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Monday, September 1, 2008 12:00 AM

Scenes from St. Paul -- Democracy Now's Amy Goodman arrested

Scores of people are tear-gassed. At least 250 people are arrested. And St. Paul is as militarized a scene as one will see in an American city.

The letters thread is now closed.

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Tuesday, September 2, 2008 03:53 PM

Absolutely!

L.W.M.

Are you O.K.? You seem to have grown angrier and angrier recently, until it has now reached the point where (there's no gentle way to put this) this

is indistinguishable from something written by sharter28%.

Why just now over at Open Left Matt Stoller put up a post about it:

At Ron Paul Revolution: Tom Woods Lays Into McBama, Neocon Death Cult

http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=7908

I don't suffer fools gladly. It matters little to me what their politics are. A fool is a fool and politics or the "proper ideology" from some asshat's point of view won't change that. I guess you are indistingishable from Sharter 28% too, huh?

Yeah, I'm fine. I make up my own mind. I've never been a follower. Ever.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008 03:56 PM

What's Happened To You . . .

L.M.W.?? (Let Me Wail??) Well, when he/she has always been a bit bent. Hints here and there about being a large cog in a small machine. He / She's been there, done that, and is now doing really (x 100) important stuff and that rag-a-muffins such as youse and me don't appreciate the 'blood, sweat & tears' going into the struggle. Then it really veered off course. The last few days are either over-medicated, juiced, or a blown cover. Or should I say, blown gasket. It sucks when age & infirmity takes hold.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008 03:57 PM

If the disruptive protesters were republican activists, would you be defending their "right" to not be arrested?

Remember, we're not talking about "nonviolent civil disobedience" ... we are talking about groups that months ago announced boldly their intention to disrupt, to monkey wrench the convention... a group that anticipated and invited confrontation ...

Well, they got what they were looking for and -- if you read the morning communique -- they aren't whining -- they believe this is just the beginning of something big ... maybe they're right.

But people who commit civil disobedience (which is not the same as "protesting") hopefully understand that they are BREAKING THE LAW and that there were will consequences ... like spending days in prison waiting for a judge.

In Los Angeles, during the civil right movement, they used to transfer arrestees at sit-ins from one jail to another so they were deprived contact with their families and their legal representatives.

It appear the people engaging in confrontation aren't the ones whining about how unfair this all is. This IS what they came for.

Contribute to the legal funds.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008 03:58 PM

Where's Salon.com now? Shame on you!

I first saw Mr. Greenwald's report on Tuesday morning and had to scroll back to Monday because, apparently, it's just old news. Police state tactics don't hold a candle to important news like the appearance of Mrs. Palin's daughter's baby daddy at the convention.

How shabby of Salon.com.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008 03:58 PM

Asshat Idiot

You are going to need a longer and stronger line and a bigger and sharper hook if you are going to try and bait me.

I hear you, omooex. It really is annoying. I've had enough for one day.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008 03:59 PM

Your post was effectively non-responsive

But the anger is palpable.

Peace.

You'll hear nothing more from me.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008 04:07 PM

A Mussolini's type Totalitarianism state

A Mussolini's type Totalitarianism state

coming to your neighborhood soon !

Totalitarian regimes

Conservative Authoritarianism - elite power and often run by old power elites.

Modern Totalitarianism - tends to be based on mass parties and "new: dictators.

Totalitarianism of the LEFT - Stalinism

Totalitarianism of the RIGHT - certainly Nazism, possibly Fascism.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008 04:07 PM

Shotgun wedding in the GOP house of love and caring...

What could compliment the GOP's theme this year of loving, caring and sharing, than the coerced appearance of Levi Johnston, currently the eighth most famous resident of Wassila. I'm having trouble believing that the GOP can win this kind of baggage, but as we all know, no one ever lost the presidency by underestimating the bad taste of the American public.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008 04:07 PM

@Susan

But people who commit civil disobedience

There is responsible and passive non-violent civil disobedience. There is responsible and effective but safe monkeywrenching and there is out and out irresponsible hooliganism and wanton, violent vandalism. I've engaged in all three and then some.

This was the latter, and really embarrasses me personally, to have to be associated with it in any way. People who are defending it are naive fools.

PS. Eff off totally, blase.

later

Tuesday, September 2, 2008 04:09 PM

@ Ché Pasa -- the cops are doing their job ... they don't get to decide what level of protective gear they wear,

they don't set the "rules of engagement" ... There are many levels of supervisory hierarchy. Their job is to make their boss happy, even pleased by how effective they are at carrying out the mission.

They are there to do a "good job," not jeopardize their career (if they can help it) and go home whenever they are allowed to.

They fear losing control -- their JOB is to keep order and control over the situation. I would guess they have more experience with things "going wrong" than most of us.

This sort of assignment is not a lark or an adventure -- it's a genuine challenge and an ordeal.

They aren't the big bad wolf ... at least in their own mind. They're just doing their job.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008 04:11 PM

Numerical Complaint

I wish Glenn would stop using Roman Numerals to number his Updates. I can't count over 3 in Roman and it makes it very difficult to get the Updates sorted out.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008 04:13 PM

hey, while we're on the subject, I'd REALLY like it if the updates were date/time stamped...

pretty please with sugar?

Tuesday, September 2, 2008 04:13 PM

Ignorant armies

Ah, L.W.M., guess what? I was peeping at the videos -- more from a prurient nostalgia than any high political purpose, I admit, but I was also hoping to catch a glimpse of what the dialectic has been up to lately -- when I just happened to stumble across you, sword in hand, with your teeth bared, and your back to the dismal swamp. (Shouting William Timberman! and Paul Rosenberg! while you lay about you is bound to attract attention, you know. :-)

Anyway, I wouldn't mind addressing the extent to which I agree or disagree with you on this issue, but as you know, I'm no longer here. If you'll contact me at my last name followed by the appropriate symbol, then cableone with a dot and a net, I'd be happy to fill you in, if not right away.

(AZ's primary is today, and I'm scheduled either to dance with a lampshade on my head at my Congressional candidate's headquarters tonight, or cling, weeping in sympathy and disillusion to my fellow button wearers, depending on the outcome. After that, though, I'd be happy to fill you in if you'd like, and if you have some drop box somewhere on the Intertubes where I could send what thoughts I have.)

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