Batman - if its so easy why didnt you just do it? too lazy? if its so undeniable then just show it to me i wasnt being touchy about it, i really wanted to know. Responses like that are what give your side a bad name. adeelsiddiqui - thanks
True the f that. If you lost a loved one in a war as stupid and ill concieved as this, you'd do the same thing. Speaking of which, I have a great story. My friend Jill's boyfriend just got back from Iraq a couple days ago (he drove the tanks). They're out having a good time just happy he's back in one piece and for whatever reason they start getting into politics. Some lady butts in about how Kerry's going to weaken the military and leave us open to terrorist attacks, so Jill's boyfriends like,"Excuse me miss, if you really think that a President of the United States of America is going to do anything LIKE that, you're as blind as the terrorists. If you even knew what was really going on over there, you wouldn't think for one second that it would be a good idea to give a guy like Bush a second term. Oh and btw, I just got back from Iraq, so I don't want to hear anything else from you." God, I wish I had been there.
http://www.abqjournal.com/elex/204620elex07-30-04.htm Friday, July 30, 2004 Obtaining Cheney Rally Ticket Requires Signing Bush Endorsement By Jeff Jones Journal Staff Writer ___ Some would-be spectators hoping to attend Vice President Dick Cheney's rally in Rio Rancho this weekend walked out of a Republican campaign office miffed and ticketless Thursday after getting this news: ___ Unless you sign an endorsement for President George W. Bush, you're not getting any passes. ___ The Albuquerque Bush-Cheney Victory office in charge of doling out the tickets to Saturday's event was requiring the endorsement forms from people it could not verify as supporters. ___ State Rep. Dan Foley, R-Roswell, speaking on behalf of the Republican Party, said Thursday that a "known Democrat operative group" was intending to try to crash Saturday's campaign rally at Rio Rancho Mid-High School. He added that some people were providing false names and addresses and added that tickets for the limited-seating event should go to loyal Bush backers. ___ However, some who left the office off Osuna NE without tickets on Thursday said they're not affiliated with an operative group and should have a right to see their vice president without pledging their allegiance to Bush. ___ "I'm outraged at this. I'm being closed off by my own government. It's crazy," said East Mountains resident Pamela Random, who added that she is an unaffiliated voter. ___ John Wade of Albuquerque said he initially signed the endorsement but was having second thoughts before he even left the office. Wade, a Democrat, said he returned his tickets and demanded to get his endorsement form back. ___ "It's not right for me to have to sign an endorsement to hear (Cheney) speak," Wade said. "I'm still pissed. This just ain't right." ___ Yier Shi, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee, which is putting on Saturday's event, confirmed that those interested in seeing Cheney were asked to sign an endorsement form if they couldn't be verified as Bush-Cheney supporters. ___ He said campaign workers got such verification by checking to see whether, among other things, someone has contributed money or volunteered for the campaign. When asked whether workers were also checking the party affiliation of those asking for tickets, he said that was a possibility. ___ John Sanchez, chairman of the Bush-Cheney '04 re-election effort in the Southwest, said he wasn't aware of the endorsement matter, adding, "I would be surprised" if it was happening. However, he said he works directly for the Bush-Cheney campaign and the rally is a Republican National Committee event. ___ An endorsement form provided to the Journal by Random says: "I, (full name) ... do herby (sic) endorse George W. Bush for reelection of the United States." It later adds that, "In signing the above endorsement you are consenting to use and release of your name by Bush-Cheney as an endorser of President Bush." ___ A Journal reporter, who is a registered Democrat, called to inquire about a ticket Thursday afternoon. He was asked for his name, address and driver's license number but was not told over the telephone that he would need to sign any endorsement form. He got the news after arriving at the Bush-Cheney office. ___ Random and Wade said they were also not informed of the requirement until they showed up at the office. ___ Another Journal employee, who is a registered Republican, visited the office Thursday morning and got a ticket without being asked to sign the form. ___ The John Kerry/John Edwards campaign on Thursday issued a news release that asked, "Shouldn't all New Mexicans have the right to see their VP?" ___ Ruben Pulido Jr., a spokesman for that campaign, said the Democratic Party has no screening requirements for those interested in seeing Kerry or Edwards. ___ When Kerry visited Albuquerque earlier this month, a contingent of Bush supporters were in the crowd. The Associated Press has reported that the group chanted "Viva Bush!" during the event. The AP added that Kerry urged the crowd to tolerate the Bush supporters. ___ Moses Mercado, head of the Kerry-Edwards campaign in New Mexico, was in Boston on Thursday for the Democratic National Convention. He challenged Republicans to open their event "to all New Mexicans." ___ "I love when they come to New Mexico, but I wish they'd talk to New Mexicans and let New Mexicans hear their plan," Mercado said. "Because I think they (New Mexicans) really are hungry. They want answers." ___ Foley countered that Republicans weren't invited to Kerry's nomination-acceptance speech Thursday evening at that convention. ___ "This is a political event— just like (Thursday night)," Foley said of Cheney's upcoming visit. ___ Shi said the Rio Rancho event is intended to "energize" Bush-Cheney supporters, and organizers don't want it disrupted. ___ "We've received dozens and dozens of calls from Kerry-Edwards (supporters) who have used deceitful tactics to try and get in and disrupt this event," he said. "Our supporters have worked too hard to have an event like this get disrupted." ___ Security for Cheney's visit is exceptionally tight. There will be no parking at the school where he is to speak: Rally participants will instead be shuttled to the event. ___ Those without tickets, including protesters, are to be in a designated area across from the school. ___ Jim Tillery, a Rio Rancho teacher, signed the endorsement form when he came to the office Thursday afternoon. But he said he sees no problem with having Bush detractors in the crowd. ___ Tillery said there was a "mixed crowd" when Cheney made a visit to Rio Rancho in October 2000, and Cheney deftly handled questions from those detractors. ___ This time around, "my guess is they probably just wanted a rally of support rather than having the diggers or bashers mixed in with them," he said.
BTW - Doonesbury isnt a hard media source...I was thinking along the lines of CNN, ABC, NBC something like that adeelsiddiqui - im looking in the links but i dont see anything about Bush silencing dissent But for some others in this board i do see this: Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry has criticized the president's handling of the war, but also has said he still would have voted to authorize the invasion even if he had known no weapons of mass destruction would be found there. So tell me again how this is a Bush-only thing...
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/a...kers_only_policy_riles_voters_at_rnc_rallies/ Bush-backers-only policy riles voters at RNC rallies By Steve Larese, Globe Correspondent _|_ August 9, 2004 RIO RANCHO, N.M. -- A Republican National Committee practice of having people sign a form endorsing President Bush or pledging to vote for him in November before being issued tickets for RNC-sponsored rallies is raising concern among voters. When Vice President Dick Cheney spoke July 31 to a crowd of 2,000 in Rio Rancho, a city of 45,000 near Albuquerque, several people who showed up at the event complained about being asked to sign endorsement forms in order to receive a ticket to hear Cheney. ''Whose vice president is he?" said 72-year-old retiree John Wade of Albuquerque, who was asked to sign the form when he picked up his tickets. ''I just wanted to hear what my vice president had to say, and they make me sign a loyalty oath." Nick Lucy, a 64-year-old veteran and Democrat, said he was turned away from a May 7 rally in Dubuque, Iowa, at which President Bush spoke even though he had a ticket given to him by a local Republican leader. Lucy, who was not asked to sign a form, said he has seen every president since Ronald Reagan, but he was denied access because he is not a registered Republican. He is a Democrat and a past commander of the American Legion in Dubuque who plays taps at veterans' funerals. ''They asked the police to escort me out of there," Lucy said. ''I wasn't going to disrupt anything, but I probably wasn't going to clap a lot, either. Every rally the president goes to everyone is cheering for him because they're handpicked." Republicans contend they foiled a plot by America Coming Together, a 527 organization that supports the Democratic Party, to disrupt the New Mexico rally. The 527 groups are so named for the provision in the tax code that applies to tax-exempt political organizations that operate outside party and candidate organizations. RNC spokesman Yier Shi said RNC campaign rallies are not official visits, but party events designed to energize the Republican base . He said everyone is welcome at the rallies as long as they support President Bush. Shi said similar forms are used at other reelection and fund-raising rallies sponsored by the RNC. He added that the decision was made to use the forms at the New Mexico rally after the local RNC office received ''suspicious calls" about the event before it was advertised. He said the caller identification indicated some numbers were from cellphones of members of America Coming Together. ''I think the Democrats are just disappointed we thwarted their plans to disrupt our event," he said. Geri Prado, New Mexico coordinator for America Coming Together, denies her group planned to disrupt Cheney's speech. The form Wade was asked to sign had a disclaimer saying no public funds were used to produce it. Wade said he filled out the form, was given two tickets, but had second thoughts about signing an endorsement he didn't believe in. Wade said he explained his misgivings to a supervisor, and the form was quickly located. The supervisor wrote ''Do Not Use" on the form, but Wade insisted it be given to him. In the end, Wade said, he offered to give back his tickets in exchange for the endorsement, which he did. ''Sure I'm a Democrat and I'll go head to head with you one on one, but I would never disrupt a speech by the vice president," Wade says. Bush-Cheney spokesman Danny Diaz said that RNC rallies are separate from Bush-Cheney events and that he does not know of any endorsement forms being requested of people attending Bush-Cheney-sponsored events. But he says said he understands why the RNC would require such forms at the campaign events. ''They want to make sure people can hear the president and vice president's vision for the next four years," he said. ''There are thousands of volunteers who sacrifice and work hard on the campaign and who deserve to see and hear their president without being disrupted and disrespected." The campaign of John F. Kerry, the Democratic nominee, has had to deal with Republican hecklers at events. The Kerry-Edwards communications director for New Mexico, Ruben Pulido, said that when Kerry visited New Mexico on July 10, several Bush supporters shouted ''Viva Bush" and waved flip-flops.
http://www.lancasteronline.com/pages/news/ap/4/bush_preaching_to_the_choir Bush Camp Controlling Admission to Events By Scott Lindlaw Associated Press Writer Published: Aug 16, 2004 2:07 PM EST BEAVERTON, Ore. (AP) - President Bush's team exerts close control over admission to his campaign events. Dissenters and would-be hecklers are turned away, campaign officials say. On several occasions in recent weeks, Democrats who have gotten in have been ejected because they wore pro-Kerry T-shirts. The Bush campaign billed his visit to Beaverton as a chance for ordinary citizens to pose questions to the president. But first, his audience at "Ask President Bush" heard a 21-minute speech from Bush. Then there were 22 minutes of testimonials on his domestic policies from four supporters. After that, Bush moved into a second speech lasting 24 minutes on terrorism and Iraq, along with a few comments about his meetings with world leaders. His audience did not mind waiting more than an hour for the question-and-answer session. This was no town hall appearance before a cross-section of citizens. Bush-Cheney re-election headquarters had instructed Oregon campaign officials to distribute tickets, so the school gymnasium was filled last Friday with 2,000 passionate Bush backers. By contrast, most of Kerry's events are open to the public, though there have been some town hall events that are invitation-only. For certain appearances, the Kerry campaign has distributed tickets to the local party, unions and other supporters. But Kerry spokesman David Wade said that any member of the public can get a ticket from a local campaign office or from the affiliated groups on a first-come, first-served basis. Many people are admitted without any ticket. "I think America deserves a president who is willing to talk to anybody, I don't care if you are Democrat, Republican or independent," Kerry said Friday. Kerry's more open approach carries political risks. Sometimes protesters show up and try to disrupt his appearances. To get across their point that Kerry is a flip-flopper, they often clap flip-flop sandals over their heads, and chant, "Four more years!" Such dissent is never a problem for Bush. When the time came to "Ask President Bush" Friday, none of his 16 questioners challenged him on his policies. Several did not ask questions at all, but simply voiced their support. "If it wasn't for your tax cuts and your stimulus and your steady hand since 9/11, my job would never happen," one man said. "Could you take a moment to pray for Oregon, for us, right now?" asked one questioner. (Bush declined.) "Mr. President, as a child, how can I help you get votes?" another audience member inquired. "Thank you for serving!" "My husband and my twins and I pray for you daily, as do many home schoolers. Thank you for recognizing home schoolers." Bush campaign spokesman Scott Stanzel said the Bush team strives to draw some undecided voters to each event, though he could not estimate how many typically attend. There appear to be few fence-sitters at Bush's events, where audiences frequently interrupt the president to cheer. The president's events are not designed to convert Kerry backers, but rather energize Bush's base, aides say. "The thousands of people at these events are the messengers for the campaign," Stanzel said. "They go out and spread the message, whether it's at their place of business or their VFW or sportsman's club or just in their neighborhood." Bush's camp has taken other measures to keep non-supporters out of Bush's events. Last month, some Democrats who signed up to hear Vice President Dick Cheney speak near Albuquerque, N.M., were refused tickets unless they signed a pledge to endorse Bush. The Bush campaign described the measure as a security step designed to avoid a disruption it contended had been planned. Campaign spokesman Dan Foley said people calling for tickets from an anti-Bush group's telephone line underwent screening. Those seeking to attend the speech but giving false names were denied tickets, he said. Bush's admission policy can leave the impression that the president has strong support wherever he goes. Labor unions traditionally align with Democrats and have not been particularly friendly to Bush. So when Bush spoke at a Las Vegas union hall Thursday, the campaign used its usual ticket distribution policy to pack the hall with backers. The crowd roared its approval throughout the speech. Some tickets were also given to union members. A few of them sat silently in the back rows.
Nonono - didnt mean it in a bad way...really just wanted to read some. Sorry if it came accross in a chippy manner. Really do appreciate the time.
No worries, halfbreed. There's a lot more out there on this. I searched "Bush" and "loyalty oath" and posted the first two articles that came up on google. Then I searched "Bush" and something like "approved questions" and posted like the fifth article that came up. If you want to read more, just search on some of the phrases in this thread. I didn't mean to be chippy either and I'm sorry my first post bothered you, but I'm deeply bothered by the fact that this stuff is going on. This president sold himself as a "uniter" and it's clear from his actions and his campaign's stated strategies that he is only interested in being the president of half of these United States. If you don't like him and you go to one of his speeches to tell him (the only place you can tell him) you are arrested. Sorry. That's not America as far as I'm concerned. Beyond any policy differences, this stuff bothers me deeply. And it goes to the heart of why I believe this country is moving away from its most basic ideals under this president.
...as am I. The country is polarizing and thats not a good thing. ...sadly this is how many of us view Kerry as well. The only thing is he'll stand for the other half (not necessarily income wise, just vote wise) What this country needs is an election with 2 appealing candidates to all parties. Sadly, it wont happen because America is distancing itself from itself.
I'd like to think I represent a pretty normal section of young America. In the 2000 elections, I could have cared less who won, although I am from Texas and I thought it would be cool to have the son of a former president and governor of my state represent the country. And he seemed like a pretty genuine, cool guy. I didn't follow politics at all at the time, like a majority of people don't, although they will root for a party candidate based on who their parents vote for (my mom likes Bush, Dad's completely indifferent and voted for Perrot twice). After 9-11, I was pretty caught up in patriotic feelings like most people. And when it came time to choose a college senior year, it all seemed pretty overwhelming. I had good grades and all but since I have family who were in the military at some point, I thought that would be a good alternative, and it'd be a good time to fight for our country if needed. I did all the recruiting stuff with the Army and Navy, took their tests, passed that stuff easily. It seemed like a good worthwhile idea at the time, but then I got my acceptance letters from UT, etc and all the college anxiety went away. How could I pass up a great education? But for a while it seemed like a great idea, being a history buff and realizing the potentially important historical context I was living in. Three years later, thank God I didn't trust my life to a guy who just seemed "genuine and cool" at the time. Following politics and the news now is like watching a comedy of errors. It's not so much the partisian policies I don't like, it's their execution and the decision making that I strongly disagree with. These guys do not need to be in charge right now at this point in history. They are not playing with a full deck and it's unfortunate that more people who they're polling out there don't recognize that. Just ask yourself. Has the last 4 years been a success? What is your definition of success if so.
Come on stretch the truth a little farther will you? Bush has been to Columbus, OH probably 6 times ove rthe last 2 months and their are protstors at everyone. Strangely I have not saw any of them arrested. Now the jerks who interrupt a speech are taken care of. I agree with that on both sides wheter it's Bush or kerry speaking they should not have to stop to wait while some idiot disrupts the entire thing.
I cannot adequately express how disgusting hypocrites like you are. People like you rail on Kerry for his service in Vietnam, all the while closing your eyes to Bush's complete lack of honoring even the rich-boy service his dad got him into. People like you claim that anti-war folks "hate america" and don't "support the troops". However, when a soldier dies you don't feel any remorse at all. When anguish is expressed, you turn from "support america and the army" to "he chose to go and die". When faced with mountains of evidence that the war is unnecessary and motive fradulent, people like you continue to "support the troops" by asking them to keep dying for nothing. All the while people like you, and that lady who said "your son chose to go" in the article, have no clue what the pain of an unfair death is. You are happy letting others die and stay up at night in agony for your stubborn politics. After all, your family isn't over there dying... You make me sick.
Armies fight wars. War kills people. People dying in wars is sad. Why did her son VOLUNTEER to join the army? Who killed her son? Don't join the Army for a free ride. Armies fight wars. War kills people. People dying in wars is sad.
War isnt a joke, you go to war when there is no other way left, the last resort, after all talks are done, after you are 99.99999 percent sure that you have to go to war because if you dont there will be a threat against you. Her son died because of a lack of all of the above.
