That's not us, Glenn.

It's striking that, regardless of how many times the major parties punch you in the crotch, there has been no indication that even a minority of political "realists," such as yourself, have considered the drastic changes that would have to occur in the fabric of America in order to overcome the violence and the paranoia of an electorate and 1000s of politicians who are willing to disregard the human dignity of any individual who they believe subverts their nebulous definition of "national security."

Shooter is an authoritarian, proto-fascist. Why does anyone engage him? -- -Mona-

Actually he's a delusional paranoid and quite possibly has a chemical addiction or three, but that's beside the point.

And engaging (well, really refuting and mocking) his non-arguments is a social and cultural imperative. When someone hangs a "Kick Me Here!" sign on their groin, even a metaphorical one like shooter242's, one feels an obligation to do precisely that.

Its just expected.

In that sense, we'll see if the public and media do the same with the one Senator McCain just hung on himself (a la, his "choice" for VP). I suspect it'll be a mixed bag and the Senator will make noise that it wasn't his choice after all.

It sounds like these are a few houses full of people who have never done anything worth noticing, yet somebody, probably the FBI, has them all watched.

That this is an illustration, maybe a trial run, of putting to use all the illegally collected spy data from the last 7 years, seems more than likely, & a connection that really needs following up. Because there is just no legitimate way that all these people could have come to the attention of the sheriffs department.

Who's next?

...that I won't comment any more till I calm down.

Yeh, this was common in the late 60's too. I lived in Chapel Hill, N.C. ...... the local police detective would knock on student's doors early in the morning (6:30). Answering the door half asleep, a warrant would be shoved in the face of whoever answered the door.

Several policemen would enter the house and throw a bag of grass behind a couch or chair and then be "found"

The prick who did this shit is now sheriff of the county ...... yeh, crime pays.

Want to ruin somebody? ......... just plant some drugs in their car.

Tiberius--considering that you've chosen the nom de troll of a depraved sociopathic child molestor who was a disasterous absentee emperor just like your hero Lil' Bushie, your weak attempt to poke fun at my ID is, well, oh dear, oh my, oh dearest lordie lord...

And clue to the clueless--among even the most rabidly far-right aholes who are trying to take down Obama, those who still have a semi-functioning brain (which is quite a feat in light of the massive electoral defeat that they surely know awaits them which would surely turn anyone's head to goo) acknowledge that he's hardly a lightweight. But I guess that some people have to actually experience a massive hurricane to see one coming.

Jim White--I Youtubed this segment of Countdown and it's quite funny/sad/typical:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-sFBpoCuS8

Iokannan in the Well--I've visited people in mental hospitals and it's got to be one of the most depressing places to find oneself in. I can only imagine what it's like to actually be a patient in one. In a sense, though, these lunatic fringe dead-ender wingnuts have trapped themselves in an insane asylum of their own making, as their furtive and feeble attempts to make reality conform to their delusional take on it constantly demonstrates. They actually WANT there to be state brutality that has the right and power to randomly abuse citizens for any and all reasons. They just assume, quite foolishly, that it will never happen to THEM.

Che Pasa--I can't believe that we actually agree on something--how Dems have effectively if not explicitely conspired to allow this sort of thing to happen, by voting for laws that allow this, and not standing up against efforts to exploit them. Is my head now officially out of my ass? ;-)

Investigation was by Ramsey County. Raids were conducted in conjunction with St. Paul and Minneapolis Police. Give them a call and let them know how much you appreciate them serving and protecting us.

St. Paul

Chief John M. Harrington

(651) 266-5588

http://www.stpaul.gov/index.asp?nid=461

Minneapolis

Chief Timothy Dolan

(612) 673-3787 http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/police/about/administration.asp

Ramsey County

Sheriff Bob Fletcher

(651) 266-9333

http://www.co.ramsey.mn.us/sheriff/index.htm

About time society decided not to let troublemakers disrupt other people's gatherings. Enough of the noisy tiny minority who could care less about the rights of others.

It's finally hit the 'news'.

CNN is covering this story for the first time today after the commercial break.

These guys are so behind the curve...

They need to tune into UT.

http://www.startribune.com/

"St. Paul all battened down for hubbub at GOP 'corral'

Events inside the arena will be predictable, so the really action in St. Paul this week will be out on the streets. Are we ready?

By CURT BROWNcurt.brown@startribune.com, Star Tribune

Last update: August 30, 2008 - 8:02 PM

Manhole covers near the Xcel Energy Center have been spot-welded into place, just in case anarchists plan on heaving them through expensive plate-glass windows...

Precisely how many people will flood into St. Paul's narrow streets is anyone's guess, but 50,000 is a safe estimate when you lump together the GOP activists, reporters and protesters."

try these google searches:

site:www.democracynow.org/2008 denver

547 hits

site:www.democracynow.org/2008 minneapolis

25 hits (none mentioning the RNC)

Why did Amy Goodman black out the RNC, again?

CNN actually presented this a a story with 'two sides'.

There is skepticism about the official story. So far.

Bill Ayers.

Just as long as the protesters don't blow themsleves up with their own bombs.

I wrote the following comment to an article in Smirking Chimp a while ago. It is pertinent to this story too:

smirkingchimp.com/thread/16804#comment-129108

First things first

It's good to keep this criminal practice in the spotlight, but if we don't examine its background, we will end up doing nothing about it, and the perpetrators will be free to torture again and again.

It is clear from all experts in criminology and investigation that torture is near-useless in obtaining useful information or in prevention of future crimes. The Bush regime knows this as well as anyone.

Therefore, they had another reason for torturing. The purpose can only be for - irony of ironies - terrorism. The hope of the BCR (Bush criminal regime) can only be to terrorize people around the world into submission. That includes here, for all citizens, Muslim and non-Muslim alike.

Any student of history or human behavior could have predicted the drive for empire wouldn't work, but the Bush gang proceeded without hesitation. I believe this was for several reasons. One was to deflect attention from the genuine crimes this regime committed domestically: the negligence (or worse) in advance of the September 11, 2001 attacks, the deception used to rush the country into attacking "Iraq," the drive for worldwide empire, and, most importantly, to establish an infrastructure for a police state.

All these crimes, and the many more committed by this regime over the past eight years, followed a pattern that reveals the intentions of their perpetrators: abolish the Constitution and secure the reins of government in perpetuity.

The Bush criminal regime has failed in its effort to secure its longevity, but we should be clear about its intentions. There are still a few months left for this gang to engage in more mayhem, in the vain hopes of staying in power.

I can forgive the Congress for not impeaching, believing that the most important thing is orderly succession. The bush gang, desperate to avoid prosecution, would do whatever in its power to prevent it. That would include using its vast resources in the corporate media, the military, the various Federal law enforcement agencies, and eliciting cooperation from state and local police agencies.

If we make it to Jan 20, 2009 with a new president, especially if it is not McCain, we stand a good chance of bringing the Bush regime to justice. For that reason, it is vital to support the election of Barack Obama. He isn't perfect, and I would rather have him advocate the same things that Ralph Nader does, but he's our best hope.

I think we have to settle for the best we can get. It is unlikely that an Obama regime will be even remotely as criminal as the Bush gang, and he is likely to make great progress in many areas. He almost certainly won't be promoting torture. His support of the FISA bill may actually have been a stealth vote. He's that smart. After he's in office we can go to work on vigorous support for real law and order.