Ray McGovern: Storm Troopers at the RNC

Storm Troopers at the RNC

By Ray McGovern
September 8, 2008

Ten days ago, as the nation focused attention on the hurricane nearing the Mississippi delta, another storm was brewing far upstream in St. Paul, Minnesota — a storm far more dangerous, it turned out, but one by and large overlooked by the Fawning Corporate Media (FCM).

When I flew into St. Paul on the evening of Aug. 30, I encountered a din in local media about “preemptive strikes” on those already congregating there to demonstrate against the Iraq war and injustice against the poor in our country.

St. Paul’s Pioneer Press expressed surprise that “despite preemptive police searches” and arrests, a group calling itself “the RNC Welcoming Committee” was still intent on “disrupting the convention.”

A headline screamed, “Preemptive Arrests of Protesters in Twin Cities.” But it was the article’s lead that hit home: “Borrowing from the Bush administration’s ‘preemptive war’ playbook, police agencies in the Twin Cities have made ‘preemptive strikes’ against organizations planning to protest at the Republican National Convention.”

In the following days I was to see, up close and personal, a massive and totally unnecessary display of ruthlessness.

What struck a bell was that this domestic application of the doctrine of “preemption” was totally predictable — indeed, predicted by those courageous enough to speak out before the U.S. “preemptive” attack on Iraq.

more...

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2008/090808a.html

and is really nothing more than an (lame) excuse to justify police state tactics.

In a society operating under the Rule of Law, you can't be arrested for something you haven't done. Preemption flies in the face of this tenant.

The Sheriff's office of St. Paul should have their ass handed to them in the form of a class action lawsuit.

:puke:

All you've got to do is think someone's going to commit a crime and you can put them in jail...

Well, if we'd have known this shit seven or eight years ago we could have thrown a whole bunch of these republican motherfuckers directly into prison and saved ourselves the trouble and expense of having to prosecute these country club, pinheaded assholes."

-- Carlin (from the Reagan years, but it still fits)


There's one of the best uses of the English language ever:

Republican motherfuckers directly into prison!

Should be on everyone's bumper.

The last few days have been productive for the republican party, haven't they? Lawlessness in the streets in MN with preemptive round ups et. al., a vp candidate who denouces the reading of rights to victims of our government and the mocking of community service,the nationalization of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac,the death of free speech, the now ever present and growing inflation, etc.

We are doomed if we do not elect Senators Obama and Biden. Even then, if we are lucky enough not to have the election stolen, I don't know how a Democratically controlled government can straighten out this elaborate mess. imho

edit: Thank you Babylonsister for another great post! :woohoo: to you!

If he could do it all by himself, it would have been long over by now.

Personally, I feel that the more damage the maladministration does between now and November, the stronger our House and Senate representation is going to become. However, if *They* were all raptured over lunch today, I wouldn't cry either. We'd find a way to muddle through.

law enforcement went nuts last week. i hope it comes back and bites them hard.

Probably a bunch of others.