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Thursday, February 03, 2005

People Blocked From Bush’s Speech In Fargo

Bush is visiting my home state of North Dakota today and it would appear as though some of my fellow North Dakotans are having trouble getting into the event.

Fargo Forum - City Commissioner Linda Coates says she was shocked to learn she and her husband were among more than 40 area residents on a list of people barred from attending President Bush's speech here Thursday.

The list was supplied to workers at the two Fargo distribution sites, along with tickets and other forms citizens were asked to fill out, The Forum reported.

The list includes critics of Bush or the war in Iraq. It includes two high school students, a librarian, a deputy Democratic campaign manager and a number of university professors.

Coates said she originally was not planning to attend the president's speech, but got a last-minute ticket Wednesday night from Fargo Mayor Bruce Furness, who offered tickets to all city commissioners.

White House spokesman Jim Morrell and Don Larson, a spokesman for Gov. John Hoeven's office, said they knew nothing about a list of people barred from the speech.

"This is the first I'm hearing of it," Morrell said Wednesday.

Coates said she had no idea why she would be on a list, other than the fact that she has been outspoken in her political beliefs.

"I thought that was democracy," she said.


I have a pretty good idea of why Coates was on the list. She is a member of the Fargo/Moorhead Democracy For America Meetup Group. That group's message board is already filling up with complaints from other members who got blocked.

I'm not entirely certain we can conclude that there was a list quite yet, but I can tell you that the Fargo Forum is a viciously biased publication guilty of using yellow journalism on more than one occasion to further a leftist political agenda. The Fargo/Moorhead area itself is a very liberal area given the presence of three major universities. It even claims left-wing mouthpiece Ed Schultz as a resident, someone who will no doubt be harping on this story for the next year or so. I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that this was little more than a staged event meant to get some anti-Bush headlines in the papers during his visit.

This is all speculation on my part, of course, but I'm telling you that I wouldn't be a bit surprised.

Even if there was a list I'm not sure I can blame Bush. This post on the Meetup group's message board indicates that they have been planning a protest to coincide with Bush's visit. Given the way the left has conducted itself at some of Bush's other events can one blame the President for being cautious about who he lets in? Especially when it comes to people who are actively planning a "demonstration." Congressional Democrats gave protesters tickets to Bush's inauguration speech so that they could get in and disrupt things.

I'm not sure I'm willing to listen to much carping about "freedom" from a political movement that has made thuggish protest an art form.

(via Oliver Willis)

Comments

Rob
Rob
19516 comments
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So, he’s afraid of locally-elected officials?

No, he doesn’t want to have to shout over a bunch of hecklers.

No, Rob, this is indefensible. Ever hear of the First Amendment?

Yes, didn’t know it extended to the attendence of speeches.  I’m pretty sure that’s not in there.

People have died for your right and mine to dissent.

Nobody is saying they can’t dissent.  They can dissent out in the parking lot all they want.  The speech is for people who would like to sit and listen to what the President has to say.


When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

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Rob on February 3, 2005 at 01:02 pm
Avatar for Oliver

Here’s a clue: he’s president of all of us, not just the ones marching in lockstep.

Oliver on February 3, 2005 at 01:02 pm
Rob
Rob
19516 comments
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You’re absolutely right Oliver.

That still doesn’t mean he can’t protect himself from people who are aiming to disrupt his speeches.


When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

robport.gif border=0

Rob on February 3, 2005 at 01:02 pm
Avatar for Jadegold

So, he’s afraid of locally-elected officials?

No, Rob, this is indefensible. Ever hear of the First Amendment? 

People have died for your right and mine to dissent.

Jadegold on February 3, 2005 at 01:03 pm
Avatar for Jadegold

"No, he doesn’t want to have to shout over a bunch of hecklers.”

It’s called “dissent,” Rob.  You really don’t want a President--you want a Dictator.

Jadegold on February 3, 2005 at 02:02 pm
Avatar for Jadegold

Another inhaler bong hit from Likwud.

Likwud, have you ever posted content---anywhere?

Jadegold on February 3, 2005 at 02:03 pm
Avatar for likwidshoe

Oliver says, “Here’s a clue: he’s president of all of us, not just the ones marching in lockstep.”

Looks like the speech will be blocked to the locksteppers.  You have it backwards.

the troll says, “No, Rob, this is indefensible. Ever hear of the First Amendment?”

What about the First Amendment?

People have died for your right and mine to dissent.

Dissent is one thing.  Being a rude jackass is quite another.

It’s called “dissent,� Rob. You really don’t want a President–you want a Dictator.

Oh really troll?

likwidshoe on February 3, 2005 at 02:03 pm
Avatar for Andrew

Not to mention that these speeches are paid by tax dollars.  Everyone has an equal right to attend.

Andrew on February 3, 2005 at 03:02 pm
Avatar for Andrew

True likwid, but I expect more from the President then I do from a bunch of classless punks.

Andrew on February 3, 2005 at 03:02 pm
Avatar for Andrew

It would be one thing if people who disrupted the speech were removed from it, but to blacklist people because you suspect they could possibly protest is incredibly wrong.  It reminds me of the blacklisting that occured during the days of McCarthyism.  Of course its not as extreme, but it’s still wrong nontheless.

If the President keeps these things up, America will remain divided.  It also reflects poorly on our party.  With the Democrats out of the way, the only thing that can hurt the Republican party is the Republican party.

Andrew on February 3, 2005 at 03:02 pm
Avatar for likwidshoe

"inhaler bong hit”...now that’s a unique one.  How many times are you going to try to insult me by bringing up my asthma?

to Rob - how much longer are you going to let this poison your website?  It’s time to drain the swamp.

likwidshoe on February 3, 2005 at 03:02 pm
Avatar for likwidshoe

Andrew says, “If the President keeps these things up, America will remain divided.”

Naw,...I think they do a pretty good job at keeping America divided all by themselves.

likwidshoe on February 3, 2005 at 03:02 pm
Avatar for Jadegold

"It also reflects poorly on our party.”

The similarities between Bush and the North Korean dictators are striking.  It’s not uncommon for Kim Jong Il to parade throngs of happy, smiling children past foreign visitors to create the facade of contentment and well-being.

It seems Bush is using North Dakotans as similar props

Jadegold on February 3, 2005 at 03:03 pm
Avatar for doug

why would people who don’t like the President want to waste their time attending the event? their time would be better spent packing for their move to Ottawa. the black list did them a favor.

doug on February 3, 2005 at 06:02 pm
Avatar for likwidshoe

the troll says, “The similarities between Bush and the North Korean dictators are striking.”

Right,...now all Bush has to do is kill and imprison those who don’t agree with him.

..watch for the insult about my asthma now..

likwidshoe on February 3, 2005 at 06:02 pm
Avatar for doug

say hi to the queen as you wait in line for the prescriptions in Ottawa

doug on February 3, 2005 at 06:03 pm
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