...and I did blog it- but folks do need to know about it...( did send another nagging email to Keith O. At Countdown too...)

President PNACcio's picture

City inspectors board up raided home for “code violations”
By Molly Priesmeyer 8/30/08 1:18 PM
(UPDATE at 2:40 p.m.: City requires tenants to fix back door kicked in by police by 6 p.m. today or they will continue with boarding process.) After the police raid this morning at 3240 17th Avenue in South Minneapolis, in which the homeowner, 23-year-old Monica Bicking, and two other people were arrested for “conspiracy to riot,” city inspectors came in at about 11:30 to board up the two-story home. City officials, including Tom Deegan, manager of the city’s problem properties unit, were on hand along with Casterjon, the private contractor in charge with boarding, to close up the home for what Deegan calls “code violations.”

Yet along with being unable to enter her home, Bickling will have another rude awakening when she’s released from jail: The city charges $6,000 to homeowners for boarding up properties. Often these are charges for abandoning properties, a result of the foreclosure crisis. But in Bickling’s case, all that anyone, including the roommates and Bickling’s lawyer, were told before the plywood went up is that the home had “code violations.”

http://www.minnesotaindependent.com/6240/city-inspectors-board-up-raided...

DrDick's picture

I just sent them the following email:

Dear Sirs:

I am appalled to learn of the fascist tactics employed by police in your community against innocent people seeking to exercise their constitutional rights to free speech and free assembly. Swarms of heavily armed police breaking into peoples houses and mass arrests of people who have committed no criminal acts are the actions of totalitarian despots. This is not Zimbabwe or Argentina or Guatemala where the political opposition can beaten, harassed, or simply disappeared. Today you made Stalin and Hitler proud. I sincerely hope that you will soon face the righteous wrath of the American people and the federal judiciary. Your acts are nothing short of treason against our constitution.

I encourage others to send their own.

Rich's picture

Hide the Bill Rights

Hell hide the only Paper Obama ever wrote while on the Harvard Law review.

And i quote

In a discussion of abortion itself, Obama wrote that government has more important business than "ensuring that any particular fetus is born."

http://www.lifenews.com/nat4184.html

Dear Dick at 96 - Excellent letter- I am borrowing it to send & Share..... thank you....

Uncle Joe Mccarthy's picture

scary...but totally legal under the patriot act

a bill that the dems shoulda killed

Captain Bitter Whiner (about having one house) Hussein Kanga's picture

DrDick @ 85:

Captain Bitter Whiner (about having one house) Hussein Kangaroo @ 49:

hate2haggle @ 29:

Please contact Sheriff Bob in Ramsey County Minnesota and illustrate how his action today mirrors Fascism in the 30s.

Contact RamseyCounty@co.ramsey.mn.us

Yeah, right. And get you name on another list of somebody to watch.
Why should I be afraid to email these people and complain? 10 years ago I would not have been afraid.

Some of us have been on those lists for 40 years and wear it as a badge of honor. I for one will congratulate them on their successful transformation into fascist storm troopers.

I applaud you and your obvious contribution in the past and today. Rest assure that I am also on more than a few lists although for not as many years as you. I think they first time they got my photo and whatever other info they were able to retrieve was at a march in '72 when Nixon was in L.A. in Century City. I was too young when Bobby Kennedy was running but watched/listened from a 6th grade classroom while he slowly died. I was way too young to march with Dr. King. Anybody who protests in whatever way are doing their duty.
Not to worry about me, my email was sent.

brakshow's picture

Rich @ 97:

Hide the Bill Rights

Hell hide the only Paper Obama ever wrote while on the Harvard Law review.

And i quote

In a discussion of abortion itself, Obama wrote that government has more important business than "ensuring that any particular fetus is born."

http://www.lifenews.com/nat4184.html

Don't you have matters to attend to in a public bathroom?

JohnnyThief's picture

enigma4ever @ 35:

This is horrible- I keep trying to explain to my teenage son that we living in a police state, and he does not believe me...this I horrible...I have worked with Food Not Bombs in 3 different states, they are lovely souls..often young, very idealistic and very peaceful....COINTELPRO back at it...just like all those years ago....horrible....I will pass this on..cuz we know that MSM would never show this...( Hope someone sent to Keith too).

Tell him to Google the LST RNC convention that was in NYC,... a few thousand arrests, people kept in a bus hanger on the West Side Highway, like warehouse holding station, & all the homeless in a 30 block radius of MSG DISSAPPEARED for weeks before the convention. Spooky doesn't begiin to describe it.

constituent's picture

Notnow @ 56:

oh great, the koolaid patrol has followed the GOP to Minnesota. Nice going Nicole, you are an idiot. I can't wait till McCain wins in a landslide over the Can-do Kid Obama. Oh the tears, the outrage...it'll make this storm look like a light sprinkle of rain.

i don't know anything about you but is the name calling really necessary.....although.. you do support the (R) team of mccain/palin that tells me something.my guess is you voted for g.w. bush. who some people call an idiot.

pinkobait's picture

Rich @ 97:

Hide the Bill Rights

Hell hide the only Paper Obama ever wrote while on the Harvard Law review.

And i quote

In a discussion of abortion itself, Obama wrote that government has more important business than "ensuring that any particular fetus is born."

http://www.lifenews.com/nat4184.html

Context may not be your strong suit.

Uncle Joe Mccarthy's picture

Rich @ 97:

Hide the Bill Rights

Hell hide the only Paper Obama ever wrote while on the Harvard Law review.

And i quote

In a discussion of abortion itself, Obama wrote that government has more important business than "ensuring that any particular fetus is born."

http://www.lifenews.com/nat4184.html

oh...a sly troll

yo nicole...can we just ban this fuck outright?

fiver's picture

Rich @ 97:

Hide the Bill Rights

Hell hide the only Paper Obama ever wrote while on the Harvard Law review.

And i quote

In a discussion of abortion itself, Obama wrote that government has more important business than "ensuring that any particular fetus is born."

http://www.lifenews.com/nat4184.html

Where's the context? He supports abortion choice. So what? So does a large majority of this county, the Supreme Court, and the 14th Amendment.

BTW, did you know that the words from "Amazing Grace" and the theme song from Gilligan's Island fit perfectly together? Try it; it's quite entertaining. What does that have to do with abortion? About as much as your comment has to do with this thread.

Daingel's picture

Edwin Hussein @ 65:

Nice fucking country. How many Blackwater troops will be patrolling the streets?

They're on their way to New Orleans. Probably made a special effort to make sure Pinochet's thugs were in the front line.

DrDick's picture

pinkobait @ 104:

Rich @ 97:

Hide the Bill Rights

Hell hide the only Paper Obama ever wrote while on the Harvard Law review.

And i quote

In a discussion of abortion itself, Obama wrote that government has more important business than "ensuring that any particular fetus is born."

http://www.lifenews.com/nat4184.html

Context may not be your strong suit.

Cognition obviously is not.

Peter G's picture

President PNACcio @ 95:

City inspectors board up raided home for “code violations”
By Molly Priesmeyer 8/30/08 1:18 PM
(UPDATE at 2:40 p.m.: City requires tenants to fix back door kicked in by police by 6 p.m. today or they will continue with boarding process.) After the police raid this morning at 3240 17th Avenue in South Minneapolis, in which the homeowner, 23-year-old Monica Bicking, and two other people were arrested for “conspiracy to riot,” city inspectors came in at about 11:30 to board up the two-story home. City officials, including Tom Deegan, manager of the city’s problem properties unit, were on hand along with Casterjon, the private contractor in charge with boarding, to close up the home for what Deegan calls “code violations.”

Yet along with being unable to enter her home, Bickling will have another rude awakening when she’s released from jail: The city charges $6,000 to homeowners for boarding up properties. Often these are charges for abandoning properties, a result of the foreclosure crisis. But in Bickling’s case, all that anyone, including the roommates and Bickling’s lawyer, were told before the plywood went up is that the home had “code violations.”

http://www.minnesotaindependent.com/6240/city-inspectors-board-up-raided-home-for-code-violations

See the police are always willing to learn. In this case from the Chinese government and the good old Soviet Union both of which used to send your family a bill for the bullet they put in your brain.

Uncle Joe Mccarthy's picture

jane hamsher...please marry me

Captain Bitter Whiner (about having one house) Hussein Kanga's picture

enigma4ever Barack The Vote @ 94:

Dear Fiver and Captain Bitter- thank you I will keep working on this-
I am doing Gustav Watch this weekend anyways...so I am sitting here with a laptop and a phone-happy to help in any way...and I did blog it- but folks do need to know about it...( did send another nagging email to Keith O. At Countdown too...)

Might as well send one to Chris Matthews as well. He seem a little bitter ant the Repibs these days. Probably wont help but wont hurt either. hardball@msnbc.com

constituent's picture

Rich @ 97:

Hide the Bill Rights

Hell hide the only Paper Obama ever wrote while on the Harvard Law review.

And i quote

In a discussion of abortion itself, Obama wrote that government has more important business than "ensuring that any particular fetus is born."

http://www.lifenews.com/nat4184.html

wow......this is definitely a palin supporter.

Otay's picture

What I find simply incredible about this is that these submachine gun-toting goons were able to get warrants because these groups had items in their house that every goddamned American has in his/her house.

And then they used this excuse to confiscate their diaries and computers not only invading their privacy, but using what they obtained from the raid to come up with any sorts of charges they could trump up. And of course find the info on others to raid.

And then they trump up charges of "conspiracy to incite a riot". In other words, someone in the group expressed a half-assed thought about stopping traffic, and therefore anyone unaware of this but involved in the plan to demonstrate is part of a "criminal conspiracy".

Amazing what things have come to. Simply amazing.

fastfeat's picture

Daingel @ 107:

Edwin Hussein @ 65:

Nice fucking country. How many Blackwater troops will be patrolling the streets?

They're on their way to New Orleans.

Poor thugs might have to get their boots wet.

Captain Bitter Whiner (about having one house) Hussein Kanga's picture

Floridiot @ 88:

South Mpls. is Keith Ellison's Congressional district, why not contact him?

Keith Ellison's contact info:
Our Minneapolis office is located at:
2100 Plymouth Ave North
Minneapolis, MN 55411
Call our office, 612-522-1212.

Washington, D.C. Office
Phone: 202-225-4755

Send an email from this page.
Who knows if anything will happen but feel free to flood his phone and email.

Otay's picture

Notnow @ 56:

oh great, the koolaid patrol has followed the GOP to Minnesota. Nice going Nicole, you are an idiot. I can't wait till McCain wins in a landslide over the Can-do Kid Obama. Oh the tears, the outrage...it'll make this storm look like a light sprinkle of rain.

Back off of the Torpedo Juice. It may have "alcohol" in its name, but its just not the same.

innocent bystander's picture

this is monstrous! what part of "not bombs" don't the fascist bastards understand?!

for those who aren't familiar with this group, we are talking real food, handed out, for free, to strangers, and with utter gentleness . . . if they are fair game, then we all are

Captain Bitter Whiner (about having one house) Hussein Kanga's picture

Rich @ 97:

Blah blah blah

Cleanup on isle 97. Cleanup on isle 97 please.

constituent's picture

Captain Bitter Whiner (about having one house) Hussein Kangaroo @ 118:

Rich @ 97:

Blah blah blah

Cleanup on isle 97. Cleanup on isle 97 please.

hey rich why don't you put some of that humanitarian compassion into thoughts about the innocent women/chidren being killed in iraq or the u.s. women mistreated by halliburton/kbr male employees....maybe they didn't have those two tragedies in the sermon(s)

Noah's picture

Numinous @ 92:

The GOP is owned by corporate interests at this point.

Pretending otherwise is the worst kind of willful ignorance.

Willful ignorance is denying that BOTH parties are owned by corporate interests.

Taarak's picture

Otay @ 113:

What I find simply incredible about this is that these submachine gun-toting goons were able to get warrants because these groups had items in their house that every goddamned American has in his/her house.

And then they used this excuse to confiscate their diaries and computers not only invading their privacy, but using what they obtained from the raid to come up with any sorts of charges they could trump up. And of course find the info on others to raid.

And then they trump up charges of "conspiracy to incite a riot". In other words, someone in the group expressed a half-assed thought about stopping traffic, and therefore anyone unaware of this but involved in the plan to demonstrate is part of a "criminal conspiracy".

Amazing what things have come to. Simply amazing.

Here's the list from the Warrant...

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site569/2008/0830/20080830_0...

pinkobait's picture

constituent @ 112:

Rich @ 97:

Hide the Bill Rights

Hell hide the only Paper Obama ever wrote while on the Harvard Law review.

And i quote

In a discussion of abortion itself, Obama wrote that government has more important business than "ensuring that any particular fetus is born."

http://www.lifenews.com/nat4184.html

wow......this is definitely a palin supporter.

Palin eats Beaver.
Moose! I mean she eats Moose!

Alice X - (Chomsky Nader) - status quObama - change you can 's picture

Noah @ 120:

Numinous @ 92:

The GOP is owned by corporate interests at this point.

Pretending otherwise is the worst kind of willful ignorance.

Willful ignorance is denying that BOTH parties are owned by corporate interests.

That is why they are called Republicrats, donyaknow.

fastfeat's picture

OT--

Nagin orders New Orleans evacuated, anticipating "mother of all storms":

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080831/ap_on_re_us/gustav_gulf_coast

God bless to all in the Gulf.

rcm's picture

Wow.. how dare they think this country is some sort of democracy where opposition and freedom of speech was permitted to exist.

constituent's picture

Noah @ 120:

Numinous @ 92:

The GOP is owned by corporate interests at this point.

Pretending otherwise is the worst kind of willful ignorance.

Willful ignorance is denying that BOTH parties are owned by corporate interests.

that's the change that has to happen.....reduce the monetary influence in washington. i hope you understand that most of us understand that both parties are involved. but i encourage you to take a good look at mccain's campaign:
*rick davis......big time lobbyists always concerned about corporate taxes and loopholes
*phil gramm...'whiner' fame ubs warburg,enron loopholes
mortgage deregulation
*randy scheunemann....lobbyist warmonger....georgia/
russia conflict
*charlie black who disappeared big time lobbyist the guy who said a conflict would mccain
what do these guys have in common:making decisions for mccain,close to bush/rove/cheney,NEOCONs are wealthy.
the difference is that obama is NOT bought or for a guy like you he is LESS bought...that's why wall street and k-street
are concerned .he hasn't been long enough to be bought.
please tell who would be Realistically the answer to money in washington.........remember be realistic who can get voted in without some connection to money?

crazylikeafox's picture

Why is anyone surprised? Didn't you see the fascist show of force in New York City in 2004? The black shirts with their machine guns were everywhere. People were arrested en mass.

Did you see the link at comment #16? Old hippie bus of Earth Justice people pulled over on the highway by scores of police?

The video of the kids who were raided by the sheriffs in full riot gear with machine guns?

Don't you realize you are the enemy to the Ruling Class?

You, Americans who simply think money and greed aren't one of the 10 commandments.

Have you all been sleeping while America has morphed into a police state? Because that's what the Bush administration has been spending your money on these last 8 years while tearing up the constitution.

Numinous's picture

Noah @ 120:

Numinous @ 92:

The GOP is owned by corporate interests at this point.

Pretending otherwise is the worst kind of willful ignorance.

Willful ignorance is denying that BOTH parties are owned by corporate interests.

There ARE a number of democratic politicians that are owned by corporate interests.... however, for the NeoCons, it is part of their mantra to sell their souls and the anything else, to corporate interests. NeoCons are liars and thieves, down to the core of their beings. For them, everything should be in the name of profit. For them human beings have no rights.

At least many Democrats are idealists, and want to help others. Among republicans, that's being seen as weak. Among Republicans, wanting to make the world a better place makes you a traitor.

If you can say that both parties are just as bad, then you're just another simpleminded troll.

constituent's picture

pinkobait @ 122:

constituent @ 112:

Rich @ 97:

Hide the Bill Rights

Hell hide the only Paper Obama ever wrote while on the Harvard Law review.

And i quote

In a discussion of abortion itself, Obama wrote that government has more important business than "ensuring that any particular fetus is born."

http://www.lifenews.com/nat4184.html

wow......this is definitely a palin supporter.

Palin eats Beaver.
Moose! I mean she eats Moose!

some of the public will fall for this tough palin persona bullshit......how often does a mother of 4-5 go shooting and fishing. finally a women i would guess early 60's said on nation wide news how is going to raise her children. i never underestimate women but a child with down syndrome.

Ruthless People's picture

fastfeat @ 124:

OT--

Nagin orders New Orleans evacuated, anticipating "mother of all storms":

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080831/ap_on_re_us/gustav_gulf_coast

God bless to all in the Gulf.

Wonder what the wingnuts and the Christ-o-fascists would be saying if this were about to happen at the start of the Democratic convention instead of the start of the GOP convention? God's will?

Falwell and Robertson on 911: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vtBn36livY

Che's Lounge's picture

When will Bruce Nestor be "detained"?

He's the hero of the day. I'll be looking for links to donate to his clients.

Taarak's picture

Alice X - (Chomsky Nader) - status quObama - change you can pretend in - @ 123:

Noah @ 120:

Numinous @ 92:

The GOP is owned by corporate interests at this point.

Pretending otherwise is the worst kind of willful ignorance.

Willful ignorance is denying that BOTH parties are owned by corporate interests.

That is why they are called Republicrats, donyaknow.

Yes, both parties. The state of our existing political system is a shambles – controlled by corporate interests, and bought and paid for by “contributions” that in any other linguistic lexicon is the equivalent of “bribery”. There are many fires burning. But when there are many fires burning at once, one shouldn’t have contempt for the fire-hose. “None-of-the-above” in our existing corrupt political system leads to “more-of-the-same”.

We can put out this Administration in November – it’s gone. We’ll be left with a mountain of ashes, but that fire will be out. Then we can work on putting out another (health-care), and another (police-state), and another (Justice Dept), and another (election reform), ad-nausea.

But to throw up your hands and say “WAKE-UP! IT’S ALL BAD!” is not only defeatist, it’s the response most garnered by those who wish to stay in power. They know how to rig election results. They just want a margin of defeat small enough to claim victory via vote-fraud. Don’t give them that margin. If you don’t like the Democratic Party, cool. But don’t refuse to participate this November because of a perceived choice of two evils. Vote anyway.

Don’t let them get away with it again…

Alice X - (Chomsky Nader) - status quObama - change you can 's picture

Numinous @ 128:

Noah @ 120:

Numinous @ 92:

The GOP is owned by corporate interests at this point.

Pretending otherwise is the worst kind of willful ignorance.

Willful ignorance is denying that BOTH parties are owned by corporate interests.

There ARE a number of democratic politicians that are owned by corporate interests.... however, for the NeoCons, it is part of their mantra to sell their souls and the anything else, to corporate interests. NeoCons are liars and thieves, down to the core of their beings. For them, everything should be in the name of profit. For them human beings have no rights.

At least many Democrats are idealists, and want to help others. Among republicans, that's being seen as weak. Among Republicans, wanting to make the world a better place makes you a traitor.

If you can say that both parties are just as bad, then you're just another simpleminded troll.

You haven't paying attention to this Democratic controlled Congress. The Democrats cave at every turn.

DrDick's picture

constituent @ 129:

some of the public will fall for this tough palin persona bullshit......how often does a mother of 4-5 go shooting and fishing. finally a women i would guess early 60's said on nation wide news how is going to raise her children. i never underestimate women but a child with down syndrome.

Actually pretty common here in Montana. Many of my female students speak enthusiastically about hunting season and fire arms.

Otay's picture

Taarak @ 121:

Otay @ 113:

What I find simply incredible about this is that these submachine gun-toting goons were able to get warrants because these groups had items in their house that every goddamned American has in his/her house.

And then they used this excuse to confiscate their diaries and computers not only invading their privacy, but using what they obtained from the raid to come up with any sorts of charges they could trump up. And of course find the info on others to raid.

And then they trump up charges of "conspiracy to incite a riot". In other words, someone in the group expressed a half-assed thought about stopping traffic, and therefore anyone unaware of this but involved in the plan to demonstrate is part of a "criminal conspiracy".

Amazing what things have come to. Simply amazing.

Here's the list from the Warrant...

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site569/2008/0830/20080830_031532_Warrant.pdf

From the warrant:

Glass containers, cloth, styrofoam, paper and soap - components for a Molotov Cocktail (then every one of us has the components for a Molotov cocktail, and therefore every one of us can have a warrant placed against)

Ignitable liquids like gasoline, break fluid (again, every one us has evidence in his/her house that they have the means to create incendiary devices)

Improvised explosive device containers such as metal, glass, plastic or cardboard ( wow, that really limits the number of people...)

Photographs/maps of St. Paul

The only two things that may have a bearing for providing a search warrant are strong reason to believe that they had smoke bombs (but that depends on how they define smoke bombs) and a book on how to make Molotov cocktails. But only in conjunction with an expressed plan to use Molotov cocktails. And I don't mean some "informant's" word on it.

But what info do they have that this was the case? What info did they provide the judge?

Otay's picture

Alice X - (Chomsky Nader) - status quObama - change you can pretend in - @ 133:

Numinous @ 128:

Noah @ 120:

Numinous @ 92:
Willful ignorance is denying that BOTH parties are owned by corporate interests.

There ARE a number of democratic politicians that are owned by corporate interests.... however, for the NeoCons, it is part of their mantra to sell their souls and the anything else, to corporate interests. NeoCons are liars and thieves, down to the core of their beings. For them, everything should be in the name of profit. For them human beings have no rights.

At least many Democrats are idealists, and want to help others. Among republicans, that's being seen as weak. Among Republicans, wanting to make the world a better place makes you a traitor.

If you can say that both parties are just as bad, then you're just another simpleminded troll.

You haven't paying attention to this Democratic controlled Congress. The Democrats cave at every turn.

No kidding. I can't think of one area that was important for our civil liberties where the Dems did NOT cave.

Georgette Orwell's picture

The thought police are at the door.

They apparently don't understand that Orwell's 1984 is a novel, not an instruction manual.

Impeach cheney and bush's picture

I am sickened by what happened to those kids. It is the same stuff that happened in the 60-70's. Unfortunately, nothing was learned. And frankly, if they can do that to some harmless (almost) protestors they can do the same to any of us. The outreach to subvert both common sense and the constitution is sickening. Just because I think republicans are genetically apathetic, liars, cheats, swindlers, & greedy fascists I don't want or deserve SWAT breaking down my door to take my computer and handcuff me. A friend told me they(the feds) were spying on me. I just laughed and told her she was paranoid. Who is interested in a middleaged hippie disgusted by the republican gov't and all the corporations that feed on it's underbelly? Probably the same ones that terrorize teenagers and anyone that disagrees. I am sickened. It is so gestopo. Granted they have not hauled them off to concentration camps. But, god damn it will that be next?

Nixon had everyone wire-tapped and followed--movie stars, journalists, anti-war peaceniks, singers, etc. It was beyond comprehension then- but it is worse now.

Ruthless People's picture

Just play this as the Democratic response to Sarah Palin's speech at the GOP convention. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtilB1teksc

What more really needs to be said? Says it all. 4 more years of underqualified, incompetent Republicans running our country further into the ground.

Noah's picture

Numinous @ 128:

There ARE a number of democratic politicians that are owned by corporate interests.... however, for the NeoCons, it is part of their mantra to sell their souls and the anything else, to corporate interests. NeoCons are liars and thieves, down to the core of their beings. For them, everything should be in the name of profit. For them human beings have no rights.

At least many Democrats are idealists, and want to help others. Among republicans, that's being seen as weak. Among Republicans, wanting to make the world a better place makes you a traitor.

If you can say that both parties are just as bad, then you're just another simpleminded troll.

It's not black or white, republican or democrat, right or wrong - there are many shades of gray. Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Follow the money. It goes to ALL politicians, more to the party in power or the seat with influence, whether democrat or republican. When elections cost 1/2 billion or more per candidate, citizens are not part of the equation. Maybe Obama can change that, but I'm not counting on it.

While I am more sympathetic with Democratic "principles" than with Republicans, I am disgusted by their absolute failure to stand up for them. If you don't fight for your principles you might as well not have them.

Your bile ("troll") is only demeaning to you.

SlaveryisFreedom's picture

GOP world?

Ok then, contact Obama's camp and lets get his official position on this incident.

When the officers involved in this insanity are stripped of their badges, I'll start believing in his "Change".

I won't be holding my breath.

Reich Winger's NightMare's picture

re: unwarranted attacks on citizens by "law enforcement"...

They don't call them PIGS for nothing. It fit then. It still fits now.

Uncle Joe Mccarthy's picture

SlaveryisFreedom @ 141:

GOP world?

Ok then, contact Obama's camp and lets get his official position on this incident.

When the officers involved in this insanity are stripped of their badges, I'll start believing in his "Change".

I won't be holding my breath.

what does obama have to do with this incident?

why should he be asked to comment?

why do you live your life as such a little tool?

DrDick's picture

Reich Winger's NightMare @ 142:

re: unwarranted attacks on citizens by "law enforcement"...

They don't call them PIGS for nothing. It fit then. It still fits now.

Not all, just some. I have known a lot of cops over the years. Some great, decent people. Others not so much.

Otay's picture

Here is why this will continue happening in the foreseeable future:

The GOP gave St. Paul 50 million dollars to hold the convention there. That is a heck of a lot of money.

With this money, and potentially more to come in the future from conventions, St. Paul does not want any "embarrassments" (translated: they want to minimize demonstrations)

Even if these groups sue the sheriff's department, the money taken from them is nowhere near the amount they receive if they "look good" by minimizing "embarrassments".

fiver's picture

DrDick @ 144:

Reich Winger's NightMare @ 142:

re: unwarranted attacks on citizens by "law enforcement"...

They don't call them PIGS for nothing. It fit then. It still fits now.

Not all, just some many. I have known a lot of cops over the years. Some great, decent people. Others not so much.

FIFY

Uncle Joe Mccarthy's picture

constituent @ 129:

pinkobait @ 122:

constituent @ 112:

Rich @ 97:
wow......this is definitely a palin supporter.

Palin eats Beaver.
Moose! I mean she eats Moose!

some of the public will fall for this tough palin persona bullshit......how often does a mother of 4-5 go shooting and fishing. finally a women i would guess early 60's said on nation wide news how is going to raise her children. i never underestimate women but a child with down syndrome.

whats to fall for?

her parents are from idaho and moved to alaska

her dad did get her up early everyday to go moose hunting

she is an avid hunter and fisherman and i bet her kids are too

she really is a long distance runner and was a sports caster

her son really did join the army

and like all good hillbilly families...her teenaged daughter got knocked up

Daingel's picture

True..... I would like to see an ad that has this footage of the raids and the text of McCain's quote from Florida just below it.

MCCAIN: And some of those tactics — you mention the war in Iraq — are like that we use in the military. You go into neighborhoods, you clamp down, you provide a secure environment for the people that live there, and you make sure that the known criminals are kept under control. And you provide them with a stable environment and then they cooperate with law enforcement, etc, etc.

bushisshit's picture

Ruthless People @ 130:

fastfeat @ 124:

OT--

Nagin orders New Orleans evacuated, anticipating "mother of all storms":

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080831/ap_on_re_us/gustav_gulf_coast

God bless to all in the Gulf.

Wonder what the wingnuts and the Christ-o-fascists would be saying if this were about to happen at the start of the Democratic convention instead of the start of the GOP convention? God's will?

Falwell and Robertson on 911: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vtBn36livY

Actually the Christian God will be their biggest protester. Have you read that Gustav is fast approaching. I guess God is trying to prove that not all who calls on him is really for him. It's about damn time time he should see this assholes has used and exploited his name in vain for own their damn good. Despite how sanctimonious they portray themselves to be, this Republicans don't really know what being a true Christian is all about. They deliberately disrespect the sanctity of their God because they mixed him with the dirt they do in politics. This is the reason why the American forefathers stated that their should be a separation of church and state.

SlaveryisFreedom's picture

Uncle Joe Mccarthy @ 143:

SlaveryisFreedom @ 141:

GOP world?

Ok then, contact Obama's camp and lets get his official position on this incident.

When the officers involved in this insanity are stripped of their badges, I'll start believing in his "Change".

I won't be holding my breath.

what does obama have to do with this incident?

why should he be asked to comment?

why do you live your life as such a little tool?

As par for the course, the typical ad hominem response. I'll spell it out for you, although you are already well aware of my point.

Obama is running to be the President of the USA. He is a Democrat.

The author of this article says this police raid happened in "GOP" world.

Today's police actions violate everything this country stands for, and I would like to hear Obama's response, and what he would do to ensure nothing like this ever happens again.

If you would care to debate that point, I am all ears.

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