For 8 years the Bushies stifled dissent.

[LiberalEsto]

Remember "Free Speech Zones"? Remember when police herded protesters of anything in the BushCheney Regime into these isolated zones that were oh-so-conveniently located long distances away from events?

Remember the barricades of tractor trailers used to keep us from voicing our viewpoints at their fundraisers and speeches?

Remember how tickets were required to attend their events, effectively screening out anyone with an opposing viewpoint? These tickets were issued by Rethug party officials.

Remember how, if a protester or two did manage to obtain a ticket and get into a closed BushCheney event, they would be thrown out and/or arrested?

Remember how they kept lists of screened attendees to make sure nobody with an opposing viewpoint got in?

Remember how they got police to round up everyone in given areas, regardless of whether they were protesters or passers-by, and arrest them or keep them in a contained area until a Rethug event was over?

And those are just the ones I can think of, off the top of my head. I'm sure there were many other dirty tricks the Rethugs employed to prevent dissenters from being seen or heard. These tactics violated our rights to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. Our hard-earned tax dollars were used to keep members of our party from attending presidential speeches that should have been public events open to all.

Now just imagine, if you will, how the teabaggers and anti-healthcare thugs would react if any or all of these tactics were used against THEM.

The whines and wails of "fascism" would go on and on.

As usual, the Rethugs know how to dish it out, but they are too wussy to take a dose of their own medicine.

I'm not advocating that we use the B.C. regime's tactics at public town hall meetings -- but we certainly shouldn't tolerate their vicious, thuggish behavior at public forums. I am glad Democrats are standing up and handling these idiots responsibly.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Hear hear

[MrScorpio]

2. I say shout the motherfuckers back down...

WITH SHAME and RIDICULE!

[havocmom]

3. Wondered where all the teabaggin/town hall bustin patriots were when OUR rights were shit on.

Reading the news and muttering to myself about it just this morning. Guess they only love about 21% of America or sumtin. :shrug:

[HelenWheels]

4. We are the wrong party

The cops arrested any one protesting against the Repukes. I was in NY for the Repuke convention and a friend of mine plus many others got arrested just for being there. They were put in a filthy area near the docks and were held over night. When they were released they had no way to get back to the city except to walk a long way. And look at what happened in Minnesota at the Repuke convention. The cops even invaded homes looking for protesters. Why aren't these bully mobs arrested? It's because they are Repukes and the cops for the most part are conservative.

[LiberalEsto]

5. I think cops do what they're told to do

But who was giving the orders? Probably the Department of Homeland Security.

[peace13]

8. And the department of Homeland 'Security' continues to operate.

I saw and heard reports of their activities in MI along the rivers. It continues to be very heavy handed! With most intimidation directed toward American citizens.

[Xicano]

10. Yeah, but, "just following orders" doesn't cut it..

And the ones issuing those kind of orders are the ones who should be arrested on the spot.

[ixion]

6. Yes, I remember very well all that you speak of... and I remember

that these same teabagger idiots had no problem whatsoever with ANY of the fascist BS used by the Bush Cabal.

[PearliePoo2]

7. Yeah..I remember all this and it still has me pissed off

The RePuke bastards even checked out the cars in the parking lot for political bumper stickers. The owners were searched out and purged.
Oh and how about that T-shirt you have on? Does it make any kind of statement?
Your clothes had to be screened too.
Fuckers

[LiberalEsto]

9. Sometimes I was afraid to have bumper stickers

Back then the rightwing crazies used to damage cars with bumper stickers that annoyed them.
Now of course these same violent thugs are doing the threats and intimidation at the town hall meetings.

It's just dawning on me how AFRAID I was during the B.C. regime. Fear for breakfast, lunch, dinner and the late night news. Color coded threat levels. Duct tape and plastic sheets. Big Brother everywhere, and brainwashed thugs making us afraid to express opinions of any kind.

When are our federal prosecutors going to start arresting and charging these people and their corporate paymasters under the RICO Act?