The cycle of obnoxious violence from some of Senator Kerry supporters — especially union workers — continues. John Fund, of WSJ's Opinionjournal.com nicely tallies recent occurences across the country and one other incident he did not mention can be found in another post of mine where I wrote of another occurence where a Bush/Cheney 2004 sign was torn from the hands of a four-year-old girl and ripped to shreds at a Kerry rally.
John Fund also does not mention any of the several attempts in NYC to disrupt the Republican National Convention. One partisan tried to rush the Vice President, others tried to scream out messages to drown out speakers, convention delegates were harrassed going in and out of their hotels and at restaraunts, etc.
By themselves, these situations could be labelled a nuisance. Together, these incidents show a rising level of thuggery on the part of liberal partisans as well as a coordinated effort, in some cases, to disrupt the democratic process in America.
And while Kerry, Edwards, McAullife, and other DNC leaders employ scare tactics to incite their base to vote in the upcoming election by spinning tales of Republican efforts to disenfranchise them, their operatives are working across the nation to disenfranchise anyone who would vote for someone other than Kerry. The latest disturbing trend, as highlighted by Fund, is a wave of break-ins which have occurred at GOP Campaign offices throughout the country.
During these break-ins, several volunteers have been assaulted and injured. At one Kerry rally, a four-year-old girl was assaulted by a union member. In one of the GOP Campaign offices in Florida, a group of union workers forced their way into the office, resulting in a broken wrist for one of the volunteers.
Additionally, a GOP Campaign office in tenessee had it's windows shot out one morning, an office in Ohio was burglarized and laptop computers stolen, and one campaign office director in Florida locked herself in her office and frantically dialed 911 when her office was broken into. Now, for me, the question is, if Afghanistan could carry out peaceful elections in their war-torn country, why can't we? Perhaps the Afghanis should be looking down their noses at us rather than Kerry/Edwards and company looking down on the Afghanis.
And the true irony here is that all of this is a near-exact parallel to the 2000 Florida recount where Gore first chose to challenge the certified results of the election in court, continually stated his sincere desire to have "every vote counted" and warned of Republican efforts to "disenfranchise" Florida voters, then then sent his operatives across the state to disqualify hundreds, if not thousands, of absentee ballots on technicalities. Absentee ballots were targeted, of course, because they were thought to be pro-Bush military votes.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - RJ
The MSM is not giving NEARLY enough coverage to the coordinated Democrat attacks on GOP and Bush-Cheney HQs.
If the opposite was to occur, and right-wing goons attacked Dem and/or Kerry-Edwards HQs, you can bet Chris Matthews, Peter Jennings, and Dan Rather would each host a special on "Right-Wing Violence In America" with images of Oklahoma City in the background.
The media ignores amazing progress in Afghanistan, as well as a pro-Bush election result in Australia.
The MSM is in the bag for Kerry. Historians will one day record how vicious the elites were in attempting to unseat a sitting President.
2 - Big Time Patriot
'Serial GOP: Media loves repeated Republican protester, alleged assault victim' http://mediamatters.org/items/200409170013
3 - Big Time Patriot
That's funny, I've seen pictures of a man in a large group of Republicans pulling the hair of a woman (A WOMAN!!) who dared to say something he didn't like. Yet I considered that man an idiot and not reflective of all Republicans.
I'm sorry you are all scared of liberals and democrats. The sooner we can get them locked up the quicker we can get back to "liberty".
Ask the people who were in a park at the Atlanta Olympics listening to music when a man set a bomb off if there isn't a long history of right wing violence as well.
Ask the people of Oklahoma City if there is any right wing violence in America.
But these people are the fringes, be brave, America is a great nation, both liberals AND conservatives are generally nice people.
4 - David Flanagan
BTP - Are you trying to pull a Bill Clinton? It was President Clinton who tried to say that bombings you mention were caused by "right wing extremists."
Please note, however, it's us "right wingers" who are determined to pursue and put to death murderers like McVey, Osama, and Saddam. Two down, one to go.
David
5 - Vern Halen
Ummm.... maybe this is the wrong place for this question, but, seriously, I always wondered ... some media are characterized as left leaning, & some right. Wouldn't any media outlet that's owned by business want to be right leaning? I wonder if Dan Rather's whole issue is a personal one, not a political or ideological one, because I can't see his bosses allowing him a left leaning rant...unless it was good for business of course.
Right wing violence vs. left wing violence? I don't think right or left is violent by definition or need - it's the extremists that are violent, ignoring positions on the "moderate left" & "moderate right" (if you get my meaning). Extremists go so far out to the left & right that they end up meeting each other, finding common ground in their tactics of bullying, fear and violence. Hopefully whichever candidate wins in November will build a new common ground where left & right can discuss their positions with each other using common sense and respect instead of disdain & unwavering ideology.
6 - Mac Diva
John Fund, he of domestic violence, kinky sex and suborning abortion fame, is now saying other folks engage in unruly behavior? Pot. Kettle. And the cast iron stove they're sitting on.
For people not familiar with the portly and reportedly unwashed Fund, some background. A few years ago, he was the defendant in a lawsuit alleging he seduced the young adult daughter of a former girlfriend. She alleged he abused her. The abuse was said to include impregnating her and forcing her to have an abortion. The fallout of the situation was such that Fund was sent to the WSJ's outhouse, its web journal. Looks like he won't be returning to the actual newspaper. On the other hand, he now has plenty of time to pretend to be an arbiter of mores.
Read more about John Fund, a Right Wing, Christian, anti-abortion thug at American Politics.
7 - simon hb
I notice the little girl in the story has aged from the first time you mentioned it. I also note that you quote the same story twice in this entry, without making it entirely clear that you're referring to the same incident. And since when was having your banner taken off you "assault"?
More worringly, though: isn't the little yarn somewhat undermined by the way the father seems to keep getting attacked at Democrat rallies?
http://atrios.blogspot.com/2004_09_12_atrios_archive.html#109542699935507535
8 - Winston Smith
Any political violence of this kind is deplorable. But you have to be deluded to think that liberals are more prone to it that conservatives.
The case you cite (twice) is thought to be bogus, incidentally.
And I see no acknowledgment of the much more serious acts of violence by the right. (E.g. the nice young conservative kicking a woman while she was down at the GOP convention, or the arson against a house with an anti-war sign in my own town of Harrisonburg, VA.)
9 - Eric Olsen
There are shrieking loons in every direction and their particular ideology is secondary to the fact that they are loons, and there is always the mob factor to take into account as well. This is still a dangerous unpredictable stupid world, and it pays to be vigilant, not paranoid, but vigilant.
One of my favorite phrases of all time is "violent anti-war protest" - that sums up a lot about human beings
10 - Mark Edward Manning
Considering liberals run and think on pure emotion (as opposed to logic and facts), it's hardly surprising that they are angrier, more defensive and much more prone to violence to achieve their ends.
11 - JR
David Flanagan: We've already seen some violence, but, if this cycle continues unabated, and Kerry winds up losing the election, will there be worse violence than we've seen already?
I think so, and I'm very worried about it.
Well then, for the good of the country I guess you'd better vote for Kerry.
12 - Mark Saleski
liberals run and think on pure emotion (as opposed to logic and facts)...
this statement would be funny, if it werent' so sad.
13 - Hal Pawluk
You're your own rebuttal, MEM, so saying: "Considering liberals run and think on pure emotion (as opposed to logic and facts)" clearly proves they don't.
14 - Mac Diva
I will be at an Edwards rally later today. Will make a point of recording all the violence against four-year-olds that will doubtlessly occur-:).
15 - Big Time Patriot
The examples I gave of the Oklahoma City bombings and the Atlanta Olympic bombing are NOT supposed to represent the Right. They DO represent the FRINGES of the Right. If you took these two perpetraters and asked where on the political spectrum they were on, they would be off on the Right side.
The point is that neither side should blame the general "liberal" or "conservative" or "leftie" or "rightie" for the actions of the fringe. The original article seemed like it was implying evil and treasonous intent to half of America (you may recall that more American's voted AGAINST Bush than FOR him in the last election, are you afraid of all of them?).
And as a liberal, I would say that the fringes of the Right scare me more than the fringes of the Left (unless perhaps I was wearing a fur coat past a PETA convention).
16 - Winston Smith
You know, I've encountered this bizarre claim from conservatives before...somehow they've convinced themselves that they are rational and liberals aren't...in fact I've heard the "facts and logic" locution used in exactly this context many times.
Although I don't agree, I can *understand* liberals who think that conservatives are notably less intelligent...but to think it's the other way around really is to fly in the face of some pretty obvious facts...
17 - Big Time Patriot
'Thieves hit Democratic Party offices; computers containing sensitive data removed' http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041013/NEWS03/410130378
18 - Jim Carruthers
Uhm, you loons do know there are reasonably priced motel rooms available for your ceremonial circle-jerks?
Hell, you could probably find an abandoned trailer in Florida, and mail your consecrated offerings on a biscuit to Jeb.
Now I know why the Masons and related others kept their confabs secret, because it only shows what a bunch of idiots they are.
19 - RJ
David points out numerous attacks by Democrats on Republicans, and here is JC's response:
"Uhm, you loons do know there are reasonably priced motel rooms available for your ceremonial circle-jerks?
"Hell, you could probably find an abandoned trailer in Florida, and mail your consecrated offerings on a biscuit to Jeb."
Proves our point. Lefties are vile savages.
20 - Mac Diva
FF (Flanagan knows what the other 'f' stands for) has posted a few dubious allegations from a particularly dubious source. The claim of the assault on the four-year-old (which wouldn't even be an assault if it actually occurred) has already been discredited. His assertion that he has 'evidence' of Democrats being violent is mainly innuendo. It may work as foreshadowing for Part Tres: Put Liberals in Concentration Camps, but it is laughable for any other purpose. It is a good thing he isn't a lawyer. Judges would be in stitches.
I attended a huge rally for Kerry/Edwards this evening. John Edwards was welcomed enthusiastically to Portland. I was honored to shake the hand of a fellow Tarheel whose values I support. The crowd was one of the most polite I've ever encountered, even as I made my way to the front, doubtlessly brushing against people and stepping on some toes. I'll be blogging the rally, and the viewing of the debate that followed, tomorrow. The many children present were quite safe. Photos of some of them will be included.
21 - bhw
Thugs for BushOct 14, 2004 at 2:58 pm
22 - bhw
Okay, now how the fuck did that happen?
Let's try this again:
Thugs for Bush break into the DNC office in Toledo!
Thieves shattered a side window overnight at Lucas County Democratic headquarters in Toledo, stealing computers with sensitive campaign information and triggering concern of the local party's ability to deliver crucial votes on Nov. 2.
So it looks like maybe conservatives are willing to break into a campaign office to "steal" an election in a state where the race is very close. [I say maybe because we don't know who committed the crime, yet.] Won't this violence against Democrats continue to escalate? Shouldn't Democratic campaign workers be worried about being assaulted or killed by ANGRY Republicans who are being riled up by the RNC?
Aren't Bush supporters THUGS?
23 - Hal Pawluk
And let's not forget how Bush got to be president - conservatives sent in 75 goons to invade Miami-Dade county offices and stopped the recount (google "Free Republic Florida recount miami violence").
24 - andy
macdiva...I guess you'll be the OTHER vote kerry/edwards gets from the great state of North Carolina...because as we all know...just like in 2000...when Gore didn't carry his home state...you're BOY edwards will NOT carry NC
25 - RJ
Bush will carry NC, I agree. Edwards was never going to deliver a state, or a region. After all, he was Kerry's second choice, behind John McCain, a Bush supporter...