The Repubs are setting up New Yorkers for their oppressive security ....

[kentuck]

...measures planned for their Convention. They must convince them of the dangers of attack before August 29th. By creating the desired level of fear, they will be able to block off miles of the city to protect themselves from criticism and anti-Bush protesters. Knowing that their plan is going to be questioned harshly by New Yorkers, they now have a plan to get them to submit to the oppression. They will scare the shit out of them.

[ClintonTyree]

1. Quite possible...........

Kentuck, or it could be another attempt to keep the entire nation in a constant state of fear thus, in their minds, keep the American populace clinging to the safety (?} of Bush's coat tails. Either way, it's all bullshit all the time with these jerks.

[Political_Junkie]

2. That's what I've been saying

since they came out with this news. Who will question oppression in the face of another possible terrorsit attack? People will figure that the protesters should have just stayed home while the warnings were going on, and some will stay away.

[kentuck]

3. That's the way I read it also....

Their plans are always short range.

[Baltimoreboy]

4. They do need "oppressive security" for an event involving the president

No matter who that is.

[Gin]

5. you may be correct on both things..first it permits the city to become an

armed fortress...and may discourage dissent from outsiders....and perpetuates the fear across america.

[Baltimoreboy]

7. I live in Montgomery County

I already live outside Fortress America. It doesn't scare me, but it is necessary.

[Warpy]

6. Gee, I seem to remember a guy named Clinton

who actually got out of his limosine and into the crowd, with Secret Service by his side but no snipers on the roof!

Bush is the first pResident to seal himself into this kind of a bubble. Even Nixon didn't try to sweep protestors off the street within a mile of his august presence, and heaven knows he hated protestors.

At some point we need to realize that sacrificing the very things that make us ornery, free Americans in order to protect one man's precious ass is a losing game. Anyone who wants him badly enough will get him. Reasonable precautions will take care of the ones who'd want to live through the experience.

This whole thing is as crazy as Bush is. Nobody's worth this kind of crap, even if he thinks he's god come to earth.

[Baltimoreboy]

8. Times have changed

There is a difference between being a wimp and being self destructive.

[peaches2003]

9. Oppressing our whole society

Not only is Bush's plan to use the threat of terrorism to oppress our freedom of movement, with the Patriot Act and other measures that supposedly are to make us 'safer', Bush is being allowed to take our Bill of Rights away, too. WHEN will people wake up and when will our press expose him for what he is doing?

[Baltimoreboy]

10. The danger of the Patriot Act

Has little to do with New York. With or without the Patriot Act, they would still need extreme security for their event.

[Mr_Spock]

12. Some here continue to almost exclusively play devils advocate

Why? Are we here just to poke holes in people's arguments? Post after post supporting the status quo.

[Baltimoreboy]

13. Fuck the status quo ... sometimes

But some things make sense to me. Having security at an event where ANY president is supposed to attend is perfectly logical. And, given the size of the event, it's hard to have a little security.

It is fun to poke holes in weak arguments of any type. It forces people to think, not just rant.

[Mr_Spock]

14. I have seen an aweful lot of hole poking by you - seems to be a hobby

Speaking of security, what do you think of the Admin's tactics in the following link:

http://www.azstarnet.com/dailystar/dailystar/32301.php

"

Bush camp solicits race of Star staffer

By C.J. Karamargin
ARIZONA DAILY STAR

President Bush's re-election campaign insisted on knowing the race of an Arizona Daily Star journalist assigned to photograph Vice President Dick Cheney.

The Star refused to provide the information.

Cheney is scheduled to appear at a rally this afternoon at the Pima County Fairgrounds. "

...snip...

"Organizer Christine Walton asked for Popat's race in telephone conversations with two other Star editors before she spoke to Hayt. They also refused to provide the information. Walton told Hayt that Popat's race was necessary to allow the Secret Service to distinguish her from someone else who might have the same name.

"It was a very lame excuse," Hayt said."

...snip...

What do you think - was her name likely to be confused with another person or was that really "a lame excuse"??

Edit: her name was "Mamta Popat" BTW.

I eagerly await having a hole poked in me.

[Baltimoreboy]

15. Completely uncalled for and offensive

As for you tracking my every move, seems like you need a hobby as well.

[Mr_Spock]

17. Sometimes a "name" sticks in ones head due to consistent behavior

You could agree with somebody from time-to-time. You say you want to get rid of Dubya, but mostly post as a devils advocate. Just seems like a rather negative approach - I've noticed. You can call my getting to know you as a hobby - I just call it being myself.

My GF suggested I sign as follows...

"Signed - OCD man"

[Mandate My Ass]

19. Very logical Mr_Spock

and quite correct too.

[Baltimoreboy]

20. Agreement

I do agree with people from time to time, as is evident from my comment above about the stupid race question. As for the rest, I just call it being myself as well.

[Warpy]

11. Nixon was president

five years after a president had been assassinated. The main precaution taken after that even was abandoning open limousines in favor of reinforced closed cars, a reasonable precaution that didn't throw out the Bill of Rights.

No man is worth trashing the one thing that makes this country a good place to live, the guarantee that there are limits to oppression by the rich and powerful, our Bill of Rights. Without that, we're nothing.

Think about it. You're giving up every protection you have to protect ONE MAN. Is that really what you want to do? Is one man ever utterly indispensible?

[Eloriel]

16. In this case, the difference doesn't apply

Bush is both a wimp (can't stand up and take any dissent or criticism), AND self-destructive (not to mention destructive to the nation).

[Eloriel]

18. Oops - double post

Sorry about that

[kentuck]

21. And this terra alert right now is the start of their plan...

There was no word of a terra alert when this was first posted...

[kentuck]

22. This is what the alert is all about...

in my opinion. :kick: