Free speech? Not with the "Rally Squads" around

An event that requires a ticket is an event that requires a ticket no matter how hard you wish it wasn't. Tell me how often the President of the United States just walks up to some podium in a park and starts a speech. They may do it that way in Canuckistan, but they don't do it here.

 

Tony's got a good point there, JR.

 

The couple arrested for wearing the scary t-shirts had tickets. They were inside the event.

So no, Tony does not have a good point there. Not even close.

 

Then tell that to schools that ban offensive t-shirts and tell that to pro sports teams that ban such T-shirts and banners even when someone has a ticket.

 

Presidents used to speak to wide-open, standing-room only crowds, frequently. The Secret Service does its job, and all's well.

Of course, some presidents can't -- or won't.

The "ticket" nonsense is crowd control, of course -- in all senses of the word, many of them bad.

Not many want constant verbal disruptions of presidential speeches. I don't. The man's there to speak -- permit him to speak.

But don't tell me someone carrying a sign saying, say: "Why not try being president of ALL the people?",
in W's sightline, should cause a problem.

I remember when presidents could be counted on to think on their feet . . . to actually be mentally nimble . . . you know, clever.

It's a big, wide world out there, Fredo.

Bubble-Boy should try being a part of it, once in a while . . . other than clearing brush at his mudhole
of a toy ranch.

 

Schools are learning environments. A ticket to a sports event is a license.

Fredo should expose himself to conflicting arguments, once in a while.

He might learn something.

But, shit, I forgot . . . he's The Decider. He's omniscent.

 

By sanitizing his public appearances, it means Fredo never has to think on his feet, a characteristic that used to be considered a mark of a good politiican.

Bush the Younger can barely deal with a prepared speech. He wouldn't have a clue how to deal with hecklers.

Good thing he doesn't have to deal with the Parliamentary tradition of Question Period. He'd be eaten alive.

 

And the asshole wing of the GOP was busily gloating about, telling everyone the adults were now in charge, back in '01.

Gibberish.

 

Let's not forget how this administration kicked off its mission of "bringing respectability back to the White House" -- by leaking a bogus story, officially taking the high road, and encouraging the weasel pundits to run wild.

http://archive.salon.com/politics/feature/2001/05/23/vandals/index.html

 

Why is it that the only defense the Bush appologists ever seem to have is "Clinton did it, too." or, in the case of torture, "the bad guys are doing it, too."

 

You forgot: "You people seem to have a pathological hatred of the man."